Happy Father's Day {2015}

 
Happy Father's Day! Today I want to wish a very Happy Father's Day to two very special men in my life. My Dad. It's been almost a year since he passed away. I feel so blessed to have a Dad like him. He was loving, caring and always knew how to make me smile. There is not a day that goes by that I don't miss him dearly. My Husband. Seriously...how did I get so lucky? He makes me so happy. He is such a HUGE blessing in my life and I thank God for him every day. He is loving, caring, funny, supportive, and I love that always thinks of others before himself. I am also grateful for the wonderful Father he is to Kaelyn and Olivia. He is the perfect example of everything a Father should be. I couldn't have asked for more!

Jumping for Joy

I cannot contain my joy and excitement this morning!! We just found out last night that my Dad is getting released from the hospital on Saturday and will be driving back in a U-haul with Josh on Monday. I can't believe all the the blessings that have come out of this. God can turn a mess into something so beautiful. He is SO amazing! It is my testimony that God hears and answers prayers and that He loves each and every single one of us immensely and unconditionally. He is there. ALWAYS. I just want to also express my love and gratitude towards everyone who prayed and thought about my Dad and especially to my sweet Husband who has been so amazing, selfless and supporting through all of this. I don't know what I would do without him. 

One of my favorite scriptures about prayer from the Book of Mormon:

“Cry unto God for all thy support; yea, let all thy doings be unto the Lord, and whithersoever thou goest let it be in the Lord; yea, let all thy thoughts be directed unto the Lord; yea, let the affections of thy heart be placed upon the Lord forever.

“Counsel with the Lord in all thy doings, and he will direct thee for good; yea, when thou liest down at night lie down unto the Lord, that he may watch over you in your sleep; and when thou risest in the morning let thy heart be full of thanks unto God; and if ye do these things, ye shall be lifted up at the last day” 

(Alma 37:36–37)

-KIMBERLY-

GOD CAN TURN A MESS INTO SOMETHING BEAUTIFUL

For those of you who read last Sunday's post you will know that my Dad was in the ICU in California. We all hope to never ever get that call, especially when you live in another state. I was getting ready Saturday morning to go to the Farmers Market with my two friends to hang out and take some pictures. My phone rang, my heart dropped and I instantly starting crying. Josh held me for awhile and told me that everything would be okay and that he loved me very much. Josh and I decided instead of paying the money for both of us to fly to California and board our dog, we would just leave early the next morning and drive there. So we packed everything up that night and left around 5am the next morning. The drive from Phoenix to California is only about 8 or 9 hours, but with my Dad on my mind it seemed like it was days. I just wanted to get there asap to see him and tell him I loved him. My brother got in the night before and was already there with my Dad. Once we arrived at the hospital, it was so heartbreaking to see my Dad. I just wanted to give him a great big hug, but it was hard because of the tube down his throat and all the other tubes that he had attached to him. I held his hand so very tight, told him I loved him and that I was here for him no matter what.

We were in California for an entire week and just got home last night. I am exhausted emotionally and physically. We spent all day every day at the hospital, with little breaks here and there to get some fresh air and eat. My Dad is still currently at the hospital still (and my brother was able to stay there longer with him) and hopefully will get released by the end of this week or next week. Day by day he is getting better and better. With everything that is happening, God has given me such an incredible amount of peace through all of this and has helped me to continue to press forward trusting and relying on Him. God's hands have been covered over this entire situation. There has been SO many blessings that have come out of all of this. I am in complete awe of just how good God is. He can turn a mess into something so very beautiful. He is always there even when you think He's not close enough. The best and biggest blessing out of all of them: My Dad is moving to Arizona!!!!!!  I still can't believe it! We have been trying and praying daily to get my Dad to move her for almost a year now! My brother is packing up a U-Haul while he is still in the hospital and once he is released they are driving here!  I just can't express how grateful I am and how good God is! I just want to sing and dance right now!

I also want to thank family, friends and even strangers who have prayed and are continuing to pray for my Dad and our family right now. I am so grateful and humbled by you and thank you from the bottom of my heart. It means so very much to me. I am sending hugs and kisses your way right now!

 It is my testimony, that if you are going through something hard right now or if you are waiting for an answer to your prayer(s)....keep trusting in God, keep pressing forward, keep believing, have faith.............and you will see God move. 

 

//On a side note....we begin our training classes to become foster parents tonight//

-KIMBERLY-

ICU

I can't sleep.

On Saturday morning, I got a call that my Dad was rushed to the hospital in California.

My heart dropped and tears started to run down my face. Those are the type of calls

that we never wish to get and when we do get them we feel as if our world is turned

upside down, we can't think straight and we don't know the next step to take. I don't 

know about you, but that is exactly how I feel.

I spoke with the nurse earlier today and she informed me that she is unable to disclose any information to anyone. She also told me that my Dad was unable to talk and probably wouldn't be able to for a few days because he is hooked up to so many tubes. I had a very strong feeling come to me like I needed to get out there as soon as possible. Tomorrow morning Josh and I are leaving at 5am to drive to California.  We don't know how long we will be there for and exactly what is going on and just how bad my Dad might be........................all we can do is just take it one day at a time.

This weekend has been consumed with a lot of tears, scripture reading and lots of prayer.

It is Him that I can turn to for strength. It is Him that can comfort my aching heart. It is Him that can help get me through anything. It is Him that has a plan. It is Him who's hands I am in. I trust Him. I love him more than anything and I know that He is with my family and I as we face this trial. 

I am so very thankful to everyone who is praying for my family and I. It really does mean the world

to us. We had some of our good friends from Mesa drive out here earlier tonight to suprise us with bags and bags of goodies to take with us on our trip tomorrow. I am so very thankful for good friends who care and for a loving Heavenly Father who is always there and always watching over us at all times. 

Verses that have been offering me peace and comfort (just to name a few):

The LORD is a shelter for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble.
Psalm 9:9

 Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, 

for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me. 

 Psalm 23:4

 The LORD is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed.

Psalm 34:18 

  God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble. 

 Psalm 46:1

When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of 

difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, 

you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you.

Isaiah 43:2

 
Blessed are those who mourn, For they shall be comforted.

 Matthew 5:4  

 

-KIMBERLY-

Day 18: CHILDHOOD STORY

Day 18, Saturday: 

Tell a story from your childhood.

 Dig deep and try to be descriptive about 

what you remember and how you felt.

(PF Chang's Scottsdale 2009-right when I first moved here)

(Batting cages in Oregon 2007)

Hmmmm....there are lots of stories that I could tell. The list goes on and on.

I think I will go with this one.......

This happened when I was 9 and my brother was 6.

We were living in Blackstone, MA

Still to this day I miss the house we lived in. It was custom built and sat on 9 acres.

My Dad, being the handy man he is, built a 

MASSIVE in ground pool with a deck all around it.

It didn't take my Dad too long until the pool was finally ready to use.

The only part that was missing was the cover that had to go over the 

huge pool pump which was a few feet underneath where the pool was.

One day my brother and I were swimming and playing games in the pool.

My Mom was laying out by the pool watching us.

My brother told her that he was really thirsty.

Mom: "Kimberly will you please watch your brother

while I go inside and get you two something to drink?"

Me: Sure Mom!

As my Mom went inside to get drinks, I was watching my brother's every move.

I decided it would be fun to swim from one end of the pool to the other.

I started from one end, going underneath the water and coming back up kicking my feet.

One I got to the end of the pool, I came up from underneath the water, and wiped my eyes.

I heard loud crying. I looked around and didn't see my brother!!

I quickly followed where the crying was coming from. 

"Kevin!! Kevin!!" I yelled.

I jumped out of the pool onto the deck to find my brother in the deep hold where the pump was.

I saw a lot of blood and immediately started screaming and crying.

I ran towards the house to get my Mom.

I opened the door to the kitchen.

"Mom! Mom! Kevin is really hurt"

My Mom dropped what was in her hands and frantically ran 

towards the pool to see blood all over my brother's head.

When he fell, he had cracked his head open on a huge rock that was down there.

"Kimberly go get the phone and call 911! Hurry! Hurry!"

I ran to the house and grabbed the phone. 

My little fingers were shaking so much as I was trying to dial 911.

I tried to catch my breath as I told them what happened and our address.

Within 10 minutes, one fire truck and one ambulance showed up at our house.

I remember crying and feel so horrible as the firefighters and paramedics ran by me.

This is all my fault....this is all my fault. I kept repeating that over and over again in my head.

It was my fault. My Mom had told me to keep an eye on my brother and I didn't.

About 10 minutes later, the fire fighters had pulled my brother out of the

 hole, put him on a stretcher and raced him to the hospital in an ambulance.

My Mom and I followed. By the time we got to his room my Dad was there too.

They hugged each other as my Mom cried in my Dad's arms. 

They then grabbed me and hugged me.

"It will be okay Kimberly..we aren't mad at you" they said.

I remember going up to my brother and telling him how sorry I was and that I loved him so much.

I can't remember how many stitches he had to get in his head...all I know is that it was A LOT.

I will never forget this story........

I love my brother so very much.

Someone Special

I have been counting down the days and the day is finally here!

My Dad will landing in Arizona in just a couple of hours.

I cannot wait to see him and give him a BIG giant hug. 

My parents have been divorced since I was a Junior in High School.
The news came as a complete shock to both my brother and I as our
family was very close. It was hard at first....really hard. At that
time in my life I never knew God so I had no one to really turn to
and didn't know how to heal my broken and confused heart.

 I think the hardest part throughout all of it, 
 is having one parent here and the other in another state (California) 

  My Mom moved here a little over a year ago after much praying and fasting.

Josh and I are now working on getting my Dad here also (God willing)

I feel so blessed that I now have a relationship with God. That I don't have to

figure things out on my own. That He takes my sorrows and turn them into joy.

I know that He hears and answers prayers...even the unspoken ones.

 I know that God is faithful and I know that He has a plan for everything which

brings me comfort, hope and peace.

.....................................................................................................................................................

Scripture of the Day (my favorite):

Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.

 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
-Proverbs 3:5-6


Do you have a favorite scripture?

Friday's Letters Link Up

 

Dear Friday

I am so glad you are finally here!

It's been a long week!
Ready for the Holiday work party!

 

Dear Pinterest

I love you!

I am getting so many great

ideas for our new house!

 

Dear Jessica

I am so sorry you got

into a car accident.

If there is anything I can do

to help please let me know!

Love you girly!

 

Dear Gratitude Journal

I need to write in you more

Pronto!!

 

Dear Dad

I am so excited to see you in January!

I cannot wait. It's going to be a blast!

 

Dear Husband

Thank you for being you.

I love you more than the moon and the stars!



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