A Good Visit!

So yesterday was a neat day. We went to swedish medical and Ralph had his last bloodwork and ekg for the study done. We said good bye to Dr. West and staff. It was touching. Dr. West said: " I told myself I was not going to cry"...when he said good bye to Ralph. We have been with him over the past 4 and half years. He mentioned that he doesn't usually get to a chance to be his patients this long. True. We all hugged and cried and of course I will keep them posted on how he is doing etc... Dr. West also arranged things in Salt Lake for Ralph and will send his records etc...I walked away feeling extremely grateful for the opportunity we have had to know such special people. They have been like "Angels" to us, and have touched our lives forever. Ralph was equally moved and wept as well.
When we came home Kevin Kimball was here to visit for the day! He had a business meeting in San Francisco and decided to spend a night with his big brother. It was so nice to visit and catch up. What a neat guy he is and his family is wonderful. We all love Teresa, his wife. She is an angel lady. Ralph enjoyed the visit so much. It brightened his spirits. Family is so wonderful!
Kristy picked out her wedding gown today. Anne and Becky went with her and they went to a place where you rent them. Kristy called excited, and so pleased. One more thing down. It is coming together, and all will go well, I am sure.
Cami Bacon Vach is having her baby today as well. She is in the hosptial right now with mom and sisters in labor. A little boy is on his way. Too cute!
So more packing to do. It is coming along. The sun is shinning again, and I am content. xo

HAPPY 56TH RALPH!

Today is Ralph's 56th birthday! Yipeee! So glad to celebrate it with him! It is also the day that he has applied for retirement! So a double CONGRATULATIONS! If all goes well we will be able to spend some wonderful time with our family soon now.
Ralph is now in the other room trying to figure out the new RUBIX cube that I got him. If all else fails I will invite our buddy Connor to come over and show him the ropes. I think that this will be great fun once he gets the hang of it, so he can show Carlitos how to do it when we get to Utah! Anne , Carlos and kids sent him a NINJA TURTLE shirt which Carlitos LOVED and even played with. We showed Carlitos what TaTa Ralph looked like in it on Skype today. Ralph was showing him his most proficient Ninja Moves. Carlitos was quite impressed. LOL
Vicki Tolivere came over with a yummy goodie for him and a Utah survival water fan. Too cute. So thoughtful and it made him smile. He also recieved some delicious Red, White and Blue bread from the Milletts that is his favorite...mine too. Yum! Everyone is so kind and thoughtful.xo
Hearing from the kids and friends is definately a big perk! Thank you all.
Tomorrow another doc. appt. and Kevin comes to visit. Yeah for that. All is well...xo

When you're racing with the clock...

LOTS TO DO! Packing, Packing, and more Packing! Ifeel good about it all, though. I am SO thankful that half was packed 5 months ago. Whew!
We are toying with idea of moving abit ahead of time. Maybe the 20th of August. We will here what the closing date is by the end of this week...I hope!
Meanwhile...back at the ranch....Kristy is searching for wedding dresses this week. Very fun. Anne and Becky will assist her. Anne is starting to feel the effects of being seven and half months preg. She is a trooper, though, and still exercises. Is she my daughter? Yikes!
By seven and half months I was crying for more ice cream, maybe. LOL!
Our niece, Megan Bird, arrives home from her mission today. In fact her plane lands in fifteen minutes at SLC airport. Everyone is so excited to see her. her homecoming is August 8th.
She has done a great job and made many life long friends.
Ralph's birthday is tomorrow. 56 years old! I am so thankful he is here to have it, I 'll tell ya. If he is up to it, I will take him to a movie. His brother Kevin is coming Thursday morning and spending the night. I will make a dinner and a special birthday cake then. The Milletts are coming to meet Kevin. He lives in Hawaii and they are visiting Hawaii in October.
Kevin is a good man. It has been so much fun to see Ralph's younger siblings grow up. Kev was 10 years old when we married. He was a talkative, cute boy. He is now a talkative, cute man. He is a tender heart, like his big brother, and a smartie. He has a beautiful family, and a now Cody, his eldest son, is on a mission in Idaho. Time really does march on....
It will be good to visit with him abit.
Well back to packing...how did we end up with all of this stuff? When we got married we had practically nothing. I think that this shows how very blessed we have been through the years. We have never wanted for anything really. Feeling so grateful.

The Kimball Family Cork Game!

Today for sunday school I took the kids outside in the BEAUTIFUL sunshine and we ate brownies and drank lemonaide and played the "Kimball Family Cork Game!" It was fun and I promised I would make them one for Christmas. I needed to do something special with them before we leave in August.
I think that we will find out the exact day we close on the house by the end of this week.
Thanks again to our kids, we have found and secured a nice home in Provo to rent for the year until we are ready to buy a home at some point. It has a kitchen upstairs and down so Omar and Kristy will live downstairs this next year and share the rent and up keep of the yard. We will love having them around and I hope they will enjoy us as well. xo
Things are falling into place. Our Heavenly Father has certainly looked out after us for sure.
The kids also attended Chad's farewell today. I was so grateful they could do that. He did a fabulous job, and I am so proud of him. A happy day. xoxoxo

Driving them crazy...

I have the greatest kids ever! I know I have been driving them all crazy looking for rentals for us, and they have cheerfully complied and have been checking many properites out for us. Hopefully one that will be viewed tomorrow will be the WINNER!
Tough day for Dad. I think he will feel a tad better when all the lose ends are tied up with the move and a place to go to etc...Bless his heart. He has been through so much.
On the lighter side...Sheena went to play with our realtors children when the inspector came over on Thursday. When we picked her up she was so exhausted that she slept the rest of the day and all night long. Today she was better, but I know it will take some adjusting for her when around grandchildren. Too funny. Hide Sheena. Hide! LOL
The weather is suppose to be in the 90s this weekend. I am excited. Today dad and I went and laid down on the lawn and basked in the sun for about 20 minutes. It felt so good. We both have missed the warmth this year. The light feels so great. Laying there with him reminded me of when we were dating and lying on a grassy hill in Provo and just talking about our future. We have been friends for a long time, he and I. How grateful I am to know that we always will be. xo

Impressions

Sooo...today's checkup with Ralph was not the best one. Last week's report was not extensive enough, and the written report today showed a 30% growth in some of the tumors from the last c-scan. It really wasn't a suprise for us, as Ralph has been feeling pretty worn out and sick, not to mention the coughing continually. Anyway...we meet with Dr. West next week, and he will be more detailed. We had already decided to leave the study and move, yet it is still hard to hear that there is substantial growth. This past eight years has been such a rollar coaster for us, and we have really learned to rely on the promptings we recieve. The first impressions are usually right, we find. I have noticed when I accept those impressions and then pray about them, I am filled with peace. It is when I try and ignore them that I feel the uneasiness. So when talking with the doctors now and hearing about symptons and side-effects etc....it is still difficult, but there is also a comforting peace that seems to be there whispering to me "this is what you were feeling and it will be okay." It is amazing ,the comfort that the holy ghost wraps us in at these times. He really is a constant friend, and directs especially in areas of our lives that we consider the "unknown."

So today, after the doctor appt. and chemo. the inspector was through "inspecting " our home and it was good. He said that it looked like we took very good care of it, and there are just a few minor things. Tomorrow we will discuss those things with our realtor and have a more definate idea as to when we move. We do have a mover set up with an estimate. I just need to finish packing and find a home to move to. I called Becky at least 10 times to day and Anne and Carlos probably five times and Kristy and Omar a couple of times, all about looking at homes or condos for us. Look out D.j. !!!! You are next!!! Everyone has been so gracious and wonderful. Thanks my family. Love you all and appreciate your cheerfullness about it as well.

This afternoon the doorbell rang and the florist delievered flowers to ME! They are in a beautiful vase and a variety of purple roses, tulips etc...so fragrant and lovely. My sweet little friend from Holland, Johanna, sent them to me. She is wonderful. I will miss her . I told her we would fly her up to Provo anytime. I hope she takes me up on it sometime.

So onward and upward we go! It feels so great to know that we are taken such good care of by all! xoxxxxxxxxxxxxxxoooooooxoooooooooooooooooooooo

MIRACLES!

So after fasting last week with you, my family, and going to Ralph's doctor appt. with a prayer in my heart. The doctor pretty much told Ralph to definately go be with his family. We then prayed that if this was God's will that the house would sell. We got home that afternoon and there was a message that some people were coming through our home in fifteen minutes.
We left, they came and they made an offer. Next day we counter offered, and they accepted. So, this is the Lord's will and we feel so thankful and at peace. The inspector will be here this week and if all goes well we will be out of the house by the end of August.
This is such a miracle and another indication of how loving and supportive our Father in Heaven is. Not only has the house sold, but at the perfect time for Dad's retirement, health etc...!
I shouldn't be so amazed, but it always comes as such an incredible shock to me that Our Heavenly Father is so involved in the details of our lives.
How blessed we are to know we will be able to spend this precious time with our family and loved ones. Thanks to you, my children for you support. love you all xoxoxoox

If you clean it...They will come!

So...it amazes me the amount of people who wish to look at our home, but don't seem to be interested right now. I just keep cleaning it and keeping the lawns mowed etc...because I know that one of these days it will be the PERFECT home for someone else now.
I have loved this home and this neightborhood. We have had the perfect neighbors. It seriously has been a "blast from the past." When we moved here eight years ago, the kids were all little, and now they are in jr. high or high school. I even had a Halloween party for the neighborhood kids when we first moved here, because the schools no longer have them. The "wickens" in the community complained that it was against their religion. So the neighborhood kids dressed up and came over. We had fun and even did a pinata etc...I have always LOVED the fall and halloween, because of the kids. Of course the candy helps too. CHOCOLATE!
Anyway...Ralph and I feel so much better about leaving the timing of the selling of this home up to the Lord. He knows our needs and we are certain He will provide the people and the timing will be just right. Soooo....I just keep cleaning....they will come!

Update on Dad...

Well today we found out that the cat scan dad had showed no growth. That is good, but of course, as the doctor pointed out, it doesn't mean that things are getting better. Dad had a good talke with him, and was "real" about the fact that he hasn't been feeling well at all. Ralph mentioned that we had considered moving to Utah and flying back here for treatments. Dr. West said, " No." "Don't do that." "There are other alternatives in SLC at Huntsman." " This study is a temporary thing anyway. " He felt that when the house sells we should move close to family. That was an answer that we needed to hear. We have been so uncertain as to the best thing to do in regards to Ralph's health. So, we decided that when the house sells Ralph will retire, and we will move back to Utah near our family. We both feel good about that. If it is the Lord's will the house will sell.
I personally feel so much better about it now. I know that things will work out the way they are suppose to.
Today is Little Lucy's second birthday! Hurrah! She is a beautiful doll. We got her a princess outfit, and she modeled it for us on SKYpe! Too much fun. Carlitos is growing so quickly. He looks like a little man now. His hair is darker and he is so handsome too.
Anne and Carlos just bought their first mini-van. They are so excited! Anne has saved up for the down payment and now they are planning some family outings. Too much fun!
D.J. will be starting his student teaching soon, and has just sighned a lease for a house with some friends for the next year. He seemed excited about it. He, his friend Ryan, Kristy and Omar are going down to St. George tomorrow to visit Grandma and Grandpa Kimball for the weekend. They have not met Omar before. They are going hiking. It should be fun.
We had more people checking out our home today. One of these times it will be the perfect place for someone.
Another beautiful day. I love this picture of the kids running for their dad at the Rex. Lee race in provo. Their shirts say: " keep pulling Ralph". He is still trying and amazing for his determination. He's a brave one.

Life really is so...daily...

I really have been enjoying these "Lazier-days-of-summer". The afternoon breeze and the sunshine coming in the room while I read or type or even just do dishes. Right now I spend the day up keeping things around home but it is all on my own schedule really, and this time I have with Ralph is great. I hear the chimes outside on my patio, and sometimes I feel a little meloncolly, but for the most part there is a sense of peace and a calm reassurance that He who knows us best will allow what is best into our lives as well.

I have decided that reading is the best healthy escape ever. I love being in a different relm for a while and involved with people that maybe even lived a long time ago. Even visiting places that I have never been. What a blessing sight is.

I mowed that lawns today, and noticed more little birds and nests. They are so protective! I remember one time when Becky was visiting and a bird near our front door landed on her shoulder. It was frightening for her and humorous for the rest of us. I am afraid we all have warped sense of humors for sure. Tomorrow Melinda has generously offered the use of her electric hedgers! Yahoo! Ralph is NOT so sure he wants me to use them. NONSENSE! I think I might take Melinda's suggestion up and create little animals out of the bushes or something creative like that. Just like Disneyland! Gotta find the fun in life, eh?

Up dates...Hurrah!

So thanks again to Becky, my blog can now be viewed by others! Apparrently, I had unintentionally blocked everyone from viewing it. Pretty pathetic. Any time I learn how to do something new on the computer it is like taking on a different language, or something like that! It reminds that I really am 57 and was NOT raised with computers. I remember the first time that I walked into the public library and computers had replaced the card catalogs for searching for reading material. I did not have the first clue what to do. This little boy was next to me typing on the computer and I asked him how to look up info. for a book. He said," Oh, it's easy!" He proceeded to show me what to do. Needless to say it was pretty humbling. I decided then and there I would get a computer and attempt to go in the direction my children were going. I'm still trying, but have to laugh at myself as I'm doing it. LOL

So Anne gave me a call today. They have been visiting Virginia and D.C. They were all getting settled in on the plane home. When she was talking to me, I heard this unearthly scream! I said: "wow, are there some other children on the plane?" Anne responded: " unfortunately no there aren't." " That scream was your grand daughter, LUCY!" I laughed. What a piece of work that little girl is. Anne then said: " Oh now Carlitos is playing with the barf bag." She continued: " I know he is going to put it on his hand and say it is a puppet!" Sure enough I heard him come over and say:" look mommy a puppet!" "I will name him Stevie!" I laughed again. It doesn't seem so funny when you are a young mommy and going through it, but looking back I must agree with Erma Bombeck: " Mother hood is not for sissies."

Yesterday was a great day. Sundays are my favorite. My Sunday School Class went great, and once in a while I feel that I have a glimpse into what kind of adults they will grow up to be. I am convinced that this generation will be great leaders. They will lead positively or not. There will be no in between any more, I think. I pray they will all be stellar and honor every covenant and stay close to what their parents have taught them. I am very blessed to be able to rub shoulders with them.

Hot and Sunny!

This is weather we wait for in the Northwest all year long. It is in the 90s and sunny! I love it, and hopefully we will have some more of it.
Next Wednesday is Ralph's cat-scan to see if this study is still working. Thursday we meet with Dr. West to discuss results. This past month has been a real stretch of faith for both Ralph and I. Living in "limbo", so to speak, waiting to see if there will be any offers on this house. Wondering if it is the Lord's will to move or not. Also Ralph just feels tired out from the treatments etc...
One thing I have learned through our journey together this past 8 years, is that patience is the key to great occurances. We both just need to keep "riding the wave". This Sunday I will fast about everything. I know Heavenly Father will let us know what is right. I invited my family to join in. I feel very supported and good about this.
Tomorrow is work and "the day we get ready for Sunday!" I also had cheesecake with strawberries today. Ummmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm!

Beautiful day!

Wow! The sun is shinning again, and it is about 80 degrees! It feels great! We have had a long, cold winter and spring. You know that you have become pathetic when you actually look forward to mowing the lawn! It feels so wonderful to feel the warmth. Now I really know what it is like to be kissed by the sun.
Kristy called and is doing great! She is having so much fun visiting with friends from her mission and relaxing as well. They went rollar skating last night for a party for the bride. Too cute!
Anne also called from Washington D.C., and is thrilled to have two days with just her husband there touring the different memorials etc...What a cool experience for both of them. Carlitos and Lucy get to spend time with their cousins while mom and dad are away. Perfect!
It has been a peaceful day. I am so grateful for those.

Sheena Marie

So this is our Savage Dog! What a cute puppy she is when she is NOT killing birds and squirrels. Blue eyes too. Maybe she is an alien dog.

My First Blog!

Thanks to Becky I now completed my first BLOG! YEAH! I feel so excited to do this! I the background...thanks Becky!
Today we took Kristy to the airport where she will fly into Ontario, CA to join her friend from her mission who is getting married. Omar will meet her on Friday and they will visit a friend of his and then my brother Conor. On Saturday they will stop by and visit with Uncle Ted. It will be fun for both of them. We will miss having Kristy around. She brought some sunshine into our lives the past couple of months. We are grateful for her help around here and for her willingness to support us at this time. xxoo
Soooo...Sheena killed a squirrel! We found it in the bushes out back! YIKES! Now she has had a taste of being a "real dog" and chases anything that moves! She is the alpha female dog hunter now. She was hilarious on the fourth of July. She slept through everything! Amazing.
The sun is shinning brightly today and there is the promise of 90 degree weather on the way. Summer is finally here I think. Off to work I go! xo