Park City Utah
4 years ago
Sunday, January 24, 2010
Boys will be Boys!
And when you have no little boys, the girls have to step in!! It's an every year tradition around our house to have a "hunting" picture. This year, we did it in my Dad's garage which he has spent lots of hours making a rustic retreat. (I have a secret suspicion it's really his glorified doghouse :))
Holiday Re-Cap (TOO Many pictures :))
Here are some pictures of various holiday events. There are pictures from the party at Abby's school, the Daisy scouts carolling at a local retirement home, and of course LOTS of family shots!! Since I'm SO behind, I'll let the pictures speak for themselves! TOO MANY PICTURE WARNING!!!! This post is for the grandmothers :)
Playing Catch Up!
OK - I'm embarrassed!! Someone stopped me in Wal-Mart to tell me it wasn't Christmas any more. When I looked confused, they "gently" reminded me that my blog still thought it was!! The last 6 weeks have been a BLUR! Between the new job (which is GREAT :)), all the holiday festivities and SEVERAL trips to various doctors around town for various wintertime cooties that have invaded, the blog has been neglected! I am hoping to play catch up today, if a certain wild 13 month old will allow. Stay tuned - lots of pictures to come!!
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Caring for Kensley Concert
On October 7th, 2009, Dustin and Melissa Kelly and their family were in a terrible accident. Through God’s mercy Dustin, Melissa and Konnor made it through the accident with minor injuries. However, as many of you are aware Kensley received severe head injuries and was in the trauma center for quite some time. With a lot of support and through many prayers, Kensley has made tremendous improvements. Nonetheless, this has brought change to their lives in many ways. Kensley is having to receive therapy several times a week, and no one really knows how long this could go on. We all know that with God, all things are possible and that is what we are leaning on.
Through the Praying for Kensley blog and FB page literally THOUSANDS have prayed for this sweet family. So many have sent messages that, even though they do not know this family personally, they have taken time to pray and send encouraging words to help lift the family's spirits.
Dustin and Melissa have always been so generous and traveled many miles to sing at funerals, weddings, and countless singings. In return, we would like to have a benefit singing for the family on January 29th, 2009. We realize many have already made contributions, which have been very much appreciated. We also realize that many of you would just like to meet Dustin, Melissa, Konnor and Kensley and see what God has done. They too would love to meet you and thank you for your prayers over the last few months. This singing will be a perfect venue to celebrate God's mercies and undeniable miracles in Kensley's life.
The singing will be Friday, January 29th from 7:00 - 10:00 PM. It will be held at New Century Technology High School. (Click here for directions.)
We look forward to seeing all of the Praying for Kensley army to thank each of you for your prayers and support. Most of all we ask that you continue to remember the Kelly family, and keep Kensley in your prayers.
Love always,
Friends and Family of Kensley Kelly
Through the Praying for Kensley blog and FB page literally THOUSANDS have prayed for this sweet family. So many have sent messages that, even though they do not know this family personally, they have taken time to pray and send encouraging words to help lift the family's spirits.
Dustin and Melissa have always been so generous and traveled many miles to sing at funerals, weddings, and countless singings. In return, we would like to have a benefit singing for the family on January 29th, 2009. We realize many have already made contributions, which have been very much appreciated. We also realize that many of you would just like to meet Dustin, Melissa, Konnor and Kensley and see what God has done. They too would love to meet you and thank you for your prayers over the last few months. This singing will be a perfect venue to celebrate God's mercies and undeniable miracles in Kensley's life.
The singing will be Friday, January 29th from 7:00 - 10:00 PM. It will be held at New Century Technology High School. (Click here for directions.)
We look forward to seeing all of the Praying for Kensley army to thank each of you for your prayers and support. Most of all we ask that you continue to remember the Kelly family, and keep Kensley in your prayers.
Love always,
Friends and Family of Kensley Kelly
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Pray for Noah
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Happy Birthday Ellie Kate!! (Warning - LOTS of pics!!)
What a weekend!!! Friday started with me in Montgomery. Stewart made sure to sing "Happy Birthday" when he woke EK up that morning :) She spent the day with Juju (a sister from church who keeps her 2 days a week). Juju planned a sweet little party with EK and her "boyfriend" Griffin :) 
WHEW - don't ever say I didn't post pictures :)
I made it home that afternoon by 4:00, and was so excited to see my girls!! I had a Gigi cupcake in hand for that night's celebration!
Saturday brought snow and a Roll Tide victory!!!
Sunday was the birthday bash! Thanks to Mimi for hosting and taking care of all the food!! I don't think I could have pulled it off without her!! You're the best Mimi ever!! Friends and family gathered to watch the diva prance around in her tutu telling everyone that she was "tooo" years old (not sure why she skipped one) and "appy day" (her version of Happy Birthday!) Watching her play in the cake was a riot! BTW - Aunt Nana made the cake - AWESOME isn't it??? She liked it on her toes better than anything! She crashed and slept for hours before she could even open the presents, but what a great party she had!!!
WHEW - don't ever say I didn't post pictures :)
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Then Came the Morning
December 3, 2008 - I remember this night well. Here we were, one year and fifteen days since we delivered our angel. One year and fifteen days since life as we knew it changed forever. One year and fifteen days of depending on God for every breath, thought, and will to keep walking down this path. In that one year and fifteen days so much had happened. We trudged down a path, in a club we never asked to be a part of. I worried with every breath about what would happen next. I mourned not only for our loss, but what this tragedy would mean in Abby's short life - would it scar her forever? Stewart's dad continued to suffer daily with terminal cancer. My grandfather, who I credit for the moral fiber our family is built around, had passed on after a very brief and unexpected illness. Yet through it all, here we sat about to face my greatest fear - the birth of another baby.
How could this be? How did this happen? How were we going to handle what was coming? This pregnancy was nothing but absolutely, perfectly normal. So was Abby's. So was Olivia's. No comfort in the normalcy. We had countless high level tests at UAB, NSTs every other week, you name it. No comfort in every medical professional telling me everything looked and sounded perfect. Here I was. I wanted desperately - more than I wanted breath itself - to BELIEVE and have FAITH that tomorrow would bring our rainbow - the end of our rain. But I couldn't. The Devil had tormented me for weeks that once again I needed to prepare for a funeral. The day before Olivia was born, I believe the Lord prepared me by letting me have the thought of where we would bury Olivia. After her birth, it was actually some form of comfort that God had known and somehow tried to prepare me for this tragedy. Now, it was nothing but torment. The fact that there was space in our family cemetery for Olivia was a blessing then, but the fact that there was also room - not for another adult, but only room for a baby - was again, torture.
Then came the morning of December 4th- it was time. Time to go back to the same hospital, to the same scene of the happiest day and the most horrific day in our lives. I walked in to the sight of our Earthly angel of the day - Kris Jones. For all of you nurses, especially if you work at HH now, she WAS and IS our angel. She was our nurse through most of my labor and delivery with Abby. She was also the supervising nurse who actually delivered Olivia. I arrived at the hospital that night only 20 minutes before she was born, so the doctor did not make it in time. She was calming and compassionate as she talked me through childbirth with no drugs (NOT by choice!), and then she bore the burden of looking up at me and Stewart and telling us that our daughter was not breathing and would not breathe - would we like to hold her? She was the one who lovingly wrapped up our beautiful baby and brought her to us to hold. She cried with us, held us, and helped us know what to do in a situation NO ONE ever expects. And here she was - one year and fifteen days later - waiting for me with a smile telling me that today was the day to have a beautiful, healthy baby girl.
The next hour and a half are a blur. Kris kept us talking, laughing and distracted. She told me everything that was going on and prepared me for everything to expect. She assured me I had the best team. She let me keep that monitor on full blast so I could hear that heartbeat thumping away. Then it was time. As they wheeled us into the ER for the C-Section, the fear and panic was overwhelming. I had chosen an elective c-section because I couldn't bear the thought of childbirth again. But as I laid there and the team began to prep, all I knew was I didn't think I could handle a silent childbirth with no baby crying. As I laid there, Stewart bent down at my head - I know he was just as concerned, but I know right then he was praying for my comfort. He had the faith I couldn't have. He knew a healthy baby was on her way and could take comfort in that.
At that moment, I began to sing. For those of you that know me, I sing when I'm happy, sad, bored - you name it. For the last month, in my efforts to keep it together, I would start everyday in the shower singing the same song over and over. "It's so peaceful in the arms of my Lord. In His presence I am sheltered from the storm. It's so good to have His spirit. It's so good to have His word. It's so peaceful in the arms of the Lord." I could picture the peace in the arms of the Lord. It helped me identify those thoughts that were not peaceful were not of the Lord. Simplistic I know - but that's all I was capable of. As I sang, the surgery began and I didn't even know it. The whole time, there stood Kris on the other side of that big blue sheet telling me over and over that everything was wonderful -everything was perfect.
And came the sound I needed and yearned to hear for one year and fifteen days - my baby cried. MY NEW BABY CRIED!!! If she cried, it meant she was breathing. I couldn't believe it. Stewart asked if I heard it. Kris was jumping up and down, yes - jumping, asking if I heard it. My baby was crying before she was even completely out of my body. SHE CRIED! Kris kept telling me over and over that she was beautiful, she was perfect. And then, one year and sixteen days later, Kris walked to me and handed me a beautiful bundle of breathing, crying, healthy baby girl!!
During my time in recovery, Kris sat right by my side and talked about my 3 beautiful girls. When they came to tell me Ellie Kate had been transferred to the NICU for some breathing problems, it was Kris who held my hand and looked me in the eye and made me focus on the fact that everything was OK. In my mind, Kris is our angel.
For all of the nurses out there - thank you for what you do. Thank you for being God's angels on Earth.
Dear God - thank you for bringing our family the morning. Thank you for the answer to the prayer I was too afraid to pray outloud. Thank you for the valley that made me even more thankful for the precious gift of life.
Next post - EK's PARTY BASH!!!
How could this be? How did this happen? How were we going to handle what was coming? This pregnancy was nothing but absolutely, perfectly normal. So was Abby's. So was Olivia's. No comfort in the normalcy. We had countless high level tests at UAB, NSTs every other week, you name it. No comfort in every medical professional telling me everything looked and sounded perfect. Here I was. I wanted desperately - more than I wanted breath itself - to BELIEVE and have FAITH that tomorrow would bring our rainbow - the end of our rain. But I couldn't. The Devil had tormented me for weeks that once again I needed to prepare for a funeral. The day before Olivia was born, I believe the Lord prepared me by letting me have the thought of where we would bury Olivia. After her birth, it was actually some form of comfort that God had known and somehow tried to prepare me for this tragedy. Now, it was nothing but torment. The fact that there was space in our family cemetery for Olivia was a blessing then, but the fact that there was also room - not for another adult, but only room for a baby - was again, torture.
Then came the morning of December 4th- it was time. Time to go back to the same hospital, to the same scene of the happiest day and the most horrific day in our lives. I walked in to the sight of our Earthly angel of the day - Kris Jones. For all of you nurses, especially if you work at HH now, she WAS and IS our angel. She was our nurse through most of my labor and delivery with Abby. She was also the supervising nurse who actually delivered Olivia. I arrived at the hospital that night only 20 minutes before she was born, so the doctor did not make it in time. She was calming and compassionate as she talked me through childbirth with no drugs (NOT by choice!), and then she bore the burden of looking up at me and Stewart and telling us that our daughter was not breathing and would not breathe - would we like to hold her? She was the one who lovingly wrapped up our beautiful baby and brought her to us to hold. She cried with us, held us, and helped us know what to do in a situation NO ONE ever expects. And here she was - one year and fifteen days later - waiting for me with a smile telling me that today was the day to have a beautiful, healthy baby girl.
The next hour and a half are a blur. Kris kept us talking, laughing and distracted. She told me everything that was going on and prepared me for everything to expect. She assured me I had the best team. She let me keep that monitor on full blast so I could hear that heartbeat thumping away. Then it was time. As they wheeled us into the ER for the C-Section, the fear and panic was overwhelming. I had chosen an elective c-section because I couldn't bear the thought of childbirth again. But as I laid there and the team began to prep, all I knew was I didn't think I could handle a silent childbirth with no baby crying. As I laid there, Stewart bent down at my head - I know he was just as concerned, but I know right then he was praying for my comfort. He had the faith I couldn't have. He knew a healthy baby was on her way and could take comfort in that.
At that moment, I began to sing. For those of you that know me, I sing when I'm happy, sad, bored - you name it. For the last month, in my efforts to keep it together, I would start everyday in the shower singing the same song over and over. "It's so peaceful in the arms of my Lord. In His presence I am sheltered from the storm. It's so good to have His spirit. It's so good to have His word. It's so peaceful in the arms of the Lord." I could picture the peace in the arms of the Lord. It helped me identify those thoughts that were not peaceful were not of the Lord. Simplistic I know - but that's all I was capable of. As I sang, the surgery began and I didn't even know it. The whole time, there stood Kris on the other side of that big blue sheet telling me over and over that everything was wonderful -everything was perfect.
And came the sound I needed and yearned to hear for one year and fifteen days - my baby cried. MY NEW BABY CRIED!!! If she cried, it meant she was breathing. I couldn't believe it. Stewart asked if I heard it. Kris was jumping up and down, yes - jumping, asking if I heard it. My baby was crying before she was even completely out of my body. SHE CRIED! Kris kept telling me over and over that she was beautiful, she was perfect. And then, one year and sixteen days later, Kris walked to me and handed me a beautiful bundle of breathing, crying, healthy baby girl!!
During my time in recovery, Kris sat right by my side and talked about my 3 beautiful girls. When they came to tell me Ellie Kate had been transferred to the NICU for some breathing problems, it was Kris who held my hand and looked me in the eye and made me focus on the fact that everything was OK. In my mind, Kris is our angel.
For all of the nurses out there - thank you for what you do. Thank you for being God's angels on Earth.
Dear God - thank you for bringing our family the morning. Thank you for the answer to the prayer I was too afraid to pray outloud. Thank you for the valley that made me even more thankful for the precious gift of life.
Next post - EK's PARTY BASH!!!
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