Twenty Years Younger!

On my twentieth birthday I went into labor with my very first baby.  I didn't know what I was having, the doctor had told me that my babies heart beat was slow my entire pregnancy and that slow heart beats meant boys.  So...that was what I was expecting.

While in labor the babies heart beat jumped into a new higher speed.  The doctor looked at the monitor and said to me, "wow, that heart beat has really sped up, I think I have changed my mind, you will probably have a girl".  After being shocked by this new declaration, I remember wondering, could I really be so lucky?  I had been the only girl in my family with three younger brothers, and had always longed to have a little sister.

Two days later, I was being wheeled into the operating room after a very long and difficult labor to have a c-section.  My sweet young husband came in the room with me looking sharp in his scrubs!  Within no time at all a beautiful baby GIRL was born!  Scott and I were both so excited, as I was getting stitched back up Scott followed our new baby from room to room.  The nurses later reported to me that they had never seen a father so proud!

Our perfect little baby girl, Heather Quinn McKee (now Wigginton) has been the perfect oldest child.  I would have gladly gone through another two days of labor to have the same outcome of this beautiful baby.

She is now a grown woman, with children of her own, and I marvel that Heavenly Father would have entrusted me with one of his precious daughters.

Happy Birthday Heather, I love you so much!

What an honor!

In this life, there are many things that you can be honored over, such as receiving an award, or being noticed for some act.  But in my opinion, these pale in comparison to the honor of being asked to be a witness to an absolute miracle...the birth of a baby.

My daughter Ashleigh, has given me this great honor twice now.  Two years ago, in May 2010, I was there when Ashleigh's first little son was born, Kai.  On May 3, 2012, I yet again got to be a witness to my first little granddaughter, Avery.  Excitement filled the room as we anticipated her arrival.

Ashleigh received excellent care at Madison Memorial Hospital in Rexburg Idaho.  We loved the doctors and nurses who made the experience so memorable.  They truly added to the day, their knowledge and dedication to their craft made all the difference!

When Avery made her entrance into this world, it was my honor to capture the event.  I loved these pictures as Ashleigh and Logan (aka mom and dad) were so filled with joy.  They kept looking at each other and would smile and then looked back at their new bundle of joy.  It was so special to witness.

Kai, who is now the big brother made his way to the hospital with Pepa (who by the way had watched him all day and had done an excellent job).  He was so sweet with his little sister, and continues to be.  He's learned to talk to her in a high and squeaky voice that just melts my heart.

Pepa just gazed into this little beauties face, a true gift from heaven!

Ashleigh is having so much fun dressing her all up - each outfit would not be complete without the bow!  Truly - this little lady is set!

What an honor to be a Mema!  I just love every second of it!

Bitter Sweet

Do you ever get tired of posing for pictures?  Chase and Jordan were clearly playing along.  This was a special week - and so lots of pictures had to be taken - my baby boy was going to be a missionary!

This morning, Chase was out of bed first thing in the morning, and dressed and ready for the day to begin.

The Best Western Cotton Tree Inn has been my home for many emotional events.  We have stayed here for college graduations, we have stayed here for visits, and mostly we have stayed here for every single MTC experience!  I have cried many bitter sweet tears at this location.

The day finally had come, and today was Chase's day.  The day that I would be shedding those bitter sweet tears over him.

Taking a missionary to the MTC has changed over the years.  No longer can you go into the MTC and watch all the Mormon Ads and cry every time that they tell you, "family, isn't it about time?"  Now, you take pictures from a distance, maybe the MTC thinks that mom's won't cry!  ha ha - good luck with that!

Note the thrilled look on Chase's face!  He was convinced that everyone was staring at him having to get his picture taken!

We spent the morning thinking of things to do to pass the time while we waited for our allotted time.  Poor Chase was trying hard to think our activities were fun, but truly he just wanted to say good-bye to us and hello to the MTC.

Finally, the time had come, it was time to say good-bye.  We were told that we needed to say our good-bye's before we got to the MTC.  Scott and Chase were giving each other one last hug!

Chase was making sure that all of his bags were in the van and ready.

For those of you who will have future missionaries, this is the new routine.  A nice older missionary meets you at the front gate, and welcomes you on the grounds.  The man assigns your car a number.

Along the sidewalk were numbers listed, and we needed to find our number.  It was so sad driving through this, there were parents and missionaries crying and giving each other one last good-bye hug.

Once we found our number we had elders come straight to our van.  They said to Chase, "Welcome to the MTC elder, what is your last name?"  From there it was, "Elder McKee do this, or Elder do that."  They came to the back of our van and said to Scott, "Dad would you like to help with his bags?"  Scott was more than happy to jump out of the car.

They also asked him where he was going, and continued to be bright and cheery.  Chase had a smile on his face the whole time, I think he was overwhelmed by this super awesome welcome!

They let me get out of the car and say one last good-bye - which was really quick!  One of the last things the Elders said to Scott was, "don't worry dad, your missionary is in good hands now!"

 
And then...I watched my baby walk away.  A true missionary.  It was bitter...It was sweet!

I allowed the tears to flow as we drove away, I felt an overwhelming feeling of gratitude to have yet another MTC experience.

Happy Valentines day to YOU!

Happy Valentines day to You!

My wonderful husband, my awesome children, my amazing grandchildren, my loving parents, my sweet siblings, my devoted friends and my loyal dog Riley! I love you all - you have made my life rich with blessings!

May this Valentines day be a day that you "feel" the love from all whom you come in contact with, but that you most importantly "feel" the love that our Heavenly Father has for YOU!

Keep Calm and Carry On!

My daughter Heather has a sign in her kitchen, "Keep calm and carry on" Never could she probably have guessed when she fell in love with that statement how this mantra would be such a part of her life. She is a pillar of strength and positiveness, even when things are difficult. This doesn't mean that she doesn't have her moments when she feels down, but she doesn't allow herself to stay there long. She stays calm, and she carries on.

Yesterday I made the journey to Palo Alto to watch Talmage while Heather, Jim and baby Ev began their new journey at Lucille Packard Hospital in Stanford. This was not going to be any small event, you maybe would think that stress and craziness would fill the air in their home, but it was quite the opposite. There was love, peace, calmness, faith, gratitude and a desire to carry on.

This morning was more of the same. I looked at my sweet daughter as she was getting ready for the hospital and I marveled at her strength.

She is calm and beautiful, as she carries on in faith! What a blessing it has been to watch her become the woman that she is.

The Business Relationship...

A few years ago, a very wise woman in our ward by the name of Kaci, was giving a talk on the marriage relationship that will forever remain in my memory.

Kaci said that every once in a while her and her husband find themselves in a "business relationship." She said that the business relationship is when, there is nothing wrong with the relationship, everything that needs to get done is getting done, (i.e. dinners are made, house is clean, lawns are mowed, shopping is done, kids are bathed, homework is done, callings have been taken care of, laundry is folded, carpools are completed, bills are paid, etc.), but the relationship becomes all business, "i'll do this, and you do that."

The list could go on and on, and the list is different for each household, but each household has these types of list. Kaci said, "it is at these times when her and her husband need to step out of their "business relationship" and appreciate why they fell in love in the first place."

Recently the business relationship made its way into our home, such an easy thing to happen when life is so busy. Friday morning Scott and I had a spontaneous conversation on this very subject. I appreciated the fact that we could talk about it, and then we both were off to work, back to business!!

When I got home from work on Friday, I found this most wonderful surprise in the front room, a token of non-business love!

It didn't stop in the front room, the token of non-business love moved to the family room as well!

A reminder of love was also given to me in the kitchen!

And...last but not least, our bedroom!

I'm so grateful for my husband, what a special surprise this was that made me feel warm and loved all over! He truly is my best friend, one that I can work through the "business" transactions of life with, and also one who I can love and adore for all of his goodness!

A successful marriage requires falling in love many times...Always with the same person!

Thank you honey - I love you!

Parent PayDay

When I was at church today, one of the ladies from my ward came up to me and said, "today is parent payday!" I laughed, and then agreed. I've discovered over the years that parenting is not for the weak, the hours are endless and can be down right grueling. Dinners are mostly never appreciated, and the laundry is never accomplished! But... ad-mist all the craziness, there are the paydays. These are the times that you know that you would go through any hard thing just for that child, the love and the joy that you feel can not even be truly described. Maybe it's a smile, or an I love you, or a special conversation. Paydays come in various ways, but I've never had a payday that I didn't enjoy or cherish!

Today was a payday, my baby received the Melchizedek Priesthood! His mission paperwork has all been turned in, and just a few minutes ago he left my home to go and give his very first priesthood blessing! This payday is special, I've hoped and prayed for this payday for sometime now, I worried that it might not come, and then I turned it all over to the Lord, knowing that He knew my desire. Payday came, and I would have to say, "it came with interest!"

My joy is full, thank you Heavenly Father and thank you Chase for this most wonderful payday!