Wednesday, July 15, 2009

Alex is here!

Kade got to meet his cousin Alex tonight! He flew in from Montana today, and will be here for a few weeks.


All of the Killian grandchildren...


Dawson was so excited that he got up at 6 a.m. to wait for Alex's 4:30 p.m. flight.


Aunt Lisa was excited too!


Maw Maw is going to have a late night tonight...


We have missed you so much Alex! We can't wait to spend lots of time with you
this summer!

Saturday, July 11, 2009

The Beach...Take Two!

First and foremost, I need to start this post by thanking these guys:



You really made our trip to MB much easier since Kade seems to enjoy your silly singing and dancing. Much to my displeasure, I have found myself also singing your stupid songs. "Wiggle-it party, wiggle-it party, wiggle-it party, snap, snap, snap; clap, clap, clap; wiggle your hips just like that." Now don't all rush out at once to buy it, but it did really make our drive much easier...

Now on to more important stuff. It's what you all really continue to come to this blog for anyway:


This was just an idea I had on the beach, but isn't it just the cutest!?!


I think this is my favorite. He is so handsome here--ladies, watch out!


I am the luckiest mommy alive, because I get to wake up to these beautiful eyes every single day!

And I am gonna throw this one in for good measure. Alex will be here on Wednesday! And we are all soooooooo excited! We've missed you so much!

Friday, July 10, 2009

Greetings from Myrtle Beach!



We are on our very first family vacation!



Putting his feet in the ocean...



Cassi catching a wave...



James in the ocean...



It's a hard life, but someone has to do it so it may as well be me!

Thursday, July 2, 2009

This post has been Swimming in my head....

This post is dedicated to my Great-Uncle Clifford.



He passed away on Father's Day 2009, and we all miss him so much already! Angie and I were always together as kids, and he would come and get me in rain, sleet, or snow just so we could hang out. In fact, one of my most fond moments of his life is how angry he got with us (me and Angie) when his truck broke down in the snow...as we made up songs to sing to the tune of Christmas songs about other cars that had broken down. I can remember him saying, "Girls!" I think he meant to say "Shut Up!" I will never forget this moment, ever! It was so funny to us.

As I was at the celebration of his life, I was listening to my Uncle Gary give the eulogy. He taught Gary how to hunt. "What did he teach me?", I thought. I looked around the church at the many friends and family who were gathered to honor him, and one thought popped into mind. It was, "How many of these people did he teach how to swim?" I'm willing to bet the farm he taught most of them.

He did teach me and Leigh Ann how to swim. I am pretty sure he taught my mom too. And I am quite certain we could establish our very own army if we named just how many people he did teach.



How does this all relate to his life? I'm glad you asked:

Can you imagine what that "learning process" felt like? Some of you may remember first hand, some may not. I don't. However, I can imagine what it felt like. And I bet it went something like this:

I imagine feeling anxious--excited to learn, but scared of the "deep-end." I wouldn't be able to touch the bottom. I'm sure as a child, a very scary feeling is "Sink or Swim." I can imagine he told me that I would need to kick my feet and move my arms to stay on top of the water, and that he would be right there with me as I learned. I can imagine he took me out to the deep end before I felt ready, because he had more faith in me than I had in myself. I can imagine me in the water, kicking with all my might and him reaching out his hand to bring me back up when I started to go under. I can imagine the excitement I felt when I realized I was swimming after all. I can imagine how proud he was of me in that moment and satisfied to know he had prepared me for this venture.

His absence here has left many people feeling as if they would "sink." They are in deep waters, over their heads, and feel as if they are drowning in sorrow. And I can imagine him, right there beside us all, reaching out his hand, saying, "You have to kick your feet with all your might to stay on top of the water." I can imagine him taking us each to the deep end of grief and saying, "I know you are ready," even if we feel as if we aren't. I can imagine him reaching out his hand to all of us, and pulling us back up with fond memories when we feel as if we are sinking in sadness. And I can imagine how proud he is that his family and friends are learning to swim through the rest of life without him, because he had prepared us for this venture.

This analogy doesn't compare to the impact he left on so many lives. But I'm willing to bet, even in Heaven, he is teaching someone new how to Swim! It saddens me to think that Kade will learn how to swim from someone else, but rest assured I will be thinking of you, Uncle Clifford, in that moment.

For Gloria and family....

I began blogging several years ago in search of new friends who, like me, were having a difficult time getting pregnant. Five years, 2 miscarriages, 4 failed IUI's, and a doctor who told us "It will never happen" later, we are the proud parents of Kade and Kohen. They are each an example of God's absolute perfection. We thank God where medical intervention stops, Divine intervention begins.