A glimpse of what's to come...

I had a glimpse of what will quickly be my life once again... because summer time is coming fast. Kids... running in and out, door left open, more running in and out. Door slamming. Yep, that will be my life once again very soon! Why it is happening tonight I just don't know... but it's not warm enough to have the door left open and how in the world did I end up with all of these extra kids???

Just a gliimpse of what will be...

A conversation...

The other day I ran into Kevin's mom. I haven't seen her for a while but have thought a lot about her in the past couple of months. She stopped and asked about Jace and told me how worried she had been and how much she has thought about him, and that she had called him briefly while he was at the hospital but that Jace had sounded a little out of it when she called. I told her what was going on, and then I felt a very strong impression that I should share with her what had happened in our family two weeks before the accident and right about the time of the anniversary of his death. We both shed tears over knowing that Kevin was here, and that he is still involved in the lives of those he loved. But then she said that about the same time, she woke up with a feeling that she had been kissed on the cheek. It was a physical feeling, so strong and so real that she thought it had been Kevin's younger brother. She said for 3 years she hasn't felt Kevin's presence at all but she knew without a doubt that it was Kevin. She then told me that the moment she heard about Jace she knew that Kevin had come back in order to help and be there for Jace. I told her that many times over those first few days I knew that Jace had been given some heavenly help and that I had felt that when Kevin had told Kailee to take care of his buddy, that it was going to be a rough weekend, that he hadn't necessarily been talking about the weekend of Kevin's death, but 2 weekends later he would be given a miracle, and then more miracles.

She told me that there hadn't been many that could comfort her over those first weeks and months of Kevin's death, but that Jace, like another son to her, and helped carry her through and what an extraordinary man he is. I feel the same way. I feel blessed to be the mother of a young man that knows enough, and cares enough to carry us through times that make us wonder if we will be able to get through it all. We both stood in the entrance of the grocery store with tears streaming down our faces. But I am grateful that there are other mothers who love my children too... and that we can all help carry each other's burdens in times like we have went through over the past 3 years. And though it sounds weird... I am grateful that the first time Kevin was allowed to come back, he came to help his best buddy! Because I know that he did. I felt it, and now I know that others felt it also!

Yipee!

Thayne called 20 minutes ago and said that he is on his way home! EARLY even!!! I am so excited! This has been the longest week... no, I take that back, he has had to work Fridays for the last 2 weeks and was late all week because of the stuff (said with a nasty ick taste in my mouth) going on at work. He was hoping to get things tied up with MSHA and get home early today and I am so happy! I am so excited that our weekend starts NOW! Now let's home nobody sees any unidentified sparks, everyone remembers how to behave, themselves, and with members of the opposite sex, and no johnny miner makes up something and calls MSHA because he may or may not be a disgruntled employee... I'm just sayin'.... it would be nice to hide the phone and forget the world for the next 3 days!

The kids are so excited!!!

The kids have been so excited over the news that they will become aunts and uncles! We got the usual high fives, cheers and laughing! I told Kassi when I picked her up from school and she screamed and gave me high five. Then she screamed again! Kami asked if she had to be big before she got to be an aunt. Kalli informed her that she would be small like she is, only she will be 5 so Kami can't wait to be 5 now and it just isn't going to get her fast enough. They are already making big plans for the new niece or nephew! Poor Garrett and Tiffany, they just didn't realize what they were getting into by adding another precious baby to this family! We all decided twins would be great so there would be more baby to go around!!!

Last night Thayne and I went for a walk and Thayne was talking about when we were first pregnant with Garrett and how we would go for a walk around Delta every night and talk about the future, dream about our baby and how life was going to be. He said it's so strange that Delta really hasn't changed, but our lives have changed so much more than we could have ever imagined! We laugh that going back to Delta is like going back in time for us... and yet we are a million miles away from where we used to be. We were watching Nathaniel last night and we teased Tiffany that this is how her baby is going to act because he is so much like Garrett was... so strong willed and hard headed and ready to take on the world and get things done!

I love that our kids rejoice in new life and find joy in being able to share in it! We are so blessed. Thayne told me that this will be so great for Garrett and Tiffany... and then he laughed and said that this will be so great for us too! I am so very excited for them! This is the absolute best time of life. It's so fun to start dreaming of the child to be, wondering who it will be. It's so beyond anything you could even dream of! What a great journey they are beginning!!!

So this is what we got this morning.....

Well... this is what Tiffany and Garrett got this morning!!! Yep... I am going to be a grandma, and I am so very excited!!! They wanted kids right away and I couldn't be happier for them. I am going to be a grandma!!! I AM GOING TO BE A GRANDMA!!! This is just the absolute best news!!! This is just the greatest news!

Congratulations Garrett and Tiff... you guys are going to be the very best parents!!!

Funny how the mind works...

Thayne and I haven't had much time to talk tonight since I had kids at the doctor until dinner time and he was at the church helping set up for the youth fund raising dinner for all of the camps, and then we ate there and while it was going on I took sick kids home to put to bed, but we snuck out for a few minutes of kissing and saying hello after what I am sure was a horrible, crazy and stressful day for Thayne.

He was telling about getting a phone call early this morning about the guys being in the refuge chambers... he slept in and was running late so he was in the middle of the crazy traffic going out to the mine... he usually gets on the road early enough to miss the bulk of it. He said that when he first heard he thought that it was another false alarm... not serious but that precautions were in place and he would get out to work and it would be nothing. He said then he started thinking, "What if this is the ONE time that it isn't a false alarm... what if this is real?" And he was getting antsy because he was following behind a line of cars. Then he started thinking about who was on shift. He was mentally naming the guys off and then it hits him that Garrett is on shift! He said after he processes the fact that his son is on shift and locked in a refuge chamber he goes into panic mode and has now lost all patience for the long line of slow traffic, and getting more impatient as the minutes tick by. He said that he actually felt like cussing at the drivers that wouldn't just drive!!! :} And then he just lost it and stepped on the gas and flew down the road so he could get to the mine to figure out what was really going on. Of course it wasn't serious in the end, and their procedure of getting guys to safety in the event of an emergency worked great, and they were then stuck for 5 hours doing nothing but waiting... but hey... it worked! But poor Thayne didn't like the things his mind was telling him as he was trying to get down the road to check on all of the guys stuck underground!!!

On a side note... Garrett doesn't think those rescue chambers are very comfortable. I guess when your life really isn't in danger you can take the time to evaluate your circumstances and have the luxury of being picky about it! If his life had really been in danger he likely would have been singing the praises of that uncomfortable refuge... or maybe not!

Now I have something to blog about!!!

I was just complaining that I have nothing to blog about!!! That will teach me!

So I get a phone call from Thayne this morning and he told me to not worry, that I might hear that there were miners trapped underground and that there was an explosion, but do NOT worry. Garrett is in the rescue chamber and he is fine and it is a non-issue and they are just getting the mine cleared so do NOT worry! Um... okay, gee, that is a fine wake up call! He told me not to tell Tiffany yet, or my friend Melissa whose husband was with Garrett also. He told me he was able to see them, and everyone was accounted for and fine, that they followed procedures perfectly and he would get them home safe and sound! A couple of hours later he told me I could call and let them know that all is well and that they are preparing to get them safely out of the mine!

The one thing about Thayne is that he feels a great responsibility for those men underground... whether it is his own son, or anyone else. First and most of all, he wants them all to go home safely at the end of each shift!

It's almost comical how stories start and grow out of control. They were safe, they were not in danger and there was no nuclear type explosion that was enough to put the National Guard on alert... I repeat it was NOT like that! The guys were safe, some of them were asking, "Is this a test?" No... this is not a test, I repeat, this is not a test... get to the refuge chambers now. You know, the mine invested millions of dollars in these chambers, the least they can do is use it when they need it!!! :) And they invested in this tracking system that allows them to know where the men are at all times, they can follow them around the mine, kind of like big brother.... we know where you are, you cannot hide! :)

So for 5 + hours they got to hang out and enjoy modern technology. Once Thayne was able to call into the chamber and talk to Garrett the guys teased him that all is well... the boss' son is in the chamber so you know they will be rescued! I had no doubt and Thayne was calm as could be so I knew all was well. This is where they got to hang out and tell stories, and now they have some great stories to share! :) These chambers are there in case of fires, explosions, ground falls, gasses and any other scary thing that could happen underground. It is there to save lives. I am so very grateful that they didn't need to actually save any lives today, but I am also grateful to know that it is there in case they needed it. I wish the general public knew and understood the work these men do at the mines... what they provide for the very basic comforts of our lives! And I am grateful that the mine Thayne runs is willing to invest in their men and do what they can to make sure that every man goes home safe every night! And that my 'baby' boy is home safe and sound with his sweet wife right now!!!

Not a thing to blog about...

I hate it when that happens... that, meaning nothing to blog about. Because I really like to blog! My kids usually give me plenty to blog about. In fact it's a joke at our house... do something and mom will blog about it. So why have they been so boring???

They have all been laughing that their dad is facebooking now. They pressured him into it. I guess that is something, but not really. Well... it really is, but still, it's not blog worthy!

Shalum and Candice came out to dinner tonight. And speaking of Shalum and Candice, I am determined to find them a baby. They are the greatest aunt and uncle and they would make the very best parents. They wanted 9 kids when they got married and now, going on 6 years later we are going to have to work hard to figure out how to get them their own babies to love!!! Anyone want to help??? I love these two. We wanted Shalum to move here to meet her so it worked out perfectly that they fell in love and got married. I've tried my hand at match maker and have a pretty high success rate... figure it is time to move on to baby finder now! :)

After dinner we played a game called Scotland Yard... Jace won. I think he totally cheats! The missionaries came over to visit for a minute. They are great and are coming over Friday again. Caitlyn shared her testimony at church today. It was awesome! So did Tallin. He is growing spiritually and I love to watch it happen. The kids are all doing a big dinner and service auction as their fund raiser for camp this year on Tuesday night. I guess I could buy my own kids to work at the house, haha! That would be funny! Thayne is going to the gym with Shalum at 4am before work tomorrow morning. Glad it's him and not me!

We will have two graduations this year. Bummy will graduate from kindergarten on the 22nd and Tallin will graduate on the 29th from high school! WOW! That is just amazing! We are going to have a big graduation party for Tallin. This month is going to fly by and is going to be insanely crazy. I need to get his graduation announcements done and mailed out! Better yet, we need to get his pictures taken. Caitlyn is going to take them! She's awesome with a camera. I should get Bummy and Tallin's pictures taken together in their cap and gowns. That would be cute!

See... told you there was nothing to blog about. Although at this point boring is better than the crazy stuff that keeps happening in our lives. Boring is good... boring is good... boring is GOOD! I'll keep repeating that to myself! We've had enough excitement!

Thanks Karen...

My sweet friend Karen called to wish me a wonderful May and to tell me that it is going to be a better month than April. Her thought for the day was "Don't look back, we are not going there anyway, so there is no sense looking back!" Isn't that the truth!!! And thankfully we don't have to look back... we get to keep looking forward and making the most of the time we have now. What a great thought! Thank you Karen!!!

Healing Update...

Each day seems to bring healing, and Jace is up walking more and more, though admittedly he walks like an old man with a cane (his words)... I told him walked like something else, but his is a nicer description! :) His leg will never really be the same, but it is nice to see how hard he is working to walk normally again. He still gets tired pretty easy and at the end of the day he is wiped, but he's getting out and doing things and for that I am so grateful. Considering where it was, it's nice to see how quickly it is healing!

I think sometimes about what he went through, what we ALL went through and so many emotions go through me. I am, above all else, grateful for his life being spared, not just once, but several times throughout this ordeal. Who would think that the helicopter flying you to the hospital would hit birds and almost go down... or that bleeding out would have them go back in to explore and find blood clots that needed to be cleaned out. He has a purpose on the earth at this time and I am so very grateful for his life being spared. But I also think about how some people would look at this as some horrible thing, have ugly comments to say, or think the worst of something that was a complete accident. It was horrible, there is no denying that. But I feel something deeper, something spiritual, something so profoundly sacred that I can barely put my feelings into words. It is as if this has some eternal consequence that we are not supposed to completely know or understand right now, but that how we go through it, how we come out of it in the end matters... Matters in an eternal sense. Matters now... I felt my soul shift in a way that I am unable to share, something that I would never want to go through again, but that I wouldn't necessarily take back, because of all that I have learned, all that we have walked through, or maybe more importantly what we have been carried through. I never doubted miracles in my life, have seen so many that at times I wonder if I have the right to ask for just one more since I have seen so many. But once again I have witnessed miracles in the tiniest, and the most life altering sense. Once again I watched my kids wrap their love around each other and I have watched them protect and care for each other. I watch our family become stronger, more kind, more appreciative of life and love and each other. I love that we can find humor in the horrible, that we can laugh when we should be crying, smile through the pain and grin and bear it when we can't do anything else! And I love that when one is down, we all work together to carry them through! I love that this family we have created stands firm and united when the storms rage around them. A woman in the community known for stirring up trouble tried to make a scandal where there was none... and I loved how my sweet daughter kindly put her in her place as to what did indeed happen as opposed to the woman's persistence in spreading a rumor... and even more important, I love that true friends know there wasn't a rumor to spread anyway, since none of the scandalous activity she was trying to spread was even going on. We truly have the greatest family, and the greatest friends imaginable!

So the leg is healing... it looks better every single day. (Although I really think it looks like a shark took a bite out of his leg but hey, he's a guy and it adds character to be sure!) It will be work, it will take time to get back to where he needs to be. But we have seen a miracle take place, mountains moved, lives spared. We have been so very blessed and I count my blessings every single day!