Testimony

To say the least it has been a busy summer- but the couple of weeks can best be described as hectic. So here it is in a nutshell. Ashley and Monica flew down from Alabama and we are glad we got to spend some quality time amongst all their playtime. Our dear sweet neighbor fell off a 25 foot ladder on his dream home last Sunday trying to finish staining the wood soffit around his home. He was found by his wife, already dead. Our sincerest condolences and love go out to Arleen Davis. She was lucky to have a husband like Garth. Amber and Dustin's wedding was wonderful. HAPPY 8th BIRTHDAY CAMERON!!! Just 2 more days till your bapitism YEA! Our ward spent a great couple of days on the Mormon flats. We hiked about a 5 mile trail where the pioneers walked and stopped at the top of a summit where we could see the Salt Lake Valley in the not so far distance- AMAZING! INSPIRING! BEAUTIFUL! Wes's brother Jeff and his two youngest boys, Blayne and Ayden, got to hang out with us and play with their cousins for a couple of days. The kids had so much fun. We hope we get to see them more often. I just got back from Young Women's Camp where we got to go Rock Climbing down in the infamous Logan Canyon. It ROCKED!(literally) Anyways, Sunday I felt moved to bear my testimony. A sister in the ward suggested I write it down, so here it is, what I remember.
A lot has happened this last while that has had me contemplating and the overwhelming feeling I would like to share with you today is Gratitude.
Sometimes we forget to find the joy in motherhood-until a child gets sick
Sometimes we forget how great the priesthood is- until we need a blessing
Sometimes we forget to try and be a good neighbor- until we lose one
Sometimes we forget about all the love and sacrifices our ancestors and pioneers made for us- until we walk a few miles in their shoes.
I am so grateful that I have the opportunity to be a mother of five beautiful, healthy children. I am so grateful for the power of the priesthood and that I have a husband who honors it. I am grateful for this ward, and the friendships and service that you give to us and each other. I am grateful for the gospel and all those that helped make it possible that I could have it, and live it, and be blessed by it. I am grateful for our Savior, Jesus Christ, and for the atonement, that through him we can all become clean and be together forever. I am greatful for a loving Heavenly Father who has blessed us with all the we have and all that we are. I am gratful for a loving prophet, President Monson, and that we can follow his example and teachings to become more like our Savior. I am grateful for the scriptures and that we can look to them for any of our questions. I am grateful for the gospel and as we live it's principles we find true joy and peace. This testimony I leave with you In the name of Jesus Christ -Amen

Brooklyn sick

Last week was a long week. We got back from Idaho and did some fun stuff with Zach for his birthday. That night we stayed at Wes's parents house cause he had to take them to the airportat 4:30 the next morning. Around 1:30 Brooklyn (our 1 year old) woke up crying. She spent the whole night vomiting and bad diarhea. This continued until the afternoon when we got some anti nausea medicine in her. Anyways, she was so miserable. She was so pale (some of you ask if it is possible that she could get any whiter- but yes she did) and would just lay there. I was hoping it was one of those 24 hour bugs but the next day she started throwing up again. She scared me- she had a temperature of over 103 and I could almost see her little body just wither away in front of me. I took all five kids to the ER where thankfully Wes met me. The took xrays and tests and then hooked her up to an IV. She was so brave. She didn't fight much when they poked and prodded because she had no energy. The doctor wanted to keep her over night but he talked to the attending pediatrician and said it would be OK to send her home as long as we came back in the morning for a check up. She already seemed tons better getting those fluids in her and started to be back to her self somewhat. Everything still seemed fine at the Dr visit the next day and so I thought everything was down hill from then even though she still had severe diarhea. Well, the next day she started throwing up again and I say her body deteriorate in just a few hours. I took her back to the Dr and after some other tests they admitted her to the hospital. She was so dehydrated it took them 7 times of poking before they were able to get a vein for the IV. She was like a little pin cushion and I tell you as a parent, the hardest thing is to watch your child in pain and suffering and not be able to do anything about it. We were there Friday, Saturday, and then they released her Sunday afternoon. I can tell when she was starting to get better cause she'dwake up at 5 in the morning wanting yogurt, or demand eggs at various times in the day. We are so happy she is back to bossing around her brothers and sister. We are also grateful we have 5 healthy children. I hope I never take that for granted. Brooklyn- we love every cute, little 20 pounds of you and are grateful you are a part of our family! Here's a picture of her about a year ago. The only things that's really grown in her hair. CUTIE!

Surprise! Surprise!

Well, Wednesday I got a call from Cherisse(her family moved just outside San Francisco just over a year ago and we haven't seen them since)saying they were leaving the next day and driving to Utah. YEA! And then she said I'm bringing a surprise. I had no clue what it could be. She proceeded to tell me that they were picking Melanie up at the airport and bringing her home to Idaho.(Melanie lives in Connecticut and we haven't seen her in almost a year and a half) DOUBLE YEA! The fun part - nobody else but me knew she was coming. HA HA! I invited all other family members to a special dinner at my house that evening. You should have seen their faces when they came- talk about a Double Take. Man, good times! It's so nice to have everyone all together(except Alisa- I hope you feel guilty that you took a trip to South Carolina instead of home this week J/K) The world scrutinizes big families these days(I should know) I bet it's cause their just jealous because we have the best time when all eight of us get together.

Picture Perfect Throughout the year!

Picture Perfect throughout the year!!!! Fabulous FALL Foliage -
CHRISTMAS Cuties - The only Holiday I like to deck the halls - Spring EASTER BOUQUET- SWEET SUMMER BLOOMS

Howdy! I'm back to update(with or without pictures)what the McKinney clan has been up to. Wes and I celebrated 10 years of marital bliss(ya baby!) I turned the big 30 (don't want to talk about it- just stating it for historical purposes), and our oldest child, Zachary, just turned 9 years old today(Happy Birthday Z) Wow! It seems only yesterday that I was holding his cute little bod in my arms, and now I can barely carry him without dragging his feet across the floor. Augh, they grow up too fast. Zachary is an awesome son, we are so blessed to have him in our family, especially the eldest and the exemplar to his other siblings. He is such a big helper, I sometimes find myself calling his name(like Cinderella) a little too often when I need help-but he's so great, he rarely even complains. He is quite the peacemaker in our home. He is unselfish and will share whatever he has with his brothers and sisters, he loves them, we love him.(uh oh, the Barney songs starting to come out) He is (and has been since he was little) quite sensitive to the Spirit which we are grateful for that. Anyways, thanks Zac for choosing to come down to our family. I'm sure you knew it would be a test to come to earth to two derranged parents.(HE HE) You are the best. We went tubing down the river together yesterday, good times. Anyways, we've had a great summer already, the family reunion was awesome as always. Cousins goin on missions, comin home from missions, getting married, having babies, this is what life's all about huh Grandma. They have 100 posterity to date(grandchildren and great grandchildren) I can't wait to see the fruit of our labors 50 years down the road. We spent a nice relaxing week in Vegas with old roomies from college. There were 13 kiddos runnin around-but fun to say the least. Thanks Kim and Sam. The Fourth of July was great in good ole' Huntsville. They do a great job, and we are quite determined to make their festivities a tradition for the McKinney fam. (You all are welcome to join us any year also) We are now in Thatcher, Idaho visiting family. Alisa drove up from Cali for just a few days so I wanted to spend as much time with her as I could before she went home. She seems to be doing great and we are looking forward to her mission call. I have about a million projects half finished at home. My latest is an outdoor chimney fireplace next to the huge arbor we built last fall. It will be awesome!(when it's finished, hopefully sooner than later) Well, I am going to go ahead and publish this post, just in case I don't get around to my blog for another 6 months.

Let it Snow!!!

Well, to say the least we have been bombarded this year with the white fluffy stuff. Other than driving in it- I love it. It's so beautiful. I love looking out my window and seeing my private little winter wonderland. The kids have had fun sledding, snowboarding, and snowmobiling in it this winter also and Jonathan loves roaming around the ice and breaking off the biggest icicles he can find. We are grateful for the added moisture it will give us this upcoming summer.

Halloween 2007

As you can tell, Halloween is a favorite at our house. Especially for Hailey since she gets to dress up (like she does everyday). She was three different things this Halloween. Our ward had its annual fall festival. Hailey and Jonny danced to "Happy Halloween" and Zac and Cameron danced with my other dance students to Adam's Family and Monster Mash. They did grrreat. The boys really like to get into character when they were performing. Wes and I were a 50's couple. Wes was quite jealous of his wig and I quite enjoyed my blonde hair doo.