My mom told me the other day it had been a long time since I had written on my blog, and then I run into my dear friend and she tells me my last post was in 2009! I had no clue! So much has gone on since then, obviously. I am thinking now is as good of time as any to write a bit. Brett and Krista are in California with his parents visiting some family. We all would have gone, but Rachel and Lauren are at Below Zero tonight and I needed to be here to help get them ready. Below Zero is basically the winter formal at Desert Ridge, and it's the sophomore class' dance that they were involved in planning and prepping for. Lauren is sophomore class president and Rachel is the spirit director. They love student council. I am glad they are involved. Busy and out of trouble is a good thing! They won't be able to date until April (I know, right?! 16 in April?? Where has the time gone?!?!) so they are at this dance tonight with 2 other girl friends and one of their guy friends. Lucky guy if you ask me! I am sure they will have a great time!
Krista is in 7th grade and will be 13 in May. I can't believe my baby is getting so old! She is taller than Rachel, not quite as tall as Lauren, but I am sure she will be taller than Lauren too! She just cracks us up all of the time. Never a dull moment with Krista, that's for sure!!
I am so glad that 2010 is over! Definitely the worst year for me, and I know that 2011 will have to be better. Probably one of the only good things to happen in 2010 was me getting my first teaching position. I am a kindergarten teacher at Meridian Elementary. I love it! It's been hard, but wonderful at the same time. This school is about 2 miles from home, which is a huge blessing. This job basically fell in to my lap, and I am so, so grateful! I had gone back to work at University of Phoenix after graduating with my Masters in Education, and had planned to just stay there for a year or two and then look for a teaching position. This one came along, and there was no way I could pass it up. I got into my classroom at 2:00 in the afternoon to start setting it up, the day BEFORE meet the teacher, and just 2 days before school started. I have been in a whirlwind ever since.
On October 6, 2010 our world forever changed. My sweet younger brother Eric Kimball passed away that day. I was at school when Brett called to give me this most horrible news. I had just finished singing some songs with the kids when the school psychologist and another teacher walked in to my room (the door was open) and she just started taking over with my kids and the psychologist asked me to come with him because I needed to call my husband. I had a moment of panic and told him he was freaking me out, asked him if my husband okay, and he said yes, but there was a family emergency and I needed to call him. He took me into the principal's office and I made the call. It was the WORST phone call I ever had to make. My sister Heather just happened to have come in to the school to help me that day and was in the copy room. She had only been at the school about 20 minutes or so at this time. I had to break the news to her about our dear brother. It almost doesn't even seem real as I think back to that day, and remember with such vivid clarity all that took place. Melissa and Brent were able to fly in to be there for Eric's funeral. I am so glad that they were able to make it. We all needed each other. Mom and Dad needed us all there, for sure. Eric's funeral was as amazing and wonderful as a funeral could possibly be. I am so eternally grateful for the plan of happiness. I am so thankful that I know what I know! I am grateful that I KNOW that families can be together eternally. I miss Eric more than words could every express. It's not the same without him here. It never will be, but I know that with time the hurt will lessen. I have moments of such comfort and then moments where I break down. It's a roller coaster for sure.
Luckily for us, we live in a great ward. We moved into this ward in November 2009, I think I may have mentioned it in one that last posts. We are still in the same stake as before, just a new ward. It's been a hard adjustment for the girls, seeing as they grew up in our last ward. We have been out in this area for almost 12 years now. We moved out here when Krista was about 15 months old. This is pretty much all my girls have known. We are within walking distance of the junior high and high school, but I drive the girls to school every day. Rachel and Lauren have A hour so I take them at about 6:15 and then I drop Krista off at about 7:15 as I am on my way to school. It has worked out pretty nice. I have loved being home again with them in the morning.
Brett is working for a great company in Scottsdale selling VOIP (voice over IP) to small businesses. He was one of the unfortunate 500 local University of Phoenix enrollment counselors to get layed off the last week in November 2010. We had heard through the grapevine that layoffs were coming, but seriously had NO CLUE he'd be one of them. Luckily he was only out of work less than 2 weeks before starting this job. He started on my birthday, so that was definitely a happy birthday for me!! It's a long commute, but he likes it and is happy. I am happy for him.
Let's see, what else? I have been teaching Relief Society since we moved into this ward. Teaching once a month is the best! I love to teach, so this is great! I had been teaching Gospel Doctrine in our last ward, every other week, so this has been a nice change. All of the girls are loving Young Womens. They all serve in their class presidencies. I really feel blessed, they have been such good girls and they have such strong testimonies. I am amazed by them.
Brett and I celebrated out 17th anniversary last October. Hard to believe it's been that long already...then I look at the girls and realize how fast time has flown!
I am now going to look for some pictures that I can post. Who wants to read all of this anyone, all we really like to see are pictures! Let's just hope I don't wait until 2013 to post again!
Melissa, Mom and Me 
Melissa, Mom and Me 
Michelle, me and Shanon
Brett came in looking for the cream puff, found Bekki and chatted awhile. They are so intense in their conversation!! 
Dawn, Shanon, Tara and Rachel
Some of the girlies....Shayla standing, Hanna, Krista and Katelyn
Amazing dessert bar....and hot chocolate and punch to boot!
Krista, Michelle and mom
Melissa with a couple of her friends
Aunt Patti, Aunt Lori, Grandma Lines, Lacey, Kathleen, and Bekki.....some of our amazing family!!
Todd's mom, sister in law, cousin, and sister. It was so wonderful to have them here to help Melissa celebrate!
Danielle and her beautiful daughters
Krista and her friend Noel on Twin Day at school. They made their cool shirts! I think I know what they'll be for Halloween this year!!
