a simple inspiration

our stories: favorite posts

I love Instagram. I love being able to tell our stories in bite-size pieces and being able to scroll through the memories a few minutes here and there. But today as I was looking for something here, I remembered how much I love a rich narrative.  I love reading the stories that require a little more detail and character development.  Something that lingers with me long after the moment is over.  

I don't know if I will ever be that kind of writer, but as I looked through our archives I remembered things I was certain I would never forget and did.  I started making a list, a simple list with 10 favorite posts for the year. You can see it here: FAVORITE POSTS.  It was hard to narrow down my favorites there were so many wonderful memories and I only made it through 2 years, but I will keep reading and adding.  Someday I will format the favorite posts page so it looks pretty and interesting, but for now, it's a start. 

It also helped me want to fill the pages here with what is most meaningful once again. I have neglected our stories. I haven't made it a priority and I want to change that.  I have years of stories that are now memories and I feel overwhelmed by all that I need to do, but I can start today. I need to practice what I preach. So that I don't forget the simple moments, like this, of sharing a treat on the front porch as the sun was setting.  The giggles and silly conversation they were having about school and their friends.  

The photo isn't great and the moment was small but in that simple, nondescript minute relationships were strengthened and I thanked God that I was their mother. 

All this also helped me remember we are creating our own family history, our family story is what will live on and I want to be one of the narrators so that I can express my love as often as I can.  

If you need some further encouragement or inspiration The Small Seed is focusing on Family History this month and have created a lovely study guide (see this post) along with their posts (like this one, or this one, or this one) that I have found beneficial and inspiring.  I need to remember to do a few more #52 stories: see this post. I haven't done as well at remembering as I should, but I'm not going to feel guilty. I will just write one today and enjoy the memory however simple and unimportant it might seem.  My grandchildren or great-grandchildren will be happy with whatever I leave.

changes

I was recently complaining about how exhausted I am with these long summer days and staying up late until the children come home from their activities.  I'm exhausted and the bags under my eyes are more pronounced.  I don't get to the gym as often and sleep seems to be elusive. See, I'm whining about it to you.  

But the reality is, I love it.  I love waiting up for the children. I want to know they are home safe and sound, but more than that I look forward to the conversations we have about their night, their feelings, the silly things that happened or they heard.  This time with them, usually one on one is something I treasure and I certainly shouldn't complain about the side effects of my choices.

So I tried to edit the tiredness out of the photo Loaf helped me with and am going to try and change my attitude.  This time with the children is important to me so I am going to try and remember when I'm a little more tired than I would like for these moments are fleeting.  

Loaf has been working with me in the studio each day.  I adore that she is filling notebook after notebook with her paintings and dairy entrees.  She is teaching herself and about light and shape as she creates.  She is learning about color and mixing as she works and experiments. I love seeing where her creativity takes her. 

Summer has been hard on her as well, a nap during time out.  She is also not getting nearly enough sleep as she stays up late with the children.  Being the youngest is hard in the way, but she also adores her time with her siblings.  It's amazing to me how different her growing up is to Whitney's who was in bed by 7 or 8 each night.  Another change, perhaps not of attitude because I would still love for her to be in bed by 8, but of circumstance happening in our home.

 

Other changes happening around here involve are due to Samantha's influence and drive.  She started working with a new company my brother started, Kivul Nutrition and she has been changing or trying to change the way we look at food.  We love fruits and vegetables, but like most people probably don't get enough in our meals.  She has just completed a cookbook, that you can sign up and get off their website and we have happily been her testers.

One morning Brick came running to me with eggs on his eyes saying, "We're running low on eggs mom.  We only have one package left."  That packaged happened to hold 48 eggs, but it was cause for concern.  We eat large quantities of eggs, to be honest, we consume large quantities of just about everything with our big family.  Every time I go to the grocery shopping I get asked if we are having a party at our house.  I just smile and say, "every single day." Love our big crew.  That will never change.

do we have a food tradition

One morning while I was making breakfast I turned on the new FamilySearch recipe videos for the children to watch.

The little boys watched and watched oohing and aaahing over the traditions and recipes shared.  The fourth time through the videos they moved to a bigger screen for closer inspection if ingredients and they needed their hands to eat their breakfast burritos.  They critiqued the ease and/or difficulty of the food preparation.  They discussed how they would alter the recipe, leaving out ingredients they did not like or additions that would enhance the food. Apparently, Si, from A Bountiful Kitchen, did not add enough chocolate chips in her family cookie recipe. The boys were not convinced even after I told them that they were indeed perfect, having tried such cookie from Si.  We will have to make them ourselves and see what they think. 

An impromptu dance party happened when the French onion soup music came on and the morning turned into an unexpected teaching moment, in a way that was relatable and fun the children were learning about how food and family history are connected.  Often when I bring up a topic, they roll their eyes and tune me out, this morning they were engaged and asking questions, and I just sat back and enjoyed the process.

"Mom, let's start a tradition."  

"We already have food traditions.  Can you think of any?"

I was met with blank stares and doubting minds.  They are not convinced that we already have food traditions.  They wanted to adopt one of the ones featured in the videos.

Then I proceeded to tell them all the different ways food is part of our family history and narrative, from holidays to comfort food our lives are filled with memories that revolve around food.  The boys quickly joined in talking about their favorite foods and how we could make our own food video. 

Steve Rockwood of FamilySearch said, “No matter where you live and no matter where your family is from, in all cultures throughout the world, we have all gathered joyously around food in the kitchen, around the dinner or breakfast table, centered around homemade dishes prepared thoughtfully by a loved one. We perpetuate these wonderful experiences and, in a very real sense, honor our heritage when we share these wonderful recipes with our children and grandchildren."

You can watch his RootsTech presentation here: "What is your Rocky Road."  His talk doesn't have a title, so I made one up from a question he asked the audience after sharing one of his family food traditions.  He talked about food traditions in such a beautiful, engaging, and delicious way and inspired me to want to create more meaningful cookbooks and recipes.

 

I am viewing our food preparation and time together in new ways.  It also comes at a perfect time for us as our family meal time is harder to have with conflicting schedules.  Family dinners have always been important to us, something I learned from my parents and grandparents.  It would be so easy to let this time go in the business of our lives, but the value is irreplaceable, so I appreciate a beautiful reminder of the learning and memories that take place in our home.  

I hope you will join me in documenting those smells and tastes that fill our memories with love.  If you want to learn more about FamilySearch/Recipes go here or here.  You will find examples and questions to help you think about your family food traditions.  I have a few stories I am just finishing up to share with the family. Legacies and heirlooms that will help them remember who they are and where they come from because that is what is important. 

remembering

Look what I found while trying to find something for another project.  These photos are from last year, but perfect for this week and the starting of RootsTech. 

One of the first things I noticed is the light in Guelita's eyes has dimmed.  She has Alzheimer's, and it's amazing the change I immediately noticed.  It's happening so slowly, yet quickly, but in an instant, I saw these photos I could see it.  Her short term memory is nearly gone, and it's hard to see her body deteriorate, but she has lived a good life and misses Guelito terribly.

One day while I was visiting with her I bought out her wedding picture,  turned on my phone and started recording her talking about the photo and that time in her life.  It was unscripted and simple, just Guelita and I at the kitchen table. This is what I love about family history; there are not rules.  It can be a simple as a video and photos on your phone to the words on a page.  There is no wrong way the beauty lies in the record and sharing the stories with others. 

These photos were going to be something I was doing for last year's Easter celebration: Hallelujah.  You can still watch the video about how Christ is the reason we will see our loved ones again.  Each of the children picked someone they wanted to know better.  I remember thinking I am going to focus on each of these people during the next year, but I forgot. I got busy with other things and didn't follow through, but the beauty of family history is that it's never to0 late to start.  I can start this week, and we can remember these special ancestors who have shaped our lives.  

One story a week. I can do that.  

Not a biography, a story.  Something simple.  

Something simple.  

 As I think about my RootsTech experience the last two years, I am amazed at all that I've learned about family history in general.

I'm not an expert and might not ever become one.  I am constantly asking friends and family members to get me out of binds it's amazing the messes I can get myself into, but with each mixup, I learn more than I would have otherwise, and the most important thing I have learned is nothing is permanent.  Everything can be fixed, and the important thing is that I am trying.  

Family history is for everyone. There is something that everyone can do, no matter your circumstance and situation in life.  Big or small your efforts will be rewarded in ways you never thought possible.  

Little things over a long period of time yield big results.  I don't have significant periods of time to devote to family history, but a minute here and a minute there create a greater whole.  I've learned not to disregard the single minutes.

The story is important, perhaps essential. This is certainly not a new knowledge for me; I am the storyteller in my family.  I am the record keeper and talk about it regularly here, there and everywhere. The thing I have seen the last couple of years is how much this knowledge has been reaffirmed over and over again.  

Open the books. I have books sitting on my shelf about my ancestors, files on hard drives, and stories on FamilySearch.  They don't help me if I don't open them.  Great sacrifice was made so that I could have them.  I am grateful more and more each day.

Our ancestors don't like to be called dead.  Now this might sound crazy, and technically their bodies are dead, but their spirits are very much alive and help in miraculous ways to find their records.  I could tell you experience after experience whether personal or from a friend, neighbor or from an email of how the ancestors' presence was felt. It's impossible to put into words, but it's real and powerful.  Miraculous. 

Your love will grow in ways you never thought possible.  I feel like it's a cliche to say, I've heard it so many times for teachers and apostles. Family history was always for someone else, or I'm too young, or whatever excuse I have felt or given.  As I result I have missed out one some beautiful relationships that I am making with my ancestors.  I am so thankful for their lives in new and beautiful ways. 

Everything  circles back to love.  Love of family.  Love of the Savior who made this all possible. 

some years...

My intentions are good.  Some years I am on top of things, and everything falls into place.  This is not that kind of year.  I started this process of choosing a Christmas card in November.  I had everything planned, and it was going to be easy. I had an amazing assortment of wonderfully beautiful pictures.  I had most of the addresses ready to go from the wedding, and now Christmas is just days away, and I never got around to finishing.   

I love Christmas cards. I love cards in general. I love writing a simple message of love and thinking about each person and how much they mean to me as I prepare each card to be mailed. But this year I got sick and lost weeks just trying to survive, nothing serious a terrible sinus infection, but the medications gave me some adverse effects.  I wondered which was worse the infection or the drugs. 

So this year it will just be a digital version and will perhaps only reach a few who come and visit here, but please know that I thought about you, the people I love to send cards to.  Know that you have been in my heart and how much you mean to me.  This might be impersonal, but this year I hope you will forgive impersonal.  

From our house to yours.  We wish you the merriest of holidays.  As we celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior, we are filled with peace and joy of His life and ministry.  He is our all.  
 

evolving traditions

I try to get the children new pajamas each year.  In the past, our tradition has typically been to open the pajamas on Christmas Eve just before bed.  Then there would be a Christmas movie and giant sleepover.  However, as our lives change our traditions change.  It was cute and fun having a bunch of tiny little people sleeping on our bedroom floor.  Not so much now that they are big, snoring, and staying up late. Besides most of them want to sleep in their beds as the floor is not so comfortable.  The three youngest are holdouts, but the end up sleeping around the Christmas tree, so it all works out.  

Old tradition leave and new traditions start.

Our new tradition is to gather the first Sunday of the month of December, have a nice dinner, watch the Christmas devotional and then open the pajamas.  A couple of reasons I made the switch. First conflicting schedules.  Our entire married lives we have juggled our different family traditions. We each gave up something to make it all fit, but the problem is it doesn't leave much time for our own little family to start our own.  Not without giving up more and I want my children to have the associations and traditions with their grandparents.  That was something I loved growing up. 

So we've been looking for ways to create meaningful traditions that won't interfere with what we already have and more importantly with what our future in-law families will bring.  I am learning that the event isn't about a date or place, it's about the people who are with you and I want to continue to provide times when we can all be together.  

Another reason for changing the date is I adore festive Christmas pajamas and would much rather see them all during December rather than all during January.  I know it's silly, but I'm okay with it.  However, I think I might only get plaid pajamas from now on.  I love plaid, and you can wear plaid all year long.  

Starting our new tradition, that is really an old tradition.  John's mom would give the children a children's book every year, still, does.  This year she gave us The Christmas Story by Robert Sabuda.  The pop-up cutouts are beautiful and will hopefully last longer with fewer tiny people. I decided to start our Christmas book tradition this year now that Whitney and Andrew are married.  I also decided to give all the children their own copy of Mr. Willowby's Christms Tree by Robert Barry.  It has always been the children's favorite and a good place to start.  The younger children thought it was crazy to give them their own copy to keep until they move out, but if I don't give everyone the same thing every year, but the time Loaf moves out, and everyone in between it will be a chaotic mess of who has what.  This way we can all read together, and I can just put their books in their "when I move out" storage boxes.

New traditions.  Old traditions.  So happy to spend time together. 

family history fan chart quilt

Nearly every night since we put the tree up the three youngest have slept in the music room around the light of the tree.  I hear them talking about what their gifts might be and the adventures of the previous day.  Laughter fills the room, and I hope that they will always remember these moments together.  Last night they wanted to sleep with their ancestors and cuddled up under our fan chart quilts. 

At the beginning of November as part of my family history display I was created I remembered this local company that made family history fan chart quilts: see here.  It was a last minute order in preparation for a conference, and they were so fantastic to work with me to get them done in time.  I planned to take a quilt when I go and teach because it's such a great backdrop and of course I love quilts. 

The quilts were sitting on the couch waiting for me to photograph when the little people pulled them out one evening after dinner and started reading the names and asking questions.  I sat and watched for several minutes while they giggled and talked and recognized the names of people. They were creating connections in a way I had not anticipated.  They put John's quilt and my quilt together to create a big circle and remarked about how all these people must love them. 

They wanted to know more about their ancestors; they wanted stories from the names on the quilt.  I found the perfect app/site to help me with this: All my stories.  It's not really an app, you use your browser, but it compiles and shows all the stories that people have added to FamilySearch.  I just keep it open on my phone and can see if there is anything to share quickly. It has also made me realize once again how important it is to include the stories so I have something to share.

I will have to admit that the fan chart has never meant very much to me, but that night my love for a simple graph grew into something tangible for all of us.

Now the children will grab a quilt and say they want to wrap up in the love of their ancestors.  

It made me think to a darling friend, who at the conference said those exact things.  She wanted to get a quilt for her grandchildren when they are born so they can be wrapped up love.  What a brilliant idea, although I think I have a few children that might want one now.  

I have no affiliation with this company, nor is this a sponsored post. I just happened to find them and never dreamed that the quilts would be so meaningful in our home.  Here are the details, you need to download your fan chart using your FamilySearch account.  If you don't have an account, you can sign up for free. It will always be free. FamilySearch is a nonprofit family history organization dedicated to connecting families across generations. FamilySearch believes that families bring joy and meaning to life.  

Once you have downloaded your fan chart pdf, upload it in the required spot on the fan chart quilt order form and order.  They will print the quilt, quilt the quilt, bind the quilt and ship it to you ready to use.  They use Minky fabric on the back, so it's very soft which the children love.  I did ask them to boost the color a little bit, to make the fan chart a little brighter.  

 

we're the Kimball's, we got this....

A dear friend shared a recent experience where one of her young daughters said, "Don't worry, we're the B______'s, we got this!" when faced with a challenging situation.  I haven't been able to stop thinking about this innocent declaration of understanding of not only who she is, but who her family is.   As I looked around at my children last night with the bickering and teasing, I stopped and asked myself, "do my children feel the same way?"  Do they face a challenge and say, "I've got this." and square their shoulders and get it done because they know who they are and that they have a support group waiting to help if needed?  Do they remember the countless prayers offered on their behalf, for their success and strength?  Do they remember daily "I love you!" and kisses as they walk out the door?   

As I watched the little people being interviewed yesterday, I saw a glimpse of that knowledge that they do in fact know who they are and that they are treasured.  It wasn't perfect; it isn't supposed to be, life is messy.  It's complicated and filled with ups and downs, but together we can accomplish anything.  Together we can pull together and say, "Don't worry. We're the Kimball's; We got this!"

I'm not sure if any of the footage will be used.  Maybe early next year, but it was chaos on the couch.  I probably should have prepped some of the answers, but I wanted them to be authentic.  There were some gems.  Clearly, we didn't color coordinate.  Finding non-logo apparel was more challenging for the boys, rethinking future wardrobe purchases.  After thanking the children of participating  Dash said, "Wait.  We had a choice?"  I don't think he cracked a smile the entire time we were filming, which I don't understand because he was so excited to go.  Ups and downs. 

behind the scenes of our photo shoot

One of the reasons I love Jonathan Canlas, besides his fantastic images, is his interaction with people.  He has a gift for making you feel at ease. He makes you feel valued and important in a genuine way.  He cares about you.  Perhaps it's part of a bigger relationship that has formed over the years, but I have felt this way since our first session when Loaf was a baby.  Jon is just a loving person with a wonderful gift and skill with a camera.

His portraiture work is wonderful, but I adore the candid images that he captures.  The true moments of who we are and our relationships.  He doesn't force a situation, but rather is able to recognize and capture the seemingly ordinary moments that in the end are remarkable.

Also, Ellie was so good to sit and be involved in the photo shoot.  I have to say it again, she is the best dog.

Another thing I love about Jon, he just takes his shoes off and becomes part of the family.  We are a take your shoes off and join in the fun kind of group and I this one action endeared him even more.

You can read a little bit about his philosophy when it comes to shooting families here: Jon Canlas on Film and family.  Dash is one of the photos featured in the bottom.  

It's fun to see what everyone else was going while some of the shots were being taken.

Ellie getting a little love from her girls.  She looked pretty cute in her black bow.  

I didn't take too many photos as there was so much happening as we were trying also getting ready for the ring ceremony that would happen later that evening.  It was a busy few days, but it was so wonderful.  

 

Side note: I've learned about lightroom templates, I'm sure it's not new, but wow!  I want to stand up and cheer.  It has revolutionized  the photo to blog process making it faster and easier.  Eliminating steps in my workflow just gave me the boost I needed to blog more frequently.  HOORAY.  

conference weekend

It happened again. 

General Conference.

Every six months we gather as a church around the world in our homes, where possible, and church buildings to listen to some of the leaders of our church testify of Christ. They chasten, warn, and plead with us change those parts of our lives that need correction.  They provide instruction, encouragement, and hope.   I look forward to each conference because questions that I need answers to either get answered immediately or the way to find the answers is shown.  I anticipate the profound spirit of peace that comes as I listen to their inspired messages.

 

We always spend time with family and the children love to be with their cousins. 

Sometimes the children do the sweetest things.  Tank and Brick just rocked and rocked for the longest time, quietly listening.  Of course, they quickly started to torture Andrew while he was taking his nap.  

The conference folders were helpful again. However, Loaf has learned how to work the system and gets her brothers or dad to help her more than is necessary.  Still, she played quietly for most of the sessions.  

Rock was sick so he stayed home during Priesthood session.  John took Tank and watched with his father.  It's their tradition.  I love traditions.  I had the pleasure of watching with Rock.  I tried to get him to let me snuggle (that sounds creepy, but it was in a motherly sort of way), but he assured me he was too old for that and didn't need me hovering.  

(big sigh)

He is growing into a man.

The tradition with the girls is to always go to Women's conference together and after we go out and get dinner and talk.  It's a wonderful evening.  We had Thai food from our favorite place and ran into my cousin Jessica. I love her!  We were able to attend at the conference center this year and it was lovely, but there are far too many people for our introverted personalities.  

One thing I always love in such gatherings is when the prophet walks into the room.  As you can imagine thousands of people, if only whispering, together create a great deal of noise, but the second the prophet walks into the room a hushed reverence happens.  It's lovely to behold.

President Monson is moving more slowly as his body is aging, but that did not diminish the profound spirit and testimony I felt seeing him.  He is truly a man of God.

Everyone, well the girls at least works on a project during conference. I had my applique; Samantha is making a blanket for Loaf.  The yarn so soft and Loaf is excited.  Brick loved helping wind the large ball of extra thick yarn.  My sweet mother in law is making a loom hat.  Fred finished knitting her scarf with darling fringe.  

Fred and Gus were trying to get Samantha to go grocery shopping with them, and she was torturing them.  They loved it, and it was fun to watch them sit and play and laugh.  Laughter is something I am appreciating more and more.  It is a balm.

With cousins in town, Fred and Gus had a glorious weekend.  Fred was introducing A to sushi.  Fred loves sushi, and A was so patient and darling to try it all.  She's not a fan yet.

I thought they were both asleep, but the second I pulled out the camera, they both got little grins.  These two are such wonderful patient men.  

There was a terrible tank accident that resulted in a very sad young man.  He has finally put it back together, but it was touch and go for a little bit.  

There were so many talks that I loved, and I can't wait to read them and ponder them more closely.  I adore conference, but I can hardly take it all in and remember so much goodness. But one talk stands out as I'm writing because Tank was listening to the story.  

Elder Nattress began by talking about how he was a difficult child with an overabundance of energy.  He disliked listening in the mornings while his mother read the scriptures.  I think Tank felt an immediate kinship to Elder Nattress for he was describing all of our boys.  In fact when Elder Nattress said that is mother had one goal written, and it was 'Patience with Brett!' I knew his mother, and I would have been fast friends.  

As he continued recounting his story of finally telling his mother he was not listening to scripture study and why did she bother, her response is something that I have given countless times it seems.  She said, 'Son, I was at a meeting where President Marion G. Romney taught about the blessings of scripture reading. During this meeting, I received a promise that if I would read the Book of Mormon to my children every day, I would not lose them.'

Elder Nattress then said that she him in the eyes and, with determination, said, 'And I will not lose you!'  (K. Brett Nattress, "No Greater Joy Than to Know," General Conference, October 2016)

I have said those same words over and over again.  I will not lose you to drugs. I will not lose you pornography. I will not lose you to lies.  I am here to battle for you.  The boys always smirk, the girls are more patient, but I will do all that I can to keep my children safe. No that doesn't mean that I'm going to take away the consequences of wrong choices.  We have recently had some difficult consequences that resulted in some trying times.  But I held hands that needed to be held.  Cried and expressed my disappointment, but hugged and kissed and promised always to support and help where I could.  

I can't take away pain or make things better for my children all the time.  I can fight for them, love and teach them that the only person able to save them is their Savior, Jesus Christ.  He is the master healer and great advocate.  I can pray with them and for them, but ultimately they have to learn for themselves and rely on the Lord.   He is the master teacher.