What's happening with the Kimbrell's these days?

Good Friday morning all. Wow how busy our lives are these days. I really was under the delusion that when I graduated life would have to become simpler. What was I thinking? So lets get started catching everyone up: Katie is still in Kansas, she really likes it there and is enjoying her semi-independence. We all miss her so much and don't get to see her nearly enough. She has decided on x-ray technician school. I am glad she has chosen something in the health care field. Robert is glad she has chosen something. He just wants her to follow her own dreams and do something that will make her happy. Life is too short to be miserable. She has grown up alot over the last few months without her "mom" to take such good care of her. She got a job at a feed store this summer and absolutely loved it. The lady she worked with just fell in love with her. She asked Katie "what is it with you Alabama people, always doing things for others and not wanting others to do things for you. She told her she didn't know if that was all Alabama people or not. She told her that that was just how she was raised and taught to be. She told her that in her family we always do everything and anything we could for others. We just didn't like others to do so much for us. She really made an impression on this lady that will last a lifetime. Way to go Katie, you make us proud. She will be 19 this September, it just doesn't seem possible. We are looking forward to getting to see her more over the next month. She has some wedding showers and a wedding to attend in August. That brings me to Peter: Peter has finally met the girl of his dreams. Actually he has known her for a while, but she was kind of engaged to someone else. Her name is Lauren, and she graduated nursing school with me. Peter realized his feelings for her and knew he could not let her get away. Sooooo, he told her and she broke off the engagement and is now engaged to Peter. She is a wonderful girl and he is so happy and we are too. She is already a part of the family. Peter also graduated from nursing school in May and is working at DCH in the Acute Coronary Care Unit. He loves being a nurse and his patients love him. I know that he is doing exactly what God wanted him to do. He has the biggest heart in the world. Lauren has taken a job at Northport DCH and God has blessed them with nurse managers who are working with them to get them on the same shift and the same pattern. She is exactly who I would have picked out for him. We love her so much. They have built a house and are very excited about getting the house all set up for when they return from their honeymoon in Figi.

Alyssa and Korey are literally working their hineys off at the store. They have just come right in and taken on so much. The people at the store as well as the customers love both of them. That is such a blessing as they will soon enough be taking over it completely. Alyssa has become so mature and responsible over the past year. She has had to learn how to work long hours, make schedules and unfortunately how to be a tough boss. She, like me would rather be friends with all the workers. She wants to take care of them, again just like me. However, a few of them have pushed her and taken advantage of her care for them and she had to toughen up and be a "boss". I am so thankful for her and that she just came in and learned everything so quickly. She is just soooo smart, and kind and caring. She is more like me than I ever realized. She is a whole lot like her daddy too, don't get me wrong. I always said I wish our kids could get the best of both of us. I guess in a way Alyssa did. She is, generous, hard working and responsible( and a little over the top) like Robert and kind and compassionate like me. What a combination! She is amazing. Hey, I don't think I tell her that enough. I will tell her that today!

That catches all of you up on the kiddos. Now, for me and Robert. Where to begin? Robert is as busy as always. You know even though Alyssa and Korey have taken on alot of responsibility at the store, he just keeps finding other things to do. If he doesn't have to be at the store you might find him: cruising timber, smoking tons and tons of meat, helping people move, or even making chicken salad for me. Robert loves to do things for other people(remember the mention of this earlier when I was talking about Katie?) He is the first one to jump on the chance to help someone move, or to cook food for someone, etc. He has a true servants heart. I am so thankful for him. He is all over the place these days. More busy than ever. I always tell him that I expect to see him slow down the day he goes to meet Jesus! Seriously, he has been suffering terribly for a couple months now with some serious neck problems. He has 2 spurs on the vertebrate in his neck as well as some bulging discs there too. He has been in almost unbearable pain. He has had 3 nerve blocks to try to reduce the pain and hopefully prevent surgery. The blocks have helped with the pain but he is still having alot of weakness and numbness in his arm/thumb. Even thru this he hasn't slowed down. He stayed home and rested in the recliner for about 11/2 weeks as the doc recommended but that was as much as he could stand. You guessed it, he is back to his normal speed of 90mph. Like I said, I don't expect to see him slow down til he has no choice. Robert is having to spend alot of time at home alone these days with me working 3-11 monday thru thursday. He does not like it one little bit. Hopefully that will only be for about 3 more weeks and then I will start on the 11-7 shift. At least when I'm working he will be sleeping and vica versa. I miss him too. When I get home and my mind is going wide open, he is sound asleep and has to wake up in a few hours to go to work. Anyway, I am not complaining, just looking forward to it getting better when my shift changes. Now, I have to say that I am loving my job. I love taking care of people just like I knew I would. It is challenging at times, there is so much to learn. But, I am so thankful for it. Each day as I go to work, I ask God to help me to be the difference in my patients lives. Sometimes they don't have much positive going on in their lives. I take my faith seriously and believe that I can actually make a difference by showing love, compassion and concern. I thank God for the opportunity.

Hope this catches everyone up a little, love to all

Rhonda Kimbrell--

Hello all:

Sorry for the lengthy vacation from blogging. As all of you know I am finishing up my final semester of nursing school at the University of Alabama. What a journey that has been. One I'm not sure I would start over now knowing all I know. Don't get me wrong, I absolutely love nursing and taking care of people, but...it has been one of the hardest things I have ever done. Yes the rewards will be worth it I'm sure, but I feel like my brain will explode at any minute. It has tried my mind, my body and my family as well. Honestly, I didn't know if Robert would survive. He has had to become a different person in the last 2 1/2 years. He has risen to the occasion though. He has been my strength so many times. We know that this is God's plan for my life and our lives together. God has been working so obviously since the beginning. He really does want me to  be a nurse. There were times I wondered, I admit that but it is finally finished. What a feeling to know that. Praise God for His power to bring me through it all. I am finally about to fulfill the purpose for my life. Actually I have alot of purposes: a wife, mother, and friend to mention a few. I am just so thankful that God has allowed me to come this far and see the light at the end of my long tunnel. Thanks to everyone who helped in any way. Your prayers brought me thru. My graduation is May 9 and you better believe I am walking to get that diploma. God bless you all,

--Rhonda

Good Saturday morning everyone! Everything always seems so peaceful after a storm. Im sitting here in my kitchen looking out the back porch and everything is so green. The sun keeps trying to peek through the clouds. Mostly the clouds win the battle. That reminds me of our lives. You know there are just so many clouds(things to bring us down) in our lives. So many times when we just can't seem to see the sun. Why is it that we forget that the sun is right behind those clouds just trying to shine through. The sun is always there, just covered by the clouds sometimes. I wish I could always remember that. God is always there for us, trying to shine through the stuff. The stuff can seem so overwhelming if we concentrate only on the negative. My prayer today is that as I watch the sun and the clouds fighting for first place today, I will remember that I have already won the fight through Christ. He won it for me. I don't have to dwell on the clouds of life when I know that I have the Son on my side!!

Rhonda:)

Last morning at the beach....

Well...can't believe today is our last day at the beach.  It sure flew by. But it always does, especially when you are enjoying yourselves. This week has been amazing: we have met alot of funny new people.  Seems that everywhere we went we met someone new and got to start up conversations and get to know them better.  Last night we met a bunch of law school students from Jackson, Mississippi. They were on their spring break trip and were definitely enjoying themselves. The world is just full of interesting people.  They all have a story to tell if we will only listen.  If we sit back and be quiet we might definitely miss an opportunity to share our joy with other people.  We never know when God might be setting us up with a divine appointment.  Obviously, every situation might not be that divine appointment; but at the least we get to meet some really neat people. You know, God really is a "verb" not a "noun".  Through God we are not the expectation and responsibility but we are able to expect and respond to people and situations around us.  As we were sitting out on the balcony this morning taking in the beauty before we left, God(the verb) was shining His rays of sunlight on the water, the beach and all of us that were there.  God, help us to never forget that You are sooooo much more than a person, place or thing.(Noun) Remind us everyday that You want us to be part of Your action!  RobertnRhonda

Tuesday morning at the beach. March 17, 2009

The sun is shining beautifully this morning. If I close my eyes and just listen to the different sounds, I remember the message from God last Sunday morning.  Every creation of God has the ability and command to praise Him.  The waves are praising Him as they crash against the shore, the gulls are praising Him as they swoop and call out to each other.  The air even seems to praise Him as it blows so gently on my face.  Why would I not choose to praise Him as they all do? I want my life to be a constant praise to my maker and the lover of my soul. 

Robert just finished reading "The Shack" and has been so moved by it that I have absolutely decided to read it. I haven't had time to read anything except nursing textbooks for the last year and a half, but like all other hard times in our lives, this time of constant studying and no time for anything but nursing is about to come to an end.  All I can say is "thank you Lord". Thank you Lord, not only that it is over but that You allowed me to even go through it. Your plans for all of our lives amazes me everyday. I never could have made it this far without You or my husband(thanks Robert). I have already begun to see why I am here and why You worked it all out.  Thanks for believing in me...I owe all I have to You God! 

Can't wait to see what else God has in store for us...willing to go or do whatever He directs.  --Rhonda

Spring break '09 at the beach...

Today we are in Gulf Shores...first time ever at the beach without the kids, or at least first time since we had kids.  We are just laying around reading, relaxing, eating and catching up on some stuff. It is actually raining at the moment but it is still gorgeous and peaceful.  Our condo's balcony is overlooking the beach, which is empty right now and it seems so untouched by people.  Only God's images...like I said, peaceful.  As the waves crash and the gulls fly by our screen door, it reminds us of how amazing God is.  He created and knows each creature on earth and controls it all.  Wow, yet He loved us enough to make a plan for us because He knew how weak we are and how much we needed Him.  That kind of love is beyond understanding...too much to wrap our minds around.