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--