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In 2000, my step-dad was diagnosed with cancer and we knew our time with him would be cut short. As time passed, we relaxed a bit - the chemo was working, he was surviving. Months turned into years. We spent New Years, 2003 at my house, just me and him awake, welcoming in another year. Tomorrow he would be embarking on a new drug therapy, one he initially refused, but had agreed to because he couldn’t bear our disappointment and sadness if he didn’t.

With the Christmas tree lights twinkling, we talked. We reminisced about our lives, regrets, forgiveness, the future. Papa Jerry had been raised in church, but wasn’t a regular attender. In that quiet, peaceful setting that is forever etched in my memory - he confirmed his faith and deep spiritual commitment. Not that he didn’t live it, but he had never talked about it. At least to me. He shared the bittersweet joy of feeling hope, battling overwhelming weariness and trusting the Lord.

16 days later, he was in Heaven.

One of his favorite poems/songs is on my mind. He loved Cristy Lane music.

One night I dreamed I was walking along the beach with the Lord
Many scenes from my life flashed across the sky.
In each scene I noticed footprints in the sand.
Sometimes there were two sets of footprints,
other times there were one set of footprints.

This bothered me because I noticed
that during the low periods of my life,
when I was suffering from
anguish, sorrow or defeat,
I could see only one set of footprints.

So I said to the Lord,
“You promised me Lord,
that if I followed you,
you would walk with me always.
But I have noticed that during
the most trying periods of my life
there have only been one
set of footprints in the sand.
Why, when I needed you most,
you have not been there for me?”

The Lord replied,
“The times when you have
seen only one set of footprints in the sand,
is when I carried you.”

Braden pesters the kitten.

His mom wants him to stop.

She’s given him several warnings.

I am in the bedroom putting on shoes when Braden pops in the door.

I whisper “You better stop or your mom’s going to kick your butt”.

Without hesitation, he pipes up “We don’t KICK”.

Me - “Well, what about a spanking?” (Nana hates spanking)

Braden, pointing his finger says - “WE DON’T SPANK”.

Me - “Ok, then she might swat your tail”.

Shaking his head confidently, he says “We don’t swat”. (Nana is hiding her happy face!)

Me - “Ok, well, you’re gonna make her really mad”

Braden with his face all serious and raised eyebrows says “Mmmmmm, I don’t wanna do THAT. THAT’S DANGEROUS!!

Nana laughed and laughed. Bad Nana.

It started quietly enough. My uncle was named Richard Kimsey. I don’t know where that came from or what he thought about it, but surely it carried some historical nobility. He was just always “Uncle Ricky” to me. I was the first grandchild on both sides and I was named Kimberly and called “Kim”. Unless I was in trouble.

Waiting for my brother, Michael, to be born, my sister Michele and I got an unexpected surprise. Another brother. My very pregnant mother was also taken off guard. My dad, not so much. Seems my dad had a wife and child in an earlier life that he neglected to mention. Kenny was an on and off part of our life growing up. Off for the last 30 years, but he’s on my list.

Kenny, Kim, Michele and Michael…a nice balance! Then came cousins. I’m not going to name them all, but you’ll see my point in a minute. Katherine, Katrina, Kathleen, Karla and a step-sister, Kathy. We’re not a really big family, but we rock in K names.

Just on my mom’s branch of the family tree, we now have: Kim, Keith, Kendra, Kaci, Kailea, Kali, Kenzie, and Kelsey. When the 24 of us gather on Christmas morning, you can mutter “Kuh” and 1/3rd of the family might reply, and don’t forget Chris.

(click HERE for who’s who)

Future K marriages and births are restricted. We might need to shore up the M’s. Mom, Michele, Michael, Makenzie, and Mia. We also have Brad and Braden, Big Nick and Nicholas, John and Jonathan.

Sometimes my stories get tongue-tied with names, seeing it in black and white makes me feel smugly justified!

My family tree has roots back to Ireland and France. On my dad’s side, our gypsy nature coupled with love of the drink has imprinted us through the ages. On my mom’s side, we’ve been bestowed with a sense 0f self-reliance and pride that hasn’t diminished through several generations. What this equates to is a family not afraid of hard work, prone to alcoholism, with a history of musical chair addresses.

One fascinating aspect of looking backward - is that is a good predictor of moving forward. Realizing that unless you CHANGE something you’re going to repeat the same old same old.

A significant break in the pattern, that ends with me, is the habit of writing off friends and relatives because of real or perceived “injury”. Both of my grandmother’s left this world estranged from a beloved child (or two). It breaks my heart, even though I can sometimes feel the pull to abandon and ignore. I refuse to let it happen to me and mine.

Friendships aren’t always easy to maintain and I seem to have a worry factor that wakes me up at night. Long lost relatives and forgotten friends come to mind and I’ll search for contact information, Google hits, genealogy websites, and wrack my brain to remember details that might link us back together. Married names throw me for a loop!

I am going post a list of folks I’d like to reconnect with and update it occasionally when I find you OR to add more. If you come across this site because you’re on it or know someone who is, please drop me a note!

• The Scheu Family: Debra, Melissa, Bobby, Kathy, Shane
• The Larned Family: Pam, Barbara, Kathleen
• Kenny Keelin
• FedEx Friends: Chris Stelling, Derek Pirtle, Toki Moa, Cindy Ott, Cindy Devine, Karl Rusterholtz, Susan Phillips, Angela Milstea, Stephanie Maddox
• Childhood Friends: Rhonda Beard (Amarillo), Jane Shaw (Pampa), Cynthia Reeder (Clinton)

From Kaci:

 Just wanted to send out a quick note about Braden. He started running 104 fever last week and I took him to the Dr and they did x-rays and blood work and said he has Pneumonia again.  She said he doesn’t have as much fluid in his lungs as he did last time, but the fluid is a lot thicker. They gave him two antibiotic shots in his thighs and we have been able to treat him at home with breathing treatments and antibiotics. Hopefully we can get rid of it without having to put him back in the hospital. His Dr is going to leave him on antibiotics for the rest of the winter to help him from staying sick because his immune system just can’t catch up. He goes back for another X-Ray on Wednesday. Please keep him in your prayers.