Thursday, February 26, 2009

Day "101"







Our little family moved into our first home in December of 2007. We had planned to landscape our front yard in the fall of 2008, but as you are well aware, we were out of town for most of the season! :) For some crazy reason, I don't have a picture of how we left our home in November, but just imagine dirt and tumble weeds as the before picture. The rest are what we saw when we turned the corner and headed for home! Jeff was shocked and ecstatic! He asked me if I had drawn up the landscape plans because it was exactly what he would have wanted! In all honesty, I had nothing to do with it! The project was planned and carried out by the Little Valley 1st Ward members as well as several family members. I wish I had a list of those who helped so I could thank them individually, but I hear that there was a combination of young and old working together to create this masterpiece! (If someone does have a list, I would love to get my hands on it!) Anyway, I guess the grass is coming this weekend, and I can't wait to see the final outcome! It is very low maintenance and beautiful (which is great since I will be the one taking care of the place for a while)! :) My biggest worry at this point is keeping those cute tulips alive...I killed everything I tried to grow last year! My kids and I spent all morning and some of the afternoon in the sandbox (Kolten was afraid of our dog, so I couldn't have gone inside if I wanted to!)! We are loving the change of scenery and we feel very blessed to be home! O-ya...I almost forgot the big change inside our house! We are now sporting a surround system that shakes our windows thanks to some old high school buddies of Jeff's! I'm sure our neighbors thought our house was blowing up while Jeff and his brothers were watching U-571 yesterday afternoon! Thank you, thank you, thank you! We appreciate all your help through this crazy process. We could not have survived it without your prayers and support. In the 2008 October General Conference, Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin gave an amazing talk that Jeff and I read several times over the last three months. In that talk he stated, "the Lord compensates the faithful for every loss. That which is taken away from those who love the Lord will be added unto them in His own way. While it may not come at the time we desire, the faithful will know that every tear today will eventually be returned a hundredfold with tears of rejoicing and gratitude." Now, I am not sure how faithful we have been or how well we have endured the trial, but I do know that we have been blessed a hundredfold through supportive family and friends. Jeff has not had to walk a single step of this road alone. And for that, we will be forever grateful. I am sure that a lot of healing will take place here over the next several months! We are glad to be home.

15 comments:

Grandma said...

We love you and know that Heavenly Father is mindful of you. The yard looks great! You have some awesome people who have helped you these past months. Can't wait to see everything.
Love,
Mom and Dad

janece said...

WELCOME HOME!!!!!

Annie Nielson said...

I'm so glad you made it home. It seems like the healing process is even better when you're in a place you want to be. I've never seen your house before. It is gorgeous! The landscaping is great, too. What a nice thing to get out of the way :)

We love you!!

czstephensfam said...

Yay! We're so glad you're home. Chad was excited to be able to see you guys, he said Jeff looks great.

Ray Cox said...

St George is a better place today! We are so glad for you guys.

Kaydee said...

Hip Hip Hooray! Welcom home Kith, You and your little family deserve every bit of help you have been offered. I have no doubt in my mind that you guys would have been the first people in line to help if the shoe was on somebody else's foot. I am still thinking about you guys and praying for you too!

Lyns said...

What a wonderful gift! You guys have endured so much and deserve everything wonderful that comes your way. It sure sounds like you have some wonderful friends and family. I'm so glad you're home! The healing process will go even quicker now I'm sure!

Drake Family said...

I am sure you are more than excited to be home! Your yard looks great...what a terrific ward and neighborhood you have. Glad you are enjoying the sound! :) I will have to tell Kory that Jeff was happy about it. Welcome Home!!

matesen said...

Congrats on making it home! It looks like Jeff is doing well. Good luck with the next few months of healing!

Brandt & Lindsey said...

I am so glad you are home! We love you

Aleisha said...

The yard looks great!! It was fun to see you in PERSON!! Welcome home!

Anonymous said...

Oh happy day for the four of you and also everyone else. This day of returning to sunny St. George and your home has been a long time comming. Welcome home. We are so glad that you are here. We will come to see you when you have rested up and are bored with being home in awhile, that is if you are permitted to have visitors. Oh, and we would not like it to be one of your grouchy days though. In all honesty, we do wish you many days ahead of feeling well with much joy and happiness. We love you and have so much felt like a part of your lives this past several months. Katherine, you have done an amazing job with your blog and keeping everyone informed. Thanks again, God's Speed. We send our love, Uncle Bill and Aunt Clo and family.

Hali said...

Kithy, Glad to hear you are home again and that Jeff is doing well. I hope his progress continues. Best wishes for health and happiness!

Keep in touch!
hali_nielsen@hotmail.com

Alton clan said...

That's so amazing!!! What wonderful friends and neighbors you guys have...probably because you are such amazing people! I'm so happy to see that you're home and doing better. What a huge blessing....and I appreciated the quote you shared too. I'm so happy for you guys and hope you rest well at home.

The Gubler Fam said...

Jeff I saw your parents and family today at red cliffs. I asked where you were and your mom told me a little of what was going on and to look at your blog. I sat here and cried I am so sorry that you have had to go through this. I bet it was a relief to come home. I hope you know that you will be in my prayers. You have a beautiful wife and cute cute kids. It was great to see your family today and I hope that you continue to recover quickly. You will be in my prayers!
Martha Flegal Gubler