480 miles...

Look what 480 miles and a determined, dedicated daughter brought to our house!

Caroline Ruth .. 7 months of happiness



President Pitt invited Kimberly to participate in Zone Conference,
dedicated to the topic of "Divine Companionships."
Jonah thought the Pembroke Stake nursery was fun too.

After missionary training, we built sand castles at Cedar Bluff Critterville.

Jonah demonstrated his balance and skill as a tight rope artist.

Lots of fun chatter with Grandpa...and then ... 
another 480 miles and a very tired momma took everyone back to Tuscaloosa.
Hugs and smiles...never to be forgotten.
Thank-you, Kimberly!

Family fun...

 Kimberly and Josh surprised us with a weekend visit.

They brought energy, insights, and tons of fun.

Little did we know our air conditioner would go on the blink the first night they were here,

but they never complained.

They didn't complain about the dimples in their car from the hail storm either.

 Four year old Jonah...on a walk with Grandma exploring the woods.

Nothing like picking your own blueberries in VanDyke's garden.

 All too soon it was time to say good-by...and get special hugs from Grandpa.

We feel Oh-So-Loved!

Isn't it wonderful Alabama and Virginia are only "one day" away!

The "chain"

When Quintin was on his mission in Romania, Kimberly made a chain

that hung from the ceiling in her bedroom to the floor.

Every week she removed one link to mark the time till Q came home.

Following her example, this is our "mission chain" which hangs in our hallway.

One link represents a month! 18 links are remaining.

Baby Blues...

It's a teary day for us. Rosalyn's daughter...Susan...who will turn 19 in March...delivered her baby boy shortly after midnight this morning. [22 weeks...preterm labor since Sunday]

He lived only a few minutes, but Susan held him in her arms and has now entered into the fearless legion of mothers that will raise children in the millennium.

So, I am officially a great-grandmother today!

Why then does my heart hurt so badly?

Susan very recently had made her selection and chose the adoptive family
for her baby. So now, they too, are mourning the loss of their dream. It was a
couple somewhere in Utah....the dad a lawyer and the mom an architect.

Both infertile...and they were so excited to get Sue's baby.

This is a very tender story.

Natalie, the adoptive Mom, is traveling to Mesa to be with the family at the burial service.

I hear the Relief Society has gone into Rosalyn's home today and cleaned,
painted and rearranged Sue's bedroom so that when she comes home from the
hospital she will have something fresh and comforting to greet her.

There will be a burial...I don't know when yet. Susan just last week
picked out some fabric to make a quilt for her boy, to wrap him in when he was
placed into the adoptive family. Now the quilt is being made by family members and
will snuggle the little guy for burial.

I am feeling so far away...

Caroline Ruth Mays

Caroline Ruth Mays, born December 31, 2011

7 lbs. 2 oz. - 19 inches - and a doll!

What a blessing to be here in Tuscaloosa, AL with Kimberly and Josh

and to be able to help out with the new baby. This is a grandmother's dream.

Caroline Ruth is named after both maternal grandmothers of the parents.

January 1, 2012

Jonah meets baby sister!