wild birds

Here are some pics of s and l feeding the wild birds with grandma:))




We had so much fun. It was the best Thanksgiving ever!!!

Sorry it took so long to update...

Hi Everyone, I haven't really felt like updating "not good news"...I am sure everyone has been worried, and wondering how my mom is doing and how all of her appointments these last few weeks went.. Well she is progressing...Her speech, swallowing, and breathing are worse. She visited her pulmonary doctor last week who did a number of breathing test while being monitored..Also they tested her while she was sleeping. They have ordered her a Bipap (something to help with her oxygen- breathing machine) which she'll have in the next few days...Sadly it wasn't good news...My mom and dad are still doing very well, staying strong, and looking forward to the holidays..They are so amazing......I love you mom!!!

I am having such a wonderful time with my mom. She stayed with me after the fundraiser. She has a doctor appointment on the 15th. I am alittle concerned for this one...I know her illness has really progressed since her last visit....I'll update later on..

Jaime

a letter from vicki

Dear Kirk Family

You are taking a horrific situation and turning it into something beautiful. You are an inspiration to me and to the other people who are making this journey with you. Thank you so much for inviting us to join you. It is an honor to be included among your friends.

I realize that all of you wanted “Hope”. I don’t know how I happened to win that raffle because I rarely do. “Hope” is amazing, Linda - she is one of your best. I don’t know how you did it. I am including a photo of me in my Blue Shirt, holding “Hope”. I promise to take very good care of her. She is precious.

The second photo is of Hope’s Hug, made up of Linda Bears that I have collected through the years. Do they look familiar? I have several more Linda Bears that couldn’t be included in this photo. Linda, you are still my very favorite Teddy Bear Artist.

This letter and photos may be added to your “Hope For Linda” website, if you chose to include them.

Thank you Kirk Family.

Love and Hugs,

Vicki Dewbre

Thank You!

Thank you for everyones help, donations, and support on this fundraiser..It was such a wonderful day for our family...Hope will go to one of my moms close friends in TX, Vicki D. And my oldest brother, Richard bid the highest on my moms little bear, AnneLee...They will both have good homes..Love, Jaime

the best night

the night of the fundraiser we all went to a park and read a letter to mom. It was very emotional but we got through it. We were able to tell her how special she is to us. I made a whole new blog made of the letters we wrote. You can see how much she means to us in these letters.. It was an amazing night that we will never forget.

fundraiser

The fundraiser was a HUGE success!! We raised more than double what we were hoping for! Here are some pictures from the day...

Fun with Grandma and Grandpa

We sure had fun with you last week we miss you and know Saturday will be a blast. Shane and Lindsey are excited to be there and we all wish we could have come! Talk to ya soon :) Siciley

love this video.

more donations for mom

i am so excited for this weekend!! there are so many amazing people donating stuff. here is my neighbor's etsy shop.. she is selling this and a few other things at a discounted price. email her at noriane15@yahoo for more details. I also will be bringing teeth whitening from eric, and a couple necklaces from another neighbor. ... if you live in denver u must go!!

Hope 16" handmade Mohair Bear

Here is Hope. Made by Linda Kirk for the Hope For Linda Fundrasier Oct 3rd.

Materials -light tan simi sparce mohair

eyes- real button eyes

stuffing- Kapok, excelsier, glass beads for a nice weight

wearing- a vintage white baby dress and slip from England

a boiled wool baby sweater- soft pink/peach

Locket- vintage from Canada

You can print up Fund Rasier form below under Hope for Linda Fundrasier- if you would like to buy raffle tickets for a chance to win Hope..She is WONDERFUL! Hope is by Raffle tickets only. (not silent bidding) print fundrasier form below, and fill out and mail to Jaime. 2 tickets for $10.00 and 5 tickets for $20.00

Any questions please email Jaime. h2o32ice@comcast.net Thank you!

Linda,
We are thinking about you every day and we are sooooo excited to come visit and see you and dad really Sooooooon. We love you guys .

Love,
Shane, Siciley and girls

thinking about ya:)

i just wanted to tell ya hi and i'm thinking about you tonight. i luv you so much mom:) it was so fun to see you a couple of days ago. lily carries her ladybug around with her everywhere. and she sleeps with it:) she calls it a icky bug. but she loves it:)) have a great day!!

fundraiser for linda!!

There is going to be a fundraiser held on Oct. 3 for Linda. She has been working hard to finish "Hope" the bear that will be raffled that day. We will post a picture of it soon. If you cannot attend, you can still buy a t-shirt and wear it that day in support for her. If you have any questions, email jaime or me (jen) - (emails in sidebar to left.)


If you are unable to print this out, email me and i can email it to you. thanks!

fourth of july

this was the best fourth of july yet:)) thanks mom and dad for all u guys did!

Good Morning Linda,

Just browsing over the post this morning and thought I would say hello. We are really looking forward to coming down in a few weeks. Andrew can't stop talking about it! Thought I would add some pics to the blog too. Jen took the one of the 3 boys. It's one of my favorites!! Have a wonderful day today and know that the Kirkus Circus loves you.

Kris-

GREAT TIME

HI MOM AND DAD,
JUST WANT YOU TO KNOW I WAS THINKING ABOUT YALL THIS MORNING AND WANT TO SHARE SOME PHOTOS FROM OUR TRIP. WE SURE HAD A BLAST. THANKYOU FOR EVERYTHING. I LOVE YALL SO MUCH, CANT WAIT TO SEE YOU GUYS NEXT WEEK.

happy mother's day

ur camping out somewhere in the middle of nowhere, and so i wasn't able to tell u how much i love u.  to the BEST mother a girl could ever have. thanks so much for always being there mom!  thanks for all those times we would laugh so hard i would almost pee my pants. thanks for the 2 am trips to target. thanks for helping us toilet paper that house. thanks for driving jaime and me to that exboyfriend's house to stick oreo's all over his car.  thanks for teaching me unconditional love. thanks for always listening when i needed to talk. thanks for taking care of me and my girls after both c-sections.  thanks for coming all the way to rhode island when i needed u there. thanks for writing me the notes to get me out of class in highschool just to go to lunch.  thanks for going to see sarah mclachlan and sinead o'connor too many times.  thanks for all the trips to sonic to get limeades.  thanks for telling me what to do when my kids were sick.  thanks for all the hugs. thanks for playing ponies with my girls.  thanks for not getting TOO mad at me when i got a tattoo.  thanks for taking care of me whenever i was sick. thanks for telling me u loved my hair even tho i looked like robert smith from the cure.  thanks for everything mom. i could go on and on. but mainly thank you for being you. xox. love u more. jen

Happy Mother's Day

Mom,
I just wanted to say Happy Mother's Day...I know you are in the RV having fun at the Grand Canyon, and will not get this message for a few days... I have been thinking alot about you today. I just wanted to say I love you so much.

Have a great week!! Hobbit is having fun..

Love, Jaime
xoxoxox

moms bears

my mom has always been very talented. one thing that she loves to make is mohair teddy bears. she has been making them for over 13 years. she has made one for all of her kids and grandkids. she is working on one right now that we will auction off at the silent auction in august. we look forward to seeing how it turns out! here are a few examples of some she has made for us...

hi mom

hi mom! i'm thinking about u tonight. i wish we were closer so i could come see u soon. i miss u!  i hope you are having a good night;) i'm sure ur happy about who got kicked off idol...  i found this video. it was taken a while ago but i thought u might like it:)) love u so much!!!

thinking of you

After talking to my dad last night about my mom and how her last doctor appointment went, I just wanted to share a little update..My mom is now having twitching in both of her hands. And the dr. thinks she is further along then we thought.. Sad news..I think the first 3 weeks of finding out my mom had ALS was the real shocker, the hardest time. We will have sad moments at each new step..But please remember mom we are strong and we are all here for you. We are so lucky to have this time with you... to treasure, to tell you how much you mean to us. You are an amazing women! You are so loved!! Even though we might have a moment here and there along this hard trial please don't worry about us, we will be fine. I am happy to have this time with you...I love you, please smile and have a wonderful day...each day..xoxoxoxo

Lots of love from us...

...YEAH, I am finally on this blog for mom! We had a great Easter here in Denver, but wished we were together with you all.

We think about you all often and especially mom these days. You are all in our thoughts and prayers. The boys say their prayers each night and you all often come up in their prayers...sometimes even at the blessing for dinners. :)-

We will all get together for some fun in Pagosa real soon!

We Love you MOM!,
Richard and family.

SAVE THE BARN

TALKED TO MOM AND DAD TODAY. THEY HAD THE BIG TREE THAT WAS HANGING OVER THE BARN CUT DOWN. MOM SOUNDED GREAT, SEEMS TO BE DOING REALY GOOD. ( MATILDA) IS ON THE BACK BURNER FOR A WHILE!!

Spring Break at the cabin

Hi Everyone, I just wanted to share a little about last week with mom and dad in Pagosa. Mom is so strong, and very brave. She is enjoying everyday to the fullest . It is amazing how courageous she is. She is my hero. I love you!!

Dad is also amazing. He is always there to support her if needed. He is cleaning!! (ha ha) He is being so strong for her, for all of us...He is such a wonderful husband, and father..I love you!!

We really had a wonderful week at the cabin. Memories we'll cherish forever. It is in the moments, the simple, sweet moments, we find our lasting gifts..

The girls loved watching the little birds outside the window every morning with Grams. They loved giving Doc and Rain oats and carrots with Grandpa. They had a lovely time. Thank you for having us....I miss you guys already...I'll be back soon!! xoxoxo. Love you so much, Jaime

LOVE FOR MOM, DAD AND FAMILY

JUST WANTED TO TELL YOU GUYS I WAS THINKING ABOUT YOU THIS MORNING AND TELL YOU HOW MUCH I LOVE YOU. BE VERY STRONG! YOU ARE NOT EVERY GOING TO BE ALONE. THANKYOU JENNIFER FOR PUTTING THIS TOGETHER YOU ARE SUCH A WONDERFUL SISTER. EVERYONE IS SO WONDERFUL I LOVE YOU ALL.

the sweetest voice

i talked to mom last night. she had a hard day yesterday.  it is getting more difficult for her to talk.  she said that she really has to try hard to pronounce the words. all the time.  she said that she couldn't sing the hymns at church on sunday.  that was a hard moment for her.  Lance got her a voice computer and she is going to start learning how to use it soon.  we knew this would happen. but now that it is happening it really just plain sucks! mom has the sweetest voice.  this is just breaking my heart.  i just love u so much mom i don't want you to be sad. not for one day or one second.  

Jaime, mike and their girls have been in pagosa this week with mom and dad.  they are having a blast.  they have been riding the 4 wheelers, going horseback riding, making homemade pot pies, and visiting a brand new baby calf (named lily?!?)  i am jealous! but i'm glad they are there with mom and dad.  hopefully we can come soon too!

i made richard, shane, lance, and jaime all authors of this blog now.. so you guys can post things too.  call me if u need help figuring things out.  

you are on my mind today mom... i will probably call u 10 times.  i just love talking to u... sydney, lily, and claire send u kisses.. have a great day and I LOVE YOU SO MUCH!!!

denver trip in march 09

ALS clip from the Today Show

watch this clip from today. I consider this man a hero.  thanks for the link missy:)

come what may, and love it

i love this talk. i think i have probably read it 20 times these past two months. i read it again last night... and u should read it too:)

mom and dad a few days after being diagnosed

a very hard day

I decided, after asking her, to start this blog so that friends and family could come visit and get updated on mom and how she is doing.

First, I want to say that mom is the most amazing lady that I know. I am SO lucky and blessed to be her daughter. She is very strong and has been amazing these past two months. I have always been very close to her.. but these past couple of months I have grown a new appreciation and love for her.

On Feb. 4th she was diagnosed with ALS disease. These past two months have been very difficult for our family. It was a very hard thing to discover. But through lots of prayer we are striving to accept this and make the most of every day. We know that it is in Heavenly Father's hands. We have felt the prayers of all of our friends and family. My mom and I talk all the time about how we can tell that we are being comforted. We could not do this alone... and we don't have to. Although we have lots of "moments" we are doing amazingly well.

As of right now my mom's only symptoms are slurred speach... and sometimes she has difficulty swallowing. She has found a doctor in Denver that she loves. He is very positive and says that she needs to prepare for the future but not to dwell on it. So that is what she is doing. He also said that many people have lived with this disease for many years. So that is what we are hoping for!