All I Ever Wanted To Be When I Grew Up!

- by Kimberly Whipple

This is one of my favorite stories to tell and I still can remember the day. When I was a little girl I remember feeling a little frustrated when people would ask: "What do you want to be when you grow-up?" I did not know and kind of did not want to think about it. Ha! However, I had a profound experience when I was 11 years young. It was the first day I came home from school and my Mother was there. She had been working for my Daddio since my sisters and I were four, when his manger's husband was getting transferred to another location with the forest service. Daddio needed help, as he was still trying to establish a successful State Farm Agency from ground zero. I am so grateful I was blessed to have my Mother 24/7 for 4 years, but I understood this is what they needed to do, and I know it was hard for them both. But she did it for about seven years, and she actually really enjoyed helping my Daddio. She was really good at what she did too. They made a good team.

But on this day, when I was 11 years young, I came home from school. I walked into the back door and was instantly hit with the delicious smell of freshly baked bread and Mother had fruit cut up for us. But the most wonderful thing was to have my Mother there to embrace me in her love and give me a kiss. I cannot even express in words the joy that filled my soul. It was that very day that I went outside, I believe to throw some trash out in bin, and as I was walking across the back lawn towards the back door, something incredible happened. It was like the heavens were open and angels were singing. That is how I felt and I felt surrounded by light and love. It was at that moment that I knew exactly what I wanted to be when I grew up. It was a knowing and understanding that is unexplainable. I ran into the house and found my Mommy, so excited I could hardly contain myself. All I kept saying is: "I know what I want to be when I grow up!" over and over. Mommy got me calmed down enough to be able to tell her what it was. I excitedly and joyfully said: "A wife and a mother." That's right and from that moment that feeling and joyful knowing never left me. It stayed with me and continues to be with me, even to this day.

However, I am so happy to say, that after many many years of being single (almost 40) I became a wife to one of the most wonderful men in the universe: Destin Whipple -- A BROBDINGNAGIAN HH for sure!!! (You may be wondering what a BROBDINGNAGIAN HH! is, but that will have to be another Newsletter. I am also a "Bonus" mother to his four wonderful children: Cecily (23), Truman (21), Reegan (19), and Landon (15).

Destin and I wanted to adjust to our new life together with each other and his children for at least a year before we dove into adoption, as I am unable to bear children of my own. So, for many many years we did all we could do to become parents through adoption, as many of you patients know. It sure was a roller coaster ride, but we continued to go forward in faith and trust, particularly because we were told it would be a bit more challenging since Destin had four older children. Little did we know how hard this process would be on our hearts. I wrote over 60 letters to birth mothers, we had several opportunities that were so close and ended before we knew it, particularly one situation where it was almost certain, but then it tragically ended in a heart shattering way in August 2023. After that I felt like my heart was shattered in a million pieces and all I could do was get on my knees in my closet and pray, "Please give me the strength to TRUST." We both surrendered and trusted. That is all we could do. Trust and keep on trusting. The broken pieces of our hearts began to slowly come together and we kept trusting. Then one day in early November 2023, a dear friend reached out to me telling me about a situation and the expecting mother wanted us to be the parents of her unborn son, due Christmas Day. The things that transpired for this incredible miracle is another story for another day, but God is so good and He truly is a God of miracles and a God that parts the Red Seas in our lives. Dreams do come true and on New Years Day at 6:01 p.m. Destin and I were blessed with our precious miracle son: Todd Jesee Whipple. He is most perfect and the joy of our every day. I was blessed to be at the delivery and I cannot express in words the emotions and feelings I experienced watching this incredible women working and laboring so hard, feeling so much pain emotional, mental, and physical, and losing so much in one day. She is forever a Hero in our eyes and hearts and we will continue to teach Todd about his amazing birth mother. The joy that fills and overflows my heart is unexplainable. Oh, the great goodness of God. Dreams do come true. Just keep trusting, no matter what her dreams are. Keep believing. Keep TRUSTING. Keep visioning as though it has already happened and you are living it.

I also really REALLY want to express my eternal love and gratitude to ALL you dear patients, particularly Mya, Sequoia, and Melissa for ALL your prayers, love, support, encouragement, and positive energy in countless ways. I have had this weight on my shoulders, because as many of you know I love writing cards, and I have wanted to write all of you a card, particularly for all the love showered upon me for the very special Baby Shower for Todd. But as a mother, cards do not get written as frequently, but please know that I have an indelible stamp of love and gratitude in my heart for all you have done for me. There just are not words in the English language (or any language) to express how eternally grateful I am. THANK YOU ETERNALLY! KEEP DREAMING! KEEP TRUSTING!!

Love Always,
Kimee