Howdy from Tenn-- and Happy St. Patty's day!

March 17, 2013

Dear Family and friends,

     Happy St. Patricks Day!  And Happy Birthday to our grandson Peter tomorrow.  He will be 5.  Amazing!   He is such a cute kid and is growing up so fast.   I apologize for the long span since I last wrote our family email. Most of you already know I was in a coma from the last of November until the middle of December, during which I underwent 2 strokes, 1 heart attack, brain surgery, heart surgery and one cardiac arrest all within 5 days of each other.  I am very blessed to even be alive today and though I do not ask for sympathy, I do ask for your understanding.  These past few months have truly been a challenge for our family.  I personally have no memory of anything from the first of November on, which is sad because we have had many friends and family members who came out to visit and help me.   All 10 of our children and all 11 of our grandsons were here for Christmas and Grandpa McKee and Jim also came out but  I unfortunately have no memory of that at all.  When I came out of the coma in December, I used to write November as the date on everything.  I not only missed Thanksgiving Day this year, but Christmas and New Year’s Day, too.  I also missed my birthday, so I tell everyone that I am still a year younger!   They tell me that Aubrey got her drivers’ license, Destini sang a solo for a 50s concert at school and participated in Winter Olympics, Kiara hosted the play Oklahoma and handmade 10 signs for it, 2 Apostles came  to visit our mission along with other General Authorities and a whole host of other things happened “while I was sleeping”. Sometimes it’s hard to know what to believe but I’ll trust them. It seems like I missed many major activities but they tell me I was there for many of them.

   Right now I am doing pretty well.  I have an eye that isn’t working that I am seeing an eye doctor for.  I see double and sometimes even triple vision in my left eye, but Dr. Politser has no doubt that in time I will regain full eyesight in my eyes.  I also have a balance problem—it is very difficult to walk without running into something. My family has been so wonderful to help.  Jared and Brittany have been out here for 3 months helping me with his training  as a physical therapist and Michelle got here this week and she will be staying for a few weeks.  I am so grateful for my great husband and family who have supported me and fought for me during the past few months.

  It has been beautiful here in Brentwood during the past couple of days, but pretty cold the week previous.  Today we took our family out walking around Radnor Lake and it was just beautiful. The therapy walking out there is certainly better than my out patient therapy. Aubrey sang a solo ,the national anthem for the girls basketball game preparing for state,  Angie played in her first Rugby game Friday night and did a great job (that’s from an onlooker who knows absolutely nothing about Rugby, but I could see by the scoreboard that they won!).  We got the news last week and she, and Kylie, are both planning to go on missions in August.  That will be exciting for them AND for us. 

We all want to thank each of you for the love and support you have given our family in so many different ways., cards, letters, prayers, phone , calls, etc…….  We feel SO blessed 1) to have a second chance at life itself, 2) to have so many wonderful people in our lives who support us and love us and show it so valiantly!

Last transfer we received 25 new missionaries plus 6 new visa waiters.  We currently have 205 missionaries here in the great TNM.  We have 85 sisters and 120 Elders.  The look of our mission has certainly changed, but we have the greatest missionaries in the world.

Have a great week and remember our love and appreciation for each of you. Our testimonies are real and strong.  We have no doubt that the Lord is there and that He loves us and cares for us.  We also know that he hears and answers prayers.  

Loads of love,

President and Sister McKee,  Dad and Mom, Grandpa and Grandma, Bill & RaNae, Angie, Aubrey, Kiara, Destini, and Michelle

Angie, Aubrey, Kiara, Destini and Michelle