Hangin' Out with Uncle Dean & Dad

We had a FUN weekend!

Verses of Scripture

This week has been hard for me. I'm feeling very behind and buried under a pile of tasks that I don't have the energy or interest in completing. After spending some time reading & mediating over God's word I am beginning to see today differently.

Below are just a few of the verses of scripture I read today.

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever. Psalm 136:1

Search me, O god, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting! Psalm 139:23-24

Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth! Serve the Lord with gladness! Come into his presence with singing! Know that the Lord, his God! It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name! For the Lord is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations. Psalm 100

Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, & purify your hearts, you double minded. James 4:8

It Finally Arrived at Our House

Our family had managed to stay healthy with the exception of dealing with a little allergies up until this weekend. Katherine came home Saturday night saying she had started having a cough. Sebastian had a cough off and on last week and he didn't feel well Friday morning, but by mid afternoon he seemed fine. Maybe a little congested, but I figured that was allergies.

Yesterday morning I woke up not feeling well, but once again attributed it to allergies. Katherine & Sebastian were still congested and had a cough, but no temp. We all headed to church as normal. After Sunday school the kids and I came home, because I wasn't feeling well and neither was Katherine. Sebastian really wanted to stay, but I could tell by his crankiness that he wasn't feeling as well as he said. We enjoyed lying down while Wes was at church, and then we enjoyed a nice lunch together before all taking naps.

By the end of the day coughs had gotten worse and two of us had sore throats. Katherine was the only one of us that ran a temp, but the three of us all felt bad. And we're still feeling that way today. Thankfully no one has had a temp today, but I wish we felt better. Maybe tomorrow!

All in HIS time.

Last April my sister became unemployed. She has been working through a temporary agency, and she really loved her last temp job. She had been told her position could become permanent, so when that position was unexpectedly terminated she was upset. Several people from that company told her they would do what they could to get her hired, but it never worked out. The temporary agency had her interview for another company a couple weeks ago, and the training for a new temp job began last Monday. This newest temp job was not a job she was well suited for, but she needed to take it. She wasn't excited about it, but she was faithful to take what opportunities God provided for her.

During all of this, we, her family have been praying with her that God would open a clear door for her. It's been hard to watch her struggle with decisions on whether to continue to live where she is while looking for employment, move back home, or just what to do.

On Monday while sitting in a very boring training class, she received a call from place where she had previously applied for a full time position. She was able to call them on her break and went for an interview on her lunch break that day. She had several calls with them throughout the week, and was offered a full time position on Friday! Her first day at this new place is Monday, November 16th.

Praise God for the answered prayer, and congratulations Diane!

Our Angel Princess & Star Wars Clone Trooper

Here's the only picture I took when we were at the block party at First Baptist Church, Valliant. There was a rope and a bale of hay for kids to rope. Katherine picked up the rope and wanted to try to rope the bale, but she had absolutely no idea how or what to do. It was funny.


* AKA Katherine (7) & Sebastian (4) Kenney

I-K-K-KEA

I love visiting the IKEA store, but I can't say the name without thinking of the Chia Pet commercials.

We just refreshed the kids rooms with some furniture from IKEA. Enjoy the pictures (my apologies for the blurriness of the first one).

Completed

It was three weeks ago that Wes began working really hard to clear out all the weeds and mulch in the flower bed that surrounds the front and side of our house. He was putting down a weed barrier and replacing the mulch with river pebble rocks. He was doing a great job until he ran out of rocks.

Earlier this week Wes borrowed a trailer and picked up some more rocks. This time we found them locally and the price was much cheaper!

The kids pitched in a little help to get this project complete, and they had some fun too!

It is finished, and we are TIRED!!!!!!!

Today we'll be watching some college football. Cheering on Wes's favorite team...the Kansas Jawhawks! And, they happen to be playing Wes's least favorite team....the Sooners.

Saturday Family Time

Saturday was a beautiful fall day, and in the midst of watching a lot of college football we took time to enjoy playing outside. We played a couple games using a parachute, and Wes helped the kids launch some rocket balloons. The kids rode around on their tricycles, bikes, little cars, and scooter.

Last week I had picked up some autumn shaped cookie cutters, so we decided we would make sugar cookies to take to church for our after church meal on Sunday. Katherine helped me make the dough, and Sebastian showed up briefly to help cut out the cookies. Katherine stayed with me throughout the whole process. We even worked together in getting them iced. She did the main icing coat, while I added a few details to help the cookies look like the leaves they were supposed to be. She and I were proud of our work. Wes and Sebastian were our tasters, and according to them they were great. They had several samples. :-)

Here is Katherine showing off our hard work...


Saturday was fun and special, because we were enjoying being together as a family. I love spending time with Wes, Katherine, and Sebastian!!!!! God has blessed me with a terrific family (immediate & extended), and I'm so grateful!

Enjoying Fall

Last Monday the kids and I enjoyed playing outside.

Reality

I am tired of pretending I have it all together. I don't. I struggle spiritually. I don't read my bible daily as I should, and my prayer time usually takes place in the shower. I've started more personal bible studies than I can count and I think I've only finished one. I am a minister's wife, and I struggle to tell people where to find verses or stories in the bible. I struggle with bitterness and anger. I yell at my kids, and say things I shouldn't. I give in to gossip. I have financial problems. I show up with a bad attitude and spread it to others. I'm selfish. I am a sinner!

The good news is God sent Jesus to earth to die on a cross for the sins of the world. Then He rose from the grave, so those who confess with their mouth and believe in their hearts can be saved. (Matthew 1:18-25; Mark 15 & 16; Romans 10:9-13)

I'm not the spiritual prayer warrior I want to be. I don't have the spiritual maturity, wisdom, and knowledge that comes with studying the Bible daily, but I want these in my life. I desire to be broken for change in my life. I desire to be a godly wife and mother to my husband and two precious kids. I desire to be part of a prayer meeting where each one of us is united in prayer with a brokenness for each other and the unsaved of our families, friends, and others around the world.

Let's get real and honest!

TV Show, Smelly Dishrag, & A Lesson

Sebastian was running around the house in his Superman pajamas, and Katherine was lying on the couch watching TV. Extreme Makeover Home Edition was now playing on the living room and kitchen TV's. I was standing at the kitchen sink washing dishes and feeling frustrated. The dishrag I picked up to use was old and smelly. It had been washed, and I'd only used it once. I began thinking how I needed to purchase more kitchen dishrags, and about how it seemed there is always something that we need. I was bummed that I don't have all the things I need want.

It was about that time I started watching Extreme Makeover Home Edition. All of the sudden God reminded me how much I do have. I saw the conditions the family was living in and realized I've never had to live in conditions such as those. Here I am feeling frustrated over a smelly dishrag while standing in a beautiful home provided by God. At that moment I stood in my kitchen and began to thank God for the situation I'm in rather than complaining about it, smelly dishrags and all!

God continued to bring to my mind all the ways He's provided and blessed our family and extended family. I praise Him for His sinless life, dying on the cross for the sins of man, rising from the dead, and saving my poor wretched soul.

Dress Up

Wes and I LOVE them SO MUCH!

Big Plans Equal Hard Labor Then Relaxation & College Football

It's been a busy day at the Kenney residence. When Wes and I woke up we had big plans for our day. Wes began working on cleaning up our flower bed, so we could replace the mulch in the flower bed with river pebble rocks. He worked really hard until we ran out of rocks, so next week one of us will be making a trip back to Home Depot in Paris. Anyway, I had big plans to clean and organize inside the house, but the kids and I ended up at the store (and that's all I'm saying on that subject). By the time the kids and I arrived home we decided to relax with a pregame movie and snack.

At 6:30PM we'll be tuned to ESPN 2 for the Arkansas Razorback/Texas A&M game being played at the new Cowboy Stadium in Arlington, Texas. Gig'em!

Blocked? (or Something)

There are many things floating around in my little mind, but nothing seems to be coming out when I sit down to blog. I must have a case of writer's block or something. When this has happened before I always try to at least post pictures of the kids; however, I haven't been taking many of those recently. What few pictures I have taken I've used in tweets on twitter. I am hoping some of you haven't actually looked at those, so I can post them below! :-) Here's my favorite...

I'm sure you can figure out why this one was my favorite.
The next one is Sebastian enjoying Katherine's piano lesson a couple weeks ago.

I REALLY LOVE my kiddo's.

Nana Knows Best

Just over a week ago, we stopped in Wynnewood, Oklahoma, where we visited Luan Adams (aka Nana). Not long into our visit the kids started hinting that they were hungry. Of course their Nana picked up on the hints, and she happily fixed them a snack.

Sebastian let her know he didn't need his apple peeled just cut up.

Sebastian showing his appreciation!

What's New with School

On Monday, August 17th, our family began a new journey. As public schools were starting in this area our family choose to homeschool. Wes and I had considered the option of homeschool before when Katherine was beginning kindergarten, but I wasn't sure I could handle teaching Katherine to read. I felt I would be alone in the journey and kept using the excuse that there wasn't a homeschool group for us to be part of like in more metro areas. Deep down I knew homeschooling was what God was leading Wes and I to do, but I wasn't ready to trust the Lord in that decision.

Two years ago we enrolled Katherine in Swink Public School. Swink is a very small community about five miles west of our house. When Wes and I visited there and met with the Superintendent and Teachers we were very impressed. Almost of all the teachers were Christians and were active in church. It felt more like a small Christian school than a regular public school. Katherine did very well in kindergarten, and we were pleased with the school. The following year Katherine had a wonderful teacher and excelled in the academics, but the school atmosphere had changed quite a bit from the previous year. Grades that had been separated the year before were now combined in the same class. Several of the wonderful Christian teachers moved to another school system, and Swink lost what we loved most about it.

We briefly considered enrolling her in the Valliant schools in second grade, but we were concerned that in a large class of second graders, she would quickly become bored, and the teacher in Valliant, because the class is larger, might not be able to give her the attention she would need.

As I mentioned earlier, one of the reasons I was against homeschooling two years ago was because I felt Wes and I would be essentially on our own. That has changed in the intervening time. There is a homeschooling group in Valliant and another one in Antlers. The Valliant group has at least seven families with about 24 kids. This group meets once a week, and this year has began a physical education class. Each month there will also be a field trip, and this group partners with other homeschooling groups around our area and in Oklahoma City. Wes and I will not be in this alone!

Ultimately, we chose to homeschool because we recognize that Katherine's and Sebastian's education is our responsibility. We are not against public schools; they are one tool available to be used in carrying out our responsibility, but for now they're not the best option for us. Homeschooling will allow us to ensure that the things they learn will be taught from a Christian worldview perspective. They won't learn "real" history in a classroom, and "Bible" history at home & church; they'll learn it in a integrated way. It is valuable to us to see that their education is Christ-centered, and so that, in combination with everything else, is why we're doing what we're doing.

We are in week five and loving it. We've had a few not so good days where our schedule has been messed up, the the good out weighs those days! We've enjoyed a back to school swimming party and our first physical education class with our homeschooling group. Last week was a scheduled field trip to the McCurtain County Fair. We did not go as a group, but allowed each family to go on their own. The kids and I went on Thursday and enjoyed seeing all the animals while taking time to enjoy some food as well. We were able to watch some new friends from our group show their animals, and Katherine thought it was cool to see one of her new friends win a first place ribbon for her pig.

Life is different around our house; however, it is a good different!

Two of us enjoyed a funnel cake. Some little boy wasn't interested. Not sure what's wrong with him!

To celebrate making it to the end of our first week of school we went to the donut shop for breakfast.

Katherine jumped off the diving board. She's under the splash of water. I was so proud of her! This was at our homeshool swimming party.

(Some of the paragraphs written in this post were copied from previous emails from Wes & I to family and friends.)

Trying new things

As you can see I changed and added a few things to the blog. If the coloring of text is hard for you to read I would appreciate you leaving me a comment to let me know. It is always hard to tell when I'm choosing colors and sometimes I pick one that is hard for others to read.

Thanks for the input!

Missing Blogger

So I'm a little behind on the blogging these last several months, and I apologize. I would like to offer some really extravagant explanation, but there isn't one. I could probably make one up for you, but that's not good either. Please accept my sincere apology, and I'll try to do better in the coming weeks.

SEVEN!!!!

On Sunday, August 9th, our dear sweet first born turned SEVEN! She woke up to find that her Uncle Dean & Aunt Diane had arrived during the night. She received a phone call at breakfast from Grandpa Homer wishing her a happy birthday. What she didn't know was that he was almost to our house. She was really surprised to see him standing in our living room a few minutes later. After church she received a birthday call from Papa Verne & Grandma Linda Kenney. Later that afternoon we celebrated with a party. Her and her friends played on the water slide and in the pool. It was hot, but everyone had a great time!

The opening of gifts...

Barbie's The Diamond Castle

Thumbelina

Barbie's My house

Wedding Day Barbie

"Yea!!! It's The Chronicles of Narnia The Lion, The Witch, & The Wardrobe."