..:She Shall be Praised:..

Hello 2012 .. Excited to be here!

2012-01-12T20:46:00.000-08:00

We ended 2011 with the holidays & then our boys "5" birthday. My OH My was it fun! I planned every little detail and had a blast! There is so much I could say about it but I will do so with pictures .. I had someone come and take pictures so I have over 700 of them! No joke!

We had candy and lots of it.. a candy tabe.. we had GOLD (Twix) and SILVER (Hershey Kisses) which were our LOOT, we had (Red Swedish fish) our CATCH OF THE DAY, HOIST THE SAIL (Laffy Taffy), and lots of JEWELS (Ring suckers and beaded necklaces/rings). The biggest hit were the meatballs at the food table that Jeremy made ... .. CANNON BALLS!!!
Games we played were WALK THE PLANK, SWAB THE DECK & we had a Pinata. The kids loved all of it. Following gifts, cake and fun and games we had a treasure hunt that Jeremy wrote. It was so much fun!! Each clue along with Piercens friends helped him to find his HIDDEN TREASURE!!! He was shocked and his face was priceless.

This pic is right before he opened his treasure ....

My pictures aren't even in order nor am I happy with blogger because it is not working right. I have messed with it for an hour and I just want to scream! This is one reason I never post. Always complicated!

Happy Birthday Piercen Kennedy, you are my JOY! I love you and I pray my love always gives you roots!

Holidays at HOME

2011-12-01T20:56:00.000-08:00

Well .. Dec 1 arrived today AND so did our newest ELF on a shelf, NOEL Christmas as J and I have named him. Isn't he just adorable?!? You will have to google lots of things about these cute little elfs and find out just what this is all about. FUN FUN!!

He arrived today.. as best as we can tell he opened the blinds, came through the window and flew into the tree. Patiently waiting to see how Piercen would act today! About 9 pm we 'noticed' he was there and we introduced him to Piercen. He is here on a mission to watch Piercen the next 24 days and report to santa just how good of a little boy Piercen will be! I wonder what he will do while he is here? If he will eat any of our food, make a mess, help us clean up, hang from things and play while we are sleeping? Hmmmm.....

Piercen is doing great in preK and is enjoying it. He hasn't missed any school and loves it! Thank you Lord we are into December and he is healthy. Doing great! They are studying hard for lines for the Christmas program which will be December 12. I am so excited. Piercen has a few lines and has some of them memorized. We are now working on the others. He will do great I know!! We are nearly done with our shopping. Black Friday was fun as always. I enjoyed myself. And God blessed me with picture money to pray for ALL of it :) Thank you Lord. I am still getting calls, people still wanting to me to take pics so I am praying what the Lord will have me to do with a name and business. I just give it to him and let him lead.

Jeremys papers are turned in and all for college. Now he just is waiting to take the compass test. YEAH J! Proud of you...

Our tree is gorgeous.. J worked hard on our mesh we added. I love it!!! Thanks honey!!!

Treasures

2011-09-17T11:58:00.000-07:00

I love this smile .. it melts my heart!!

Our second week of schedules and PreK was another great week! Very enjoyable. Daddy & Mommy spent a lot of time talking and visiting with one another while little man was at school. This is something we haven't gotten to do often, just the two of us. We are usually interrupted even by a phone call or text even if we are on a date. We have learned how to hit vibrate. I enjoyed breakfast with my man and good conversation. Each morning afterwards we cleaned out the van and then the next day the suburban so that we actually did accomplish something. LOL. Piercen had gymnastics Monday so I got him from school at 10:40 and we made it in plenty of time. He loves his gymnastics class, his peers and his instructor Mrs Tammy. She is super sweet!

This week Piercen decided to bring home a few 'treasures' from PreK. When I got into his backpack on Tuesday there were sticks. Two of them! I asked him about them and he said they were to decorate his room with. I just knew the next thing I'd find would be rocks or grass. Needless to say, Wednesday when daddy opened it he found another sick and grass -- bermuda to be exact. I about died. AND yes, I did take a picture. It was a hoot!!! I please asked him to not bring home his little treasures as I assured him we would not be decorating his room with sticks or grass. LOL. He got in the suburban on Thursday and as I opened his backpack to look at his papers that he didn't bring any 'treasures' home. I cracked up. I want him to be a boy and to play with them is fine but to 'decorate' with. Jeremy said he is the perfect combination of his daddy and myself.... daddy ... all BOY, loves outside, rocks, sticks, you name it. Momma.... wanting to decorate his room with them. I just love my little family!!! Great memories.

I was able to take Piercen's pictures this week. FINALLY! I have been trying since he was 4 1/2. I wanted to get them at 4, 41/2 then 5. Well, it June he had the hands, foot and mouth and no joke for three weeks he was broke out. He was okay for a few days and I was giving him time to really 'feel' better... he then caught something viral. It was a few more weeks til he was himself.. Come the end of July and into August it was so hot it was miserable. Weeks of 100++++ weather. I was like forget it. So, in the past few weeks it has really been nice. Last week was perfect. He WANTED me to do them and he was so much fun. Silly too! I love those kinda pictures of him. When he 'poses' its a pose .. when he is just playing, acting silly, those are the best pics ever! Here are the ones I loved .....

This one was kinda a 'remake' of one I took a few years back.. Piercen is named after my grandfather and this is his grace... it is at the National Cemetary.. this visited kinda bothered Piercen. He was asking a lot of questions this time and was afraid he was 'standing' on Papa. I am not sure I will take him back and do this again for a while. I know some people may wonder why I'd even take this but it is special to me. He isn't there, we know where he is but it's his memory.

My daddy, my brother Aaron and my uncle Dale have all been in CO for the week. They returned last night & I am thankful they are home safe & sound ... sad for them ... they didn't get anything. It stormed and rained, it rained some more and more. It ruined it all. I know how disappointed they must be. It is now rainy and getting cold, fall-like weather is here finally. Piercen just helped me make M & M cookies and then I made some treats as well that I saw and wanted to try. As long as I don't them it's all good ... everyone else will love them. Jeremy & I have been doing pretty good eating right. What better for me to do on a rainy day then either bake or craft?!?!?

Hope everyone is having a great weekend! We are off to see my daddy in a bit then bed early for us.. we are going to be at Crossroads in NWA again tomorrow for both services. Hope this goes well, not sure how Piercen will do staying all day and in someone else's house visiting for the afternoon. Pray for us as we continue to pray and seek the Lord about what what direction He is leading us.

Before I post I totally forgot about my photo shoot of my cousins. It was SO much fun. They are a hoot!! I took these for my cousin Angela two weeks ago and didn't post b/c she hadnt' seen them yet. I love how they turned out.... her birthday is coming up and I was trying to hold off to give to her for a gift but she couldn't wait. When you see them you will understand why! BIG WINK!!

The 1st week of the 1st time in PreK

2011-09-11T15:18:00.000-07:00

And it went .... gReaT ... FabUloUs ... InCrEdIbLe ...memorable ... fANtAStIC ..wonDERful ...

.......BLESSED........

Piercen loved it. And well, so did daddy & I. We began on Tuesday after Memorial Day. Well, no actually, it began a week before. Preparing for a new routine for bed, a new bed time, a new schedule all together. For all THREE of us! And it worked perfectly! The night before our FIRST morning we prepared. We laid Piercen's clothes out, we packed his backpack of the last few items we needed to take with him, we filled his lunch box aka snack box of his morning snack for the first day (Capri sun, a bottle of water, blueberry muffins and crackers n cheese just in case that was his choice and not the muffins. Included was also a note from momma for him to 'read' the first day when he had a morning break!) AND momma even made Mrs. Tracy a flower arrangement full of the very things that she will be teaching him ... ABC's & 1-2-3's.... Fun, Fun, Fun! It made me pray just one more time to be positive I was 100% sure that I wouldn't be keeping him home. HAHA! I might add, after our first day, we knew even beyond the peace in our hearts but by the smile on his face that we indeed made the right decision!

We were prepared and so we got him in bed, teeth brushed, blanket, barkley (pupply dog that he and daddy actually bought for me for Valentines Day in Feb after he was born in December! He loved it as he had gotten older so he 'adopted' it from me... it became his and not mine LOL) we said our prayers and daddy told him a story ... he fell right to sleep. Come 7:30 we did not even wake him up. We got up, we began getting ready and here he came.... at...... wait for it... 7:15!!!!! Yep, in a great mood and all. We all got around, he had his clothes laid out so he dressed himself. He ate a bananna and drank his juice while watching some cartoons and we finished getting ready. I fixed his hair a bit later after making our beds (HALLELUJAH!!! I love having made beds) and then off we went. We got to his preschool and as we pulled in I was asking where Mrs Tracy's flowers were ... Jeremy had them and set them down to lock the door. So, he was going to run home. We just like 3 min from the school. My point to this is so funny actually. Piercen proceeds to tell us to go get her flowers and just drop him off at the door. HAHA! I'm like "Oh no. I am atleast walking you in!" HONESTLY, I knew God had given us peace, I knew we had made the right decision and everything was planned and we prepared for weeks. It was a HUGE adjustment for us. We have changed many things about our life styles . I really thought it was going so well that maybe he would give a little once we finally got ready to leave him for the first time. I thought to myself this would be when I would loose it b/c he would get upset . Oh no, when we pulled in I knew different. I walked him in, we put his things up in his cubby and he walked right over to the other kids. Jeremy came in a few minutes later with our creation of flowers and Piercen gave them to Mrs. Tracy. I snapped a quick picture and kissed my baby goodbye for the next 2.5 hrs. To some, it may not be a big thing, to most, your probably jumping for joy but for this momma, I prayed EIGHT years for this child of mine and to me, one minute without him is WAY too much!!! I promise you, these changes, this new journey, is just as big of a milestone in MY life as it is in HIS!

He was so excited when we picked him up. I got the biggest laugh. We asked him what he learned and he said "to play". He that is perfectly fine with me the first day, the first week. So be it. He learned to play. Play with little boys, little girls, his age, who speak his language. Who are just as excited, rowdy and excited. So be it son!!!! I love it. We took him to lunch to eat Mexican and had a good afternoon.

Our week was a blessing. Jeremy & I enjoyed a breakfast or two together, talking, visiting, no interruptions. Ahhh. What a nice morning. I really enjoyed it. I felt every single day refreshed. I got some laundry done, some organization in his room done. Beds made EVERY morning. I felt so accomplished and I PROMISE you. Just that 2.5 hr a day for three days (one short b/c of the holiday) it made me a better momma all afternoon/evening long!

This week was short a day... it began Tues and went thru Thur.. only b/c of the holiday so this week we begin Monday and go thru Thur. Friday morning he had NO idea why he wasn't going to school. I explained to him the days of the week and he is ready for week two! As of now, I wonder what the future will hold for his schooling. I have no idea but I do know right now regardless of remarks people may make or questions they may ask, he is right where he needs to be. And we have peace. We don't answer to man. We answer to the Lord and he has directed our path for this year. Amen.

WOW it has been so long ...

2011-09-05T19:17:00.000-07:00

July seems like so long ago. My last blog entry. A lot has taken place since then. I'd not even know where to begin so I will just fill it all in with the important stuff. I do take lots of pictures. LOTS so I have them to fill in the gaps of memory loss for the blog record. LOL. I so want to be better at this. So many changes going on right now so I hope one of them is this .... more blogging.

This picture is actually from June 20th, moms birthday but I love it and I wanted to post it. We, us ladies, went to lunch at Olive Garden and had a great time visiting.. we were in no rush. I love that!! Mom had a good day. Jeremy, Piercen and I got her a cell phone b/c hers was on crash mode... she loved it.

August brought my birthday on the 2nd and my family made me feel really special this year. On my actual birthday all of us ladies and Brenden (heehee) went to lunch at Logans. YUMMY. My fave!!! I got some wonderful gifts and money for our Branson trip. I also got to see some friends from KS who are precious to me. They were in town and we went to NWA to meet them. Jeremy set it up and I was STOKED!!! The Vicker's family.. LOVE THEM!!! I cracked up b/c they brought out a firecracker for my dessert/birthday announcement. Literally a sparkler. I about died from laughing so hard. This was a hard one for me. I have NO idea why but this age literally HIT ME!!!

Angela & I are lunch ...

My Birthday FIRECRACKER....Deidra and I.. I love her. She is a woman of God. She loves him, fears him.. She is the real deal!!!

I love my little family ... God is so good to me.

I am living my dreams with this man. To love and be loved. What more could ANYONE dream? I have learned so many things over the years.. it isn't what you have it is WHO you have!!!

We ... did .... it ..... we bought school supplies. I can't believe it. Yes, supplies for PreK!!! Piercen is going to what he calls "BIG" school four days a week for 2 1/2 hrs.. He is excited. Jeremy and I have prayed for months, checked out many places, visited the center, met with the director, teacher, went to open house and we are ready. We are going to give it our best shot, pray a lot and see how he does and how the Lord leads. It is all a matter of prayer and right now, its a go. Taking advantage of the first weekend in August being TAX free weekend for school shoppers!!

OH MY that includes us !!!!!!!! We have a little guy old enough to get school supplies!!!!!!Such a big boy. I can't even believe he is old enough to be picking out a lunch box and a backpack. He picked out everything Cars 2. Imagine that. He really enjoys that right now. I am so non character but hey, he is excited. I DO get excited what he is excited about. I love being his momma. Thank you Lord that you chose ME to be THIS LITTLE GUYS MOMMA! Blessed!

We took a week and went to Branson. My parents came up and we spent a few days with them. There is a hotel up there that is so good to us. We stay with them all of the time and they treat us right. Very affordable and relaxing. Piercen cracked me up in this HUGE chair. After my parents went home we spent a few days with the Adair family.. they too spent a week up there and stayed in a resort.. we got to stay with them for two nights and it was so much fun.. Relaxing.. we did really nothing... ahhh.. I loved it. We did swim and that is Piercen's favorite!!!Last but not least by ANY means .. in August we joined the gym!!! Faithfully. We have been so faithful and it has already paid off. We began working out on Tuesday after meeting with our trainer and I weighed only seven days later and I was already down EIGHT pounds. I am so proud. I should say I am so blessed. Jeremy and I have been talking a lot about this and its a journey, its a life we want to have.. we want to be healthy.. we want to feel better and I know having diabetes and bp issues that I've been praying for a year that we'd get on the same page. FINALLY. God is good. He has been faithful and here we are. I forgot to take pics the first day although I have recent ones to look back on but I do have a few I took on Monday 8/29 becuase we had open house at Piercen's preschool and so we took some pics before we went. I am so glad we did. Not only because of us being on our way to his open house but that we needed some recent ones to blog for the journey. I pray I can get 51 more off before Christmas. I want to be healthy and be off my medications for my sugar and blood pressure issues. I know God will help me to do so. I am believing Him for it!!!

Open house was good. There will be three boys and five girls in the class that Piercen will be in. I do know of two of the families. I do not know them well but we do know one another and are friends on facebook. One of the moms I actually purchase Scentsy from since my SIL is not selling it anymore :) Here are the pics that were taken. I can't belive our little handsome boy!

I can't wait to compare these with pictures I will take in a few more weeks or even a month from now!! If you read this, pray for us. We know God is going to bless this weight loss journey!! Back to health for me!!! I am so thankful Jeremy has no current issues right now. Another blessing! We have several changes in our lives going on. It feels great. I am such a night owl I pray I can continue to improve and enjoy the mornings.. God can help me in that area too, Right?!?!?!?

Happy Birthday America....

2011-07-06T17:17:00.000-07:00

(This is a picture of his little mouth, outside of it. I have several other pics I won't post - too personal. Ya can get the idea and this is for journaling mostly.)

We've had a few rough weeks and I have found myself going crazyyyyyy!!! Going to jot down a few things that have gone on so I will remember them. We went to AL for campmeeting in June 3rd and came home on June 10th. Oh what a trip! We had a good time and enjoyed the services but returned with a sick and unhappy little boy. Piercen broke out ALL over in Hands, Foot & Mouth on June 10th and honestly, is still not over EVERYthing that has been going on.

We had no idea on that Saturday morning (June 11th) what on earth was going on. I just new I was scared to death. His throat was hurting some and he wasn't eating. He had severe redness and wasn't eating or drinking much at all. By Sunday he was broke out in blisters. I knew what it was because I had heard so much about it and we had studied in some in college. I had heard many parents talk about how bad it was and the primary locations were on the hands, feet and in the mouth. We took him to the walk in on Sunday and sure enough he tested --- for strep and the doctor said it was indeed H,F and M. YUCK-O!!!!! The sad part, we left with the diagnosis but nothing could be done for it. It lasts from 10-21 days. Oh what fun! Today is July 6th and guess what? His feet are STILL peeling. No joke, the old skin peels off!!!!

(This pic was at the walk in clinic and he was so upset.. they had just finished a strep test! )(Daddy held him and calmed him down. He just wanted to be left alone. Jeremy & I both felt so horrible for him. He was SO miserable. He is such an active little boy.. this was not fun!!!)

(I also wanted to get a pic of Mr Fish and post it for our journaling b/c Nana sent this to PK while he was getting over Hands, Foot and Mouth. It cheered him up and made him laugh!! It didn't last long but it did the job!!)

Once he was over the 'hump' he attended VBS at VB FWB and he was exposted to several children who were running fever or who had been sick... three days after 'clearing up' he woke up that next Saturday in hives again. For a week we had NO idea what was going on. He had been back to the walk in, to his pediatrician and she had no idea what it was other than something else viral going on and to let it run its course. He wasn't sick at his tummy, wasn't running a temp, just wasn't his happy self and was broke out in a rash. So ... we thought it was better. WRONG, by Saturday (July 2nd) he was breaking out MORE and worse... Sunday called for another walk in appointment. FINALLY an answer to this rash for over a week long. He was diagnosed with this really loooooooooooong word that ONLY Jeremy can pronounce and was really means ... RASH with shapes. Viral. His bodys way of ridding it b/c he is a child who runs no fever. When our bodies run fever they fight off bugs and things that are viral... Piercen hardly ever runs a fever. I praise God for that b/c a lot of kids do and Jeremy ran really high fevers as a child! BUT ... I hate this is how his body rids them too b/c its no fun and a lot of work. Either way, just thankful for a diagnosis this round and the 'treatment' seems to be working. The dr gave him steroids. I am not a fan of that but they are working. Nine days ... a series of 3,2,1. Three days of each and I pray, oh I pray he is all cleared up!!!!! We have to be careful with him b/c it will make his immune system very low so we have been home a lot. Out of the sun and playing, watching movies, baking cakes (his request) and playing some more. Needless to say.. we have seen several movies lately. It is low key & cool. I am anxious to see how the next few days go of steriods. We have tomorrow and then four more days following.

I did want to post two of his crafts from his first week at VBS (VB FWB) because he was so proud of them and they are pretty cute!!! Funny thing is the little potatoe head, who still doesn't have a name yet, is growing hair (grass). This is an updated picture of him since we have brought him home. Too funny!!!

He did attend VBS a few nights at Vista but we didn't get pics from that week. He was only able to go three nights and one of those I had a bridal shoot so I wasn't there to take pics. Bummer. He did have a great time and learned a lot. One of the most precious things I remember he told me was that he love Jesus and that he is in my heart. When we got ready to pray at night that week he began saying "I love you Jesus and be in my heart". I won't forget it. He has been doing it every since. I know they shared the word of God with him, a seed was planted, and he hasn't forgotten it. Amen. I am glad I can send him to things and they will share God with him, they did a great job, he needs it most importantly at home but it makes my heart smile to know whe we pray about sending him some place or to play with someone and God answers and we see the seeds planted. I got some goose bumps I am telling ya!!! VBS is fun, but has eternal value!!!

The fourth was very different for us. We weren't about to really get out, bbq, swim or do any of the things that we do *every* year. I have been home a lot, very low key so I wasn't the planner this year either. I usually always make sure we have plans with our family and do something fun. We did have fun, don't get me wrong, we just had to work around our boy. We kept him in b/c it was blistering hot and we didn't get to go out til almost dark. My parents and all of us went to dinner at Logan's. We NEVER eat out for the fourth.. we always grill. I missed it. I really did. As for what I've heard so did everyone :( BUT we were together so that is what matters. I told my momma " I don't like this momma, its sad, and I am so sick of being home, PK can't ride his bike, we can't swim, be in the sun, get him too hot" and she said to me " Christy, it isn't forever, it is temporary.. he could have something really bad wrong and never be able to ride his bike or do those things again". WOW. MOM. Thanks for the 'gentle' reminder. Seriously though. I had to take a step back! I've griped a lot about moms who bring their kids out with fevers and expose my son and having to staying in. I repented needless to say and am thankful it is what it is. :)

We ended up at my aunt and uncle's with all my cousins, husband and kids for the evening. We later went to their town firework show and had a good time. The sun was going down and Piercen was able to play. Yeah!!! Only one disappointment, Brended didn't like the loud crackers going off.. OH and actually, two, my brother Aaron and SIL Britt weren't with us... they had went to her cousins and enjoyed the 4th with them. I'm glad they had a great time as well but sure missed them!

My little man enjoying the show...

I love my little family of three and am so blesssed to live in America. Piercen enjoyed talking about America. The cutest thing he said was "Momma did you know that all the states are in America" LOVE that he is learning and always paying attention. He is such a joy. Pure joy!!!

... is there such a thing as slowing down?

2011-04-13T22:11:00.000-07:00

Well that is what we have done this week anyway! What we believe is slow for our little family of three. Jeremy was in revival all last week with taking Fri and Sat night off. We started again at the same church in our town on Monday and he preached both Monday and Tuesday night before ending it. Tonight we were with the Hatton family and their church and enjoyed the service very much. Bro Keith preached a message on the passover and that is exactly what my bible study was this morning. I enjoyed it. I am attached to MY LAMB. Are you? Do you share YOUR Lamb with others? WOW. Powerful stuff!!! I remember Jeremy preaching a message several years ago called "Share the Lamb." GOOD STUFF!

We have been doing a lot of this on the couch. Believe it or not this is PK's little (big) hand. He loves holding my hand watching tv. We just watched tangled the other night. LOVED it.

Piercen's new fave snack ... his DINOSOUR .. this is how I get him to eat a sandwhich now. :)

We also have went to a delish new little place last week because he has been SO good during all of these church services that have been back to back. He thought it was SO awesome b/c he got to do it all by himself. I love it that such simple things please him. I hope he is *always* this way!

My momma got a new friend ... his name is LUCKY and so Piercen stayed up there one night last week to get aquainted with him! He loves the animals so much. He gets it from them b/c I am so not an animal person but I am warming up. I do hope we get a puppy this year for Christmas. :)Meet LUCKY ... Hei s GORGEOUS. He is so big or I think so. But so sweet. He is a lineback dunn. My mom lost her sweet horse "Dusty" last year after many years, he was 32. I can't remember exactly but I know for a fact it was before 1993 - he was a loving horse and is missed. I hope Lucky will be good to her. She always says animals are better for friends than people. Some truth in that... you feed them, the love you. UNCONDITIONALLY. You can talk and talk and they never talk back, tear you down or betray you. But ya know, Isn't Jesus like that ?? YES!

I am really looking forward to tomorrow.. we are going to get our stuff done. Such as, yard mowing, cleaning the van, changing light bulbs then we are going to play on Fri and Sat. Yeah. I love my family and am so thankful for them! We are having a baby shower for my cousin Jen on Sunday so I get to see all the fam! I am super excited! Better jump in bed, early morning tomorrow to be productive!!! Let me leave you with one more pic of my little cutie.. his daddy was watching a police show and he had to get his dress up on... too cute.

Revival...

2011-04-05T22:08:00.001-07:00

We have been super busy this week! We have been in REVIVAL and it has been great!!! Sunday Jeremy preached locally at a church Sunday morning, my brother Aaron & my SIL Brittany came to be with us. It was so nice to be in church with family... Sunday night Jeremy began a revival in our town but at another church. We had our best friends, Ryan & Amanda and the kids come be wtih us. Another delight for the day. NOT to mention we spent Sunday afternoon outside because it was GORGEOUS!!!!! PK had to take his shoes off and run in the grass... our yard isn't too beautiful right now.. we had to change yard spraying companies so I hope it is weedLESS and green and beautiful soon but it may take a while to get it going again after the change.... Piercen loves to be barefoot and Sunday it was pretty warm (Pic April 3, 2011)

Monday is our errand day, our gymnastics day and lunch with pals. FUN, FUN. We had a great crowd at revival Monday night & God blessed. Thank you Lord! My parents came and so did my brother Nathan. My daddy said AMEN a dozen times so I know he enjoyed hearing J preach!!!!

We thought PK was going to get to start tball but he has to be 5 by May to play so he can't until next year.. but I found this at Academy and went ahead and got it not knowing but hey its perfect b/c he likes it, wants to learn and will be practicing and ready to go when it is time. J is working with him now on a lot of different things to see where his interest will be. PK is ALL boy!I took these pics Monday afternoon (April 4 2011)

Today was beautiful and not as cool as yesterday... we had to get some things at WM and I got a few plants so we spent the earliest part of the day outside. Piercen enjoyed that. Jeremy spoiled me by planting some things and my flower beds look AMAZING already. AND I see tulips coming up out back (I have to post a pic). They are from my birthday from the year before last and they keep multiplying - thank you Amanda. You are the best :) Revival tonight was a blessing. Many friends there and if I began naming names I'd forget someone. PK stayed with Nana and played. My dad had a meeting. Mom said they played outside! When we picked up Piercen he had big news... they were riding four wheelers and a dog was lost. A blue heeler to be exact. They found the owner. Yeah!! PK was so proud. They must have played and played hard b/c he feel asleep before we got home. Thanks for keeping PK Nana! He adores his Nana n Paps and Uncle Nate too!!! (Nathan aka Nate but PK calls pronounces it Nafan. I love it. He knows its Nathan but do not correct him LOL).

J booked TWO revivals for the fall today. TWO in one day. Yeah God!!! Cant wait to see our good friends in NC Bro Clay & Mrs Dena. Thank you Lord for ordering our steps.

It is warm and gorgeous weather so that means grillin' time. J has already had steak and chicken on the grill this week. Monday to be exact. I love this time of year. He does a great job as a chef!

the sun is shining again ....

2011-04-02T21:09:00.000-07:00

This was taken on Thursday, March 31st 2011. We had a fun day and lots of SUNSHINE!

After a few rainy days the sun shined bright today & OH how I thanked the Lord for it! This week we had a great week. Wednesday night we went to church at Unity and WOW what an awesome move of God. Our friend Ryan was teaching a class on the passover and asked for some input from Jeremy. Needless to say, the Lord moved in during worship and had HIS way!!! There wasn't a lesson on the passover but the LORD came by and stayed a while. Thank you Lord for your sweet, precious spirit. I am so thankful that when we are saved we are blessed with HIS spirit. He is with us at all times, He truly never leaves. We can choose not to spend time with Him or to walk away. We can choose not to grow but He is the same. Always!!! Thursday we had tickets to see the new Christian movie SOUL SURFER. We took Piercen to Chuck E Cheese for the afternoon before the movie. He had a blast with Kristian & Ryan Jordan. SOUL SURFER was very detailed and I was afraid maybe too much for Piercen but he enjoyed it. It was a great movie, Grace Card is still my ALL time FAVE though!!! We had a huge group. My parents, my brother Nathan, My aunt Debbie and uncle Dale went with Jeremy, Piercen & I. THEN John, Kelli, and their kids went (The Jordan gang) and Michael Bray came too. FUN. FUN. Speaking of Michael, not long before he and Kristi marry - May 13th. SOON approaching. Lastnight, Kelli and I went out. GNO as we call it. GIRLS NIGHT OUT except we took Kristian & Piercen. We went to Olive Garden then to see HOP. Piercen was actually a good boy. AND they loved HOP. I did too :) Jeremy got some much needed 'office' time. Study, Prayer and Quieet. My husband spends quality time with us every day. He does so much to help me around here & when we are on the road. He is a HUGE blessing. I hope you enjoyed your quiet evening honey. I love and appreciate you more thank words could ever express SO ... I will spend the rest of my life showing you just how much!!! Today, HEAVENLY gorgeous day!!!! We had our van washed at Mazzio's for a fundraiser for Crimson Cross Bro Keith and Sis Patti's church. We ended up visiting & then went to 'play' with the Adair girls... PK, bless his heart, most of his buds are girls. Hee Hee. But he had fun. And was outside, ALL day for hours. His love!!! We got a bath and spent a few hours at my parents tonight. The older I get, the closer I get with my family AND more importantly, the more I appreciate them, respect them. They are my dearest and best friends. Ever. Happy Saturday! I'm looking forward to services tomorrow. Jeremy is preaching locally tomorrow morning and then starting a revival tomorrow night locally too. Exciting to be in our bed this week. Thank you Lord for small blessings!!! Praying for all our friends tomorrow as they stand to proclaim the word of God. One day, we will be in heaven together to worship forever!!! Amen.

This is Piercen @ Olive Garden this weekend. April fools day, btw, I pulled the same ol joke. I am prego and a few people fell for it. Carol & Kelli were two of them! LOL. I loved it... Hey, PK the camera is over here. Look at your momma NOT the people over there LOL :) I LOVE YOU!

We have had a lot of fun ....

2011-03-28T20:43:00.000-07:00

just being together! The weekend was a blast!!! We went with the homeschooling group on Friday bowling and Jeremy bowled with Piercen for three games... they had a fun time and I loved watching Piercen get SO excited every time he knocked the pins over. He was a hoot and actually bowled a 97 and Jeremy a 157. Pretty good huh?!? Friday night we had dinner with friend Tim, Heather, Jo-Elle and Gabrielle... we haven't seen them much lately and it was so fun. Great conversation and the kids get along really well. They laugh at Piercen b/c he is ALL boy and they are so girlie :)

Saturday we took Piercen to the movies with John, Kelli and the kids - it was SO funny. Diary of a Wimpy Kid. Piercen &&&&&& JEREMY cracked me up!!!!!!! They laughed so stinkin' hard. Sunday Jeremy preached locally! Piercen had Gymnastics today and he has learned so much. It is just unreal. He loves it. When we go to wake him up on Mondays (the Mondays we are home he goes to the same class with the same group of kids - if we are out of town he makes it up whichever day we are home) I say "Piercen you ready to wake up and go to gymnastics" and he POPS up! So cute!!! I took pictures AND I did video today. Yeah me! It has been a while ... We plan to sign him up in April for swim lessons & in a few weeks he and Jeremy will begin Karate together. Excited b/c Jeremy has spoken to a guy that is a Christian, teaches scripture and even the fruits of the spirit. Many bonuses!!!!!

*They call this a donkey kick, no joke, BUT he can honestly almost stand on his hands*

** His back roll **

**He has really gained a lot of coordination since August we he first began** **A lot more confident** **He no longer fears those bars and we are so proud of him... conquering fears early... AMEN**

Tomorrow I have an infant photo shoot. I sure hope it goes well. With a tiny one you never know how it will go b/c she or he may be fussy, not having a good day, need to eat, be changed, be held... the list goes on. I love taking pictures for pure fun. Jeremy pushes me to start a small business and I told him again tonight. Photographers are a dime a dozen. Many people have cameras and creativity... I think word of mouth is my style. I am doing a wedding in July. It will be my third wedding and I do have some great ideas ... BUT I'm confident because it a family friend. :) FUN - not a job.

My boy is in bed and my other one is watching the food network, he is obsessing b/c we are doing low carb and he needs some new recipes.. he is such a good cook! It is grilling season so we are in much luck this time of year !

Jeremy was talking to a friend tonight and I wanted to document something he said .... This was a great thought J, you need to work it up and see if God wouldn't bless it to preach .. I thought it was amazing.... ***We want to be loosed but not led .... we wanna be delivered but we don't want to change ... we wanna be free but we do not want to live right ... we want to be blessed but with NO sacrifice ... *** Lord, help me to live my life for you, not for myself. Help me to give up whatever it is to be pleasing to you. Whether it be blogging, watching ANY tv, someone I am friends with that isn't healthy for me, cleaning too much instead of reading your word, having a short patience. Help me to ALWAYS have a teachable spirit and rid pride!!!!!!

Season Change ... there IS an appointed time for EVERYTHING!!!

2011-03-24T21:00:00.000-07:00

Had a great day today and an even better church service tonight. Went back to Unity tonight and Ryan Stokes is doing the Wednesday night class for the young adults...It was awesome. A lot of things began to make sense to me tonight. It is starting to sink in. Not only does everthing happen for a reason, not only is there a season for everything, not only does God know what will happen before it actually does ........... there is an APPOINTED time......... for EVERYTHING!!! When I think of that it is amazing to me. When things happen?!? Where I am at that point and time. Just like with Piercen, after eight years of being married, his appointed time in our lives came EIGHT years after being married. WOW!!! Thank you Lord for 'getting this'. I <3>

Today we slept in a bit. We did go feed the ducks, which Piercen likes to do.... often. We played in the front yard letting him ride his scooter and daddy timed him 'racing'. LOL Had a great day. It was a beautiful day. After church we had dinner with the Stokes family.

Today --- um, well our alarm didn't go off on time. HAHA. Jeremy got up at a few minutes before 10 and said "OH no, we over slept"AND I was supposed to be up at 8:30! Needless to say he had his phone alarm set for PM not AM LOL. Carol & Amanda were waiting on me to hang out and let the kids play. I got there ---- just late. HAHA. We went on up to NWA did a little shopping, took Piercen to downtown Rogers, the town Jeremy went to school in, basically grew up around. He actually went in to the barber shop he got his hair cuts in and one of the men he knew was doing a haircut. Kinda neat. Love little brick, small town squares... Piercen had never been there. We later met Donna, my MIL and had dinner @ Texas Land & Cattle - YummO!

Piercen cracks me up. He ordered his own dinner ... he said "And I'll have a grilled cheese and fries" LOL. He is just growing up so fast. It is *CrAzY*

I am SO proud of him. I taught him about a month ago how to spell his name. PIERCEN. Well, he has caught the concept of we have a first, middle & last name. He was not happy his middle name is not Lee... (Mine is Lea, Daddys is Lee). So now when you ask him his name he says "Piercen Kennedy Lee Howell" LOL. The past three days I've been talking to him about his last name. How we say Howell with the HoweLL not just pronounces Howe as some people do. And guess what??? After three days - he can now spell HOWELL too. It is amazing to me how he just catches on. He gets it quick. I pray he does this with everything!!!!

I better post a few pics from Wed n today and get off of here. The boy is in bed and Jeremy is snoring in the recliner. I love being a night owl but I hate mornings. LOL :)

Feeding the ducks March 23, 2011

My handsome boy

... THE LOVES of my LIFE ...

.... you can't blog your WHOLE life right?!?

2011-03-22T19:58:00.000-07:00

Well... that is what my hubby said to me tonight! LOL Every single night OR okay, not every single but most after our day is complete I log on to just relax and chill... I want so badly to blog about our day or something funny Piercen said/did and I don't b/c I am not 'caught up'. SO I decided tonight - I am blogging. I am starting again and going to just begin. Forget it if I am not caught up from Jan or Feb at all. I have been keeping up with funny things Piercen says and does and I also take pictures of everything so .... that is well enough. Jeremy laughs at me. he says if technology fails I won't have any of this anyway. WOW. So true. SO maybe I need to be writing in a journal instead of this blog. I am tossing the thought back and forth. This is SO much easier ........ and I get to post pics and such. BUT he is right and I KNOW at some point .. technology WILL fail.

I am so excited. Piercen caught his first fish this week. It is officially 'spring break' here. So guess what?!? We are home this week, Jeremy is preaching the weekend only so we are officially celebrating SPRING BREAK and boy is it FUN! Sunday we went to church at Unity in Westfork, we were able to be in service with awesome friends and then we went to dinner. Just like old times, loved it. Monday we got up and ate. Jeremy took Piercen bowling while I went with my friend Kelli and got my nails and a pedicure done. Can you hear this loud "AWWWWWWWWEEE" it was so nice!!!! Late that afternoon we went to mom n dads, road four wheelers, saw the new chickens and Piercen fished a few minutes b/c the neighbors were fishing. Becky and Tommy Williams moved across the street and they are awesome. Yeah for great neighbors for my parents. Today we all got our hair done. Both Piercen and Jeremy got hair cuts and I got mine cut, colored, my eyebrows done. THE WORKS. I feel like a new woman! This evening we saw a "tuesday price" movie with John, Kelli and the kids. We saw "Nomio and Juliet" too cute. Loved it! We've had a great couple of days. Loving the weather too. Here is a picture of Piercen and the 2nd fish he caught. The first one I didn't have a camera so needless to say I ran and got my iphone for the 2nd one caught. Isn't he adorable?!? I sure think so.

March 21, 2011 Piercen's 2nd fish to catch .... this was the firt time to ever fish ... 4 yrs 3 months old (almost LOL)

Part FIVE of My Year in Review for 2010... November & December

2011-02-18T21:41:00.000-08:00

November & December are two of my favorite times of the year simply because it begins the Holiday Season... so many people love to reach November then skip Thankgiving all together, put up the lights, the trees, wrap gifts and shop, and I too love all of that. I do not want to forget to stop and ENJOY Thanksgiving and ALL I have to be thankful for... This part of the year is the most time spent with our families and I stopped this year, took it ALL in and made it much less commercialized... I enjoyed it SO much!!!

We began November with our "Thankful Tree"... I love this tradition we just started... we put a leaf on each day of November for something we are thankful for... Piercen did the leaves this year and Jeremy and I made ours underneath. I loved reading them especially once the end of the month came and I could read them all. I love the traditions we have began with Piercen.

Another special day in November was when Brenden was born. He was supposed to be a *GIRL* and after nine months, ultra sounds, planning and shopping, baby showers and all... SHE was a HE and a sweet, beautiful he ... He sure is!!!!

We had our outreach for Thanksgiving and it went great! We bake rolls, made pies and prepared the night before and it was so fun! I enjoyed every minute of it. We then fed many families and once again was able to SERVE in our community... what a blessing!!!

I had so much fun ... Tish and I laughed and had a blast making pies for the outreach...

Courtnie also was HUGE help and was loving what she was doing!!!

We did something we have not done in years and years ... FAMILY pics... here are a few that turned out really well... I was pleased ....

Thankgiving is always a blessing to me.. a time with my family and all of those I am thankful for. God has been so good to us this year. My dads health has just been great. My moms too. Nathan is so much better, Aaron & Brittany, Jeremy, Piercen and I, my mema, Brenden is here, Jen is pregnant so next Christmas we will have another little baby ..the list goes on... if I keep naming them all I will leave someone or something out that God has done for us. Guess what? I didn't take one pic on Thankgiving dinner at Aunt Debbie and Uncle Dale's .. SHAME on me!!!!!!!

December oh Decemeber how DEAR YOU ARE TO ME ....

I love it... the lights, the trees, the pretty ribbons and bows, packages all wrapped, the NATIVITY SCENES (I have one in every room) and honestly, people are just friendlier to each other... the mood is totally different come this time of the year. Our December is really busy too because both of my brothers have a birthday in December, my parents Anniversary is in December and Piercen's birthday is at the end of the month. Our Decemeber is *ALWAYS* full!!!

Momma and Daddy got PK drums and he loved them! He has rhythm too and is really good !!We got him his very own shaving cream and stuff to shave.. this is him getting ready Christmas day and he was so adorable.. this is the cutest thing every watching him grow up.. it goes so fast.

My yummy cup cakes that I did this year... I make cup cakes for everything ... Fun, fun... Cousins ... Piercen, Bree & Bodey on Christmas Day waiting to open gifts at Mema's house!!! My beautiful SIL, BrittHe was so EXCITED to get his POLICE CAR ... HE LOVED IT and watching him was AWESOMEThis picture speaks a million words.. my family is cracking up b/c my mom is married to my dad DALE, my aunt is married to DALE and when we exchanged names my dad, Dale drew my Uncle Dale's name and my Uncle Dale drew my daddys name LOL and guess what? THEY BOTH BOUGHT THE EXACT SAME GIFT FOR EACH OTHER AND IT WAS SO GREAT!!!! My Daddy's face... PRICELESS

Thank you Jesus for the greatest gift ever ... your son ...

We blinked .... And Piercen turned four ... time has just flown by.. Piercen's four year old pictures that I took ... Jeremy begged me to just take them myself this time and I did. Honestly, I LOVE them!!!! He is so stinkin' cute & we had some really good ideas. Here are just a few of our favorites....

I LOVE YOU PIERCEN SO MUCH!!!! We welcome in the new year with both family & friends ... our entire family went to dinner and to a movie and spent time together. I loved it! My daddy hasn't been to the movie in a while LOL I make fun of him b/c he cracks me up but since he and my momma have retired they do so much now. I LOVE IT!!!! It is like they are living all over again. Refreshed. I am so happy! This is what life is about .... family and enjoying every moment. I am so thankful. My momma worked hard and my daddy pastored for over 30 years. Thank you Lord that now they can enjoy some things after working so very hard for many years. Most of all, thank you that they took us to church and made sure we were brought up right. I am so thankful for that. Now I can live with my family, raise our son to love you, honor you, worship you, live for you!!!!

....Part FOUR of My Year in Review for 2010... almost a month later LOL

2011-02-03T15:33:00.000-08:00

OH my. I can't believe it... We have been snowed in and I still haven't been any better at posting. WHY might you ask ?!? After having every intention of doing so. It takes blogger HOURS to upload pictures and I haven't had the patience for it. It is so sad too b/c Piercen has been doing and saying so many funny things. I've GOT to get to documenting again. SO... here I go trying to finish up 2010.

September 2010 *** THE MONTH WE WERE MARRIED***

In September we had a busy month, Piercen joined FAITH homeschool group and began his first series of Coop classes on September 10th. This was for eight weeks and was on Fridays from 1-4 pm. The first hour he did an ABC, 1-2-3, and art class combined together. His teacher was Mrs. Christie. For Second hour each week they would learn a new color and do a craft that went along the same lines... Piercen was able to wear a T-shirt each week and that color also represented which color he would be learning. He really enjoyed the crafts more than anything. He did well after a few weeks, He enjoyed playing with the other kids but had to get used to someone else besides Mom, Dad or Nana telling him what to do. :) BIG WINK. For the third hour he took a music class and they had a lot of fun. The music teacher (and forgive me that I forgot his name and his assistants name) allowed the kids to play different instruments and sing songs. After the eight weeks Piercen knew twinkle, twinkle little star by heart and sang it over and over. We are actually gearing up for Coop to begin again in March. Piercen will be taking two classes. Healthy Habits and Sign Language. I am pretty excited to see how much he learns. He is at a stage now he is really learning just in daily activities. So fun!Our adorable boy... his first day of Coop Piercen & I before Coop began .. announcement time

Grandparents day is in September and is always so much fun ... since having Piercen I always try to do something really special for our grandparents... I love it this year.. we did a memorable craft and it was so sweet how Piercen actually created it himself... here they are.. Coasters. He drew them and also told me what to write on them on the back of each one.

As he began his creations .... He was telling me about this creation
What he wanted mommy to write to his PAPS....

"Thank you for taking me on the mules, the four wheelers and down the dirt road."

Piercen loves to spend time with his Paps... outside. He loves that they have mules, he def gets this from them b/c his momma sure is NO animal person. I am just being honest. I love to four wheeler ride and I began doing this a long time ago with Piercen... it's something I have always enjoyed with him BUT when his Paps started taking him across water, into the woods, down trails....... he didn't care if we went together... He is all about Paps. And, that is just fine. My daddy had his first heart attack the day of my baby shower in October of 2006. I am so thankful my God has let my daddy be with us and gave him his health back. I can never thank him enough!

September 26 2010

Our Anniversary was September 26th and it was a special day... we went out of town... to Faye town... we went to church as our Anniversary fell on a Sunday. Danny and Rhonda were in NWA and so we went to church, went out to lunch with them and several others then we headed off on our way. We did some shopping, ate dinner that evening at Texas Land & Cattle (YUMMY) and then later that night saw a movie. It was so neat. Talking non stop, no interruptions, church as a couple sitting together, dinner without getting up and down and a movie, holding hands and just a 'date'. I loved it. So simple and so relaxed. I have had 12 wonderful years being married to this man. He is my hero. He is my best friend. He is my inspiration to every day be a better person, a better wife, a better christian. I love him. When God created him, he WAS thinking ... about ME!

Here are a few random pics from our September... Piercen began washing his own hair and being a lot more active in giving his own bath ... yeah. LOL. He likes to be so independant... cooking his own macncheese is one of his faves. And, every single night, we hide from daddy and even after four years.... he doesn't know that daddy knows where to look EVERY single time. We are all cuddled up, under the covers waiting for him to find us. In the SAME spot EVERY night. And even after all of this time, his smiles, his laugh and his squeal of excitement ..... still makes my heart smile. We attended the state fair and the petting zoo.. Piercen loved it.

"Here he comes momma"

I love that in Sept it is still so beautiful ... the humidity isn't horrible yet it is still so warm!

October 2010

October is Jeremys birthday! He turned a BIG "35" and He doesn't look a day older. We had our family over for dinner, Jeremy was the birthday boy but he wanted to host at our house and grill steaks. They were delish. I do not have a picture becauase they are on my moms camera. Ooops.... We went to Wild Things Farm and had a blast... we did the hayride, corn maze and got lost. LOL. It was a great day.

I honestly think this was his favorite part of the farm. He loves horses so much!

I LOVE this picture... the smiles say it all.

...part three of My Year in Review for 2010

2011-01-10T19:59:00.001-08:00

This is taking me a little longer to get this all down because blogger doesn't like to upload my pictures in a timely manner. LOL!! I am going to pray that tonight goes a little quicker. Lastnight I worked well over two hours and I just had to save it and take about 30 minutes to finish up this evening. I'll give it my best shot tonight!

... part three..

July: Summer was HOT! We spent a lot of time in the water when we could.. Piercen loves it. The fireworks show was great as always and we did get eaten up by Mosquitos. I hate that part of summer, I must admit. We completely redid Piercen's room on July 14,2010 and I am so thrilled how it turned out. His daddy did an amazing job painting his canvases! We let him decide what he wanted to do and tried to not make it so child-ish so that he can keep it this way for a while. OR so that is our plan. On July 17th we took a trip to OKC. NOT by choice, we lost my Unlce Bubba and we all attended the funeral. I miss him. He was a blessing and supported Jeremy and I in SO many ways! We know he is in a better place and is CANCER FREE. Thank you Jesus! The last of July was almost too miserable to let Piercen play outside so a trip to ChuckECheese was a MUST! He had a great time & enjoyed some ice cream too! I love my boy!

Piercen Kennedy

Mommy & Piercen on the 4th of July this year...

Headed down to the firework show in our town.
My brother, Nathan. I love him SO much!

The Hubs

Watching the firework show on July 3rd... it is always on the 3rd in our hometown. I love that! My daddy is a party pooper.. he didn't go with us.

Such a great job Jeremy did on his room canvas.. I am so proud of them and its so sentimental.

I believe that he LOVES his new room! Total SHOCK!!!
.......EVERYTHING begins and ends with FAMILY.......

COUSINS
You love this at CEC. It is the first thing you always run to.

My boy

ICE CREAM
I hope you always love me .......... JUST LIKE THIS!!!!

August: Aug 2nd was my 35th bday.. Oh how I hate to say that!!! This was the year that every year before this year I would say many things ended at 35. For example, no more children, wouldn't wear long hair, I would dress my 'age' and not 'cute' or 'in style' LOL and now that I am 35 all of that OR most of it anyways has been forgotten. Age 35 isn't too old after all. Right?!? My sweet husband took me on a date and we ate a fabulous dinner at the Outback. It was delish! I NEVER take pics and I did of my food. HAHA!!! We put Piercen in gymnastics and he loves it. The only problem we have had are the bars... he does NOT like to pull himself up and flip over. He actually has cried a few times. He has gotten really good at keeping his balance, doing flips and more cordination. Yeah! It was an inside joke at one time that he couldn't hop on only one foot... He would jump up and down never leaving the ground! (BIG smile & wink). Adorable... In August we attended Kristian's birthday part and Piercen went skating... the first time to start out with the help of the bars and then by the end of it he was moving around without anything. Notice I didn't say 'skating' but he was getting around fear free!!!

Jeremy's steak dinner! My Yumm-O dinner. I loved it!!!

My GORGEOUS flowers.. Thank you Jeremy! I love you Jeremy Lee Howell! His first gymnastics class... they are SO cute at this age. I am so glad he is doing it. That is my boy... not afraid to try anything! Aren't they adorable ... she kissed my boy! Yep, I said it... it happend. LOL

... part two of my year in revivew for 2010

2011-01-09T20:08:00.001-08:00

It took me hours to get all my pictures uploaded and my first few months written lastnight so I had to break things up a bit! Piercen is feeling "SO" much better! It is snowing here so we are stuck inside and he is wanting to get out in it... No way! I am so thankful he is feeling this much better. Oh what a difference one day makes. Yeah GOD! ( I actually wrote this post Sunday night and added pics but they were taking forever to upload to blogger so I am just now posting on Monday night)

Our year in review ...

May: Mothers day weekend was FABULOUS! We had a huge picnic in the park with my family & I loved it. Jeremy and Piercen got me Kari Jobe tickets and I was pumped. On a sad note, Piercen had something viral and so Jeremy couldn't go. Piercen had broke out in hives and so he stayed home with Piercen. Amanda went with me and I really enjoyed it. I was thankful she was able to go and fill in the gap. I was sure thankful. We played in the water a lot in May as it began to warm up. Piercen loves it. And to end the month we went to the Memorial day parade here in our area and Piercen LOVES parades!

I love these BIG BROWN ALMOND eyes!!!

Sweet boy.. he loves his bath time especially if he has been broken out in a rash. Mothers Day.... I am so blessed. Thank you Lord for choosing ME to be *HIS* momma!

It was an awesome night of worship... I loved it and she is beautiful!

LOVES the water ..... ALWAYS has! I love my sweetheart... he is the best daddy ever!

He loves the parades and doesn't take his eyes off of the animals.

June: What a busy month! We spent time feeding the ducks, attending campmeeting at Sardis in AL and it was wonderful. We have so many wonderful friends there and we REALLY enjoyed it this year! We had (Pastor) Gary and Angela and the kids with us and we had a great time in the evenings playing games and looking around town during the day. Jeremy preached on the 13th at our home church and then we went to Branson with my family the next day. It was wonderful!!!! Piercen loved riding the go carts with his Paps and racing Nana... FATHERS DAY!!! It was awesome. Jeremy had a great day and I got some cute pics of them together. He is the best daddy ever. He is our leader, He loves God and his family with every part of his heart and soul and there is NO one like him! You are my hero honey! You are the most patient, caring and humble person I know! My parents birthdays are both in June as well... My moms actually is on June 20th. It falls on Fathers Day many times... my daddys is on the 29th and we celebrate them together. I love my momma and daddy very much! We had VBS at church and I loved it being in June because it wasn't as hot! Piercen is at the age he really had a great time at VBS. STILL, his favorite of the week is ALWAYS Rubin. THE PUPPETS!!!

This pic is from the 13th of June on our way to church! He is so adorable... so handsome.

AND he loves to dress in his ties and suits. I love it.

Dinner with our friends ... Angela & Gary Michael & Kristi

Fathers day *F*U*N* Mom and Dad opening birthday gifts.. I didn't get any better pics. Sadly, they do not like

having pics taken of them ...

Crazy hair day at VBS Love his BIG smile .. having a fun time!

A year in review for 2010 ...

2011-01-08T20:58:00.000-08:00

I had said it time and time again that I was going to be a better blogger in 2010 and I have yet to be. Infact, I had said I was going to start 2011 blogging and keeping my journal again here, keeping track of what God is doing in our daily lives, in the ministry and ALL the fabulous things about being a wife & mommy ... here it is, 2011 and the first week has come AND gone ... this is my first post. Better late than not at all right?

I've been trying to write this all day. I even put it down on paper from month to month so I'd not leave anything important out but Piercen has been sick. Thank you Heavenly Father that tonight he ate some toast and is drinking gatorade. Just for my record, he began getting a cough and such over the weekend last week. He wasn't better so Monday we took him to the dr. He weighed 50 lbs fully clothed and she didn't find anything too concerning. She told us to give him Claritin daily and he had a small amount on one ear but thought it would be fine in a few days. His cough got better but then came the running nose, sneezing, watery eyes and then by Fri he really felt cruddy. Friday night at 12:35 am he began throwing up & diarhea. This went on off and on all night long and then began the right ear hurting! We took him to a walk in clinic and he has an ear infection. Here we go with his FIRST antibiotic. He was prescribed one before for a small glad that was infected in his jaw when he was younger but he had a reaction to it and we discontinued it with no problems in the glad after the first day. So.. we hope he tolerates this one well. So far.... so good. I hate my baby being sick. I went thru the house with the Lysol and rebuking the devil. I won!

I wanna wrap up this post with my year in review for 2010 just a few highlights and some pics...

January 2010: Piercen had just turned three and so we took down his 'baby' bed and converted it to his toddler bed. Needless to say he never wanted to sleep in it ... haha! We spent New Years Eve in KS where Jeremy did a weekend revival. What a great way to bring in the new year... in church .. worshiping!

the 27th of January we got a SNOW and boy was it FUN! FUN! FUN! Piercen loved it!!!

February 2010: Valentines day was wonderful... my love got me several tulips both to plant and to admire and we got Piercen a ride on 4 wheeler that he loved!!

MORE SNOW FOR VALENTINES DAY AND WE MADE SOMETHING WE LOVE:

A SNOWMAN!!!!

March: WE put in new hardwood floors. Yes, We! Me, J and my dad. WHEW! Never again. BUT they are beautiful. Love them. We did it in the living room and down the hallway. When we finished our floors we took off for a few days and spent spring break in a condo at Fairfield Bay with Kristi, Michael, Gary, Angela and all the kids. We spent hours playing games and eating yummy food. Just what we all love!!! Jeremy also put in Piercen's new club house out in the back yard and he loved it. It is HUGE! When they say it takes x amount of hours. It was an understatement. It takes x amount of weeks, x amount of hours. LOLOL

April: We had a blessed Easter! Our boy looked so handsome. I love getting us all matching clothes every year! Mema turns another 80+YOUNG years old :) NEVER tell a ladies age right? She was as beautiful as ever! We celebrated with all of our family at the Red Barn and it was YUMMY! We took Piercen to "HERO" day at CFA and he thought it was so neat.. he got to look all around and sit in a fire truck and police car. Anyone who knows our boy knows that is AWESOME! He loves them both! Kristi & Michael also got engaged. YEAH!!!

The rest of the year recap I will post tomorrow ....... May, June, July & August .... Goodnight!

OH MY WORD

2010-08-22T15:23:00.000-07:00

I have been trying FOREVER to get into my blogger account and BLOG! What happend? I forgot my password!!! PROOF I read too many other blogs and do not blog enough. I've tried everything. I've racked my brain, asked a million questions, tried to get blogger to believe I am *ME* and this really ****IS**** my blog. I even cried! I thought after 5 years that I was going to have to create another blog. The one time I really wanted to be able to begin blogging again faithfully and it took weeks to get logged back it. WHY? BLOGGER IS CASE SENSETIVE and I decided to try today going thru passwords again, upper and lower case and there you have it. It accepted it. Thank you Lord, He sure knows I prayed!!! My scripture verse today was "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart...." Proverbs 3:5. I am glad I just prayed and left it alone a few days ... I trust you Lord. With everything, including my blog. (B I G wink)

I will be blogging a lot more often! It won't be so long I totally forget my own password. MY MY! I'll leave ya with a picture of my cutie pie...

All things memorable ....

2010-06-04T17:34:00.000-07:00

A few pictures from the Rodeo Parade ... another tradition we started with Piercen..
HE LOVES IT

*My beautiful Sister N law and Libby Lou - the 'cousin' as PK says!!!* *Piercen loved the guns*

*SILLY*

*Celeste, Britt's aunt, our family friend*

*Love the pink, breast cancer awareness*
*Miss Aunt Janice*

*Piercen and his "cousin" Libby! Notice he has his gun*

*I LOVE YOU*

*Nana and PK*

*LOOK at his expressions... He loves this stuff*

*Libby Lou*

*Rodeo Parade*

Sweet Summer Time

2010-06-04T14:01:00.000-07:00

It IS a fact! A TRUE story! I have become a horrible blogger AND I hate that! I want so badly to become better at recording our daily activities and such so that Piercen will always have this to read but at the end of the day when I should be doing so I never accomplish it and the facts remain the same. There is NO good excuse! URG!! I get so upset at myself.

I want to share some fun we had last week! We had some Soap, Sun and got SOAKED!! Piercen loved it! I needed to clean all of the outside toys and the patio furniture so we made it all about FUN, FUN, and WATER and he loved it! Here are a few pictures of our afternoon. He loved getting wet and didn't even mind it in his face BUT he really enjoyed getting daddy & I REAL wet!!!

*Let the FUN begin*

5/26/10

*This smile MELTS my heart* *He loves enjoying ANYTHING we do because He truly loves life* *Couldn't help but get a picture of the sweet man! I am so in love with him*

*AHHH clean at last* *Side note: please ignore the 'fence' and lack of it in our pics. I believe our neighbors call it a fence but we are fixing to put up our own privacy fence. I am not trying to be tacky honestly just so aggravating to me when we travel as much as we do YET still manage to keep things up nice*

Thank you Jeremy for always helping me make things in our home so nice, especially the TLC on our yard/grass. You work very hard and Piercen and I are thankful for the place we call 'home'.

On another note, our Memorial Day was very low key. Jeremy preached that weekend and my dad was also traveling in CO with my uncle so we didn't have a huge family event. I did spend time with my little guy, my momma and my brother Nathan. We rode four wheelers and ate out. Saturday while daddy was preparing for services we took Piercen to the Rodeo Parade and as always.... he loved it... Sunday my momma went to church with PK and I. Afterwards we met my aunt and two of my cousins for lunch at Logans... Jen n Matt and Bekah and Aaron. YUMMY! Sunday evening we had a cookout after our church Baptizing service! Piercen asked a lot of questions and enjoyed that! He is learning so much! Mom always makes learning things so fun, she has lots of neat ways to explain things after working childrens church for so many years! He adores her! Monday I got to go to a movie with my mom, my Mema and my Aunt. We went to see "Letters to Juliet". My bestie from HS met us there too along with her two girls. I love Heather! We don't have a lot of time to spend together as much as we did in HS because our lives have totally taken different paths but it is such a blessing that she is part of my life. It wouldn't matter if we went a year without seeing each other we always pick right up where we left off. We don't talk on the phone every day or have lunch every single week like we have in times past but we are REAL friends! There is PURE security in that! Oh how I thank the Lord for her! I was super glad my Mema felt like getting out and I was able to spend time with her. Being a young 82 there are some days that she just doesn't feel like doing a lot and I thank God for the days I get to spend with her. Memorial day evening we cooked out as a family! Jeremy grilled steaks and it was YUMMY!!! I had a house full even though it was my immediate family and I enjoy hosting. I wish my house was bigger. Oh the joys I'd have! Maybe one day! I failed to take even ONE picture!!! I did get a few from the parade .... we met my beautiful sis in law and "cousin" Libby with some of her family. And remember, dont' even tell PK that Libby Lou isn't his cousin.. he WILL tell you different. LOL that is one of the cutest things he has ever said!

Jeremys Newsletter

2010-05-10T20:48:00.000-07:00

I wrote something for the first quarter of the year to go out in the ministry newsletter. Jeremy encouraged me to write something under "Womens Ministry" and I am really glad I did. It felt great to actually sit down and write again. I thought I'd post a copy of it on my blog. Hope it is a blessing!

What does God say about you? In life people always want to label you. You’re either popular, a nerd, rich or poor, sick or healthy... The list could go on for days. The sad thing is that what people label you is sometimes what you become. Isn’t it true that we shall have what we say? Life and death truly are in the power of the spoken tongue. One thing so true is, words hurt! When we were kids the saying was, “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.” And that statement couldn't be any more false. The bible says that we hold the power of life and death in our tongue. If you really sit and think about any battle of the mind, most of the time it is a branch from the root of someone saying something. Someone said you would never be good enough, so guess what. You never even try to be. Someone said you would be a drug addict just like your family before you, so guess what, thoughts take over the mind that you might as well be because that is what everyone already thinks. You will never be a good parent, because you didn't have the love and attention you needed from your parents. So guess what? You go into parenthood with that mindset of being a no good parent. You were abused as a child and so you think that it is your fault; that you did something to deserve that abuse. I was thinking about all the things that have been said to me or about me through life, and some of them were the truth at the moment, but I refused to allow that to become who I hoped to be then or who I know God wants me to be now! God placed something inside of me along time ago and I have started to see what he could see all along. Some of you need to tell yourself what I told myself: “I am an anointed woman of God. I don’t have to settle for less than what God has for me. You see when the world looks at you all they may see are your mistakes, failures, and let downs. You might have even heard someone to say to you, “She will never amount to anything.” No matter what, never be guilty of settling because you don't see the potential that God sees.
Look at Peter, he seemed to always do and say the wrong things, and didn't look like much of a leader. He even went back to what God had called him from. Remember when Jesus asked him, do you love me more than these? Yet, Jesus knew if he would allow the Holy Spirit to come and take over Peter would be a great leader. Peter was able to stand up when the spirit fell and gave him holy boldness! Take thought of your words. Take heart to the conversations you have with others. Does it lift them up? Does it benefit the Kingdom? Think about it; most importantly, who are you? Are you who God says you are, or are you who the world says you are? Remember Gomer? She was labeled a harlot. And even though she did the acts of a harlot, God called her Gomer, which means beloved! You may be viewed as one thing, but God calls you another! Live in peace with what God says about you!

Happy Birhday Mema ...

2010-05-01T21:40:00.000-07:00

I told her to be sure I got a picture of this and didn't she pose?

My Aunt Debbie cracked up!

*** 80 PLUS wonderful years ***

I can't believe its been another year already! It seems like yesterday we were celebrating with Mema and thanking God she is healthy and had another wonderful year. Here we are again a year later. My how time flies! We had a nice family luncheon last week with Angela, Zac and the kids because they weren't actually going to be in town on the 29th. We all had a nice visit (Aunt Debbie, Piercen, Mom, myself, Jen and Bekah too) and I am proud to announce that I found out that Angela and Zac will be expecting #3 and I am SUPER excited. Due Novemeber 10th. Just in time for the Holidays with us!!!

~ My precious & handsome hubby & I ~

*SOMEONE gave him coffee & is in trouble*

*My beautiful Cousin Jennifer*
*Piercen telling a BIG story I am sure ... he had ALL the attention at the time!*

Thursday night, on Mema's actual birthday we celebrated at the Red Barn and it was YUMMY BUT I have to admit, I got sick to my stomach in the night and I wasn't the only one - several of us did. I mangaged to get a few pictures. One of my hubby & I that I love. My Mema was all smiles and she looked so pretty - she is such an amazing lady. She supports Jeremy & I in every way possible with what the Lord has called us to do and I am so thankful for that. What a legacy of her life all of these 80 + years. She says oh don't remind her of her age BUT she should be SO proud! I thank Jesus for her!

most Easter pictures

2010-04-09T07:37:00.001-07:00

My handsome little guy...

The spoons were a HUGE hit!!!

Our family at Easter 2010

2010-04-09T07:18:00.000-07:00

All of his goodies from daddy & I ... a lot of fun things!

thank you Nana for the tomb! It is such a great tool !!!

I am so so blessed!!!

I'm a terrible blogger and I know it. I have no excuse! I've been blogging for five years now and I have failed in the last year to be good at it. I have to do better. I am up early today before anyone else .. spending time in the word, doing my devotional, reading my love dare today (I began it today shhhh don't tell Jeremy) and the devotional I am doing with Piercen today .. I am ready for the day ahead. I feel so new, so refreshed getting up so early (7 am) and it feels great! I realized this morning THIS is the only way for me. THIS is how I need to spend every morning. Not late at night when I am exhausted and my heart is half into it --- this is why God says to seek him early and you WILL find him. I get it !!!

My love dare today is NOTHING negative. WOW! This is a good one. I am going to complete it... successfully. With God! If I can't. I won't say anything at all b/c I KNOW I can. :)

My devotional with Piercen is being a friend of God. Amazing because I am finding God is truly my best friend. I hope Piercen understands at an early age that God will be best friend too!

My thought and scripture for today is POWERFUL!!! Spoken words program your heart either to success or defeat. Words are containers .. They carry faith OR fear and the produce after one or the other. "So then faith commeth by hearing and hearing by the Word of God" Romans 10:17

I am choosing FAITH .. I have no room for fear. No room! I am defeating the battle in my mind. I choose FAITH.

Here is a picture of our family from Easter and a few of Piercen as well... he is getting so big. It is unreal at how fast he is growing. I am so proud of him. When he has had plenty of rest and had his nap he is the best little boy! Thank you God for the callings on my life. I am a daughter of the King, what an honor. I am a wife to an amazing man who IS my other half and I am a mommy to the sweetest little boy ever! I am huge in his eyes and I realize the responsibilities I have. He is yours Lord, you've intrusted me with him ... may I always point him to YOU in everything I say and do!

Our Little Valentine ....

2010-02-25T22:21:00.000-08:00

I LOVE YOU TO THE MOON AND BACK!!!!

A year in review ... just a tad bit late!!

2010-02-08T22:00:00.000-08:00

I can't believe I have let so much time slip away. It has been bothering me for weeks that I have been such a bad blogger this year! It seems the older I get the worse I get about doing 'little things'. I have lost most of the 'friends' who read but that is okay. If I kept going back to check to see if someone had update and it had been months I'd probably get pretty bored with it! I am sorry for anyone who may check up on me. I honestly began blogging 5 years ago! I can't even believe it has been that long but it has. I checked the other day and it is amazing to me. I used to write ... all the time. Life gets a little busy with a three year old... BUT I love every minute of it! I wanted to continue doing this for him. I know one day he will be able to look back on this journal and see just what was in my heart. It was 5 years ago that Jeremy encouraged me to begin blogging so that I could share my heart then it became so special. I began to share what was going on in our daily lives, our ministry and long before I knew it we were expecting our first baby so I wrote as often as I could. I've tried to be faithful but I have failed. So.. it is a new year, a new start I hope. Surely if I spend time on email, facebook or reading about other friends I can take some time to journal myself. When I began thinking about this post I became overwhelmed honestly because I thought how on earth am I going to catch up! HAHA! What better way then to share my year in review and some of the highlights of 2009. I've had some great times, made many memories and am thankful for the treasures of my heart!!!

My computer was down in January in 2009 so I jumped to February 2009 when Piercen and I delivered LOTS of cupcakes to those we love for Valetines day! I love LOVE day! I LOVE my loves! Some of the people that we took them to were: Nana, Paps and Uncle Nate, Uncle Aaron & Aunt Britt, Mema, our cousins Jennifer and her husband Matt because we wanted to surprise her at work, we took some to our special friends at Trimmers (Ginger and Becky are the girls who cut our hair) and we also took some to our Pastor and his family. His daughter Savannah is a cutie who Piercen really likes!

March and April were busy with campmeetings and traveling a lot for the ministry.. we were home for Easter and I got to take some pictures of Piercen before so he was all decked out. I think he is just so handsome!! We had an egg hunt and fun at our church and my parents came and enjoyed watching him. Piercen and I had traveled basically 100% of the time with daddy! In April Paps actually went with us to MO for a meeting and that was the first time he had done that since his heart attacks. I was thrilled to have my daddy with us!!!
Mothers day is always one of the most special days of the year.. Christmas is my favorite and our Anniversary is for sure my 2nd most special day because without that day we were married we would have never been blessed to be parents. God has been so good to me. I always dreamed of being a mommy and I spent lots of time praying for that time in my life but NEVER could I have imagined how it *REALLY* is. Piercen is such a joy and this is our picture from Mothers day.... He is so handsome and so precious. I can never express the feelings in my heart being his mommy. I love him like crazy!!!The summer always is busy ... church camps, campmeeting in Alabama every year as well as many other preaching dates Jeremy has. Piercen does so well in his car seat. When we traveled long distances Jeremy would go to sleep the night before really early while Piercen and I had mommy and PK time. We stayed up late, watched movies and went to bed a lot later than daddy. We packed the SUV that afternoon and so once it was time to leave about 4 or 5 am Piercen and I'd go back to sleep and sleep most the way to where we were headed. It was **PERFECT** PK you were a trooper!!! June brought Fathers Day. A special day for your daddy. He is the best daddy and he loves you so much. He is a good man and if you follow his footsteps you can never walk the wrong path. He is a Godly man and He will point you to Christ. I am so proud you have him!! This picture is from a fun day at the park in our local area... we love to go there and feed the ducks and fish. Oh what fun! You LOVE water, you love swimming and you have honestly learned to swim. Daddy and I have worked hard to teach you the basics and you are a natural.. you gotta teach Aunt Britt now.

In July I did someting I have never done before.. I took some pictures of Piercen at the Nation Cemetary that my grandfather is buried at. We named Piercen after my grandfather, William Kennedy and his birthday was July 31st. I wanted to do something in memory of him as well as something to give to my family is his honor. We also attened VBS at church and you loved it.. we only missed one night. This was a huge turning point for you. You weren't used to going to 'class' on Sundays because our schedule with traveling but once you spent time with our church family and kids you were hooked. Now you BEG to go to 'class'.
August 2nd was my birthday and believe it or not I can't find my pictures from Aug.. I believe they are on Jeremys computer! We celebrated several times with birthday parties with family & friends! Daddy began coaching a little league football team with his buddy, our Pastor Gary and they did a great job. The kids loved them and they made huge impacts! We went to all of his games and you had a blast. Infact, I can't count the times you have asked daddy if he will coach your team when you get 'big'. It is priceless!

September starts the football season for us!! WOOHOO we all love some football. We honestly didn't get to attend ONE single HOG game. Daddy normally gets to make atleast a few. Didn't happen but we cheered them on AND got some cute pics of YOU! Razorbacks ended up being 8-5

SEPTEMBER 26th is our Anniversary ......... 11 years!! It was great. We went out to dinner at Franks Italian restuarant and to see a movie that I got to pick. We had a trip scheduled in October for a conference in Branson. I love my hubby. He is amazing and he loves me like no other! He is my best friend, my other half. It has truly been the greatest 11 years being his wife.

People always talk about wanting a fairytale... there is such a thing. There isn't such a thing as perfect. We all have bad days, we all have arguements but for me.... I do have MY fairytale. My dream come true! That is what is important.

The fall brought a lot of cancellations for our revival schedule. The most common reason was because of the economy and several of our dates were in the same areas. With these cancellations brought more time at home which I was thankful for. However, Jeremy isn't happy when he goes a week without preaching. After much prayer we began to follow the Lord as he lead us into several outreach ministries in our local area. With these outreaches our home church got behind us and supported us 100 % and helped us in so many ways. We began raising money and feeding the needy as well as witnessing and some open air preaching. We saw God do some great things and He also blessed with growth in our home church. We may not always understand what God is doing but as long as we are obedient He will always lead.

In October we celebrated daddys birthday and he has to miss our family get together for him because mommy was sick. I had the h1n1 flu AND pneumonia at the same time. Daddy took really good care of me. I was as sick as I'd ever remembered.

We HAD to make it up to daddy so we did... we went to eat with friends from church and had a yummy cake that Rachel made. We took the cake to Nana and Paps and shared with everyone after dinner. They even sang and mommy got this picture. Daddy will kill me!!! We can't have fall without fall pics... you always do such a great job for mommy. I am proud of you!

November begins my favorite time of the year... I love the summer because Piercen adores being in the water. I was always such a fish when I was younger and I still enjoy it BUT there is nothing like fresh air, crisp leaves and cooler weather. November is my time of year that brings such thanksgiving for what God has created and for what He has given me. Not material things but my family, my friends, my church family. They mean the world to me. We did a huge community outreach in November at our home church and it was a HUGE success. We fed 403 people and it was a huge blessing. I'm so thankful God has opened doors for this sort of ministry. My heart is so full of love people and what better way to share the Love of God and Gospel! We had these family pictures take in November and I loved them! It had been a year since we had taken some as family and I was pleased. Piercen was a ham!!!

December was a great month for us.. we spent a lot of time as a family and Jeremy preached on the weekends for the most part. We took Piercen and spent a lot of time doing things little boys love to do. Riding four wheelers, playing outside, and we even had his birthday party THREE days after Jesus had His. He loved it. He was the perfect age to share the story of Jesus with and was super excited about everything. I LOVED it. Our home was all decorated, my tree was red and gold perfectly decorated and we had the greatest gift of all ...... being together. Of course HE is the greatest gift. At the end of December we traveled to KS and spent a week there for services and had a great time with friends.

Happy Birthday Jesus.. we made cupcakes and had a party in YOUR honor. Piercen loved it. We shared with story with him and he listened well. I enjoyed all of the traditions we have began with him. Christmas PJs, Birthday party for Jesus, Cupcakes, Christmas eve snacks and Charlie Brown Movie, Stockings and so much more. You were such a joy and you really got to take it all in this year. We love you Piercen Kennedy and we know God has great things in store for our family in 2010 as well as for you and your life!!! May our love always give you roots!!!

Look who turned THREE and is SWEET as can be ....

2010-01-16T21:10:00.000-08:00

Momma and the Birthday Boy!!

Playing with Jo-Elle

-Having a great time playing

I know how loved you are by the friends who came to share in your special day.

Xander, Piercen and Kristian... I don't think they were 'posing' ... you just wanted to play.

Here is it... your request sweet boy.

Aunt Britt took all of these pics for Mommy ...

I think your head was cut off in this one but I loved your hands haha!!!

Your invitation ....

.... Another guitar ....

"Auntie"Amanda is in BIG trouble . LOL Paybacks HAHA

You asked for a birthday hat but then didn't end up wearing it..

here you are with your buddy Xan... He was helping you get the gifts!!

Candles and Cake

Rachel did a perfect job and it was yummy!

Simple... NO theme!

The way mommy likes it... lots of Green n Blue

You are no Barney Boy or Dora N Diego Dude!

LOL.. I will love what you love but its fine too that you have no fave at this age :)

Guess who turned THREE ....

2010-01-16T20:26:00.000-08:00

I can't even believe our boy is THREE!! I am writing this post week later because I haven't had the time to sit down and post. I guess I should have made the time but we have had a crazy couple of weeks.

We had Piercen's birthday party on his actual birthday, Monday, December 28, 2009. It began at 6:30 pm at "The Outback" play area. It is actually on the other side of Flame Gymnastics, in the same building. It is the neatest place! It has a huge indoor play area. Ball pits, climbing cages, slides, and lots of jungle gym play areas. We had a fun time and most importantly he loved it.

I was very excited about his cake this year. He told his daddy & I that he wanted a four wheeler cake. He said he wanted it to be green. Well, I began talking to him about this to be sure a few months before his birthday. We searched but I could never find one that was a good size AND green! Green is his favorite color btw! We happend to be in Branson for our annual family get- away in November and I found one at the Bass Pro shop. It has a trailor and a man too so lots of fun for Rachel to work with. Rachel is a sweet friend at church who makes wonderful cakes, cookies and bread. It is so YUMMY! She made bread for Piercen once and he feel in love with her and took to her instantly. She is always making him something yummy :) She made Jeremys birthday cake it was perfect so we knew she'd do a great job! I have never been more happy with the way it turned out.

Piercen is such a good boy. He has grown and matured so much this past year. From 2 to 3 is a huge leap. He is so smart. It amazes us the things that he comes up with and his imagination is limitless. I do not have and exact weight or height for him because we haven't been to the doctor for his 3 yr check up... I have been avoiding it honestly to keep him from being exposed to anything. He has been so healthy and with the exception of having a cold he hasn't been sick but once with a fever since his last check up. I am so thankful for that and give God praise!!!

Piercen Kennedy,

Here are some things you have been up to ....

***Mommy checked your height today because we went to incredible pizza and you had to be 44' tall to ride a bumper ride... you measured 38'. We will find out for sure at your next visit which I hope to be before Feb. 28th.

***You love to be outside, doing anything outside. Especially riding four wheelers or playing in the yard. You love your John Deer gator.

***You wear a size 3t shirt and a size 4t jeans... you grew out of a 3t jean to a 4t jean in 3 months. Your 4t jeans were long on you when we first tried them on... in one month they are perfect... crazy how fast you are growing.

*** you LOVE POPSICLES

***you adore and I mean ADORE your Nana & Paps... your grandma too. You used to be a Nana's boy but your Paps has your heart big time lately.

***you still have your friend "JOE" but now you have began to call him "JOE DON" and you still talk to him ..........a lot!!! Sometimes you even say JOEY.

***you repeat everything. When I say everything. I .MEAN.EVERthing. Daddy & I really have to watch what we say. One day a man was pulling out in front of me. I said something. A few short minutes later you ask your daddy "Daddy what is a retard anyway". I cracked up but quickly remembered there are little ears hearing everything I say.

***you know many of your colors ... Green, Red, Blue, Orange, Black, White, Purple, Pink, Yellow... except yellow is Lellow HAHA!!

***you still LOVE to swim. Your cousin Trinity had a birthday party at the Y last weekend and you were able to swim and still swim like a little fish!!

***you used to always wear your shoes. You knew if you had your shoes on you could go outside.. well now... you have them off. No matter what... when... or where we are.

***you can count to about fourteen.

***you know your full name and mommy and daddys too.

***you love jeeps. You tell your daddy you want a big jeep some day.

***you love football and have asked your daddy to coach you when you get big. You really enjoyed going to watch daddy and Pastor Gary coach little league this past season.

***you play better with older kids... kids a few years older than you.. you some times try to bully smaller ones and we are working with you on this a lot.

***you FINALLY can sit still love enough to have mommy read a book to you!! Yeah for mommy!!!

***you love your 'new bed' but will not sleep in it... we have to get this mastered... daddy changed your bed from a baby bed to toddler bed last week and you have yet to stay in it.

***you still love your apple juice... you call it your night time juice and get it at night time before bed. You love to get relaxed with the lights out and we pray and do your bible verses.

***you have learned John 3:16 "For God so loved the world" and this past year you have learned Psalms 23 "The Lord is my shepherd" and you some times say "The Lord is MY shepherd". I never correct you after you have said it correctly once because He IS YOUR Shepherd sweet boy!!!

***you LOVE music. Your favorite is Garrett Ledbetter.

***you love class at church. This time last year you were still leary because we were gone so much and didn't have a routine traveling with daddy but now you have matured so much and are confident and love to go to class.

SO much has changed the last year... I love you with all of my heart Piercen Kennedy. I am forever changed since being your mommy. I have said it since the first time they placed you in my arms and I will say it a million more times .... I never knew the love of my Heavenly father until I met you. I honestly never knew the love of my own father, how he wanted the best for me, how important his raising and influence on my life has been OR my mother as well until you. You continue to teach me so many things about myself and God continues to teach me and grown me since being your mommy. He waited eight years to bring you into our lives. During those eight years there were times I did ask "When?" "But WHY not now" and even wondered at times if it would ever be. I know now that HIS timing IS perfect. You are perfect and He gave you to us at the PERFECT time. I am so thankful!!

May our love always give you roots!!!!

xox oxo,

Mommy

***I'm having problems uploading pictures. I will keep trying!!!

Happy Fall .. my favorite time of the year has just begun...

2009-10-31T22:34:00.001-07:00

I love this picture of him ... he is smiling so big that I can't even see his eyes! I said "CHEESE" and this is what I got from him .... taking his picture is so easy now if he is in a good mood.. I love it... Piercen is such a joy. I can't even begin to imagine what life was life without him in our lives.

Check out his HUGE BROWN milk dud eyes... I love them! My favorite pictures of him are honestly the ones I just capture ... no posing ... I love it! He is so full of life and he doesn't miss a thing. He has so many questions and is so inquisitive about everything .... never a dull moment.

October 28, 2009

It has been months since I have written. It is something, I can log on and check to see if I have email, read all my favorite blogs and even log onto facebook but for the life of me I won't take a few minutes to write on my very own blog. I used to be so good at it. Our days are always so busy and I honestly can't make myself get on my pc anymore when my baby boy is even awake. I found myself spending so much time and it was time I could have been with my family. Now making myself write seems to be a chore.

So .. isn't he so handsome? So adorable? Those BIG brown eyes - love them. He is getting so big! I can hardly believe he is going to be three in a short time. Jeremy & I honestly spend as much time as a family as possible. They are truly the loves I love to be with. I think if I had to tell just one thing that is amazing to me right now is our 'talks'. He will crawl up in my lap and say 'lets talk'... I love it. We carry on HUGE conversations and I learn so much from him. Of course he has a big imagination and I get lots of 'stories' about his friend Joe! He has a make believe friend. I love it!!! Did any of your children or do they now? He cracks me up. The other day he and his friend "Joe" were taking the yellow school bus to drop off "Joe's" dad to work.. I said "Where does he work" and he says to me "At Wal Mart". AND .... the story went on. Cracks me up!

The ministry is still going very well. Jeremy has had some cancellations from now til the end of the year but we have taken this time to plan more outreach ministries and they have been huge blessings. Both personally and to our home church. We have had the opportunity to feed people both physically AND spiritually. God has been so good to us. Reaching out to our community has changed my life. I told Jeremy I KNOW this is something God has called us to do. Our home church family has gotten behind us and support us in such a huge way. Please pray for us, we will be having the next outreach on Monday November 23rd for a Thanksgiving dinner. We pray that God will send 500 for us to feed ... we are expecting and believing! We also hope to be able to hand out groceries so that they can prepare a meal for Thanksgiving if the need is there. I praise God for the work He is doing thru us but in us as well... we serve an awesome God. And when I say that I mean it... I just wanna be a servant... we are here to serve.

I've been reading some awesome blogs lately... it is so crazy how the Lord can use someone a million miles away who I have never met face to face to minister to me... I love it! I just soak it all up like a sponge. God is good! I am thankful for my blogging friends!

I pray you've all had a great weekend and as we enter November I hope to be better at blogging.

love,

Christy

Summer Fun and Family

2009-07-23T23:36:00.000-07:00

It has been over a month since I have blogged at all and I hate that! I was going to try a lot harder and it seems I never have time OR make time. LOL. Piercen is loving summer and is growing like a weed. He is now 2 1/2 years old (31 months seems like A LOT) and we are enjoying SUMMER FUN! Here is one of my favorite pictures of him that I have taken recently... He L.O.V.E.S the water!!! He isn't afraid of it one bit and honestly can swim pretty well. My mom calls it dog paddling. HaHa! We've had a really great time.

Piercen you are ...

*loving summer and enjoy being in the pool. You love to jump off of the side and are NOT afraid one bit.

*you still love your guitar and have found a new love for your boots.. Mommy and daddy gave you a new pair just this week for pee peeing on the potty like a big boy!

*potty training is going okay.... consistency MOMMY! (Big wink)

*you love riding the four wheeler at Paps and ask to often.

*you love church - when I am getting you dresssed whether morning, noon or night you ask "are we going to church"

*you love to play with 'my friends' as you say (Savannah, JoJo aka Jo-Elle and Gaba aka Gabrielle) they would ALL be girls :D

*you are 36 in tall and growing each and every day..

*you have the most precious laugh ever.

*you will now sit and watch tv for a bit... you love toot and puddle, little house on the prairie, and the movie Charlotte's Web & Hotel for Dogs

*you are a pretty good eater - love grilled chicken, pizza, and banannas.... You can NO do without your apple juice but mommy has to limit it.

*you will say about three sentences together and today 7/23/09 said 14 words one right after the other!!!

*you love trucks, hotwheels and horses.

*you know and can say your full name.... mommy and daddys too with the exception of middle names for the two of us...

*you love being outside

*you know several colors (blue, red, green for sure)

*you can count to eleven

*you wear a size 2t and a 8.5 shoe

*you will take up for anyone if you think someone is being fussy at them

*you have began singing along to the Cd's in the car ..

*you can carry on a pretty good conversation over the ph with nana but you like to shake your head a lot like she can see you - when Paps tries to talk to you all you ask about is that four wheeler! LOL

*you A.L.W.A.Y.S say thank you - without fail. And you are doing really well with Please!

*you always say you are sorry if you get into trouble, hurt someone on accident.

*you are learning about Jesus and know he is in Heaven and we are going there some day... you know the first part of John 3:16 and can say "For God so loved the world" by heart.... you do it with GREAT excitement!!! (wink)

*you love stickers and are really taking an interest in coloring

*you are very independent and like to do things for yourself...

*you can undress yourself completely, dress yourself pretty well except for buttons or snaps and put your shoes on (sometimes on the wrong foot but when told switch them)

*you still travel like a *CHAMP*

I love you baby boy! I pray for you every day and I know you are going to accept Jesus at a young age. I enjoy every single moment with you and am so thankful I am able to be home with you. I never want to take for granted my time with you. I remember praying for God to send us a baby and I knew I'd be happy once that time came if the Lord saw fit but I never imagined I'd be THIS happy! You are such a joy and I love you with all my heart. I pray for wisdom and knowledge as your daddy and I teach you, guide you and nurture you. May we always point you to Jesus!

xox oxo,

Mommy

Ministry updates ....

Jeremy has been traveling preaching several revivals along with church camp in OK. They had 17 saved at the Poteau River Valley. Isn't God good? The week after that camp we actually had church camp with three other churches at our home town with our home church. Bro Grant did a great job preaching and several were saved including some from our church. We attended services there and enjoyed the week! We then had revival at Pioneer FWB and it was awesome to be in service there. The people are there are family! They will make you feel so many ways that you are bound to like one of them! Jeremy just finished out this week in Casa, AR and the house was packed each night. It was a refreshing time for the church and 3 souls were saved. The most exciting thing, the ones who got saved came back for the services the following nights!

I love what God is doing and what he continues to show me. I've been listening to Jason Crabb's new CD and it has blessed my heart. "With every breathe I will praise you". I sure am thankful that inspite of the times I fail he loves me! If he never did another thing in my life he has already blessed me beyond my wildest dreams..... that is reason to praise HIM!

Just the two of us...

2009-06-17T23:32:00.001-07:00

Well... my best friend Heather graciously offered to take a new family picture for us on Monday. I was super excited because Piercen is has really changed a lot since our last one from November!!! My excitement didn't last too long. He just wasn't in the mood to smile, didn't get to finish the nap he has started and was not going to cooperate for us. Period. So my hubby suggested that we snap a few of just the two of us! I was one happy girl! I admit it, I am a picture taker! I love snapping pictures and I love recording anything and everything we are doing... especially since Piercen has come along!

Here is the picture that turned out to be my favorite! I did a little editing and I loved it! I love my husband and he is so good to me! God has blessed me beyond measure! I pray that I can always be what he needs me to be .... his helpmeet! It is amazing me to me that our story began when two people fell in love! We will be married eleven years in Septemeber and they have been the happiest years of my life!

.....I am living out my dreams!

My handsome boy ...

2009-05-31T22:14:00.001-07:00

These are some pics I just recently did of him...

Just wanted to share an updated picture of my handsome little man & I on Mothers Day. I haven't been good at all posting because we have been so good traveling but a picture is worth a 1,ooo words! And believe me, I could say that and more about my little guy! I was just telling someone tonight ... his imagination is LIMITLESS, his J*O*Y is UNSPEAKABLE and his *LOVE* for life is AMAZING! He is such a blessing! Thank you Lord for allowing ME to be HIS Mommy!

YEAH Kristina ....

2009-05-12T10:10:00.000-07:00

I just wanted to say thank you to my dear blogging friend Kristina for helping me to recover my password.... I haven't been able to log in for weeks because I had to change my password about a month and half ago. I didn't write it down. Silly me! I had to go create a new email account (with cox communications) and thankfully no one had my old email address there that I had created in 2006. They set up the same account for me again since that address had no been used and so I was able to reset my password there and recover it. WHEW!!! I surely didn't want to have to create a whole new blog after so many years! Thank you again Kristina! I appreciate you so much! Now hopefully I can be better at blogging! LOL!

Piercen AND potty training....

2009-03-07T20:44:00.000-08:00

I just wanted to post a quick pic of Piercen. This is one from his 2 yr pics and I love them! I just have a question .... anyone have potty training tips? It is time to begin. He wants to sit on the potty - he isn't scared of it and we 've been doing a LOT of talking. He comes to me when he needs changed now and even asks for his diaper to be changed. I just wanted to know if anyone had any tips to help this be a 'quicker' process? THANKS!!!

Blogger & Baby Caleb

2009-02-19T12:25:00.000-08:00

Just wanted to let everyone know that my best friend is now blogging! Maybe she will be better at it than I am. HaHa! If you get a chance check out her blog.... what is it this time, Lord? www.whatisitthistimelord.blogspot.com

Also, if you have a chance stop by and wish my cousin Robin and her husband Jake a CONGRATS on the birth of a son, Caleb Thomas! You can visit her blog at ... and baby makes three!
www.jakerobinharper.blogspot.com

Happy Thursday!

Cupcakes AND Deliveries

2009-02-15T23:15:00.000-08:00

Here are a few pictures... I was so proud of myself! Anyone who knows me knows I am so not the baker OR the cook. I have several things I do enjoy making dinner but as far as our 'Chef' that would be Jeremy! I would choose to clean up any day! I got this idea and we ended up making 72 cupcakes and delivered them ALL with the exception of a few Piercen decided to eat. He enjoyed every single minute of it... especially handing out his Valentine Cards. Here is a picture Jeremy took of us & Piercen happened to have a picture card in his hand. Precious!

Happy Valentines Day friends....

2009-02-14T21:18:00.000-08:00

I hope that everyone has had a wonderful day! I know that I sure have. My actual "Valentine" took me to dinner & movie on Thursday night while my mom & dad kept Piercen for us. Jeremy & I rarely do this sort of thing so it was really nice. I realize Piercen is now two but he and I both were just discussing Thursday night how nice it is to get away, having a great conversation over dinner is awesome BUT after about four hours we are both itching to see the baby. I have heard many couples say this so I know it is 'normal' haha! Dinner was *yummy* and we went to see "New in town". It had a great story line AND was funny. Jeremy really got a kick out of it. I have to add that I loved the fact we went Thursday night and not actually tonight because of the crowds and lines to eat. I liked it so much we might have to do it like that more often.

Jeremy & I watched Fireproof a few weeks back and we began the Love Dare book. It is awesome! I am loving every day of it. Even though I have an awesome marriage I have learned so much. I have gained a lot of knowledge and I have learned that even when I thought I was good about biting my tongue - ha. I am not a lot of times. I was really aware of how often I had to catch myself. Isn't it funny that just when we think we have it all together sometimes the 'little' things sneak up on us? It does for me. I love the fact that we decided to do this and it just so happens todays dare was "Love promotes Intimacy". How perfect for Valentines Day. We shared a lot of personal thoughts today and it has been special. Thank you Jeremy for being my Love, my Valentine!!!

Here are a few pics of our little guy --- our valentine! He sure is cute if I do say so myself. I get so cracked up at him because I take so many pictures of him that now when I even touch my rebel he says "Cheese" and stops whatever it is he is doing. Sad huh? I tell everyone it really wouldn't be any worse if I would have had a girl. :D He is a lot of fun though and he keeps us smiling. I totally cracked up at these pictures because I didn't tell him to pose or anything! This is all on his own. P*E*R*F*E*C*T

We made cupcakes and when I say cupcakes I mean cupcakes! TONS of them! 72 to be exact. Friday we delivered them to Mema, Cousins Jen & Bekah, our girls at Trimmers Ginger & Becky, our sweet friend Christi so she'd feel extra special today, my best friend Heather & her family, Michelle, and Shelly. Today we visited Uncle Aaron & Aunt Britt, Nana, Paps and Uncle Aaron... they all LOVED them! Oh and I can't forget Sonya, Doug & the boys! They were a hit. It was my first attempt and I was pretty proud of myself. I actually left my camera in the suv or I'd post a pic. It is raining outside so I will get it and post a pic of my creations soon!

Isn't he just a cutie pie? He is growing up so fast!
God bless you guys... I hope that today was perfect for each of you!

I pray that more than anything that you are filled with the LOVE of God!

hugs,

Christy

Well... I did it...

2009-02-09T23:28:00.001-08:00

I did it! Finally! I changed up my blog a lot and I hope to get busy using it more often. I've been a terrible blogger. I know. I find I enjoy reading others most of the time than writing. I'm excited though to get back into writing more often. Kristina, thanks SO much for your help. I followed your steps and it worked. Whew! I just have a few more things to change up and I'll be good to go.

Hope everyone is having a good week! I am really looking forward to Valentines Day! Love it!

My baby boy....

2008-12-29T22:22:00.000-08:00

Turned "2"... Happy Birthday Piercen!

What a wonderful two years it has truly been. God has been so awesome! I never knew I would love someone so much! Of course I love Jeremy with everything I have but it is a completely different love. AND I must add, there is SOMETHING about a mommy & her B*O*Y!!!

Here are a few pics to share with you over the past two years... OH how I love him so!

Piercen, the plans God has for you will some day soon all unfold... I pray that my love with always give you roots & may you always, always, walk in the truth!

love,

Mommy

I can't believe it is this time of year already...

2008-12-04T21:23:00.000-08:00

Hey friends! I am such a horrible blogger. It seems every time I get ready to write actually write something I get side tracked and need to jump off of the computer. I am starting to think it is the devil keeping me from writing like I one time did here on my blog! I get so busy traveling with Jeremy, spending time with Piercen, church, family & friends I seldom have much 'free' time if you will... honestly, when I do I spend it reading a lot of what others write! :)

I hope that you have started your December off to a good start and aren't rushing around trying to get all of the shopping done at the last minute (that would also be me!) Ha Ha! I've had such an awesome year. I can't imagine what God has in store of us in 2009. Jeremy has yet calculated how many souls we have seen saved but I can already tell you, we have been in some of the most amazing services ever. In the midst of a world filled with confusion, strife, businesses closing, people loosing jobs, homes being taken away, families falling apart, God is still on HIS throne and he is still moving amoung us. If we will only seek Him, He will come!

Here is a picture of us that my best friend took a few weeks back. I love it. I love the background, I love the cute little smirk on Piercen's face. He is growing so fast. I can't believe he will be TWO this month. I am taking in every moment with him. Jeremy & I have enjoyed him so much the past few months as he is putting sentences together, learning colors, and he must take his bible and guitar *every* where we go. He is pure joy! Every time I see his big brown eyes, hear his laugh, and feel the warmth of his xox oxo I realize once again just how much my heavenly father loves and adores me! Oh what an honor! I am so unworthy!

I pray that as Christmas approaches that we all will keep Christ in our Christmas... He was born in a stable, died on a cross and he is a soon coming KING! I look for him any day! Thank you for the friendships I have made and the blessings I have had just knowing you all.

He is growing so fast...

2008-08-21T20:56:00.000-07:00

Just a few updated pics of my little guy... I am so in love with him. I never knew I could love him so much.... I never imagined a love like this before. He is such a joy and we try to hold on to every second with him because he is growing so fast... hard to believe it has almost been 2o months! He loves the piano and honestly, he doesn't just get on it and *BANG* around... he will stretch and play over it just perfectly! I love watching him... He also loves his guitar! I am proud of him! For so long he would play a little then stop and sing and then play some more and then stop and sing some more. NOW he has it down!! He can play & sing !!! Isn't it precious how they learn ??? Piercen loves it now that he can play and mommy sings ....

The top picture is how Piercen likes to be super silly! The *H*A*T* on his head is actually the saddle that goes on his pony -- where he came up for that who knows! He cracks us up. He more me laugh, the sillier he is! He is so much fun! I am posting an upclose pictures so you can see the HUGE smile!

Hope you all have a great weekend!

Isn't it Strange...

2008-08-21T20:54:00.000-07:00

Isn't it strange how a 20 dollar bill seems like such a large amount when you donate it to church, but such a small amount when you go shopping? Isn't it strange how 2 hours seem so long when you're at church, and how short they seem when you're watching a good movie? Isn't it strange that you can't find a word to say when you're praying but.. you have no trouble thinking what to talk about with a friend? Isn't it strange how difficult and boring it is to read one chapter of the Bible but how easy it is to read 100 pages of a popular novel or ZANE GREY book? Isn't it strange how everyone wants front-row-tickets to concerts or games but they do whatever is possible to sit at the last row in Church? Isn't it strange how we need to know about an event for Church 2-3 weeks before the day so we can include it in our agenda, but we can adjust it for other events in the last minute? Isn't it strange how difficult it is to learn a fact about God to share it with others; but how easy it is to learn, understand, extend and repeat gossip? Isn't it strange how we believe everything that magazines and newspapers say but... we question the words in the Bible? Isn't it strange how everyone wants a place in heaven but... they don't want to believe, do, or say anything to get there? Isn't it strange how we send jokes in e-mails and they are forwarded right away but when we are going to send messages about God, we think about it twice before we share it with others? IT'S STRANGE ISN'T IT? Now that you've read this message, will you forward it to anybody that you consider a friend, family member or foe (enemy).If you choose not to share His message you may deprive yourself from being blessed as well as depriving others... who may need God in their life.

I thought that was just awesome! I hope everyone is doing good. I am not sure I have any readers since I seldom have the time to write anymore. I do read though - I promise! I would love to hear from you! I am going to post some pics of Piercen , he is getting so BIG!

Question....

2008-07-07T22:33:00.001-07:00

Does anyone know what happened to Veronica?

I am not dead... I am really alive. I am!

2008-06-20T21:38:00.000-07:00

Okay I know.. it has been three months since my last post but so much has been going on. Forgive me! I am sure I have lots all of my readers even though I promise I have still been following you.

We began the process of house hunting which lead to applying for a loan and that whole process. For those of you who are home owners you KNOW how time consuming & complicated it can be. Complicated? Did I say that? HA! We had all of our papers filled out, approved in NO time and our close date set --- it was pushed back a week, had our final day set to close on a Wednesday and got a call about 10 am on a Monday morning and our loan officer says "I am sorry to tell you this but our company can not give out any more loans". At this point I was like "OK, so were we just not approved and your covering or what?". I had every possible thought go thru my head! I was so upset! Well.... he calls back... he tells us he has a buddy who will take over and we should be closed in three weeks. He did just that but three weeks turned into six! We were ONLY supposed to have to fill out a few papers and we ended up doing the entrie process from scratch!

The good news is that we finally close after three additional close dates and we are proud 1st time home buyers!! We took three weeks and worked on the house laying tile on the counter tops, retexturing walls, completely redoing the bathroom b/c MAN! It had brown all over and well..... it needed remodeling. We replaced all the light fixtures, all new ceiling fans, new front and back door, my daddy painted the outside taupe and we hung new black shutters.... tiled the utility room and had a painter come in and redo the entire inside. It was hard work but it is almost finished. We have a few things left ... we want to put in new windows in a month or two and then put up a privacy fence because the fence now is chain link. Even though it was alot of hard work it was fun actually AND we hope to make some money off of it so in a few years we can build or buy again before Piercen starts to school.

Piercen is growing fast. I am posting a new picture so you can see our handsome little boy. He never ceases to amaze me at all the things he comes up with. His latest thing is he has been carring his little red bible around for weeks. I have tried to get him to put it away and only carry it to church...hoping that by offering another book, ANY other book to him he'd do so but OH NO! He carries it EVERYwhere! I am talking to play outside, to the restuarant... you name it. The other day he looks down, opens it up and begans to jabber... I hear "Bible" . He then pauses and points and starts to babble! I asked Jeremy "Did you show him that" , "Have you been coax him"... NO he says.. NO way and actually I'd never seen or heard him say anything other than "Lets get your bible for church"...... it was priceless! I can honestly say it doesn't matter if he ever becomes a preacher as long as he knows what the word of God says and is as eager to KNOW HIM and have the desire to serve him just as he has the desire today not to let that little red bible put away for another book. Isn't that how it should be for us? We must read them as often as possible and use them like no other book... if they get messed up we can get another one. After all the ones that are worn are the ones who have had the greatest use!

fyi.. I am going to post some pics of our projects but I need to get an updated pic of the house on the outside ... will do that soon!

... what a week

2008-03-16T14:26:00.000-07:00

WhEw! I have had one busy week. Sorry I am just now being able to post. I know some of you have asked what is going on and wondering where I've been ... we applied for a loan on Monday, got the news back on Tuesday we were approved (early that morning, less than 24 hrs to be exact!), found the house we wanted to make an offer on and did that on Wednesday - they counter offered and we signed papers on Thursday afternoon! We had been looking for about two weeks so we kinda knew what we wanted to do. Some might say that was *qUiCk* and yes it was!!!! I

This house is not the house I want to be in forever but it is a great start for us! I can't wait to get closed and get the things done to it that need to be done before moving in and making it our first home! I will take a picture of it and post it asap! I plan to post pics along the way because we are going to paint the outside, inside, hang new light fixtures, tile the counters in the kitchen and bathroom, put in a new dishwasher, tile the laundry room and redo the flower bed! This neighborhood is one that my best friend Michelle grew up in when we were kids. I remember spending the night there many times. We have driven by at many different times to see if it is still a nice area and it seems to be. It is quiet and Jeremy and I both have peace that this is what God has for us.

I do want to ask you to pray for us ... we are renting right now and it was supposed to be long term. The couple has asked us to move because they are wanting to be back here from LA. Well, we need to be out by the 15th of April and it just isn't going to happen... the end of the month yes and maybe even that next weekend but not by the 15th. You know how it goes, if you move in some place and it needs things done chances are they never get done! PLUS, these things are a must. Also, my son hasn't slept well since we moved here! Infact, he began sleeping **ALL** night long at 7 weeks. We moved here in late August when he wass eight months old and he hasn't slept all night ONE time since we moved. Jeremy & I know why and now it all makes since that we have put two and two together..... that would be a whole other blog post! Needless to say we have no idea who lived in our new house but we will be covering it in prayer and for those who believe as we do we will be annointing it with oil and covering it in the blood! Every evil spirit and things that aren't of God will be rebuked! So if you will pray with us on that...

Also, I wanted to share something ... God has really been showing me some things during this whole experience. Jeremy pastored for several years and we lived in a parsonage so there was no need to buy a house. During those years we traveled alot, bought expensive clothing, jewlrey, had many different hobbies and spent alot of money on even furniture. I was one who seldom cooked much because we always dined with friends or went on many *dates* together. Over the past several years while renting when Jeremy began evangelizing we have spent over $30,000 on rent... RENT ALONE! This made me sick. I couldn't see us continuing to do so. When we found out we needed to move again I began to pray for God to open doors for us. What I didn't realize was that when opening them I'd first have to repent. You see, I didn't want to live here or live there because it wasn't 'this' or it wasn't 'that'. But once I began to seek HIS will for us instead of what I wanted or where I wanted to be he began to open one door after another very quickly. I've looked back over the last several years and am amazed at what God has done in our lives but also what he has done in ME! HIS way is always best and HIS timing is always perfect.
After making the offer on this home we found out that the closest thing in the neighboorhood in sq ft and price is $22,000 more than what we were able to get our house for and it only needs about $2,000 put into it. Once again God has enabled us to not only be blessed by buying our first home but it is something we are going to be able to sell one day and make money in the process!

I know that I know that I know --- I'd rather be in His PERFECT will than His permissive will any day of my life!

Praying for Gods will....

2008-03-04T09:56:00.000-08:00

Hey friends... hope this blog post finds you all doing well. Thanks for visiting me even when I am not faithful to write or post anything! Everyone has been such a blessing to me over the past several years. I am blessed to call you my friends!

I would like to leave a prayer request with you today and ask anyone who stops by to pray for us. We have been married for almost ten years and during those ten years Jeremy has both pastored and evangelized. During the times of pastoring we lived in a parsonage and during the last 4 1/2 years we have been renting. It is with much prayer that we are trying to get everthing finalized today to begin the process of building our very first 'home'.

While this request may sound materialistic for a home it is really not I promise. As much as I'd love to build the home of my dreams in all reality that isn't what will take place. However, it will be much more than a house, it will be our home. I look forward to it being ours, no more rent each month and thousands of dollars invested into something each year that we can not call our own. It is my prayer that if it be Gods will that he will continue to open the door that has been set before us. We will find this out either this afternoon or tomorrow and I am believing for what God has in store for us.

the SICK bUg, tEEtHinG & MY fabulous hubby

2008-02-18T10:55:00.000-08:00

You got it right.... the SICK BUG has been at my house! I have no idea what I came down with but it hit me so fast it didn't even matter. I went to the doctor last Wednesday for a routine visit and I came home with something I did *NOT* ask for! A sick bug.... it followed me home and boy was I ever sick... I was honestly sick until Saturday night. Finally yesterday I began to feel like myself again. I won't go into the details of all of illness.... I will leave you with wonder haha! I promise you -- you appreciate me for it! Needless to say I aqm still SICK! Stick at my stomach. I cried like a baby lastnight too because of it.... I went to the laundry mat Saturday night. Call me 'miss goodie 2 shoes' but I hate going there! It isn't that I am too good because I am not - I just don't like to wash my things where other people do regardless of the hot temperatures! I had to get my wedding done, fast so my hubby could finally get back in bed with me (Come on, I was sleeping with the sick bug on Valentines day, not my hubby!) and so I took it all to get caught up F*A*S*T! Needless to say last Tues night I had taken my compact flash card into Wal-Mart to get copies of a picture I had taken of Piercen for his Valentines Day Cards I mailed out ..... I had misplaced it. Last place I KNEW I had it was my pocket.... so..... pocket... flash card.... laundry mat! NOT a good combination! I've been sick ever since! My compact flash card, its not at the laundry mat, it sure isn't in my pocket anymore and it is isn't anywhere to be found. I have prayed for God to help me find it.... I've prayed he'd perform a miracle (call me crazy but I knew he CAN make it appear to me) and I don't know what else to do. I had dowloaded almost all that was on it but Piercen's 1st hair cut and his pictures I had snapped for 13 months..... I've been great about getting tons of pics and video so the 13 months snap shots I could deal with IF they weren't pics of him in the tub. The thought of someone might having pics of my family and pics of my baby in the tub makes me even SICKER! I've called Wal-Mart, went back to search the laundry mat, washer, dryer, my van, you name it...... so needless to say I've just been sick, sick, sick!

Piercen has been teething like crazy.... four jaw teeth all at the same time! Three have now broken thru and the fourth is well on its way.... he hasn't been feeling well but he also had shots a week ago.. this is the 5-21 day period for the mmr shot of which he could run fever and have a rash... He has had fever! I think its a combination of teething & the shots! I am not chancing taking him to the doctor unless he gets worse - we need no other sick BUGS at our house! Once these monster teeth are in all the way my son will be able to eat some steak with those teeth! ha ha!! And for those of you who have heard as I did that they don't run temps when the cut teeth I'd have to say I'd disagree .... what about you? Did your children or do your children while cutting teeth? This is a first but it has happened this round of FOUR at once!

Inspite of our week and weekend I have to brag on my incredible hubby! God has been so good to me... I didn't even get to spend Valentines day cuddling with him! He has taken such good care of Piercen, cooked, cleaned and taken even better care of me! Thank you honey for being so amazing! It is a good thing we've always celebrated our love and not just that one day a year that has been set aside.... I was a little disappointed but I promise -- I'm making it up to you!

I've got some awesome pictures to show you soon -- I've got to go to Sam's and get a new compace flash card to take them first haha! But God has been so good to us and I'll be sharing them with you before long..... Hope you guys are all doing well.... Veronica, thanks for checking in on me.... sorry it has been a while .. as you can read I've been busy but things are better for sure! **HUGS**

Piercen's "FIRST" bIrThDaY party....

2008-01-09T22:20:00.000-08:00

Check out those precious lips and long eye lashes... I prayed for those! I am telling you... he may be oNe but he knows how to get into that paper & ribbon...

We'd been telling him about his birthday cake & he enjoyed playing in it !!! I know before long there will be a 'theme' to everything... who knows what it will be... maybe spiderman, superman, bob the builder, barney (oh my), I loved green & blue and dots and stripes are fun so mommy got to pick out the cake this time.. he loves bright colors ...

...... and as you can see, he had a FUN time.. he smiled & laughed a lot! A time to celebrated HIM! God is good.... some of our 'little' friends Bree & Bodey (Cousins), Aiden, Megan, Avery & Zac.... the older kids were busy eating !!!

The bIrThDaY BOY with Chuck E Cheese..

I just wanted to post a few pictures from Peircen's birthday party... we had such a great time! Even at ONE he had a fun time! There was no way in the world we had enough room for all of our family & friends so we decided to call Chuck E Cheese and let them do all the work! It turned out to be a great success... the kids had a great time, we had plenty of room AND it was warm and we could invite eVeRYoNE !!! Of course mommy did have to design her own special cake for PK and have Paul's bakery make it... yUMmy !!! Can't have a birthday with a cake from Paul's... it was a great night! My baby boy is ONE!

People have asked me is it really different with him being 1... YES it is... he has changed a lot the past two weeks. He now sings at the TOP of his little lungs when we sing AND I am not talking just a few seconds... He starts out and gets louder and louder.. it is precious... he also learned tonight to drink out of a straw... we are having so much fUn !!!

Thank you God for out little man!

Isn't he precious .........

2007-12-30T22:06:00.001-08:00

Ok so I have to be honest.... I have the BLUE's bAd !!!

I can't believe my baby boy is alreay OnE !!!

Where in the world have time gone and how on earth will I treasure each little memory - forever!?!?! How is it possible.... there are sOoOoO many !!!

I remeber back when praying I would ask the Lord if it would really ever happen... would He ever send us a baby boy or baby girl.... I knew He'd not given me the desire to be a mommy for simply no reason at all. I begin to pray "God if it isn't your will then please take the desire away because I am so miserable."

I learned quickly when praying HIS will that HE was waiting on ME!

Jeremy & I had arrived in South Carolina for a revival and we went with a few people out of the church as well as the pastor & his wife to pray for the services for the next morning. It was a Saturday night, one I will nEvEr forget. It was then and there that the Lord delt with me that I had some things in my heart he was waiting on me to release so he could finish the work he had began in me.... Jeremy & I had left a church where Jeremy was pastoring and he began full time evangelism. Jeremy let go of things more easily than I ever did... we were hurt very badly. You see, God was wanting ME to get rid of anger, bitterness and even hate! Once I became totally free from it all he could finish what he began in me... I see now how much I learned, how much I grew but I will also never forget the freedom that night. When I knelt it was the 1st time ever I really stayed til I prayed thru! I was determined I'd not get up til I was free.... Not only was I free from all of that but I was free from FEAR of never having my desire to be a mommy fullfilled.... it was THAT week that the Lord blessed us with a child and one month exactly that we found out we were expecting a baby. The journey has been simply amazing... my pregnancy was unbelievable! I will never forget the day we found out what we were having, every movement and BIRTH day! When I reflect on that day I can't help but stop and praise HIM for such an awesome day... the dr, myself and complete OR team had prayer before ANYthing began - I felt NO pain! Complete awe of how HE has blessed me...
Since the birth of this baby boy my life has never been the same. I thought it was different carrying him but I had no idea how much him being born would actually change my life forever.
I never knew the love my heavenly father until the moment I held him in my arms for the very first time. It was then that I finally 'got it' !!!
I've laughed, I have cried, I have prayed, I have sang, I have cuddled and I have kissed and I could never imagine my life any other way.... I am so thankful for Piercen.
A year has come and gone and as much as I am 'blue' about the passing of an ENTIRE year with him I am excited what this next year holds for us... as much as I miss feeling him kick inside of me or hear him now say momma I am excited to see him learn to walk without falling, learn and grow over the next year. I pray that I will continue to be guided each and every day as his "momma" and that all I say and do will point him to Christ. I realize that every single moment with him is priceless and IT matters! My heart is so full .. I am so blessed to be your momma Piercen Kennedy...

Can you tell I have the BLUE's ??? Man, my baby is ONE!!!! HOW ???
....Time has flown....

Christmas Photo Shoot....

2007-12-10T23:06:00.000-08:00

I hope everyone is enjoying the most wonderful time of the year! I hear that saying so much during the holidays! Thing is, I think that we should celebrate the birth of our savior every day of the year! I wish that the spirit of Christmas, the warmth of the holidays and the love of this season was actually demonstrated 365 days a year! I have to admit, I think even I find myself happier during the holiday season!

I am so excited about this Christmas that I feel like a little child all over again.. I've always loved giving but this year is so different.... I can not wait to see Piercen's little face on Christmas morning. One might say, he isn't even ONE just yet (December 28th is just around the corner!) but even at ONE he understands alot of things.... I am so proud of him. Friday night right after the Thanksgiving we decided to take him for the very first time to see Christmas lights. There is a place about 15 minutes from us that displays lights along with music and the story of the birth of Jesus on a radio station that you tune in to as you circle the area. It is amazingly beautiful! Last year Jeremy and I tried to see this atleast three times and each time the traffic and lines were so long that we didn't even attempt to wait. I am glad now that we were unable to see it because this year it was even prettier than what I expected and we were able to take Piercen with us.

Jeremy has been singing Happy Birthday to Piercen for a little while now so maybe he'd understand a little more that he will be turning ONE very soon! We love his little expression when we explain to him why we are singing! He KNOWS it is all about him if he doesn't understand anything else! I've also been talking to him about Jesus and how it is HIS birthday! I've been singing Happy Birthday Jesus to him and sharing with him WHY we celebrate! During the trip to see the lights display on that Friday evening we came to the manager scene and we stopped the car telling him about the animals, Mary, Jospeh and baby Jesus! As the music played and the story began my son says JESUS! I am telling you --- my heart was over joyed!

He has been walking around saying it every since and gets so excited when we praise him! If only we as Christians were this excited every day of the year!

I wanted to share a few pictures of Piercen that my best friend took for us.. she does such a great job. If you know me, you know I like unique and being creative. I am so proud of these pictures, they were perfect for our Christmas card of our son! I pray that you too are enjoying your holiday season and the memories you are making with your families..

A letter to Santa from Mommy....

2007-12-01T21:59:00.000-08:00

Dear Santa,

I've been a good mom all year. I've fed, cleaned and cuddled my children on demand, visited the doctor's office more than my doctor and sold sixty-two cases of candy bars to raise money to plant a shade tree on the schoolplayground. I was hoping you could spread my list out over several Christmases, since I had to write this letter with my son's red crayon, on the back of a receipt in the laundry room between cycles, and who knows whenI'll find anymore free time in the next 18 years.

Here are my Christmas wishes:I'd like a pair of legs that don't ache (in any color, except purple, which I already have) and arms that don't hurt or flap in the breeze, but are strong enough to pull my screaming child out of the candy aisle in the grocery store.I'd also like a waist, since I lost mine somewhere in the seventh month of my last pregnancy.

If you're hauling big ticket items this year I'd like fingerprint resistant windows and a radio that only plays adult music, a television that doesn't broadcast any programs containing talking animals, and a refrigerator with asecret compartment behind the crisper where I can hide to talk on the phone.

On the practical side, I could use a talking doll that says, "Yes, Mommy" to boost my parental confidence, along with two kids who don't fight and three pairs of jeans that will zip all the way up without the use of power tools.I could also use a recording of Tibetan monks chanting "Don't eat in the living room" and "Take your hands off your brother," because my voice seems to be just out of my children's hearing range and can only be heard by the dog.

If it's too late to find any of these products, I'd settle for enough time to brush my teeth and comb my hair in the same morning, or the luxury of eating food warmer than room temperature without it being served in a Styrofoam container.

If you don't mind, I could also use a few Christmas miracles to brighten the holiday season. Would it be too much trouble to declare ketchup a vegetable? It will clear my conscience immensely. It would be helpful if you could coerce my children to help around the house without demanding payment as if they were the bosses of an organized crime family.

Well, Santa, the buzzer on the dryer is calling and my son saw my feet under the laundry room door. I think he wants his crayon back. Have a safe trip and remember to leave your wet boots by the door and come in and dry off so you don't catch cold.Help yourself to cookies on the table but don't eat too many or leave crumbs on the carpet.

Yours Always,
MOMMY...

P.S. One more thing...you can cancel all my requests if you can keep my children young enough to believe in Santa.

*Santa has asked that this gets passed on to all the mommies you know

<<<<>>>>

New hair....

2007-11-26T23:08:00.000-08:00

Ok Ladies so tell me what ya think... I went really, really dark and chopped some of it off! Jeremy LOVES it and I have had a ton of compliments! It is harder to see in a b&w pic so I am adding one of myself with one of my best friends!

I love this time of year...

2007-10-31T21:52:00.000-07:00

Happy Harvest...

( Isn't that the sweetest face ever!)

I guess it is something about the air being a little chilly, the leaves turning colors, beautiful mums, tons of pumpkins and thanksgiving.... the time of year that we all reflect on just how thankful we really are. I love to ponder all of the things the Lord has blessed with me... I love the song "I am blessed"... it is truly my song. I am blessed from the time I rise up in the morning til I lay my head to rest... I am blessed!

Here are a few pics I captured at the pumpkin patch. Jeremy & I have always visited the pumpkin patch together and snapped a few pics.... This year was SO much more special... it was a must to pass down the tradition now that we have Piercen. Of course we had to let him pick his very own pumpkin! He picked a very awesome one I might add! Just the right size and shape! Perfect for his little hands to hold!

hAPpy BIrtHdAy SwEEtHEaRt!

2007-10-26T22:41:00.000-07:00

Sunday is my husbands birthday and I wanted to share this little picture of us together! It is funny because most of our pictures now are of Piercen & I, Piercen & daddy OR Piercen, mommy & daddy... it seems so funny to take a picture without it being of the three of us! I was SO excited to have my sister-in-law Brittany snap this of us the other night! It is how it all began, he & I, now we have our story & our little terrific family of THREE!

When I think of Jeremy's birthday, I think of HIS day, it is all about HIM! This is a day to celebrate HIM! He is such a good man, a Godly man. A man who loves the Lord with all of his heart. This is the thing that I love most about him. He challenges me every single day to be a better wife, a better mommy, a better daughter, a better sister, a better friend but it all starts with being closer to the Lord, to have a heart like our heavenly father. He lead our family daily to live for him in all we do. Jeremy truly loves me as Christ loves the church and I AM the princess... no questions about it! I am so proud of him in so many ways. When I see him with our son my heart melts.... he is such a wonderful daddy & I know we are raising a Godly little guy!

If it sounds like I am bragging... I am! I am so blessed.... I am married to the greatest man in the world. (You should feel that way about your husband too!)

Sweetheart, today I celebrate you... I celebrate you every day but Sunday --- it's YOUR day! It is all about you and the man you are. I am proud of you, I thank you and I never want to take for granted who you are and what you mean to me.

I love you, Jeremy!

God is sOoOoOo GoOooOoD !!

2007-10-10T20:56:00.000-07:00

I just wanted to share with everyone how God is so good! I tell you, he never ceases to amaze me to meet our EVERY need! As you all know Jeremy is a full time evangelist and after having our son, Piercen in December we made the decision for me to be home with him. I couldn't stand the thought of being away from him all day long and placing him in a daycare! I know some moms have no choice and others aren't happy at home so they choose to go back to work. This wasn't the case for me, especially when I wasn't even looking for my last job. God provided us with my last job working for a friend from church! I was on the job only three months when we found out I was expecting. God opened that door for us so that I could have health care while I was pregnant and he gave us peace for me not to go back to work after having Piercen.

For months now I have been so bothered with not having health insurance. I am a firm believer that God will take care of us but I am human and I worry! Alot at times. I am diabetic and so I do have health concerns. I began to pray about this situation but to be honest continued to worry about it as well. Several months ago I had a friend of mine approach me about coming to work for the company she is working for. She and I had worked together several years back for a huge company in our area ( I don't like to give all specifics because I have no idea who all lurks!). Needless to say she said it would part time with no benefits but the job would eventually go into full time. I told her to let me know when the time came for her to hire and I continued to pray if God would have me take the job. This job is a job working from home.... I prayed and Jeremy and I didn't feel I should take it at the time because there were no benefits and that would be the reason for me to be employeed.

Over the past few months I have been really discouraged because as hard as we try to work for the Lord I felt he wasn't meeting our needs for health insurance. I had even told Jeremy at one time if we both would get 'normal' jobs then we could have the house I WANT and the insurance we really NEED. Isn't it just like me to throw in that want!!!! God pricked my heart that we are doing what he has called us to do and that getting 'normal' so called jobs wasn't our answer. I kept praying.... two weekends ago on a Sunday... I had what I call a break down or pitty party! I finally just cried to the Lord and told him how I felt... You know it talks about in the bible to CRY to the Lord... I did just that. I told him how I felt financially it was hurting us not to have health insurance and how I worry constantly about it... how some doctors won't even see me because of no insurance. I felt so much better just to be real about how I really felt.

My cry was heard and God answered my prayer! My phone rang Monday morning at 8:15 and it was my friend... she was calling to tell me she had a recruiting assistant position open working at my home office , FULL time and FULL BENEFITS! NOT just health, but dental, vision, 401 K... and life insurance! This is the God I serve. When he does something he does it GOOD!

I started on Monday. It is going welll, I am working from home, Piercen is here with me. I am blessed. From October to the of February it slows down for Jeremy. He does alot of preaching but it is mostly on Sundays and Wednesdays. There aren't alot of revials and especially weekly revivals during the winter and holiday months. This timing is perfect! Gods timing is perfect!

I want to thank God for answering and I wanted to testifyof his goodness. I want to also encourage you who is reading this that if there is something you aren't sharing with the Lord, something you are holding back, something you haven't cried unto the Lord about to do so... After all, he already knows.. He knew my heart.. I just was trying to handle it on my own... worry was getting my no where.. He wanted me to release it.... He wants to meet our needs!

Here is a picture of our little family... I love my boys!!! I might add, this insurance even has maternity!!!! Jeremy just smiled when I told him that.... we are enjoying Piercen SO much .. maybe some day he will have a baby brother or baby sister!

God is GOOD, God is good, GOD IS GOOD ALL THE TIME! ALL THE TIME , GOD IS GOOD!

fINaLlY....

2007-09-28T20:45:00.000-07:00

I've tried to post this picture a dozen times and finally blogger let me! WHEW! Isn't he adorable!

He loves helping mommy! I've learned to let him play a bit before actually folding and trying to put away so I'm not refolding!It is amazing to me how he can have a million toys to play with and he wants the laundry OR he'd much rather have the box that they toy comes in than the toy that just cost me some big bucks! Ha Ha! I've come to know it is really just being anywhere and doing anything mommy and daddy are! Oh how time flies when you are having much fun !!!

9th wedding anniversary and 9 months

2007-09-27T22:58:00.000-07:00

blogger isn't allowing me to post another pic! I'll try again later!

Update...

2007-09-27T22:29:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone... just wanted to send an update. My hopes of being able to blog just hasn't happened. I have a myspace and have some many friends on it rather than blogger I seem to spend alot more time there than on blogger. Do any of you have myspace besides Kristina?

Things here are going well. Piercen is so amazing. I know every mom feels this way. I am so blessed. We haven't had our official 9 month well baby check up but I did take him in last week to make sure he just had 'allergies' going on... AND that is what it was! Thank goodness but sure wish they'd go away... we all have it. I am exhausted.

Piercen just three teeth this last week... the third on is half way in.. he is 19 lbs and 8 oz... he is saying "momma", "dadda", "HI" and "Nannannan" for nana I guess! He is crawling all over the place and pulling up that I won't be shocked if he starts walking soon... he is standing with little help. Every time we take him in she praises us for such a good job. We had a lady come up to us last week while having dinner out and she said to us "I have watched you guys for a few minutes now and you can tell how much he is loved"... we shared with her how long we waited for him. She then said "I can see that your a wonderful mommy". I was so blessed by that! It is awesome when your mom praises you, a friend and even more precious when your husband tells you how proud he is of you and thankful for all you do but it is really something sweet when someone else notices. I thank God for being a mommy!

Jeremy is still preaching and we are seeing souls saved. The mission trip to the Indian tribe went very well. I am not sure of the exact count of how many were saved. They were able to make many repairs to the church and they passed out hundreds of bibles. He will begin preparing for the 2008 mission in January.

We leave for Florida for a revival there next week. Piercen and I haven't traveled in a month or so because everything has been local. I am excited as we will be visiting Panama City beach while we are there. Jeremy and I celebrated our 9th anniversary on Wednesday so we are leaving a few days early. I thank God for my wonderful husband.... he is amazing.

I've posted a picture of Piercen and Jeremy 'wrestling'... its so cute! Piercen is no sissy that is for sure. Some times mommy has to remind him I am mommy not daddy! The other pictures is how he decide to help mommy with the laundry but dumping it all out after being folded and ready to put away.. he was SO proud. If he only knew hahaha!

Can't wait to hear from you. Kristina, love all the pics you post.. your boys are precious. Veronica, so thankful God is answering prayers for you and your family.. glad we can keep in touch and Amanda, I'm still reading.... funny how I can relate to alot of what you write.

much love

School Supplies.... Backpacks....Mission!!!!

2007-08-10T21:22:00.000-07:00

Well this is the week! Jeremy is in MN on the Indian reservation for the mission trip. It has been alot of planning, hard work, spiritual battles but it is always worth it. Please pray for them as they make repairs to homes, feed hot meals, teach lessons to the children daily, hand out bibles and backpacks to the children stuffed full of school supplies .... Jeremy will also be preaching nightly.

I wanted to post a few pictures of us stufing backpacks... our new project this year!!!! The best part about it this year, Piercen was a part of it all. Even if just a small precious part he WILL really understand all about it some day !*!*! He may not of known what was taking place or see the faces of the children as they open the backpacks this year with excitement to have their very own glue, crayons, paper and other supplies but some day he will get to experience this.

Thank you for your prayers!!! I hope things will settle soon .... while Jeremy is in MN I am packing!!! We are moving and are so excited. The lady just finished painting so I can't wait to get in and share pictures!!!

Life...

2007-07-28T21:14:00.000-07:00

is so busy! Having a little boy around makes it even busier but SO much fun! I find myself singing, laughing, praying, playing, singing, laughing, praying, playing and so forth all day long! Piercen is such a joy! I can't believe it has been 7 months! It seems like yesterday to me that I was waiting to be taken to the C-Section area! I do not honestly know what we ever did without this little guy in our lives.

Isn't he precious! wE hAVe TWO tEEtH NoW~I wanted to share a few pictures with you that were taken this week. I have heard all of my life that there is nothing like having a baby boy. I have also heard that a mother holds her son for a while but his heart forever! I believe that is SO true. God has blessed me with a precious boy!

I pray you are all doing well.... thanks for keeping in touch with me all of this time!

I'm here

2007-07-05T20:01:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone. I am here.... I have been so busy it isn't even funny... My little brother got married and it was a fun time.... very beautiful. It kept us busy for a week or two. Shortly after, Piercen and I were gone for 21 days with Jeremy on the road. We had such a wonderful time. We were in revival for the most part of that but for a week of it we were on vacation. I had a great time seeing beautiful Niagra Falls. If you haven't been there you have got to visit. It's amazing. Piercen did wonderful traveling and he loved to look at everything.

Piercen is growing like a weed. I can't beleive he is now 6 months old. I am floored at how time flies and I wish it could stand still for just a short time. I am watching him grow into an adorable little person.He has two teeth. I love how he expresses himself, he loves the swimming pool, says "MaMa" and kinda waves bye bye! It is precious....

After being on vacation we decided we needed to just RELAX and we didn't do that even once in those 21 days believe it or not. My parents met up with us after revival and so we were on the go the entire time. Needless to say we decided we would take off Monday and go to Branson for three days. We received a phone call Monday night that daddy was being taken to the ER. It was his heart once again. He had to have two more stints placed and the one they put in just 9 months ago in October had collapsed. It was creating a great deal of pain and he almost had another heart attack. He said he could feel it all coming on. Praise the Lord once again he came on the sceene and took care of it all. He is already home and doing well. I've spent some time on me knees and God has shown me once again how blessed I really am.

I hope this finds you all doing well and I hope you guys had a Happy 4th of July. We ate dinner at my parents and mom and dad then relaxed as all of us kids headed to watch some fireworks. Piercen loved it. He was used to the noise because in Niagra they do fireworks over the falls every night. It is something! He loved them lastnight and I am not sure he thought it lasted long enough. I was going to upload a picture and I can't find me cord but I will do some others that are already loaded in the computer.

Sorry for being such a bad blogger but I am telling you life is busy around our house. I think of you and pray for you guys. Veronica, I am not a stranger :0), Kristina, I can't wait to see pics of Levi, Gwen, I think of you often and I hope you are doing good... Chelle, ***COME HOME** Sarah, I am praying for you.

I'll try to do better at keeping in touch.

The Lord is good...

2007-06-01T11:05:00.000-07:00

I hope this finds you all doing well... I am still here! I guess the only time I find time to sit down and write is when my baby, Jeremy or I one is sick! You got it! I tell you --- I guess we don't wash off enough of the fellowship from church off of our hands!! Ha Ha! I have been sick for several days.... It started when I woke up hot and then it turned into sinus junk! I haven't felt well in days. Jeremy has problems off and on anyway with his throat because he uses his vocal cords so much anyway preaching but this weather is something else in AR. Hot and humid one day, Raining and cold the next. You just never know.. My baby is coughing, sneezing, running a low grade temp. I took him in today and he has a cold virus. Sad part, we were supposed to leave town tomorrow morning for three weeks.Jeremy is in a campmeeting in Alabama this next week starting on Sunday. We leave there on Thursday of next week and go to Ohio for 9 days where he will preach another campmeeting. Once leaving Ohio we are going on vacation to Niagra Falls and Maine. My parents are coming to Ohio for the last part of our services there and then going on vacation with us. I am so excited. Just praying for the Lord to heal our bodies.

My baby is getting so big. He is now 16 lbs and 6 oz... he is 27 inches long! He is precious ??? Haven't I said that before a million times ??? He is !!! I never knew what being a mommy was like but he has my heart let me tell you !! God has been so good to us. Piercen is such a joy! Believe it or not he is babbling mommy, rolling over, adores his bath, loves slobber all over his piggies, and never meets a stranger! Anywhere we go people are telling us how beautiful he is. It makes a mommy so proud! We were out eating the other day and a lady walks up to us as I am holding him sitting with Jeremy talking and says to us "He is your first isn't he?" I replied "Yes Maam he is".... she said "I can tell by the glow on your face and the joy you express!" It made my heart smile! Not only do I know the love we have for him, he knows the love we have for him and others can see it as well. This made me think of how Christ wants us to feel about him. He loves us so as we do him when he is in our hearts. We should be so full of joy that we over flow so that others can see the one who lives within us! Every day I am reminded of the love he has for his children. I never understood his love in its entirety until having Piercen. I believe that all things work together for the good of those who love the Lord. My heavenly father waited to give me a son until he knew I was ready. Until my heart was ready to accept all that he had for me in this journey of motherhood. I am telling you, my heart is overflowing! My father loves me THIS much ? YES he sure does!

While I am bragging on God, I'd like to share what the Lord did for our family this week. My husband is an evangelist as you all know so he travels alot. For the most part he flies alot but he also drives alot of miles. His car has really been racking up the miles the busier he is. We always drive his car to minister because we know that come the end of the year it is nothing to put 65,000 plus on a car! He was hitting 300,000 and would have exceeded 75,000 this year easily. His car was in decent condition but we knew we were going to need do purchase another one shortly. The prissy thing I am I wanted an SUV badly but God had other plans. We began to pray about it and it wasn't a week before he delt with us that we couldn't go into debt. I have my car which is in excellent condition and I love my Impala and it is almost paid for and that is the way the Lord wants us to live - debt free! We have found over the years that being in the will of God is much greater than any desire of our heart. Especially materialistic! God gave us a van this week! Yes he did.. it has 60,000 miles on it. A 2003 Astro. Its so pretty and its paid for!!! A man from KS obeyed the Lord when he asked him to purchase this van for us. It has so much room and its perfect. I am telling you, I can't brag on the Lord enough! He has been so good to me. If he never answered another prayer, if he never healed another sickness I have, if he never did another thing for me -- he has been so good to me I better continue to serve him with everything I have!

I was blessed to be able to spend a night out with my girlfriends last weekend. I really try to do this once a month. I have been friends with these girls since school and its such a blessing to me to still have them in my FRONT ROW! I heard Amanda say that one time and I loved it! I have some of the greatest friends ever. I am a firm believer than qaulity is far better than qauntity. My friends are my jewels!

I pray that you are all doing well and your families are happy and healthy!! I've been reading your blogs from time to time.. I haven't forgotten you! I've not been online alot to blog but please forgive me. I am literally trying to soak up life like a sponge and I don't want to miss a second with my baby boy. He is growing fast right before my eyes!God bless you my friends! The Lord is good!

Finally... time to post!

2007-05-06T17:22:00.000-07:00

I am sorry that I haven't been online much. Traveling with a new baby and staying so busy keeps me off the computer alot these days. Our baby boy is getting so big... this week he has had the CHICKEN POX ! Yes, you got it. Four months old. I have no idea where he got them but my expression this week is " OH MY, THEY'RE EVEYWHERE, THEY'RE EVERYWHERE".... I counted them each night believe it or not. I haven't counted today but I am pretty sure there aren't any new breakouts today. I have my brothers wedding next weekend so I sure hope they are all gone. Fat chance I am sure they will be totally cleared up. I have already got it figured out though. He will have to wear pants AND a hat! Hee Hee! We will be taking lots and lots of pictures.

I finally made my way around the blog world today. I hope that I didn't leave anyone out. Not only did I read and catch up on what has been going on with everyone but I also commented and I was excited to have the time. Seems that everyone is doing well and I am thankful for that. Veronica, once again I am so sorry about your mom. Be comforted in knowing that you know where she is and praise God you are going to be there with her some day.

I hated to miss church services today!!! Jeremy is in OK today where he started a revival. Thank the Lord it is close enough (2 1/2 hrs away)that he will come home tonight and then just drive out Mon-Wed for services. He is such a HUGE help to me. I feel wonderful - he is coming home to a SPOTLESS house and ALL the laundry is done. I am such a neat freak... its pretty anal actually. Are any of you that way ??? Jeremy normally watches the baby each week for me to clean so I can just get it all done OR we wait til Piercen is napping and we do it all really fast. Piercen has been sleeping alot today so its all finished! Every woman should feel this way but I tell you, I have got the best husband anyone could ask for and he is MINE! He is just precious. I am so proud of him. His faith, his obedience, his zeal, and his compassion are a gift from the Lord. He loves like no one I have ever met. Not just his family but he just loves... an unconditional love. When I see him with those in the altar or talking with someone after church I am touched at how the Lord has blessed him. I read alot of blogs about being real and not fake -- believe me, we do not have a perfect marriage... if there are any faults I am sure most of them are me but I do have an amazing marriage, an amazing family and I am so blessed. I've realized a long time ago that God must be the center of it all. Oh and I must not forget out little saying "Praise the Positive and Pray for the Negative".

On a lighter note, pray for me... I get brain overload. I think way TOO much! God has answered my prayer regarding the insurance coverage for Piercen. Now Jeremy and I are applying for major medical insurance. When I begin to think I begin to fear. Even as I know fear is not from the Lord it is a huge fault of mine.

I hope you enjoy the new slide show. These are several pictures I have taken over the past several weeks. I threw in only may favorites ... I am constantly snapping pictures. They are my most prizes material possessions. You guys all have a blessed week. I love you all and pray for you often!

Piercen...

2007-04-18T21:31:00.000-07:00

I have been trying to post for several weeks now but I am not sure there are ever enough hours in the day. I have been reading blogs, trying to keep up with my email and myspace but there is never enough time to sit down and write. I am sure I have lost several of my readers by now. I hate it but at the same time my baby is my first priority.

God has been blessing our socks off! He has seen so good to us and continues to answer our prayers. Since quitting my job our finances have been better than they ever have. This last weekend I was able to go to Lane Bryant and buy new clothes. I had a blast and I was able to buy two sizes smaller. YEAH! I don't know if it is like this for anyone else but my weight fluctuates so much. I am trying to loose as much as possible and it seems to be working because my sugar is doing wonderful and I am taking NOTHING for it. Please keep praying for us because we are trying to get some major medical insurance. Every time I start to worry about it I just remind myself that God has told me "Trust ME". He has taught me so much since becoming pregnant with Piercen. It's been the greatest journey and one I have learned the most from.

As I read other blogs I am so encouraged how the Lord is not only working in our lives but in the lives of you as well. Amanda and her husband Jeremy have answered the call that God has placed upon them at this present time. If you get a chance take a look at Amanda's blog and pray for them as they are planting a church and working in Austin!

I know what it is like to give up what is comfortable and answer the call to minister. It isn't always easy not sleeping in my own bed. It isn't always easy sharing my husbands time with others, it isn't always easy being away from home as much as we are but nothing is more precious than being in the center of Gods perfect will. Jeremy is an evangelist and THIS is what God has called me to do --- being his wife, being a mommy and being obedient to the call on my life. I remember just a few weeks ago I leaned over and said "Jeremy, what is my ministry right now?" It was 5 minutes later that the Lord directed me to make two phone calls to two of the girls who had been on my heart. Needless to say I was reminded then of my ministry. God has a way of speaking some times doesn't he ???? Pray for us as we travel. I have traveling with Jeremy about 75% of the time. Being in church several nights a week is such a blessing. Just last week a lady who had been sick with arthritus for 5 years and could not hold her hands above her head was healed and I was able to witness the Lord and his healing in that lady but at the same time the nights to get long and tiring at times. I know you guys pray for us and it means alot. God always knows what we need!

Piercen is getting so big. He will be 4 months old this month on the 28th. I could never put into words what a blessing he has been in our lives. I am speechless. I stand in awe at the goodness of the Lord. I feel so unworthy to be so happy! When I hold his tiny little hand in mine I am reminded that he is watching everything I say and do. We had his baby dedication on April 1st. Jeremy and I had already dedicated our sweet son to the Lord before he was even born yet we had the dedication and it is a reminder of our committment to both Piercen and the Lord. Piercen has been sleeping thru the night since he was 7 weeks old but we now have a set schedule every day. We did this about 6 weeks ago. I hate to admit it but I have kept him beside our bed in his basinett but he is outgrowing it. He is going to have to move to his baby bed in his nursery soon! I am going to cry like a baby. He loves to 'talk', LOVES bath time, loves to ride in the car, ADORES music, and I can't wait to find out what he weighs and how much he has grown. He has noticed his toes now, likes to look at himself in the mirror, chuckles outloud and HATES being on his tummy! I make him have tummy time but he can't stand it. He doesn't meet a stranger and that scares me hee hee ! He is so laid back and easy going... I know he gets that from his daddy.

We just thank God for our little guy and just pray for health and happiness every day. I realize I have to TRUST HIM in everything. Being a mommy is a huge ministry to me. I know I am not perfect but I sure hope in all things I can point him to Jesus. That is my daily prayer. In changing his diaper I am teaching him something, In putting away my dishes I am teaching him something, in checking the mail I am teaching him something. He needs to see Jesus in my walk, in my talk, and in our play. We as mommy and daddy get one time to raise our children! Oh what a calling he has given us! You pray for me and I am praying for you!

Veronica, if your reading this I love you! I have been thinking of you and I am sorry I haven't contacted you. I am trying to adjust to traveling with a baby. Amanda, I am reading! I am praying! Just be YOU in all things!!! You have an awesome ministry!!! Gwen, thank you for always reading -- you always bless me and bring a smile to my face. I am praying for you and your family always! Michelle --- your the best and I love you! Thank you for being here always and for all your love and support. I love you girls!!

Amanda, this is for you!

2007-04-17T21:29:00.000-07:00

Wow has time flown! I have finally been able to sit down and load weeks worth of pictures into the computer. I wanted to post this one picture of Easter tonight while I hope to create a slide show soon so I can share others with you. This is Piercen and his little friend Meg on Easter Sunday. Piercen and Meg are six weeks apart. Aren't they just adorable!?!?! I think so!!!

I will post new pics soon. Amanda, you asked for a picture so here ya go.

Our boys are growing up way too fast!

Piercen and I...

2007-03-22T21:10:00.000-07:00

I wanted to post a new picture of Piercen and I... I finally figured out all the quirks that were going on with my blog and fixed them. Problem is, now I do not have time to sit and write my blog that I have been patiently waiting to do.

I love this new picture of Piercen and I... Isn't he just adorable ???? Can you tell I am such a proud mommy !!!!!!!??????!!!!!!!I took him to take some snap shots and he was so good. He is laughing all the time now and is 12 weeks old today. I can't wait to find out what he is weighing.

God is good... ALL the time.... I can't wait to share with you what he has been doing in our lives. Prayer after Prayer he is answering... thank you to my friends to who have been praying for me! I love you guys.

I am going on our first trip this weekend with Jeremy. He is in revival which begins in OK on Sunday. Piercen loves his car seat so the ride will not be a problem. I hope he adjusts well to being in a different place. His daddy is really excited we are going to be traveling full time. We just pray he loves it as much as he does!

Have a great weekend!

HEY !!!

2007-03-18T13:11:00.000-07:00

Just wanted to let everyone know I am having some problems with my blog for some reason. I am going to take some time to sit down tonight after church and fix what is going on. I have tried but haven't had enough time to take care of it... I will write soon as I get it fixed. Sorry I have been missing in action. Please don't give up on me - I will write ASAP! I have a TON to tell !!

Happy Valentines Day my friends....

2007-02-14T18:45:00.000-08:00

Just wanted to post a picture of our little guy and wish you all a Happy Valentines Day!! He is growing so fast! I went back to the doctor yesterday and am supposed to return to work on March 5th! I am praying that God will answer our prayer and allow me to stay at home with Piercen so we can travel with Jeremy! I would appreciate all of your prayers! I will post again soon! Hope everyone is doing well! I pray that you had a wonderful Valentines Day! And remember... God is LOVE!

How about those COLTS!!!

2007-02-05T17:21:00.000-08:00

Hey everyone! I hope this post finds you all doing well and a start to a good week. We have alot going on this week with a few visitors coming to see us! It was so pretty here today I cleaned my car and tomorrow we are cleaning this house from top to bottom and I should have picked a different day to do that as well because it is supposed to be 56' here! WOW talk about heat wave! Just a few updated pictures to share with you of our little guy. You know me, I am taking all the pictures that I possibly can. Piercen will be 6 weeks old on Thursday and it seems so impossible. He is growing so fast and changes every day. Jeremy said this morning to me "I think he gained weight overnight!" I believe it!!! He loves his bath time and I love these pictures of him....

Last night before our super bowl party I took these two pictures of him! Needless to say he cheered on the COLTS with his daddy and the rest of the gang! We had alot of fun but don't you always when your teams wins ?!?!?!?!?

Have a great week - hopefully one of these days I will have enough time to sit and write something spiritual on my blog. Right now when God speaks I have just time to take it all in and digest it - I need to find some time to share because I have learned if you want him to speak have a baby! I hav found since being pregnant he has used this entire experience to change my life!

Love to you all !!!

Isn't he just precious!!! I think so!!!

.....such a time as THIS!

2007-01-28T19:39:00.000-08:00

Where on earth does the time go? I can not believe it has been a month since I gave birth to this adorable little guy of mine. Yesterday he was a month old and it seems so impossible. As most of you know my husband is a full time evangelist. He travels doing revivals, youth retreats, mission trips, summer camps and fills in for a lot of pastors while they are on vacation and various other things. The past 6 weeks he has been home with me and it has been such a blessing! Some of you might say how on earth can you afford that --- God always meets our needs above and beyond. He is such a great God. Piercen isn’t able to be in the public so we have been at home bonding with him. Jeremy, I want you to know how much I love you. You are the perfect husband and daddy. God has created such a Godly man and I am thankful for you! You continue to bless my heart beyond measure. The past month has been a treasure. You have helped me in so many ways and I am forever thankful. Thank you for making this time so much easier and enjoyable for me during all the adjustments. I do realize just how blessed I am!!! Two is always better than one - I love being a team! :)

Piercen is growing so fast! When he was born he weighed 7 lbs and 11 oz 19 ¾ in long. With him having jondis his weight was affected greatly. He would gain then loose, gain then loose. W hen we left the hosptial to bring him home he weighed 7 lbs 3 oz. Weight loss is common but after being home a week he had only gained a ½ oz. We had his four week check up on Wednesday and he now weighs 8 lbs and 8 oz…. He is now 21 ½ in long. He is growing perfectly and gaining weight as he should. We are so excited! His pediatrician said he is perfect, just perfect. I could have already told her that! Piercen has decided he likes to be awake most of the night and sleep during the day but his daddy & I keep telling him that we hope that he changes his mind about this really quick! Funny thing is when he does sleep at night it is for 5 hrs!!! We keep praying this becomes a habbit! He still has both a head full of hair & those long eyelashes mommy prayed for. Everyone loves his little chubby cheeks and his eyes are blue, blue, blue! Maybe they will stay that way!!!! He loves to sleep on his boppy, loves his swing and LOVES to cuddle!! I love that! :) Believe me or not... last Thursday he smiled for the 1st time and it was NOT gas!

This past month has brought so many smiles and yet so many tears! I find myself crying as much as I smile and laugh. God amazes me – I am sSsSoOoO overwhelmed with great JOY! I can’t get over it! And I believe it will be something I will never ever get over! I stand in Ahhh at how he has blessed us with this little boy. We prayed for years for a baby yet I had no idea why he chose to wait until such a time as THIS to send him. I do know it could never be a more perfect time. Before I couldn’t understand why it never happened and now I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that it doesn’t matter why and THIS timing is perfect no matter what I thought before. That is how our God is, his timing is always perfect. I have to admit it – I’ve been sad too! I’ve had so many experiences this month that I won’t ever have again. I’ve had a hard time accepting I won’t ever feel Piercen kick inside my tummy or get the hickups, I won’t ever experience his BIRTH day, the first time they placed him in my arms, the moment I heard him cry, the first time I changed his diaper, the moment we walked thru our door & he was finally at home with us as a family. Yes, call me crazy but a part of my heart is sad. I will never experience those moments with him again! I just pause and thank God for this past month and all it means to me… I have memories that I will forever treasure in my heart! I think I finally get it…it is just now that I understand the love our heavenly father has for his children.
I smile and tear up as I look forward to our future --- the first time he rolls over, sits up, crawls, says his first word, his first step --- ALL the many times we will experience together as a family. I pray for guidance and wisdom as we raise him in the ways of the Lord (Proverbs 22:6).

I’m not sure if you have heard the song "Find your wings" <<<<by Mark Harris but it is my song to Piercen. I pray that my love will always give him roots! I pray that all I say and do points him to Christ. Pray for me! I’m going to be one of those SsSsIiIiLlLlYYY moms! Yes, the one you see screaming "I LOVE YOU" as he gets out of the car as he walks away with his friends! I am so in love, LOVE, love. Have I told you how adorable, precious, sweet, beautiful and perfect he is?!?!?!? He is all of those things and more. If you think I am proud I sure am and if you have children you should be to! We are taking his first month pictures and some family pictures some time this week so I will post them later this week!

View Show Create Your Own

Slide Show..

2007-01-22T19:45:00.000-08:00

Here is a new slide show of the pictures that Jeremy and I took of Piercen this last week when he was three weeks old on Thursday. Call me crazy if you will but I am taking pictures like crazy each week... and sometimes.... daily! He is growing so fast and changing so much. Where on earth does time go? He is a sweet, sweet boy and he is so laid back. I know of course he gets that from his daddy. I am going to scan a picture of Jeremy and I both when we were babies. You will see how much he looks exactly like me yet how much he looks like his daddy as well! Needless to say I never ever knew life could be so precious and I am so thankful God has given him to us. I am SOOOOOO in love!!!

| View Show | Create Your Own

No mattter what.....

2007-01-12T17:53:00.000-08:00

My son has to sleep at the end of the bassinet!

Doesn't matter how comfortable I make him he has to have his feet tuckeed in

and in the fetal position to be able to sleep! He gets to the very end and sleeps

every time! I guess now we know exactly how he was in my tummy!!

Explains why he was breech and never turned!!!

Side Show

2007-01-08T20:09:00.000-08:00

Create Your Own

Some of you have been asking about the baby so I was going to share these pictures and our experience with you! I got the slide show idea from Amanda. Thanks girl!!!

As most of you know my doctor put me on best rest just a short time before Christmas due to my blood pressure. I spent the holidays in bed but it wasn't a bad deal ----I was waited on hand and foot. My husband is the greatest guy in the world! Thank you honey for always taking good care of me! Michelle came over and we exchanged our Christmas gifts and then Machele and Amy came and brought Jeremy& I such YUMMY food! My family came on Christmas eve and I opened all my gifts with them from the couch but the blessing was just being with them!

On the 27th I went to my regularly scheduled weekly appointments and my bp was still elevated. My dr was on call the next day and was going to be gone several days. We did an ultrasound and made sure Piercen was okay and decided to schedule the C Section for the next day! We called all of our family and friends as we headed up the elevator to check in..... Piercen was born December 28th at 11:08 am and weighed 7lbs and 11 oz and was 19 3/4 in long.

The C Section was a breeze! I met all of the OR team and we prayed before surgery. All the stories I was told weren't true or alteast not for me. It was wonderful and I have healed marvelously. Our baby boy has a head full of dark hair that his mommy prayed for, long eye lashes just like his daddy and LIPS that are beautiful and good for lots of smoochies from mommy and daddy! We had a host of family and friends to share our joy and I feel so blessed.
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Piercen had jondis so we had to stay a few (sigh) extra days in the hospital. He had a problem with feeding because of the jondis so he lost 4 oz one day. We sent out prayer chains and he made a huge turn around within 24 hrs. I made the nurses crack up -- who would have ever thought my baby boy would have a problem with feedings?!?!? He was just not feeling well but since being home he has more than made up for it! We have a check up on Wednesday to see how his weight is. We know everything is perfect!

We came home on Friday and are adjusting well. Daddy and I are learning to get 8 hrs of sleep one hour at a time!! Ha Ha!! Thank goodness he is home for several weeks and is such a huge help. He gets up for every feeding, every diaper change and doesn't miss a thing! We have had the best few days bonding as a family with our brand new baby boy. I never knew life could be so precious. Last night at 1 am we changed a diaper and used 4 diapers before we got it done! We had pee pee everywhere! I just sat and cracked up. We laughed for an hour! You would think with the both of us it would have been done alot faster! :0) Piercen got us both (good)!

Hey, by the way, I have a bone to pick with some of you!!! How come all you moms and all my friends never told me anything about those raging hormones!!! Hot/Cold, Happy/Sad, Tired/Energy and so forth! Thank the Lord they don't last! I feel like an old lady with these hot flashes! Hee Hee!! And they say this goes away! YEAH get it gone!

Well, I could go on and on... I haven't blogged and the last few times I have I just tried to post some pics real fast. I am learning to do things in shifts! :0) Speaking of - he is awake. Perfect timing. Have a great night everyone!

It has already been a week~

2007-01-06T13:53:00.000-08:00

I can not believe how time has flown. Maybe it feels this way because we were only able to come home yesterday but I can't believe it!

We had to get a picture of Piercen in his Razorback hat! I love it! Daddy thought it was awesome too! He has already been introduced to the Razorbacks - even though they lost the Capital One bowl game!

Pictures to share

2007-01-06T13:39:00.000-08:00

~me and my daddy~
~snuggling with my mommy~
~I love my hands~

Introducing our little guy....

2007-01-05T19:50:00.000-08:00

Piercen Kennedy Howell

Born December 28, 2006 at 11:08 am

7 lbs 11 oz 19 3/4"

Mommy, Daddy and baby are doing wonderful....it was a whirlwind of a week! I did just wonderful but we had to stay in the hospital until today. Piercen got jondis and we were able to come home finally today. He is happy, heatlhy and doing wonderful. Mommy got the baby blues -finally doing so much better. I was SO worried about my little guy that I was just beside myself. Thank God he is doing wonderful. We rang in the new year snuggling as a family and it was the greatest feeling in the world. Jeremy & I are both in love like never before. I never knew how much my life would change. God is so good! If we can get some sleep we will shout! Ha Ha! I plan to post more pictures in the next few days! Hope everyone is doing well!

A special Christmas message.....

2006-12-24T22:02:00.000-08:00

From my family to yours -

Merry Christmas, Chelle!

Thank you for being such a great friend and for being here for me this past year. Alot has taken place in my life this year. It has been a tough year in some ways and yet it has been the best year of my life. I am so thankful for your friendship. Most of all thank you for being there for me when my dad had his heart attack and during my pregnancy. Thank you for every phone call, email, card and time you have invested being part of it all. I can't wait for Piercen to get here and for you to meet him!

I pray you have a blessed Christmas and a Happy New year....

love,
Chris~

Already Christmas from my couch....

2006-12-22T13:50:00.000-08:00

YES! You got it.... I have already been having Christmas from my couch! I went to the doctor on yesterday and I get to spend the next few days *sounds better than two weeks hee hee* at home. He took me off work on Monday afternoon and I went back Thursday for a check up..... I am doing ok... bp is still somewhat elevated but it is good when I am relaxing so I choose to keep our little guy in and do Christmas from my couch! I did loose one pound of the 4 of fluid so I was proud of that. I know that what I am doing is working even though the swelling doesn't make me think so! It is so much better though! I am scheduled for our C Section on January 5th which is two weeks from today. We are so excited. I know some may say a C Section isn't the best choice because of the healing process but it has a few positives too. The most important is that Piercen is breech! He may or may not turn in two weeks.... we are excited too that we have a date set and everyone can be there. That is really important to Jeremy & I both. We have such wonderful family & friends and most of them will be there! We have prayed about it for 36 weeks now and know that our son will come the way and time God has planned. That is the blessing.....

So Christmas from my couch it is - I look at my tree and decorations and remind myself that this time in two weeks I will be the happiest mommy in the world (AND pray my bp is okay so I can lay on my moms couch on Christmas eve!). We have had some friends over already and its been entertaining ... I get to sit and do nothing -unwrap gifts and be waited on. WOW..... now I know how the children feel all over again! I had forgotten... thank you to my husband who has even had to finish up some of my last minute shopping! Lord only knows why this year I waited. I am normally done weeks before and this year I am pregnant and wasn't even close until recently. Jeremy is loving Wal-Mart since he has been there every day for me the past three days. And yes, that is a joke! A joke he is loving it, not a joke he has been there SO much!

Michelle, I know at some point you will be reading this. I just want to say I love you! You blessed me today and I am so humbled at your heart..... I realize just where God has brought us from and how he has blessed me beyond measure having a friend in you. Thank you for what you mean to me. You are a gift from him!

36 weeks Friday..

2006-12-19T19:15:00.000-08:00

Well it is official.. I am off work and at home! I went to the doctor on Monday and I will be 36 weeks on Friday... I am on bedrest and return to see him on Thursday! My blood pressure was slightly elevated and I am retaining some fluid. Piercen is still breech so we scheduled my c section for January 5th. I have 16 days to go and I have to take it easy. I am just praying that this rest will help! I was a little discouraged as I left the office to have things stacked against me my entire pregnancy and get this far and this happen when indeed its been such a blessing! I know and trust the Lord knows exactly what he is doing.

My husband ---- WOW! He is so amazing... He is finishing my last min shopping and taking care of me. I am so blessed. You should feel the same about yours too but as I always say he is best guy in the world! We are both so excited to meet our son but want to make sure I try my best to get to 38 weeks.... pray for us! I appreciate all the emails, packages and gift for Piercen. You guys are all such a blessing to us! I hope you have a blessed Christmas. I am going to get to sit back, relax and just take it all in.

35 weeks and ECSTATIC.....

2006-12-13T19:15:00.000-08:00

What a journey it has been... We have been married for eight years and it isn't going to be long until the birth of our son. God has been so good to us and we are thankful for every single day of this journey. Who would have ever thought ! I've dreamed of it and wondered what it would really be like but I never imagined it would be this wonderful ! I am thankful for every doctors appointment, every ultrasound, every sleepless night, every insulin shot, every bit of it!

We had our 4d ultrasound today and it was something! He has the chubbiest cheeks and looks alot like his daddy. I can honestly say I have seen several of these and most of them do really reveal alot of features of the baby. The only thing I could tell he had of mine was my lips! They said he is measuring 5 lbs and 11 oz. All in all he could be 5 lb 3 oz or as big as 6 lbs and 1 oz. I have known them to be off on a few babies who have been born recently so we will see! I still can't get over the cheeks! I was going to post a picture and Jeremy was unable to get those scanned because we ran out of time. I will try and post a few later. Piercen is breech as of right now and we hope he will turn in the next week. Everything looked good and we will see the doctor again on Monday for our weekly appointment and to see what he thinks in terms of c section or ???

Here are some pictures we had made two weeks ago. I have to say I am very proud of them! I think they will be something I will treasure forever!

33 weeks!
I love you Jeremy! You are going to be the best daddy in the whole world!
Jeremiah 1:5
This is our favorite!
We love you Piercen Kennedy!

I am still alive...

2006-12-04T18:33:00.000-08:00

I really am! It has ben CrAzZZzY around here! Thank you for your emails and for the 'few' comments some of you have left. I am horrible lately at blogging... I am really going to try and be better. I wanted to update everyone on what has been going on and it is always so much easier from my blog rather than several emails! I hope to have my husband scan the rest of my pictures from our showers and such this week so I can get some picturs on here for everyone to see. I have had four showers and we are winding down to the last weeks before our little guys arrival.... we are ECSTATIC!

Since my last post my dad is doing really well. Thank you for the emails and most of all --- your prayers. He does have two blockages but there is blood flow and the medication is working. There isn't a need for surgery at this time. At first I was a little scared. One, I was afriad he'd have to have it done and would be recovering right at Piercen was born. Two, I was afraid if they didn't do it now and just fix the problem he may have another attack. I learned real quick that God is in control and I can't worry. He took care of him when he had his heart attack and he is taking care of him now. He is the same God as yesterday! The human in me has to remind myself of this from time to time. My mom has been such a trooper in all of this... she has taken such good care of him. Anyone who knows my dad --- knows my dad. Ha Ha! He is now exercising every day and eating right. He isn't a big guy at all and never has been but something else we have learned. Your health isn't only affected by your build and weight. You can be 5'3 and 150 and still be unhealthy. You gotta take care of yourself. With this and all the weight I have lost being pregnant I can't wait to get on the ball once Piercen is born.

It is that time of year! Christmas parties, Christmas dinners, Christmas caroling, Christmas plays, and before you know it -- Christmas eve and Christmas day! It all starts this week heavy for Jeremy & I. And did I mention Childbirth class, doctors appointments, preparing for these last few weeks befor the baby -- OH and work ... I am still working! I almost forgot about that. I will be 34 weeks on Saturday and we have our 4D ultrasound on the 13th. So you ladies who have been here and done this --- how do you please everyone? We already tried this the first time when we went to find out what the baby was. Now its the 4D and as much as I'd like to ask several to go Jeremy & I are thinking just having my mom and my dad. It is one of those things that I have thought alot about because it is such a special time. If you have any advice please send it my way... it has been a struggle for me. Honestly, the ones I felt would be by my side really haven't shared much of this time with me. Others I have grown so much closer to. It has been hard to understand at times. I am just trying to be true to myself and not regret any decisions I make. When Jeremy & I found out together on our anniversary that we were having a boy it was priceless! My mom came in as soon as we calmed down from excitement and I was happy to share that with her but you couldn't have paid me for it to be any other way.

Piercen is going to have several play mates. I have been pregnant with about 10 other people from around here and three of them we are really good friends with. Asher was born on Saturday 11/11 (here is his picture) http://www.growingfamily.com/webnursery/babypage_view.asp?URLID=9E0S9I6K7O

and Megan was born on Monday 11/13 (here is her picture)
http://www.growingfamily.com/webnursery/babypage_view.asp?URLID=8C5W0O2E1A

They won't be too far apart and birthday parties wil be lots of fun. Jeremys's sister Erin and her husband Shannon are expecting Trinity Jade any time now and Brian and Carol are having a boy in February and that is exciting too! Babies everywhere!

Hope this post finds you all doing well. I've been praying for you Veronica as I promised. Kristina I have a thank you card ready to mail to you - I didn't forget you! Promise! Thank you again for the gift. Piercen will love it.

~Happy Thanksgiving

2006-11-22T21:07:00.000-08:00

I haven't had a lot of time to post much the past few weeks but I wanted to wish you all a Happy Thanksgiving and I pray that you will be blessed tomorrow as you spend time with your family and friends!

I have so much to be thankful for that if I began to name all of the blessings one by one I'd forget something OR there would be too many to name! God has been good to Jeremy & I this year and to our entire family as a whole. I am most thankful that God is still God, He is still on the throne! Without Him I'd be nothing and I'd have nothing! Thank you Heavenly Father for being who you are and what you mean in my life!

God bless you my friends....

In the midst of it all....

2006-11-12T19:17:00.000-08:00

I am hanging in! I tell you ladies, I have had a rough few weeks but God never ceases to give mercy & grace! He will always give us what we need & exaclty when we need it to make it through the things we face in life.

Since my last post in October it has been a bumpy ride... my dad, brother and uncle went on a huge elk trip to Colorado and had a great time. While there they got both Elk and Cow and brought home what they call 'trophies'. They were both so proud. My dear husband didn't get to go this year with the upcoming birth of Piercen. We weren't sure at the time the trip was booked how I'd do and thank God it has been an amazing pregnancy. Jeremy is really looking foward to next year - they are already planning ahead! If you know anything about those kinds of hunts you know they are scheduled a year in advance!

When dad arrived home in the weeeee hours of the morning he was experiencing alot of pain in his left arm. He was visiting with friends and they just happend to check this bp. Unusual for him - high! His blood pressure is never high! My youngest brother Aaron and my mom took him to the doctor and they checked him out. The dr assured us that it was not his hear - it was a muscle and possible nerve damage. We just assumed the same because he has been on this trip, carried out his cow which weighed several hundred pounds and dad tends to have arthritis anyway. Funny thing --- his arm continued to hurt and the pain began to get really bad over the weekend. On Sunday morning the 29th my brother rushed him to the ER. He arrived while having a heart attack. Thank God the doctor was fast and they got him right in. They were able to adminster medication and get him to tests just in time. I believe with all my heart --- God is always right on time. They were able to take care of the blockage to his main artery with a stint. He was literally in surgery and out in 1 hr! He was monitored in ICU overnight and was released on Monday.

While home recovering he has been very sore and is learning he has to eat alot differently. He still has another blockage on the back side of his heart and it is 80% blocked. We go to the doctor on Tuesday of this week to find out what will happen from here. I have been praying the entire time that the medication would take care of it as alot of times it will because it isn't as serious. If the Lord chooses not to do so with medication he will be looking at another surgery. I pray that isn't the road we take but I know it is in the hands of God. Please pray for my dad - he is a pastor of our local church and he it it taking a toll on him spirtitually ... he so wants to preach. Not only that but anyone who knows him knows my dad has a heart of gold..... those people aren't just his church members -- they are family! We will know more after Tuesday how long he will not be able to preach. All I know is when it is his time to go back he will have both barrells loaded !! My mom has been the trooper I tell you --- she too has her sunday school class and does children's church so missing out is hard on her. She is taking such good care of him and making sure he is doing everything he should. She deserves a metal of honor I tell you! Jeremy has been extremely busy filling in for my dad. This is his slowest traveling time of the year especially with the holidays (Nov-Feb) and with Piercen coming! Pray for him - he isn't a pastor that is for sure but he is doing a great job and it takes a huge burden off of my dad knowing he can depend on him and not have to worry that anythign is slacking while he is unable to be there.

Being 30 weeks pregnant I have had some adventure! Stress isn't anything I like. I was just asking Amanda if I had told her lately how much I hate the devil..... I am so thankful God is always one step ahead of him. I would have to say that my pregnancy from the begining has been such a miracle. I have physically been healthier than I have ever been and being diabetic God has been so good to me. I've had several things since April to strengthen my faith and my walk with the Lord and although I haven't enjoyed the circumstances the lessons has been great blessings. If anything I needed to learn to trust HIM more and realize there may not always been something I can 'see' but I must trust. When they told us Piercen may have spinabifida as a mom I thought the worse but God whispered "Trust ME"... when I got the news dad was having a heart attack I burst into tears and my first reaction "PANIC".... I knew and believed the words "Trust ME"! I may not always know and I may not always see but he does and he does want me to trust him. My circumstances may some times overwhelm me but he knows exactly where I am and what I need. I know and beleive with all my heart he has been preparing me for the last 30 weeks for something........ motherhood. I'd never be able be the mother he would have me to be until I've learned to trust in him completely.... Jesus, I trust you. Regardless of the situation, the outcome, whether it is a good day or a bad day, a smile or a tear, a joy or a sorrow -- I trust you! Thank you for speaking to me!

Baby update -- I have gained one pound. Yes, one! You girls know how important this has been to me... I had lost 33 and gained 6 of it back in one month so I quit the eat out or atleast not every day for lunch. I have lost 5 of that so I am back on target! I am 30 weeks and starting to feel tired. Our little guy is kicking hard - he kicked a book off my tummy the other night! I felt him roll all the way over (I called it the toosie roll) on Tuesday night of this week! I don't know if its a first time mom thing but I write everything down so I can put it in my pregnancy journal. I have had 3 showers the last two weeks and we have gotten so many nice things! I hope to post pictures of them soon! The nursery is well on its way to being finished. I pick up his letters for above his bed this week and hope to get those put up. If we can find curtains we will be good to go other than waiting on more piece of furniture to come in! Once it is all finished I will post pictures! It is adorable I must say!

I wanted to add this picture of Michelle & I. This is her version of 'us' from one of my showers... she cropped it in for me and I love it! We are all smiles! Her birthday was Saturday and I wanted to say "Happy Birthday" to my dear friend. She has been so good to me! She has called me almost daily, made sure everyone knew what was going on with my dad, was a huge part in my shower for all my girlfriends and it turned out great! Yes, in October we had an LUAU! Pics to post of that as well! Michelle, I love you my friend - you bless my heart! OK OK so blogger isn't letting me post my picture! I will try it again!

..:She Shall be Praised:..

Hello 2012 .. Excited to be here!

Holidays at HOME

**Treasures**

The 1st week of the 1st time in PreK

WOW it has been so long ...

Happy Birthday America....

... is there such a thing as slowing down?

Revival...

the sun is shining again ....

We have had a lot of fun ....

Season Change ... there IS an appointed time for EVERYTHING!!!

.... you can't blog your WHOLE life right?!?

Part FIVE of My Year in Review for 2010... November & December

....Part FOUR of My Year in Review for 2010... almost a month later LOL

...part three of My Year in Review for 2010

... part two of my year in revivew for 2010

A year in review for 2010 ...

OH MY WORD

All things memorable ....

Sweet Summer Time

Jeremys Newsletter

Happy Birhday Mema ...

most Easter pictures

Our family at Easter 2010

Our Little Valentine ....

A year in review ... just a tad bit late!!

Look who turned THREE and is SWEET as can be ....

Guess who turned THREE ....

Happy Fall .. my favorite time of the year has just begun...

Summer Fun and Family

Just the two of us...

My handsome boy ...

YEAH Kristina ....

Piercen *AND* potty training....

Blogger & Baby Caleb

Cupcakes AND Deliveries

Happy Valentines Day friends....

Well... I did it...

My baby boy....

I can't believe it is this time of year already...

He is growing so fast...

Isn't it Strange...

Question....

I am not dead... I am really alive. I am!

... what a week

Praying for Gods will....

the SICK bUg, tEEtHinG & MY *fabulous* hubby

Piercen's "FIRST" bIrThDaY party....

Isn't he precious .........

Christmas Photo Shoot....

A letter to Santa from Mommy....

New hair....

I love this time of year...

hAPpy BIrtHdAy SwEEtHEaRt!

God is sOoOoOo GoOooOoD !!

fINaLlY....

9th wedding anniversary and 9 months

Update...

School Supplies.... Backpacks....Mission!!!!

Life...

I'm here

The Lord is good...

Finally... time to post!

Piercen...

Amanda, this is for you!

Piercen and I...

HEY !!!

Happy Valentines Day my friends....

How about those COLTS!!!

.....such a time as THIS!

Slide Show..

No mattter what.....

Side Show

It has already been a week~

Pictures to share

Introducing our little guy....

A special Christmas message.....

Already Christmas from my couch....

36 weeks Friday..

Treasures

Piercen AND potty training....

the SICK bUg, tEEtHinG & MY fabulous hubby