Jeremys Newsletter

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 ...

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

My handsome little guy...

The spoons were a HUGE hit!!!

Our family at Easter 2010

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 ....

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

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

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 ....

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 ....

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...

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