Freedom

John 8:32 "Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."

I've read this verse about 8,432 times. Ok, maybe a few more or less - you get the idea.

It's suppose to be a simple, straightforward verse through which believers find encouragement.

This week in Sunday School, I was challenged to really think about what this means. And...I drew a blank.

Suddenly, it didn't seem so simple.

Then I started thinking.

Life is sometimes hard. Sometimes life is very hard. Sometimes life is so hard that I wonder why Jesus doesn't just hurry up and come get us. Ahem...Lord, if you'd like to come today that'd be a-ok with me!

We just got back from a week of vacation.

Colorado was cold...we wore sweatshirts during the day. Texas is hot...I contemplated going to the grocery store in my underwear only last night.

We had a lot of mail. One nice note from a friend, 5800 bills, 5 bank statements reminding us that we still have to work, and one letter informing us that we were in violation of a city code we didn't even know was a code. Problems....problems that just need solutions...but still problems.

Our kitchen didn't look quite right...almost like someone or something had chewed through the wall. Shortly after that our new dog, Birdie, carried in a dead mouse to present to us. I'm convinced that there are more. I can't live with mice.

After disinfecting everything with bleach...including my husband and son...we hopped in the car to head over to our new house to check things out.

I thought it would be bricked. It's not. I am going to have to try to catch the mice because I have to stay in current house for a few more weeks.

Problems...problems...problems...they are every where.

We have a great life....we have a lot to be thankful for...not the least of which is this new baby that makes my belly swell a little more every day. But despite everything...every single day...we have a new problem to overcome.

And then I come back to that verse.

I always thought the "setting you free" part had to do with eternity. But now I see it differently. Knowing the truth sets me free from every day problems. It sets me free from the worry of how I'm going to pay a bill, catch a mouse, or learn about city codes. It gives me perspective.

And I need perspective.

When I don't have perspective I get worked up...really worked up...ok, I get angry over the little things.

Confession - this past Easter Sunday I got upset because my son got milk all over his cute dress pants that I had picked out for him. I got so frustrated that for a moment I convinced myself that Sunday was ruined because he wasn't going to wear those pants. He'd be the outcast of the nursery...it would be a reflection on my mothering skills. Even as I type this even I can see how insane I became. He's 1 year old...he's probably going to get poop on himself before the end of the day...why in the world was I so concerned about a little milk stain? I needed some perspective. I also needed a good smack upside the head.

I'm thankful today that I don't have to carry the burdens of this life by myself. Running a business is hard - REAL hard - but with the grace of God we can do it. Raising a family is even harder - who cares about bills when you consider the enternity of your children?

You get the idea.

A new Kenley!

Ok, so this pregnant lady is not me. But I will look like that...very soon.

We are having another Kenley! Our second child is due to make his/her appearance this Christmas. We're due on December 24th! What a wonderful surprise this has been for us and we wanted to share it with our friends in the blog world.

I'm 13 weeks along, I think. It's hard to keep up with all of those dates when your chasing around a 16 month old, but I'm pretty sure that's close to the right time. We've had a couple of ultrasounds and doctors visits and the baby is doing wonderful. The last ultrasound we were able to see 10 little fingers waving at us!

This was definately a surprise blessing. Scott and I had our own idea of when we'd be talking about this baby...later this year. :) But a few months ago I started feeling a little icky. I was more tired than normal and I just didn't feel right. So...one day I asked Scott if he'd pick up a pregnancy test on his way home from work. (I have a great husband like that...he'll walk right into Kroger's and buy a pregnancy test without even acknowledging all the weird looks he's getting!) He bought the test...I took it...and then we laughed and cried in our moment of shock.

A couple of bible verses have spoke to me during this time of anticipation.

“…My grace is sufficient for you because my power is made perfect in weakness…” - 2 Cor. 12:9

"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways’, declares the LORD. ‘As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.’” - Isaiah 55:8-9

God's plan is always better than our own and we believe that He chose this exact time to place this child in my womb. We're relying on Him to help us learn how to parent two little blessings!

Physically, I feel great. This pregnancy is so different from Samuel's, as it should be. I feel more secure, less anxious. Couple that with not feeling like I have to eat for a party of 8 all the time and things are going along wonderfully. And while we are still considered a "high risk" pregnancy on paper, I've not had to go to the doctor nearly as often as I did with Sam.

Sam has some idea of what's going on...as much as a 16 month old can. I'll ask him where the baby is and he'll pat my stomach (or sometimes his stomach...we may be a little confused!). I can't wait to see Sam and this new baby together...siblings! I am so thankful that he'll have a playmate close to his own age.

So...when you think of us and pray for us...please begin to pray for baby Kenley.

The puppies are gone!!!!

...except for Birdie. :)

We decided to adopt one of the female pups, so Birdie has found a home with us. I'm going to have to catch her and Sam on the video camera together. They LOVE each other.

Sam can definately say Birdie...so he calls out to her ALL THE TIME! Right now their favorite game is chase and they chase each other all through the house. Birdie, it turns out, is a pretty good babysitter. She kept Sam entertained for close to an hour last night.

Sam love, love, LOVES to tell on Birdie. We were trying to keep Birdie out of one place in the bathroom. So every time she would go there Scott or I would tell her "No." Well, if we weren't in the bathroom and she got into that area Sam would run into our bedroom pointing wilding and screaming Birdie No! Birdie No!

In the mornings I usually have time to shower before Sam wakes up. If he happens to get up early I usually get him a bowl of dry cereal and let him stand near a chair in our bathroom and eat it. This ensures that I can keep an eye on him. This is especially important now that he's learned to climb on top of...well...everything!

This morning Sam woke up at 6 a.m. so I got him some cereal and put him and Birdie in the bathroom with me. I peaked out of the shower to check on him because things got a little too quiet and caught him letting Birdie lick his cheerios before he ate them!!!! (insert gasps, horror here!!!!) lol. I think he'll survive! Those two are going to be good friends, though.

So...welcome to the family, Birdie!!!!

Home

"I love the house where you live, O LORD, the place where your glory dwells."
Psalm 26:8

I need to update our blog and the camera is dead. Big sigh. So, it's charging and I'll add pictures to these updates later today...or tomorrow.

The Kenley house is coming along! It's framed and the roof is complete. Yesterday the electricians and plumbers were there. We added a few more outlets, but other than that everything looked good. It's been so fun to see this house come together. Scott and I have been dreaming about it since we got married and it's neat now to see the actual rooms and be able to picture our family living there. My favorite part of the house right now is the arched doorways. I think they are going to turn out so good!

Building this house has reminded me how fortunate I am for Scott. He's able to think these kinds of things through much better than I am. Yesterday we were at the house and the electricicans were asking about placement of things. I kinda froze. I couldn't envision what they were asking. Scott got it right away. He also speaks contractor lingo, which helps a lot.

Sam loves to be at the house. On Saturday we were putting in a little "sweat equity." We are doing all the clean up on the property to save that money. Sam picked up his little broom and away he went! He also loves to walk through the framed walls. :)

Right now we're on schedule to complete the house by July 28th...so we're looking at moving in the first of August. I need to start packing NOW!!!! :)

Shupe News

It's a GIRL!!!! We are all getting excited to welome Rylie Jo to the Shupe Family. She's expected to arrive November 7th - her Daddy might get an extra special birthday present! :)

Congratulations to Sister and Uncle Barrett on this news today. We are over the top excited!

A funny Sam story

Last night I was putting Sam to bed. It was WAAAYYY past bedtime and we were rocking in his chair.

I felt like I was going to be sick and so I hurried into the bedroom and gave Sam to Scott to hold.

When I went back to the bedroom to get him...he'd jumped onto the bed and rolled himself up in our blanket.

I didn't see him and so I said..."Scott, where's Sam?"

Sam pulled the covers off his face when he heard me and said...

"Boo!"

We all laughed and bedtime got delayed again for the 4, 187th time of the night. :)

The Kenleys are...TIRED

It has been an exhausting couple of weeks. And we are TIRED!!!!

One landscaping company + one 16 month old + 7 adorable chocolate puppies + 2 injured, rushed to the animal ER puppies + one overnight trip to Kansas City + building one house =

TOTAL EXHAUSTION!!!!

We need a break. A big break.

But one is not coming anytime soon.

Thankfully the puppies are all going to their new homes this week. Except for Birdie. She's staying with us. I'll post pictures soon.

The house is going well - we have our walk through tomorrow with the builder. So far things have progressed well and he's doing a great job.

Sam has a TERRIFIC weekend with his Nana and Pops. They took lots of pictures so I'll post some of those tonight. He didn't cry at all when we left him and spent all day Saturday playing with his cousins.

And Scott and I survived our hurried trip to Kansas City. :)

Fall is usually busier for most families, but summer is our crunch time. Scott's been starting his mornings at 4:15 and I should be, but my eyes refuse to open until 6. We have lots to be thankful for right now, but it's hard to think about that when you are just trying to stay awake. :)