A Summer of Pictures

Some nights when I don't feel like cooking we load up and head to the local pizza parlor. Sam loves these nights. It's a small enough place that he can practically roam freely. Typically, there are only one or two families there on the nights we go. He really feels like a big kid when he climbs onto the arcade games!


Sam's first lollipop! He LOVED it! And thanks to the random kid at the next table who kept bringing them to us from the hostess' stand at the restaurant where we were eating, Sam got to enjoy three before his breakfast.


Smiling for the camera.


Just looking adorable.

I'm starting a list

I'm starting a very important list. The list of things I never thought I would say.

Sunday afternoon Sam and I were having lunch together (after a very long and wonderful nap from 12-2....my kid has finally figured out how much his mama needs a Sunday afternoon nap!). Scott had already gone to some friends house and Sam and I were planning to join him after we ate something.

Then it happened...

I looked at my sweet, sweet boy and said...

"Sam, do not put cheese in your ear!"

Who knew that's where shredded cheese was suppose to go?

Baby update: It's a.....

Girl! We are so excited to announce that the next Kenley baby is a girl! Scott and I were super shocked when we went to the ultrasound this past week. From earlier ultrasounds the dr had told us that it was likely a boy, but he was wrong. This baby is definately a girl! :)

Everything looked great on the ultrasound. While it's so exciting to find out the gender, we knew that this would be a big day for our baby - they looked at her heart, kidney's, spine, limbs, and brain. They took measurements and then they took more measurements. Everything was right on track. And we had no reason to fear because we can rest on Psalms 139.

Psalms 139:13
"For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb."

Baby Kenley is on target to arrive December 24th! I wonder if they bring babies born on Christmas to their mamas in stockings from the hospital nursery? :) lol - it's going to be a wonderful Christmas at our house.

This is an extra sweet surprise for us, too. Many of you know that before Samuel we lost two babies to miscarriages. We know that the second baby we lost was a girl. I wondered if I only had sons if I might always think about that daughter and wonder what it might have been like to share that mother/daughter connection. I feel such peace from God...almost like this gift is just a little extra special. You know what I mean? God is good.

Blogging making Titus 2 happen

Weird title, huh?

Check out the Bacak Nation blog today. The link is listed as one of my favorite blogs to read. The writer is talking about Deuteronomy 6 and she's got some great ideas on how to make bible study come alive for your family. I like her ideas - they are practical and fun.

I have to be careful, though. Sometimes I read other mom's blogs and I start comparing. And then I start to feel like I need to up my game. But not in a good way - not in a Titus 2 kinda way - but in a - "man, she's a great mom. I mean, a great mom. She's spending her whole day praying or folding laundry or planning how to love her husband more." I'm sure you see how messed up my perspective can get!

So...sometimes I have to take a break from reading other people's blogs. :)

Word

5 Love God, your God, with your whole heart: love him with all that's in you, love him with all you've got!
6-9 Write these commandments that I've given you today on your hearts. Get them inside of you and then get them inside your children. Talk about them wherever you are, sitting at home or walking in the street; talk about them from the time you get up in the morning to when you fall into bed at night. Tie them on your hands and foreheads as a reminder; inscribe them on the doorposts of your homes and on your city gates. - Deuteronomy 6:5-7

Usually I post about the happenings of our family and throw in a cute picture of our kid. He's cute, don't get me wrong, but lately I've been thinking more about bigger things.

I've been thinking about being a mom.

And what kind of mom that I want to be for my children. (Children! We are going to have two of these blessings soon!)

When my children are grown, what do I want them to say about me.

Well, no matter what I do I'm sure at some point they'll remind me of the time I most embarassed them or refused to give in to their demands...I mean...needs.

I mean something bigger than that.

I'm talking about how to be a parent and how to parent my children.

So, I went to the word. And found Deuteronomy 6. I love it when God makes things so clear.

I could have gone to Barnes and Noble - they have a whole section on parenting and they must be in business with the Hershey factory, because most of it involves offering a sweet reward for good behavior. I'm not so sure I like that idea. Ok, I'm sure I don't like that idea.

But then there it is....right there in the word of God. I've got to get the words of God inside my children. Which means...

I've got to do a much better job of knowing the word of God! I've got to really get into my bible. I've got to meditate on it day and night - I think there's another verse in there!

Sam is really too little right now to do any kind of organized bible study as a family. Right now we're working on praying together. We do it before meals - before bed - and often several times in between. He'll often call out "preeey" and well, we pray. God is leading, we are teaching, he is learning.

But what if I want more than that? What if I want more than just my children knowing that I pray or that we pray as a family? How do I truly be a woman of God? How do I show my children that?

I've got to know it - and then I've got to live it. We have got to make the Word of God a part of everything we do.

Recently we started tuning into the gospel channel at home at night. From 7 to 8 they play southern gospel and we love it. I'm talking the Gaithers and the Isaacs. The whole program is just music. Sam loves to dance in the living room with the music. And...he's learning. Let's face it, screens teach. And I want the screens in my home to be teaching my son that the truths of God's word.

So, what kind of mom do I want to be?

I want to be a godly mom. Not just a Christian mom...but a godly mom. I want my kids to look back and say - my mom knew God's word; she lived it; and she taught it to us. I want to meet the challenges with my children with His word. I don't want to be swayed by fancy speakers, well-written books, or new age fanatics - all of which sounds good - sometimes real good - but in the end is meaningless.

I have some work to do! :)

Sam's New Style and Remembering Grandma Ruby

This is Samuel's new style. One of the ladies at his daycare snapped this photo last week and I had to share. He almost always flips up his t-shirt like this. His own version of hip! I'm assuming he got this gene from his Dad. :)

We rocked along this weekend. Mostly we spent time together as a family - a welcome treasure in the summer time - and got our house ready for the move. Today we should find out the completion date on the project and know when we will officially have a new address.

We also cooked a lot this weekend and last night I made my Grandma Ruby's famous soup. I've decided to name it - "Grandma Ruby's Frugal Soup." My Grandma grew up in some rough times. She lived on a farm for most of her childhood and with an 8th grade education tried to make a good life for herself and her family. She married my Grandpa when she was only 16 - they had to run away together! Sadly, he died in his 50's and she never remarried. She had my Dad in her forties and spent the rest of her time doting on him. They were tight. Real tight. I hope Sam and I have that kind of relationship.

Anyway, Grandma Ruby was one frugal momma. She had to be. She knew how to count and made sure that she knew where all her pennies were.

She had 4 boys! 3 of those boys lived to be adults. I wish she was around sometimes to give me advice on raising boys. I'm sure she could have taught me a lot.

Most importantly, Grandma Ruby knew Jesus. She wasn't swayed by new religous talk either. She knew the Bible. I remember that she had a rose colored bible that she carried. For most of my childhood I remember her serving cookies and punch at children's events at the church.

My favorite thing about Grandma Ruby was her vegetable soup. Oh my goodness it's good. You won't think it looks all that great...but try it. And then attempt to eat just one bowl. You can't do it. Ok, maybe you can. But I can't.

Everything she put in it came from her garden.

Grandma Ruby's Frugal Soup

tomatoes (fresh in the summer, canned in the winter)
okra
corn
onion
potato
salt
pepper
1/2 stick of butter (a full stick if your feeling generous)

Chop your vegetables and put them in a large pot. Add a generous amount of salt and pepper. Add 1/2 stick of butter. Cover vegetables with water. Place lid on pot and bring to boil. Reduce to medium-low heat from approximately 1 hour - until vegetables are soft. Be sure to season to taste before serving. (And - it's great right from the stove, but even better the next day for leftovers)

Enjoy!

A Blogger Bum

Where did July go? I can't believe I haven't updated in a month.

Things are happening here. We didn't fall off the face of the earth.

Baby Kenley is doing great. I think I'm 18 weeks now and this morning felt my first little kick. It's becoming more real every day. Sam calls the baby "Bubba" and gives my belly lots of sweet kisses. We'll know the gender soon...although I'd kinda like to keep it a surprise. We'll just have to see. Maybe the baby won't be in the right position and force us to wait. Who knows?! Right now we're still on target for a Christmas Eve baby.

Our house is coming along well. We should move in 3 weeks. All that means is that I need to PACK! And I haven't started. Unless you count getting the boxes. Then I have started. It's being bricked this week and the cabinets are being built. I *LOVE* the cabinet guy. He's so funny and he's doing a great job. We're going to have quite a bit of storage space in our house, which will be nice.

Sam is a riot! Every day he does something new. Right now he's calling me Daddy, which is cute and bit disturbing at the same time. He's adding new words all the time and getting better and better with compehension. It's amazing what they pick up on when they are this little.

We may be getting close to potty training, even though I think I'm insane even typing that. This morning, though, he told looked at me and said "poo poo" and I said, "Sam, do you have to go poo poo?" He nodded yes, swatted down and sure enough - the kid pooped! Now, I think that's a pretty good sign that we're getting close. I've always dreaded potty training, because I heard that boys take longer than girls and I have some friends whose boys were almost 3 or older before they were ready. (Insert prayer here that Sam will not be 3 year years old before he's ready)

Scott is doing great. The Ground Crew is really thriving this year. God has really blessed our little business. Big things are in store for us in the next few months and I'll be excited to share those later. Summer is our busiest time and Scott's been starting his days at 4 a.m., which is way too early. But he loves it and we've got a great crew of guys this year - all of which makes it easier.

And me. I'm working. Although not much of it. My case load is ridiculously small and I'm starting to wonder what else I could be doing with my time. I'm exploring the private practice option at this time. But this needs to be approached with a lot of prayer. Right now I have some private clients, but not enough. It's a tough decision. I've taken off quite a few days this summer to play with Sam. Anyway, nothing to stress over.

These shots are a little older. But I couldn't do another post without a picture. How boring are those!?!?!? :)

Sam and smores - this kid could have a true chocolate addiction. I hadn't given him any chocolate on this night, but he snuck some from the table and put away 1/2 the bar before he was caught. I wish you could truly see how onery his face looked when I caught him!


And this is one of my favorites - fishing lessons from Papa Tom!


Adios for now! Hopefully, we'll check in before the month is over! :)