Remember to Pray

Today I am reminded that we need to keep our new president in our prayers. I did not vote for President Obama. I disagree strongly with many of his positions. I think we might see some major attacks on things we hold dear in our family. Still the Lord is the one that directs the heart of the ruler of our nation. God is our King and He is still on the thrown. He directs us in His Word to pray for those in authority over us. So I pray that the Lord would touch President Obama's heart. That he would become a man of honor and a true statesman. Hey, if the God of heaven can create this world out of nothing in six days, become incarnate, and save sinners (and those are just a few of the biggies), He can do anything. Let us put our faith in the Sovereign God that never waivers instead of being afraid of a man that is only president for 4 years, 8 on the outside.

Lurching towards preperation.

I long wanted to have lazy Sunday afternoons. I believe taking a day off is Biblical. It isn't something to be followed slavishly. God makes it apparent that He desires an obedient, willing heart as opposed to pharisaical laws that drive folks away from the kingdom of God. So I have tried for a little while to implement some tools that would make it attainable to have a Sabbath day as a family.

I was kind of getting a good routine down with Saturday being a day designated for preperation for Sunday. Then I had surgery. That kind of put a, "Woa! in my Giddyup," as TODR would say. It is a good thing. It got me to kind of take a look at my heart. I tend towards being a list kind of person. When I cross it all off, I can sit down and relax. If I am testy and cranky getting ready to celebrate the Lord's day maybe I am not going about it the proper way. Maybe my heart needs looking at.

I do not have the luxury of sitting around navel gazing too much. I have husband and children. It is kind of like living on a farm. The animals need to get fed, the cows milked and manure shoveled. Otherwise it all piles up. I also know that the devil loves to watch us try to be religious with a complaining heart. So our flesh and the devil are on the prowl, I think, whenever we try to cultivate a happy heart.

Yesterday was my first day back trying to do a preperation day. I still am operating at about 75% I am learning to sit down and relax when I need to. I had plans for the more muscular in our house while I started up my new and improved preperation day routine. It kind of got shot. If it had been before I might have been irritated had how much didn't get done. As it is I am so thankful for what was accomplished. I also have had a wonderful day of rest. Tomorrow is a new day and we can do laundry tomorrow too.

What happened yesterday:

We got up and made breakfast. We were getting children on chores. We were taking stock of what needed to be done. During that time a dear friend called and said he needed help. He is incapacitated right now. The friend on chore duty that morning had noticed the hay steaming. That is bad! Hay can and does spontaneously burst into flame under the right circumstances. A whole work crew including TODR and our boys got the hay all taken care of. The bad stuff out and the other stuff moved. All before dark. I was so impressed.

I am not able to help by lifting things. I ran out to the farm because TODR had my purse in his van (cause we did chores together and he took me out to dinner the night before:). I got my purse and then brought back some snacks and some water. At least I could help out that way. Then I took the girls to buy fish. We got naps in. I managed to make some muffins, boil eggs, and make some soup for the crock pot. When the work crew got back, we had a good meal of quesadillas and coleslaw. I even had a good attitude. There were some instances that could have blown up, but we chose to praise the Lord and He made it great. We had a good night and we had a good morning. The dishes still aren't done and we have extra clutter, but our attitude is good. I think it works. Now I just need to remember this lesson next Saturday.

Happy New Year

Here is our Samboy ready to defend us with his bare fists!

This is Our John surrounded by a bunch of princesses.

Here is our Busy Bee making good use of the snow. This is his Wall.E creation.

Here is our latest model. She just turned one the day after Christmas.


It has been a little bit since I have posted anything. I thought it high time since it is a new year.

It has been a wild, hard year. We have learned a bunch and are hopefully closer as a family. God truly has been good to us. May the God of Peace touch all of us this coming year.

My favorite card

Now my husband has bought me some great cards in the past, but this is my hands-down, all-time favorite one. It still makes me laugh when I look at it. One of the things that I have always loved about my husband is his goofiness. He is not afraid to look dumb to get a laugh. I remember him wearing a really loud, mismatched Hawaiian outfit with his workboots to embarrass a buddy he went to the hardware store with (and you know who you are buddy:). He isn't malicious or hurtful just darn funny!

I am also thoughtful to pray today for a young couple we know. They have a very sweet courtship story. We know from experience that the dating scene with a christian veneer on it doesn't work to help you stay pure before marriage. Still many folks don't like the idea of courtship. I think most misunderstand it. They think that we are going back to the days of arranged marriages. You know when the first time you meet your spouse is on your wedding day. Anyway...

This couple chose courtship and succeeded. They have been asked to speak at a youth event this evening at another church. I am so excited for them. It is wonderful that God has given them such a testimony. My children look up to them as an example of when they should have their first kiss-at the altar! I am into arranged marriages though-I have one. Tevya in Fiddler on the Roof said, "Adam and Eve didn't have a matchmaker! Or maybe they did! Perhaps these two have the very same one." Very true! I know that the Creator God arranged our marriage.

I am sooooooo excited!

We don't have a huge amount of wedding photos. I was thankful for what I had. Now we own a scanner! I can scan them! I am also getting copies made (from Walmart since that is so much cheaper on ink). I am so excited I almost can't stand myself (almost).

Gratefullness

"It’s easy to blame chronic childishness on an over-cautious parent, an over-protected upbringing, a controlling mother, etc. However, nothing will keep an adult from acting like an adult, except his own childishness — just as nothing will keep a Christian from living like a Christian except his own sin. If we say our circumstances make us think and act like children, the solution is four words: Repent and Grow Up."--The Botkin Sisters

I have so many blessings in my life. I have some obvious ones: I am married to the man that I still desire, I have 7 awesome kids, I have a wonderful church and circle of genuine friends (some I am related to and some not).

One thing I am becoming more and more thankful for is a gift my mom gave me. It is the gift of maturity. My mom let me go to Africa when I was sixteen. That is a huge step. That just earmarked her whole attitude. She was raising children to adulthood. We always knew that she would be sad when we were old enough to be on our own, but that was also right and good. It is funny because now we have a friendship that is based on respect. We don't always agree, but we work it out respectfully like adults.

I am thankful that my mom did this for me. It is a wonderful gift and it is one that I hope and pray to pass on to my children. I pray that God would use them in in great and mighty ways.

I am also grateful because it is a gift that cost my mom a lot. She was not handed that as a child. She conciously made choices to make our relationship better than she had with her mom. I am thankful and mindful of the cost my mom paid.

Commentary on modern times

Our family is often is amazed at the "theology of Pixar." They seem to hit a bunch of hard truths in their wacky films.

We are seeing the Syndrome game plan coming into play all over our nation. In this scene between Syndrome and Mr. Incredible it is pretty clear. Syndrome is going to sell his inventions so everyone in the world can be a "super." He says, "And when everyone is super, no one will be!" That seems to be the way we handle things in this country in our schools, in our workplaces....It is the answer to the cry, "That's not fair!" Some how as a nation we think the Declaration of Independence says our Creator gave us an inalienable right to be lazy and happy. Last time I read it, it said," the pursuit of happiness."

Pursuit implies work. It is the idea that we all are born with the right to exercise our gifts in the pursuit of happiness. It does not mean that we get to gorge ourselves on the fruits of others' labors. Unfortunately, we have become lazy. In our society we look at those that have (the supers) and decide we should have that too. Now if you want to work for it, so be it. We have come to expect a certain "lifestyle" standard is our right. Just like some fat, spoiled brat that has never done an honest day's work and lies around spending daddy's money that he broke his back to get.

Now what is the response of our places of employment? Our school system? Our government? It isn't, "Well, get off your duff and work." It is to lower the bar and make everyone "super." Our society is hitting an all-time low of mediocrity. Because everyone is being made super and pretty soon no one will be.

Thankfully God is still above such things. I am watching Him raise up my Mr. Incredible as well as many men in our church. I am thankful for all the truly Super folks in our church. I am also thankful for those awesome folks that God is raising up a standard with in other fellowships.

Not too old, I hope.

I have been hearing complaining from the Captain that I haven't posted anything here lately. So I will interrupt my usual TV watching and bon-bon eating to post something.

When TODR and I got married we didn't have alcohol at our wedding. We did have a little mechanical pig, some balloon figures, a great DJ and a whole lotta fun. The wedding coordinator at the hotel was trying to explain to her co-workers that we were fun folk. They couldn't believe that we could be fun without being drinkers. I know there are people that don't know how we survive without drinking, TV, and such. All I can say is that they have never experienced our idea of fun. We don't need to drink to have side-splittin' fun.

One of our favorite activities is dancing. We love to turn on some boogie music and the whole family dances. We have all kinds of activities that are just plain old fun. I hope to never lose our desire to have that kind of clean fun. Anyone up for some cow tippin'?

Our Father

There are days, weeks and sometimes months that I stray into fear. It is a subject often addressed in scripture. Usually some big weenie like Gideon or even Joshua that sits trembling in their boots. God comes and says, "Don't fear." It happens over and over again. I feel in good company.

I must say that in the midst of some of our trials as of late I see God's Fatherly faithfullness. I was overwhelmed by the washer situation as well as some other burdens. It isn't that any one of them were so bad it is the combination of them that can be crushing. Saturday TODR took apart the washer. We thought it might be a $145.00 part. GREAT! We could buy a new to us set off of Craigslist for less than that! Still we didn't really have the money for any of it. While I took our kiddos to the library craft bazaar TODR put the washer back together. He had found a bolt and figured he might put it in there too. Well, our washer now spins like a top! Completely free of charge (except, of course, the hard work put in by TODR)!

We also were the thankul recipients of 20+lbs of elk meat. I say that truly. I am not keen on bear or deer meat. I do, however, like elk. That is some tasty stuff. So I am going to end this post and take some elk stew meat out so I can crockpot a yummy elk stew tomorrow.

I have been reminded again that the Lord is taking care of us even in the little things:)

Succinctly put as usual

Much to the chagrin of some egalitarian ladies of my acquintance I frequent a blog called Ladies Against Feminism. The name puts them off. It is unfortunate because the ladies that put this together are very well educated and very able to put forth thought-provoking ideas in well written form. This article definately encapsulates some hard truth about our election. What does it say about us as christian women?

It brings to my mind the exhortation in Titus 2. This passage is not just about "our place" as women. It begins with older men's responsibilities and goes right on down the line to slaves (women are differentiated here for those that might believe the bible equates them). The whole point of the passage is WHY do we joyfully embrace our callings at the different seasons in our lives. v.9b-15: so that in every way they will make the teaching about God our Savior attractive. For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say "No" to ungodliness and worldly passions, to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope-the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good. These, then, are the things you should teach. Encourage and rebuke with all authority. Do not let anyone despise you.

The thing is that the world already despises us. Jesus said that if it hated him it would hate us. We somehow are surprised by this. I know it is easy for me to believe, here in America, that I can be cool and christian. No such thing is biblical. It is being a worldly man-pleaser and not a christian.

The feminist lie along with all the other worldly lies tells us we can and should have it all RIGHT NOW! Now I ask why is it so hard to wait to raise our children for "other" career goals? I mean seriously folks. Why do I have to rush, rush, rush. I have to experience life. Then I pop out a few kids, put them in daycare and pursue my career so I can be fulfilled. Ask any working mother after rushing kids to daycare, working hard at an 8+ hour day, getting the kids, sitting down (maybe) to a meal out of a box or a take-out bag, rushing to get the kids in bed, not having time to tidy the house and falling into bed too exhausted for any kind of intimacy with the hubby if she feels fulfilled at that point.

Now I, like everyone else, struggle with contentment. I am not Pollyanna. There are days when I would gladly trade my husband, kids etc. for a week on the beach with a bunch of pina coladas. There is reality for you. We have been going through a really growing time as of late so that can be an easy reality to wallow in.

However, I am content in the Lord. He is so good to me. When I am stray from contentment the Lord lovingly brings me back. I truly am blessed. God has a way of reminding me that He is watching and He is pleased with me. I ALSO have a growing, deep friendship with my husband. I ALSO have growing love and respect from my children. And even once and a while I do get public approval(my most recent story must be saved for a different post).

I do struggle with my "image." I pray that the Lord would help me be real. My detractors might be able to misunderstandingly call me a doormat, weak-minded, baby machine, but may they never be able to call me unchristian.

Bad, bad 80's Hair

I recently joined the facebook crowd. Some beautiful people have been posting old youth photos from the 80's. This one is of me and my old friend Kurt. I think we both look better today than we did then, but I do wish I could wear those jeans still:)

I joined a fan club!

I am not really a joiner. It took me a long time to be adult enough to admit that Pride and Prejudice is my favorite book. Why? Because I didn't want to be like everyone else. Everyone likes that book if they read Jane Austen. I finally decided that I was secure enough to go with something popular because I like what I like. I don't have to like something odd just to be different.

Anyway...
So here I am 35 years old and I have officially joined my first fan club! It is the Doug Croucher fan club. Now if you don't know who that wonderful individual is let me enlighten you:

I was in seventh grade when our small Lutheran school engaged two teachers that were younger than Methusaleh. When you are 12 anyone older than 30 is ancient. One of these guys was going to teach 8th grade and do the youth stuff. His name was Doug Croucher.

He really had some good ideas. God blessed the youthgroup and it swelled from a half dozen (I think) to over 30 (I think) on a Wed. night Bible Study. I had NEVER met a man that actually lived like he believed that Jesus stuff. The summer I graduated from 8th grade I was "kidnapped" into the youthgroup and my life was never the same again.

I spent a bunch of time with this great man and he took a lot of stuff from a hurting confused girl. I came to know the Lord when I was fourteen. This man had a huge bunch to do with that. I can look back and see where my life was headed. I can also see all the riches I have received in Christ through out the years. I am so thankful to my Lord and Savior for bringing this man into my life.

So I joyfully join the ranks in the Douglas Croucher Fan Club.

I am afraid to ask

Our washer has been making horrible smells and noises as of late. We found that it doesn't have enough umph to make the spin cycle happen. Guess how we figured that out? Why, yes...I went in and the clothes that I was going to put in the dryer were dripping madly. Oh no! TODR checked it out. We now have to listen for the spin cycle and help it get going. I am thankful that I don't have to hand wash all of our stuff. At least for now.

Our dryer is also is having problems. It takes two cycles to dry the clothes. (Sigh) It is better than nothing. Two cycles truly is better than untold amounts of laundry strewn all over the house for drying. (Note: We live in the Pacific Northwest, August is the only month we can hang dry anything with any regularity.)

I am hoping and praying that we can make do until the Lord sees fit to bless us with some other affordable appliances.

Now as if that weren't bad enough...
Last night TODR got out of bed to crawl underneath the covers at about 2:30am. His foot landed in our green carpet: SQUOOOOSH! That is not right! It turns out due to a crack in our concrete foundation, filled in dirt where gravel was and an un-named individual leaving a garden hose on next to the corner of our bedroom, we got flooded. We now have all of our bedroom furniture in our living room. There are two heaters and one fan drying out the pad and carpet. TODR and our oldest son spent all afternoon sucking water out of the pad using our steam cleaner. It will all be okay. I think I will actually be able to sleep in my own room by the middle of the week.

I don't even have to mention the fact that Obama is our president elect and that is just the thermometer showing America's atmosphere. I do know that we should fear God and not man. And no matter what, Obama is just a man. God could stop his heart this very second if He so chose.

That brings me to the title of my post. I am afraid to ask, What else could go wrong?

Dedicated to the Captain

When Brian and I got married I didn't want to walk down the aisle to the traditional bridal march. I know a very uncharitable rendition of it with lyrics about the bride being big, fat and wide. I couldn't handle it. So instead we chose Great is Thy Faithfullness. Since we are in the high statistics to have a failed marriage, us making it is only a testimony of God's grace and His faithfullness. This is a wonderful reminder that Brian and I will fail each other, but God never will. With His strength there is the power to live in today with His new mercies.

The Ship's Captain

I shared about the kinfolk that have my six in my previous post. They are the ones we fly with and have each other's backs. Our family's visual for the biblical family is a military ship. TODR is the captain, while I am the first-mate. Depending on the ages of the children makes them either officers or crew. Now all of these people filling these positions are equal in human worth. All these positions, however, have differing levels of responsibility and privilege. The captain not only is supposed to have my six, but the whole clock.

Sometimes it is so easy to look at some one else's privileges and envy them. It is even easier to assume that if I were in charge instead of that someone else I would do a better job. Truth be told The Admiral doesn't put the wrong man in the job. Since my captain and I both came from huge marine ship disasters it is hard for us to work as a team.

We are going through a big time in our life that I would liken to a scene in Captain Horatio Hornblower. The captain caputures a ship and then without asking the Admiral turns the ship over to a man he believes to be an ally. Then he finds out from British official documents that England is in fact an ally of Spain and he made a huge mistake. Then he has to go back and destroy this ship that has him outmanned and outgunned. After a big blunder like that it can be easy to lose faith in your captain. Captain Horatio does go back and is victorious because of his brilliant strategy. It is a hard fought battle, but he proves that he is the man for the job.

I must admit that I lost faith in my captain. I can be a stupid, foolish, sinful woman. I am, however, honest. We are in a position that we now have to sail back and destroy a ship we should never have let go. I do have faith that the Admiral has placed the right man in the position. I am not foolish enough to know that the sinking of that ship will be easy or without cost. I do know that if we work as a team God will bring us through. He put the right folks in the right positions.

MODR, I am sorry that I fail to respect you and believe in you like I should. I truly do know that God brought us together. He made you the captain of our ship. He didn't make a mistake. These things just give us an opportunity to work together as a team. Humility before honor is the way of the kingdom. Let's go sink the ship.

Saturday Seven

Anne Shirley of Green Gables talked about "kindred spirits." Laura Ingalls Wilder wrote an article about the difference between "kinfolk" and "relatives." Now "kindred spirits" and "kinfolk" are those friends that Proverbs speaks of; the ones that stick closer than a brother. So for my Saturday Seven I am going to list Seven of my kinfolk or those that have my six (as my awesome pastor would say). These are folk that the Lord has blessed me with and they will fail me because they are human while Jesus never will. These are Jesus with skin on.

KENDRA'S KINFOLK AND KINDRED SPIRITS(In no particular order)

1.Rebecca Walker (She definately rocks. I love her enough to even share her with Tim and Amy and Lolanda, but that might be it:)

2.My mom

3.R. John P.

4.R. John P.'s lovely wife, Dalene

5.The Lovely and Gracious Ms. Wanda

6.Superman that happens to be married to the Lovely and Gracious Ms. Wanda
7.My sniffer (sister)

Pink Floyd - Another Brick in the Wall

I haven't posted for a while. I have wanted to post about why we homescool. Here is one big erudite reason from some insightful folk.

A Big Ten-Four

Eleven years ago I was still in labor with my oldest son at this time. I had been in labor since before midnight when my water broke. He wouldn't be born until 3:45pm. He is the only one I had in a hospital. Although I had some really nice midwives I think the hospital scene added to my anxiety and inability to progress. I ended up with pitocin. It was my longest labor as well.

I finally pushed out a 7lbs. 13oz., 19 and 1/2" long incredible miracle. I will never forget the incredible sensation of touching my first child. We didn't know if this baby I carried was going to be a boy or a girl. Somehow I just knew he was a boy. He sure was.

They washed him, weighed and measured him, and placed him all wrapped up in my arms. I sat there mesmerized by him. I didn't want to share him with anyone. I even ate while holding him. We all laugh at the story of how I tried to choke him on chicken. While I was eating I dropped a piece of chicken right in my yawning baby's mouth. I fished it out right away. He didn't have enough time to breath it or anything. There was no real danger, but I almost hyperventilated while thinking about it.

Today 11 years later he is still a miracle. He is very agile. It is hard to believe all the things he is capable of. He is very helpful with the little ones. He has a big heart for them. He can chop kindling for his Oma. He can chop firewood. He can start fires. He is doing better at school. He is an able fisherman and camper and hiker. He usually walks the older folks or ladies at church to their vehicles. He still wants to be a smoke-jumper. A dream he has had since he was four. Given his giftings he would be a wonderful firefighter. I am so proud of this boy! He is such a gift!

Happy Birthday to you, Big Ten-Four!

The Bad with the Good

The good news is that the Fireproof movie is doing really well (see post below).

The bad news is that the Senate passed that horrible bail-out plan. I think this picture is so perfect though:

Of course the Good News never changes. Jesus came to save us from the wrath of God. If you are found in Him then you will be saved eternally. That is better than being bailed-out temporarily in this world's system. No matter what this fall-out means they cannot take away my soul. That belongs to God.

Get the message?

As Michael Silberman of Samuel Goldwyn said, "The Kendricks are catering to audiences that Hollywood doesn't make movies for anymore." Imagine if Hollywood would "get the message" and start giving the American audience movies it wants to see instead of giving them what Hollywood wants them to see.

Now there is a thought. If you want to read the whole article go here.