A Gathering in Grand Haven

A couple of weekends ago we packed all of us and the dog up and went to Grand Haven for a visit.
Scott's brother, Mark, and his wife Maiya just moved to Michigan from New Jersey. They've moved into a very nice home on ten acres with lots of room for the kids to play...and boy, did they play!
We had our "Christmas" gathering with them and all the cousins had a wonderful time playing and being together.
And the adults had a great time, as well!
Here are all the kiddos, after opening their gifts...aren't they so cute?


Ethan, Kelsey, Caleb, Merry and Micah Lynn 

The "Cousins"

Here they are before opening gifts.


The "Cousins" 

Playing in the Snow

Mark and Scott took Micah, Ethan, Caleb and Merry out to play in the snow while we were there. (Kelsey had a double ear infection and was confined to the indoors and a set of Legos.)
Merry went sledding for the first time and LOVED it! I think Scott loved it just as much or MORE than she did!
Thanks, Maiya, for the great pics! You rock!


Scott being a Big Kid 

Merry, Caleb and Ethan 

Chloe the Mini Schnauzer, playing in the snow 

Merry and Ethan playing in the snow 

Scott and Merry sledding 

My Vocal Recital

Whew...my vocal recital is over! I was pretty nervous when I got up to sing today, but not as nervous as I was the last recital. I sang "Solo El Amor" by Sandi Patti and some other guy that I don't remember his name! I think I did well. My vocal coach, Sis. Vicki, was nodding her head at me...so I think that was a good sign. :)

There were so many great singers there today! I could NOT believe that Zach Dunning (whom I babysat for when I was 11 - 21) sang today. He has an INCREDIBLE voice! I am not kidding you, folks...he sings wayyyy better than I do!

Also, Raquel Sistrunk, another one that I babysat, sang...such a sweet girl and such a gorgeous voice! Really awesome.

It was a very nice time, and I felt that all went well. If I happen to get a recording of it, I'll post it. We shall see.

Love to all,
Kendra

An Update on My Life

Okay, folks. I am sorry that I don't have time to blog more often. I am, however, extremely busy lately!
I feel that, since Thanksgiving, my life has not been my own.
I've had thing after thing come up and family get-together after family get-together! (not that I mind getting together with family! There have just been aLOT of get-togethers!)

Poor Scott...he has about had it. He was hoping that this weekend would be free of obligations, but, once again, my life is not my own!
We have a prayer revival going on at church right now...and we had prayer last night, also, prayer tomorrow night. Then Friday night is a young adults' get-together at the assistant pastor's house. I think we might try to go to that...out of support. :)
Scott said, "Well, maybe Saturday we could just stay at home." Ha! Nice thought...highly unlikely, considering that I have a vocal recital that I have to participate in!

Maybe next weekend. LOL
I'm not holding my breath, though.

Thankfully, this Sunday is casual Sunday at church and I don't have to teach Sunday School. That makes life ALOT easier this weekend!

So...that is my life, right now, in a nutshell. Oh yeah! And I just started taking down my Christmas tree TODAY! yes...I know...A LITTLE LATE, YA THINK????

Love to all...and stress-free wishes for you all as well.

Kendra

More Chistmas Pictures

Here are a few pictures from our Christmas in Tennessee. The girls LOVED being with Papa and Granny! Kelsey was a riot, directing the choir and bossing us all over the place. It was a very nice time.

The girls loved eating their candy from their stockings all throughout Christmas Day.
I think we spoiled them a bit. They are STILL asking for candycanes!


Kelsey on Christmas Day, eating candy from her stocking. 

Kelsey loved climbing all over Papa. I remember doing that as a kid, too! We really had such a lovely time in Tennessee.


Papa and Kelsey 

Granny loved watching Kelsey play. She really seemed to enjoy having children there to watch and love on.


Kelsey and Granny  

Merry was "bright-eyed and bushy-tailed" on Christmas morning! Look at that grin!


Merry on Christmas Morning 

Finally, Pictures are Here!

Okay...I am SO sorry its taken me this long to get pictures up from our Christmas for Christ service!
But...here are several. Hope you all like them.

Merry's First Performance

Merry got to sing in the children's choir for the first time at our Christmas for Christ service.
Here she is, front and center. And, her little dog, too!


Children's Choir  

Merry and Kelsey at Aunt Katie's house 

Part of the Crowd 

Shekinah Kids puppet show 

Children's Choir, directed by Kendra 

Heavenbound Youth Dramatization 

And So It Begins...

2006 is here. Wow...how weird is that? What's REALLY WEIRD is that in 2007...I will be turning 30 years old. Okay...enough about me. LOL.

My inlaws left this morning for New Jersey, and I am hoping that they have a great trip. We really enjoyed having them here for a few days.
Now we have to get back to normal life...and I have to work up enough energy to take down the Christmas tree. Ugh...one of my least favorite jobs ever.

Merry starts school back up next week, and we also get to have a parent-teacher conference with her teachers sometime this month. I can't wait! I'm very excited to find out how she is doing.

The girls are still enjoying all their Christmas gifts...I think they have been playing 12 hours a day since Christmas Day. As usual, even though we tried to keep the number or presents down, they still managed to fill up their playroom with wayyyy too many toys!

Well, I guess I've blogged enough. Now I have to figure out how I'm going to get up enough energy to clean the house and do the laundry.
Ahhh, the holidays...thank goodness theyare over! :)

Welcome 2006!

Happy New Year, everyone!
I hope everybody had a safe and happy holiday.

I've just been thinking over the past year, and thanking God for bringing me and my family through alot of hard times.
I'm so thankful that I have God in my life. I don't know how I would have made it without Him.

I'm thankful that my dad is cancer-free and that we were together this Christmas.

I'm thankful that my daughters are healthy and happy.

I'm thankful that my husband is a loving and caring man and that he provides for his family.

God has blessed me beyond measure...and I know that 2006 will be a great year, as long as I walk with the Lord.

May God bless and keep you all as you enter this new year, 2006.

With love,
Kendra