Monday pick-me-up

DEFENDING STATE CHAMPIONS!!

photo courtesy of newsok.com

We spent the weekend in Tulsa cheering for my brother-in-law’s basketball team – the Edmond Santa Fe Lady Wolves. It was the 6A state basketball tournament and we were privileged to watch the lady wolves do something that has only been accomplished once in the history of class 6A basketball – win back-to-back state championships. Oh yes, and they were also undefeated this season!! It was a very special memory to watch Mark’s team hoist that beautiful gold ball in the air once more. Go lady wolves!


We hope Rylen & Layton get used to how that gold ball feels in their hands.

The team jumped on the press tables to celebrate with the Edmond Santa Fe fans
shortly after the buzzer sounded. It was an emotional celebration. I still get goose bumps thinking about it.


The team arm in arm preparing for the trophy presentation. This was a special team.


You can see the team raising the gold ball amidst the paparazzi.


Mark with Daisha, a senior starter, who lost her dad less than a month ago. The team and the school rallied around her over the last several weeks.


Rylen with Courtney Walker, the 6A tournament’s MVP and the Gatorade Oklahoma Girl’s Basketball Player of the Year. She’s committed to play at Texas A&M.



Hey Mark . . . can you wear another ring that size? Actually, he doesn’t wear his ring much and posing for this photo probably embarrassed him. Thanks Mark!


Oh, if we had just been wearing blue and holding this gold ball at the same time. My sister and I both dreamed of winning a state championship. In fact, my senior year, we broke our huddles by saying “gold ball.” Unfortunately, we lost in double overtime by one point to the #1 ranked team. Hmmmmm . . . it doesn’t seem I ever got over it.

A gold ball was the highlight for me, but swimming was the highlight for Alexa.


Clearly, the most important reason to win a basketball game was to celebrate by swimming with her cousins! And . . . they did!!




Go Lady Wolves – three-peat!!

Alexa’s “Pony” & “Piggies”

A little over a week ago, I tried pulling Alexa’s hair up in a ponytail. In the past, she just wasn’t interested in standing still that long and she’d immediately pull the ponytail out. I didn’t spray her hair with water or make a big deal of it (as you can see by the video). I just gathered her hair up quickly to see what she’d do, and she loved it! Thought you’d enjoy watching Alexa admire her new look, sing a few songs, and be the silly little sweet pea we love to pieces. (Sorry this is poor quality. I didn’t use our camcorder because I didn’t want to miss anything). I’ve also included some photos of Alexa in her “piggies.” I can’t believe how grown-up she looks with her hair pulled back!

I have to credit my sis for the piggy tails. Alexa stayed the night with her cousins, Rylen and Layton, and I had mentioned to Holly she might want a “pony.” Hol did even better with TWO ponies!!


Alexa just plopped down in this field of wildflowers at the park next to our home.


So excited to be going to BSF. She loves her teachers, Miss Bee & Miss Margaret, as well as her friends at Bible Study Fellowship!

Monday pick-me-up

“WUV TWU WUV” (six years of marriage)
 
This is my all-time fave wedding pic captured by my dear friend, Shannon Ho. It’s evident we are very happy to be hubby and wife.

Six years ago yesterday, I walked down the aisle to become "Mrs. Christopher Kennedy.” I remember my dear friend, Brooke, telling me how blessed I was to snatch such a regal last name. I agreed (I sure wouldn’t have to spell it out as often as “Scoggins”). However, my hubby has given me so much more than a stellar last name – alliterative even! He has enriched my days with friendship, hope, security, comfort, wisdom, leadership, adventure, laughter and unconditional love. We’re a team. Throughout this journey, we’re learning our strengths and weaknesses. We’re learning when to speak and when to listen. We’re learning there’s a time to cry and a time to celebrate. We’re growing in our love and respect for one another. And most importantly, we’re deepening in our dependence on and love for the Lord. I read a card in Hallmark awhile ago that made me giggle. I’m borrowing a few lines from it (and adding a few of my own).

--We do fun
--We do serious
--We do chaos
--We do takeout
--We do mistakes
--We do forgiveness
--We do laundry
--We do dessert
--We do silly
--We do life

And I’m so thankful, I have the privilege of “doing life” with you, Chris!


What did we do yesterday, you ask? With a hubby in the midst of studying for two finals today and tomorrow – not much. But that’s totally okay. We do look forward to a much anticipated getaway to Charleston, SC, this spring when Chris’ parents come to watch Lil’ A. We can’t wait to reconnect and escape a while from a year that has had its ups and downs. I can definitely say I wouldn’t have chosen some of the experiences we’ve faced since March 4, 2006, but I am thankful I shared them with my honey. I’m thankful we are stronger because of them. Chris definitely centers me.


We did celebrate in high fashion with a free pizza from Papa John’s. Nothing says “I love you” like garlic dipping sauce.


Of course, I requested dessert from my favorite local French bakery, La Baguette. It may not look pretty but that is my decadent fudge caramel cake in the background. Nothing delights my taste buds quite like this treat. I have a strict "no morsel left behind” policy. Chris enjoyed the lighter fare, a chocolate mousse cup.


Happy six years honey! Just fifty-four more!

”Let us acknowledge the Lord; let us press on to acknowledge Him. As surely as the sun rises, He will appear; He will come to us like the winter rains, like the spring rains that water the earth.” Hosea 6:3

Sugar and Spice and Everything Nice . . .

Hmmmmm . . . that’s what little girls are made of? Maybe we missed the memo. Alexa does enjoy baby dolls, bottles, purses, coloring and baking, but Alexa equally enjoys cars, balls, Legos, blocks, and any activity outside. I’m thankful Alexa is still in that phase where she doesn’t care what she wears, doesn’t classify “boy” or “girl” toys, and isn’t overtaken by what people think of her. She just loves being her crazy little self – exploring, learning, singing, dancing, etc. Mommy’s a fan too. So, go and ahead, Sweetie, play with those cars . . . and when it’s time to run errands, we’ll stash a car in your purse!


Who doesn’t enjoy jumping upside-down with their tongue sticking out?


I was cooking when I walked in to see Alexa had lined up all the cars. That’s my “Type A” girl! Most of these cars were my sister’s. Mommy took much better care of her cars – sorry Hol!


Our intense little architect at work . . . Mommy helped with the house, though.


Adding the final touches to the second tower – such concentration.


As you can see, Alexa enjoys order. I love this pic. She had lined the animals up to enter Noah’s ark. Check out the placement of the animals. It looks as if she arranged them to look like they were talking to each other. Coincidence, no doubt, but cool.


Hard at work with her stacking cups.


Alexa loves to type and play games on Daddy’s “puter.” She’s so delighted!

Monday pick-me-up

CHOOSING GRATITUDE
”Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” I Thessalonians 5:16-18

Praise God, from Whom all blessings flow;
Praise Him, all creatures here below;
Praise Him above, ye heav’nly host;
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
--The Doxology. Thomas Ken
I mentioned last October that I wanted to share a few of the lessons the Lord has been teaching me over the past several months. I started with the principle of “keeping a quiet heart” (Nov. 4). I have shared of His calling me to a deeper faith in Him (Jan. 18). Today, I would like to share about gratitude. My associate pastor defined gratitude as understanding what we deserve and aren’t getting (for instance, hell). I know of no better day than a Monday to share about it. At the end of last year, the Lord, in His grace, began revealing some qualities within me that weren’t very appealing – a critical spirit, negativity and jealousy. Yuck! It wasn’t pretty, and it was quite evident, these qualities were hindering the healing process of my heart as well as hindering my ability to be used by Him. My husband would call it being a “grumpy pants.” And, as I looked at my reflection, I often discovered a “grumpy pants” staring back at me – especially on the rough days.

So, how does one conquer a negative spirit? Through several different channels, the Lord showed me it was gratitude. My BSF leader said habits can either imprison us or free us. She challenged us to make gratitude a habit in our lives and she promised our joy would be found in Christ. So, I began praying each day for a heart of gratitude . . .  for the Lord’s grace to open my eyes to who He is, to His promises, and to the work He’s doing in and around me. I asked Him to enable me to thank Him not because I knew that was what I was supposed to do but to thank Him because it was my very heart’s desire – that I couldn’t help but thank Him. I wanted this gratitude to well up within me until I couldn’t contain it. I asked Him to make my gratitude evident to the world around me through my actions, my attitudes and my words. I didn’t want the gratitude to be about me and the “things” He was doing in me. That sort of gratitude is circumstance based. I wanted my gratitude to be about Him because He never changes.

As I’ve studied the life of Paul this year, the Lord has shown me one of the greatest human examples of gratitude. Paul always had a reason to thank God and his gratitude was evident in every letter he wrote, in his actions, in his words, in his life. When you read Paul’s letters, you see Christ. I believe his gratitude flowed from a deep love for His Savior (who rescued him from the pit of hell), from the calling the Lord had given him, and from the love he had for “his children” (those with whom he shared the Gospel and discipled in the faith). The ironic thing is from a human perspective Paul had very little for which to be thankful. His life was anything but glamorous – beatings, imprisonments, poverty, false accusations, death threats, humiliation, etc (2 Cor. 11). And yet, his heart was overflowing with gratitude. It was a choice. It was the manifestation of His relationship with Christ.

Paul calls us to, “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”  Philippians 4:4-7
Well, the Lord has been answering my prayer. I’m still a definite “work in progress” but I am growing in my gratitude. And what is so crazy about gratitude is when you really begin to cultivate the discipline of gratitude, your heart changes. There is joy in Him and joy for others in what He is doing in them! I inevitably find myself praising God after I thank Him. That’s why I shared the song, “You are Worthy” a few weeks ago. It’s just the obvious response to my gratitude.

My associate pastor said gratitude or lack there of is a good indication of our relationship with Christ. It’s a gage for our heart. It indicates who we worship and what we idolize. So, where is your heart today? Are you critical? Are you questioning the Father’s hand in your life and grumbling about the outcome? I challenge you to ask the Father to help you see Him in whatever you are facing and enable you to say “thank you.” Joy will come, my friend. I promise you, there will be joy in Him!
“So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in Him, rooted and built up in Him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.” Colossians 2:6-7

Evidence of a Good Man

All Alexa wanted this afternoon was for Daddy to hold her (or as she says, “Daddy, hold you”). Chris was in the midst of preparing case studies for grad school. He’s been consumed by studying the past several weeks – going to work early, working through lunches, and staying up until at least midnight every night to study. It’s been a challenging semester with a full-time job, graduate classes, weekly ministry commitments . . . and yes, he’s a husband and father (a very good one at that). He told me the other day he didn’t feel like he was doing anything well. I would beg to differ. You have a daughter who lights up the minute you walk in the door. You have a wife who deeply respects you – your drive, your determination, your ability to balance a very full plate. You have a reputation for dependability and integrity in the workplace, and I know of a friend overseas who is greatly encouraged by your weekly Skype sessions. No one would ever know any of this because you don’t talk about yourself and you don’t complain. I think this picture says it all . . . 100% hubby, 100% daddy, 100% servant leader, 100% man . . . just a sleepy one.

Rescued–The Heart of Adoption

Adoption isn’t charity, it’s war.

We had a great . . . let me rephrase . . .we had an awesome weekend with some very incredible family friends this weekend. Meet the Wintons (minus one beautiful wife/mommy and two adopted daughters). Randy Winton was Chris’ former youth pastor from CA but he and his family made a life altering decision to “live life together” and tour the country in a motor home playing Gospel bluegrass. Brave, isn’t it!? But not if you are in the center of God’s will . . . and they were. They are incredibly talented musicians – incredibly!! They have recorded two albums and they would love to share their testimony in song with you. Check them out at www.thewintonsbluegrass.com.

In the midst of touring, the Lord gave the Wintons a vision for film making. The Lord led them to direct and produce a documentary concerning the church’s role in adoption and the care of orphans. (They have firsthand experience as they are an adoptive family). The end result was a movie titled Rescued – The Heart of Adoption and Caring for Orphans. It is straightforward. It is powerful. It is convicting.

The movie is based on the truth from James 1:27, “Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.”  They claim if the church is to practice “true religion” and say we are pro-life and pro-family, we must be willing to obey the Biblical command to look after orphans. For some, that means adopting a child or a home full of children. For some, it means giving financially and serving adoptive families. For all, it means advocating for life, praying for the souls of these children (in the womb and out) and being willing to do whatever is necessary to bring these children to Christ . . . even if it means allowing a single mom who chose life to live with you. The end goal being the spread of the Gospel..


Posing with the Wintons - Cody (19 yrs old), Randy & Jesse (17 yrs old).

The Wintons visited Norman this weekend to perform a bluegrass concert as well as provide a showing of the movie, Rescued. I say all of that to say this, check out this movie! Just click on the image above and view the trailer. We have the movie and our church library has a copy. If you live in another state, you can order the movie or we can mail you ours. The Wintons’ heart is for this movie to get into every evangelical church in the US, for believers to begin living out James 1:27, and for souls to be saved. 

For more info on Rescued . . .
Find Rescued on Facebook: Rescued the Movie
Rescued Dove Foundation review: Rescued