I spent part of the weekend going through my mom's old recipes--she made me a cookbook after I graduated from college and moved out on my own, and I realized I haven't made several of my favorites from childhood in a long time! This week I'm remedying that! Thanks for cooking for us so faithfully and caring about how we took care of ourselves, Mom!
Monday: (has to be a crock pot day because of class schedules) Chicken Azteca Tuesday: Broccoli Cheddar Noodle Soup (a delicious fall favorite!) Wednesday: Dinner with youth Thursday: Left overs Friday: Overnight camping with the young adults group at church Saturday: Teriyaki Chicken Drummettes Sunday: Left overs
I was asked to write a life update/article for my home church's November newsletter and thought I'd place the link to the online article here :) This is from Bethany Presbyterian Church in Seattle--and to read the article click on the link below :)
Happy Halloween everyone! And Happy Friday! October is almost over (where did it go??) which means those darn Christmas trees are going to start popping up all over the place again! Yikes! Here's what went on this past week in the Kennedy house:
**1** The dang Santa Ana winds picked up around LA this week leaving many of us sniffling, coughing, rubbing itchy eyes, and fighting off migraine headaches. Yes, it was a lovely week. Really. It happens about once every year and my allergies do not appreciate it! I think I came home from whatever I was doing that day and just laid on the couch, having zero energy to get anything done. Here's to hoping next week is better!
**2** Southwest airlines had an amazing sale this week, which ended up getting me a plane ticket to and from Portland for $200, which is definitely hard to beat these days! You had to fly within certain time frames, but the month of January is part of it, so Jan. 8th I'm heading up to hang out with my best friend for a weekend--I can't wait! I get to go spend a day in 1st grade with her (she's a teacher), go to her church, and most importantly meet the boyfriend :) Plus, get a northwest fix--coffee shops, the world's biggest bookstore--yup, I happen to love Portland :) Downside of the Southwest Sale--the last date to travel is Feb. 10th. I have to get to Providence the following weekend for Lily's baptism. That sale would have been helpful...
**3** I went on a bit of a purging spree with my facebook account last weekend. I realized that I don't actually know all the people who were commenting on my page. So I went through and deleted about 100 people (I still have over 500 "friends" which seems ridiculous to me). What I found interesting was that one individual who I have never met emailed me and asked why I had "defriended" him. This is a middle aged gentleman who attends the same church as me, but whom I have never seen in person nor had a conversation with him. I realized I needed to defriend him when he commented on "my" new baby, and how once she starts sleeping in about 8 weeks I'll feel better soon. Ummm....clearly he doesn't know me, if he did, he'd know I have NOT been pregnant for the last 9 months!) It was good to be able to write back and talk about some boundaries I've started creating, not feeling the need to let total strangers comment on every status update or photo I post, but how if we happened to build a relationship in person that might change how I feel about facebook access. I'm realizing some people don't have very good personal boundaries and the internet certainly does not help with that!
**4** So I was starting to think this week about Christmas (which I know, is horrible, it's still too far away!) but with the coming of Christmas comes a couple things I'm really looking forward to. One, is my annual Thankfulness from A-Z list that I always post on my blog (links to past lists are on the left under "favorite past posts"). I don't really know how I came up with this idea but this will be my 4th year running and I have several friends who have started this tradition in their lives as well. It takes awhile so I start thinking now :) If you have kids, this is a very fun and fabulous way of celebrating and remembering what Thanksgiving is for! Also with this season comes thinking about the annual Christmas letter I enjoy putting together, which I'm hoping will be a tradition that will still continue now that I'm married! On top of that I'm making Christmas gifts for a couple special people this year, so those projects have already begun! I do love the projects that come with this time of year!Plus yesterday we booked our plane tickets for our Christmas travels (and unfortunately had to spend an arm and leg!) but we're looking forward to about 5 days in Charleston and a week in Minnesota with family!
**5** My poor husband has had a busy week (and it's not looking much better throughout the next couple weeks!) He's currently writing a paper for his systematic theology class on the evangelical doctrine of the fall and sin. He also has a big family systems paper due next week and the following week a presentation on how the doctrine of the trinity impacts our view of creation/ecology. (I gotta be honest, I don't totally understand that prompt, but hopefully he does!)He even skipped youth group Wed. night to work, which doesn't happen that often, but I was really proud of him for realizing he needed more time for his school work.
**6** I re-read a book I've read several times this week: Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers. This is a phenomenal Christian fiction book that I adore. It was our book club choice for this month, so I re-read it along with the other ladies in the group, and it hit me in a very new way this time. Basically the story parallels the story of the prophet Hosea in the Old Testament but it's set in the 1800s during the Gold Rush in California. God speaks to a man (Michael Hosea) telling him that the absolutely gorgeous prostitute he sees walking down a street is going to be his wife. God is going to use Michael to bring healing and redemption to the incredibly dark places in her past. Usually I read this story looking at it from Angel's (the girl's) perspective--wanting a man to sweep into my life and change it. This is the first time I've read this story since I've been in a relationship and I was hit full-force with the idea that in relationships we go back and forth between being Angel, in need of redemption, and Hosea--being the one God sends into someone's life in an intimate way to bring healing to past hurts and wounds. I have been contemplating all week how God wants to use me in my husband's life, how I can be Hosea for him, and looking at how he has (and will continue) to be Hosea for me. If you haven't read this book, and you like (or tolerate) Christian fiction, this is one of those non-cheesy, non-cookie cutter, nontraditional books that I would HIGHLY recommend!(I don't often read Christian fiction because I felt like when I did, the stories all sounded similar, always the same cookie-cutter happy ending, and I got bored, but this is one that isn't like that at all!)
**7** And because I know you are all needing your weekly dose of my beautiful niece, here are my favorite photos of her this week! I get to be there exactly two weeks from today to snuggle her, kiss her, and help her mommy however I can!
Because you all know you needed a weekly picture of Miss Lily :) These are my favorite of the little sleeping peanut :) 16 days until I get to kiss that little tiny nose!
Sunday night Chuck, George, Jeff and I joined about 98,000 other people at the Rose Bowl for the much anticipated U2 concert, which was amazing! We bought the tickets months ago, I think before we even got married, and I know that Chuck especially has been waiting all year for this! The evening did not disappoint. It was the largest crowd ever at the Rose Bowl and definitely the biggest crowd I have ever been in! I'll admit, I've always liked U2, but I haven't spent much time learning their newer music, so there were a bunch of songs I didn't recognize, but it was AMAZING hearing some of the old classics live. The 4 of them are great performers, and just ridiculously talented. Living so close we heeded the warnings that were being published all over the news to not attempt driving anywhere near the Rose Bowl, so we parked at Fuller and walked the 2.5 miles to the stadium, which turned out to be a way better option! It was an absolute zoo! Black Eyed Peas opened for U2, and they were very fun, we enjoyed them a lot more than we were expecting to.
So one of the interesting moments of the evening actually happened as we were walking into the stadium. A guy was set up armed with a bullhorn, a giant sign telling people to "Trust Jesus or Burn in Hell" and a lot of horrific theology. He preached at the crowd surging towards the stadium that "U2 will not save you!" and my personal favorite comment: "rip up your tickets, go home, and get to know Jesus!" George, Chuck and I looked at each other in frustration and disbelief. How in the world do people still think this is effective evangelism? All it does is give Christians a horrible reputation. As we looked at each other someone said "wow, they don't know anything about U2 do they?" Of course U2 isn't going to "save" people, Bono himself would freak at this idea. But, the amount of spirituality infused in their music and message is huge. 3 of the 4 guys in the band are Christians, and social justice, bringing God's kingdom to earth by actually following the mandates of the gospel to feed the hungry, care for the sick, and provide hospitality to the widows and orphans is a huge focus of U2 events. They have used their fame and platform to raise awareness for the voiceless around the world. And they aren't shy about mentioning the name of Jesus in their music. As the intro to their hit "Where the Streets Have No Name" they started singing Amazing Grace and had almost 100,000 people singing along with them, acapella, as they headed into a song about heaven. No, U2 won't save us, but I'd argue they come a lot closer to presenting the heart of the Gospel than the dude with the bullhorn.
Here are a few photos from the evening--some from me and some I swiped from a friend who was sitting almost in the front row (he was there as part of a justice campaign Bono works with so he was about as close as you can get to the stage!)
Chuck and George are ready!
The Claw--the gigantic set in the round at center field. The Black Eyed Peas opening--with guest appearance by Slash, the guitarist for Guns n Roses. He was incredible!
It's Friday everyone! Time for your random updates on life in the Kennedy household!
**1** Last night Charles and I went to a forum on Fuller's campus called Rethink Afghanistan. We weren't going to go, but at the last moment decided that felt like the more important place to be (our other choice was a high school football game). We are certainly still processing all we heard and saw, but it is very much worth checking out, watching the film, and thinking about deeply. A Fuller student and Afghanistan veteran (serving two tours) has really begun to think theologically and deeply about the war there, and whether it was right in the first place and the devastation that has been caused there. The opening prayer struck me powerfully, and I offer it now for your reflection. It was written by Stanley Hauerwas, a famous theologian and Christian ethicist.
Graceful Lord, we find ourselves living in the most powerful country in the world.
The pride and self-righteousness such power breeds are beyond compare.
No power exists that can humble us.
We are tyrants of all we survey.
We decide to bomb these people, send rockets against those people, kill those we call terrorists–
all because we can.
We are the most powerful people in the world.
It is hard not to be caught up in such power.
It is intoxicating.
Save us from it.
Sober us with the knowledge that you will judge this nation,
you will humble this nation,
you will destroy this nation for our pride.
Send us a reminder that you are God, that you alone have the right of vengeance, and if it be your will, make those we bomb instruments of your judgment.
At the very least, save us from the ‘normality of killing.’
Amen.
**2** My very favorite Seattle hang out burned this morning :( The structure that the Green Bean Coffee Shop was in was destroyed this morning by a fire, and this makes all of us so sad!
**3** The "hallelujah" sermon that I preached last Sunday to the youth went really really well, I was really happy with the way it turned out, and Chuck preached a great sermon yesterday to his preaching practicum class on the Beattitude "Blessed are you who are persecuted..." I was very proud of him and his work on this difficult text! So between my sermon last weekend, his this week, and me hearing the first four student sermons in the preaching class I TA for, we've been talking a LOT about preaching this week in our home!
**4** Life on the east coast seems to be going okay for Megan, Nathan, and new baby Lily! My dad left on Tuesday to go back to school and work, and my mom is there til Monday. Unless Megan isn't walking well or getting around easily on her own, then mom will stay a bit longer. Lily is a great eater, working on sleeping well, and as of Tuesday had gained 3 ounces since going home from the hospital last Sat. Here are my two favorite photos of her this week:
**5** Chuck and I celebrated 7 months of marriage this week, and I had the very fun realization that I love him way more today than I did the day I married him :) Megan's toast to us at our wedding was "may today be the day you love one another the least," and we jokingly ask one another every month "so, do you love me more today??" I realized very strongly this week that my answer is a resounding YES! All the discussions, conversations, communication, miscommunication, compromises, arguments, serving together and shared fun times together have added up to me being able to say without a doubt that I care more deeply for him, know him way better, and love him more passionately than I did 7 months ago. Praise God for this gift of marriage! A friend shared with me the advice she was just given by a marriage therapist: "do the hard work now in the first part of your relationship--have the hard conversations now, and you'll be able to coast and enjoy the second half of marriage." It's the couples who choose not to address difficult topics early on, who don't take the time to really communicate and listen deeply to one another up front that run into bigger problems down the line. We are pretty committed to not being a part of that group!
**6** I finally finished the book I feel like I have been reading for a month now! Midwives was a wonderful book, but with the beginning of the quarter again I got a bit sidetracked from reading. I think I'm back in the swing again and am going to continue working my way through the 28 Books I want to read this year. The list changes a bit here and there as I hear about books that feel more important to read than others, but I'm still determined to get through 28 just to see if I can!
**7** My favorite blog post of the week was written by my friend Brian, who wrote about the importance of exposing ourselves to vast opinions when it comes to theology because everyone has something to say that can help us expand our thinking about God. He writes about how we can limit our worldview too much by only reading one side of things. Thanks, Brian, for reminding me to keep thinking and reading people from all over the theological map!
She's beautiful! And I wish so much that I was closer to her! My mom and dad are still back in Providence with Megan and Nathan, helping them get as much done as possible and caring for Lily as much as they can to let Megan sleep. I talked to them today and both sounded a little tired--my dad more so I think! Apparently they are keeping Lily in their room overnight so Megan can sleep, only taking her into be nursed when she is really hungry. Lily is just so little and well, makes a lot of little noises as she sleeps so whoever is in the room with her doesn't sleep super well because one ear is always trained on her. And well, Lily hasn't figured out her days and nights yet, so my dad was up with her in the rocking chair from 1-5 last night, letting her sleep in his arms while my mom slept and then Grandma got up and took the early morning shift. She loves being held and she loves having something in her mouth, but hasn't figured out how to keep the pacifier in her mouth yet (her little tongue keeps spitting it out) so I think a lot of holding the pacifier into her mouth is taking place all night. My mom is taking a lot of day shifts trying to keep her awake a bit so she will start to figure out that day time is when you wake up! I asked my mom how being a grandma was and she laughed and said "it's busy! I'm doing all kinds of projects! Cleaning, laundry, cooking, sorting through paperwork...it's busy!" I laughed and said "uh mom, you didn't really think you were going to just go and do nothing did you? I don't think you can just sit and do nothing!" She sounds great though--definitely enjoying being a Grandma. She'll be there at least another week, but possibly a bit longer depending on how Megan is doing. I told Chuck we can't have kids if mom and dad's schedule isn't free to come help! Especially if Grandpa is willing to sit up all night with the baby watching infomercials--maybe tonight he'll just stick on a movie :)
Sounds like everyone is doing well, Lily has her first check up tomorrow to be weighed (my dad keeps commenting on how little she is, on what a little peanut she is! She was only 6 pounds at birth and has lost a couple ounces as newborns can tend to do). But so far Lily seems healthy, Megan is doing okay, Nathan went back to school today, and well Grandma and Grandpa are happy to keeping holding that baby and figuring out what else they can do around the house--I think they got Megan a headboard for their bed so she can prop herself up in bed to nurse as Megan's birthday present, so some furniture rearranging might also be in the agenda for the week. Oh, and I forgot a family member...Taylor...Taylor is their golden retriever who has been with Megan and Nathan since he was a puppy, and is used to being the only child. Well, here are a couple pictures of them introducing him to his new baby sister when they first got home. Apparently everytime Lily cries he has to run over to check her out, to see what is going on and how he can help. My mom said he is definitely not getting the attention he was used to so she was going to try taking him for a walk today to throw a ball for him or something to make sure he's not totally put out. But I love these photos of him and Lily!
Okay Taylor, just look, you can sniff her, but that's it!
He is very well trained and will leave something alone if he is told to, which is a good thing! I love how intently he is looking at her!"Okay, so she's not too bad, but you were still my dad first, so I think I'll sit on your lap to make sure she knows I was here first." (really he did just climb into Nathan's lap and sat there staring at the baby, I love it!)Lily's wall above her crib--they did a garden theme for her nurseryGoing home from the hospital day! Grandma looks pretty happy and I can't get over how tiny she is!!
Lily in her outfit I bought for her--it was HUGE even though it is a newborn outfit because she is so little!Such a sweet little sleeperI think her eyes are going to be pretty dark!I think my dad took these before they left the hospital, her first mother-daughter picturesHi baby girl!Meg's hosptial room, my mom decided to hang up the baby clothes she'd been given to decorate the room since she had to spend so many days here and since she had to cancel her baby shower from the church since she got put in the hospital (well they brought the gifts to the hospital for her)Going home day! First trip in her carseat
So last Monday I tried the crock pot lasagna, and Chuck said "I didn't know you could make lasagna in a crock pot!" I didn't either but both of us declared it awesome!
**1** BIGGEST news by far!! My little sister had her beautiful baby girl early Thursday morning! My precious niece, Lily Abigail showed up at 6 pounds 1 ounce and is healthy and perfect! She is named after both of her grandmas since she is the first grandbaby on both sides. My mom's name is Susan, and apparently Susan is the Hebrew word for Lily. Nathan's mom's name is Gail, so they named her Lily Abigail for the two grandmas! We think it is a beautiful name for a beautiful little girl! Here is Grandma Sue (Nana? The grandparents are all still sorting out what names they are going to use!) with her little namesake!
**2** I've been an emotional basketcase all week waiting for this little one to show up, Megan was hospitalized last Friday with blood pressure that was too high, and beginning signs of preeclampsia so she was kept in the hospital all week with an induction date of this Saturday. On Wednesday morning I got a call that her bp had kept going up and they wanted to get the baby out so she was being induced early. All afternoon and evening Wednesday I felt like a nervous wreck waiting for news, even though I knew it probably wouldn't be until sometime Thursday that baby would show up. I got a call about 11 pm saying her water had broken and something would probably happen overnight, and that my dad would call and wake me up if there was news. About 3:45 west coast time I got the "hi Aunt Sarah!" call from my dad, saying a healthy little girl had shown up! Megan had wanted to tell me her name, so my dad didn't spill that part and Megs called me a couple hours later to tell me her beautiful name :) (which was a relief to hear, when my dad called me I was in the middle of a dream that they named their baby girl "Vernon" after my dad...Lily seems like a much better choice!)
**3** Tonight's date night that we drew out of the jar is one Chuck put in there--"offer to babysit for another family in the community so they can have a date night." We're getting to hang out with 3 year old Ellie tonight while her mom and dad enjoy an evening out--they are pretty excited, Jennie is 7 months pregnant and we thought they could use a break!
**4** I get to preach to the junior high and senior high youth on Sunday morning during the youth worship service for the first time. We're doing a series on words we hear around the church all the time but don't really understand what they mean. So the last two weeks were "grace" and "sin" and this week I am preaching on "Hallelujah." Perfect timing as there is plenty of praising and rejoicing in our family this week! Lily might be my sermon illustration :)
**5** We have been enjoying Season 5 of The Office on netflix these days. We don't watch TV when shows are actually on, we catch them later online, and we're loving our netflix subscription! Way better than the Blockbuster one it seems!
**6** I met for the first time this week with the two groups of students I'll help lead through their preaching class, listening to them preach each week and facilitating a time of feedback for them. They seem like great groups (with very different personalities!) and I am looking forward to working more with them!
**7** My dad had a crazy experience on the airplane flying to see Megan in Providence on Wednesday! Apparently they asked if any medical personnel were on board and he volunteered to help. A gentleman in his late 60s was going unconscious, had a weak pulse and was having trouble breathing. It turns out the airline had a medical bag onboard with oxygen masks, an IV kit, and other medications, so my dad was able to start an IV, give him oxygen and help keep him conscious until they landed and the EMTs could get on. My dad said they even let him stay standing over the guy (who was laying across a row of seats) while they landed, which of course is totally against the rules. He said he hopes that is the only time he'll have to start an IV on an airplane again! It helps to have nurses in the family :)
You are going to come meet us soon, very soon, sometime in the next couple of days, and I cannot stop thinking about how our lives will be different from the moment you arrive.Actually, precious one, our lives changed the moment your mommy and daddy pulled your Uncle Chuck and I into a hotel room the night before our wedding and whispered the news that you were on your way.The joy I have felt since I heard you were arriving is unlike anything I’ve ever felt—and I hope that you will always know that there was never a day that you were not loved, cared for, and wanted by so many of us.Your Uncle Chuck and I were on our honeymoon when we heard you were going to be a little girl, and he can attest, I bounded all over the place shrieking “it’s a girl it’s a girl!We’re going to have a niece!!”I dragged him out the next day in the middle of our honeymoon to buy you a little pink sleeper, the one your mommy tells me you are going to wear home from the hospital.Yes, Baby Girl, you have been wanted, anticipated, hoped for, prayed for, and loved beyond anything you could ever imagine.Your Mommy and Daddy, your Grandma Gail and Grandpa Keith, your Auntie Hope and your Grandma Sue and Grandpa Vern have joined your Uncle Chuck and I in this waiting for and loving you.None of our lives will ever be the same because you have already slipped into them and grabbed hold of us—even if we have no idea what you look like or what your name is yet.It’s okay that we don’t know you yet, little one.We just know you belong to us.To all of us.To our family.And we love you because you are a part of us.
There is One, little girl, who does know you though.There is a song that I hope will follow you throughout your life, as it has mine.And it’s a song we sang at church tonight, appropriate for the week you are to join us.It’s a song that tells us that He knows our name.We’ve been calling you Zoe since we found out you were a little girl, because your Mommy and Daddy wanted to get to introduce you to us when you arrived.Zoe means “life,” and it’s a name your Uncle Chuck gave you.It’s pretty fitting.You, little one, are a gift of life to all of us.We don’t know your name.But Jesus does.He knows your name and has known your name since before time even began.He knows your every thought.He sees each tear that falls.And hears you when you call.He knows you baby girl, He knows the tears you are going to cry as you bump your head, skin your knees, have prom dates that don’t exactly go as planned, and as your Daddy walks you down the aisle the day you will get married.Those things seem like such a long way off, and they are, but those tears—the ones of joy and of pain—are already known and held in the palm of your Heavenly Father’s hands.
I will never stop loving you, Precious One.You are my baby sister’s baby girl.I love your Mommy passionately—she is the only sister I grew up with, the one who let me sleep in her bed when I had nightmares, who taught me how to climb on to the top of our swing set, who played dress up with me by the hour.Our favorite game though, was playing with our baby dolls.Your Great-Grandma made us a whole wardrobe for our cabbage patch dolls, and we played by the hour, convinced those babies were real, and were really in need of our love, our care.We practiced a lot to get ready for you!Your Mommy is going to be incredible, because she learned how to be a Mommy from your Grandma Sue, who was the best Mommy I could ever imagine.She taught your Mommy how to love, and now your Mommy is going to love you for the rest of her life.Your Grandma Sue taught your Mommy to read you stories, to give you popcicles when your throat hurts, to let you help make Christmas cookies even when that gets really messy!Your Mommy learned that sometimes a little snuggling time at the end of the day makes the whole day seem better.Your Mommy learned to say “I love you” every single night, and I know she will tell you that every time she tucks you into bed.I can’t wait to watch her be your Mommy, because she will be amazing, she learned from the absolute best.
Well, Baby Girl, it’s almost time for you to come join us; for you to push your way into the world, and forever into our hearts.Welcome to this world Little One, and welcome to our family—a family that is so much richer, so much more blessed because you have arrived.I love you, Precious Niece.
We had the chance this weekend to have Nate and Jodi, and their adorable 9 month old son Noah, here with us this weekend from Jacksonville! Chuck and Jodi have been great friends for about 9 years now, and when we started dating I was told up front that in order for our relationship to go forward Nate and Jodi needed to give their stamp of approval. They know him well and been such faithful friends, walking with him as he continued to grow into the wonderful man of God I married! I'm told I have Jodi to thank for a lot of that pushing him to grow! They were in LA for a friend's wedding Friday night and then spent the rest of the weekend with us. Saturday we went to the San Diego Zoo, Sunday we took them to church and then had lunch in Malibu and walked on a beach before coming back to our place for dinner and a game of Ticket to Ride with George. It was a great weekend and so fun to be with friends from far away!
Okay! Noah is all set for a day at the zoo!My favorite on this trip were the polar bears--they were HUGE and determined to get at this ball that was stuck in a rock.We ate our picnic lunch while Noah napped. Wish I could just crash anywhere like this!Dinner that night at Islands BurgersOkay! Ready for food! Anyone have anything for me?? Sunday afternoon we had lunch in Malibu. Uncle Chuck donated his empty coke bottle to a teething baby.Nate & Chuck on El Matador beachOh no way guys! This is just mean! It's COLD!Same beach we did our engagement pictures at 1 year ago.Look mom! No hands!Hey! Where did you come from Dad?? I was doing it all by myself!Exploring our house--look, I found Chuck's bike! It's a great balancing help!After removing all our magazines from the table he climbed into it. Worked well!Ticket to Ride with George!
I spent part of the weekend going through my mom's old recipes--she made me a cookbook after I graduated from college and moved out on my own, and I realized I haven't made several of my favorites from childhood in a long time! This week I'm remedying that! Thanks for cooking for us so faithfully and caring about how we took care of ourselves, Mom!
