Long Walks and Fruit Smoothies

Yesterday evening after having Chicken Zuchinni Pasta we decided that it was time to reinstate a Kinnan family tradition ... evening walks! Since before Hayden was born, we loved to go on long strolls that would take hours just to enjoy each other's company and to be outside in the crisp evening air!

So, we started out on our walk ... chose a new path around the town ... well, part of the town, and began. The air wasn't as "crisp" as we would have liked ... it was more like a breezy sauna, but nonetheless, we enjoyed ourselves and one and a half hours later we came home and decided that a fruit smoothie would be just the thing to cool us off.

MMMMMM ... strawberry and banana smoothie ...

peace in the midst of the storm

Wow, what a weekend! Thursday Kathy (mom-in-law) called and said that they had an extra ticket for the Women of Faith Conference in Kansas City ... yes! I've been anxiously awaiting the opportunity to hear many of the speakers that travel in this amazing tour and was so thankful for the opportunity to get to go ... especially with my mom-in law and sister-in-law!

Friday the conference began at 9am, so, in preparation of the two-hour journey to their church in Overland Park I woke up at 430am and left the house at 500am ... wow, that was early! After a quick stop for very expensive gasoline (college town!), I started a drive that I had been looking forward too ... some time in the car with just me and God ... and the radio ... and my singing! :)

Not even 20 minutes into the drive ... right before I got onto the interstate a wall of rain pounded the car and it quickly began to hail ... not good! First of all, I'm not fond of driving in the dark ... and especially not in thunderstorms. So, with all of the other drivers on the road, I pulled into the closest gas station and waited it out, calling David several times to express my anguish and have him look up the weather report to know where this crazy storm was coming from and how long it was going to last!

All that said, I finally made it to KC ... it took me a little over 5 hours (the storm was only going 15 miles/hour, so after it stopped one place I'd start driving again and it'd catch up, so I just planted myself at Starbucks for awhile and waited for it to completely pass). The pre-conference that was held Friday morning was absolutely amazing, with Marilyn Meberg and Kathy Troccoli speaking on the topic "God at Your Wits End" ... how fitting!

I cannot say enough about the morning session ... it was absolutely amazing, and God reminded me how He is the “peace in the midst of the storm” ... He guided me through that long trip to Kansas City and comforted me in my panic/distress ... but that's not the only way He encouraged me on Friday, and the whole weekend for that matter. I believe that many times, we are so busy doing "life" that we forget to live life! In the midst of the chaos of life ... full schedules ... screaming (or very independent) toddlers ... errands to run ... dinners to make ... we get caught up in a storm that quickly overtakes us ... but God is the peace, the calm in the calamity! Jennifer Rothschild (who has an AMAZING testimony) spoke a powerful truth ... "it may not be well with our circumstance, but it IS well with our souls!" ... God is so great, and in the midst of life's storms, He is there ... He will never leave ... He will always love ... and that is such a message of hope! God is Good!

After a great afternoon break of walking through downtown Kansas City ... the City Market, the great little Italian Bistro ... the antique shops ... the very, very steep hills, we returned for the opening of the conference ... we heard Nicole Johnson and Pasty Clairmont, who were two women that I've been so excited to see! Everything was just beautiful ... what a breath of fresh air to be in an arena packed full of women who love the Lord and want to worship Him and learn about how to better serve Him ... an amazing experience!



This morning was an early one (and a wet one) but we made it and even had some time to spare for family pictures in our great seats!

After a weekend of great lessons and a very treasured time with Kathy and Heather I headed back home to my boys ... I had only been gone for a day and a half and already missed them terribly!

I pray that in the midst of the life, you direct your focus to the Lord; to knowing Him, to loving Him, to serving Him ... I guarantee that if you commit every breath, every minute, every day to the Lord, He will enrich your life with such purpose and peace, that no storm (not even a really, really scary one) will get you down!

Blessings To You!
Kate

Memorial Day Weekend

In the late afternoon hours of Friday, May 27, we set out on our first "mini-vacation" in months! We had a wonderful weekend and enjoyed every second with our families!


Our first family picture in months!


Grandma and Grandpa Kinnan got this slide for Ailee and Hayden ... they played forever on it and had a great time!


So ... Ailee and Hayden had lots of fun, especially when they were playing "follow the leader." This little game seemed to involve one of them doing something silly and the other joining it. From squaking to crawling, they wore themselves out quickly!


After an afternoon of play, they came into the house to get a drink and to cool off ... and of course, to look in the mirror and have a deep conversation about who was looking at them!


I thought sweet little Ailee with her precious pigtails couldn't get any cuter, but her mommy (Heather) painted her nails ... adorable! We had so much fun with her and enjoyed listening to her talk to us ... her vocabulary is growing and she's so smart ... and growing up so fast!

More pictures to come!
We Love You!
Kate

All Smiles ...

One nap later clears away all the ails, and our little Hayden is ready to go play some more! Isn't he the cutest?

Allergy Season

Our son definitely has allergies...this is a "post-headache cry" picture. Looks like somebody else got a little worn out.

The Stud of the Universe

I'll let David give you all the details of the game (since I only get to watch bits and pieces as run around and play with a very busy and mobile toddler), but I will tell you that without a doubt, my husband is the stud of the universe!

Our Little Gentleman!

Our little guy is absolutely the smartest toddler in the entire world ... we may be a tad bit partial, but here are a few pictures that display his impecible table manners!


Ready to eat ... but waiting to say the dinner prayer.


The food is hot ... so blow on it to cool it off.


When you're all finished, wipe off your mouth and wash your hands.

Yummy!

What a Weekend!

As many of you know, I graduated from Kansas State University this weekend with a Bachelor of Science in Secondary Education and History/Political Science ... an exciting time for us no doubt, but in the midst of all the celebrating there were some other exciting events ... and a lesson in sharing ... and even a lesson of what's important in life.


We love each other ...

but we may disagree at times ...

and refuse to give in ...

but in the end ... life is good and love is stronger ... and it's more fun to toast our sippy cups to a good day of eating dirt and chasing the puppy around in the backyard.

Heather and Jeff took these pictures and they couldn't be better! Ailee and Hayden have begun to learn about a magical word we call "sharing," and it'll be fun to see how these two very independent cousins learn about it ... as you can see from the pictures, Hayden has a little way to go! :)

Since our digital camera pooped out on us, we had to take pictures the "old fashioned" way, but they should be developed tomorrow and we'll put the cd on the computer and show pictures of graduation!

I would love to thank each and every person who came on Saturday ... or wrote a note ... or called ... or emailed ... Saturday marked a huge accomplishment for David, Hayden and I ... two years ago our family made a commitment to several things and put them before the Lord ... and my graduating was one of those. The Lord, in his amazing grace and impeccable timing, allowed this event that I thought we'd never see take place ... and I praise Him and thank Him for giving our family, His humble servants, such an enormous privilege. Now we'll see what He has in store for us concerning a job! :) All in His time ... His place ... His way!

We Love You!
Kate

The Perfect Day

Picture this ... it's early on a Sunday morning ... the baby is taken care of ... breakfast is being made ... the dog is in the backyard so you don't have to wake up having your face licked ... and ... the house is spotless because while you were at a Women's Brunch at church your husband cleaned the entire house ... the entire house!

Yes, I know, it's may not sound glamorous to some, but for me, it was the most beautiful, wonderful morning I could have ever had!

David, being the thoughtful husband that he is (seriously ... he should write a book on how to be the perfect man!), got Hayden from bed at 7am sharp when our little guy wakes up ... made him breakfast ... let the dog out ... made coffee ... and let me sleep in! My dream come true! As I finally began to wake up, David let Haydie open the door to our bedroom (something that I'm sure he was having to stop him from doing until that moment ... Hayden loves to open and close doors) and come in to greet me!

After some hang-out time with my guys cuddling and watching Sesame Street, we went into the kitchen ... David made me a cup of coffee just the way I like it and presented me with some gifts. I got my favorite breakfast (Cheerio's) and read through my new NIV Life Application Bible ... genuine navy leather with "Pure Grace" inscribed on the front cover (Kathryn means "pure" and my middle name is Grace) ... which was actually my graduation gift but my other mother's day present (a great black shirt-dress) hadn't come in the mail yet ... anyway ... I read through my Bible and slathered on some of my new lotion that they had gotten for me. Yummy!

This is yet another wonderful blessing that I have been given, that I thank the Lord for many times each and every day ... because I know that nothing but God's love and grace could have made me so fortunate to have someone who loves and listens and cares for me as much as my Davey. For as long as we've been married I've always used his study Bible because mine didn't have the details and insights for study that his had. Without me even asking (although I probably casually hinted a time or two) he remembered and chose to give me something that means so much ... especially because it is from him.

And the lotions ... many different "flavors" and even some bubble bath ... something that I've been secretly hoping for since we were married ... that's the best way any woman can relax ... bubble bath is like a long massage ... an afternoon on a hammock in the breeze ... it is peaceful and wonderful ... and Davey knew that it would help me to relax and take a moment for myself (which I always find difficult to do for some reason), and I am so thankful that he noticed and did what he could do to give me that time ... I'm telling you ... he's amazing and I'm SO BLESSED!

I just finished a book entitled "Naked Fruit," and it's about the Fruits of the Spirit ... not just about what they are, but how we as followers of Christ can live them in our lives ... not by DOING them, meaning not simply being patient, gentle, peaceful, loving on the outside in our actions, but by BEING them ... by living as Christ lived and reflecting His nature in our lives. It's amazing ... and I would highly recommend it to anyone and everyone! The founder and CEO of the MOPS organization (Mothers of Preschoolers), Elisa Morgan wrote it ... but it's not just for moms ... or women, for that matter!

Here's some of the introductory chapter:

"It's not our job to produce these qualities in our lives or in the lives of those around us. That's God's job ... fruit production. The fruit of the Spirit grows when we let him live these qualities in us and through us as we are growing in a relationship with him ... Naked fruit is honest. It's not 24/7 availability to impossible expectations, but, drawing from a relationship with God, naked fruit does try - openly and sincerely. Fruit is the result of growth. The fruits of the Spirit are those God-like qualities that make us look like him. They are his nature exhibited in our personalities."

I read the entire book the other day when I was a substitute teacher at JCHS (the school I just finished my student teaching at ... only now I'm actually getting paid!) ... and am here again today and am going to read the entire book over again! It's THAT good!

In the first chapter it talks about how God intentend nature to reveal his being ... plants/roots/fruits are used over and over again in the scriptures to use simple and clear things to speak of complex or serious, or important things (Jeremiah 17-8). God has used this metaphor of fruit and that's how he intended nature to reveal his being ... and that's how he wants us to represent him as well ... naked fruit ... simple, pure, and truthful!

I pray that as you go through today that you will be touched by the Lord ... that you will experience His love and all that He wants to fill you up with so that you can share Him with others. I pray that you may find love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. That you may be filled so full that you have nothing left to do but share those beautiful blessings with everyone you come into contact with!

Be Filled!
Kate

Graduation Countdown = 2 Days

0-2

Softball season is officially underway. We played in the exhibition tourney this past Wednesday which determines which one of the two divisions we play in.

The bad:
1. We lost our first and only 2 games of the tourney.
2. We gave both games away in one of the last innings.

The good:
1. We won't be playing in the "I should be in the Big Leagues" Division.
2. We have excellent offense...we scored 17 in the first, 22 in the second.
3. I've reached 10% of my homerun goal: 1 in the first game.
4. I didn't get hurt...in fact, nobody did.
5. We bonded really quickly...15 guys are playing! That's great for a first year!

So, we have this Monday off...the regular season begins on May 9th. Our camera broke, so...no pics of Monday...sorry.