I'm done. Are you??

Barring any unknown and unexpected 1099's, I have our taxes done for 2008. That is right. I'm done!! I like to get them done early, so our refund is in our hands, not the governments. As we saw last week, our tax dollars (again) are going to be used by those who do not believe in the sanctity of life. It saddens me to think of all the innocent lives lost due to the selfishness in the hearts of many.

I was reminded at church last Sunday, that there is no such thing as an unwanted child. There are so many families who want kids, but are unable to for many reasons. Case and point: Jim and Angie, our cousins (Brian's side of the family). They are fostering Rihanna right now, with the strong potential of being able to adopt her. Many years of heartache were endured before they were able to welcome her into their home, if only for a short time. Angie got the call when Rihanna was just a few hours old. Instant parenting is what I like to call it and what a blessing she is!!! My kids, especially Marilyn, love playing and taking care of her. Yesterday, Angie watched my kids while I went to a couple of doctor's appointments. I love visiting with them and seeing how God has worked in their lives. Please pray for them and little Rihanna. We would love to permanantly have her in our family!

I was going through the blogs of a couple of friends today, watching videos of them bringing home a little girl from Guatemala. I was crying watching the process all unfold, all part of God's plan in their lives. What a loving story, from the initial visit to one year later. Just beautiful.

There are many stories like this in our church family right now. Families that have adopted "unwanted" children, from the states and internationally. All this makes me wonder if we should look into adopting or fostering a child. That is something that my family needs to seriously bring before the Lord. Please pray for us!!

Blessings,
Kendra

Right now on Facebook there is a request going around asking for 25 random things about yourself, and I've been tagged by a few.

This "survey", I imagine, is that you are supposed to contribute things that are unusual about yourself, things that many don't know about you, potentially silly or embassassing things, and the like. So in my blog today I have decided to attempt to think of 25 things that I am willing to share. I am somewhat of a private, shy person so you can rest assured that I will not put anything down that is incriminating.

Here are the details from the post:
25 Random Things about me....
Rules:
Once you've been tagged, you are supposed to write a note with 25 random things, facts, habits, or goals about you. At the end, choose people to be tagged. You have to tag the person who tagged you. If I tagged you, it's because I want to know more about you.


Here it goes:

1. I have traveled to 49 of the 50 states in America. The only one I need to go to is Alaska.
2. I have been in 38 of the state capitals across the country.
3. I graduated with an Accounting degree from the University of Illinois. Go Illini!!
4. I love watching sports on TV, but get REALLY nervous watching my favorite teams and I usually have to go to a different room or shut it off when the game is close.
5. I grew up on a dairy/pig/grain/etc. farm near Kewanee, IL.
6. I used to feed the pigs when I was little and I fell into their pen once. I guess I scared a few people at the time, and as the story goes, a mother sow was charging for me.
7. I lived in a 10'x50' trailer until I was 12 years old and shared a 8'x10' room with my sis. Wasn't it great, Susie?!!
8. I was the valedictorian of my class.
9. My graduating class had 12 people in it. I guess that "valedictorian in my class" statement doesn't carry much weight anymore!!
10. I had a congenital heart defect fixed in 2000, but because of complications, I have a pacemaker now.
11. I have been on Christian mission trips to Savannah, GA; New Orleans, LA; and New York City.
12. What I hate most about laundry is the sorting and folding of socks.
13. I played basketball in junior high and high school. Because of my basketball "career", have now have a metal pin in my left knee.
14. Growing up, my favorite musical group was The Police. Now it is the Newsboys.
15. I love playing cards and board games. My favorite card game is a German game called Schaffkopf. I also love Sudoku.
16. I am a night owl.
17. I played the flute growing up, but wanted to play the piano.
18. I still own my Hello Kitty stuffed animal that I got in the early '80s. She is still in amazing shape after being repeatedly dropped-kicked by many of my "friends".
19. I had my appendix taken out while in college on my sister's birthday. 5 days later, I was at a U2 concert jumping up and down with my friend Carolyn (shout out to Carolyn!). I'm glad I didn't pop a stitch. Boy, I have had alot of medical issues!!
20. I sleepwalk. And, apparently, I also talk in my sleep.
21. I like to play with my hair by twirling it, etc. It drives people crazy.
22. I was in 4-H growing up.
23. I don't understand the fascination with NASCAR racing, but I love NHRA drag racing.
24. I know my true home is not here on earth, but it awaits me in heaven only because Jesus Christ is my Savior. My goal in life is to not say anything stupid and in everything honor God.
25. I really have no extra time in my life right now. My kids are in alot of sports plus with homeschooling, I can't believe I completed this. But I'm glad I did. Hope you learned something new!!

Smiles,
Kendra

Happy Tuesday!

Today was an unusual day. My kids have piano lessons every Tuesday. Even as their mom, I have to say it is brutal to listen. And I know they could do better if they put their whole heart into it. That is just frustrating.

Anyway, today I had a doctor's appointment, so my husband's aunt took them to their lessons. YIPPEE!! She also kept them all afternoon, so I had a "free" afternoon today. It was great. I was able to get a few things done that I wanted and have a break from schooling.

The "big" thing that I finished was to put up a new curtain and rod in Marilyn's room. I'm pretty proud of that because I got to use power tools!! Brian never lets me do it when he is around. hehehe. We have been redecorating her room for a year now, trying to get the nursery look out and young lady in. Last year we picked out new purple carpet (Aunt Susie is SO JEALOUS). And, just last week, Marilyn and I sponge painted the area stained by the old nursery wall border. It really looks like a young girls room now, and not a baby's.

Tonight we are having a family movie night. Fireproof just came out on DVD and we are going to watch it with the kids.

A friend of mine once said that a blog is boring if there are no pictures. I will try my best to send pictures with every post, but I won't guarantee it. Also, I don't know how often I will post. We will have to wait and see how busy my life is. One of the main reasons for this blog is to keep in contact with my family, so that IS my motivation.

Hope you enjoy your evening,
Kendra

Day One: I'm now blogging!

I'm new to this blogging, so be patient. I'm not sure how to do it yet, so we will see how this goes. I'm just trying to figure out all the template stuff. Yikes!! What I really need to do is go to bed. Tomorrow is a school day!

Do I really have time for this? NO ~ but it is fun. Hope you enjoy just a little bit of my life.