Karsyn, 3mos old!!!

Karsyn, 3mos old!!!

Kennady & Karsyn (3mos old!!!)

Karsyn, 3mos old!!!

what do you see?

If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love. “These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full. This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. John 15:10-12

My girlfriend, Amy, over at Meanwhile Back at the Ranch posted an illustration you need to see and a post you HAVE to read about her and her sister. (I love them both!) After seeing her post, I wanted to upload this illustration, too. I had such an emotional response to these renderings of Jesus in action (total tummy flip). Both are so emotive... affective... poignant... so... real.

When I look at this, I see:
PURE. JOY.

And that's really what I find in Him.
What do you see in this illustration?

true fashion

I am learning a few things about style from my daughter:

1-Always give clothing the twirl test. If it twirls, then clearly it's made beautifully and definitely worth wearing.

2-Always dress for several occasions all at once. You never know when you'll simultaneously need to twirl, run really fast, hide in pink bushes from the neon police, be prepared to meet the queen (wearing a couple pseudo-boas and the oh-so-affordable faux satin) in the rain, not to mention ride in on your stick horse in high style.

3-One layer is never enough.

4-This may seem redundant, but honestly, one can never have too many layers, especially in the summer months with temperatures averaging 90 degrees.

5-Always wear what makes YOU feel beautiful.

(please note:
there's also a fancy polka-dot dress
underneath the lovely neon long-sleeve jammie gown;
this outfit best suited for bicycle riding thru the neighborhood)

My cheeks hurt from smiling the whole time I'm uploading these photos. She is so funny. She just walked in here... (library/quiet time is over and it's time to make lunch together), and she sees these photos up on the screen...

"Oh! (high pitched exclamation) Now that's a cute outfit, Mom. Yes, I do like that black shirt. (pause) Can I wear that black shirt, Mom? And those black pants, where do we find some of those?"

LOL. I'm sure the black top and bottom she's looking for as I finish this up will beautifully complement the apparel she's wearing right this moment: the pink-on-pink track jacket (seen above), her favorite green twirly dress (also pictured above... and mentionably totally vintage Wendy Doschades couture -- that's my mama -- custom made for me 26 years ago), and a pair of yellow long underwear style pajama bottoms.

If you need style advice, refer to Kennady's top 5 tips. (Here's another tip: you can never go wrong when you "put on Christ." Romans 13:14)

Backwards

My little man Kev is so funny.
This is his favorite hat.

And I don't think he's ever worn it with the bill facing forward.

And actually this is how he wears every hat. Whether it's a stocking cap or a ball cap, if it can go on backwards, that's how he wears it. We were in the front yard the other day and this is Kev, getting ready to take off in his Little Tikes mini-van...

Even the bike helmet goes on backwards. He's so funny!

My green eyed little man.
**tummy flop**

My man.

This is my man.
And this is one of my favorite pics of my man.

It was taken March '07 when we had our first hint of spring. We Trenkles (Party of 5 at the time) were all playing in the backyard. Kev was in a walker to keep all 9mos of him out of trouble. Kennady was off sucking her thumb in the shadows. Bryson was batting. You were pitching. That's why you look all tough in this photo in your sexy ball cap. Yeah, I digg that ball cap. And I really digg how you love to play with our babes. You are SUCH a good dad!

Hey, Babe.
Just wanted you to know:

You are an amazing husband.
You walk in integrity, you love Jesus passionately.
You are funny and smart.
You are logical and wise.
You are my best friend.
You are my love.
I am so glad I get to "do" life as your wife.
Thank you for doing your best to understand me.
Thank you for listening while I talk.
Thank you for talking so I can listen.
I love your sunflower eyes.
I trust you. I respect you.
I appreciate you.

Thank you for
providing this home
and this family,
thru God,
for me.

I am in awe of His goodness toward me.
Happy Birthday, Schwann, Happy Birthday.

I am yours and you are mine.
Beloveds.

Goals

Yesterday morning my kids and I took a walk right after breakfast. The big kids rode the big kid bikes, Kevan sat in the stroller, with me pushing all 32 lbs of him and little miss Karsyn in the Bjorn front-pack. It was perfect set-up and a gorgeous day.

Sometimes my tummy does flip-flops when I look at my babes. I just love 'em so much. And Bryson was in the lead, Kennady trailing behind and my tummy did one of those flops of overflowing love/joy/gratitude and I just felt the Lord whisper to me, "Pray for them." (Especially after I'd read a few posts from Summer and Bethany the other day, I felt really encouraged to spend MORE purposeful time doing that. I am always begging the Lord for His help and wisdom and strength to be consistent in my parenting, to be discerning, to know how to shepherd their hearts instead of just trying to change their behaviors. But I want to be more of a prayer warrior FOR my kids AS I'm simultaneously asking the Lord to help me in my mothering of them.)

One of the things I pray over Bryson is that he will be a Leader for his brother and sisters. Also that he would love the Lord with all of his heart and mind and soul and strength. That he would be a boy who wants to serve others cheerfully, that he would be an encourager for his siblings. A friend of mine has been telling this to her oldest son who is now in high school... "Be the Leader for your generation. Follow Christ. Be the example." And when she shared that, it was like Yesssss. I will build my son up in that way, speaking that wisdom into his life. And he loves to be reminded that he's the Leader and his heart breaks over his sin when he stumbles into disobedience. His heart is tender toward the things of the Lord.

I have had the same prayer for Kennady since she was just an infant... that she would know the love of the Perfect Father. That she would embrace His gift of Life and that she would use her giftings (whatever they may be) to glorify Him and bless everyone around her.

I have nothing but a bunch of praisin' for Jesus when I pray for my baby kitten... Karsyn has come out of her little fussy phase. She sleeps through the night. She naps four or five times during the day. She's cooing and smiling... until she's through with that and then she wants to sleep again. RIGHT NOW, Mama!

I pray that Karsyn continues to grow up healthy and strong and that she, too, would know the love of the Perfect Father.

I love my little man, Kev. He is so sweet and funny and just a character. I've been praying that he would continue to grow strong, that he would respond to correction with a repentant heart, that he would be a hard worker with a cheerful heart. And that his vocabulary would grow! LOL...

As we were walking, I just talked his little ears off about what I was seeing and what he was seeing and pointing to. He's getting better at mimicking. But he really is a one-word-kinda-guy. ("Dude" is his response in most conversations with him and that single word summarizes entire events at times. Although, I have to give him kudos for adding two add'l monosyllabic words to his English: YUP and NOPE. Right on, Kev, right on!)

Anyway, as we walked, I asked him, "Kevan, what do you want to be when you grow up?" And he shouted, [in his usual conversational tone of 10,000 decibals] "DOH!" Which is Kev-speak for DOG. So yeah, everyone's gotta have goals and that's Kev's. He wants to be a canine.

**Huge Grin and a Tummy Flop here**

Thank you, Jesus, for my sweet children. I love that you picked me to be the mom of them! I pray you would continue to prompt me to intercede for their hearts and souls more and more and more and more! Thank You that You hold them in your righteous right hand. May we always seek to usher them into Your arms, that they would see their need for You and Your mercy and Your grace and Your unfailing love. Help us to train them up in the way they should go... give us eyes to see exactly how You've fashioned them, so that we can encourage them in their giftings and strengths. Help us to be consistent in our parenting and yet mindful of each one's individuality. We need You to direct our path. (Especially if one wants to grow up and live in a kennel!)

"Train up a child in the way he should go [and in keeping with his individual gift or bent], and when he is old he will not depart from it." Proverbs 22:6 Amplified Bible