Monday, December 5, 2011
Saturday, December 3, 2011
The Gingerbread Man
London's kindergarten class is doing a fun project with their unit on maps. They are seeing how far and wide this gingerbread man can travel.
If anyone, from near or far, follower or not, would like to help out, all you have to do is send a letter, a postcard, a photo of you with this gingerbread man, something small that might represent where you live, whatever, feel free to be creative! (There are 30 students in London's class if you wish to send something for each one)
If you would like to help London and her class out, just leave me a comment or email me (Kelliehendricks@gmail.com), and I will gladly give you the mailing info.
Thanks all!
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
What I Know Today
- Our greatest trials in life can have a way of becoming, or perhaps leading to, our greatest blessings.
- Where ever you are in life, right now, today- it's perfect. You are exactly where you are supposed to be, doing exactly what God wants you to be doing. Don't question yourself. If something needs to change in your life He will gently let you know...until then, just move forward in the confidence that this is His world. He has allowed everything that is here to be as it is, including you. You belong where you are right now.
- Happiness- true happiness- is not dependent on the situations in your life by which you are surrounded. Society may tell you that if something 'bad' happens to you, you must be sad or unhappy about it, but I have learned that it isn't necessarily so. You have no control over what happens to you, so if you base your happiness on things outside of your grasp you can (and often will) easily lose it. So, what then, is it based on? I think it's based on two things. First and foremost, your relationship with God. Second, your relationship with yourself. Anything else can be lost, so take care where you base your happiness.
Oh, and something else I've learned: I have a hard time posting on here without including some pictures of my sweet little wild child- so here you go...
Monday, November 28, 2011
Sunday Snapshot
I think this is my favorite poem of all time,
it makes me think of those I dearly love.
The photo was taken at
Wheeler Farm-
it is a reflection in the water.
I used Lightroom to give it an impressionistic look.
November 2011.
Sunday, November 13, 2011
Superman
It's the guy all us single ladies are looking for-
strong,
smart,
with a charming, pearly white smile,
and determination to impress.
So what if he's short and bald and a bottle of chocolate milk could very well be his kryptonite?
He's my one and only....
Superman!!!
***
Our super house.
November 2011
***
***
Our super house.
November 2011
***
Monday, November 7, 2011
Sunday, October 23, 2011
Sunday Snapshots
Aaaaahhh...just another peaceful Sunday afternoon...
and I find myself thinking,
"Why is it so quiet?....
And why does my house suddenly smell like baby powder?"
I love how Nathaniel's shoe is in the middle of all this. It's like he's being framed.
Gee...I wonder who could possibly have been here, enjoying the moment?
Yep. Him again.
At least the entry way smells good.
***
October 2011
Our powder fresh foyer.
Monday, October 17, 2011
A Beautiful Mess
This handsome guy is into everything, and what's left after that, too! His favorite place to explore is my bathroom, and all I have to do to bring certain destruction there is leave a drawer open, like I did the other day. Jack found some of my glitter, and I found him, like the little lovechild of a star crossed cherub and a fairy, all sweet and soft and happy, glistening with fairy dust, leaving a sparkling trail behind him where ever he went.
What a beautiful mess!
When he gets older he can tell people,
"I can't help it if everyone notices me. When I was a baby I got covered in my Mommy's glitter, and I've been shining ever since!"
Thursday, October 13, 2011
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
Jake
My cousin Jake passed away on September 29th, and we had his funeral last week . I am so, so sad. Maybe I was in denial, but I really didn't think cancer would take his life. I thought he would for sure beat it with chemo, and live on. I remember him so clearly when he was little- just so cute, with his blond hair and blue eyes and freckles, always tag teaming with his twin, John.
I dream of a world where little blond boys don't have to grow up, and especially don't have to die; but I guess that's what God made heaven for.
This is the message Jake left, and I think it's really special:
20 years may seem a short time...but it was my lifetime.
I may not have lived the life you dreamed for me...
But I lived the life I was meant to live...here
Now I go on to live my life where you cannot see
...which doesn't mean it won't be awesome!
Perhaps the only part that's not fair is that
I get to see you...but you can't see me.
I can run and not be weary, walk and not faint...jealous yet?
I can leap buildings in a single bound and walk through walls!
I can fly with eagles and visit the many wonders of the earth.
I can visit with all your relatives that have passed on before me.
You still have some time left here...
BE AWESOME!
(Amen, Jake. You rock, cuz. And I'm totally jealous.)
To read more about his story or to make a donation to help with his medical expenses, you can visit his blog
"There are far, far better things ahead
than any we leave behind."
-C.S. Lewis
 | |||||||||||
| These photos were taken about a week before his passing. |
Sunday, September 25, 2011
Sunday Snapshots- City Center Park
The kids play in sunny City Center Park
on a Perfect Sunday.
September 2011
Feel free to link up today.
Saturday, September 24, 2011
Door Number Two
I once heard what was supposed to be a true story about a dictator. The man was renowned to be very powerful, and evil, and the rumors of the things he did to his prisoners made even the bravest of men quake with fear.
Of his people, thousands were justly, or unjustly, imprisoned and sentenced to death. Out of the dungeons they each were taken, one by one, to face this man who was so greatly feared. They stood before him, knowing that these were the last moments of their life, believing that the existence they had known for so long was quickly drawing to a bitter end.
The dictator looked each one in the eye and gave them a choice: behind door number one, death by firing squad...or, the prisoner could take their chances and choose door number two. What was behind door number two? One would never know until one opened it and walked through.
Can you imagine the agony of having to make such a decision? What was behind door number two? A torture chamber? Starving vicious animals? A pit of snakes and rats? Something worse than all those combined? The answer might be something so terrible it could dwell only beyond the wildest of imaginations.
Of the thousands who stood and faced this evil man, all but two went willingly to their deaths, choosing Door Number One. This is the fear of the unknown at work. Sure, death by firing squad was a horrible thing, but it was guaranteed, it was certain. How much worse could the unknown be? Uncertainty can be a very terrifying and unsettling thing...worse, even, than a swift and sure death.
I have spent the last year and a half standing before two doors. I knew what was lying behind door number one. It wasn't what I wanted, but it was familiar; it was certain. It may have been painful, but at least I knew what was there. And what was behind Door Number Two? The rumors that circulated about it in the dungeon were chilling. My word- it could be anything! It could be something so awful, so terrifying, I could imagine myself screaming and weeping and wailing, on my knees begging for door number one, pleading for another chance.
I stood there, my knees shaking, my heart in my throat, pounding so hard, my whole body shook to it's tempo...and against the odds I chose... Door Number Two. The guards came, and unlocked the chains with which I was bound. I rubbed my wrists where they were red and raw, and the dictator looked me in the eye, challenging my decision.
"Are you sure? Door Number Two? This is your last chance. There will be no going back once the decision has been made."
I took a deep breath, "I'm sure," I replied.
He nodded, and smiled, and gestured toward the door.
"Go, then."
I walked slowly towards uncertainty, barely breathing, my footsteps echoing off the walls. I cannot describe the fear I felt in this moment. The sheer terror was like nothing I have ever experienced in my life. I believed I was going to suffer. I thought it would be painful... but Door Number One...it just wasn't for me. I knew that, too.
I stood there for a moment, my hand on the cold metal handle, and I listened for what might be on the other side. I could hear no screams, no animals growling, I was listening to nothing but the sound of my own breathing. Here I was, still breathing! The thought gave me confidence, and I found myself turning the latch. Being past the point of no return; I pushed door Number Two open wide and walked into the darkness, never looking back. I heard the door swing shut behind me with a final resonating click.
I closed my eyes and waited for whatever monster that was lurking here to find me. I thought I was going to die. In that moment, I felt so alone, so sad, and so scared- and yet- it felt good to take a chance, to face my fears, and in a small way, make the life that had been stolen from me, my own.
A silence, a stillness surrounded me. Curiosity overcame fear and I opened my eyes to find myself standing at the end of a long, dark corridor. And what was that coming from the other end of the hallway? Was it...could it be...daylight? I smiled and fell to my knees and thanked God for the gift of light he allowed me. I may be headed towards death, but this last glimpse of a piece of the sun filled my soul with joy. When I was done praying, I found my feet again and walked toward the light. I wondered, as my footsteps sounded sharp and hollow against the stone floor, what was lurking in the shadows, what sort of hideous trap this might be; but somehow, it didn't matter; God was near. I could feel His angels holding me up, and if this was the end, so be it. So be it.
It felt miraculous as I reached the other side of the long corridor unharmed. The light poured in through a high window above a heavy metal door. Would this door open? Was I trapped? Was this some sort of sick joke, this taste of sunlight? Was the firing squad waiting for me on the other side?
With another deep breath, I tried the handle and pushed the door open with ease. A fresh breeze swept sweetly past me, and the sunlight poured down upon my face as I looked up into the sky. Oh, the sky! That beautiful, clear blue sky! I was standing in a green field, and I blinked, reveling in it's beauty as I waited for the sound of gunfire. Moments passed, and all I could hear was the melody of chirping birds.
Bring it on, I thought, no amount of pain can take away the beauty of this moment.
Time passed and I began to grow warm as the sunshine thawed my hands, my feet, from the icy cold that lingered from the dungeon. Still, only the song of the birds surrounded me. Where was the pain, the suffering I was supposed to be experiencing? Here, there was only beauty, only...freedom.
Could this be real? How long would this feeling last?
There was a thick green forest at the edge of the meadow. Again, I found my courage and walked towards it, expecting a bullet in my back at any moment. But, nothing, there was nothing but me, and the birds, and the meadow and the woods and blue sky and the sunshine and God.
Like the other two prisoners, I had taken the risk of the unknown, and in return, I gained my freedom. It came, this beautiful, cherished gift- a second chance at life- and filled me with happiness. I yelled, hoping my fellow inmates could hear my voice. I told them that I was alright, I was free, and that my life had become something better than I could ever had expected. I told them it was a lie- the fear, the imagined pain- that freedom and happiness were there all along, if only they had the courage to choose Door Number Two.
And in the story of the dictator, that is exactly what was behind that second door- glorious freedom. He just let who ever wanted to go, go.
Of his people, thousands were justly, or unjustly, imprisoned and sentenced to death. Out of the dungeons they each were taken, one by one, to face this man who was so greatly feared. They stood before him, knowing that these were the last moments of their life, believing that the existence they had known for so long was quickly drawing to a bitter end.
The dictator looked each one in the eye and gave them a choice: behind door number one, death by firing squad...or, the prisoner could take their chances and choose door number two. What was behind door number two? One would never know until one opened it and walked through.
Can you imagine the agony of having to make such a decision? What was behind door number two? A torture chamber? Starving vicious animals? A pit of snakes and rats? Something worse than all those combined? The answer might be something so terrible it could dwell only beyond the wildest of imaginations.
Of the thousands who stood and faced this evil man, all but two went willingly to their deaths, choosing Door Number One. This is the fear of the unknown at work. Sure, death by firing squad was a horrible thing, but it was guaranteed, it was certain. How much worse could the unknown be? Uncertainty can be a very terrifying and unsettling thing...worse, even, than a swift and sure death.
I have spent the last year and a half standing before two doors. I knew what was lying behind door number one. It wasn't what I wanted, but it was familiar; it was certain. It may have been painful, but at least I knew what was there. And what was behind Door Number Two? The rumors that circulated about it in the dungeon were chilling. My word- it could be anything! It could be something so awful, so terrifying, I could imagine myself screaming and weeping and wailing, on my knees begging for door number one, pleading for another chance.
I stood there, my knees shaking, my heart in my throat, pounding so hard, my whole body shook to it's tempo...and against the odds I chose... Door Number Two. The guards came, and unlocked the chains with which I was bound. I rubbed my wrists where they were red and raw, and the dictator looked me in the eye, challenging my decision.
"Are you sure? Door Number Two? This is your last chance. There will be no going back once the decision has been made."
I took a deep breath, "I'm sure," I replied.
He nodded, and smiled, and gestured toward the door.
"Go, then."
I walked slowly towards uncertainty, barely breathing, my footsteps echoing off the walls. I cannot describe the fear I felt in this moment. The sheer terror was like nothing I have ever experienced in my life. I believed I was going to suffer. I thought it would be painful... but Door Number One...it just wasn't for me. I knew that, too.
I stood there for a moment, my hand on the cold metal handle, and I listened for what might be on the other side. I could hear no screams, no animals growling, I was listening to nothing but the sound of my own breathing. Here I was, still breathing! The thought gave me confidence, and I found myself turning the latch. Being past the point of no return; I pushed door Number Two open wide and walked into the darkness, never looking back. I heard the door swing shut behind me with a final resonating click.
I closed my eyes and waited for whatever monster that was lurking here to find me. I thought I was going to die. In that moment, I felt so alone, so sad, and so scared- and yet- it felt good to take a chance, to face my fears, and in a small way, make the life that had been stolen from me, my own.
A silence, a stillness surrounded me. Curiosity overcame fear and I opened my eyes to find myself standing at the end of a long, dark corridor. And what was that coming from the other end of the hallway? Was it...could it be...daylight? I smiled and fell to my knees and thanked God for the gift of light he allowed me. I may be headed towards death, but this last glimpse of a piece of the sun filled my soul with joy. When I was done praying, I found my feet again and walked toward the light. I wondered, as my footsteps sounded sharp and hollow against the stone floor, what was lurking in the shadows, what sort of hideous trap this might be; but somehow, it didn't matter; God was near. I could feel His angels holding me up, and if this was the end, so be it. So be it.
It felt miraculous as I reached the other side of the long corridor unharmed. The light poured in through a high window above a heavy metal door. Would this door open? Was I trapped? Was this some sort of sick joke, this taste of sunlight? Was the firing squad waiting for me on the other side?
With another deep breath, I tried the handle and pushed the door open with ease. A fresh breeze swept sweetly past me, and the sunlight poured down upon my face as I looked up into the sky. Oh, the sky! That beautiful, clear blue sky! I was standing in a green field, and I blinked, reveling in it's beauty as I waited for the sound of gunfire. Moments passed, and all I could hear was the melody of chirping birds.
Bring it on, I thought, no amount of pain can take away the beauty of this moment.
Time passed and I began to grow warm as the sunshine thawed my hands, my feet, from the icy cold that lingered from the dungeon. Still, only the song of the birds surrounded me. Where was the pain, the suffering I was supposed to be experiencing? Here, there was only beauty, only...freedom.
Could this be real? How long would this feeling last?
There was a thick green forest at the edge of the meadow. Again, I found my courage and walked towards it, expecting a bullet in my back at any moment. But, nothing, there was nothing but me, and the birds, and the meadow and the woods and blue sky and the sunshine and God.
Like the other two prisoners, I had taken the risk of the unknown, and in return, I gained my freedom. It came, this beautiful, cherished gift- a second chance at life- and filled me with happiness. I yelled, hoping my fellow inmates could hear my voice. I told them that I was alright, I was free, and that my life had become something better than I could ever had expected. I told them it was a lie- the fear, the imagined pain- that freedom and happiness were there all along, if only they had the courage to choose Door Number Two.
And in the story of the dictator, that is exactly what was behind that second door- glorious freedom. He just let who ever wanted to go, go.
Here's to living in the unknown!
Life is just...so good!
Sunday, September 18, 2011
Sunday Snapshot
Nathaniel and his cousin Alexander play Pokemon cards together
as Old Faithful begins to erupt in the background.
Yellowstone National Park
June 2011
Sunday, September 11, 2011
Sunday Snapshots- Captain Jack on the deck
One of Jack's favorite things to do all summer is play out on the back deck. We go out there together and throw the ball around, or play on the slides. He is obsessed with the 'doddy' and asks for her starting first thing in the morning, and it continues all day long. I love it.
September 2011
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