Merry Christmas! Isn't it wonderful to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ?
I guess I should start off by saying that Richard and I have been blessed with many friends throughout the years. We are so thankful for all of you whether we met during our days at BHS, Camp Presmont, Kendra's time at Muskingum, Richard's Navy years, these last 4 years in the Valley or any place in between . . . . We love you! However, there are a lot of you, and instead of cutting friends from our Christmas list (because who can afford $300 to send out cards), we decided to do an online diddy this year.
2009 has been a great year! It's the first year in the past 5 that we haven't added or were expecting to add a new baby, but our lives are very full with the three we have: Evelyn (4 1/2), Riley (almost 3), and Giovanna (Gigi - 1).
Evelyn
Evelyn is such a blessing and a great big sister. Four has been a big transition for us - we went from having a toddler to a little girl in the past year. We are trial -running homeschooling with preschool. Evelyn is well-advanced for her age. I introduced reading to her in September and she picked it right up! Our biggest trouble is cleaning up after ourselves! We're working on that though. I love her sweet, nurturing nature. She loves caring for Gigi, and helps me by folding towels. She started ballet this year and just loves it. She really wants to start music lessons and I think she's ready. Evelyn can not wait to be on-stage with her Daddy (playing guitar and singing, of course). We'll see!
Riley
Our sweet middle child, definately walks to the beat of her own drum. She plays nicely with her sisters but will also play for hours by herself. As I write this, she walked out of the bedroom wearing a dress, tights, two t-shirts, a ball cap, and a stethoscope around her waist. She loves cooking and playing with babies. It's amazing how the younger children just learn things that you bothered to teach to the oldest. Riley learned her colors without any help from me. She and Evelyn both love to paint their finger nails and we've just gotten into fixing our hair.
Giovanna
Gigi has been ahead of the game since she could climb out of her Bumbo at 4 months. She started crawling at 6 months. I went to get her out of her crib two days later and she was standing - holding onto the railing. Her goal was to run (away from me) as soon possible, and she was right on track when she started walking at 9 months. And now, she bolts out the front door whenever someone opens it. The little peanut was still wearing 3-6 months clothes at 1 year, so I guess she figures she needs to be fiesty. She has been adding new words to her vocabulary every day; some of her favorites are: Dora, Boots, and Map! What joy she has brought into our lives!
Kendra and Richard
Wow! How do I even get started on the craziness of our lives? Well, I guess it all started when we decided to build this basement. In May, we celebrated the one year anniversary of living in our own home! While we love it, are so thankful for it, and love it, we also realize that it would be very difficult to raise three (and hopefully someday more) children in a two-bedroom, 900 sq ft abode with a rubber roof. So we set up a five year plan to pay off all of our debt (some $50,000+). And I am proud to announce that just 18 months in, we are over half-way to our goal!
We've been reaching that goal by working 5 'jobs' between the two of us! Richard finished his fourth year with Cintas in September, and he's also going to school online with Liberty University full-time using his Montgomery GI bill. The GI bill has been a huge blessing, not only are they paying Richard to go to school, but he is getting closer to his dream of becoming a worship pastor one day. He also has been leading worship at Bethlehem Presbyterian Church in Wheeling, WV on Saturday evenings. In addition to continuing my work as the youth director at Calvary Church in St. Clairsville, I also have been teaching as an adjunct math instructor at Belmont Technical College. I love teaching! I just teach one to two class a quarter, so it's perfect for me to still stay home with the girls. So yeah . . . we're crazy.
Our life is more full when you factor in Affix, Richard's band. When Richard and Eric (my cousin/Richard' friend) had this dream to start a Christian rock band, I really thought it would only last a few years, but we're 4 years in and still going. Richard and Eric are the only remaining original members and as Affix has layered in members, so have we friends. They recorded their first CD this year, an EP entitled Right Where You Are (you can buy a copy on their website http://www.rockaffix.com/ or download it from itunes). I'm so proud of them!
We're still managing to take time for each other in the midst of it all! And as always, trying to keep Jesus right in the center. I've really been overwhelmed by grace this past year - realizing that my own standards of a perfect life are nothing compared to following Jesus and living under his grace. My life will never be perfect, but HIS love is!
Our life is very full, but not too full to hear from you! Please leave comments, write, email, text, call, facebook . . . whatever it is you do! We'd love to hear from you.
Much Love,
The Kendle's: Richard, Kendra, Evelyn, Riley, and Gigi
I guess I should start off by saying that Richard and I have been blessed with many friends throughout the years. We are so thankful for all of you whether we met during our days at BHS, Camp Presmont, Kendra's time at Muskingum, Richard's Navy years, these last 4 years in the Valley or any place in between . . . . We love you! However, there are a lot of you, and instead of cutting friends from our Christmas list (because who can afford $300 to send out cards), we decided to do an online diddy this year.
2009 has been a great year! It's the first year in the past 5 that we haven't added or were expecting to add a new baby, but our lives are very full with the three we have: Evelyn (4 1/2), Riley (almost 3), and Giovanna (Gigi - 1).
Evelyn
Evelyn is such a blessing and a great big sister. Four has been a big transition for us - we went from having a toddler to a little girl in the past year. We are trial -running homeschooling with preschool. Evelyn is well-advanced for her age. I introduced reading to her in September and she picked it right up! Our biggest trouble is cleaning up after ourselves! We're working on that though. I love her sweet, nurturing nature. She loves caring for Gigi, and helps me by folding towels. She started ballet this year and just loves it. She really wants to start music lessons and I think she's ready. Evelyn can not wait to be on-stage with her Daddy (playing guitar and singing, of course). We'll see!
Riley
Our sweet middle child, definately walks to the beat of her own drum. She plays nicely with her sisters but will also play for hours by herself. As I write this, she walked out of the bedroom wearing a dress, tights, two t-shirts, a ball cap, and a stethoscope around her waist. She loves cooking and playing with babies. It's amazing how the younger children just learn things that you bothered to teach to the oldest. Riley learned her colors without any help from me. She and Evelyn both love to paint their finger nails and we've just gotten into fixing our hair.
Giovanna
Gigi has been ahead of the game since she could climb out of her Bumbo at 4 months. She started crawling at 6 months. I went to get her out of her crib two days later and she was standing - holding onto the railing. Her goal was to run (away from me) as soon possible, and she was right on track when she started walking at 9 months. And now, she bolts out the front door whenever someone opens it. The little peanut was still wearing 3-6 months clothes at 1 year, so I guess she figures she needs to be fiesty. She has been adding new words to her vocabulary every day; some of her favorites are: Dora, Boots, and Map! What joy she has brought into our lives!
Kendra and Richard
Wow! How do I even get started on the craziness of our lives? Well, I guess it all started when we decided to build this basement. In May, we celebrated the one year anniversary of living in our own home! While we love it, are so thankful for it, and love it, we also realize that it would be very difficult to raise three (and hopefully someday more) children in a two-bedroom, 900 sq ft abode with a rubber roof. So we set up a five year plan to pay off all of our debt (some $50,000+). And I am proud to announce that just 18 months in, we are over half-way to our goal!
We've been reaching that goal by working 5 'jobs' between the two of us! Richard finished his fourth year with Cintas in September, and he's also going to school online with Liberty University full-time using his Montgomery GI bill. The GI bill has been a huge blessing, not only are they paying Richard to go to school, but he is getting closer to his dream of becoming a worship pastor one day. He also has been leading worship at Bethlehem Presbyterian Church in Wheeling, WV on Saturday evenings. In addition to continuing my work as the youth director at Calvary Church in St. Clairsville, I also have been teaching as an adjunct math instructor at Belmont Technical College. I love teaching! I just teach one to two class a quarter, so it's perfect for me to still stay home with the girls. So yeah . . . we're crazy.
Our life is more full when you factor in Affix, Richard's band. When Richard and Eric (my cousin/Richard' friend) had this dream to start a Christian rock band, I really thought it would only last a few years, but we're 4 years in and still going. Richard and Eric are the only remaining original members and as Affix has layered in members, so have we friends. They recorded their first CD this year, an EP entitled Right Where You Are (you can buy a copy on their website http://www.rockaffix.com/ or download it from itunes). I'm so proud of them!
We're still managing to take time for each other in the midst of it all! And as always, trying to keep Jesus right in the center. I've really been overwhelmed by grace this past year - realizing that my own standards of a perfect life are nothing compared to following Jesus and living under his grace. My life will never be perfect, but HIS love is!
Our life is very full, but not too full to hear from you! Please leave comments, write, email, text, call, facebook . . . whatever it is you do! We'd love to hear from you.
Much Love,
The Kendle's: Richard, Kendra, Evelyn, Riley, and Gigi
