Sunday, May 27, 2012

Closing This Door

After some updates on life at present for us Kernses, I am going back underground...AKA offline.  Blogging here has been fun and therapeutic, but I'm ready to close this "open book".  What a blessed journey this life is.

Garon:  35.  4 years now at USA Truck, and has taken on multiple management hats after another supervisor had a terrible accident a few weeks back...(On his way to Fort Smith from Springdale, "Phil" came upon an accident.  He got out of his vehicle to help and was hit by another car.  He is now recovering after multiple surgeries...many breaks from the waist down, plus broken arm, plus 300+ stitches to head, and I don't know what else.)  I love my G, and I am thankful that he is a husband who loves his family and works hard to provide for us.  After all this time together, I'm still crazy about him.

Me:  32.  Thanks to Grandma Marcia, I am back in college working toward  my master's in counseling.  Next year (2012-2013 school year) I will be part-time Title 1 Reading teacher for 3rd-6th grade and part-time counselor for K-6.  My schooling and career have been orchestrated by God from the get-go, and I am amazed to look back at how He has led me from a spirit of discontent to a place where I want to be still.  County Line has been (and I know will continue to be) one of the greatest blessings in my life.  The people and culture there have grown more and more precious to me, and though I've fought it, I am coming to accept it as a place to grow roots. 

Tori:  10.  Wow, my Tori.  She is my light and my constant challenge. So smart, so sweet, so special.  God's Grace..Reflection on her story is hard for this mama's heart.  I'm profoundly in love with her, and I thank God for entrusting us with her.  5th grade next year, fixated right now on dolphins and Perry the Platypus, and loves life.  She is vibrant, playful, inquisitive, beautiful.  She does not love math, and we'll be working on that this summer.  What a girl...

Adrion:  4.  My spunky, rambunctious, tender-hearted, precious little boy.  He loves his mama, and the feeling is mutual.  He started pre-K at County Line the last three weeks of school to guarantee a spot next year.  More blessings...next year my two kids will be with me where we will work and learn together.  Awesome...His favorites right now are Buzz Lightyear, the Power Rangers, and his blankies.  He is also very interested in outer space and rockets. 

And that's a brief picture of us in this fleeting moment of time.  I look forward to what's next with an open mind and a humble heart.  In my spiritual journey right now, here is where my heart is:

Colossians 3

English Standard Version (ESV)

Put On the New Self

If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your[a] life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.
Put to death therefore what is earthly in you:[b] sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. On account of these the wrath of God is coming.[c] In these you too once walked, when you were living in them. But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self[d] with its practices 10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator. 11  Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave,[e] free; but Christ is all, and in all.
12  Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, 13  bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. 14 And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. 15 And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. 17 And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Monday, March 12, 2012

Spring Orchestra...

...from my iphone...no image (except neighbor's light), so just for your listening pleasure...

Sunday, March 4, 2012

Tuesday, February 21, 2012

Lent 2012

Giving up "negativity".  :)  No negative thoughts, feelings, actions.  Garon is sweet and doesn't think I'm negative in the first place, but I am.  There are certain times when I am a decidedly "Negative Nelli".  I will fail, but that's the point...When I do, I will reflect, pray, and rest in God's grace.  So blessed, so thankful, and so in love with life!

Monday, February 13, 2012

Snow Day!

AKA...Homework Day!  I have some catch-up to do, and I'm thankful for the extra TIME!  But first, the kids dragged me out of bed and into the snow...
Bill's Pond

Bill's Hay bales

The beginning of a snowman...

Snow Dogs

Sunday, February 12, 2012

Melancholy...

...has taken hold tonight.  Thinking of my beautiful sis and how special she is in my life.  One of God's amazing gifts for me.  Though we're nearly four years apart, I feel like we shared the womb, like we were one and only entry onto this earth broke us apart.  Our hearts are alike.  Our fears are alike.  Our chemistry is alike.  Our spirits are alike...hard to describe.  So glad she's mine.  I love her.

Wednesday, February 8, 2012

Reminiscing

Sat. Feb. 9th, 2008...Around lunchtime...Getting ready to take Tori to Nonna and Pops.  Labor will be induced tomorrow, and Tori is staying with them for a few days.

1:45 PM...Garon and I leave the house to drop Tori off.  On a whim, I tell Garon to go ahead and put the packed hospital bag in the car.

2:15 PM...Taco Bell for me.

2:30 PM...Braum's ice cream for Tori

Shortly after 3:00...We meet Nonna and Pops and drop off Tori.


3 something...Arrive in Van Buren to visit Ty and Stacie.  Contractions start about 5 minutes apart.

3:30ish...We leave Van Buren headed to hospital.

4ish...Admitted to observation room at hospital.  I ask for epidural to be ordered.  Nurse says dismissively, "Okay, we will" and leaves the room.

4-later-ish...I tell Garon "I'm not getting an epidural."  Garon says, "Yes you will.  Don't worry."  I steel myself for no-drugs labor.

4:35ish...I'm finally being wheeled to a delivery room.  When I get there, I have to crawl onto another bed.  Nurses are trying to start an IV and telling me not to push.  Doctor Muylaert is not there.  No doctor is there.

4:39ish...Doctor McClanahan is pulled in from the floor.

4:40...Adrion is born.  Nurses get IV in place.

4:45...Doctor Muylaert walks in.

4:50ish...Garon calls family to tell them Adrion is here.  No one believes him. :)

Now, Feb. 8, 2012...I'm still reeling from the wild ride of Adrion's birth.  I lived it, but it was so fast and furious that it seemed surreal.  Also surreal is that tomorrow Adrion will be 4.  I love him to pieces, and I am so proud of him and his beautiful big sister.  Thank you, God, for my children.