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Just Live Your Life With Your Kids
By Kendra | January 1, 2009
I wrote the following post several weeks ago, not knowing that yesterday our five-year-old would fracture her pelvis in two places, the result of hopping out of the van as I parked it in the driveway. We have returned after 24 hours of ERs, ambulances, and hospitals to a month of rest for her (can’t put a cast on a pelvis) and again, boundless thankfulness to God for preserving a child of ours yet again.
One of the PICU doctors who treated Mighty Joe’s Enterovirus this past summer visited us today before our little girl was discharged. I don’t know if this skilled man of medicine whom we have come to respect and appreciate greatly believes in the God of the Bible, but as we stood and talked today about the fact that two of our children’s lives were spared in 2008, he said, “Thank God”.
Yes, thank God!
———
I’ve done a lot of thinking these past few weeks I haven’t been blogging. My husband and I have been mulling many things over, including our parenting, our children, and our family life.
We’ve been homeschooling for 12 years now, and we’ve seen many things come and go. We’ve jumped on a few bandwagons ourselves, some to our detriment, others to our benefit. Here’s the thing: there is no one right method of parenting/homeschooling/churching for every family. Some of us get so caught up in a system, an ideology, or a paradigm that we can’t just live life.
Ever since Mighty Joe battled fiercely for his seven-week-old life, my whole entire perspective has changed. I feel ill-equipped to give anyone advice. Some of you have emailed me over the break asking for my opinion or wisdom and you know it took me weeks to reply. I just don’t feel worthy of that position. You’re free to continue emailing me, but do so with the understanding that I don’t have all the answers. Actually, I only have one: love God.
And live your life! Boldly! With great joy! Passionately!
Because as my dear friend Heather whose husband Eric passed away a year ago this month will tell you, there are no guarantees. Their family took up Point of Grace’s How You Live as their theme song. That never seemed so poignAnt as the night we knew Eric was not going to live another day on this earth.
“Make peace with God, make peace with yourself. Because in the end, there’s nobody else…”
Happy to be back sharing my life with you all-
~Kendra
Topics: Uncategorized | 37 Comments »
January 1st, 2009 at 2:33 am
I’m happy you’re back, too! We’ll be praying for your sweet little girl, especially that she really will rest!
Thank you for your honesty about answers and whether or not you have them. It’s encouraging to me to know that you are still growing, too; I mean that in a good way!
Thank you for letting me be part of your growing process.
January 1st, 2009 at 5:42 am
I’ve been visiting your website for several months now and rejoice with you at God’s goodness. I hope you don’t feel pressure to give your readers the ‘right’ answer. I think many of us come here hoping to learn for your ‘experience’ as many of us are just starting to homeschool, starting to raise children, just starting to experience many things you have gone through time and time again. I thank you for the you tidbits of info you share. We need to be able to go to those people who have the same attitude, thoughts, and ambitions on how to raise and teach our children in a Godly fashion. There are few examples out there!! I hope you will continue to feel led to share what you have learned as you grow in Christ….As a mother of 3 little ones, and almost through my first year of homeschooling, I need Godly women to learn from as I continue to grow in Christ myself. Thank you and I pray you have a very blessed 2009!
January 1st, 2009 at 6:36 am
Great post!!! Thanks for the reminder.
January 1st, 2009 at 7:43 am
that was beautiful & something i’m constantly wanting to be reminded of!
“enjoy them now” (in each “now” phase they go through!), “there are no one-size fits all (even in the same family)” & “Love God over all else”.
Can never be reminded enough!
January 1st, 2009 at 7:51 am
Happy New Year Kendra and praise God for His mercy!!! I am glad to hear your little lady is “okay”. I’m sure a fractured pelvis doesn’t feel exactly okay to her, but from a mother’s perspective it is awesome compared to other outcomes!
May the Lord continue to bless you this year and keep you and your family in the palm of His hand. And even if you don’t feel qualified to give advice…you are still a wonderful encouragement to many of us:-) Your faith and trust in God has shined through!
Lots of love,
Sommer
January 1st, 2009 at 8:11 am
I for one am happy that you are back sharing your life with us as well…sure you do not have all the answers, but God indeed does and He has used you greatly in my head and heart, especially with these words: “there is no one right method of parenting/homeschooling/churching for every family. Some of us get so caught up in a system, an ideology, or a paradigm that we can’t just live life.” I have been struggling with where I fit in, so to speak in the homeschooling/parenting/churching etc…more so in my life this past year as I watch how it works for others, but I just could not figure out why their way was not working for me…with my husbands leading and helping me to get grounded again, and your words I will purpose this year to do as you said and as my husband has been trying to say to me for a while now…that is to live life loving God!!!
If none if that made sense to you…it does to me, and just know that I appreciate your words of wisdom whether or not you believe they are wise words…
Thank you!
Kelly
January 1st, 2009 at 9:30 am
Thanks for this reminder!!! I read a similiar view of this in the Duggar family book 20 and counting…. What a timely reminder when I’m in the midst of toodlerhood!!
January 1st, 2009 at 9:59 am
You wrote about the accident, er trip, etc. so calmly! How do you do that? I pray that your little dear will heal quickly and well. And thanks for the advice!
January 1st, 2009 at 10:00 am
Thank you for this reminder. Very much needed here. I’m so sorry about your daughter and the trauma you all have been through this year!!! So thankful that God has spared your children, and praying for a much better, and more healthy 2009 for you all!
January 1st, 2009 at 10:09 am
I’m always calm and level-headed during an incident, but I fall apart when it’s over. That’s what today is for me- I’m weepy, exhausted, and rehashing everything. On top of it all, we had to deal with CPS (who immediately realized it was an accident), but that has shaken me considerably. Now you know how to pray for me!
January 1st, 2009 at 10:40 am
So glad that “Lola” is OK. I have been praying for her and her recovery. Thanks for your post Kendra. We should do as the Davis motto says “Love Deeply, Give Freely”. I ask God to make that real in my life everyday.
January 1st, 2009 at 1:49 pm
I don’t really need a friend with all the answers and who has perfect children, perfect days homeschooling, or perfect anything (that just makes a person feel worse)…but I do need one who is willing to share the struggles and things that she has learned along this route and knows the only perfect thing…God. I have gotten many ideas from the things you share, even if it is not the exact way you did something. I have also been able to bless some of my friends by sharing something I have read here or on other blogs that give them ideas and encouragement. I have sent in questions before, never thinking you had the answer, but with the hope that you could share your experiences in that area. One of the best things I have come away with from your site was from the comment that you were not going to die on the hill over breastfeeding. It gave me a new perspective into some of the things I was spending a lot of time thinking/worrying about and allowed God to show me that in the end, most of those things were not really going to matter much. Thank you, and we will be praying for you and your family also.
Alicia B in MO
January 1st, 2009 at 2:01 pm
Bless you Kendra! Yes, you are in my prayers! I have a girlfriend staying with me who keeps telling me I am her “inspiration”. We have just had a tummy bug hit in the middle of renovations when I am due with number 4 any time now – we will see how inspiring she finds me after a few days of that! I have a feeling the pedistal may shrink a bit. God does not give us more than we can handle, but FREQUENTLY gives us more than we can handle without HIM!
January 1st, 2009 at 2:53 pm
AMEN, Kendra. Thank you for your post. You said it so well.
Frances
January 1st, 2009 at 5:57 pm
Dear Kendra,
Praise the Lord for God’s protection of your daughter! On another quick note since you mentioned Heather, any idea when this year’s benefit carnival will be held?
Blessings,
Lisa Winton
January 1st, 2009 at 6:10 pm
So glad you’re back, Kendra! Praising God for sparing your children’s lives, too. Praying His richest blessings for you all in 2009.
January 1st, 2009 at 8:00 pm
Thank you for the reminder. I handle crises with my little ones (especially my son with DS) much the same way you described yourself. I will pray for you when God brings you to mind.
January 1st, 2009 at 8:03 pm
Best wishes to your daughter for a complete recovery.
January 2nd, 2009 at 12:15 am
Lisa-
Not certain about the carnival date yet but I’ll post info here when the time comes.
Thanks for asking!
January 2nd, 2009 at 8:13 am
Thanks, Kendra, I’ll be looking for the info. By the way, a while back I took your suggestion here for toddler videos of the signing and Richard Scarry titles. My little girl loves them. Thanks for sharing your lives and ideas with us.
January 2nd, 2009 at 11:07 am
Thanks for that. I am forever searching for the the “right” way to do everthing and am constanly discouraged that I am doing it all wrong. There really is a bottom line and when it comes down to it that is all that matters.
January 2nd, 2009 at 4:12 pm
I have been thinking about this too. I can spend so much time thinking about where I should be that I don’t live in the present moment with my family.
Today there is grace to do what he has placed before me, be it homeschool work, food prep, illness, loss or simply laughing with my kids. He is SO much bigger then the daily life things I let bog me down. This moment right now counts for forever!
Thanks for your thoughts I was encouraged.
January 2nd, 2009 at 8:36 pm
For cryin’ out loud?! I’m so sorry to hear about this, Kendra. Keeping you all in prayer as ever.
Hope your little girl recovers quickly, poor dear.
Missed you while you were away. Funny, have been doing quite a bit of “mulling” at our house too. Asking the Lord for a “shot in the arm” so to speak for school, parenting, life. Something about a New Year seems to bring this out in me. A bit of anxiety about how things have been going and a bit about wanting them to go “better” from here on out.
Praying for all of us.
The Lord is so faithful and just. He’s got us all covered!
Happy New Year and many blessings to each and all of you!
January 2nd, 2009 at 9:05 pm
We will pray for your sweet girl for healing and the ability to rest well!
And Kendra, thanks for your willingness to continually share your thoughts with so many here. You don’t “have all the answers” but by humbly sharing what God is teaching you, you have encouraged me so very much!
January 2nd, 2009 at 9:11 pm
Hi Kendra,
I just popped over to say hello and found out about your sweet little one…so sorry this happened. Sending hugs and healing thoughts.
Blogging breaks are always a great way to find perspective and then when life gives you a situation like you have, you really see it come into focus.
Hopefully 2009 will hold nothing but good things.
Barb-Harmony Art Mom
January 3rd, 2009 at 9:42 am
Welcome back, Kendra!
Wow, I am so glad your little one is home now and worse didn’t happen. But I can only imagine the challenges ahead as you try to keep a 5-year-old in a resting state. My 5-year-old needed stitches on his forehead last night and I am just wondering how we are going to get through three days without him trying to rip them out. You will be in my prayers!
~Tamie
January 3rd, 2009 at 10:19 am
Hi Kenj~
We were so glad to hear little A will be ok without surgery! She’s been in our prayers. We will keep praying as she is required to sit until she recovers. That wouldn’t be easy for any of us. : )
BTW, I think Lisa said the carnival will be June 13 this year. : )
Love,
RJ
January 3rd, 2009 at 10:39 am
Great post, dear friend; let’s keep reminding each other of what’s important! I love you and am praising the Lord continually for His mercy to your children!
The Carnival for Charity will be held on June 13, 2009. Save the date! The organization we’ll be raising funds for and exciting new features of the carnival will be announced by April 1st.
January 3rd, 2009 at 11:36 pm
You don’t have to have all the right answers, Kendra, I don’t think any of us do(atleast not me), we just love having you share your life(your ups and downs, your trials, your joys) with us.
January 4th, 2009 at 7:55 am
Oh Kendra, I am praying for you and your family. Thank you for all that you have done.
January 4th, 2009 at 1:31 pm
Great post Kendra! Funny in your “I’m not equipped to give advice” post you gave great advice! Praise the Lord for His tender mercies. We will pray for you little girl. I have a five year old boy, and a month of rest would seem like eternity to him I am sure! Happy New Year!
January 5th, 2009 at 10:50 am
I had to chuckle (ruefully) at the broken bones. Doesn’t it seem like the more kids you have, the more accidents happen? I don’t know how that is, but every big family I know has at least one kid in a cast at all times.
In our house we like to say, “The Lord protects fools and children – and in this family we have both!”
So glad to see you back online and thankful for the Lord’s protection for you family.
January 11th, 2009 at 10:44 pm
Thank you for this lovely reminder.
I’m going to go to bed now so I can wake up early and take care of my family.
Thank you for your sweet boldness.
January 13th, 2009 at 2:09 pm
Kendra-
It took until today for your new January posts to show up on Bloglines (?!?) so I’ve *clearly* been missing out!
Glad you’re back and blogging.
I always love what you have to say!
~Stacy
January 14th, 2009 at 10:56 am
Oh Kendra I missed this so will begin praying for you all. This is a great post. Thankyou for sharing it.
January 14th, 2009 at 11:10 am
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