Content?

I (Salyna) have hesitated writing a personal thought type post for awhile and I guess now is the time. I am kind of throwing around the idea of creating a second blog that would be personal thought orientated instead of family news & pics.

It has seemed strange to me how much my mom's death has really affected me and maybe strange isn't the right word. It just feels strange I guess because I have never had a mother die before. Not only was she my mom, she was my friend. We had been through SO many things together, literally and figuratively. And it's very strange to not have her going through THIS with me. Does that even make sense??

(Point Loma - San Diego, California)

It has been six months and I'm still waiting for her to call, it seems like it has been SO long. The last time I saw her was this time last year when she made her one and only trip to Kansas. In fact, she left to go home on this date. Waiting in the airport...I can still see her looking at me and smiling through her sadness, wishing she could stay. I have a similar picture of what she might have looked like entering Heaven... smiling through the sadness, wishing she could stay. I know with all my heart that the Lord's timing is perfect.

I have worked with people who were dying. I have stood beside the bed of a few as they took their last breaths. I have had friends die, grandparents die, and my brother too. Each death has changed me in some way... changed what I have thought about death. My mom's death is different in some way and I'm not sure I can even explain it. My heart just breaks at the thought that my kids may feel this way one day when their mom dies... and their mom is ME!
Again, strange....

I think that being six months pregnant when she died was a huge blessing but is also part of this strangeness. While I was pregnant I had something amazing & life-changing to look forward to, to focus on... then Lincoln was born and that was gone. It was like she died all over again. Needless to say it didn't take long for postpartum to kick in and my wonderful husband to take me to the doctor for meds! :) So maybe I am just now really beginning to grieve?

The life of the Apostle Paul has really been on my mind lately. He wrote a lot about contentment. I have yet to do a full study on this topic, but I think that may be where I'm headed. Paul learned to be content in his circumstances. He was not content because of his circumstances. What a huge lesson! Paul was only able to be content because of his faith in Christ. He was content because he understood that God's grace was sufficient. For Christ he was content.
My mom's death is no doubt a lesson in the course of contentment.
I miss you Mom!

School's Out!

Memorial Day weekend was great! We stayed home but pretended to be "camping"... we spent ALOT of time outside, BBQ-ed a couple times, and even made s'mores in the oven before the kids camped out in their "fort" - Daddy helped by hanging sheets from the walls and building up the fortress with toybins.

They watched a movie and Davis & Andrew actually "camped" in there all night!

Where was Lincoln all weekend? Sitting in the shade or napping with Mommy - always the best part of camping!

The first day of school pictures are filled with anticipation, but so are the last day of school pictures! Both Sydni and Davis came running out, it was great and made Mommy smile!!

Look at all that hair!!

We are so proud of both of them. They were both on the Honor Roll all four quarters, so we thought it was a good time to get Sydni a bigger bike and Davis the skateboard he's been wanting for about 2 years now!

A California Girl - she picked out a beach cruiser style bike - how could we resist!!

He only fell once the first day... I pray future posts do not include any pictures of casts!

Andrew didn't adjust very well over Spring Break, so we are very curious to see how he will adjust to the older kids being home for the summer. This picture pretty much sums up his attitude lately!

Summer is almost here...

Only three more days of school then Davis will be a 1st grader and Sydni a 2nd grader... they will both be out of school for 11 weeks!! What are we going to do for 11 weeks??? This has been the family question lately. So here is the list so far... Sydni is reading the Cul-de-sac Kids book series, 6 books at a time. Once she finishes a set, she will get another. We are glad that she LOVES to read. We have "homework" books ready to go with a few science experiments. Crafts of course! Trips to the zoo. Hoping a kids movie plays at the Drive-In again. Grandma Cookie is coming to visit. Sydni, Davis, & Andrew will be spending some time (seperately) with Grandpa & Grandma in South Dakota... Davis will get to go fishing with Grandpa!
Lincoln is 3 months old, sleeping through the night, smiling a lot, and even "talking" too! I'm not so sure that babies his age get bored, but it sure seems like he doesn't like to be alone nor does he enjoy quiet... must be a 4th child thing.

I take tummy time seriously... I don't think I really like it

This last month has included lots of family time... via sickness that made it's rounds, kept kids home from school and dad home from work. Mom got the worst of it...3 weeks worth. The kids have been enjoying the nice weather that allows them to play outside. Speaking of weather... we have had a couple opportunities to practice our tornado precautions.

Getting settled for the movie!

We made our first trip of the season to the Drive-In to see Monsters vs. Aliens and The Hannah Montana movie.

Lincoln went to the zoo for the first time when we got a members sneek peek of the new tiger exhibit. We think he really enjoyed it, he loves being outside.

So how will you be spending your summer?

A Great Video

I can't believe it has been nearly a month since we have posted anything... sorry, sorry, sorry... especially for the lack of pics. We will try to get an update done this weekend.
In the meantime please take a couple minutes to view this youtube video... it is GREAT!
Well, I can't figure out how to post this video so I will just provide you with the link. Enjoy!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vvXUAzYmYBc

Another fun weekend

This past weekend we had the pleasure of Auntie Cheri coming to visit! She is Salyna's brother's wife. Her brother passed away a little over four years ago and we had not seen Cheri since then. That means she got to meet Andrew AND Lincoln for the first time! The visit was too short but packed with fun, lots of talking and reminiscing! On Saturday night we all (minus Lincoln - thanks Ms. Pat!) went to a monster truck and motocross show. What a blast!! Andrew loved the motorcycles and kept telling us he wanted to ride one. Davis was SO tired, he actually fell asleep... with his ear plugs in! It was a fun night and a great redneck tribute to Ronnie, Salyna's brother. During the drive home that night Cheri was treated to an amazing Kansas lightning show.

(the earplugs were quite funny sticking out of the kids ears... remind anyone of Shrek?)

(Right before falling asleep)

Lincoln is growing like crazy. Last week he weighed 12lbs and we think he has gained more weight since then. He is in the process of changing his schedule - AGAIN. Eating about every 4 hrs now and sleeping more at night gives mom and dad a little more down time. We are feeling a lot older now than we did with Sydni that's for sure! We took for granted that the older kids all sleep so well... now we have another one to train!

(10 wks old now!)

Salyna has been struggling a little bit with having more pain and fatigue. Springtime is always a hard time for her to pace herself but is quickly learning what works with having Lincoln and what doesn't, i.e. babies cannot breathe very well in the Kansas wind & Andrew knows mommy can't run very fast while holding the baby! We are thankful for all the space at World Impact for the older kids to play and all the trees that give shade for Salyna to sit in. We pray that she will not have to go back on any harsh medication.

Miles' job continues to be "more than a job"... as he spends a lot of time investing in people and not perishable things. Of course there are always things that have to eventually get done but it is seeing the heart change of others that drives him. What an amazing work the Lord is doing in the lives of so many!

Enjoying Springtime & Easter

We've been enojoying the nice weather this Spring... when it is nice enough we are outside. It's either been unseasonably warm or unseasonably snowing. The kids have lots of space to ride bikes, scooters, pull each other in the wagon, and just RUN! We also have lots of trees which means lots of shade too.

We got the opportunity for a great date night this weekend... The Rock N Worship Roadshow, featuring MercyMe, Jeremy Camp, Hawk Nelson, 10th Ave North, & The Afters. It was a great concert and time of worship, not to mention a much needed break!

We had our Easter egg hunt on Saturday because it was supposed to rain on Sunday (which it has been ALL day). We went to church where Lincoln stayed in the nursery for the first time while we we were blessed by an amazing testimony, choir, and orchestra. Our church decorates the stage with Easter Lilies that people can buy in memory of a loved one. So we brought our lily home in remembrance of Mimi.

Riding bikes is one of our favorite things to do when the weather is nice

Easter 2009

Daddy and His Boys

The Girls!

Lincoln helped get the candy ready... his face looks shiney because he has a greasy lotion on his little sunburn... don't worry is wasn't bad, just a little overexposure, enough to make mommy feel really bad about it!"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ!

According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time." 1 Peter 3-5

Happy Easter

Weekend Trip

This past weekend we took our first roadtrip as a family of six. We went to Oklahoma to see some very good friends who had their first baby nine days after Lincoln was born. We also took the kids to the Science Museum - our first major outing and boy was it a long three hours! But we all had a good time. It was refreshing to get away for a couple days !

Sam, Grace, & Caleb Coon

Little Buddies

Lincoln - 4 1/2wks, Caleb - 3wks

The Mischevious Kennedy Kids!!!

Andrew being a good big brother

Some more pics

Brothers!Just relaxing

His 1st bath was NOT so relaxing

Cuddle time with Daddy

His biggest brother is still so proud to have him

Ahhhh....our two "babies"... oldest & youngest

Love is amazing!

More first pics

Yes, it is true... Miles got to help deliver Lincoln. We were induced in the morning on Wednesday and had a very stressful, exhausting day. Lincoln's heartrate kept dropping unless I stayed in one position. I also had an epidural that wasn't placed right and after trying to adjust it, had to be taken out and redone. Then a second time it didn't work. So after fixing it again I did have relief about an hour before the delivery. So it was great to have the excitement of our doctor and Miles at the end of such a long day.

First visitors were Grandma & Grandpa (Salyna's stepmom & dad)

They had a long couple of days too...at home with 3 kids was quite a change from retired life!

We can't thank them enough for their help! Hope you are enjoying you vacation!

Andrew looks like he knows what he's doing... he's been great, not jealous (yet) and not too overwhelmingly interested either.
We've never seen Davis sit still for so long... but he does when he has his turn holding "the cutest baby ever"... that was his first reaction to seeing Lincoln.

Sydni has been a big help and would hold him all day if he'd let her.

Many people have asked about his name... well, we already liked the name Lincoln (before we found out about the bi-centennial) and no he wasn't born on Lincoln's birthday, it was the day before. And Eugene is a family name from Salyna's side, her dad's middle name and it was also her brother's middle name who passed away four years ago.

Lincoln is an amazing addition to our family! We are blessed beyond measure!