2009 Christmas Letter

Once again, since it’s that time of year, we reflect on the comings and goings before they cease to be near. 2009 was anything but uneventful for the Kuykendall family.

Our number one highlight was meeting our fifth son, Judson Lee, on October 27th. He has brought a tremendous amount of joy into our home. Judson is starting to smile at us- we never grow tired of that! It is especially blessed to see the way his older brothers look after him. They really love their baby brother. We are excited to see him grow and develop his own unique personality. Children are truly a heritage from the Lord (Psalm 127).

Jared, our oldest (the gunea pig in reality) is in third grade this year. He is a detailed, organized, and conscientious young man. Jared’s music has really taken off this year. He does a great job on the fiddle and piano, and even plays for fun now (i.e.- we don’t have to force him to practice very often anymore). We are proud of the young man he is becoming.

Jesse is in first grade. He has become a pretty good reader. Like Jared, he plays fiddle, but he’d rather be outside shooting his BB gun or throwing his tomahawk. Jesse is very sweet to his little brothers and is about the most forgiving and loving kid I know. Elaine and I get notes and pictures by the truckload from Jesse. We love them!

Justin is four years old. No one knows how to put on the charm like Justin! He loves cowboys and indians and playing legos with the big boys. He is doing pre-school worksheets and is enjoying his role as mommy’s lunch helper. Someday (in BJ’s dreams) we will have a Kuykendall boys quartet. I’m counting on Justin to be my high tenor.

John, age 2, is one of a kind. His little personality really blossomed this year. Everything he does: talking, singing, praying- is LOUD! For about 3 months every time we prayed John would yell out, "HELP PAPPA NONNIE (help Grandma Connie), HELP NAMA (help grandma), HELP DOBIE (help Colby, my mom’s dog). Right now the love of John’s life is tractors. Almost every day when I come home from work he says to me, "ride tractor?" He brings a lot of smiles to us and everyone around him.

I (BJ) was in a convenience store with my boys a while back and a lady with a thick foreign accent said, "Are all those boys yours? God must really love you." We have a long way to go but our heart is to raise these little guys for the Lord.

Elaine and I celebrated our 10th anniversary this June 19th. She remains (even after the 5th time around!) the one and only queen of the house. Elaine was made to be a mother. There aren’t enough hours in the day, but she does an excellent job keeping the home in order and takes VERY good care of all her boys (especially the big one). I am always excited to come home to my wife and the house that she makes a home.

After serving as a youth minister for 10 years, I resigned from his position in May. For some time I had felt the Lord leading me toward becoming a senior pastor and it was time to move on. It has been a stretching and growing time for me and my family. I had an asphalt sealing business this summer and have been doing construction full time since the middle of September (when it got too cold to seal asphalt). I am thankful that I have always had work, especially since the county we live has 15% unemployment. Still, my heart is in ministry, and I am anxious to be placed in GOD’s time. Through the ups and downs we have found God to be more than faithful. He has been so good to us. He has sent encouragement and support at exactly the right times. More than that He has been our peace. Where would we be without Him?

When it comes down to it the Psalmist was right, "The Lord is my shepherd I shall not want." The Lord is with us- we need nothing else. Friends and family, we pray that God blesses you with a wonderful Christmas. John 17:3 comes to mind, "And this is life eternal, that they may know thee the one true God, Jesus Christ, whom thou has sent." The #1 prize in being a child of God isn’t answered prayers, it isn’t the deliverance from the bondage of sin or even the promise of heaven someday. The greatest prize is God Himself. Knowing Him is the most blessed state in the universe.

May the Lord make Himself known to you in 2010.
In Christ,
The Kuykendalls

Christmas Eve 2009