We are grateful to the LORD for seeing us through another year. God is good! In looking back over the last 12 months, the biggest thing that stands out is birth of our daughter ( yes, you heard it right folks! BJ and Elaine are capable of creating females!), Elsie Mae, last May. Girls are different! She is a true joy and blessing to us in every way imaginable. From the time we had found we were having a girl, we had been praying that God would give her a meek and quiet spirit, and He has done just that. We like to call her “sweet Mae.” It has been fun watching Elaine release all the-dress up little girl energy- that had been pent up for so long.
Also noteworthy, my dad, Pastor John Kuykendall, retired from the ministry after 26 fruitful years at Lynchwood Church of God. It has been wonderful seeing more of my folks and having them as a part of our congregation. They have jumped right in and offered up their many talents and abilities in the Lord’s service. Since September my mother, Sally, has taught Jared, Jesse, and Justin on the piano and they are really growing under her tutelage.
2014 is also the year that one of my, BJ’s, dreams was realized as our Church put on a “Living Christmas Story” as an outreach to our community. It consisted of 11 “snap-shots” from the life of Jesus beginning with John 1:1 (“In the beginning was the Word…) and culminating with Christ’s bodily resurrection from the grave. Despite rough weather the whole experience was a blessing.
Life for us continues to revolve around family and the church. BJ is in his 5th year of pastoring Hoodview Church of God and when he’s not busy with the affairs of the congregation he enjoys working around the property of making improvements to the home. Elaine is the keeper of our home. She does a wonderful job preparing delicious and nutritious meals for all of us, seeing to it that we look presentable, and educating the children. Jared has really shot up this year- his mother has to look up to him now! Jared is becoming quite a fine piano player and loves all things related to computers and technology. Jesse was able to go elk hunting with his older brother and dad (and Uncle Joe and Papa) this year and had a blast. Jesse loves the outdoors, guns, running equipment, and everything rough and tumble you can think of but still has a soft spot for music and his little brothers. One of the highlights of my year was baptizing Jesse this October. Justin has the most beautiful voice you ever heard. He has a tender heart for the Lord and others, and is turning out to be the artist in the family. Our John is the farmer of the bunch. We got him a hog for his birthday, named spots, and we can’t wait to enjoy the ham and bacon he provides! John is as witty as they come and always has an entertaining one liner to share with us. As I write this Judson is getting over the chicken pox, ugh! It takes more than that to slow Him down. Jud came out of the womb moving and hasn’t stopped since. Anything his big brothers can do he will try. Despite this daring and adventurous spirit, Jud is very tender and sweet with little Elsie Mae. He carries her all over the place. Joshua and Josiah (I have to mention them together because they do everything together) are on their way to learning obedience and the art of sitting nicely through church. They moved in with the big boys this year (yes, we have 7 boys in 1 room) and growing so fast. They are a “handful” but we can’t imagine life without them. I think they’re going to be good singers.
In 2014 we took a few day trips to the beach, went to Camp Dwight, continued to hold church services (as a family) at Silver Creek Assisted Living, took our 3 oldest boys to Camp Whitebranch (where BJ served as the camp evangelist), had some great friends over for “Camp Kuykendall, built triple bunk beds, got some goats, preached (BJ) a few revival meetings, sang for a few events, started a few businesses (boys), hosted our 2nd Thanksgiving meal (as the grown-ups!), and spent a lot of time with loving each other and our good friends and family.
If you’re still reading this, you clearly posses charity, for “charity suffereth long…” At the end of the day if we’ve accomplished anything worthwhile we give all the glory to the LORD Jesus Christ. It is our greatest joy to know Him as our personal LORD and Savior. Dear friends and family members, taste and see that the LORD is good!
In Christ,
The Kuykendall Family 2014
Maybe I'll be back..... :)
