Merry Christmas!

     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..... :)

Woo-Hoo....We went to Colorado!

The day after Christmas BJ, Joshua, Josiah, and I flew to Colorado for my cousin, Big Justin's wedding.  This was an exciting and crazy time!  Mostly crazy trying to deal with the to-do's of Christmas and getting packed and ready for a trip. Even though I can multi-task, I usually have to focus on one event and then work on the next.  Thankfully we didn't fly out until the afternoon.  :)

Once we landed and got our rental car we met my dad for dinner. The last time we saw him was the summer of 2010 so this was his first time to meet the twins.  We had a nice time visiting before making the long drive to Wray.  (A place I love....pretty sure I've mentioned that a time or two!)

It was so good to see family again.  I really wish we could have stayed longer and brought all the boys with us.  Our big boys were so sad to miss out.  On a drive to let the twins nap we stopped by my mom and Aunt's old school.  It was hard to relive the many memories of my mother.  This was where she grew up and where she took us for our vacations every year.  

BJ and I are always fascinated with the plains....you can see for miles.  Definitely a change of scenery from our part of Oregon.

Some of my family at the rehearsal.

Justin was so sweet to let a bunch of us crash at his house.  A little crazy sharing one bathroom with everyone, but great to hang out and visit with my Dodsworth cousins. We played a movie to help calm the twins down before bed.  They were enjoying being free from cribs on this trip.  :)

The big day!  I actually missed the whole ceremony because I watched the bins in the nursery.  However, I had such a great time visiting with my cousin-in-law, Priscilla. And, everyone told me BJ did a great job marrying them. :)

~Justin and Fawn~

Here I am with my cousins, Duaine and Doyle.  I have many memories with these two.  It still weirds me out to be a "grown-up" now with them.  :)

The trip was a lot of fun.  BJ and I had a great time together and it was neat to focus on our youngest two.  Congratulations, Justin and Fawn. We are so glad we could share your special day with you!

December fun

Jesse out with his sidekick, Jud.

Touring the Settlemier House.

Fun with the Fritzler girls.

Date with these two.

Daddy introduced the boys to Claymation Christmas....old school fun!

Primetimer's luncheon

Judson goes to the dentist.

"It's a Wonderful Life" movie night.

Jack

An under the weather Joshua....sad, but so sweet and still. :)

Jesse's birthday breakfast with Grandma Sally and Papa.

Christmas goodies for our Sunday School teachers.

My sweet Justin.

 Christmas Sunday fun.

Hanging with the Johnsons.

 Wrapping night....every year BJ and I watch "The Preacher's Wife" while wrapping presents.  BJ helps for a while then falls asleep on the couch. We live an exciting life.  :) I can usually sneak his gifts out and wrap them while he sleeps....convenient since the mess and wrapping paper is already out.  I usually prefill lunch bags with each boys' stockings, but this year we had no where to hang the stockings so those were prefilled and hid until the big day.  :)

 Sleepy heads opening stockings with daddy.

 Colorado trip with my love- and bins.

Since BJ married Justin and Fawn and I had the twins, I missed the whole wedding! Fortunately, I had a great time chatting with my cousin-in-law, Priscilla, in the nursery. :)

 Joshua and Josiah were fascinated with their sweet cousin, Emmaline.

 All three fell fast asleep on the flight home.  

 Family fun night to LimeBerry. Yum!

 Ringing in the new year with encouraging posters for each family member.

Cutest little sweaters

This year Grandma Carolla gave her great grandchildren these darling hand knit sweaters filled with money.  I treasure the collection we have of her stockings and mittens from the two previous years.  We are so blessed to have her in our life.

Christmas Day

Christmas morning we woke up to stockings and a yummy breakfast.  BJ took the 4 oldest to the Silvercreek Assisted Living to host a little service, and then we were off to Grandma and Papa's.  We had a nice day there.  I didn't get many pictures, but I love this one of the middles waiting so patiently to open gifts.  :)

 Josiah got ahold of BJ's drink.  This is a habit we hope he never picks up!

Christmas Eve

Every year after the Christmas eve service we head home for taco soup and opening presents. Lots of hugs tonight. :)

People often comment that Christmas must be so exciting at our home, and it is.  Lots of excitement, energy, and wrapping paper.

Joshua Courage

Josiah Christian

You can't even see it, but one of my gifts from BJ was a barber's chair he bought off Craigslist.  :)  I have already used it once, and it sure beats a wooden stool, plus it spins really fast....a bonus if you ask the boys. :)

Such a fun, memory filled Christmas.  I am very thankful for our special blessings from the Lord. And so thankful for the gift of His son.