Skyler D. is 9!

I cannot believe that Skyler is 9. Its is unbelievable how fast time goes by. I still remember the day she was born like it was yesterday. 

I remember the joy, the overwhelming love I had for her and the fear of whether or not she would be ok.

Now she is a beautiful happy, healthy 9 year old 

Thank you Lord for my little (not so little anymore) girl!!!

I love how Skyler loves me so much

I love how when she prays at dinner she asks God to feed families that have no food

I love how she loves to read

I love how Skyler and Maddie play so well together

I love how she has such a big heart

I love how her favorite thing to do with me is to curl up on the couch and watch a movie

I love her giggle and her beautiful smile

I love her creativity

Skyler D. You are Perfectly and Wonderfully made by God and We LOVE you so much!!!

Winter at the Beach!!

Precious time with my Maddie at the beach!!

Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World

As I am reading this book "Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World" I find my self re evaluating my life. I guess that is the point of reading this book. I bought this book from a friend in hopes to join a bible study that meets during the day. Seems like many things in my life that I would like to do but don't seem to have the time for. Maybe Gods purpose out of all this was for me just to read the book on my own and not to participate in the group. So as I am reading this book I came across a story that truly opened my eyes and heart to what God really wants from me. Below I will share the story I read.

You are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Luke 10:41-42

The story is told of a man who met God in a lovely valley one day.

"How are you this morning?" God asked the fellow
"I'm fine, thank you." the man replied. "Is there anything I can do for you today?"
"Yes, there is," God said. "I have a wagon with three stones in it, and I need someone to pull it up the hill for me. Are you willing?"
"Yes, I'd love to do something for you. Those stones don't look to heavy, and the wagon's in good shape. I'd be happy to do that. Where would you like me to take it?"
God gave the man specific instructions, sketching the map in the dust at the side of the road. "Go through the woods and up the road that winds up the side of the hill. Once you get to the top, just leave the wagon there. Thank you for your willingness to help me today."
"No problem!" the man replied and set off cheerfully. The wagon pulled a bit behind him, but the burden was an easy one. He began to whistle as he walked quickly through the forest. The sun peeked through the trees and warmed his back. What a joy to be able to help the Lord, he thought, enjoying the beautiful day.
Just around the third bend, he walked into a small village. People smiled and greeted him. Then, at the last house, a man stopped him and asked, "How are you this morning? What a nice wagon you have. Where are you off to?"
"Well, God gave me a job this morning, I'm delivering these three stones to the top of the hill."
"My goodness! Can you believe it? I was just praying this morning about how I was going to get this rock I have up to the top of the mountains," the man told him with great excitement. "You don't suppose you could take it up there for me? It would be an answer to prayer."
The man with the wagon smiled and said, "Of course. I don't suppose God would mind. Just put it behind the other three stones." Then he set off with three stones and a rock rolling behind him.
The wagon seemed a bit heavier. He could feel the jolt of each bump, and the wagon seemed to pull to one side a bit. The man stopped to adjust the load as he sang a hymn of praise, pleased to be helping out a brother as he served God. Then he set off again and soon reached another small village at the side of the road. A good friend lived there and offered him a glass of cider.
"You're going to the top of the hill?" his oldest friend asked.
"Yes! I am so excited. Can you imagine, God gave me something to do!"
"Hey!" said his friend. "I need this bag of pebbles taken up. I've been so worried that it might not get taken care of since I haven't any time to do it myself. But you could fit it in right between the three stones here in the middle." With that, he placed his burden in the wagon.
"Shouldn't be a problem," the man said. "I think I can handle it." He finished the cider, then stood up and brushed his hands on his overalls before gripping the handle of the wagon. He waved good-bye and began to pull the wagon back onto the road.
The wagon was definitely tugging on his arm now, but it wasn't uncomfortable. As he started up the incline, he began to feel the weight of the three stones, the rock, and the pebbles. Still, it felt good to help a friend. Surely God would be proud of how energetic and helpful he'd been.
One little stop followed another, and the wagon grew fuller and fuller. The sun was hot above the man pulling it, and his shoulders ached with strain.The songs of praise and thanksgiving that had filled his heart had long since left his lips as resentment began to build inside. Surely this wasn't what he had signed up for that morning. God had given him a burden heavier than he could bear.
The wagon felt huge and awkward as it lumbered and swayed over the ruts in the road. Frustrated, the man was beginning to have visions of giving up and letting the wagon roll backward. God was playing a cruel game with him. The wagon lurched, and the load of obligations collided with the back of his legs, leaving bruises. "This is it!" he fumed. "God can't expect me to haul this all the way up the mountain."
"Oh God," he wailed. "This is too hard for me! I thought you were behind this trip, but I am overcome by the heaviness of it. You'll have to get someone else to do it. I'm just not strong enough."
As he prayed, God came to his side. "Sounds like you're having a hard time. What's the problem?"
"You gave me a job that is too hard for me," the man sobbed. "I'm just not up to it!" God walked over to where the wagon was braced with a stone. "What is this?" He held up the bag of pebbles.
"That belongs to John, my good friend. He didn't have time to bring it up himself. I thought I would help."
"And this?" God tumbled two pieces of shale over the side of the wagon as the man tried to explain.
God continued to unload the wagon, removing both light and heavy items. They dropped to the ground, the dust swirling up around them. The man who had hoped to help God grew silent. "If you will be content to let others take their own burdens," God told him, "I will help you with your task."
"But I promised I would help! I can't leave these things lying here."
"Let others shoulder their own belongings," God said gently. "I know you were trying to help, but when you are weighed down with all these cares, you cannot do what I have asked of you.
The man jumped to his feet, suddenly realizing the freedom God was offering. "You mean I only have to take the three stones after all?" he asked.
"That is what I asked you to do." God smiled. "My yoke is easy, and my burden is light. I will never ask you to carry more than you can bear."
"I can do that!" said the man, grinning from ear to ear. He grabbed the wagon handle and set off once again, leaving the rest of the burdens beside the road. The wagon still lurched and jolted lightly, but he hardly noticed.
A new song filled his lips, and he noticed a fragrant breeze wafting over the path. With great joy he reached the top of the hill. It had been a wonderful day, for he had done what the Lord had asked.

My Garden of Faith

My garden of faith... It is exactly how it sounds!!

No experience, Not much research, But Lots and Lots of Water, Love and Prayer!!

This big beautiful garden has been an amazing experience for me as well as Skyler and Maddie. Maddie especially has really enjoyed all the responsibilities that come with a garden.

I knew that I would enjoy gardening but would have never known the true blessings that have come along side it.

Above, Maddie is holding our very first green bean. It is very small, we picked it way to early but we both were very anxious to try our very first vegetable out of our garden.

In another picture you will see both the girls holding a bowl full of vegetables that were just picked. We cannot believe how large these vegetables have grown.

We have already enjoyed many meals with these delicious vegetables and are looking forward to harvesting others soon.

The Forgotten Passion

The LOVE of photography has been in my blood my entire life.  In fact that love came from my father.  I still to this day remember the smell of chemicals in my basement where my Dad kept his darkroom.

My favorite memories I have from college are standing in a pitch black room over a sink watching my images slowly appear.

Its amazing how you can let "life" take over and you slowly forget to live your life....

Hopefully these images are the start of many to come....

My New Way of Solving a Tantrum.....

Tantrums.....  Oh they can be very frustrating at times.  I believe there is no such thing as the terrible two's and three's.  If you ask me it is a bunch of boloney.  There are terrible 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and even 34 (I know I am 34).  

Our sweet, adorable little (not so little anymore) Maddie is on her way to turning 5.  Thankfully, we have been blessed with two of the sweetest, kind hearted children that walk this earth.

However, we still have tantrums here and there like every other parent in this world. As a very busy mother of two I don't have a whole lot of down time and I like to make the best of my time with the girls.

So, one day Maddie was having a tantrum about something, I think she wanted a snack and dinner was on the stove.  I was frustrated, tired and quit frankly did not want to listen to Maddie cry on the steps in time out.  So here she is giving me a dirty look and stomping her feet telling me she is STARVING and she cannot wait until dinner. I just looked at her with a big smile and she started to laugh so hard that she forgot all about her tantrum.

A couple of days later she was upset because she did not want to wait her turn to play on the computer - again I smiled at her and she started to laugh so hard she forgot about her little tantrum.

So for me I have found a new way of dealing with Maddie's little tantrums.  We both end up cracking up and it ends with a smile on both of our faces......   

For those of you that think I have completely lost my mind, she still gets in trouble for the big things. But I believe parents (me anyways) need to learn to pick your battles with your kids. I would rather have Maddie's little tantrum end up with us both giggling than her crying on the steps.

Sometimes being broke is a BLESSING.......

Please read previous blog first.....

I honestly do not even know how to begin this blog. I typically try to have a funny twist to my stories but there is nothing funny about this one. The only thing I am doing right now is thanking God for my lack of cash!

About an hour after I wrote my previous blog Danielle and I were in her kitchen. Danielle was cooking dinner and I was helping Gillian with her homework, then the phone rings. In a matter of seconds I am overwhelmed with emotions. As I said in my last posting my flight was canceled. What I didn't mention in that posting was my frustration that I wanted to take a different flight US Airways flight 1549. Unfortunately, Tony and I have had some financial hardship lately on top of his car breaking down on our way to the Airport on Sunday. So needless to say even though I was so desperate to see my 2 sweet peas we couldn't afford to buy me a ticket just so I could fly home today.

So, I am sure you have all heard by now the flight that I wanted so desperately to take, landed in the Hudson River 2 minutes after they were in the air. Like I said, "Sometimes being broke is a blessing".

So needless to say life has been pretty crazy in the McKenna house tonight. The phone has been ringing off the hook for hours and every time Danielle and I pass each other we both are amazed with the outcome of today.

I started my day mad at the world that I was not home in North Carolina with my family and tonight I am counting my blessings that I did not get on flight 1549.

Most of all Thank You Tony. If you would have been ok with me booking that flight than I would have landed in the Hudson River as well. Sometimes, only Sometimes it's important to listen to your hubby.