You so crazy!

Hey Guys,

Sorry it's been awhile! Things have been going full steam at the Kinney household! With the start of preschool again with Big Boy, there have been some new changes to our lives in general as a sort of "new years resolution" of sorts. As you can tell from the previous post, our house is now on the market (resolution #1). But our big goal this year was to eliminate credit cards completely, and strictly stick to our cash budget - oh, and knock $100 off of that budget per month! Yikes!! Let's just say I wasn't a happy camper at first in thinking of these big changes! Oh, and in order to really start making any sort of dent on our monthly expenses (mainly mortgage payment) I needed to start bringing in some substantial amount of money per month (another hard moment for me - because I that meant I needed to find the perfect job to accommodate my staying at home with the 2 kiddos!)

Anyways, you know, God is really in control! Thank goodness, because I tend to freak out a bit when it comes to change and the unknown. But in another light, I really started to become excited as to how it was all going to work itself out, ya know? So here's the scoop on our crazy, busy, full lives that we're living everyday for God in complete trust for His provision:

1- Husband is still busy, working for Cornerstone! The current project will last about another month, and then we'll really need to find the next job. But while he has work, and looks to the future, my husband has been a Rock of unwavering faith.

2- Husband is also selling bottle caps on Ebay and Etsy in his "off time" and bringing in a substantial amount per month that has helped significantly with our budget!

3- Our boys are growing up SO FAST! I almost can't keep up with them! B is learning so much in pre-school and can already spell his first name! He knows his last name is Kinney, but we're still working on the spelling...Don't even ask about his middle name - he has no clue!

4- I was asked by the church to be their "web management support" person, in which I will basically be running all the web-stuff for the church! This was a HUGE answer to prayer in that it will also bring in a significant amount per month to help with budget.

5- I am currently the marketer/promoter for my good friend Julie Turner who is pursuing a music career! I get to call around and get "gigs" for her - and she currently is going to have a CD release concert the end of Feb that I've gotten to help with! Check her out at www.julieturnermusic.com

6- Peanut has reached a new phase... It's called I want what brother wants, I want it now, and oh - I want to get into everything I'm not supposed to phase! It's really common in 2 yr olds! Who needs to exercise when you've got a toddler?

7- My bottle cap biz is still going but currently has a new phase being produced, which is my "paper goods" part of the business. I am SO EXCITED about this! I have asked 3 other designer-friends to come on board with me to produce a plethora of cards that I will put into our catalog, and website in hopes for many orders! These ladies are so talented, and I can't wait to share more with you in the coming months on this development!

8- The boys are still growing every day, and Big Boy eats more than husband anymore (we think it's a definite growth spurt of some kind...) Oh, and Peanut is keeping up right along with him and showing his ever spunky personality everyday! We love them SO MUCH!!

Sorry for the HUGE list, sometimes I work better in lists, I don't know why? I think it allows all of my jumbled thoughts to cohesively make sense in a random sort of way :D Anyways, I hope that your new year is looking bright - and that you're trusting God with your future. Change is good, really, even if we have to tell ourselves that ALOT, God is still by our side walking us through each season.

Maverick
Ice Man
Off to school...Wait, only Big Boy - Peanut only wishes!
We need a better back pack, or "pack pack" as Big Boy calls it for Peanut
Big Boy has been watching alot of the Veggie Tales Pirate movie, thus the Pirate ship built out of blocks :D

Saying goodbye to say a new hello

Goodbye 2008! Hello brand-new, 2009.

Feels refreshing, doesn't it? To have a clean slate, wiped free from all the "yuck" of last year. I don't think I new how possible it was for God to move in my life - all in one year's time. A lot has changed for me, for our family, and for our country. But more than ever, I am rocked to my core at knowing that ultimately GOD is in control (thank goodness!). But change is hard for me. I'm realizing that more and more as life throws it's punches - I find myself wanting the old and familiar more than the new and unexpected

We're putting our house on the market today.

For most of you, you are probably not surprised! We've moved 6 times in our almost 7 years of marriage - the life of a builder, right? It changes when you through kids in the mix. You become attached. You become more dependent on stability - which in essence is that of "getting your roots deep" and staying awhile. I've had a hard time letting go of our home. You see, in my mind, it's ours to keep forever, right? We put a lot of work into this place - we DESERVE to stay... Can you sense the self-pity?

Yesterday something brilliant happened to me. I started talking to God, telling Him my insecurities about our finances, our mortgage, etc. And in this dialogue, I started understanding a deep and hidden truth I had put to the side quite a bit this last year. Support for my husband. You see, this last year, I've gotten really good at dragging my feet - putting my best pouty face on - and just being plain old selfish when it came to talking out our financial situation and the suggestion of selling our house. It was only until yesterday that I finally had dragged the ball-and-chain around enough that I was ready to LET GO.

The funny part is that it really wasn't that hard; the letting go part. It was actually quite easy to let go, and once I did it was instant release. I was headed to a meeting when God and I had this little "chat." While I was at the meeting, husband was at home with the kiddos, meeting with a realtor to go over our options but not to necessarily sign papers and list. When I called husband to tell him I was coming home, he said he thought we should sell the house.

Silence.

No instant clutching at my heart, no feel of remorse at having handed that over to God just minutes before. Nothing. I felt complete peace. Because God truly is in control. He can choose to sell our home, or if by His amazing grace we end up getting to keep it - He gets all the glory!

So, as you look to your new, 2009 year I pray that you will choose to trust the one that created everything that we have, and everything that we enjoy. He wants to share the sweet stuff of life with you - all it takes is a little dialogue and openness.