Soul Mates

noreply@blogger.com (Mrs. Coral Kenagy) — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 16:04:00 +0000

This scene Mommy got dishes done. :-)

Talks About God With My Sawyer

noreply@blogger.com (Mrs. Coral Kenagy) — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 04:41:00 +0000

I love talking to Sawyer about God! Yesterday Sawyer went with me to run some errands and I took the opportunity to strike up a conversation about spiritual things. Sawyer is so in tune and gets 90% of what we're talking about.

A question that Sawyer asked kinda stuck out-
"Are there doors in hell?"

I had to reply with an honest "I don't know, Sawyer."

I don't know what that particular question sticks out other than I don't think it was a question I would ever ask. Just never think about it.

I had Sawyer recount the story of David and Golliath and to my surprise he told it almost verbatim from his Jesus Storybook Bible. We love that book.

I then asked him if he remembered the Creation Story from Genesis. He said he didn't so I started probing with questions.
1. Who created the earth? God.
2. Who created the universe? God did.
3. Who created all the creatures? God.
You get the idea.

Then I asked him- who created all the bad things in the world? Sawyer responded, "I don't know." So that gave me a chance to talk to him about Satan and who he was, what he wanted and how he influenced Eve and thus Adam. Some more great questions came but I can't remember them all.

I love that I get to coach him in spiritual matters. I get to teach him about being more than just a Christian who is interested in fire insurance only and be a Christian who always realizes they are a child of the Most High and can be in union with the Trinity always. I want him to find his worth in Christ and not from this world. I want him to realize that this world is temporary and all that we do here is for God's glory and trying to bring as many of His children back to him as possible. I don't want Sawyer to be preachy because people will tune him out. Instead I want him to move mountains and knock down emotional walls people have created in the name of self-preservation and guide them to the freedom that is found in the cross.

It's reasons like this (and many others) that I am so glad God chose to give me the opportunity to parent Sawyer. I can't wait to see who he grows up to be BUT I'm having too much fun with who he is now!

Stupid White Kitty | Lakota

noreply@blogger.com (Mrs. Coral Kenagy) — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 06:26:00 +0000

Dumb ol' cat!! Jake opened the front door to get our smoke alarm to stop yelling at us. He didn't check the screen- we normally don't. It wasn't locked. I see my kitty, Kamatz, slowly go over to the door and I thought I hear the screen open and shut. Kamatz was just peering outside. I had Dempsey and Jake was making dinner so I asked Sawyer to check and see if the screen was closed. He said it wasn't. I had him look for the white kitty, Lakota. Nowhere to be found. Put the baby down. Jake and I got flashlights and went looking for the dumb cat. Found him in time to scare him into the neighbor's yard. Ugh!! We went searching our neighbor's property, flashlights in hand, hoping they wouldn't think we were peeping toms. They came out and helped aid the search. Good neighbors. I found Lakota in their bushes. I paralyzed him with the light. Go down on my hands and knees in the muddy planter. Moved the brush and grabbed that cat by the scruff of his neck. Claws came out. So did mine! Mommy won! Lakota back home safe but not any smarter. (He's done this before.) Later he came out doing the walk of shame down the hallway. :-)

Happy Anniversary (to me)

noreply@blogger.com (Mrs. Coral Kenagy) — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 01:01:00 +0000

My husband got out of bed quite early this morning. This is unusual for him! The boys both woke up before I got out of bed. When I did get up and went out into the living area Jake was on the phone. He quickly made himself scarce. That always gives me pause because I never know if it's work on his personal time or if he's being sneaky with something for me or what.

I went on doing dishes. Then I heard it. God of This City. But it sounded different this time. See it's my ring tone on my LG enV3. But my LG wasn't ringing.

IT WAS MY NEW iPHONE!!!!!!

The hubster bought me an iPhone. Love him.

I had fun playing with it and familiarizing myself with MY iPhone and not his. Granted, it's having to charge right now because some little boy, who will remain nameless, has been playing some games on it and dwindled the battery to a skeletal 14%. He's suffering through its absence and pacifying himself with the Wii. Ha ha ha.

Cakes Make Us Get Older? Who Knew!

noreply@blogger.com (Mrs. Coral Kenagy) — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 00:53:00 +0000

Today as we were getting lunch Sawyer informed me that he and Jake made me what I am today. Smirking I asked him to explain what he meant. The conversation went like this:

S: Me and Daddy made you what you are, mom.
Me: Really? How did you do that?
S: We made you a cake.
Me: You sure did.
S: How old were you before we made you cake for your birthday and how old are you now?
Me: 29 and then I turned 30.
S: See, me and Daddy made you older.

It's moments like these that I LOVE being a mom so much. I thoroughly enjoy it with both my boys but as Sawyer gets older, picks up more verbage along the way and starts stringing ideas together I just well up with pride.

I mean, to acknowledge that I got older on my birthday and think he had something to do with controlling it... precious.

Sawyer Shares @ HCDS: I is for IGLOO

noreply@blogger.com (Mrs. Coral Kenagy) — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 19:23:00 +0000

Each week Sawyer's class goes over a letter. Last week was "H", this week is "I". You get the idea. When I asked Sawyer what he wanted to share for "I" he paused. I could tell he was thinking through some "I" words. He came up with "Igloo." I was shocked that that is the word he came up with! I was also surprised that he could describe what an igloo was. That kid always amazes me with his smarts.

So, here is what we did for Sawyer to share an igloo today at school.

On the back of the picture I had Sawyer write "Igloo" and "Ice". Then I wrote the following, "Igloos are made of ice and are shelters for Eskimos."

I can't wait to hear how share time went today.

A New Blog for Me

noreply@blogger.com (Mrs. Coral Kenagy) — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 00:59:00 +0000

Christians Should Look Different- http://christiansshouldlookdifferent.blogspot.com/

I am taking a hard look at myself and other Christians and summing up what I see and proposing a shift. This new blog will hopefully accompany me on my spirit's formation journey and will hopefully be visible to you as the journey progresses. I am calling out my brothers and sisters in Christ as well and making sure we are not sitting idly by and just claiming Christ as our fire insurance. To be a Christian is to be a Christ Follower. To have a relationship with Christ is key and that relationship should make us look, act and be different.

So read and comment and most important, walk alongside me on this journey to grow closer to God and to dance with the Tirnity (Gary Moon).

Traditional Sunday Dinner

noreply@blogger.com (Mrs. Coral Kenagy) — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 22:29:00 +0000

My paternal grandparents are English emigrants. My father is technically one too although he has since be naturalized to American citizenship.

Anyhow, in England where my grandparents grew up a Sunday Dinner was a rather big to-do. When my grandparents got married it was my great aunt Peggy who was cooking these delicious meals and shortly thereafter my grandmother started making them herself. Over the course of the McKenzie tree getting more branches this type of meal became Pavlov's bell to our mouths.

In recent decades the occurrence of this meal has lessened and lessened. Dwindling so far down that my generation is scraping by learning how to make it from an aging matriarch. Grandma has never been good at keeping the recipe and directions on paper. She cites "It's all in my head." We're like, "That's nice but we want to know how to make it!"

So, before Christmas my grandmother was staying with my parents and we decided to take notes and video tape the making of this meal along with some general conversation with Grandma.

Here is the recipe for this delicious meal and some notes to help you make should you wish to step out on this journey.

Sunday Dinner
Ingredients
Leg of Lamb (4-5 pounds)
5 Russet Potatoes
Brussel's Sprouts (frozen for ease)
Baby Sweet Peas (frozen)
5-6 Cups Crisco
McCormick Brown Gravy Mix
Cross & Blackwell's Mint Sauce

Yorkshire Pudding Ingredients:
1 3/4 Cups Flour
2 Eggs
2 1/4 Cups Milk
1 TS Salt

Directions: (based on 4 lb of lamb)
Time: 00:00:00
Heat oven to 475°
Melt Crisco in baking pan
Once Crisco is melted place leg of lamb still tied in center (no rack needed)
Time: 00:20:00
Turn oven down to 425°
Cook lamb 30 minutes per pound. (ex: 4 lbs = 2 hrs) Internal temperature of lamb should be between 150°-155°.

Time: 00:45:00
Start boiling water to par boil the potatoes.
Coral's note: I use a stock pot/ steamer where I can life out the middle to drain the potatoes.

Time: 00:47:00
Baste lamb with HOT Crisco.
While lamb is cooking peel and cut potatoes. 1 Russet potato should yield 6-8 pieces.
Coral's note: I peel the potatoes prior to washing them. I find they are easier to hold which helps me eliminate cuts.

If you have room in your lamb roasting pan to ad potatoes around leg of lamb that is what I recommend.

Time: 01:00:00
Add potatoes to roasting pan around leg of lamb.

Time: 01:10:00
Mix flour, milk, salt and eggs together in a mixing bowl. (Yorkshire Pudding)
Take some HOT Crisco from the roasting pan and put 1 TS in each muffin cup.
Fill each cup 3/4 full of batter and put in oven. Watch and flip them when the tops are above the rim of the muffin cups and are becoming golden. Leave in for an additional 10-15 mins.
Coral's note: You will have to watch your puddings because each oven is unique in how fast these suckers cook. I cannot assign a specific time to these because they need to be watched so carefully.

Remove puddings when they're done. Should be around Time: 01:30:00 - 01:40:00.

Time: 01:30:00
Mix gravy together according to packet instructions.
Coral's note: I use 2 packets because we like our gravy.

Also flip potatoes.

Time: 01:45:00
Begin microwaving the veggies according to their instructions.

Time: 02:00:00
Lamb SHOULD be done. Check internal temperature. If you like your lamb rare you'll want it between 140°-145°. The closer you get to 160°+ the more well done your lamb will be and the greater the chance of it being tough and dry.

Time: 02:10:00
Remove lamb and potatoes from oven. Drain potatoes (I use paper towels). Remove lamb from pan and let rest on carving station or a rack that won't allow juices to get all over your counter.

Time: 02:15:00
Get food ready to serve.

FWD:Dempsey's 1st experience w/ food. It was squash. Seemed to go well. Coral

noreply@blogger.com (Mrs. Coral Kenagy) — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 17:32:00 +0000

Dempsey's 1st experience w/ food. It was squash. Seemed to go well.
Coral

noreply@blogger.com (Mrs. Coral Kenagy) — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 22:06:00 +0000

Sawyerisms

noreply@blogger.com (Mrs. Coral Kenagy) — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 03:30:00 +0000

I love my Sawyer! He wakes up telling me that "today is a great day to share one or two of my blankets with Dempsey." Right now I just asked him to give Dempsey his blanket and Sawyer says "Can I please share one of MY blankets with him?!" And now he just told me "I share TWO of my blankets with him." When I told him I was proud and I loved him he goes "Oh, that is so nice of you." Kid cracks me up!♥

It's like I know that time will come but I just have a really hard time picturing it. For example, Sawyer and I were rough housing and Sawyer was quite frankly squealing. Dempsey would get this worried look on his face and kinda shake and then squeal too as if to say "Stop that mom!" So cute. Then Sawyer would go to Dempsey and talk so sweet and Dempsey would just grin from ear to ear. Love.

Sweet Tooth? || French Toast Casserole

noreply@blogger.com (Mrs. Coral Kenagy) — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 21:06:00 +0000

Hold on to your teeth! This dish is super sweet. Thanks to my brother in law, Aaron, I had a hankering to try my hand at this new-to-us dish. He brought a recipe from a Texas church lady and made it for us a few days ago. It was alright. I new some other elements that I would want in mine so I made a mental note until this morning when I put it all together. Unfortunately I only have the finished product photo. IF I make this again I will photo journal the making of said casserole. For now, here is the recipe.

French Toast Casserole a la Coral Kenagy

Ingredients
6 Slices Bread (I prefer wheat)
5 Eggs
1/2 Cup Milk
1 TB Cinnamon
1 TSP Nutmeg
1 TB Vanilla
1 Cup Cream Cheese
1 Cup Powdered Sugar
Syrup

Egg Mixture
Beat eggs, milk, cinnamon, vanilla and nutmeg together in a mixing bowl
Set aside

Cream Cheese Mixture
Mix cream cheese and powdered sugar together until combined evenly
Set aside

Directions
Preheat Oven to 350°
Spray or butter (as I prefer) glass pie pan
Lay one whole slice of bread in the middle
Cut 3 other slices into thirds
Lay pieces around whole slice to cover bottom of pan
Pour portion of egg mixture over bread for a think coating
Spread a thin layer of the cream cheese mixture over bread
Repeat layering of bread, egg mixture and cream cheese mixture until egg mixture is gone or pie pan is full

Bake for 30 minutes at 350°

Remove from oven. Slice into desired amounts. Drizzle syrup and serve.

Notes:
THIS RECIPE IS EXTREMELY SWEET. However, I have been told that there is no such thing as too sweet. I do not concur. You've been warned.
This tastes like a Cinnabon cinnamon roll. Only thing missing is brown sugar.
After the second layer and second addition of egg mixture I opted to dump the loose egg mixture back into the bowl and apply to third layer.
My recipe ended up with 3 layers. If you want less layers either use less bread or a bigger baking pan.
Jake is not a big fan of cream cheese so he would have been happy with less of it.

Christmas 2011

noreply@blogger.com (Mrs. Coral Kenagy) — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 00:42:00 +0000

A birthday for our Savior. Lights twinkling when the sun goes down. Fireplaces providing winter's aromatherapy. Family members gathering to celebrate the season. Succulent scents permeating the house causing palates to water. Decorations promoting Christmas all around and pictures hanging on the walls are wrapped as suspended gifts. Mixed emotions flood me.

This has certainly been a year. On my 5th anniversary (Jan. 28th 2011) my Granny (maternal grandmother) was called home by God. It was a blessing to see her finally leave this world and her frail body behind and ascend into eternal glory with the Almighty. I know that she has been reunited with her love, Andrew Wilkins and that all is right for her now. I don't miss her the way she was when she left us but I do miss the way she was many moons ago when her body and mind were both full of life and vitality.

On May 30th my dad's family turned off the machines that were keeping my granddad's body full of oxygen and nutrients although his mind was gone. That was a heart-breaking weekend that still plagues us all as we go through the year-of-firsts without Alan McKenzie. The family tree seems a little lopsided without our patriarch. Again, thank God we know that he is also with our Lord and for that there is much rejoicing by those of us that believe.

Two gone. One arrived.

This was the first Christmas for my second son, Dempsey Alan Kenagy. Yes, we named him after my late grandfather. Dempsey was born August 17th and has been such a joy and bright spot for my family. I was pregnant with Dempsey when we lost Alan and it was the perfect image of the circle of life that we are all bound to.

It is hard to celebrate on a holiday that is geared to celebrating family for most people when how you thought it was going to be turns out to be wrong. We thought Alan was going to be here. It's been 3 1/2 years since Jackie Endemano was taken from us and it still hits me hard that she's not here. Never in a million years would we have guessed that she wouldn't be here for this Christmas.

Yet, we hold on to the blessings. We hold on to family and work to let the grievances go, if only for the time we're in each others presence. We remember those who are not here and we hug the ones that are. We laugh together. We cry together. We argue and roast. This is what a healthy family can do in love.

This year's celebration came with some programming. Not only did we eat, gift each other, laugh with and at each other and soak it all in but we also gave gifts to Jesus. It was his birthday after all. Most of us shared what we were going to give Jesus over the next year and also a memory or two of Christmases passed. Most were happy memories but it wouldn't be reality without some not-so-wonderful memories too. Lets be real, some childhoods just aren't overflowing with love or wrapped with fondness. This is where the Grace of God comes in handy and shows how invalubale important good affiliations in your later years prove to be.

Some are giving their bodies over to God in 2012 realizing we need to be better stewards of our physical beings so that we will be able to carry on His works. Others are giving their time in an effort to increase or create a solid devotional time in the hopes of being better listeners of God and also better students of His as well. An increase in the genuineness of servanthood. For example, those who chose a civil servant role as their line of work are attempting to make the "servant" part more of a ministry than a job. I am personally hoping to be better at giving God my Firsts. My first money. My first moments of the day. My first thoughts. My first requests. I also want to be one of those who is a better steward of their body. Lord knows I've not been doing that at all despite the desire.

This time of sharing was monumentally special. There is something sacred about sharing what you will do for Christ and sharing memories of the life He has given you with those around. Being vulnerable on that level can only work to make those participating closer. Bonded. It was heart-warming and heart-breaking to witness the men in the room reach tears because of the profound emotions attached to memories and future goals. In a world that tells men "toughen up" or "big boys don't cry" I love when people break those boxes and are real. Tears are real. Pain and joy are real. To have people so moved is powerful to experience and I am blessed by it.

My cup brims with appreciation and joy as I watch people gift my children. Poor Sawyer was "soooo tired" from opening his gifts. He got quite a few but you'd think he ran a marathon. I blame an extremely late nap in Granddad's arms and his waking to darkness outside. Even that, his sleeping in my dad's arms, is enough to knock a mother over with awe.

Baby Dempsey was sick. He became feverish Friday afternoon and the fever spiked Saturday at 103.4. Not good. No trip to ER needed but a screaming baby is the toughest thing to bear when you know they're in pain and all you can do is try and ease their aching bodies with infant acetaminophen for the pain and cold compresses to help the body cool down. He made it through Christmas alright but boy were Jake and I tired. He is still sick- congested and perhaps a sore throat- but seems to be his happy self again despite the illness. We, however, are still tired and just off our game. We had a nice routine down and we're looking forward to it again.
My family is so over being sick and we all look forward to being in good health again soon!

This is just a taste of what Christmas was like for me.

Costco & World Hunger & Enough

noreply@blogger.com (Mrs. Coral Kenagy) — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 23:11:00 +0000

Before you go getting your knickers in a knot here's the disclaimer:
I am not saying Costco is bad. I shop there. I will shop there. This post is just some thoughts that have been rattling around in my brain recently.
There, disclaimer done.

On several occasions I have wondered what the inhabitants of a small village in a 3rd world country would think or how they would act if all of the sudden a Costco fell from the sky, fully loaded, smack dab in the middle of their village.

What made me think about such a thing? Well, I assume it was God. He has been using Sawyer and Dempsey to rattle my thinking about hunger. I'll explain about that later. Right now let me give you an equation that kind of shocks me. This is based off the main ingredient for the Sunday dinner I made just yesterday... yes, I understand yesterday was a Tuesday.

# of Costcos in the US x # of legs of lamb at Costco x # of adults fed = Total potentially served

425 x 20 x 8 = 68,000

(this means that 4,250 lambs were needed)

This was just the lamb at Costco and did not include fresh fish, frozen fish, fresh chicken, frozen chicken, all kinds of beef and its frozen counterparts. It did not include any of the perishable items like fruits and vegetables, things frozen or in boxes/ cans. This is just referrencing the Costco chain.

I walk in to Costco (once a week almost) and am some days overwhelmed with the excess. The amount of food in there is staggering and I often wonder how much work goes into making all of it and how much of it goes to waste.

I read in a book recently that God created the earth to sustain ALL it's inhabitants BUT in order for all to live well/ healthy we would all have to abide by the rule of enough. This means not taking more than our fair share so that others can enjoy whatever equally. You all know someone who takes more than their fair share... they take 3 of something when they should only take 1 or they take the last of something after having their fair share and not asking if anyone would like to share in the last piece or amount. Their mentality might look something like this:

If you wanted it you should have taken it. Or they live by the first come, first served law.

It is clear that we have each been this person at one time or another and it stems from our false narrative that says "there isn't enough". This flies in the face of Kingdom living. If you believe what God has said and how he has provided for others in the past then you would not live by these narratives. Lets look at manna. Remember manna? It's what God gave His people every morning for 40 years while they wandered in the dessert learning some very hard but necessary lessons. God told them "take only what you need" (Exodus 16:4, 17). Those that gathered too much had some spoil and those who gathered to little had the difference made up. Divine.

I look at my life and how blessed I am. I look at others around me who are as blessed, if not more, and they don't realize their blessings. I'm puzzled by this. Is it because they're not truly living in the Kingdom? Of course I want more of something or wish I didn't have to deal with that... I'm human. Yet I can still stop, survey my blessings and give thanks for them.

Back to Costco...

I'm baffled by this ginormous entity. Granted, 425 locations isn't a lot when you compare it against Target (1,767 nationally) or Wal-Mart (almost 9,000 locations world wide). I get overwhelmed by the sheer numbers of the same items at Costco unlike at the other retailers. Stacks and stacks... mountains of edible product. Economically it makes sense for my family to shop at Costco for the diapers and formula alone at present. The lettuce is a great buy too at 6 heads of Romaine lettuce for under $3. But what happens when the law of enough and financial responsibility don't line up? Should I spend more to waste less? Granted it's just lettuce, right? No animal was harmed or tree cut down or anything serious like that. Some weeks we have NO problem eating 6 heads of Romaine lettuce and other weeks what we plan doesn't quite happen and we throw away 2-3 heads. Personally, I'm going to buy those 6 heads at Costco regardless of waste or not because it makes NO sense to me to spend more that $3 for ONE head in the typical grocery store.

Another mind-blowing comparison from Costco to Albertson's-

Peanut butter. The hugemongous jars, of which you get 2, at Costco = $8.30. At Albertson's 1 of those jars costs $8. Now, you tell me which I'm going to buy? Granted, if you don't eat peanut butter toast like it's going out of style (like me, in other words) you might not care about this. Lets talk milk then. Milk @ Costco is just over $5 for 2 gallons whereas it might be close to $5 for 1 at a local grocery store. Is there logic there? My family goes through those 2 gallons in plenty of time so we're not wasting the 2nd gallon like some might if they don't drink that much milk... even so, pair up with a neighbor!

To sum it all up, I still wonder how many people could be fed and for how long if a single Costco sotre, fully-loaded fell into a 3rd world village. Don't you ever think about that?

Dempsey | Rolling Over!

noreply@blogger.com (Mrs. Coral Kenagy) — Sat, 17 Dec 2011 23:48:00 +0000

At 4 months old Master Dempsey has added rolling over from tummy to back to his list of achievements! So proud of our baby.

Sawyer on BWD's Facebook Page

noreply@blogger.com (Mrs. Coral Kenagy) — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 00:27:00 +0000

I posted the video of Sawyer rockin' it after his choir performance on BWD's (Big Wave Dave) Facebook page. BWD is an on-air personality for the FISH 95.9 radio station here in Orange County/ Los Angeles County.
Here's photographic proof:

I love bragging about my big boy!

Recenlty... in Kenagyville

noreply@blogger.com (Mrs. Coral Kenagy) — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 05:25:00 +0000

Here are some fun photos of the last two days in Kenagyville. As you can see, Dempsey is picking up speed and growing like a weed. HE LAUGHS NOW!!! Ah, nothing better than baby laughter. (click on the pic to see the video)

I just love when I can see my man holding our baby.

Dempsey is just the happiest little thing!

Here's Kamatz. Biggest baby of them all!

He's sleeping on the car seat insert that we used until recently.

Tonight in Kenagyville...

The boys (and me) watching Chuck.

Demps fast asleep for the last time today. ♥

↑ Sawyer "hooking it on" with Granddad.

↓ Proof of the hooking it on.

We keep my dad (or mom) on speakerphone so that

the trash talking can ensue. LOL Comedy.

Jake came in and told me to transcribe the following conversation he had with Sawyer during their bed time routine. Here it goes:

Sawyer was telling Jake how much he loves him in a numerical value. (Sawyer has taken to telling us things like "I love you 51 18 47 92 38. I love you THAT much!")

Jake- That's a lot.

They go on talking about the beach and the sand and what sand IS (made of) and how much of it there is.

Sawyer- That's a lot.

Jake- Yeah, that's a lot... and God loves you more than all the pieces of sand in all the world.

Sawyer- I think i'm gonna cry a little bit tomorrow because I can't handle that much love because I'm too small for that.

Oh the things the Lord is teaching us through this child. Can't wait for the lessons He uses Dempsey for. ♥

Sawyer LIVE & Uscripted

noreply@blogger.com (Mrs. Coral Kenagy) — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 04:48:00 +0000

PROUDEST PARENTS EVER!!!

This weekend was Sawyer's first choir performance. It began last night at the 5 o'clock service and continued today at both the 9:30 & 11 o'clock services. Nothing too drastic about the first two BUT then came the third and final performance. Lets just say this kid ROCKED IT! If you weren't there, or even if you were, here's what I'm talking about:

<p>&amp;amp;amp;lt;br&amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;lt;br&amp;amp;amp;gt;I &amp;amp;amp;lt;br&amp;amp;amp;gt;</p>

I cannot begin to describe the range of emotions I felt as I was watching this unfold on the TV screens from the foyer. I was watching lovingly this cute performance of these kids I've seen three times now. Then the song finishes and all I see is Bryan handing SAWYER THE MICROPHONE!!!! What?!?! Wait!!! Um. I don't know how I feel about this. I'm sure I sucked all the air out of the room and I was sure to hold it for those eternal 3 minutes.

That's my son. With the mic. Then he says.... Jesus! and the crowd cheers. I totally missed the in between parts at first as if that rainbow wheel was spinning because I needed time to process what just happened. When it sinks in and I realize what Sawyer has just done/ said my insides resembled that of what I've seen depicted when the under-dog team wins the Super Bowl! Dempsey was lucky he wasn't spiked like the winning football. Ha ha ha.

My son continues to amaze and inspire me. At 4 1/2 I feel that he has a grasp on something I'm just know understanding at 30. I don't think I can thank God more for the opportunity he has blessed me (and Jake) with to raise this amazing kid. He gets IT. He really gets IT. Look out world... Sawyer's coming to change you!

I hope you enjoyed the video. Here are some photos I took throughout the 2 days of performances.

My 30th

noreply@blogger.com (Mrs. Coral Kenagy) — Sun, 04 Dec 2011 05:01:00 +0000

Ice cream cake, no kids, one on one husband-wife time, good food, GREAT SHOW, great sleep.

Yesterday (the 2nd) was my 30th birthday. It was the best one yet! Here's a recap...

Well, I guess my birthday really started on Wednesday. The boys (Jake and Sawyer) made me a cake, decorated the house, gifted me and sang to me. What woman needs more than that? It was a total surprise.

It continued on Thursday with my coworker making cupcakes to celebrate me. She does this for everyone and has been her shtick for several years now and what a tasty one it is!

Yesterday was the big day! Worked a full day but was blessed with a high calorie gift to share with my coworkers who were in that day... a Baskin Robbins ice cream cake. Yummy. Although MY day also consisted of my coworkers son's school being put on lock down because some nut job got crazy with a gun it was alright because the kids and school staff were safe. Down side, idiot ended up taking his life and I think that's the only life he took. So, thanking God for that. I kept counting down the hours and then minutes until 5 o'clock because that's when the super fun part would begin. Bless my parents for keeping the boys all day yesterday and through the night.

By 5:15pm Jake and I were on the road headed to Hollywood. First to do dinner at Carousel, a restaurant I'd never heard of and Jake kept a secret. Turns out it was some pretty good Armenian food. Since our favorite restaurant closed a few months ago we've been looking for a new one. Carousel was good but not good enough to make us drive to Hollywood for dinner. At dinner I was blessed with good conversation with the couple sitting at the table next to us. They are from Indiana and man, do they love Indiana. Well, the weather... not so much. Californians just don't talk about CA the way people from the mid west and northeast talk about their states... we just don't. That experience was just fun for the extrovert in me. Jake really didn't say much... not that I gave him much of a chance. He just kept putting food on my plate for me to try. Good man.

By 7:30pm we were headed down Hollywood Blvd to the Pantages. Why the Pantages? Because of WICKED!!!!

This is the best play ever! So many chills throughout the performance and a huge appreciation for God and his gifting people with these enormous talents. I had only ever heard two songs from the play- For Good and Defying Gravity. Although the latter is still my favorite I really have to say I enjoyed As long As You're Mine. It's the song sung by both Elphaba and Fiyero. It's a great twist on the normal story line of bad people can't have love. This play makes me wish I was a creative genius like the one(s) that wrote it. An amazing story combined with an amazing score is almost too much for my nerves to bear (in a good way). I loved it so much that I might just go see it next month for my friend's 31st. Maybe. If finances and schedules workout.
I could go on and on about how wonderful this play was and how incredible the details were but I think you should just GO SEE IT for yourself.

A Prayer a la Sawyer Tonight

noreply@blogger.com (Mrs. Coral Kenagy) — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 03:13:00 +0000

I wasn't in on the conversation or the prayer but I heard things like
Dear God,

forgive us for killing Jesus
help us be good
help me stop giving mad faces to mom and dad
God please put things the way the were (Heaven/Eden)
please help our hearts feel good

Some adults don't even pray this well. So proud of our son and am so pleased with his high cognitive abilities at such a young age. He is such a gem and we are constantly learning things from him. Can't wait to see how Dempsey challenges/grows us.

When Jake asked him, "Sawyer do you remember what you prayed in there?" Sawyer says "No. It's kinda hard to explain."

Hookin' It On 2 Player Style

noreply@blogger.com (Mrs. Coral Kenagy) — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 05:34:00 +0000

This means that both Sawyer and I played against Granny & Granddad. Love this ability to connect live from 90604 to 90603!! Some day soon we'll have to try 90604 to 76123. Here is some evidence of tonight's event that Jake captured.

It started off with me getting Dempsey to sleep.

Then the text from Granddad came saying "ready in about 10 minutes" so Sawyer and I got ready. Then the games commenced. Such fun!

The down side to playing with FOUR people is the fluidity of the screen. All in all a fun time.

Dempsey's Latest Achievement

noreply@blogger.com (Mrs. Coral Kenagy) — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 05:24:00 +0000

STANDING.... Well, leaning against the cushion.

This stinker couldn't be happier.

My Boys | Lil' in a Jump-Suit

noreply@blogger.com (Mrs. Coral Kenagy) — Sun, 27 Nov 2011 05:13:00 +0000

The phrase "knee high to a grasshopper" keeps popping in my mind. Ha ha ha.

Sawyer at 4 1/2 yrs old and Dempsey at 3 months.

Auntie Tabitha sent this super cute jump suit for Dempsey.

He is THE CUTEST lil' monster (although Monster is my nickname for Sawyer).

On This Thanksgiving

noreply@blogger.com (Mrs. Coral Kenagy) — Thu, 24 Nov 2011 19:25:00 +0000

I am thankful for much more than can be listed in a blog entry. Know that. So I will just highlight a few things here.

First I am thankful for God. He's not just MY God, he is the God of everyone and everything seen and unseen. His love is something I simply cannot wrap my human mind around and so I just pray that as I attempt to grow in Christ God will help me love as he loves. I am thankful for the many blessings he has bestowed on me as well.

Next I am grateful for my husband...

... and my family.

The bless me and challenge me to grow daily, helping to shape me into the woman of God I'm intended to be. I am thankful for Sawyer and his generous heart. Today's example is this:

Sawyer, of his own accord, goes into the kitchen, pulls a chair to the kitchen counter, climbs up and gets two of his cups, fills them both with water from the fridge spigot, walks them into the living room where I am feeding Dempsey and says "here you go mom. I got you some water for when you're thirsty." LOVE.

I am thankful for my parents and all of my extended family for the love and support they've shown me throughout the year... and not just the easy ones.

I am thankful that I have a job I love and that I work with people who share a belief system much like my own. It makes it not so much a job but a hobby I get paid for.

I could just keep on going.....

But I'll stop here.

In Remembrance | Alan McKenzie

noreply@blogger.com (Mrs. Coral Kenagy) — Sat, 19 Nov 2011 23:39:00 +0000

Man, losing a loved one never gets easier. I can distinctly remember believing my grandparents would be around forever. In my eyes they barely aged although pictures tell a very different story. I remember feeling like they were invincible. Then as you grow up you start to gain a new perspective about mortality.

It never ceases to amaze me how small the triggers can be to bring up the pain of loss. An example of this from yesterday:

If you don't know what these are they are pomegranates. I was walking through Vons on a mission for lettuce and light bulbs when these caught my eye and I almost started crying. I have vivid memories of eating these with my granddad and learning from him that you can't eat the white part because it's toxic.

I took the next picture today at lunch. It both lifts and dampens my spirits. Why? Well, it's a blessed picture because there is just no love like the love my dad has for my kids, his grandsons. It's hard to see because I know my dad would loved to have been able to share Dempsey with his father.

I was 10 weeks away (12 after all) from delivering Dempsey when we said good-bye to my grandfather. It was so hard. So unexpected. I don't know of a person in my family who loved babies as much as he did although my cousin Kallie is a CLOSE second. It was the least I could do to honor his life by using his first name and blessing Dempsey with it as his middle name.

This will be our first Christmas without my grandfather and I have no doubt that it will be obvious on so many levels. It breaks my heart to know that Dempsey will never know his great grandfather Alan McKenzie.

I now have 4 angels.

(Andrew Wilkins- passed early 90's; Jackie Endemano- taken May 1st 2008; Estha Wilkins- called home January 28th 2011 & Alan McKenzie- called home May 30th 2011)