Last Wednesday was beautiful busy day. We were in town shopping for Operation Christmas Child when our phones went crazy- Ben’s cousin and dear friend- Fred Martin had passed away unexpectedly while working in a field in Shenandoah County.

Shock. Disbelief. Numbness. 

We wanted to just cancel the days events and flee for home to process the news. But our shopping carts full of little boys eagerly selecting things “to give poor children” could not be disappointed… so we streamlined the process as much as possible and powered on through.

At home, the tears came. How? Why? Fred’s dad had just passed in the winter leaving such a hole in every one’s heart. Fred, at 43, was so needed. And his dear wife, Julia… 

Ben grew up neighbors as well as first cousins with Fred. Back in the day, they had all kinds of adventures together. More recently, their relationship was more over the phone. Fred’s slow draw was easy to recognize. November 1, Fred had hauled litter for us, and he and Ben chatted on the phone for awhile- catching up on each others life.

Last evening, as Ben and I processed the funeral and all the current emotions, we started to imagine what Fred would tell us with what he’s experiencing now.

Would he mention Heaven’s streets of gold or the incredible Banquet that’s spread? Would he talk about the Tree of Life? Or would the unblemished worship of our Almighty God be the only thing he’d mention? 

What advice would Fred have for us from the afterlife? I’m confident that he would assure us that one dry summer wasn’t worth mentioning. I’m sure the same about the election. 

Fred and Ben had talked about going camping this past summer, but schedules were just too busy. “So busy,” Fred lamented “why do we stay so busy” How would Fred encourage us to reprioritize now that he knows what he knows.

But Heaven doesn’t have cell service. We’re left with the promises from Scripture, and lots of happy memories of a jolly fellow in a blue litter truck, waving as he headed off into the sunset.

And another reminder that TODAY is the day to make sure that we are serious about our relationship with God. Because tomorrow isn’t a guarantee. And Eternity lasts forever. 

Jesus, comfort us,

Kendra 

Jeffrey wants all the toys right now. But his latest favorite during tummy time is a little bright blue car whose wheels turn easily and are full of little rattles. He lays on his stomach and plays with that car happily until it rolls out of reach. And then his frustrations start to escalate. His little legs kick like mad. His arms stretch forward in a clumsy way. His little head goes up and down as he strains to reach his car.

Sometimes he mutters and complains.

Sometimes he wails pitifully.

But while he’s reaching determinedly for his toy-he’s confident of one thing: Mom could get this for me.

But tonight Mom didn’t. Mom just sat there and watched his struggle. She patted his little back and encouraged him to keep trying.

Because Mom knows something that Jeffrey doesn’t. She knows that his struggle and frustration will push him to build the muscles that he needs to be much more mobile. She sees great benefits in his current frustrations.

I am Jeffrey. My little blue car is a list of wants/needs that I’m praying for.

Sometimes they roll right in at the right time while I grin and wave and spin the fascinating wheels.

And sometimes it seems like they are within my reach, but then something changes and they’re not.

But sometimes they seem like things that would really benefit me now, and I wail and pout when they don’t happen immediately.

My understanding is so limited. I imagine that our Heavenly Father watches my struggling with compassion- knowing the lessons of trust and patience and all the other muscles I’m strengthening though the experience, that would be weak or nonexistent otherwise.

He’s a Good, Loving Father whose plan for my life is good. And His timing is perfect.

I need to be more like my little boy: quick to giggle and laugh, and look up with big trusting eyes even if the little car stays permanently out of reach

Matthew 18:3 And [Jesus] said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

Kendra

Alexander’s birthday is the first part of October, and every year has found Aunt Em sneaking south to Alabama to surprise him and his mother.(The original surprise is here)

But not this year. This year she told Deb she was coming in plenty of time. What she didn’t tell her (and what we didn’t know either until a few days before she left) was that she wouldn’t be traveling alone. I was going with her! And Jeffrey! And Julia! And Isaiah and Uriah! And Gideon!

We piled in Julia’s minivan and loaded to the hilt- we set our sights south. I’d spent some time on Pinterest collecting ideas for “travel entertainment for toddlers” and I spent some money at The Dollar Tree putting together a bag of tricks and we were ready. ( Probably the funniest addition to our travel was a long piece of twine that stretched from the passengers sun visor to the backseat where the boys were buckled in. A chip bag clip that had a perfect sized hole in it was threaded on the line and communication was busy going back and forth. Small bags of snacks, a sheet of stickers, a balloon with chapstick inside moved back the line, a carefully colored picture and small boys croc came forward. 😂)

The boys traveled like champs and soon (if 13 hours later is soon) We were sneaking into the dark house. Deb told Em to make herself at home- that she’d see her in the morning. So that’s what we did.

Jeffrey’s hungry cry several hours later alerted the Kennell’s to the fact that it wasn’t just Aunt Em who’d arrived, and started the flurry of the next few days.

We went shopping

We visited the Gulf of Mexico

We celebrated Zander

We visited a town named Uriah, AL

We just enjoyed the blessing and the crazy of being together. The people -4 and under- out number the adults now. And so does their energy level 😂

And then we piled back in the van with our incredibly fun (and bulky) purchases. (I bought a jogging stroller 🤪 the girls bought folding chairs) and with barely any space for our feet- we sailed north again.

Our hearts fuller than the current state of the minivan.

And a good time was had by all. Even Jeffrey who’s personal space was a little cramped occasionally- but actually loosened up and enjoyed his cousins 💙

Thanks you Jesus for this precious time together

Kendra

Bonus Pic:

Celebrated 6 months with the Little man with his first haircut . Contrary to how sad he looks here- he did quite well and is enjoying not having hair in his eyes ☺️

One amazing side effect of having little people around is how happy memories from my own childhood resurface at random times. Apparently I spent a loooooot of time crashed out on the floor of the living room in front of our stereo system listening to books on cassette. And as my niblings (siblings children) are growing up- I’ve made it my personal agenda to give them that same opportunity.

In my quest to find constructive material, I discovered The Usborne’s Book of Bible Stories with CD on one of the thriftbooks websites I frequent. “Perfect” I said

The book and CD eventually found its way to Alabama and Deborah reported that her children have been enjoying “reading their Bible” (aka listening to the stories) whenever they see her having devotion. Also Perfect.

But then I got a strange video from Deb. Alexander is holding a dollbaby and looking distressed and Maria is barking orders around her pacifier “BABY BOYS MUST BE K*LLED!”

Apparently it’s super fun to act out Pharaoh declaring that all the Israelite baby boys be put to death. Not quite the visual that Aunt Ken had in mind when she was happily ordering this book.

My current Bible reading plan is taking me to study the lives of different Bible heroes. It wasn’t but a day or two after the dramatic acting out of Moses’s childhood that we read Exodus 2:

1 Now a man of the tribe of Levi married a Levite woman, 2 and she became pregnant and gave birth to a son. When she saw that he was a fine child, she hid him for three months. 3 But when she could hide him no longer, she got a papyrus basket for him and coated it with tar and pitch. Then she placed the child in it and put it among the reeds along the bank of the Nile. 4 His sister stood at a distance to see what would happen to him…

Suddenly I found myself looking into the gray, trusting eyes of the fine child in my own arms and this story came to life in a new way. Jeffrey is 3 months old now. Wasn’t she scared of crocodiles and of his basket getting loose and floating away? Wasn’t she afraid that he’d be discovered by the opposing team and whisked away to never be seen again? Did he love to lay on the floor and kick like Jeffrey does? What kept the basket from being flipped over? What was her game plan with this move? Honestly- How could she?

And then understanding burst its way through the clouds of my musing. The basket was the safest place. Outside the basket was chaos- a power hunger Egyptian Pharoah demanding death to all Israelite boys, a muddy Nile River, hungry crocodiles, an enslaved nation crying to be released… but inside the basket, gently rocking as the water lapped on the shore- was peace. Because God was making a way.

It’s easy to overthink the future. The news is frightening. It feels like crocodiles and power hungry rulers are out of control. What future will my son/niblings face?

God’s timing is perfect. As my heart was pondering the Bible story and the reality around it- a Horst cousin shared this quote on Facebook. (Thanks, Joyce ❤️)

“There comes a time – many times, actually – in the lives of our children where we have to put the basket in the water. We have to let go and trust the plan of the Father. The world is a scary place – a place where we fear our children could drown. But we must remember that we have to let go so that God can draw them from the waters for His great purpose. He has called us to be their parents, but they were His first.

My friend, whatever water you may be getting ready to put your basket into – remember that you have to put them in the water for God to draw them out and place them into His perfect plan. Though you might not be physically present with your child as much during the next phase of life, you can always petition the heart of the Father on their behalf.” ✍🏼 Ashlei Woods

So if you’ll excuse me, I’m getting a basket ready for whatever is ahead. Because no matter what, God is there and I can trust Him to make a way.

Thanks Zander and Maria, for a very timely Bible story.

Kendra

Bonus Pic:

First family vacation- for now Jeffrey’s basket looks strangely like a bright pink flotation device 😎

I prayed for this child, and the Lord has granted me what I asked of him. 1 Samuel 1:27

4.20.24 will be a day forever etched in my mind.

I tried to appear casual on the family chat when Julia asked if anybody wanted to go to the greenhouse. “I think I better skip this time and just rest.” Dodged that bullet I thought.

Deborah came next: “So what are you up to today?” Me: “Just spending the day with Ben.”

I missed a call from Father “I thought when you didn’t answer maybe it was because you were heading to the hospital.” Me: “Nope not heading to the hospital today.” (We’d arrived the day before)

Anyhow besides the frantic detective work being done behind the scenes, Ben and I and Baby R were being carried and cared for. So many people reached out to us and encouraged us by praying for us and the arrival of our little one. And we felt those prayers.

At 3:17 a new voice joined the conversation in the operating room. “It’s a boy! We have a son!” announced excited Dad. “Look at the hair!” Said everybody else and Mr Jeffrey Benson just filled his little lungs with air and wailed.

Jeffrey means “Pledge of Peace, God’s Peace.” The spiritual connotation is “Wise”.

Benson is in honor of his dad, Ben 💙

We are having great fun guessing which side he favors, we all claim him. Grammy is confident he’s gonna have brown eyes. Dad is not convinced.

So we’re at home, trying to get used to our new roles. Savoring the moments. Thanking God.

We pray that your life is one of Peace, Son. That you find the Prince of Peace at an early age and serve Him faithfully your entire life.

Proverbs 3:1 My son, do not forget my teaching, but keep my commands in your heart,2 for they will prolong your life many years and bring you peace and prosperity. 3 Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. 4 Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man. 5  Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding 6 in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. 7 Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil. 8 This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones.

Thanking Jesus for this precious gift 💙

Kendra

Bonus Pics:

The hospital gave us a “celebratory dinner” after Jeffrey’s birth. We definitely have reason to celebrate 🥰

Jeffrey has no clue how much fun he’s gonna have with his cousins. There’s a number of boys 4 years old and younger on both sides of our families. Let the adventures begin.

I packed both a pink and a blue bag of butter mints to the hospital- not knowing which we’d need. Blue it is 💙

💙💙💙

Aunt Em makes personalized signs for each niece or nephew and she brought Jeffrey’s to the hospital 🥰 Heidi K made the lion. Mama dusted off her crochet hook for the afghan.