Perspective softens how we see others

Give grace ‘cause you don’t know what others are going through. You’re not walking in their shoes but you can certainly endeavor not to be a stumbling block. 

Softening towards one another will allow you to give space for the things you can’t possibly know that are being worked out in them — in this, you can choose to see them as God sees them, a worthy individual who was crafted by God’s hand with a unique purpose. 

Choose to see others through a lens of love -- even when they are looking at you with an air of superiority and contempt in their eyes. That's hard, but that’s on them. If it’s actually about you, work it out with God before you try to work it out with them. But what do I know? ;) 

See the inspirational short clip below 

I am Superhuman

Favorite pass-time lately: Imagining I'm superhuman and can do All The Things!

Then I remember my age, my bedtime along with the children, gray hairs, love handles, my growing snarky list of "you know you need a self care day if..." statements accruing in my Notes app that I keep just because I live on sarcasm and a pot of coffee a day to keep up with the rest of my family... and well, life! 

Negativity, perhaps the devil, tries to tell me constantly how I'm not measuring up. Heck, I tell myself that enough times in a day. Sure, someone else has it all together in a way I don't. But I am superhuman. I am loved, blessed, overstimulated for sure, my cup (not the coffee) overflows to the point that I can't even take it all some days! 

Let's take a moment and check out the path that led to where we are and just marvel at what an amazing thing life really is. Big, beautiful, cluttered, never pinterest worthy, but a chaotic, sometimes embarrassing, funny ensemble of uniqueness, and hopefully, learning all along the way. 

May you find beauty in the chaos even if only after the kids are asleep. ;)

Our Year in Review 2022

Recalling the fun of summer vacations as a kid and wanting to experience travel with our kids a bit, we arranged to purchase a 16’ travel trailer and 4Runner. Jonathan spent quite a bit of time and money making it travel worthy, learning how to winterize, etc.

Jonathan and Kathy worked hard on the garden, starting seedlings as early as March this year, laying out the right placement of plants, companion planting, moving raspberry bushes, fighting against crabgrass and paradise trees, and not the least of these, Jonathan put in an automatic drip watering system. 

We did plan several camping trips this year and due to continued illness, one by one they each got canceled. We managed to get out for one night to try out our little home on wheels, we learned a few things about setting up camp in the rain while also getting exposed to the newest version of COVID-19. After we had to leave the campsite the next morning, and having to rearrange the next few camping excursions we threw up our hands and banished the trailer to provide AC/heat, showers and kitchen for our ambitious family as they begin building their new home above the Walla Walla cloud line.

Thankfully, Kathy saw an opportunity at Spring break and ran off with the kids see her brother and family in CA.

Daniel started preschool this summer and continues to amaze us with the new behaviors he comes home with and his resilient resistance to learning the alphabet, coloring or crafting anything. His love of all things motorized is not diminished but he is finding it more interesting to antagonize his family with anything at his disposal. Asking for hugs every 5 min and doing a surprise poke or tickle attack seems to be the height of hilarity right now.

Summer gas prices brought the thought of saving money to mind and Kathy thought we might do well with bikes and a double bike trailer. We did our best to bike the kids to summer programs that are less than a mile away, of course, we were quickly reminded of how warm it gets here in Walla Walla the majority of summer. The extreme heat wave this summer also took our potted Charlie Brown Christmas Tree we bought while living in Lynnwood 5 yrs ago, so we were blessed with a fresh cut tree from our families property at Christmas this year. Kathy and the kids participated in the Frontier Days Parade followed by letting the kids enjoy all the fair rides they could handle.

Serena started 1st grade this year, math seems super easy for her and she is now reading at a level 1 or 2 book and 26 words per minute despite dealing with ADHD. She much prefers to spend her time hunting bugs or learning about or interacting with animals, crafting or drawing. We frequently run out of containers to turn into terrariums, tape and paper are in high demand as well as anything from the recycle bin, and end up hiding the scissors and glue until they can be used with supervision. After being introduced to Direct and Draw on YouTube, she has papered our walls seasonally with the most adorable creations. She maintains her love of bugs and makes it through the winter by cornering a salesperson at the pet store to let her hold the crickets, feeding her Venus flytrap flies that she can catch by hand, collecting green cabbage caterpillars and cutworms in the fall, watching them turn to brown moths and tantalizing our cats with them. Now that all the bugs have gone through metamorphosis and finished their life cycle, Kathy felt compelled to buy 4 hornworms which are now as big as our fingers and almost out of food, we are waiting to see how big of a moth they turn into.

Kathy agreed to volunteer publicity services for the local Mothers of Preschoolers group (MOPS) and is enjoying the creative outlet but finding it easily takes up any "free" time if you let it. It is truly a full time job keeping kids learning when they are often sick and staying home! We just had a meeting with the school about Serena's "excessive absences". Other projects: organizing, decluttering, trying to keep the household low waste, tackling food waste as our own garden and peach tree pumped out mass produce and the neighbors fruit trees dumped into our yard, we were forced to make country wine, can, freeze, dehydrate, and of course, experimental cooking. We’ve done lots of crafting with kids, slowly learning a few words of Spanish, and plotting piano and swim lessons but finally giving in and buying a big inflatable pool.

Jonathan has continued in the same job since October 2011, his current title is Sr. System’s Engineer. His work went through a major acquisition this year so there was a lot of change over from that and the company has another new name. He spent some time early this year helping Bernice work through Paul’s estate in Everett and recently started fiddling with Ableton Live on an inherited piano. Jonathan also spends time sewing the odd stuffed animal or fixing garments for the family on one of his many refurbished vintage sewing machines. He actually parted with 2 of the sewing machines this year which was a huge step; I think we are now down to 17!

He is planning some epoxy projects with a few intact interesting bugs he found. 3D printing continues to be a part of our lives, as the Death Star (Star Wars) briefly topped our tree once again this year. He saw a safety issue with the printer and worked tirelessly to build an enclosure for better ventilation from reclaimed materials. We are sleeping better now knowing he’s not going to die of toxic fume inhalation. Other projects: Replaced router for increased security, growing plants indoors in the dead of winter, volunteering with Yeehaw Aloha, and continuing to build storage into our home for better organization.

There always seems to be so much more we wanted to do in the year. We did managed to take a break from being sick momentarily to see each of the grandparents leading up to Thanksgiving. We are thankful for the little bits of time we got to spend with family and friends. We are so thankful for the growth and understanding that is blossoming in our energetic kids and we are so privileged to get to be their parents… but keep us in your prayers. ;) We each have so much growing to do. 

Happy Belated Holidays!

- The Kinney Family

2015 went by so FAST

Each year certainly has its ups and downs. We did experience some losses this year: our 16 year old cat “Baby”, our beloved pastor and friend who married us, and Kathy’s step-grandfather. However, below are some positive highlights that we were so blessed with as well.

Jan - We got pregnant! (Yes, it was planned. Prayed over. Involved lots of paranoid testing due to our age.)

Feb - Visited family in Texas and found the cave pictographs we had been hunting, discovered I can still do cartwheels and act like a big kid when around my brothers kids. ;)

Apr - Learned we were having a girl and got to hear her little heartbeat. Paul & Bernice were generous enough to take us with them to Oahu for a week for one last horrah before the baby arrived. Lots of memories and pictures to enjoy for years till we can potentially make it back to Hawaii again.

May - “Baby brain” sets in while we pulled together a family reunion camping weekend over Memorial Day and Jonathan’s birthday. So much fun to hang out at our favorite camp spot and just enjoy nature with some of our favorite people.

Jun - Visited both sides of the family in Walla Walla and Coos Bay. Such a treat to see the fatherly side to my brother and Jonathans brother, as well as get to see all the kids growing up so fast.

July - Took in our first symphony together (Distant Worlds music from Final Fantasy), got rid of extra big pieces of furniture, baby proofing the condo, and renovating our tub and shower. Jonathan started picking up more of the housework as the third
trimester hit.

Aug - Experienced lots of movement in the belly! Baby Shower hosted by Bernice (Jonathan’s mom) and one of my best friends, so much fun and we were so blessed with such a loving community gathering!

Sep - Hurried to complete our renovations and storage adjustments in anticipation of the little ones arrival. Celebrated 7 years of marriage.

Oct - Our oldest nephew, Dez, became an official adult making us feel our age even more. Jonathan experienced another blood clot scare, which we are grateful to have caught in time to only need a few weeks of blood thinner shots. Finally, our own bundle of joy, Serena Desiree, was born on Oct 28!  We were blessed with a healthy little girl, quick delivery and an uneventfully healthy pregnancy.

Nov - Lots of family came to town to visit the new arrival, oh yeah, and for Thanksgiving. ;)

Dec - Christmas went by in a blur but we got to see more family again and we are super late with cards and gifts and such!

Even amid our losses, Jesus promise of peace (John 14:27) during our pregnancy still rings true and is the reason we named our daughter Serena. We are so thankful for her and the joy and peace she has already brought into our lives. As we begin the New Year with a little less sleep and a lot more love in our home -- we want to wish you a happy, healthy, loving and fulfilling 2016.

My First Baby

Sixteen years ago, I thought I had ruined every opportunity I might ever have for having children and even a healthy relationship. I told my doctor I didn't want kids, for fear I would mess them up, so they might as well give me a hysterectomy right then.

My brother and sister-in-law gave me a ticket to the crazy cat lady world that Christmas, a gift certificate to the Idaho Humane Society so I could adopt a kitten. Or maybe I was hanging around them far too much so they thought I needed something to absorb my time... whatever the reason....

After Christmas that year, I found the blackest cat I could find to dispel all superstition and I just loved the sleek look of a black short hair cat. I know, immaturity abounds! She was a barn kitty, very shy; her brother was there too with such spunky boyishness about him. I considered taking them both home but thought they really didn't seem all that bonded together and I wasn't sure I could be responsible for two pets, having never had an indoor cat before and having only ever really cared for large outdoor dogs and one outdoor elderly antisocial cat that basically cared for itself via mice and neighborhood begging.

I really had no business adopting a pet at that point. I worked most nights, loved my freedom, and ran a small business during the day that in my inexperience and immaturity I thought was a real business selling travel packages as an independent contractor but really it was an MLM scheme.  When it was all said and done I had to take a loss of $14K on that business and eventually file bankruptcy (much later) to get out of some of the binding contracts that would have me paying them until death do us part.

So back to our cat tale, I brought home a black cat with a white star on her chest. She livened up right away and loved that I had a 2 bedroom apartment all to myself … and now her. She tore around every corner of her new space attacking paper, shredding it and making sure that I was awake most of anytime I tried to sleep. I named her Baby since I figured she would be the only baby I would ever have and she seemed oddly OK with me holding her like a baby... for a few minutes anyway.

Baby quietly begging for affection.

Fast forward 16 years, I still have Baby with me and now a lively baby kicking around in my womb. The journey to THAT is purely a testimony of God’s grace and provision but a story for another time. My furry friend is now showing her age, needing constant reassurance and loving attention as her kidney disease progresses, food allergies torture her with ear irritation, and arthritis plagues her movements. We had a quality of life exam at the vet yesterday and as much as it pulls at my heartstrings to see my friend in pain so much of every day, I refuse to dope her up and prolong the suffering. In evaluating her status, I see that the Hills Science diet has a lot of the allergens she struggles with so, although that’s what the vets recommend for a kitty with kidney disease, I have taken her off the dry K/D diet. She has shown a remarkable improvement over the last 3 days without it and only eats wet food now. A trip to Mud Bay and a lot of trial and error about a year ago showed that she does well on the fish versions of the Best Feline Friend (BFF) and Weruva brands of canned food, adding lots of water for her kidneys -- so we are back to just that for food.

My Baby is the sweetest cat ever and has never bit anyone before but in the last two years she has started biting lightly as a warning that she doesn’t like something you’re doing, usually petting around the hindquarters. Her days consist of sleeping in daddy’s favorite chairs or on mommy’s lap if she can get me to sit still long enough or make enough room on my lap with the ever increasing preggo belly intruding on her space. I don’t know how much longer I will have my furry friend in my life, the vet says she looks good and doesn’t look all that sick but of course, she is a beautiful sweet thing that just wants love and affection at this point. He doesn’t see the many times she lays in her favorite spot not even able to sleep and looking at me like she just wants me to make the pain stop. In the last few years she has lost her spunk, lost her confidence around people and other animals, no longer plays, seems fearful of everything and will hide in the closet after any kind of medication or probing amongst many other unpleasant unmentionable symptoms.

After seeing my own mother suffer through kidney failure, I can imagine that if Baby is experiencing even a fraction of that kind of suffering, I don’t want to extend it. But how do you make that call really? Cat’s hide so much of their pain and can be loving and affectionate right up to the end while refusing to eat or drink. How do I do this, especially when the vet doesn’t see it? It seemed like he was telling me that because her coat was still shiny and eyes were not sunken in that she couldn’t possibly be that sick. Sadly, how she looks says nothing about her quality of life in my opinion. So we are keeping an eye on her, with a wet food only diet laced with Kitty Kalm (herbal calming drops) and lots of added water. Today I realized that she has not been drinking water for the last few weeks, only the fluid from her food and leaving most of the food bits yet her litter box is full of urine every day. Lord, give me strength to do what is best for my friend.