The Sick Strawns

Well, since our return from Michigan, it's been one virus after another! Al was sick the week we got home and two weeks later, Eden started coughing, then wheezing. Al was gone to a class in Seward, and my mom was visiting for the week, so we kept an eye on it. On Saturday, we took her to see the on-call doctor, who told me Eden had allergies and that I needed to clean & dust my house, wash her clothes, blankets, rugs and bedding until I could 'pull them out of the washer and snap them in the sunlight until I could see nothing float off of them'... Needless to say, I ran home and cleaned furiously, b/c my house is such a pig's pen.

When it hadn't gotten better by Monday, I took her to see our regular doctor, who promptly ordered blood tests, a chest X-ray, RSV test and a breathing treatment. Two hours later, she was breathing so much better that she fell asleep and stayed that way for 4 hours! She tested positive for RSV and we're treating it with the normal precautions. So, after 5 months of complete 100% health, she broke her track record and got sick. Then, she passed it on in the form of a cold to Mom, who passed it on in the form of a sinus infection/ear infection to Dad. So, we're all recovering and counting our blessings for good medicine and good doctors!

A Michigan Christmas Carol

Happy New Year to all!! I hope your disposition is cheery and your resolutions are obtainable!~

Al, Eden & I just got back from our Christmas in Michigan, which started the Tuesday after Christmas (yes, it's called Christmas for a reason) and ended a full week late due to a couple unforseen circumstances.

The first week was a blur of fun and laughter, the second, a week of uncertainty, tears and frustration. After a near 5 month fight to regain her independence following an auto/tractor accident, my Grandma Kenny got a staph infection at the hospital the day before she was scheduled to be released and unexpectedly died the day we were to return to Nebraska. We stayed for the funeral on Monday and attempted to board the train on Tuesday, when Al woke up at 0430 with 103 degree fever. After a quick trip to a doctor and some antibiotics, we finally boarded the train on Wednesday. Al was very sick, white as a sheet, and nearly fainted at the depot as the train was pulling in, so you can imagine the 24 hour train ride we then endured!

I couldn't possibly share all our joys and sorrows in a short little blog, so I'll shower you with photos instead. (note the number of arms Eden enjoys...none of which were Al or I for nearly 2 weeks!)






The Kenny Family-6th try ;-) Marie, Sarah & Eden, Al behind, Dad & Mataya, Mom. (L)Chad, McKenzie & Meegan & Ariya, Zachary.






Meegan with her newest niece, Eden, opening gifts





McKenzie with her newest cousin, Eden






Mom Kenny opens her 'nurse' blanket. (2)Grandma Kraft opens the M&M chicken feeder




Four generations together: Grandma Kraft (82), Mom Kenny (57), Sarah (27) & Eden Ann (4 months)





Grandpa Ittner & Grandpa Kraft with their newest Great Grandbaby, Eden






Jenny feeds Eden. (2)Uncle Randy smiles with Eden






Pinata Fun at the Schneider Christmas in Grandpa & Grandma Kraft's house!
Ariya kisses the yellow giant and McKenzie is batter up!





All the cousins (and a few aunts and uncles) scramble for the candy!~



On to the taffy pull! (1) Skylar, Aunt Janet's hands, Uncle Matt (this was HIS idea), Michaela, McKenzie & Zachary. (2) Michaela in background, McKenzie in foreground. There were about 8 others pulling taffy all around us, much of the goo ending up on the floor. It was chaos!





The grandbabies of 2005. Eden Ann (August) & Mataya Evelyn (March) sit in front of their Christmas Socks.




Dad Strawn tries to get Eden to laugh.... I was laughing....

















Mom Kenny gets Eden ready for a sink bath.

















Ahhh, this is what vacation is all about. Al and Eden relax in the recliner.

Merry CHRISTmas!

It's Christmas Eve already! A typical Christmas Eve in the parsonage goes like this: it was a hasty day of Pastor finishing a sermon for candlelight service, wrapping something for the wife, coming up with something to say for the Children's program, answering last minute questions about music, costumes, candles, hymnals and whatever else we think the pastor might know, and remembering to shower and put on a clean clerical. The Pastor's wife runs off copies of music that was lost, cooks the ham for the pot luck, finds some games for the kids, washes and irons the pastor's clothes, cassok and surplus, irons the baby's new dress, and frets endlessly about things that are not done, may never get done, and probably don't even NEED to get done!

Add to this year of our Lord 2005, we have a BABY to worry about!! A very tired baby, I might add, who's been awakened from every nap she's had all weekend to go over to chruch to work on 'something'. Approximately five mintues after putting Eden in her adorable Christmas Eve dress, she spit up all over the red velvet. Al doesn't like the feel of velvet, so him holding her is even more limited than it normally would be on a Christmas Eve. Regardless, we pose for our annual 'tree' photo (there were several previous attempts, but the dog was always looking at the tree instead of the camera). And here is the result! Approximately two minutes after the Children's service, just before potluck, Eden has the messy diaper we've all been waiting for, smothers her new dress in it, and ends up in her ducky pajamas for dinner and candlelight service!

Christmas morning comes along and, after church, we throw a frozen lasagna in the oven and kick back in some comfy clothes to open gifts. Eden smiles for the camera, then gets set on the floor, immediately becoming fussy.



















Gift opening is now postponed for a clean diaper (followed again by clean clothes), a bottle and a nap. Consequently, Eden misses all the festivities, ends up sleeping ALL day, only waking to eat and go back to sleep, and Al and I open gifts, pack the bags, the blazer and the day with tasks that only result in getting to go home for 'after' Christmas!


The train is scheduled to leave at 0130 and we all plan to be on it!!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Current Hobby Progress

I have been working on a large nativity that I purchased while on vicarage and added significant numbers of pieces to last year. I thought the best place to begin after adding so many pieces was a manger. While constructing the manger, I ran into a few snags on getting the plaster moulds of rock to adhere to the wood. (since historically, Jesus more than likely would have been in a rock/field stone/brick type building) After months of pondering what to do, I changed my entire plan, which was to have plaster molds covering all of the wood, to this more simple design with carved in stone. After nearly completely wearing out a dremel bit with probably about 6 hours of carving individual rocks, here is the rough draft.














Here it is after primer. I added some plaster filler between some of the moulds after this picture was taken, because I felt it just looked like a bunch of pieces simply slapped onto wood.















And here you see it with the new plaster, and a couple layers of airbrushed paint.
















Next up will be getting the base color of the logs and adding more color to the rock. This will probably be done by Christmas 2025, but I will at least set out what I get done each year. ;-) It has been a great way to remain focused on the God/man behind all the preparations, and a great stress reliever as well.