Tristan Ryan

Hey it's Katie! Since Jana and Kenny's computer is currently under the weather, I have come to the rescue!! Click here to see new pics of our wonderful little nephew.

Welcome to the world!!

Hi, my name is Tristan, but my aunts and uncles call me Ty!



On Sunday, April 20, 2008, we welcomed our little nephew Tristan Ryan into the world at 5 lbs. 6 oz. and 17 inches long!! Mom (Kim) is doing great, but Tristan remains in the NICU with a condition called gastroschisis, which means God formed his little intestines on the outside of his body. He has been a little trooper and thanks to the skillful work of his doctors and lots of prayer, all the intestines have been replaced and he had surgery yesterday afternoon to close up the hole in his belly. He still has a long road ahead of him as he learns how to eat and they make sure he is pooping the way he should...so pray that all goes in and comes back out as it should! (A poop prayer, if you will!)


Mom and the little guy...


My new and improved belly!!

At Kim's request, I will post lots of pictures very soon so that all you out-of-towners (like myself) can see the little guy!! (I'm still having computer problems, but no worries, DELL to the rescue!)

[insert super interesting and funny title here]

Sorry to have been MIA for a while, but our stellar internet company has dropped the ball and our internet connection has been less than desirable for the last few weeks...and when I say "less than desirable", I mean NOT PRESENT! And people in Spencer County have NO sense of urgency about anything, including repairing internet connections!! (To test this theory, try going to the local Dairy Queen...after you order, just head on home for a nap and when you get up, your food might be ready. Don't even TRY to order a blizzard!)

I digress...

We have just been hanging out up here. Spring has finally made it's way to the Kentuckiana area and I'm enjoying that very much! I had a home visit today and it was so nice outside that we sat on the front porch to fill out the paper work, while the kids played in the yard. And speaking of weather related items...did yall hear we had a stinkin' earthquake this morning?!? (Is an earthquake weather related?) I'm serious though...if you don't believe me, check this out. When Kenny woke me up this morning as he was leaving for work, he told me there had been an earthquake and I just told him to shut up! (Give me a break, I was still asleep!) Little did I know.......Kenny was up already when it happened and said the whole house shook! Since I'm back from pretending I'm in Canada with all the snow, I guess I can pretend I live in California now! (Don't worry Mom, it really wasn't that big of a deal...no injuries, no major damage, and most people just slept through it.)

We celebrated our 2 year anniversary at our Spencer County Campus several weeks ago with what else but a fried chicken pot luck lunch!! But seriously, it has been awesome to see this group of people go from a tiny Sunday School class to a church that averages around 150 each week in only 2 short years! We are growing and reaching out to the community on a weekly basis. We are even having our first VBS this summer and I'm pumped about that!! I was talking with a friend the other day about how it all started and about how each of our families had ended up at Spencer County Campus and it's just really neat to see how God has brought people together to form this church. Our church family is definitely our "KY family" and we have made several friends through this adventure that I hope will be those kind of friends you still keep in touch with when you are old and gray. :)

I made a trip home a couple of weeks ago as well for a super duper baby shower for the little sis and as soon as Katie (...Katie?) sends me the pictures, I'll let you in on all the fun!

We are gearing up for a really busy couple of months between work, church and traveling, but I'll keep you all updated as I know you wait with baited breath between each of my post to find out just what Kenny & Jana are up to now......Seriously? If you are THAT interested, then you need a hobby!

Cutest Blog on the Block!

So, I found this super cool website where I can get FREE backgrounds for my blog and as you have noticed, we are now sporting "Barefoot". And I have to give props to this very creative individual who is making these cute backgrounds...Thanks Cutest Blog on the Block!!

And for you scrapbookers out there...I have found my dream website...Scrapblog! So I am exploring that website and hope to have something to show yall soon...

Are you commenting?!?

I had to add "word verification" to the blog. So, now when you add comments you will have to type in a word to make sure that you aren't a spammer! I was getting crazy comments from imaginary people that I didn't even know. And since MANY of you never comment...go check it out to make sure it works...NOW! I want to know WHO is reading and WHERE you are reading from! That means you too, Julio!

Have a happy weekend!! :)

Happy Easter?

I live in Canada. But only for today.

We got 12-14 inches of snow yesterday and today and I am loving it!! We bundled up earlier today and braved the elements to play! It was way too powdery to make a snowman or sled, so we pretty much just ran around like idiots and made snowangels! So I'm just gonna leave you to the pictures...I'll post of few...the rest you can see here!

We also made "snowcreme"! Last night we put a bowl in the driveway to collect "clean" snow and after galloping in the snow, we ate it! A little milk, vanilla, sugar...and it didn't taste quite right...a little cocoa, chocolate chips and pecans...VIOLA! Rocky Road "Snowcreme"!! Yummy!





Just chillin'!!


Don't worry mom...I didn't go any higher!


SNOWANGEL!


After a tumble down a hill!


It was DEEP!

Down in Fraggle Rock!

So, it is snowing fiercly in Kentuckiana! And I'm loving it...our office closed at 1:00 pm today and I ran by the store before coming home to just hang out. Y'all may think I'm crazy, but I pretended that I live up North (like real far up North, in Canada or something) and all this snow was totally normal and I was very used to driving in it, grocery shopping in it, etc. I really am a little crazy, but I just wished I lived somewhere where snow was almost a daily thing in the winter...I just love it!!

Anyway, with my free time, I'm just watching a little TV and checking email...and I came across this video, which is the opening song to the beloved show "Fraggle Rock". DO YALL REMEMBER THAT SHOW?!? I absolutely loved it, and hearing the theme song just made my day!! (It doesn't take much to please me!) When I was younger, I collected little cartoon figures of all sorts and one of my favorites was one of the Fraggles driving a carrot!! So enjoy the video...dance a little and SMILE!

The Ho-Hum of Daily Life...

So, I know I haven't posted in a while.......but life is just chugging along with no real changes. Kenny is taking a break from classes this semester, but it seems the free time he thought he would have has quickly been filled with other things...work, church responsibilities, ME! :) He stays super busy at work and I believe is actually the senior guy on his team right now. I am staying really busy at work, too...we had a record breaking month of referrals in January, making my February and March really busy!! We are both staying really busy with "church things" too. Sundays, Wednesday nights and the various other event during the week keeps us busy...but we love it!! And I don't know about anyone else, but I think I'm ready for Spring! I usually love cold weather/snow, etc, but if we could just get some sunshine and the wind would stop blowing, I think I would be better!

I have to brag on Kenny, too...I have been sick and out of commission a couple of times during the last few weeks and my precious husband has gone over and above the call of duty and has taken great care of me!! Making meals, cleaning up around the house, making sure I'm not over doing it...I couldn't ask for a better support! I know he's ready for me to be back on my feet though...yesterday I smiled at him and his response..."I'm ready to have my helper back!" God bless him!!

Finally!

Well, I finally got the snow I've been wishing for! Monday night we got several inches, topped with a nice thick layer of ice. Have I mentioned how much I love to just sit and watch it snow?!? We both were able to get out and go to work on Tuesday, but Tuesday night the temps dropped and because it had rained most of the day, EVERYTHING was incased in ice on Wednesday morning! Although the roads were fairly clear, we weren't able to leave the house today because our driveway is a hill, trapping us at the top. Kenny tried to get one of the cars out and just ended up spinning in circles. And we both busted it trying to walk down the driveway...did you know ice is slippery?!? Hopefully, we'll be able to go to work tomorrow. So here's a few pictures...for you Katie...sorry you missed it (by a DAY!!)...

Yeah, Kenny is in shorts! I think he is CRAZY!

This is what an Explorer popsicle looks like...took awhile to get all that off!

Trying to dig out!

The front yard

Yep, that's a stuck Honda...you can't tell it from the picture, but the ground is covered in ice, resulting in spinning tires.

Happy Birthday Kenny!!

If you could hear me now, you would know that I'm singing...er, screaming the happy birthday song to Kenny!! (This will only make sense if you have ever attended a Hill Family Birthday Celebration...which includes singing Happy Birthday as loud and as off key as possible to the birthday boy or girl!)

Pacux, Guatemala

Team Picture...men from all the different Highview campuses join together to serve in Guatemala!

I uploaded all of Kenny's Guatemala pictures for your viewing pleasure. I also have added the link for the blog that was kept by one of the men while they were gone. This will give you some insight into what they did during the week.

Guatemala Trip Blog

KENNY IS HOME!!

So, if you remember back in December, we found out that Kenny had an opportunity to go to Guatemala for a week. He has been gone all week and his plane just landed in Houston! I haven't talked with him much yet, but I'm sure there will be stories and pictures to share soon. He'll be back in Louisville later this afternoon. And I stayed home all by myself all week and only had one night that I was scared. If you know me, this was a BIG DEAL...our new house is out in the middle of no where! We have neighbors, but for some reason it's a lot more scary to stay by yourself in a house, instead of an apartment!

More updates later that will hopefully include some pictures. Thanks so much for those of you that supported and prayed for Kenny on his trip!!

I NEED SNOW!!

I added some different photo albums to the right in the "Gallery of Fun".....

I'm still waiting on some heavy duty snow...Although, I took a "Snow Day" today because they closed Spencer County schools due to snow, but it was all gone by noon. I want to REALLY be snowed in...I say that, but would probably regret it when it happens. Here's the house one morning in the beginning of one our little mini snow storms that we so often get...always results in a good dusting and nothing more!!

New Year's Pics!!

And a few New Year's pics to brighten your day...we shot fireworks and were almost passed out we were so tired by the time midnight rolled around!! Needless to say, that party ended at about 12:03 am! We are PAR-TY animals!!

Gingerbread Land 2007

Sorry for the delay in posting Gingerbread Land.......I have no excuse! The college roommates got together for a little fun during Christmas break and decided that it would be a BLAST to make gingerbread houses!! Actually, if you know me, Dara, Emily and Jennifer, you would know that the four of us plus graham crackers, icing and lots of candy equals MANY, MANY laughs...you really needed to be there to actually know exactly HOW funny it was!! Enjoy a few pics...the rest of the pictures are posted here!


Emily, you will probably need to use something besides your hands to hold up those walls!!


Only seconds before Dara's house literally crashed to the table top...don't fret...she was able to rebuild...somewhat...


See how happy Jennifer is that she is playing with icing!!


Notice the determination of making sure that the "upstairs" of my house "sticks"!


The finished product!! Complete with a Bed and Breakfast, Town Hall, an outdoor church, lighted sidewalks and...(cough) a red light district...don't ask...that's just what became of Dara's little house after it fell...you can't deny that every city has a bad part of town. We were just trying to portray reality.

We wrapped up the night with a little karaoke...fortunately, you don't have to listen to that! Now you know that just because you are all grown up, it doesn't mean you can't put on your PJ's and just have fun with the girls! You guys are HILARIOUS!! I LOVE yall!

In Better Hands

I heard this song the week before Christmas and I am offically addicted to it! I love the words and it came at just the right time on one of those days when you wonder why you got out of the bed in the first place...ENJOY!




In Better Hands - Natalie Grant

It's hard to stand on shifting sand
It's hard to shine in the shadows of the night
You can't be free if you don't reach for help
You cant love if you dont love yourself

There is hope when my faith runs out
Cause I'm in better hands now

It's like the sun is shining when the rain is pouring down
It's like my soul is flying though my feet are on the ground
So take this heart of mine there's no doubt
I'm in better hands now

I am strong all because of you
I stand in awe of every mountain that you move
Oh I am changed, yesterday is gone
I am safe from this moment on

There's no fear when the night comes 'round
I'm in better hands now

It's like the sun is shining when the rain is pouring down
It's like my soul is flying though my feet are on the ground
So take this heart of mine there's no doubt
I'm in better hands now

It's like the sun is shining when the rain is pouring down
It's like my soul is flying though my feet are on the ground
Its like the world is silent though I know it isnt true
Its like the breath of Jesus is right here in this room

So take this heart of mine there's no doubt
I'm in better hands now
I'm in better hands now

Be still and wait...

7 Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him;
do not fret when men succeed in their ways,
when they carry out their wicked schemes.

34 Wait for the LORD
and keep his way.
He will exalt you to inherit the land;
when the wicked are cut off, you will see it.

Psalm 37:7, 34

Welcome to 2008!

Happy New Year!!!

I hope each of you had a great Christmas and were able to spend some time with friends and family. We are now offically finished with our "End of Year World Tour"...really just a tour of Alabama, but Kenny returned last week and I returned yesterday, so we have offically finished Christmas vacation and have rejoined the real world.

We were able to spend time with Kenny's family on both sides at the beginning of our trip and finished up with both sides of my family, with visits with several friends sprinkled through out. It was good to see everyone, although there were many we could name that we didn't get to see.

As I looked back through pictures from last year, I only had pictures from Kenny's family...it seems that this year, I only ended up with pictures from my family. Next year I'll see what I can do about getting pictures with BOTH sides of the family.

This picture is a little fuzzy, but you get to see everyone! Heather & Cliff, Katie & NEW fiance' Jared, Jana & Kenny and Mom, Kim & Dad after dinner at Nana's house!

And...in exciting upcoming posts: "Gingerbread Land 2007", as well as "New Year's Eve Celebration"...so, stay tuned!!

2007 Year in Review

Janauary...Jana took a much needed Girls Trip 'O Fun to Chattanooga with her college roommates! Kenny turned 30...I mean 27!




February...We got a pretty good snow mid-February and we were the only ones who were out playing in it. We attributed that to being from Alabama!




March...Katie visited Louisville on her first flight ever!!




April...Easter was FREEZING! It actually snowed some. We celebrated our one year anniversary at the Spencer County Campus of Highview Baptist Church!





May...Kenny's college roommate got married, Kim graduated from High School and Jared graduated from Fire College. Lots of parties and celebrations!!




June...Mom Peg and Pop FINALLY came up to visit!!




July...Kenny learned how to play "Corn Hole" at the Church Picnic (it is imperative that you know how to play Corn Hole if you live in Kentucky!).





August...We went to the beach and Kenny's parents and Cliff and Heather visited Louisville.



September...ummmm...seems I don't actually have any September pictures, but I know Kenny played lots of golf, so here's a shot from the beach trip in August!



October...We bought a HOUSE!! We are just growing up so fast!



November...We did lots of work on the house, Kenny's parents came up for Thanksgiving and we enjoyed Cool Whip a little too much...



December...We spent a lot of time hanging out with family and friends over the Christmas break!