WAAAAYYY too long!

Okay, so I have been approached by several people who said "so you gave up on the blogging thing, huh?" No, I have not, I have just not participating lately. No good reason, no reason at all, in fact. I just haven't done it. So here I am, with sincere apologies for the multitudes who are interested in my humble little life.

I am now 30. I celebrated that milestone a little over a month ago, so I guess you could say I am already 30.1 now. It weirded me out a little. I just keep thinking how old 30 was when I was 20. Is THAT what I seem like? And, my child is now 14. That's way too close to 15, the age I was when he was conceived. Yipes! He has the advantage of knowing where he came from, as well as an understanding of why that is the best road to travel down. He is being "raised in the church," which may or may not help the cause, but I pray everyday that he strives to do what is right and follow Christ. It is particularly difficult for him right now, after we uprooted him in the middle of Junior High. Derek is at camp right now with his old youth group and his new youth group. Apparently, neither group is embracing him. I don't know how to feel about that. He's a great kid, but sometimes leans toward the toolshed, if you know what I mean. I'm afraid that he has alienated himself from both groups with his attitude, but I don't know how to help him. I am not a great parent, but I try, and I pray ALOT. It helps that my husband has a college degree in adolescence.

Speaking of college degrees, we have collectively decided that 4 is not enough for us, so we will be adding 2 more (one for each of us.) Jeremy is currently applying to graduate school to work on a PhD. That is trippy. As a teenager, he was told that he just wasn't cut out for college. (And in all honesty, at the time, he wasn't!) Now he wants to be called Dr. Kenney. Very weird, but I am incredibly proud of him for making this step. He has wanted to do this for awhile, but things were always in the way. I think it will be difficult, but well worth it in the end. On my end, I am looking into graduate work in the field of nursing. I want to be an advanced practice nurse, and the most widely utilized advanced practice nurse is a Family Nurse Practitioner. I have already been accepted to OUHSC, but for nursing education, which I have discovered is NOT what I want to do. The NP program only admits students once a year, and the deadline was earlier this Spring. I may not be able to begin work until next Fall, and that is assuming I am accepted. The program is VERY competitive. I suppose this is one of those times that God will open the appropriate doors, but it still kind of freaks me out. If I am intended to do this, God will make it happen, but that does not mean He will make it easy! Prayers are appreciated always; thank you.

And finally, I need to mention Noah. He is a great kid. He has grown up fast, having a brother 7 years older. We went to a cookout this evening with several families with young children. To set the scene, picture Noah, 6, playing with a couple of 7 year-olds and several younger kids. Noah witnesses an older child hitting a younger child:

Noah: Dude, how old ARE you?
Kid: 7.
Noah: (to other child) And how old are you?
Other Kid: 3.
Noah: Exactly! What were you thinking?
Kid: Okay, sorry!
(And they resume playing)

He has a great career ahead of him, possibly as a school principal, a counselor, or a conflict mediator! The best part was the "dude," a common term heard at the Kenney's.

OK, I have now officially returned to the blogging world. Welcome me with open arms, or I may leave again...