Same Baby?

I found these two pictures too cute not to post! So what do you think . . . are they the same baby, or not? And who do you think they are?


 

 

Long Overdue Update

It's been quite a long time since I've posted on here - yikes. :-) I'm happy to report that Lydia is home and doing very well - we are praising God for that! She is on the road to recovery, doing therapy and exercises, and also doing lot of things on her own now. I am so thankful that the tumor is GONE and Lydia is getting better! Please continue to pray that the tumor will not ever return (we don't think it will, but there's always that slight chance) and that Lydia's recovery will continue to go well! Here is her latest Caring Bridge update:   http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/lydiakenney/journal (you do need an account to sign in).

A lot has gone on this year, including 3 birthdays which I never posted about! My camera isn't working the best, so I just have one of Ethan's birthday (Feb. 9th). Mom's was Feb. 23rd and Lydia's was March 20th.

After I came home from Mayo Clinic (where Lydia had her surgery) I attended a girls' retreat up in the Bottineau, ND area. While I was up there, I stopped over at the Bartlett Farms, where our good friends have been living for the past 9 years now. It was hard to believe I hadn't been up there since we made the short film Excelsior together a couple years ago! Time sure does fly. :-)

We had a lot of fun walking around the farm discussing filmmaking and new projects. It's neat to see all the new things they've added since I was last there. I always come away encouraged from a visit with the Bartlett Family!

By the way, if you haven't looked at the new Bartlett Productions website, be sure to check it out!

Peter, me, David, Andrew and Jonathan
(Mrs. Bartlett was taking the picture and Mr. Bartlett was doing a delivery)

At the girls' retreat, we had a wonderful time of music . . .

competitive Dutch Blitz . . .

fellowship and devotions . . .

and of course a formal night! 

 

 

 

And just last Friday, I had my annual spring recital! This year, my friend Maria joined me with two of her violin students. They played a beautiful trio together!

 

After that, my piano students and harp student performed.

Of course, I had to play something too (I never like performing in front of people, but I'm always glad I did afterwards!), so I did a solo on the harp . . .

and a piano/violin duet with Maria.
Thanks Maria - it was so much fun practicing and performing with you!

My harp student and I (yes, it is a requirement to have red hair to play the harp) LOL :-)

Only half of my students are pictured here - several couldn't be in the picture because they either weren't able to make it or had to leave early. I'm so proud of every one of my students! Great job everyone!

 

On a final note, I probably won't be posting again for several weeks. I'm excited to let y'all know that I'm leaving this Sunday for CO to attend the Rocky Mountain Christian Filmmakers Camp! I'm super excited to be learning and helping on the set of In His Steps. I'm sure I'll have many adventures, so hopefully I'll be able to post or tweet about them soon! Speaking of Twitter, I'd love to have you follow me (my twitter account is "Hannah Marie" or @gloryandgrace).

Have a wonderful spring and enjoy the nice weather!

Great News!

I just wanted everyone to be sure to check out my sister Lydia's Caring Bridge journal - we've got some awesome news to share with everyone! Thank you all for your prayers, support and encouragement during this time! God is so good and faithful. :-)

www.caringbridge.org/visit/lydiakenney

Help the Romeike Family!

Please click on this link to find out how you can help the Romeike Family, who homeschools their children. Also please be in prayer for them, and for our country. What happens to them could affect what happens to us! http://www.hslda.org/legal/cases/romeike.asp?src=email130405

"In 2008, the Romeikes fled their home in Germany after facing fines and jail time and came to the U.S. seeking asylum, but now, the Obama Administration is opposing their quest for asylum by saying homeschooling is too vague and amorphous to be protected under asylum law. Their case is now set to be argued in the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals on April 23 by HSLDA Chairman Mike Farris."

Happy Easter?

Let's not forget what Jesus did for us this "Easter" weekend!

Isaiah 53:5
But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

John 11:25-26
Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?”

Update on Life

Wow, it's sure been a while since I've blogged, and a LOT has happened since then! Three birthdays, the annual ND homeschool convention, 5 of us getting hit with influenza, plus all the regular stuff like piano teaching, projects, homeschooling, housework and everything else!

But the biggest thing that happened was the day we found out my 15-year-old sister Lydia has a brain tumor. It was March 12, and the day before she had been to the doctor because her left side was feeling weak. He recommended an MRI, so we had that done, and that same day - the day before we were to leave for the convention - we got the news. They needed to do a biopsy right away so we could find out what kind of tumor it was, so after coming to the hotel and waterpark with us for one night, mom, dad and Lydia headed back to town for her appointment. Daniel, Ethan and I stayed at the convention to help out so mom and dad could focus on Lydia (Caleb's has a job and lives in town and he wasn't able to come with us). Ever since then life has been crazy with phone calls, e-mails, doctor appointments, pills (ick!), and lots more! We were grateful to find out it is not cancerous, however, it is in a bad spot and is inoperable. It is growing slowly and is affecting Lydia's left side.

So . . . . life feels VERY up in the air right now for us, but God has it all under control. We are trusting in Him, and we have been very much encouraged by Bible verses such as:

Isaiah 41:10
Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.

Romans 8:28
And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

Joshua 1:9
Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.

If you want to be updated on Lydia's progress, please check out her Caring Bridge website! http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/lydiakenney

I'm not exactly sure how soon I'll get around to it, but I do plan on posting updates on birthdays, and also the 4th part in the P4C series (I just realized I had only done 3 parts . . . whoops!).  :-) Thank you everyone for your prayers - please continue to pray for wisdom for our family, and that we will all draw closer to the Lord and to each other through this difficult time in our lives.

In His Steps Update