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jenniferkittredge.com
Sunday, September 16, 2012
Sunday, June 24, 2012
Celebrating Ethan
I didn't have time to post on his actual birthday which was Friday. I had a house FULL of teen boys and was busy packing for our trip this weekend. I made the loop of dropping off 4 boys and then picking up another friend of Ethan's who would be spending the weekend with us in Mt. Dora.
It's hard to believe that we now have two teenage boys under our roof.
Where does the time go?
I remember like it was yesterday the day Ethan arrived...He was right on time, born on his actual due date. I think that was the last time he was ever on time for anything!
Ethan is our sleeper...He's been sleeping through the night since he was 5 weeks old. He is NOT a morning person and would rather stay up all night and sleep all day if he had that option.
What he is though is big hearted and the best hugger...He loves his family with no bounds and happens to be one of the best big brothers to Emma (and little brothers to Tylor). He is our adventurer. He has no fear (which will probably give me many sleepless nights), is willing to try anything and loves to travel (like his momma).
Ethan went on a camping trip this year with the entire 7th grade class. It's a tradition for every seventh grade class at their school. They hike the Appalachian Trail for a week with a pack on their back and a sleeping bag. His teacher stopped me in the hall about a week after they returned. She said, "This was THE BEST trip I have ever had with a class. Ethan was such a great leader and encourager. I never heard a negative comment out of this mouth and he continually helped and encouraged others."
She also told me one night around their camp fire the kids in their group had a very serious talk about adoption. One of the boys in their class shared that he was adopted. With tears in her eyes she said, "Ethan said to this boy, you know there is no difference with adoption. I couldn't imagine my life without my sister." And then I welled up with tears.
So here is our boy....growing up quicker than we would like but turning into such an amazing young man.
It's hard to believe that we now have two teenage boys under our roof.
Where does the time go?
I remember like it was yesterday the day Ethan arrived...He was right on time, born on his actual due date. I think that was the last time he was ever on time for anything!
Ethan is our sleeper...He's been sleeping through the night since he was 5 weeks old. He is NOT a morning person and would rather stay up all night and sleep all day if he had that option.
What he is though is big hearted and the best hugger...He loves his family with no bounds and happens to be one of the best big brothers to Emma (and little brothers to Tylor). He is our adventurer. He has no fear (which will probably give me many sleepless nights), is willing to try anything and loves to travel (like his momma).
Ethan went on a camping trip this year with the entire 7th grade class. It's a tradition for every seventh grade class at their school. They hike the Appalachian Trail for a week with a pack on their back and a sleeping bag. His teacher stopped me in the hall about a week after they returned. She said, "This was THE BEST trip I have ever had with a class. Ethan was such a great leader and encourager. I never heard a negative comment out of this mouth and he continually helped and encouraged others."
She also told me one night around their camp fire the kids in their group had a very serious talk about adoption. One of the boys in their class shared that he was adopted. With tears in her eyes she said, "Ethan said to this boy, you know there is no difference with adoption. I couldn't imagine my life without my sister." And then I welled up with tears.
So here is our boy....growing up quicker than we would like but turning into such an amazing young man.
Spain 2012
Spain 2012
Panama 2009
Panama 2009
Panama 2009
Costa Rica 2010
Costa Rica 2010
13th Birthday
Thursday, June 21, 2012
Boundaries
Boundaries....
We all need them yet so often we don't set them correctly.
I should know, I struggled with boundaries for years before I finally realized I was exhausted due to my lack of them.
Can you relate?
What I've learned over the years is that boundaries are healthy for both parties in any type of relationship.
I was one to always run to the aid of others...I would drop whatever I was in the middle of and run out the door... (envision superwoman here).
From family members to friends to complete strangers at church, if a call came in or an email about someone who needed help you can rest assured I would be there.
It finally dawned on me about 5 years ago that I was completely exhausted due to my lack of boundaries. I'm a people pleaser at heart and I never wanted to say no to anyone or hurt their feelings.
This is very dangerous because as I was saying yes to all of these people I was saying no to myself and my family.
I picked up the book "Boundaries" by Henry Cloud and John Townsend. It was such an eye opener to me. I remember relating myself to so many of the different scenarios in the book and thinking "what in the world am I doing?"
Honestly, it was no easy task to begin setting healthy boundaries. I lost a few friends along the way. People, especially those who are very needy, don't like it when you start to set healthy boundaries. It's uncomfortable for them as much as it is for you. One friend who I had to set significant boundaries with said to me, "but your a Christian how can you let our friendship go?"
Initially I thought she was right. Aren't Christians suppose to love everyone and help where needed?
Yes, we are called to love and help others but we are also called to have healthy boundaries so that we aren't taken advantage of by others.
Cloud and Townsend state, "Boundaries help us distinguish our property so that we can take care of it. We need to keep things that nurture us inside our fences and keep things that will harm us outside. We need to keep the good in and the bad out, and that's what boundaries help us do."
What about you? How are your boundaries? Are there some things you need to adjust?
We all need them yet so often we don't set them correctly.
I should know, I struggled with boundaries for years before I finally realized I was exhausted due to my lack of them.
Can you relate?
What I've learned over the years is that boundaries are healthy for both parties in any type of relationship.
I was one to always run to the aid of others...I would drop whatever I was in the middle of and run out the door... (envision superwoman here).
From family members to friends to complete strangers at church, if a call came in or an email about someone who needed help you can rest assured I would be there.
It finally dawned on me about 5 years ago that I was completely exhausted due to my lack of boundaries. I'm a people pleaser at heart and I never wanted to say no to anyone or hurt their feelings.
This is very dangerous because as I was saying yes to all of these people I was saying no to myself and my family.
I picked up the book "Boundaries" by Henry Cloud and John Townsend. It was such an eye opener to me. I remember relating myself to so many of the different scenarios in the book and thinking "what in the world am I doing?"
Honestly, it was no easy task to begin setting healthy boundaries. I lost a few friends along the way. People, especially those who are very needy, don't like it when you start to set healthy boundaries. It's uncomfortable for them as much as it is for you. One friend who I had to set significant boundaries with said to me, "but your a Christian how can you let our friendship go?"
Initially I thought she was right. Aren't Christians suppose to love everyone and help where needed?
Yes, we are called to love and help others but we are also called to have healthy boundaries so that we aren't taken advantage of by others.
Cloud and Townsend state, "Boundaries help us distinguish our property so that we can take care of it. We need to keep things that nurture us inside our fences and keep things that will harm us outside. We need to keep the good in and the bad out, and that's what boundaries help us do."
What about you? How are your boundaries? Are there some things you need to adjust?
Sunday, June 17, 2012
Free to Be Me?
I love the song "Free to Be Me" by Francesca Batistelli.
The chorus of her song reads...
"I got a couple dents in my fender
Got a couple rips in my jeans
Try to fit the pieces together
But perfection is my enemy
And on my own I'm so clumsy
But on Your shoulders I can see
I'm free to be me."
As much as I love the lyrics to this song, part of me wonders just how free I truly am...
What I'm finding is that there is judgment everywhere even within in the church. And honestly, I'm so tired of pretending to be something I'm not because others believe in a certain way.
The latest and greatest of these, and what got this post swimming around in my head for days has to do with music.
Yes, music.
A friend of mine told me about someone who doesn't believe in listening to anything but Christian music.
Which is fine.
For them.
However, when we begin to impart our belief's on others and tell them they are wrong for listening to secular music, well, I have a big problem with that.
I don't feel so free when I hear things like this.
In fact, I feel bound.
Not by God, but by man.
And I think this is dangerous.
Now do I think God calls us to lay down some things?
Absoultely.
But GOD calls us-
Not man.
I have certainly laid down many things since I began my walk with Christ.
But the things I set aside were because God asked me to set them aside.
Through prayer and fasting they were revealed to me by God.
Not by man.
Honestly, I listen to all different kinds of music...Christian, pop, country, rock, classical, etc.
There's a lot of great music out there.
There's also a lot of really bad music out there, but to each his own.
I read a quote on Facebook a friend of mine posted. After I read it I thought, how sad and how true.
Here's the quote:
"I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ"
-Mahatma Ghandi
I wonder how many people feel this way about Christians?
I wonder how many eye rolls, long sighs and head shakes the word "Christian" brings...
As "imitators of Christ" I wonder if we are pushing more people from Christ then we are bringing them to Christ?
Thoughts?
The chorus of her song reads...
"I got a couple dents in my fender
Got a couple rips in my jeans
Try to fit the pieces together
But perfection is my enemy
And on my own I'm so clumsy
But on Your shoulders I can see
I'm free to be me."
As much as I love the lyrics to this song, part of me wonders just how free I truly am...
What I'm finding is that there is judgment everywhere even within in the church. And honestly, I'm so tired of pretending to be something I'm not because others believe in a certain way.
The latest and greatest of these, and what got this post swimming around in my head for days has to do with music.
Yes, music.
A friend of mine told me about someone who doesn't believe in listening to anything but Christian music.
Which is fine.
For them.
However, when we begin to impart our belief's on others and tell them they are wrong for listening to secular music, well, I have a big problem with that.
I don't feel so free when I hear things like this.
In fact, I feel bound.
Not by God, but by man.
And I think this is dangerous.
Now do I think God calls us to lay down some things?
Absoultely.
But GOD calls us-
Not man.
I have certainly laid down many things since I began my walk with Christ.
But the things I set aside were because God asked me to set them aside.
Through prayer and fasting they were revealed to me by God.
Not by man.
Honestly, I listen to all different kinds of music...Christian, pop, country, rock, classical, etc.
There's a lot of great music out there.
There's also a lot of really bad music out there, but to each his own.
I read a quote on Facebook a friend of mine posted. After I read it I thought, how sad and how true.
Here's the quote:
"I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ"
-Mahatma Ghandi
I wonder how many people feel this way about Christians?
I wonder how many eye rolls, long sighs and head shakes the word "Christian" brings...
As "imitators of Christ" I wonder if we are pushing more people from Christ then we are bringing them to Christ?
Thoughts?
Thursday, June 14, 2012
Thursday's Thoughts...
"The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it" 1 Thesalonians 5:24
I'm having one of those days where keeping my eyes on Jesus is a lot harder than focusing on my circumstances.Just being real here.
Many of you know I am not working at the moment.
Well, I'm not working for an income while I'm working on my internship. Let's just say I'm working for free.
Please don't get me wrong. I absolutely LOVE what I am doing. I love working with the women God puts in my path every day and I am so grateful that He is using me the way He is.
Unfortunately, the no income thing is proving to be a bit difficult.
The bills haven't stopped just because our income has changed which is challenging us at the moment. I am slowly trying to build a private practice however, I know that this will take time. In the mean time, we've cut where we can and are trying our best to get by.
There are days I feel like we aren't going to make it and I have to remind myself of God's promises.
God called me here. He called me back to school and my internship is part of that package.
We will get through this and be better for it.
HE IS FAITHFUL.
When the days come and I lose focus it's easy to get caught up in the emotions of my circumstances.
But... (there's always a but where God is concerened)
God is bigger than my circumstances.
And He is bigger than YOUR circumstances.
Are you in a place where your circumstances feel bigger than God?
There not.
He knows exactly where you are.
Shifting my focus back onto Him allows me to rest in who He is. It allows me to gain a new perspective and the worry begins to fade. Peace prevails.
"Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart" Hebrews 12:3
Monday, June 11, 2012
The Challenge of Writing
I’m learning what a challenge it is to carve out time to
write. It seems that the days slip by so quickly and by the time I am ready for
bed I’ve realized I haven’t written a single word. Last night as I was thinking
about this I’ve decided to make myself a writing schedule. I would actually
schedule in a specific amount of time each day to write.
Another problem I am having is with my story. My heart
doesn’t seem to have the passion it once had. When I picked up in my story last
week I had a difficult time getting back in to my character’s head. It was hard
to try to return to the story and remember each character and their role. I did
make an outline of my story and the characters while I was writing. I found this useful to look over and help
guide me through each character and what their role was.
However I am struggling. Is this writer’s block? Or is this
something else? Honestly, I just don’t know. The doubts are creeping in and I’m
wondering, can I really do this? Do I want to do this? Do I shelf this story
and start another?
I’m going to see where this week takes me. Having a writing
schedule may actually help me to move along with my story. I’m sure accountability
would help too. I may need to phone a few friends and have them check in on me
weekly….
What about you?
Are you struggling with a challenge too?
Wednesday, June 6, 2012
For the love of writing...
I've been restless lately. Not quite sure why but when I stumbled back into blogworld a few days ago it became clear. While catching up on all of the blogs I once followed I found that I wasn't the only one who was a bit restless. Nicki K, a fellow blogger, is writing about her 30 day journey of interruption. I urge you all to hop on over to her blog and catch up on her journey.
After reading through her blog journey I realized this was how I have been feeling. I was stuck in the routine of my life wanting and desiring more of God. So I began to change my quiet time a bit and really seek God in a different way.
Honestly, it's a bit scary to do this. What will He say? What will He ask me to do? What if I don't want to do it? What if I don't hear from Him? What if I hear wrong?
You get the picture.
Here's where I ended up.
WRITE!!!
God put the love of the written word in my heart at a very young age. My dad would read me two stories every night of the week when I was a little girl. I loved being taken away to a different places and of course always having a happy ending.
I still have that love however, I've come to realize that not all stories have a "happy ending."
But, my love of stories and writing hasn't changed. If anything, it's grown tremendously over the years.
Last August I began a journey of writing a story. Actually I began writing it a few years ago but set it aside for one reason or another. It's a story of healing and redemption through the only one who can give it. Truly, it's pieces of my story wrapped into fiction.
In December, life took a turn I didn't see coming so once again I set my book aside.
I feel as though I've been given this summer to continue my writing journey.
Currently, I'm not working. I'm in my internship for grad school so I am only "working" two days a week. This gives me summer! I haven't had a summer off in years and I can't tell you how excited I am to have this time with my kids. For once I don't have to find someone to watch them or camps that they can attend.
This also means I have time to write. So write I will.
I don't know what will ever become of this book. I don't know if I'll ever share it with anyone. I just know that it's time to finish it.
So I'm off on this journey of writing. With a written word to God that I will commit 500-1000 words a day to my book. It may not seem like much but I don't want to write all summer and not spend time with my kids. So 500-1000 words a day will do for now.
I've also committed to blogging 3 times a week. We'll see how this one goes.
What about you? What are some dreams God has given you that you have carefully set aside?
Maybe it's time to bring them back out.
After reading through her blog journey I realized this was how I have been feeling. I was stuck in the routine of my life wanting and desiring more of God. So I began to change my quiet time a bit and really seek God in a different way.
Honestly, it's a bit scary to do this. What will He say? What will He ask me to do? What if I don't want to do it? What if I don't hear from Him? What if I hear wrong?
You get the picture.
Here's where I ended up.
WRITE!!!
God put the love of the written word in my heart at a very young age. My dad would read me two stories every night of the week when I was a little girl. I loved being taken away to a different places and of course always having a happy ending.
I still have that love however, I've come to realize that not all stories have a "happy ending."
But, my love of stories and writing hasn't changed. If anything, it's grown tremendously over the years.
Last August I began a journey of writing a story. Actually I began writing it a few years ago but set it aside for one reason or another. It's a story of healing and redemption through the only one who can give it. Truly, it's pieces of my story wrapped into fiction.
In December, life took a turn I didn't see coming so once again I set my book aside.
I feel as though I've been given this summer to continue my writing journey.
Currently, I'm not working. I'm in my internship for grad school so I am only "working" two days a week. This gives me summer! I haven't had a summer off in years and I can't tell you how excited I am to have this time with my kids. For once I don't have to find someone to watch them or camps that they can attend.
This also means I have time to write. So write I will.
I don't know what will ever become of this book. I don't know if I'll ever share it with anyone. I just know that it's time to finish it.
So I'm off on this journey of writing. With a written word to God that I will commit 500-1000 words a day to my book. It may not seem like much but I don't want to write all summer and not spend time with my kids. So 500-1000 words a day will do for now.
I've also committed to blogging 3 times a week. We'll see how this one goes.
What about you? What are some dreams God has given you that you have carefully set aside?
Maybe it's time to bring them back out.
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