Dad Kennedy's 70th Birthday

We were planning to go on a secret trip Saskatchewan in April - we had flights booked, and an off-season camp paid for - a place that had room enough for every family to have their own room/space, while having large gathering spaces, and a big kitchen/dining room. At the time of his birthday this year, there are 49 of us - with 2 more due soon! (Amy in May and Jillaine in Sept). So we'll close out 2020 with FIFTY ONE people. That's so crazy to me! But not crazier than the COVID-19 hysteria that shut down the universe in March. Our tickets were credited, and all plans cancelled. Sadness.

We rallied and decided to do a little birthday video for Dad, since we couldn't be there in person, we made a video. Chantelle compiled all the footage...and there was too much for one video (it's almost an hour long!) so a second video/bloopers reel is in the works too I think.

Dad's Birthday Video on YouTube.

On his actual birthday we set up a Zoom call - and that was kinda weird, but fun. (The empty chair was Janessa, leaving to attend the current youngest member of the family, baby Jhett:-)

We're hoping to get up there for a visit before Vale turns 2, and we need to purchase another ticket, but we'll have to see what the world will allow first, I guess:-/

We love you DAD!

Daddy Doesn't Pray Anymore

*This was written and posted on Instagram in November 2015*

Well folks, it's a new song, but an old, old memory. There is much to be grateful for, when taking that ol' trip down memory lane.

My life has been both extremely ordinary and extraordinary - paradoxically, at once. Perhaps it was the ordinary that allowed the exceptional to seem so, or, perhaps the unique just made the rest seem mundane. But either way, having lived it, it always just seemed like life to me.

If asked to name one single, solitary, defining thing that shaped my growing up, the very first thing that springs to mind time and again is this: Music.

I've spent more time sitting and listening to sad old songs, sung by a smooth baritone than probably anything else, collectively. My favourite pastime, and his too. There were songs about love, and life, and the Lord. The soul stirring cries of notes on the page, brought to life in a six string. I can't help but hear a new song, like this one, and not reminisce. It's hauntingly familiar in every way. It's not the only kind of music that speaks to my heart - but it's the best kind.

It's the kind that makes you wish you never had to grow up. The kind that makes you wish people never left. The kind that makes heaven seem wonderful. Because: Jesus and music. Could there anything sweeter? I'm grateful for my Dad, and his passion for music. I'm so glad that I have memories buried all the way down to my toes - of music.

And I'm grateful for new songs to sing everyday. Music, just like life, is a story that never ends. Always have a song in your heart, even if it's a sad one. There will always come a brighter day, and a happier note.

Because like it or not, we all dance to the tunes we know.

https://youtu.be/4nTch_IbOHE (link to Chris Stapleton's Daddy Doesn't Pray Anymore)

Mothers Day 2017

I made a mother, and so did she.
#raisedbycanadians #kennedyshea #1979 #2006 
(Kenna and Darla were both 3 weeks old as pictured)

Clarene was the first born of Ruby Haas. Rebecca was the first born of Clarene Shantz. Darla was the first born of Rebecca Kennedy. Kennedy was the first born of Darla Bolger.  #mothersday#fourgenerationsofgirls #2010

Love Challenge 2016

There was a "challenge" posted on facebook last year, and I got tagged to participate. I can't even remember why now, but anyway, I did the challenge, and as it's coming up on my feed a year later, I'm thinking it might be nice to document it, in this "permanent" online space, as facebook is so fleeting.
DAY 1 - 

I was nominated for the Love Your Spouse challenge by Sarah. For day 1, Here we are, at 23 years old, but babies. We'd already known each other for 4 years. I'm volunteering at the Markham Fair, and he's just waiting around for my shift to be over. He's done a lot of waiting around over the years. A lot. He's determined and patient (and I'm really not). This was the day before we officially began our dating relationship (which was mostly long distance). More about that another day, perhaps. But I thought maybe I should start back where it all began! I nominate Amy S. & Kari K.! I think you're supposed to post for 7 days...ummm... Because love is nice? It sure beats all the USA politics on my feed;-) I guess I didn't look into the rules before accepting the challenge (somewhat typical of me! Haha)

DAY 2

Love Your Spouse Challenge - Day 2. Well, here we are in 2004. When everything we owned in our 500sq ft apartment fit into a very small trailer, and we left NY (me having only lived there for 11 months) to move to VA. We really had no idea what we were doing, though I'm sure at the time we felt we did:-) One of the things that I am begrudgingly grateful for is Brian's vision and plan for our family. I say begrudging, because if it were up to me (the play it safe non risk taker aka: worrywart), we'd still be renting an apartment in Rochester, I'm sure (because all other options seem scary!). But after being somewhat dragged along (even if just in my own mind), I eventually see the wisdom in it all. I am so grateful that, while he does listen to my cautions, he isn't afraid to do what he feels is right. I'm very glad God saw fit to give me to a man so different from myself - because it's allowed me to grow and change in ways I never would have forced myself to do otherwise. And it's landed me in a place I never would have imagined, but couldn't love more!

DAY 3 - 

Love your Spouse challenge-day 3. "He must be so tall that when he is on his knees, he reaches all the way to heaven. His shoulders must be broad enough to bear the burden of a family. His lips must be strong enough to smile, firm enough to say no, and tender enough to kiss. He must be big enough to be gentle and great enough to be thoughtful. His arms must be strong enough to carry a child." (Ruth Graham). I love his patience, with me, and our kids. Its not one of my outstanding qualities, so the contrast is evident. I want to do everything "this instant", and he is willing to take the long way around, when needed. I like that. I wish I could do that. I'm so thankful that he is long suffering in his love for me. I'm so glad that he always seems to assume the best in me

DAY 4 - 

Love Your Spouse Challenge - Day 4. This is a picture from where we met. We worked together, and were not particularly good friends, but friendly co-workers. Then, we got in trouble for things you only ever get in trouble for at very strict places (accused relationship after going to church with another mutual friend). It all was very innocent, but the accusation was very off-putting to me, so that was the end of that. I don't think I spoke a single word to him, let alone entered a room he was in for a solid 18 months. Since there had been "nothing going on", I didn't want it to appear as though we'd somehow just escaped trouble, and I had plenty of friends. He didn't need to be one of them. And he wasn't. So all of this was our strange beginning. And it's not particularly "loving" haha. But what was displayed in all of these shenanigans was character. Not so much mine, but his. Well, sure enough, my character *was* revealed, and it wasn't much to look at. Unless you somehow place high value on grudge holding, and people avoiding (to make myself appear "better"), but I really haven't found a lot of people who like those things;-) But one of the things that comes to mind when I think of Brian in those days is "consistent". He has never pretended to be anything other than what he is. Don't get me wrong, that meant *plenty* of trouble for him, because conservative Christian places 'have a rule for that' to be sure. But he didn't govern his behaviour based on the crazy flavour of the day. He was solid in what he believed, and he's exactly the same now as he was then, outside of the normal growth and change in life. I have always appreciated this consistency in character, and it's one of the things I will always love about him

DAY 5

Love Your Spouse Challenge - Day 5. I was asked after yesterdays post to share how we got together in the end. Well, that's a long story, and I'm only half of it, but I'll try to do justice to his side of the tale. The backstory is that we were introduced in Indianapolis by a mutual friend, Matt Coleman in 1998. I don't remember this encounter at all, haha. If I think about it really hard, I can picture it all, based on his descriptions and details, but yeah, no real memory of this. So in 1999 Brian had the chance to come work at the same place I worked, and he didn't base his decision to go solely on the fact that I was there - but it was a factor;-) So I met Brian (the one I remember), in Chicago in 1999. First impression on my end was not winning. It was obvious right from the start that this guy would say *anything* he wanted to, regardless of situation or location. People like this were trouble in a conservative Christian situation, and my friend Audra marked him off the bat as "trouble". In his opinion, I ignored him, simply because he worked in the warehouse and I didn't...because I was a snob. In my opinion, I was just behaving myself. Befriending random people (opposite gender) was frowned upon. And the fact that we didn't work together meant that I'd have to go out of my way to be nice to him, and I had zero reason to do that. Snob - or just trying to be good. Potato, potatoe. He came to work in my department, and we became friends. Not great friends, but friends enough. After the situation with us getting in trouble I was QUITE sure this guy was a NO on every level. Although he was left with the opposite impression, that I was a YES. So while I set about to make his general existence fairly uncomfortable, he set about to try to be friends. I refused to speak to him. So he figured out a way to put himself in a position where I *had* to speak to him for work issues. I was organizing a homeschool conference. He figured out a way to get himself on the travel team that came to my conferences etc. Small (and annoying to me) insertions into my life where I really had no choice but to be at least cordial:-) With enough time and space between me and HQ in Chicago (I was now working from Canadian location), and with enough of his general prying (thinking up any excuse to talk to me), I started to see that my reactions were at least slightly overdramatic, and I started to feel badly (I was basically borderline or not borderline rude to him on multiple occasions - and in public. He'd enter the lunch room, I'd glare and exit - this kind of thing, so immature). Anyway, I started to feel bad about it, and winter of '00 I apologized to him for being overly dramatic about the situation. It was a fairly lame, and not very thorough apology, but he was like "hey, no problem! actually a bunch of us (from HQ) are going skiing this weekend in NY, want to come?" I was like...UUUUUUHHHH, again rude? Lol. I said "I have to ask my parents" because I was quite sure they'd say no. But they said yes. So I went. It was fine. This picture is from that ski trip. After that, we became friends for real. But just over AIM or email basically. There was another ski trip the next winter. And we were engaged the winter after that! This guy definitely has a vision for his long-range goals! ;-)The whole "story of us" is basically defined by his patience and long suffering.This guy can put up with a lot, and is quick to forgive. I'm so grateful he's mine!

DAY 7 - 

Love Your Spouse Challenge – Day 7. Well here we are at the end of the challenge. It's been a fun exercise in "speaking love" and it's always so nice to reflect on old pictures and memories. At the end of the day, I am grateful that God gave me to this man, knowing all my flaws, and knowing all of his. Does he always “love me as Christ loves the church”? No. Does he always anticipate every need, and emotion and respond in the way I desire? No. Do I honour him in my heart all the time, and choose to believe the best of him? No. Am I a proper helpmeet, setting aside selfish desires and making a priority the things I know he values/wants as he leads our family? No. I know this is sounding like a bit of a bummer...BUT. God brought us together. He sustains us. Life is not perfect, and of course we will never be perfect husbands or wives. But life together is great fun. I'm better for the time we've spent together, and that makes me happy. I will always be grateful he chose to love me.
“Now make such assignments to them on the scroll of Thy will as will bless them and develop their characters as they walk together. Give them enough tears to keep them tender, enough hurts to keep them human, enough failure to keep their hands clenched tightly in Thine and enough of success to make them sure they walk with God. May they never take each others love for granted, but always experience that breathless wonder that exclaims, 'out of all this world, you have chosen me'. When life is done and the sun is setting, may they be found then as now, still hand in hand, still thanking God for each other.”

Love Your Spouse Challenge

Well, these things "go around" facebook, and while I was enjoying reading others' posts, I was kind of glad I hadn't been called upon to participate...I kind of feel like everyone already knows everything, right?! I don't know. I just guess I wasn't really in the mood or something. And then I got "tagged". You're it! Well, I didn't really have a plan or idea, so I just started posting off the top of head! Here are the 7 days, all rolled into one post. Just because we need to keep proof on hand that I love that guy;-)

Day 1 -

I was nominated for the Love Your Spouse challenge by Sarah. For day 1, Here we are, at 23 years old, but babies. We'd already known each other for 4 years. I'm volunteering at the Markham Fair, and he's just waiting around for my shift to be over. He's done a lot of waiting around over the years. A lot. He's determined and patient (and I'm really not). This was the day before we officially began our dating relationship (which was mostly long distance). More about that another day, perhaps. But I thought maybe I should start back where it all began! I nominate Amy & Kari! I think you're supposed to post for 7 days...ummm... Because love is nice? It sure beats all the usa politics on my feed;-) I guess I didn't look into the rules before accepting the challenge (somewhat typical of me! Haha)

Day 2 - 

Well, here we are in 2004. When everything we owned in our 500sq ft apartment fit into a very small trailer, and we left NY (me having only lived there for 11 months) to move to VA. We really had no idea what we were doing, though I'm sure at the time we felt we did:-) One of the things that I am begrudgingly grateful for is Brian's vision and plan for our family. I say begrudging, because if it were up to me (the play it safe non risk taker aka: worrywart), we'd still be renting an apartment in Rochester, I'm sure (because all other options seem scary!). But after being somewhat dragged along (even if just in my own mind), I eventually see the wisdom in it all. I am so grateful that, while he does listen to my cautions, he isn't afraid to do what he feels is right. I'm very glad God saw fit to give me to a man so different from myself - because it's allowed me to grow and change in ways I never would have forced myself to do otherwise. And it's landed me in a place I never would have imagined, but couldn't love more!

Day 3 - 

"He must be so tall that when he is on his knees, he reaches all the way to heaven. His shoulders must be broad enough to bear the burden of a family. His lips must be strong enough to smile, firm enough to say no, and tender enough to kiss. He must be big enough to be gentle and great enough to be thoughtful. His arms must be strong enough to carry a child." (Ruth Graham). I love his patience, with me, and our kids. Its not one of my outstanding qualities, so the contrast is evident. I want to do everything "this instant", and he is willing to take the long way around, when needed. I like that. I wish I could do that. I'm so thankful that he is long suffering in his love for me. I'm so glad that he always seems to assume the best in me

Day 4 - 

This is a picture from where we met. We worked together, and were not particularly good friends, but friendly co-workers. Then, we got in trouble for things you only ever get in trouble for at very strict places (accused relationship after going to church with another mutual friend). It all was very innocent, but the accusation was very off-putting to me, so that was the end of that. I don't think I spoke a single word to him, let alone entered a room he was in for a solid 18 months. Since there had been "nothing going on", I didn't want it to appear as though we'd somehow just escaped trouble, and I had plenty of friends. He didn't need to be one of them. And he wasn't. So all of this was our strange beginning. And it's not particularly "loving" haha. But what was displayed in all of these shenanigans was character. Not so much mine, but his. Well, sure enough, my character *was* revealed, and it wasn't much to look at. Unless you somehow place high value on grudge holding, and people avoiding (to make myself appear "better"), but I really haven't found a lot of people who like those things;-) But one of the things that comes to mind when I think of Brian in those days is "consistent". He has never pretended to be anything other than what he is. Don't get me wrong, that meant *plenty* of trouble for him, because conservative Christian places 'have a rule for that' to be sure. But he didn't govern his behaviour based on the crazy flavour of the day. He was solid in what he believed, and he's exactly the same now as he was then, outside of the normal growth and change in life. I have always appreciated this consistency in character, and it's one of the things I will always love about him.

Day 5

I was asked after yesterdays post to share how we got together in the end. Well, that's a long story, and I'm only half of it, but I'll try to do justice to his side of the tale. The backstory is that we were introduced in Indianapolis by a mutual friend, Matt Coleman in 1998. I don't remember this encounter at all, haha. If I think about it really hard, I can picture it all, based on his descriptions and details, but yeah, no real memory of this. So in 1999 Brian had the chance to come work at the same place I worked, and he didn't base his decision to go solely on the fact that I was there - but it was a factor;-) So I met Brian (the one I remember), in Chicago in 1999. First impression on my end was not winning. It was obvious right from the start that this guy would say *anything* he wanted to, regardless of situation or location. People like this were trouble in a conservative Christian situation, and my friend Audra marked him off the bat as "trouble". In his opinion, I ignored him, simply because he worked in the warehouse and I didn't...because I was a snob. In my opinion, I was just behaving myself. Befriending random people (opposite gender) was frowned upon. And the fact that we didn't work together meant that I'd have to go out of my way to be nice to him, and I had zero reason to do that. Snob - or just trying to be good. Potato, potatoe. He came to work in my department, and we became friends. Not great friends, but friends enough. After the situation with us getting in trouble I was QUITE sure this guy was a NO on every level. Although he was left with the opposite impression, that I was a YES. So while I set about to make his general existence fairly uncomfortable, he set about to try to be friends. I refused to speak to him. So he figured out a way to put himself in a position where I *had* to speak to him for work issues. I was organizing a homeschool conference. He figured out a way to get himself on the travel team that came to my conferences etc. Small (and annoying to me) insertions into my life where I really had no choice but to be at least cordial:-) With enough time and space between me and HQ in Chicago (I was now working from Canadian location), and with enough of his general prying (thinking up any excuse to talk to me), I started to see that my reactions were at least slightly overdramatic, and I started to feel badly (I was basically borderline or not borderline rude to him on multiple occasions - and in public. He'd enter the lunch room, I'd glare and exit - this kind of thing, so immature). Anyway, I started to feel bad about it, and winter of '00 I apologized to him for being overly dramatic about the situation. It was a fairly lame, and not very thorough apology, but he was like "hey, no problem! actually a bunch of us (from HQ) are going skiing this weekend in NY, want to come?" I was like...UUUUUUHHHH, again rude? Lol. I said "I have to ask my parents" because I was quite sure they'd say no. But they said yes. So I went. It was fine. This picture is from that ski trip. After that, we became friends for real. But just over AIM or email basically. There was another ski trip the next winter. And we were engaged the winter after that! This guy definitely has a vision for his long-range goals! ;-) The whole "story of us" is basically defined by his patience and long suffering.This guy can put up with a lot, and is quick to forgive. I'm so grateful he's mine!

Day 6 - 

 I forgot about this -busy day! So, we'll do an easy one... You ain't too bad to look at, Babe

Day 7

Well here we are at the end of the challenge. It's been a fun exercise in "speaking love" and it's always so nice to reflect on old pictures and memories. At the end of the day, I am grateful that God gave me to this man, knowing all my flaws, and knowing all of his. Does he always “love me as Christ loves the church”? No. Does he always anticipate every need, and emotion and respond in the way I desire? No. Do I honour him in my heart all the time, and choose to believe the best of him? No. Am I a proper helpmeet, setting aside selfish desires and making a priority the things I know he values/wants as he leads our family? No. I know this is sounding like a bit of a bummer...BUT. God brought us together. He sustains us. Life is not perfect, and of course we will never be perfect husbands or wives. But life together is great fun. I'm better for the time we've spent together, and that makes me happy. I will always be grateful he chose to love me.
“Now make such assignments to them on the scroll of Thy will as will bless them and develop their characters as they walk together. Give them enough tears to keep them tender, enough hurts to keep them human, enough failure to keep their hands clenched tightly in Thine and enough of success to make them sure they walk with God. May they never take each others love for granted, but always experience that breathless wonder that exclaims, 'out of all this world, you have chosen me'. When life is done and the sun is setting, may they be found then as now, still hand in hand, still thanking God for each other.”

Tea Party!

Finally, we had a chance to re-do Kenna's birthday tea party - that we had to cancel because she got the stomach flu. We did an abbreviated version - tea party only, and only with the "girls" from the family we had initially invited over. So, 2 girls and their mom:-)

Kenna/Grace "look alike" cookies

Little strawberry shortcakes

Salted Caramel ice cream in a chocolate bowl

Happy tea party! We served three kinds of tea - Bengal Spice (a decaf Chai), a flowering tea that was Peach Jasmine, and then Sleepytime Vanilla (a "regular" flavour that I thought they'd all like - I was right, though, they tried them all!)

 A good time was had by all! The kids loved participating in something so real, and fancy.

Kenna got enough money in March to buy Grace Thomas, American Girl of the Year! Brian and I paid the extra money for the dolls ear piercing and the novel of Grace's story for Kenna's birthday gift.

She loves that doll

Putting a flower in Grace's hair

For the tea party, I got down the heirloom pieces that I have for us to use. Actually the first time we'd used them since we've been married. The first time Kenna had ever seen everything (I keep it packed away in remote cupboards so it doesn't get broken), and she was very impressed at all our pretty things.

I let her use "her" teacup for the party - the one she will specifically inherit, from her Great Great Grandma, Ruby Haas. This teacup is one I was given, after her death on August 1, 1990. Great Grandma's birthday was March 31, 1912. Things were randomly assigned/given by my Grandma, and, now that I have a daughter with a March birthday too, well, it's just too perfect!

Pictured: Kenna's Great Great Grandma, Ruby Haas' teacup and autograph books. 

The teacup is displayed on some hardanger lace, made by Ruby's daughter, my Grandma, Clarene Shantz. Also, in the background is a picture of my favourite flowers, painted by my Grandma Shantz.

Kenna's very first heirloom piece from her Great Great Grandmother

2014's Ornament

The ornament for 2014 from my Grandma Shantz was this beautiful angel.

My Grandma passed away in 2010, but she made ornaments ahead for her grandkids - for 5 years. I have an ornament from her from every year I've been alive, from '79 until now. Next Christmas will be the last one we open from her.

She made this angel using an embroidery technique called Hardanger (har-dang-er, not har-danger). I have no idea how it's done, but I know it takes much more time than normal embroidery. I have a table runner she made me, and I forget the amount of man hours involved in making it, but it took a crazy amount of time! (700 hours is sticking out in my mind, though that may not be accurate - might have been that said it would cost $700 if she charged min wage for her time? I can't remember)

This pretty angel is a treasure I will pass down to my kids. Made with love. We miss you Grandma!

Greg & Grey

My Uncle Greg passed away today, 33 years ago (I was 17 months old, he was 18 years old). Memories today of a short life, well lived.

Here is a new Gregory, with the original Gregory:-)

Grandma Kennedy

My Grandma, Mary Francis (Lehman) Kennedy, would have been 99 years old today, if she were still alive! She passed away in February of 2007 (I was expecting Brooks in April/May). She lived her whole life in the Markham/Stouffville area, and was a very sweet lady. She was not known for her great cooking per se (ahem, don't eat the meringue!...there's no sugar in it!), but there were a few recipes she is family-famous for, like her beef barley soup! She outlived her husband by 24 years, and after he passed away, she became quite the world traveler. She would buy a  silver or gold sugar spoon as a souvenir from the various places she visited, and I have a few of them, now that she is gone. She is dearly missed! Love you Grandma - {eating a ju-jube in rememberance;-)}

Here is Grandma Kennedy, with her Great-Granddaughter, Kennedy! Kenna was the  23rd great-grandchild, and since her, there have been 17 more born, with 2 more on the way, that I know of. I have a LOT of cousins!

Wedding Vows

To commemorate our 10 year anniversary...our vows. We wrote them/compiled them ourselves. Poor Pastor Doug - I basically handed over a document saying "this is your part, this is our part" haha. It was one of my most enjoyable parts of wedding planning - I/we (mostly I) wrote the entire service except for the Pastors Charge to us (which you do not see here). It took countless (obsessive) hours to go over all weddings, ever, and put together my favourite parts for my own.

I believe I did a good job, as, in attending other weddings done by Pastor Doug, after ours, I would elbow Brian...do you hear that? That's from our wedding!! Which basically means I wrote it. Haha. Although, really, I cannot say I "wrote" it all, but I compiled it together in my own unique way. And it makes me happy to hear that others liked it, and decided to use it for their own weddings too...

(we go from Declaration of Intent, to Exchange of Marriage Vows, to Giving and Receiving of Rings...where Pastor Doug messes up my vows, so I say something different than Brian does:-)

For more wedding wonderfulness I've posted over the years, click here

Photo & Video Blog

I have been recently able to convert lots of video (mini tapes from camcorder, and VHS tapes). Posting these on my Archives blog. I didn't want to add all kinds of way old stuff here. These video are raw and unedited - straight from the tapes.

I have tried to post them and tag them with kids names, and the proper dates of when it was taken. Since I started this blog (My Crazy Life) in 2007, of course we missed all of Kenna's first year. So I started an archive blog, in 2007 also, for all her first year pics. Oh how I wish I had known about blogging in '05-'06, I regret so much not having her first year as our only baby documented, as I do for the others. Oh well! Brooks has a shocking lack of video footage compared to Kenna - back then we only had the camcorder with the tapes, and it was just so cumbersome to get out and use, compared to my "new" digital camera.

Anyway, this stuff is literally home movies (similar to snippets I post here), so nothing very interesting, truly. Unless you want to smile and go back and see a pudgy baby face:-) I only mention it, really, for the sake of the grandparents, and as an explanation as to why I've not taken many pictures recently.

I am continually updating with more of my videos - my goal is to have them 100% converted and uploaded by March! I have been hitting this goal hard over the past 2 weeks, and wow. It's time consuming! Up next, converting footage from our first Christmas together in 2003. Wowsers.

Here is an ADORABLE video from 2007. My youngest sister, Maryn just turned 7 years old the week before. She had quite a dramatic flair for storytelling. It is sooo cute. And to think, now Kenna is about to turn 7. 

Watching this video, Kenna says "Wow. I wish I could have been there to see this, because this story sounds soooo ahhhh, complicated." Maryn spares no details, so while complicated, it is a fairly thorough description of the death of one of our family dogs, Kirby.

Pie - Recipe

I come from a pie family. Yes, I do. But...I'd rather eat cake. For shame. My mom can whip out a perfect pie crust from scratch, in seconds, and pie is a general Kennedy family fave in every way. Don't get me wrong, I do like pie...I just like cake better, if given the choice! My mom is from a pie family too. Her mother so generously cuts an entire 9" pie into 8 slices. My dad's mom...perhaps not the pie lover, and definitely not the best baker in the world cut her pie slices into 16th's.

So today, as I made I pie, I reflected on some of these Pie Memories, and shared them with my kids. A Kennedy Slice means you want a tiny (16th) piece of pie, and are perhaps 1. not hungry or 2. not a fan of pie. A Shantz Slice means you want a huge piece of pie:-) It is an easy way to describe, and I like that.

Did you know that on my Mom's side, I am...a Mennonite?! Well, 'tis true. Mennonite by heritage that is, and not by "religion" (there was a shunning incident involving my Great Grandparents). Another story for another time. In any case, my heritage on that side of the family is Amish/Woolich (a type of Amish specific to the region they lived in). Which means I am able to trace my family roots and cousins, all the way back to Noah, because Mennonites are good at record keeping:-). I don't know why I bring that up, except to say that perhaps mentally I associate pie with Mennonites. Lol.

I have a recipe passed down from my Great Grandma, Ruby Haas. It's called Shoo Fly Pie, and it seems to be made entirely out of...molasses. Yuck. Although I do not remember it, I am sure I have been made to gag down a taste of that one in my childhood, and thus, perhaps the reason I prefer cake. I do not believe Germans have ever been renowned for their cooking. Because pigs tails and cow tongues are not good. No matter how they are prepared.

My Grandparents, although no longer conversational (I assume?), still could understand and speak Pennsylvanian Dutch. So we heard a few words here and there growing up, that they would interject into conversation.

Anyway, here is the pie I made today, which brought on so many memories. I am so grateful for such a rich family history!

PIE
1 pie shell (9" - make your own or use a refrigerated one from store)
6 C apples - thinly sliced/chopped
1 T lemon juice (optional)

3/4 C white sugar
2 T white flour
1/2 t cinnamon
1/8 t nutmeg
1/2 C raisins (optional)
1/2 C chopped walnuts (optional)

CRUMB TOPPING
1/2 C flour
1/2 C brown sugar
3 T butter

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
2. Place sliced apples in a large bowl. Sprinkle with lemon juice if desired. In a small bowl, mix together white sugar, 2 tablespoons flour, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Sprinkle mixture over apples. Toss until apples are evenly coated. Stir in raisins and walnuts if desired. Spoon mixture into pastry shell.
3. In a small bowl mix together 1/2 cup flour and brown sugar. Cut in butter or margarine until mixture is crumbly. Sprinkle mixture over apple filling. Cover top loosely with aluminum foil.
4. Bake in preheated oven for 25 minutes. Remove foil and bake an additional 25 to 30 minutes, until top is golden brown. Cool on a wire rack.

The Deer Incident

Today is the day - It's kind of an eventful day, I guess - There are a few memories that always come to my mind on this day. It's the first day I spent at the IBLP Headquarters, in 1997 - It's also Mr Gothard's birthday (so for any in the know about that whole scene, it was weird first day:-). It's also the wedding anniversary of our dear friends Josh & Heather. This trip down memory lane is courtesy of their wedding, which took place in Georgia on November 2nd, 2002.

(Brian and I started our official relationship about 4 weeks before this "incident")

Brian and his buddy Ben drove down to GA, Brian was a groomsmen in the wedding. They took a detour on the way down from NY and stopped in Washington DC for a little sight seeing. This was literally at the exact time that the DC sniper was randomly shooting and killing innocent people, so I was not thrilled about their stopping there. They made it to GA safely.

Ben & Brian - on another road trip in April 2003

I drove from Toronto to Buffalo and flew down to Atlanta, and met them there. The wedding was great. Good times, great friends...and we had to get back home for work. We left the evening of the wedding, with plans of making it all the way too Philadelphia, where we would stay the night with our other good friend Cassy (and her almost finance Luc was in town too:-)

We took turns driving Brian's Lexus: It was my turn around 1am. We were on the highway going through Raleigh, NC, at that time.

This was Brian's car at the time, his beloved Lexus

I was driving pretty fast, in an effort to make good time. I was keeping it about 75mph. - which was speeding, but only a little. I was driving in the left hand lane, since I wasn't going slow - but there were few cars on the road at that hour.

The concrete median dividing the highway was about 5 feet tall, right beside us. Ben is laying down and sleeping in the back seat. He will drive next. Brian, coming off his long driving stint has just fallen asleep in the front passenger seat.

A deer, in a valiant effort to cross the road, landed his high jump with superb talent. Unfortunately RIGHT in front of my car, in my lane. I instantly saw him, and hit him.

This is were my driving skills may be both praised and cursed. I am an excellent driver. Don't let Brian tell you otherwise.

As soon as hit him, I actually thought the car was on fire. The smoke was from two things in fact - I literally stopped the car within feet of the impact, all while keeping in my lane. Since I stopped on a dime, quite literally, the brakes and tires were smoking and it smelled like burning rubber outside of the car.

Also, I was hit in the head with an anvil airbag. I don't think this is the case any more, but I was told in those older models, airbags were released using jet fuel or something. Anyway, the ENTIRE car was filled with a thick smoke that stung your lungs to breathe in. You couldn't see any thing, literally.

So in that instant - I thought the car was on fire. Not wanting to explode in a fire-y gas ball, I shut off the car. I also, just as a reflex, turned off the ignition with one hand and shut off the lights with the other hand.

My driving skills may be just fine. My critical thinking skills may be slightly called into question. But remember - I just got punched in the face with an anvil. That is a good excuse.

This all happened in a milli-second of course. Both boys were WIDE awake and yelling at me about hitting the median or falling asleep or something. I just kept saying "I hit a deer! I hit a deer! I saw him, I saw him, it was deer!" They did not believe me. Then it was TURN ON THE CAR. We were in the middle of the highway, just sitting there with no lights on, waiting to be run over by a semi. They opened the doors on the car to let some smoke out (they couldn't see either), and we drove across the four lanes to the shoulder and hopped out.

You hit the median! No I didn't, it was a deer, I promise, it's...right there. A-ha! I had stopped the car so instantly, that the dead mangled deer was pretty close to directly across the street from us:-)

The car was leaking fluid, so we called the insurance company, and the police came, and called for a tow truck and everything. It took awhile before the tow came, and I got to sit in the warm police car, while the boys had to shiver out in the cold.

We knew a bunch of people from Raleigh, unfortunately, they were all still down in GA at the wedding :-( The tow truck driver drove us to apparently the only hotel in the area. It was a Ramada. And it was $300+ per night per room. HELLO. It was 3am already. There was no way we could afford to pay $600 for 2 rooms for only half a nights sleep. So we got one room with 2 queens, and the boys shared a bed.

I was really nervous that my parents would be mad about the shared hotel room, but was hoping they'd understand, given the situation and circumstance, and didn't want to call and wake them at 3am, since no one was hurt. (They were fine with our decision, by the way:-)

After checking into the hotel, the boys were talking with the tow truck driver, making arrangements for the car repairs, and I needed to go to the bathroom, so I used the hotel lobby one. To my horror my face was COVERED in blood. My nose was HUGE, my cheeks were RED (I got like a chemical burn of some sort on my face & chest), there was blood everywhere. I was SOOOOO mad at both Brian and Ben. At this point, I have seen them, the police, the tow truck driver, and checked myself in (I paid and put the room in my name - I was the only one of the three of us with a credit card, lol!) with the clerk at a fancy hotel - and no one thought to mention to me that I looked like a bloody wreck.

There wasn't *much* I could have done about it, but I definitely could have cleaned up the blood. How disgusting is that?! I couldn't imagine interacting with someone in that condition, and here I was that someone :-/ You'd think the hotel would have given me a discount, given my obvious state:-)

So we head upstairs and collapse into bed. Adrenaline had pretty much worn off for me by then, I was exhausted. The airbag completely bent/mushed my glasses, so I re-bent them. It tore my thumbnails off, as I had both hands on the wheel, and long nails. It sheered them clean off, as though I'd cut them as short as I possibly could - but they were completely smooth, so weird. Exhausted, I washed my still a little bit bloody face and slept in my clothes.

The boys did not fare as well as I did, on the sleeping front. Their stories are hilarious. According to Brian, Ben's mind was "messed up" and he requested prayer. According to Ben, that didn't happen, and Brian was snuggling him all night. Which Brian swears did NOT happen. But it is pure hilarity to hear them tell it and laugh about it. Getting jarred awake in such a fashion is not good for your psyche, apparently:-)

In the morning we slept as long as we could. In changing my clothes, I realized something which at the time was so embarrassing, but now I just think it's hilarious. - I has been wearing a "water bra", which, back in '02, were all the rage if you desired a little more oomph in that area:-) The bra was padded with a water/gel like substance. Anyway, in the bathroom mirror in the light of day, I noticed these two huge circular "wet spots" on my sweater. It wasn't wet, but it looked like it had been (staining from the gel stuff) - I then realized my water bra had been POPPED by the airbag!! When I told my mom that - she laughed and laughed. I had not thought it funny at all until her reaction. Now of course I totally see the humour in it!

Those things hit you HARD. Let me tell you. The experience was not very pleasant. On the brightside: A local mechanic said he would fix our car after he got out of church, which was a blessing (saving us a day in the hotel), the only thing that needed repair was the water line.

So we checked out of the hotel at 11am, and walked to McDonald's down the road for breakfast. While standing in line Brian loudly says "I promise I won't ever hit you again, Honey". I just starred at him aghast, while he and Ben laugh. That is not funny! Someone who hears you will report you to the police!! He thought it was a hilarious joke. I did look like I had been beat up, which also, was not something I wanted to focus on (my eyes were getting a little black, and my nose was super huge still), because I knew I looked awful! Oh well.

They fixed our car and we were on our way up to Philly, just a little delayed. We duct taped the airbag back into the car, washed the guts and gore off the car (it was actually smelly:-/) and drove that thing on from Raleigh, to Philly, to Albany (dropping off Ben), to Buffalo (dropping off me at my car), to Toronto, and then back home to Albany where it was totaled by the insurance company due to the body damage.

It was quite the bonding experience for the 3 of us, that's for sure. Adventure. Adventures I hope will never be repeated, that is:-)

We love our friend Ben! Here are the 3 of us, on another excellent adventure (pre-deer - Aug '02) at Six Flags Darien Lake.

Blast from the Past - Video

Sometime after my Grandma passed away in October 2010, I was listening to all the old messages on my home phone and deleting them (this was likely in June of 2011 or so)...and I came across one that made me cry instantly, but also made me happy instantly. And I couldn't delete it, of course! A message from my Grandma. I was thinking about it the other day...what if something happens to my answering machine/phone, or what if I accidentally delete it someday? Tragic. So I saved it by way of video. I doubt I'll ever forget her voice, but it's such a nice reminder anyway. Her birthday would have been this month - she is dearly missed!!

Short Story

This is written by my Grandpa (Papie) Kennedy, Dec 31, 1912 - Dec 17, 1982. (Transcribed by my Aunt, Lois Mary Kennedy Burkholder, who passed away from cancer in Feb, 2006). 

******
September 17, 1982
24A Wilson St.,
Markham, Ontario. (294-1416)

Dear Pastors - Dr. Alex Ness, Rev. John Owen and Rev. Trevor Grey:

I would like to relate to you the following experiences of the Miracle working hand of God in my life. (It may sound to you dear people that I deliberately tried to live dangerously!)

1. In 1945, I was driving my little Plymouth car in the Blue Mountains of Collingwood, when a blizzard suddenly arose in one half-hours' time. The car got stuck in the snow, so I walked across a field, wearing my borrowed Russian cossack hat and long fur coat and heavy boots, looking for help. I came upon a barn and walked up to it on an angle. Upon approaching, I noticed two mounds of frozen ice or snow. I jumped from one mound to the other, and then went into the barn. I found two men working there, and related my predicament to them. I told them I got my feet wet jumping over those clumps of ice or snow. They said - "You stepped completely over a 30" concrete curb well, which is ten feet deep." They both said - "You're an extremely fortunate man to be here, especially wearing those heavy clothes."

2. In 1947, I was hit in the stomach with a 7lb. sledge hammer in error, and was picked up for dead. I heard from afar - "He's dead, he's dead" - because they couldn't locate a pulse. When I came to, I said "I'm not dead; I have to get back to work. I can't lose my job." Instead of staying off work seven days, I went back right away. The area where I was hit with this hammer is the exact area in which the cancerous tumor was found in 1980.

3. In the late 1950's, I was driving a flat-bed truck, owned by the contractor I was working for, and I was following him home from Stouffville to Markham, after having the steering on the truck repaired. Suddenly the truck left the road, and turned over three times, cutting off a telephone pole. One more roll would have literally landed myself and the upside down into a gravestone in the Wideman Mennonite Church graveyard. The first man who came to help me was a policeman. The truck was on fire, and he pried the doors open, and quickly discovered the reason for the accident -- he said "The ball and socket of your steering are nowhere to be seen." While rolling over I had said - "Help me Lord". They pulled the truck to a wreckers' - a total write-off. My glasses were broken and one hip hurt, but I was back to work the next day. I was due for one week of holidays, but I went back to work early because I felt very sorry about the accident.

4. In the early 1960's, I was shot in the neck with a Remmington Ramset gun. These guns are used to shoot 1 1/2" concrete nails through 3/8" steel brackets into poured concrete walls. I was hired by a contracting company who were building the Markham Bowling Alley. 22 Calibre bullets were used to drive these nails out of the gun into the concrete. I was on a scaffold 11 ft. from the floor. My helpers brought me steel brackets, holding one end in position so they wouldn't drop them. It was a Friday afternoon. I had told the contractor we can't use the gun anymore until we get washers to fit on the nails, but he said -- "keep going, we have to have it ready for Monday." One of the nails went right through the steel and ricocheted off a big stone in the concrete. The 1 1/2" nail came back and hit me in the neck. They rushed me to Scarborough General Hospital. Being Friday night, all the Doctors had gone off their shifts leaving only interns And intern examined me and said - "its' only a surface wound. I'll dress the wound and send you home" I said - "I have compensation - I would like an Xray." This Xray showed the Ramset nail laying snugly up against the jugular vein - without puncturing it! The Roman Catholic Surgeon who operated to remove the nail said - "You're one of the most fortunate men I know of today - being so close to death, and still alive." Meanwhile the contractors asked me not to tell anyone what actually happened or they could lose their license for operating Ramset guns. They offered to pay 1 1/2 times the compensation for not saying anything. My jaw was so badly twisted that it took quite a while to regain the muscle tone.

5. In 1980, I was working at a Chinese Dentists' home office building, building some bedrooms in the basement. Meanwhile, the electrical contractor developed inner ear trouble and was hospitalized for a week and half. Nevertheless, I tried to carry on, doing a bit of electrical work. The next day I was rushed to Centennary Hospital with pernicious Anemia. A few days later I had an emergency colon by-pass operation because of a massive tumor in the bowel. I was told by my specialist that I was one week away from the sides of the grave without the operation. Rev. Ness visited me at the Hospital and prayed a very beautiful victorious prayer on my behalf.

6. September, 1982 finds me with a body literally racked with cancer, even into the liver. That is why, in the mercies of God, I'm now at the sides of the grave once more. The miracle working God who made the liver in the first place could remove every trace of cancer from this and every area of my body. Except for a deliberate miracle from God, I may have from one week to 6 months to live. Please hold me up to the throne of grace, because I'm full of faith in his ability to still raise me up again. Nevertheless, all I ask is that the total will of God be done. I don't ask to live or to die, just the total will of God for my life.

I offer praise - Whoso offereth praise glorifieth me and to him who ordereth his conversation aright will I show the salvation of God. Psalm 50:23

Your Brother in Christ,

Harold L. Kennedy.
LMKB:HLK.
(The above may be verified by my family or friends).

A view of the original testimony above, the 3rd and final page

This is 24 Wilson St. The home owned by my Grandparents, the home my dad was born and raised in. It was located in heart of Markham, right off of Main St. It was torn down in the late 80's to make room for shopping centers and business offices. It had a magnificent tree in the backyard that my brothers and cousins and I LOVED to play in.

Harold and Mary Kennedy

A hard worker. All his family tells of his work ethic and incredible strength. With  Cliff, Elva and baby Lois

The Kennedy Family, L-R, Lois, David, Faith, Donna, Cliff & Elva.

Some of my extended family in 1979, I am the little baby being held by my dad in the (horrific:-) powder blue suit

The complete will of God was accomplished in his life as he passed into eternity in 1982. He was laid to rest in the Dickson Hill Cemetery. My parents bought the parsonage home of that church/cemetery when they were married, so that graveyard was our next door neighbour. It is not a stretch to say we kids visited Papie's grave on a weekly, if not daily basis. In 2007, my Grandma has was laid to rest at his side.