The Kelly Journal

cutest tshirt model ever

And they’re looking fabulous :) If you ordered one you’ll be getting yours soon! And if you wish you ordered one we have a few extra!

10. Missouri’s varied and fascinating wild life. Really, I’ve seen some of the weirdest bugs and backyard creatures here!

I know, frogs aren't that unique... but this cute little guy
was in our back yard along with a ton of other creatures :)

9. So many fun memories with so many fabulous people. From ropes courses that literally made me cry to paintball adventures to camping excursions to fro-yo comraderie to the biggest 4th of July bonfire on the planet to playing cards late at night in the dining room with friends…. it’s been good.

8. Frozen custard. Really, does this exist anywhere else? It’s probably good for me to be far far away from it.

7. Our home (particularly our fabulous kitchen).

6. The Plaza- my favorite place in KC since the first time I visited. It’s got the best priced movies around, my favorite Blanc’s burger joint, and the bestest store on the planet: Paper Source!

5. Five Super Targets within a 30 minute drive. Glory!

4. The farmer’s market. I’m sure I’ll fall in love with the Bellingham one, but I sure do love the Kansas City one. $1 scoop o’ spices!

3. Chipotle. Yes, whenever we drive the hour and a half to Seattle we WILL be eating a burrito.

2. The prayer room. Duh. It’s so gloriously full of talented musicians and heartfelt worshippers. Good thing I have the webstream…. not quite the same but close!

1. Really, what I could have put for every number is the people. I love the beautiful people here and the precious friends we’ve made. It’s sad to leave them. It’s why I claimed when we moved here that I wasn’t going to make any friends… because I knew we’d leave eventually and then my heart would break because I’d have to say goodbye.

How do you choose one picture for all the precious people you love?
I don't know but I sure will miss this lovely young lady...
she's already grown up so much since this picture 3 years ago!

Now that I’ve gone through all my photo albums and reminisced I’m feeling all nostalgicky and sad. Sigh. I will miss you beautiful people.

Do you love adoption? Do you love the Kellys? Do you love superman?

If you answered yes to any (or all) of these questions, you should buy one of our shirts! Not only are they fun but each tshirt you buy brings us a little bit closer to bringing baby bobo #2 home. Who doesn’t love that?

Want one? Here are the details:

• We are pre-selling the tshirts so we know how many to order. Place your order by midnight, March 19. You will receive your shirt(s) mid-April.
• Shirts are $20 suggested donation. Of course, you are more than welcome to pay more than $20 if you want to help us get even further in our efforts to bring bobo #2 home.
• If you live in KC or Seattle/Bham we can get them to you with no additional cost. If you live elsewhere, please throw a couple more bucks our way to cover shipping.
• When you get your shirt we’d love a picture of you wearing it! We’re thinking whole family shots, cute kid pictures, crazy poses, etc etc.
• Shirts are available in adult sizes (S, M, L, XL, XXL) and in children’s sizes (2T and up) in either Royal Blue or True Red.

How to order your very own super shirt:

1. Shoot us an email with the quantity, size(s) and color(s) you want. Email us at jason.karalynn@gmail.com

2. Click on the paypal link to the right that says “donate” and pay online for your order OR mail us a check made out to “Tekoa 211″ for a tax-deductible gift. (mail to: The Kellys • 8204 E 103rd Terr • Kansas City, MO 64134)

3. Once we receive your email and your payment we’ll send you a confirmation email so you know we got it!

4. Share our blog with your friends so you can all sport super shirts!

1. I love it when dad plays guitar. And how he lets me climb on him and the guitar even if it interferes with his song.

2. I love it when dad puts me on his shoulders and walks around and lets me pull his hair.

3. I love it when dad holds me and makes me bounce up and down. In fact, if he doesn’t bounce me I’ll just jump in his arms.

4. I love it when dad takes me to church and proudly shows me off to all our friends.

5. I love it when dad makes funny faces and crazy noises.

6. I love it when dad helps me climb the stairs and celebrates when I get to the top.

7. I love it when dad sits in the back seat so that he can pay attention to me while we’re driving.

8. I love it when dad reads me stories at bedtime.

9. I love it when dad kisses my neck and makes me giggle.

10. I just love being with dad. My face lights up when he comes home and I cry when he leaves. I love my daddy.

Happy Father’s Day Jason!

Sometimes it’s so hot & sunny out, you might get inspired to dry your laundry outside (especially if your diapers could use a good bleaching/disinfecting)

Sometimes said laundry project might inspire you to figure out what to do with the leftover clothespins.

Sometimes you might just discover that clothespins make terrific toys.

Sometimes your mom might have to stop what she’s doing (laundry) and take pictures of you just because you’re so dang cute.

And sometimes, even when a new toy is really really fun, it will still get old after awhile and the need to explore will kick in again!

There’s nothing like a near miss with a natural disaster to make you think. As you know, this tornado season has been unprecedented with the number of tornadoes causing destruction and death. Over 500 people have died due to tornadoes this year. Last Sunday (5/22)  a massive tornado hit Joplin, Missouri and destroyed half the town.

So when a tornado watch was put into effect on Tuesday here in Kansas City, we took notice. We decided to sleep in the basement just to be safe, in case the storm worsened quickly so we wouldn’t have to run down stairs with a startled baby in the middle of the night. We awoke Monday morning to a calm world with no sign of any craziness overnight. So Jason went to work and I stayed home with Joshua.

And then a tornado warning was issued. (A tornado watch is a notice to be alert because conditions are favorable for the formation of a tornado. A tornado warning means there’s a big storm coming your way and it could become a tornado at any time so take cover.) I would like to say I calmly took Joshua down into the basement and waited out the storm with much faith and peace. But I’d be lying. Instead, I ran for the basement with a nap-deprived bobo in tow and called my mom crying because I was so scared. I texted back and forth with Jason to make sure he was somewhere safe. And then mom and I talked and listened to tornado warnings and followed the weather on the internet until the storm passed. I discovered that our basement has no baby friendly area, so Joshua cried his little heart out the whole time while I tried to keep him corralled and away from all of the things that he could get into. The storm passed after about 40 minutes and I ventured upstairs. It was sunny and beautiful out, as if nothing had happened. Joshua went to sleep for a looooong nap and I tried to gather my wits.

In the days since I’ve spent some time reflecting on the storm, on the destruction in Joplin, on the feeling of fear that rises in my heart when I hear a loud peal of thunder. Surely it’s normal to be afraid when there’s a tornado headed your way and images of a city recently decimated by a tornado come flooding into your brain. Surely it’s natural to not want to have your house ripped off from over your head. But could it be that I don’t have to be afraid in a situation like that? Really?

Matthew 8:23-27 “Then he got into the boat and his disciples followed him. Suddenly a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat.

But Jesus was sleeping.  

The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!”

He replied, “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?”

Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm. The men were amazed and asked, “What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!”

How many times have I read this story? Yeah, Jesus calms the storm. Cool. Move on to the next story. But wait. What if I try to imagine myself IN that boat? I think I’d be freaking out with the disciples. What if I try to imagine Jesus calmly sleeping in my basement while a tornado was heading towards us? I think I’d wake him up too!

I’ve been thinking about this story and about how the Spirit of Jesus lives inside of me. He’s still in charge. He still has the authority to calm a literal storm. He is still not afraid, still calm and still at peace even in the middle of the worst tornado season. I bet he’d love to share a little of that peace with me. I bet I could even learn how to trust him so completely that I could face a tornado warning calmly. I’m not sure how to get there but I want it. People all over the world are dealing with extreme circumstances every day. Chances are pretty good that I’m going to have to face more things in life that scare me.

And so, now in the days of calm skies I want to learn how to make Him my refuge and my hiding place. So that, when a time of trouble comes (be it tornado warning, sickness, heartache, financial loss, or whatever) I can be more prepared.

Psalm 91 “Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. They say of the LORD, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.”

~Kara

Check out this crazy storm cloud picture here from the recent KC storm.

We have a friend here who is from Joplin. His dad and brother still live there and his dad’s house was destroyed by the tornado. Read his fascinating story here.

This is the look Joshua gets on his face when he sees Auntie Trina :)

It’s been a number of years that I’ve been waiting & hoping to be a mother on Mother’s Day and so I’m excited to celebrate my first mother’s day as a mom!

I am grateful for a wonderful mother who has always loved me unconditionally and whole-heartedly. Mom, you’re the best!

I am so grateful for the little bucket of joy I get to take care of each day as his mom. Joshua, you’re a delight and I love watching your joyful exploration of the world around you.

I am grateful for my hubby for partnering with me in raising Joshua and for supporting me to stay home with him. You’re my bobo and that says it all.

I am grateful for my mother-in-law for truly making me a part of her family. I love you Jackie.

And last, but not certainly not least, I cannot forget my gratitude to another mother,  Joshua’s birth mom. It is her gift that has made me a mother and I am beyond grateful. What can I say but “thank you”?

Joshua and I recently visited Washington to visit family and here are a couple of photos from our trip that seemed timely for this holiday!

Rarely do both of our families get together so it was fun to have my mom and mom-in-law in one place!

my mommy-moo and my buddy-boo!

Joshua is having a ton of fun visiting one set of his grandparents this week! Grandpa can get giggles out of him like no one else. Check out the video to see the cuteness (his best giggle is right at the beginning).

That’s right, another cereal lover has joined the Kelly family. Don’t let the perplexed look on his face fool you… he loved them. In fact, if I had kept recording you would see that after said cheerios were consumed I tried to give him another bite of peas (which were previously being enjoyed) and he let me know in no uncertain terms (crying) that he was not happy with this move. He begrudgingly ate the peas and this mama has learned to offer the cheerios AFTER the vegetables!