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Today, while at the hair salon, my hairdresser, Jess, was talking about her 4-year-old spontaneously projectile vomiting, and we were having a good laugh about it.  Of course, I had a "I've walked on the moon" moment, and one-upped her, but judging by the fact that she couldn't even do my hair because she was laughing so hard, I don't think she minded.  I knew in that moment that I needed to record it for posterity. I have forgotten many of the details of this adventure, so my children (Ethan especially) might need to correct me.  However, here's how it sits in my memory banks: When Ethan was about eight years old (meaning Mark was around five, and Johannah was two), we lived in Dayton, Ohio (Oakwood specifically).  We lived in a little tiny house, on a little tiny piece of land, but we didn't care; we weren't living in an apartment anymore.  Just ten feet from our backdoor hung a bench swing in our neighbor's back yard.  Gene had told us that ...

I'm always trying to figure out exactly who I am.  I crave the knowledge that many people have of who their families are, and why they act the ways that they do.  I was given very little sense of self, growing up, aside from being told that I was worthless, so I'm constantly on the lookout for who I am based on where I came from. I've shared it before, but I'll share it again.  My mother left my dad when I was only three years old.  I always knew that it wasn't his decision, and growing up with my insane mother only confirmed it.  Despite his best efforts, she would not allow him to see me after that, and when I was eight, she forced his hand to allow my abusive stepfather to adopt me.  It wasn't until I was fourteen years old that she set up a visit between us, and I was allowed to get to know him for a short week. It was the happiest week of my childhood.  I'm not sure many people can pinpoint something like that, but coming from the abuse and dy...

Glo and John have been wanting to return to Orlando for quite some time.  In fact, I think it was two or three years ago that we took Glo for her birthday.  The big draw was the new Harry Potter park, Hogsmeade.  We had visited Diagon Alley last time, but Glo, being the Harry Potter afficiando, wanted to see the new stuff.  And so did John. I actually used this trip as a motivator for Glo.  She was letting her grades slip to about half "A"s and half "B"s.  I told her back in October that if she wanted to go, she would have to bring up her grades. As of the last report card, there were only two "B"s, and they were both in AP classes, so I was proud of her.  Too, despite my protests, she decided to try out for two PMEA festivals this year (chorus and orchestra).  We've never had a Kennedy kid go to PMEA All-State Orchestra, so I didn't have much hope.  However, she set a goal and worked like a dog.  In fact, she was completely self-motiv...

Last year, Mark asked us if we could do something for his spring break.  Considering all of his other vacations up to this point (since returning home from his mission) had involved a certain someone who will not be named, I could hardly deny him the time that I had craved having with him.  He tells us now that he meant it rather jokingly, but as anyone knows who knows me, I never joke about traveling! Going to Grand Cayman was an easy choice with little to arrange.  We spent four full days there, and had a delightfully relaxing time, SCUBA diving, resting and eating a lot of really good food. Since I keep a detailed dive log, most of the amazing details are in there.  However, I must post pictures from our one dive at Stingray City Deep.  I've been trying to return there for a couple of years, but the weather hasn't been cooperative.  However, we hit days when the water was like glass, and Mac was more than happy to take us there. It's only about tw...

Valentines Day, 2016.  Probably one for the record books in my mind.  Sometimes, John and I can't do much more for the day besides order a heart-shaped pizza from Domino's, or head to Texas Roadhouse for dinner.  This year, we each had a goal:  I wanted to do something a bit more meaningful, and John wanted to visit the Morans.  All I needed was 36 free hours in John's schedule, and a computer to make the plans, and we were set.  I didn't know just eight days before Valentine's Day how much I actually would end up needing this time. Of course, a week before February 14, I had an absolutely miserable day at church.  No joke, I could barely get out of the chapel after sacrament meeting before breaking out in actual sobs.   I'm talking about cursing God through the tears, and my whole body shuddering at the emotional pain.  I had been shedding tears at the organ, but nothing that anyone noticed.  I just needed to get home, and get home f...