Because the Family Matters

11/12/2025

11/12/2025

You're more real than
The ground I'm standing on
You're more real than
The wind in my lungs
Your thoughts define me
You're inside me
You're my reality
Abba, I belong to You

11/11/2025

We are a connection-seeking species. Every hug counts. It actually changes us at a molecular level!

11/04/2025

We grow up looking at our parents as the strongest people in our world. They handle everything, they take care of everything, and they can do everything. Then you grow up and as you grow older, unfortunately so do they. Then one day you wake up and realize that your parents can no longer handle and take care of everything, and they are no longer able to do everything. When that day comes it is a hard realization, and it feels incredibly unsettling. You start to realize life is changing for everyone, and now it is you who must be ready to handle things for them, and take care of them in ways you never imagined. You realize that you are now going to have to be the strong one, the one to make all the medical decisions for them, and that thought is incredibly intimidating. In your head you still think of yourself as the child and they are your parents, and deep down you want them to be strong because their being strong makes you feel safe and secure. But they can’t be strong anymore, and now they need you to be the strong one. They need you to be the one to make them feel safe and secure as they finish out their lives here, before they head home to be with our Heavenly Father.

To care for them, who once cared for you is the greatest honor. ♥️

““Honor your father and mother.” This is the first commandment with a promise: If you honor your father and mother, “things will go well for you, and you will have a long life on the earth.””
— ‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭6‬:‭2‬-‭3‬‬

11/03/2025

10/30/2025

Decision made. I’m staying dry AND guilty.🙃

10/21/2025

It’s 2 days from go time. Stopped my blood thinners. Did my pre-op with my anesthesiologist and sedation nurse. I’ll be having my surgery in Dallas. They will put a curved stent in my iliac vein to help my blood flow to fix the the blood pause they found in my MRI and CT scans. After all this I will have the angioplasty and the veinogram. I still have 2 blood clots one residual in my iliac vein and one in my popliteal vein which is painful. It is too dangerous to remove because it is behind my knee so they are going in from my groin on Thursday, and from my ankle on November 6th.

On Friday at Marrieds, my body locked up and I was in so much pain. The iliac artery and vein are compressing on my pelvis. The doctor is hoping to relieve some of this pressure. Living with May Thurners Syndrome is challenging but it does not rob my joy, my worship, my faith. God is with me through all of this. I may wobble when I worship but I will raise a hallelujah. I thank God for saving my life on April 1st through the biggest blood clot and here I am again ready to do some repairs. I sought out the best doctors that specialize in May Thurners and I found one in Dallas. Then our car broke. It’s been costly to repair. The evil one will come in and try to steal!!! Not today! We thank God for our church family, our friends, Davids family, all who have prayed with us through this time. So I feel prepared and ready to leave tomorrow and I leave my ministry in good hands while I recover. Keep us in prayer. Love you all 💕 God is with us🙏

Surgery is Thursday at noon.
Will take approx 1 hour.

10/21/2025

A few years ago our family wanted to eat at a popular restaurant on vacation at the beach. Unfortunately, when we arrived, the wait was over two hours long!

We quickly decided that wouldn’t work for our younger children, so I began to look up other options.

I called a restaurant and they so kindly told us to come on in!

When we arrived, the first thing I noticed was they were beautifully decorated for fall. What stood out to me was that in the middle of their pumpkins, was a bright yellow pumpkin like I had never seen before. I mentioned it to the hostess, who actually ended up being an owner, and we discussed it’s uniqueness about it while she sat our family.

She said, “It just stood out at the Farmers Market! I had to get it!”

We had the most wonderful dinner! Throughout our meal we talked to the hostess, our waitress, other servers, their sweet dog, and I even chatted with some on my way to the bathroom (while my family thought I might be lost!)

We talked of children, families, the beach, miscarriages, adoption, traveling, dogs, church, and mission trips. But mostly, Jesus and HIS love kept coming up… time and time again.

As we were about to leave, the owner came to our table carrying the yellow pumpkin.

She explained to us that it had been a hard day at the restaurant. She told us, “Your family brought God to our restaurant tonight and that’s just what we needed.”

And she handed me that yellow pumpkin.

I sobbed.
It was such a kind gift and even kinder words.
I carried that pumpkin home like we had won a million dollars and immediately put it in our foyer so we could see it every day!

About a month later I was praying about our family’s purpose. We don’t have a ministry, we aren’t pastors, we are just ordinary people doing ordinary things.

Suddenly the words, “Be the yellow pumpkin!” Came into my mind.

I knew exactly what that meant.
Stand out.
Look different.
And share the love of Jesus wherever we go.

Now that’s the motto for our family,
“Be the yellow pumpkin!”

Going to the store?
Be the yellow pumpkin.
School?
Be the yellow pumpkin.
Tournament?
Be the yellow pumpkin.
Church?
Be the yellow pumpkin.
Park?
Be the yellow pumpkin.
Work?
Be the yellow pumpkin.
Driving?
Be the yellow pumpkin.
Wherever we go...
Be the yellow pumpkin.

She thought she was handing us a pumpkin...what she was actually handing us was a reminder, a calling, a mandate.

That, “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”
Matthew 5:14-16

May we all do the same...
Stand out.
Look different.
Share Jesus wherever we go.

And trust that wherever HE places us is right where HE calls us to be.

So go… and be the yellow pumpkin!

www.Kristinkerley.com

10/21/2025

I did not write this
but WOW does it
speak to my heart!!!
Worth the read.

"Barely the day started and
it's already six in the evening.
Barely arrived on Monday
and it's already Friday.. and the month is already over.. and the year is almost over.. and already 40, 50 or 60 years
of our lives have passed. . and we realize that we lost
our parents, friends.. and we realize it's too late
to go back.
So.. Let's try, despite
everything, to enjoy
the remaining time.
Let's keep looking for
activities that we like.
Let's put some color in
our grey.
Let's smile at the little
things in life that put
balm in our hearts.
And despite everything,
we must continue to enjoy
with serenity this time we
have left.
Let's try to eliminate the
afters..
I'm doing it after.
I'll say after.
I'll think about it after.
We leave everything for
later like ′′ after ′′ is ours.
Because what we don't
understand is that:
Afterwards, the coffee
gets cold.
afterwards, priorities change.
Afterwards, the charm is
broken.
Afterwards, health passes.
Afterwards, the kids grow up.
Afterwards parents get old.
Afterwards, promises are
forgotten.
Afterwards, the day becomes
the night.
Afterwards, life ends.
And then it's often too late.
So.. Let's leave nothing for
later.
Because still waiting to see
later, we can lose the
best moments, the best
experiences, best friends,
the best family.
The day is today. The
moment is now.
We are no longer at the
age where we can afford
to postpone what needs
to be done right away."

It Looks Like An Eternity,
But It's A Short Trip,
Enjoy Life And Always
Be Kind.

Photo Credits —Grandma Marie Godines and Granddaughter Olivia Rae

10/18/2025

I Will Never look at a pornographic website.
read a trashy or questionable novel.
Visit an “adult” bookstore.
go to a so-called gentlemen’s club.
look at a pornographic magazine.
watch an ‘for adults only” video or movie.
look closely at another women (other than my wife).
engage in a personal phone call or email exchange with another woman.
be alone with a woman other than my wife in any setting, at anytime, for any reason.
share my personal or emotional feelings with any woman other than my wife.

Amen

10/18/2025

Lord we surrender it all so that you can have your way in us. Come and interfere in our lives today. May we know you more. May we strive to be more like you and less like the world.

Challenge: check our social media. Is there something that needs to go. Remove it. Purify us Lord. Start with my soul. I surrender. 🙌🏻

🙏🏻Amen 💕