Jared and I are home for a short minute from the photography school we've been attending this week. One week, 14-15 hours a day, intensive photography study. We head back on Sunday afternoon for another week of more study on portraiture and digital imaging. We've had an amazing time ... looking forward to another. Will check in when we return.

The action packer is full and locked, the suitcase is bulging like a baked-potato, last minute laundry is in the dryer and the packing is almost done. Pille will be leaving this afternoon.

It's hard to believe she's been here over two months already. She's become like a member of our family ... life will seem so different when she is gone.

The last couple of months have been focused on all of Pille's doctor's appointments, tests ... oh, and more appointments. That's been the priority ... trying to find out what is causing her to feel so bad. Even so, amidst all the necessary stuff, we've managed to stuff a lot of special times in as well.

While in Alabama ...

we introduced Pille to fried catfish and hushpuppies

we enjoyed the fellowship of the people we had met at Camp Balchyoka, Estonia last year

we relished in a few warm days and the beginning of spring, talked about life's important things for hours on end and spent many mornings just gazing at the beauty of God's red birds as they came to snatch a few seeds from the feeder outside the kitchen window ... we walked through Historic Florence and ate ice cream at the famous Palace Drugstore / Fountain

we visited the home of Helen Keller (and saw the famous 'water pump' where Helen made her first breakthrough in sign language)

we tried our hands at landing a space shuttle at the Huntsville Space and Rocket Center ... Pille learned how to sleep standing up

Since returning from Alabama ...

we've spent a special time of tears and laughter with Dustin's friends/commanders from the Army

we've shared in Ethan's birthday celebration ... where he blew out his pretend candles because Grammy forgot to buy some

we've celebrated with Jared as he graduated from Adventures in Missions ... what a proud moment for his parents. AND got to put our arms around a special friend, Lacy Ann, who we haven't seen in over 10 years

we've stepped where dinosaurs tromped many years ago ... at Dinosaur Valley in Glenrose, Texas

we've welcomed a new 'southern gal' into our home ~ Annabelle ~ a 6-week-old purebred Basset Hound .. the puppy of Brandi's dreams

we've cleaned out flower beds (well, almost) and planted flowers ... we call it 'yard therapy'

we've worked and worked for weeks and weeks on our Leadership Training for Christ (LTC) projects and participated on Easter weekend with over 1600 kids. What an amazing sight to see so many young people using their talents for God's glory. It was so cool to have our Estonia entries right there side by side with all the others.

Kayli brought home 6 Gold medals, 1 Silver medal and 1 Bronze medal.

Sorry, Estonia girls, can't tell you what you brought home ... that will have to wait until Pille arrives with all the awards ... and the results ~ smile. But, just so you know, in my book ... you all get a gold!!

Kayli got a GOLD for this photograph

 a true 'cowgirl' has been created in Pille. She's been decked out in cowboy boots, a cowboy hat and has even got to go horseback riding. Best of all, she has been taught by the truest of Texans how to say 'Howdy Ya'll'

we've celebrated Jared's 21st birthday .. hard to believe my baby boy is 21!

been amazed by a spring TEXAS snow ... the first in recorded history for this time of year

and ....

laid in a field of Texas Bluebonnets ... evidence once again that God is a creator of beautiful and frivolous things!

Pille leaves us with good news and bad news. The good news is ... the condition that she's been fighting for over 10 years, is NOT her heart ... we rejoice greatly for that. Her diagnosis is 'pulmonary hypertension'. In short, she isn't getting enough oxygen to her lungs. Unfortunately, the cause is undetermined. She will go home with some medication to help her with her fatigue and continue to look for further answers as to the cause of her condition.

God has been so amazingly faithful through all of Pille's searching and seeking since she arrived in the States. He has repeatedly provided resources to cover all the incredible needs of her care ... doctors, contributions, kind words, circles of prayer. God continues to show her his amazing provision and to encourage those of us who are standing by watching.

In addition, I've been reminded once again how precious and valuable the smallest gifts of life can be. It doesn't take long when you walk beside someone who is experiencing with the excitement of a child, so many things, for the first time ... new foods, new places, new people ... and carrying her little camera every where she goes to record every thing she sees and to photograph every plate of food she eats, so she doesn't forget.

Lots of memories ... for her ... and for us. We will miss her!

Seems like I keep reading the same thing from many of you who normally check in through their xanga site ... "It's been a while since I've written here".  So here I am, after a long absence, apparently joining those who seem to be living a rather, um ... constant ... life.

Our life has indeed been constant since our return from Estonia. It's been a great constant though.We are slowly getting settled into our new home and hope to soon make it our 'mission center' once again. We've been blessed with family, fellowship, service, ministry and an overflow of God's love through the many we are with each day. We continue to see the 'shapes and sizes of God's comfort' every where we turn and our hearts overflow with gratefulness for those blessings.

In the two years that we were privileged to serve in Estonia, we were blessed to truly embrace many of the wonderful people who made up our tiny church. Many of the young people there became like our own children. We loved them, hugged them, taught them, (and occasionally scolded them) as if they were indeed our own. They were ... and are ... precious to our hearts.

One of those precious treasures is Pille. Pille was my language teacher (bless her heart), my translator, my 'right-hand man', my confidant ... and my sweet friend. She has indeed been like a daughter to me. The most difficult part of being a parent, is watching your children suffer with illnesses and difficulties that you can't change or fix. That was the case for our Pille. Pille is 26 years old and in the course of our time in Estonia, we watched her suffer greatly with her health. She suffered from a heart condition when we she was a young teenager and has dealt with many symptoms since that time that could not be resolved. We have cried out many times to God for her relief and for her healing.

By God's grace and the generosity of brethren in the States, Pille has been able to travel to the U.S. to see a Godly, Christian Cardiologist and prayerfully, find some answers to her difficulties. Pille arrived in Dallas on February 11. Since that time, we've had fun introducing her to some very important American traditions and experiences ... important things like Wal-Mart/ Hobby Lobby/Mardel shopping, Starbuck's coffee, Fried Catfish and Hushpuppies, Funnel Cakes, Grump's Hamburgers (some say they are the best in the US) ... oh, and Pop-Rocks. =0) Funny how so many things we do revolve around food!

Pille and I are now in Alabama where she has been consulting with her dr. She's had a gamut of tests run and now we are waiting for results. We've also had the pleasure of spending some wonderful fellowship with many of the folks that came to Estonia last summer to help with camp. That's been an extra special blessing along the way. We'll see the dr. again on Thursday and pray that we will have a better idea of what the course of action for Pille will be at that time. If she's able, we'll return to Granbury on the 3rd of March.

Your continued prayers are appreciated.

Please continue praying for our sweet church in Estonia. They are struggling with discouragement and loneliness since we've left. Please pray hedges of protection around their precious souls, that their faith will stay strong in the midst of the valley they feel they are in.

Please also continue praying for our family. Several of us will meet with Dustin's commander and his friends who were with him during his accident, from the 4th - 6th of March. We know that it will be a bittersweet experience. After that, we head to Lubbock for Jared's graduation from AIM (Adventures in Missions) on the 10th. We're so proud of him!

I'm afraid that our life is threatening to stay 'constant' for quite a while but that's okay. We are taking each day one step at a time, and we know that God's arms are firmly around us as we go.

God Bless!

It's hard to believe it's been a year since our boy left us and went to live in his heavenly home. Our hearts have ached more this past year than we thought possible. Our anguish has been great but even in our deepest grief, we have been held in the loving arms of our Father and abundantly blessed with care and comfort from so many of you.

Monday was a quiet day of reflection and remembering. We smiled as we remembered and we shed many tears as our hearts were once again reminded that Dustin is absent from our lives for now. Though we cannot feel his hugs, see his face or hear his voice, our hearts will ever hold him close. 

We've received so many wonderful notes of encouragement and many precious phone calls over the last couple of days. Our family was in contact for the first time with those who were with Dustin during the accident and when he drew his last breath ... his commanders, his battle buddies, his friends. We always knew he would be a special tool of God and that God had a special plan for him. Even so, hearing what an amazing leader, diligent worker and loyal friend he was, from those he shared a common purpose with, made us feel even more proud of him than ever. He continues to honor us, his family ...  and to inspire those who he touched, even in his death.

Thank you so much for your continued prayers on our behalf and for the way you have blessed us in our darkest moments.

We love you all ... The Kendall Family

In Loving Memory of

Corporal Dustin Lee Kendall

June 30, 1984 ~ January 15, 2006

May You Always Remember His Smile and ...

May You Always Smile When You Remember Him!

The last couple of weeks have been a precious time of sharing tears, laughter and total chaos with our 5 kids, 3 son-in-laws, 8 grandbabies and one very hyperactive puppy. While in the eastern part of the States, we took a few days to head up to Arlington National Cemetery to visit Dustin's grave site. Though a difficult time for us, we were blessed to be hosted by our special friends, the Popes, while in the DC area. Unfortunately, we missed some of you we had hoped to see when we traveled up that way.

Said 'good-bye' this morning to our family ... now we are headed to our new home in Granbury. Took a little detour while in North Carolina today and enjoyed a few hours at the "Biltmore Estate" ( http://biltmore.com ), the largest home (but more like a castle) in the United States. That was a nice break from our many hours in the car. We should arrive in Texas sometime this weekend and Brandi officially starts his new position at the Granbury church on Monday morning.

We are still trying to work out all the 'living in the country' challenges of getting hooked up on the internet so we still may be offline for a bit. Just wanted everyone to know that you aren't forgotten and that we'll do our best to check our email as often as possible. Keep writing ... will let you know when we are up and running.

Missing you all in Estonia ... love you bunches!

It has been a busy couple of weeks as we have been trying to get settled into our new home. Have been without easy internet access for this time ... had hoped to have us online by the 14th but it turns out we are too far out in the country/trees to get DSL. So, a broadband company will come out on the 8th of January to see if they can get a signal to get us hooked up. We pray that we'll be able to get set up so we can better be in touch. Sure feeling disconnected from all those we love who are too far away to give hugs to everyday.

Jared arrived safely after a long trip from the Ukraine on Wednesday. We were so thankful to see his smiling face. Now we are all on the road headed to South Carolina. We enjoyed a wonderful, but short, visit with Papa Ray and Mamma Wilma in Arkansas last night. Got back on the road this morning. We are staying at a hotel in Knoxville, TN tonight and hope to arrive in Charleston by tomorrow evening. Looking forward to having some blessed time with our new baby ...

Canon Lee Steed

Born December 5 @ 3:15 p.m.

Weighing in at 9 #'s, 7 oz ... 20 3/4" Long

Courtney says he's got the fattest cheeks she's ever seen but he's a sweetheart and such a cuddly little one. Can't wait to have our cuddly time with him and all our other babies/grandbabies when we arrive.

Please continue to pray for our family as we spend our first Christmas holiday without our boy, Dustin Lee, and as we honor his memory in sharing together.

Also .. I ask that you cover our Riina in your prayers. She said good-bye to her precious mother just yesterday. Her time ahead will be difficult so please pray that God will cover her with His presence and that she will strongly feel his arms around her.

Just a quick note to let you know that we arrived in the States safely on Sunday, December 3. We were greeted with loving arms and lots of hugs ... and we have been warmly welcomed in Granbury as well (even though it's totally COLD here).

Since our return, we've been busy trying to get settled into our new home. Since we sold almost all of our worldy possessions before leaving for Estonia, we are in the process of purchasing things like beds, appliances, furniture, vehicles, etc. We hope to be ready to move into our new home within the next week.

Thank you for all your prayers and continued encouragement during our transition.

We hope to be online by the 15th .. then we'll be able to check in more often.

Loving you and missing you all in Estonia ... and feeling blessed to have had you in our lives.

God Bless,

Brandi, Penny and Kayli

As you can imagine, life has become a little crazy for the Kendall family lately. We have reached our two-week count down for leaving Tartu and there are still lots of things to do ... and lots of fellowship to stuff in. Our hearts are torn between what we 'want' to do and what we know we 'have' to do.

Winter has officially arrived in Estonia. With the end of October came the end of our crisp fall weather and brought with it a wind storm that dropped temperatures about 30 degrees, snapped many of our beautiful trees off at the base and left the others dancing as if keeping tune to a lively jig. We have to admit that we also did some praying that our roof would stay put this time ... just no time to deal with flooded rooms right now!

Our last couple of weeks have been blessed with several snow storms that we are sure have been a special gift from God to us. What a blessing to have one more opportunity to take in the beauty of an Estonian landscape covered with a blanket of pure white. God is so good to us!

Even with the cold weather, the last couple of weeks have blessed us with such warm fellowship. We've had the pleasure of sharing in worship with all the churches in Estonia and have been a part of a youth-rally where all of our Estonian young people gathered to plan next year's camp. We've been blessed by the incredible hearts of young missionaries from Tomsk, Russia and have joined in a birthday celebration for a special 14-year old boy (Timmy even let Brandi try on his birthday present ... they look so natural on him, don't they?). We've played host to Dennis Hofschild, a former missionary to Tartu, and his friends ... and spent a great day with friends in the countryside. We've begun to say our goodbyes to those we've studied with over the last couple of years and I have taught the last of my ladies and girls classes, for now. We will treasure these things up in our hearts along with all the other incredible moments we've shared over the past two years. It may be cold outside but we have warm memories!

Kari Banks will arrive today to help me finish up all the last minute details of moving. The task ~ not so fun, but the company ~ very precious. I'm looking forward to being blessed by her sweet spirit for the next several days. When I return her to her 'other' family next week, I know there will be many reasons to be thankful.

Must get to work. For now, I leave you with this thought ...

When you come to the edge of all the light you have known

and you are about to step into the darkness ...

FAITH

is knowing one of two things will happen;

there will be something to stand on 

or

you will be taught how to fly!

May you soar!  God Bless  ... penny

Well ... the packing has begun in earnest. We've begun preparing boxes for mailing back to the States ... books, mostly and a few things that are important to our hearts. Our flat is starting to really look like we're moving and it's kind of a sad sight. Looking around and seeing the boxes and the empty walls is a reminder of the fact that our time here is coming to a close.

It's been an emotional time since the announcement of our leaving. Some are feeling abandoned, some are feeling lost, some are feeling frightened, some are even feeling angry ... all are feeling sad. I know that our leaving will be hard on all of us but I feel sure that God will send many, many blessings in our absence.

Losing someone you love is never easy. Those feelings of sadness, fear, aloneness,  ... and even anger, can threaten to take a strong hold that won't let go. These past nine months have sure been proof of that in my life. Even with our grieving though, God has done incredible and amazing things. 

We receive a weekly card of encouragement from a church in South Carolina. On the flap of the envelope, there is always a little tidbit of wisdom or a little saying from my friend, Katy (and church secretary) and I always look forward to what Katy will say to me each week. Sometimes her words make me chuckle .. and sometimes they bring a tear to my eye. This week's word of wisdom was this ...

"Jesus did not come to explain away suffering or remove it. He came to fill it with His presence" 

Of all the amazing things that God has done for us through our grief, His simple presence gives us the most comfort and it is His simple presence that we know will comfort all of us as we face this loss as well.

May God fill you with His presence in all you do ... May you see His face every direction you turn ... And may you be comforted by the knowledge that no matter how deep your hurt, God is always there to hold you up and wipe away your tear.