I'll Be Back

Hello Bloggy Friends :)

I just wanted to pop in to say that I will be back to boogie in blog world after the new year! I hope that all of you had a wonderful Christmas and I hope that y'all enjoy ringing in 2009!

Love and Hugs,
Kate :)

Memories

During our most recent trip to The Lone Star State we gathered up a lot of my old things, packed them in a Uhaul, drove it 1200 miles, and dumped it in our garage. So now there is a nice pile of "Kate's Keepsakes" taking up residence in our home. (As if we didn't already have enough stuff!) I've been slowly but surely making my way through the boxes and containers. I have found some pretty interesting things:

Letters from friends

Track meet videos

Dance costumes

Pictures

Journals

Music

and lots more...

But there is one thing I found the other day that is especially important. I was delighted to discover the slide show of pictures we showed at our wedding reception. The slide show covers both mine and my husbands childhood, our families, our courtship, and our engagement. We decided to pop it in the DVD player for some reminiscing....

What happened?

I didn't just cry. Nope. I ugly cried. I balled my eyes out. And just to make myself shed even more tears - we watched it again. The thing starts out with me. It shows me as an infant in the hospital. It shows me playing with my "BFFE", Brooke. It shows me doing dance poses and running, and so on. Then it gets to my hubby: His baby pictures. Vacation pictures. Sports photos and birthday parties. It then transitions into our dating days and eventually makes its way to our engagement photos. All while playing a sentimental country song. It is a tear jerker, y'all.

And it totally made me fall in love with my man allllll over again. It really did. So we have decided to watch the slide show ever odd once in a while - just to remind us of those precious days that have past us by.

This Christmas, as I reflect on a gift that was given to the world thousands of years ago in Bethlehem, and as I remember the love story that took place on a college campus 5 short years ago - I'll be thankful. For what has been and what will be :)

Friends

A friend of mine just called.

She was eager to share some wonderful news that she got at a doctors appointment this morning. And I was eager to hear it. I have been sitting on top of the phone all morning, just hoping to rejoice with her! And rejoice I did!

"When you are truly joined in spirit, another woman's good is your good too. You work for the good of each other." - Ruth Senter

Yes. I consider it such a blessing to have some lovely friends to walk through life with. They encourage me. They cry with me. They listen to me. They pray for me. Some of them live just down the way. And some of them live thousands of miles from here. I'm thankful for every last one of them!

And I am thankful for you, too. My Bloggy friends are such a blessing. Thanks for just being YOU :)

Contentment, Anyone?

"Love, consolation and peace bloom only in the garden of sweet contentment." - Martha Anderson

I love that quote. It gets me all centered and focused.

I'm not real great at being content. Actually, I'm the worlds worst, always thinking that I need this or that to finally get my soul satisfied. But what I'm learning Dear Ones, is that contentment is more of a decision than anything else.

Paul, the writer of Philippians says.... For I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. - Philippians 4:11-12

I'm gonna pursue a Paul-like passion for contentment and for Jesus. Amazing.

1 Timothy 6:6 says, Yet true godliness and contentment is itself great wealth.

Godliness AND contentment. Now that is an unstoppable combination, isn't it? Know what else I'm learning? I'm realizing that I can't create either one of those things on my own - much less both of them. If I could - my ego would be as big as my Texas-hair. Nope. I need God, His word, and His people to encourage me on in this contentment quest. I can't do it alone.

" Women of adventure have conquered their fates and know how to live exciting and fulfilling lives right where they are (emphasis mine!). They have learned to reinvent themselves and find creative ways to enjoy the world and their place in it." - Barbara Jenkins

Did y'all catch that?....the "RIGHT WHERE THEY ARE" part? That's good. And the whole thing about "reinventing themselves". It makes me wonder....what do YOU think those phrases mean..."right where you are" and "reinventing yourself"? Any thoughts? Please, share!

Anyway, as I mentioned in my last post - I've been thinking about the upcoming year lately. Ya know all those New Years Resolutions I have? Well, contentment is going to be on the top of my list. I know. It won't be easy. Contentment is a tough one. But oh, what a needed trait it is. Especially for me.

I hope you have a happy and satisfying start to your week, Sweet Ones.

2009

So this morning as I was sitting at our kitchen table - I began thinking about all of the things I would like to change in 2009. I'm good at sitting and thinking about what I want to rearrange or implement - I'm just not always real great about actually DOING it. I'm the girl that can spend hours making lists and goals and aspirations - but just can't seem to check anything off. Ya know?

But 2009 will be different. (Yes, I say that every year about this time. But really, I'm committed.)

Alright. Here are a few of my New Year's Resolutions:

1) Starting January 1st, 2009 I will begin my 1 year journey through the Bible. I bought a chronological Bible for only $15 a few months ago and I'm ready to dive in. I'm expecting good and wonderful things to come from this and I'm sure you'll be hearing about it throughout the new year :) Are you excited?

2) We recently bought a home that needs some updating. We currently have pink and purple carpet throughout our entire house. There is pink border in our master bedroom with ballet dancers on it. (My husband just loves that.) My son's room has flowers on the walls and our kitchen is in desperate need of a face lift. I could go on and on. Don't get me wrong. I'm very thankful for our home - it just needs some TLC. And in 2009 - it will get just that. The Hubby and I are putting together a plan. There will be a budget (a very tight one, might I add) for every project - and a deadline for it to be done. Out with the old - in with the new. It's time to make this house a home.

3) I'm committed to finding my 2 year old a preschool. Just for a few days a week for a couple of hours. Since he stays home with Mommy all day - he really needs some social time. I'm praying about where he should go and such. This is kinda scary for me, I must admit. The thought of leaving my child somewhere for a couple of hours is terrifying. I know. I know. People do it everyday and their kids turn out great - but I'm kinda paranoid about these things. I'll probably just sit outside and keep an eye on him through a window or something the whole time he is there anyway :) (And you know I will.)

4) Scheduled time with the handsome man I married. Our family is growing - and time with my hubs should be a priority. In 2009 - we will make sure it happens. Dinner and a movie. Taking a trip to campus to reminisce about old times. Or just sitting and talking or praying. It's important and we will treat it as such.

Those are just a few. So, I was wondering - what are some things that you would like to change in 2009? Leave me a comment and I will make sure I pray about them for you :) It would be my pleasure!

Have a fabulous weekend, kiddos!

Faith

I know I have been posting a lot of quotes and lyrics lately - but the wise words of others have been speaking to my heart recently. Sometimes other people can put my hearts cry into words way better than I can!

Here are a few about faith:

"If it can be verified, we don't need faith...Faith is for that which lies on the other side of reason. Faith is what makes life bearable, with all its tragedies and ambiguities and sudden, starling joys." - Madeleine L'Engle

"Faith is not an effort, a striving, a ceaseless seeking, as so many earnest souls suppose, but rather a letting go, an abandonment, an abiding rest in God that nothing, not even the soul's shortcomings, can disturb."

"There is no unbelief; Whoever plants a seed beneath the sod and waits to see it push away the clod, she trusts in God." - Elizabeth York Case


May you have a faith-filled and happy weekend, Sweet Ones!

Inspiring Lyrics

The lyrics to Brandon Heath's Give Me Your Eyes change my life.

Give me your eyes for just one second
Give me your eyes so I can see
Everything that I keep missing
Give me your love for humanity
Give me your arms for the broken hearted
The ones that are far beyond my reach
Give me your heart for the once forgotten

Step out on a busy street
See a girl and our eyes meet
Does her best to smile at me
To hide whats underneath
There's a man just to her right
Black suit and a bright red tie
Too ashamed to tell his wife
Hes out of work
Hes buying time
all those people going somewhere?
Why have I never cared?

Give me your eyes for just one second
Give me your eyes so I can see
Everything that I keep missing
Give me your love for humanity
Give me your arms for the broken hearted
The ones that are far beyond my reach
Give me your heart for the once forgotten

Let's make that our prayer.

Have a lovely day :)

Sweet and Sour Scents

Isn't it amazing how certain aromas can bring to mind certain people, events, and seasons in your past?

It's incredible, really.

For example....

My MeeMaw's purse has always smelled like Wrigley's Spearmint gum. As a child, I would rummage through her handbag, take a comforting whiff, and eat a piece. Nowadays, when I smell spearmint - I think of her. I think about how we used to ride around in her big Oldsmobile and eat breakfast. I think about her reciting scripture to me every time I called with a problem. Thankfully, I don't have to reach back too far in my memory because she is only in her seventies, alive and kickin' - still chewing spearmint and spouting off scriptures!

Another example....

I had just received a phone call that my Paw Paw was probably not going to make it this time. After surviving many strokes and heart ailments - it looked as if he was going to Glory soon. At the time, I was spending the summer on the beach in New Jersey with a student group. I strapped on my headphones and headed to the shoreline for some prayer and reflection. As I was walking back, a certain smell stopped me in my tracks. I found myself standing next to an older Jeep Wrangler with the windows down. I moved closer to it and took in a big whiff. The old leather of the Jeep smelled just like the old leather of my Paw Paw's Ford pick-up truck. Oh, it comforted me and brought me to tears all at the same time. That smell made me think about how my Paw Paw would bring me donut holes on Saturday mornings. And it reminded me of the time he attempted to teach me how to drive that old Ford without any power steering. I could just hear him saying, "You can stop at that stop sign twice next time." - when I failed to hit the breaks at an intersection.

And just yersterday, as I was Christmas shopping in a popular retail store - I picked up a bottle of lotion and smelled it. It immedieatly brought to mind leopard pants, running track, and purple hair. High School. I wore that same lotion during my junior year.

Other smelly examples? Brute cologne make me think of my Daddy. Mothballs make me think of MawMaw Louise. And fresh cut grass makes me think of hot summers in Texas.

And all this has me thinking....

What kind of fragrance does MY life give off? Do my words and actions produce a sweet smelling aroma or do they give off a sour smell? Do I leave people with a comforting scent or a rancid odor? Does a whiff of my perfume bring to mind comforting memories or troublesome moments for others?

It's something to think about.

Quick Quotes

I have all sorts of things I want to write about - and I will - as soon as I get a chance to sit and ponder! But for now - be encouraged by these words:

When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left and could say, "I used everything You gave me." - Erma Bombeck

Faith has to be exercised in the midst of ordinary, down-to-earth living. - Elisabeth Elliot

You are a child of your heavenly Father. Confide in Him. Your faith in His love and power can never be bold enough. - Basilea Schlink

Lead me in the right path, O Lord.......Make your way plain for me to follow. - Psalm 5:8

Have a marvelous Monday!