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Wednesday, June 22, 2011

Orphans

God reminded me today why He placed me in Social Work. Its not about me, its about the kids, the orphans and the foster care kids.
Sometime I get discouraged with the Social Work program and just think, why don’t I just quit and have babies? These people don’t know THE TRUTH. Many of them openly denounce God and try to get us Social Work students to advocate things He detests. I often find myself frustrated and feeling like this schooling I’m going through is futile because they can teach me all the therapy in the world but none of it will work without the healing power of Jesus Christ!
Sometimes I wonder, did God choose this for me or did I?

But today, God reminded me why He chose this for me. He reminded me of the fire He put in my heart for the abandoned, the neglected, and the abused, the orphaned children of the world and right here in this state. There are so many different avenues for Social Workers to pursue and I see that Satan has used that to distract me from the main focus that Christ used to lead me to Social Work in the first place, the orphans.

Sometimes we just need reminders, and in so doing, God has also given me encouragement; especially on the day of my internship interview. I wonder why God has reminded me of this- on this day. The day of the interview I have been praying about, wondering and kind of resenting for the last week.
Jesus, please give me more of Your discernment today!

-Kate

Monday, June 13, 2011

Just an update on life

Well Summer is in full swing!!!! We are invited to more things every week than we know what to do with!!!- Which, I'm not complaining but it always seems like Summer and the holidays are the most busy times of the year! Im wishing I had some funny or cool story to tell everyone....but really I dont...
I got to go out to dinner with three of my best friends tonight and I cannot tell you how I needed that girl time SO BAD and how it just seemed to soothe my soul the way only true and close friends can! Praise the Lord for friendships!!! And even though I'm married now- YOU NEVER STOP NEEDING YOUR GIRLFRIENDS!!! Husbands are great-dont get me wrong!...BUT THEY AREN'T GIRLS!!! :)
Also, since returning from a recent 10 day vacation to three different states, the beach included in one of them, I am proud to say that I have officially started to become a morning person! I quite like it...but it also means I got to bed MUCH earlier than I used to as well....which isnt so bad, except on the weekends.... so that is new in my life....what else....
my husband will officially be done with school FO-EVA on Saturday so PRAISE JESUS!!! So glad and happy for him!!!! Which also means his parents are coming...they will be our first official guests to stay over at our house! What a fun new experience! I hope they like the house/how i keep house!!! :) I wonder what I should cook....?
Anyways....oh one last thing! I think my husband and I are going to take up.......are you ready for this?! BIKING!!! haha!!! You see, I walk with my friend Heather pretty regularly in the Fall, Winter and Spring and its a GREAT workout because its more of a walk/jog- but in the summer its just too hot to go during the day SOOOO we have to go at night...and for newlyweds...thats difficult for us because evening time is when we like to spend time together. So you would think that my husband and I could just walk together- problem solved, but OH NO, competitive man that he is, is frustrating to walk with because he always wants to race you or push you and when i work out...its got to be on my terms or it aint happening...but while we were in Florida we rode bikes together and had a great time...so we're going to try it out this week-I'll update you on how that turns out...because I know you're all dying to find out haha.
WElll Im writing this with a large pile of clothes sitting next to me that needs to be folded....moms dont lie when they say that the laundry NEVER ENDS...good thing I actually like doing laundry because I know I'll be doing more than I will probably ever want to in this lifetime so I should probably be going....
Until next time I post...
-Kate

Tuesday, May 3, 2011

Songs and Summer

I find it interesting that every time I have a TON of work to do....I end up right here on this blog- with suddenly alot of things to say....or share....or show....
I also find it interesting that I am in SUCH a good mood today when I just took a final exam that I only feel "ok" about and I have one huge assignment worth half of my grade due in 45 hours....... and that includes sleeping somewhere in there.....hmmmm.....

-perhaps it has to do with the very sunny weather appearing today after MANY MANY storms and prayers......everything just feels BRIGHTER!

So in honor of my very happy mood- currently at least ;) - I am now going to share a few songs that I am absolutely loving right now and will probably be playing in the background as I write this FINAL PAPER!!!! WHOO WHOOO
Yes, yes, thats right the countdown until i turn in of this final paper in 45 hours-is also the countdown to SUMMER!!!!!! AHHHHH one whole month of pure bliss.....lol thats right, just one month then I'm taking only ONE very interesting summer school class....but that doesnt dampen my spirits not one bit!!!!

Now back to the songs!

Taio Cruz- "Falling in Love"



Lupe Fiasco- "The Show Goes On" (this is the edited version :) )


Diddy "I'm Coming Home" (also the edited version :) )


-Also Im absolutely LOVING the new singing show "The Voice"--is anyone else just loving it?!
Maybe its the smaller amount contestants or the fact that the people have to turn their backs to them and just listen to their voice....as if its really more focused on their singing... ya its wonderful
AND I'm missing the acappella singing contest called "The Sing Off" that NBC does each year, i wish they would do a Spring version!!! I ESPECIALLY love that competition!!!!! There is something wonderful about acapella, harmonies are music to my ears!

For any of you who saw the show this past season-- I personally think that the only reason "Committed" won- although they were good, I wouldnt say they were 'BETTER' than Street Corner Symphony or The Back Beats - the judges just went on and on and on about them all season long so I feel like the audiences' vote was very swayed by the judges comments on them.... Committed was CLEARLY their favorite.
Again, personally, I thought Street Corner Symphony and the BackBeats were MUCH better!!! I love that the Back Beats had women in- a woman's voice totally adds to the harmony, plus their performance was all around just great, but I would have to choose Street Corner Symphony as my very favorite because their voices were just incredible and they sang just about all of my favorite songs in the competition- and they sounded even better than the originals!!! They made something good, EVEN BETTER!!!

So with all that being said, I will now leave you with some of my favorite performances from each of my top picks from that show!

If any of you know my family-- you know we LOVE this kind of music, its in my blood:

Street Corner Symphony " Down on the Corner"


Street Corner Symphony "Come on Eilleen"


And now The Back Beats with all their wonderful pop music: I so live with one foot in oldies and one foot in pop (And maybe a hand or two in country)- I love it.

The Back Beats "If I were a boy"


Happy Tuesday my friends!!!! WE'RE SO CLOSE TO SUMMER!!!!
-Kate

Sunday, May 1, 2011

SOUTHERN LIVING

OH YES OH YES!!!! I LOOOVE me some Southern Living!!!







Its about that time.....SUUUMMERRR!!!!!!!!!!
Sun-dresses, seer-sucker, Sperry's, Polo, Lilly Pulitzer, Jcrew, pearls....ALLL things Southern and P-R-E-P-P-Y!!!!!
You can have your "urban" style and your fashionable gray and neutral colors, but give me all the bright colors and white this side of the Mississippi can handle!!!!!







Counting down the days until SUMMER!!!! :))

Kate

Friday, February 11, 2011

Music...

I just need to vent my dance/musical frustrations for a second on this blog.
I LOVE LOVE LOVE songs with a great beat--that I can dance to, and I LOVE to dance!!!
When I need my dance fix (which is almost daily) I like to listen to songs that have at least a good or benign message (Aka its not about gettin drunk/high in the club and its not about sex)- garbage in, garbage out. So this post really is about all the songs that are not about that- which definitely narrows the category down a bit. But nonetheless, I must vent this.
The problem you might ask?
90% of all songs that have a good beat and not a bad message STILL CUSS! Really? REALLY?! Its SO NOT NECESSARY!!!!!
You can get your message out without the use of those like 15 words- we have thousands of words in our English language and you chose to use THAT WORD???? Congratulations to all those singers/songwriters who created some awesome beats and even a created a great message about helping the kids on the streets and the poor in 3rd world countries--YOU JUST RUINED THE SONG FOR ME WHEN YOU ADDED IN THOSE EXTRA UNNECESSARY CUSS WORDS. I know you're angry or sad or frustrated- I feel the same way about those kids and the poor, but you can certainly get your message across without cussing. It doesnt tell me how angry or serious you are by how much you cuss about something- its like nails on a chalk board, *RECORD SCRATCH* *EXCUSE ME?!?! WHAT DID YOU JUST SAY???*
I cant listen to you, and its not that I cant- its that I choose not to. So some of you reading this are thinking....well if you dont like it dont listen to it....AND I dont which brings me down to the point of this post:
WE NEED MORE SONGS WRITTEN WITH A GREAT BEAT, GOOD MESSAGE AND NOOOOOOO CUSSING!!!!!!! finding those songs is so few and far between-its a bit depressing. Some days I feel I've lost all my dancing ability from sheer lack of good music to dance to. Its a sad day in America if that truly happens. lol. but seriously.
Last thought: I do love a good Christian rap song that can be danced to! And Christians are really stepping up their game in the music department! Amen to that! But once again, there just arent a whole lot of them!
I will now post three songs that have a great beat, a great message and ABSOLUTELY NO CUSSING!!!!
Please enjoy.







"Just tryin to keep it real,"
Kate

Wednesday, February 9, 2011

Snow Day #547

I never thought that I would ever say the next few words I'm about to type out...but I CANNOT WAIT FOR WINTER TO BE OVER!!!!!!!! Just beyond the snow, the ice, and the frigid temperatures lies my wedding day, MY WEDDING DAY!!!! And that means, MY MAN AND HE WONT HAVE SUCH A CRAZY WORK SCHEDULE ANYMORE!!!! (my how the Lord provides for His children!!)
Until then, I will take yet another snow day to do homework, read, work on projects, and perhaps watch a movie.....oh and do a dance video- just to get the ole heart rate up for 30 minutes a day lol.
Sounds like a pretty good day......it certainly does beat school or work and etc, BUT the only thing that would make this day better you ask? PLAYING IN THE SNOW WITH MY MAN!!!!!....maybe next year or maybe tomorrow :)
Its weird to think that in less than two months I will be AT THE BEACH!...IN ANOTHER COUNTRY....MARRIED TO THE MOST INCREDIBLE HUSBAND!!!!!!!!!
Suddenly, I'm not so cold anymore :)
Just a few closing thoughts about snow: I used to imagine that snow was God's way of purifying the Earth. When someone talks about purity they talk about being "snow white." I love that about snow. Also, I used to see snow and get PUMPED, but now-a-days, I see the snow and a sense of loneliness settles over me. For one, its just so quiet, sometimes children get out and play in it, but not when its coming down this hard. Everything is silent, still.......oh wait, the mail man just went by?!?! WHAT?!!? hahahahahahahahhaha I LOVE GOD'S SENSE OF HUMOR!!!!!-AND RIGHT AS I'M TYPING THIS OUT!!!! hahahaha!!!! When I was beginning to miss my man, the Lord just intervened and made me laugh-out loud-that just happened!!!! :)) thanks Jesus!
Another thought about snow- ITS SO BRIGHT!!!!!! When you ski, you HAVE to wear sunglasses or goggles because otherwise you cant see because its so bright!!! Also, I love nighttime when it snows because its so bright! Its a pretty cool thing to look outside your window at midnight and see everything so clearly! And the last thought about snow? IT MAKES ME WANT TO GO SKIING!!!! I surely do miss those mountains!
Picture Time!:
One of my favorite places!!! Aspen, Colorado!!!!


Another View!- Oh love just walking around this beautiful little town!



Just looking at this next picture makes me excited!!! You know that adrenaline rush you get when you're about to do your first run down the mountain?!! :))


OH YA!


Now its really comin down and I think its about time for some lunch! And following in the steps of my friend Noel, I will now post a snowday receipe! Its actually what I'm about to eat for lunch and its SO easy and quick to make!

Cranberry-Almond Chicken Salad!
Ingredients:

2/3 cup slivered almonds
3 cups chopped cooked chicken (we use those Tyson Chicken packets of cook chicken in a bag, its cheating but quicker and quite good!)
3/4 cup sweetened dried cranberries (craisons)
2 celery ribs, diced finely
1/2 small sweet onion, diced finely
3/4 Helmans Mayonnaise
1 Tbsp. Greek seasoning
2 Tbsp. fresh lemon juice

1.) Preheat oven to 350 degrees. bake almonds in a single layer in a shallow pan 5 to 7 minutes or until lightly toasted and fragrant. Cool completely in pan on a wire rack (About 15 minutes)
2.) Stir together almonds, chicken, drie cranberries, and remaining ingredients; serve immediately or cover and chill up to 24 hours.

*We like to eat this chicken salad on wheat thins but it makes a great sandwich as well!!!

Kate

Tuesday, February 1, 2011

Procrastinating and Catching Up!

Ok Friends,
I've recently dropped the blog "ball." After stating that I would blog more....I haven't in almost a month, and for this, I am sorry.
January was a wild ride of ups and downs and back up again. Every life has its' season of craziness, I believe I am in the midst of my own- with no end in the near future. But that is blessing.
January was filled with wedding showers, snow, classes, crazy work schedules, 1 year anniversaries (YAY!), wedding stuff and scrap-booking..aka the project that I will NEVER finish. Needless to say, life is good.
I have been more blessed than I could of ever imagined this time last year and I Praise God, for every good and perfect gift surely does come from Him.
Currently, I should be working on the massive amount of homework I have (which I also fear I will never finish), but I decided to put it aside for the hour or so it will take me to redesign my blog for the Valentine's Season and write this quick little post. I do, oh-so-love to redesign my blog, and if not for every season, then just because I want to. But just like a house, I believe a blog should just as well be decorated in the according season's decor. -I get that from my mama.
Recently, I have been reading the Pioneer Woman blog- LOVE IT, and in older posts I have even declared myself a "Pioneer Woman in Training."-the same still rings true today and not just because of her fabulous recipes (which are indeed, quite fabulous), but also because she has impeccable design and photography taste! And she home schools her kids which I think is totally cool! I have yet to poke around in her gardening section but I'm sure that as soon as I begin "nesting" with my man I'll be soaking in every gardening tip she has to offer!
Speaking of my man, I CANNOT WAIT TO MARRY HIM!!!! WHOOOOO!!!!! Just had to throw that in there, I seriously cannot contain my excitement sometimes! I so want to be a good wife to my man, because he deserves it!!! (and it honors the Lord). Three people I am taking extensive notes from on how to be a good wife are: Jesus, the Pioneer Woman, and my mom.
Jesus is teaching me how to selflessly love and when and how to put others needs before my own. I have a long ways to go and I know He will be teaching me this for the rest of my life.- man I think I desire to just sit at Jesus' feet all day sometimes- His unconditional love and patience with me is seriously throwing me for a loop. I've experienced it daily-but there is something about this busy time where I have to fight for even just a few minutes of quiet a day to spend with Him without falling asleep sometimes that almost brings me to tears. There is so much more I can say about Jesus- but I just dont have the time to write it all down. Praise Him for hearing our prayers and speaking to us daily- and praise Him for opening my ears, my eyes and my heart to hear what He is trying to tell me.
The Pioneer Woman for obvious reasons: food- they say the way to a man's heart is through his stomach....well I want to make the way to my man's heart and well-worn path ;)
My mom has been teaching me- perhaps all my life- to keep my priorities straight. To keep the important things, important. My mom surely is a busy lady- but she has never missed an important thing in my life. I was/am important to her, and she lets nothing stand in the way of that, nothing. Thats a priceless gift of a lesson to learn. It has helped me stay grounded through this wedding planning thing. THE most important thing on our wedding day is that my man is at the opposite end of that aisle, smiling back at me. I care about nothing else.......except for maybe my dress and looking-hopefully- beautiful for him =). But my mom has surely taught me to never get caught up in the things in this life that dont matter, Jesus matters, family matters-people matter- and thats about it.
Finally, there are two things I have yet to learn from her and hopefully will before I get married! One I would like to learn sooner rather than later. The first is how to do taxes- that woman (my mama) can do taxes like nobody else can, step aside people Super Tax Mama is coming through! But that can wait to be learned in a few months to a year- whew! *Finger's crossed I learned that trait from her* but after my three battle with an accounting class in college, that I dropped, I'm afraid a I didnt....
The more pressing issue at hand relates back to food. I know I know- the Pioneer woman can cook, but if I was a betting woman, I would bet you all the tea in China that my mama can fry up chicken legs BETTER than that Pioneer woman. Now I know some you reading this might of just gasped, but I dont make jokes about the Pioneer Woman and I dont make jokes about fried-chicken.- I also dont make jokes about my mama, SO for real here people- Mama's fried chicken recipe comes straight from the heart of "small town Southern USA" and quite frankly-it doesnt get any better than that! Therefore, in order to keep my Southern sanity, i have requested per this blog, that my mom teach me to make her fried chicken. As she has said in the past- "frying chicken is a dying art form," (spoken like a true Southern woman). Well as I live and breathe-that sacred art-form will not die out with me!
With ALL that being said-thats about all I've got for today. My homework is practically taunting me from the table where its laying. Ugh, school.
But also staying true to my afore mentioned blog statement- I will leave you with this final picture:
These are the roses my man left on my doorstep around 5:30AM the day of our one year anniversary! He wanted me to have them the whole day! Its one of the sweetest and most caring things he or anyone has ever done for me! One of my love languages is definitely acts of service! =) And that act certainly did not go unnoticed, and was taken quite to heart! :)


PS. later that night, to celebrate our anniversary even more, he took me to a VERY fancy restaurant! :)
I surely do love my man with all of my heart!
Kate