Would You Be Friends With You?

Do you ever wonder if you weren't actually you, if you'd actually like you or not?

I occasionally enter these moods where I ponder on whether or not I'm okay with who I've become. I try to see myself from an outside angle and consider how others might see me. And honestly, I'm not always happy when I do this. Would I even want to be friends with me?

I realize I am sometimes entirely too hard on myself, but I also know that my standards need to be more like God's and less like the world's. I know I will never achieve the qualities that I strive for, but it's these periods in my life in which I become aware of the fact that I'm no longer working towards those characteristics that I find myself discouraged.


Where is my compassion? I'm becoming so wrapped up in the constant non-stop schedule that is life today that I don't even stop to consider the needs of others. When I do that, I'm saying my time is more precious than yours. How selfish. In order to serve Him, we must serve others.

Ask Kate - Turning Betrayal into Blessing

Dear Kate: I know the Bible talks a great deal about forgiveness. I know that we have all suffered pain, and that grief is a stranger to no one. But how does one actually forgive a person who has intentionally hurt them? My natural response is to take the matter into my own hands and somehow "fix" it, but I know that is not right. So, how do I turn something that has been so hurtful over to God when there is still so much anger involved?

The simple answer is faith - trusting that God is always in control. And as a result, choosing to accept that He ultimately allowed you to endure this trial and experience this pain, and then taking the step of letting go.

This is, in my opinion, much easier said than done. Life experiences, good and bad, are unique to each individual and have different effects emotionally, physically, and spiritually. I try not to say "I know how you feel" or "I know exactly what you're going through" to others, because although I may have experienced something similar, how we experience these events and their effects on us can be very different.

As for a more in depth response, I'd like you to imagine two friends conversing casually over lunch - Kate, who is an opinionated blogger, and her friend Jo, who has just posed the toughest of questions.

Lies of the Lottery

A few days ago I was travelling on business and stopped into a gas station to refill the car and grab something to snack on. I picked out my favorites - a cold Coca Cola and some of those yummy Mini Sweet Tarts. I took my place in line to check out, which happened to be about three places back. I waited patiently, leisurely contemplating just how much longer it would be until I arrived home. Some time passed and I realized the line wasn't moving. A little unusual for a convenience store - the idea is to be quick and 'convenient.' So, I started to pay attention to what or who was holding up the line.

I want you to picture with me an older lady, maybe in her 50s. Her hair is graying and is pulled back in a messy ponytail. She looks as though she has worked hard, physically, in her life - might be a farmer's wife, maybe loves to garden. Basically, her appearance portrays that she has spent a credible amount of time outside and things have not always come easy for her. My superficial impression is that she works hard and struggles to stay caught up. Now, please bare in mind, that this is only an impression, and could be incredibly far from the truth.

Ask Kate - Week 2: I Surrender, Now What

Dear Kate: After quite some time away from church, and never really having a close enough walk with the Lord, I am ready to surrender to Him. This is both exciting and a little scary for me! I have been saved by grace since I was a little girl, but have never had the relationship with God that He deserves. I have always had periods of backsliding. How would you suggest that I move forward, now that I am ready to fully serve Him and build a solid relationship?

First and foremost, I believe surrendering your life to Christ is both exciting and fearful. It is exciting because, although we may not know all of God's promises as newly surrendered Christians, we know that they are there. We are willingly and eagerly trusting Him to lead and guide every area of our lives with the confidence that He will always have our best interests in mind. I believe a truly surrendered heart will have the faith like that of a child.

But, along with the excitement of a fully surrendered heart will also be an element of fear. Turning everything over to God is a necessary step into surrendering your life to Christ, but it can understandably be unnerving. Knowing that your life will change but not knowing exactly how it will happen or how long it will take. Realizing that allowing Him to mold the clay means who you are today may take a completely different form tomorrow. Accepting that, like any relationship, your walk with Christ will take commitment, it will require diligence and time. An understanding that you will always be a work in progress.

The beauty of combining excitement and fear is that together, if handled wisely, they will develop into reverential awe. Meaning that although you may fear Him because of who He is - an all knowing, all mighty, perfect, omnipresent God - as your relationship with Him begins to grow, you will desire to serve Him, glorify Him, and ultimately worship Him. You will fall in love with Christ and you will respect who He is.

Fab Five Friday 1.18.13

Thanks to the Friday Chaos Blog Hop, I met Falen from Upward not Inward. She and Laura are the authors of this great blog and each Friday post five fabulous things about the week.

I intend to join in with this as often as I'm able because I believe it is a great way to cultivate an attitude of thankfulness. And honestly, that is something I need to do this week. Instead of whining and complaining about all of the things that didn't go just as I had planned, I need to be thanking God for each and every one of His undeserved blessings.

My Fab Five for the week ending 1.18.13...

Tears for a Reason

Today, I watched The Polar Express with my little one. It was a first for both of us. I really enjoyed the movie, so much that I could not hold back tears on more than one occasion. For what reason, I am not certain. I only hoped my little one didn't look up at me and become alarmed because there were tears in my eyes. My heart ached for the little boy who had no friends and believed that Christmas didn't work out for him. Tears formed when all the children were so happy to see Santa, and when the gift that was thought to have been lost was found.

Such instances are not a first for me. Moments of sadness and moments of pure joy will cause my eyes to spring a leak! My husband knows just when to look at me during a movie because he knows I'll be trying desperately to hold back the tears. Movies, music, pictures, books, and the people and things I see on a day to day basis can all have that affect on me at any given time. It doesn't happen always but it happens often enough.

Reflections of 2012

It's New Year's Eve and I am right where I want to be. Cuddled up in my bed with one of my favorite movies playing on TV - The Holiday, and enjoying Rolos and IBC Root Beer with my hubby. Our little one is fast asleep and I'm thoroughly surprised I'm even still awake. I may even watch the ball drop.

I was also perusing blogs I enjoy reading and came across the 2012 Questionnaire posted by Kelly at Kelly's Korner. A set of questions offering one an opportunity to reflect upon the past year and a challenge to consider the next.

1. What are you most thankful for? I am most thankful for my family, my health and my family's health, my employment, and God's mercy and unconditional love.

2. What were the highlights of 2012 for you? I have thoroughly enjoyed watching our little one grow into a toddler. He is so much fun. He keeps me on my toes, and truly brings out the inner kid inside - in me, in all of us.

3. What are you hoping for in 2013? I am hoping that I can restore the joy of my salvation - that I can rebuild the relationship with Christ that I once had. I want to be a better Christian, church member, mother, wife, and friend. I want to achieve balance, and I want to take better care of myself health wise.

4. What were some of your favorites of 2012? (Clothes, movies, songs, TV shows.) I love my new coat from Express and the new line from JC Penney - jcp. I enjoyed reading the 50 Shades of Grey trilogy, Pretense by Lori Wick (for the 3rd time), and a variety of other novels by authors like Sophie Kinsella and Emily Giffin. Oh, and the Stephanie Plum series. NCIS is the one show I must watch. I thoroughly enjoyed the new series Smash, and I think Modern Family is hilarious - I am a lot like Claire.

5. Who was God to you in 2012? God is a loving and patient Father. He is faithful even though I am not. He has never neglected me, although I neglect Him. And He has never moved, while I have drifted. Faithful and True.

Cheers to a new year and a fresh start - may God bless each of you in 2013.

Thanks for reading.

Kate

January 1, 2013

A Christmas Recap

It has been a blessed Christmas for 2012. I am so thankful for our wonderful family and friends and the time we were able to spend together just enjoying one another's company. And of course the food and presents were enjoyable as well! Our festivities really began on Sunday and let me just say it has been a wonderfully interesting 3 days.

Our little one had become a bit snotty on Friday and definitely so on Saturday. We didn't really think anything more of it than a runny nose. On Sunday morning, however, it was no longer just snotty. It had turned into congestion with a fever. The fever spiked to about 103 Sunday afternoon and then again in the middle of the night to 103.4. No parent likes to see their child with a fever, and especially one greater than 102. We missed out on church services on Sunday and the first of the family gatherings. I will say, my hubby did bring me a plate of the goodies to enjoy.

Sunday night was a restless night due to the fever and congestion. I am on a headache spurt at the moment, I think primarily triggered by the change in weather, and lack of sleep is not at all a helpful element. So on Monday morning, I awoke with a decent ache in the head. We'd also decided to go ahead and take our little one to the doctor since the fever had gotten so high during the night.

Lists, Headaches, and Merry Christmas

I am a list person. I love lists of all sorts - To Do Lists, Grocery Lists, Wish Lists, Blog Lists, Christmas Lists, etc. And "list people" thrive off accomplishing what is on their list. Being able to check off as complete the items on a list is a pure source of adrenaline, a sense of complete satisfaction. And I sit here this evening in front of our Christmas tree with just such a feeling.

Despite a rocky start to the day, I have knocked out my Today To Do List as if I were as powerful as Super Woman. Maybe not as powerful, but definitely as motivated.

I am a headache prone lady. I have been getting headaches since I was a little girl. I remember the first time I swallowed medicine in pill form... My grandmother was a tough lady and she insisted I learn. And to this day, I am certainly thankful. Anyway, I woke up a bit before 6:00 am with a migraine. Migraines for me normally come on in the evenings, then I just sleep it off and wake up fine the next morning. This one however, came on in the night and woke me up. My favorite. I was able to get a couple more hours of sleep before my little one woke up for the day and that helped take the edge off a bit. I took some medicine and thought, I can power through it, I've got a list to take on today!

Seriously Awesome Christmas Carols

Christmas is under a week away and I thought I'd share with you one of my favorite Christmas traditions - Christmas Carols. I absolutely love the music of Christmas. I am one of those obnoxious folks who actually LIKE to listen to the radio stations that play Christmas tunes each and every day beginning on December 1 until Christmas has past. I have CDs that I have made that consist of only my very favorites. I love to hear songs with words, and I love to hear them without. I enjoy the fun, enthusiastic tunes and the serious, songs of worship.

There are four songs in particular that I consider my very favorites. I could listen to (and sing) them over and over again. Each give me goose bumps as I hear the words and comprehend their meaning. Although I enjoy giving and receiving presents at Christmas, it is important that I remember and that I teach my children to remember its true importance - the day of Christ's birth, the Saviour of the World. These four songs move my heart each and every time I hear them.

Prayers for Newtown

Hearts everywhere are hurting for the families and the community of Newtown, Connecticut.  Parents, grandparents, aunts, and uncles are holding the little ones in their lives much closer.  All knowing very well that this grotesque act of violence could have taken place in their community, happened to their family, and taken the life of their child.

I personally like to live in a bubble when it comes to the Local, National and World News anymore.  It is primarily a report of violence, hatred, and conflict. I like to be informed on the surface, but ignorant to the details. I find it helpful in keeping at bay worry and anxiety for what the future holds. I attempt to place my confidence in God and knowing that He is omniscient and omnipotent. HE is in control.