Random...old photos

This is a totally random post...
I love looking through my photos. Today I spent about an hour going through some from a couple years ago...
check out the air Joseph & Andrew got one year at the art fair...


I love looking through them, it always shocks me to see how big they've gotten.
Although I truly miss Andrew & Joseph being babies, I long more for Isabel to be a baby than them...I guess for me it is more realistic because she is "the baby"...the shortest time has passed since she was a baby so it's easier for me to imagine her being in that stage again...
I look back at this precious face and I just melt! I need you guys to pray for me because after looking back at these, I'm pretty much in the mood to have another baby...I know, I've lost my mind. I am sure it will return to me once we get through baths and bedtimes tonight :-)
But as of this moment, I am longing for these times...




So, yeah, that's it for this post...old photos.
Hey, it might me a boring life, but it's MY life & I love it!
Have a Blessed week!
~K

The fruit & the learning season

So, I have come to the realization (with the help of some friends/mentors) that I am in a season of learning. I have been going through MANY different things, and life, in general has been rough. Now, I never want to forget to be thankful for my blessings, which abound, because I know full well that my "rough" could be another persons "easy". I know there are people that are much more less fortunate. But, this blog is about me...so I will continue (LOL)...

Anyway, I have been being tested in many areas of my life. I won't get into all the details, but everything was starting to seriously overwhelm me. One person I talked to reminded me about the Fruits of the Spirit.
Let refresh ourselves on them, shall we?

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness (Gal 5:22)

She said that GOD was trying to teach me about one of these, that I need to spend time praying, studying, and focusing on what GOD is trying to teach me.
She said if GOD is trying to teach me love, he will put an unlovable person in my life...etc, etc...
So basically, whatever He is trying to instill in us, he will confront us with the adverse. (did that make sense or did I say that in a funny way?)

So, as I sat back and looked at my life, I decided that GOD is trying to teach me MANY things right now, because as I said, there are many things going on in many areas of my life that are difficult right now.
I don't know exactly which Fruits, yet, that I am supposed to be concentrating on...but decided this wasn't just a short lesson, but a season of learning for me.
Of course, who knows how long GOD has been trying to get through to my thick skull, but the important thing now is that I have been refreshed in my eagerness to pursue what HE wants for me.
Though I have less and am going though more than I have in a long time...because I know GOD is working in me, I have more peace...I am more humble...more thankful.
It's a great feeling.

"Count it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance."
James 1:2-3

Amen to that!

So, I want to give it my all. I don't want to be the victim. I want to be the victor. Then, give God the glory for it all. I want to be loving and gracious, and kind, and forgiving to others, even when they don't deserve it, especially when they don't deserve it...because GOD showed me ALL of that, when I didn't deserve it. If he can extend his hand so lovingly, why can't I? I mean yes, HE is better than I am at all that, but, I owe it to HIM to at least try to follow His lead.
Truth is, we all fall short of the glory of GOD.
We will never measure up, but thankfully, it is enough for HIM to allow us into His light.
So, I just want to encourage you, wherever you are at in your life. Weather you are a strong, lifelong Christian, or you just got saved, weather your a Christian but don't study the Bible or attend church, or even if you don't know GOD at all...wherever you are at in your walk...I want to encourage you to get to know HIM more. He has great plans for us if we will just open our hearts to Him. This world and the things in it are not all we have (thank goodness), we are working towards a much greater goal...Heaven. The thing is, we really don't have to work, we just have to give our lives to Him, and let Him do the work.
Whatever GOD is trying to teach you, in your life, allow HIM in...fully. Not just on Sundays, or the during the week, or when you feel like it, when your not stressed out...allow HIM to be in your life fully, at all times. You will be the one to benefit from it, He has your best interest at heart.

Dear GOD, we come to you humbled. We know that we get caught up in the day to day things, and can get overwhelmed at times. We often get our priorities mixed up, & forget what is important...sometimes only looking to satisfy our own needs. There are times we just want what we want, never even caring if it is what YOU want for us. Please forgive us.
Help us to only go after the things you want for us, and to not try and attain what is not meant to be ours.
Please teach us and mold us into better Christians, better servants. Help us to truly live our lives according to the Fruit of the Spirit...with love, joy, peace, kindness, goodness, and faithfulness. Help us to improve daily according to those qualities. Without you, we are hopeless, lost in the complete chaos of this world. We need you to be by our side, constantly showing us the way to go. Thank you for never leaving us. Help us to put our hope and our faith completely in you. Help us to receive what you are offering us...which is well beyond what we deserve.
We ask these things in your Holy Name, Amen.


I hope that if you are in a season of learning, your heart and your mind are open and ready to receive. If you are not in that season, I pray you are able to just sit back and be thankful and revel in what He has done for you. Wherever you are at, whatever season you are in, I pray you are blessed daily.
Have a happy day!
~K

Growth, pants, bdays...

David and I were both "smaller" people growing up...I guess "petite" would be a better word. AKA, we are both short. Even though we used to be petite in weight as well, that's really not the case anymore. Because of our small builds, all three of our children have tended to be on the smaller side of average. That is fine with me, except when it comes to buying cloths...pants to be exact. Shopping for pants = total headache. I have to buy slim sizes for the boys...do you know how hard it is to find slim sizes in a small town? Pretty hard. Of course, a lot of brands now have adjustable waist, but when Andrew was younger, only Gap had that feature and those were the ONLY pants we could buy. Since then, everyone else has jumped on the bandwagon, so it's a little easier these days. So anyway, I usually end up ordering from online because I can do it in the comfort of my own home and there are so many options.
Anyway, like most, we took the kids shopping when school started. Joseph still fit in his shorts/pants from last year (actually they were bigger on him??? What's that about?), but Andrew had grown over the Summer and we had to get him a bigger size. That was the end of August. Fast-forward to now, about 6 weeks later. He has outgrown his NEW jeans! Mind you, he's only worn them a couple times each, because it's still short weather around here. Now usually I would want Abercrombie or Gap jeans for him, just because they "look" better on him and they have better selection of washes/colors. But since we JUST bought new jeans/pants and already have to get bigger sizes, I felt it was in my best interest to go to Old Navy because they were cheaper and if he is in a growth spurt I may be buying yet another bigger size before long. I got on the Old Navy site and was soooo excited...the jeans he wanted were $16.50!!! Can I get an Amen?! Ok, hold your Amen...
When I went to get his size...14 slim...well, there was no 14 slim. Their slim sizes only go up to 12 slim. What? ridiculous. I guess you can only be skinny if you are 12 and under. Now, log on to Gap website...they HAVE 14 slim...at double the cost. Granted, still not too expensive for jeans, but again, given the current situation I am trying to go cheap cheap cheap. From what I understand Gap and Old Navy are owned by the same company, so why don't they BOTH carry 14 slim??? I object!
Anyhoo, looks like I am back to shopping at Gap only for the big A. Again, I LOVE Gap, but I also love choices and options. If anyone has a place where I can get decent jeans at a decent price in his size, fill a sista in.
On another note, our niece, Kaydan, just turned two! They are having her party this weekend, but she just had her actual birthday on Sept. 30th. For any of you with kids, you know how fast they grow. It's something I talk about often here on my blog, because it really does kill me how fast time flies. I honestly can NOT believe that Kaydan is 2! It feels like Kayla should still be pregnant, with little Kaydan in her tummy. I just want to say also, that Kayla and Daniel are very good parents. I love my brother in law, and my sister in law and my precious niece that he has brought into this family...they are such a blessing to us and I am thankful for their little family. Happy Birthday Kaydan Valencia!!!

Luv 2 u all,
Katy

PS...from my Power of a Praying Parent devotional...it's on another subject than jeans, and b-days...but I liked it...

"If there is any work of the Enemy in my family's past that seeks to encroach upon the life of my child, I break it now by the power and authority given in Jesus Christ."
AMEN to that!

Movies, theaters, & uncomfy seats

So, my mom and I went to see "Nights in Rodanthe". It was nice to get to spend a little girl time with her, plus the movie was fantastic. She thought it was a tad bit "draggy" in places...but we both really liked it. Not only that, but there are couple of movies coming out in November that I REALLY want to see, after watching the previews. They are both Christmas movies, if I am remembering correctly, which I loooove.
I love watching movies. I don't bowl, I don't skate, I don't go to bars or clubs...so yea, that's pretty much all there is to do here in P*town...movies.
When I was little we had two movie theaters...the cool newer "Cinema" and the old, grungy "Grand". Both of those eventually closed and they built/opened a brand new Cinemark theater. We (meaning the whole frickin town) were so excited...finally a nice theater to watch movies! Celebrate good times! Wooohooo!
Well, let me tell ya...when it was finally opened...I was sooo disappointed! The seats are small and hard as a rock. Though I'm not a stick, I am not a big girl, and the seats hurt my back, my butt, and every other body part. I can never get comfortable. The whole place stinks, and is dirty including the theaters and the bathrooms. Can I get in trouble for saying this? This is just my opinion. It is always either freezing cold, or hotter than heck in there. UGGGHHH!
You know "Some girls do nothing but complain".
I hate to be that girl, but it's true! I just want a comfortable, clean place to rest my keester so I can enjoy the movie I paid to watch, not to mention the fact that I spend my life savings on popcorn (extra butter), candy (Raisinettes), and soda (Cherry coke...and though I only want the medium sz. drink, I always end up getting the large because it's only .25 cents more). One trip to the movies costs my familia the equivalent of a week's worth of groceries. Ok, maybe not quite that much, but sometimes we take our nieces with us, and if you add all that up...
So, I will continue to go to my local crapola theater and watch movies, because it's just what I like to do. But! I am going to pray that they decide to install love seat style seating like they have in the metroplex...I could kick back and totally relax!
Who am I kidding, I would probably fall asleep in there, just like I do on my couch when we're watching a movie at home...haha!

Oh well, I guess I will end my post with that...after all, you can only write so much about theater seats.
Hope every one's having a great week, and that your hometown theater has nice, comfy, keester-friendly seats!

Toodles <3

Lord, help me...

You know, there are all kinds of addictions. Drinking, drugs, gambling, pornographic...and I mean, those are just the TIP of the iceberg.
"ICEBERG...RIGHT AHEAD!" (said with an accent)
You know, from the Titanic...
Ok, I'm sorry, I had to do that.
Anyhoo, there are just tons of addictions. I have always been so thankful that I wasn't an addict. I'm not really down with drugs or alcohol, I mean an occasional snort of heroin from time to time, but really...who's counting? (Can you even sniff heroin?). I'm not a gambler, I do play the lotto a couple times a year...but again, who's counting. And, I'm sure not a perv. Of course there are good addictions, too, I guess...like cleaning and cooking, etc...yea, I'm not addicted to those things either.
But, after several hours on the internet one day...email, blogger, myspace, gapkids, abercrombie kids, email, blogger, nordstrom, zappos, email, celebrity baby blog, email, Janie and Jack, email, etc, etc, I found myself just sitting there,staring at the screen. I was at a loss. My fingers were correctly placed on the keypad, ready to fire away...but there was nothing...nothing to log into, nothing to check up on, nothing to search, nothing to update.
Well, there was plenty of stuff, but it was all stuff I wasn't interested in, or had already looked at a million and three times.
Then.
It. Hit. Me.
I'm an addict.
I am an internet addict.
It's true.
This is no laughing matter.
I thought to myself "What in the heck? I'm an addict".
Me?
GASP.
Hmmmm. processing, processing. thinking. wondering.
Yes, it is true, I am an internet addict.
I realized it's not that I love the internet so much, well maybe I do. But, I think it is that when I'm online, I can avoid whatever else needs to be done...laundry, cooking, cleaning, errands, keeping Isabel from playing in the street. Ok, that last one was a joke, but...
I even avoid the phone. Yea, I don't answer the phone sometimes because I'm on the internet.
I know, I know...from now on, when you see me on the internet, you will wonder what I'm avoiding. I mean, that isn't always the case. I have some time in the morning after the boys have gone to school, and then at night after dinner, when I like to get on. And no, I'm not avoiding your call...well, I guess it could be possible...
I mean, how do I stop? Is there an Internets Anonymous? I reckon' I could look online and see how/where to get help.
That, my friends, was another joke. I'm full of them today, huh?
Anyway, that's my blog for today, I had to get one in, after all...I'm an addict.
And, In making light of myself, I am NOT making fun of anyone with an addiction.
At all. I know several people who have several different kinds of addictions they battle daily and I keep them close in my prayers. And, My kids are well taken care of, paid plenty of love and attention to, and even get fed from time to time :-)My husband isn't neglected, by far. The house, well, it's decent...Hello! At least nothing is growing in my sink. Nothing is getting turned off because of unpaid bills. And if I don't answer the phone, Voice mail can take care of it.
And, what's it hurt if the laundry closet is so full that the door won't shut?
So, I guess I will just continue to feed my addiction.
Hey! Maybe I can find an online support group...
hmmm, great idea, I'm going to go check that out right now!
Later!

Blessings

Today, Joseph asked me to go get him a hot dog and a root beer float from the Sonic. Even though Isabel usually asks for a corny dog from there, she also likes having the same things as other people, and since it was almost the same thing...I decided to get her a hot dog, too. When I sat it out for them to eat, Isabel looked down at the hot dog and said "Oh Mamma, Look! I think they were out of sticks!". I couldn't help but burst out laughing...it was so cute! She thought the hot dog was a corny dog without a stick...which, it kinda could be.
On the way to the grocery store today, I drove by one of the houses I grew up in...it took me back. I used to walk to the park & put-put golf with my cousin. We used to ride bikes ALL over Paris(it was safer back then). During summer, when it got dark we would get one of Mamaw's jars, my dad would poke holes in the top, and we would catch fireflies (we let them go before we went to bed so they wouldn't die). What happened to those fireflies, I hardly ever see them anymore. I thought about how good we had it growing up...we may not have had much, but it sure felt like we did.
I think about my own kids and how fast they are growing up. I've probably only blogged about that 1000 times, but I can't help it, it's true! I look at my life...my, my, how time has flown. I love my life, but I do miss those innocent, carefree days of my childhood...when I had no worries. No bills, no appointments, no errands, no cooking, cleaning, laundry...no rushing children here and there (I was the child being rushed here and there), not wondering how every little choice I make is going to affect someone else. I think how very precious those childhood years were, and how I wish I would have known then what I know now. I wish I would have known how special those times were and just cherished them instead of wishing I could grow up so quickly. Then again, If I would have known that, it probably wouldn't have been the same.
Still, I just want to grab my children by their sweet faces and look strait into their eyes and tell them to stop wishing their lives away...stop trying to grow up so quickly. I want to tell them to relish each day and just enjoy it for what it has to offer, that these carefree days will soon enough be traded in for a job, a mortgage, and responsibilities so numerous, that you will never be able to keep up with them all. But, I guess that is something they will just have to learn on their own...in their own sweet time. Of course, once they "get it", they too will be adults, and so the cycle will begin again.
Hmmm...that was too in depth for me, I am really to tired for that tonight.
Anyway, before I go, there are two things I would like to take a special moment to mention.
When we pray, sometimes we think GOD doesn't hear us, because we don't get the answer we want. But, GOD always answers us, we just have to be trusting, understanding that He has a plan, and He knows better than we do.
A lot of people have been praying for Amy's dad, who is in Iran and had a stroke. Even though her sister got to fly over and be with him the last few days, the rest of the family has been here, on pins and needles, stressed to the max. It is hard enough having a sick/hurt loved one...but one that you can't even hold their hand and comfort, or make SURE they are being taken care of? I can't imagine. I found out (her blog is under my links) that her dad should SOON be on his way home. Hallelujah! I don't know what God has in store for this man, or his family...but I know he is going to be here where they can help take care of him and see to him. Please keep them in your prayers...that the trip home goes smoothly, and that once home he is kept in good hands and nursed back to health. Pray that his family has patience and is able to keep their faith strong, no matter what comes their way.
Also! A while back Amber (blog is also under my links) told me about her husband's little cousin who was diagnosed with cancer. Can you even fathom? This really hit home because she is a three yr. old little girl. She has a Caring Bridge page (also under my links) and I have prayed for her and kept up with her since Amber sent me the info. I read via her CB page and Amber's email, that little Emily is now in remission! Just another one of God's many blessings!
Thank you Father for hearing our prayers and blessing these two specific families...please continue to keep your loving, caring hands on them as they still have rough roads ahead of them.
So, no pictures to share today...just happy thoughts...

"And my soul shall be joyful in the Lord; It shall rejoice in His salvation".
Psalm 35:9
~K

PS. We just made chocolate dipped strawberries and I ate wayyyyy too many! When you see me, if it looks like I have gained a little weight, now you know why...

Good Morning all!
What a week we have had! Andrew still has not decided what he wants to "do" for his birthday, so we did a small family celebration, but nothing else, yet!
I made him a cake at home...granted, it's not that cute, but it's my first one EVER to make, we ALWAYS go to Piece of Cake, because they are YUMMY!

As some of you know, Amy's dad is in Iran and has had a stroke. Last week I picked them up one day to help her out, and they weren't with us long, but long enough to get a few pics...
Joseph, Jack, Izzy, & Sarah all squeezed into the "redneck ghetto-mobile"

Sarah and Izzy jumping, Joseph driving the r.g.m. under the trampoline...this was so hilarious, he had to duck all the way just to get under, Jack bailed out just before...

Joseph & Jack "manning the fort"


Jack INSISTED I take this picture...LOL

Isabel all dressed up for the Pep Rally, Friday, after I realized I haven't had a Wildcat shirt made for her this year (Loser Mom!!) btw, she isn't always in those pajamas as shown in the pics above...but she loves wearing that gown, sorry she was wearing the SAME one in previous post pictures :-) oops!



Also, we are waiting on new furniture for the boys' room...in the meantime I have basically taken everything out of there, and the boys have been sleeping in our room...HURRY UP FURNITURE!!! But, I walked past their room yesterday and something caught my eye, I stepped back, looked in, and saw this little guy hanging from the fan, no doubt the handy work of Joseph...

I can't help but laugh, he does stuff like this ALL the time! I am so thankful for the joy he brings to my life!
Anyway, I am actually thankful it's Monday...last week was so busy, but honestly, I think this week is going to prove to be just as busy, lots of stuff going on, so maybe I should take the first part of this sentence back?!
I would like to ask you to continue to pray for Amy and her family, for her father's health to improve. Also, please continue to pray for my cousin, Sara, who is a missionary in Honduras. There is a link to my blog on the right, but she doesn't have a lot of time to update, as she is busy busy busy. Last week she started teaching PreK and K students at a new school...she is only allowed to teach in English and the kids only speak Spanish...what a battle to overcome...just pray God's hand is on them all :-)
Love to you all,
K

PS. My friend, Leah, has started making jewelry.
I have added a link to her blog on the right, Flashy Flamingo.
Her stuff is soooo cute, you can pick from premade items or have a customized one made up...you choose the length.
So far I think the pics are for adult pieces, but I am going to get a couple for Isabel...so excited!
Check it out!!!