Tulip Girl

Hubby took that picture last week with his phone. It was before the onset of teething and before my own attitude that has rolled in this week like black clouds rolling over a corn field (I'm from Nebraska...so you know, corn). Definitely not pregnant. My attitude tells me otherwise. I try to stay positive regardless. I'm enjoying watching our tomatoes ripen, our black berries darken and our cantaloupe bloom. Not so much enjoyment with the peppers yet. They are at least still alive all be it no bigger than the day they came home with us. Maybe its a case of failure to thrive. I've not put much TLC into them. That's all Hubby...and John. Our neighbor has a well so he likes to water our garden being that it is against the same split rail fence that his own tomatoes, peppers and cucumbers are growing on and the water is free. That's what happens when your neighborhood is built on old swamp land. Lots of water. This summer seems to be turning out to be my fav...

Its always sad when guests leave but fun to look back at pictures when they were here. I love pulling out my hostess hat. When we went to Disney World we snagged up our samples at the end of the week. It is a great little addition now to my guest bedroom. I love to put out a few things I know my guests might need. A sticky roller is very necessary since we have a cat. I also make sure we have extra tooth brushes. Those always come in handy. What are some things you like to do for your guests?

I urge you brothers and sisters in view of God's mercy, offer your bodies as a living sacrifice holy and pleasing to God - this is your spiritual act of worship. So, do not conform any longer to this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind that you may be able to discern what is the good, pleasing and perfect will of God. Romans 12:1-2 I promise not to look until tomorrow morning...or at least to change it if it is wrong until then. I encourage you to challenge me, look it up, hold me accountable. Currently Wiggles is teething her fourth molar. It breaks my heart to see her going through this. The other three didn't seem to be as bad. Well, the third gave her a blood blister. This one is keeping her up at night and seriously diminishing her appetite and giving her a fever. As she slept this morning completely spent from her sleepless night, I sought out God for direction for me as Wiggle's mommy. She was on my heart as I jumped into verse two this morning. ...

Update: Yup, I flubbed it. "this is your spiritual act of worship." Lets up I do better next week. ;) Therefore, I urge you, in view of God's mercy, offer yourself as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God - this is your physical act of worship. Romans 12:1 That's by heart so if its wrong you can point it out. Seriously, check it if its wrong and tell me if it is. I dare you. :) I promise I won't change it if it is. A little realism is refreshing. If its right, I'm sorry if this comes off as bragging. I swear it isn't. This last week I started my 12 week journey to memorizing Romans 12. You can read about it HERE . I'm going through Established Footsteps scripture memorization. I've made it through verse 1 and walked listening to the promptings of the Holy Spirit as He has worked to etch these words into my heart. So, you probably don't know this about me but I was born 46 days before my due date. Honestly I shouldn't have even been ...

With the changing gears of summer, a little more lemonade and sweet tea as we take a break from chamomile and chili, other things take their own hiatus, primarily all the church Bible Studies and MOPS. I would love to go to church on Wed. nights for that Bible Study but as it stands, cranky teething baby on the verse of independent toddler...who am I kidding, at 16 months I've got a toddler on my hands. Oh, yeah, to finish that run on sentence, Wed. nights are not in our scope at the moment. So I've looked into some other options. Living Proof Ministries or more specifically, Beth Moore on her blog is leading her "Siesta Sisters" through Kelly Minter's Ruth; Loss, Love & Legacy . I'm super excited to be going through the book with her. Hopefully next year I can put my own group of girls together to go through it. In addition to the Ruth study, I am one week into memorizing Romans 12. Therefore, I urge you, in view of God's mercy, offer yourselves as a...

I was excited for the possibility of a lazy summer but that lasted probably 24 hours and I realized I'm not cut out for that. Here are a few things I've been working on. I planted some seeds from the dollar section at Target. Supposedly they are all flowering seeds. I'm really loving the mixed pots; Terracotta, ceramic and metal. I'm loving the little decorative edging next to the equally awesome drift wood complete with shells and barnicles. My little spot of awesome right there ya'll! Well here is a big room redo. My old office was moved into the living room turned office/library so Hubby and I will be together in the evening instead of us separated in our own offices. Besides we have already had seven house guests so far this summer and plans for two more in the next couple of weeks so.... My office became the guest bedroom. It is a work in progress. That turquoise spray painted window will eventually get mirrors and fabric memo boards and get placed above the...

When Rachelle over at Fingerprints on the Fridge shared with us about her trip to Disney World, I though, hey, I wanna go. So I told Hubby, hey, I wanna go. So that is what we did. Just like that. Ok, there was a lot more to it but we had already been saving up for our vacation and when we found a deal we couldn't refuse, we dove in. The imitator that I am, I even used Rachelle's packing technique using baggies. I didn't take pictures because I'm a dufis (haven't heard that word in a while have you?). It did make it so much easier to know what was clean and what wasn't. Oh, you say, you couldn't keep track of that without gallon size baggies to differentiate for you which shirts, shorts, socks and what not you had already worn? Well, don't rub it in or anything. I'm not that organized and I am that forgetful. It also helped Grandmama and Papi know outfits already put together since, alas, Wiggles did not go with us. Tired of reading me jabber on abou...

I feel like I've just run a marathon or something! Whew! These last few months near about did me in. We officially have white kitchen cabinets. If you can avoid painting your kitchen cabinets I highly suggest just saving for new ones or anything but painting them. Well, ok , we painted ours after many many other projects so half way through our done button went off like a raging siren. We just have a few touch ups to do. It looks great and we are really not doing any more projects for a while. Which means I am seriously going to try and master lazy this summer. A friend of mine wrote on her FB page something along the lines of summer being the time laziness meets respectability . Well, that quote is going to represent my summer... well, hopefully anyway. ;) That and working on my relationships. We've already had some great quality time with family and friends. I love summer house guests, cooking out on the grill, hanging out at the beach, play dates. We went to Williamsburg ...

This last week has been really great having friends during the week from Arizona and for Father's Day weekend, my aunt, uncle, two cousin's and grandma are staying with us. I've really loved showing everyone all over town; Colonial Williamsburg , Yorktown, Costco. Yeah, Costco, its replaced Jamestown in the historical triangle..., its a mom thing. Wiggles loves the ocean and now has been in it twice, both times was quite content after the initial cold shock. My uncle found tons of rocks covered in barnacles and seaweed. They are pretty cool looking. I should try and get a picture of that. You know, when I post the Disney World pictures. Kitchen redo pics are coming eventually...well, when the kitchen is done. I have to say, painting the kitchen cabinets a few days before guests descend on your home isn't the best idea. So, we will finish them when they leave. I showed the ladies the mom jeans post featured in my last post. There was lots of laughing. I loved it. I...

As a Christian woman, I've grappled with the balance between humility and wanting to be the best looking in the room. You know I'm not the only one so don't be a hater ya'll ! Honestly, I love fashion. Of course I love it just as much when I see one of my gal pals or guy buds get it right as well (men, when wearing a suit, your socks should be the same color as your pants, khaki pants means khaki socks, grey pants=grey socks, black pants=black socks, you get the picture). I am free to want to make sure my body as God's Temple (also translated back to the Hebrew word used for The Holy of Holies ) looks good. Just as long as I am not focusing on showing me off, but God. Got it! I don't go all out and just buy one brand or anything (well, because I can't afford to shop at Anthropology ) and I am humble enough to shop for clothes at Wal -Mart (can we say, down payment for a house? Down payment, down payment!) There are style rules to follow however no matter ho...

I promise I haven't left you completely . Just super duper busy lately. After Papa's funeral, we gave Grandmama and Papi a chance to spend some quality time with Wiggles and headed to Disney World. Sick I know, we went without kids. You know you would if you could. It was so great to have some one on one time just to reconnect, talk uninterrupted, take walks, not be dominated by nap times and bed times and melt downs. It was pretty nice. Now that we are home, we, the neurotic nesters that we are, are in the process of painting the kitchen cabinets white. We have six house guests coming this week. I wanted the cabinets done. Crazy. Oil based paint takes FOREVER to dry so of course its taking longer than we thought. So hopefully next week I will have Disney pics and kitchen pics and a better more well written post for you. Right now, my to do list is growing out of control. Love ya! Katie

Waiting until you "have enough time" or "a little more energy" or "the right inspiration" is like well never gonna happen. So I'm just gonna start writing and hopefully something will come to me. I'm gonna sound pretty juvenile saying this but I feel like at thirty I am beginning to get a fundamental truth that our parents or grandparents probably figured out in middle school, something I am positive Hubby's cousin, Kyle has already figured out, you guessed it, in middle school. Life is work, hard work and you either hate it 'cause you don't like to work or you develop a good work ethic and find joy at the work of your hands. Kyle helps with his family business. He told me, with pride that made my heart burst, about the work he does with his dad, uncle and grandpa, digging holes, putting in septic tanks, moving sand etc. He was super nonchalant about it, but he is clearly proud of the work he does, man's work. I complain about my w...