I find myself lately growing and stretching in ways I'm uncomfortable with. Wanting to let go of what is life draining to find and take hold of what is life fulfilling. Again, I'm uncomfortable and I find that the ugliness of my heart greets me at every corner. "The heart is desperately wicked..." the Scriptures so aptly testify. When I talk with Jesus, I say often "Lord, I'm so glad you've shown me this so that I can work on it, so that I can repent....but it's so hard to see who I really am." I'm so thankful for the One who extends grace when He's known all along who I really am. His grace goes further still.

And with this growing and changing, I wonder often what to do with this blog. I barely post anymore, and I wonder is it because I'm still trying to post for others...is it because I'm caught up in the busyness of life I can't find the words or time...is it because I've nothing of worth to say...is it a combination of all of that??? Does this blog give life or does it drain? I've gone private and back public again. Does any of it really matter?

I've decided that maybe it does matter. That maybe this blog gives life. Because most of what is recorded is the goodness that He creates. They are my memories. My loves. My family. Our stories. One day when I'm gone or if something tragic were to happen to me, my husband and children could come to these pages and remember me. The good parts of me that loved the great parts of them.

Organize....

"Organizing is what you do before you do something, so that when you do it, it's not all mixed up."

Winnie-the-Pooh/A.A. Milne

My favorite blogs and sites for organizing and homemaking inspiration:

Small Notebook
Inspired to Action
Keeping the Home

Glimpses of Home....

Emily at Chatting at the Sky is hosting Glimpses of Home...just a simple something or something representing home...


I picked this because this is what I'm longing and waiting for. Plush green, flowers blooming, and front porch swinging...I'm ready for the life that Spring brings to home....

Blogiversary...

Yesterday was my blogiversary and I missed it. And I only found out today by bit of a fluke. So, as of yesterday, this blog has officially been here a year. Yea me.

My first post. The story of the blog. The story of the name (not that "Reflections" is anything new or special).



Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Once Upon a Time...

Man, oh man. Am I glad to be back! This is my attempt at blogging for the second time around. Lets sum it up in a story to see where I've been and to see where I'm going:

Once upon a time, Kat had a blog. Kat loved her blog very, very much. She tried to keep up with other bloggers. She tried to impress other bloggers. She tried to entice other bloggers leaving comments here and there knowing it would help build her own blog. One day the Lord convicted Kat that her blog was an (gasp) idol. She spent far too much time thinking about it, far too much time looking at it, and far too much time working on it. Kat decided with tears (literal tears) that the blog must go. And so it did. It took a long time to get that blog out of her system. She would often ask The Bob for another blog. Those conversations usually didn't go very well to say the least. For The Bob knew what the blog idol had once been in Kat's life. The Bob, he's wise. So eventually over time, Kat began to release all of her bloggy feelings. For the most part. But one thing that Kat kept thinking about was the one good thing that came out of blogging. When she blogged, she was very reflective. She noticed things more. She noticed her children more. She noticed simple pleasures more. Her blog was in a sense a little scrapbook, a little online journal. That's what Kat never quit missing. So months went by, and Kat conjured up the nerve to ask The Bob again, and without hesitation, without anything but a smile, he said yes. And so now the story of this blog will begin. Reflections. That's all it will be. The joys of life from my view. No self promoting. No comment leaving to get traffic. Just my little online journal. If people show up, fantastic. If not, that's fantastic too.

Man, oh man. It's good to be back :)
Posted by Kat at 7:17 AM
Labels: blogging

Winner? Me? And on my birthday?

I am a winner. A wi-i-i-i-i-i-i-ner. Winner, winner, winner. I'm not excited or anything. Is my excitement a bit much? Fep thinks I should sound more...humble? Probably right. But I won!

So, WHAT prey tell did I win?

I won over at Jen's, and it was a subscription to Birds & Blooms magazine. That may not sound like a big deal to you. And a lot of people may not have heard of that publication, but to self professed bird nerds, it is a big win. Fep and I are so happy :)

And yes, today is my birthday. I'm the big 4 and the big 0 today!

The Honest Scrap Award.

My friend Heathahlee. She's so kind. She awarded me Honest Scrap. I'm verklempt. Okay. Not really. But in receiving this award, I must give you 10 randomly honest things about me. Then I must pass it on to 7. I don't have 7 people in blogland I can pass this on to, because I'm so minuscule in blogland. But I will pass it on to three people. I'll save that for the end. Oh, and the people you pass it on to are supposed to be people that have encouraged you. Encouraged you with their honesty or something like that. Heather is probably so wishing she hadn't passed this on to me right now. I don't think I'm taking it very seriously. How can you take a title like "Honest Scrap" seriously though?

Okay, 10 randomly honest things:

1. I have Vitiligo. An auto-immune disorder that causes you to loose pigment in your skin. You know...the disease Michael Jackson said he had. Well, I have it. For real. I'm afraid one day I'll end up like a spotted cheetah or leopard or something.

2. In addition to having Vitiligo, I'm loosing my hair. It runs in my family as my Aunt was almost bald. I don't think I'll be bald, but I'm looking at really thin hair in my older, older than I am now, years.

3. The fact the the previous two honest tidbits bother me makes me think I am vain. The fact that my third fact is still talking about the previous two makes me know I am vain. Being honest here people. But I don't know many women who think, "Isn't this fantastic! My hair is falling out. I love it." Anyway, I appreciate the Proverbs that says "Charm is deceitful, and beauty is fleeting, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised." Yep. I'm clinging to that.

4. I love Casting Crowns. I am a Casting Crowns groupie. Truly. I've met them, have autographs from band members, and one of the cutest concert t-shirts you'll ever see. You'd like to see it wouldn't you?

I am a Casting Crowns groupie, but not a stalker.

5. I love a tidy house. But I sometimes end up with cluttered closets in making the house tidy ;)

6. I am a Foodie. If you don't want to click on Foodie to see what that means...it just means I watch A LOT of Food Network.

7. My first date with The Bob was a blind date. I didn't say 2 sentences to him and then fell asleep. Isn't it so easy to see why he asked me out again? But he did. And when I introduced him to my Mom on our first "real" date, I called him by the wrong name....I introduced him as Chris. His name is not Chris. Isn't it so easy to see why he asked me to marry him? (giggle) Oh, and I was 21 when The Bob and I met, and 25 when we married.

8. I lived at home until I got married. Yes, I lived at home until I was 25. I've never lived on my own. I was either at home with my parents and then married. Never by myself or with roommates or anything like that.

9. I lost a baby at six months of pregnancy. I'm forever changed by it. But not in a bad way....anyway, her name was Beth.

10. Two months after I had Moose, I had my gallbladder out and a bilateral hernia repair. That was a rough pregnancy....but so worth it ;)

Okay....passing this on to:

**Daisy at The Quiet Life. I love everything about her. Especially her honesty. Her blog has the name of my old blog, and my "life verse"...Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life...(1 Thes 4:11-12) From what I read from her blog, I think we have a lot in common, but I think she is the better part of what I want to be. Oh, and if you home school, she's an excellent source of info, too.

**Then there is Dawn at beyond grace. I love everything about her, too. She makes me smile, warms my heart, and has a humble spirit. Wonderful lady, she is.

**Finally, Jen at unglazed. I love her love for birds. And I love the photos she takes of them. She makes me smile, too. Oh, she has a giveaway going on right now. You could be the lucky winner of a year subscription to Birds and Blooms. So, check her out.

These recipients may now choose to pass it on to 7 encouragingly honest bloggers that they love. And thank you Heathahlee. You know I love you. Always.

Who you really are...

After the never ending Day in My Life post from the last two post, I wonder...do people see who you really are...or just what you want them to see? There were a couple of things that got left out of that post, because of the length of the post. It really did seem like the post that would not end. But I left out the bad stuff, not the good stuff ...which I'd rather focus on the good than the bad...but I'm just thinkin' here. One thing was that Moose and I had some obedience problems going on that morning, and at lunch I had to deal with it and discipline him. The Bob...when I took that picture at dinner...he was getting really irritated. He was hungry, and he just wanted to eat. Can we say grumpy? The Bob, Fep, and I can get a little on edge when we're really hungry. Anyway, do people see the real you in your blog? Or is the mask on? Is the mask off? I'd like to think my mask is off...I hope that it is...but I think if we're really honest, a lot of us (and I'm not sayin' all...I'm sayin' a lot) just every once and a while...maybe just every blue moon or so...we slip the mask on...

May we all resist the urge to wear the mask...because He sees it all. He knows who we really are....and yet He loves...He loves us when we're grumpy at dinner. He loves us when we are disobedient. And if we will confess it to Him instead of slipping on the mask, He'll deliver us from it all.....

Finding the good...

You don't have to look hard to find the bad. You don't have to look for it at all. It's pronounced. Loud. Blaring. It's everywhere. At every turn. At every corner....A struggling business. A pay cut. Employee layoffs. Relationship struggles. Relationship struggles. And even more relationship struggles. My friend at the doctor.

But to find the good...I love Ann at Holy Experience. I find myself at her site when I'm depleted, and I feel like I have nothing left. I go and find her encouragement and His Words, to be reminded of the good. The simple. And the lasting. I always find that encouragement there, and I find I can release my troubles. Release. Soul cleansing release. And I find the good, the lovely, and the life-giving....

*how Granny's eye's twinkle when she's happy and when she laughs
*the smell of fresh cut grass
*homegrown tomatoes on the vine
*those same tomatoes on a sandwich :)
*the view from my front porch
*the sound of my children playing
*the look the swimming pool water has when it's a sunny day
*a lazy hound dog sprawled across the step on a summer day...on any day :)

Good. Simple. Refreshing.

Life found (in)courage

As I thought of the post that I'd write to link up at (in)courage , I find that my Source of courage comes from the same source as many others have mentioned. It's Him. I find Him in the morning sitting indian style in front of my pillow. His Word open before me trying to find a morsel to help get me through my day. If I'll pay attention close enough, if I'll give Him the time, I'll find Him not only sitting at my pillow in the morning, but throughout my day. He's faithful like that. Always waiting on me. Always willing to welcome me back. Yesterday at church, the fellow giving announcements prayed a simple prayer. A simple sentence in that prayer pierced my heart. "Your Word is....life." His word is life. Life. Life abundant and full. As I've randomly selected several posts to read from the linky, it dawned on me that we are not only posting about what encourages, but also what breathes life into us. Life. Abundant and full. Our lives are completely enhanced and transformed by these things we are posting about, and without our source(s) of courage, our lives would be only a small resemblance, only a small piece of what we have now. Now with our sources of courage.

In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. John 1:4

Finding my way back

I'm still overcoming the newness of Facebook. It still has me in it's grips. Heather says the newness will wear off. Dawn says she hasn't looked at her Facebook page in months and hasn't missed it. But I am still stuck in it's grasp, finding "new" old people and family. Seeing pictures of family and friends and their children that I haven't seen in years and years and years. And then I check in on blogs and I find this post by Emily or a visit to Ann at Holy Experience. And I am captivated and touched by their words. Words that aren't random. Well, sometimes the words are random...but sometimes, the words stir our hearts. And sometimes there are words that have the ability to change us and impact us forever. I'll never ever forget this post from Ann, and I have the words "It is enough" taped on my kitchen window because of it. Life changing.

My words are not fancy or thought provoking or life changing, so I cling to the heels of those that have that ability. And I find my way back from the pictures of faces to words. Words that are worth Unwrapping with Emily. Words that are cleansing, sweet, and filling.

Torn between two time killers....

So, what does a person do that already has an issue with spending too much time in blogworld? They join Facebook. Real smart of me. That's where I've been, and that's why I've not posted on my blog or commented much over the last several days. Facebook. Bad idea. It seemed so simple ~ "Oooooohhhhhh, let's do this and find people we haven't talked to in forever." Well, that's all well and good, but I think it's more of a time killer than blogging. And at least when I visit blogs, I can find some hidden treasures or words of wisdom from people like Daisy, Dawn, or Emily. Facebook, and I do not want to offend anyone on Facebook, is just random nothingness...for the most part. Again, no offense. Really, no offense, please. Remember, I'm a Facebooker. But again, it's so random. And I'm constantly convicted about using my time wisely, so I'm really going to have to start keeping myself in check with it all. I lean on this verse all. the. time. And I need it now.....

"She watches over the ways of her household, and does not eat the bread of idleness."
Proverbs 31:27

Okay. I'm off to do something for my household. For my children. For Him......


Edited to add: Feeling a little guilty for the above. Really, there is something to be said for catching up with old friends. There's nothing like good friends. I'm just finding it to be another time killer is all......

Make Her Smile

Heathahlee is having a linky party Monday. You can see her posts here and also here for the scoop. Check out her posts, and then link up on Monday. Monday is the day. It's Monday. Not Tuesday. Not Wednesday. Monday. Butterfly Genes. Be there or be square ;)

Blogs I Love...

I really, really don't think I've been in the blogging world long enough to do this, but I'm doing it anyway. I don't think I formed those deep relationships in my little blog life...yet. And that is what Bloggy Friendship Days is about. However, in my short stint with this blog there are a few ladies that I already adore.

Dawn at Beyond Grace. I believe she stumbled upon me at Emily's Tuesdays Unwrapped. But unlike some people who visit during a linky session and then never come back, Dawn came back. And she came back again. And she came back again. And then she started "Following Me". And as you know in this blogging life, if you find someone who really cares enough about your posts to leave consistent comments, it means the world. She's also a really good writer. She's deep and reflective. She's a grateful lady. So, check her blog out.

Jen at Unglazed She's a recent find who I found through Dawn. She does A to Z Mondays. I think it's Mondays? Anyway, she does A to Z posts where you have a letter of the alphabet...like say "C". Your post for that day will have to be about a "C" word like cat, coffee, Cuba...whatever :) Anyway, not only that be she takes AMAZING animal pictures. Lots of bird pictures. And I love me some birds. And she can tell cute, funny, little stories with her pictures. Even my children like to look at her blog...and that says A LOT. What blog is interesting enough to please a child? They usually look at a blog, and are like "Eh. Whatever." But they love Jen's animal pictures. And like Dawn, she's been coming to see me just because I left her a little comment about her pictures.

And finally, the one, the only Susie Harris This lady is one of the sweetest, kindest, most genuine people that I have gotten to meet. I've actually MET The Susie Harris! It was at Blissdom in February when I was tagging long with my IRL best buddy Heathahlee. And I do mean tagging along, because I didn't even have a blog at the time. I only went to get some girl bonding time with Heather. Anyway, as big as Susie's blog is, and as much as she has going on, she also takes time to visit my little corner of the world. I'm just a blip in this blog life, and Susie is huge in Blogland, but she remembers me from Blissdom and probably how I followed Heather around like a puppy. She treats me like I'm her friend. Her blog slogan is "Where Friends Become Family". How sweet is that!? I heart her. She simply has the sweetest spirit about her.

My next post will fill you in on WHO is going to Hawaii and why Heather and I did all that decorating! :)

I am what?!

When I saw this on another blog, they were The Kitchen. I thought, "Oh, I bet I'm the kitchen", and I took the test. Then I got THIS result.....

You Are the Bathroom

Overall, you are a healthy person. You enjoy taking care of yourself. You are also quite attractive. Looking your best makes you feel your best. You are conscientious and detailed oriented. You stay on top of things. You are very honest and open. Privacy is not something you need a lot of.

What Room of the House Are You?

Oh. my. goodness. I laughed out loud when I saw my answer. THE BATHROOM?! The one thing that it says that I know does not fit me is, "Privacy is not something you need a lot of." Ummmm. I just don't think that fits. I love me some alone time. Love it. Crave it. Need it. Anyway, if you're up for some fun, find out your room :)

Good Blogging Finds #2

The second great blogging find this past week was from Pretty Organized Palace. She did a post a few days ago about managing and scheduling her children's time over the summer so that they are not in from of a TV or video screen all summer long. I needed this post. Just two weeks into summer break and my children have lost all sense of responsibility. And so have I. So, after reading her schedule, I developed one for me and the children that will fit the summer weeks and months. I hope Fep and Moose will come to appreciate it. Right now, not so much :)

***The day after I wrote this post, we made an unexpected trip to the doctor with Moose. He's fine, but was having severe ear pain and jaw pain due to....swimmer's ear. Again, he's fine now. With a simple trip to the doctor taking 3.5 hours out of my day, we had to rearrange the schedule a bit ;) But once we got home, we kicked into gear, got productive, and the kids and I cleaned the whole house. All this to say sometimes you gotta' roll with the flow, and sometimes the best made plans will be broken. Oh, and you can find Pretty Organized's post about summer scheduling here.

Good Blogging Finds #1

I'm just putting out here some new blogging finds (because I need to spend more time in the blogging world!) and how they relate to me.

First up is Amy at Momadvice.com/blog in which she did this:

In February (I know that's 3 months ago...I just found it this week), she posted her adventures in spending absolutely nothing except what it took to live. Food (not fast food - that is a luxury) and gas for the car. That's it. No trip through McDonald's or Starbucks. No materials and items for craft projects. No movies, CDs, or books. Food and gas, People. Why does this speak to me? One, we eat out waaaaaay too much. My children and I hit a fast food restaurant at least once a week. I figure that averages out to about $75 per month....on a stinkin' Big Mac! Or in my case a Fresco Bean Burrito from Taco Bell. And the second way it spoke to me was that we don't need nearly what we think we do and impulse purchases are a downfall for me! There, I said it. I cave to the occasional kitchen or house item, the pack of gum for my children (sugar free mind you), or an item of clothing even though my laundry tells me that we all have plenty of clothes. One clothing item in particular....flip flops. I adore flip flops. Cute, little Yellow Box flip flops are my favorite. But I'll take Target, Payless, and Walmart, too. This year The Bob put us on a "No Flip Flop Purchase Summer". Why? One, he can't stand them, and thinks one pair is plenty. Two, shouldn't one pair be plenty? I still have flip flops in really good shape from last year, so I absolutely don't need any. At all. Nope, I don't. But oh, I waaaaaant some. I torture myself by looking at them in stores any chance I get. I have to tell you it's killing me. So, if I end up missing or dead, it's from flip flop deprivation.

If you have a chance, check out her posts on this. It will open your eyes, too, I'm sure to areas of your spending that could be improved.

The Woobie Revisited

I had a blog a year ago that I deleted, and on that blog, I had a post about The Woobie. See The Woobie pictured above. Before I deleted the other blog, I printed off two posts that were meaningful to me. The Woobie was one of those posts. I am going to repost that old post and then share my thoughts on The Woobie one year later...

The Woobie

Sitting on my couch is a piled up crocheted blanket called "The Woobie". It belongs to Moose, and he has carried it since he was a little baby. The Woobie is multi-purpose really. It's his trusty blanket, or its Spiderman's web when all stretched out and thrown across the room. When he was a baby, he would pick at the yarn and eat it. Odd, I know. Moose will turn 7 in just a few days. He's really getting too old for The Woobie. But I know soon enough, he'll sleep with his Woobie one last time. And gone will be the last visible, tangible reminder of him being a baby. The pacifier is gone, the bottles are gone, and thank goodness, the diapers are gone. But I must say, I will be sad to see The Woobie go.

So, that's it. Just as it was written one year ago with the same picture at the top of the post. Moose turned 8 this past Friday, and he still has The Woobie. When I posted that a year ago, I just knew somewhere between 7 and 8 that he'd give up The Woobie. Nope. He doesn't even act interested. Fep is starting to get almost repulsed by the fact he's a blanket toting 8 year old. She's telling him that kids are going to start making fun of him. Fep, she's so tenderhearted toward Moose. A year ago, I was going to be sad to see The Woobie go. Now, I just think it's time. My 8 year old is obviously not a baby anymore, and try as I might, I can't keep them babies forever...except in my heart. And I do think it's time for The Woobie to go, but I'm not forcing it either. I'm not going to be the one who strips him of it. Fep, maybe. Sooner or later, The Woobie will be gone (at this point it's looking like later), and sooner or later my babies, my children will be grown up and gone, too. I know it's going to be sooner than later. And those are the thoughts that makes a mamma's heart ache.

Nothing is everything.

When I started this blog, I didn't do it to become "big" in the blog world. There are others far more worthy than myself for that. I did it because blogging makes me really notice things. It makes me very reflective. The blog was to be my little online journal. My little online scrapbook. My Reflections. I would say that for the most part, I've stayed true to that purpose.

Last week I didn't link up with Emily and Tuesdays Unwrapped., but I could have. I realized that every other post I have could be linked. This whole blog, for the most part, focuses largely on the simple little things that my family does that brings me joy. Things that would be largely overlooked if I didn't put it out here on the world wide web. Not for the world wide web and it's audience, but for me. So, that I'll remember.

I want to remember these faces,

these times,

and goodness knows that I would not want to forget this dog.

To most this blog is nothing, but to me it's everything.

Did someone mention giveaway?

I have nothing to give. I'm cheap that way. But I can direct you to people who are having giveaways:

Heathahlee, who just happen to be my best buddy, is giving away a tassel. A BIRD tassel. Love the birds. She's celebrating her blogiversary. So, give her some comment love and get your chance to win. What shows love in blog world more than leaving someone a comment? Enter here.You only have today left to enter!

Missy at Southern Queen Bee. Another tassel and she's celebrating her ability to take over her sister's blog. Enter here.

Kimba at A Soft Place to Land. Amazing dishes. Not a whole set, but just a piece, I think. Anyway, they're really cute. Enter here.

Quickly....

Popping in quickly to say that Daisy at Laurel Wreath is having her first ever give away. Go see her. Come on. You know you love a give away :)