The longest day...

This was my yesterday:

6:45 - I'm up late. I should have gotten up at 6:00 to make my 8:45 doctor appointment.
7:00 - Wake kids before jumping in shower.
7:30 - Out of shower, curling hair. Moose asks, "Where is Fep?" She's not up! "Fep, please get up. I woke you up 30 minutes ago, and we have to leave soon."
8:00 - Leave for Dr....running late...it takes 35 min. to get to his office. Just for the record, I used to work at a doctor's office. Just because your appointment is at 8:45 doesn't mean you walk in their door at 8:45. Arriving 20 minutes ahead of appointment is always appreciated. Ummmmm....but I didn't make that today.
8:00 - no gas in car. Will have to stop. Lovely. This will make me even later.
8:05 - stop for gas. Click the pump handle in the little slot thingy that allows you to pump without holding onto the pump. Go in store to get kid's breakfast. Come back and pump is broken and the release did not click off when tank was full. Gas is spilling out all over my car and all over the ground. Probably pumped about $10 worth of gas onto my car and the ground.
8:15 - Keep thinking gas is not good on a car's paint. Pull into another convenience store and buy 5 bottles of water to rinse off gas. Sheriff deputy hanging out at register makes comment I must be really thirsty. I fake a smile. I'm sure they really thought I was nuts if they saw me pouring the water on my car. I'm embarrassed and feel like the whole parking lot is looking at me. Oh, and I'm really late for Dr. now.
8:45 - Sign in at the Dr. at the exact time of my appointment. I'm late, but not late all rolled in one. It takes the girl at the front desk 15 minutes to load my new insurance into the computer. 15 minutes...
8:30 - Listen to lady in waiting room talk on her cell phone. She's disputing a bill. Nice.
9:50 - Nurse calls me back after we've been in waiting room for one hour.
11:00 - Ready to leave Dr. after being told that I have Strep. Fep was diagnosed with Strep on Friday. Strep is very contagious so I ask about Moose and The Bob. They'll have to see Dr., too, if they want antibiotics. Make Moose appointment for 12:30.
11:10 - Leave Dr., get lunch, run to Target, and go back to Dr.
12:15 - Back at Drs. office for the 2nd time. Already feel like I've been there all day.
1:00 - Moose does not have Strep, but they are putting him on antibiotics anyway.
1:20 - Waiting at Pharmacy for meds.....find some yummy Weight Watchers candy for the diet that I'm now on....oh wait, it's not a diet.....it's my new way of life.....
2:20 - Home. Finally.
5:45 - Leave to take Moose to guitar lessons...another car ride and I'm ready to sing, "On the road again..."
7:10 - Moose's lesson is done. Head back home....
7:45 - Walk in the door and finish dinner....
8:00 - Eat dinner while watching 2nd half of The Biggest Loser.....really glad I'm having healthy Black Beans and Rice or I'd really be feeling guilty....also have the urge to go get on the Treadmill after watching the show....but I don't, instead I....
9:00 - Watch Chopped on Food Network. One of my very, very favorite Food Network Shows...
10:00 - Rush kids to bed. Give Moose medicine. Fep took hers earlier.
10:15 - Look at the dosage on everyone's antibiotics. It makes sense that my dosage is a bit more than Fep's cause I'm bigger. But why is Moose's dosage more than Fep's and as much as mine and he doesn't even have Strep??? Will call Dr. tomorrow....and find that this day is now running into tomorrow.....Bah.
10:45 Can't remember if I took my medicine. Have to count out all the pills to see if I did or not. Nope. I didn't take it. So, I take it now.
11:00 - Now that I think about that gas spilling everywhere....I was more concerned about my car than the gas on the ground....what if when I left someone dropped a cig or something....I should have told the lady in the store....Ugh.....

I don't know why, but this was the longest day. Not a bad day, but just loooooooong.

One day....

It happened about a year ago when we started going to a new church, and this new church had/has a large missions focus. I am going to be blunt honest. I am very selfish, and I don't like to be uncomfortable, hot, or dirty. I'm not a people person and I'm extremely content in my little world. Missions just really did not fit into my idea of a good trip to take. But this church, now my church (and I'm so pleased that is is my church), and the Holy Spirit changed my heart. My pastor (and I'm so pleased he's my pastor) says, "The Great Commission is not the Great Suggestion" I'm not sure if that's his own original quote or if he borrowed that from someone else. Anyway, he feels it's really not an option. Christians are called to GO tell the world about Jesus. My church goes to The Good Shepherd Children's Home in Honduras twice a year every year. And every time someone comes back with pictures and testimonies, my heart is broken and tears pour. They also go to Zimbabwe, Africa once every year. And for those who think, "Well, what about the people here that need help?" Yes, my church is a big supporter of local missions as well. There is also missions work done here in the United States and in our own community.

But in my heart, I long to go overseas. Right now, we just do not have the money for a big mission trip, and we'll just have to focus on the local work. It's sad that when we did have the money that we didn't do it. But the LORD had not changed my heart yet at that point, so......... I know that if He laid it on my heart that one day He'll provide the way. I've already told my family that I'm willing to sacrifice the next vacation that we could afford to take and that Honduras or Zimbabwe could be our vacation. I'm not sure that my family is on board with that.....yet. And it doesn't matter anyway, because we aren't taking a vacation and the decision isn't to be made now. So right now, I live vicariously through others on these trips. And I'm looking forward to one day when we get to go, too. One day....

The Good Shepherd Children's Home

The Journey

Sing, sing a song, sing out loud, sing out strong....

(pardon the glare! and the dust!! it REALLY is not as dusty as it looks....I hope)

In a post last year, I mentioned that I had been on Weight Watchers and that I had gained back half of what I had lost. I even was bold enough to post my weight in a sidebar and track my progress in what I was going to loose (again). You'll notice that sidebar has been removed, because I now have gained ALL the weight back that I lost on Weight Watchers. I fell off the wagon big time. I will not be so bold again as to post my weight. Weight Watchers Online has that information....I like for my blog to be my happy place, so I'm not posting that big ugly here again ;)

In getting back on the wagon, I've started exercising again. The treadmill is my friend. I do find though that when I do get on the treadmill that if I can make it the first 5 minutes, I'm in for the journey, and then I usually don't want to get off. Why? Because when I walk, I listen to music, and I sing. And I'm just telling you that despite what my family says and despite their laughs and giggles, I know that on the treadmill I sing reeeeeeeeal gooooooood ;) It is quite funny to hear someone randomly burst out into song. I've heard The Bob do it once on the treadmill, and it is really funny. Anyway, I have loaded my favorites, and when Casting Crowns sings Until the Whole World Hears, I just have to sing with them. I know they appreciate it. That song just makes me want to charge hell with a water gun...Jesus going before me of course :) When Travis Cottrell sings Jesus is the Lord, I'm compelled to sing with him. We harmonize quite well together. I know it. I just know it.

Seriously, while I know it doesn't sound pretty, I do sing from my heart. It is not uncommon for me to tear up while walking...and not from pain from the exercise....but because I'm overwhelmed with His grace and love. It is not uncommon for me to raise my hands (weights included) in praise to Him. And so I have found my time with Mr. Treadmill is not only good for my body, but also my spirit.

Why I left...

(photo credit PiccApp/Getty Images)

It seemed so harmless. Everyone was/is doing it. It would be fun. Ooooooo! And then I got the application for my phone. Facebook mobile! That's just what everyone needs! And so my journey into complete time wasting began. I started out just to catch up with people I'd not seen in forever. It was fun to see how people had changed and to see how their children had grown. But then I started "farming". And I couldn't possibly let my fake crops on my fake farm die and wither. What about all that fake money I'd lose? I actually only left Facebook three days ago. Just three. But so far...I love it. I was addicted and it was in control. Now, I am taking back control. Truth be told Facebook is a big reason I stopped blogging so much. Not only that but I also stopped interacting with my family. Cause when I was on Facebook, it was pretty much just me and the computer. Along with all this, these are other issues I've seen and struggled with:

*It's not secure. I know of several people whose accounts were hacked. The past 3 weeks Norton Antivirus has stopped 3 hacker/intruders to my computer system and every single time it did I was on Facebook. Coincidence? I don't know.

*It can be extremely petty. Do I really care what color you have painted your fingernails? Is this what I want to waste my time reading? Unfortunately, it was what I was spending my time reading.

*It can hurt people. Suppose you are having an outing with a friend and you post something in regards to that. What if another friend reads that and wonders why they were not invited? I know people should have thicker skin, but I'm just sayin'. I have purposely not posted things I've done with friends because I knew that someone else could/would get their feelings hurt. I'm serious.

Now, I'm absolutely not bashing everyone on Facebook. And at some point, I will maybe go back. What brought me to finally leaving (as I've struggled with it for weeks) is a whole post in itself which I will post later. These are just things that I was convicted about. I don't expect everyone to have the same convictions. Really, I don't. I did not want something controlling me. I did not like the example set for my children. And I did not like it for the above reasons I gave. If you are on Facebook, and you are in control of your time, and pleased with it, that is awesome. And I do know that there are some good ways to use Facebook. My pastor uses it as a ministry and outreach tool. And there are other good things or good reasons to be on Facebook, too. But for me, it became a bad thing, so I left. I once had to leave blogging, too. And when I could control it, I came back. So, eventually I will probably return to Facebook. Just not now.

Hello. I am Mrs.The Bob Doe...

(photo credit: PicApp Images/Internet/Getty Images)

One of my very favorite shows ever is I Love Lucy. I can watch it over and over. It really doesn't matter that I've seen each episode 500 times. Besides that Lucy and Ethel are one of the funniest duos to ever hit the screen, I love the 1950's. I think I really could have lived back then. I love how they dressed. I love the view of the wife, mother, and homemaker from that era. I love the simplicity and slow pace.

The other day Fep and I had on I Love Lucy, and Lucy and Ethel were introducing themselves to some other ladies. And they introduced themselves as "Mrs. Ricky Ricardo" and "Mrs. Fred Mertz". Fep asked why they said their names that way. She's never heard it before and it was really foreign to her. To be honest, I don't think I have ever introduced myself as "Mrs. The Bob Doe". I don't think I've ever written it out that way for any reason either. Just my name Kat Doe.

I'm thankful that I have a husband to which I can attach my identity. I'm thankful he's honest and moral. A man of integrity. And I found an opportunity to tell him about my conversation with Fep and that I was thankful I can happily be identified as Mrs. The Bob Doe. Part of me is sad for those ladies that don't have that kind of husband. The husband that's not a man of integrity. However, I guess in this day and age it doesn't really matter. Feminism has taken over so that no one introduces themselves or writes their name that way anyway. While I may not say it or write it, I really am Mrs. The Bob Doe. It's so much a part of who I am.

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

The Little Things....

I'm not sure when it happened? I'm not sure when I stopped doing the little things? You know the little things...the things that don't cost money, but make memories...the things your children will talk about when they get older. And that's true you know. The things I talk about from my childhood and growing up usually never involves what we did that cost money. Being that I grew up on the poor end of the scale and the fact that we didn't have money anyway is no never mind. If I talk about my childhood from a poverty perspective, it's usually that I'm grateful. My memories are that my Mom fixed the best ham ever on Christmas and Easter. And I fix that ham today at Christmas, and my mother-in-law tells me it's the best ham ever. My memories that my Dad fixed the best pancakes ever. And they weren't really pancakes, but flapjacks. There's a difference.

So, I used to do these things that made memories. The Bob did, too. Like when he would fix Green Eggs and Ham. Like when I used to set the table nicely for occasions or events.

On any given day, this is what our dinner table looks like...

It doesn't look like this every day, but any given day. Can you see the laundry hanging over the doorway and over the chairs? Fep's bird puzzle she's been working on here and there for weeks. Lovely, isn't it?

So, Saturday was Valentine's Day Eve. The meal plan was Pioneer Woman's Lasagna (which she says is the best ever. While it is absolutely the best recipe I've ever had to make at home, I find the best ever lasagna belongs to Avellino's Pizza in Mississippi...just in case you're ever in the area and want some Italian ;) ) Creamed Spinach, Garlic Bread, and Turtle Cookie Bars with Ice Cream for dessert. Yum. It was to be our Valentine's Dinner as Sunday yielded itself too busy with Church and stuff to think about creating such a meal. I walked into the dinning room, and the above scene just wouldn't do. I have not set the table nicely in forever. Years maybe? So, I started digging through the China Hutch to see what I could use. And this is what I came up with. Simple. Very simple. But so much nicer than the above, don't you think?

And it looked even nicer with the candles lit. Cause candles make everything look better.

Fep walked through after I was finished and said, "The table looks so nice!" Moose walked through and said, "WHY IS THE TABLE ALL DINNERY?" (and please say that loud and with a heavy Southern accent). Moose is a grammar lesson waiting to happen. And when The Bob got home for dinner he was quite pleased. Quite. I have not taken the time to do this in forever. And my time and my thought was all they needed this Valentine's Day. It's the little things.

I was so pleased with myself, too. So pleased that I gave myself a thumbs up and took a very cheesy picture....

Cheese. I'm full of it :)

The little things are worth unwrapping

In which I get my life back....

I quit work. Okay. Not really, because we're self employed. But, the working while home schooling thing DID NOT WORK AS PLANNED. Not. At. All. We tried for about 6-7 weeks, and The Bob decided that the sanity of our home life and the education of our children was being sacrificed more than we thought would happen or intended. Plus my stress level was making everyone miserable. Sooooooo, we took another salary adjustment to our salary, hired back layed off secretary, and life is gooooooooood. I learned how much I took what I had for granted. I love being at home. Love. It. I'd rather give up things and comforts and be at home than anything. Than any THING at all :)

I've actually had my life back for about 3 weeks now. And I've thought about this blog and my absence from it. I have so much to be thankful for, so hopefully I can regroup, refocus, and start reflecting again.

January 6, 1995

I tried to scan some old pictures from my wedding, and our scanner wouldn't work. Bummer. Cause I know you wanted to see me in all my 90's hairdo glory ;)

Our 15th wedding anniversary was Wednesday. It seems like "marker" years are supposed to be big (5, 10, 15, 20, and 25 a biggie....and so on) On my 10th anniversary, we had my rings reset and the gold changed from yellow gold to white gold. That may not sound like a big deal, but it ended up being about $500 just to do that. So, that was a "marker year" and a big deal gift. One of my best friends took a cruise with her husband on their 15th anniversary. We didn't do that. And because of where we're at, we just couldn't do anything "big" anyway. So, I was feeling a little sorry for myself. Just a little self pity goin' on...but just a little.

Our day started with a "Happy Anniversary" said by both, and then we talked about the plan of the day. Work. Work. And then some work. This has actually been a busy week for us because it's freeeeeeeeeezing right now in Mississippi (as in right now this very second that I'm typing the temperature is 12 degrees), and we have lots of frozen pipe calls (we own a plumbing business). In addition to The Bob being really busy, I was really busy. I home schooled that morning, went to work at lunch, worked until 5:00 PM then braved the grocery store to get groceries on the slight chance we got snowed in, as snow was expected late that evening. By the time I got home and got our frozen pizza on the table, it was 8:00 PM. And that's what everyone wants to eat for their anniversary, right? Frozen pizza. More self pity heaped on here. The Bob was not even home at this point. He was helping a customer with a flooded basement. Yet another dose of self pity. I was completely exhausted and brain dead, so the kids and I put in the movie "Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs". What doesn't say 15th anniversary about that?! I'll have some more self pity, please. Around 9:30 PM, the Bob walks in and he has these....




Now, they are just grocery store flowers, and I had to vase them and water them, etc. Nothing fancy, but still pretty. Very pretty. And the way to melt away every bit of self pity I had allowed to creep in my heart. Not just because they were pretty flowers, but because he took the time. The time he really did not have that day. He worked 14 hours that day (literally), but he still took the time. He was cold, tired, and hungry. That right there is enough to make me grumpy. But not him. He came in with a smile, with his love, gave me my card and flowers, and happily ate his left on the counter frozen pizza.

So, I've learned it may not be in all the glitz and glamor of the gift, but in the thought and time put in to it. That's what we really want from our mate anyway is their time and attention :)

Hope...

“For I know the plans I have for you”, declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. You will seek Me and find Me when you seek Me with all your heart. I will be found by you,” declares the LORD, “and will bring you back from captivity.”

~Jeremiah 29:11-14