Songs Kate Sang

Mama said...

... they'll be days like this.

On Friday, a friend said, "I have no idea how you keep it all together."

At first I was flattered, then I realized, that this person felt alone and overwhelmed.

If I've ever given any person the indication that I have it all together, then I have done a great disfavor.

So, if you feel like you are the only one who is coming apart at the seams, here you go...

This was a glimpse at last week:

On Tuesday, at a work dinner, Mr. B texted me to see if I'd be joining them at Nate the Great's science fair.  = mom fail

On Wednesday, I completely forgot about a lunch date with a new friend.  = friend fail

On Thursday, after work, I cut roses from the bushes with Sweet Baby J.   She was been so excited about watching our roses bloom in the garden and bringing them inside for the first time.  I found them this morning on our table outside.  Cut and Dead. = mom fail #2

On Saturday, I fell asleep on the couch and missed cooking cake pops with Sweet Baby J. = mom fail #3

Mr. B. took me for an amazing dinner Saturday night and insisted that I unwind.  We belted Adele, Owl City and Midlake all the way there.  When we arrived I promptly (dad, are you sitting down?),  scratched Brian's new truck on a pole.  Yup, 1 inch scratch.  Total meltdown.  = wife fail (yes, the truck is fine and i can buff it out, i just felt HORRIBLE).

I can't even count the other things I messed up or forgot to do this week.

But you know what? 

This all melts away.  God's grace takes over and retells me that I am His.  I am His child whether I am sitting in the front row, on time, pressed and pleated or if I am the child with the unkempt hair and filthy fingernails. 

Humbling.

***********************************************************************************

Sometimes, I feel like God is speaking to me when I turn on the radio.

Three separate times, Where I belong by Building 429, has been on.  It speaks to me.

I LOVE that my God knows that I am not the greatest listener.  

I get in my own way so many times ~ but when He brings His word to me in music... it gets woven into my soul and changes me into a new creation.

I hope you have an awesome week.  YOU are NOT a failure.  {I needed to say that for me, too}

Philippians 3:13-14 :  Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead.  I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

 

Cake Pops

It was my favorite gift this year.

My mom and I picked out the sweetest purple cake pop maker for Julia.

To know me is to know that I am slightly addicted to the Rocky Road cake pops Starbucks has.  I was ready to try my hand at doing these at home with Julia.

I took Meg and Ashley's advice.  

I had everything ready and prepped before anyone else was allowed in the kitchen ~ huge sanity saving tip.  {I will be repeating this! }

And then, we conquered it.  

The kitchen smelled amazing and the cake pops were working!

They disappeared quickly and that was ok by me.

Oh...

why was it my favorite present this year?  

Well, in December, when Julia opened her Christmas stocking at mom's house, I noticed a tear.   She was looking at the cake pop sticks {they look a little like lollipop sticks}.

It wasn't out of complete happiness, so I wasn't sure what to think.  I tried to quietly distract her with what else was in her stocking.

When I asked her later why she was upset, she told me "You'll see".  All seemed well, so I didn't press the issue.

I had forgotten about that completely and when I opened my present from her after we were home from our trip to Texas, there it was.  

A cake pop maker just for me.

A perfectly O'Henry ending that led to a delicious Saturday morning.

Julia's Room, Fall 2011

One of my favorite things about Julia is that she has complete confidence her in style.

She knows what colors she likes and how she likes things to look.

She cut out about 100 clouds and used painters tape to stick them to her walls, just because.

She loves all colors.  With all of her heart.

She loves all trinkets given to her by her aunts, her grandmothers or great grandmothers.

She decided she'd like a little more color on her walls...

Nope, this room may not grace the pages of Pottery Barn Kids or the sweet ohdeedoh blog, but Julia graces my life every day.

Her sunshine and her confidence spill over into my life and I am so thankful.

Sometimes life doesn't look exactly like the magazines and that is ok!  

Look around and see the beauty!  

Have a wonderful day!

 

Christmas Cards + Life Made Lovely

Heather, over at Life Made Lovely, has the sweetest collection of holiday card designs.

For one of my cards this year, I chose to send the pictures that the ever incredible BLUE LILY took and the Life Made Lovely & Ashley Ann Collaboration.

I'm in LOVE!  Seriously.

I sent over the pictures to Heather and lickity split... done and done!  

I am thrilled.

I can't wait to get these printed, addressed and on their way to some very happy grandmothers! 

Hugs to you and happy, happy Sunday!

Kate

Goodnight Julia...

I made it home to Arizona tonight.

I am so happy to be home and relieved to have a drivers license.

So, please take my advice and go make a copy of your license and put it in your hideaway place, ok?  It will save you some heartache if you ever have to overnight one to know exactly what it says for your eye color and if you put 'Drive' at the end of your street address.  

{My eyes are green, not hazel, ok?}

My parents were amazing to me.  Amazing.

Mom surprised me with a new purse and wallet {the wallet say :  Long Live Vintage}  I love it!   (Yes, Yes, pictures soon, i promise)

My brother and mom took me to the most amazing grocery store - Hubble & Hudson then out to an amazing dinner last night.  

They listened to me fret and cry and my brother even put on a great movie for mom and I to watch later.  It was great... good times.  

Hugs to you...

Go make that copy, ok?

Kate

Covenant of Peace...

"For the mountains may be removed and the hills may shake, But My lovingkindness will not be removed from you, And My covenant of peace will not be shaken," Says the LORD who has compassion on you.  Isaiah 54:10

cov·e·nant

n.

1. A binding agreement; a compact. 

2. Law

a. A formal sealed agreement or contract.

b. A suit to recover damages for violation of such a contract.

3. In the Bible, God's promise to the human race.

Wait Patiently...

Be still in the presence of the LORD, and wait patiently for him to act. Don't worry about evil people who prosper or fret about their wicked schemes.  Psalm 37:7

What are you waiting for?

Are you waiting for something really, really special?  Maybe an engagement... maybe a little plus sign on a pregnancy test...

Are you waiting just to feel better?  Maybe you have just struggled with how you feel ~ physically, emotionally...

Are you waiting for something to change?  Maybe you are hoping that something gets easier at work.... maybe you are hoping that the dryer finally gets fixed...

Then be still in His presence and

Wait for it... Wait for it... (doing my best Robin Hood: Men in Tights impersonation)

Kind Words...

An anxious heart weighs a man down, but a kind word cheers him up.  Proverbs 12:25

I don't know about you, but words are so huge to me.

If someone says something kind, I could smile for the whole day.

If someone tells me that I remind them of my mom, it makes my entire year!

However, if someone honks at me, gives me the stink eye, mutters something under their breath... I am wounded.  

Think about your words today.  Make them kind and gentle!

Whatever You Do...

It is one of those weeks...

Going from one busy week to another.

This week has some down time, but instead of relishing the downtime I am feeling a little overwhelmed.

Thinking about what I didn't get done last week.

Thinking about what next week will bring.

Thinking about bracing for the holidays.

I figure if I am in that boat, then probably some of you are, too.

So, this week, I want to leave you with pretty pictures and a little encouragement.

Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men. Colossians 3:23

Whatever you do.  Whatever! 

Waking up on time.  

Pouring a cup of coffee for your beloved.

Kissing the littles on the top of the head.

Answering the phone with a smile. 

You can do it!

Have a wonderful day and hang in there.

Andrew + Laura {Day 3}

We spent the night in Sedona and woke up to such a beautiful place.

We headed over to Mass at such a beautiful church.

The ground were nestled in the mountains with views everywhere we turned.  There was a garden with sculptures and flowers surrounding you.

We drove up to the Chapel on the Hill.

I still get nervous when they sit there.  I know... they are at least six feet from the edge, but my goodness.  It just feels so high.

Do you see the eagle?

Do you see Mary showing Baby Jesus to the Wise-men?

That rock formation is why she chose to build the chapel in this site... who?  Oh, here you go...

"That the church may come to life in the souls of men and be a living reality--herein lies the whole message of this chapel." -Marguerite Brunswig Staude 

What a generous gift to all of us.  Thank you, Marguerite.  {That was my great-grandmother's name.  I love that name.  Mary Marguerite.}

We walked inside and the kids wanted to pray.

When I asked them what they prayed for, the rattled off a list of what was on their heart:

Great Grandma White's cancer

Great Grandma Thompson and Great Grandpa Thompson

Aunt Leslie's baby

Mrs. Kelly's nephew

Wren and Grace

Sharlie

Revelation 5:8

"...Each held a harp and a gold bowl full of incense, the prayers of the saints."

Who are you praying for this week?

With love,

Kate