Kate Eschbach

Happy Mother's Day Momma

Mom.

Aside from the gentle, kind encourager, she remains the unyielding example of strength in my life.

Her many hats have included hair-clip maker, cupcake baker, school teacher, Sunday-school teacher, field trip goer, sleepover chaperon and so many more.

This year she retired from 21 years of teaching 7^th grade English.

She has taught in the inner city, where her 7^th graders dwarfed her almost 5’1” frame. 

She has given countless hours of tutoring, debate coaching, spelling bee judging, bus loading coordinating, fundraiser volunteering and even learned a dance for a pep rally a few years ago.

What makes her the perfect example of strength?

Her example.  Her absolute dedication to loving children.

A few years ago, we learned of some very sad circumstances in our extended family.  Four children, aged 12-17, were going to be split up and put in foster care.

Without any hesitation, mom and dad opened their finally grown home to these teens... Four Teenagers. 

For over a year, they reentered the teenage years full of physicals, parent-teacher conferences, updating shot records, after school concerts, homework, and the never ending laundry.

This wasn’t a bake sale over the weekend or a retreat they had to coordinate.  This was a day in and day out job of tough love, hurt feelings, sarcasm and tears. 

The good news? 

It has ended in a family that has been reunited, healed, strengthened and changed.

I love hearing the phone ring when I am at her house and the four kids still asking for Aunt Beth. 

They still call her, four years later, for advice and encouragement. 

Not everyone gets to share their mom with four other children and thousands of past and present 7th graders, but I am so thankful I do.

I love you mom.

Baby Girl

**Thank you for reading the excerpt above updated from a post written in December, 2010**

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Adoption | Fundraiser and Printables {Update}

Update:  YOU have helped me raise over $2,000!  Thank you, thank YOU!  

If you'd like help - the details are all in this post.  

I'm so thankful for all of your help and support and encouragement.  

Hugs,

Kate

Nate's Birthday Scavenger Hunt {10 Years Old}

{when I am taking pictures at night - I just embrace a high ISO and roll with it!}

Every year, Julia puts together a scavenger hunt for Nate's birthday. 

Her clues are always so sweet and encouraging.  

I love how she treats her brother.  

No - they haven't always been buddies.

And some days there are still more rolled eyes than high fives, but it is something that is very important to me.

Growing up my parents encouraged my brother and I to be a team.  There are very few people in this world who really know everything about you and get to cheer you on for life. 

It's important to be a team.  

It's important to use your words with kindness.  

The prize at the end of the day is always worth it!

Hugs,

Kate

 

Adoption | What started February 12th

The night of February 12th,  I was visiting with a dear friend, Karen, after choir.  She mentioned that it had been a very full week - including counseling someone looking for a family to adopt a two year old.

Karen shared that she and her husband were not called to adopt, but they were keeping this situation in serious prayer - that maybe they were the avenue for finding an adoptive family.  I stood there stunned.  

I hadn't shared with everyone that we were beginning the process of adoption.  I was not sure what to expect as far as timing, so I was waiting.

I stuttered out something about having already started the process with Catholic Charities and that we had a meeting scheduled, but had to miss it because we had the flu.

I drove home, my heart pounding, and talked with Brian right away.  

A few minutes later, I sent Karen an email.  I answered the question Karen had left me with: "Are you open to meeting with the family?"

I wrote:  "Yes, with tears in my eyes, absolutely yes."

That Tuesday night turned into a night that will forever change so many people.

Thank you all for the encouragement and joy you bring going on this journey with me!  

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A few dear friends have created printables to help with the funding of his adoption.  

These women have been my cheerleaders and prayer warriors.  They have prayed for me through miscarriages and unemployment.  They have rejoiced with me as the adoption journey has unfolded.  

I want to tell you - it always makes me uncomfortable to talk about money.  I know we are all in different places and in different seasons of our lives.  

And please know, we covet your prayers most of all.  

Specific prayer requests:

• For R - the little guy who is so very loved and will be a part of our forever family very soon.
• For Wendy - R's grandmother, who is trusting Brian and I with a most precious treasure.
• For Emily - for peace, wisdom, strength and to be surrounded by people who remind her that she is a child of the one true King

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Designed by Julie of Joy’s Hope

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Designed by Heather of Life Made Lovely

 

Also designed by Heather of Life Made Lovely

The photo print has a beautiful canvas textured background.

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Designed by Lesley of Recipe for Crazy

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Artwork by Chrisse Grace of Chrissie Grace Art

{Image Source :  Chrissie Grace's Instagram}

** Chrissie has provided a scan of this beautiful original art - the colors of the scan are in the collage at the beginning of the post **

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The accelerated time line leaves us just a few months to fund the adoption, rather than the 2-3 year time line we were expecting.  

At this time, we are anticipating the adoption + home study and certification to total $11,000.00.  

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So, how does this work?

• Each print will be $20.00.   (I printed these above on cardstock on my printer at home.  They came out beautifully!)
• Send a donation via paypal to kate dot eschbach at gmail dot com
• Email kate dot eschbach at gmail dot com which prints you would like with the subject line 'Printable for Adoption'

Can I donate without buying a print?

• Oh my goodness, yes!  
• Send a donation via paypal to kate dot eschbach at gmail dot com

I'd love to help, but can't afford to buy a print.  

• Prayers are so important right now.  The specific prayer requests are listed earlier in the post. 
• Feel free to share this post on your blog, instagram, twitter, anything!  Please know I appreciate you more than you know!  

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We serve a huge God  - what if you raise more than that?  What will you do with the money?

• Our lawyer is very special.  He works with teens to send them to Teen Challenge.  Their motto is:  offering hope and healing for those with life controlling problems since 1958.  Their mission statement is:  To provide youth, adults and families with an effective and comprehensive Christian faith-based solution to life-controlling drug and alcohol problems in order to become productive members of society. By applying biblical principles, Teen Challenge endeavors to help people become mentally-sound, emotionally-balanced, socially-adjusted, physically-well, and spiritually-alive. {Click here for more information}.  
• If we were able to raise any excess, the money would be given to him to help fund these very special teens.  

Julia's Birthday Interview {13 Years Old}

I like swimming, badminton, volleyball and soccer.

My favorite colors are robin's egg blue, lavender, scarlett red and sunset orange.

My favorite subjects are art and language arts. 

My favorite movie is The Three Amigos.

My favorite saints are St. Anthony of Padua and St. Bernadette.

My favorite bands are Toby Mac, Barlow Girl and LeCrae.

I love arts, crafts and designing.  I love playing games.  

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Julia, you are blessing and a joy to me everyday.  I love you.  

Love, 

Momma

(in)courage | (in)RL

A few months ago, I signed up to host a group of ladies at my home - whoever wanted to come - to watch videos and build community together.

A few registered and I started planning.

As Saturday approached, one by one, people cancelled.  There were a few "maybes" left, but that was it.  

Everyone had really good reasons - and I was not upset at one person - promise.  

But there was this little voice inside me that kept whispering...

• Did they know I had a sink full of dirty dishes?
• Did they know that I would probably be serving things that I just popped straight from the freezer into the oven?
• Did they know that I would not have a super cute table set up with a handmade banner?  

Mom made me feel better - she told me that we'd just watch the videos together and go to a local vintage market together the next day.

As we sat together and watched "Discovering and Becoming a Mentor", I was filled with thankfulness.  With a house full of people, I may not have been quiet enough to listen to what was really being said.  

"Mentors are like anchors, they keep us anchored when things get rough."

I soaked in every word and relaxed into my chair.

Sally Clarkson spoke about telling future generations of His faithfulness.  

And I was stunned.  There I was, sitting in the presence of my own mentor.  

If I had a houseful of people, I would have been running around like Martha, trying to please everyone.  

And there I was.  Forced to sit quietly in thankfulness, in the presence of my mentor.  

Once again, He knew what I needed.  

Book Review | The Pastors' Wives

 

 

Disclosure: I was given a copy of The Pastors' Wives by Litfuse Publicity Group.  This post has not been reviewed by a third party and all opinions are my own as always. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

 

 

 

 

In Pastors' Wives, Lisa Takeuchi Cullen writes about Ruthie, Candace and Ginger, she gives each woman a voice in the experience as a pastors' wife. The three women come from very different backgrounds.

As the wife of the head pastor of a mega-church Candace endears you to her by a true desire to really serve her community. She may be acting as the director of a multi-million dollar empire, but she is constantly recalling scripture to check where her heart is.

Ruthie and Ginger are daughter-in-laws of the pastor, just trying to live up to what they think a pastors' wife should be. Ruthie is still struggling with her mother's death. Ginger is busy trying to forget a sinner's past.

I liked how each woman shared the spotlight in the book, helping the reader understand her humanity.

As a Catholic, I cringed at the portrayal of Ruthie. Ruthie was raised as a Catholic and struggles with many parts of the Catholic faith. Confession, reconciliation and the Mass are amazing, beautiful and real parts of so many Christian's faiths. These Sacraments had a platform to be explained and clarified. I felt that these were, instead, brushed over and the confusion the rift between understanding widened.

The way Cullen described confession and other women's reactions to it did not offer the reader a true understanding of the beauty of the oldest Christian Faith, which saddened me as a Catholic.

The setting and characters were very promising. While the writing was very smooth and pleasant to read, I do wish there was a little more explanation of the Catholic faith.

Thank you, Litfuse, for sending me this book.

Guest Post | Life Made Lovely | Room Made Lovely

Today, I am over at Life Made Lovely sharing about my home.  I hope you come on over!  

{click here}

The letter to the apple store guy...

Dear apple store guy,

I just wanted to apologize for my behavior today.

I don't usually ask people to accept viewing my facebook account as an acceptable form of identification.  

See, my mom is in town and she is helping me.  

My husband and  I are adopting the most amazing two year old on the planet!   Husband is out of town this week, so she is helping me stay sane.  It's been a few years since I had middle of the night wake up calls.  And see, I don't do very well with little sleep.

It's all wonderful and fine, I'm just a little loopy.

I haven't carried a diaper bag in years and I forgot to pull my wallet out when I sent the bag with mom. 

So, thank you for not laughing at me or making me feel dumb when I truly was hoping you would say that my facebook account would work as acceptable form of identification.  You were right.  I just didn't want to run to the splash pad across the street to get my driver's license.  

We are cool, right? 

Thanks! 

Kate (a little sleepy in Scottsdale)

Kate Eschbach Photography | Scottsdale Senior Portraits

This is Rachel.

We sing together in praise choir.  She is our babysitter.  (Don't go anywhere for college - ok, Rachel?)

My kids look up to her and after a date my house smells like fresh baked chocolate chip cookies and my dishes are put away.  

She is kind and lovely and so fun to be around.

Sometimes I like to forget that I am 4,387 years old and think I was this cute and fun as a senior in high school!

Click here to see more!