What are you thankful for? No really. Think about it. I've been thinking about it lately. I guess really it's easy because a couple of the things I am most thankful for are currently sitting on each side of me watching the parade with me.
I'm thankful for my sweet husband, Mark. Do you ever love someone so much when you think about it you think you might just explode? That's how I feel. And I'm thankful. He is the most serving person I know - you just have to be around him for a few minutes and you will be blown away by his servant's heart. I am also so proud of him - he's basically a genius. If I have a question about anything sports related, if I need directions, or need random trivia answered, I just ask my hubby and he knows. It's remarkable. And he also gives such good perspective on anything. If I'm handling something in a way that I shouldn't, if I talk to someone in a way that is not kind, or if my perspective is skewed, he gently tells me, and for that I am so thankful. While he supports me, he holds me accountable for my actions. He's my steady beat. (-: I am also thankful that he, like me, doesn't care what other people think. It's kind of a bad combo at times, but boy, we sure have fun. Mark will have random dance parties with me in our music room, he will participate in the girliest of events if it is important to me, and he loves me. And I love him.
I'm thankful for Karlie Ann. I'm thankful that she keeps me on my toes in the way Mark and I relate to one another. I'm thankful for the fresh perspective she brings to life that only someone who has experienced deep loss can bring. I am regularly amazed at her level-headedness and the way she doesn't get wrapped up in so many things girls her age do. I am thankful that she calls Mark or me whenever she needs anything, no matter what time. I am thankful that her calling to missions reminds me that perhaps I should be more mindful of missions myself. Many people really don't understand our relationship with Karlie and I can't expect them to - but I am thankful that our family has been forever changed for the better.
I'm thankful for our home. We regularly say, "don't you just love our home?" It's perfect for us and I love it. Of course I could go on and on about the things I am thankful for.
To sum it up, thank you, Jesus, for everything. For allowing me to be a part of your purpose, and for this season of my life, which is currently pretty great.
Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!
~Kathryn
Thursday, November 24, 2011
Monday, November 14, 2011
A Trip to the Pumpkin Patch
Happy November, everyone! Isn't this just a delightful time of year? I think it is. I love all things family friendly, making new traditions, and creating memories. So, we went to the pumpkin patch. I believe this will be a great new family tradition.
Mark and Karlie and I loaded into the Accord and headed toward our pumpkin patch of choice. This particular patch edged past the others due to the simple fact that it actually had real, live camels. That won it for me.
I mean seriously - how often do you see a camel in Oklahoma?
On our way we listened to Linus talk about the Great Pumpkin:
Each year, the Great Pumpkin rises out of the pumpkin patch that he thinks is the most sincere. He's gotta pick this one. He's got to. I don't see how a pumpkin patch can be more sincere than this one. You can look around and there's not a sign of hypocrisy. Nothing but sincerity as far as the eye can see.
I just love Linus. I didn't see the Great Pumpkin this year, but maybe, just maybe, we will next year.
The pumpkin patch was everything we expected. There were lots of pumpkins in all sizes.
But wait: it gets even better. There was a petting zoo. Who doesn't love baby goats? Precious.
I also decided, since I'm thinner now, to redo my high school senior pics. (-;
We had a great time at the pumpkin patch. We even bought some fudge which was devoured in the car before we made it home. (-: This is one tradition I plan on keeping.
Happy Fall, Y'all! (-:
~Kathryn
Mark and Karlie and I loaded into the Accord and headed toward our pumpkin patch of choice. This particular patch edged past the others due to the simple fact that it actually had real, live camels. That won it for me.
I mean seriously - how often do you see a camel in Oklahoma?
On our way we listened to Linus talk about the Great Pumpkin:
Each year, the Great Pumpkin rises out of the pumpkin patch that he thinks is the most sincere. He's gotta pick this one. He's got to. I don't see how a pumpkin patch can be more sincere than this one. You can look around and there's not a sign of hypocrisy. Nothing but sincerity as far as the eye can see.
I just love Linus. I didn't see the Great Pumpkin this year, but maybe, just maybe, we will next year.
The pumpkin patch was everything we expected. There were lots of pumpkins in all sizes.
We also took the opportunity to take several goofy pics:
But wait: it gets even better. There was a petting zoo. Who doesn't love baby goats? Precious.
I also decided, since I'm thinner now, to redo my high school senior pics. (-;
We had a great time at the pumpkin patch. We even bought some fudge which was devoured in the car before we made it home. (-: This is one tradition I plan on keeping.
Happy Fall, Y'all! (-:
~Kathryn
Sunday, November 6, 2011
Contentment
I've been swirling this post around in my head for a while, but it's been hard to put "to ink." Because, well, I'm not very proud of it.
You see, I have been struggling with contentment. I know what you are thinking: How in the world could you be discontent? You are right. I have no reason. I have a Savior, a husband who loves me more than I could have hoped for, we are healthy, and all our needs are met.
So how did this happen?
Back in college I worked at a Christian camp one summer, and probably the best thing I took away from that summer was somewhat of a life motto for myself: Comparison is the thief of joy. The context in which I originally heard that phrase used was completely ridiculous. I mean, it was during an all girl swim party for all of us college camp counselors, and we had broken up into two teams - each team was creating their own synchronized swimming routines, and there would be a competition. (I told you, it was ridiculous.) My team was really proud of the routine we had so creatively worked to perfect, but then we saw the competition's routine. When we saw the other team, our hopes were dashed - their routine was awesome. We were suddenly all down on our routine, and then someone yelled out, "Comparison is the thief of joy!", and in that silly moment, that phrase stuck in my heart and I knew it meant more than that synchronized swimming competition. It was an outlook on life that would change me.
Comparison is the thief of joy.
You can apply it to literally anything. We can be perfectly content and joyful with our family, our appearance, our houses, our blogs, our kids' behavior, and then we see someone or something better. And that little seed of jealousy is planted. And we somehow start to feel like we deserve better. We deserve a better car. We deserve that pair of jeans, or that fancy shampoo. If so-and-so can have it, why can't I? And suddenly, we have lost our joy. We got wrapped up in ourselves and what we don't or can't have and began comparing ourselves to others. And folks, there will always be someone with better hair, a more brilliant personality, a quicker wit, and a smaller jean size. That's why this is so dangerous - we will never win.
Comparison is the thief of joy.
I heard that phrase that day and vowed to make it a personal mantra. When I found myself comparing myself to someone I was quick to say that to myself and "get over it" and move on. But somehow in the last few months my comparison had disguised itself as something different so I wasn't as quick to catch it. It charaded itself in feeling sorry for myself, thinking I deserved things I saw and wanted, jealousy, and greed - all of which were also true. But the heart of the matter:
Comparison is the thief of joy.
It hit me when I was driving. I do a lot of overanalyzing while I'm driving which usually doesn't do a whole lot of good - but this time it was actually positive: I realized that I wasn't content. That it wasn't my small wallet or my life situations or relationships that I couldn't control that were giving me a "justified" bad attitude. It was my heart. I had let myself compare myself to others or to some magical standard I believed I deserved to live up to. I had let my discontentment spill into not just a dissatisfaction with my finances, but a dissatisfaction to the way I was treated. And folks, that is not a good place to be.
There in my car, the Holy Spirit quietly revealed to me my sin: Contentment. Kathryn, you are not content. And honestly I didn't want to believe it at first. I thought, okay okay, I'll work on being more content. Days went on before it really started to sink in. But then it hit me: He was right. When I started being content and stopped comparing myself to others, I was joyful.
Comparison is the thief of joy.
And when I started being content and stopped being a diva, life started getting back to where it should be. And wouldn't you know that this coming week our pastor will be preaching on nothing other than contentment? When I saw that as the upcoming sermon message I thought, You have got to be kidding me.
Discontentment, you can't hide anymore. I see you, and all the sins that come with you, for what you are. And with the help of the Holy Spirit and some accountability from my hubby, you are daily becoming less existent.
I am encouraged by Paul's words from prison:
I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all things through him who gives me strength.
-Phil 4:11-13
Anything the Lord is teaching you lately?
~Kathryn
You see, I have been struggling with contentment. I know what you are thinking: How in the world could you be discontent? You are right. I have no reason. I have a Savior, a husband who loves me more than I could have hoped for, we are healthy, and all our needs are met.
So how did this happen?
Back in college I worked at a Christian camp one summer, and probably the best thing I took away from that summer was somewhat of a life motto for myself: Comparison is the thief of joy. The context in which I originally heard that phrase used was completely ridiculous. I mean, it was during an all girl swim party for all of us college camp counselors, and we had broken up into two teams - each team was creating their own synchronized swimming routines, and there would be a competition. (I told you, it was ridiculous.) My team was really proud of the routine we had so creatively worked to perfect, but then we saw the competition's routine. When we saw the other team, our hopes were dashed - their routine was awesome. We were suddenly all down on our routine, and then someone yelled out, "Comparison is the thief of joy!", and in that silly moment, that phrase stuck in my heart and I knew it meant more than that synchronized swimming competition. It was an outlook on life that would change me.
Comparison is the thief of joy.
You can apply it to literally anything. We can be perfectly content and joyful with our family, our appearance, our houses, our blogs, our kids' behavior, and then we see someone or something better. And that little seed of jealousy is planted. And we somehow start to feel like we deserve better. We deserve a better car. We deserve that pair of jeans, or that fancy shampoo. If so-and-so can have it, why can't I? And suddenly, we have lost our joy. We got wrapped up in ourselves and what we don't or can't have and began comparing ourselves to others. And folks, there will always be someone with better hair, a more brilliant personality, a quicker wit, and a smaller jean size. That's why this is so dangerous - we will never win.
Comparison is the thief of joy.
I heard that phrase that day and vowed to make it a personal mantra. When I found myself comparing myself to someone I was quick to say that to myself and "get over it" and move on. But somehow in the last few months my comparison had disguised itself as something different so I wasn't as quick to catch it. It charaded itself in feeling sorry for myself, thinking I deserved things I saw and wanted, jealousy, and greed - all of which were also true. But the heart of the matter:
Comparison is the thief of joy.
It hit me when I was driving. I do a lot of overanalyzing while I'm driving which usually doesn't do a whole lot of good - but this time it was actually positive: I realized that I wasn't content. That it wasn't my small wallet or my life situations or relationships that I couldn't control that were giving me a "justified" bad attitude. It was my heart. I had let myself compare myself to others or to some magical standard I believed I deserved to live up to. I had let my discontentment spill into not just a dissatisfaction with my finances, but a dissatisfaction to the way I was treated. And folks, that is not a good place to be.
There in my car, the Holy Spirit quietly revealed to me my sin: Contentment. Kathryn, you are not content. And honestly I didn't want to believe it at first. I thought, okay okay, I'll work on being more content. Days went on before it really started to sink in. But then it hit me: He was right. When I started being content and stopped comparing myself to others, I was joyful.
Comparison is the thief of joy.
And when I started being content and stopped being a diva, life started getting back to where it should be. And wouldn't you know that this coming week our pastor will be preaching on nothing other than contentment? When I saw that as the upcoming sermon message I thought, You have got to be kidding me.
Discontentment, you can't hide anymore. I see you, and all the sins that come with you, for what you are. And with the help of the Holy Spirit and some accountability from my hubby, you are daily becoming less existent.
I am encouraged by Paul's words from prison:
I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all things through him who gives me strength.
-Phil 4:11-13
Anything the Lord is teaching you lately?
~Kathryn
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