Whoa Baby

Before my birthday even comes around this year, I have already declared myself old.

Three reasons:

1.  Yesterday when I realized it was the TEN year anniversary of September 11th, I realized it was 10 years since I was a senior in high school.  Where has the time gone?

2. I noticed a varicose vein that is trying to take residence on my leg.  ACK.

3. I have been having many random thoughts about becoming a mother. 

Yes, those things make me old.  But...maybe being old won't be so bad.

And hey, by this definition, I've been old for a LONG time.  Nap time has always made me happy!

Dear Grandma,

I thought of you today when I looked at the calendar and realized it was your birthday.  At first, I was sad that I couldn't call you and wish you Happy Birthday, but then I realized that your party with the big man and the angels singing a happy birthday chorus is much better!

It's hard to believe you've been gone 13 years. You wouldn't believe all that has changed!

First off, all the good TV shows you taught me to love have been replaced by trash.   That's right, no more Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman, Walker Texas Ranger, Murder She Wrote.  But, you will be excited to know that QVC is still thriving.  (And Mom secretly loves watching it just like you did!  She doesn't have their number in speed dial yet, but I'm sure that day will come!)

Mom is beautiful as she has always been and one day she is going to be a wonderful grandma, just like you. But for now, she stays rather busy with the OTHER Katie.  Yes, she was silly enough to give her third child the same name as her brother's third child.  (Hey, they are your kids!)  Our Katie is a big goofball, just like the rest of your grandchildren. :)  She loves to read and her favorite place to go is the library.  She would've loved you :)

Khris never grew into loving reading or shopping like you tried to get him to. But, he has learned how to cook.  A little.  Just don't ask him to cook brownies.... or mashed potatoes.  He's still working on it.  He is still wild and crazy though! 

Remember when you took me to work for "Take your Daughter to Work Day"?  Well, I thought working in a big office was so cool that I decided to go to college and get a degree in business so I could work in a big office and eventually own my own office.  My first job was with yours truly, the FDA.  The Parklawn building wasn't as happy as the building you worked in.  And there wasn't a Dunkin Donuts next door where I could order Cranberry Orange muffins every morning.   But you know what was the same? You can't tell anyone.... but, I use the same password you used on your computer.  SHHHHH!  Anyway, I think I've had my share of working in offices and I'm ready to run my own office!  Just one problem... I'm not sure what TYPE of office. Maybe you could work your connections with the Big Man and ask Him to send some guidance my way.  Remind Him that I'm very indecisive and I need it spelled out rather clearly. 

I met an amazing man in college who I married two years ago.  I really missed your shopping expertise when we were shopping for wedding dresses!  Russ and I had a lot of grandparents who we missed that day, but that beautiful double rainbow right before our reception began let us know that you were all in heaven smiling down on us and blessing our marriage! 

Life is crazy, but we are doing our work and when we are finished, we are going to have the biggest family reunion ever!  Hey, is that lady from Cinnamon Run who ALWAYS called the cops up there?  If so, you better tell her to get ready, because we are going to party hard!  Do you think you could start working on a big plate of Salmon Pate? And maybe a big bowl of German Potato Salad?   For dessert, how about some Black Walnut cookies?  And dig out the Scrabble board, because we are going to play a round, or ten.  (Can you believe no one will play with me?!  I tell them I learned from the best!)

I wish heaven wasn't so far away....Love you and miss you!

The Power of Positive Thinking

"Every thought is a seed.  If you plant crabapples, don't expect to harvest Golden Delicious apples"

This week I've learned that there is true power in positive thinking.  I started my new job, which is 90 miles from home.  Talk about a lot of time to think!  I admit, I started out the week with some excitement, but about 40 miles into the drive, it quickly faded.  By the end of the day, I had to find some inspiration because I felt myself falling into a pit.  I've had to do some re-programming of my grumblings along the week.  

Instead of groaning about the awful time that I get up, I am grateful for the opportunity I have to watch the beautiful sunrise each morning on my way to work.

Instead of thinking about all the things that I have to do in such a short time at home, I am thankful that one of my strengths is organization.  I plan our menu at the beginning of the week and I fix lunch and set out dinners for my husband to cook.  Planning ahead = less stress in my world.  And most of all, I am thankful for an amazing husband who takes care of everything at the house before I get home so I don't have to worry about it.  A helping husband = a happy wife. 

At the new job, I've had some anxiety over the change.   I always hate the first week of the job.  I feel like the dumbest person in the place while I learn everything.  But instead of being overwhelmed, I am so grateful for the small things -- the ability to use Outlook for email instead of the TERRIBLE program I had at the previous job.  I can actually access Facebook during lunch breaks.  Not that I need to because I now work in a city where I have multiple dining and shopping options available to take advantage of during my hour :)  And I work in an office of very friendly people.

And lastly, even though the drive has been grueling, I've had lots of time to spend thinking, praying, praising and catching up with God and family and friends.  I can listen to about 7 chapters of an audio book each day.  My cell phone has used more minutes in one week than it has in one month!  And, after asking, I received many small affirmations from God that I am in fact doing what I am supposed to be doing.

Positive thinking and perseverance... they really do pay off in the long run!  The 180 mile a day long run :P

Things I learned while on vacation

I am still around!  Just very busy.   Coach and I just came back from a vacation to see my side of the family.   We had a great time... and even learned some things while we were gone... 

The word vacation is not synonymous with "sleeping in"
Grandma will spoil you no matter how old she is... or how old you are.
Air mattresses CAN actually stay inflated.
Gummy bears are made with vegetables. Yup, we really heard that.
Restaurants in the South DO run out of biscuits.
One man can convince five women to walk out of a restaurant.  Thank you Coach for convincing us that we wanted sushi instead of Friday's.
God can save you from anything.  Even a speeding ticket.
You can still love Chipotle after eating it three times in one week.
You can still love your husband after spending FORTY FIVE hours in the car together.

While I'm glad to be back in my own bed and my own house, there are big changes on the way that are going to cause me to need another vacation.... to the spa!

Coachism's

If you ever want to know how my husband feels or thinks, you usually just have to ask.  He's not one to hold back his feelings or philosophies.

Earlier this week, after hearing repeated yelling during a round of Wii baseball, I went to investigate.  I walk into the room to see that the game is tied and I ask why he is so frustrated. To which my dearly beloved says...

"Because we all know tying is like kissing your grandma.......... french kissing your grandma."



Well then...

Coach - 1
Kacey - 0

No ties here.

Optimism helps my world go 'round

Lately, I've been having a lot of "so busy I can't think straight" days.  Welcome to life with two jobs, a house and a husband to take care of.   After a particularly busy and stressful day,  someone came up to me and said "Thank you for being such an optimist.  I really needed it today."  I was taken aback.  I don't mind being accused of being an optimist, in fact, I would venture to say it is probably my tendency to be an optimist, but there are days when I don't feel like being positive.  That was one of those days.  You know, the days where you want to tell people how you really feel.

Even the most optimistic person in the world experiences times in life when it is just downright hard to find a glimmer of sunlight in a situation. Times when you feel as though the storm is coming... the world is ending... the sky is falling. A child dies, a loved one is given a terminal diagnosis or is facing a drug addiction.

When I find myself in a deep, dark place in life, I seek out some sort of optimism (quotes, Bible verses, etc.) to help me cope. I have to share my discovery during my most recent quest - The Optimist's Creed.  I found it to very inspiring and challenging.  In fact, it's my new wall art in the office so I can remember the things that really matter.  


Promise Yourself ...
To be so strong that nothing can disturb your peace of mind.
To talk health, happiness and prosperity to every person you meet.
To make all your friends feel that there is something worthwhile in them.
To look at the sunny side of everything and make your optimism come true.
To think only of the best, to work only for the best, and to expect only the best.
To be just as enthusiastic about the success of others as you are about your own.
To forget the mistakes of the past and press on to the greater achievements of the future.
To wear a cheerful countenance at all times and give every living creature you meet a smile.
To give so much time to the improvement of yourself that you have no time to criticize others.
To be too large for worry, too noble for anger, too strong for fear, and too happy to permit the presence of trouble.

A few things that jumped out at me...
"To be so strong that nothing can disturb your peace of mind"  -- NOTHING.  Not the screaming kids.  Not the piles of laundry.  Not the unexpected repair bill.  Not a diagnosis. Not a death.  Nothing means nothing.  You've got to have a strong peace of mind (one that can only be found through Christ) to cope with those things.

"To talk health, happiness and prosperity to every person you meet."  So often we equate health to being negative news.  But it doesn't have to be!  God is in the healing business and we don't talk enough about it!  God has been speaking to me lately about opening my mouth and using my health testimony.   I'm not big on divulging my life to strangers, so it's something that I've been working on. 

"make your optimism come true."   What we think plays a large part of who we become.  We've all known a "Negative Nancy" in life and they are not pleasant to be around. If we think optimistically, we are bound to help the optimistic outlook come true.  As Henry Ford said, "Whether you think you can, or you think you can't, you are right"

"to be just as enthusiastic about the success of others as you are about your own"  Sure, we give people high fives, hugs and handshakes when they have accomplished something great, but deep down, are we TRULY happy for them?  Or is there a nagging feeling of jealousy buried deep within?

"give every living creature you meet a smile"  Ugh.  I'm just not sure about smiling at a spider.... or a snake.  Seriously though, this line might be the hardest, even if we eliminate animals.  There are people in life who you just don't want to smile at.  They are a thorn in your side.  But a smile is a simple curve that can set a lot of things straight.  It's true.  You really can get through to people a lot easier by being nice to them rather than returning their ill moods and attitudes. 

If we can follow the creed, we are bound to not only make our own lives more bearable, but we are probably going to impact those around us too.   There are a lot of people with squeaky wheels who just need a little bit of optimistic oil squeezed into their lives.  A few words or a simple smile can make a profound difference!

That takes some Rizpah

When Christian women think of a woman role model in the Bible, they usually go straight to the Proverbs 31 woman.  While that woman has some serious qualities to be envious of, there are many other awe inspiring ladies in the Bible.  I recently studied a woman who I had never studied before...

Her name is Rizpah.  Her story is tragic, yet her character shines through.

Rizpah was one of King Saul's concubines.  At one point during his reign, Saul attempted to wipe out the entire population of Gibeonites who were living in Israel.  Because Joshua had promised protection to the Gibeonites, they were a little upset over this task and so was God.  Israel began experiencing a three year famine after the attempted annihilation. When King David came to rule, he attempted to make amends with the Gibeonites in hopes of ending the famine.   They called for the death Saul's sons -- two of those belonging to Rizpah.  Her two sons were put to death and left for the animals to devour.  Her sons were not given a proper burial, and momma was not going to settle for that.

Bless this momma's heart...instead of getting mad, bitter or depressed over the situation, she gets out her sackcloth and she stands on the mountaintop with her dead sons from approximately late April (during the barley harvest) to early October (when the rains come) to scare away the birds and the animals.

Think about that for a minute.  No shelter.  No companion.  Just her and God and two dead, rotting bodies.  FOR SIX MONTHS. She couldn't have gotten much sleep because the animals come out at night.   Can you imagine being outside in the dead of night and turning around to see glimmering eyes and a set of chompers staring at you in the face, ready to devour your two sons? That takes some... "Rizpah"

This mother fiercely loved her children and faithfully stood by their side until they were given a proper burial.  She fought for what was right.  And she won!  Not only were her sons given a proper burial, but the other five men were as well.  Her faithfulness paid off.

Our faithfulness through tough situations will also be rewarded.  God knows your situation and He will provide... in His time.  We just have to be faithful and leave the rest up to Him.  As Mother Teresa said "I am not called to be successful, I am called to be faithful."

May we find the love, courage and tenacity of Rizpah to be faithful through our toughest situations.