Blessings,
Katie
Tuesday, April 17, 2007
Easter Sunday
I almost forgot about Easter. Here's a picture from the day. We had a great time celebrating at Adam's parents. And despite the cold weather I still dressed Avery in an Easter dress with no tights. She froze her tushy off, but she sure did look cute.
Blessings,
Katie
Blessings,
Katie
Friday, April 06, 2007
Sunday, April 01, 2007
There Is None But I...
We have now been down in Naples, Florida for just about a week- we'll be headed back to Indy on Tuesday- and we have had a wonderful time being together. We have done all the typical "Florida things"
1. taken early morning walks on the beach
2. eaten a lot of wonderful and FRESH seafood
3. gone fishing (and actually caught some fish)
4. swam to the sandbar and found enough sand dollars to give to mother's 4th graders
5. lounged in the pool
6. saw dolphins and a whole school of sand sharks right up close to the shore
6. walked over to the the ice cream shop EVERY night for ice cream
7. and of course relaxed
It truly has been a much needed break from the craziness of trying to sell our home; something I have learned is much more work than I ever dreamed possible.
And while we have been having a blast, I can't seem to stop thinking about our surroundings and the surrounding wealth. Having grown up visiting Naples, I have seen it change over the years (or possibly I have just started to recognize what has always been present). The only word to describe this place is... opulent. Adam laughed when I used the word, but as I tried to explain to him, Naples is more than a place where the rich live. It oozes excess, self-indulgence, luxury, and an outrageous sense of entitlement. In many ways it reminds me of Daniel's description of Babylon.
What has bothered me most is not what being in the midst of this wealth has done to others (i.e spending millions on bricks and mortar, driving expensive cars, treating servicemen and women as if they were second class citizens), it is what it has done to me. In just a short week I have sensed a change in my heart, an adoption of the "Babylonian mentality." The worldly comforts this place offers are enticing and beautifully deceptive. They have tripped me up, made me question if a little more emphasis on the accumulation of money or things wouldn't possibly make life a little more palatable or enjoyable. I have to admit, I have gotten quite comfortable with nice fish dinners out, window shopping, doing whatever I please when I please, and generally thinking about me. I have even caught myself daydreaming about a nicer house with nicer things and how a little bit better job might get us one step closer to the Americna dream, which is displayed around every corner here.
So, while I am not anxious to leave the nice weather, relaxing days with my family and beautiful sunsets, I am eager to be reminded that there is a world outside of my wants, needs, and personal happiness. Even in Naples, God is trying to get all of us to lift our heads up from our own story and participate in the writing of His story for all of humanity. Its just been hard for me to remember that here in Naples. Thankfully, God has reminded me of this:
"But godliness, with contentment, is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we an take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs."
Peace,
Katie
1. taken early morning walks on the beach
2. eaten a lot of wonderful and FRESH seafood
3. gone fishing (and actually caught some fish)
4. swam to the sandbar and found enough sand dollars to give to mother's 4th graders
5. lounged in the pool
6. saw dolphins and a whole school of sand sharks right up close to the shore
6. walked over to the the ice cream shop EVERY night for ice cream
7. and of course relaxed
It truly has been a much needed break from the craziness of trying to sell our home; something I have learned is much more work than I ever dreamed possible.
And while we have been having a blast, I can't seem to stop thinking about our surroundings and the surrounding wealth. Having grown up visiting Naples, I have seen it change over the years (or possibly I have just started to recognize what has always been present). The only word to describe this place is... opulent. Adam laughed when I used the word, but as I tried to explain to him, Naples is more than a place where the rich live. It oozes excess, self-indulgence, luxury, and an outrageous sense of entitlement. In many ways it reminds me of Daniel's description of Babylon.
What has bothered me most is not what being in the midst of this wealth has done to others (i.e spending millions on bricks and mortar, driving expensive cars, treating servicemen and women as if they were second class citizens), it is what it has done to me. In just a short week I have sensed a change in my heart, an adoption of the "Babylonian mentality." The worldly comforts this place offers are enticing and beautifully deceptive. They have tripped me up, made me question if a little more emphasis on the accumulation of money or things wouldn't possibly make life a little more palatable or enjoyable. I have to admit, I have gotten quite comfortable with nice fish dinners out, window shopping, doing whatever I please when I please, and generally thinking about me. I have even caught myself daydreaming about a nicer house with nicer things and how a little bit better job might get us one step closer to the Americna dream, which is displayed around every corner here.
So, while I am not anxious to leave the nice weather, relaxing days with my family and beautiful sunsets, I am eager to be reminded that there is a world outside of my wants, needs, and personal happiness. Even in Naples, God is trying to get all of us to lift our heads up from our own story and participate in the writing of His story for all of humanity. Its just been hard for me to remember that here in Naples. Thankfully, God has reminded me of this:
"But godliness, with contentment, is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we an take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs."
Peace,
Katie
Monday, March 19, 2007
A Weekend Visit
On Saturday (just after the black-eye incident) we were blessed with a visit from our dear friends, Mike and Gail. They drove over from Cincinnati on Saturday morning and stayed with us until Sunday morning. We had a GREAT time!
We had lunch at Bagel & Deli, an old Miami pastime...
and Mike went ahead and had a 2nd lunch at another old favorite from the Oxford days. We went on a walk, the girls went shopping, we watched a little bit of basketball (okay, a lot) and just had a blast catching up. We had a wonderful dinner and chatted about everything under the sun. They are just one of those couples that we feel like it's only been a couple weeks since we've seen them last, even though this time it had been almost 8 months! We always pick up right where we left off, and we are definitely blessed to have them only 2 hours away.
It was also really fun for us to see them embrace Avery. They met her when she was about 3 months old, so they were excited to see how much she had grown. Avery was anxious to see her crazy Uncle Miggsy and Aunt Gail again too. It was so cool to see them all together and just think back to freshman year at Miami... who would've ever thought we'd be hanging out with our daughter?!
One thing Katie and I are continually reminded of is how wonderful our friends are. We are truly blessed to have close friends from both high school and college that we can say with confidence will be friends for life.
Sunday, March 18, 2007
My first "boo boo"
Well, they say it happens to every baby eventually and although I'm not exactly sure who "they" are, their prediction held true with me. At only 10 months old I got my first serious boo boo - a black eye nonetheless. My mom and dad were pretty shaken up by it, but I did my best to calm them down and help them keep their composure. Here's how it happened....
See, we were all in the guest room and I was practicing my latest trick - clapping - with daddy on the bed, while mommy was checking her email. Daddy and I were playing patty cake and all of the sudden I lost my balance a bit and fell forward. Daddy didn't catch me in time and I bumped my head on the corner of the bedside table. Ouch! I cried pretty loud at first, but then I was okay after a few minutes. I got worried because mommy didn't seem to be taking it too well, so I tried to be tough for her. Daddy felt terrible too and said it was his fault, but I know it was just an accident and I'm glad I'm okay. They tell me I'll have a "shiner" for a few days... whatever that means. I just hope they stop putting that cold ice stuff on my face soon. Yuck!
Thursday, March 15, 2007
A Trip To The Park
We managed to get to the park yesterday before the rain... a fun family outing.
Katie
Katie
Wednesday, March 14, 2007
More TWINS
It official......not only is Avery going to have one set of twin cousins.... she is going to have two sets. Yep. My big sister Fran is PREGGO with TWINS TOO.
She was home this past week to share the news and visit with her niece.
We couldn't be more excited.
The only problem is... Avery will surely ask where her twin is.
Monday, March 12, 2007
Around the Corner
Spring certainly seems to be around the corner... especially after such a beautiful weekend. Although I did hear that we should expect flurries by Thursday. Only in Indiana.
We managed to have some fun outside this weekend taking a "walk" around the yard.
She just keeps getting cuter!!!
We managed to have some fun outside this weekend taking a "walk" around the yard.
She just keeps getting cuter!!!
Saturday, March 10, 2007
Can you hear me now?
Many of you know this about Katie. It's one of her many charming quirks that make her so lovable. It's something that doesn't necessarily match her personality, but has been stiched into her DNA since childhood.
She doesn't do conflict on the phone.
In fact, she doesn't like to do much of anything other than chat on the phone. She doesn't even like to make her own dentist appointments.
Not anymore. Today was a big day. A breakthrough indeed. After months of being used and abused by Sprint and paying enormous cell phone bills, Katie called and set them straight. No yelling. No swearing. Not even a raised voice or a frustrated tone. She simply called and calmly, but firmly let them know that we were cancelling. She then proceeded to have the nice man at Sprint in the palm of her hand and not only did we get a completely new plan with rebates and discounts galore...
Just for good measure Katie went for the jugular and got us each $280 phones for $29.
What a woman!
She doesn't do conflict on the phone.
In fact, she doesn't like to do much of anything other than chat on the phone. She doesn't even like to make her own dentist appointments.
Not anymore. Today was a big day. A breakthrough indeed. After months of being used and abused by Sprint and paying enormous cell phone bills, Katie called and set them straight. No yelling. No swearing. Not even a raised voice or a frustrated tone. She simply called and calmly, but firmly let them know that we were cancelling. She then proceeded to have the nice man at Sprint in the palm of her hand and not only did we get a completely new plan with rebates and discounts galore...
Just for good measure Katie went for the jugular and got us each $280 phones for $29. What a woman!
Sunday, March 04, 2007
Waiting
It is Sunday afternoon. I am curled up on the oversized chair in my family room. Adam is asleep on the sofa across from me. Avery is upstairs taking the second of her 2 hour naps today.
We just got home from church. I can't say that today's sermon "spoke to me" in any particular way. And I am certainly not implying that they all should. I realize and recognize that church isn't always for the consumer, but sometimes we go to be consumed. Today was certainly one of those days.
Sitting here though, I started thinking about words spoken by our pastor a few weeks ago. Praise God that He tucked them away in my heart for a time when I needed to hear them, meditate on them, and put them into practice. Jeff, our pastor, spoke about how we as a society are always looking for the next best thing. We always have our eyes fixed on "the next place" we are going to go and the next thing we are going to do. We think about the next job just months after we have started the current, we daydream about the next vacation while still in Florida on this year's trip, and we spend this weekend planning next weekend's fun activities. In our desire to get our "next" questions answered- our next job, our next home, our next child, our next activity, we miss out on the blessings of the current situation.
I have to admit. I have been snarled up by this today and really for the last week. It seems that it has been a week of "waiting" for me. Just now I am thinking about all the things I am waiting on....waiting for them to change.
I am waiting for the snow to melt and Spring to come.
I am waiting for Adam to wake up so we can go "do" something.
I am waiting for our vacation 3 weeks from now and wishing it was next week.
I am waiting for some test results from my doctor.
I am waiting for someone to buy our house.
I am waiting for feedback from our realtor about why people aren't buying our house.
All this waiting has and is leaving me terribly discontent. I desire change. I desire to be in the next place, the next chapter, the next month or year of my life. And then I remember.....
The enemy of discontent is thankfulness
They are the words that my pastor spoke a few weeks ago that God reminded me of while sitting in this oversized chair waiting!!!!
There IS so much to be thankful for. I hope I can spend the next few minutes meditating on those things instead of "waiting" while my family sleeps.
Blessings,
Katie
We just got home from church. I can't say that today's sermon "spoke to me" in any particular way. And I am certainly not implying that they all should. I realize and recognize that church isn't always for the consumer, but sometimes we go to be consumed. Today was certainly one of those days.
Sitting here though, I started thinking about words spoken by our pastor a few weeks ago. Praise God that He tucked them away in my heart for a time when I needed to hear them, meditate on them, and put them into practice. Jeff, our pastor, spoke about how we as a society are always looking for the next best thing. We always have our eyes fixed on "the next place" we are going to go and the next thing we are going to do. We think about the next job just months after we have started the current, we daydream about the next vacation while still in Florida on this year's trip, and we spend this weekend planning next weekend's fun activities. In our desire to get our "next" questions answered- our next job, our next home, our next child, our next activity, we miss out on the blessings of the current situation.
I have to admit. I have been snarled up by this today and really for the last week. It seems that it has been a week of "waiting" for me. Just now I am thinking about all the things I am waiting on....waiting for them to change.
I am waiting for the snow to melt and Spring to come.
I am waiting for Adam to wake up so we can go "do" something.
I am waiting for our vacation 3 weeks from now and wishing it was next week.
I am waiting for some test results from my doctor.
I am waiting for someone to buy our house.
I am waiting for feedback from our realtor about why people aren't buying our house.
All this waiting has and is leaving me terribly discontent. I desire change. I desire to be in the next place, the next chapter, the next month or year of my life. And then I remember.....
The enemy of discontent is thankfulness
They are the words that my pastor spoke a few weeks ago that God reminded me of while sitting in this oversized chair waiting!!!!
There IS so much to be thankful for. I hope I can spend the next few minutes meditating on those things instead of "waiting" while my family sleeps.
Blessings,
Katie
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