• Mandy – Her blog is Mickey’s Wife and she needs traffic and visitors, so get on over there and wish her a HAPPY BIRTHDAY, just a few days early. Her birthday is this weekend! She hasn’t updated her blog in a few weeks, so this would be a good time to tell her to do so. hee hee I have known Mandy for SEVEN years!!! Right? Seven years?
• Papa and Maegan – If you don’t know, this is not only me and Jeremy’s birthdays, but we celebrate with three other family members as well. My father-in-law and my niece celebrate next week, and my niece gets the special privelege of having her birthday on her Papa’s birthday!
• JULIA – I completely forgot about Julia, not because I don’t love that sweet little thing, but I don’t see her as often as I used to, so she slipped my mind…however, she is back now and this year she not only turns the big 2, but she is now a big sister! I pray she is doing delightful in that new role of hers and turning 2, hopefully won’t make her terrible! Sorry Joy!
• After that, it’s my sister-in-law Laura – When we are together, we get mistaken for sisters and I always just say that we are. She is deep in her faith and walks a genuine walk with our Lord. I admire her for all the things that she does.
• Drum Roll Please….Jeremy! I wouldn’t say he is all that excited about turning 30, but he is handling it well. Jeremy has done alot in his 30 years and I look forward to walking next to him to see what the Lord does in the next 30 and beyond. He will have a birthday weekend filled with all the things good.
• My dear friend, Michelle, is next. Her birthday is the day after Jeremy’s and she has only been on the birthday list, for what, maybe this is the third year? I think that’s right… She is the proud mama of twin girls and she will deliver her third baby in October…actually, maybe September if she is lucky. She is a fun girl who deserves lots of fun days!
• Derik – I didn’t forget about Derik, although I never talk to him anymore. He is busy planting a church in Little Five Points. He and Jeremy went to seminary at the same time and he lived across the parking lot from us. He then ventured to Amsterdam for two years and now he’s back living in the area and like I said, planting a church.
• ME!!!!!!!!!! Then comes me!!! I don’t mind telling you that I am NOT turning 30 this year….that’s next year!!! I love birthdays; can’t you tell? Maybe it’s because I am an only child, and birthdays are supposed to be special! I just have always loved having a birthday…maybe because it’s the best excuse to have a party! Birthdays are meant to be spectacular and shared with the most treasured people in your life. I have already told Jeremy I want a party next year, okay?
• Lauren and Katherine – These are Michelle’s twins! They will be 2 this year! I can’t wait for their little party.
• Kim – Kim is a dear friend of mine and hers is the last birthday of the month. She is Kendall’s momma and is also expecting her second baby next year. Yippie! Kendall is one of David’s girlfriends…

So, that concludes the birthday list. I hope you all enjoy your birthdays and the Lord gives you your deepest desires as you celebrate the day you were born. May you enjoy it with your most treasured people in your life. Happy Birthday!

In His Love-

Karen

Tags: Birthday, Friends, August

Today, at approximately 2:45 PM, Jeremy and I celebrate 5 years of being married. I presume that 2:45 was about the time we were announced husband and wife…although I may be a few minutes off. hee hee Our day was incredible and I don’t even want to imagine spending my days serving the Lord with anyone else by my side. It has been a journey and I look forward to many more adventures on this journey. I love you, Jeremy.
We are planning our celebration for tomorrow night, since Grandma will be taking care of the boo bear at her house. Overnight. YIPPIE! This is what Grandma’s are made for. I had pondered on my Thursday Thirteen three weeks ago of whether to buy my husband a gift. I have opted to purchase him something, and at this time have not done that. I have been taking care of boo, who has been sick, and now I am sick, so it just really hasn’t gone as well as I had hoped in regards to the gift. I know he got me something. I have an idea of what it might be, although, he likes to surprise, so I am trying not to get it in my head of what it might be. I will let you know later.
Jeremy is coming to have lunch with me today and hopefully he will want Mexican. I sure do!
My dad called me yesterday to say Happy Anniversary, since he must have read my blog post from yesterday! I thought it was funny and cute that he called, even if it was a day early. He reads my BLOG! He’s probably my biggest fan and most avid reader. He finds this is a good way to know about what’s going on in my life, day to day basically, although he did get a little upset that he read about my ambulance incident from here. oops. We live too far apart. Maybe the Lord will lead us to Florida, dad. Although, I would still be blogging by then, so he would still have to read it. ha!

Well, avid fans, you are in for the month of your life next month! August is BIRTHDAY MONTH! And, if you have just only started reading this blog, you will find out quickly that I LOVE BIRTHDAYS!!!!!! Particularly my OWN! So, on August 1st, tune in for BIRTHDAY MONTH!!!!!!!!!!

Have a great day in our Lord!

Karen

Tags: Anniversary, Birthday, Marriage

Thirteen Things about Our WEDDING Day!

The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

It’s never fun when your baby is sick! I was home yesterday with my boo since he had a horrible diaper rash that left him screaming bloody murder at every diaper change and then crying for at least 30 minutes afterwards. Nothing was working, so it warranted a call to the nurse at 5:50 AM yesterday and then a trip to the doctor (we were just there last Wed!). We changed the meds he was taking for the sinus infection and then got him some cream for his rash. He has been feeling better, although my emotional side hasn’t really gotten out of it yet. I have never cried so hard then I cried the past 36 hours over that rash. Him crying and screaming made me cry, because I knew the pain he was feeling was deep and horrible. His legs would shake, nothing would console him, and he couldn’t even sit down because it hurt so bad. I was devastated…and the whole world came crashing in. I wrote in my post yesterday that it is impossible to do everything and do it well, and although I wasn’t even trying to do my things well, everything was seeming impossible. I won’t lie…it’s difficult at times being a wife, mom, worker and manage those and then add on having a life with friends, having a passion for women’s ministry but having no outlet or time for it, etc. However, with all that said, it’s never difficult for long with Jesus. Amen?
I was driving this morning with boo bear and a song came on the radio…you know the song…the one that makes you think…and cry. Boo bear noticed me crying and when I was done he asked me, mommy, you done? I said done with what? He said crying. You done crying? Yes, boo, I am done. He said I love you, mommy. Oh, boo, I love you too. I also told him that God loves him too…more than anyone else in this world. He said God loves mommy too? And daddy too? Yep, boo, God loves mommy and daddy too. He loves everyone!
The song “I Have Been There” by Mark Schultz is a great song. I like Mark Schultz and his music…it inspires me and really makes me think. If you have ever heard the song, you can get a visual picture in your head of the daily struggles of people and how Christ has been there…He knows what fear, pain, and sorrow are all about and most importantly He overcame the cross! I never have to worry or think anything is difficult for very long…Jesus has been there! He knows exactly what feelings I have. He knows exactly how much pain I can bear. He knows exactly what I will worry and fret over…and He also knows it won’t take me long to turn it over to Him. I can say it wasn’t always that way…but in this life, what can be more important than trusting Him?

Philippians 4:19 “And my God shall supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.”

In Christ-
Karen

Tags: Christian, Devotional

“One cannot collect all the beautiful shells on the beach. One can collect only a few, and they are more beautiful if they are few.”

~ Anne Morrow Lindbergh ~

My grandparents had a house on the beach when I was little. I can practically remember everyday that I spent there as a little girl. I went there for Spring Break and during the summer and then we would frequent there at other times in the year as well. My favorite thing to do was to collect shells! My grandparents would lay them all on the sea wall to let them dry and I took them home by the bag loads. Sometimes we made necklaces, sometimes we put them in lamps, sometimes my mom would use them on her plant hangers. I have those visions of those days as if they happened yesterday.

Anne Morrow Lindgergh was right about the shells…you can only collect a few and they are the most beautiful. I wonder what her “shells” were that she was referring to.

For the years that I have been a church member, involved in Sunday School, and leadership in those areas, I consistently have to remind myself to do things well. It would be easy for someone like me (ie…people pleaser) to be involved in a hundred things, but I wouldn’t do them all well. They would only be done so-so. I don’t think that’s what God had in mind when he said in Luke 16:10 “He who is faithful in a very little thing is faithful also in much…” If I tried to do everything, even the things I really want to do, and do lots of things at one time, nothing would come out beautiful. It would be this thrown together mess and it wouldn’t be pretty.

I encourage everyone in Christ to do what God has called them to do…the very thing He has gifted you to do…the very thing He has given you a passion for. Most importantly do it well.

In Christ-

Karen

Some of my family is in town from Orlando, since my cousin is playing in a baseball tournament in the area. It’s been nice knowing they are nearby. I got to take David to see them on Tuesday and we had such a great time! David ran up to them and gave them hugs and high fives like he knew exactly who they were…it was completely precious. As we sat and watched the rest of the ballgame, had lunch with them, and then came back to their hotel, I realized how much I really miss them. As we said goodbye that day, in hopes of seeing each other again, I was sad. My mind wandered back to a time when I was little…we didn’t live close to each other then…they were in Texas and we were in Florida, but during one of their visits to Florida we got to see them. They only had two kids then, my youngest cousin was only a glimmer in their minds, so I could have only been about 11-12 years old. I remember leaving Sarasota and sobbing my eyes out most of the way home. I just really wanted to spend time with them. I missed them. So, when I was leaving them on Tuesday, I got that same feeling in my heart. It was weird to think of that moment all those years ago. It was even more weird that I was having that feeling of missing them so much. I normally get to see them on average about once a year, maybe twice, and I was overcome with emotion of wanting to be with them and see them more.
I don’t know what the future holds and where the Lord will have us be…maybe it’s Florida, maybe it’s not. Wherever it is, I pray that I stay as close as I can through the miles.

Thank you Lord for reminding me how important my family is and how much I miss them.
I love you!

In Christ-
Karen

Tags: Family

Graphic courtesy of Kelly – Diary of the Nello

1. Field of Dreams – Kevin Costner, but more importantly the story. My dad’s dad played baseball, so it’s a sentimental movie for our family. The daughter’s name is Karen in the movie…
2. Bourne Identity/Supremacy – Matt Damon plays an awesome role and I have loved both of the movies…I think we should expect a third.
3. Spy Game – Now, who couldn’t love some Robert Redford and Brad Pitt…the ultimate CIA/spy movie…so good!!! If you haven’t seen it, I highly recomment it.
4. Monster, Inc.- The Boo Bear hasn’t seen it yet, although I am sure he’ll like it. John Goodman and Billy Crystal were great as the voices of Sully and Mike Wazowski. It’s just a cute movie.
5. Lord of the Rings – I admit I partly could watch it over and over to understand it, but when the hubby is watching too, I just ask questions. It’s long, but it’s so good!
6. Star Wars – Any of them! I grew up on those movies, so the three they released in the last few years have been awesome to put the story all together.
7. Saving Private Ryan – I know…I know…the first 30 minutes could make anyone hurl, but it’s just a very inspirational movie! If you can handle the gore of the fighting, then you should see it.
8. Catch Me if you Can – A true story nonetheless. Leonardo di Caprio and Tom Hanks played opposite roles together like pros. I just couldn’t believe it was true that the guy swindled millions as a late teen!
9. Die Hard – Oh I am a big Die Hard fan…I have begged for the trio set for years now…I stopped asking last year, since no one took the hint. I just like Bruce Willis in these movies and the action adventure.
10. Pretty Woman – My husband loves to joke that everytime this is on TBS or TNT, I find out and for three days it’s what I watch. He’s partially right…I like Julia and Richard!
11. Anna and the King – The story of the King of Siam (played by Chow Yun-Fat) and widowed British schoolteacher (Jodie Foster). Beautiful story! Jodie Foster has played lots of roles, but this one is different.
12. Erin Brokovich – Also a true story…watching Julia Roberts play Erin was incredible. I thought she did a fabulous job and deserved her Oscar for it. Since we are on it, I’ll say that Ocean’s 11/12 and Mona Lisa Smiles are all great too…I like Julia!! She is a native Georgian, ya know.
13. Chronicles of Narnia – We got to see this on Christmas night and I loved it. My husband read the books, but I haven’t…now that I saw the movie, it makes me want to read the books.

The summer seems like it’s just kicking into gear, although it’s almost over for the school kids. A teenage girl at church yesterday told me school starts August 14th for her…good golly, that’s less than a month away! I then thought that there will come a day (and it’s coming soon) where my whole year will be planned around summer vacation. At this juncture in my life, I can plan to go to Disney World in September, when the rates are cheaper and the days aren’t as hot, but when my little one goes to school, those days are long gone…unless of course, I homeschool. Nothing against homeschool, but just don’t believe that God has called me to do it…yet. He may, he very well may, but the agreement with my husband at this given time is I will not as long as we are in the states. Should the Lord call us elsewhere, then I am sure he will equip me to homeschool them, should that be necessary. Now that we got that cleared up…
Summertime feels like the most wrong time to be changing my eating lifestyle, but it seemed like the perfect time to me and Jeremy. So, we started a new plan called Spark People. I have included the link for you, in case you want to check it out. We have been on it for a few days now, and honestly, it’s a nice change. It’s everything you already know, but it’s on the computer and I can keep track of my food and what a healthy range I should be staying in with regards to Carbs, Fat, Protein, and Calories. We are really enjoying it. We have actually found something we like… Yippie!
My family is on their way from Florida today! WOO HOO! My cousin is playing in a baseball tournament and I gotta tell you, I can’t be more excited than I am right now about seeing them. It’s been over a year since I saw them last. They get pictures of the boo-bear every now and then, but it’s nothing like seeing the real thing up close and personal! My cousin and I are 13 years apart and then he and my boo-bear are 13 year apart…weird huh? What’s more weird is that my cousin and my son could pass for brothers! Especially with the haircut that boo has right now. Speaking of that, I think it’s been 4 weeks now since the haircut, and it’s growing…it’s growing. I am going to have to start putting some gel in it soon… hee hee Anyway, I am looking forward to seeing the fam tomorrow, and oh, I have the day off tomorrow…and I have been given permission to leave a little early the rest of the week. WOO HOO! I may get frustrated at times with working…I mean, I know the Lord paved the way for me to work here and ordained it the time for me to work, and He even gave me a huge peaceful heart about it, but it’s still hard sometimes to leave my boo bear and not want to do things during the day with friends; but I gotta say, this is a great place to work. They are flexible with me and they push me to be a better worker.
Have a great Monday!

In Christ-
Karen

Tags: Family, Summer, Spark People

It’s Week #6 of Carnival of the Blogging Chicks! This week we had a theme…Dreams! GO RIGHT NOW and check some of these chicks out. We have all kinds of dreamers…some of eternity, some are day-dreamers, some think their dreams make a great movie, others dream of the future of their family.

Hurry! These chicks don’t stay in one place for long…

Till next week….

Preview: Next week’s theme is Summer!

In Him-

Karen

Tags: Blogging Chicks