Just Some Thoughts.....

This morning I woke up with the overwhelming thought that I will never have to earn God's love.

It's a newer thought than you might think for me, someone who 

has had a relationship with my Savior since a very young age.

But this May, during a particularly moving night of worship my heart

crashed into my mind and the knowledge that I have to 

stop trying to earn God's love imploded in me.

I've always been aware of the fact that I can't earn God's love.

But that didn't mean that I wasn't trying to.

I saw God's love through the tinted lens of my human experience. 

An experience where love is conditional, where it's earned by 

achievements and given out as reinforcement for positive behavior

and withheld when the situation was negative. 

I was projecting everything I experienced over the truth, because that

was all I knew.

That's where the disconnect was.

God's love is so contrary to what we find socially acceptable.

God's love chooses you, when no one else will.

God's love rescues you, out of depravity and slavery.

But it doesn't stop at the initiation of salvation.

God's love pursues you.

It's unconditional. He never walks away.

 He never forces you to love Him, because that isn't the face of love.

He doesn't break our legs and drag us to the cross, forcing us to repent

and receive His everlasting love.

He draws us gently to our knees.

His mercy crashes over us because justice has been balanced when He paid our fines.

And it's this realization that brings so much joy to my heart.

There's nothing I can do to earn His love.

Absolutely nothing.

There's peace in ending the struggle to earn it, because it was

unattainable by anything I could do, it is offered freely.

When His people had abandoned Him, had turned away their faces

and were pursuing false love, God cried out for them.

"How can I give you up, O Ephraim...

My heart recoils within me;

my compassion grows warm and tender."

Hosea 11:8

It's surprisingly easy overlook the presence of God's love when you

are working for it.

 Let's rest in it instead.

The "B" word

As Christians we are often warned about the problematic "B" word.

Bitterness.

Warned from the pulpit, cautioned by mentors,

chastised by scriptures that bitterness can be detrimental to our walk.

And I feel like, it's a thing that most people know.

But I also feel like we don't always recognize it.

Bitterness literally creeps in.

It sneaks up on you.

I festers from something inconsequential sometimes, something that 

should be so simple to come to terms with, but instead of

solving the problem, acknowledging it and confronting

it with prayer and the parties involves, it sits there and the friction

builds until it's a blister of bitterness.

Interesting comparison right?

A blister.

They usually start out as just an itch on your heel.

Then they get hot, the friction builds and then,

before you know it it's extraordinarily painful and you ability to

walk as you usually would isn't possible. 

 Trust me, I have so much experience with blisters.

A pastor spoke from the pulpit this Sunday and told us, 

"It is an illusion to be angry with another person, and be right with God."

As much as I would like for this to not be true, it is though.

I spent quite a lot of wasted time being angry with people.

People who I thought owed me explanations and apologies.

People who I thought should be remorseful for things that had happened

to me while I was in their care.

People who I thought should be held responsible for my actions in the future

because I believed that they were caused by the harm that they did.

But I was wrong.

As is often the case.

A very wise woman one told me,

"You are in no way responsible for the actions of 

the people around you. You are only responsible for 

how you react to those actions."

So today, I am not here to criticize you, and tell you that you are in the wrong.

I want to offer you some encouragement. 

Bitterness didn't pay off for me.

It made my walk with Christ laborious, the antithesis of joy.

I allowed bitterness to drive me to horrible places.

Me. My fault. I did it. 

No one else.

And that was the key. I realized that I didn't have to be angry.

It hurt so, so much to let go of that anger. 

It felt like it would be so much easier to continue in that

anger than to admit that I was in the wrong by holding it, nursing  it.

So when I was struggling through all of the emotions that swirled around,

when I decided that I would try forgiveness and really truly forgive with 

my actions and not just with my words,

I sat down and I wrote.

I wrote down everything that bothered me, 

everything that hurt me,

everything that I felt that shouldn't have happened to me.

And I cried.

A lot.

And over the course of the weeks and months that it took to come to terms with 

everything, to let all of the bad memories rush back, and to actually record them 

instead of suppress them I slowly began healing.

It wasn't all at once, I didn't wake up and say ,"Boom I'm done."

That would have been nice though.

And the blisters that I had, healed over. There are still

some scars here and there, but they are a testimony to

the fact that God allowed me to walk through a trial and

He stood by me and helped me endure it. 

And as I healed He opened a door for me,

in His perfect timing.

And the door had "Echo Ranch Bible Camp" painted on it.

Last summer I had the privilege of serving at this camp here 

in Juneau. I met some of the most wonderful kids ever there.

But it wasn't just a job, it wasn't just being a counselor, keeping 

up with kids, making sure they were taken care of.

It was the close to a very long chapter in my life. 

By being able to share my testimony with these campers,

being able to tell them about some of the things that God had seen me through,

and being able to relate with so many of them with personal struggles 

and encourage them was an amazing opportunity.

I got a glimpse of something. 

My trials had purpose.

God gave them to me for a reason.

Had they not happened my testimony would have been completely different

but because they did I was able to see the struggles of my campers

with an amazing compassion, to cry with them and for them because I

knew firsthand what some of them were going through.

And now, I thank God for the hardships, for the blisters 

and the scars.

Because He gave them to me for a reason:

To glorify Him.

"So if there is any encouragement in Christ,

and comfort from love, any participation in

the Spirit, complete my joy by being of the same mind,

having the same love, being in full accord, and of one mind.

Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in 

humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each

of you look not only to your own interest, but also to

the interests of others."

Philipians 2:1-4

Don't let your dreams be dreams....

"She's just waiting for the summertime, when the weather's fine

She could hitch a ride out of town

And so far away from that low down, good for nothing, mistake making fool

With excuses like, baby, that was a long time ago

But that's just a euphemism if you want the truth he was out of control

But a short times a long time when your mind just won't let it go."

Does anyone else feel like they are the only person that doesn't have it together?

That you're kind of just faking everything in the hopes that one day it will all click?

I do.

I feel so incredibly lost.

I feel like everyone else has these great long-term plans that

have been festering in their lives since they were small children,

and were asked "What do you want to be when you grow up?"

My answer was different every single time someone asked me that.

Except for a few years when I really wanted to be a vet.

And then I didn't.

And I did my school and I went to college, and everyone is still

asking me, "What do you want to do with your life?"

"What are your plans for the future?"

"Are you going to be a teacher?"

"Where do you want to live when you leave home?"

Hey there folks.

I don't know.

I don't have any deep seated dreams for myself.

Until I finished school, my entire existence revolved around making it through the week.

Just one more test, one more class.

And then I graduated and that ended.

And I felt the absence of any dreams.

Shouldn't I have some?

I mean, at this point, anything would be great.

Anything to give me an answer to that barrage of questions,

anything that makes me seem less prepared for my life as an adult.

And I searched, and profiled, and job-compatibility tested.

And yet, nothing.

The stupid test said an office job would suit me.

I work in an office right now though,

and I can't imagine doing it long-term.

I don't have any stellar talents, any athletic greatness that would 

set me apart or give me definition from the crowd of average people.

So what do I do?

This isn't a rhetorical question people.

I don't have the answer.

This isn't one of those blog posts where I set out and then answer my own

question, and the entire first half was really just written in retrospect.

Those are cool though.

Basically the only thing I have going for me is being done with college.

Yay me.

Don't belittle college, sorry guys.

If you are in college, don't quit!

Even if you have no idea what you will do when you are done, don't quit.

I'll go all "Facing the Giants" on you, just don't quit.

So, you and me.

We got this.

We'll figure this out somehow.

Just keep going. You won't stumble over anything great

if you sit at home and wonder about what your life holds.

At that rate, you're looking at Netflix binge records, and stale air.

"Well summer came along and then it was gone and so was she

Not from him because he followed her just to let her know

A dream's a dream

And all this living's so much harder than it seems

But don't let your dreams be dreams

You know this living's not so hard as it seems

Don't let your dreams just be dreams...."

-Jack Johnson, Dreams be Dream

moments.....

Okay, so you know those moments that you know are super important?

The ones that you hold on to forever?

Those are awesome.

What about those moments that make you panic inside?

The socially awkward ones?

"Do I push or pull, or, yep, that says pull let's try that now, and hey the door opens!"

Those are the worst.

Oh, how about those moments that make you cringe??

"Yes, I was an impertinent child, thank you ma'am 

for reminding me, I hear your voice condescending me every

time I'm too loud."

Cringe and blush.

Haha, what about the hilarious moments that you wouldn't trade for anything?

"Let's try sledding on our jackets! This will totally work!"

It doesn't. But we tried it several times. Faceplant every time.

Those missed moments?

"Oh that would have been such a good comeback!"

This one is a plague.

Those other missed moments?

The ones that really do plague you?

"If only...."

I think everyone has a few.

Try not to sweat them loves.

We have to come to terms with the fact that we can't reach into the past and 

touch those moments. As much as we'd like to hold those moments,

press them into something different, to change them,

to say something, to listen, to move,

to stay still, to give up, or to gather courage, we can't.

The only moments we can touch are the ones that are coming.

They are racing towards us. Hurling themselves at us.

It's hard to know which ones will affect us later.

There's no way to anticipate the effect of a single, simple action.

People are unpredictable, circumstances are unpredictable,

and therefore, out moments are unpredictable.

Don't fight that though. 

Keep yourself from tripping over the oppressive bundles of moments from

the past, keep looking up. Don't be afraid to open up those

bundles either. Remind yourself how far you've come from

that moment. And press forward, ever forward.

Don't let the past keep you from touching the

moments of the present, because you never know

just who's present you might be touching.

Make it positive.

Let peace and love and hope leave fingerprints

all over the coming moments....

Gaining Some Perspective

Perspective.

If you are a Pixar fan you should be thinking about 

Ratatouille right now. And if you aren't,

educate yourself people. 

The Pixar films are awesome. 

I'll wait here, go watch UP.

I'm not actually waiting but whatever, come back when you're done.

Or not, you know, I'm still going to write this....

So, perspective.

I picked some up last weekend.

I was hanging out with a girl friend of mine, and we just

opened to each other about our childhood struggles and 

humorous happenings. "Darn that kid that stole my candy 

on field day in first grade" kind of thing. 

And as we were talking we had a "Freaky Friday" moment.

Without the Chinese food and whole actual switching thing.

See, unless you knew me as a kid, you probably

don't know a whole ton about me, or about the 

"defining moments" in my life that helped make me who I am.

I don't think people are born being who they will be when 

they are 10, 15 or 20. Things happen, things

that change our perspectives. 

But as we were talking, this friend of mine said something that really struck me,

"Wow, I wish I had been raised like you, with younger siblings 

and more responsibility. I wanted to be a tomgirl growing up,

but my dad was always really protective and wouldn't let me

do anything risky."

After I got over my shock, I told her that I 

would have loved to trade places with her, 

to have been comfortable with being more feminine, and not mowing

the yard and lifting weights when I was 13, not 

changing tires in the snow, or climbing under the car to grease the joints. 

But then I thought about it some more.

And I realize now that that wasn't true.

I wouldn't want it to be different.

I like doing those things now.

I like knowing that if I get in a jam, I'm not going to

have to sit on my hands until a guy comes to change my flat.

I like being able to give my opinions on things like

practical conceal carry positions, and my favorite knife brands. 

I like being able to do things for myself, to be 

able to take care of situations that freak other women out.

It's that whole "the more you know, the more you don't know" thing.

 So, I'm not the girliest girl out there.

But I don't have a problem with being a girl that knows 

how to do things that others don't, or things that are "guy-ish".

I guess what I'm saying is, instead of wishing you were like

someone else, be yourself. Learn to like yourself,

and don't change for other people.

You're awesome girls. 

And hey guys, if you're reading this you're cool too.

When Hope Feels like a Dirty Word

Hope.

It's such a small word.

Delicate even. 

But it can have huge life altering repercussions.

Not always the good kind.

Hope begs us to keep it close when things don't go the way we think

they should. It asks us to cultivate it like a little seed.

To bury it in our hearts and let it grow in our dreams.

That may sound all charming, and lovely.

And it feels that way in the process.

Humans have an incredible ability to keep up hope.

We love hope.

Jason Mraz loves hope.

Taylor Swift, in spite of her ridiculous claims to otherwise, loves hope.

We all love hope.
We love Louis Zamperini's saga that is "Unbroken", because of the
herald for hope he was. (Side note-I highly recommend this
film, for among many other things, it hands us the perspective that
we have a few choice moments, usually the hardest ones we will face,
that are the crossroads for either a life of regret, or of victory.)

I'm not talking about that cutesy little, "Oh I hope I get XYZ for my birthday"

kind of hope. We give up on that pretty quickly.

I mean that deep hope, that burrows into your soul,

imprints itself into your being, and eventually becomes 

what you identify as.

But then our dreams don't get fulfilled, they get shattered.

Our heart, now grown fonder of the hope, gets broken.

And while we try to pick up the pieces and move on,

we find that seed of hope.

And it leaves a bad taste in our mouths.

Stupid idiot, why did you ever hope?

You could have stopped hoping, and avoided all this, you know.

You could have been sensible, logical even, would that have been so hard?

Good grief, you could have been a hermit with 50 dozen books on World War II alone!

Aaah, a little too close to home there.

Can People Change?

Can people change?

That as the question for today in my 5-year Q&a journal.

Can people change......

This blog is becoming more of personal conversation

with myself than anything, so why don't we discuss it?

Good, we all agree, let's do it.

I am not turning into Gollum, I promise...I do tell myself to shut up

quite frequently, but the similarities end there.

Back to the question though.

Can people (in my opinion) change?

I don't know.....

Well, yes. And also, no.

I'm inclined to answer "no" straightaway, but I am

forever an optimist and have to squeak the "yes" in, for hope and all that.

However, I don't know if people can really change that much.

At least not alone. True salvation can change your desires,

your heart, and open your conscience to reprimanding,

thus eliciting a new behaviour and attitude.

Outside of that though? Not really.

I don't know about all this change.

I believe that people can develop. 

They can become a better version, or worse version of themselves really.

It's a constant battle, that tricky "change". 

Trying to overcome that almost constant desire to fall back

on old habits. I believe habits can be overcome. 

I have overcome bad habits.

I am battling bad habits, that prayerfully, I will overcome. 

We are constantly developing characteristically, spiritually.

Are we changing though? 

I mean, I am not the same person I was two years ago, am I?

Five years ago, ten?

Hmmmm. yes. I am.

And also, no.

I am older, sure. I have more "life experience" (yay life).

I've developed as a person. 

Not really changed though.

I've had variables influencing me, constant things influencing me.

But I still hate cornbread, and I love the stars.

I'm still Katie, with blonde unfriendly hair.

I love Jesus, and I try to please Him,

really He's the only one I have the desire to please anymore.

I'm still that competitive little first grader at heart,

who rallies at the sight or sound of injustice...

(side note-a kid stole my candy bar in first grade and I wasn't fond of him ever after that,

also, I punched a boy for kissing me on the playground)

I'm rambling aren't I?

Oh well. Go away if you're bored.

Not really, please come back!!! 

Yeah, I'm also a people-person. That hasn't changed.

I want people to be happy. I don't like stepping on toes.

But get me wound up about something, and there will always be an

exception to that. 

So, can people change, is there hope for us? 

What is change? Is it "180 degrees, I don't even recognize you'?

Or is it a niggly little thing that etches away at us?

Or is it different for everyone?

I don't know. I still haven't answered the question....maybe I'll leave it blank this year....

Those Book Nerds =/

       Why are books so wonderful? Books have had an almost magical draw for people since they were invented. They are fascinating, they are adventurous, they can make the unknown know through the voice of an author that has been long dead. Most of us recall the lore of the library of Alexandria from our early educations. Most of us have fanned through the spines lined up in a beautiful array at our library, searching for a particular book, or searching for a new favorite, yet to be discovered.
     
       Books are an incredible transfer of another humans thoughts, emotions, opinions, intellect, and interests, captured on a page. When we submit ourselves to the reality of a book, non-fiction or fiction, we can empathize with the characters, the actions, reactions, situations, and struggles they may have.
     
       I once read a theory about books, one that I find so interesting. It said that the process we have of getting rid of our books allows the book to transfer hands until it finds it's perfect reader, and thus can allow sympathetic readers connect trough the experience of the book. I know that sounds so existential, and I don't think I go for the personification of the book as much as this theory does, but in one sense it's true. By the buying, selling, trading, and purging of our books we do give others the opportunity to experience the same materials we have, creating a relatable interest.
     
      One of the most well known books in the world is the Bible. Why is that? There are so many reasons, some historical (like the propagation of missionaries in the 1600s during and following the Age of Exploration) some literary (the Bible is relatable to an extremely wide audience due to the variation of authors and conveyance of timeless struggles that all of mankind can relate to).
    
     The Bible is also the inspired Word of God. I mean, we can talk about inspired books all day long-most books are inspired by SOMETHING. But how many books can claim that they were inspired by God? Just one. It has so many incredible messages, all culminating and surrounding the redemption of unworthy people like me. A message of grace, one that connects it's readers through the ages, transcending time, distance, and language barriers. Amazing, right?!!!
    
      So when you meet a book nerd, don't dismiss their love and fascination of books as an antiquated amusement, because books are for so much more than entertainment :)
Happy New Year!!!
Katie 

Christmas Dress

So I decided Kid#5 needed a cute Christmas dress!

And then I found this plaid flannel!

And I just happened to have some red fleece in my stash

for a cardigan!

This was my first-ever long sleeve dress

(and first jacket thing) ever and I am really happy with how they turned out!

She totally ran this photo shoot, and I love how

much fun she was having!

She kept saying, "let me do another project!"

And she insisted that the dog be included-girl after my own heart :)

Love this one sooo much!

I know it's blurry, but the dog's face is so hilarious!

Sassy sis =)

She was all like, "CHAIK! Look at Katie!!"

I would totally share my pattern with you, but I didn't use one! I drafted a 

bodice from a t-shirt, added the sleeves, and used a circle skirt for the skirt 

with a ruffle hem. For the cardigan.....I have no idea what I did, sorry!

Happy Christmas! :)

Comparison is Killing my Contentment

     So. This is not really a "normal'' post for this blog, or for me to even write. I usually leave the deeper expressions of contemplation to the blogs that were actually created to intellectually challenge the reader. For example, the Gospel Driven Family blog will leave you feeling smarter and yet, surprisingly uninformed about the topic by the time you finish a post in most cases (in my cases anyway). The blogs for clever people abound, and therefore I, not counting myself among the clever, have a tendency to steer toward conversational writing. Because I want to talk to my readers, not just inform them.
     Today I still want to talk to you. So don't let the different format throw you off. I want to talk to you about something that plagues my walk with Christ, something that isn't a first-time struggle for me, one that crops up every now and then and threatens to steal my joy and occasionally succeeds.

My struggle is called Contentment. 

   
     Yep. It may not seem like much, but discontentment can cause so many hectic problems. Being discontent with where God has me translates into so many different other problems. It can mean that I begin comparing my life with one that I would rather have. It can mean that I try to take control of situations that I should allow to work out on God's timeline, not mine. It can steal my joy. It can cause so much heartache because I start to feel like God has forgotten about me, and even if I am surrounded by people who love me, I can feel so alone in this struggle. It ultimately is me, saying,

"God, I don't trust You to work this one out." 

     As a follower of Christ, I know that that is a foolish thing to do. But knowing it doesn't mean I haven't tried to make it work anyway. But it doesn't. I have recently been in the throes of this struggle. I have experienced a few changes in my life, the most impactful was my graduation. On the road to graduating, I was so focused on what was coming next, what test, what studies, what assignment were next. Unfortunately, it led to a sort of "forward thinking" problem for me. Suddenly, I have no "next". I was actually really looking forward to being done with school, thinking it would be the gateway to all kinds of wonderful adventures, but it came and went like a birthday, you wake up feeling the same way as you did the day before, and there aren't that many changes. Except now, I have no next assignment to focus on. 

     It's a challenge not to feel like graduating has caused me to lose all my sense of focus, all my purpose. I've never heard anyone say, "darn that graduation, I have no purpose now, I feel lost." But I have seen the education addicts, the ones that stay in school and continue for years working on academic goals and I can kind of understand why they do it now. I had found my purpose in fulfilling one educational goal after the next, always focused on the end goal of graduating. And now that goal has been completed.

                                    "How dull," I replied to this new chapter in life.

     Discontentment cropped up in all kinds of shapes and sizes when I opened that door, usually initiated by comparing hat I have to what I don't. I don't want to be at home. I don't want to be "single". I don't want to be nearly 20. I don't want to live here anymore. See the pattern? I.Don't. 

     So I opened up my Bible this morning and I read Psalm 37. David says to, trust in the Lord, commit your way unto the Lord, rest in the Lord, and wait on the Lord, because He is our strength in the time of trouble and He will help us. He will help us! Good news, right?

     It's really wonderful how God allowed real people and their problems to be included in His Word, it helps put so many things into perspective. And that's what I got this morning, perspective, reassurance, and prayerfully the ability to release this discontentment, knowing that it may seem harder to just trust the Lord with any plans He has for me than to try to do everything myself, but it really isn't, it's just my desire to control things that is so hard to relinquish. 

And that's all that I have as far as serious things go, just wanted to share with that with you, hope you have a wonderful day,

Kate

Into My Own

One of my wishes is those dark trees,

So old and so firm the scarcely show the breeze,

Were not, as 'twere, the merest mask of gloom,

But stretched away into the edge of doom.

I should not be withheld but that some day,

Into their vastness I should steal away,

Fearless of ever finding open land,

Or highway where the slow wheel pours the sand.

I do not see why I should e'er turn back,

Or those should not set forth upon my track

To overtake me, who miss me here

And long to know if still I held them dear.

They would not find me changed from him they knew-

Only more sure of all I thought was true.

-Robert Frost

It's Been a Bit.....

It's been a bit since I've been on my blog....

Not like I've been feeling guilty about it or anything.

Okay, so I lied, I've missed it.

And I felt guilty, not sure why though.

Blogging has never been like a chore or anything, and it's

not really like I've done it consistently in the history of ever.

But I'm back! Sort of I guess.

Who knows if this will be the first of many posts to come

or the last of any for ages. 

News news news!

For example, I am a transcript away from graduation!

Let's celebrate! 

And after that.....after that, let's take a nap.

A nap that will be like a memorial to all those nights

I spent awake worried about my tests,

worried about the drive, panicked at the prospect of getting lost.

All those breathless moments when I was sure I was going to fail

and, only by God's grace, didn't (expect that one time, but we won't dwell on that).

And shoutout to all the awesome people who have prayed for me.

And the people that told me I couldn't quit (thanks mom and dad).

And the people that told me I wouldn't fail.

All your support has been awesome,

and when I cried and shouted and slapped my forehead

you kept me going :)

Thanks!

This is starting to sound like a bad graduation speech.

I don't do speeches.

And the moon has been gorgeous lately.

So yeah :)

I'm trying to get the hang of this again,

forgive me for rambling like a weirdo.

Wait, no, nevermind don't.

Cause I am, and I did, and I'm not sorry :)

April shower, even though it's March

It's March!! (did you know that?)

And I feel like it's been ages since I blogged.

And if 2 weeks+ is ages,

then it has been.

We have had some really marvelous weather lately.

Rain, in point of fact.

And 50 degrees. 

Wonderful-ness.

And all this loverly weather has inspired me to

grab my pencils. All two of them.

And some blank paper that stares back at me,

asking for kindness, and requesting not to be wrinkled up

and thrown away.

Four pages made it! 

Those less fortunate were....less fortunate.

My mom is a genius and recommended

this pseudo-clothesline for my wall,

I love it, and it was so easy.

To be 100% truthful, the one on the right was done

several months ago, and was stuck in a stack

of old sketches. It fit my theme perfectly though :)

I definitely think the little girl in the rain is my favorite :)

And now I need your help! 

I have room for one more sketch on my line,

and I need an idea! 

Comment below with ideas-remember it

has to be umbrella related :)

Thanks for stopping by!

Let's Paint our Shoes!!!

We are going to paint shoes today!

So run over t o Walmart, and grab a pair

of those 7.00 white tennis shoes that look

super boring, and we are going to make them more fun!

Boring, right?

Pull out those laces, and tuck the tongue into the

toe of the shoe! Now, we are ready to paint!

I used my Tulip fabric paint, the

same ones I've used to my t-shirt projects.

 I really wanted a nice teal color, but I didn't have

any, so I had to mix it.

This is what it looked like before I stirred it up. 

Probably 60% blue, 20% white, 15% green, 5% yellow.

I didn't get a pic of just the teal *bummer*, but I painted the middle

part of both shoes teal. Next, I did black stripes.

I was using scotch tape (cut in half down the center) for a guideline, like painters tape.

I also did the stripes on the toes of both shoes.

It was a little time consuming, but I really like how they turned out!

Can't wait to wear them!

Planes, Posters, and other things :)

First off-my camera cord came off of strike-so now I have photos!

Have you seen the movie Planes yet? 

It is pretty decent, all things considered. 

The plot has some pretty close ties to the original Cars film,

but overall it is a good, family movie night film. 

Needless to say, it has become rather popular here

at our house! And even though birthdays a re a bit off, 

one of the kids has decided on a Planes party.

Yes! I get to make stuff now!

So, the above photo is my attempt at 

"Pin the Prop on the Plane"

In case you haven't seen the movie, the plane

on the poster is the main character-special request 

from the Birthday Kid :)

Everything on the poster is paper, except for like, 

four lines I did with a marker. I am so excited

about this birthday-can you tell?!

Planes and I were already friends (remember my mural?)

so I was more than happy to get to play along! 

And the other thing I wanted to share with you 

is that Kid #6 has arrived! And they came home from the

hospital with a free diaper bag

I think we can all agree that this is a bit boring,

at least everyone at our house did....

So my mom gave it to me to make cool and kid-friendly!

Here's what I did:

Excuse my mad photo-taking skills, lol!

And that's all I have for you today,

than ks for stopping by!

Remember this?

So, I had a post all planned out.

And then my camera USB cord decided to run away.

Remember looking for stuff as a kid,

and you would tell your mom you didn't have it last 

(no one had it last!)

and she always said "well, I guess it just grew legs and walked off then!"

I always thought that would be cool.

Pretty sure Toy Story just fueled that idea.

Oh-remember VHS tapes?! 

They are the real reason we "rewind" DVDs now.

My mom got rid of all of our VHS tapes in the past year.

We had those two-tapes sets, for Fiddler on the Roof,

and Sound of Music. I was so sad, I loved those films.

On the bright side though, we can no longer

just pop in those insanely embarrassing home videos

of my sister and I singing music from the "Aristocats" in shower caps

and pajamas. We were so young. Don't judge.

I remember my mom always telling us to stop the tape 

before we rewound or fast forwarded parts we didn't like.

I never did know for sure why we had to do that....

Remember Barney tapes were white, with purple letters

and Blues Clues were (usually) orange (then they came out with that 

blue one and it threw everyone off) and green Veggie Tales....

Oh, how poorly animated the originals were. 

Remember ours were like this:

And then we were so thoroughly impressed with "Jonah", and the 

Pirates?!

Pretty sure Larry had a lisp back then too....

Puffy paint

Some people  never learn.

That would be me.

I have not learned that it is a bad idea to make 

giant messes and try new projects while

mom is out. 

Just for clarification-this one was not my idea.

My mom emailed me this happy little link

for puff paints, that said

"You could make this while I'm gone!"

I never learn.

But! We had fun.

We're thinking of taking our gallery on tour now that we are experts

at puff paint. 

I let each kid pick their best picture for the blog :)

Kid #5-it's a heart. definitely a heart.

Kid#4

Kid#3-couldn't decide which one was his best work,

so he chose two.

What? I tried okay, I tried so hard.

Snow? Nope, just ice.

We had a little ice-over last night!

Complete with slightly droopy trees,

dropping temps, and a quick power flash!

Of course, our family was planning for sub-zero temperatures, with

the kids all hoping the power would go out. 

Remember wishing that as a kid? We were all like,

Oh! If the power goes out, then I won't have to do school tomorrow!

Now I was more like-if the power goes out,

then my laptop will die. Also, my sewing machine won't work.

It was still ice-y this morning, so I took some quick pics :)

I love how you can see the twists in the wire through the ice :)

My cow was all like-feed me. right.now.

Drooping hay-grass in the pasture

Okay, no idea what these are. But they look cool.

Have a wonderful day!