Stories & Songs

Turns out I wasn't a big fan of wordpress either. I've had this blog for 6 months, and I've just decided what I want to say. Check it out @ www.storiesnsongs.tumblr.com

Thanks!

Why I Love Fall

Fall.

It is a season that I never used to love. It was cold and involved getting up early for school. But as I get older, I have come to LOVE fall. Here are a few reasons:

• The leaves turn into colors that cannot even be categorized. I have nearly wrecked my car many a time driving past Drake Park, staring at the trees.
• I love that it's getting cold outside, but when I get in my car it's nice and toasty from the sun.
• I love, repeat love, watching families gather outside and play in the leaves.
• I love all things pumpkin...only for the short fall season. Try to feed me pumpkin pie in April and I might vomit.
• I love the expectancy that is almost tangible in the air. Other seasons seem to sneak in, but fall is like a beautiful, colorful dance that brings out the child in you.
• Daylight savings time is my best friend (but only in the fall)
• When it's over, I get to look forward to Christmas!

Why do you love fall? Is it the leaves? The weather? Football? Or do you, like I did so many years ago, believe that fall is just the nagging precursor to a horrible winter? I hope not, because that's just sad.

Well, I've said what I wanted to say, and now I shall leave you with this thought: 62 shopping days until Christmas! :)

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P.S. I looked over my past blogs and decided I have to get back into this...can somebody help me update my look?

Overflowing

I don't have anything important to say.  I don't have any news or any updates.  I don't have any deep thoughts or truths to share.  I just love this day and wanted to share that.  

Lots of days are not like this one.  Lots of days require a fight for joy.  But today?  Today the leaves are changing and it's still warm outside.  Today I woke up from an incredible night's sleep and I can't remember the last time that happened.  Today I celebrated with a friend who is getting married soon, and saw another one that I haven't seen in far too long.  Today is the perfect day of rest and it's not even over yet! 

Today is OVERFLOWING with joy.

Granny

This is Granny.  She's my grandma.  Don't mess with her.

Tomorrow Never Comes

Have you ever made this statement?

"Tomorrow will be different."  or  "Tomorrow I'll get it right."

I'm pretty sure I say that almost on a daily basis...especially when it comes to cooking.  :)  Lately I feel like I am on the edge of a cliff - a very high, very large cliff and I am slowly being guided toward the point where I will either fall or fly.  In a few short weeks that time will come.  And I am looking back at the smooth, flat surface of the cliff - so safe, so far from the edge - and I can still hear the echoes of my voice over years and years:  "Tomorrow will be different.  Tomorrow I'll get it right."

There is so much I wanted to be, so much I wanted to have accomplished by this point.  And I haven't...I haven't.  And it's not because I'm not good enough, or smart enough, or pretty enough - it's because of the daunting escape of tomorrow.  You should see my tomorrow.  It would blow your mind.  It is beautiful and inspired and successful.  It is kind and generous and faithful.  It is bold and fearless and charismatic.  It doesn't judge, doesn't hurt, doesn't get angry.  It doesn't doubt or hide or stop trying.

But the truth is - tomorrow never comes.  It never, ever comes.  

Today is really all I have.  If I want to be different, look different.  If I want to hold Tomorrow in the palm of my hand - I have to seize it, and I have to do it RIGHT NOW.  I know this is all very vague and mysterious, and maybe you're wondering what it is - what I want to change, what I wish I got right.  And over time I will reveal bits and pieces (and there are a LOT of pieces).  But as I sit here tonight thinking over the years, I just thought I should tell someone - that I should declare it in print TODAY.  That I am done waiting for tomorrow.

Because tomorrow never comes.

P.S.  I love Steven Curtis Chapman - seriously love him - and I'm thinking of a song he wrote, "Still Called Today" from one of his first albums.  Somewhere in the recesses of my mind and heart is a leg warmer wearing, big haired, headbanded, neon loving, pleather rocking 80's girl...and sometimes she comes out to play.

Spring Cleaning

I am an extremist...especially when it comes to cleaning. Well this weekend, the extreme clean came out and I went to town on my house. And cleaning just isn't cleaning without some serious organization. Organization of what? Of everything!!! And with organization comes the discovery of hidden treasures you never knew you had. Things you've had since grade school - things that you should not have moved 6 times. And so I bring you:

2009 SPRING CLEANING DISCOVERIES:

Item #1: Pentel Marker Set

Yep, I've moved this six times and I still cannot throw it away. This marker set was a big deal to me. I never really had the cool toys growing up. No My Little Pony, no real Barbie, no Carebears...but I had the pentel marker set. I can't give it up...I just can't. What if I need to write my name in block letters and use multiple colors?

Item #2: The address book

This was the first address book I ever had. Remember when it was cool to get stationary sets? Yep, my address book was from such a set. And in it I found the addresses to the following people:


Yep. Carman and Petra. I had their addresses...which means I sent them letters. Go ahead...laugh. I sure did.

Item #3: A starbucks card from my birthday...last year (June 2008)!

Not really sure, who it was from, but I love finding gift cards I didn't know I had!


Of course I found many other things: old cd's, bills I haven't paid, clothes that I'll never wear again...and never should have worn in the first place, old pictures, memories and much more.

What is the strangest/funniest/most interesting/best thing you've ever found during spring cleaning?

Good Friday

Today is Good Friday.

It is a day most of us don't even think about, or even know about.  I've been a believer in Christ for as long as I can remember, though only a follower for 10 years.  And one thing that amazes me is how God is able, every year, to show me new truths and new mysteries about Easter.

This year's revelation - Sovereignty.

The Sovereignty of God is His rule, His Lordship, His indefatigable greatness.  It is the fact that He is untouchable and unstoppable.  He is all powerful, all wise, above all, before all, ruler of all.  He created Heaven and Earth - all the majesty of creation was inspired by just a Word.  He is Sovereign, majestic and powerful and deserving of all honor and worship and respect.  

But on this day in history, He got none of that.  

The giant God of the universe became small.  On the cross He set aside all power, all beauty and all majesty to do the most powerful, beautiful, majestic act of all:  save the ones who put Him there.

Mmmm.  It really is a Good Friday.

The Life Changing Pear

At last...

The time has come...

Prepare yourself...

Take a deep breath...

Because here comes the pear. First allow me to entice you with a picture:



Now, allow me to give you this life changing recipe (courtesy of a YOU book):

Roasted Pear with Raspberry Coulis, Chocolate & Pistachios

• 1 large red pear
• 1/2 cup white wine (high quality)
• 6 ounces frozen unsweeted or 1 cup fresh raspberries
• 1 tbsp mini semisweet chocolate chips
• 1 1/2 tbsp coarsely chopped pistachios

Heat oven to 400 degrees. Cut pear in half; remove core with a melon baller or metal measuring teaspoon. Arrange pear halves, cut side down, in a shallow baking dish. Pour wine over pears. Bake 18-20 minutes, or until pears are tender when pierced with the tip of a sharp knife. Meanwhile, puree raspberries in food processor; strain and discard seeds. Transfer roasted pears to serving plates, cut side up; sprinkle chocolate chips over the pears (the heat from the pears will melt the chips). Combine pureed raspberries and liquid remaining in baking dish in a small saucepan. Cook over high heat until sauce is slightly thickened. Spoon sauce over and around pears; sprinkle with pistachios. Serve warm or at room temperature.

And there it is. Mind you, when I first red this recipe I expected it to be sour and bland. But it most definitely was not. I recommend adding a few more chocolate chips and a tiny scoop of french vanilla frozen yogurt.



The best part? It's healthy! There is no sugar, no butter, no oil of any kind!

Three cheers for pears!!!

A Brief Intermission

Who knew a pear could cause such excitement and such disappointment?

A little over a week ago I promised a post on a life-changing pear, and it never happened. I have been met with much scrutiny for this fact, and for that I apologize. It was absolutely my intention to post the pear, but sadly (as it often does) life intervened. The kind of life that leaves you without internet, without time and without a post.

I promise to post that pear for you tomorrow come hell or high water (what does that even mean???). But for now, if you'll allow me a brief intermission, I have something to else to say.

Those of you who faithfully read this blog (all two of you) will have noticed a change in my posts in October both in frequency and content. It wasn't that I had nothing to say, it wasn't that I was too busy, it wasn't that I lost interest. Quite the opposite actually - I had so much to say, but wasn't ready to say it yet, at least not to the world.

In October I lost my job. Now I know that in this economy, that is a sentence uttered far too often by far too many people. Losing a job means losing income, security, stability. But for me, it also meant losing part of my identity. I realized at the worst moment that so much of how I defined myself was wrapped up in my job. It has been a painful season in many ways, but also the kind of season - the brutal winter - that makes you believe spring will knock your socks off.

I wrote a post back in September that I looked at again today, and I looked back at my own flood season. And I am so amazed at how God was preparing me for it - for every hurt, every hardship He had an answer laid out in front of me. This one met me one October afternoon:

"By entering through faith into what God has always wanted to do for us—set us right with him, make us fit for him—we have it all together with God because of our Master Jesus. And that's not all: We throw open our doors to God and discover at the same moment that he has already thrown open his door to us. We find ourselves standing where we always hoped we might stand—out in the wide open spaces of God's grace and glory, standing tall and shouting our praise.There's more to come: We continue to shout our praise even when we're hemmed in with troubles, because we know how troubles can develop passionate patience in us, and how that patience in turn forges the tempered steel of virtue, keeping us alert for whatever God will do next. In alert expectancy such as this, we're never left feeling shortchanged. Quite the contrary—we can't round up enough containers to hold everything God generously pours into our lives through the Holy Spirit!"
-Romans 5:1-5 (The Message)

I spray-painted that verse on my soul and held it out for the enemy to observe. And you know what? I made it through. And I didn't just survive. Something was shaped and built in my life that cannot be shaken. Although this has been the most difficult year of my life, I wouldn't trade it - not for anything. And my identity? It is now free to be hidden in Christ like it was meant to be all along.

I know there are many people out there facing similar circumstances: losing jobs, losing loved ones, just losing. But I hope that this sparks in you the reminder that you will be standing right where you always hoped you would be - out in the wide open spaces of God's grace.

Coming Soon

Dear blogging friends,

I'm sorry that it's been so long in between posts. I have two great distractions in my life currently: cooking and the gym. And I'm not even sorry! I have fallen in love with cooking which I have wanted to do for a VERY long time, but have never had much passion, interest, skill, time, etc. to do it.

And so, since I want to keep this sad little blog alive, I will be posting recipes. Maybe daily, maybe weekly...who knows? But they will be so so good, and so so healthy and so so easy! Because I need that combo in my life, and I'm sure you do too.

Tomorrow will be the first one. And all I have to say is, I never thought a pear could change my life...

Until tomorrow,

Katie

Life Lessons

I've been in Portland the past few days, and I've learned a few things while I've been here. I'd thought I'd take the opportunity to share some of them with you:

1. Don't shoplift, even on accident, which leads me to #2
2. If you're holding clothes for your friend while she is in the fitting room, DO NOT put said clothes under your jacket and then forget about them until you're out of the store and things start falling on the ground and everybody is looking at you and thinking that you're a criminal.
3. Graciously return said items and realize that you nearly started a career as a small time theif.
4. Do NOT buy a denim onesie, just don't.
5. Do NOT buy a yellow polyester onesie.
6. Enjoy your friends - they provide nice memories...and shoplifting stories. :)

Allow Me To Change Your Life...

PICO DE GALLO :
4 small vine ripened tomatoes
2 large avocados
1 lemon
4 small radishes
2-3 inches cilantro (from bunch)
¼ onion
Salt to taste

Finely chop tomatoes, onion, radishes and cilantro and place in medium bowl. Slice avocadoes into 1/2 chunks (larger pieces keep your pico from turning into guac) and place into bowl. Roll lemon with your hand to loosen juices, cut in half and squeeze juice into mixture. Add salt to taste.

Tip: Before placing chopped tomatoes in bowl, put them in a strainer and run some cold water over them and drain well. This keeps the pico from getting too soupy.

That's it! Have your whole life changed! You're welcome. :)

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P.S. Photo above is not how it should look, but I am unable to take pictures of food without it looking gross to me.

This one is mine. See?

Thankfulness

I admit I've been horribly lax in my blogging. In my defense, my life has changed quite a lot and let's just say I don't have as much time as I used to. I won't make any promises about blogging more. I'll just say that I really hope to!

Anyway, to tide you over I thought I would just give a little shout out to my friends. My wonderful, amazing friends who I look at and can't believe how much God has blessed me. I recently had to say goodbye to one of them and it just cemented in my heart how lucky I am. We go on adventures, we dress like crazies, we throw theme parties every chance we get, we live life together and it's the best.

I love you guys! Thanks for thinking I'm cool. :)

Mmmm...

Clean house
Finished laundry
Soft music
Many candles
Beautiful Psalm
Worn pages
New year
New mysteries
New answers
My pen
His Presence

Sometimes my life is just this good.

Christmas Expectations

Wow, what a year it has been. As I look back on all that has happened this year I realize that this is definitely the hardest season I have ever walked through. And not only me, but most everyone I love has been affected in one way or another.

But it's Christmas!

And Christmas means time with the family, Christmas dinner, presents (grr), laughter, stockings, Mom's quiche, my brother putting on every single present he opens (even if it isn't clothes), and so much more.

At least that's what I was expecting.

But this Christmas is definitely not that. It looks a little more like medical bills, chest xray, new meds, Dad in the hospital, no time for dinner, no money for presents. And honestly, my first reaction was: This Christmas is a bust.

Until I remembered something...

Last week while leading worship, I said something that I was reminded of this morning: "Jesus does not disappoint." This has been a hard year for most people - losing jobs, losing loved ones, losing faith. And if my expectations for Christmas, or any other season for that matter, are placed in the "stuff". Stuff like dinner and quiche and "how it's always been", then I find myself disappointed - disappointed because my expectations were not met. But, if my place my expectations for the season in Jesus - that He will be just as good this year as last, and just as available, and just as much my Savior - He will not disappoint. And suddenly everything else is an add-on. Spending Christmas in the hospital with my family goes from a miserable thing to a wonderful blessing.

Expectations are a funny thing, and I'm learning a lot about how they change my thinking. What do you expect Christmas to be? I hope you find your expectations exceeded in who Jesus is and that you find yourself blessed beyond measure, no matter what comes your way. Merry Christmas!

Thankful and so blessed,

Katie

Snow Survival Tips

Well, it finally happened. The first snow has hit and Bend (and all the rest of the state) is freaking out appropriately. Since I know many of you bloggers out there may have just moved to the area, I thought I'd offer some insight and wisdom from a seasoned snow lover like myself. So, get a pen and get ready:

DO

1. Get an ice scraper. This is priority # 1 people.
2. Get some thick gloves - the kind that make you have sausage fingers. (This helps with #1)
3. Get a spare key and hide it somewhere good.
4. Learn to crochet or knit - it comes in handy when you're poor and cold.
5. Run to the window expectantly every morning to see how much snow has accumulated (if this is done with some sort of ridiculous slippers such as giant ducks, there is a bonus).
6. Stock up on airborne and vitamin c.

DON'T

1. Try to scrape your windshield with your debit card. Just trust me.
2. Forget gloves - they are like gold. Thick gold that keeps your hands at a temperature that is not painful.
3. Lock yourself out of your house in 4 degree weather. Let me just save you some time and tell you that the recycling can is not tall enough to get you high enough to get to the roof...and it's slippery.
   
4. Spend lots of money on cute hats and gloves - just don't. If you're going shopping - invest in boots because you can't knit those.
5. Run into the window when you check to see how much it snowed.
6. Stop taking vitamin c. Never, ever, ever, ever stop.

Well, there you go. Now you are wise and seasoned and ready for anything.

Happy Snow Days!

"Finish what you start."

As dictated to me by the Holy Spirit this morning. Thought I'd share.

Today's The Day

Today is the day that we're supposed to be thankful, to count our blessings, to be near our loved ones. And so I'm willing to play by the rules. This year has been without a doubt the hardest year of my life. And I know that is the case for many, many people. And do you know what it has made me realize? (Say "no", and ask, "what?") It's made me realize how selfish I am. It's made me realize that I cling much too tight to the things of this world, and not tight enough to Jesus. It's taught me to be thankful in any season, no matter what. And so here's what I'm thankful for. Are you ready? You should maybe sit down...

I'm thankful for my loss.

It's true, I am. You may not always know it at my low points, but I can already see a glimmer of what God is doing in me through this, and it is really good. He's doing something that He couldn't have done if I weren't so stripped bare and without. And when God works on you, He makes you look more like Jesus...which is kind of the whole point. As much as I wish I hadn't gone through a lot of what has come my way this year, the end result will be well worth it and I'm 100% certain of that.

So on this beautiful Thanksgiving Day, I hope you are thankful, if for nothing else than the air in your lungs. Because you know what - it's God's air so you are blessed. I love you dear friends. Thanks for reading and loving me and I wish you so so much joy on this amazing God-given day.

Thankfully,

Katie

My Life In 72 Hours

Let me just say, this isn't going to be pretty...

Tuesday night/Wednesday morning: unutterable depths of the plague
Wednesday day: the most pointless TV shows in existence, no movement for 12 hours
Wednesday night: the most pointless nighttime TV shows in existence, no movement for 6 hours
Thursday morning: dare to emerge from the house, head to work for 3.5 hours, then go home
Thursday afternoon: eat a small amount of food, vow to never do it again
Thursday night: continuously regret all amounts of food ever eaten in my life
Friday morning: regret still in tact, stomach missing, will to live missing, pointless TV shows still in tact.

Well friends, I could have been more eloquent, but mostly it is just driving me crazy that I haven't posted anything in what seems like an eternity. Until next time, remember:

Food poisoning is a foretaste of hell. And trust me - you don't want to go there.

The Lighter Side - EPI 2

If I were an animal...



I'd be a chameleon. There's no doubt in my mind.

I was so surprised, shocked, thrilled, ravenous (wait, wrong use of adjective...sorry), and inspired by all of the comments from the last Lighter Side post. I hope you'll all keep posting your quirks, as it brings so much joy to my little heart.

So, for this week, I thought we'd take it from a new angle. See, I've had many conversations this week in which I have referred to myself as "the chameleon". And I've been met with a few confused looks. So, let me explain why I am a chameleon:

• It's the only animal that gets to change its "clothes" as often as it wants.
• I'm really good at impressions, which is funny, but also a curse because people are constantly repeating a line and then begging, "You do it, Katie!" Which would be great...if it didn't make me look totally stupid.
• I tend to mimic people's style in song. This was evidenced when I discovered a tape of me singing My Heart Will Go On along with a recording of the song. And I probably thought I was singing normal, but I was totally mimicking Celine. I've never laughed harder! "Neahhh....Fahhhhh...whea - ehhhvahhh you ahhhh."
• I pick up accents really easy. I've tried not to, but it's inevitable. If you have an accent and I'm around you for 10 minutes, I will have an accent. It's terribly embarrassing

There are probably other reasons, but I think you would now agree - I am a chameleon. I don't try to be, it's just who I am! Which leaves me just one question...

Which animal are you and why?