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?

It is so good

I have been at the Oregon Coast since yesterday, and it is marvelous. Sadly this is the only picture I have so far as my camera is totally dead (this is from my cell phone). So, since I have no pictures, I will simply use captivating and picturesque words that will allow you to see it all in your minds.

Wow.

Anyway, here's my day today:

• Get up and go for a run on the beach. (Wait I said I'd use picturesque words. Allow me to restate that: Awakened by the rising of the crisp, warm sunlight I sprang to my feet and pulled up the blinds to allow the sunlight to flood the room. You could see the waves crashing against the giant rock and smell the ocean. I put on my tennis shoes and ventured out to the beckoning sand and ran as far as my feet could take me.)
• The most decadent and wonderful breakfast imaginable at The Grateful Bread. Perfect blueberry pancakes delighted my senses.
• Many card games and much merriment
• A climbing adventure to the top of a cliff where we got soaked as the largest wave I've ever seen crashed against the rocks, giving me a new respect for the ocean, and a healthy fear for my life.
• Long walks on the beach - several, actually.
  
• More card games
• Dinner at The Pelican - beef medalians so tender and decadent, garlic mashed potatoes and crisp vegetables
• Now - blogging about my adventures, preparing to eat lots of oreos - thus making me start my day tomorrow just like this one.

Now that I have sent you on a great adventure in your minds and incited much jealousy, I leave you to your non-beach lives. Stay tuned for more picturesque words as I do not anticipate a camera recovery.

The Lighter Side - EPI 1

I've spent way too much time in the last few months crying over stupid things, or big things, or really big, important, life-altering things. Well, anyway, let's just say I've been quite dehydrated. With that being said, I thought I would start a series of posts called "The Lighter Side" because let's face it - we all need it!

The problem is I didn't really have a brilliant idea for today's post. So instead of brilliance, we'll settle for adequacy in a list I like to call "Weird things I do." Do you ever catch yourself doing something, well, weird? You're probably fortunate enough to think that you're 100% normal, so you can't relate. But on the off chance that you have 23% quirk or 45% freak in you, this could be a fun comment list.

So without further adieu...

• I say warm like farm, arm, charm. It is my nemesis.
• I blow in cups before I use them. This is probably due to the fact that I had a bad experience with dirt in a cup as a small child...but I'm not sure.
• I have to eat my food in sections. (All the peas, then all the mashed potatoes, then all the salmon...yummm salmon...)
• I'm really tall. What? That's not weird enough to make a weird list? Well, it's my list! I'll do what I want!
• I sleep with both my arms over my head - with one across my forehead. This is because when I was a little girl, I believed a prince would come find me in my sleep and I wanted to have the whole "damsel in distress" look down. And now I can't sleep any other way. It's terrible.
• I hate soap. Hate it. Hate the residue. Hate the word residue. Hate that it never gets cleaned up if some gets on the counter. (Don't worry - I don't smell bad. I use it. I smell like roses.)
• I create attack plans for rapists or robbers sometimes when I can't sleep. I could write a book, and I pity the fool who breaks into my house!
• I color code my closet.

Well, that's all for today. There are many more - OH - so many more! But now I leave it to you:

What's one weird thing about yourself?