We got up to head to church at my brothers church where they live in Sulphur, OK. Definitely a little different than what we’re used to, but always great to see people worship in different ways. I wish I could say I totally paid attention, but I was a bit distracted.

We finally got to meet Taelyn Brooke!! She’s absolutely beautiful and has the greatest little personality. Her lips are gorgeous and she puckers them up and makes this ‘blue steel’ face. Outstanding! I couldn’t get enough of her!! We spent the whole day at my brothers just playing with Taelyn and Tallie. It was a great day with family!

We met up with Todd, Wendy & Cade for dinner!! It was so great to see them! We miss them so much and hate being so far away. I can’t believe how much Cade keeps growing! It was so good to catch up with them and hang out!

We had a blast hanging out with family and friends! Did I mention how cute my niece is????

Vacation Day One began at 3:45 am.

That’s right, it does exist.

We drove over to the Norman’s to drop off Jack.  They’re graciously keeping our wonderful son for the next two weeks.  Chris got out of bed at 5:00am to take us to the airport.  Jack wasn’t so happy to see us go!

After a LOOOONG day of flying, we finally arrived in OKLAHOMA!! My parents picked us up and we were off to Purcell, OK! We stopped for dinner at Rodney’s Pizza, the BEST pizza in the world.  HANDS DOWN.

As if I wasn’t stuffed enough already, we stopped to get the best sno cone in the world.  HANDS DOWN.

We had a great day hanging out with my parents on the farm! It’s quite a change from the OC, but fun to be home for a bit.  Tomorrow we’re heading to my brother’s to see our baby niece for the first time.  I can’t decide if I’m more excited to kiss her cheeks or go to Israel.  We’ll see. 

I’ll leave you with this, what is outside our window as we go to sleep tonight….

Goodnight from the farm,

I have  a serious case of OCPD.

Obsessive Complusive Packing Disorder.

It’s a real disorder.  Go look it up.  I’ll wait.

………………..waiting…………………waiting…………………..

Ok… maybe it’s not, but you actually believed me there for a minute huh!?!

We leave for our trip to Israel in 3 days, and I have begun the packing process.  Yes, it’s a process.  I do not believe in throwing things in a suitcase the night before.  I do not believe in just grabbing whatever clothes out of the closet.  It’s important.  It’s planned out. 

It’s the curse of the planner within me.

Last night, my husband went to play basketball like he does every Tuesday and left me home with my spreadsheets and suitcases.  Wow, I had a blast.  Before I knew it, three hours had gone by and I was wide awake and in a great mood.  See…it’s a disorder I tell you. 

Along with preparing our suitcases, we’re preparing our hearts and minds for this trip.  It’s going to be a life-changing one.  I’m excited to see the bible unfold before me.  I can’t wait to see the stories I’ve learned literally jump off the page and become real. 

Please follow along with our trip as we’ll be blogging about it the whole way!

What kind of a packer are you?

There are a few things I’m a total sucker for.

Chocolate.
Sweet Tea.
My husband.

Oh…and this face:

This weekend we were out shopping and I was picking out my next pair of Tomsand my hubby said “you’re such a sucker for causes”.  Dang skippy! I love my toms.  I love the fact that when I buy a pair of cute overpriced shoes, it means a child will get to wear shoes.  It may be the only pair they will ever wear.

I love World Vision & Compassion.  I love sponsoring a child.  I love that others like me bring hope and life to these children.  We may be the only Jesus they ever know!

So my question for you is, why in the world would you NOT be  a sucker for causes? Why not give $30 bucks a month to help a child in need?

Click here to go sponsor a child now!!

Why not??

What are you a sucker for??

Do you freely love yourself?

Are you comfortable in your skin?

Women struggle.  We yearn for something different, because we’re told we’re supposed to be something different.  Since moving to Southern California, I see more and more of this.  Everywhere I look are women in bikini’s, super skinny & “perfect”.  It’s easy for women to fall into that trap.  We allow ourselves to believe we’re supposed to be that Hollywood symbol of perfection.

But if that was what we were supposed to be, wouldn’t God have created us to be that? Luckily, God made us in HIS image and absolutely perfect.

I encourage you to get comfortable in your skin.  If you aren’t happy in the place you’re in, do all you can to get there in a healthy way.  I’ve lost 12 pounds.  Not to fit in to the OC scene, but to help me feel comfortable with who I am…and fit into my jeans again I believe that we should take care of the bodies God gives us, and respect them.

Pamper yourself.  Get away.  Love yourself.  Give yourself another chance.

Husbands, encourage your wives.  Support them and build them up.  Remind them daily that they are perfect, and exactly what you want them to be.  Don’t allow Satan to come into your marriage and discourage her in that way.

Ladies… enjoy who you are.  You can be the ‘perfect’ woman… who God created you to be!!! Live in the freedom and joy only HE can put in you!

I just had to share more pictures of my sweet little niece! She’s just adorable and doing so great!

I can’t wait to hold her and love on her!

TOUCHDOWN!!

Isn’t that the sweetest face??

It’s official! I’m an aunt to a beautiful baby girl!! Taelyn Brooke Ringwald arrived this morning.  She is 7lbs 10oz and 20 inches! Just a perfect little baby girl.  I am really disappointed I couldn’t be there when she was born, but apparently Stephenie (my sis-in-law) didn’t want to wait another two weeks to have the baby when we are there. 

Here’s a little sneak peek at her precious face…I’m sure there will be MANY more pictures to come when we see her in a couple weeks. I love those lips! I like to think she got them from her Aunt :)  These are pre-bath and pre-cute clothes…

Hooray!!!! Aunt KK is very happy

Sha Sha, Sha-BOOM!

Ok, so people tell me all the time “I read your blog, I just never comment.”

Good grief people.  I’m not just here preaching on my soapbox for my own benefit. Boost my self esteem a little folks!!

I want to know who you are!! Since I’m the “cheerleader type”, it goes like this:

My name is ___________.

I am a ________________.

I like to _______________.

So check me out.

Fill in the blanks. It’ll be fun and I promise it will put you in a cheerful mood

And have a great weekend.

Do you pray for your spouse?

Most likely you do.  But do you REALLY pray for them? Recently, the Lord has really been on me about being more specific in my chats with Him.  Of course I pray for my husband.  All the stinkin’ time. 

But I’m not as specific as I’d like to be.  How can I fix this?

Ask your spouse how you can pray for them. 

Be open and honest with one another.  My hubby and I are already like junior high girls and tell each other absolutely everything, but how will I know how to specifically pray for him unless I ask?  I won’t!

God wants to bless you.  Allow Him to do so more specifically.

I’d love to hear your stories of how God has blessed you when you pray more specifically for things.  Please share share share!!!

Nope, I didn’t stutter.  I don’t.  I did for years.  Many many years. But as I get older and grow in my relationship with Christ, so changes my daily routine with Him. 

I read my bible this way:

Ok Ok…I know, I tricked you.  I DO still read my bible, just not in the conventional way.  I’ve read my bible A LOT.  I’ve read many different versions, in many different ways.  I’ve studied, I’ve bled (paper cuts), I’ve highlighted. Been there, done that. 

I think Christians get into the mindset that they have to spend a certain amount of time sitting in the quiet reading Leviticus everyday.  If that’s the place you are in, and the relationship you have with Him…more power to you.  It’s just not me. 

I’m in a stage of learning to really depend on God.  I’m learning to pray in a whole new way.  I’m walking into a whole new level in my relationship with Him.  It’s exciting, it’s difficult, but it’s the best place I’ve ever been in. 

Where are you in your relationship with Him? What can you do to freshen it up and make it deeper and more relational?