The 4-1-1

It's like I said before, things have been crazy 'round here. I have been enjoying all the social time, work events, traveling, but it has left me with lots to share. I guess I will do this bullet style and save most the details to not bore you.

• I just got back from a week long work trip to Memphis. It was my first event with work and I am thrilled it was a success. Being the new kiddo aboard it was nice to put names and faces together with all my new coworkers.
• I am on my way and training for my 5th half marathon at the end of the month. I should be up to 10 miles, but I have been sick, hurt my knee, (more excuses) etc, so I have done 8 miles.
• We are getting a new roof tomorrow :) and I am super excited! (Does this mean I am a grown-up when I get excited about roofing?)
• Still maintaining the 9lb weight loss, but since working out again I am seeing inches come off. Not ready to post before and after pictures. I am sure they will come along soon.

Lastly, my little brother (the youngest of the three boys) gave me a special surprise. He recently became an Eagle Scout, which takes a lot of services hours, determination, and support of peers, parents, and leaders. I am so proud he got this at the age of 15 when most get it their Senior year of highschool.

A few weekends ago Jonathan and I went to his ceremony. My parents did an amazing job putting it together and I was so proud of them all (it's an accomplishment for them too). Towards the end my brother made a speech (that he wrote) and honored people he said helped mentor him along the way. I started to tear up when I was the last person he called up there and pinned me as his mentor. I am still so touched and get teary-eyed just thinking about it.

Congrats John!

Sheeze Louise

I feel so out of it! I have been out of town every single weekend, hosting guests at the house or running around like a chicken with my head cut off. It's no excuse for my absence but I feel like my blog always takes a back seat when life gets going. I hope you don't feel abandoned but many of you get what I am talking about. Kudos to those who have kids too and do it all!


I am working out of town this week and hope to catch up on your blogs while sitting in meetings! Hehe.

Come on and Take a Breath

I know many of you blog, but do you ever get this rush of great posts ideas? Sometimes I will get some, write them down, and then they sit. They sit on the scrap of paper or napkin I shoved into my purse. Weeks later I find it and have one of those AHA moments! Maybe it's just me, but when I find the list I get recharged and want to share sooo much with you.

A few weeks ago when I was at church I listened as the reading and homily was about being satisfied. I don't know they ever used the word "satisfied," but that's what I took from it. I know my New Year's promise was to be in my state of being and to be content with what I have. The reading and message I took could not have been more on target. God wants us to not worry about what we are wearing that day, where we will go eat, and many other things. Instead, to focus on Him, His word, and make our actions like His.

I hope this does not come across too preachy, but this really touched me. I suppose since I promised myself to "just be" this year and let little things slide it struck me that my state of not wanting more left a small hole. Actually, it was a BIG hole, but needed to be filled with Him, The Lord. Isn't it funny how God works? I almost felt like I was whacked upside the head and someone said, "Duh, Katie! This is what you missed in your plan." (It makes me laugh just thinking about it). I am still trying to locate the exact reading, but was so immersed in my thoughts I forgot to write it down... go figure! How often do we want more and forget what it's all about in the first place?

Just thought you should know!

Bird Landing

I have missed y'all so much! There have been a great deal of events taking place in my life which took me away from my computer. Now that the bird has landed, I feel I can take a deep breath to stop and share what's taken me away.

The first being my new job! I am not able to blog, read blogs, or really even think about blogs during the work day. I am so busy, challenged, and excited each and everyday it's almost too good to be true. To give you a little more information I left sales and publishing to go into a full-time marketing role at a "very large" financial institution. I know the numbers side of banking/lending/trusts is not my forte, but it does not really matter as I pick out brochures, redesign presentations, and work as a support system for everyone else in sales. That's my kind of sales job if you ask me! If you have a smart phone that you recommend let me know, this may help me blog on my lunch break and never leave you that long again. :)

In a brief and bulleted fashion I am going to give you a glimpse of the other happenings the last few weeks.

• I have lost 9 lbs and the hubs14. We are on a good streak of trying to be healthy and be the best us. So far it's been amazing to look and feel better in my clothes.
• We have also joined and gym to help in this process.
• I signed up for another 1/2 marathon. Losing weight has made it easier for me to get back into running. I have signed up with my sweet friend Emily Ann and can't wait to run with her in April and catch up. Miss her so much since we moved!
• We are in the process of planning a MAJOR trip for the summer. I am not sure where, maybe Hawaii, Costa Rica, Belize, or somewhere else beachy, but we are planning and I am elated about this opportunity. Any suggestions would be great!
• We went to New Orleans with about 15 of our friends last weekend. Our good friend Collin celebrated his 30th birthday and instead of a party or presents we all had a weekend of fun. A few of the good pictures are here:
  
  
  

I can't wait to catch up on your blogs this afternoon and tomorrow. I hope you are well and I am sure there is a lot I have missed with you too!



On to the Next One

I would like to say thank you to everyone for your sweet comments about my new job and the change I am making. Change is never easy and I agree with a lot of you about the best decisions are the hardest to make. Maybe I am insecure, but for some reason hearing words of affirmation always seems to help me feel better about myself or my choices. Is this just me?

On a happy note I actually have some fun photos to share with you. We have been in our home a year now. A whole year! I cannot believe the time has flown by so quickly and I feel like I just posted the house pictures. The hubs and I have this long laundry list of all the things we want to do to make our house feel like our home. It is defintely home and we still have a list of things we have put off, except our dining room. (First image is our before picture, everything below is our after.)

Thankfully we had some extra funds over the last couple of months and we were able to get a new light fixture & slip cover from Overstock, drapery rods on-sale from Lowe's, clearance benches from World Market, and I bought the fabric months ago from Fabric.com. Everything new was on-sale or clearance. The best part is if you are getting a floor model or opened item you can ask a manager for an additional discount. What's the worst they can do, tell you no? In this case, the benches were 50% off and the floor models had an additional 15% off (just because I asked).

Walking into this room makes me happy. I don't spend a lot of money on clothes, purses, shoes, but I will save up to spend money on my home. For me, it's an investment. Something about getting a room just the way you like it makes my heart smile. 

Moving On

In my last post I mentioned I was coming up for air. We all have those periods in life where things get a little out of control. For me, I needed to stop blogging and wrap my head around some changes that were headed my way. Whoever said, “when it rains it pours” is brilliant and must have been overwhelmed too.

Last week I put in my two weeks’ notice at my job. It was a really tough thing to do. I like the people I work with, I enjoy the creative environment, I thought I always wanted to be in publishing, but at the same time I was not happy. After talking to Jonathan, praying, and much deliberation it was time I moved on to something I was passionate about. I guess when I think about how much time I spend at work, why not do what I enjoy?

Friday is my last day and I begin my new position on Monday. If there’s one thing that I can say I am most thankful for is I made a lot of friends at my old job. For that, I am truly grateful!

coming up for air

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I am here. I am coming up for air to tell you when things get a little hectic the last thing I remember to do is blog. Just know I am thinking of you and will have a lot to share over the next week. On this Wednesday I want to leave you with one of my favorite quotes...

Faith consists in believing when it is beyond the power of reason to believe.

~Voltaire