Seasons Greetings

Recently I heard a friend ask "If you compared your life to a season which would you be right now?"  That is an excellent question.  I tucked it away and gave it little thought, until now. 

I am certainly not muggy, warm, sticky, sunny, unbearable summer.  Well, I am warm and sunny most days.  

As much as I love fall I don't feel like I am dying like the leaves, thankfully.  There are times in life when I do feel dried up, crunchy, and like I'm being trampled over like autumn leaves.  Then again, those leaves are so breathtakingly beautiful and picturesque.  At any rate, I'm not felling very fall-like right now.

With it being winter and all you'd think that's where I am in this season of life.  Though I'm not in a "winter stage" of cold, dark, and dreary hibernation.  I was there a few weeks ago for a few weeks, perhaps months.  I felt so blah and sluggish.  

These days I am feeling exceptionally spring-like.  I am starting to feel fresh, alive, like things are blossoming and blooming before me.  That God has great things in store for my near future.  That I just have to walk the path He lays before me and things will be much more breezy and fresh.  I am hopeful.  I am eager.  

Embracing Baby Carrots

I am not a fan of change.

When I was fifteen I lived in a group home in Lynn, Massachusetts just across the street from Lynn Commons. (Distracting thought: why aren't there "commons" in the four states area?  You know, an oval shaped area of grass, a paved sidewalk, benches, and a gazebo usually in the middle of heavily-trafficked streets?)  The group home was in a huge Victorian house with four bathrooms and five bedrooms.  It was a beautiful house, maybe the nicest on the street, but everyone knew the house was a group home even without it being labeled on the outside.  People just knew.  I wish I just knew things sometimes.  I am rarely ever thankful about being blindsided, unless of course there is some type of surprise party planned - which is nearly impossible with me.  Wow I am really all over the place today.  Focus Kerri, focus!
Back to the lovely group home.  There were five of us teenagers that lived there at the time and every one of us had a goal of sorts.  I felt like everyone in the house, with the exception of myself, had real goals whereas my goals were just silly.  A few examples of others' goals were to take their medications (which I wasn't on), shower daily and have better hygiene (which I always did/do), control their anger, go to school and get good grades (I was on the honor roll then), don't do drugs (didn't), stay out of trouble, etc.

I had two goals:
1. Eat.  Yes, eat food.  That is something I have always struggled with.  Then, I never ate enough food if any.  Now I eat terrible things and too much of them.
2. Embrace change.  Ha!  Seriously.  Accept and embrace change was my goal.  Other kids were doing drugs, getting in fights, hitting staff, and skipped school almost every day and I had to eat food and embrace change.

Thirteen years later those could still be considered goals of mine.  1. Eat less.  2. Embrace and accept what God has in store for me.  I am praying to be stretched, to be taken out of my comfort zone, and used for His will and purpose.  Here's to stepping out in faith.  And snacking on baby carrots more.

Winter Wonderland

It's beginning to look a lot like New England outside.  Frosted window panes...oh wait, this isn't Christmas though it sure feels like it.  It is one degree outside.  One degree.  Missouri is in a state of emergency due to road conditions that the state just doesn't deal with enough to properly clear it fast enough.
Today is Groundhog Day and as tradition goes Punxsutawney Phil emerges at sunrise and we determine winters length based on Phil seeing his shadow or not. Phil did NOT see his shadow today, therefore Spring will shortly be upon us.  It's hard to imagine blooming flowers, green grass, and Spring showers with so much snow on the ground and single-digit temps.  Most people are wishing Winter away while I am elated that I have a snow day; my workplace is closed!  Yesterday was a pleasant surprise as I was off work and Phil's work was closed due to weather.  We stayed home all day and did little of note.  It was simply lovely getting to hang in together.  Summer is awesome but when do you get a day off work because it's too hot outside?  Rarely.   I am enjoying Winter while it's here - you should too!  Stay safe and warm.

First Snow Day of 2011

First snow day of this winter

Posing for the camera

John hit Jake in the face with this shot

Revenge is sweet

Face shot!

John running for his life

Preparing an awesome snowball 

Throwing a snowball at me.  Thankfully he missed though I snapped a great shot.

They had a blast.  I even let them play in the snow BEFORE doing their homework.  Happy Winter everyone!

Not a good start to 2011

I have been sick the whole year so far.  Nine days.  This is brutal.
I was praying for a healthy 2011.  It's only nine days in, let's hope the remaining 356 are healthier.

blogging is becoming a thing of the past.

true story.



Merry Christmas!

Let's Give Thanks

For twenty days leading up to Thanksgiving I have been writing what I'm thankful for in my Facebook status.  So far I've been thankful for....

Jake and John (that's two but they're a package deal)

Having a job, and a fun one at that!

An extra hour of sleep (day light savings ended)

Music. Especially live music. "Music is an outburst of the soul"

The little things in life. Like a smile from a stranger.

Coffee. Yum.  

Three years of marriage!

Veterans and those that help serve and protect our American rights.

Good hair days.

Pizza. Happy National Pizza Day! (11/12)

The grace of God.

Smoke-free establishments.

Laughing so hard, you cry!

The arts. Music, painting, photography, dancing, etc.

All the people who acted as mom and dad in my life throughout my 28 years.

Selfless giving. For volunteering.

I am thankful for the boost in the economy (from the holidays.)

Covenant Harvest School and the teachers who so humbly sacrifice.

For people who can go with the flow.

Technology.

Lunch with friends.

What are you thankful for?  I am thankful for you, too.

Splashing around in uncharted waters

Three years of marriage is under both me and Phillip's belts!  That may seem like a silly statement to make but being Phil's third wife it's his first third wedding anniversary; and that is something to boast about!  The saying is definitely true that the third time is a charm.  I even joked with him saying a charm necklace would make a great Christmas present.  He smirked.

We left Monday night for Eureka Springs, Arkansas and just got back a few hours ago today (Thursday.)  While it was off-season in E.S., AR we had a blast and caught a few neat photos with our cell phones.  Enjoy.

Teeny tiny cabin and an awesome VW Beatle

Outside of a restaurant on the street (neat photo)

The gigantic Jesus statue near The Great Passion Play

See that little person in front of the bushes?  That is Phil to show just how large this statue is

Feeding time a Turpentine Creek, a big cat refuge - very cool to watch this lion eat

This is Zena one of three white tigers at the refuge. Her species is nearing extinction.

The view of Table Rock Lake from Phil's boyhood home. 

Our last night in E.S. we ate at a local restaurant, Sparky's, where I ordered chicken, and...

 ...Phil ordered chipotle sauce for his pork. It was insanely spicy even though the waitress called it mild. 

And a reminder of three years ago....

Greater than self....How are you selfless?

Being a parent is an obvious answer - there is another life that is reliant on you to change them, feed them, clean them, and make them your top priority. Another example is when volunteering and sacrificing your time to help those less fortunate. Or even something so small as holding the door open for someone behind me.  Most importantly, following Jesus and living life as he would and putting my fleshly thoughts and ways on the back burner. 



How are some ways you are selfless?


"Truly great leaders in life become so because they cause others to be greater than themselves." - Steve Farber

Inside my head

Often I am thinking a million thoughts a minute.

For example right now I am thinking "Is this bite of chicken going to be too hot to eat? I'll bite it anyway. It's probably going to burn my tongue and leave a sore on the roof of my mouth like too-hot pizza does.  I wonder how the conference will flow this year?  I hope Gods presence is thick.  I've had a word the last two Sundays I've been at church.  Perhaps God wants me to speak up and get out of my slouching-in-my-seat stance? Why do I get on Facebook so often? I think it's my insatiable need to connect to others.  That, and I get bored easily.  Then I get bored when I'm on Facebook and I think of iced lattes.  Mmm, lattes! Oh snap I need to make a phone call."

That's pretty much how my mind works all the time.

What's on your mind?

So Long Sweet Summer

Do you ever stand in front of the mirror doing karate moves and making funny faces? Oh, neither do I. 

This was a summer of magical summers. I wish I could sing about how awesome my summer was, like how Sandy and Danny did in Grease, because I can't really articulate in words how great it was.  "I went to the pooooool a lot with the boooooooooooooys." That didn't work.  I was way off pitch.  

Here are the highlights of my summer...


Jonas Jachura was born!  The little guy came six weeks early.  Here's a photo of him with his proud grandparents:

I discovered Glee.  It's a guilty pleasure that I love to love.  I probably discovered it before summer actually started but I'll call it the summer anyway.

Two of my dear friends turned thirty.  Bekah in early June and Patti in late July.  Both were awe-inspiring parties with great friends, games, snacks, and some emotional gifts. There were other birthdays this summer (Donnie,  Joy, Nicole, Amy, Phil)  but those were the most notable, milestone birthdays.  (my camera got ruined in the ocean therefore I have no photographic proof of Patti turning thirty.)

We went on a "vacation" to Massachusetts and New Hampshire where we ate, prayed, loved one another and swam.  I quoted vacation because going back home sometimes does not feel like a vacation, rather a visit.  If that makes sense.  We did have a blast, don't get me wrong.  Phil had fun even with his eyes closed.

Now Jake and John are back in school and I have lots of free time on my hands.  No complaints here, other than needing to lose weight...and lots of it.  

Disappointed in myself. D'oh!

I had a word at church today and didn't give it.

What a disappointing feeling it is not having said what God showed me.  Standing in front of the church can be a bit nerve wracking.  Not standing in front of the church speaking His word is a worse feeling, in retrospect.

Here's the picture I had:

Everyone in the church had a light bulb over their head with a pull chain attached.  Some people pulled their chain and their light came on while other lights did not come on.  The persons whose light did not come on were in complete shock and were more concerned with the light bulb not working than really looking at the darkness they've been living in for some time.  What God wants us to remember is that He always knows where we are living.  That He can turn our light on again if we look to Him.  We cannot have one foot in light and another in darkness.

My condensed testimony

"Clap your hands for baby Jesus!" I would sarcastically say all too often in my late teen, early adulthood years.  I would go as far as raising my hand up in the air and acting like I was reaching for the heavens.  My insecurities and ignorance in all things spiritual and religious-based caused me to act ridiculously.  And ridiculously I acted, for years.   Jokingly, when people would annoy me or say something that made no sense I would place my hand on their forehead, push back and say "demons out."  I told Scott Squires about doing this act and he said there was something very spiritually powerful about that.  Perhaps demonic?  The people became less annoying after pushing them but I think it was because they were more in shock than the spirit having much to do with it.  

Fast forward to the fall/winter of two thousand and six.  I worked at Bridges Community Care in Pittsburg, Kansas.  I swear I was asked daily which church I attended and got multiple invites to attend so-and-so's church.  I started lying saying I attended St. Mary's so co-workers would get off my back.  Around the same time Phil and I started going to the mall deli frequently.  Jim, the owner of The Mall Deli, sat us in "Kate's" section each time we visited.  He must've thought we really liked her, which we did.  Kate would take our order and make small talk between serving our sodas and deli burgers.  One day I discovered that she went to bible college for a year prior to attending PSU.  That baffled me.  I later found out that her dad is a pastor!  That really came as a shock to me.  She invited us to church several times with many excuses on my part as to why we could not attend.  In Spring she invited us to watch her church's version of the play Thirty Pieces which was held at the Memorial Auditorium.  I figured it was a public place, why not.  We enjoyed the play, told Kate what a great job she'd done, and then literally ran down the steps of the auditorium avoiding having to talk to anyone else from her church.  Looking back at that moment, I always laugh. 
Two months later, July 25. 2006, I received my first bible and started attending Covenant Harvest Church.  In March 2007 I was baptized in the holy spirit.   

While there has been lots of questioning of this and that on my part, life has been so much more enriching since finding God and actually walking with Him instead of against Him.  I raise my hand in love and faith now.  I clap for Jesus the savior, the redeemer, the graceful son.  
That's the short story.

Was that a dog barking?

Too much coughing in Kerri's world these days. 

Sigh.

Grrrrrrrr

I just wrote the quirkiest, longest blog I've ever written and it vanished.  Thought I would share my grave disappointment.  I'll write another blog at a later date.