It's just one of those days... or maybe weeks

Have you have had one of those days where you get off to a great start, nothing can stop you, then BOOM! You hit a brick wall and almost nothing can motivate you?  Welcome to my Tuesday... and Monday for that matter.  Hopefully, Wednesday will  be better.   

This month I signed up for my first ever Cara Box exchange.  If you have never heard of it you should totally check it out!  Like, right now.  I got my matches last night and let me tell you, I am pretty excited to get to know such awesome ladies!   Kayla over at Green Mountain Couple and I have already determined that we have a lot in common, I am looking forward to getting to know her more.  I am also really excited to learn about my namesake Katie at A Heart Consumed.  Just a quick glance through her blog and you can tell she is crazy passionate about Jesus.  And if you can't get excited about that, what CAN you get excited for?

As a way to get to know me better, Kayla asked me to name a few of my favorite things that start with the letter K (to go with this month's box theme).  I had such fun writing the list, that I thought I would share it with you.  (and add a bit too)

My kittens are pretty awesome.  Pip and Wimpy  (my husband named Wimpy, I would have been more kind)

Kisses (of the Hershey variety and filled with Carmel)  are always a good stand by.  Karaoke nights make me giddy, even if I do not participate cause I am super chicken.  

Ok, I have a confession.... I am actually really bad at thinking of things that start with K.  So I did a google search for "nouns that start with the letter K"  here are some things that caught my attention:

keys  (I love key jewelry I think it's a neat concept)

Kids (I love kids, and I am really good with them.  I was told once that I should have been a host of a children's TV show.  Kinda like Steve on Blue's Clues minus the arrest for drug possession)

Kites (when I was younger, my mom and I would fly kites every weekend, some of my best memories are of kite flying)

Kewi (cause... yum!  Who Dosen't like Kewi?)

Koalas (They are a pretty awesome marsupial.  Did you know that koalas have their own built-in cushion! The fur on a koala's bottom is extra thick so that the koala can comfortably rest in trees.)

knockwurst - Just kidding!!  It made me giggle so I had to add it to the list

This Weekend, I...

This weekend was my ideal weekend.  It wasn't exactly eventful, but it was just the recharge I needed to get back in to action for this week.  It had the perfect balance of seeing people and relaxation. 

Friday...

Did not really go as planned and that is okay.  We were planning on going to a co-workers show, but I wasn't really in the mood for it when I got home from work.  Instead, I cleaned out the car while Dean made dinner. We ate some mac and cheese and watched Lars and the Real Girl before Dean had to go to work.

Saturday...

My morning was a little boring.  I just vegged in front of the TV for a bit then went grocery shopping.  It's a glamorous life, I know.   I waited for Dean to wake up so we could clean the house (and rocked out to Lady GaGa).  My little brother (who is not actually related to me at all) and his girlfriend came over for dinner.  I made one killer pot roast and stuffed my face!  We played headbandz, it was one of the most interesting game of headbanz I have ever played.  Who would count salami as a sausage?!  No one, that's who!

Sunday...

Was one of the most enjoyable Sundays I have had in a long while.  We tried out a new church that we have been talking about since this summer.  After service we got coffee with some new (to Dean, I work with one of them) friends from church.  While Dean slept I vegged and watched Wonder Years (man, I missed Netflix) and ended up falling asleep also.  

So that was it.  My simple little weekend.  I loved it!  How was your weekend?  Link up with Sarah and let us know!

Sunday Blessings

I have always been a big advocate for counting your blessings.  Especially when you feel like you are ready to toss in the towel.  Even if you find your self broke down on the side of the highway, with no cell phone (because you left it in your dorm room), abut two hours from where you were coming from, and an hour from where you are going, counting your blessing can totally put things in perspective.  

That is a true story that I will tell you at some point.  But today, I am going to count my blessings for this week with Katiy at (Bee)autiful Blessings.  

Husband

Firstly, my husband.  He has been such a huge blessing to me this past week.  More than once I have come home from a crazy day at work, and the house is clean and dinner is ready or on it's way to being ready.  I am so thankful I married that man.  He can make me smile at the drop of a hat. :)

New Church

After almost 6 months of (kind of ) looking for a new church, we think we may have found it.  I felt so comfortable there, and loved that the message was packed full of scripture over opinion.  We also went to coffee after with some other members and we had an enjoyable conversation for about 2 hours.  I love good fellowship, and I am happy to make some friends that are in the same stage of life that we are.  Dean is a little apprehensive to flat out say "this is the one", but I have a feeling Grace Road Church will be seeing a lot more of the Gootee's.  

A Clean House

I know it sounds a little OCD, but I am so thankful that my house has been in order most of the week,  When you live in a shoe box, it can seem even more cramped when it is messy.  My whole life seems to be more orderly when my house is clean.  Coincidence?  Probably, but I am thankful, nonetheless

What has belssed you this past week? Link up with Kaity and let us know!

Friday's Letters

Well hello there Friday, nice to see you again.  I have to say, you certainly did sneak up on me this week.  Don't get me wrong, I am happy you're here, but man did you get here fast.

Dear phelebotomists at Strong Hospital,

You normally very good at what you do, however, this week was rough.  I understand that I can be a hard draw, but plese, 7 pokes is a little too much.  Please be more kind to me when I see you on Monday.  Thanks.

Dear Rochester Weather, 

I understand that I live in upstate NY, so it will snow a lot.  However, this week long snow/rain slush fest is getting old.  I want to get a pedicure and I cannot justify the cost if my feet will be in boots for a long while.  I would appreciate a dry warm day soon.

Dear neglected camera and photography projects,

I am sorry I left you on the way side.  February got away from me.  I will pick you back up this weekend.  I promise!  Don't hate me please. 

Dear awesome husband of mine,

You have been super sweet to me lately.  All week long I have come home to a clean house and dinner ready.  And you tell me I am pretty, even in bunny Pjs.

 

Yes, this happen, yes I am at work.  It was PJ day for Wacky Wednesday.

The Question I keep asking myslef

.... Why Blog?

I am fairly certain that every blogger has asked them selves at one point or another.  In this day in age, it seems like having an account on blogger is just as common has having a Twitter or Instagram account.  So why add yet another web page about wedding planning, DIY crafts, and home decor to the mix?

I started this blog almost 3 years ago when I started a "101 in 1001" list.  I enthusiastically compiled 101 things to complete in 1001 days.  Then, life happen.  I didn't have the time, money, or interest to cross off about 85% of my list.  Even after changing things up a bit I let it fall to the way side.  I came to the conclusion that I would be doing the things to get them crossed off.  Around that same time, a lot of personal (and painful) growth was happening.  My out look on life changed dramatically and I came to the conclusion that doing things just so that you can say you did them, is a waste of life, and life is too valuable to toss out the window.  It wasn't a complete waste of time, however.  There were a few things on the list that were life changing, and I am glad I set goals for myself.  

Over the years I have followed a number of different blogs for various reasons.  After years of reading and seeing how much fun everyone has, I decided I needed to join in.   I am at a point where I need to make new friends who are in the same phase in life as I am.  But, new people scare me.  I would much rather meet people via blog land than at some random social gathering.  And yes, I know that I tell my husband that internet people are scary all the time, I am coming around.  (Dean if you read this, yes, you can call me a hypocrite)

When I was younger, I could easily journal 4 pages every night.  Writing as always been an outlet for me and I am  excited to writing regularly again.  I have a lot to learn about blog land still, but I am looking forward to changing my layout, joining link ups, and meeting great new gal pals.  :)

~ Katie
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Joy Has no Price Tag

Some thing that has become a huge pet peeve of mine is when people hang out in that place somewhere  in between lack of humility and materialism.  I am not sure what exactly you would call that overlapping area, but to me it's a huge personality flaw (that yes, I am guilty of).


When I was planning my wedding, the unasked-for advice I heard over and over again was "it's just a day!".
I hated it when people told me that.  It made me feel like my wedding wasn't important or something to celebrate.  I now understand what they were trying to say, but I think they could have done it better.  


As most of you know, Dean and I did not have a traditional engagement or wedding for the most part.  We decided we wanted to get married in December of 2011 and started planning for an October 2012 wedding the month later.  We were not "officially" engaged (with a proposal and ring) until June of 2012.  At the end of July, we decided to push back our wedding date until the Spring of 2013 for various reasons, money (or rather the lack of) was one of them.  Then, just shy of two weeks before our original date of October 13, we said "well, everything but the money part is worked out.  Wanna just get married anyway?"   So we did (a day after the original date because our pastor had to work on Saturday).  So many people were genuinely concerned for me.  Not just because I was sick as a dog, but because they thought I would regret not having a huge reception or the fancy food and dancing   I didn't (and still don't) regret any of that.  I was just thrilled to start forever with my best friend.  


I share all that with you for a reason.  So many people get caught up in the hype of materialistic things.  They end up placing the value in the object and not what could come from it.  It happens often with wedding planning, but Christmas is my favorite example of this.  Christmas is also "just a day"  this one happens to come every year.  Christmas isn't about the cookies, the over the top decor, the gifts, or even the pretty candle light services. Far too many people forget that Jesus was a humble king. He was born in a barn, not exactly a royal entrance. With all the hype that surrounds Christmas, it is easy to forget what we are actually celebrating.  It can happen with anything in our life.  Weddings, holidays, promotions, ect., can all lose there value if we only look at the outward appearance.   
I am so thankful for my nontraditional wedding.  Especially when I ended up in the hospital two days later with two blood clots in my left lung.  No fancy ballroom or tiered cake could have prevented that from happening.  Besides, I would have been to sick to actually enjoy any of it.

  

The thing that I want you to walk away from after reading this is not just the story of Katie and Dean's wedding.  I want you to be able to look at the things in your own life and be willing to see past the hype.  What is the real reason you are doing something?  Are you buying/participating in/doing something because that is what society tells you to do? Or do you really find meaning and value in that?   I know for me, doing our wedding the way we did taught me a lot. And I am so thankful for it.  Will you give God the chance to teach you too?

Texts From the Abyss

As most of you know, my husband and I had a long distance relationship up until about 4 months before our wedding. Long distance sucked, to say the least.  However, in the beginning of our relationship it was actually helpful.  It forced us to take things slow and to actually focus on the non-physical aspect of our relationship (which is a whole different blog post entirely).

 Obviously, we sent each other text messages non-stop.  Often times I would send him about 7 messages before he would return mine.  This was mostly because he worked overnights and was sleeping, but it also may have had something to do with the ridiculousness of the texts I sent him. 

About a week ago, I switched iPhones.  Somehow in that process, I lost about a year's worth of text history.  That didn't bother me much at all.  In fact, I was actually pretty pumped about it when I discovered I could read some of the text conversations between Dean and I from a year ago.  I was laughing hysterically reading some of them last night.  These may only be interesting to me, because they have to do with my life.  Maybe I am an over-sharer, but here are some for you to read anyway:

"okay, I would  be willing to get a cat under one condition.  A) we have to get two and B) we name one Earl and the other Gray.  Ya know like the tea!"

"I want to go to a store an just unbutton all of the coats.  I feel like that would be fun"

"Amazon is like online Walmart."

"is there an online Target yet?"

"Nope, but if there was it would smell bad"

"You can't smell the internet."

"you could smell this internet"

"my tongue hurts.  I bit it this morning eating an orange.  It was a blood orange.  I laughed at the irony"

I love being married to Dean now.  However, I will cherish that time in our relationship as well.   Being away from him forced me to focus on what we did have control over.  Conversations were much more meaningful, and I learned not to take my time with him for granted. It's what shaped us and made us the couple that we are now.  I am thankful for that time, even if I handed the man at the toll both a few tear soaked dollar bills. :)