It just was a perfect Sunday afternoon!! Reminded me a little of Sundays in Ohio hanging with the family--cooking, eating, laughing, and just enjoying company of others. Could not have asked for a better day!
Monday, February 14, 2011
A really great day -2/13/2011
It just was a perfect Sunday afternoon!! Reminded me a little of Sundays in Ohio hanging with the family--cooking, eating, laughing, and just enjoying company of others. Could not have asked for a better day!
Saturday, February 12, 2011
This week pretty much sucked..well almost
Monday-- typically stupid.
Tuesday-- Terrible, well almost.
So woke up late-normal. Running around getting myself and Judah dressed and out the door. Get in the car....nothing. Click, click, click....nothing. My battery is dead. I instantly realize as I stare at my phone that I have no one. Not one person I can think to call. The sun is out and it looks like a gorgeous day so I decide to walk Judah to school so he wont be late. Start walking to the end of my street (about half a block) and realize I am missing something--- feeling in my face and appendages. I look down at my tiny miniature man and know he has to be freezing even more... but we press on. Have to get him to school!! So we continue to walk and cry frozen tears when a mini van pulls up. A woman with two cute adorable pups rolls down her window and asks if we need a ride to the school. I didnt even hesitate. Yes! We pile in and I can not see because my glasses are all fogged up. Her name is Karen. I explain to her our car situation and we find out that we both go to the Free Methodist church. She had already dropped her kids off at school and must have seen us and turned around to head back to us. We drop Judah off and she takes me back home. I am almost in tears at having to rely on a stranger to help me take my kid to school and I tell her that God had her come at the perfect time. She said, funny you should say that because I asked God if I should stop as I was afraid you might think I was creepy. We pulled into my drive and I realize that I still dont have a way of starting my car so I ask if she would mind driving me to work. She didnt mind at all and jotted down her phone number in case I needed anything.
I get to work, rush to a meeting I am already late to with my boss, still holding back tears at just how stupid and chaotic this morning has been. I am in her office no longer than 10 minutes that I get a call from Judah's school. The school nurse is a little snippy and tells me that Judah has a 101.4 fever and needs to be picked up "right now" and he cannot return until Thursday. The tone in her voice makes me feel like worst mom of the century as if I was trying to sneak my feverish child into school so I didnt have to care for him. I knew Judah was whining about going to school but I didnt realize he was sick! So then I start to cry like a baby in my Boss' office. She tells me not to worry and to just go. I rush back to my office, tears streaming down my face and close my door. Now I really start to cry. How am I going to get Judah? I cant walk. I cant call that Karen girl... what would she think of me?? I hate asking for help. I dont want people to feel like I am a moocher or just one of those hopeless cases. I decide to go through my list of phone numbers from my small group. No one answers until I get to Dan. Poor Dan....
Before I called I really tried to get the sobbing under control. Deep breaths. But when he picked up, all of a sudden it all came back to the surface and I could barely get the words out. I really made a complete fool of myself as I tried to explain through my cry voice (you know the one... the one that is high and hardly audible through the sobs) my situation. I am pretty sure he is picturing me on the side of the road half covered in blood with my baby in my arms-- that is how bad I sounded. He was calm and awesome and just asked, where are you? I barely got out my work location and then he said, I will be there in a minute. A little back story just so you understand how stupid I was feeling--- I have only spoken to Dan a couple of times... mostly in a group setting. And I just called him sobbing asking him to pick me up so I could pick up my son from school. I am mortified but desperate.
So I gather my things and walk out the door. Literally within 2 minutes-- Dan is there. (love small towns with no traffic and pesky stop lights!) I apologize profusely and explain in a much easier to understand state that my car wont start and I need him to take me to Judah's school and then home. He is very gracious the entire time and acts as though this happens all the time. He calls me later that afternoon to check in on us and I again thank him and apologize for my panicked state.
Later my friend Colleen calls and tells me she is dropping off her car on her lunch break with her 19 yr old son, Andrew and he will bring us over lunch and help jump my car. Andrew is a sweet kid and is great with Judah. He comes over with taco bell in hand and eats lunch with us. Then we go outside to see how we are going to accomplish this "jumping of the car". See my car is 1) in the garage and 2) my drive way is a solid sheet of ice. Hmmm...
We decide to just go for it and I put my car into neutral and I start pushing. He watches for a moment as the car is not even budging with all of my "strength" thrown at it. He starts pushing too and it starts rolling down the drive like nothing... until our feet hit the ice. Imagine if you will... pushing a building across a frozen pond. Now imagine me doing that... can you see it? Yes. what ever you just imagined---i looked exactly that ridiculous. Some how, slippery and falling as many times as we did, we managed to get the car down the drive to face his car.
Now what they dont teach sons of single mothers--- is how to jump a car. Andrew had the cables hooked together and then dropped them. The other ends started sparking as they touched each other so I called Dad. With Andrew in the background entertaining himself by "throwing sparks" I explained the situation to Dad. He first told me that Andrew should stop before he killed us both and the car. Amazingly my car roared to life and ANdrew and I tried to do High fives but I fell on the ice instead. It was awesome.
So that was Tuesday. pretty much sucked except for all of God's angels coming to our rescue in one way or another!! God is Good!
Wednesday - Judah has strep and is even more addicted to Cartoons-- oh the amazing powers of bubble gum flavored antibiotics!
Thursday - get the whole, "you just dont seem happy, and is this the right place for you" speech from my Boss -- also known as the kiss of death as we start to restructure HR. I am doomed and panicked. Call mom. Have you ever cried on google video chat? it is the epitome of tragic.
Friday -- another stellar day in my world of chaos -- seriously not sure how much longer my heart can take the stress that my job entails.....
So that was my week. pretty much sucked yet God is so good. I Go to Chicago on thursday to interview with some big wigs to see if there are any opportunities that may be a better fit for me. I really dont know where God will lead because the choices are so far from each other and basically life altering... I start to panic just thinking about it!!!
Thank you for your continued prayer and support. Sorry that I need them so much!
Katrina
Tuesday-- Terrible, well almost.
So woke up late-normal. Running around getting myself and Judah dressed and out the door. Get in the car....nothing. Click, click, click....nothing. My battery is dead. I instantly realize as I stare at my phone that I have no one. Not one person I can think to call. The sun is out and it looks like a gorgeous day so I decide to walk Judah to school so he wont be late. Start walking to the end of my street (about half a block) and realize I am missing something--- feeling in my face and appendages. I look down at my tiny miniature man and know he has to be freezing even more... but we press on. Have to get him to school!! So we continue to walk and cry frozen tears when a mini van pulls up. A woman with two cute adorable pups rolls down her window and asks if we need a ride to the school. I didnt even hesitate. Yes! We pile in and I can not see because my glasses are all fogged up. Her name is Karen. I explain to her our car situation and we find out that we both go to the Free Methodist church. She had already dropped her kids off at school and must have seen us and turned around to head back to us. We drop Judah off and she takes me back home. I am almost in tears at having to rely on a stranger to help me take my kid to school and I tell her that God had her come at the perfect time. She said, funny you should say that because I asked God if I should stop as I was afraid you might think I was creepy. We pulled into my drive and I realize that I still dont have a way of starting my car so I ask if she would mind driving me to work. She didnt mind at all and jotted down her phone number in case I needed anything.
I get to work, rush to a meeting I am already late to with my boss, still holding back tears at just how stupid and chaotic this morning has been. I am in her office no longer than 10 minutes that I get a call from Judah's school. The school nurse is a little snippy and tells me that Judah has a 101.4 fever and needs to be picked up "right now" and he cannot return until Thursday. The tone in her voice makes me feel like worst mom of the century as if I was trying to sneak my feverish child into school so I didnt have to care for him. I knew Judah was whining about going to school but I didnt realize he was sick! So then I start to cry like a baby in my Boss' office. She tells me not to worry and to just go. I rush back to my office, tears streaming down my face and close my door. Now I really start to cry. How am I going to get Judah? I cant walk. I cant call that Karen girl... what would she think of me?? I hate asking for help. I dont want people to feel like I am a moocher or just one of those hopeless cases. I decide to go through my list of phone numbers from my small group. No one answers until I get to Dan. Poor Dan....
Before I called I really tried to get the sobbing under control. Deep breaths. But when he picked up, all of a sudden it all came back to the surface and I could barely get the words out. I really made a complete fool of myself as I tried to explain through my cry voice (you know the one... the one that is high and hardly audible through the sobs) my situation. I am pretty sure he is picturing me on the side of the road half covered in blood with my baby in my arms-- that is how bad I sounded. He was calm and awesome and just asked, where are you? I barely got out my work location and then he said, I will be there in a minute. A little back story just so you understand how stupid I was feeling--- I have only spoken to Dan a couple of times... mostly in a group setting. And I just called him sobbing asking him to pick me up so I could pick up my son from school. I am mortified but desperate.
So I gather my things and walk out the door. Literally within 2 minutes-- Dan is there. (love small towns with no traffic and pesky stop lights!) I apologize profusely and explain in a much easier to understand state that my car wont start and I need him to take me to Judah's school and then home. He is very gracious the entire time and acts as though this happens all the time. He calls me later that afternoon to check in on us and I again thank him and apologize for my panicked state.
Later my friend Colleen calls and tells me she is dropping off her car on her lunch break with her 19 yr old son, Andrew and he will bring us over lunch and help jump my car. Andrew is a sweet kid and is great with Judah. He comes over with taco bell in hand and eats lunch with us. Then we go outside to see how we are going to accomplish this "jumping of the car". See my car is 1) in the garage and 2) my drive way is a solid sheet of ice. Hmmm...
We decide to just go for it and I put my car into neutral and I start pushing. He watches for a moment as the car is not even budging with all of my "strength" thrown at it. He starts pushing too and it starts rolling down the drive like nothing... until our feet hit the ice. Imagine if you will... pushing a building across a frozen pond. Now imagine me doing that... can you see it? Yes. what ever you just imagined---i looked exactly that ridiculous. Some how, slippery and falling as many times as we did, we managed to get the car down the drive to face his car.
Now what they dont teach sons of single mothers--- is how to jump a car. Andrew had the cables hooked together and then dropped them. The other ends started sparking as they touched each other so I called Dad. With Andrew in the background entertaining himself by "throwing sparks" I explained the situation to Dad. He first told me that Andrew should stop before he killed us both and the car. Amazingly my car roared to life and ANdrew and I tried to do High fives but I fell on the ice instead. It was awesome.
So that was Tuesday. pretty much sucked except for all of God's angels coming to our rescue in one way or another!! God is Good!
Wednesday - Judah has strep and is even more addicted to Cartoons-- oh the amazing powers of bubble gum flavored antibiotics!
Thursday - get the whole, "you just dont seem happy, and is this the right place for you" speech from my Boss -- also known as the kiss of death as we start to restructure HR. I am doomed and panicked. Call mom. Have you ever cried on google video chat? it is the epitome of tragic.
Friday -- another stellar day in my world of chaos -- seriously not sure how much longer my heart can take the stress that my job entails.....
So that was my week. pretty much sucked yet God is so good. I Go to Chicago on thursday to interview with some big wigs to see if there are any opportunities that may be a better fit for me. I really dont know where God will lead because the choices are so far from each other and basically life altering... I start to panic just thinking about it!!!
Thank you for your continued prayer and support. Sorry that I need them so much!
Katrina
Saturday, January 29, 2011
St. Louis Delmar Loop - Ice Carnival (1/15/2011)
A few weeks ago we went to St. Louis to visit an event called the "Ice Carnival 2011" in an eclectic area of the city called the Delmar Loop. It is a long street filled with many differnt boutiques, galleries, and restaurants etc. It was really fun as the Ice Carnival had different mini events going on throughout the streets. They had ice scupltures along the street representing every business. There were giant ice blocks that you could take a whack at with a giant hammer... Ice slides and putt putt for the kids. We witnessed an ice scupltor creating a masterpiece. We had a lot of fun going into all the different shops and art galleries and had sushi for lunch. There were different street performers throughout the carnival such as hoola hoop dancers--weird i know, but they danced with hoola hoops to some drums and it was awesome to behold. Each vendor had a cooler filled with ice cubes that had gold coins frozen in the middle. It was fun to collect them, smash them open on the sidewalk and discover if the gold coin was money or chocolate.
Really great day until Judah tripped on the sidewalk and caught himself with his face. He started screaming and crying bloody murder and his upper lip swelled up to triple the size and gushed blood. I was torn between wanting to get him help and wanting him to stop screaming so loud (top of his lungs). So I scooped him up and ran down the street whispering into his ear "its ok, stop crying, shhhhhh, please stop crying, shut up...its ok..shhhh.." until we made it to a Coldstone Creamery. I pushed past the patrons licking ice cream cones until we made it to the bathroom. I started to sort of panic and ask for my mommy... I realized this was the first time Judah has really hurt himself. He has had a few bumps and bruises but never gushing blood or swollen body parts. We were able to control the bleeding and get some ice from the Coldstone workers. Luckily it was just his upper lip and it wasnt busted too bad. He healed within a day! Pobrecito. I gave him a piggy back ride the rest of the day since he said he didnt think he could walk anymore because of his lip. of course.
Ice cubes from the end of the rainbow
I thought to myself, hey, He's six, time for a tattoo....
Hardcore! (grandma it is fake)
I love the irony
Ice Slides!!!!!
Me, looking gorgeous. : ) really just happy to be eating Sushi!
Ice Scuplture putt putt course!
Judah, you are getting too close to the man weilding a chain saw against slippery ice
He gotchya! (not with the chain saw... )
Judah rather enjoyed the attention. He's my son.
Almost done!
A melting pot made of ice.... hehe
we couldnt get enough of the sculpture photo ops
This is my greenville friend, Colleen who went with us
My poor baby after the "incident"
We went by again and the scuplture was complete... what a masterpiece!
OOoo La la..... sizzling hot ice sculptures...
A great day.
Chicago
I am going up to Chicago this Wednesday night and meeting with a bunch people Thursday morning. I mean the list of names of those that I am meeting with makes me want to hide under a desk. Basically the people in charge of everything. I am not sure what it will bring or what it means, but I am going to check it out and who knows? I have been feeling more of a peace this weekend so I am open to anything. This week is going to be pretty crazy because my company is also announcing some major changes to the hr function. I have no idea if I will even want the position I currently have as it is totally changing.... So many unknowns, so many thoughts and emotions to get through and I wont even have all the facts until Wednesday and then off to Chicago to see about these other opportunities. So if i make any sense at all it is that i am asking for prayer. Prayer for confidence, peace, and guidance.
Sunday, January 23, 2011
Window with a View
I just really love the view from my front window. The peacefullness of the trees with no cars, busy streets, highways, etc. Just a field. I spent much of Saturday afternoon looking out the window of all of the little birds that were frolicking around. There was this big fat cardinal-- bold and red. He was a treat to watch but too fast to get a proper photo. I will have to make sure to take a picture when it is sunny. that is when the real beauty starts to sing.
So quick update-- I talked with the guy at corporate and am contemplating the possibilities but from our first convo, I wasnt too intrigued by the current positions. I am going to Chicago sometime next week to check things out and meet with some of the department heads. This will be just a great opportunity to meet with the big boys and girls if only for future openings and getting further connected with the "decision makers". I will update you as things progress. Thank you for your thoughts and prayers! Love you!
Have a good week!
-Katrina
Give me eyes to see more of who You are
The Greatness of Our God by Hillsong
Give me eyes to see
More of who You are
May what I behold,
still my anxious heart.
Take what I have known
And break it all apart
For You my God, are greater still.
CHORUS
No sky contains,
No doubt restrains,
All You are,
The greatness of our God.
I spend my life to know,
And I'm far from close
To all You are,
The greatness of our God.
Verse 2:
Give me grace to see
Beyond this moment here.
To believe that there
Is nothing left to fear.
That You alone are high above it all.
For You my God, are greater still.
Bridge: 2x
And there is nothing
That can ever separate us.
There is nothing that can ever
separate us from Your love.
No life, no death, of this I am convinced.
You my God, are greater still.
And no words can say, or song convey,
all You are the greatness of our God.
I spend my life to know,
And I'm far from close
to all You are,
the greatness of our God
We sang this song recently at the Greenville Free Methodist Church during morning worship and I can not get it out of my head. It really is a song that hits many of us if not at all at the state of the heart. I think so many times it is hard to really take a moment, step back and digest the Greatness of our God. That no matter how big or small the burden, need, desire, heartache --- it doesnt come close to what God is capable of....
"I spend my life to know, and I'm far from close, to all You are..."
I will absolutely spend my entire life wanting to know, and not even come close to grasping the greatness of my God and I think sometimes that has terrified me. Like possibly that is in a way another failure of mine, but its not. It is comforting instead if you really think about it. That its ok, God is bigger and greater than I alone can fathom all at once, but its because of that that I can find comfort and shelter. At the same time I have to remember that where I really fail is realizing that greatness, realizing how it pertains to me, in the middle of the situation. What I fail to do the most is pray and live with passionate and unwavering certainty that He is in control.
"no sky contains, no doubt restrains all You are". My doubt in my head and heart restrain Him all the time but that doesn't stop Him from working. That does not bind Him or contain Him to the limits of my fractured mind. These words are like an anthem or promise I need to continually remind myself.
The first verse is my quiet prayer right now. Exactly where I am. In fact, that is why I am even more so leaning on the idea of staying in Greenville (no matter the opportunity) and let this be a place where I can really focus on Him. He has awakened something in me since I arrived-- slowly-- but very strongly have I been realizing just how deep He goes, and how I in my current state have so much to learn. Being a PK and a PC (pastor's kid and professional christian) my whole life, I really plateaued a long time ago when it came to God's word and the new life He brings. I had thought I knew it all or had heard those passages, parables, stories, etc, so many times that I could not possibly get anything more. Here in Greenville, i dont know if it is the church, or the awesome people in my small group who pursue God, or just the absence of most of my routine distractions, but I am reading the scripture and feel as though I have never laid my eyes or ears on it before. It looks and sounds familiar, but I am getting a whole different meaning and perspective.
Now you may be reading this and getting really impressed with my confession here, like wow, Katrina is really doing great. Well what I have failed to mention is that, the reading and the awakening I have been getting is very small doses from church on sunday morning and bible study tuesday night. I have yet to really get to a place where I actively, on my own, with out anyone watching--read the bible. I do not have a regularly scheduled quiet time other than when I find myself in front of the tv almost comatose. I hunger, but not to the point of starvation that makes me eager to consume His word. And it pains me. I dont know how I got here. Not my parents fault as they made us do devotions before school every morning, no matter how much kicking and screaming. I have just been relying on my "tribal knowledge" of the Bible and God-stuff (religion, theology, church etiquette) to get me through. NOT. GOOD. ENOUGH. not even a little.
Give me eyes to see
More of who You are
May what I behold,
still my anxious heart.
Take what I have known
And break it all apart
For You my God, are greater still.
CHORUS
No sky contains,
No doubt restrains,
All You are,
The greatness of our God.
I spend my life to know,
And I'm far from close
To all You are,
The greatness of our God.
Verse 2:
Give me grace to see
Beyond this moment here.
To believe that there
Is nothing left to fear.
That You alone are high above it all.
For You my God, are greater still.
Bridge: 2x
And there is nothing
That can ever separate us.
There is nothing that can ever
separate us from Your love.
No life, no death, of this I am convinced.
You my God, are greater still.
And no words can say, or song convey,
all You are the greatness of our God.
I spend my life to know,
And I'm far from close
to all You are,
the greatness of our God
We sang this song recently at the Greenville Free Methodist Church during morning worship and I can not get it out of my head. It really is a song that hits many of us if not at all at the state of the heart. I think so many times it is hard to really take a moment, step back and digest the Greatness of our God. That no matter how big or small the burden, need, desire, heartache --- it doesnt come close to what God is capable of....
"I spend my life to know, and I'm far from close, to all You are..."
I will absolutely spend my entire life wanting to know, and not even come close to grasping the greatness of my God and I think sometimes that has terrified me. Like possibly that is in a way another failure of mine, but its not. It is comforting instead if you really think about it. That its ok, God is bigger and greater than I alone can fathom all at once, but its because of that that I can find comfort and shelter. At the same time I have to remember that where I really fail is realizing that greatness, realizing how it pertains to me, in the middle of the situation. What I fail to do the most is pray and live with passionate and unwavering certainty that He is in control.
"no sky contains, no doubt restrains all You are". My doubt in my head and heart restrain Him all the time but that doesn't stop Him from working. That does not bind Him or contain Him to the limits of my fractured mind. These words are like an anthem or promise I need to continually remind myself.
The first verse is my quiet prayer right now. Exactly where I am. In fact, that is why I am even more so leaning on the idea of staying in Greenville (no matter the opportunity) and let this be a place where I can really focus on Him. He has awakened something in me since I arrived-- slowly-- but very strongly have I been realizing just how deep He goes, and how I in my current state have so much to learn. Being a PK and a PC (pastor's kid and professional christian) my whole life, I really plateaued a long time ago when it came to God's word and the new life He brings. I had thought I knew it all or had heard those passages, parables, stories, etc, so many times that I could not possibly get anything more. Here in Greenville, i dont know if it is the church, or the awesome people in my small group who pursue God, or just the absence of most of my routine distractions, but I am reading the scripture and feel as though I have never laid my eyes or ears on it before. It looks and sounds familiar, but I am getting a whole different meaning and perspective.
Now you may be reading this and getting really impressed with my confession here, like wow, Katrina is really doing great. Well what I have failed to mention is that, the reading and the awakening I have been getting is very small doses from church on sunday morning and bible study tuesday night. I have yet to really get to a place where I actively, on my own, with out anyone watching--read the bible. I do not have a regularly scheduled quiet time other than when I find myself in front of the tv almost comatose. I hunger, but not to the point of starvation that makes me eager to consume His word. And it pains me. I dont know how I got here. Not my parents fault as they made us do devotions before school every morning, no matter how much kicking and screaming. I have just been relying on my "tribal knowledge" of the Bible and God-stuff (religion, theology, church etiquette) to get me through. NOT. GOOD. ENOUGH. not even a little.
So I pray: "Lord, Give me eyes to see more of who You are
May what I behold, still my anxious heart
Take what I have known and break it all apart
Take what I have known and break it all apart
For you my God, are greater still...."(note: to listen to the song, see link at the top to youtube)
Thursday, January 6, 2011
Dilemma
So I have the makings of a pretty significant dilemma in the near future...
I may have an opportunity to take a position at our corporate office in Deerfield, Illinois (Northwest suburb of Chicago). I received a call from my regional manager letting me know that the VP of HR would be giving me a call tomorrow about this opportunity. I may even be asked to go up there to check things out and see if it is the right fit for me.
Half of me is like... WOOOHOOO! Chicago here I come! I love that city, have wanted to live in that city forever... and here is the opportunity!
And the other side of me is like... you have got to be kidding. We JUST moved! We JUST got settled! We JUST started making friends! WHy would God bring us to Greenville, do all of this, and we havent even gotten our feet wet!
I just dont know. There are still a lot of factors to consider, like, what really is this job? I wont know until the VP calls me and I have a million questions to ask.
I am a little stressed out by the whole thing though because I just dont know what God has for us. I am seeking his guidance and wisdom and know that as long as I keep him first, family second, I cant go wrong.
Please pray for us as I consider this crazy predicament. I pray that I have the calm ability to listen, and not feel pressured to make decisions or anything until I have had enough time to weigh all of the options against what God wants for us.
Please also pray for my sanity. Work is just changing so much right now which is why this opportunity it something I have to really consider.... I need to find a position that will offer me the right balance for Judah and I.
Thanks! I will keep you posted!
I may have an opportunity to take a position at our corporate office in Deerfield, Illinois (Northwest suburb of Chicago). I received a call from my regional manager letting me know that the VP of HR would be giving me a call tomorrow about this opportunity. I may even be asked to go up there to check things out and see if it is the right fit for me.
Half of me is like... WOOOHOOO! Chicago here I come! I love that city, have wanted to live in that city forever... and here is the opportunity!
And the other side of me is like... you have got to be kidding. We JUST moved! We JUST got settled! We JUST started making friends! WHy would God bring us to Greenville, do all of this, and we havent even gotten our feet wet!
I just dont know. There are still a lot of factors to consider, like, what really is this job? I wont know until the VP calls me and I have a million questions to ask.
I am a little stressed out by the whole thing though because I just dont know what God has for us. I am seeking his guidance and wisdom and know that as long as I keep him first, family second, I cant go wrong.
Please pray for us as I consider this crazy predicament. I pray that I have the calm ability to listen, and not feel pressured to make decisions or anything until I have had enough time to weigh all of the options against what God wants for us.
Please also pray for my sanity. Work is just changing so much right now which is why this opportunity it something I have to really consider.... I need to find a position that will offer me the right balance for Judah and I.
Thanks! I will keep you posted!
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