the here + now

Oceans. We love it. We want more of it. We play it on repeat & wonder if a better worship song has ever been created. We write out the lyrics in our journals. We start to actually pray the song. We cry. Our hearts ache. And eventually that prayer is answered. Eventually when you pray for God to "lead you where your trust is without borders", He'll see if you actually mean obedience. When you ask for Him "to take you deeper than your feet may ever wander", well, He'll decide to do just that. And when you sing that sweet line of "your grace abounds in deepest wanders" that will be shown to you exactly what that means. If you have never heard this song? What are you living under a rock? Go ahead take a listen, pray it & have your life really feel like you want God surrounding it all, that now more than ever you want Him in every aspect of your life. The mundane & the big. Is it messing you up just a bit? Don't sa...

When I was younger, my dream was to marry Douglas and become a mom. At nineteen (a month before I turned 20) I married that boy and a year later we had our twins.  I fulfilled those dreams. But they were not how I planned. I don't know what I really expected marriage to be, because after 8 1/2 years I can tell you it's tough & beautiful & harder than I ever imagined & full of God's grace. And motherhood is different but alike in a way. Along the way I have lost my joy for motherhood. When Alex and Olivia were babies I would say I was thriving in motherhood. I felt lost as who Katie was, but as a mother I was winning or so I felt. Along the way I tried this and that. I believed this lie and that lie. To where I felt like I was dying to go back to work. To wish away these precious years. At the beginning of this year I knew my joy had been depleted. I was living motherhood as something to dread, something to be stressed about over every detail. But I...

I'm starting something new on Monday. Verses to share. You can save them, you can print them off. The last one I made even made a perfect lockscreen for my phone. {this one does not work for a lockscreen, but maybe next week} For today's I am sharing my current favorite scripture regarding praying for my children. Feel free to email any of your favorite scriptures and I you might find them here one week.

I haven't done a Friday Coffee Date in weeks & with the looks of my hair, the very essence of pure exhaustion & the 3 pimples we'll just stick to words typed out. /// If we were having coffee I would tell you I'm so thankful for the words in this book. I saw something about this somewhere in social media space and requested it at the library.  Words of encouragement, understanding, scary words, words that put a balm on that always slightly open wound. If you are a foster parent, someone who thinks upon it or even someone who just wants more understanding into the world of foster care I encourage you to read this. /// /// If we were having coffee I would want to tell you about  THIS  blogpost I read on Incourage's site a few weeks ago. I would tell you that when I want to get frustrated with having to go back home to get the forgotten glasses or lunchbox I am reminded I get to do this . I get to be their momma. /// /// If we were having coffe...

It's been a tough winter. Lots of snow. Below 0 temperatures. Being stuck inside. My spirit took a plunge. But not only mine but hers too. I kept wondering what the heck has been going on. And when she went outside to swing the other day and her face glowed with pure joy God revealed that it's been tough for her too. It started to make me think how I get lost in how to mother properly. To give the grace needed.  I have bad moods. They do too. My feelings get hurt & so do theirs. I can become overly excited about something that seems silly to others & we know kids can get overly excited about what seems to be ridiculous things. Parenting with grace isn't another set of rules for you to follow. It's a story that you're to rejoice in. Share the story with your children. Show them your savior. Show them Jesus. Dazzle them with His love. { Give Them Grace }

My friend sent me this prayer thinking of my little Olivia who sometimes struggles at night with fear. I want to share it with all of you. Whether it's you or your children feel free to save it & print it off.

"Mom you know some people live on the streets" "Yes, they're homeless" "Why can't people just open their homes for those people?" I then go into thinking all the thoughts about why we don't open our home to the homeless. The negative all the way to but Jesus was radical. At the end of the day this boy of mine challenges me. Without knowing so he leads me to more of Jesus. How big his heart is pushes me forward. Thank you Jesus for this boy of mine. 

Ok I'm totally stealing this from my church but do it! I promise God has something just for you. Grab a piece of paper and write these things down. 1. Your name 2. Something that stresses you 3. A negative label you've carried around about yourself 4. Something that makes you come alive 5. Life dream >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Seriously. Don't peek. Just wait. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Did you write down your answers? >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>>...

Winter. It's cold. And in Ohio, so dreary. Lacking of the sun. Or the ability to play outside and feel the warmth on your skin. Days stuck inside. And it all starts to weigh heavy. My spirit goes down the drain. The heaviness on my shoulders & in my heart seems to be slowly crushing me. But I won't stop the struggle. I won't give up & let it eat me alive. The panic attacks that leave me breathless. The numbness. And then the crying. It will all pass. It always passes. But in the middle when the struggle is real I'm thankful for people who speak life into me, God's closeness, being able to receive that warm blanket of His word, hot coffee & making out with my husband, hey, let's get real, making out helps.

Here's two valentine's day lockscreens Both are for iphone 5             

Today I had a wise woman Speak wise words  Words I needed to hear. God is at work. Abide in Him. Don't just go through the motions, that secret place is the growing.

/// Mom Sets The Tone  -- it's so easy to feel like I'm a drowning in all the things and the truth is when life and our home feels yuck, God has given me a special place and gift to change it. Can we all say dance party?! /// Rest  -- I found this picture of these cozy socks on  Over Come The Lie's   pinterest . I'm a cozy sock type girl & sometimes I need reminded that rest is good. The good work comes out of that good rest. /// Community  -- being alone is not good for my soul. Not sharing my story is not good, not asking for prayer is not good, not letting others know when I'm struggling and just need a good word is not ok. Open, reach out. /// Continue the hard work  -- some days it's hard. The getting up. The being mom. The stretching in marriage. The fight in my soul. Winter is tough. But continue. Don't give up. /// Sparkle  -- I can't sparkle like you & you can't sparkle like me, but I'm learning I need to start dreamin...