10 things for February

This is my mid month post of 10 things.

5 things I'm into and 5 things I'm over. 

I'm into...

1. Celebrating Love. 

2. Wearing all black.

3. The legend of Mick Dodge. Watch it!!

4. Little Debbie Valentine cakes. 

5. Toasting my bread with both slices on the same side. Leaves the inside soft and chewy and the outside crunchy. 

I'm over...

1. Weeds in my yard.

2. The big empty space on my living room wall.

3. Cooking.

4. Our dog, Lottie, licking. Everything. (What is up with that???)

5. Clutter. 

What are you into right now or totally over??? Leave me a comment and let me know :)

Be my valentine

Love day is upon us. And this year I decided to start a new tradition for the kiddos on Valentines day. Nothing huge. Just a few dollar tree decorations, some target dollar bin goodies and donuts from our favorite local donut shop. Just a little surprise to say "we LOVE you"! 

In our family we say "I love you" a lot. Every time we leave each other, hang up the phone and sometimes just in the middle of a conversation we stop and say it. But more than that, we DO love. 

And that's even more important than saying it. Don't get me wrong. Saying it is important and we all love to hear it, but doing it is what matters. Especially with your kids. They forget a lot of what you say but they never forget how you make them feel. And I want my kids to feel loved. 

So today (and every day) tell the people around you that you love them. And show them. 

Lovingly yours ;)

Mama Dot

"For God so loved the world, he gave his only begotten son, that who so ever belived in him, should not perish but have eternal life" - john 3:16

Living a Deliberate Life

Hi.

My name is Kathie.

And I'm behind on my blog.

It has been 22 days since my last post. 

The night that I began this blog, I was slightly delusional. I thought that somehow I could manage to fit this blogging thing into my already jam-packing, brimming over, schedule to death lives. 

Ok. Maybe I was totally delusional. 

For the record, I REALLY enjoy writing. I'm just finding it hard finding the time. Let me rephrase that. Scheduling the time. My Aunt Marilyn told me once that saying you need me than 24 hours in a day was an insult to God. Lol. Im sure then I've insulted him many times the past few years. 

How did life get so busy that we cant even enjoy doing the things we love or dare to discover new things we will love if we just gave them the time needed to blossom? Question of the Decade.

So I decided to give up one of the things that has consumed many hours of mine over the last few years. And no, Im not talking about cleaning. (I gave that up a long time ago ;)

Facebook.

Now, for you facebook junkies (aka Mom), this is not about how fb is bad or how you should get off of it. This is just a personal revelation that I have had. In fact, I'm going to post this blog to fb as soon as I finish. No one would probably ever see it if I don't!

A few weeks ago I realized that as I spent countless hours perusing fb I was spending more time peering into other people's lives then my own. I was looking at photos of other people's kids, while my kids played right in front of me. I was reading about my friend's day and not reading my bible. I was getting anxious about drama that I have ZERO connection to, but not worrying about matters that need to be addressed in my own life (like that pile of clean clothes). While I don't think facebook inherently is bad, its like all things in our life. When we allow them to take precedent over things that really matter, eternal things, family things, friends (real-life ones) then we have elevated their importance above all else.

Now, I know what you are thinking. "You hypocrite! You are taking time from all of those things to write this blog too!" 

But no. I'm not. Well maybe that pile of clothes.

The problem with facebook for me was the accessibility of it. And my habitual pattern of checking it on my phone. In the car. On the couch. At the lunch table, dinner table, breakfast table. You get the idea. This blogging thing is different. Its deliberate. Its scheduled. And that makes a big difference for me. 

This year I have decided to be more deliberate in my life. Im going to tell the people around me how much I love and appreciate them. Im going to send cards. Im going to make dinner and have friends over. Im going to watch my kids play. Im going to talk to my neighbors. Im going to read my bible more. Stop and pray more. And say No more. Im going to give Jesus all that I have. Starting with more time. So in my quest to be more deliberate, Im going to commit to blog more. At least once a week. I enjoy it and whether or not anyone reads it, well that's up to you. But even if no one does, I'll still do it and hope I inspire, touch, motivate someone somewhere. 

And I may even get around to folding those clothes.

"Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you". Matthew 6:33

10 things

I'm starting this with the hopes of it being a regular post to help you get to know me a little better.

Some of these are serious for me. And some are just for fun. I hope you enjoy! 

5 things I'm into...

1. Mint fudge covered Oreos. Um yum.

2. Promised land milk. Preferably with above cookies. 

3. Jesus. The one and only. (I have been for a while ;)

4. My new Keurig!! 

5. Taking random pics with my new camera. 

5 things I'm over...

1. People thinking everything is about them.

2. Direct tv commercials. Seriously? Who is creating these???

3. Parents not taking responsibility for their children. 

4. My curly hair.

5. Calories. 

Thanks for stopping by! What are you into or over right now??? 

Mama Dot

My hubby aka Daddy

This post is for my great friend Shannon.

My husband is a wonderful man. He has been the love of my life for the last 17 years. We met in 11th grade Algebra 2 when I "accidentally" kicked him as he walked by. We have been married for 10 and a half years, have two beautiful children and I can't wait to see all God has in store for us! We have been through many things the last 17 years. He has stuck by me through high school dating drama (all my doing ;), college long distant relationship, first jobs, engagement (FINALLY!), family tragedy, our wedding, the First Year, building a home, my awful sick pregnancy, our first sweet baby, him allowing me to stay home (we were broke!), loss of his job and a miscarriage (in the same month), another awful sick pregnancy, our second sweet baby, loss of friends, and countless other trials and joys.

He is an amazing man and I am one lucky gal.

While I was growing up my parents affectionately called one another "Mama" and "Daddy". They did this so we would hear them called by the names they wanted us to use. Have you ever heard children calling their parents by their first names? Yeah. That didn't fly at our house.

So when we became pregnant with Grits, I started calling him "Daddy" because that's how my mama and daddy did it so it seemed natural. The problem is, since that time, I hardly ever call him by his real name. Like ever. Even in public.

Like in the grocery store, I'll ask him "Hey Daddy don't let me forget the toilet paper".

Or at dinner with our friends, "Daddy would you mind handing me the salt?"

So a few weeks ago at a wedding, I called him Daddy at the dinner table and my friend Shannon cringed. She does not like it when I call him that in public!

As I started thinking about what to call him on the blog, it seemed only natural to call him Daddy.

Sorry Shannon.

I know. Some people think its weird. But its just the way we do things.

But for Shannon, I'm trying to remember, at least when we are in public, to remember to call him by his real name.

Just for fun- Here's a pic of what some people probably think when they hear me!

Christmas, my love

I love Christmas. The manger. The lights. The tree. The food. The gifts. The tree.

Did I mention the tree?

So I have a confession to make.
I still have up my Christmas tree. I still have up all 3 of my Christmas trees.

I know. I know. Its January 7th. But I had a belated Christmas gathering last Saturday night and really wanted my friends to see them! But that was almost 4 days ago and they are still up. And there is no definite schedule for getting them taken down.

Tonight as I sat grading some math tests (I know. Such an exciting life ;), I sat by the light of the tree. It is beautiful. 9 feet tall. Over 1,500 lights. And more than 300 ornaments. All different.

I collect ornaments. Each one tells a story. From pre-kid weekend get-aways to Tybee Island, to bad perm 1980's school pictures in popsicle stick frames. I love the memories that each one holds. They are all special to me and I treasure each one. When I'm forced to finally put away the tree I feel sad because I feel as though I'm boxing up these memories. Putting them in the attic is like out of sight, out of mind. I don't have the daily reminder of the magic of the past and all the fun that we've had. I'm tearing up as I write this! (I know. I'm a Christmas nerd!)

Although the thought of putting away the tree does make me sad, I'm reminded of a scripture from God's word.
John 10:10b says "I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly." Christ Jesus came to that manger, so that every day I could have an abundant life. So that every day I could have joy and that I could enjoy life here on earth. So that I could have Christmas every day. 

This year I will choose joy, because that why He came. That's why I celebrate my most favorite holiday, Christmas. 

And for all my OCD friends that are cringing at the fact that my trees are still up, they will come down some day soon. Just not today.

With joy,

Mama Dot

Frozen and Idina Menzel

Today we took Grits to see Frozen. I really like the movie. But more than that, I LOVED the music. As soon as the main character, Elsa, began to sing I knew I had heard that voice before. I knew I had spent countless hours singing along with her. It was Idina Menzel. For those of you that don't know she was the lead in the broadway hit Wicked. Elphaba. Her voice is enchanting. Amazing. Haunting. In the very best way. 

Thank you Disney. Thank you for giving me a new soundtrack to belt out along with. And thank you Idina. For lending your voice. Truly beautiful. 

And if you happen to see me driving around, singing at the top of my lungs, yes. Yes I'm singing "Let it go" ;)