2008...what a year!

2008 has been one incredible year for me!! I knew that it would be big year for me, but it was better than I ever could have thought it would be. God has been so extremely good to Scott & I and blessed us beyond what we could have asked for. I can definitely say that it has been a year of drastic change, but it's been one fun adventure. I feel like recapping the good things that happened this year because so often it's easy to push those memories aside, but they are something that I want to keep, even if I end up being the only one to ever read this!!!

January kicked off my new year with quite a bang, Scott & I closed on our home January 30th and that was such an overwhelming day! Of course on the morning we closed we got to the office like an hour before our appointment time and as we sat in Scott's car it was a mixture of excitement, nervousness, and the feeling of "is this REALLY happening?" As we sat and signed through endless amounts of paperwork that would make any one's head spin finally after what seemed like forever they handed us the key to our home and said "Congratulations!" Again, the feeling of "is this REALLY happening?" hit us as we shook her hand and said "Thanks!" I will never forget the first time that Scott opened up the front door to our empty house, and even though we had been in the house just days before we closed, it was like the strangest new feeling I had ever had. As Scott & I stood quietly in our living room, I slid across the floor in our dining room and was like "WOO HOO!!" and it broke in our home. The best part of that day came shortly after that WOO HOO moment when Scott & I prayed together and dedicated our house to the Lord because it was HIS greatness and provision that brought us to that place!

Fast forward 5 months down the road, June 13th, 2008. THE BIG DAY!! The days leading up to it were hectic and I felt the most exhausted that I think I have ever felt in my life thus far. I remember the night of our rehearsal that I was definitely tense and crabby because I literally had been going non-stop since that Monday. Shaynah came up to me in the Bride's room and was like "Are you OK? You don't seem like yourself" (or something of that nature) and I started to cry and let out an "I AM SOOOO TIRED!!" I was trying to be brave and not let everyone see me cry but in that moment the emotions overwhelmed my "braveness". Thankfully when I got back from the dinner I pretty much konked out and was refreshed for the next day. I woke up really early in the morning (as is expected) and I was the only one awake. I remember it was a beautiful cool summer morning and the sun was bright and shining. I sat outside with my dog Lilly and spent time in prayer with the Father. I remember just specifically asking him for peace and that everyone who came to the wedding and was in the wedding would be overwhelmed with peace. It was an awesome moment and He totally fulfilled my request. The one thing that I heard from all the guests was how relaxing and calming everything was and how I was the most relaxed glowing Bride most of them had seen. (Who knows if they were just saying that, but either way it made me happy!) Even those around me where like what is going on? because I was more quiet than my usual self. Everything about that day was perfect, not everything went as according to plan, but it was perfect. I had such amazing friends and family make the day more than I ever could have imagined! The most memorable moments I have were obviously with Scott although to pinpoint just one would be silly because they were all so wonderful. What I really love is looking back at his face in the pictures because if you know Scott he usually only gives one expression in photos, but in all our wedding photos his expressions are the most genuine ones that I usually only get to see when we are together. That will forever make my day.

Our honeymoon in Vegas was probably the slowest time we had after the wedding, it was such a fun experience to get to travel with Scott for the first time! He had NEVER been on a plane before and poor guy gets pretty bad motion sickness. We have 2 flights to Vegas and he was really sick when we finally got the hotel that it ruined our first day there. I felt awful for him because his first experience in flying was anything but pleasant. We fixed that problem on the flight back Dramamine is amazing!! :) Anyways, Vegas was wonderful, just relaxing and ordering room service, it was a short trip but it was the most fun!

The rest of the year went by fast and I don't have much to really do an extensive recap on, but it was great. September brought little Kaden into our lives, and he is such a blessing. November brought Avery Faith, a double blessing in a little bundle. I guess as I look back at what happened in 2008, I am so thankful for the little things, family, friends, work, life, love with all those in my life my year would have been just as extraordinary, but the Lord is such a wonderful Father that He had to add in extra blessings to make my year outstanding. I hope that you were just as blessed as I was!! HAPPY NEW YEAR!

i can't say it all..

If you went to MCA, you probably remember in Bible class or in any class where you would take prayer requests that you could give an "unspoken" request if you didn't want to tell everyone what your need was. I guess I am writing this blog today because I have that request. There is a situation going on in my life & my family's life and it could really use some extra coverage in prayer, although the details are things I will not divulge.


I wish I could write it all out, because that would make me feel better, but it's just not something I can do. I would really appreciate it if everyone who reads this would just let the Holy Spirit use you to pray for this situation. This is something that is the most difficult thing I have had to deal with, as well as those around me who are involved in this situation, and I know that only by HIS strength and guidance that a solution can be met.

I can ask you to pray for these things:
-Peace & Comfort
-Direction & Guidance
-Safety
-Joy
-Supernatural provisions


Thank you so much for caring enough to lift these things up in your prayers! I appreciate it more than words can say. Also, I would encourage you to let the Holy Spirit use you to pray for those around you who may be going through situations like me, where they can't tell you everything that is going on in their life, but they still need someone to bear up underneath them in prayer. Even though on the outside it may all look OK, you never know what someone is dealing with behind closed doors.

we go together....

scott & kimmy go together like.....


minnie & mickey


rainboots & umbrellas


milk & cookies


peanut butter & jelly


christmas trees & presents

ice cream & ice cream cones

..& last but not least,

TOM BRADY & SUPER BOWL WINS!!! :)

...i have met my perfect match!!

a little bit more personal

I feel like being a little bit more “raw” and personal with my post today, I guess mostly it’s because of what has been on my mind the past few days, and writing for me has always been a great vent. I feel like when I am able to write my thoughts out that it is a way of me dealing with whatever is going on in and my life, and even at times it’s my way to let go.

I feel like in a lot of my friendships that I have had that I invested more than I have ever received from it. I feel like in so many of those friendships that I have been the convenient friend, or the dependable friend [in the sense that I will always be there whenever they need something but not vice versa], and quite honestly I am getting a little bit tired of it all. In high school I know that there were a lot of people like this in my life, people that no matter how awful they treated me, or how much they neglected me as a friend that I would always rush to their side when they needed someone. It wasn’t until I met Scott that I was really able to see that. He was so brutally honest with me about some of those people because he saw that I deserved to have so much more than what they offered. Even in that knowledge, I don’t think I really understood until college how really untrue some of those friendships were. I met amazing people while I was at Rhema, people who are the greatest friends that I have ever had the chance to know, and my eyes were open to see a lot of the things that I was missing. I am so blessed to have those people in my life still to this day, and it makes me sad that I don’t get to see them as much as I wish I could, but they are forever the greatest friends I have.

I feel like I am in a place in my life right now where some people around make me feel again like I felt in high school. Feeling like I am not good enough to be someone worthy of their friendship, or that I am “second-string” in the sense that if nothing better comes along then I will consider you. Almost like a closet friend, meaning that you are my friend as long as no one else is around to know that you're my friend. Sometimes it feels to me like with people that it’s this front that gets put up, in the sense that they will be nice to you face to face but when it comes down to it, they don’t really care about you. Really, I know that this shouldn’t be even important to me because my life is fulfilling in its own right, but I guess some times you can’t help but feel.

I feel like with those people that they almost try to make you feel bad for being yourself, and that you should apologize for who you are because you don’t meet their standard, or that you aren't fun enough to be around them. I am sorry, but I am not going to apologize for being me, I happen to like who I am. I am not as weak as I was in the past when I would let people treat me like dirt. I am a much stronger person now and I have grown up a lot. Growing up doesn't mean I am not who I was because I have remained true to who I am. I am still the same old me, nothing has changed about that. I have the same silly fun side to me, I still love to giggle, and have a good time, never taking things too seriously. I still love with all my heart, and if you are my friend you can guarantee that as long as you offer the same to me, that nothing is more to me than keeping you in my life. So if you don’t love it, then leave it because I really think I am past that point of caring. I am not going to feel sorry or feel bad for being ME! I love me, and there are plenty of people in my life who love me for me too!! I am not going to even try to make things work with those types of people because there are too many good things & good people in my life that I don't need all that extra stuff weighing me down.

So, there is my vent. Like I said, helps me get it out, & let it go.

if this can't make you smile...

...then there is seriously something wrong with you!!!


This is my baby nephew Kaden and I just love him to pieces that I have to share this adorable picture with you! He is my sister Pam's baby and he is a big 3 month old now. Can you tell I am a VERY proud auntie?!! Have a happy winter weekend!!

6 amazing years

Six years ago my life forever changed. On that wonderful Wednesday, December 11th, 2002 I started dating the most wonderful person that I have ever known, and thus began the amazing journey that I am still on today. Now, I know now that we are married that it’s not our official anniversary, and we don’t celebrate it anymore, but I have to acknowledge what this day means to me.

Even before the day that Scott asked me to be his girlfriend, I knew that he was someone incredibly special to me, and even if I couldn’t pin-point all that he meant I knew that his role in my life would completely change me. When he asked me to be his girlfriend that night, it is a moment that I will never ever forget. I remember exactly how I felt and everything about that moment as it is just happened yesterday. It was such a special moment filled with the newness of young love. I remember being so giddy and filled with butterflies that I could hardly fall asleep that night! Scott bought me a teddy bear and gave it to me that night, and it was such a cute thing that I still have today that brings me back to that moment. It’s amazing to me that the Lord had completely planned out the adventure that we would face together, and how that moment was the beginning of His wonderful plan for us.

I never would have thought that day how being with Scott would enrich my life, and make me happier beyond my wildest imagination. I never would have thought that in him I would find my very best friend who would be so loving and loyal to me through thick, thin, good, bad, long distance, and any other thing I could throw at him. He is the most wonderful person I have ever met and I am so blessed to call him my husband. The past 6 years that I have spent getting to know him and love him have been the greatest time of my life, and the past 6 months of being his wife is beyond anything that I could ever describe in words. I am so blessed that my Heavenly Father created my soul mate in Scott. That He went out of His way to create in him all the things that I would ever want or need, and so much more. I am so thankful that I have someone in my life to show me the constant love regardless of whatever comes. I love Scott more and more every day, and I appreciate him more every day, and I am so blessed to have someone who loves me for every part of who I am, but more importantly that he loves the Lord with every part of who he is. I can’t wait for the next 6 years!!

i've been upgraded!!

Yes, it’s true I have upgraded big time from winter 2007. All thanks to my beautiful new townhouse & our wonderful two car garage!! Winter is officially here in Minnesota and we have got a few inches of snow over the last 3 days, and I am so happy to pull my car into my garage and not have to think about scraping and brushing inches of snow off of it the very next day. It’s a beautiful thing!! Last year we closed on our house in January and Scott got to live there alone until the wedding, and every time we got snow last year and I was scraping off my car in the early morning with wind chills below zero, I would think about how unfair it was that he got to use our garage and I was stuck parking in the driveway at my parents house! So it goes without saying that I am so happy to have “upgraded” this year and have my very own garage!! It makes winter a little easier to deal with. Now only if we could come up with a solution for those pesky slippery streets….

touchdown!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

One of the many things that Scott has introduced into my life is the love of football. I never grew up watching it or enjoying it, or really even having a desire to learn or get into it, but that has changed since I started dating Scott. It actually really wasn’t until after I moved home from Rhema that we really started watching it together every Sunday. I don’t know if it is because in our earlier years of dating, he would do whatever I wanted to do [like any boyfriend would] and I never would choose to watch football, regardless of the reason I am glad that we started this “tradition”.

I used to think it was weird that girls enjoyed watching football with their boyfriend/husband because to me, it never seemed intriguing. As I started to watch it with Scott it become fun to me because it was something he enjoyed watching, and so I wanted to learn to enjoy it too so that it would be a fun thing for us to do together. Now, it is something that we do every Sunday, and it is even better now that we have our own home. We snuggle up on the couch & arm chair, and watch it all afternoon long on Sunday. It is one of the days we actually get to spend together, and I find myself looking forward to it because it is so mellow and just a nice relaxing time [and I usually get to make something yummy like queso for us to enjoy!!].

However, we are a house divided. We both have two very different opinions on our favorite teams & quarterbacks. Mine is Tom Brady & the New England Patriots, of course, not only because he is GORGEOUS, but because he can throw a pigskin like no one else, and the Patriots are dominate!! Scott’s favorite quarterback is……ELI MANNING, and his team is the New York Giants! Now if you watched the superbowl last year you know why we disagree so harshly on this issue. Scott has had a lot of fun this year teasing me since TB is injured for the season, and the Giants aren’t doing too shabby [although I would never admit to saying that]. Honestly, we don’t really fight about it, but it’s fun to tease each other and have some disagreement over it, keeps life interesting.

So, tell me, do you side with my opinions or Scott’s?

Grandpa

to my grandpa:

i can't believe it's already been a whole year that you have been gone. today doesn't make me sad, but it makes my heart happy to know that you have been in the presence of my Jesus for a whole year. i am sure that it hasn't felt that long for you, as there is so much wonder to take it and so much to be in awe of. it makes me so happy to know that you are whole in every way possible, to know that your body is no longer frail and filled with the pain of cancer, but you are now entirely complete in the presence of our God!

i remember last year when my dad called me at work to tell me the news that you were no longer here on earth with us. when i picked up the phone and i heard my dad on the other end before he even spoke a word i knew that you had passed. my dad said to me, "grandpa passed away this morning, but it's ok." through the brokenness in his voice i knew that he was happy that you had met our maker, but sad that he would never see you in the flesh again. as i sit in the same desk that i received that phone call in a year ago, i still feel a bit of the sadness that i felt that day. i remember thinking that day that you wouldn't be here on my wedding day. that brought so much sadness to me, and even though you weren't there in the flesh, i know that you were very much with me on my special day. i know that you saw the flowers, my dress, our family, the ceremony, and i hope you loved it as much as i did!

at your memorial service, the one thing that everyone said your legacy was is the fact that you loved your God, loved your family, and that you worked hard to instill those values in your family. your legacy is still very much alive today and your family is still growing! among those additions are two new great-grand babies, and a new "grandson". your legacy will always live on in your family as we all continue to live a life committed to love as you did.

grandpa, i miss you, i love you, and i can't wait to hug you and laugh with you in heaven someday!

loving you always,
[your last granddaughter/the caboose of the family]
kimberly ann

humor in the daily news

today i was checking foxnews.com [that is where i get my news from] and i came across this story that i found to be wacky, funny, & a little sad all at the same time. now, the situation itself isn't entirely funny [although the context of it did make me smirk] but the last sentence in the article made me laugh hysterically.

here is the article i read:
PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — A man faces a domestic battery charge after allegedly hitting his girlfriend with a sandwich as she was driving.

Police said the 19-year-old man became angry and hit the woman in the arm and face with a sandwich, knocking her glasses off, as she was driving along Interstate 95 on Friday.

The victim nearly lost control of the car because she couldn't see the road. Her boyfriend then allegedly ripped off the rear-view mirror and used it to shatter the windshield.

He was arrested, jailed and later freed on $7,500 bail.

Police haven't said what type of sandwich was involved.

...you have to admit that makes you smile.

it's a crazy life...

so for those of you who aren't aware, scott & i work totally opposite schedules during the week. my schedule is 8-5, and scott's schedule is 2-10:30, so during the week we only see each other for roughly a total of 4 hours at the MOST. lately scott has been working till 2 am every night doing some overtime, so i haven't had the chance to see him very much.

it's a crazy life, but it's our life for now. obviously i wish i got to see him more then i do, but we get to have all weekend, every weekend together and we always have fun. today i was thinking about how even during the nights when we aren't together, i still feel like i share my night with him. how you ask? EMAIL!! we email each other when i am still at work, and then when i get home i email him at work till he gets home, or till i go to bed. he tells me about his night, and all the funny/stressful things that are going on, and i tell him about the things i am doing at home. it's our little way of sharing the night together. it may be geeky and/or techie, but it's what we do and i like it. i really don't know what i would do if i didn't at least get some time with him at night to talk to him, i would feel so lonely!

it's funny how you can make things work for you, that whatever you have to deal with or overcome, you just make it work. scott and i improvise what time we have to spend time together, whether that is me driving home on my lunch break to have lunch with him wednesday through friday, or him running up to bed to kiss me goodnight, and chat for a minute or two at 2:30 in the morning, even though i am half-way coherent, we make it work. i look forward to the days when we don't have to be a part so much, but for now, it's what we have and i wouldn't trade it for the world.

welcome to the world little one {{Avery Faith}}

please join me in welcoming to the world my newest baby niece!!!!

Avery Faith Surface
Born: Tuesday, November 11th, 2008
Time: 9:53 a.m.
Weight: 7 pounds, 13 ounces
Length: 19 1/2 inches

Mommy [Karen], Daddy [Deane], & big sister Dakota couldn't be more excited that she is here!! oh little miss Avery i wish i could be there to hold you, and see your cute little self in person!!i wish for you the best things in life, and you have a family here in minnesota to give you lots of hugs & kisses when you finally come our way!!! two little precious babies have joined our family in the past two months! God has truly blessed us!!

xoxo....gossip girl

oh mondays!!! i am sitting here at work thinking about the highlights of this evening, and one of them is that gossip girl is on tonight!!! with that thought, i began to think about why i love that show so much. not only is the storyline AMAZING, but one of the things i love most is the fashion!! every time i watch it, it makes me want to live in the upper east side of manhanttan!!! one of the things that i love most about the fashion on the show is one of the main characters, blair [played by leighton messter] has the most AMAZING headbands that i have ever seen in my life and i want to own ALL of them!!

my love for headbands can be attributed back to the days of laguna beach, where lauren conrad [known as LC at the time] always seemed to have them on. i adored her headbands, and ever since then my affections for them have only grown, and becoming a gossip girl fan has only left me wanting to expand my collection even more! blair has a headband for every outfit, every season, and they always look amazing!! i love the bright colors, bold patterns, and BIG bows they have! if i could steal anyone's wardrobe it would definitely be hers!!

anyways, here are some of my favorites from the show!!!










which one do you LOVE??!!!

one missed call

I am wondering, when you had a missed call from a phone number that you don’t recognize, do you call them back? Or do you forget about it because if it was someone you knew, or something important, they would have left you a message? Personally, I am the latter of the two choices. If I see I have a missed call from a number that my phone doesn’t recognize, and there is no voicemail, I delete it from my call list and move on with my day. I mostly assume that it is someone trying to sell me something, or usually just a misdialed number.

I assumed most people were the same as me…until I started working as a receptionist. I would probably say that 5-10 calls I get at work each day are from people who received a missed called from the company, and it usually goes something like this.

Kimmy: “Thank you for calling Lube Tech, how can I direct your call?”
Caller: “[long pause]……Who is this!?”
Kimmy: “This is Lube Tech, how can I direct your call?”
Caller: “Um….i just got a missed call from here so I just called back, I didn’t get a voicemail or anything, do you know who called me?”
Kimmy: [after rolling my eyes] “Sorry I don’t know who would have called you if they didn’t leave you a message”
Caller: “[pause] …Who is this again?”
Kimmy; “This is Lube Tech”
Caller: “…What do you do?”
Kimmy: “Um, we sell lubrication products & fuel.”
Caller: “….Hmm and you don’t know who called me?”
Kimmy: “Sorry I don’t know unless they left you a voicemail.”
Caller: “........”
Kimmy: “Ok, well have a good day.”
Caller: “…yah”

SERIOUSLY, this happens DAILY!! The wording doesn’t always play out that way, but on 9 out of 10 times that will be pretty dead on. I really don’t think that people get the concept that business phones will display only one number when an outbound call is placed, and not that person’s direct extension. Some days it is funny, but other times I really get frustrated at the stupidity of people. Sometime I want to respond, “No, I don’t know who called you, we have like 250 employees, would you like to take a stab at it?” I really thought that most people didn’t call if they didn’t know the number, but apparently human curiosity is too overpowering, either that or they REALLY enjoy frustrating a receptionist!!

So I want to know, do you call a missed unknown number, or do you let it go??

all i want for christmas...

Shaynah's post about her Christmas list inspired me, so I am going to share my top 5 Christmas wants with you!!

1. Juicy Couture Ring Bling Daydreamer Tote

...so GORGEOUS i can't even handle it. it calls my name from the purse department in Macy's everytime I go shopping!


2. PUPPY!! [with a matching Louis Vuitton pet carrier of course! :)]



...either an adorable yorkie, or i would take a sweet boston terrier too [since that is what Scott wants!]


3. PAINT, PAINT, & more PAINT!!!

..i am tired of looking at my white walls & it's about that time where i need some color wonder in my life!!!


4. New Chandeliers!!!

...ugh, i am tired of looking at my golden light fixtures! gimme something with some spice!


and last but not least, the best/dreamiest of all..............

5. 2009 Lexus Rx 330 [in black onyx]

..oh how a girl can dream!!!!


what is on YOUR list this Christmas??

our responsibility now...

the Lord put this on my heart tonight. PRAY for our country! PRAY for the next 4 years! Lord, we need your mercy & grace now more then ever!!

2 Chronicles 7:14-15 (Amplified Bible)

"If My people, who are called by My name, shall humble themselves, pray, seek, crave, and require of necessity My face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land"

GOD BLESS AMERICA!

it's cool to be...

...an American over the age of 18.




i got to exercise my right to vote in this wonderful country for the very first time today. it isn't anything glamourous to vote, i mean they are these small crowded places, but it was a cool thing to voice my opinions in the city, state, & country and know that my convictions matter. i love this nation & i pray that the integrity of it will be upheld for the next 4 years. i have been praying a lot for this election & i am excited to see the hand of God play out in it.

coolest thing of all, i get to wear my awesome I VOTED sticker at work all day!

it's time to take off the blinders

here is a great video that a girl i knew from tulsa made about the upcoming election. it's time to WAKE UP & see what is REALLY happening and take our place in prayer for this upcoming election. during the next 24 hours we need to step up and take our place in prayer for this nation. we are in a CRUTICAL place right now, and we need to be praying for eyes to be opened & for hearts to be turned to the right place and choose what is best to protect the values of this country. if you like what this is all about, then keep it going to get the word around! you never know who or how this will effect someone.

what's good in your life?

lately the Lord has really been talking to me about cultivating a thankful heart. It seems like sometimes we can take so much of what we are blessed with for granted. i know i can get like that very easily, but He has been showing me to be thankful for all the little things that i have been blessed with. if you really sit down to think about all the things that God has blessed you with, the list you end up with will be longer than you might think!

one of the things that Scott has really taught me about is being thankful for what i have, and being truly appreciative for them. i tend to have the "i want more, i need more" syndrome, where what i have is never enough and i need more to make me happy. i know that is so silly & selfish, and probably materialistic, but it can be truth for me sometimes [as embarrassing as that is to say out loud]. i tend to look at other people and what they have and then compare myself to it, instead of being grateful for all the good things that God has done for me. i have been SO BLESSED and you can rush by that when you are always searching for more and you miss appreciating what God has already done for you.

to be 21 and have all that i have in my life is truly a mark of who God is, and what He has done for me. i could have never achieved it on my own, but it was His favor that helped me to attain it. i never want my attitude to be a slap in the face to the Lord, or make it seem like what He has done isn't appreciated. i want to daily cultivate a heart filled with thankfulness, so that i never miss basking in the greatness of what God is doing, and has done for me. i have learned that as i have been more thankful for what i have, that the Lord has blessed me more and more with things that i have desired. i love that! i love that the Lord is never done with loving us, and that He is constantly wanting to make us happy!! it's good to be His child!

So i really want to challenge you to think about what is good in your life, what are the things that the Lord has blessed you with, and have you cultivated a grateful heart for those things?

my Rhema journey

Lately I have been thinking a lot about the two years I spent at Rhema, and just all the wonderful things that the Lord did in my life in the time I spent there. I started thinking about where that whole journey began for me. I remember in 7th grade when the Lord spoke to me about a calling in the ministry, the day that it happened we had a move of the Holy Spirit at school and I was praying with some people and the Lord moved on me in such a strong way and spoke to me about my calling. It was one of the very first times that I really felt the presence of God that strong, and I remember hearing His voice as if He was sitting in the room with me. What is so funny about that day is that I remember telling the Lord that I would go into ministry and follow His call on my life, but I wouldn’t go to Rhema, I basically said I would do anything but that! The reason in my head at that time was that I felt it was so predictable & patterned for someone who went to MCA who wanted to be in ministry to go to Rhema after high school and I didn’t want to be cliché. It’s funny when we think we know better that the Lord does!!

Now it wasn’t until 2 years later [9th grade] when my heart was changed about Rhema. Chris Damico had come to the Rock and was laying hands on people and he laid hands on me and I just fell to the floor under the anointing and the Lord spoke to me [and again it was as if He was sitting right next to me] and told me that it was in His will for me to go to Rhema. As I was laying there on the floor, I was debating back with Him saying that I would do anything but go to Rhema, [it's so funny how we can think we know better then He does!] and He gently kept working on my heart that I needed to go there. I remember finally consenting & telling the Lord that I would go to Rhema & follow His leading. Little did I know what He had in store for me!

Now again another 2 years down the road, my parents & I took a road trip down to Tulsa the summer before my senior year to visit the school and see what it was all about. I remember being so nervous but so very excited when we met with the recruiter to go tour the school. When I finally got to be on the Rhema campus it was such an amazing feeling. I remember when I set foot on the grounds that there was this overwhelming peace and excitement in my spirit because I KNEW that this was it, I knew that Rhema was the next step in my life and knowing that beyond a shadow of a doubt did not come without it’s challenges. I still had a lot of times where I felt like what the heck was I thinking and when I finally moved down there, I felt like, what the heck am I doing??!!

When I left Minnesota to move to Oklahoma I remember that I felt like I was giving up so much to follow God’s call. I mean for a 18 year old to leave their family, friends, & my boyfriend to live in an entirely different state, in my own apartment, in a city where I knew only one person [my roommate], at that time I felt like I was abandoning all that I had. The greatest thing about following the Lord is that for everything you leave or “give up” for His sake, He will always restore that unto you & with so much more! My time at Rhema was the best time of my life, and if I was to sit here and write about it all, I would go on for DAYS!! The Lord blessed me with more then I could have ever imagined for following His plan. My tuition for both years was PAID IN FULL before I even started my first day at school, I was able to live in student housing [you have no idea what a challenge that is!!], I had a wonderful job that gave me an abundance in my finances, and more then anything else I was so truly blessed with some of the most AMAZING friends I have ever had the privilege to know and love. For everything that I had to “give up” I was so abundantly blessed & I still experience that blessing in my life today.

Everyday I miss my Rhema friends so much but I know that the Lord is doing such wonderful things in their lives. They are all such great assets to the body of Christ and I look forward to being able to spend some time with them having a little reunion in the near future! Following the call of God in your life isn’t always the easiest thing to do, but you will be so heavily rewarded to being obedient to Him!!! You just never know what is on the other side of that first big step that you have to take. If the Lord asked me to do something like Rhema again I would do it in a heartbeat because I know that on the other side of it is blessings for me!

it all started with one episode...

Last week Scott & I were having a conversation when I called him on my lunch break, and it went something like this:

Scott: “you are never going to believe what I just did”
Kimmy: “….what?”
Scott: “I just finished watching The Hills episode from last night on the DVR”
Kimmy: “Hahahaha…seriously?!”

Now I LOVE the TV show The Hills, just absolutely LOVE it! And since I have all 3 seasons on DVD and I DVR it every week, Scott has sat through a good amount of episodes and it finally got his interest peaked to the point where he actually LIKES the show as well!! Now this is really funny if you know Scott well because he is anything but the type of guy who would like something like this. He is everything opposite of that! So this got me thinking about how when you spend so much time with someone you can pick up their likes/dislikes, tendencies, and habits. Because Scott is married to me, lives with me, he gets 24/7 of what I like and how I am. The Hills isn’t the only habit that Scott has picked up from me since we have been married, so it has been an ongoing thing. We both have picked up new likes from each other since we have dated and been married, but I love that we are learning to understand each other & what we both enjoy, it’s fun to learn more about him everyday!!

So this got me thinking about our natural earthly relationships point towards how our relationship can be with our Heavenly Father. Just as in this case, the more time I spend with Scott the more I know him and can become like him in certain ways, which then parallels my relationship with God. If I am seeking more of the Lord, then the more that I seek to spend time with Him each day, and really immerse my life with Him the more that I will become like Him and know His heart. That is something that I really want more than anything else! I think sometimes in my mind, I can make my relationship with the Lord so much harder then it has to be. I think that it is something that is so much work to attain, and don’t get me wrong it is work, but if I just set aside time to spend with Him in His word and in His presence then it is something that will come naturally to me, because I will know Him better then anything or anyone else.

It has been really encouraging to me that as I learn more about my marriage and that relationship aspect in my life that the Lord is able to parallel that for me in the relationship He seeks to have with me. I just love that! I love that the Lord is always so real & practical when He speaks to us and teaches us about who He is! It is truly a blessing to be a child of the Lord!!!

give me the simple life

this weekend scott & i went to the apple orchard with andy, shaynah, & rowan and we had such a good time! i love the fall colors and all the fun things you can do in the autumn time! it ended up being a pretty nice day, and the orchard was packed full of people!! here are some pictures for you all to enjoy!






what i love most is that it was just a fun relaxing day with the family! the simple things in life are always the best & most rewarding to enjoy. in life you can get so caught up in things, and i really appreciate the days when i get to be me & have fun with those i love the most!

it isn't all about you anymore....

so lately i have been thinking about selfishness, and how in our lives we start off so selfish. i mean you look at a baby and all they know is self. they cry until they get what they want, because it is all about them, they don't know to consider anyone or anything else but what they want and need 24/7. as you grow up and progress in life, you loose the selfishness and become more aware of the needs of others in your life. each day should be a step away from selfishness, and a step toward selflessness.

i guess this was on my mind because one of the things i have learned [even more then ever before in my life] since i have been married is that it really truly isn't just about me anymore. when i married scott i committed myself to work at our life together. for me, it has been a good learning experience because i don't always realize when i am being selfish and putting what i want above everything else. when i was on my own in oklahoma, i could really do whatever i wanted because it was my apartment, my money, and my life. if i wanted something i could just go buy it and not think about anyone else because it was all me. i got accustomed to that lifestyle, and i definitely liked it because i never had to say no to something that i really wanted. being married is a completely different ballgame, not only do i have to consider my spouse, but i have to consider sticking to our monthly budget, and all the things that come along with working at a life together. it's a learning lesson of loosing the "me" and becoming a "we". it is something that takes a lot of work [as i am learning] but it is worth the reward that you receive. when i prefer scott in things, i see him choosing to prefer me and that blesses my heart. one act of selflessness produce another and it's really like a snowball effect.

it is always a painful process to say no to self, because really who likes to have to tell themselves no? but it is so worth it. i think about how marriage is only the beginning of a life of selflessness, because once you have kids and a family you really begin to say no to yourself even more then ever before, but it is something that i know also produces a great reward. i love that in Christ we have the greatest example of selflessness. He is always our ultimate role model! it is encouraging to know that if He can do it, that He has given us the ability to walk it out in our lives as well. each day is a new opportunity to challenge myself in my walk of preferring others, all the way down to the little things like driving in traffic, but i see that as i make a conscious effort to choose selflessness, it becomes easier to walk it out and really truly understand that it isn't always all about me.

6 random things about me

So, I was tagged by Sheena to write 6 random things about me, so here goes.

Here are the rules that he posted on his blog.
-Post these rules on your blog
-Write 6 random things about yourself.
-Tag 6 people at the end of your post
-If you were tagged, DO IT and pass on the tag.

1. One of my biggest fears is getting stuck in an elevator. I don't avoid riding them but I do get nervous if I hear a sound that doesn't seem normal to me when I am in them.

2. The only person I have ever kissed is my husband!

3. I am really particular about where things go in my house, or on my desk, really any space that is "mine". I have certain places and angles that things are placed and I can tell when someone moves it, even the slightest bit, and it drives me nuts and I have to fix it right away. I am not OCD although I have been accused of it by some friends who like to pick on this tendency!

4. I really want to do a lot of traveling and ministering all around the world. I would love to go all around Europe & Asia just ministering the word and building up the body of Christ!!

5. I have never broken any bone in my body, which is surprising since I can be such a klutz!!

6. I can't wait to be a Mom and raise a family with my husband! I think about it all the time, and can't wait to have my own little ones!

So I tag, Elizabeth, Casey, Paul, Christina, Karen, & Dean.
I know most of you don't blog, but I am going to make you read this post & leave it in my comments!! :)

a thankful heart

Philippians 4:19 (Amplified Bible)
And my God will liberally supply (fill to the full) your every need according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.

today the Lord really stirred this verse in my spirit while i was sitting here at work with everything that has been going on today in our world. here is a tidbit of what you can see all over the news headlines today, this one is courtesy of fox news.com.

with our country in a complete state of panic, and even in my workplace with co-workers who are in a shocked, concerned, and fearful state about what tomorrow brings, i have had a day to really communicate with God about what a benefit it is to know the truth of His word. i honestly can't imagine what it would be like to have to live without the word of God in your life. the word is so vital to the core of who i am and how i live my life that i can't imagine to live a day without it. in the days that our world is currently facing, thank God for His word! thank God that i can sleep at night and know that He alone & nothing else is my source. i can know that because i am a tither and a giver that my needs are met and i am BLESSED beyond measure!

as the Lord brought Philippians 4:19 into my spirit today, i almost was sitting on my desk about to laugh because i know that no matter what my needs are that they are met, and that is because i live the by laws and rules of God's economy and not this world's! my riches are in HIS riches which aren't wrapped up on wall street, or in any government bank. what awesome news that is! it is awesome to know that no matter what the situation, that i can trust & rely on Him to bring me to the other side with a liberal supply, filled to my fullest of all that i need!! praise God! so, this really got me thinking about having a heart of gratitude for what the Lord has already so graciously blessed me with and i wanted to remind myself of those things, so here is my list.

i am thankful for:

-my wonderful husband: he is an amazing provider, who loves the Lord more then he loves me, who is my best friend, and he is more then i could have ever wanted, or deserved.

-my wonderful family & friends who despite all the craziness we have experienced, love me, care for me, and supports me through the good, the bad, & the ugly.

-my amazing house: this is truly a God given blessing! what a beautiful home that i have with my husband, that the Lord was able to provide means for us to build, live in, furnish, and love.

-my job even though some days i don't like it, it is a provision for me to live, bless others, be a giver & a tither, and help to support my family. in times when people are having a hard time finding jobs, thank God for the steadiness that i have in mine.

-life & the means to live it: in times in our world when people can't pay their bills, let alone enjoy the wonderful things that life has to offer, i get to pay off what i owe, give to the Lord, and enjoy life on top of that!! for that i am TRULY blessed, and have my needs met, and have some extra to enjoy. it may not be the glamorous life of expensive things, but it is a life FULL of good things for me to enjoy. what a blessing!

i guess i said that all to say that today what the Lord spoke to me about was that not only that He is and will continue to be my provision through whatever tomorrow brings, but that when days look dark, and things look tough, to remember what He has done, be thankful for it all, and as you do that, you will see that your concerns will fade because you know and have lived the goodness of what God has to offer, and no matter what is going on in this world, that will never change, the word of God is consistently the same and will ALWAYS stand the test of time. thank God for His word and thank God that i get to live in the fullness of it!!