100 Things - In the beginning

Since I'm starting to get a little more serious about my blogging, I thought I'd would go ahead and do a little "100 Things" post. I know, every blogger in the universe has done one of these, and they're like, SO five minutes ago - but give me a break. It's been kinda fun to put this together, and it really makes me see how uninteresting I am.

In an effort to not bore you to tears all at once, I am breaking this list up into 10 installments. Hubs suggested I might make the last one my "Top Ten" list or something. I immediately scoffed at the idea, but now I think it's not so bad. (Thanks for the tip babe!)

I know you're excited about getting started, so without further ado...

100 Things About Katie

1. I have 5 beauty marks on my left ankle that form the shape of a cross.

2. I have two tattoos, and am thinking of getting another when I turn 30.

3. I hate talking on the telephone. I would much rather e-mail.

4. My all-time, Top 5 favorite movies are: West Side Story, Dirty Dancing, High Fidelity, Beauty and the Beast and National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation.

5. I am the wife of a United Methodist pastor. This fact surprises no one more than it surprises me.

6. I love to cook, sing, craft, write, design, etc., but am not outstanding in any of these areas. I am a jack of all trades, but a master of none.

7. I know each of my 258 Facebook friends in real life, but I still often feel very, VERY lonely.

8. I have known my husband, Matt, since I was 7 years old.

9. We dated twice in high school, and I broke up with him both times. (I think I’ve made it up to him by now though…)

10. I have a half-sister who is ten years older than me. I didn’t meet her until I was almost 16. We keep in touch, but are merely casual friends at this point.

100 Things Every Omnivore Should Try...

Here’s a chance for a little interactivity for all the bloggers out there. Below is a list of 100 things that I think every good omnivore should have tried at least once in their life. The list includes fine food, strange food, everyday food and even some pretty bad food - but a good omnivore should really try it all. Don’t worry if you haven’t, mind you; neither have I, though I’ll be sure to work on it. Don’t worry if you don’t recognize everything in the hundred, either; Wikipedia has the answers.

Here’s what I want you to do:

1) Copy this list into your blog or journal, including these instructions.
2) Bold all the items you’ve eaten.
3) Cross out any items that you would never consider eating.
4) Optional extra: Post a comment here at www.verygoodtaste.co.uk linking to your results.

The VGT Omnivore’s Hundred:

1. Venison
2. Nettle tea
3. Huevos rancheros
4. Steak tartare
5. Crocodile (does alligator count?)
6. Black pudding
7. Cheese fondue
8. Carp
9. Borscht
10. Baba ghanoush
11. Calamari
12. Pho
13. PB&J sandwich
14. Aloo gobi
15. Hot dog from a street cart
16. Epoisses
17. Black truffle
18. Fruit wine made from something other than grapes
19. Steamed pork buns
20. Pistachio ice cream
21. Heirloom tomatoes
22. Fresh wild berries
23. Foie gras
24. Rice and beans
25. Brawn, or head cheese
26. Raw Scotch Bonnet pepper
27. Dulce de leche
28. Oysters
29. Baklava
30. Bagna cauda
31. Wasabi peas
32. Clam chowder in a sourdough bowl
33. Salted lassi
34. Sauerkraut
35. Root beer float
36. Cognac with a fat cigar
37. Clotted cream tea
38. Vodka jelly/Jell-O
39. Gumbo
40. Oxtail
41. Curried goat
42. Whole insects
43. Phaal
44. Goat’s milk
45. Malt whisky from a bottle worth £60/$120 or more
46. Fugu
47. Chicken tikka masala
48. Eel
49. Krispy Kreme original glazed doughnut
50. Sea urchin
51. Prickly pear
52. Umeboshi
53. Abalone
54. Paneer
55. McDonald’s Big Mac Meal
56. Spaetzle
57. Dirty gin martini
58. Beer above 8% ABV
59. Poutine
60. Carob chips
61. S’mores
62. Sweetbreads
63. Kaolin
64. Currywurst
65. Durian
66. Frogs’ legs
67. Beignets, churros, elephant ears or funnel cake
68. Haggis
69. Fried plantain
70. Chitterlings, or andouillette
71. Gazpacho
72. Caviar and blini
73. Louche absinthe
74. Gjetost, or brunost
75. Roadkill
76. Baijiu
77. Hostess Fruit Pie
78. Snail
79. Lapsang souchong
80. Bellini
81. Tom yum
82. Eggs Benedict
83. Pocky
84. Tasting menu at a three-Michelin-star restaurant.
85. Kobe beef
86. Hare (does rabbit count?)
87. Goulash
88. Flowers
89. Horse
90. Criollo chocolate
91. Spam
92. Soft shell crab
93. Rose harissa
94. Catfish
95. Mole poblano
96. Bagel and lox
97. Lobster Thermidor
98. Polenta
99. Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee
100. Snake

I'll try anything once, but apparently I haven't tried much! Enjoy the fun...

In which I make a complete jerk of myself...

Almost three years ago Matt and I decided that we wanted to start a family. We quit our birth control methods (which were at best questionable anyway), talked about baby names and had sex a lot. A couple months passed by with no pregnancy, but we weren't worried. Then one night my little sister (who had only been married for three months at this point) called us at home to break the news. "Hi Aunt Katie!" I was going to be an aunt.

I was flabbergasted, excited, shocked, all of the things that people usually are when their sisters get pregnant, but I was also really jealous. I am the oldest child! I have been married the longest! I should get to have the first baby!!! I got over that fairly quickly (after all, I was the first to do everything else in our family - I could let her have this one thing, right?). Kamryn came along a few months later, and she has been a huge blessing to us.

Matt and I have continued to try to have a baby of our own with no luck. Now and again I can't help but look at Kamryn and think, "If we had conceived when we first started trying, our child would be her age/her height/saying those cute things/wearing that outfit/etc." It's so hard to love my niece so much, and at the same time grieve the situation we find ourselves in. Every milestone for her is a milestone for the baby that hasn't been introduced to us yet.

I have asked Kelly when she thinks they might have another. "When Kamryn is potty trained, I think we'll be ready for another," has been her response. I love my sister, and am genuinely curious about her life and want to invest in her family, but I recently realized that I have been counting down my reproductive cycles to the day when Kamryn is potty trained. Somewhere inside, I have turned this into a goal - to be pregnant before my second niece or nephew is on the way. Maybe if I can reach this goal, I won't feel like a complete fertility failure.

These past three years have been SO. HARD. I have sat back and watched as countless friends and family members have had babies, and I have always been excited and supportive of them. I have to admit, though, that at the same time, I am completely jealous, and each one of their joyous announcements sends my heart reeling into a dark place I don't like to visit very often. The last few pregnancy announcements I have been given, have been followed by, "I'm so sorry - it will happen soon for you. I'm praying for you!" I don't want to be that person. I don't want people to feel like they have to do that for me!

Anyway - on to how I made a jerk out of myself. We were at my mom and dad's last night celebrating Kamryn's second birthday. My sister was wearing a really cute jersey cotton dress that had a rouched empire waistline. I was sitting on the floor, and she walked in front of me, stepping over my leg to get to her spot on the couch. Some combination of the lighting, the rouching on her dress and the growing desperation in my uterus made me think she might be pregnant. Not one to keep things to myself, I mouthed to her, "Are you pregnant?" She quickly said "No, but thanks...now I feel really confident." Shit. Now I'm not only deranged with baby fever, but I'm that jerk that thinks non-gestating women are pregnant! I'm such an ass...

I don't think my sister reads my blog, but if she does, SORRY KELLY...I'm sick in the head, and you're beautiful.

How the Bitch Stole Christmas

We went to my mom & dad's last night to celebrate Kamryn's (my neice) 2nd birthday. We had pizza, ate a giant cookie cake thing, and looked at Kelly and Brandon's pictures from their recent trip to Disney World. It was a great night with family that I've really been missing lately.

Dad and Kamryn have this weird little game they play where she will grab the "How the Grinch Stole Christmas!" DVD off the shelf, run to Dad, smack him in his knee with the case, and he'll smack his other knee. She laughs and laughs and LAUGHS, and then Dad laughs and laughs and laughs while we all look on wondering what the heck is so funny. It's really kind of cute...

Last night Dad was the first to get the DVD out, and he brought it to Kamryn, obviously wanting to play (isn't this adorable?). She then proceeded to tell us all about the "Bitch" who stole Christmas. Um...WHAT?

Of course, we kept asking her to repeat herself. (Some said they wanted to make sure they were hearing her right, but I just wanted to hear that sweet little voice say "bitch" over and over!) We soon corrected her, and after a few tries, she finally got it.

Have any fun cussing kids stories? Do tell...

Growing Pains

This is a hard post for me to write. I am always so open and honest with you guys, but I have to admit that this is a tough one. It's been stewing for a few weeks though, so I think it's best to go ahead and write the darn thing. Here goes...

About a month ago, Matt and I took a trip with some of our youth group kids to Kings Island for Spirit Song, a Christian music festival. We camped for three nights, went to the park every day, enjoyed the music and all came home with sunburns. It was EXHAUSTING for the adults, but I'm sure the kids thought nothing of it.

The youth that were there seemed to be so amped up - acting crazy, doing everything EXCEPT what they were told, being mean to each other, running, yelling, AAAAHHH! I felt like I was just chasing after these kids scolding them, keeping order etc. Towards the end of the trip, I had a SERIOUS. MELTDOWN.

I remember sitting in one of the only air conditioned buildings in the park, saying to Matt, "I don't think the kids like me very much." I was expecting him to tell me that I was just being paranoid, that I shouldn't be silly - of course they like me! That is not what he said. Instead, he said, "Well, you ARE being pretty bossy." Oh yeah. He did. That's when I got up, and marched right out of that amusement park. (Can I just say, that this was no small walk of shame here...it's probably at LEAST 1/2 mile or so from where we were to the car. HUGE walk of shame...HUGE!)

We got to the car, got in, and I proceeded to FLIP OUT! How DARE he side with THEM and not ME? I am his WIFE! Doesn't he understand how much I have sacrificed for HIM to be in ministry? Doesn't he remember that I am giving up PRECIOUS vacation time from work to be subject to this CRAP? Blah, blah, more "woe-is-me-I'm-such-a-victim" crap, blah...

That's when he let me know that he didn't ask me to come on this trip to be "the enforcer" - he invited me to be a presence in the lives of our youth for a few days. To enjoy them. To have fun with them. To let them be themselves, and be okay with it.

OUCH. He was right.

He also made it clear that I had been mean to HIM on this trip too. Oh yeah...I bossed him around just like I did those kids. He let me know that it pissed him off when I did crap like that. That every time I did something like that, it underminded his authority to the youth group.

OUCH. Right again. I hate it when he's right (but I secretly think he's sexy when he stands up for himself...don't tell him I told you that).

I realized that this hell I was living in was mostly my fault. I WAS being a pain in the butt. I WAS being mean and bossy - to everyone! I straightened up pretty quick.

The next day I had some of the more challenging guys in my car. I was a little worried about how the two hour trip home would go. I just tried to keep in my mind that I am there to enjoy them, to be Jesus for them, not to be a drill sargent. I decided that I was going to talk to them about what they liked, listen to the music that they listened to, etc. And wouldn't you know it...

...I had a GREAT time!

It's been a good summer ever since. Youth ministry is HARD. I mean...HARD! But these youth are so enjoyable - I just can't help but love them all.

Growing like this is really painful, but it's really worth it too.

Not dead...just tired

Hi there internets...I'm Katie. Remember me?

I remember you, and I promise I haven't dropped off the face of the planet. I have mucho blogs stewing in my little brain, and they will surface soon. Until then, why don't you read some of my friends over there in my linky list? Go ahead...you know you want to...

Introducing...

...LUCILLE!
























This is our newest family member...Lucille. Isn't she precious?

She looks precious, but she's actually quite feisty. She's giving Buster a run for his money! She's sweet too, and she's starting to fit in just fine. We got Lucille from our friend Debbie's nephew. He was no longer able to keep her, and really didn't want to take her to the shelter. We were happy to take her for him!

(Buster is named after Buster Bluth on Arrested Development. We thought it was only fitting that we name his new girlfriend Lucille, after Buster's girlfriend on the show.)

Enjoy her cuteness...we do! (P.S. I got a little carried away on Picnik.com...but I love this picture!)

Random Memory

Matt and I were at a friend's house last night for youth group pool party. On our way home, he didn't exactly stop at a railroad crossing, and I made a comment akin to "smooth move ex-lax!" As images of my car smashed by a train entered my brain, a random childhood memory popped in, and I thought I'd share with you. (Aren't you so lucky?)

I grew up on the south side of Indianapolis - just 7 miles from downtown. There was a train track right near our neighborhood that crossed over a busy road. Years and years ago, everyone in the neighborhood got a letter from the city saying that there would be a public service announcement filmed RIGHT IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD! Something about people racing to beat trains, blah, blah, blah.

Everyone in the 'hood packed coolers, folding chairs, etc. and made the trek to the end of the street to watch the filming. Traffic was stopped both ways, and an old junker car (occupied by two crash-test dummies) was placed on road in the path of the train. The tension built as we saw a train slowly move up and stop about 100 yards from the car. When it was time, the train sped up to what looked like 25 miles an hour and KABLOOIE! smashed that car to smithereens. It was an exciting day...

I'm not sure how old I was, but I know I was old enough to realize that we all looked like stupid rednecks watching this take place. I still think of those poor crash-test dummies being killed as we all watched. So...um...don't race the train! Stop at the tracks. PSA out.

The "I've peaked, and I'm kidding myself" Party

My 10th high school reunion was last night. WHEW!

The planning nearly killed me at times, but last night ended up going really well. We had well over 100 people there, and I think they all had a great time. We had a money shortage, but everyone was AWESOME about throwing cash into the donation basket to help out. We’re still about $150 short, but that’s WAY better than $600.

This was my first reunion, so I wasn’t sure what to expect. I feel like I have changed so much since high school, so I guess I assumed a lot of other people would have too. I was so wrong! From what I could tell, everyone is still basically the same. The jerks were jerks. The nerds were nerds. The pretty girls were still pretty…prettier actually. (Am I really the only one who has gained wait since high school??? SERIOUSLY!)

I actually found that I didn’t really fit in with many people anymore. A couple of my band friends were there, and they are good friends I have kept in touch with over the years. Other than those folks, I had a hard time feeling like I was connecting with anyone. People were really nice, appreciative for the planning I had done, and they feigned the expected interest in my life (Married? Kids? Job?). We reminisced about high school (middle school even!), laughed about the stupid things we had seen each other do, etc. I still felt like a stranger. It was weird.

It has been ten years…ten long, life-changing, interesting years.

(Fun blog connection: my classmate’s wife came up to me last night to let me know she reads my blog and even asked about how Buster was doing! Isn’t that funny? If you’re still reading, Melissa: It was great to meet you last night!)

Seeking His Face...

We were in Texas last week with our youth group. We took 14 teenagers to a small town named Carthage (just 2 hours east of Dallas) to do ministry in any way we could. We shoveled rocks in 103 degree heat. We helped host a kids Day Camp at a church in town. We played bingo with people at a nursing home. We painted shelves for a day care. We loved and cared for the people in that town the best way we knew how.

We were hosted by a group called YouthWorks. This group does an AMAZING job at organizing mission trips for groups just like us. If you are wanting to take a group on a mission trip, you should check them out.

At night, after we had worked hard all day, we gathered for "Club" where we thanked God for what he had done in our lives that day, worshipped in song, listened to a lesson, etc. Afterwards we would have time with our church groups for some more discussion, prayer, etc. Each night our group wanted to sing some songs. Thankfully our friend Jeremy brought his guitar, and he was able to lead us in some great songs. One of my favorites we sang last week is this one, "Give Us Clean Hands" by Chris Tomlin...



Thursday night was our last in Texas. At Club time, the YouthWorks staff had arranged a foot washing service. The staff washed the feet of the adult leaders, then we got to turn around and wash the feet of our kids and pray for them individually. Matt and I were washing kids feet, praying for them, etc. when we noticed a commotion going on around us. We turned around to find our kids praying for each other. These kids were gathering around each other (and us), laying hands on each other, praying for each other like we have never seen before. They were all crying, all speaking words of truth to each other...and they knew that Jesus was there. They knew it! It was like a mini-revival just for our group. There they were, seeking God's face, just like we had sung.

That night was such an answer to prayer! This year has not been easy for me and Matt, and there have been times when I have wanted to call it quits. That night made all of that pain and frustration worth it. After everything was coming to an end that night, I just collapsed on Matt's shoulder and sobbed. Thank you Jesus...this is so worth it.

Not If...only WHEN

I got an e-mail from an old SIFAT friend of mine this morning. We had lost touch for a couple years, but we’ve recently reconnected. Here is his e-mail:

"Not if, only WHEN."

The exact words the Lord laid on my heart today when I was praying, words He told me to share with the ones I prayed for.

I know we haven't had much chance to talk yet about a lot of things since we've reconnected, but you should know Karen and I have been praying diligently for you both in the matter of having a child, and today was one of those blessed Holy Spirit moments when God's voice rings crystal clear. Just thought you might want to know. :) Hang in there, both of you...the plan is always His.

Seth

Once again, God has my attention!

We didn’t really talk with Seth about our baby situation. He knows what you all know from reading this blog. He doesn't know that over the past year, I had changed my language from "When we have kids..." to "If we have kids..." because of the hopelessness and doubt I have felt. I have been trying to be intentional about saying "When" lately, because we have received a lot of neat encouragement from God through other people. Dreams are being had, prayers are being said, and hopes are being realized again. I am so blown away that people would even pray for us, but even more so that God would speak to us through these friends of ours.

God's words for us today are an encouraging command to TRUST that He has our family in His hands. It's not up to us to know when this promise will come to fruition. It's only up to us to trust God, place hope and faith in Him, and live in Him as we continue to dream. Our hope is being restored...

Thank you Lord for this awesome word today! It's starting to sink in that we WILL have a family. We WILL be given the opportunity to raise up children in your name. Awesome!

Bye Bye July...

July is ALMOST over! It has been so crazy for us, and I can't believe we've actually survived this madness. For those who missed it, here is a recap:

-My friend Lisa got married (wedding, bachelorette party, etc.)
-Awesome July 4th party with youth group and their parents
-Camping, Kings Island (amusement park) and Christian music festival for four days with youth group
-My friend Courtney got married, but I couldn't go. Extreme guilt sets in.
-Dad turned 57, so we got together to celebrate (read - eat A LOT)
-Family visited from Florida, so we got together to celebrate (read - eat A LOT...again)
-Buster got a urinary tract infection that took us to the emergency room in the middle of the night.
-Buster got a urethral obstruction, has to be at vet (again) for two days.
-We go to Texas with 14 teenagers for a week-long mission trip (post coming soon). Insanity begins.
-Our niece Tayla turns 12, but we are out of town. More guilt sets in.
-We return from Texas, fairly unscathed, but definitely pooped.
-We have our SIXTH wedding anniversary. We celebrate by getting Chinese take-out, and eating in front of the couch. I can feel your jealousy...
-Mom has an emergency appendectomy. Long, boring stays at hospital commence. Work ceases.
-Old friends from SIFAT get in touch to let us know they're coming through Indy, and can they stay at our house? Absolutely - insanity continues.
-Mom is released from the hospital, so I spend a day waiting for discharge papers, shopping for groceries and filling prescriptions.

You may notice that the above list does not contain any of the following:
-House cleaning
-Laundry
-Church Services
-Weekly youth events
-Sleeping
-Daily hygiene

The house is NOT clean, I'm barely keeping up with laundry, sleeping is fitful, hygiene...what's that? I have been brushing my teeth, but it's always while I'm on the toilet and applying deoderant at the same time (I'm mastering this multi-tasking stuff). And church? Does. Not. Stop. EVER.

I have my class reunion this weekend, family visiting from Iowa, Tayla's birthday celebration with us (called "Tayla Day" - we're going for pedicures), and THEN I get my vacation...I think. We are currently planning on going to St. Louis next week for a Cardinal game, Tom Petty concert, sightseeing, SLEEPING, etc. We may end up missing out if Mom isn't feeling well, but her doctor said this morning, "No way in hell would I let some appendectomy keep me from seeing Tom Petty." Well said Dr. Browne.

SO - If I can just get through the next few days, I am set. The good news is that the next few days are full of fun things. I just wish the fun was more spread out.

When I do a post in September about how boring my life is, will you please slap me across the face with this dead fish I'm posting today to WAKE ME UP?

How scatter-brained was this post? Sorry about that...this is a glimpse into my brain right now! :)

Appendectomy...

Below is an e-mail I sent out to family and friends tonight. Thanks for praying for Mom...



Mom went to the emergency room last night because she was having pain in her side. The doctors did a cat scan, and found that Mom had appendicitis. They did an emergency appendectomy this morning. She is doing fairly well, all things considered. We got to the hospital this morning around 9:00, and she has been resting ever since. As long as she doesn't move too much, she isn't feeling much pain. She does feel quite a bit of pain when she takes deep breaths, moves, etc. The doctors are trying to keep her lung capacity up with some breathing exercises. They're also trying to get her moving, sitting up more, etc. She has been drinking plenty of water (always her cure-all when I don't feel well...it's good to see she can actually take a dose of her own medicine!). She isn't eating much, but they are giving her nutrients through an IV.



They are keeping her tonight, and are expecting to send her home tomorrow. We were there with her until about 8:00 this evening, and she seemed to be pretty stable. She's really groggy from her pain meds, so that has been interesting! Please be praying for her. I know this isn't fun at all, and recovering from surgery isn't going to be easy. The last time she was in a hospital was over 22 years ago when she gave birth to my brother! She's probably going to be in pain for a good while, and won't feel up to her normal schedule for some time. I don't know when she'll be going back to work. If anyone would like to put together a meal for Mom, Dad and Robert, I'm sure they would appreciate it. Dad and Robert are practically useless in the kitchen (unless you want a frozen pizza or chili, but I'm sure that will get old fast!). They aren't allergic to anything, and love eating just about anything! :)


I'm going to be with Mom tomorrow to help her get settled at home, but after that I really have to get back to work. If anyone feels like going over to check on her or help her with anything, I'm sure she'd love that too.



Thanks for your prayers. Your love and care means so much to me and to my family!

Katie

Here is a picture of me and Mom on my wedding day...

Free Entertainment...the best Pastor Perk

Being in ministry is hard work - not just for Matt. It's not always fun either. There's not a lot of money to be made, not a lot of recognition that is received, and definitely not a ton of your typical benefits. HOWEVER, there are some really cool perks. Today, when we went to be with Mom at the hospital, Matt got our parking validated. Only clergy get their parking validated (at this hospital anyway)! It saved us about $9.00. Also, tonight we have some free entertainment at our house since we live next door to the church.

Our church (and therefore our house) is just down the street from a huge ampitheater that hosts huge music groups every year. If a big name is coming to the Indianapolis area, it's probably coming to Deer Creek (actually - it hasn't been called "Deer Creek" in years. It's now the "Verizon Wireless Music Center," but I refuse to call it that. I grew up going to "Deer Creek," and I am going to continue to call it that if I want. I digress...).

Because of the location of our church, the local police department frequently sets up a huge sobriety check-point in our parking lot for after big concerts. I swear, every cop in Hamilton County shows up, and they set up the most amazing and elaborate trap I've seen! They "randomly" pull five cars out of the string of cars coming from Deer Creek, and make them turn into the parking lot where they will be injected, inspected, detected, infected,neglected and selected. If you are fit to drive, they let you go, BUT if they want to check you out a bit more, you get pulled to the side. That's where the fun happens! People are put through the usual tests to see if they are drunk or not, and the get hauled away to jail if they are, in fact, inebriated. It's a lot of fun for us to watch, and we usually do so from the comfort of our garage!

Yes, I do feel like a bit of a hillbilly finding all of this entertaining, but I don't really care much. Just know that if you ever go to a show at Deer Creek, and you get pulled over in a church parking lot down the street, you can count on one thing:

Matt and I are watching, and laughing our butts off!

Deep in the Heart of Texas...

Matt and I are leaving in the morning for a week-long trip to Carthage, Texas with our youth group. 14 kids, 5 adults and two 12-passenger vans are heading down there for a mission trip this week. I hope it will be fun, and I hope we get to be Jesus for people for a few days.

That being said, I'm going to be a little out of touch for a week or so. I would be lying if I said I wasn't excited about taking a couple hours Saturday night to catch up on all the blogs I'll miss all week! Pray for our group - that we'll be safe and get along well. Pray for Buster too - he's staying home, and our friend Debbie is going to be taking care of him while we're gone. I hope he doesn't have another raging party while we're gone. Kids...

Love each other!

Buster is Home

Buster came home last night, and really seemed to be feeling much better (thank you Jesus!). We played a lot and snuggled a lot last night. At one point he climbed into a tote I keep on a shelf with some of my scrapbook gear. Isn't he cute?

This morning he was still licking himself, and seemed to have a little difficulty peeing. I hope we don't have to take him back. The vet bill yesterday was just under $500, and thankfully they're working on a payment plan with us. I don't want to have to take him back! Poor guy...

Thanks for praying for him. He's such a sweetie...I hate knowing he's not feeling well!

Time to snap...

I am getting so stressed out that I know I'm going to snap at any time. My to-do list is a MILLION miles long, and the time in which I have to check off my tasks is growing increasingly short. There are work things, home things, church things, class reunion things, and I don't have enough time to get them all done! 4 newsletters to publish, 78 pastor interviews to schedule, church clusters to create, a mission trip to prepare for, a cat who is sick and needs special care, wedding gifts to buy, bills to pay, laundry to do, a house to clean, mailings to send out, Dad's birthday to celebrate, meetings to attend, and OH YEAH, did I mention we're probably getting a dog soon? Yeah. I'm that crazy.

Obstruction

This is Buster Bluth...




















He's our baby...I know that sounds stupid to a lot of you, but it's true. He has been the best cat: playful AND snuggly, and sometimes downright human. We love him so much...

He's not feeling well right now. He had a urinary tract infection a couple weeks ago, and we spent hours in the pet emergency room (and about $150) making him feel better. Since we returned from our Kings Island trip on Sunday, he's been acting funny. He's been peeing outside of his litter box (not normal at all...he never does that) and crying a lot more than usual. He's also gained some weight, and has not been wanting to play very much.

We took him to the vet this morning for observation, and the vet just called to let us know that Buster has a Urethral Obstruction. The doctor is sedating him, and will be putting in a catheter to clear the blockage. I called my mom with the news, and she let me know that she had a cat with that problem many years ago. She ended up having to put her cat down. I. AM. FREAKING. OUT.

First: we don't have the money for this procedure. It will probably cost almost $1000. I know we should have that much (and way more) saved for emergencies, but we don't.

Second: How many more times will this happen? Will we just have to plan for $1000 vet bills every year or more from now on? How much is too much to spend on your pet's life?

Third: We might be getting a dog soon. Will this stress out Buster even more? Yes. Will it be dangerous for Buster to have that stress? Possibly. Will it be good for Buster to have someone to play with? Most definitely. Ugh...the choices. If we had a child, and we're wanting another, we wouldn't NOT have another baby just because our first would be stressed out about it. People grow and learn and deal. Pets are not people...

So there it is - my drama for the day. I had intended to go to Bed Bath and Beyond today and spend lots of money on wedding gifts for the umpteen brides I know this summer. I'm not going to do that now though. They'll just have to wait! (Sorry girls...)

Pray for my Buster. Pray for my vet. Pray for my wallet.

Rhapsody in Silver and Blue

I am getting ready to have my 10 year high school reunion. Yes. TEN. YEARS. Ugh...


Some days it seems like it was just yesterday that I was a high school student. Oh my goodness, I was caught up in drama and boys and girlfriends and BAND...oh how I loved band...and school newspaper and ball games and boys and spring break and the fight song ("Home of the Silver and the Blue! P-M-H-S....THE BEST!"), prom and did I mention boys? I was ALWAYS with my friends, NEVER worried about much and OFTEN thought I was ready to grow up. I walked those blue halls with blue lockers, and dreamed of the day I would be older and carefree.

Other days that life I used to lead seems like it belonged to someone else. Like it's the plot of a book I read and loved years ago. The older I get, the less it feels like ME. Because really, there's no way I was a size twelve or a decent flute player or one of those mouthy girls who walks the mall giggling with her gaggle of girlfriends. That's not who I was, right? I've always been overweight and responsible and tired and out of touch, haven't I? Geez...

Did I mention that I'm planning my reunion? (Yes, I am a glutton for punishment. Why do you ask?) People keep asking me how I got the job of planning this shindig, and I'm honestly not quite sure. I thought I could help plan the event, since we finally lived in the area again. I got in touch with the Alumni Association at my high school, and was told that no one was working on the reunion. WHAT? No one is planning the reunion? We can't NOT have a reunion! "I'll get some people together," I said, and here I am. I'm not the class president (who should be planning this thing). I wasn't even one of the cool kids. I'm just some washed up band geek trying to get a party started.

I hope lots of people show up. We have a minimum food and beverage total we have to reach ($2000 - shouldn't be hard with the cash bar, right?). I hope that I look good. I was too busy planning this thing to get in shape for it. (Okay fine, I haven't been in shape for anything since I graduated...) I know people have Romy and Michelle delusions about what this reunion might look like, and I hope they're not pissed when I disappoint them. Do you know how expensive reunions like that are? Maybe in another decade folks...

So in honor of my impending reunion, I wanted to share something with you. This is the poem my Mom and Dad (probably just Mom with Dad's encouragement) wrote to place in the last issue of the school paper when I graduated. I loved it then, and I still love it today. I think it will be fairly easy to see that we love music in my family...

Princess Katie Diane

From House at Pooh Corner to
Opposites Attract
From Friends in Low Places to
A Boy Like That
From Rockin' in the Free World to
Rhapsody in Blue
From Love Song for a Savior to
OU812

You're our perfect Grievous Angel,
you're our Devil in Disguise
You're either Manic Monday or you're
Almost Paradise
You're such a Groovy Kind of Love, it's true
Do You Want To Know a Secret?
We're so proud of you!

Love, Mom & Dad

I Love the Eighties...

Why would anyone in their right mind leave the house wearing an outfit like this?















Or wearing makeup like this?















Well, for an EIGHTIES NIGHT of course!

As of 5:00 last night, I had no idea what I was going to wear to my friend Lisa's Eighties Night Bachelorette Party. I popped in my "Katie's 80's" mix on the stereo, went to work on my hideous eighties makeup, and the inspiration just flowed.

Matt helped me cut up an old orange shirt I had. The skirt has been in my closet begging to come out for quite some time. I didn't have bike shorts, but my bermudas worked just fine. And the "Like a Virgin" cross necklace? I picked that up in Houston a few years ago, and finally had the occasion to wear it! What you can't see in the picture is that I had two pairs of socks scrunched above my pink and yellow Chuck Taylor All-Stars. Top off this stellar outfit with bright turquoise eyeshadow, pink frosty lip gloss and the thickest black eyeliner this side of a trailer park, and you've got yourself an eighties princess! :)

We went bowling dressed like this. We went out to dinner dressed like this. We went to a bar dressed like this. AND yes, everywhere we went people stared, laughed and pointed, but WHO CARES? We had a great time. We all looked equally stupid, and we loved every minute of it. Who doesn't love a theme party?

I'm thinking of wearing this outfit to Lisa's wedding on Saturday. What do you think?