LISTEN - God hears the cries of our blood...

"The LORD said, "What have you done? Listen! Your brother's blood cries out to me from the ground." Genesis 4:10

If this is your first time visiting my blog, let me share with you that many times I do my own studies as God directs me... He will drop a single word into my Spirit and I will then begin to do a study of the Scriptures revolving around that one word.

For this season of Lent, He has given me the word LISTEN. I will be posting some of my personal studies here. Many will remain in my personal journal, others I will post here...

Thank you for walking this Lenten journey with me, my prayers rising for you now...

In the passage above I find something beautiful in this Scripture, in my prior readings of it I only saw the heinous crime Cain committed against his brother Abel. I know that sounds strange to be able to find something beautiful in the midst of something so awful, but I have.

I searched in commentaries around this verse and strangely the beauty that I have discovered in this verse seems to be pretty much skipped over... Hard to believe that what is so profound here seems to go unnoticed, well maybe not, since I seem to have skipped over it many many times before myself. My view on this verse has been "pointed to the word LISTEN" this time, so this is what has actually caused me to see this after missing it so many times before.

Yes, we know that Cain has killed his brother, we know about how awful his temper and jealousy is. How we should never allow our rage to become so uncontrollable that we commit crimes against our fellow human beings. These are the things I've always gleaned from this in the past.

However, with this new perspective, what is being revealed to me is that when there are crimes committed our blood literally cries out to God! Our blood cries? Wow! Not only does our blood cry out to God, but God hears the cries!

I have never lost anyone to a crime; however my mother has been a victim to a heinous crime. She lived to tell about it and report it. Now, I cannot help but recognize the beauty, that when someone has been injured, harmed, or taken out of this life, our Lord HEARS the cries of the blood! Not only that, but He speaks to the criminal. He asks them what they have done and they too hear God speaking to them! They dialog with the God of the universe regarding what they have done. God of course already knows. God knows! God also provides consequences to their actions.

I know that our God is just and righteous in all of His decisions. Cain is removed from paradise, removed from the glorious place in which he was able to truly enjoy the land the beauty and all that God had provided. I can trust that He is handling everything. I can trust knowing that He knows all, sees all, and deals justly with all.

The voice of Abel came flooding into God's ears! AND, God did not ignore his cries. God hears the cries of blood, the cries of those who are no longer with us here physically, we can find a holy comfort in this. Just knowing that He hears the cries makes comforts me. Somehow, I know that the victim's families can find peace in His hearing also.

Let us take comfort and remember that our God listens and hears.

What is the cry of your heart today? What is it that you need Him to hear? Speak it to Him... let your voice be heard, He cares about you.
Amen.

Prayers Rising...Rising... Rising...

Prayers for each of us as we continue our journey, as we each follow our God-given calling upon this earth. Prayers for each of you as you see God in action, praying that you become a witness in your very own faith story of the miracles of our God, how He moves you to tears, moves you to laughter, moves you to action, moves you... moves you physically, moves you spiritually and moves you emotionally.

Prayers for family, prayers for new life, for my soon to be here grandson, my very first grandchild, prayers for my daughter Kellie Ann as her delivery date is drawing nearer and nearer. Prayers of thanksgiving for my daughter Tabitha rising… rising… rising… Prayers of thanksgiving for my sons-in-law, Prayers of thanksgiving as my wedding anniversary nears and for all the years of love I have shared in my marriage.

Prayers for each of us here reading as we continue on in our very own prayers. Our Lord knows your needs, I am praying that we all find ourselves closer to our Maker with each passing day, that we cling to His love, that we surrender all.... that we walk away lighter each day, walk away brighter at the end of each day. I pray that we are filled with joy because we have helped another in need, knowing that we can make the world a better place each day for those in our circles.

Let us sleep with smiles on our lips, and dreams of love and peace and difference be ours. How I love each of you,how I praise God for each of you... I am blessed to be walking the path with each of you...
Love, Love, Love and Jesus.
AMEN :)
Love,
Kathryn

SACRED LISTENING WOMAN

I painted my "SACRED LISTENING WOMAN" and I don't know if you can see it in this photo or not but I also painted two muted trees "underneath" her face symbolizing New Life and Growth. Her eyelashes are sacred wings...

This is my very first painting using acrylics and I must confess that I didn't feel "ready" to paint on my precious canvas, still needing to learn the way the paint brushes feel, how much to use... etc... so I used my big water color tablet :) Felt safer to start that way for me. In the end I took my Iridescent Gold and washed the entire painting with it. I might have muted the painting too much in doing so. I didn't realize how it would mute it, I thought it would make it more sparkely and shiny. But here it is! :)

ROOTED & FREE

MY VERY first watercolor painting ever.
It's elementary... but I love it... I like the trunk of the tree... Like the colors... I was at peace in the painting of it... thinking of my friend since 4th grade, Karen's sister Debbie who just passed on to be with God. Thoughts for her as I painted... she's with our God now... I felt like I painted her Spirit in the painting as I painted with the blues...

"SPIRITCLOUD"

God had prompted me to do a study of all the Scriptures regarding CLOUDS and it is truly amazing how God shows up in the clouds! He is amazing! He was a Pillar of Cloud during the day and a Pillar of Fire by night, at the baptism of Jesus out of a cloud came the voice of God announcing to all those who where there "This is my son, whom I'm well pleased, LISTEN to Him" [emphasis mine], and that the clouds are the dust beneath His feet... The list of the majesty of the clouds goes on and on... This is my painting depicting the sky, the waters, the light and the clouds are filled with His awesome presence.

Doors and More Doors

Doors and More Doors,

Heavenly Doors...

What are the God-given doorways

in your life?

"BLESSED IS THE MAN WHO LISTENS TO ME, WATCHING DAILY AT MY DOORS, WAITING AT MY DOORWAY. FOR THOSE WHO FIND ME FIND LIFE AND RECEIVE FAVOR FROM THE LORD " Proverbs 8:34-35

Have you ever given much thought to the doors that the Lord might be opening in your life? Especially when you wait on him to call you, then as you truly listen to Him and proceed to take the courage to actually do what He asks of you? The LORD God Himself actually escorts you as you take the steps! If you commence to walking with Him you soon will be astonished with the incredible journey He will take you on! For me it has been truly grand!

As I become more and more obedient to Him, to His direction, the blessings just keep coming my way! I have been so busy these last few months experiencing the many doors He has opened unto me! I have been astounded by His abundance and blessing upon my life. All of the Holy Spirit directed connections, the new women He has place in my life and all that we are up to together for Him is huge!

God has so much to bestow upon those who seek Him and seek His will. What perspective do you take as you begin to view the Heavenly Doors? Have you ever really thought about doors and the passageways as heavenly?

Do you choose to stay in the room with your ears plugged and the doors shut tightly all around you in order not to venture out? Does that idea feel safer to you so that you do not have to take any risks?

What would it be like for you if you were to view the word risk and shift the perspective of it? Shift the viewpoint of RISK to FAITH? Faithfully seeing a door as a heavenly opening? What doors are you keeping tightly shut that you know you should be opening? What might be on the other side of the door should you open it?

In the verse above you see that as you listen to the calling of the LORD you will be blessed! I am so amazed at the way He calls us forth to do His work! Until the end of time we must be listening to Him, listening to His voice, His Words of wisdom, His Words of direction, His Words of love. his true desire is to bless us, not to cause us to fear Him or His calling on our lives.

I love the second part of this passage as we are instructed to watch DAILY at His doors. Not just every now and then, or once a month when we think about it, but every single day we are to be WAITING AND WATCHING at His doors, waiting for Him to bless us!

The thought of this is beautiful to me as I begin to become more and more aware of the doors that He is guiding me to walk through each and every day.

Picture the glow peeking through, radiating from underneath the door, beckoning you to come... to draw closer and closer to the door. Laying on your tummy with your face up close to the door, you begin to peer through the opening seeing the lights luminosity and your nostrils take in the smells of fresh air, smelling the sweet fragrance of a magnolia tree! The scent fills you with warmth and hope for the day!

You begin to rise, placing your hand upon the old antique door knob which juts out from the old wooden hewn door - leading to the heavenly places of God, as He calls you forth; you go... you go...

You journey on with expectancy from Him who leads...

On the amazing journey with you,

Kathryn

GATES & DOORS --- Devotional

"The angel who talked with me had a measuring rod of gold to measure the city, it's gates and its walls." Revelation 21:15

"The twelve gates were twelve pearls, each gate made of a single pearl. The great street of the city was of pure gold, like transparent glass." Revelation 21:21

Oh Lord, to see the vision of this angel---

This angel talking with John!

I picture this and even can experience it in a seemingly smoky kind of way. I know that this is something extraordinary - yet not to You God - not to You at all.

Gold, glorious gold, the angels measuring rod - obviously yielding powers of You God - with abilities far beyond our earthly comprehension. But you have shown us throughout your Word what power you can bring forth - what amazing acts and mighty power can come through a simple stick - or a staff- even a snake.

So... I know that this Golden Measuring Rod was used in Revelation 11 to ensure protection and here in chapter 21 to be used for measuring.... -- mmmmmm.... mmmmm... I soak in your power and majesty. I soak in awe - and joy- and holy fear of all that you are capable of.

Measure me my LORD - let me grow taller and stronger and more powerful through you to be used for You. Grow me, stretch me, let me "measure up" let me in my own unworthiness take on and be cloaked in Your worthiness. Keep me within the bounds of your Holy Walls and Gates, let me not step outside of Your will or Your protection. Protect me with Your rod, keep me within Your gates so that I remain always focused on You - serving You - through Your power.

Let me have every bit of the power You want me to have through the Holy Spirit - let me be fully surrendered and keep measuring me. Allow Your Angels to speak to me. Allow Your Angels to measure me. Keep the Angels that You assign to me ever present, let me hear their words, let me respond accordingly. Thank you my LORD for Your amazing protection - for Your amazing love and your amazing creation!!

With love and devotion,

Kathryn

(the photo above is an actual picture of my journaling devotion taken by me of these particular Scriptures)

WOMEN OF PASSIONATE PURPOSE (WOPP) - Hosting a Christian Women's Writers' Retreat in Mt. Bethel, Pennsylvania - September 21st- 23rd, 2009

I am really excited to share with you our upcoming "WOMEN OF PASSIONATE PURPOSE" Christian Women's Writing Retreat! Marykay Moore and myself are hosting it in beautiful Mt. Bethel, Pennsylvania, which is approximately 20 minutes away from the breath taking Pocono Mountains! It will be held September 21st-25th, 2009.

It is absolutely beautiful there, and will be especially gorgeous at the beginning of the fall season.

This writers retreat is designed even for the journaler, and those who dabble in poems, song writing, devotional writers, the novice, as well as to the published author. It is our passion and our purpose to nudge even the most hesitant journal keeper to the most devout daily writer. Come and explore your God-given inner thoughts with your outer experiences and bring them to life! Put them all on paper for the greater good of God's kingdom.

We are here to inspire you to soak in the tub of beautiful and lovely words, allowing them to bubble up and out of you... Imagine yourself soaking in this wonderful tub, relaxed, smelling the aroma of fall all around you, lit with the candlelight of inspiration from the Holy Spirit...

You will find your writers voice, you will enjoy other voices of other women having your Spirit stirred and become amazingly encouraged, inspired to write what is within you and what God longs to be released!

Come if you feel called to do so...

Invite others you might know who would be blessed to be there.

To register for the Writers' Retreat go to our website:

http://www.womenofpassionatepurpose.com/ and you will also find the beautiful photos of the Manor House in which we will reside.

Writing and Worshipping,

Kathryn

Kathryn Bonner- Founder

Women Of Passionate Purpose

http://www.womenofpassionatepurpose.com/

http://www.awakeningslifecoaching.com/

http://www.kathrynbonner.com/

UNENDING LIFE

I subscribe to the daily word from this dictionary reference. Those of you that know me, know that I am one who loves words! I love the meaning that ONE simple word can hold within a few letters. I find it fascinating and valuable. I love the power of the spoken word in each of our lives, how we are able to build one another up with our words and the beauty that comes along with that.

God created our Spirit’s within to be moved to a deeper level of intimacy and to be emotionally touched by them. He created the earth and all that is in it and the galaxies with a spoken Word!

Today’s daily word is “INTERMINABLE” pronounced “in-TUR-muh-nuh-buhl “ It means this: “So long as to seem endless; never stopping”

As I began to contemplate this word, I thought about God’s forgiveness is for us, how His peace is for us, His love, His way of blessing us is "interminable!" Thank you God for your endlessness, for loving us endlessly! Ummmmm.... ummmmm soak this in, bathe in it... for it is a gift that is truly endless.

Each and every day we rise with a gorgeous sunrise and each and everyday we witness His magnificent sunsets. This is something that our Lord has done each and every day of our waking and sleeping, it’s endless, never stopping!

Meditate on this Scripture passage:
"But you, dear friends, carefully build yourselves up in this most holy faith by praying in the Holy Spirit, staying right at the center of God's love, keeping your arms open and outstretched, ready for the mercy of our Master, Jesus Christ This is the unending life, the real life!" Jude 1:20

Behold the meaning of this Scripture, read it over and over and over. What does the Lord reveal to you about Himself? Praise Him for it...

COACHES CALL TO ACTION:

1. What can you do for the Lord that is interminable?
2. What might you do for the greater good that is interminable?
3. What might you do for the building up of another?
4. How often do you find yourself praying in the Holy Spirit?
5. Think about what it is for you to "stay right in the center of God's love, keeping your arms open and outstretched" ... Wow!
6. What do you need to change in order to live into Jude 1:20?

In Christ's unending love,

Kathryn

Heavenly JoAnne

I've been up since about 3:00am this morning, unable to sleep, I am thinking of dear sweet Joanne who is about to transition from this life on earth, to the next life in heaven. My husband Bruce and I were over at George and Joanne's until about 9:00pm last night. I've had her in my prayers, and the whole family, her kids, and grandkids were there and able to say their good-byes, so did I. I told her of how much I loved her. She has been a gift to me. I will miss her greatly.

The last post I wrote was talking about going on a God hunt. Boy, it's been a long hunt. I love the way blogging can really show us where we are, and where we have been on our journey. Sometimes I visit other blogs and am always inspired by the way they seem to be always consistant with the "every Monday Musing" or the every "Works for me Wednesday" postings. Sometimes I think maybe the consistancy can be truly boring, too predictable, if you will... I then think to myself, "Kathryn, why don't you write every Monday or Wednesday? Have a committed time frame to blog each week, that kind of dedication is good! Then I remind myself that "Kathryn, remember you are a busy author, writer, Life Coach, AND the wife of a pastor and things come up that can not be predicted..." Of course I could argue both points and be very persuasive in each debate because I believe both to be true... I digress though because that is not the topic of my writing for today...

Anyway, my God hunt has taken me many places over the course of months. I'll just share with you a few of my journeys that our Lord has taken me on, some have been exhilerating and some have been emotionally exhausting. (Remember I am a pastor's wife :)

The Lord has been doing another new work in me while on my latest "God hunt" over these last few months. Sometimes we think we have learned things well, and then something comes up to remind you that you still need God! Ha! How soon we forget of our dependancy upon Him, even though we talk about it all of the time, even though He instructs us to keep our eyes on Him at all times, even though His Word teaches us about where to place our faith, we can forget.

I have been doing some of the most lovely work over the last few months, which has connected me even closer to my Lord, My King. All praise to Him who loves us even when we are unworthy. My Lord has had me doing some incredible training to facilitate Life Plans! I have been doing Life Plans for the most wonderful women! I have completed my training and now have my certification to do Life Purpose Plans for women. It's a 2 day, One-on-One retreat, where together we go through your entire life. We assess your spiritual gifts, go through your Wheel of Life (which covers all of the areas of your life such as health, romance, career, calling, relationships, finacial health, etc...) and we discover your passions and purpose. We go through an amazing powerful surrender excercise, then begin the process of setting goals and plans in place for you to begin accomplishing your God-given dreams!

As we go through your life, we each always stand amazed at what the Lord reveals during our two days together. The process is absolutely beautiful, absolutely transformational, especially when we take the time to look at what we have been through over the course of years in our lives. Some of the places in our journey that we experienced the harshest, dryest desert times prove to have had some beautiful learning, and lovely leaning upon our Lord. Those places we have journeyed in the past have meaning and purpose for our futures. As we look beyond ourselves, we are able to see the ministry that our Lord is calling us to.

We must remember through the course of our lives that we ALWAYS stand in a place of CHOICE. Freedoms to choose to look for the silver lining, look for GOD, to stand in a place of totally trusting God in the midst of fear or pain. Choosing to love, even when someone might not be making the same choice, choosing to forgive even when it seems impossible... we always can choose Christ,

*** Shift in my writing**** It's 5:30 am and I just hung up the phone, I just got the call from dear sweet George Tomin, and his dear sweet wife Joanne joined our Lord, around 3:00 am this morning. (Just about the time I was awakened and thinking of her:) I love you Joanne. George and all of us will miss you greatly, we will see you again... love, love, love you!

I will write again later about Life Purpose Plans and post some lovely pictures indicating the true beauty of the process.... I must go and wake Bruce so that he can call George back...

Choose love, choose love every time, I am.

Love,
Kathryn

ALL THINGS Q... - Questions Jesus Asked??

QUESTIONS ASKED BY JESUS
As a life purpose coach I love the powerful question. Every life coach, when they are going through their training learns that as a coach we do not have to nor do we need to answer the questions, but rather ask the questions of the client in order for them to find the answers that seem to allude us. In the search of the answer... somewhat of an inner journey goes on. It can bring you to a place of introspection, make you find out what you know, what you believe, what you want, what you are truly about. When the answer comes bells go off, lights flash, and there is a sense of knowing, new understanding, and clarity! It is lovely.

My girlfriends within my prayer group (whom I get with early Wednesday mornings) know that I have been doing a study of all the questions that Jesus asked. I apply the questions to my own life, and go about answering them. When I say "go about answering them" it doesn't mean that I have the answer right away, it doesn't mean that I have answers every time, it doesn't mean that I am satisfied with my answers when they come; yet there are times when I am more than satisfied, in fact amazed at the answers that come to me. It varies, depending upon the question, and my own personal abilities to comprehend at the time. BUT, I LOVE ALL OF THE QUESTIONS THAT JESUS ASKS!! So... without further ado, let's begin! :)

Jesus asked some of the most powerful questions! Things that make you go hmmmm...

This question He asks: "If you love those who love you, what reward will you get?" Matthew 5:46

Wow! What a great question. It's very easy for us to love those who love us isn't it? There is no challenge for us with that, it's a no brainer, a piece of cake. It doesn't require us to rely on the Lord for anything in that situation. Love, this is the the crux of 1 Corinthians chapter 13 and teaches us all about love. Love is not rude it says in verse 5. How often are we rude to those around us? (I ask myself this question too). Far too often for me. Sadly I hate to admit it. But as we walk closer and closer to Christ this becomes easier and easier, a natural out pouring of the Holy Spirit living within us.

I love it when those I love show love to me, it feels SO good. Love is one of the most wonderful things that God instilled within us, each of us!

In 1st Corinthians it says things like, love is patient, love is kind, love is not rude, it is not jealous, it is not self seeking, it is not easily angered... it continues on with a list of things regarding love. When Jesus asked, what reward is there when we love those who love us is such a great reminder of the reward we recieve while loving on the unlovable. Think about the folks who are hard to love in your life. What if you were to start being loving to them? There could be an amazing change that could come over them because of your love being given to them. They may actually need your love a lot more than a person who's easy to love. If we all become more free with our love, the reward would probably be that those who have been difficult to love will probably be truly touched and moved by your love that they begin to have a heart change. Their hearts will more than likely become softer and sweeter because of you! That's the reward! Let us love all those God places in our path even the difficult to love, then, we will begin experiencing true love! What do you think? Can you begin to try it? I am starting today!

After all, LOVE is the greatest of all things! God is love!

Here's to love!
Kathryn

Check out my website: http://www.kathrynbonner.com/ for more information about coaching!

I would not have known Him...

...I saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and remain on Him. I would not have known Him, except that The One who sent me to baptize with water told me, “The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is He who will baptize with the Holy Spirit. I have seen and I testify that this is the Son of God.
John 1:32-34

We serve such an amazing God! I am always astounded by His love and grace. This morning in my time with Him I had love-tears literally flowing down my face. In reading the entire 1st chapter of John, where it says in verse 33 "I would not have known Him..." That verse literally GRABBED HOLD OF ME! I thought what if I'd never known Him?!

O my LORD, how would my life be different if I have not known you? O my LORD how my life is so renewed because of your love, Your Spirit. Both of which live and have their home, within me! My LORD you have been so amazingly generous to place SO MUCH of Yourself within me, within each of us. Therefore, connecting us one to another so deeply. O my God, my Redeemer, my Safeplace, my Every Breath. As I write this I have love-tears pouring out in thanksgiving. I know that I am unworthy.

I at the age of fourteen I fully accepted your love, your utmost Highest gift – YOUR Gift of the Holy Spirit. I felt it land on me! I felt Your amazing power residing within so that there would never ever be a way that I could deny your existence! It was grace to a girl who needed grace. It was grace to a girl who did not fully understand how much grace she would need in the latter years to come. I strayed far away from you, not realizing the gift I had been given. How could I have known at such a tender age?

Oh, and how I know of the gift NOW! How I know it now! LORD, my KING, your love abounds beyond all I can perceive, and yet I experience it within me, just as powerfully as it was at the age of fourteen, even stronger now. My life unsure of so much, yet certain. You bring that certainty in which we all need. You bring the peace. You bring the wellbeing. You bring the love. You bring the grace. All of this, priceless and yet free!

I pray that as we all stumble into this season of Lent that we grow in your grace and love, and that our love-tears stream with a new knowing of your amazing love.

He is the One who baptizes us in the Holy Spirit, allowing it to “land within us” just as John saw happen to Jesus! Amazing! Miraculous!

I am gratified that I know you.

Yours,
Kathryn

Absolutely Addorable! Happy New Year!

Is this not one of the most wonderful photos ever?!

Emily Dickinson once wrote "Hope is a thing with feathers." I am sure that is exactly how this addorable baby macaque sees this dove!

In many cultures and in the Bible the dove is a symbol of peace, hope and God's love. I see all of this depicted in the above photo. Our Lord shows us beautiful and pure love here. This photo brings me that place of peace, joy, and love. I pray that you experience the same as you gaze upon the photo. :)

The article reads:
An abandoned baby macaque was taken in by an animal hospital in Goangdong Province, China. But he was lonely until he made friends with a white dove - pigeon. The two are now inseperable. And make a cute photo.

The article goes on to say:

They're an odd couple in every sense but a monkey and a dove, pigeon have become inseparable at an animal sanctuary in China.

The 12-week-old macaque - who was abandoned by his mother - and was so close to death when it was rescued on Neilingding Island, in Goangdong Province.

After being taken to an animal hospital his health began to improve but he seemed spiritless - that is until he developed an amazing and wonderful friendship with a white dove. The blossoming relationship pivitol as it helped to revive the macaque who has developed a new lease of life, say staff at the sanctuary.

Now the unlikely yet precious duo are never far from each other's side, and they aren't the only ones to strike up an unusual friendship.

Earlier this year a pig adopted a tiger cub and raised him along with her piglets because his mother couldn't feed him.

And in 2005 a baby deer named Mi-Lu befriended lurcher Geoffrey at the Knowsley Animal Park in Merseyside after she was rejected by her mother.

The Door is Open!

Add your comments, thoughts about this photo and any message you might see here for us as Christian brothers and sisters. I'd love to hear your insights and what you glean from it.

Praying God's blessing upon you in the New Year!
Kathryn

More wonderful friends!

Tim & Melanie Barosh are on the left and Bruce (my wonderful husband) and I are on the right. Tim & Mel live in the Houston area. We've been friends since 1999. They came in town this weekend, and we are having lunch outside at the Cheesecake Factory. Mel & I love the Cheesecake Factory! It was wonderful hanging out with them. When we lived in Houston I hung out with Mel all the time. We used to work together, she's a stay home mom now with two little girls and is pregnant now with their son! They are working on three different names for the baby, Noah, Emerson and Cash. Tim has always been a Johnny Cash fan, and he thinks that would be a nice strong name for him. Bruce and I like it too! Mel's still not quite sure about it. Tim is the worship pastor at Crossbridge in Sugar Land. Check out Mel's blog and vote yes or no for the name. They are taking a poll... her blog is http://popsiclesontheporch.blogspot.com/
Bruce, my husband thinks that "Bruce" would sound nice... Bruce Barosh... hmmm... what do you think :)

This is my sweet girlfriend Jennifer! She is such a precious friend to me. I just love the way she loves God! She radiates her love for Him, and He just shines out of her. This is Jen and I eating outside at Kirby Lane. We love going to Kirby Lane, it's SO Austin! We are out on the patio, the weather was perfect! Jen is pregnant is this picture with her 3rd child. He's now born and precious! His name is Jude Echo Stone Frost! I love that name! Jude means "praise", and with Echo, it is "Repeated Praise!" They are praising the Lord for this sweet addition! Check out Jennifer's blog at: http://www.frostbrother.blogspot.com/ for the updates on her boys... God is good! I love it that he gave us girlfriends!

Be blessed,

Kathryn

Friends are such a lovely Gift from God!

My dear friend Bev! I have known her since my sophomore year in high school, where we were best friends! We went to MacArthur in San Antonio. She is such an incredible gal, a great mom and an amazing artist, married to a wonderful man. I love the way she has such a joy about her. She has always been an inspiration to me, always makes me laugh, and I can talk to her about anything. She knows me well, and loves me in spite of myself... that's a true gift from God, the gift of Bev!

Jeanette is on the left, I'm in the center, and Bev is on the right... I've always been really short, and they are obviously really tall... so it makes it rather comical (at least Bev and I have always thought so :)) Anyway both Jeanette and Bev are incredibly talented. Bev has been making glass beads and jewelry for some time now. Jeanette (whom I've now known for a little over 2 years) received a gift from her husband for Christmas last year. It was a kit with all the supplies necessary for making glass beads! Jeannette wanted to learn how to do it, and I thought... "Wow! I actually know someone who does this!" So... we took a trip to San Antonio a few months back and Bev taught Jeannette how to make glass beads. It was fascinating to watch how quickly she learned and how beautiful to connect friends! They are both so creative! God is the ultimate in creativity!

This is my Wednesday morning reunion, prayer, accountability group! We come together early each Wednesday morning at the What-a-burger! We share with each other our prayer needs, the things that our Lord has called us to do, our moments closest to Christ that week. I'm in the front in the pink baseball cap (with absolutely NO makeup!) and Jan is behind me. Fran is in the bright tye-dye shirt, and Nancy is behind her. I love these girls! What a blessing they are to me!

These are some of my favorite people on the planet! I have the honor and the privilege to have been working with this group of gals for the last several years! They are such wonderful friends! Each of them brings something of such beauty and value to my life! We are here celebrating Kati's birthday. Kati is in the black shirt, she's such a sweetie, and that's her little boy Kolton (who is truly a miracle baby!). Then in the red shirt is Suzi Q, she's such a great gal with a real depth! Then there is Tammie who is such a joy and absolutely cracks me up! Of course that's me on the far right. Life is wonderful with with all the beautiful friends in our lives!

I tried to post more pictures of other friends but it wouldn't let me :( that just means that this is to be continued... I give thanks to God for wonderful friends recognizing the gift from God that they are.

Kathryn

Trick or Treat!!?? I look pretty scary!!

Halloween has always been fun for me! Here I am looking pretty scary! I'm all hunched over like the hunch back, and wearing my beautiful smile with my big ol' rotten BillyBob Teeth!! Very Very Scary!!!!!!!!!!!!

The last few years though it just hasn't been the same since Bruce and I have become empty nester's. It seems like over the last four years or so there haven't been very many trick or treater's coming around either. I know that a lot of that is because of the fact that you "can't trust" people like you used to be able to. However, last night we had tons of kiddos coming out! It was so much fun!

Each year we loved getting our two daughters all dressed up for Halloween! They loved it too! It really is some of the best memories we hold onto! I would always get dressed up with them. Many times there would be several events to go to during that week. At the girls school, at the church and then trick or treating in the neighborhood. So the girls would switch into each other's costumes on the different days for the different events! Even though they were 2 years and 8 months apart, they were close to the same size, which made it easy for them to share clothing.

They would dress up as a witch, a princess, a rabbit coming out of a hat, Sheera Princess of power, a ghost, and angel, a moo cow with utters, oh, the list goes on and on! I would dress up as Marge Simpson with the big blue hair, a unicorn, mini-mouse, a flapper girl...

Last night was funny! My picture above tells it all! I was a "House Wife Gone Bad, VERY bad!" I took it on in full character too, I slumped my body over like the hunch back, and had my hair in rollers, and Bruce (my wonderful husband) got me some of those hideous BillyBob teeth to wear and WA LA! I was transformed in the this beauty you see here!

Anyway, the kiddos that came loved it, some of the little bitty ones didn't love it, and their parents just Hee Hawed with laughter! It was fun, but still not the same without our daughters. Oh how I love you Tabby and Kellie!

Once a mom, ALWAYS a mom! Missin' my girlies.
This post is in honor of you two! :)
Love you,
Mom

Our Daughter Kellie Ann Is Married!

It has been a while since I have posted on my blog! Not because I haven't wanted to, but because I have been so busy with work, church, my book, and ALL of the MANY details of our daughter Kellie Ann's wedding. Above is a picture of where she was married. You may find this rather comical, but the people in the photo are not my daughter and son-in-law! However, the photo is where she was married. At this point I do not have any photo's of them yet. The photographer won't have photo's to us for several weeks. I am ready for them NOW :) There fore I simply went to the website where they were married and borrowed a photo :) When I have actual photos I will upload them and share them.

It was a beautiful wedding, and we truly do love our son-in-law. What a blessing that is for us. We know that Chase will take such great care of Kellie Ann, that gives parents such peace. Chase and Kellie Ann have committed their marriage to Christ and that is HUGE! It's the best way to begin the biggest commitment of your life. We are proud of both of them, in so many ways. I give thanks unto our Lord God for uniting them in Holy Matrimony!

My husband (Kellie Ann's dad) married them and said so many profound things during the ceremony as he spoke to them and to the congregation. One of the things that struck me that he said was that "He watched Chase from the window as he opened up the car door for her, and picked up the tree branches from the front yard (we'd had a heavy storm that broke some of the branches from the trees). He said that when I saw him do those two things, not knowing that Bruce was watching him from the upstairs window, that he knew Chase would be a good provider, and that he was a hard worker, and that he took pride in things.

All of that is very true of Chase. He also talked about the patience that he exhibited with Kellie Ann, and how he taught her more about finances, and how he had bought her a puppy for Christmas several years back. We are blessed!

We have turned a corner of sorts, now that both of our daughters are married to wonderful guys. We are now through "raising" them, and will be in prayer for them until the day of our death, and until then, we can now be "friends" together. There is something truly glorious about this! Something to celebrate! They made it, they are full fledged adults! Wow, it's truly amazing, truly wonderful!

I pray that the Lord blesses both of you with abundance, joy, laughter, love, grace, forgiveness!

Kathryn

Thank God for Fathers

Today is Fathers Day and our oldest daughter Tabby (that's her on the right, she is a shining light!) and her husband Gerald came to visit. The wonderful thing about today was that she surprised her Dad! She didn't tell him she was coming. My husband is a pastor, and I am on the praise team at church. He comes and stands beside me and joins me in song each Sunday when he's able to through out the service.

Tabby had called me previous to her coming and let me know that she and Gerald would be coming to surprise Dad, and of course she swore me to secrecy! I kept looking for their arrival with anticipated glee for Bruce, and the joy that glee would bring her. They were running late because they missed an exit on there way in. However they did make it just before the service started. :) I see them and Bruce does not, I greet them both with joy and hugs and rush back up to my place on the stage.

Anyway, I am standing on the stage with the praise team, and Bruce comes and stands next to me. We are singing and praising God. Tabby and I are waiting for her Dad to notice that she is there. Then Bruce, as he is standing there with me scanning the congregation, he spots his daughter, and I see the smile come across his face, and the small tears well up in his eyes. How wonderful it is to see your child standing there looking at you with love so big it can be felt. Bruce whispers in my ear "Tabitha is here to surprise me on Father's Day!" We look at one another and smile. This moment was particularly sweet for him, and of course for me.

After church, we go to lunch, and she reminisced on many of the sweet things he did for her growing up. He is all smiles, thrilled that the little things really were the big things that she remembers to this day. Oh, how special the love between father and daughter.

I give such thanks to you God for the way you have joined our family together!

Blessings to all dads out there, you really do make a HUGE difference in the lives of your daughters. Thanks for all that you do to bring them up to be lovers of the Lord.

Kathryn

Beautiful Love!

Everyone wants to feel loved and special on their birthday. At the very least remembered. Your birthday holds something beautiful, holds something that each of us can understand. It's a day that we feel loved, and honored because we are "here" and we each hope that our friends and family are "glad" that we are here. When we are remembered by those that we love it brings joy to the soul. It causes us to know that for one day it is OK to make it "all about me." We know that all of the other 364 days can not be. So the 1 day that it can be, that it's OK to say, "this is my day, this is the day that you let me know you are SO glad that I am here!

Take a look at the photo above, (that's their dog Dayton too :)

I did not download this from some place on the web, this is an actual photo of the breakfast my sweet wonderful son-in-law Gerald cooked for my daughter, his wife, for breakfast on her birthday! Aren't they the cutest couple?!!! Am I a proud mom or what? :)

This was not something that cost a fortune, but was worth a fortune to her and to her heart! I am so thankful to have a son-in-law that loves my daughter this way! I praise God for this!

So for those of you celebrating your birthday... Happy Happy Birthday! It is YOUR day! Enjoy it fully!

Thanking God for you today,

Kathryn