Living a Life You Love

     A few years ago, I met an extremely nice young lady named Betsy Ringer.     Betsy explained to me that she was a life coach  with an organization called iBloom and asked if I would like to be put on their email list.  I wasn't real sure what a life coach was, but, she made it sound so wonderful that I was curious.  I agreed and soon started receiving their newsletters.

     I was immediately impressed with the purpose and dedication of the devoted women of iBloom.   Kelly Thorne Gore, the driving force behind it all, has a phenomenal passion for helping others.  It is closely matched by the enthusiasm of Betsy and all the other fabulous ladies who make up this group.  Their Christian based outreach program stretches to women all over the world, evident by this statement found on their iBloom website, "Our iBloom team is on a mission to inspire and empower every woman on the planet to live a life she loves and ultimately live a life that honors God."  

     iBloom has a wide array of resources necessary to carry out that mission.  Whether your life just needs a little tweaking, or, a major overhaul, this is the place to start.  Their latest book, iChoose2 Love My Life, is a commitment that you can't afford not to take if you are really serious about living a life that you love. 

     iChoose2 Love My Life is a one year journey toward being the you you were meant to be.  It is a 52 week study of yourself that requires you to dig deep and find the real you.  It means making changes, some small, some not so small, that will result in a happier, healthier you.  Each week covers only one topic, giving you plenty of time to complete.  I will be starting my own personal journey this year and I am very excited to get started.    Are you at a point in your life that you are ready to take a closer look at yourself?  Are you ready to build your spiritual life and find what God has in store for you?  Would you love to reach out to women around you and help them live a life they genuinely love?   Then join me on this journey.  Check out the iBloom website at iBloom.co and see what they are all about.  Read their mission statement, get to know the iBloom team, or shop in their resource store where you can purchase the book for only $10.
    
     Still haven't quite decided if iBloom is right for you?   Please accept my personal invitation to an evening of fun and inspiration.  It's a "girls night in party" and we would love for you to join us!

 

http://ibloom.co/2013party!

     If you've never attended an online party, it's fun and easy - just log in by phone or computer.  First, be sure to register at the link above.  It's completely free with no obligation; but, if you would like to purchase the book before the party you will have that option when you register. 

     You have everything to gain and absolutely nothing to lose so come join us for the party and see what the journey is all about.   We'll be looking for you there!

Until next time...that's my view.

Kat

Christmas Blessings

This digital greeting personalized with Smilebox To all my friends, I wish you a blessed Christmas with family and friends.  I am so thankful for all of you and your support in 2012.  I pray that each of you will know God's peace and comfort during this blessed holiday.   Much love to all. Kat

My First Car

     What teenager doesn’t dream of their first car?  Not your parents’ car that you drive when you first get your license, that doesn’t count.  You dream of YOUR first car; the one that actually belongs to you; that you buy and pay for with your own money.

     What will you get?  Maybe a red sports car…or maybe blue, powder blue.  And what make will it be…perhaps a camero, or better yet, a mustang!  (You have to remember, this was a long time ago!)

     For me, the year was 1971.  I had moved in with my sister’s family for the summer, after graduating high school.  I got a job about 8 miles away at Stuckeys and needed a way to get back and forth to work.  At 18, and working in the diner at Stuckeys, I was your typical struggling young woman; in other words, flat broke.  Obviously, my first car wasn’t going to be anything fabulous. 

     Since I knew absolutely nothing about a car and my brother-in-law did, he set out to find me an affordable car that would get me back and forth to work.  Me, I’m still hoping for that cute little sports car.

     Finally, the big day came.  Gayle had found me a car and I couldn’t wait to see it!  Imagine my surprise when I saw this…

     That’s right!  It was an early model Rambler.  A box on wheels.  Skin color beige.  Undoubtedly the ugliest car I had ever seen in my life!  Maybe that’s why I don’t even have a picture of the actual car, but, the one above is very similar.  I’m not even sure what year model it was but I think late 50’s or very early 60’s. 

     But, on the up side, it did run and it was in my price range.  By summer’s end, I had become quite fond of my box.  I kept it until fall when I got a job at a bank in Louisville and would have a much longer commute back and forth to work.  I then traded my little clunker in for a gold Chevy Chevelle.  I finally had my sports car.

Until next time…that’s my view.

Kat

Written for this week’s GBE prompt – Your First Car

Photo courtesy of http://www.uniquecarsandparts.com.au/car_spotters_guide_usa_1958.htm

My True Love Story

     This story was originally posted on Valentine's Day.  I am reposting it today in response to today's GenFab bloghop.

     By special request, I have decided to write a love story that fits in very well with this week's GBE2 prompt,  Do-Over.   This is a true story so any resemblance to real characters is completely intentional.

     Recently in response to an award that had graciously been bestowed upon me by Jo over at My Wandering Mind, I made the following statement about myself:

6.  I had a full academic scholarship to college that I gave up because I fell in love with the earlier 

     mentioned dairy farmer and couldn't bear to leave him for 4 years.  I would do it all over again.

     To my surprise, this statement seemed to catch everyone's attention and many left comments wanting to know more; so following is my true love story.

     It was the summer of 1971 and I had just graduated from our small high school, only 26 in my graduating class.  I graduated Valedictorian and had been awarded a full academic scholarship to Franklin College, a small Baptist College near Indianapolis, IN. where I was to attend in the fall.  Like most teenagers, I couldn't wait to get out of our small town so the very next day after graduation I moved to Kentucky to live with my sister and her family for the summer.  

     First thing on my to-do list was find a summer job, which I found at the local  Stuckey's out by the interstate.   I had worked at restaurants every since I was old enough so working behind the snack bar there was a breeze.

     At that time, my sister's family lived in a trailer at the Country Club, sort of as night watchmen.   The addition of another person in the trailer made for cramped living quarters but my sister and brother-in-law were so wonderful.  They took me in as if it were no big deal and I'll always love them for it.   Anyway, living at the country club was a great way to meet people.  I met several nice people my age who played tennis or came to the swimming pool.  Since I had never played tennis in my life, I spent a lot of time watching the others.  Eventually, I gave in a bought a tennis racket.

     Both Kenneth and his brother, Steve played tennis and their dad played golf.  Their mom came out a lot and either rode on the golf cart with Fred or sat and watched the boys play tennis.  Believe it or not I actually got to know her before I did Kenneth.  

      At that time, my brother-in-law drove a milk truck that delivered the local farmers milk to the dairy processing plant in Louisville.  Since Kenneth's family milked cows and Gayle picked up their milk they were friends.  Kenneth often stopped by to talk to Gayle if we were outside when he came to play tennis.  

     If you've ever lived in a rural area you know that the big entertainment that draws everyone in the county is a tractor pull.  At least that was certainly the case here.  Everyone who was anyone was there.  Not having a clue what a tractor pull was, I went along with my family to see who I could see.    Once there I was amazed at the crowd and actually found it interesting watching these big tractors try to pull a moving box of weights further than the others.  I had never seen anything like it.  I grew up in a small town, but I lived in town.  We weren't really what I would consider a rural area; there were some farms but it wasn't the main economic source.  I had never heard of a tractor pull.

     Anyway, I was having a good time and had run into several people I had come to know.  When it got dark I happened to run into Kenneth's mom sitting with a friend of hers in their pick-up truck watching the tractor pull.  They invited me to sit with them.  I jumped at the chance, hoping Kenneth might come around.  Sure enough, not long after I got in, here he came.   Just as we started talking my sister walked up and said they were ready to go home.    Not now, I thought to myself, but said nothing.  Before I had a chance to say anything Kenneth spoke up and said, "You can go ahead, I'll bring her home."   Needless to say, my heart did a cartwheel! 

     I can't say that it was love at first sight because we had seen each other before...but I might have to say it was love at first date.  That wonderful night that changed my life forever happened late in June and I don't think we missed a day seeing each other until we married a year later.  But I'm getting ahead of myself.

     We had a wonderful summer dating and I dreaded the approaching fall.  He had the most beautiful blue eyes I had ever seen and I fell more in love with him every time I looked into them.  We hadn't really talked about what was going to happen beyond the summer until one night when we couldn't put it off any longer.   I knew I didn't want to leave him, it was so far and long distance romances were so hard.  I was sure he felt the same way but we had to discuss it openly and honestly.   Giving up a scholarship was a big decision and not one to be made lightly.  He had me at, "I am sure I don't want you to go because one day I want our last names to be the same".   To this 18 year old it was the most romantic proposal I could imagine.  

     Instead of going away to college I found a job at a bank, bought my first car to drive to work and stayed with my sister's family until the following June when we married.  Kenneth took me to the farm several times and introduced me to my first real cow.  I had been to the zoo but cows aren't usually found in the zoo and besides, you don't really get up close and personal with zoo animals.  But hey, when you're young and in love you think you can do anything and even a huge cow looked like a teddy bear, and I could get used to the smell, right?   I could be a farmer's wife..no problem.

     That summer was like living my own personal fairytale.  Kenneth presented me with my engagement ring on Christmas Eve that year (but that's a story for another blog).  We were married on June 25, 1972 and will celebrate our 40th anniversary this year.  The fall after we were married I received a phone call from Franklin College telling me that my scholarship was still open if I would like to change my mind.  I thanked them and explained that I was happily married and would not be accepting their generous offer.  I've been asked over the years if I ever regretted my decision and my answer to that is always the same.  That is one decision in my life that if given the chance to do it over I would do it just the same all over again.

Until next time...that's my view.

Kat

A Smile for You

     Who doesn't love a smiley face?  You've seen those cute little faces that people include in their emails and on their facebook status updates.  Did you ever wonder where they come from?

 

     Believe it or not, a website called myemoticons.com has a download that gives you an endless choice of emoticons to suit every message and mood.  It is completely free and once downloaded, you can add those cute little pictures to your facebook status, facebook messages, emails, and even twitter updates.  Who wouldn't want to show your friends how you are really feeling with facebook smileys chat!

 

      When you download the facebook emoticons, you get 3 separate galleries of different pictures.  Maybe you are feeling tired, or upset, or right down mad...there's a smiley for that.  Perhaps you want to express that you are jumping for joy...there's a smiley for that.  And when you are feeling all warm and fuzzy, there are all kinds of smileys for expressing your love.  Then let's not forget the holidays...there are plenty of smileys to cover that.   No matter what you are feeling, there is a smiley to express it.

     So the next time you chat with a friend on facebook, why have a boring chat with plain old words!  Instead, why not have a facebook smileys chat!

Until next time...that's my view.

Kat

This post brought to you by your good friends at myemoticons.com

The Heart of a Home

     How can you not get a warm fuzzy feeling when you see an empty kitchen?  Neat and tidy as it may look now, in your mind, you see a completely different picture.    In your mind's eye, you see your new husband embracing you as you cried over your first burnt meal.  You see the joy on everyone's face as your son squeals with delight while smearing icing from his first birthday cake all over his face.   You see flour covering the counter and sprinkles all over the floor as you and the kids decorate Christmas cookies.  You see the tears flowing as your daughter sits with you at the table crying over her first love lost.  You hear the laughter of all your relatives as you sing Happy Birthday to your 80 year old mother.

     Throughout our entire lives, the kitchen is the heart of our home; the hub of activity where the family comes together to eat, pray, share, rejoice, celebrate, create, solve problems and grieve.   The one room where we come together as a family, with common objectives and goals.  The room where we share love, laughter, fun, secrets and dreams; where we entertain our friends; where we make plans for the future and memories that last a lifetime.

     A quiet kitchen is only a prelude to what is to come.  The calm before the storm.   Soon, it will be filled with the hustle and bustle of family activity.    You've heard the phrase, "If those walls could talk",.  Well if they could, the kitchen walls would definitely have the most interesting stories to tell.  I guess it is a good thing they can't, but anyway, the kitchen will always be the heart of my home.

Until next time...that's my view.
Kat

Written for this week's GBE2 picture prompt.  Picture courtesy of Elizabeth Grace.

    

Disturbing Numbers

     Patriotism - n., devoted love, support, and defense of one's country; national loyalty

     Above, you will find the dictionary's definition of patriotism.  Notice that the key word here is country.  Nowhere in this definition does it say, but only when my choice is elected President.

     I normally avoid writing or discussing politics like the plague.  So why now, when the election is over and done with?    Because I am increasingly distressed by the large number of people who seem to have lost all

patriotism and replaced it with hatred and vengeance.

     It seems that many, on both sides, have lost site of what it means to come together and work for the good of the country.  I can remember a time when Americans felt the office of the President deserved our loyalty and respect, no matter which party was in office.  Both parties would work and support their candidate, but when it was over and a President had been chosen, life went back to normal and we all agreed to work for the good of the country.  I still believe that.

     What has happened to the feeling of patriotism the whole country felt when Pearl Harbor was bombed?  Or, when the Twin Towers were bombed on 9-11-01, did you stop to think about whether your man was in the white house or not before you felt united with every other American?  Patriotism should not be reserved for times of panic and tragedy.  It should be an every day feeling, embedded deep in your heart, and not taken for granted.

     This disturbing trend of pitting Republicans against Democrats and never the twain shall meet, or agree, has gone way beyond elections.  It has become a nasty war that is dividing the nation, with serious consequences.  It not only effects friends and neighbors, but goes all the way to the house and senate in Washington.  Congressmen are so determined not to cross party lines that they have completely lost sight of doing the job they were elected to do.  They no longer care what is best for the country and their constituents.

     Even facebook, which should be a happy place, has become a political forum for bashing the President.  You've seen the stories and the pictures...we are now on the titanic and the country is going to sink; God is going to end the world because Obama was elected; and on and on and on.    Come on people, let's get real.

     As long as we have had a President, there has been a winner and a loser.   That is how it works in a democracy.  The important thing is once it is over to come together as one nation under God, the way our forefathers intended.    I don't believe that any rational person who proclaims to be a Christian can honestly believe that God chooses sides in an election and would end the world if a certain side doesn't win.  I find it offensive that anyone would even make such a statement.

     A new year will soon be upon us.  My wish is for a new beginning for our nation.  It is not unreasonable to think that everyone, including our elected officials, could come together and remember the principles on which this great nation was founded.  Let's remember the lives that were lost to keep this nation free and put our petty bickering away.  Let's make it a priority to always put our country and it's people first and show the world that our numbers are many and we stand united for a common cause.

Until next time...that's my view.

Kat

    

Photos courtesy of microsoftoffice.com