Faith, Hope, and Love

Lately my life seems to be all black and white. Anyone who knows me well knows that I live in the gray.

When I live in the gray, I can fly by the seat of my pants. I make light commitments so that if I can't handle something or I need desperately to do something else, I can. It helps me to feel free and not confined to expectations or limits.

Now that I've been living in the black and white, I'm finding it isn't as horrible as I thought and I can schedule some free time *which, to me, feels like the epitome of an oxymoron*. Some of the b&w has been thrust upon me and is not in my control. One of the biggest things for me is family and friends going through big life changes *marriage, babies, houses, moving...etc*. I've been feeling un-needed lately. I do need to mention though that I don't feel un-wanted. I can see and feel my family and friends making efforts to keep me involved in their lives and I love and appreciate that more than I can express.

I've got some big things coming up. Life changing decisions and I pray for the strength to meet them head on and power through. I get stopped up when I need to make big decisions because I wait and wait for someone to help me decide. At some point i'll learn and be comfortable in the fact that I only need God and my own instincts, and that both are trustworthy.

Here's to living in the black and white and gray.

Seriously?

These are the kinds of calls I get on a daily basis:

Me: Member Services, this is Kate, how can I help you?

Lady: Hi, I went to a meeting and my husband and I went to the same meeting and I went to the meeting and I need my certificate because I went to the meeting and I need to know how many credits I earned from the meeting because I went with my husband in 2005 and he went to the meeting too.

Me: Ok, do you need a copy of your certificate showing how many credits you earned at the meeting?

Lady: Well, I went to the meeting with my husband and I need to do my certification so I need to know how many credits I got from the meeting.

Me: Alright, we can send you a copy of your certificate from the meeting showing how many credits you earned, but it costs $15 for the reprint

Lady: Well I went to the meeting and I earned the credits and I need to know how many credits I got at the meeting and so does my husband. I am trying to do my certification so I need to know my credits, can I look it up online?

Me: Unfortunately we don't have a section on our website that shows how many credits you earned. I can look you up in the database and confirm whether or not you attended the meeting, or I can take your credit card information to have a certificate resent to you.

Lady: Well, no, I went to the meeting and I need to know how many credits I have from the meeting that I went to with my husband so I can, um, so I can, um, so I can do my certification.

Me: I understand what you are looking for, at this point your options are that I could confirm you attended over the phone for free or you can pay $15 to receive your credit information

Lady: No, no its free, I already paid for it.

Me: I'm sorry paid for what?

Lady : The certificate, the meeting.... I went to the meeting and I did the stuff so I could get the credits in 2005

Me: Yes ma'am, I understand you attended the meeting. Would you like to purchase a copy of your certificate that shows how many credits you earned?

Lady: No, I already have enough credits anyways, I was just wondering how many I had.

*click*

Me: (under my breath) Thanks for calling have a nice day.

(completely futile, since she has already hung up on me)

Now, hang up and repeat approx 40 times a day. On a good day.
I would just like to comment that I am not a jerk. I know she didn't want to pay for her credits. But, I have no authority to send them to her for free. There is nothing else I could have done for her and in all fairness, if you lost a certificate from 2005 whos fault is that? not mine.

Grumpy here. Justified? Maybe.
Wish I was doing something much more fun? Yes.

Curtains!!!!

Today I received an email from the Spark Ventures staff with pictures of the new curtains that Hope Ministries was able to buy. These curtains are especially special to me because I was able to donate all the money for them! Last summer when I visited Zambia and Hope Ministries, I felt called to donate the money for the curtains and I had a little extra money that I had saved from selling jewelry for my trip. It fills my heart with joy to see and share these pictures with you:



(sidenote, im done with the coffee review, if i find something amazing, ill let you know.)

Sleeping In

Medium McDonalds, black, 6-10

Last night I slept for 14 hours. I started thinking about why it is that I was able to sleep that long. What I figured was that I was just pretty much exhausted from trying to keep a busy schedule.
*work, training, family, friends, boyfriend, knitting, counseling, cleaning, and soon my photography class! (not in order of importance)*

Here is a picture of my friend J-Lynn and I from this weekend


Even though I didn't get to see her for that long, I had fun and I got to see a bunch of other good friends too. I'm finding more and more lately that my friends are a good respite when I'm ready to just crack from all the pressure of my current job.
Starting my photography class is so exciting but also a little nerve racking. Right now, I have had nearly no professional training (I took one class in high school but had to drop it when I got mono) and I am free to be goofy with my pictures, and if i mess something up, its not a big deal. Now, I wont really have an excuse to take stupid pictures. Clearly, I'm free to take stupid pictures up the wazoo, but somehow it feels like the pressure is on. I really just want to get started.
I recently hosted an Arbonne party at my apartment and ordered a bunch of stuff which is set to arrive tomorrow!!! Yes. Next time you see me, my face will be glowing and my hands and feet will be silky smooth.
Hope that all 3 people that probably ever read this blog are enjoying it so far. Once my photog class starts, I promise to provide much more stimulating visual entertainment. *haha, that sounds bad but I didn't mean for it to...*
Best Wishes!

Maaaaaagrarita!

McDonalds, large black 6-10

Here are some edited pics from margarita night last weekend! It was impromptu fun! Though if I do say so myself, i make killer margaritas so if you're reading this, let me know if you want to come over for one and we'll make plans!





If pictures could talk, these would all say: "yeah Margarita night was pretty much the best night ever... AWESOME. YEAH!" (quote must be read out loud in a Ron Burgundy voice)

Bathroom Antics

Mcdonalds Medium black 6-10 (it was overshadowed by the shamrock shake that i also had for breakfast, oops!)

Oh me, oh my
How the time does fly
When im sitting on the loo
Just waiting to... (you know)

In our office, we have one large ladies bathroom and one large mens bathroom. This gives way for some very interesting occurrences.
The Silent Sitter
You know what I'm talking about. The person in the stall that is just a few feet away who is just sitting there. You cant hear anything going on, you wonder if they have passed out. Many times I wonder if they're texting or have a shy bladder. My advice? If you're a silent sitter, do the rest of us a favor and blow your nose or mess with the toilet paper. Your silence is creepy.
The Talker
In a public place, I don't like to chat on the pot. I don't need to try and talk over the sound of you "going number 1". In fact, I'm trying so hard not to laugh about the fact that your trying to talk and pee at the same time that I have no clue what you're saying. There is a sense of accomplishment one feels after having a non-ceasing conversation that can with withstand all distractions. However, I really could go with out feeling that efficient most days.
The Stall Spacer
How many times have you gone into the bathroom and found that every other stall is taken. It would make a hysterically funny picture. I don't know if guys do this but ladies do. When given the option I would like to say that most women will skip a stall so that there is a cushion of space between them and the next person. How awkward though when you come into the bathroom and all you can do is take a stall right in between two people? I always giggle and wonder if I'm offending them by doing this. Hey, when you've gotta go, sometimes you don't have the luxury of an extra large space bubble. Deal with it.
The Social One
Much like The Talker, the Social One has no qualms about talking in the bathroom. In fact, I do think that some women specifically plan to meet each other in the bathroom to chat. I have witnessed women standing and talking in the bathroom for as long as it takes me to get in, do my thing, wash my hands and get out. There is no couch, no where to sit, it doesn't smell very good... why not just call each other from your desk? Clearly I don't fall into this category.
The Tooter
Yes. This person will sit in their stall, thinking that their shoes are invisible or having no shame what-so-ever and toot. Sometimes very loud, sometimes very long. Now I know that there are somethings that you can't control but for the love, just wait a moment until the only other person has exited the bathroom before you rip 'em!
The Rebel
This is not a good thing. Don't look at this title and say "yeah thats me" before you finish reading the description. The rebel does not abide by normal bathroom etiquette. The rebel will not wash their hands (disgusting and germ spreading) among other inappropriate behaviors. I refuse to give this type of person any more description because people who don't wash their hands after using the bathroom in a public place wont get anymore of my time.


I'm sure there are more, and feel free to add if you want but I will leave you with this list (which i first read freshman year of college and ended up on the floor laughing) of funny and bad things to do in the bathroom if you feel so daring:

Complement people on their shoes.

Grunt loudly for 60 seconds and drop a watermelon in the bowl from 10 feet.

Yell “On no, my fish!”

Cheer and clap loudly every time somebody breaks the silence with bodily noise

Scream " Oh my GOD! What is THAT?"

Masquerade as a door-to-door salesman.

Play a well known drum cadence over and over again on your butt cheeks.

Say, "Dang, this water's cold."

Say, "Now how did that get there?"

Sing show tunes

Beg passerbies for toilet paper, when you get some, ask for more

"Y'all better not light any matches in here for awhile"

Drop a marble in the toilet and say "oh no not my monocle!"

Say, "D***, I knew that drain hole was a too small. What am I gonna do now?

What? I didn’t have any corn!

Sneeze, burp, and fart all at the same time

Drop a D size bra on the ground and sing "Born free"

Say, "Humus. Reminds me of humus."

Yell "Who does #2 work for?!"

Have a great day and lets all try to practice some good bathroom etiquette.

Overhaul

Starbucks, triple grande carmel latte non-fat with whip cream and drizzle 9-10 (signature drink)

Many people use the new year as a jumping point. A time of transition and goal setting. As usual I couldn't wait for the new year, I went right ahead and started with goals and transitions back in October. I'm not always a patient person when I get really excited about things.
Anyways, back in October, I went and hired a personal trainer from Evolution Training Fitness. I have been working with him ever since and so far have lost 17lbs! It's big news for me for many reasons. I didn't realize how much weight I had put on in the last few years and loosing the extra lbs has been pretty eye opening! Check out these before and after pics. BTW, I am soooo not done yet but I wanted to share this because i'm finding that the more encouragement I get, the better I do!

Left to right, Me, Blondie ,Curls (this is last winter I believe)


This was in April on a trip to Seattle (another "before" picture)


Here is a picture from this December at an ugly sweater party!
I don't have a picture of me that is very recent, but I will post one soon. This picture was after 3 months of working out and eating right. It's not always easy to stay on track but when I eat something bad, I don't dwell on it, I just remember to make better decisions for the next meal.

Other transitions from the last year include glasses and hair color, woah! I had always wanted glasses as a kid and never needed them. When I got back from my trip to Africa in July, I went to the eye doctor and found out I needed glasses. At 26 my wish finally came true, haha! (Sidenote: I now wish I didn't need them and am wondering about contacts, oy)
Hair has always been a thing with me. I like to change it often and I like to make drastic changes. Long to short, blonde to black (which was an accident as I meant to do very dark brown). I think that changing my hair just adds a little excitement and adventure to my life when I'm feeling bored.
I always wondered if I would look more like my mom if I dyed my hair to match hers. What do you think?

haha, we're silly
Later!~