Kari's 25 Random Things

1. I love reading other peoples 25 Random Things.......... but hate to think of my own. This goes along with email chains as well. SO will be like pulling teeth.

2. I am 1/2 Italian yet I think I am 100%.

3. I am the oldest of three biological sisters. I have a half brother. I also have 3 step sisters, and three step brothers.

4. I love to cook and try new recipes. I love when Scott and I can cook together.

5. I love to check my mailbox. I love when there is a letter and not just bills.

6. I have a subscription to Southern Living Magazine. When it comes it is a very happy day. I will read it in one sitting. I always start from the back.

7. Moving from Charlotte, North Carolina was one of the hardest events in my life. Yet, I knew that God was with us every step of the way. He has proven that to us time and time again.

8. I still miss the south,........... southern things......... southern food, manners.... and monograming.

9. I think that Chic if la chicken biscuits are the most amazing sinful breakfast treats.

10. I think that it's funny that the first boy I ever kissed at age 13 is on Face-book.

11. My sophomore year of college I went skydiving with Chauntelle. I hope my girls never do that.

12. I have never been across the "big pond". My dream is to go to Austria and Italy with Scott.

13. My dream job would be to be a professional organizer. I know that is really funny-!! But true.

14. I became a Christian when I was 5. Yet I did not learn to know Christ and have a relationship with him until after I had Madison. I was 28.

15. I love a good thunder and lightening storm. The bigger and louder, the better.

16. I would rather go to the OB/GYN, that to the dentist. Sorry Heather and Nada:)

17. My parents divorced when I was 9. I never remember them fighting ever.

18. I have become who I am by being surrounded my amazing friends.

19. I met Scott in a bar. I will forever be grateful to Jennifer and Bubba West. Thank you for Bubba being there at the right time with Scott and Jennifer for dragging me out. That night changed my life forever. I love my husband more than anything in the world.

20. I love being a wife to Scott and mother to Madison and Amelia.

21. Back in the day, I thought Donnie Osmond was the best thing since sliced bread. I once went to one of their concerts and he kissed my hand. I was all of 8. Didn't think I would ever wash my hands.

22. I have lived in 5 states. Georgia, Florida, South and North Carolina and Minnesota. I have lived in 18 houses/apartments/townhomes. I should have this moving thing down pat.

23. I went to a Women's College (Converse) my Freshman year college. I wen to classes in my PJs.

24. I think that the North Carolina Mountains are one of the most magical places on earth.

25. This was right up there with going to Dentis

25 Random Things...

I'm a bit of a Facebook junkie. It makes me feel like I can keep in touch with what's going on in the lives of the people I care about without having to talk on the phone. (Really HATE talking on the phone, actually)

So - there's a new thing floating around on Facebook... 25 Random Things About Me. You make a list of 25 random things about yourself and share it with your friends. SO, below you will find my list. And in the next couple weeks, the leadership/teaching team from Moms Group will be sharing their lists too, so you can get to know ALL of us a little better!!! Enjoy!

1. I am addicted to peanut butter M&M's
2. We have a group of 6 friends that celebrate birthdays together... we always laugh so hard my throat hurts the next day.
3. When I met Jeff, I was dating another guy named Jeff, and so my parents nicknamed Jeff Kerr "weekday Jeff" and the other guy "weekend Jeff" so they could tell them apart when they called for me. I picked the right Jeff.
4. My sister is my best friend.
5. My mom is the most gracious woman I know
6. My dad is my hero.
7. I have spent 7 months of my life laying in bed on doctors orders for pregnancies... worth every second.
8. My son almost died when he was 2 days old - he was born 12 weeks premature. Jesus healed him. I still tear up every time Charlie laughs.
9. My kids fascinate me - and I think they are the sun and the moon
10. I cringe when I think about my youthful years... I was REALLY uptight.
11. I spent a summer living with my Grandma in Nebraska when I was 19. I checked groceries at Baily's Town & Country market and dated the president of the Future Farmers of America.
12. I hate cleaning my house and will do almost anything to avoid it.
13. I never listen to music unless I'm working. It jumbles my head and I can't think.
14. Most of my creative ideas happen when I'm doing dishes.
15. I think I get less confident the older I get - but I've also made peace with who I am and don't feel the need to please everyone NEAR as much as I did when I was younger.
16. I was the music director at a church shaped like Noah's Ark. i had a porthole window in my office.
17. I love articulate people.
18. My father in law intrigues me.
19. I love dreaming big - and very often my creativity and the constraints of reality come crashing down on my head.
20. My husband is the best thing that has ever happened to me. He is nothing like what I thought I wanted - but has changed me for the better in innumerable ways. And he gets better with age.
21. I don't worry a lot.
22. I am writing a book.
23. I am a teacher at heart - and love helping people find and refine their gifts.
24. I am constantly growing in my faith - and feel like I am just getting an understanding of how much God loves me.
25. I can stay home for long stretches of time as long as I have my family and good food.

Here We Go!

Are you ready!  We are getting ready to start up Moms Group again!  I have missed seeing all your beautiful faces and seeing you all connecting and sharing your lives with each other!

We will start the next session on Jan 13/14.  We will be studying "Boundaries With Kids" which is one of my ALL TIME FAVORITE studies on parenting.  It is a fantastic resource for kids of any age - teaching responsibility and discipline.  I encourage you to come and bring a friend.  This is a great opportunity to invite a neighbor or girlfriend who might not be interested in a "church" study - but WOULD be interested in learning how to be a better mom!

I know it can be hard to get out of the house when its cold and you need to find all the hats and mittens, etc!  Minnesota winters can be a really isolating time for moms.  But I want to encourage you to take the time to do this for yourself and for your kids.  You need to have time where you can connect with other women and support each other.  

Looking forward to seeing you all!

Lacey

I know some of you have heard, but our sweet Lacey needs our prayers right now.  She was admitted to the Mayo clinic a week ago for a lung infection, and she is not responding to treatment right now.  She is currently on a ventilator to breath for her and they are trying various antibiotics to try and stop this pneumonia.

I was able to visit her last night.  I told her that there were hundreds 0f Moms back home praying for her and sending all our love and support her way.  Please continue to pray for a miracle for our dear friend.  Matt specifically asked us to "just believe that God can do a miracle."  So that's what I'm doing.

I'll update as I get news...

Be Prepared

Be prepared.  That's the Boy Scout motto.  Anticipate what you might encounter for the day and make sure you have the tools and skills you will need to rise to the challenge.

This morning it became glaringly clear to me that if - in fact - I WERE a Boy Scout, I would fail miserably.  No fancy badges and medals for this trooper.  For you see, my friends, I was ill prepared to face what I awoke to this morning.   What was this obstacle I faced which caused such an epiphany?  Snow.

Yup.  The first snowfall of the season.  Don't get me wrong - it was beautiful.  Picturesque even.  If it was a SATURDAY morning, I would have put on my fuzzy slippers, made some hot chocolate and settled in front of a window for some soul searching.

But today is not Saturday.  It's Friday.  Which means school.  Which means hats.  Which means gloves.  Which means boots, snow pants, and scarves.   Which means, I'm in big trouble.  If I was a model boy scout, I would have watched the news, saw that the forecast indeed was calling for snow, and spent last night making preparations for the blessed event that I would awake to this morning.

Instead, 5 minutes before the kids needed to leave, I was rummaging through bins, tearing through drawers, and ransacking closets desperately searching for appropriate outerwear.  As my kids watched on, I ran from room to room, upstairs to downstairs, looking for anything to put on their sweet little bodies to keep them warm and dry.

I found a couple gloves... one Spiderman and one Dora - of course, no pairs of anything.  I found boots that were two sizes too small (duh Kristie!  They have all grown two inches since last year!)  Snow pants that have broken zippers and snow pants that barely reach the kneecaps.  Coats that need liners zipped in and coats that need liners zipped out.  I seriously considered sending my son to school in hot pink snow boots.

Finally, I threw my hands up in defeat and said, "Sorry kids.  Just keep your hands in your pockets and don't jump in any snow banks."  I had been defeated.  Minnesota snow storm - 1; Kristie Kerr - 0.

But tomorrow is another day.  I'm going to pick myself up, dust myself off, and try again.  I will face my obstacle head on with perseverance and determination.  How will I do this, you ask? I'm going to Target.  That's how we Girls Scouts do it.

Grace For the Moment

My heart is overwhelmed tonight. I got to spend a few precious minutes with a dear high school friend this afternoon. Amy and I were thrown together in a choir group in the 10th grade - and she quickly became one of my closest friends in high school. I haven't seen her for many, many years, but recently I heard that she had cancer. After tracking her down, I learned that they had discovered Stage 2 breast cancer when she was 12 weeks pregnant with her second child - and despite treatment, it has progressed into her spine.

Today, some high school classmates held a benefit and I was able to see Amy. She is exactly like I always remembered her... upbeat, bubbly, and filled with an uncanny ability to make you feel like you are the most important person in the world. We tried to find a quiet spot and she pulled her chair close to mine and began to ask about what I was doing and about my family. As I told her about my life she beamed, "Oh, Kristie... your life is everything you always dreamed it would be... I am so thrilled for you!"

As we talked, I was overwhelmed by her strength. I was overwhelmed by her courage. She has videotaped hundreds of messages for her children to watch of her as they grow older, so they will always have a piece of her with them. Videos for their wedding day. Videos for the day they become parents. Videos reminding them how much she loves them and how proud she is to be their mother.

I look at her and say, "I can't believe how strong you are." And she speaks profound words to me. She says, "If you were in my shoes, you would be too. You just would." I can't imagine facing what she is facing, but somehow, I believe her. She seems to be drawing from a place in her that she never knew existed until she was faced with this incredible battle.

I've have indeed experienced those times when I felt like I wasn't strong enough to handle what was sitting before me. Small and trite compared to my friend's struggles - nevertheless I have seen the grace of God flood over me in a rush of supernatural adrenaline that has allowed me to face the moments where I felt I couldn't take a second more.

Today, the words of a new favorite song have been constantly ringing through my head:

Stronger. You are stronger.
Sin is broken. You have saved me.
It is written. Christ is risen.
Jesus You are Lord of all.

I am thankful that I have a God who is stronger than me. He is stronger than my deepest fears and lowliest moments. In my weakest...He is strongest.

I am indeed thankful for the grace for the moment.

Homeward Bound

i haven't left my house in a while.  a couple days actually.  if you count total hours out of my home this week, it would have to be less than 15.  moms group on tuesday and wednesday night, a movie on thursday night, dinner at my sisters friday night.  other than that, its been home sweet home.

right now i'm on a stretch of about 36 straight hours by myself with just my kids.  jeff is at the men's retreat (or "boy camp" as my kids are calling it.)  Dottie has been a bit under the weather, so i decided that trying to get the whole crew to church by myself would be futile,  so here we are.  family bonding time.

sometimes i think i'm a little odd in the fact that i can be at home for long stretches and it doesn't seem to bother me too much.  of course, i get a little jumpy and short and testy with the kids, but for the most part i seem to be able to entertain myself pretty well.  i've got lots of bible study lessons to write, kids that always need something, a pantry full of ideas for cooking and baking, and facebook...what more could a girl need?

actually, i'm starting to realize that maybe its all part of how God made me.  maybe in a part of his grand scheme for my life, he equipped me with the temperament i was going to need for the purposes he has for me.  i am a teacher and writer - which requires a lot of time by myself studying.  i love it.  i am a musician and songwriter which requires more time by myself sitting at my piano.  love that too.  i am a mother of four which means that there are a significant amount of obstacles that i face it trying to get out the door.  so i stay home instead... and that's just  fine with me.

all i'm saying is that every once and a while you stumble on a part of your personality that seems to be custom fit for the direction God has for your life.  Granted, there are times that you feel like the direction God is leading is a huge stretch outside of yourself, but then there are the times when it feels natural and inborn... and i'm thankful for those times.  it's comforting to feel purpose in what you naturally gravitate towards.

i am learning more and more to embrace the way i am.  i used to feel weird about the fact that i like to stay home all the time... but now i realize that it is part of the grand design of my life.  people always ask me how i come up with creative ideas for things.  my answer: i think about stuff... alot.  i read... alot.  i imagine... alot.

so, what little gift did God place in you that custom fits his grand scheme for your life?  it can be easy to overlook sometimes.   maybe the fact that you to hang out with friends and always have a "coffee" scheduled just seems like habit.  but what if that social part of you was designed so that you could be an encouragement and influence in people's lives.  maybe that organizational side of you seems to be "just the way you are..."  but what if God made you able to administrate all kinds of things so that you could make a difference in the world by helping practically accomplish the dreams God has given you and others.  What about you guys that are fantastic in the workplace - you thrive in a business setting and love your careers.  I truly believe that God has given you the gifts you have to use for his great plan on the earth.

so - here's to embracing who you are.  here's to not comparing yourself to the way other people live and instead embracing who you were designed to be.  here's to you... in all your uniqueness.

ok - perhaps i should get out of these sweat pants...