I'll never forget the day I heard these words:
"Why are they coming here? Don't they know this is a home school church? They aren't going to last long (and sadly they didn't)."
I was young. Barely in high school. I had no response to that statement at the moment, but it has never sat well with me. What church do I go too? There have been many labels placed on various churches over the years-mine being no exception. Labels that are put on by both the members and members of different churches, but honestly, mostly by members. Labels that I have heard with my own ears.
What church do I go to?
A home school church. Well, if you home school you are more than welcome, but that is not my church.
A church where women wear only dresses on Sunday. You are more than free to wear a dress, but that is not my church.
A church where our children can sit through the entire sermon without moving or playing in the nursery. Feel free to try, but please don't tell me that is what defines my/our church.
A church where youth group is not allowed and we only sing hymns because all other songs are unholy. If you attend a youth group yourself I will never judge you for that. Hymns may be our song leaders first choice, but let's allow them the freedom to have that choice. If someone prefers a church band, wonderful. Let's worship our Lord together.
A church where girls are not allowed to work outside the home. There are some who believe that and they are God's children just like you and I. That belief does not define the church I attend.
A church where outsiders can't feel welcome because of the supposed overbearing conservatism. I pray this isn't my church.
A church where we believe no physical contact until marriage and talking to the opposite sex is frowned on. If this were my church, I would have been kicked out long ago.
Do you see the pride in some of these labels that we give our church? Which by the way, it is never our church. It's God's church.
This is the church I want to attend:
A church where Jesus Christ and his sacrifice on the cross alone is what defines us and not our labels.
A church where we are showing deference to one another and outdoing one another in brotherly love and acts of service.
A church that when people look at it and at us, they are drawn to Christ and nothing else.
A church that believes in true worship to our Creator.
A church that above all virtues pus on love which binds us together in perfect unity.
What church do you attend?
Saturday, February 16, 2013
Tuesday, February 12, 2013
Busted
Nothing like being approached by a police officer and told very sternly:
"We'll talk about this when I get home".
Now what can I bake him that will make him forget my little driving error? It's not illegal to bribe the police when you're related is it?
"We'll talk about this when I get home".
Now what can I bake him that will make him forget my little driving error? It's not illegal to bribe the police when you're related is it?
Friday, February 1, 2013
5 Steps to More Energy
I have been blessed with an overflow of energy from the time I was born. My nickname growing up was "Hopper" if that gives you any indication of my energy level. In college I kept adding jobs to my schedule since I just didn't seem to need much sleep. However, taking care of a little girl plus being pregnant and still nursing has taken its toll on me and even I need some much needed pick-me-ups at times until I can get back to normal which will be sometime around June 14th!
1. Drink, drink, and drink some more! Water that is. If drinking tons of water, makes you feel a little sick to your stomach which can happen, try adding slowly each day to your water intake. Not only does it improve your skin and help with appetite control, it also greatly improves your energy. Feeling drowsy? Instead of that afternoon $4.00 Starbucks try a tall iced water instead!
2. Bust out 2 sets of 10 crunches. I know working out is a drag, but anyone can do 2 sets of 10!
3. Do NOT get on the computer, phone or turn on the TV. The screens will make you lethargic.
4. Get a tan! No, I don't mean you have to lie outside in your swimsuit in the middle of Winter. I'm talking about the horrible, hated tanning beds. If you are worried about skin cancer, you can lie on the tanning beds fully clothed. The vitamin D does wonders for your brain. I personally think with as little sun as we get get in NW Washington, going to the tanning salon once every two months like I do for 20 minutes won't be the cause if I get skin cancer. That's my choice though and you are more than free to disagree. You won't be able to deny though, the burst of energy you will get afterwards! About three weeks ago, I tanned for 20 minutes (first time since Summer) walked 1/2 a mile and then drank some H2o. I had energy coming out my pores for the next three days!. WARNING: If you are fair skinned, tanning the full 20 minutes, will give you a burn. So maybe start out with just a 10 minute tan or put your clothes back on for the last half.
Note: Tanning can be expensive, but if you get those Valpacks in the mail, there is usually a free coupon to Dessert Sun. They will try to get you to buy lotion or a package of tans so be prepared to be firm and just stick with the free one. My favorite place though is definitely SOL Tanning in Lynden or Sehome Village.
5. Listen to both these songs for instant energy:
"Stronger" by Kelley Clarkson
"We are Young" by Fun - Don't really understand the verses, but the chorus is just perfect
Not very deep, not very long, but very, very effective steps to more energy. Hang in there! Summer is just around the corner! In fact Summer will be here a week or so earlier this year Lord willing...sometime around June 14. :)
1. Drink, drink, and drink some more! Water that is. If drinking tons of water, makes you feel a little sick to your stomach which can happen, try adding slowly each day to your water intake. Not only does it improve your skin and help with appetite control, it also greatly improves your energy. Feeling drowsy? Instead of that afternoon $4.00 Starbucks try a tall iced water instead!
2. Bust out 2 sets of 10 crunches. I know working out is a drag, but anyone can do 2 sets of 10!
3. Do NOT get on the computer, phone or turn on the TV. The screens will make you lethargic.
4. Get a tan! No, I don't mean you have to lie outside in your swimsuit in the middle of Winter. I'm talking about the horrible, hated tanning beds. If you are worried about skin cancer, you can lie on the tanning beds fully clothed. The vitamin D does wonders for your brain. I personally think with as little sun as we get get in NW Washington, going to the tanning salon once every two months like I do for 20 minutes won't be the cause if I get skin cancer. That's my choice though and you are more than free to disagree. You won't be able to deny though, the burst of energy you will get afterwards! About three weeks ago, I tanned for 20 minutes (first time since Summer) walked 1/2 a mile and then drank some H2o. I had energy coming out my pores for the next three days!. WARNING: If you are fair skinned, tanning the full 20 minutes, will give you a burn. So maybe start out with just a 10 minute tan or put your clothes back on for the last half.
Note: Tanning can be expensive, but if you get those Valpacks in the mail, there is usually a free coupon to Dessert Sun. They will try to get you to buy lotion or a package of tans so be prepared to be firm and just stick with the free one. My favorite place though is definitely SOL Tanning in Lynden or Sehome Village.
5. Listen to both these songs for instant energy:
"Stronger" by Kelley Clarkson
"We are Young" by Fun - Don't really understand the verses, but the chorus is just perfect
Not very deep, not very long, but very, very effective steps to more energy. Hang in there! Summer is just around the corner! In fact Summer will be here a week or so earlier this year Lord willing...sometime around June 14. :)
Friday, January 18, 2013
Style? What Style?
Sigh. I don't even know where to begin on this. I have no style. No hairstyle. No clothing style. No accessory style. I can look at a magazine or go to a store and know what looks cute and what's "in style", but for some reason I can never imitate it.
You know the college I went to? Yeah, the one with all the crazy rules and super strict dress code? Well I think one of the reasons I handled the legalism so well was because I loved the dress code. I didn't love their reasons for the dress code, but I loved what I was forced to wear. I have such a weird body that really the only thing that looks good on me is A-line skirts and A-line dresses. My legs used to be okay, but not after high school So the dresses and the skirts to the knee rule worked perfectly for me. Besides I feel so feminine in flowy dresses. I had this one sundress that was just lovely. It was a spaghetti strap, white, A-line, sundress that I paired with a hot pink, 3-quarter sleeve cardigan, and huge sunglasses. I loved that outfit. Sadly it never made it home with me from college because it belonged to my sister.
Since I've been back in the land of the northwest, the land of sweatshirts, jeans, tennis shoes, and thick socks. I have had the worst time keeping in style. It's to cold to wear cute knee-length skirts and long, straight skirts look hideous on me. When it does finally get warm enough to wear my PCC clothes, Luke thinks I look like a 12-year-old and I have to agree.
There is no point in this post. I'm just upset I can't find a single cute thing to wear that fits. Maybe it's because I'm pregnant and hitting the half-way point means the pounds start piling on. I've started working out my arms like crazy so that once the baby is born in June I can still wear some cute tank tops. Although that probably won't happen since having a baby also means a HUGE chest which a tank top would just accentuate.
Someday, someday I will have a style that my husband and kids can be proud of. That day just isn't today and tomorrow isn't looking so good either.
You know the college I went to? Yeah, the one with all the crazy rules and super strict dress code? Well I think one of the reasons I handled the legalism so well was because I loved the dress code. I didn't love their reasons for the dress code, but I loved what I was forced to wear. I have such a weird body that really the only thing that looks good on me is A-line skirts and A-line dresses. My legs used to be okay, but not after high school So the dresses and the skirts to the knee rule worked perfectly for me. Besides I feel so feminine in flowy dresses. I had this one sundress that was just lovely. It was a spaghetti strap, white, A-line, sundress that I paired with a hot pink, 3-quarter sleeve cardigan, and huge sunglasses. I loved that outfit. Sadly it never made it home with me from college because it belonged to my sister.
Since I've been back in the land of the northwest, the land of sweatshirts, jeans, tennis shoes, and thick socks. I have had the worst time keeping in style. It's to cold to wear cute knee-length skirts and long, straight skirts look hideous on me. When it does finally get warm enough to wear my PCC clothes, Luke thinks I look like a 12-year-old and I have to agree.
There is no point in this post. I'm just upset I can't find a single cute thing to wear that fits. Maybe it's because I'm pregnant and hitting the half-way point means the pounds start piling on. I've started working out my arms like crazy so that once the baby is born in June I can still wear some cute tank tops. Although that probably won't happen since having a baby also means a HUGE chest which a tank top would just accentuate.
Someday, someday I will have a style that my husband and kids can be proud of. That day just isn't today and tomorrow isn't looking so good either.
Saturday, January 12, 2013
TMI About Him and I
Tonight has me daydreaming about Luke. It was five years ago tonight over an Italian dinner in downtown that he asked me to be his girlfriend. My first reaction was "Did my Dad say okay?" followed quickly by "I mean yes!" I wasn't expecting it and then again I was. It was such a romantic night followed by sadness when we realized I would be heading back to college the following week. So many memories about Luke and I flooded my mind last night as I tried to sleep. Little memories that no one may know of and maybe don't want/need to know.
So badly we wanted to kiss each other way earlier than what we did. We managed to hold off until the night of engagement. After he popped the ring on, he leaned in to kiss me. However, I wanted to look my ring! I'm not sure what this says about my character, but I cut our kiss short to stare at my new diamonds! Kinda did the same thing in college when he sent me a Valentine's Day package with explicit instructions not to open in until Valentine's Day. Did I wait? Nope. Opened it that night and read his letter to me and everything. Even munched on a few of the cookies. To this day he doesn't know I did that. Again, not sure what that says about my character.
I remember so many people cautioning me about Luke. Well meaning church people.
"Make sure he does this and make sure he does that, and don't let him say that to you".
" You don't know anything about him".
" You hold hands?!"
It never made me mad, the comments. It didn't make me any more cautious either.
I remember my Dad telling Luke he was not allowed to hold my hand. This was after I had graduated college and was home for good. Luke respectfully disagreed, spoke to him about it, and changed his mind. I was in awe that he had the courage to do that. We haven't let go since then.
We fought. We fought all the time. We fought while I was in college, sometimes until 2:00 am. We fought after I had graduated, sometimes until 3:00 am. Poor Kelsey had to share a room with me and our arguing over the phone would wake her up. Sleepily and angrily she would mumble multiple times that we needed to break up. I found out that the day Luke bought my ring was one of our big fight days. After we got engaged our fighting almost completely stopped. When we got married it literally stopped. I'm told that we are an unusual exception to the rule of how you act while dating is how you will act when married.
We never finished a relationship book. Throughout our dating and engagement days we were given multiple books to read together in order to have meaningful time together. We never read a single one (except the one for marriage counseling).
He was so kind. So gentlemanly. So good with people. In the past when I have had a crush on a boy, it would dissipate after a month or so. I was expecting this to happen with Luke (so where my parents). It never happened. I still have a crush on him.
Many times we fell asleep while talking to each other on the phone. We would wake up the next morning and our phones would still be connected. My first month back at college we racked up a $400+ phone bill. I didn't freak. I knew that was going to be a good memory for us, not a bad one.
The very first time Luke made contact with me I was sitting on my dorm bed. It was Thanksgiving Day and my friends where waiting for me to join them on the soccer field for the championship soccer game. That very moment I knew I was going to marry him someday. Total honesty.
The first time I responded to his e-mail he didn't pick up on my playful, sarcastic humor. He forwarded the message to his brother and asked if I was being a smart-a** (his words, not mine). Thankfully his brother was smarter than him and told him it sounded like I was giving off a good vibe. Whew! Almost blew it right off the bat!
He took me on the best dates ever. I sometimes wondered how he could afford these places, but assumed his two jobs helped out. Later I found out he would use his winnings from Thursday night poker with the guys to fund some of our dates.
He lost his job months before our wedding day. The company had to make cutbacks due to the economy and he was one of those cutbacks. The fact that I was about to marry a man who was jobless didn't worry me for one second and I made sure he knew that. When there is a guy who is as responsible and hardworking and driven as Luke, you just know better than to worry about trivial things like that. Sure enough a week later he got an event set-up job at Semiahmoo, which turned into Security Officer at Semiahmoo, which turned into Security for a casino, which turned into Surveillance, which turned into his Law Enforcement career. Best thing that ever happened for his career was to get laid off that day.
I swore in front of him. I can't remember why, but something startled me enough to cause me to swear. I have never seen such an assumed look on a face. I blushed so hard and didn't know what to do until he said:
"Kimberly! That is probably that cutest thing I have very heard come out of such a sweet little mouth."
I could literally go on and on, but I think I have said more than enough for one night! Bottom line is I'm crazy about my husband and still amazed he wanted to marry me! I will never take him for granted.
So badly we wanted to kiss each other way earlier than what we did. We managed to hold off until the night of engagement. After he popped the ring on, he leaned in to kiss me. However, I wanted to look my ring! I'm not sure what this says about my character, but I cut our kiss short to stare at my new diamonds! Kinda did the same thing in college when he sent me a Valentine's Day package with explicit instructions not to open in until Valentine's Day. Did I wait? Nope. Opened it that night and read his letter to me and everything. Even munched on a few of the cookies. To this day he doesn't know I did that. Again, not sure what that says about my character.
I remember so many people cautioning me about Luke. Well meaning church people.
"Make sure he does this and make sure he does that, and don't let him say that to you".
" You don't know anything about him".
" You hold hands?!"
It never made me mad, the comments. It didn't make me any more cautious either.
I remember my Dad telling Luke he was not allowed to hold my hand. This was after I had graduated college and was home for good. Luke respectfully disagreed, spoke to him about it, and changed his mind. I was in awe that he had the courage to do that. We haven't let go since then.
We fought. We fought all the time. We fought while I was in college, sometimes until 2:00 am. We fought after I had graduated, sometimes until 3:00 am. Poor Kelsey had to share a room with me and our arguing over the phone would wake her up. Sleepily and angrily she would mumble multiple times that we needed to break up. I found out that the day Luke bought my ring was one of our big fight days. After we got engaged our fighting almost completely stopped. When we got married it literally stopped. I'm told that we are an unusual exception to the rule of how you act while dating is how you will act when married.
We never finished a relationship book. Throughout our dating and engagement days we were given multiple books to read together in order to have meaningful time together. We never read a single one (except the one for marriage counseling).
He was so kind. So gentlemanly. So good with people. In the past when I have had a crush on a boy, it would dissipate after a month or so. I was expecting this to happen with Luke (so where my parents). It never happened. I still have a crush on him.
Many times we fell asleep while talking to each other on the phone. We would wake up the next morning and our phones would still be connected. My first month back at college we racked up a $400+ phone bill. I didn't freak. I knew that was going to be a good memory for us, not a bad one.
The very first time Luke made contact with me I was sitting on my dorm bed. It was Thanksgiving Day and my friends where waiting for me to join them on the soccer field for the championship soccer game. That very moment I knew I was going to marry him someday. Total honesty.
The first time I responded to his e-mail he didn't pick up on my playful, sarcastic humor. He forwarded the message to his brother and asked if I was being a smart-a** (his words, not mine). Thankfully his brother was smarter than him and told him it sounded like I was giving off a good vibe. Whew! Almost blew it right off the bat!
He took me on the best dates ever. I sometimes wondered how he could afford these places, but assumed his two jobs helped out. Later I found out he would use his winnings from Thursday night poker with the guys to fund some of our dates.
He lost his job months before our wedding day. The company had to make cutbacks due to the economy and he was one of those cutbacks. The fact that I was about to marry a man who was jobless didn't worry me for one second and I made sure he knew that. When there is a guy who is as responsible and hardworking and driven as Luke, you just know better than to worry about trivial things like that. Sure enough a week later he got an event set-up job at Semiahmoo, which turned into Security Officer at Semiahmoo, which turned into Security for a casino, which turned into Surveillance, which turned into his Law Enforcement career. Best thing that ever happened for his career was to get laid off that day.
I swore in front of him. I can't remember why, but something startled me enough to cause me to swear. I have never seen such an assumed look on a face. I blushed so hard and didn't know what to do until he said:
"Kimberly! That is probably that cutest thing I have very heard come out of such a sweet little mouth."
I could literally go on and on, but I think I have said more than enough for one night! Bottom line is I'm crazy about my husband and still amazed he wanted to marry me! I will never take him for granted.
Friday, December 14, 2012
When
When he plays with Gwen after working all night to give me a little extra sleep,
When he writes a poem for me on our "to-do" board,
When he makes me a sundae and brings it upstairs for me at midnight,
When he eagerly works overtimes to provide extra income for us,
When he never lets me get away with mouthing off to him in front of Gwen,
When plays with my hair for hours to help me fall asleep,
When we argue and he lets me win even though we both know he is right,
When he jumps in the car just to fill up on gas before I leave on errands,
When he takes care of all the grocery shopping because I'm to dizzy,
When he doesn't mention my lack of a hairstyle or clothing style,
When he says nighttime prayers with his daughter as she falls asleep,
When he jumps up immediately when she wakes up crying during the night,
When he does all that and so much more, I thank the Lord for my husband and pray I can be a better wife who deserves him.
"I love my sassy, I love by bear,
Some like to travel, but I don't care
I'll spend my days with lady and bear.
Some days it gets hard; I don't know what to do,
But I know it's worth it, my lady and boo!"
- Luke Haas
When he writes a poem for me on our "to-do" board,
When he makes me a sundae and brings it upstairs for me at midnight,
When he eagerly works overtimes to provide extra income for us,
When he never lets me get away with mouthing off to him in front of Gwen,
When plays with my hair for hours to help me fall asleep,
When we argue and he lets me win even though we both know he is right,
When he jumps in the car just to fill up on gas before I leave on errands,
When he takes care of all the grocery shopping because I'm to dizzy,
When he doesn't mention my lack of a hairstyle or clothing style,
When he says nighttime prayers with his daughter as she falls asleep,
When he jumps up immediately when she wakes up crying during the night,
When he does all that and so much more, I thank the Lord for my husband and pray I can be a better wife who deserves him.
"I love my sassy, I love by bear,
Some like to travel, but I don't care
I'll spend my days with lady and bear.
Some days it gets hard; I don't know what to do,
But I know it's worth it, my lady and boo!"
- Luke Haas
Wednesday, November 28, 2012
Where do the Days Go?
An update of sorts which will probably be hard to follow:
On Being a Police Officer's Wife:
I actually don't think of myself as one. I adjust fast to just about anything and this has been no exception. I kiss my hubby goodbye and continue on with whatever I'm doing. I have to consciously stop and remind myself that he is putting on a bullet proof vest, strapping on a gun and holster, and will be putting his life on the line for the next ten hours.
"God please keep him safe".
I am so very proud of him and I absolutely love when he gets home and tells me the details of the night and gosh does he ever look good in his uniform. Our dinner conversations range from routine traffic stops to suicides and rapes. I listen to the scanner at bedtime in the hopes that I will hear his voice before I drift off to sleep.
On Being Gwen's Mother:
Oh how I love that little girl. She is growing to fast. I cry each time I have to put an outfit away that has been outgrown. She says a small assortment of words now. They are:
cat
dog
boo
dada
Mooooom
If you growl at her, she'll growl back and just this week she has started giggling at everything. She'll be in her crib with the light off and will just start giggling at her animals. Cutest thing ever. When we tuck her in at night she lifts her little hand and waves goodbye to us. Melts our heart and we have to force ourselves to actually leave the room. She has turned out to be a wonderful sleeper. I've found out a few tricks that I believe have helped and will be using them on baby #2. She has never been much of a snuggler, but recently she will crawl over to us and lay her head down on us for a second or two before she goes back to her toys. I can't imagine life without our princess.
On Expecting Number Two:
Two babies 15 months apart. Oh my what where we thinking? What fun and chaos it will be. I honestly can't stand the thought of going through the pain of labor again. I almost went with a medical doctor so I could have an epidural, but all those tests stop me dead in my tracks. So excruciating pain here I come again! The blacking out in public places has started. I usually make it through the signing at church before I rush out to the backroom or nursery or wherever it's nice and cool. If only Luke could go to church with me; I would feel so much more secure. I hate being a distraction and even if I'm sitting in the back row I have anxiety about getting up and disturbing the service. Silly me.
Cutting this short because my cop and I have an episode of Downton Abbey to watch. :)
On Being a Police Officer's Wife:
I actually don't think of myself as one. I adjust fast to just about anything and this has been no exception. I kiss my hubby goodbye and continue on with whatever I'm doing. I have to consciously stop and remind myself that he is putting on a bullet proof vest, strapping on a gun and holster, and will be putting his life on the line for the next ten hours.
"God please keep him safe".
I am so very proud of him and I absolutely love when he gets home and tells me the details of the night and gosh does he ever look good in his uniform. Our dinner conversations range from routine traffic stops to suicides and rapes. I listen to the scanner at bedtime in the hopes that I will hear his voice before I drift off to sleep.
On Being Gwen's Mother:
Oh how I love that little girl. She is growing to fast. I cry each time I have to put an outfit away that has been outgrown. She says a small assortment of words now. They are:
cat
dog
boo
dada
Mooooom
If you growl at her, she'll growl back and just this week she has started giggling at everything. She'll be in her crib with the light off and will just start giggling at her animals. Cutest thing ever. When we tuck her in at night she lifts her little hand and waves goodbye to us. Melts our heart and we have to force ourselves to actually leave the room. She has turned out to be a wonderful sleeper. I've found out a few tricks that I believe have helped and will be using them on baby #2. She has never been much of a snuggler, but recently she will crawl over to us and lay her head down on us for a second or two before she goes back to her toys. I can't imagine life without our princess.
On Expecting Number Two:
Two babies 15 months apart. Oh my what where we thinking? What fun and chaos it will be. I honestly can't stand the thought of going through the pain of labor again. I almost went with a medical doctor so I could have an epidural, but all those tests stop me dead in my tracks. So excruciating pain here I come again! The blacking out in public places has started. I usually make it through the signing at church before I rush out to the backroom or nursery or wherever it's nice and cool. If only Luke could go to church with me; I would feel so much more secure. I hate being a distraction and even if I'm sitting in the back row I have anxiety about getting up and disturbing the service. Silly me.
Cutting this short because my cop and I have an episode of Downton Abbey to watch. :)
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