Happy Birthday Mom!

Happy Birthday Mom!

Thank you for showing me how to be beautiful by how you treat others and shine for Jesus.

Thank you for showing me how to love my husband by loving my dad with your whole heart every single day. I know it was hard...you two have STRONG personalities, i know. But, you love each other something fierce and completely selflessly. Thank you for showing me how.

Thank you for showing me how to have fun.

Seriously, some people don't know how to do that.

and love the beach. you taught me that.

and to wear sunscreen

Thank you for showing me how to be girly when all I wanted to do was be like my brothers.

and, thanks for always knowing what i need before i knew it myself

Mostly, I want to say thank you for being more concerned with being my mom than my friend.

Some people don't understand that. 

You wanted what was best for me, even if i really, really, reeeeeeeeeeally hated it.

You were my mom first and foremost, never trying to be the "cool mom". 

thank you for doing that.

now, we are great friends because of that.

thank you for instilling in me the love of horses.

Thank you for showing me how to have a passion for God and living a godly life, no matter what

you are out loud and on purpose for what you believe and make zero excuses.

that's tough, but you do it with such elegance and poise

but, really you are the best at being "Honey" to Beau.

you spoil him somethin' awful and love him beyond measure.

i'm so blessed to have you to raise spoil my kids someday

i should probably thank Mamaw Jo for teaching you how to do all of these things

i'm thankful for the shoes I have to fill

they are big and overwhelming, but they are great shoes

i've decided that i have to start really taking care of myself.

if mamaw jo looks this awesome at 80 and you look amazing at 60, i have no excuse if i look anything less. 

Happy 60th mom.

You are absolutely stunning.

Around the house: crawfish in the barn

Ty, GT's bro, came in for a little visit last Saturday.

What a guy, eh?

We usually play it pretty low key at our house and spend lots of time outside.
So, we picked up some crawfish and enjoyed some time around the fire pit in the barn. 

It was a bit chilly, but we had a grand ole time anywho.

mom was welcoming Ty with a hug

while GT and dad tend to the starting of the fire

"oooohhhh, flames" says every man (me, too)

a couple sacks-o-crawfish does a body good

this is my favorite restaurant

mostly because I can wear my Carhartt coat, Crocks and wet hair and nobody judges me.

and my dogs are welcomed dinner guests

after dinner mingling

"solitude" is the name of this piece

Woodrow wanted to be left alone

i wonder what he was thinking about?

i'm pumped that crawfish season is upon us.

i have partook in it numerous times already and plan to enjoy the tasty little critters a lot more.

We also loved having Ty with us!

happy weekend fraands,

Kate

Sunday Portrait Series: Heart to Home

So, i've mentioned Heart to Home before.

Mom started this ministry a few or so years back and it has touched so many women. 

It is a wonderful way to connect with women who you mostly likely would not have met otherwise.
We gather in one of our "heart moms" home once a month, share a meal, devotional, and usually a game or craft. We also share our hearts and learn to grow in our relationship with God and each other. We learn how to be better women of God, wives, friends, daughters, etc. I'm so thankful for this ministry and the opportunity to be with other women who want to be better women and establish long lasting relationships.

I, personally, look forward to it each month (although, i've missed the last two, oops!)

Last Sunday, we wore our shirts and took a group photo.

There are lots of women that aren't in the picture, but this is a pretty good representation.

Seriously, if you'd like to learn more about this...please let me know or click on the link above!

Mom would love to share it with your church or group. 

Highly recommended.

from a heart sister,
Kate

Wordless Wednesday: Children's

My first job as a nurse was in the Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit at Childrens Medical Center Dallas.

If I would've known how challenging physically, intellectually and especially emotionally that job would've been, i'm not sure that I would've taken it right out of nursing school.

But, goodnight!, am I glad that I had no idea and took it.

What a blessing that experience was to me.

I learned so much from the patients, the doctors, the more experienced nurses and the entire team. 

I feel extremely humbled to have been a part of something so wonderful and life-changing for so many children and their families.

Children's Med Center is a new show in Dallas.

I hate that I don't get to watch it on tv, but love getting to watch it on good ole' YouTube!

Here is the first episode of season 2.
I had the privilege of working with Dr. Guleserian and these wonderful nurses in the CVICU.

I also took care of sweet Sophie while working Hematology/Oncology at Arkansas Children's Hospital last year.

Small world, huh?

Love that place

Sunday Portrait Series: cousins

School and work leave little room for blogging

and little room for life

i'm trying to manage the two better 

people do it ALL of the time, i'm not the first

so i know there is a way to do it

Sunday was no different

skipped class to do homework (shame on me, i know)

skipped lunch with fam to come home and do homework

GT went to play some golf after church, the weather is beautiful!

so we squeezed in a little pic in the foyer at WFR with cousins

love 'em

happy weekend,

Kate