Florida next week!

I am all propped up on the couch inhaling chik-fil-a while hubby is out fishing with bff Grant, this means I get FULL reign of the tv! So I am watching LOST, lost as I always am trying to figure it out and I don't have Mo here to explain things to me every 5 mins!

In other news!

I am so excited I can hardly stand it! We are leaving for Florida next week to go visit my daddy and stepmom. I haven't seen my dad in over a year and we haven't been to visit them in FL in 4 years, so I am very excited to hop on a plane, take a break from work, and spend some time with family! I forsee a lot of lounging, playing some music and singing in my daddy's awesome music studio and enjoying some good home-cooked meals!

I hope everyone's Easter weekend was great! It was so stormy and rainy on Easter morning and when we left church it was monsooning outside! So, we decided to brave it! I rolled up my pant legs and we ran to the car, holding hands and giggling like a bunch of 3rd graders! I think it was the most fun I had all day!

Well, back to being lost with LOST! LOVES!

xoxo
Katie Kates

Life in Houston

GEEZ!! Well, after nearly a year of being on a blog hiatus (I say this, but I still stalk other people's blogs, I know, I'm a cheater!) and with our move to Houston and away from so many family and friends, I figured what better time to start it up again!

Please bare with me as I feel so completely new and awkward to this blogging experience since it has been a ridiculously long amount of time since I last posted a blog!

As most all of you know, Mo and I recently packed up our life in Baton Rouge, where we called home for nearly the past 5 1/2 years, and relocated to the BIG city of Houston! We are loving it so far and really have been out exploring every weekend to see what this gigantic town has to offer!

Yesterday while we were walking the trails at George Bush park on a BEAUTIFUL Sunday afternoon, we were listing all of the fun things we have done so far since living here:

1. We take full advantage of the dog park near our house! Bailey and Molly love it. Bailey always seems to steal the show while swimming after his ball in the pond. This ball has become a complete and utter addiction for this dog. I mean, withdrawals like you would never believe. Have mercy!

2. We're in Texas y'all! We both bought our own handguns and love going to the shooting range when we get the chance! I know this doesn't seem like something I would love, but I do. I think it's that Indiana girl in me!

3. We've driven around alot looking at homes recently and figuring out what neighborhoods we want to live in and dreaming of our next home, most likely the one in which we will start our family! Very exciting times!

4. We recently spent the afternoon at George Bush park. We packed a backpack full of water, snackies, and a blanket and spent the afternoon walking the trails and lying under the trees relaxing and enjoying each other's company. We both agreed that it was probably our most favorite thing that we've done since we've been here!

Whew, I almost feel a sense of relief finishing this post! I am BACK in ACTION!!

I truly hope everyone is having a fabulous start to this new week! Remember this week our precious Jesus who died on that cross for OUR sins, when we are so not worthy and later ROSE from the grave. Joy!!

Love you all!

XOXO

Katie

GEAUX TIGERS!!!

Yay! HE is GOOD!!!

Less than 30 seconds after I posted my last blog, I received a phone call from the LSU Athletic Department and was offered a position as the new Administrative Coordinator for Swimming/Diving, Soccer, and Softball! For those of you who do not know, Mo has worked as the Athletic Dept. for about 4 years now, so I am quite familiar with that environment! And of course, I accepted!!!! It was NOTHING of me, but totally the Lord the way that this job was offered to me! So now I get to work for LSU Athletics (if you live in Baton Rouge, you know there is nothing better!) AND work in the same building as Mo, which is really a lot of fun since everyone knows him! I never realized how much I actually knew about the department and how many people I actually knew as well until I started the job! SO cool! I started on Monday and so far have had a fantastic first couple of days. Of course, like any job, there will be moments when I want to pull my hair out, but so far, it's been smooth sailing!

I am SO HAPPY to report that in less than two weeks we will be packing up the car and driving to HOUSTON to see our jenny juice and Grantley! I could NOT be more excited to sleep on a sleeper sofa! It is going to be tons of fun and great great conversations! We miss them terribly!!

I hope everyone is having a refreshing week! Love to you all!

xoxo

Katie

Housewife!

I am really lovin this whole housewife thing! For the time being, anyway! I know it would get quite boring after a while, but how much fun is it to be able to get all of my laundry done, dinner cooked, and the house cleaned up everyday before hubby gets home! For those who know me and my OCD cleaning behavior, this makes my heart very happy!

The Lord is at work y'all! I have had some VERY promising interviews this week! So now I am just sitting back waiting for the phone calls, so please be in prayer that the Lord will open the doors that he chooses and closes the others!

I have truly been clinging to this verse this past week. It brings such comfort to know that I am in control of nothing - everything is in his hands!

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” - Philippians 4:6-7

I hope this brings some comfort to you all as well! Love to you all!

xoxo

Katie

Season of Change

Right now Mo and I are in a serious season of change! I am not complaining about this, it is just taking us for a ride, that's all! I am trying to look at this as an adventure!

1. Our best friends moved. While we are not here moping around and throwing a pity party for ourselves, it has changed our routine a bit, especially on the weekends, but we have stayed busy and have been having fun! Plus, I am anticipating a trip to the big TX very soon and that will be oh so exciting!

2. I started a new job several weeks ago that I was very excited about, because you're always excited when you start a new job, right? Well, sadly, it turned out to be a job that after prayerful consideration and discussion with family and friends, I knew I had to leave. Not only was it misrepresented in my interview, but my first two weeks there were so stressful and overwhelming that it was affecting my sleep, my body, and the rest of my life! I saw my coworkers who have been there for quite some time feeling just the same and that's when I got on my knees in prayer and was given a very clear answer. While I am completely 100% confident in my decision and have the support of my husband and family, it is still frustrating to feel as though people are looking at me like I am a "flake" who can't stay at a job! I KNOW, however, that this is not true and that the LORD has that perfect job for ME. I am thankful for this challenge he has given me to step up and rely solely on HIM for counsel. So for the time-being I am Mo's housewife, which I am guiltily enjoying! Please be in prayer for me that I find that "perfect" job.

3. We are moving about 25 mins north of Baton Rouge to Zachary! While at first, I was very hesitant about this move, I am starting to become excited! My parents have a home that they will be moving out of this summer so they can travel and downsize. Such a blessing this is, but they have offered for Mo and I live there FREE while we rent out our townhouse here in Baton Rouge and stash away some savings! Their house is older, but has a LOT more room, and a HUGE yard for the puppies to play in, so we are very excited! This could be temporary for the next few months or it could be permanent - it all depends on what the future holds after Mo graduates in December. There will be a lot of work to come in the following months, but we are confident that it will be very rewarding!

4. Mo is graduating in December. Let me tell y'all - this poor precious man has been in school for what seems like 98092830923094 years! He went part-time, took a year or two off here and there, went part time some more, then full time! He will FINALLY be done come December and I think we are both starting to realize this! Woohoo! It is very exciting, but also very scary in that we will be making some serious decisions in the comings months that will have a great impact on our lives!

I know this post wasn't very exciting, but I guess it was more of an "update" post since so much has been going on! I promise the next few will be more fun! Love to you all!

XOXO

Katie

Bubble Wrap and Packing Tape

No, we are not moving. But our best friends are. It hit me this weekend when my dear Jenny's apartment where we've spent countless hours talking, watching the AKAI in the guest bedroom, hearing the boys play xbox in the living room, and sharing meals together was transformed from a comfy, cozy, home to just an apartment filled with moving boxes surrounded by bare walls. I think we were all a little shocked by the end of the day to see the progress we had made in our packing endeavor. While we were excited we had gotten so much done, to look around and see the transformation was a little tearful.

This week will be a tearful week I am sure, but I look forward to all the exciting trips we will be making back and forth to visit, all of the phone calls, and the gmail chats that will be had! Jen and Grant have become such steadfast, strong friends to both Mo and I and while we are so very sad to see them move 4 hours away, we are very excited to see what the future holds for them!

Here are some sweet pics of our preciouses!








So here's to not saying "Goodbye," but "See you soon!" We love you both so very much and are so excited for this opportunity the Lord has blessed you with!

XOXO,

Katie

Randomness

Ok sooo Jen tagged me for this listing 7 random things about myself business and here it goes!

1. I wash my feet obsessively. It cannot be healthy how fanatical I am about washing my feet before they touch my sheets. I take a shower when I get home from work therefore my feet are clean. I may walk around the house for awhile and jump into bed to watch some TV, but not before washing my feet. If I get up to go get a snack, I must either wash my feet before entering the bed again OR dangle my feet over the side of the bed so they do not touch any bedding (this is only until I can wash my feet, for example, on commercials). This is wierd, yes I know.


2. I speak Cruzan. I am a white girl, yes, but I did spend many years living on an island in the Caribbean. People who are native to St. Croix are called Cruzans. They speak a dialect called "Cruzan."

For example:


English: "Where is Jimmy?"
Cruzan: "Wha pa de Jimmy?"


English: "I don't want to hang out with that girl."
Cruzan: "Me nah wan ah lime wit de gyal."


English:"What happened?"
Cruzan: "WHAPPENED?!?!?!?"


I believe that provides you with some adequate information on speaking Cruzan!



3. I don't like cars. I am an SUV girl. I used to have a Nissan Xterra and I miss it so very badly!However, because of gas prices my husband refuses to let me have one! Maybe I am trying to overcompensate for being so short, perhaps?



4. Mmmmbop! Need I say more??



5. When my throat or ear itches, I oink like a pig to make it stop. Mo screams while I am doing this in an effort to make me stop. It never works.



6. When I was 13 yrs. old I talked to Justin Jeffre from 98 degrees on the phone. My best friend's family was friends with his family and she called me one night while he was at their house so I could talk to him. I almost died - and he wasn't even the cute one...




7. I used to own a Dallas Cowboys starter jacket when I was 11. I was cool.



How's that for random!?



KAT