What do you see?

What do you see when you look in the mirror? Do you see a masterpiece? It's hard to do sometimes. To see youself the way God sees you. There is so much more I could say but I don't say it like the Skit Guys. I love them!



Mirror Mirror on the wall I'M God's Masterpiece after all!

My Sister

I LOVE MY SISTER!

I received a present in the mail today from my sister. Which if you know her that is not uncommon. She is one of the most giving people that I know. Usually it is something random that I had mentioned on the phone. Or sometimes it is a ton of makeup that she didn't like from the free samples. Sometimes, it's hair crack!! (Talk about that another day)One time it was a CHI!! So excited! I could straighten my hair.

Today when I opened my package I cried. I pulled out the sweetest card.

It said, "Sister, Just thinking of all the ways my world is a better place because you're my sister. Happy (belated) Mother's Day!" Then she wrote; Dear Kara, Who have always been a Mother, You just haven't been sent your babies yet."

And my brother in law wrote, "Your Mom needs a normal grand kid. So let's speed up the action and spit one out. Love Uncle to be DW"

Inside was a key that said Believe, 64 inspirational quotes, and an digital EPT test.

I love it when God uses people to wrap His arms around you...

Coming Soon!

We went last night and picked out our new addition to our family! Her name will be Harley or Bailey. We are going to wait to get her home before we choose a name. She is very uniquely marked. Light yellow all over expect for her back feet and the tips of her ears. She has blue eyes right now. Hopefully they will stay!

We should be bringing her home the beginning of the 2nd week in June. Just in time for me to go to camp for two weeks, VBS, then a conference! Shawn has his work cut out for him...but he is the one that keeps insisting.

Here is a picture from last visit with her.

Sorry I haven't really learned how to line up all the picture right...all the time.

Memorial Day

Had a BLAST this Memorial Day! The pool is open...the weather was great but we packed up and headed to North Carolina to visit friends.

We traveled with our Ohio friends The Johnson's to North Carolina. Something we have never done before was traveling that far with a two year old. I have to say...Company was awesome! I haven't laughed that hard or that much in FOREVER!!! Travels were safe! Church was UNBELIEVEABLE!

Shawn & Troy were nice enough to allow us to completely crash at their house! Man do we miss them! We always love seeing them. They are the type of friends that you wish you could take them with you every where you move.

We arrived there about 10 on Friday night then got up and went to Smithfield the next day for a little shopping. Came home and cooked out and went swimming. You know you can do that in NC. The water is warmer than 50 degrees.

Sunday was church day. It was like walking in to a huge family reunion! We had a blast! Pastor's sermon was right on and P&W was so refreshing. We miss our NC family so much it hurts every time we leave. We even were able to meet with Pastor Richard for coffee on Monday. It was nice to catch up with him.

I leave you with my favorite picture from he weekend...I have more and even made them into a slide show but I can't get it to post.

Just imagine driving down the road and reading a sign that says...

PORN BURNS...STAY COOL!

That Time of Year...Already???

I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. John 15:5

HOLY COW!!! Can you believe that Vacation Bible School is only 8 weeks away! WOW!!! How did it get here so quickly! I am so excited! Summer has ALWAYS been my favorite time of year ever since I was little. Now... it no longer means a little R&R...resting and relaxing and recuperating...It now means 2 weeks of Camp 1 week of Vacation Bible School and weeks upon weeks of P&P... PRAYER &PREPARATION! And this year we are not only taking kids to camp we are theme for Vacation Bible School is CAMP! So even the preschoolers will get to experience some form of camp! It is going to be so much fun!!!!!

This is where YOU come in to play!

Will you commit to praying for our VBS & Camps!

“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.” Matthew 7:7-8

Camp & VBS Preparation:
• Order and structure in preparing curriculum and classrooms
• Favor in receiving supplies and donations
• Responsible, Spirit-filled adults to volunteer

Prepare volunteers:
• To minister to the children and their families
• To be patient, to show kindness and love, to use wisdom
• To cooperate and to be courteous to church staff, VBS & Camp Directors, and other volunteers

Prepare the VBS & Camp children:
• To be excited about participating
• To be good listeners and to be respectful
• To learn their memory verses
• To receive Christ as their Savior
• To take the love of Jesus home to their families

Prepare parents and guardians:
• To send their children to our fun filled summer events
• To participate in their children’s experience.
• To be punctual in dropping off and picking up their children.
• To attend all the final programs
• To witness and experience the love of Christ

Summer Events Conclusion:
• Salvation of children and their families
• Families to find a home church
• Growth in families’ relationships with Christ and each other
• Rest for all church staff and volunteers

One think I love about blogs is that no matter where you live...no matter what church you attend...if we are willing to allow God to use us we can lift each others needs and desires up in prayer. For without prayers...For without remaining in HIM...we are nothing...No fruit will come of our labors.

Weekend Events

Last Thursday I realized I was on day 28 and if I didn't get into the Dr today than I was going to have to wait till next Thursday which may be too late to get my WONDERFUL colmid. So I called and made and appointment.

Day 28 no spotting and temperature was still up! The Dr. even seems to be optimistic. I was attempting not to let my self get too excited. He told me not to take a test until day 12 DPO. That would be Friday...I could wait one day. I figured I'll wait...for some reason my body likes to start on Friday's. Likes to play with my weekend like that! So I made a deal with my self if my temperature was still up on Saturday morning (day 30) than I would take a test. I woke up at freaking 5AM on Saturday took my temperature and sure enough it was still at 98.6. Laid in bed until my bladder was going to bust got up and took the test and went back to bed.

I tried to talk my self in to actually going back to sleep. If your pregnant you will still be pregnant in 3 more hours. If your not nothing is going to change there either. I laid there for what I thought was at least an hour of two (more like 30 mins) got up and went and checked the test and it was negative again...I KNEW I wasn't going back to sleep then so I got up and took Sadie on an almost 2 hour walk. It was a beautiful Saturday morning. I am really beginning to enjoy my walks with Sadie. She is such a good dog.

Saturday went well. We opened the pool, which at this point in time is a beautiful greenish color. Then we went across the street to a 2 year old BD party where I do believe pregnant women came from far and wide just to be there! Everyone talking about when they are going to start trying again.

Then Sunday, where my job as a Children's Pastor is difficult emotionally for me at times. Helping parents from all walks of life and stages of life is hard when once again I'm not sure if my day will come to hold my own. This Sunday I had three different people come up to me for different reasons 3 different people come up to me... The first saying I was praying for you this week...it's your month your next! While yet another saying I think my 16 year old son may have gotten his girlfriend pregnant...Yet still another said Your just not trying hard enough to have a baby...must not be doing something right.

Needless to say Sunday was a difficult day, but with God's strength and grace I was able to make it through. But after working a 12 hour day on the way home I turned off the radio and allowed my self to cry. My wonderful husband had cleaned the kitchen just so when I got home there was no excuse for me not to climb into bed and cuddle with him! That felt like God hugging me. God knew exactly what I needed and who I needed it from most. For anyone who knows my husband knows that he is not a cuddler and thankfully my love language is not physical touch.

Then to start my week off JUST perfectly my friend Sarah post this on her facebook...it is TOOO funny NOT to share. I wonder if this is what it will be like when Shawn & I have our baby!

God of Wonders!

For by Christ all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by Christ and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things

hold together. Colossians 1:16&17

I heard an interesting message this morning that I wanted to share. There have been times throughout my entire life when I wonder HOW I am going to make it through something. How am I going to survive or get on the other side of something where I dont' think of it day in and day out...to move on and not let the negative over come the positive. I learned this morning that it's Laminin that actually holds me together. Watch this and you will see what I mean.

Don't forget to mute the side bar music before you play.

Thank you Father for creating every single miraculous detail of our being to worship and honor YOU! Thank you for allowing the cross to hold me together physically, spiritually, and emotionally. Thank you that YOU alone are God, My King, My Daddy...

No Rain...Yet

Came to the realization the other day that it wasn't raining when Noah built the ark. Yes I knew that for sometime but it really hit me as we finished the "baby's room" the other day...Mother's Day...

This home improvement project has been one of the most emotional projects that I have ever done. This past New Year's Shawn told me he felt like we needed to begin preparing the baby's room. I couldn't believe how hard it was for me to agree to begin this project. Thankfully we have a few friends that have been extremely persistent about encouraging us with this undertaking.

When we moved into this house a few years ago this was the 1st thing that I wanted to change. Then I realized it was going to have to go on the back burner because it involved much more time than we had.

I apologize in advance if this offends anybody...but this is MY blog and if you have a problem with it...don't read it! It was PINK FLOWER WALLPAPER!! WHAT were they thinking??? Then after we FINALLY got all the wall paper down I realized something...our house had at one point in time our house had been invested with SMURFS!!! Ridiculous blue! To be honest I liked the blue better than the freaking pink flowers!

The room is finally done...it went from Smurf infested to a beautiful "Haystack" color above the chair rail and "Mountain Ridge" below the chair rail. In Crayola colors that is a light yellow & a beautiful brown.

One of our friends gave us a crib before Eli was born and they wanted us to keep it for our baby. When "the kids" moved back home with their mother the crib stayed with us and has been in the basement ever since. This weekend, as we finished the room, the last piece of furniture that went in was the crib.
You can see the ipod in the crib...We have Praise & Worship music playing 24/7. Hopefully I don't have to wait till I'm 600 years old for MY rain to come! :)

As I come to the end of my 2 week wait, I'm prayerfully hopeful that this crib will be filled with in the next year. I ask that God will give me the emotional strength to enter that room each day to pray for our child.

Do you remember my New Year's Resolution?? That's how I felt this weekend...a little crazy!

You are the God who performs miracles; you display your power among the peoples. Psalm 77:14

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us,to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. Ephesians 3:20&21

God YOU are my rock. God YOU are my refuge. God YOU are my strength. Father please hide me when the pressures of life overwhelm my heart. When my heart is weighed down with the burdens of life come my way and the answers aren't always easy to see, I cry out to you Lord MY rock, your very present help in time of trouble, You are the author and perfecter of my faith.

It's HOT in here!

"If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O king. But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up." Daniel 3:17-18

I've been hot before but never this hot! This past week God has laid on my heart many different ways to read up on Daniel's three buddies...You know Shady Mady and Bennie? It continues to amaze me that all three had the faith to stand up and say "I don't know what God is doing BUT I know HE has my best interest at heart."

Try to imagine standing there looking into your own fiery pit and having someone say to you "IF you don't do what I say you will be thrown in there." Can you feel the heat? I can. There are so many times in my life when I can feel the heat of the fire or hear the roar of the lions. I feel it sometimes when I am looking at my own issues of trust. Whether it's IF, my husband, or my job...wondering "God do you REALLY know what you are doing?"

Am I REALLY ready to jump in to the blazing furnace with both feet? or am I hanging on to the edge with both hands saying, "Let me think about this!"

My desire is to be like Daniel & his friends...Whether it be a lion's den or a fire pit. God I KNOW I am in your hands. In saying that this is NOT an invitation for evil to throw Lions or Fiery Pits at me it is a declaration of knowing that even if God doesn't change my circumstances I serve a God who is MIGHT TO SAVE!!!

What is something that you have had to stand on the edge of the blazing fire pit and feel the heat from and just trust God with?

LOUD Music!

Have you ever had one of those days when you can feel the JUNK of life moving in on you? Ever had a time when you had to CHOOSE to trust God like you NEVER have before? or He is asking you to OBEY him like he never has before? I had that feeling this morning. Want to know what I did? I turned the music up as loud as it could go in my car and PRAISED Him all the way to work. Singing so loud that the people in the car next to me on the interstate probably heard me! Wonder if He sends extra angles down to guide my car when I start doing that. Sometimes I can feel a exhale around me when I put the car in park at my work!

What do you do when you feel life's JUNK moving in on you?

Needing to Soak

I need to soak...


not because I have been painting the same room for the past 2 weeks and have paint all over me...although I did...not because I have been working out in the yard pulling weeds and cutting down bushes trying to get the yard ready for spring/summer...although I did...not because I have taken Sadie on a long walk in the woods by our house, which is one of my all time favorite things to do...although I have.

I need to soak in God's presence...Doing what I do for a living sometimes its hard to take time to find the presence of God. I know sounds weird huh?? Working at a church and find it hard to find God? It certainly isn't for a lack of SEEING God. WOW!! I have the opportunity to see God work on a daily basis just because I believe He is still working and moving in this world today! My problem is that there are times when I am too busy serving and have no time to find God's presence the way that I am use to doing. For me...that is one of the BIGGEST things that God showed me in Rocky Mount...I had access to HIM. One of the biggest ways was through praise and worship.


Sometimes I feel like a frantic child in the middle of a store who can't find their Daddy and the business of the store keeps going on around and no one is seeing my panic. Ever had one of those dreams where you can yell but needed too? That would be how this child must feel. Or there are other times when I feel like I am too hurt or wounded to even turn around to lift my arms up to Him. It's like I don't understand the pain...all I know is that I'm lost and hurt.


I know my life's story has not been totally revealed yet? All I see right now is that I don't have have my heart has desired since the time I was a child. Sometimes it's hard to remember, I can't see the entire description of my life yet! There’s simply not enough room in my heart or mind to contain all that MY Father has planned for me. I pray that one day, as my Father chooses to show me His plan for my life in His perfect timing, the story will make sense. Until then I am comforted by the fact that I can soak in His presence...


"I wanna sit at your feet drink from the cup in your hand. Lay back against you and breath, here your heart beat This love is so deep, it's more than I can stand. I melt in your peace, it's overwhelming" Kari Jobe, The More I seek You.