Yesterday I got a call from the paramedics around 4:10 p.m. My sister Emily had been walking to CCH and began having major seizures. Thankfully, a campus security guy was walking by and she was able to flag him down and by the amazing grace of God he also happened to be an EMT! Emily ended up having 5 major seizures before getting to the hospital. Nick and I were able to drop Max off with the most amazing friends in the entire world, Wyatt and Christina, and be there with her. It was such a blessing to have Nick there because Emily was totally out of it from all of the medication they had given her so I was a little shaken up. Anyway, she is doing okay now. She is staying with us which we are happy about and my mom is coming down today. Emily is doing okay but I think she is very scared. I can't imagine what it must feel like to have this going on with your body and not have any control over it and not know the cause. She handles it so well and I am so proud of her. Please pray for her whenever you get a chance, specifically in these ways:

• as she takes her finals starting tomorrow after going through this totally traumatic experience, pray for her to have the peace that only God can give in times like these
• in two weeks as she spends a week in the hospital undergoing lots of tests, please pray that they will be able to figure this out and even solve this problem!
• praise God for how he works in amazing ways! We are so thankful for the security guard being nearby! We are also so thankful that we were in town, we were supposed to be at a wedding up in K.C. that started at 4 but my doctor does not want me traveling so we had to stay home... praise God! We are also incredibly thankful for Emily's awesome roommate who was at the hospital before we even got there and stayed with us the whole time, what an amazing friend!
• pray for my mom, it is so hard to watch her child suffer when there is nothing she can do, pray that God gives her peace and wisdom

Thank you so much for your love and support during this time!

Hormonal

I really look forward to when Sophie gets here! For me, one of the hardest parts of being pregnant is dealing with the hormones. I consider myself a pretty happy and upbeat person so dealing with hormones is really hard for me. Today I am just having one of those days. I want to just sit around and cry! But, there is NOTHING wrong! I find that so frustrating!
But, I guess aside from that everything in our little house is going great! Max is doing fabulously and learning so much! We are really enjoying the fruits of our labor in training him to sleep because he is such a good sleeper now! I remember when he was little having to listen to him cry for hours because he didn't want to sleep but was totally exhausted! But, those days are no more... and haven't been for awhile but we are just now seeing the full effect of using the BabyWise method with our little guy. Since he knows that bed time is bed time no matter what he totally joyfully goes to bed now! The other night I asked him if he needed more milk or if he was ready to brush his teeth and go "night night". He shouts "teeth!" jumps up and runs to the bathroom to brush his teeth. Then he sits and brushes his teeth! I then said, "okay, it is time for night night" So, he runs into his room, grabs his blankie and tries to climb into his crib himself! We picked him up, gave him kisses, layed him down, shut the door and didn't hear from him again until 8am the next day! And, this is basically how it goes every night!
I love the BabyWise sleep method because it has totally allowed Nick and I to be on the same page and always be consistant with Max. Having a toddler has made me realize how consistancy is so essential to their little world. They are SO much happier when they know what to expect and know what their boundaries are! Not to mention, that using BabyWise has allowed us to still be a married couple! Max goes to bed between 7:30 and 8:15 and then we still get to have 2 hours of quality time together before we go to bed. Last night Max went to bed and then we sat drinking tea/coffee and chatting for like an hour and a half and it was just so nice and relaxing!
Anyway, that is what is going on in our house! Hopefully everyone is doing well and staying healthy!
Love, Katie

52%

So, I am having one of those nights where I can't sleep! But, I am sitting in bed playing on the computer. Well, as a lot of you know my hubby is a sleep walker/sleep talker. So, a few minutes ago I was sitting here looking at stuff online and Nick sits straight up in bed with a great big smile on his face. So, I ask him what he is up to and he responds:
"I don't know, but if I am elected I think life here in America will improve by 52%... Thank you and goodnight" And he lays back down!
He is so funny! I just had to share!

self-controlled

On Tuesday night we had some great friends from church over for dinner, the Clevenger's. We had such a fun evening! It was so fun to get to know them better and to learn more about them. Jacqueline is such a neat lady and she is just one of those people who seems to radiate Christ's love wherever she goes. While they were visiting they mentioned that they had fasted from all television for two years earlier in their marriage and that it was the best two years of their marriage. Wow! I can't imagine giving up T.V. for two years! But, long story short(er) it got me thinking about fasting. I have to admit, fasting is not a spiritual discipline I have really ever thought much about or really taken on. However, I absoltuly see its value. Especially when you give up something that is taking away your relationship with God or family. When I started thinking about this idea a Bible verse from Titus popped into my head... "Then they can train the younger women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands so that no one will malign the word of God" Titus 2:4-5.

It kind of hit me- self-controlled... I really lack self control in a lot of different areas in my life and I am NOT okay with this! I will not go into great detail because no one really wants to sit and list all of their faults for the world (or my faithful blog readers!) to look at! But, one area where I have always lacked self-control is in eating and specifically eating out. I love eating out. I think now that I have a family a lot of what I love about it is the conveniece more than the food but all the same I love it. Whether it is a quick burger at McDonalds, a fun lunch at Chili's or a fancy evening out at Nakkato... I love it all. And, I know that there is nothing wrong with eating out. However, it isn't okay to be controlled by something. In some weird way I have let eating out control my life. My desire to eat out on a regular basis is a large part of my struggle with weight and has been part of our struggle with finances. I have let it take over some of my life. I am sure it has hurt me in other areas as well.

I want to be able to enjoy eating out and make it a small part of my life. But, the last few days it has been on my heart that maybe our family should fast from eating out so that we can give it an appropriate place in our lives again. I have seen so much good that comes out of our eating at home as I have thought about it this week

• we eat meals that are much healthier... who knows what is in restraunt food?
• we have quiet time as a family around our dinner table... there is something very special about eating at your own home with your own little family
• we are able to teach our son good eating habits, good table manners, and talk about healthy food choices
• I am able to serve my husband and son through preparing a meal for them... and often my husband turns around and serves me by taking care of the clean-up!
• we are all less distracted while eating
• we save so much money by eating at home

So, I will be praying about this a little more... but I think our family is going to fast from all eating out for 30 days! I think it will be hard but everytime I want to just grab something to eat I will have the opportunity to thank God for providing for our family with healthy foods to eat at home and our wonderful family to eat with. I really think this time will help us to become better stewards of what God has given us and will bring us closer as a family which is always a good thing!

Please pray for our family as we take this on! I hope I haven't blabbed too much and that this entry makes sense! Have a blessed day!

In the small things

I just have to take a minute to praise God this afternoon! He is so faithful, even in the small things. Max was having a really rough day today, a combination of not enough sleep and getting molars. He had a major meltdown about every five minutes from about 10a.m. to 12p.m. Normally, this would have me pretty stressed and a little edgy and about ready to call my husband every 5 minutes to ask when he will be home! But, God gave me peace and patience today when I needed it the most! I remained in a good mood the whole time! As my son would throw himself onto the floor I was able to simply smile and either help him with what he needed or if it was really just a tantrum to walk away calmly. It was amazing. And friends, I have to tell you, this was all God! I am NOT a patient person and the sound of my son crying is often enough to put me into some sort of mental institution! I can listen to other people's children cry for hours and remain totally uneffected but when that little boy shows any sign of unhappiness my heart breaks and I am ready to be right there with him until he smiles again!
I am learning to rely on God to meet all of my needs and today I just felt like He was showing me that He is my provider even in the small things! I felt like I received a little love not from my Savior today saying, "You see, you can trust me! You are my child and I will always take care of you when you let me! I am the one thing you can always count on!" Thank you, Lord! I am in awe of who You are!

Priorities

I am currently reading, Marriage on the Rock by Jimmy Evans. I love reading marriage books! I think I have a pretty wonderful marriage but I am so excited by the thought that it can always improve and I love that I have a husband who constantly works with me to make our marriage the best it can be. I am currently reading a chapter on the book about priorities and it has really got me taking a closer look at my priorities in life. The book suggests that our priorities probably should look like this:

1. God - seeking and serving Him personally
2. Spouse
3. Children (if you have any)
4. Church - seeking and serving God together with His Body
5. Extended family and special friends
6. Work and career
7. Hobbies and other interests

I think it is so easy to make our children our main priority because they "demand" it much of the time. But, I don't want to be the kind of mom who is ruled by her children. And, I don't think it would be healthy for them either! So, I am striving to make sure I have my priorities in order! I pray that God will reveal to me any that are out of order!

I have never been unloved

Some days (like today) I just can't wrap my mind around God's amazing love for His children! We saw this video in church a long time ago and I came across it today and couldn't help but be moved again by it! I can relate to every single verse... I have been unteachable, unkind, unemotional, unworthy, etc.! I think we all have! And yet, even when we are at our worst God still loves us.

I think as I get older I am seeing how most people's love is conditional. I always thought that families (parent/child and husband/wife relationships) were based on uncoditional love but I am discovering that even in those relationships unconditional love isn't always there. I believe that I love my husband and son unconditionally... but it is nowhere near God's love!

I don't know. I guess I am just so grateful for God's unconditional love today!