How Does Your Garden Grow?

Spring is just around the corner and already new life is just bursting at the seams wanting to break forth with newness inside. I know my poor trees and rose bushes barely had a chance to take their winter's nap before the temperatures became unseasonably warm and thus they are beginning to prepare for spring sooner than they normally would. In fact my poor willow tree had barely just shed it's leaves and already new buds were beginning to form. Now the tree is filled with potential new life just waiting for the pollination of our bees which are just buzzing each time I walk outside to check our mail. Kinda sad when you think about it too.

It reminds me of the nursery rhyme of Mary, Mary, Quite Contrary, How does your garden grow? I'm not even ready to head outside and begin preparing the plants for another tough season. So why should it matter. It might still grow without any help from me. It might gain enough moisture from whatever rain we get, even though in Southern California, it hasn't been much at all. In fact as of today, just four days in just four months.

I remember when I first moved into our current home, I feel in love with a plum tree in our neighbor's yard, the beautiful pink blossoms just waiting to bear fruit in due time. Over this last year, however they simply stopped caring for their yard, they stopped watering it, and I guess I can understand in light of the drought we are having. Water can get expensive. But to look at his yard now, it's sad because the tree is now almost dead. I'm sure that it might come back with some loving care, but left to its own, I'm not sure we will see anything this year from it.

When you look at your own garden how does it grow? Are you one of those green thumb types who can grow anything with just the right look? Or are you the prayerful type that when you plant something, you hope it doesn't die and often pray that it doesn't?

I've had to ask myself these same questions and to be perfectly honest, my garden outside pretty much looks like my marriage on the inside. It needs some serious work if it's going to last this year. I'm not be any means saying my marriage is falling apart, but much like my garden outside, if I am looking for some strong roots and blooms to fill my plants, I have to invest some serious time. It will stay if I don't because Steve and I have vowed our marriage will never end in divorce but if I want something more than mediocre, I have to put some time in.

Now to be fair, marriage is about both people putting in equal time, but I can't control my husband. Oh how I wish I could, because I know it would be so much easier with both of us working on it at the same time, but because I am held to a higher standard as a believer in Christ, I will have some answering to do before God if I don't. Simply put, love is all about action, and it is only love when it acts.

It's not about saying all the right things, it's about doing all the right things. Love is a verb, it isn't a noun. It's all about showing the other person, that they are the most important person in the world next to God in your life. That you are willing to put aside all your own interests and instead ask the question, What can I do for you to make your day better?

For us wives, I think the question we need to ask ourselves is how are we doing at our job as a wife? Honestly ask the question, "Am I being the best wife I can be to my husband today?"

If I am 100% honest, I can say, "No, I am not."

So as you can see, I have some work to do but in my garden and in my marriage. I want to invest the time, because I want a marriage that is vibrant, strong, sustaining despite the world around us that simply wants to redefine what marriage is. I want to do it God's way and not my own. So we need to heed the words of Winston Churchill, Britain's Prime Minister who in the midst of the war, stated, "Victory is not won by evacuation."

It's time to dig deep and invest some time. Be filled with God's Spirit because you can't win this war on your own and the enemy wants nothing more than to destroy our marriages. Are you with me? 

Prayer Request: Kat's Surgery is Today!

Good morning social media friends and family. My surgery for kidney stones is today and I could really use your prayers today. My check in time is 6:00am and surgery is scheduled for 7:00am. It's suppose to last an hour and here is specifically what I need your prayers for:

1. The surgery is a success with no complications.

2. That NO STENT is required.

3. That I have no infection.

4. That their is no or minimal pain from the surgery.

5. That my blood pressure remains calm.

6. That the stone is completely broken up and can pass without any complications.

7. That I have God's calming Spirit and I am completely at ease when I arrive.

I will have my hubby keep you updated but if you can cover me with prayer beginning today I would sincerely appreciate it.

It Feels Like Only Yesterday!

17 years of being married. Hard to imagine not because it's been so difficult, but because it has been so exceptional. In fact, Steve just mentioned it last night how when you think of 17 years, you would expect that to be a really long time, but in fact, it seems like only yesterday when I was telling him this marriage outlasted my first one of ten years.

The best part is that 17 years has given me time to see my amazing husband in a variety of situations to see how he responds to when storms batter our marriage and family. He is my Rock. He remains calm, at least that is how I see it on the outside. He may in fact, be a turmoil waiting to erupt on the inside and I need that in my life.

I've often told him, he's a mentor of how I want to be. I can let my emotions run away with me quite a bit, but Steve holds his tongue. It's a perfect balance of why our marriage works. But don't let that fool you.

Our marriage remains strong because of the foundation we have built it on. We have God, front and center in our marriage. We pray for one another when we are together and apart. We pray in happy times, and in the midst of storms. We pray for our children, for decisions, for how to manage our marriage and our day to day responsibilities as a husband and wife, but as parents, friends and family members.

That is why when things rock marriages not ground in Christ, it can be more than a challenge to deal with because you are dealing with it in your own strength and not God's. We have supernatural help beyond our world attempts and that is why things are so great for us.

It doesn't mean we don't deal with adversities like the rest of the world, but we have a supernatural strength and peace that come from God that help us manage through this and we don't fall apart as much as I've seen family and friends do.

We also have a great network of Christian family and friends but that we know and through social media we can rely on when we need some extra prayer. It comes in handy to know that there are so many believers petitioning the heavenly throne room on your behalf.

To stay that Steve is the perfect guy would be false, but he is the perfect guy for me. God knew it when he sent him into my life more than 20 years ago, when my heart was so broken and I was completely out of hope.

It began simply as a friendship that grew into something only God could orchestrate. He took on the role of a father to my oldest without any reservation. Later we would add to our family with the birth of our youngest, now 16. We've grown into such an amazing family watching both of our daughters accept Jesus into their life. It's been an experience walking through some times I would never want to repeat with this rock by my side in this life, and I wouldn't want it any other way.

To say he completes me, would be an understatement. He adds to me and makes me a better wife, mom and friend. He is the person I would give up anything but God for, just to spend time with him and I wouldn't want to spend time with anyone over him. We make one another priorities and always take the time out for each other. I look back and think that I am so proud that this man, not only has filled his godly role as my husband, but as a father, he has role modeled what I can only hope our two daughters will want to find in future husbands of their own some day.

So thank You God, for giving me this time with an amazing man. Help me to remember to continue to lift him up daily in prayer. Help me to acknowledge the many ways he helps provide for us as a family besides bringing home a paycheck. Thank You for the many years I have had up to this point and it literally puts a smile on my face, knowing that when this life ends, our eternity together begins!

I love you Steven Smith, for being the very best part of me! Happy 17th Anniversary!!!

The End is in Sight

For my blogging friends and family and even those who follow me via email or through another social media platform, the wait to deal with my persistent pain in the side, my kidney stone, is going to be finally evicted on Tuesday, February 10th.

These long journey began in the beginning of December last year with what seemed like for all intents and purposes to be a UTI or bladder infection. After two weeks of antibiotics, I was still dealing with the symptoms associated with it. Thinking the first round of antibiotics, Bactrim, might not have worked, the doctor prescribed a stronger one for the next 10 days, Cipro. You would think based on everything you read that by day 4, I would be feeling better. But no such luck. I went to Urgent Care on the day before New Years Eve knowing that everything would be closed down until after the first of the year.

Thankfully I got a great doctor who listened, really listened and figured out that the symptoms might just be something else. But to be on the safe side, he hooked me up to an IV and gave me some really strong antibiotics with some pain meds mixed in (Toradol). Trust me when I say, I was in a lot of pain.

Meanwhile, he sent me for a CT scan that same day. Not a pretty wait for the CT scan. While it should have been in/out, they had to wait for insurance verification to begin the procedure. Fast forward 3 hours later and we have to wait for the results to be sent back to the doctor. I went home and laid down for about an hour while my husband kept pressuring the office to at least give me something for the pain while I waited.

They advised me to come back in to wait for the results and they could give me something stronger for the pain. They were nice enough not to let me sit back in the waiting room with all these really sick people whose cold and flu I did not want to catch. They allowed us to sit in some really nice reclining chairs used for IV patients who need to get fluids while watching I Love Lucy reruns. Pretty nice considering.

Another hour passes and the doctor finally comes back with the results of the CT scan, the culprit, a pesky kidney stone 7mm large just inside my right kidney. He tells me I have two options, (1) head to the nearest ER and see if they can help me to get it removed. This means waiting as though I had never been seen. If you live in the High Desert, that is not an option. ER wait times are between 2-8 hours and knowing all they would do is stabilize me and send me home with a recommendation to see a doctor about getting that removed. (2) was to take medications like Flo-Max to see if I could pass it on my own while waiting to make an appointment with a urologist. I chose option 2, and he gave me some Dilaudid in my IV which literally felt almost euphoric!

Now here it on February 6th and still have not been able to pass that pesky stone who seems to like his new home quite well. The doctor has scheduled a procedure to shock the stone into smaller pieces to see if I can get rid of it once and for all. I am hoping this will work.

The days have been horrible in the weeks leading up to this procedure and I was lucky enough to secure a prescription of Dilaudid for the pain. At times I was taking 5 of these a day but am managing right now to seriously learn how to manage pain without it. NOT EASY by any means.

The thing that really is frustrating is trying all the home remedies trying to get this to pass. I've tried, water with lemons, hot tea with lemon juice and honey, apple cider vinegar, drinking a few beers and drinking more water than a camel does. Nope, not moving at all.

So will you join me in prayer if you can remember?

Surgery is scheduled on Tuesday, February 9th at 7:00am. The procedure is supposed to only take an hour.

What I need specific prayer for?

1. For the stone to pass on its own until the day of the procedure.

2. For the procedure to work on eliminating the kidney stone.

3. No stent will be required to help pass the stone.

4. For the procedure to be pain free when its over as well as the passing of the stones.

5. To prevent any infection or complications from the procedure.

6. Peace of mind the day of the procedure.

Thank you in advance for your prayers today and in the days leading up to the procedure.

Amiibo Treasure Hunt is On!

If you have never been part of the Cabbage Patch, Pokèmon or Beanie Babies craze, then you won't understand the newest one for this generation of collectors, that is Amiibo's. So let me explain what they are and why there is such a frenzy trying to collect and get these figures.

They are part of Nintendo's game Super Smash Brothers which came out for the Wii and the Wii-U. If you have any kids or teens familiar with these systems, they already understand this. Amiibo's give the availability when used on the game pad to level certain characters up. You simply take your Amiibo to your friends house and you can play with your saved character and their abilities. There are about 54-56 characters available on Super Smash Bros. and Nintendo is launching them in waves. Some of these characters are only available as exclusives such as Target, Best Buy, Game Stop, and Toys R Us. The figures retail for $12.99-15.99 depending on the store, and most are completely sold out within minutes of hitting the stores.

All these figures were available for pre-orders but with scalpers and collectors buying mulitples, orders were soon cancelled which left the drive for finding these elusive figures in the stores. Seriously it is just like any of those previous collecting phases. In fact Facebook and websites are now dedicated specifically to help people find these figures. Some kids merely want them to play on their game systems while others are making quite the profit selling their multiple figures for $80.00 and up depending on how hard they are to find.

My daughter is not a collector, merely a player who wants to add them to her Wii-U and Super Smash Bros games. We are lacking the following figures and would love it if you would help us join the hunt. In fact, if you are in the same boat as we are, let's join up and search together. Perhaps we can help one another out.

Here are the one's I'm looking for and they may be sitting in your local stores electronics department. The stores are Game Stop, Best Buy, Target, Toys R Us, Walmart and F.Y.E. The figures I'm looking for right now are:

1. Meta Knight

2. Ike

3. Wii Fit Trainer

4. Shulk

5. Sonic

6. Megaman

7. King Dedede

Let me know if you find any of these. I shared pictures of what they look like in and out of the boxes. I am looking for them in the box right now. Please email me at Stevenkat27@gmail.com if you have any and I can pay pal you the funds or send a check to cover the cost plus shipping. If you need my phone number while you are out shopping and want to contact me, please Instant Message me on Facebook or email me at Stevenkat27@gmail.com Hope my Facebook friends and family all over the US can help!

The Lasting Legacy

Sometimes there are moments in our life where as Christians, we've hit a dry patch. It may be a time where you sense that you aren't as close to God as you once were. Perhaps, you've skipped church a time or two due to obligations or illness and know, it's not such a huge deal. Perhaps it's been awhile since you've picked up your Bible and read more about God and what He has in store for you today through a Bible verse or chapter. Or it could simply be nothing more than the enemies attempt at making your chase your tail wondering where we left God or even, where God left us.

If you've been a believer for some time, you know God never leaves us. It is always us taking some time away from God, like telling Him, "Hey God, I'll be right back, wait right here for a moment okay?"

In storms that happen in our life, we should be running immediately to the throne room of God and unleashing our weapon against darkness through prayer. God loves nothing more than to be invited in, to be asked for help, and to just be a part of your life. Yet so often we turn away from God, thinking because He is all powerful, He could have done something, heal that person, save that life, restore a relationship, you fill in the blank.

Have you ever blamed God for something?

Perhaps an unanswered prayer? Or an answer you got you didn't like?

We all know that children model what they see and hear especially from their parents and siblings. So what are they hearing and seeing on your end?

Do they see a Mom or Dad, not afraid to gather the family around for prayer? Do they see you spending time with God in church, reading your Bible, praying, listening to praise and worship music?

Or do they see the impacts the world has on you? Struggling against the odds facing you, lashing out in frustration because it is all out of your hands? No matter how hard you try, you can't fix it?

I think the most important legacy for parents is to point our children to God. In EVERYTHING!!!

From the way we begin our mornings, how we handle our daily struggles, how we talk to our children when their world is coming undone, to how we show love for our spouses and family.

For me, as a parent, there is NO GREATER joy than seeing your children coming to God on their own terms. Asking Him to be a part of their life, praying to Him, spending time with Him and others in church, listening to praise and worship music and watching Christian appropriate content on the internet, books, or television.

It's knowing that no matter what our children face in life, God has their back 100%.

If they should die today, I know without a doubt, we'll be spending an eternity together in heaven.

There is no greater assurance that world can promise, that soothes a parents heart like a relationship with God. NOTHING!!!

No better job, better family, better bank account, better house, better ANYTHING.

It is all temporary. It will all be left behind when God calls us home. I couldn't ask for a better legacy to leave behind than an overwhelming amount of evidence that convicts me beyond a shadow of a doubt that I am a Christian. Sold out, body, mind, soul and spirit to my heavenly Father!! I hope that those that follow me, read my blogs and social media posts can see the same thing, if not, I call you on it to let me know.

The legacy I want to leave behind is a mom who loved the Lord, prayed for her family and friends, and shared all she had with everyone else. After all, the stuff in this life, isn't ours, but Gods. I hope I make Him proud with what He has given me, and most importantly that others follow not in my footsteps but His!

"And do not be conformed to this world but be ye transformed" . . .Romans 12 vs. 2

Is Happily Ever After Even Possible?

If you are a woman, you have without a doubt read the fairy tale stories about a princess marrying her prince and living happily ever after. But is that even practical in today's world?

Without a doubt, I believe it is!

I've been feeling a bit sorry for myself in the last 24 hours with my husband away from home on business and super busy at that. In fact, the only time he has had to connect with me, has been through a quick text or a late night phone call when his day is over.

I get jealous of those who have the luxury of having their husbands home every single night., Ladies who do, be thankful for it. I know you might not realize it but there are those of us that go to sleep night after night without our husbands by our sides. For some it's a short business trip. For others it may be long deployments that keep us apart. Yet for some, death has claimed their husband and they will have to find ways to get through the days and nights when they won't have him to come home to. So be thankful for what you have.

In fact that is what turned my attitude around. A fellow blogger has just walked the most difficult path I could imagine this last year when she lost her husband suddenly to cancer. She struggles with simply getting through hours at a time and wonders when it will ever get an easier. So while I may complain mine doesn't check in as often as I would like, at least I still get the opportunity to speak with him. I have NOTHING to complain about and for that I am ashamed at my actions. I'm sure if you ask her, she would take her husband on his worst day ever for just one more day to be with him.

We should all be a lot more thankful for the husbands we do have.

But I do believe that happily ever after is possible in a marriage. I've been doing a study with Greg Laurie on marriage lately and with God in your life and marriage, it's definitely possible.

Now don't get me wrong, I'm not saying it won't be without challenges, disagreements, fights and stresses that will test the integrity and strength of your marriage. It will happen. But for some, just because they no longer "feel" love for their spouse or they think things will be better without them, divorce becomes the way out. Instead of fighting to make it better, the opt for the easier solution.

Now there are times where biblically divorce is permitted, but even in some of those, God can heal it if BOTH are willing to submit to the obedience of God. We need to stop looking for the world's view on marriage and instead see it the way God designed it to be.

If both parties have Christ in their life, are believers in Jesus, are willing to submit to the authority of God and follow His laws that govern the responsibilities of a husband and a wife, I believe you can have that marriage made in heaven.

James Dobson once said, "Don't marry the person you can live with, marry the person you can't live without."

J.P. Getty was willing to give up all his wealth for one happy marriage.

Any marriage not built on the foundations of Jesus is like building it on sand. When the waves of life come crashing down, so will your marriage. It will begin to wash away bit by bit. When we get to the end of our lives and are facing our final days, we will only look back at three things in life: Faith, Family and Friends. But instead of waiting for those final days, why not deal with them now and make things the best they can be in each of those areas. That is the key to happiness, not more money, a bigger house or tons of things to stuff your home with.

If a marriage fails, it's the fault of the participants, not the institution.

Having a successful marriage requires a daily commitment and effort; never taking it for granted for one moment. With those ideas in tact, I honestly believe happily ever after is possible.