Hello 2022 :: 2021 Reflection

Welcome to 2022 :: Short story, I was attacked by a dog 1/3/22 while running so cards went out late and this reflection is just now being done. 

2021 brought inspiration and various challenges (so a normal year for us): 

• Mark wrote a book “Simple Preaching Prep”, is due to release March 1st, 2022 on Amazon.

• Kara continues to write her non-fiction book “Hurt to Hope: The Way is Through, Not Out” (working title) and ran more in the Fall to build a base back.

• Ian began 7th grade and in his free time enjoys watching WWE, playing computer games and wrestling with his stuffed wrestling dummy so he doesn’t hurt his brother.

• Elijah began 3rd grade, remains fascinated by dinosaurs, digging for gem stones and fossils, and playing Roblox in his free time.

• Katie is 6 years old now, loves to cuddle in your face, bait Ivy into take her raw-hides so she can grab them back and continues to love car rides.

• Ivy is a year and half and has been with us for a year. She is still all puppy, sits like a princess and growls like bear. She is very submissive and pees upon meeting strangers.

• We are very grateful for God’s peace and His humor in these times. We look forward to see how His hand works this year. Much Love to you! 

• The Messmores

She was/is my Grandma...I want you to know her.

Life is precious, it is short, our views are limited, we are finite. Enjoy now. Live wisely, choose wisely, live grace. Display love, speak kindly, write letters, get your hair done (you'll feel better), wiggle your nose and pretend to transport to family and back home, read God's Word, live love, know what you believe. Laugh often and watch the Reds. - A very dear & wise woman I knew, her spirit will live on through generations
I want you to remember her Elijah, this was you that last time you spent some time with her. We watched Kacie play in the NCAA tournament. Unfortunately, Ian's pictures are elsewhere-I'll add later.

Today she passed away more unexpectantly than I would have thought but I think she knew it was her day. See, Alice (Grandma Cassell) knew fully Jesus and had this beautiful relationship with him that I can only hope to have. Sometimes I wouldn't understand her when she spoke and prayed to Him and when she would hand me literature she had been reading about relevant and controversial topics. But what impacted me the most was that she knew grace. She knew what it meant, how to bestow it to another person and how to remain loyal to those she loved while still loving the others who had offended.

When I was younger she'd share her clip-on earrings with me and necklaces. I thought I was the most beautiful little girl with those gems on. She'd let me eat cheerios out of her cereal cabinet. She'd play Aggravation until the cows came home. She expected a lot from her kids but for her grandkids she wanted the world for us. She knew we were growing up in harder times with more influential cultures that pressed us from all sides. She knew we needed her. She was equally proud of all us of grandchildren and did not have any favorites...well I think each of us at one point felt that we were possibly her favorite. She'd share her heart with me while visiting during college and graduate school. When grandpa wasn't at his best, I'd watch her love him. 

Her heart was BIG and her hand-written letters were beautiful. I often had to squint to read them because of her stylish cursive/almost calligraphy hand-writing but they were beautiful. For several years now I've kept every birthday, anniversary or basic message simply thinking, it might be her last. She'd talk about being ready go to be with the Lord. She would pray for my children and for my husband and myself and I felt her prayers. Her physical presence, hug, voice will be missed but her legacy will live on. Grandma Alice as she always wanted me to call her (I called her Grandma Cassell from a young age), I will miss you dearly...dearly...dearly. 

 

My favorite "senior moment" memory of Grandma was a couple years ago when she stopped wearing her hearing aids. The sound of the door bell rang and she picked up the phone next to her and loudly said, "Hello!! Hello?!" and we just sat and laughed. "Grandma someone is at the door." She said, "Oh!!" in her high-pitched tone. It was awesome! She smiled and laughed too.

So now...I lay aside any guilt I had for not visiting more with grace that you continually passed on to me. I lay aside the hopes I had in listening more to you and in spending one-on-one time with you without children rustling and bustling beneath my feet. I hold the laughter of my children when being around you, the hugs and cuddles Eli gave to you last time we visited and Ian's pouty face. I hold on to visiting you in the rehab facility after your last hospitalization and although it was my last visit with you. I kissed you several times and hugged you. I loved you and was able to express how precious you are to me. Until I see you in heaven, the real heaven...with Jesus, may you know how deeply loved you are.

Right Now...

> a bit scared about delivering baby early (just not quite ready although I guess as ready as I might be anyway
   : wanting to be able to just be at the hospital already and not have to travel in there...30-35 min drive
   : hoping my water doesn't break in public or in my own bed...would rather just be working in hospital already again
    : wishing I could eat consistently enough and healthy enough to just let go the fear of puking during labor
    : I'm about done with the having to the bathroom every 15 minutes
> too tired to care at times about what is happening around me
> wanting to soak up and remember all that Ian is doing
   : his favorite colors - blue & green
   : his favorite words - rhyming anything...blue, glue, baby, laby, silly goose, silly moose
   : his favorite fruit - blueberries
   : some favorite toys - anything CARS, legos
   : favorite activity - running around & biking
   : his loves dessert way too much for my taste and always wants to ask for it
> cleaning occupies a large portion of my brain (I like to feel clean and uncluttered)
> house hunting - we are eyeing one particular house but there are still things to consider & people to speak with
> reading God's Word - eating up my curiousity about certain verses, topics and names (their meanings)

Wanting to begin a Christmas list....
* This December Daily Kit  $89
* this shampoo & conditioner that I was able to experience at Kingsgate Marriott Hotel over our Anniversay (Bath & Body Works - Citrus Ginger) -- want big bottles $10

Ian Today....

 just sitting, watching the train go round & round while waiting for mom to get ready to take him to school

 on His laptop playing...

Today Ian did several things

Story: Trains & Mythbusters

Ian said they were all watching Mythbusters. We're so proud :-).

Story: Cookout & 1st S'more!

Ian eats with good company (Justin excluded). During this cookout at the Weisman's Ian also experience his first S'more (pictures to come later!)

Strassenfest: Train Ride & Parade

Always LOVE new experience specially when life is sooo not-knowing right now.

And the Parade :)

 NOTE: We told Ian, "now put your hands out if you want candy" and this was the result.

Duathlon

Spirit of Jasper Duathlon

This morning was a new experience for me, one that included cycling along with running (run 5k, bike 15 miles on a very hilly course, run 5k) and as hard as it was - it rocked!

I achieved a time of 1:51:27 which equals 5k 27:34, 15 mile bike 54 minutes, 5k 27:02.  And well I'm pretty excited. My legs had a little bit of a hard time up a lot of the hills but the Trek Road Bike I have made up for all of it. I ended up passing 6-7 people on the cycling course who beat me on the 5k run inititally b/c I think I had the road bike.

Here is the route:

I don't think I could be more happier and it really did feel good. Mark and Ian were along the route at various time which was awesome and so motivating! All the volunteers were great and the participants were wonderful. I may be an "Average Jane" (no offenses to Janes out there) but I do think that I'm a pretty steady average Jane and am so proud of the legs God gave me today!  Cheers!

All the stress of various circumstances just melt away as I run these races and it does make a huge difference when I can see my little boy cheering for me (even if he is sitting on a curb eating a granola bar happily) - he at least gave me 5. :)

It's Been Awhile....

This past several days we have been blessed to hang out with the Messmore's (Mark's family) and it was very lovely. The difference during this trip for me (and this is me being very transparent) is that 1) Ian is older and more versatile with this routine and 2) my heart was guided much more by God and not by me.

It was a different experience for me to do my Breaking Free study each morning and also to exercise (to run in town - 10 miles on Saturday & 4 fast miles on Monday). My mind was so much freer and my time with God was quite noticeable to me. I didn't try to figure out schedules or expect certain things from myself or others. I just went with those two things in mind that I knew I needed to focus on for myself (study & running) and just let the rest fall in place. I also made it intentional to not overeat and did very well with the exception of one meal. :S

Ian had a blast and spent time with his cousins, grandparents and aunt & uncle. It was so much fun to watch him enjoy their presence and playfulness with him. He cuddled with them, ate with them and also had his own playtime where we were able to watch him do "pretend play" and boy was he good! :)

Mark did 3 messages (sermons) for a revival at his parents' church and so he was busy doing that which was awesome. And he took the time to interact with family and to see Ian just blossom before our eyes. The ride there was awesome and seemingly quick at 6:30 hours - the ride back, not-so-much but we endured and even got to see my grandparents. Grandpa opened up his eyes for a little bit to see Ian and us which was priceless then went back into his "sleep state". I just hope Grandma gets some rest tonight.

More pictures to come later...

Easter 2011

The Story of Today: church - a blast, Ruff lunch & egg hunt and a small note to a dress.

Dear Dress I was going to wear,

You were quite beautiful and I did want to wear you quite badly. But once I found out that I had tossed my slips from long ago and saw that the front was a little too low for this minister's wife to "represent" on Easter...I figured out that you might be a better fit for me whenever Mark & I go on a 10-year anniversary cruise or second honeymoon to some place warm. Alas, I will fit into you again but it is not the time. Thank you sincerely, Kara

 We are awake & eating breakfast!

 Not the best picture but it will do :)

 Greeting the Peeps

What an awesome day to Praise God - 1,500 people were present to hear the message of how our lives can change when we encounter the miraculous, resurrected Christ and his healing purpose for our lives.

 

 The Ending of a wonderful Day

Easter Egg Hunt 1

This Easter Egg Hunt was the invention of Mommy at the Smith's house for Ian to find.