5 Senses

I have always said one of my biggest fears is losing the sense of hearing. I want to always be able to hear the voices of my love ones, to recognize the laughs of those closest to me. When Mr. Guy passed away I would practice hearing his voice. Uncle Alfred's too. The sense of smell is a sense that I try not to take for granted either. The Pelican Perch has a scent - perhaps its the smell of sunscreen or boiled peanuts! Papa has a scent  - he just smells like Papa! Grammie has a scent and so does Memama! I have noticed my mom's scent more than ever because perhaps I long to smell it when I want her closer by! Robert - well he goes back and forth from smelling handsome to smelling like wet grass!!! and Kately - her scent is still inthe making - I hope she will outgrow the poop smell!!! But yes her baby smell is a scent I long for on a long day at work. I cherish scents. Sight. Sight, the gift of seeing, is one I need to take more seriously in recognizing the beauty of the gift of eyes. To look into Kately's eyes, to watch her grow. To look through pictures, To watch God's creation unfold before me! One day I found myself reflecting on why I take so many pictures when someone was somewhat making fun of me for how many pictures I post on facebook. Why do I spend time behind the lens taking snapshot after snapshot...so I don't forget. So one day, I can recall, remember, and see my story of life with my family, with Robert, with Kately, and with our Bailey unfold. Bailey. Tomorrow he will have an eye removed. He is at risk of going blind and it really scares me. Bailey is a part of our family! He was my protector in Hartsville, he was my judge of Robert when he enter our lives, he has kept me safe many nights at home alone, he is Kately's big brother, he is the warmth I feel at my toes each morning. He always greets me at the door wagging!! Bailey is a part of our family. I pray he will be okay tomorrow. I pray he won't be in pain. I pray that he will not lose sight in his other eye too quickly because I know, I know deep down he loves watching Kately, he loves cuddling with Robert to watch espn, he loves to watch Robert grill outside, he loves to watch me load the car in the mornings, he loves to watch us at the dinner table. God, thank you for our Bailey.
And now a look at Bailey! From the night I brought him home, holidays, beach trips, hartsville, charlotte, Bubba's engaged, youre going to be a big brother, loving on kately, to just laying around! I love you, Bailey!

Now and Then!

 

wow! I just got done telling Robert how awesome it was spending time with my beautiful PC ladies!!! the laughs were way overdue! as I drove down the mountain in the crazy fog - I went back to the rainy day we walked out of the townhouses closing the door on our college days but carrying a TON of memories!!! such a gift 6 years later to still be creating memories! my heart is full with thanksgiving for each of these incredible women! Thanks be to God for the brat pack!

 

 

 

Winter Wonderland! Well kind of...

 

 

This past weekend I journeyed with 30 youth to Boone for our annual winter retreat at Covenant! While we were there we had a guest speaker! He open my eyes to ways of being more present in the moment than ever! He said to stop asking the question of others or your self "What do You want to be when you grow up?". Why not ask the beautiful question of "Who are you/who am I now?" because although we like to build on our strengths and make improvements on our working points - we are living now! God isn't creating us for something just for ten years from now but who we are today!! Who we are in the present moment! It was a true honor to listen to today's youth talk about how they are living for success of getting into the best college - it was disheartening to see the anxiety on their face and the need to scream in their voice. so we screamed! We cryed out to our God! We reflected on the beauty of rain, and perhaps how when it rains in our lives that that is when God is holding us the closest! It was a great weekend! A holy weekend! While I was watching youth play in the snow like it was the first time...Kately love got to experience snow for the very very first time!!!! Robert and Mom enjoyed watching her!!

 

 

L-O-V-E!

What is love? Love is the way Kately looks up at us when we tip toe in her room and peek over her bed...there she is ("Thank you, Jesus, for another day!") smiling up at us! Love is the feeling that overwhelmes me each time Robert grabs my hand to hold and doesn't let go. Love is the way a family understands and loves one despite my many flaws. Love is the way Bailey wags his tail when you open the door...almost knocking you over with excitement. Love is worship. Love is a tender reminder you are appreciated. Love is a fresh rain fall. Love is grilling out. Love is precious. Love is a gift. Love is the emotion that I felt pouring out of Robert for me and for Kately on the day she entered the world. Love is forgiving. Love is laughter. Love is God's touch. Love is vulnerable. Love is knowing it is okay to say "I am sorry." Love is witnessing life through the eyes of a 7 month old!
Enjoy pictures from Kately's first Valentine's Day!

 

Some of My Valentine's! 

 

Happy Valentine's Bailey!!!

 

Our little lady love!

 

LOVE!

 

This is Love.

 

Loving my Valentine from Auntie Bubba and Uncle Nick!

 

Showing off all my Valentine's!!

 

OOO I love flowers, Mommy!

 

Meme and Pops' Card is YUMMY!

 

Happy Valentine's Day, Kathleen Loving Lane!

 

First picture standing!!!

Lenten Journey!

It has been since Oct. 2011 that I have reflected on the idea of blogging! I have participated in my own spiritual discipline of emailing prayers to our baby girl! Yes, I'm the mommy who set up her baby girl an email account before she was born! When Robert and I found out we were having a baby I set up a gmail account to serve as my journal for baby Lane! Soon the entries turned to prayers for our Kathleen Loving Lane and today I still email her as a form of journaling! I receive so much joy sending her little emails during the week of God moments, little glimpses of God's kingdom here on earth through watching her grow, and advice I hope I can remember when I am old and Kately starts rolling her eyes!! it is refreshing to journal my hopes for her, my prayers for her, my fears for her. One day I will print the emails and give them to our Kately as a gift! we have invited family and friends the privelege of emailing her katelylane2012@gmail.com.

As I think about this day being Ash Wednesday, I would like to bring back the spiritual practice of blogging God moments, laughter, glimpses of God's kingdom! My hope is to blog each day! o good gracious!!! we shall see!! one blog I know I want to title "Faces of Kately" because her facial expressions do indeed bring me so much joy and I see God shining through her big eyes and bright smile!!

Today I reflect on..Who I am? Who is God continuing to create me to be?
I am a child of God! I am a lover of life! I am a wife, a mommy, a student, a daughter! I see God in people. I am a sister. I love to dance. I am a granddaughter. I am a friend. I know it is okay to be vulnerable. I pray. I see beauty in the faith journeys of high school youth. I worry. I loved to laugh. I get energy from people. I feel love through quality time and words of affirmation. I know the freedom of forgiveness. I like to be at the beach. I love Montreat. I enjoy crafts. I am a sinner. I love to sing in worship. I never forget Dahlonega. I am a member for FPC Hartsville. I am a Blue Hose. I have been given eternal life not of my own doing but through the grace of Jesus Christ. I always have a "get to do" list. I give love through quality time and physical touch. I love to take pictures. I know I make mistakes. I am guided by the Holy Spirit. Today, I can say, I am truly happy in the deepest sense of the word. All Thanks be to God!

A song to reflect on this Ash Wednesday: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lp4fNmJ5Sqc
A lenten journey to the cross: http://www.d365.org/journeytothecross/

I feel like pictures speak for me. Here is who I am in pictures: