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:

2 and half + years later!

After six months of working on our wedding album - yes i know way behind here! - our photographer Gene sent me the proof!!! Our album should be here by Thanksgiving! What a wonderful time to look through the moments captured on our wedding day! He also resent bridal portraits so I could send them to family - I seemed to have missed that in the picture sharing process!! All the exciting memories of such a special day! Thought i would share a glimpse of the bridal portraits two + years later! 5 more months until Robert and I get to watch our wedding video again = 3 years!!! Cheers and blessings to my sister who is planning her blessed wedding day - a worship of becoming one!

Advent Devotional Brainstorming!

Love came down at Christmas, Love all lovely and divine;

Love was born at Christmas, Stars and angels gave the sign.

Worship we the Godhead, Love incarnate, Love divine;

Worship we our Jesus, But wherewith for sacred sign?

Love shall be our token, Love be yours and love be mine;

Love to God and all men, Love for plea and gift and sign.

~ Christina Rossett

Covenant’s Advent theme this year is “Love Brings.” Members of the congregation are encouraged to submit stories, poems, reflections, prayers, whatever the liking. So I decided to contribute my understanding of “Love Brings” of God’s love, AGAPE!
Here is to brainstorming:
Love Brings…
Memories of Christmas as a Child

…of my family eating around the table with our advent wreath catching on fire
…of crawling through a tunnel with my sisters to see what Santa had awaiting
…waking up to momma’s Christmas melodys playing throughout the house
…all four sisters snuggling in one bed with anticipation of Christmas day
…candle light service at Dahlonega Presbyterian Church
…daddy putting the star on the top of the lopsided tree!

Love Brings…
Ways I feel God’s love today

…opening the door to Memama’s home and knowing I’m right where I belong
…late nights sitting in our living room enjoying the end of the day with Robert
…cuddling with Bailey
...quality time with grandparents!
…visiting family in Hartsville
….participating in the faith journey of a teen
…tap dancing my heart away to the music
…boat rides with the family
…a precious note from a friend
...in the gift of being a big sister
…prayer and journaling
…dinner parties at our home
…laughing with friends
…worship
…being with our extended families
…privilege of being called to seminary
…dancing with Robert
…experiencing the beauty of each day
WHAT IN THE WORLD AM I GOING TO WRITE! I guess I’ll keep brainstorming!

Reality Check!

Breaking news…NEWS FLASH – we as human beings miscommunicate! We do - we are all guilty, the verdict is out! Communication is essential to any relationship, especially in the Christian Life! How we talk to people, listen to people, encounter people is all about communication and we are called to do it with authenticity and heart. Communication is used through a plethora of methods these days: facebook, twitter, emails, blogs, etc – my question for myself for reflection and for you is how well do we do communication authentically? Do say I love you enough? Do we communicate trust, grace, and forgiveness? Do we communicate that it is okay to mess up because we indeed are all broken by sin? Do we communicate when we are hurt, lonely, sad, and anxious – or do we cover it up with a smile and a cheerful greeting? How well do we authentically communicate in our marriages, our family relationships, in our work place, in our churches, in our friend circles – do we show up authentic and transparent or do we hide and hope all will magically fall into place? I ask myself this question many times when I sit and ponder how well I communicate - my strengths and my working points. Today I was reminded of how we communicate love! You know, the five love languages of God! (Great book if you haven’t read it!) So I thought, does my family, my peers, my siblings, - do they know how I give and receive love? The good news is that our God made us all unique but God called us to work as the body, to be united as a community of believers to share in the gospel – so we have to learn to speak – to communicate in love – What love language do you speak?– in giving and receiving. The five love languages include: giving gifts, quality time, physical touch, words of affirmation, and acts of service. So I ask you – How do you give love? How do you receive love? Rate the five – 1-5 – 1 being your top way of either receiving or giving love! And if you are wondering in light of being authentic and transparent here are mine:

Ways I give love: 1. Quality time, 2 giving gifts, 3 physical touch, 4 words of affirmation, 5 acts of service

Ways I receive love: 1. Physical touch 2 quality time 3. Giving gifts words of affirmation 5 acts of service

It is important for us to know each other’s love languages as we strive to live in community – to embody the Christian life in love. Reality check – we all need love and strive to give love! For God says to love God and love neighbor!

Recent ways I have felt love in the past 8 hours!!

A gift from a dear friend in the mail! A reminder of the gift of love in friendship! 

A gift  from heaven! A baby Dibiase on the way! the love of creation!

A gift of new blinds from my companion!!! the love of a spouse!

The gift of quality time with our ba! the love of a dog!

 okay i had a bailey photo shoot! guilty! love this precious pup!