Things I have learned.....

1. You can throw frozen bell peppers, oregano, basil, and red pepper flakes into regular jar marinara sauce and make it something special
2. Home made bread is always better than store bought
3. Spaggetti actually tastes better in a taco shell
4. A whole wheat tortilla and extra sharp cheddar cheese makes a mean quesadilla
5. Dinner is always better when you have someone to share it with

For God so loved the world

This year has gone so quickly and as we enter into the second half of Advent I am reminded to stop and reflect on the coming of the birth of our savior. I heard a sermon last week in which the priest asked us to take this Advent to put a pause on our busy lives and look inward to find the way in which we could change the world for the better. For if the world does not change with Christmas, if we do not usher in the light of our savior, what hope is there for the year to come?

For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life

John 3:16

Summer Blessings

This summer has been filled with adventure.
Starting at a new school.
Living in a new place.
Beginning my journey to become a medical professional.
But the most beautiful and wonderful adventure is just beginning...........
We are engaged!!!

friendship

Good friends are such a blessing and as you grow older you realize how wonderfully rare it is to connect with another person on so many different levels.

A good friend came to visit me today and although I was sad to see her car pull away, I am thankful that our paths crossed and look forward to the next time we get to meet.

Little things

When a lot of big things are going on around you, it is nice to be reminded of God's presence in even the most minute things of your life.

A loaf of homemade bread

My favorite tea in the morning

A beautiful flower

How wonderful that we can continually discover His unending love for us in new ways.

The lamp of the body is the eye.

if your eye is sound your whole body will be filled with light

but if your eye is bad, your whole body will be in darkness.

And if the light in you is darkness, how great will the darkness be.

Matthew 6:22-23

Those cookies don't look very good

Today was our last religious education class so I decided to bring in some special treats for the kids. Having witnessed the effects of cupcakes, brownies, oreos and pop on small children, I decided to go with a healthier but hopefully equally tasty menu.

Well...the homemade blueberry muffins and home popped popcorn went over well but I thought I would share this gem in regard to my fresh out of the oven honey bee cookies (that I should mention I LOVED when I was a child).

Chris: Um Ms. Kate, I don't like these cookies
Brian: Oh man, I took 3 of them!
Andrew: Oh oh! Ms. Kate!!! (frantically waving his hand)
Kate: Yes Andrew
Andrew: Ms. Kate, I didn't take any of those cookies because I came in and looked at those cookies and thought "Those cookies don't look very good!"

I love first graders, where else can you get that kind of honesty? :)

Two conversations too good not to post

(These conversations were from two different but equally cute little boys that I babysit for)

K: O.k. let's pick a book out before bed, how about "If you give a moose a muffin"
A: Um Kate can we please not read that
K: Sure, but why not?
A: If we read that book I am really going to want a muffin

Conversation 2
K: O.k. its time for bath
M: Umm Kate, I really don't like my bellybutton. Actually I don't like all bellybuttons.
K: Why is that?
M: They are too distracting.
(distracting from what, I do not know)