testing one, two...testing one, two...

it's like a mic check...I'd almost forgotten my login and password it has been so long since I was last here. Just feeling the keys under my fingertips bring such happiness.



Weird, I know. I wish I could be here more, but life is full. Who would've thought adding another kid would change things?!?! Who would've thought having 4 kids would take up time?!?! Who would've thought that when a mother has spare time, she prefers showering or researching how to get rid of razor burn?!?! Who would've thought?!?!






Life is full. I'm tired, energized, overwhelmed, relaxed, happy, content, thankful and crazy, all bundled up in one.






The "big" girls are finishing up their Freshman year at Northview. They make us proud. We've had some good, hard, easy, loving, hurtful, funny and sad conversations all bundled up in one this year. Just the other night as I talked with them I got a bigger glimpse of their future. I will be sad when they leave our home, but there is nothing I want more for them then to GO. Go and be used. Go and explore. Go and create. Go and learn. Go and dream. Just Go. Tim and I talk often about how we will respond to the possible craziness and chaos they may bring later with good/poor decisions. God, I hope however respond, we do it with love. May they ONLY see love.....





Miss Lizzy, still is just a light in every room. She told me tonight..."you know mom, I'm not sure I want to go to college one day....you know, some people don't....you know, I just want to be a mom, you don't need to go to college for that..." She loves her family well, and surprises me with her gifts of service all the time....There are days I struggle with continuing to homeschool her...it's hard and some days I wonder if she really likes it. Then, there will be days she says..."you know mom, when I have kids, I'm gonna homeschool them...will you help me homeschool them?" I hope she keeps that big smile on her face always.




Little Monkey Hope....where to start?? There are days I think she is the glue to our family. When she's really hungry she says...."God, Thank you, food, amen!" There is no question she knows she's adored. As spoiled as she is, she has learned to play VERY well by herself, and this mama can FINALLY leave the room and get things done while she plays. She is smart, smart, smart! She amazes us. She loves her Daddy and will greet him at the door when he arrives home from work. She loves saying..."hello, daddy! hello, daddy!" And today, she waved at just about everyone in the grocery store and said.."hi ya! " She has her meltdown moments for sure, and informed me today that spankin's "hurt". She is one of the most beautiful gifts I could ever have been given. She gave me a much clearer picture of Christ's love for us. Thank you, dear Hope.

I've said "no" to people more times this year then I have my whole life. Everyone has been precious in asking me to help with design/decorating. I am humbled every time they ask...Not being able to continue like I was doing, did and has felt like a piece of me is missing. I'm thankful for the committal opportunities I have kept that have given me a creative outlet.... otherwise, I truly think I would go crazy. As a sweet friend would say "I'm REALLY good at laundry!", I unfortunately can't even say that, because I detest doing laundry..... but I get what she means.....there are some gifts and talents that shouldn't go in the wash, even in the "seasons" of life. I was recently asked to consider speaking at a women's church event. Believe it or not, I don't find myself a public speaker......She said, "I can tell you aren't thrilled about it"...if you're reading this, I've thought about that day often, and you know I love you. It was more that I really didn't know what to say. What in the world would I even speak to these women about??? I guess we as women, just love to know we're not alone. There is something powerful with seeing God work in your life, and I've said many a'times before, that if we don't share what the Lord is doing in our lives then HOW will people see his works??? I guess we don't share, because the most beautiful work is done in the most dreadful of places, and sometimes you have to show the messy to people in order to reveal the transformation....so just maybe God is mustering up something for me to share....maybe.





maybe it won't be months before I head back over here. If it is, it's because my arms are full like the picture above.

Blessings, Peeps!

The Struggle is Real....take time to breathe.

There was one point in my life, that I contemplated on writing a book.....

THANK God, I didn't ever write one.


I'm sure I'd look back and be Smh(that's an acronym for Shaking My Head....I've just recently learned that...) on half or more of what I would have written...

That is the beauty of aging....You either get wiser, or you get dumber. Hopefully, we're all leaning on the wiser end.

I'm still very much my youth and have boocoodles to learn, but now that I have a few years of some things under my belt, I've experienced several stages of marriage....and as I write this, you and myself are in one of them.





I've learned that raising people is hard. Every single step of the way. Every one.  Tim and I have the....hmmmmm.... let's call it "crazy" blessing of raising a toddler, approaching middle school child, and two high schoolers....all girls. To say that our home is a gigantic mood swing, would be an understatement......God Bless, Tim Pilcher.....I love that man...

When we were starting the process of adoption, many people thought we were crazy...no really. We had people tell us "why would we want to possibly hinder our 'perfect' family??"... I think it's safe to say, that at that point a couple years ago that, #1. we weren't perfect (and never will be), but #2. we did have more of our crap together. Which is one reason I write this today.


I've shared before of my struggling in our early part of marriage with perfectionism...how I literally had to mop our white linoleum floors (those are of the devil if you have children, BTW....) every night before bed...if that tells you anything. God had to do some major work in my life at that time to free me of that struggle. Not the clean floors, but the control of getting them clean.....keeping them clean....and letting that clean floor give me that sense that because they were spotless, my life could be also. I had it under control...until the juice spilled, or the plate of spaghetti dropped. Kind of like life....it all seems fine and sparkly clean until in a matter of minutes you feel like all the shit hit the fan...

Since adopting Hope, I've had some of those old feelings creep back in....at times I honestly have to walk away, close a door and tell myself "Jesus fills your cup, Katie..." over and over again. If I don't....beware of mama bear. Juggling 4 lives....4 individuals, 4 schedules, 4 tender hearts.... can have you in severe panic/survival mode...the worst mode I could ever want to be in, but a ride I have ridden more then once in our marriage.

I'm getting a more clear understanding of why marriages fall apart during these years....

A friend posted a question on FB about what a mom would want to do with an hour all to herself...what gets her recharged for the next day...heck, the next few minutes. I responded with needing to just BREATHE...


I would love the paint my nails that have been neglected forever, clean my floors, take a bath, take a nap, go shopping...but in all honesty...I need breath to be filled back in me.


For many people it could be different, but when I came across this article floating around , I could totally relate. I've sworn on this piece of writing forever. The most help (at least through these many years) that Tim Pilcher can be to me is getting me out of the house for some new breath....to take me and date me. To want time with me. And that takes work. Four lives....four souls....not including our own. They all tick tock to a fine tuned schedule. Every day is filled with something. Every day, there will be an expectant though. Every day there will be another mountain to climb, whether it be the unexpected stomach bug that hits your home, the family member that gets cancer, the car that won't start, or the other tennis shoe that can't be found....

Through each and every circumstance, whatever it may be...one of the number one things that I believe will help us and the next generation, is seeing Christ lived out in our marriages. And that is a hard pill to swallow sometimes....but one of the most rewarding acts to be apart of.

Christ died for His church. Sacrificed and gave for His bride. Commitment isn't just fulfilling an obligation...it's engaging in it. It's to hold fast to something....to not let it go.... Life can make that so hard to not only keep, but to flourish it. To not be just room mates, but to be ONE.


This morning I got a call from the hubs asking me to dinner tonight. To know the preparation it will take to go out tonight, the jerseys that will need to be washed for tomorrow's game, the deadline on the project, the babysitter you have to line up, the patch that will need to be sewn on the Tae Kwon Do uniform, the grocery store run, the dinner prepared for your kids so you don't feel guilty for them eating cereal for dinner three nights in a row, or the shower you want to get so you at least SMELL attractive to your spouse... IT'S HARD MAMAS, I hear ya!! It.is.hard.





 But I'm telling ya...GO, it is worth it....GO! If you don't keep making time for your spouse, you will slowly lose your spouse.....It won't even seem purposely that you did, but because you weren't purposeful with them, it was.



One time, I was so tired for a date night out, that we ordered in...we locked ourselves in the bedroom....next thing ya know, Tim is taking the plate of food off of my lap....yep, I fell asleep while eating it...true story.... at least we tried. So, I get it Mamas....I really DO get it...

We're in a season, but every single stage of life is a new season... to each, a new or different challenge...It's worth the fight through it, and for it though. I know one day, our kids will thank us for it.

The Pilcher Home

Hello to my Blog Peeps! 

I bring to you in this blog post, MOST of our home. The Hubs and I have decided to pass this part of our heart to another family that we hope will enjoy, entertain, love and laugh (and some yelling, let's be real...) in...... 

For a few years, but ESPECIALLY this past year, we have tossed the idea of remodeling, adding on, etc. We love our old home and have created many memories in every corner of this space. I've wanted to live in the Garden District of Dothan since I was a child (living in Ozark)...But, simply put, I've got this special little cape cod, salt box drawing of a new space that I'd love to create and call home for our family. 

Hoping I get to update you peeps real soon informing you that we are on to our next adventure. 

Happy Monday!! 

 

 

it's not about the china....

It's funny how life throws the unexpected at you. It often comes as you would expect...when you're not ready, hence it's meaning- unexpected. The unexpected is when things get real, and makes you think deeper, otherwise, you just keep doing the day to day routine...or at least that's how it is for me.

Often times, I feel like I don't do all of what I should or want to do. Mainly, because it would cramp my style.  Or I've thought that if I, would have just waited, or done it a long time ago, then it would be better and the timing would be or would've been, just right. And let's face it...Life is tough, why open the door for things that could make it harder???


Sounds even worse as I type it then when I thought it.


The words Legacy and Heritage have been used around me more often in the last month then probably my lifetime. Or maybe the older I get, I just pay a little more attention to those things. The more I think about those words and the value they carry, the more I realize that I've gotten it all wrong.


We've been "cleaning out"...If you follow me on Facebook, then you've probably seen that we've had two yard sales in the past week. And you might have even attended them and wondered, what in the world is up?? Why are you selling all of this stuff??

Here it is in a nutshell....

Stuff.

Lots of stuff.

Lots of stuff is keeping me from God.

Trust me when I say, I am a lover of all fine things. I think nothing wrong with having beautiful things. Our Creator makes beautiful things and I believe delights in the creation of His hands...likewise, being created in His image, I believe we do as well;and I do believe we can bring Him glory through our things.


But our family has too much stuff. I'm so ready to simplify the things in my life that hinders me from digging deeper in the eternal things.

As I was cleaning out, I came across my grandmother's china. And before most of you gasp in horror, calm down, I didn't sell it in the yard sale. I didn't even think of doing such a thing, until my mother found out that we were having a yard sale and said "please, don't sell my china..."...

China.

That is when it hit me harder and my feelings of what a legacy is and what kind of heritage I pass down just grabbed my heart; and questions like, "unless I'm feeding the poor with this China, what use is it to my children's children?"


I started thinking, as hard as it would be....I want to be Paul.

I want God to take me out of my comfort zone in the stuff, and bring me into the complete comfort of His provisions for my life. I want to be ready for the unexpected without the clutter of things hindering me from going deeper then the surface. I want to teach my children that dirty floors are worth the feet that brought them. That "precious and valuable" items are not to be stuck behind glass doors because we are afraid of them being broken. Because, that message is not true. Beautiful things should be used, and should be broken from their use; because that is the picture of a beautifully used life.

I want to be broken. I want to be used and broken time and time again from my ways, because that is what draws me from myself and closer to our Creator and His ways. I've gotten it all wrong, time and time again, and I know I will continue too. But there is the beauty in Grace. Thank God, for His grace!

 I don't want to stay behind glass doors, where I am seen but rarely used. That is what I want my children's children to see.

That is what I want my legacy to be.


It's not about the china. If that is all I pass down.... if that is the most valuable thing in my possession to give, then I have not lived at all.

a hello...and a super yummy and simple healthy recipe :)

So, it's not my Nana's pot roast recipe yet.....but I did just whip this up for lunch and decided it was blog worthy because of it's simplicity, AND after hearing Elizabeth's...."Mmmmmm, this is so good, Mom."

After a week of a completely blessed and thankful vacation to the sand and sea, and a hectic week while Tim was away prior to that; our "diet" of choice has been one not to brag about.....

Honestly, the last 8 weeks or so, we've slacked on the healthy eating and I'm feeling it through my whole body...mind and soul included.


So, I told the family that we were back at it, so better get ready. It's hard to eat clean when you're so busy.....BUT, it's not the cooking on the hard part...it's the preparation for the week, so that you don't "do easy" and "cheat"..... Those Buy One Get One frozen pizzas look mighty easy and cheap, but is it good for you....I'll let you decide.

So I had some ground chicken that I was going to use for dinner tonight and just ran up to the little grocery down the road for some fresh green beans and decided to use a little of both for a quick and healthy lunch for Lizzy and myself...


Again, since I wasn't planning on blogging it, you only get the finished product and none of the cooking. It truly is simple and you can whip it up in 15mins.

Ingredients-and I don't measure if I'm not planning to record it, so you might have to adjust a tad..

1lb of FRESH green beans (snap the ends off)
1/3lb ground chicken
1 chopped green onion
1 generous tsp of curry powder
salt to taste (about 1 tsp)
olive oil (drizzle)
coconut milk
toasted almonds


I heated the oil in the pan while snapping my green beans and added them as I snapped. Then I immediately added my chicken , salt and curry powders. On med-high heat, I stirred and tossed until chicken was done (white in the middle- easy to tell with ground chicken. about 5-7mins)

I then added my onion and drizzled with coconut milk until I had the chicken mixture coated. I didn't want a "soupy" mix, just kind of "dressed", cut heat down to low, stir it to completely coat the beans and chicken,  put a lid on it and walk away for a few minutes.

Serve it up with some toasted almonds (lightly salted)-


And enjoy your "clean" and healthy meal :) Serves 2 (FYI- I think this would be delicious served cold, so the left overs are going in a mason jar to school tomorrow for the big girl's lunch)

I've changed my menu tonight and decided this was just too easy not to repeat! I 've got a meeting at supper time, so this would be super easy to prepare for the fam before heading out. I'll be tripling the recipe tonight but might only do 2 tsp of curry powder. If you love curry, then add to taste :)


I'd love to hear your feed back.... Do my recipes help you busy peeps out there? What would you like to see more of? Comment below, or on FB if you have a suggestion or say "keep 'em coming!"...



I brought the "real" camera out on our beach trip, along with the phone one.... Enjoy some of the pics below.

Our girlies are growing up and sweet, little Hope will be ONE YEAR OLD next month! Our girls make me smile. Happy Monday!