The Final Day

Eighteen months. 400 blog posts. A year in a new job and a new home. Nine months of marriage.
I think I can officially say, I am settled.

I started this blog with the title "Rediscovering Rocky Top." I wanted to celebrate all the things I was discovering and re-discovering about this city, after a decade away. I changed the name to "KtownKatie" as I got a bit more settled in, but life still had so many changes. Since moving, I have fallen more in love with my family, made wonderful friends, planned and celebrate the wedding of my dreams, become a part of Second Presbyterian Church, found dozens of wonderful restaurants, shops, and special things, and become a home owner for the first time. Most importantly, I am married to a wonderful man and I love it.

So, as I'm turning 31, I am taking a break from blogging. And leaving you with 31 things I have learned over the last year and a half.

1. Sabbath is a commandment.

2. While I may be concerned with happiness, God is concerned with Holiness.

3. Google Reader can change your life.

4. Hospitality can be a ministry.

5. Not every girl is girly.

6. It takes time to become good at things.

7. It is okay to not edit your blog posts. You will have typos. People will judge you. But there is freedom in not worrying what they think.

8. God commands. Sometimes He "calls" us or "gives us peace" about something. Other times, He just says do it.

9. It is better to make food from scratch.

10. People don't give kids enough credit. Especially toddlers and preschoolers.

11. In this life, we will always want for things. That is our nature as created beings. Even Eve wanted something she could not have. Only in heaven will we be satisfied.

12. Homes are supposed to be a haven.

13. People will hurt you.

14. Love delights in truth. Evil loves darkness. The Lord loves light.

15. We are supposed to "make every effort" to love people well and to serve with excellence. But our best effort is all we can do and all we are held to.

16. To analize or discuss something, figure out: What are we trying to achieve? What are we trying to avoid?

17. My home and my husband are even more important than my work.

18. When in doubt, wear cowboy boots.

19. Christmas is so fun in your own home. Can't wait for Easter.

20. I want to make everyone feel important and loved while they are with me. The way my dog does.

21. Spiritual disciplines really do fit into the 21st century.

22. Sometimes, the most important thing you can do is not the biggest, most noticeable thing.

23. Weddings are for brides and grooms. But also families. Especially moms.

24. My mom is wonderful. I am blessed.

25. My mother-in-law is wonderful. I am doubly blessed.

26. Yard work is a metaphor for life.

27. Listen more. Honor people by not talking yourself.

28. Being a team player can be thankless. But it's still right.

29. Two become One. Wow.

30. I am never going to know it all and I am never going to be perfect.

31. I am okay with that.

Day 508: Babies, Babies, and more Babies

Hensley Kate.

Eva.

Caroline.

Amelia.

Will.

Wyatt.

Piper.

Cameron.

Kaylynn Grace.

And now one more of my bridesmaids is pregnant...

I am surrounded by babies.

At 2nd Pres, surrounded.

Among friends, surrounded.

Everywhere, surrounded.

Disclaimer: Often I resist the urge to write excessively about this. People seem to think that since I am married and Christian and like kids, that I want to have one immediately. But right now, I am a newlywed and eagerly enjoying this season of our life and family. I can't imagine anything else at this point.

Maybe that is because everywhere I turn, every meeting I go to, in the background of every phone call I get, there are babies. I hear them. I see them. I train people to care for them. I listen to moms and dads worry about them. I pray for them. I pray for people who want to have them. I learn about them. I love being with them. I get such a sweet fill of babies.

I think back to the text message I sent on the night I learned Caroline Grace was born. "REJOICE." That was all I typed in response. That was all I could think. And since then, that word, "REJOICE" has been on my mind. I pray continually that our hearts and lives with REJOICE at the beautiful of life. New life and the developmental discoveries babies make are such a captivting reminder. God is good. He is at work. He is worthy of our awe and worship. And when we look into cribs, we get a front row seat to the glory of His creation.

REJOICE.

Day 504: Get ready for summer....

Friday will have VBS planning in full swing! This year, we'll be using Standard Publishing's Main Street cirrculum.
It's inside out. It's upside down. But must importantly, it is "where Jesus makes a difference every day!"

What I like best about it:
-Jesus+Every day people.
-Tells kids that knowing Christ can change a life.
-It is so cute!
-Gratitude.
-Compassion.
-Forgiveness.
-Grace.
-Faithfulness.
-Cooper can come.
-Biblical truth is woven into every activity and station.
-It. Is. Fun.

Show me your ways, LORD, teach me your paths. Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long. - Psalm 25:4-5

Watch more here->

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Day 474: The Roundabout

Sunday was a fun day for "The Roundabout." That is what we call the kindergarten and 1st grade class at 2nd Pres. Each Sunday morning, they get together to have fun and learn about the Lord. What was new Sunday? Mindy is there new teach. She will be there each week to pour talk about the Lord and build a relationship with His kids.
This is such a fun class. Here are a few of my favorite things you can learn from my kindergarten and 1st grade friends.

-If you have too many boys in your life, just keep coloring - that's what the 2 girls in this class of 13 boys do.

-You are never to young to break dance.

-If you stay up past 11pm, you might as well say you stayed up all night!

-Sledding is an excellent metaphor for life.

It's going to be a fun time in The Roundabout!

"Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us" - Hebrews 12:1b

Our First Christmas

I started to blog about the top moments of Christmas so far...but there are too many. Maybe I will do that later. It has been picture perfect. But, I am reminded, that is not what it is all about. Jesus entered our rough, broken, imperfect world. So I can come before Him in any way, in any condition. He is my present this Christmas.

Below is my Christmas prayer. This is what I meant to say last night during our family worship at 2nd Pres. I think I remembered most of it. But I was so in love with how our kids literally entered into Jesus's story during the live nativity, that I don't even remember what I said.

Father God,

We praise You for the gift of our Children,
May we always cherish them.

We praise You for time with our family, our friends, and our church,
May we savor it.

We praise You for the truth of the Christmas story,
May we believe it with our whole hearts and let it transform our lives.

Most of all, we praise You for the gift of your Son,
That we don't just hear or read the Christmas story,
But just like every child in the live nativity gathers on the altar around the manger,
We too are invited to come.
To live with Jesus.

We are a part of the Christmas story!

Let us know Him as our Savior and as our Lord,
And let that change our lives forever.

Day 436: Children and Family Ministries Open House

With the help and hospitality of my fabulous husband, we hosted a nice afternoon with volunteers and families from 2nd Pres. The menu included, crab brusetta, chips and toasted tomato salsa, veggie and spinach dip, cocktail sausages, and cornbread with pumpkin cutter. To drink, we had hot apple cider, coffee, and chocolate milk. Plus, there were all those Christmas Cookies!!
Our tree looks so wlecoming in the den and welcomed most of the kids in, as elf was playing on the TV. Bu of course, nothing was more intersting to our younger guests than Harding, the perfect pup and party host! Maddie, Mary Sims, and Blakely were also distracted by wedding albums.
Meanwhile, our adult guests munched and drank and chatted and toured the house. These people are such a blessing to me and to our kids at 2nd Pres! What a perfect way to celebrate - God is at work. The desire of HIs heart are all tied up in the things of this afternoon - service, celebration and community!

Day 432: Miracle on Main Street

"You are invited to our Christmas Show!"
Wendesday Night 6:30 at 2nd Pres!
Holiday dinner at 5:30.
Our kids have worked for months and months and it is a wonderful, wonderful production that we are excited to share!
So excited, so Christmas!

Day 415: "The Best Christmas Ever"

This Sunday, we're praying, planning, and playing with our families! This Christmas, our Children's Ministry is investing in our families and their time together. So get set for some great Advent decotions. The only objective is for parents to spend time with kids having Christ-centered conversation, at least more days than not. Over breakfast, in the car, or at bedtime are great times to do this.
And it is never too early to start.
Never to early to engage the heart of your child.

We will be giving out The Christmas Story fro the Family Bible. It's been 2nd parent tested by families of all ages! Come and see or pick up your copy if you can't attend!

"The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth." - John 1:14

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Day 405: Orange Drive In

Mid week, I headed down to Atlanta with Laura, one of 2nd's most gifted Sunday School teachers, for an "Orange" one day drive in conference. Well worth the time, there was lots packed into this
-It's not about creating "Perfect Christian Families," it is about inviting families into God's story.
-You are precious to God. I am precious to God. If He could pick any girl in the world to be His, he would pick me. He. Loves. Me.
-Being involved in our Children's Ministry will be a blessing to volunteers that are called to teach these kids. But they might not know it is going to be a blessing until they are involved in it.
-High school graduation is not the finish line in ministry - in the church, in young life, wherever. Doing life with people lasts a life.
-as a church, we have an opportunity to serve families - whether they attend our programs or not.
-Any type of ministry involves people...and therefore takes time.

Day 393: Trunk or Treat Fall Festival

Words can't do it justice. But what a fun night with families at 2nd Pres! Thanks Michele Andreck Photography for the AMAZING pics!

Day 382: First Look

Here is a look at "First Look." This is the curriculum we have implemented this fall at 2nd Pres. Our children, birth through age 5, have their own special rooms, called "The Park," "The Zoo," and "The Crosswalk." They are getting their "First Look" at the precious truths of the Bible and discovering their God. They spend time each week with Mrs. Sabina, Mrs. Judy, Mrs. Laura, Mrs. Kathy, and Mr. Bob, along with our loving weekly volunteers. At home, their are simple activities for families to continue to teach these basic truths:

· God made me

· God loves me.

· Jesus wants to be my friend forever.

We are having so much fun discovering Christ with Kids!

Day 367: The new www.2ndpres.org

Are you new to Knoxville? Are you a member of 2nd Pres and want some info? Looking for a church? Want to check our calendar? Want a crisp look at all of our programming? Want to hear the latest sermon? Want to see bulletins and announcements? Want to read our pastor's blog? Want to get connected?

It is all here!!
The new WWW.2NDPRES.ORG!!

Day ???: Kids Crossing

"If Jesus walked through the door and you could ask Him anything, what would it be?"

"Can I please have a minute to win it!?"

"Raffle. Raffle. Raffle."

"Dear God, thank you for this day and hank you for my church and thank you for my friends."

Wednesday is my new favorite day of the week. We have kicked off the fall at 2nd Pres. Everything start with a great meal, then our kids head up to choir, and adults and youth make their way to meetings. Mid-evening, when choir is over, we head into Kid's Crossing. It is a little loud, a lot of silliness, and so much fun. Then, we sit down for the every-popular raffle and more games. Then, the evening wraps up with a talk, about Jesus and what he has to say about life and time for "M&Ms." "M&Ms" are our small groups, were kids answer questions based on the M&M they choose.
We love Wednesday nights at 2nd Pres! Check it out!

Day 265: Hero Headquarters

It's a bird! It's a plane! No, it's VBS at 2nd Pres!
Soaring through this week, it's Vacation Bible School! Our theme is "Hero Headquarters."
175 kids, 100 youth and adult volunteers, excellent church decorations, 2 awesome chairs, and tons, tons, tons of prayers for an amazing week.
May kids lives be impacted.
May volunteers be blessed by their experience.
May the Lord's will be done at "Hero Headquarters!"

Don't forget - Mission Reminders. Bring these items to VBS each day!
Monday: Boxes of Tissue
Tuesday: Hand Sanitizer
Wednesday: Crayons
Thursday: Gallon Zip Lock Bags

Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity. - I Timothy 4:12

CHECK OUT WWW.2NDPRES.ORG FOR A DAILY SLIDESHOW! (Source)

Day 264: Baptisms at 2nd

What a wonderful treat! Sunday morning, we baptised 2 children into the family at 2nd Pres. In praying for these children and their families, God has been teaching me so many lessons...

...we have to let go of our own dreams sometimes, to allow God to be God. Sometimes when we let go, there is a bit of grieving. The Lord is in that too.

...children can do amazing, amazing things. I thought I knew this, but everyday I realize it more and more and more. Right now, I am learning this big time, especially from the preschool aged sister of one infant.

...God's got a plan to bring it all back together...and I mean all of it. And His plan, is even more profound than we realize.

...the Lord uses the milestones of our lives to shape us. He wants to draw us to Himself and He will use marriages, children, crisis and work to accomplish this.

Praying for the Lord of Life to be in the lives and families and futures of sweet Ella and precious Cade!

Day 229: 2PS Chapel

This week was my first experience leading chapel for Second Pres Preschool! (I will confess I was nervous as I sat down on the floor surrounded by 3 and 4 year olds.) But, as I used my trusty high school scrap book to introduce myself, they were fun, engaged and full of ideas. We ended with a playground question (aka-a question for them to answer when they see me on the playground or after school.)

How do you see God?

As I left work that afternoon, little Miss Bailey stopped to tell me that my name was was Katie and that she had seen God give her lunch that day.
My prayer for the children of 2PS is that everyday they will see God all around them and that He will teach them.

Source: This post and playground question are brought to you by Loring, who taught me to use this question with any audience.

Day 223: Blackbird Coffee

Welcome to Tuesday morning and coffee at the Blackbird Coffee House, with Molly and sweet Ella. You know the Lord really has it all together when He leads me a to new job that involves meeting cool women and their sweet kids for coffee to talk about life, creative ideas, and Jesus.

The above photo is from a series at Blackbird. Check it out (source)->

Day 222: Planning for VBS

Look on the hill...it's a bird, it's a plane, no, it's Vacation Bible School! Lead by the fabulous Stacey and Molly. Coming, June 21-24 to 2nd Pres!!

SIGN UP TODAY->

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Day 221: Kids Praise

If you were at 2nd Pres this Sunday morning, you celebrated Mother's Day is a really special way - with a fabulous performance from our Children's Choir, Kids Praise. Seriously well directed and seriously fun to be with. My first Sunday on the job and I was in a row full of elementary friends - who were awesome!
Great job guys!

Day 218: 2nd Pres Preschool

Wednesday was a wonderful celebration and silent auction all for 2nd Pres's PreSchool. Then Thursday, I got to learn more about this mission in their board meeting. And I am looking forward to being a part of their chapel!
This passionate team has a mission, "to provide quality child-care to the community that fosters the development of the whole child to his or her full potential as a child of God."

Learn more about 2nd Pres PreSchool->


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