New blog address...

Hello! LONG time no talk...I thought I should pop over and tell you that I started a different blog. I know I don't deserve a second blog, considering I never write in this one, but I briefly explain the need for a new one. I always appreciated the brief glimpses into your lives and I am happy to share a different aspect of mine with you.

The new address is learningtobepatient.wordpress.com.

All the best, Kit

Hidden Treasures

Hello all....

I had a very quiet day to myself yesterday, where I spent most of the day slowly moving about the house...cleaning a little bit, then resting (aka watching Oprah's Oscar Special). Grocery shopping, then resting. Cooking, then resting....you get the idea.

But the most special part of my day came when I decided to clean out a closet upstairs. I am a very nostalgic person, so I tend to hang onto things. Maybe it's in an effort not to lose that little piece of reality that you experience when you read a note, or see a picture - and it takes you right back. Even though it was all one-sided, I had such a beautiful afternoon, spending time with old friends and reading their sweet words. I felt this amazing affirmation and encouragement, that was hidden in a closet for all of these years! Here's a glimpse at my walk down memory lane:

• My best friend, Kat. I found letters from high school graduation, pledging Zeta together, college graduation, cards just to say something funny, or not really anything at all. She's been one of the biggest blessings in my life and reading her words made me hope one thing: that I have encouraged her and shared my heart with her, the same as she did so many times for me.


• My high school & college friend, Shannon. She is Ms. Cardmaker, Extradoinnaire! Her creations were so bright and imaginative...she just has a way of lifting you up. Every now and then, I still get a post card in the mail from her. Maybe I'll make a display in the house of my post cards from Shannon. It could fill up an entire wall!


• My "college roommate", Whitney. Now, she has a way with words! I would tear up when I would read her cards, not because they were necessarily sad, but real. Raw. Again, I hope I told her how much she meant to me, too. And I hope she knows still how much she means to me today!


• My Penpal, Taylor. As funny as it sounds, she and I decided to be penpals when we went our separate ways after college. She has an eye for the most thought-provoking words and I love having her hand-written letters that still challenge me to think today.


• My mentor in college, Amy. Thank you note, after thank you note; each one meant so much. Spending time with her at Bliss was one of my best and most rewarding memories of college. If I can be half the mom and wife that she is, I think everything will turn out okay!! She brought so much to my life and I look forward to the continued friendship and realtionship.


• Sweet Suejin: I get cards in the mail from her ALL the time, just because. Sweet Valentine's cards, birthday cards, little teeny cards just to say hello. We are so far from eachother, but seeing her handwriting and reading her words makes me feel like she's right here with me.


• Countless sorority sisters: so many sweet handmade birthday cards, letters, pictures, sympathy cards, silly drawings....Olivia, Langford, Robley, Kristin...some of the best friends a girl can have. It made me miss everyone so much!


• My wise mother. She never really wrote much, so when I found the few cards she would send with things like, "You make me a stronger person", I really value the compliment in her words. SHE is the strongest person I know, so to think I ever taught her something along the way is 100% humbling and precious to me.


• My mother-in-law, Janie: something I will treasure forever is having card after card where she expressed that she's so happy her son found me.....you can't imagine how special that is. She's so easy to talk to and I am so thankful for her love for me. And SO thankful for the love she has for Justin.

I know I am missing some of the things I found...Save-The-Dates, wedding invitations, thank you cards, baby announcements - it was like I saw my life (and yours!) flash before my eyes (if you consider 3 hours a "flash" anyway, haha.).

It was so fantastic. I hope you have the time to rummage through your things one day, line by line. Word for word. Chances are, it'll mean the world to you. It did to me.

All the best.......

A Weekend Away

Here are a few pics of our oh-so-relaxing farm weekend, where we got some QT with our sweet nephew, Seth, and the girls snuck away to see The Vow (I cried the entire movie, which means I loved it!). While all good weekends must come to an end, it was the perfect dose of relaxation and family time.

Until next time!

So this is how it's supposed to be?

I have never gotten off work earlier than 5:30 PM since I started my professional career. In fact, at my last job, I was usually there until 6:30 or so. So now, with my new schedule, I think I'm going through a state of culture shock, or clock shock let's call it. I get off of work at 4:30PM and I am constantly amazed at how much more I can accomplish with an extra hour (or two) tacked onto my afternoons. I have done laundry, cooked dinner (and cooked lunches to take during the week), worked out and showered - ALL in one evening! And here's the best part - on more than one evening a week!

I'm so thankful for the balance.

Have a great week (and weekend)...

Sweet P

I downloaded Blogger to my phone, which is wonderfully convenient for the fact that all of my pictures are taken on my iPhone. So, this is a test post of sorts, first to see how a post turns out from my phone and second to post pictures of the sweetest niece known to mankind. She's a fantastic test subject.

Have a lovely week!

Back from the Dead

Well, hello!

It's been a while.....okay, more than a while. Let's take a vote - raise your hand if my blog is the bottom on your list of blogs, because I'm the most outdated blog. Ya. That's what I figured. Well, that's okay...I haven't been that great of company for the last few months, so you didn't miss much.

Actually, you missed a lot. But - in a good way.

Let me interrupt with an important note: I'm sorry for the dramatic intro because the story to follow does not involve any tragedy, horrible illness or shocking news.....but the last year has been dramatic for me and I think that finally writing about it makes me feel like I have come full circle with the situation.

Long story short, my job became my life.

And my "life" wasn't making me happy - as a matter of fact, there were many (well, most) days where my job made me wildly unhappy. To be plain, I wasn't myself anymore. And that truly hurts when you finally wake up and realize something so disappointing and heartbreaking.

So when I finally understood that the burden of my job was more than I wanted or needed to bear, I started praying. Begging, even. God, please, give me a sign that I am not just giving up...please, please, tell me whether you want me here or if you have something else for me. God, why do I feel so torn on what I am supposed to do???

And through such small ways, God really did speak to me. God really did provide direction and clarity.

I didn't have to stay at my job. No shackles, no chains.

I kinda laugh at myself looking back on it, because it's easy to assume that the miracle was that he actually talked to me. But let's be honest, the real miracle was that I FINALLY LISTENED. My deepest desire was for him to take the reins for me and - wow! - he did and I let him do it! It was magical. Like riding a bike for the first time, or something.

For so long, I carried this guilt or worry that my desire to quit was just because "I couldn't handle it" or because I was "giving up". But that was all in my head. All of my life, I have taken comfort in knowing that guilt is not from God - but I lost sight of that. It was a cut-throat culture and even to this day, I have to protect myself from hearing too much about what's going on at that company, because that guilt creeps up and again, I feel small.

But the fantastic news is, I have a new job and I have......a work-life balance. As I just typed the phrase "work-life balance", I literally just closed my eyes and took in a deep, deep breath of thanks....it feels so good.