May 26, 2014
In Memory.
This is not just another day off.
This is not just an extra day camping.
This is not just a nice day to BBQ outside.
This is a day to somber, to reflect, and to ground ourselves in a heart of gratitude.
A day for the fallen, a day for the fighting.
I am humbled with thankfulness for all the men and women who have served, and sacrificed for our freedom.
I also want to thank all the women and men, parents and children who wait, often in unspoken fear, for their loved ones who serve to return home.
I know they don't always make it.
Your losses are OUR losses.
Their service and devotion do not go unnoticed.
To the ones who's loved ones gave it all for America, today and everyday I want to send you love.
THANK YOU.
You are our country's heroes.
You are MY heroes.
Thank you for your sacrifice, thank you especially for sacrificing for people you didn't even know to have freedom, and doing so willingly just for the fact we are fellow Americans, and that we will never be able to repay you for what you did for us.
Wow, that's admirable, and quite profound.
The ones who were incomplete from a family member miles away fighting for our country.
Thank you.
"Greater love has no one than this, that one lay his life down for his friends. "
-John 15: 13
XOXO, Kess
This is not just an extra day camping.
This is not just a nice day to BBQ outside.
This is a day to somber, to reflect, and to ground ourselves in a heart of gratitude.
A day for the fallen, a day for the fighting.
I am humbled with thankfulness for all the men and women who have served, and sacrificed for our freedom.
I also want to thank all the women and men, parents and children who wait, often in unspoken fear, for their loved ones who serve to return home.
I know they don't always make it.
Your losses are OUR losses.
Their service and devotion do not go unnoticed.
To the ones who's loved ones gave it all for America, today and everyday I want to send you love.
THANK YOU.
You are our country's heroes.
You are MY heroes.
Thank you for your sacrifice, thank you especially for sacrificing for people you didn't even know to have freedom, and doing so willingly just for the fact we are fellow Americans, and that we will never be able to repay you for what you did for us.
Wow, that's admirable, and quite profound.
 |
| Honey BBQ wings/Buffalo wings, bacon ceasar salad, rolls, fresh fruit, chips, Lemonade Punch, potato salad, and homemade lemon poke cakes all served in the vintage Pyrex dishes I collect. |
Today I made my family a nice feast, and we prayed for those families today.
The ones who were incomplete from an ultimate sacrifice for our country.
The ones who were incomplete from a family member miles away fighting for our country.
Thank you.
"Greater love has no one than this, that one lay his life down for his friends. "
-John 15: 13
XOXO, Kess
May 22, 2014
Dare to NOT compare.
This generation has a HUGE hole.
A gap so vast and grand, how could you not fall into its trap??
Approval.
With all the social medias and technology apps we have access to defining others.
Every like,
Every comment.
It's created a dependency on the approval of others.
We determine our worth on our number of friends, their opinions on the photos we post, and allow room for their criticisms in most areas of our lives, at least the ones we choose to share with everyone.
The last time I had my Facebook account was in Nov 2012, and I still can remember clearly the feelings I would feel scrolling through my feed.
"Wow, they had a baby. How wonderful. She's so cute and put together, I want to have that. I wonder when I will have that."
"Wow, she is in such great shape. I'm not in great shape. Ugh, I need to get in great shape."
"Look at that couple. Gosh, you can just tell he still adores her. and on their five year anniversary? How do they still have that newlywed bliss??"
This went on and on the more I scrolled, and deep overwhelming feelings came over me. Were they all really that happy or were they just out to prove that they were out of fear of rejection from not having it all together?
Maybe, just maybe, I didn't have a peer into what all lead into that photo.
That mom with a new baby? It's her first day put together, and she's proud of finally being put together and done up. It took her several clicks to finally get a smiling picture of her baby, who indeed was cranky that day and to her relief got a smiling one between the fuss.
That friend in great shape? She's learning to take care of herself, trying to love herself. Striving to be healthy and confident in herself, and is learning that exercise and being healthy is a great outlet for that process. She's excited, and she's wanting to share it with you.
That couple? They just got out of a rough patch, and they are working things out for the sake of putting their spouse first, just as they vowed. It took all their strength throughout this hard season to take a photo together on their anniversary. They are taking baby steps to reconnect and love that person who loves them, no filter, no status and all.
I secretly wish I could go back to a simpler era. A time before 7000 "friends" could follow and like at their disposal.
A time before logging on and getting a high off a false sense of security and appreciation.
A time before valuing worth based on comments and inbox messages filled with colorful words with no depth.
A time where you spent time with the people who love your face "filter free". Those people now seem to become an option at the sacrifice of the rest of the world who just sees what you project become the priority.
We are lost, quite frankly. So susceptible and insecure in the pressure of it all.
There is a quote from Just Married that has resonated with me since the first time I watched it and heard it, and it follows this so well.
"Some days your mother and me loved each other. Other days we had to work at it. You never see the hard days in a photo album... but those are the ones that get you from one happy snapshot to the next. I'm sorry your honeymoon stunk but that's what you got dealt. Now you gotta work through it. Sarah doesn't need a guy with a fat wallet to make her happy. I saw how you love this girl. How you two lit each other up. She doesn't need anymore security than that. "
(My favorite part of that) ---> "You never see the hard days in a photo album, but those are the ones that get you from one happy snap shot to the next."
Take hope in that friend,
...and take rest in that, too.
Dare to NOT compare.
Dare to live in your life. The hard, the good, the bad, the messy, the blissful.
Dare to go through your day being IN your day. Not worrying about a good Instagram photo opportunity, or putting together the perfect outfit in case you run into someone.
BE YOU, DO YOU.
XOXO, Kess
A gap so vast and grand, how could you not fall into its trap??
Approval.
With all the social medias and technology apps we have access to defining others.
Every like,
Every comment.
It's created a dependency on the approval of others.
We determine our worth on our number of friends, their opinions on the photos we post, and allow room for their criticisms in most areas of our lives, at least the ones we choose to share with everyone.
The last time I had my Facebook account was in Nov 2012, and I still can remember clearly the feelings I would feel scrolling through my feed.
"Wow, they had a baby. How wonderful. She's so cute and put together, I want to have that. I wonder when I will have that."
"Wow, she is in such great shape. I'm not in great shape. Ugh, I need to get in great shape."
"Look at that couple. Gosh, you can just tell he still adores her. and on their five year anniversary? How do they still have that newlywed bliss??"
This went on and on the more I scrolled, and deep overwhelming feelings came over me. Were they all really that happy or were they just out to prove that they were out of fear of rejection from not having it all together?
Maybe, just maybe, I didn't have a peer into what all lead into that photo.
That mom with a new baby? It's her first day put together, and she's proud of finally being put together and done up. It took her several clicks to finally get a smiling picture of her baby, who indeed was cranky that day and to her relief got a smiling one between the fuss.
That friend in great shape? She's learning to take care of herself, trying to love herself. Striving to be healthy and confident in herself, and is learning that exercise and being healthy is a great outlet for that process. She's excited, and she's wanting to share it with you.
That couple? They just got out of a rough patch, and they are working things out for the sake of putting their spouse first, just as they vowed. It took all their strength throughout this hard season to take a photo together on their anniversary. They are taking baby steps to reconnect and love that person who loves them, no filter, no status and all.
I secretly wish I could go back to a simpler era. A time before 7000 "friends" could follow and like at their disposal.
A time before logging on and getting a high off a false sense of security and appreciation.
A time before valuing worth based on comments and inbox messages filled with colorful words with no depth.
A time where you spent time with the people who love your face "filter free". Those people now seem to become an option at the sacrifice of the rest of the world who just sees what you project become the priority.
We are lost, quite frankly. So susceptible and insecure in the pressure of it all.
There is a quote from Just Married that has resonated with me since the first time I watched it and heard it, and it follows this so well.
"Some days your mother and me loved each other. Other days we had to work at it. You never see the hard days in a photo album... but those are the ones that get you from one happy snapshot to the next. I'm sorry your honeymoon stunk but that's what you got dealt. Now you gotta work through it. Sarah doesn't need a guy with a fat wallet to make her happy. I saw how you love this girl. How you two lit each other up. She doesn't need anymore security than that. "
(My favorite part of that) ---> "You never see the hard days in a photo album, but those are the ones that get you from one happy snap shot to the next."
Take hope in that friend,
...and take rest in that, too.
Dare to NOT compare.
Dare to live in your life. The hard, the good, the bad, the messy, the blissful.
Dare to go through your day being IN your day. Not worrying about a good Instagram photo opportunity, or putting together the perfect outfit in case you run into someone.
BE YOU, DO YOU.
XOXO, Kess
May 14, 2014
May 6, 2014
A Mommy Thought.
Yesterday I read a little post Corrine from Mint Arrow wrote on an Instagram photo of hers that sank so deeply into my heart that I haven't been able to get it off my mind; I thought I would share it with you real quick.
Today is the childhood our kids will remember. It's easy to get caught up in so many good things that we can lose sight of the best things that are staring us in the face. Or in the knees, or waist, depending how little they are. It's really resonated in my heart since I read it, I've also had it circulating in my thoughts constantly. Never will you be more loved than right now. When your babies beg to be held and read to and cuddled and played with and loved. So the last few days I've tried really hard to unplug and just play with sweet Henry, look him in the eyes more, laugh with him, not just tell him I love him, but really show him too. It's amazing how much joy I feel, real joy, not just momentary fleeting worldly happiness, but JOY when I am present as a mother.
Sorry for the quick blurt, I just wanted to share what's heavy on my heart, maybe your heart needed it too <3
Have a happy week, know you are loved, and show love.
XOXO, KESS
May 4, 2014
Look up.
For those of you who didn't know, I deactivated my facebook in November 2012. Many people have asked me why, or what blow out I had that made me want to. The truth of it is, its a lot of reasons, (no big blowout or anything) but I happened to see this video and the message shared it perfectly, so I thought I'd pass it on to you. Enjoy, and of course, LOOK UP.
XOXO Kess
Look Up Message
XOXO Kess
Look Up Message