1AM WHISPERS

OVERWHELMED. 

UNQUALIFIED.

UNWORTHY.

JUST GIVE UP!

Yeah. Those my 1 am whispers that keep me up at night.
Those are the monsters that I wish would just go back and lay under my bed instead of in my head.

Yeah. I hate those 1 am whispers.

Those whispers that tell you that you can't do it. Those whispers that say," You don't know anyone generous enough. No one really thinks you can accomplish this goal anyway so why keep kidding yourself?!?"

Yeah. I hear them too. I hear them in the moments when I am tired and exhausted. I hear them when I am at my weakest and even at my strongest.

However. There is a choice to be made at around 1:02 am when all you want to do is scream at the voice in your head telling you that you aren't good enough!!

You rebuke those voices and tell them to go back to the pits of hell that they came from because you are going to step out!! You are about to do something that God has qualified within you!! You are about to do something that God has chosen to make you worthy of and that He has placed inside of you with a burning passion of desire.

Hebrews 12:1 mandates this, "Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us." He says not just to run the race, but to ENDURE the race. To endure proves that trials will come during the journey and hardships will attempt to trip you up, but that does not mean you are to succumb to the world -- to the whispers.

When all is said and done I want to be able to stand before God on my judgement day and say with humbled confidence, "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith," said in 2 Timothy 4:7. I don't want to just to finish the race, but keep the faith in finishing!

Yeah. While I sit here at 1:10 am and rebuke the voices, I will choose to arise for His kingdom, for His glory and for His honor. Today, tomorrow and always.

Claim that which God has put within you and make it your goal for this world.

Imperfectly Yours,

Katie

CHALKBOARD LESSONS

As my beautiful daughter was drawing on her chalkboard yesterday -- God gave us a quick lesson.

 

Have you ever used brand new chalk? It kind of SUCKS!! It messes up your board and makes a sound that causes dogs to bark UNTIL it is either broken or worn down. After that the chalk is able to leave an imprint better than when it was brand new.

To me -- it's like faith. Until we are dealt trials and persevere through some of life's worst storms our faith isn't really tested. Every test that knocks us down and throws us around is part of our testimony. When we can glorify God during the hard times and remain praising Him after we get back up; we are truly gaining strength as a disciple of Christ.

“But he knows where I am going. And when he tests me, I will come out as pure as gold." Job‬ ‭23:10‬

Imperfectly Yours,

Katie 

NEVER A PERFECT DAY

NOPE. 

NEVER had one perfect day. 

EVER!!

Maybe today she won't have a temper tantrum.

Maybe today she won't try climbing on the oven. 

Maybe today she won't attempt eating dog food.

Maybe today she won't take her clothes off and run around naked.

Maybe today she won't try playing with the electrical sockets. (YES. They are "baby proofed" BUT that doesn't stop my little engineer.)

With so many maybes looming around and waiting to be answered there's one fact that remains true. On all these days of maybe -- she needs me. She needs me to teach her. She needs me to guide her. She needs me to show her right from wrong. She NEEDS ME, her mother.

Yeah. 

We have A LOT of maybe days.

But she still NEEDS me. 

EVERY. SINGLE. DAY.

&& knowing that makes the maybe days perfect.

Imperfectly Yours,

Katie

TODDLER OR TEENAGER

She turned 16 months November 23rd!

 

She thinks she turned 16-years-old.

Tantrums? Oh yes. We started those. The ones where she dramatically throws her entire body into those flailing possessed-looking back-bends. They're super fun!!

I'm a marathoner momma and my child seems to test me more than any distance ever could. My patience runs low and I must put my mind in the right place because when those tantrums go nuclear I have to be prepared for the storm ahead.

My point? It's hard.

New moms? It's okay.

Veteran moms? GOD BLESS YOU!

Here's my other thing. Moms with more than one child, I don't know how you do it. I truly commend you! HOWEVER, please be kind and remember what it was like when you only had one child. Remember the fear of not knowing and remember the self-doubt you put upon yourself when you did not know what to do.

I say this because many times in passing or conversation I hear women say, "Oh sweetie you only have one child so you shouldn't complain. That's a walk in the park compared to my FIVE!" Momma with five children, you're right. It is a walk in the park, but having more than one child doesn't make someone more of a mother than a woman with one child. I say this graciously and from the bottom of my heart, being a mother is such a blessing in WHATEVER WAY you became a momma!! 

Mommas, whether you have one child or three children -- help one another!! Motherhood should not be a place to one up your lady friends, save that for Mario Brothers. The teenaged-toddler years are hard enough preparing us for the real teenage years later on.

Let's stop comparing our walks in motherhood and advise each other instead. Motherhood is a blessing, let's choose to do more in honoring that role.

Be a PEACE in the storms && SHARE your WISDOM.

Imperfectly Yours,

Katie 

CAJUN CUP 2016

Saturday, November 12th, I ran the Cajun Cup 10K here in Lafayette, LA with many runners I know. I ran with the amazing ladies I have the privilege to train as a running coach. These ladies dedicated their time and trust in me to prepare them for this race and it's an honor. I do all I can to prepare them and at the end of the day it is up to them to push through and finish the race, && they did.

 

I ran the race in under an hour and was a pretty big accomplishment for me. It was my first official race since having my daughter in July of 2015 and seeing her so interested in all the runners gave my heart all the happy feelings. She was there to see me off and cheer me through as I crossed the finish line. Sharing this lifestyle with her, instilling a healthy mindset within her, showing her how to have life full of quality -- that's what it is about.

 

Running means a lot to me because it has brought me out of many dark places and inspires me each and every day. I learn about myself, my dreams, my family, my goals, my strength, and so much more. Running helps evolve me and balance me. To run THE Boston Marathon is epic. I look up to Boston veterans and qualifiers with the utmost respect!!

So, in 2013 when the bombing occurred on the course of Boston my heart stopped for a moment. I literally couldn't breathe watching what was occurring and I knew no one there personally, but in some way or another I feel all runners are connected. I didn't skip a beat and as soon as my breathing began again I began putting together a "RUN FOR BOSTON" event for April 18th, 2013 at 7:15pm. We had over ONE THOUSAND people invited within the first few hours!!

Long story short we had the run, local media came out for coverage, we had about 60 people come out for the run and our hearts prayed with Boston that night. Just four days after such a horrific act had occurred runners were coming together for our running heroes. My heart breaks to this day thinking about what occurred. For the families that lost loved ones, children, I ache for those that lost so much.

Have faith when the world gives you every reason not to. Persevere, especially in the hard times, because perseverance in the presence of adversity creates change. When we keep going despite our circumstances and find the good EVEN in the bad that is the epicenter of being the calm in the storm. Choose to be the light in a world full of darkness -- ESPECIALLY when all you have left is your faith.

Be a piece of the masterPEACE of the change.

Imperfectly Yours,

Katie