WIN OR WHEN

Stop living in the WHEN && live in the NOW!!

When we have a house…

When we have a better house…

When we have a car…

When we have a better car…

When we have enough money…

When we have more money…

When we have Have HAVE HHAAVVEE!!

I know that many times I stop myself from pursuing new goals based on the circumstances of my NOW. However, maybe I lost a WIN waiting on the WHEN!!

We have to start pursuing the NOW moments because if we don’t — WHEN may never come. If we can change the perspective in our mind — we can see it’s already been WON.

Besides, NOW is WON backwards.

Imperfectly Yours,

Katie

SEVENTEEN YEARS SINCE THE CALL

06•01•2004

RING…RING…RING…

   [Caller ID: Ron Brown]

   I picked up the phone and ran outside.

      Me: Hey Bubba!!

      Man: Uhhhh, is this Katie?

      Me: Yyyeeessss…

      Man: Can I speak to your mom?

            At 14-years-old, I knew…

It’s been 17 years since I picked up the phone and you weren’t on the other end. 

Being born on Valentine’s Day has always had a “cool” factor, but being born on your birthday has been the real honor. As I’ve gotten older, without you, I’ve thought about how you would feel or what you were doing in the same age moments. However, today is surreal. 

Today, when I woke up I knew I had surpassed a moment in time that you never would. I became older than you did and that — that leaves me with a sour feeling of grief, again.

You will always be my big brother.

I love you, Ron Brown, always.

Love,

Your Baby Sister

A POLICE WIFE

“Stay safe. Come home. I love you.”

I never knew just how different life would be when my husband took his oath. It’s not a path for the faint hearted, but it’s one of the most honorable and humbling journeys I have ever faced. My husband is absolutely my hero.

Imperfectly Yours,

Katie

A Police Wife

By: Ashley Hoppa, Wife of a Police K9 Officer, 2013

I don't wear a uniform.

I don't have a badge.

I have never been sworn in.

Nor have taken an oath, with raised right hand.

My thin blue line is different indeed.

The thin blue line I walk, is from behind the scenes.

I stand behind you, so proud and true.

For you are a member of an elite few.

You have sworn to do a duty.

To uphold the law.

To honor, serve, and protect. That is your call.

While the burden you bear is great.

Mine is nonetheless.

We both carry a very heavy weight.

With hugs and kisses, I smile and I say,

Have a good night, all the while hiding my silent fright.

For every day at 10-41. My burden has yet again begun.

My heart goes with you, and all your brothers and sisters in blue.

I pray you all will return at 10-42.

How do you do it they say? How can you live life that way?

How can you not worry? How can you not fear?

My answer to them is perfectly clear.

Of course I worry. Of course I fear. Always wondering, if end of watch is near.

But this is my duty, I say. It's just what we do. 

You see, I too bleed blue.

I am proud to say that I live this life. 

Because of the man I love.

I became a Police Officer's Wife.

🖤💙

DO YOU INSPIRE YOU

If you're not an inspiration to yourself how do you expect to inspire others?

As children we dream of living a long life, 100+ years!! One day our dreams from childhood will slap us in the face. Our perspective changes and the reality sets in that if we don't live a HEALTHY life we CAN'T LIVE A LONG LIFE!!

Quality will always overpower quantity. Stop sitting the bench of life and start playing!! Prove every single one of YOUR doubts wrong and show the world you can, ESPECIALLY when it says you can't.

Add quality to your mundane routines!! Someone out there is watching you, (okay that sounded a little creepy -- I promise I HAVE A POINT), to someone you are their example. What kind of example are you setting? Would you be inspired by you?

What is it that you need to CHANGE in order to become your own inspiration?! It doesn't need to be something life-altering!! Maybe you aspire to have more patience or maybe you need to embrace your progress. Maybe, right now, you need to be thankful for the struggle!! Within you lies potential and on the other side of your struggle is a stronger version of yourself.

Make a change that will get you closer to your goals!! Inspire others, but also -- inspire yourself.

Imperfectly Yours,

Katie

TRUST THE STORM

To be honest, I may have just felt the urge to hug and kiss Thomas Edison. Between Hurricane Laura and actually UPROOTING OUR LIVES to move to an area that just so happened to be in her path last week, I’ve had a lot of valley moments.

We asked ourselves if the hurricane was a sign that we had made a mistake. We have had countless doubts and have experienced intense discomfort not knowing our future ahead.

However, I told my husband that if it were easy it wouldn’t be God’s desire. In my life, when it gets really hard and the storm clouds thicken, God’s call is just waiting on the other side. He’s a beacon of hope when the waves try to capsize everything I have left.

But — FINALLY — on the 8th day, the electricity came back on and we have solace from the three digit heat indexes, again. The climb to the top of the mountain never came without struggles, or even a full on avalanche from time to time.

So, we persevere and keep going.

Because — we were made for this.

Even when we don’t know what THIS is.....

Imperfectly Yours,

Katie