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ONE DECADE LATER


We all have the moment that rocks our world and changes our perspective. We all have a moment that we can look back to and be like, “WOW!! You need to get it together.”
Mine was at 21-years-old in 2011…

It was nearly one year after my third sibling had passed away and I was giving away the best of me for the worst of the world. I was doing what others said I should and I had lost all care in the world.

So, as the impulsive ADHD brain of mine would have it — I signed up for my first marathon and never stopped running.

Since then, life has been FAR FROM easy. From other losses of family, to the near loss of my daughter, to the health issues of my own, and to the move that nearly broke me — life just keeps on going.


No matter what happens in life time is never going to stop. Even when we take our last breath and years pass by we can either choose to be a person worth remembering or one we ourselves would rather forget.

Once upon a time I wanted to be forgotten. It’s a dark place to want that for yourself. To have the need to be rejected because rejection has become your normal. It sucks.
However, keep going.
On the worst day, keep going.
Imperfectly Yours,
Katie

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