Robbie and Kim » Uncategorized

a season on thankfulness

Kim — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 22:03:48 +0000

Of course I love my FB account. I check it at least every day, in the evening, while I’m watching TV. This month, it’s been interesting to see people posting all the things they are thankful for each day. Some people made a specific post each day (ie, “Day #4: ….. “, etc.) Others just put up something they were grateful for each day (like myself). Truth is, I am super thankful this year. Not only is Thanksgiving a wonderful time of family celebrations of thanks for the whole year, but this year, it is also a celebration of my wedding anniversary, coming on the heels of the birth of our second child! I’m thankful for our family, our extended family, our church family, our friends and everyone who has prayed for us this year. Lord knows we still need and covet your prayers daily!

So, here we are, 4 years and 2 kids later… who knew how blessed we could be?!? It all just feels surreal. Enjoy pictures of our growing family!

a tale of two women

Kim — Tue, 05 Apr 2011 00:28:14 +0000

“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to Heaven, we were all going direct the other way—…” Thank you, Charles Dickens.

Today I became acquainted with two women who are extremely different. The first, made me completely ashamed to call myself a “Christian” in so many ways. If you follow this blog, you may know that I work in a cancer doctor’s office. You may also know he is a Muslim and that doesn’t bother me. What does, however, bother me, is the attitude of patient #1 today. She was a new referral to the office who insisted she know my bosses religion before she would be seen. We let him answer that directly for her and offered her to go to another office. She declined leaving. However, I spent a RIDICULOUS amount of time with her as she explained, “It’s about religion for me…. It matters… It’s just important to me… I pray to God and he prays to Mohammad.” I’m a southern girl. I can be nice and sweet. I can also be very direct. So I asked, “How is it different if you are white and he is black? He won’t treat you any differently.” “That’s not the same,” she replied. “What if he was Jewish, would that matter?” “I just can’t explain it to you, you don’t know me, but for my reasons, no.” I attempted to go back in church and Biblical history enough to explain to her the gray area she is pressing into, but she wasn’t well-versed enough in the Bible to know where she was going. Closed-minded. Is he going to care for her any differently than anyone else? No. Is she going to get top notch care? Yes. REGARDLESS of her religious preference or feelings toward him. Today, he had more grace and poise than this woman who claimed to be a “Christian”. It makes my stomach churn to even think of her.

The second woman was one of the most stunning examples of Christianity I have ever seen and she never told me she was a Christian. She was standing behind another lady in line for the checkout window. Patient A (in front) was told she had a $211 balance (she’s been paying on it for a while). She politely asked if she could write a check for $20. Of course we said yes. She’s a good patient. She’s struggling. She’s depressed. She’s a cancer survivor but not all survivors are hopeful. Her spouse is also a cancer survivor. She admitted to me today she is depressed but doesn’t want to take meds. Patient B waited patiently for her turn. When she got to the window, she told our checkout girl she didn’t mean to overhear, but she was going to pay that lady’s $211 balance… in full… tear up the $20 check she wrote. Send her a note that says it was paid anonymously, as a gift from God.

What a day. It is the best of times.. it is the worst of times… it is the age of wisdom and the age of foolishness…

Father God, help me to see your ways this clearly everyday. Thank you, Lord, for shining examples of your Love. Please open the eyes of my first patient today. Help her to see you work in many vessels, not just the ones she expects.

the difference

Kim — Mon, 21 Mar 2011 01:00:47 +0000

I work in the cancer business. In my line of work, I commonly use the phrase, “Isn’t it amazing the difference just one year makes?” I use it for the patients who were soooo extremely anxious when I first met them, to the point they could barely hear, “You’re gonna be ok,” (Note: This particular subset of patients have very early disease with a terrific prognosis…like >95% at 10 yrs.) After one year, they’ve overcome the battle. They are moving back to normalcy again. Many times, their entire perspective on life has changed. I also use it for patients who are “go-getters” (kind of like myself). The ones who run and run and work and work and their cancer just slows them right on down, knocks them for a loop. Their perspective on life is also different.

That brings me to where I am now, not with cancer (praise, God), but with Emme. I can’t believe that (almost) 1 year ago, my water broke at 3 a.m.! I was happy being married and living with Robbie. I had some idea my world would change, but I had no inkling just how much. The following hours were painful, the following days surreal. We were parents.

In the following weeks/months, finding the balance between work and family has been much harder. I hate leaving her for work some days. Some days I cry the whole way to work after I drop her off. Sometimes I just call my mama. She always knows how to make it better…

Oh, the difference the last year has made for Emily, who has grown and cooed and giggled and rolled and “da-da’d” and splashed and cuddled and crawled and now stands and tries to walk… my baby is no longer a baby! :) Here’s some photos from her birthday party this weekend.

love doubts…

Kim — Mon, 14 Feb 2011 01:19:26 +0000

It’s hard to believe Valentine’s day is tomorrow. In the past 12 months, my vision of “Love” has changed so much, it is difficult to express in words! The overwhelming love I feel for Em each and every day is amazing, and because I love her more and more, it feels like I love Robbie more and more and when it feels like I love them more it feels like I love EVERYBODY more! It seems like with this overflowing fountain of love abundance I would be bouncing like Tigger all the time!

But, alas, that is not how the world works, not how life works. In the past 2 months, I have watched 2 people who are dear to me suffer loss. One the loss of a child, one the loss of a husband. I have tried to intercede for them in prayer. I have tried to encourage and support them. Have I done a good job? God only knows. I hope so. Has any of it been helpful? God only knows. But hopefully they know I am here if they ever needed anything at all.

It’s easy to see God’s love in the good times, isn’t it? To see his joy, like he’s smiling down on you. But what about the bad times? What does God’s love look like then? The mother who has lost her child feels cheated, purposeless. The God who “loves” her has taken her child from her at age 6. The widow feels abandoned, betrayed, her self-worth is in question, she is persecuted and some nosy people are judging her. The God who “loves” her has “let this happen” (as people say). The lies have run so deep. How can these two strong women of faith move forward? It’s enough to make even this love-high person start to doubt love… what it looks like, what it is, that I have it in my life, that I even begin to grasp it.

Then God reminded me that I can believe in love; I can believe in him and that he has it all under control. Because “Love is patient, Love is kind, it does not boast or envy. It is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.” (1 Cor 13: 4-8)

These friends are making it, even with the struggles facing them, because they believe in the Love of God more than the love of man. Praise God for his many blessings in my own life and for the strength he has given my friends. Lord, please continue to hold them in your arms and give them peace. Please pray for my friends and for those around you who are struggling with Love.

I know this has not been the happiest, post, so here are a few pics to brighten it up.

and Happy New Year!

Kim — Sun, 02 Jan 2011 21:09:41 +0000

I’ve been debating what to post for our New Year post this year and I’ve found it pretty difficult. I wanted to write about change, resolutions, a multitude of things. Instead, I’m writing about Jehovah. At church this morning we were singing the song, “Days of Elijah” and the line repeats, over and over, “There’s no God like Jehovah” and that part of the song is always where my mind wanders. Not to bad things, but to more focused things, like the names of God. When I was younger, a young man in my church converted to become a Jehovah’s witness. At a Wednesday night Bible study, it’s all he could talk about, that Jehovah was the ONLY name of God. It is true that Jehovah is a name of God, but not the only name given of God in the Bible. I’m personally partial to “I AM.” But, today, I do want to mention some of these Jehovah “compound names” seen in the old Testament. This is just a sampling: Jehovah – Jireh: The Lord Who Provides (Gen 22), Jehovah – Rapha: The Lord Who Heals (Exodus 15:22-26), Jehovah â€“Nissi: The Lord Our Banner (Exodus 17:8-15).

When my mind wandered this morning, it was to, “There’s no god like Jehovah, There’s no god like Jehovah–my Healer, There’s no god like Jehovah–my Provider, There’s no God like Jehovah–my Victor!” and each line just filled my heart with so much more joy. In the last week, I’ve rejoiced in the holidays with my family over their health and being together. I’ve felt some heartache as I left my mountain home to come back to my east coast home. I’ve been excited for 2 friends who have gotten engaged and for the new life being born in my family. And I’ve wept for a new dear friend who lost her son in a tragic accident the day after Christmas. My prayers for 2011 include that everyone in my circle and family would know there’s no god like Jehovah. There is none like Him. Behold He comes!

Merry Christmas!! (2010)

Kim — Sun, 26 Dec 2010 21:49:30 +0000

God rest ye merry, gentlemen
Let nothing you dismay
Remember, Christ, our Saviour
Was born on Christmas day
To save us all from Satan’s power
When we were gone astray
O tidings of comfort and joy,
Comfort and joy
O tidings of comfort and joy!

So, we made it through another holiday season!! I love Christmas and I love all that surrounds the holidays from friends to family to all sorts of home baked goodies. There is always plenty of peace when we’re with our families and friends, but getting there, that can be another story. Like this year, fighting my full work day until we could leave, packing EVERYTHING the night before and having to trust Robbie to get it all into the car (and he passed with flying colors), getting upset when Emme got a fever and fell asleep during her first present opening time at Grandpa’s, the mad dashes in and out of stores, across town, and even across the state in snow. Sounds hectic and believe you me, it was!! But, we got to enjoy time with our families and THAT is priceless!

Here are a few pictures from our completely enjoyable weekend!

Jingle all the Way! (Challenge #3)

Kim — Thu, 09 Dec 2010 00:52:08 +0000

For my 3rd challenge, I completed a real CHALLENGE! I decided to head to Raleigh for the Arthritis Foundation’s Jingle Bell Run/Walk. It was a 5k event… my first feat attempting to walk so far. I had a partner in crime, too, my friend Erin! Here’s a pic of us before we got going:
Here’s what I learned from this event: 1. Raleigh has hills 2. When you reach your breaking point, just remind yourself it you can get through labor with no epidural, you can do this 3. If you wear jingle bells on your shoes, consider using safety pins or thick twine b/c small ties just get cut by the bells. 4. If you fall flat on your face in the middle of Hillsborough street you can resist the urge just to hobble back to your car instead of the finish line or you can push on through and finish with glory. Praise God, I finished!! Woo hoo!! It wasn’t pretty. I was super sweaty, legs were jello and my face was red as a beat (either from sweating or being so dang cold) but I was done and that’s what mattered.

Here’s some of the fun from my house this week:

Hope you’re having a great week!

Christmas time’s a comin’!

Kim — Sat, 04 Dec 2010 02:19:01 +0000

It’s a late start for me, but I’m actually finally in the full Christmas spirit! Sure, I’ve had my Christmas music going in the car for a good solid month now, but the time when things really gear up each year (like this past week) has just been amazingly busy and I have felt rushed, behind, unsettled all week. But, tonight, I got my tree decorated and my stockings hung by the fire and I’m just watching hallmark movies and having a great time!!

It is IMPOSSIBLE for me to celebrate Christmas and not get sentimental regarding my grandmothers, Ruth and Pauline. Grandma Ruth left me a wonderful gift when she passed, the handmade ceramic nativity her mother made. I love these pieces and I always set each one with care. Granny Pauline LOVED Christmas. I actually think that’s even an understatement! It was a time to gather her family together and to just love on everyone. There is a red bell on my tree this year that made me cry when I hung it, just remembering the red bells I used to help her hang in preparation for the holidays.

I don’t know what Grandma Ruth’s favorite Christmas song was, but I think one of Granny’s favorites is “Oh Beautiful Star of Bethlehem”….one not so many people know. The lyrics are beautiful and the melody sticks with you. Granny, you had good tastes! I can hear her now sitting beside me at church saying, “I wish they’d sing some Christmas songs today…. that’ll do (when we got to this one).” And she would sing and sing and tap her foot and smile. Oh, how she loved Christmas.

Anyway, here are some lyrics for you (just one verse and one chorus) and a link for your listening pleasure.

O beautiful star of Bethlehem
Shining far through shadows dim
Giving the light for those who long have gone
Guiding the wise men on their way
Unto the place where Jesus lay
O beautiful star of Bethlehem
Shine on

O beautiful star the hope of life
Guiding the pilgrims through the night
Over the mountains ’til the break of dawn
Into the land of perfect day
It will give out a lovely ray
O beautiful star of Bethlehem
Shine on

O beautiful star of Bethlehem
Shine upon us until the glory dawns
Give us a lamp to light the way
Unto the land of perfect day
O beautiful star of Bethlehem
Shine on

Thanks

Kim — Thu, 25 Nov 2010 01:22:52 +0000

I just realized over the weekend that I let an entire month pass without a blog… we’ve been pretty busy around here and I honestly haven’t even given it a thought. But, honestly, I also haven’t been giving daily devotional time much thought lately either.It’s almost like a trade off lately: spare time for prayer or spare time for Word. I’ve been doing a lot of praying lately. But when I haven’t been sitting down and diving into God’s word, how can I hope for insights? Sure, God is still all around me, but I see him so much more clearly, just his hand in everything, when I’m truly in talking with him daily by reading my Bible and hearing what he has to say to me each day.

However, I did hear what my pastor had to say at church this week. His sermon was appropriately based in Thanksgiving and one of the verses he used was from 1st Corinthians 1:31 — “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.” I really like this verse b/c it reminds me that whenever I’m thinking I’m thankful this week for all I have— a husband, a daughter (a beautiful one at that), a family, a church family, a job, a career that I enjoy, a house (a mortgage), cars, etc– that I don’t think I got all of it myself. I didn’t give myself ANY of this. Short of the grace of God, I would have nothing! Everything I have is the outcome of working out my faith/salvation/righteousness with lots of prayer, praise and thanksgiving!

Thanks be to God for the abundance of blessings we have this year. Thanks be to God for all of you who are my family, friends. Thanks be to God even for those of you reading who are strangers. Let me tell you, God loves you and wants to richly bless your life as well. Chasing the references down in my Bible from 1Cor 1:31, I came across Psalm 34. I’m posting the whole thing for you to read. Sure, it’s lengthy, but worth it! Trust me, I haven’t said or heard many great things this week, but this is helping to remind me to be thankful!

Happy Thanksgiving!!

Psalm 34:

¹ I will extol the LORD at all times;
his praise will always be on my lips.
² I will glory in the LORD;
let the afflicted hear and rejoice.
³ Glorify the LORD with me;
let us exalt his name together.

⁴ I sought the LORD, and he answered me;
he delivered me from all my fears.
⁵ Those who look to him are radiant;
their faces are never covered with shame.
⁶ This poor man called, and the LORD heard him;
he saved him out of all his troubles.
⁷ The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him,
and he delivers them.

⁸ Taste and see that the LORD is good;
blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.
⁹ Fear the LORD, you his holy people,
for those who fear him lack nothing.
¹⁰ The lions may grow weak and hungry,
but those who seek the LORD lack no good thing.
¹¹ Come, my children, listen to me;
I will teach you the fear of the LORD.
¹² Whoever of you loves life
and desires to see many good days,
¹³ keep your tongue from evil
and your lips from telling lies.
¹⁴ Turn from evil and do good;
seek peace and pursue it.

¹⁵ The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous,
and his ears are attentive to their cry;
¹⁶ but the face of the LORD is against those who do evil,
to blot out their name from the earth.

¹⁷ The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears them;
he delivers them from all their troubles.
¹⁸ The LORD is close to the brokenhearted
and saves those who are crushed in spirit.

¹⁹ The righteous person may have many troubles,
but the LORD delivers him from them all;
²⁰ he protects all his bones,
not one of them will be broken.

²¹ Evil will slay the wicked;
the foes of the righteous will be condemned.
²² The LORD will rescue his servants;
no one who takes refuge in him will be condemned.

Challenge #2: …. um, well, you see….

Kim — Sat, 20 Nov 2010 02:32:19 +0000

So, it’s only Challenge #2 in my attempt to complete 12 physical challenges with community awareness attached and already I am backing out. Tomorrow would have been Challenge #2 day. There are no great events that I really felt wonderful about giving to this time. I know that sounds petty, but I don’t want my energy and money to go to just anything, only a great cause. So, in lieu of driving over an hour for a “so-so” cause this month, I am still going to complete my physical challenge by walking laps in the mall (with Emily in the stroller) while Robbie runs some errands. (And I don’t plan to spend any money, so be gone, Gymboree!) On another note, I have been doing better in my other healthy self-challenges and hope to continue to do so.

Here’s an updated pic of ladybug though, just for kicks and giggles….