1.20.2009

1.20.2009 is a day that will forever live in the history books. It won't just be the day the 44th president of the United States was inaugurated but the first black was sworn into office. It was awesome to stand there at work with 20 customers and coworkers  huddled around the TV watching our president-elect take the oath of office. It was amazing to hear people cheer as he finished and walk away saying, "today's the day I can do anything". To think that 60 years ago, blacks and whites couldn't even eat at the same table and today more than 2 million people packed in front of the capitol to see our president get sworn into office. It is really unimaginable and unbelievable. It was an incredible feeling to watch a president we picked to represent the country and see other countries watching this historic moment as well. It made reminded me how blessed we are to have the opportunity to vote, choose our leaders and make our voice heard. The next 4 years should be interesting, exciting and new chapter in history. More than ever we need to pray for our country, the leaders and challenges that we face ahead. 

Putting a Price on Compassion...

I was reading the NY Times this morning, like I do every morning, & came across this crazy article that really put into perspective just what kind of crazy world we live in. It talks about how a husband donated one of his kidney's to his sick wife. Now that they are divorcing he is demanding she return the kidney or pay $1.5 million, what he thinks it is worth. The author of the article, and I agree, found it such a profound and sad statement about our society. That is how little we now see the human life. He isn't fighting for his TV back, his radio or even car back, something that has no significant help to our everyday health but he wants her kidney back. He is completely disregarding that this kidney saved her life. Without his gift of life, she wouldn't be here today. He may not love her as he once did but to think he putting a price on her life is a sickening thought. Our life is invaluable and is something that we should never put a price on. {Unfortunately for him, buying and selling organs is illegal and when you gift something, you are handing over the rights to the recipient.} I don't know why this really struck me weird but nonetheless it did...

To read the full story go here: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/16/health/15chen.html

be fabulous.
-K

2009...

So it's finally 2009, the year I'll graduate college! Thank goodness! I never thought I would finally be able to say I graduate in less than a year. It always seemed like it was always next year or in a couple of years, not this year. I am so excited! I decided to make a little list of some things I hope to accomplish this year. Hopefully I'll complete most...

1. graduate college
2. apply for a business license for my photography
3. photograph 20 weddings
4. save more $$$
5. read 12 books {1 a month for you math people}
6. compliment more people
7. pray
8. give to three charities that mean something to me
9. blog more :)
10. get more involved at grandview fellowship
11. go to shelters with families and photograph free family sessions & donate prints
12. live my life my this verse {well, all the bible but this one specifically}
"Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given to me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel." Eph. 6:14

2008 was such a fabulous year. I started and fell in love with a new school, began volunteering, moved to my own apartment, earned fabulous grades, found an amazing job, started kimberly gail photography and made new awesome friends. I said goodbye to old friends and chapters of my life but said hello to new adventures. I would have never predicted last year at this time I would be where I am today. I found this little note today and it really reminded me just how awesome my God is...

enchanted, enamored, engrossed with God.
enthralled, enraptured, entranced with God.
enravished, excied, enticed with God.
astonished, amazed, awed with God.
astouned, absorbed, agogo with God.
beguiled and dedazzled
startled and staggered
smitten and stunned
stupified and spellbound
charmed and consumed
thrilled and thunderstruck
obsessed and preoccupied
intrigued and impassioned
overwhelmed and overwrought
gripped and rapt
enthused and eletricfied
tantilized, mezmorized and monopolized
fascinated, captivated, intoxicated, infatuated and exhilarated with
God...

be fabulous.
-K

Going The Extra Mile...

This morning I was reminded of something I had heard all my life....going the extra mile. Here is an awesome excerpt from what I read {& was challenged by} this morning:

We've all heard it many times: "Give it your best shot". "Do your best". "Give it 100%." Yet, because we're not always sure what the "payoff" might be for our efforts, sometimes we adopt the attitude of "Why Bother?". I've found it to be extremely helpful to remember this: While I don't always know what my reward, if any, will be on any given project, I do know that when I give my best effort to whatever I'm working on, rewards often come from unexpected sources. I received an email from an anonymous person that demonstrates this point extremely well. An elderly carpenter was ready to retire. He told his employer-contractor of his plans to leave the house-building business and live a more leisurely life with his wife, enjoying his extended family. He would miss the paycheck, but he needed to retire. The could get by. The contractor was sorry to see his good worker go and asked if he could build just one more house as a personal favor. The carpenter agreed, but in time it was easy to see that his heart was not in his work. He resorted to shoddy workmanship and used inferior materials. It was an unfortunate way to end a dedicated career. When the carpenter finished his work, the employer came in to inspect the house. He handed the front door keys to the carpenter. "This is your house," he said. "My gift to you." The carpenter was shocked. What a shame! If he had only known he was building his own house, he would have done it differently. So it is with us. We build our lives, one day at a time, often putting less then our best efforts into the building. Then with a shock we realize we have to live in the house we have built. If we could do it over, we'd do it much differently. But we cannot go back. You are the carpenter. Each day you hammer a nail, place a board, or erect a wall. Your attitudes and the choices you make today build the "house" you live in tomorrow. You have your entire life in front of you. If you go the extra mile; give life your best shot; live with integrity, kindness, honesty and thoughtfulness; then, chances are, you're going to build a real beauty; a house you can be proud of.

This is just great food for thought; that everything I do today directly effects my tomorrow. As frustrating as it may be to go that extra step, in the long run it is so worth it.
be fabulous.
-K

Coming to an end...

Today was the last time that I walked in my house in katy. It was surreal--I kept thinking, seriously, this is only brick and drywall how could you become so attached to it. On the other hand though, this was my home. These walls had all my memories in them. This is where I got ready for my first dance, cried, grew up, slept & knew that I could come and feel safe. It was were my dad would post quotes and pictures on my mirror, it was where my family would eat dinner together every night and each year stand by the stairs and take our yearly jingle bell jog picture. It's hard for me to imagine another kid coming home from school and have their mom waiting for them--I see that as my house and my memory. I can't see anyone else cherishing this in that house. I looked at my room and remembered how excited I was to have a room upstairs and with my own bathroom in the 7th grade. As I stood there 10 years later, empty again, with tears in my eyes I was reminded of the verse in Matthew that says, "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy and where thieves do not break and destroy. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." (Matthew 6:19-21) I am so reminded that while this home has so many memories, it truly is just walls and brick. My real treasure is in heaven and my Lord. While it's ok to be sad--it's never easy saying bye to an amazing chapter of your life, I cannot forget that my God is so much more fabulous than this Katy house. Imagine how much greater my treasures will be in heaven praising Jesus with my brothers & sisters, than here on earth. wow!

be fabulous.
-K

Imperfections...

Imperfections make something amazing & unique. The other night at dinner, I went home to eat with my family. As we were talking, my brother pointed out an imperfection in his glass. It was right in the center and after he pointed it out stood out like a sore thumb. It was the only thing that you could see when you looked at the glass for the next couple of times. In that brief moment, I realized how people and life are like the imperfections in the glass. Every glass in on our shelves and on the table were the same. They all were used for the same purpose, had the same idea and were intended to be used for the something more. What separated each glass was the imperfections that was stamped on each one. Each glass had it's own chip, scratch and dent. While at first glance it looked awkward and kinda crazy, it actually made the glass unique and it's own. That's how we are. We are all human and put on this earth for the same purpose-to glorify God. We, like the glasses, each have our own scratches, chips and dents. No one has the same imperfections but each imperfection makes us amazing and fabulous. Those flaws help create us who we are and in fact define us. They make us stand out in a world of attempted perfection. It's my prayer that my imperfections can be stepping stones for others, that they can grow, use and take my testimony to heart.

be fabulous.
-K

Little Moments...

I love the little moments in life. The moments where you realize how amazing God is in the smallest, most random times. These past few years haven't been the easiest. I've been in a constant struggle why God would let me go through what I had. Hadn't I done what I needed to be doing--didn't he see that I loved him?! I felt like just when I would begin to settle in he would lead me in another direction aka: another college. For some reason these past few weeks he had been laying on my heart that I needed an attitude change. I had been so stressed, frustrated and basically mad that I had changed colleges 3 times. I begin to believe the thoughts that it was crazy that I had changed, that I wasn't as good or smart as kids who had stayed at one college and that because I didn't attend a "Big 12" school that I was in some was less that others. I failed to see that maybe my being in back in Houston attending college, had given me amazing oppertunities that I would have never have had being elsewhere. As I was jogging in Memorial Park, I had an ah-ha moment (thanks Oprah!). It dawned on me that there was a scripture that said if people didn't praise God then nature would cry out. I realized that my attitude these past weeks had been completely wrong. It was like I had a complete 18o. In that little moment, I realized that my attitude was so crummy because my vision and hearing were so limited. I had allowed the opinions and thoughts of others get to me. I was so busy worrying about staying with the norm that I failed to see God's bigger (& might I say more fabulous) plan. Rather than seeing that going to college was this wonderful gift that not everyone was able to receive & there is no "set plan" or "right way" to go to or graduate college. I was letting all the junk of this world mold my attitude instead of giving it to someone so much bigger. One of my absolute favorite songs is In Christ Alone. I could listen to the last two verses pretty much all day--"No pow'r of hell, no scheme of man can ever pluck me from his hand...". It gives me the reminder that I need that no matter what I do, however many colleges and times I moves, that I'm always his.

be fabulous.

-K