Going away-

As I shall be leaving tomorrow to work as a camp councilor for the summer, and then shall be quickly after leaving for college, this blog shall  be temorarily ignored. If it seems I have the time to write, I shall most certainly do so. --- Yet for the little time I have at home at present, I would rather be spending time with Grace than writing about her :)



"My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world. And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep His commandments. Whoever says “I know Him” but does not keep His commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in Him, but whoever keeps His word, in Him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in Him." - 1 John 2

Love always,
-K

Busy Signal

Have you ever said to yourself, “No one can be as busy as I am.” I have never thought these words exactly, yet, to my shame, I have recently been living by that assumption. After over a week in bed due to a respiratory infection, working at a conference, finishing up high-school exams, writing a speech for graduation, packing to leave the country on holiday, and preparing to go away to work for the summer, I had almost thoroughly convinced myself I had a right to become frustrated with any “incompetence” around me.

Today, I found clippings of hair in my bathroom. As Grace is the only one with long brown hair who would ever try to cut it, my frustrations spilled out upon her. “How could you cut your hair? It looks wretched. It’s completely uneven, being significantly shorter in the front and very long in the back. Grace, what were you thinking?” Grace seemed embarrassed and tried ineffectively to change the topic. I gave an exasperated sigh, and walked away.

Later, after “putting up with so much,” I spilled my “complaints” to Dad, saying I could not believe what Grace had done. Grace was in the room as I shared these words to my Dad, and when hearing all I said, she ran off to her room with her hands in her ears. Dad looked at me and said, “Oh Katherine, can you not see? She was trying to look beautiful.”

For the first time in a while, I saw where my “busyness” had lead. Busyness happens, yet when throwing my frustrations upon those I love most- this inevitably leads to forgetting why I do what I do. During these strenuous times, I need to remember 1 Peter 5:7 – “Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.”

--- Grace, once again, I am so sorry. I wouldn't change anything about you for the world- not even a hair on your head. You are so beautiful just the way you are. I love you. – K ---

(This picture was taken over a year ago now. But I couldn't not help but upload it as I love Grace's smile :) )

Florida vacation

This past week, my family and I were in sunny Orlando, Florida! I apologize for not blogging for a while, but here are some pictures that shall hopefully make up for it :)

Grace, Dad, and I waiting for a ride at Animal Kingdom

Grace would not turn for the pic :)

<3

This was Grace's favorite destination: Morocco at Epcot

Daddy and Grace at Downtown Disney

Paddleboating at our resort-- something we had to bribe Grace into doing :)

I hope you are all doing wonderful. Hopefully I will post more soon.

-K

Keeping up Appearances...

Baking cookies, wearing a colonial red print apron and a skirt with black tights and heals, curled hair pulled back, and smelling of viva la juicy perfume- this in description is an image of myself at this moment.

Today, I was considering the amount of time I (along with a large percentage of the population) spend on "image." Certainly, the obvious- physical appearance- from working out to countless hours of shopping to touching up hair so it is just right. But I find myself caring about appearance in other ways as well. Many hours of my life is devoted to studying topics my friends enjoy so I can join in "intellectual conversation," working on schoolwork to points where I do not sleep at night just to receive grades that impress teachers, taking a job I know I will dislike for the purpose of an excellent resume, and, oh, so many more little things I do throughout the day just so I feel "apart."

On the other side of the fence, I watch my sister, Grace. The majority of the day she spends in her pajamas, with her hair tangled, and big fuzzy socks that never match. Grace could not care less about others' wishes for conversation; she simply desires to discuss what she sees as important. Grace is intelligent, but in no way will work herself to the point where she doesnt sleep for the sake of an A+ in her studies. Grace has a job to earn some extra cash, but if she really hated it, she would not continue; excellent credencials for a resume mean little to her.

Where does she spend her time?--- in God's Word and in prayer. On a daily basis, I will bump into her in some unexpected corner of our house on her knees, hands folded, praying earnestly to our Father. In the morning, as I am getting ready for the day by blow drying my hair, she is preparing for the day by crying out to God for aid. As I study with diligence the structure of the zygomatic bone, she is  pouring over Scripture.

God has called us to live a life entirely set apart for His use. We are blessed to be called His clay as He is the Potter, but how often do we try to shape ourselves?


I am lost for words as I try to end this post. I would like to say that I will change- that I would no longer care about my trivial desires- but I know better. I could say we should all be like Grace- but I know she would say otherwise.

So I shall close with this thought. I am not the person I should be. I spend far too much of my concern upon myself- truly what a selfish being I am. ... Yet when I look at the life of Christ, seeing that He came down from His glory to save a wrech such as I, only then does my heart begin to change. The Most Glorious, the Most Wonderous- the Greatest Appearance of all made Himself nothing. What a great God we serve!



"Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in His wonderful face,

And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,

In the light of His glory and grace."

Mrs. Opper- with love

Mrs. Opper has always been one of the most loving, selfless people I have known. Her willingness to give that love to others cannot be compared with. My family shall always remember her with tears, but also with great joy because of the joy she gave to all of us.

We love you Mrs. Opper.

Unlike anyone else... Mrs. Opper knew how to make Grace smile and laugh and talk and sing. Unlike anyone else, Mrs. Opper understood and loved Grace. <3

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year!

What a wonderful time of year! Snow is on the ground, Christmas lights twinkle as you drive down the road at night, and everywhere there is the heavenly sweet smell of cinnamon.

Last night my family went out to eat (to celebrate my finishing a bazillion college applications, and for a break for my mom.) I was so giddy with excitement to put on a scarf because it was actually cold out (as opposed to wearing a scarf for fashion) and Grace was making me laugh with her large, bulky, bright pink coat, a scarf wrapped around her waist for a belt-like thing, and a winter hat on. Even in the restaurant she complained of the cold, but I think she secretly enjoys the snow also.

A few days back I tried egg-nog for the first time. I did not like it. It reminded me of one of those chalky, pasty drinks you are forced to sip at the doctors office for a stomach checkup. And so, I shall continue to enjoy my chai lattes and peppermint flavored hot chocolate

We have begun to put our Christmas decorations up in the house! My Mom went out and bought some new items from Pottery Barn, which everyone is content with besides Grace and me. We are both traditionalists, and want all the old decorations up, from our handmade felt stockings to our old wooden manger scene we used to play with when we were younger.

Currently, I have just finished lighting our cinnamon sugar scented Yankee Candle and am eating a delicious grapefruit (another joy of this magnificent season!) Later today, Grace and I shall convince our Mom to compromise and allow some of our dear Christmas memories up around the house, and we shall sit by the fire and drink hot chocolate with peppermint sticks.

I wish you each a wonderful, snowy day!

A Blog Without a Title as "Movie Night" is a Bad Title.

I feel it is my duty to post a new blog post at least once a month. I am in full realization that I have failed this before and will most likely fail this again. And still, when one has the oppurtunity to do his or her duty without any hindrance or too much exertion, I believe it ought to be done. And hence, I am typing.

...

Last night I was blessed to have a night to hang out with Gracie as the rest of the family was out at a Thanksgiving dinner. We (mostly I) planned to watch a movie, play Uno, eat gluten-free goodies, paint nails, and laugh/talk/catch up on life. (Grace objected to all of it in some manner or another, but consented at last when I agreed we would watch a Bible video.) We ended up watching "One Night with the King," a movie based on the story of Esther. While it is a serious plot, I was laughing thoughout most of it. Grace kept commenting on how it was completely incorrect historically and that a great deal of it was "fantasised." (These objections of hers included the very dramatized romance between Esther and the King, the story behind Haman, and many little nuggets of information on clothing styles, architecture, languages, etc.)

--- I kept thinking how intelligent she is about the Bible. Truly, imagine if each of us indulged ourselves for hours of our days in Scripture, knowing everything about it, studying it as if nothing else mattered in the world. What if we had the eagerness my sister has to know the Word given to us by the Lord, would we not know our Maker in a far more beautiful way? ---


With all that said, we had a great night. Grace was a fantastic sport about it all and I felt completely spoiled.

I wish you all as wonderful a night as I had. :)