Giving Thanks

This Thanksgiving, I am thankful for so many things.

My amazing husband who really does love me in sickness and in health, for richer or poorer, through thick and thin.

Our beautiful home, with a warm, cozy bed and a big backyard where the dogs can play.

The wonderful people who show me warmth and hospitality when I can't be with my own family on special days.

The fact that I am blessed in so many ways; that God always provides, always forgives, always loves.

For all these things, and many more, I am thankful.



Love and Lattés,

Katie

Concussed

I have often complained that my life is a little too monotonous. The past couple days, I would have easily taken monotony over the unwanted excitement that took place in our house.

Tuesday night was the same as any other night. We watched a movie, I snacked on popcorn and a strawberry shortcake bar, and we went to bed at a decent time, ready to wake up at 5:30 for our respective jobs. Around 1:45 am, I woke up feeling a bit "off." I walked into the bathroom, felt a little dizzy for a moment, and the next thing I knew, I was waking up in an awkward position on the tile floor. It took me a few minutes to catch my bearings and figure out how I had gotten from the bed to the bathroom floor (it wasn't until later that I remembered ever getting up to go to the bathroom). All I remember is that my head hurt, and I felt very weak and clammy. I called for Justin several times, but he couldn't hear me over our noisy bedroom fan.

Now, I have passed out before - I am slightly hypoglycemic, so I'm almost certain this was blood sugar related - but it wasn't the passing out that caused me to have the worst night, ever. It was the fact that I hit my head on the way down - HARD - likely on the tile floor, which has a concrete slab directly beneath it. Right after the fall, I was confused and in pain, but besides a bump on my forehead, I thought I was fine.

Not an hour later, I was gripped with SEVERE nausea, and ended up getting VERY sick in the bathroom several times. It was awful.

A trip to the doctor the next morning confirmed the conclusion Justin and I had come to mutually - I had given myself a concussion. This is a first for me, and I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy. I can handle pain, but nausea is a whole other story. And when you mix the two together... it's pretty miserable, to say the least.

Today, I am taking my second day off work to rest and drink fluids, and am already starting to feel better. Looks like I'm going to make it. :)

I have to mention that throughout this whole adventure, Justin has been absolutely incredible. He got up to help me walk to the bathroom all through the night when I was feeling sick, brought me water and medicine, and always made sure I was as comfortable as I could be. I am so lucky to have such an awesome husband.

Now, if I can just clean up this mess of a house enough that I won't scare away my mother-in-law and baby niece who are coming to bring me lunch in a couple hours!

More to come.

Love and Lattés,

Katie

Grown-up Birthdays

You know what I've never been able to figure out? How to solve a Rubik's Cube. But that isn't the point of this blog entry.

I've never been able to figure out why grown-ups aren't allowed to be giddy about their birthdays. Christmas isn't just for kids, and neither are birthdays! We all have them, they only come around once a year, and they're just plain fun! What other day do people come up to you and wish you an awesome day? I mean, really?

Since I was a little kid, I have made a big deal about birthdays. The word "birthday" becomes an adjective, and goes in front of every noun I use that day. For example: "I am putting on my birthday pants so I can go to my birthday job." See what I mean? Suddenly I'm thinking I shouldn't be sharing this much. :) Seriously though, I think I have come to a grown-up conclusion as to why I get *so* excited over days like my birthday and Christmas. First of all, leaving Michigan was one of the hardest things I have ever done, and anything that gives me an excuse to think back on family memories and remember years worth of good times, is a good thing. Secondly, my parents have always encouraged mine and my siblings' excitement, gladly adopting the "birthday as an adjective" thing and playing along.

Really, though.. most of our lives are a series of very small peaks and valleys, without a lot of change. That stagnancy drives me a little crazy sometimes. So, call me silly, but when I see an opportunity to have a rockin' day, even if it means people might look at me sideways, gosh darn it I'm going to seize that opportunity!

And speaking of which... has anybody noticed that we're almost halfway through November? Holy COW... the holidays are COMING!!

More to come. :)

Love and Lattés,

Katie

Boo!

Happy Belated Halloween! This year was a lot of fun for me. I hope you had a great time, too! On Friday, I dressed up for work.

My vampire getup won me "honorable mention" at our company costume contest. Woohoo! It was pretty awesome.. my boss even let me "bite" his neck (I really just draped my cloak over him and squirted his neck and my mouth with fake blood), and the results were fantastic. What a fun afternoon!

On Halloween night, I was on candy duty, passing out treats to the little ghouls and goblins of the neighborhood. We didn't see very many, but it was still completely awesome to be able to see trick-or-treaters for the first time since we got married. Finally, we're in a house now, and it makes everything that much cooler!

So, there you have it. Halloween was great! Now, November - and the holidays - are upon us, and I couldn't be more excited. It's the most wonderful time of the year! YAY!

More to come. :)

Love and Lattés,

Katie

If you can't put it into words...

...then let someone else say it for you. :) Here are a few of my favorite poems on autumn. I just love this time of year! Enjoy.

Nature XXVII, Autumn

by Emily Dickinson

The morns are meeker than they were,
The nuts are getting brown;
The berry's cheek is plumper,
The rose is out of town.

The maple wears a gayer scarf,
The field a scarlet gown.
Lest I should be old-fashioned,
I'll put a trinket on.

Nothing Gold Can Stay

by Robert Frost

Nature's first green is gold,
Her hardest hue to hold,
Her early leaf's a flower;
But only so an hour.
Then leaf subsides to leaf.
So Eden sank to grief,
So dawn goes down to day.
Nothing gold can stay.

Ode to Autumn

by John Keats

Season of mists and mellow fruitfulness,
Close bosom-friend of the maturing sun;
Conspiring with him how to load and bless
With fruit the vines that round the thatch-eves run;
To bend with apples the moss'd cottage-trees,
And fill all fruit with ripeness to the core;
To swell the gourd, and plump the hazel shells
With a sweet kernel; to set budding more,
And still more, later flowers for the bees,
Until they think warm days will never cease,
For Summer has o'er-brimm'd their clammy cells.

Who hath not seen thee oft amid thy store?
Sometimes whoever seeks abroad may find
Thee sitting careless on a granary floor,
Thy hair soft-lifted by the winnowing wind;
Or on a half-reap'd furrow sound asleep,
Drows'd with the fume of poppies, while thy hook
Spares the next swath and all its twined flowers:
And sometimes like a gleaner thou dost keep
Steady thy laden head across a brook;
Or by a cyder-press, with patient look,
Thou watchest the last oozings hours by hours.

Where are the songs of Spring? Ay, where are they?
Think not of them, thou hast thy music too,--
While barred clouds bloom the soft-dying day,
And touch the stubble-plains with rosy hue;
Then in a wailful choir the small gnats mourn
Among the river sallows, borne aloft
Or sinking as the light wind lives or dies;
And full-grown lambs loud bleat from hilly bourn;
Hedge-crickets sing; and now with treble soft
The red-breast whistles from a garden-croft;
And gathering swallows twitter in the skies.


Love and Lattés,

Katie

10 Happy Things

Sorry, once again, for my lack of posts lately! I have been trying to balance an odd combination of being busy and incredibly bored, and haven't had much to report in a while. Since I have had a lot on my mind, and have really been trying to focus on the blessings in my life, I thought I would share 10 things that currently make me happy. So, without further ado, my 10 happy things:

1.My sweet hubby drew this and e-mailed a photo from his phone while he was out of town for work. :) I just love him.

2. Funfetti cookies. Seriously.

3. Being able to Facebook with family and friends all over the world.

4. My adorable - and genius - little niece who is constantly saying and doing new things. When she calls me "Tatie," it warms my heart.

5. The cool fall breeze we have had lately is just lovely.

6. A coworker brought me fresh honey from her parents' farm, and it is to die for!

7. I recently had a conversation with an atheist friend, and came out feeling even more strongly about the things I believe -- God is good.

8. I have already bought my Halloween costume, and am excited to dress up at work for the second year in a row (did someone say costume contest??)

9. I am in love with my new, red sweater from Old Navy.

10. We just bought Snow White and Pinocchio on Blu-Ray, and Justin hasn't seen either one yet! There's nothing to cheer you up like a Disney classic. :)

What makes you happy?

Love and Lattés,

Katie

FALLing in Love

Fall, being my favorite season, brings out my creative side. I am at my best when I'm doing something that uses the right side of my brain, and for some reason, this time of year I get the urge to create. I cook and bake more, I find little craft projects to do, and lately, I sew! My latest project was a doggie bed, which I made out of a cute, paw-printed fabric and the stuffing from an old pillow. I made a do-it-yourself oval shaped pattern out of wrapping paper, and made a simple two-sided pillow for Daisy to sleep on in her crate. (Picture coming soon!)

Now that I'm finished with that little project, I'm trying to decide what to do next. Since Halloween is only a few short weeks away, I have been googling costume ideas and pumpkin carving designs like crazy. I haven't made any decisions yet in those areas, but when I do, I'll be sure to share my ideas.

Aside from my fascination with autumn, there is not much to report. Justin and I have both been busy with work, and are only able to see each other about three days a week until his current project is over. I apologize for my lack of blogging, and promise I will come up with something more interesting to write about soon. :)

Have a great week, everybody! Enjoy this beautiful time of year!

Love and Lattés,

Katie