Construction Junction

Remodeling (v) = to alter the structure

You can say that again.

For safety and an extra bedroom, we have decided to close in our great room.  And although our current situation resembles the aftermath of a shipwreck, we're going to love the finished product.

Meanwhile Emerson oversees the beginning work stages from her Little Mermaid chair.

And somewhere Hugh Jackman is singing, "Empty chairs at empty tablesssss...." or something like that.

I'd say our contractor and his team made quite a lot of progress on day one.

Before:

After:

Apparently someone thinks that this is her new personal playroom.

People who wear sunglasses inside: rappers, patients after an eye appointment, and Emerson.  Because she's just that cool.

Have you ever read the book, If You Give a Mouse a Cookie?

Basically the story is that once you start something it never ends.  If you give a mouse a cookie, then he'll want a glass of milk.  But then he'll need a straw.  And a napkin.  And then, and then... you get the point.

So if you give KATHARINE an IDEA...

It never stops.  "You know, if we're going to paint the family room, then this wallpaper really needs to go.  And if we paint the kitchen we'll probably need new curtains.  And if we get new curtains the throw pillows won't match..."

NO MORE REDECORATING!!!

Ask me to list the most tragic things in this world, and I'll tell you: lost people, world hunger, wars, and wallpaper. 

Have you ever taken down wallpaper?  When people put up wallpaper they have one goal in mind: they want it to stick.  They're not thinking about the day when it comes down.  That's where our misery comes in.  It's not nearly as bad as that time Jay and I ruined one of our family bathrooms...

but it was definitely not the easiest.  There were thousands of pieces of paper on the wall.  If I never see a putty knife again it will be too soon.

And you never realize how much to appreciate organization until you go to dry your hands and can't even find a kitchen towel.  Total disarray.

One night last week Miss Priss got very sick all over our bedspread, so I took my first trip to the laundromat, since the load was too big for our washing machine.  And let's just say, I made my moronic mark.

The bedspread was huge, and I was trying a) not to drag it on the ground, and b) not to get vomit on the guy next to me.

I looked around for the largest machine I could find and stuffed it in.  That's when a guy came up to me, clearly seeing that I was more lost than a toddler using the SAT for a coloring book.

"Do you think this one is large enough to wash my bedspread?" I asked.

"Well yes, ma'am, it is...but that's the dryer."

And this was the look on my face.

Oops.  So I moved the bedspread (throw up and all) into the closest washing machine when he asked where my soap was.  I had to bring soap to this place!??  That's like bringing shampoo to my hair stylist!  How ridiculous!

Does Sally want frizz or color control this time?

Then the guy told me that I could buy soap for $.75 out of their machine, which I did, and dropped the whole box in the water as I was on my tip toes trying to dump it in.  28 minutes of my life later the load was finished, and I dragged the 45 pound bedspread to the dryer I originally chose and put in my coins.  Then I realized that I had put the coins in the dryer UNDERNEATH that one, so I could either change dryers or pay again.  I chose the latter.

Two hours later I was back home with a clean bedspread, and so help me if Emerson even sneezes the wrong way she will not get near it.

Father's Day was a special weekend, even if it felt weird that my parents were out of town on a trip.

Fathers play such an important role in the life of a child and their families.  I don't take a moment for granted with my Dad.  He is so special and wonderful, and he loves us with all of his heart.  Not a moment of my life have I ever doubted his love for us.  When the Lord decided, "I'm going to give Randy Carlson to Katharine and Jay," BOY were we in for a blessing.  Kevin and Ryan feel the same way about their Dad, who is also amazing in so many ways.

And Ryan is absolutely wonderful with Emerson.  He shows her every day how much she's loved.  He cares for her, tends to her, plays with and prays for her.  He is such a sweet, tender hearted Dad.

The Lord has a careful plan when placing people in our lives.  And sometimes, His work through someone is done here on earth.  That's where F.E. Hobeika comes in. This man was one of THE GREATEST, and his earthly body was laid to rest last Wednesday.  Here was my tribute to him:



"F.E. Hobeika met his Heavenly Father right after Father's Day. He was one of the greatest men I’ve ever known, and today he is rejoicing with Jesus. Here he is shaking my Dad’s hand on the day that he gave me away. These two were real brothers in Christ, and my Dad considered F.E. a best friend. He always greeted me with a smile and a hug and said "bless your heart” to me hundreds of times. He also told me that my rate of speech reminded him of a machine gun…I can’t argue with that. He led a Bible study for our college class several summers ago, and when I asked him, “F.E, how can I pray for my grandfather to be saved?” he said, “You can pray for intervention.” Exactly one month ago today my grandfather accepted Christ, and I can hardly wait for them to meet in Heaven one day. F.E. also told us during our study that he and his wife, Alice, set aside money every month to give to those in need, and I still have the most precious voice message they left me after Emerson was born. I'll keep it forever. I will never, ever, forget F.E. for being a mentor, friend, encourager, and for living a life that showed Christ’s love in his every move. I’m so grateful to have had the opportunity to say goodbye to him yesterday. May God bless and comfort this precious family until they see him again. He leaves behind such an incredible legacy."

What kinds of things will be said about me when I'm gone?  It's really something to think about.  Am I going through the motions, or making an impact?  Will I make the most of my time here on earth, knowing that at any given moment I could be gone?

I pour my heart and soul into everything I do, and that can be a good and a bad thing.  Sure, it's awesome that I want to show Jesus in a big way, but there are also many things that distract me.  It's something I must daily work on.

I definitely pour my heart into my little girl, and she knows it.  We have an irreplaceable bond, and I would give my life for her.  While more work was being done on the house we went to Isaac's Mickey Mouse Birthday party, and she had a total blast!

The Birthday boy even got a new puppy, Sadie.

Emerson was only a little clingy to Mommy, which I know can be a pain at times while simultaneously melting my heart.  I brought her in first so that I could get the gifts out of the car, and she screamed when she saw me coming back.

This led me to the epiphany that she is like a Belk sensor tag.  She doesn't go off when I leave, but-sure enough- sounds loudly when I return.

Am I right?

I'm also grateful that Ryan, Emerson, and I have survived the stomach bug this past week.

There's so much going on in our world right now.  So many things are making headlines.  From the Charleston shootings and supreme court rulings to terrorist attacks, confederate flag debates, riots, Christian persecution, and much more.  There is so much news that it's hard to even know what to focus on.

So what can I say?  What can I possibly say that will reach people on both sides?  What can I write that will not be misconstrued or hurtful?  I know this.  One day we all...and I mean ALL...will stand before Jesus Christ.  Not as a group or with your best friend.  Not with your spouse or even with your children. You will stand alone.

What will He see when He sees you before Him?  Did you follow Him?  Did you really know and walk with Him?  Somehow I doubt that there will be any flags in Heaven.  Somehow I doubt that we'll be walking the streets of gold scrolling through our iphones in search of the perfect filter for that aweome #heavenlysunset while we #hangwithJesus and #walkonwater.  It's not about us.  It's not about our feelings.  People are getting so heated.  And it's not. about. us.  

Let's step back.  Joshua 24:15 says, "As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord."  Isn't this what is asked of us? This verse may hold the best answer when asked your opinion on any topic. "As for me.  As for ME, I'll serve the Lord."  When it comes to our eternal security, we will only have the opportunity to speak for ourselves.  But in addition- and this is a very important addition- we are also called to love one another and witness.  And not just love one another, but love one another "as I have loved you."  Woah- back up a second.  The Lord loved us enough to send His only son, and yet He is telling us to love each other AS MUCH as He loves us?  That puts lots of things in perspective.

Name calling?  Jesus wouldn't say it.  
Rioting? Jesus wouldn't have it.
Judgement? Only Jesus can do it.
Obedience? We better do it.
Loving one another?  You can bet on the nail scarred hands.

I know one thing; the Charleston nine died serving the Lord.

It's dangerous to throw around Bible verses for the sake of making a point, because so few people have an in-depth knowledge of the Bible; myself included.  But I really dug deep in my heart to figure out how to respond to everything that's going on today. Tactfully.  Prayerfully.  Lovingly.  And as for me, I will strive to be obedient to His word...His word that is as powerful and relevant as ever.  I only need to please Jesus.

Roses are Red, Icing is Blue

Setting the scene:

I spent a good portion of last Saturday cleaning out the closet in our guest room for donation items.

Me, pointing to my accomplishment: "Everything on this bed is going out of this house."

Ryan then proceeded to try and carry me in the guest room, insinuating that I, too, could be taken out with the junk.  Hilarious, Ryan.  Really!

So next time you see a seemingly "romantic" photo like this...

Just remember that he may actually be carrying his lovely bride to a dumpster.

"Hey guys, look at these rhinestone shoes I found!"

We did, however, just celebrate our fourth anniversary, so that means 1460 days of survival, with a few debates about whats-for-dinner and some bush 'murders' in our front yard.  

I was thinking about the number four and how to make it special, and then I was reminded about golfers yelling that word.  Well, it turns out they actually yell "fore," but Ryan was on the golf team, so when I saw this picture from high school I knew I had to incorporate it.  When it comes to commemorating special occasions, I'm all over it, but in other areas on a daily basis, eh!

I confess.  Much of my life is in piles.  In the car.  In the closet.  Under the bed.  It's an area in which I could definitely use some help...or divine intervention. 

"MAY THE POWER OF ORGANIZATION COMPEL YOU!"

 But when you have the schedule of a person trying to complete this masterpiece in one day with a single box of crayons, you just have to do what works.

"Looks great, Jimmy!  Don't forget the other side."

JUNE is here!  Where did May go?  It sailed right away on us.   I am involved in many projects right now that I am SO TOTALLY stoked about!!!

In mid May I spent five days in Phoenix for our final week of training with my Grand Canyon University family. 

My Mom told me for weeks that she was going to let me borrow her "incredible" suitcase with the 360 degree rolling wheels for this trip.

During my last travel to Phoenix my suitcase weighed in at a whopping 59 pounds and cost me $125 bucks.  The weight of it also cracked open an entire side, so I looked like a buffoon carting it around the airport on the way back.

"Nothing to see here, folks.  Move along!"

 So...for this trip there were diet restrictions on my packing.

I packed a minimal 40 pounds worth of items for my five day trip, and I took my Mom's suitcase out of the car, ready to roll it successfully into the airport.  That's when I realized that the back wheel of the suitcase was completely annihilated.

So here I am battling with my things as I make my way to the airport check-in counter.

But it gets better.  I left one of my tickets in the kiosk and had to go all the way back - suitcase in roll tow - to retrieve it.

Luggage mishaps aside, it was a great trip and an awesome time to reunite with several of my team members!

Each day a local food truck parked outside of our building where we would order lunch.  God, bless that food truck!  It was delicious and reliable.  Well, one afternoon it was 15 minutes late, and I was fuming...so I decided to leave our building on foot to find the nearest restaurant.  There were NO pedestrian crosswalks or even so much as a light.   The rest of our team was at a "Destination GCU" event during this escapade.  No joke!  Here I was on my OWN journey.  Fortunately, the food truck finally showed up, but I was about to turn into a cyclops if I didn't get something to eat!

"YOU'RE NOT YOU WHEN YOU'RE HUNGRY!"

That Friday my flight was delayed for over an hour on the way home, meaning that the incredible trio that is my Dad, Mom, and brother drove to Charlotte at 11:00 PM to pick me up.

That's some expensive takeout...

But a weekend spent with Jay is ALWAYS welcome!  He flew in from Chicago to see us before his summer program in New York.  Quite the world traveler, he is.  But we still found time to play all 32 races in Mario Kart!  And go swimming. And sit with Emerson on the deck in a kiddie pool with no water in it just because she wanted to...

I had a fabulous time with Dorothy over Memorial Day weekend.  We saw Pitch Perfect 2, took a long walk, and played with Emerson at the new wellness center playground!

We also had Jamie and Chris over for fun, swimming, and a cookout for their 30th Birthdays.  Somehow (gasp!) I didn't get a picture!  That's probably because my hair looked like THIS at the pool...

"Emerson!  Stop that running!!!"

My little tyke can wear me out.  "It'll get easier," I've heard a million times since she's been born.  When people tell me that they put their children in their cribs (still awake) and the kids fall asleep on their own I feel kind of like this...

"HOW is that possible? Are you human?!?"

It's like a switch goes off, and Emerson knows exactly when Ryan utters the most devastating words to a toddler..."bedtime."

I still carry her around like an infant (she'll always be my baby girl, after all), and attempt to rock her to sleep every night.  But this is quite difficult while she's running all over the house.  The best possible scenario I can relate it to is Mario chasing the rabbits.

Have you ever played Super Mario Galaxy?  If so, you'd know that these rabbits are nearly impossible to catch.   You're welcome for the visual.

It's during moments like these when I have brain lapses, like a few days ago when I had to wash our bath mats THREE times, because each time I forgot to put them in the dryer.

Fail.

Or the morning that I showed up to the WRONG school recently for an event...

and then had to drag all of my belongings back across the wet grass to my car, where a roach found its way into my trunk.  And I was all trying-to-keep-my-composure like...

But sometimes things in life just stink.  This was one of those occasions.

Other times, the Heavens open up and your prayers are answered.  Allow me to write about something that has eaten away at every fiber of my being since I can remember.

**********************************************************

Most people know that my Dad is a retired pastor, but he didn't grow up in church.  In fact, he didn't become a Christian until college.  Our family has always questioned whether or not his Dad - my Papa-  had a relationship with Jesus. 

We prayed thousands of prayers for him over the years.  We talked to him over and over.  When I was in fourth grade I started writing a book about Jesus to give to them for Christmas.  I would have dreams - and nightmares - about this situation.  At the end of every day when I would reflect on my life and all of my blessings...my family, my daughter, my health... and I would always be reminded of one area that was unsettling.  The question of Papa's Salavation.

When you love someone so much...so incredibly much...they can be the hardest people to reach.  I'd had more in depth conversations with him about religion in the past few years, most of which confirmed my worst fears.  In the summer of 2009 F.E. Hobeika (one of the greatest men I know) led a Bible study for our college Sunday school class.  I asked him how I should pray about Salvation for a family member of mine.  He said, "Well, you can't ask God to make the decision for him, but you can pray for intervention." And so my prayers became, "Lord, please intervene in the situation."  I prayed that hundreds of times.

Every time our family got together we would sit around the dinner table and pray beforehand.  We would also pray during all of our family gatherings, and each time I'd wonder..."Does Papa get it?" It ate away at me.  It was the first thing I thought of every morning and the last thing on my mind at night when I -and I think I speak for all of us- would sometimes lie awake worrying about various things.  It happens.  We're human.

In 2012 Papa went in for a small eye procedure that turned into a hospital stay, because his heart rate was fluctuating after surgery.  Since then, Papa has had ups and downs with his health and is constantly at the doctor. He's hanging in there, but at 85 life has definitely taken a toll on him.

Last fall when Papa was in the hospital to get a stent put in his heart, the doctors warned him that at his age it was a very risky procedure.   One morning I walked in that hospital with one mission and one mission only: saying everything I wanted to say to Papa before his surgery.  I had to plant the seed.  I had to put my head on my pillow that night knowing that I had said all I could possibly say.

I asked him point blank what he was waiting on to follow Jesus.  Then the hospital staff promptly came in and starting mopping the floor in his room at that exact moment... But the conversation kept going, and I covered many topics:

"Are you prepared for what might happen?"

"Are you ready if the surgery goes wrong?"

"What is preventing you from accepting Jesus?"

I also played the "Jesus Loves Me" video that I recorded for him.  He listened.  Regarding the commitment to walk with Jesus, he said, "I'm thinking about it these days more than you know."  

Although he didn't accept Him that day, I left the hospital with somewhat of a weight off my chest.  I had said everything I had wanted to say but didn't have the courage to for over two decades.  The actual decision was up to him.

But on Friday morning, May 22nd, 2015, I called my Dad (who had spend the previous night at my grandparents' house) to check on Papa.  A few sentences into the conversation he said, "I talked to Papa again and prayed with him...and he became a Christian this morning."

Relief.  I felt OVERWHELMING RELIEF.  Tears.  Heart-bursting joy.  THIS was the day we had waited for.  THIS was the day that so many other had been praying for!!! I still can't believe it.  I went in the bathroom at the school I was in and sobbed.  He was safe.  Safe in the arms of Jesus.

Never EVER give up on prayer.  Sometimes people pray for things for decades.  And the last prayer you pray may be the one that made the difference.  I begged God for years.  Cried.  Pleaded.  He heard me.  And He hears you, too.  Whatever you're going through.  You may have asked God for something 500 times, and it may take 500 more.  But I'm here to tell you that prayer is POWER.  And it works.

I made a mashup of "I Surrender All" with "Touch the Sky" in honor of this incredible, life changing event.  

Today, June 7th, we celebrated Nanny and Papa's 63rd wedding anniversary.

Aren't they precious?  There is something extra special in Papa's eyes now.  There is also something special about his mouth...  that icing...

In my infinite wisdom I picked out this cake at Kroger.  As we all began digging into the cake and talking we started looking at each other hysterically and laughing. 

"Your mouth is blue!"

"Yours is, too!"

"Holy moly; it's REALLY BLUE!"

So when I say that we had the anniversary "blues" you'll know that I mean literally!