Hope

There's a lot that can happen in a lifetime. Some things that are happy, some that are sad and some things that you just can't explain. The top is me 16 years ago. When you are faced with losing your life, it gives you a new outlook and a different perspective than most people. You tend to not sweat the small stuff. Your faith meter is on a whole new level and you desire to live in every moment, being thankful for where you were to where you are now. To when even the smallest act of kindness matters. 

There are days like today I just sit back and soak up all the amazing things about life. From waking up this morning, to being able to tuck my kids into bed tonight. To knowing I did everything I was meant to do in this day, in the moments I was given. I am thankful for those days laying in the hospital bed not knowing if I would see the next week or even the next day, because it makes for an incredible eye-opening moment to live every day to its fullest, enjoying every second that you have breath, because let's be real, life is short, it's but a vapor and we need not take anything for granted. Especially me, especially when you weren't suppose to have these moments in the first place. Realizing every moment is a gift and every day is one more day to live out your dreams. 

So, here's to life and to making every opportunity count, living like it was the last one you have, and always going confidently in the directions of your dreams. Miracles happen and dreams come true as long as hope lasts inside of you.  

xx 

AK 

CHEERS TO THE NEW YEAR

The past few weeks have been nothing but incredible. We welcomed our baby girl, Violet Kaye into the world, celebrated Jesus' birth, Khy's 5th birthday, and now into a new year we go! There are so many moments we have captured that are so very special to me and I just can't get enough. I will be making photo books for days in my spare time. : ) 

I literally fill my camera up with pictures so fast because taking pictures is the only way to truly look back and remember a moment that means so much to you. It's amazing to capture something that takes you right back to that exact place in time and gives you all the emotions you had in that very moment all over again. It's a beautiful thing. 

As I look through pictures of this past year I am taken back to places and moments I love to relive. All the moments and God's blessings just leaves me speechless. I could probably post a pic a minute on insta like all day long... but I won't do that to everyone's feed. : ) I cannot wait to see what God has for us in the new year. My heart is already so full just in day 1. 

Life is precious and goes by way too fast, so, this year I am challenged to cherish the smallest things and soak up every little moment. Even in the business and distractions of life I want to try my best to not miss a single minute that I have been given with the people that surround me.

Some of the moments I love have been captured by the amazing Tracy Thompson (Photography by TracyT- go to her insta or Facebook she is the best) as we welcomed Violet and took our first photo as a family of 4. They are amazing and I wanted to share them all with everyone. I cannot thank God enough for this life, this family, this love that He continually shows me ever single day. Oh and the pic of Vi with her "Violet" hat on is possible the cutest thing you have ever seen, so brace yourself. : ) 

I pray blessing for you in this new year and hope you find joy in all things life. 

xoxo 

AK 

PRETTY FLOWER

In exactly one week we will be starting a brand new chapter of our lives. Our family of three will become four. Our daughter aka "Pretty Flower" will make her grand appearance in the world. I am excited, nervous, freaked out in way because I am a big baby when it comes to pain, but most of all just so thankful and ecstatic to meet her for the first time. Khyler will be 5 on December 26th and so this is most definitely going to be a change for him. He is excited so we will shall see. It will be interesting that's for sure. I mean he isn't spoiled or anything. ;)

It hasn't really hit us yet that there will be a baby in the house and then on top a baby girl, but I am ready for her to come that is for sure. Pregnancy is special and what a miracle, but I feel like I have been pregnant for 9 years and she is ready to get out. Like sticking her foot, leg and elbow through my skin ready to get out. Hurry up next Tuesday. :)

We had an amazing photo sesh with the awesome TracyT and I am in love with how the pictures turned out, and I love this plum color we chose. It's been my new favorite color this year. Khyler was not wanting to cooperate with the picture taking up front so that was fun and then actually he got into it and wanted it to be a "khyler session" (hence the all by himself picture that he just had to get Tracy to take of him). He went to the woods and did that exact pose and said, "Hey! take this one of me and I will do the ones ya'll want". Quite entertaining-haha. It is however the cutest picture ever. :) Such special moments I will cherish. 

I hope you enjoy and I cannot wait to begin this new journey.

AK xx

DISCORD IS A DON'T

As I was reading my Bible this morning I read this verse... "A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren." Proverbs 6:19

It is talking about the things that God hates and one of them is when people sow discord. 

Discord's definition is a disagreement between people. So, God hates when people sow(scatter, spread, plant) disagreements between people. It actually says the word "hate".  That is a pretty clear thing to understand and read. It makes me wonder sometimes if people are just really ignorant to the Bible. If God says He hates something we should steer clear from it. Run away from anything that looks like it. 

We tend to get side tracked and our selfish ways and wants rise up over us and we end up looking back and saying "oh wait how did that happen". Well, the devil is real and aware of each of our weaknesses and will use anything to get to you to destroy you, your family and your friendships. Don't allow it to happen! Recognize it for what it is and remember that God has nothing to do with discord between people. 

Most of the time when it comes to discord between people there is one of the parties that must humble themselves, put their feelings aside and make it right. Whether they are right or wrong it in. (That is not easy) 

Be sure you are not the one sowing discord. And when disagreements come that is when you must trust God in the situation. Pray and ask for God to guide you. If your heart is to seek Him and your motives are pure He will give you the desires of your heart through it. 

AK 

CANCER SUCKS

I have a pretty neat story to tell about R.U.S.H. Weekend...

On Saturday I had the privilege of driving Ty(the little boy with leukemia) back to the barn after he met Si from Duck Dynasty on stage. Of all people to be able to drive them I was the one that ended up taken them. How awesome is God that he would let that happen. I was able to talk to them about how God healed me of leukemia when I was 11 years old. His grandfather looked at Ty and said, "She had leukemia like you did and God healed her".  At that moment I thought to myself ....Wow! He healed me! How crazy that I sometimes have to be reminded of that. At that moment I wanted to just scream and say, God do it for him too! Do it for him too!

All the lingo they were saying about what Ty was going through and had been through was so familiar to me. My heart brakes for them. I know God can heal and I am living proof of that, but sometimes even when we see the miracle in front of us doubt still exists. I see a little boy that science yet again say no hope, but I know that God can conquer that. So, on my end I will not stop praying for him until God answers. 

I believe in ways people would think I am weird or something, but when you have seen a miracle happen in your life it gives you a different outlook on prayer. Some may say oh it was just happenstance. Your body must have received something well...blah blah blah. No absolutely not! When people try to give me excuses about science I tell them they should have been beside my bed when there was nothing more the doctors could do. It was real life. Go home, goodbye, hopefully it will not come back.

I believe I must use this to bring a smile to a face that may not feel like smiling. I want to reach out to the kids with cancer to let them know there is hope. And you know what even if their story doesn't end like mine that they have a better home waiting for them! 

I remember when I was first admitted into the hospital. I had lost so much weight they were going to have to put a tube down my nose. I told them absolutely not. I had seen all of the kids with tubes and I guess I was at this stage of my image is important that I just flat out told them that was not going to happen. The baldness was enough for me. :)  Well, after hundreds of breakfast shakes later no tube was put down my nose. I had made up my mind and was determined that that would not be me. I believe a lot of the cure comes within the fighter. You must never take on the attitude of defeat or it wins. It would have been easier to just put that nasty tube down my nose, but I fought for it not to.

This is true in life period. Once you feel defeated all care is dropped and giving in seems to be easier than staying strong. So a side note: never stop fighting. 

I love that I got to ride with Ty that day. I believe it was a reminder for me to never stay comfortable with where I am and where I have been. I pray that one day there is a cure to this disease, but until then I want to raise up enough smiles that when it hits it better be ready to take on the spirit of happiness and it better be ready, because it isn't taking over without a fight. 

So to all those that feel like giving in, don't! Whether that is with sickness or even in life situations. Don't stop fighting, even when it's so much easier to do.  And please when you pray, pray for Ty. 

p.s. CANCER SUCKS (i use to have a pin that said that :) 

RESCUE DRAGON

I wanna be a Rescue Dragon! from ThreeLife Church on Vimeo.


Just wanted to share this video we used at church for our Generation Foundation week 2.
Khyler has quite the imagination these days. He cracks me up so much. Every day he has something new that I have to go write down so I won't forget it. In this video shoot he would not change his mind about wanting to be a dragon when he grows up. It was fun doing this video with him. There is some out takes I will post later of him asking me the questions. :)

Happy Tuesday!

ROCKING HAPPY

In life we all get discouraged from time to time. Different situations, different people, different days. Even the best of us get down at times and can't seem to shake it. 
What the majority of the problem is is that we tend to put all our happiness in people, or our current situations instead of in God. I have learned that no matter what you must stay happy through things. 

Happiness has turned into an emotion that comes and goes with our circumstances, but I say we change that. True happiness and joy comes from within. When all around you seems to be crumbling and life has met its quota of the bad things it can bring, you remain happy. 
This is not easy. Especially in our modern day of technology and easily annoying circumstances. I mean one day you are rocking happy then a post or tweet can get us sideways in seconds. (Don't act like you haven't been there :) ) 

Even when the worst of things happen, maybe when someone you cared about hurt you or did you wrong...you remain happy. How? I am still trying myself to figure this one out. It is something I have been practicing extra hard. Staying happy no matter what is thrown my way. I guess another word would be content. Being content with whatever happens or comes into your life allows you to be happy with the outcome and trust that God will take care of it all. 

So, today I choose to be happy! Like in Acts 26:2.. It says, "I think myself happy". Everyday make it a challenge to think yourself happy. And remember no matter what comes your way happiness and true joy come from within you not from what's around you.