Music Monday - Late Again

I guess that things are getting out of hand for me if I can't even make my own series work on the day that it's intended... but can I get some sympathy because family drama pretty much wiped out my day yesterday. On top of that - I pretty much had a serious sugar attack... which I got teased about at work today.

So in light of all of that - this song just makes me happy... and actually you're getting a bonus video - because it was so dang cute!

I'm very sorry to Shirley Temple who really performed the song well... and also for the rudeness at the end of the video... but can I just tell you guys that the dog in the video made me laugh out loud and I really needed that today!

This little girl is so freaking cute that I just had to give you a bonus video... click here because it won't let me have the code to post it.

I don't know what it is about this song, but it has always made me smile... which brightens my day on so many levels. In all honesty, I'm feeling pretty overwhelmed by the holidays and the amount of shopping and stuff I've got to get done in a very limited time frame.

It truly snuck up on me this year, which is sad to say because it's not like I didn't know it was coming... or like I haven't known for a while that we'll be traveling this year - it's just that it feels wrong to me to start planning for Christmas in October. Maybe next year we'll start decorating then, like the stores... and we'll be plenty prepared when December rolls around.

There are people on our street that have had their outside decorations out for like 2 1/2 weeks!! Honestly... isn't that a bit early? I'll bet they aren't feeling the stress that I am though.

The ladies at my office have now gotten to know me a bit, and apparently they find me very funny. They've coined the phrase "Kimisms" around the office. One of their favorites is when they are on deadline or say a project changes at the last minute and we all have to scramble... and maybe they come to me to complain or something - and I'll just look at them very seriously and say "Love that!" or "That's my FAVORITE!"... somehow that cracks them up.

At lunch today - which they thought it was hilariously funny that I only ordered water... but hey - I'd already eaten the soup I brought with me at the office.... so I was full. But while we were there - we were talking about the holidays, and I told them about lobbying for John to hire someone to put up our lights... because really - wouldn't that be as cool for him as getting a cleaning-lady is for me?! Then I took it a step further and said that I'd love to hire someone to come fluff our fake Christmas tree... they just rolled over that one... does anyone out there feel my pain though?!

With only two weekends really to shop... and parties galore... when am I going to decorate? When am I going to find time to get gifts for everyone? When am I going to write my now famous Hawkins Family Christmas Newsletter? (Shout out to Tess!!) When am I going to find a dress for my grandmother's birthday party? (Don't get me started about wrapping said gifts... or actually ENJOYING the season!)

Ok, well - I'm going to curl up in the fetal position now and lull myself to sleep...

Music Monday 3

In honor of completing my first year post-surgery, and the goals that I still have to strive to achieve. This song springs to mind, and brings a little more of my roots to light... because in some small way - I'm a country girl at heart!



Ok, I have to first admit that John picked the video out - and I've actually never seen Smokey and the Bandit. But the song does fit... because the words... "We gonna do what they say can't be done. We've got a long way to go and a short time to get there"... ring so true.

I've come a long way, but I still have a long way to go... and well, in my mind a short time to get there. I am trying to learn the art of letting the timing not get me down, but as we embark on year two post surgery... I hope to keep on truckin!

Music Monday

I'm a day late and a dollar short on this one, but better late than never - right? When I committed to myself to write a weekly series, I had no idea what would come out of it - but in some ways it has already become therapeutic.

For this week, I've been forced to look at my life over the last 12 months. The craziness that has come has been nothing short of a roller-coaster, but as always - God has gotten me through to this point.

I'm going to put the song up front today because I have so much to say about what is going on in my life right now, and to tell you the honest truth - I haven't heard this song as of yet. I've got to give credit to John for finding a song that matched up in his opinion with the subject matter that I wanted to write about this week... so you guys will more than likely hear the actual music before I do. (No sound on work computer)

Robbie Seay Band -...

Robbie Seay Band - Love Wins

So for not having heard the song, but only reading the lyrics... these words strike a chord with me right now "Can't stop, you can't stop the seasons. Don't stop, don't stop believing" and let me tell you why.

For the last 12 months, I have embarked on a journey that has led me through 12 months of constant change. Let me show you how in the easiest way I know:

• Weight Loss Surgery - the decision took about a year to come to fruition, but it was not easy by any means and the process was nothing short of the biggest mental roller-coaster that I've ever experienced.
  
  
• Church Merger - about two days after my weight loss surgery, we found out that our church home was being closed and merged in with a large church in the area. This was a very emotional process for me because Fellowship of Houston at the time was the only church home that I'd ever known, and for lack of better words - at the time I felt like an orphan... and felt like I'd lost part of the support system that I needed to get through the recovery from surgery.
  
  
• Finding a new Church Family - a month or so after the closure of Fellowship of Houston we found a new church home that believe me in many ways has become such a part of who John and I are. I know that it's not as much about the church as it is having a relationship with God, but having a good church family to build friendships with helps so much along the way. Our new family has gone above and beyond to make us feel welcomed, and I think we are now a real part of this church - or at least I think we'd be missed if we weren't a part of them. :-) (Our small group would miss us!! HA!)
  
  
• Job Layoff - After three years of working for my former employers - they laid me off in May, and believe me it was a blessing on so many levels - but an adjustment none the less. Also dealing with the realization that my "dream job" might not be on the path that God has set for me - and becoming okay with that.
  
  
• Turning 30 - Some people might think this is strange, but turning 30 is every bit hard mentally as any of the other changes I've been through. I had to come to terms with the fact that I'm not where I wanted or expected to be by this stage of my life, and be okay with that. Thank goodness I had the extra time this summer to work through that.
  
  
• My Baptism - This one was only an adjustment for me in that my spiritual journey had finally come full circle, and I had gotten through my fear of standing in front of a bunch of people to show my faith outwardly. I was never afraid to show my faith - it was just the fear of the ceremony and the audience. (I'm silly that way - remember the hives?!)
  
  
• Gallbladder Removal Surgery - Just one more aspect of my weight loss journey - it was really a matter of time before this happened once I had my digestive system rerouted... so it wasn't completely unexpected - but a little quicker than originally thought. Again, thanks to the lay off for providing a convenient time to get through this recovery process.
  
  
• New Job - Ahhh... the joy of a new job, with new challenges, and a new culture to get used to. It has been a learning curve to rival all others that I've dealt with in the past... but there are clear places where I will certainly make an impact to the department overall. If only those changes would start happening!
  
  
• A second Church Merger - we just found out about this yesterday, and honestly - I'm at peace about this one. Our pastor was approached a couple of months ago about this opportunity, and he was hesitant at first but prayed about it... and feels that God is leading us down this path. Another church in our area has asked to merge with us, but the difference is that our church will absorb theirs. They will become Cypress Family Fellowship, but we will be given their land and buildings to use for our newer/better church. So the difference this time is that we will not be losing our pastor, and we will be gaining a building with land to use instead of being a portable church. We still have lots of questions about how this will work in the end, and have to vote on the issue as well - but feel good about it overall.
  
  
• Finally - through it all - I've lost roughly 87 pounds, which is a mental and physical change that I can't even begin to explain in words right now.
  

You see - the last year has been a very scary time for me, but I've found strength through John, my family, and my friends... but most of all through God. So to bring it back to the song... this is how I can apply the words: "you can't stop the seasons & don't stop believing" to my life today.

Music Monday - Postponed

Well, I've done the impossible... or at least I've never heard of it... but I've WAY overdone it on my workout tonight. In the last two hours I've gone from being dizzy to nauseated to having chills... and finally on to a massive headache.

I worked out harder than I have been, but I really didn't know or expect this kind of reaction. It's never happened before. I have been laying on the couch and my favorite nurse is helping me as much as I'll let him.

I'm sipping tea, and have now been able to eat a few crackers. This stinks - I had some good stuff to talk about tonight! I guess I'll have to wait to be insightful tomorrow...

Music Monday

You guys, I really had such plans for this new theme for Mondays here on Thoughts by Kim... but illness has really worked against me on this one.

My plan is to put up a video or audio version of a song that I'm listening to right now - be it through my iPod working out, the radio in the car, or our worship team's set list of the week. Just one song per week that I either find meaningful or just plain entertaining... as sometimes I get the most humor from the old songs that I love from my past.

The idea being that whatever song I choose for the week will come with a story from my past, or an application to my life now... depending on what the song is that I chose to use. If everyone likes this idea - I might put a link list up for others to link to their own musical posts too. (I thought that too ambitious for this first post.)

Our worship team at church is planning to play the particular song that I chose for this week at the end of the month... so naturally while John is learning to play/sing it - I've had the opportunity to listen to it... well more than a few times.

The words of this song are so relevant to where I am right now, and I find such hope and love in the message. Take a listen for yourself... Carry Me Through by Dave Barnes:

Carry Me Through -...

(Thanks to my wonderful husband for making the audio player for me - and the graphic that will be revealed in the near future)

This song just reminds me how God is going to meet me where "the mountain" beats me... and he'll carry me through whatever battle I'm facing. What a beautiful message... and something that I need to always remember when I'm dealing with the day to day challenges of trying to lose weight... or any other struggle in life.

One of the hardest things that we face as humans and as Christians is the balance between our timing for things versus God's timing - maybe not for all of us, but it is something that I honestly struggle with more than anything else in my spiritual life. I try my best to be mindful of this fact, but it is not always easy.

I know that the wait is well worth it, and in most cases the rewards are far greater when you've had to work for it... but sometimes it's hard for me to remember that during the hard part of the struggle.

So, whenever I get down about where I am in a particular season of my life - be it with the weight loss or with infertility... I vow to listen to this song, and remember that God will meet me and carry me through.

Somebody's Hero

I know that there is typically a day set aside to honor Moms, but I don't think that it's possible to honor them too much - and I was moved when I heard this song come across my iPod the other day.



There aren't many words that I could write that would make a better tribute than to tell you that even if your kids don't tell you often enough - you are making a HUGE impact on their lives, and the little things you are doing right now... will be in their memories for a lifetime.

On their behalf, I thank you for all that you do. (Yes, even for telling them "No" and making them clean their room.)

This sentiment goes to the Dads out there that are doing their part too!