Quitting or Leaving?? (Part 1)

Hi Everyone,

So, just to share, this post will probably be written over the course of a few days. It's one that will evolve during the next hours and days as events occur.

FRIDAY NOON:

With that being said, I have come to the conclusion that it is time to make another major decision in my journey of faith.

Man, some decisions are just hard to make, aren't they?

After much prayer, a few tears, gathering the wisdom of wise counsel, reading a lot of Scripture and some honest, straightforward debate, I've made the decision to resign from leadership and probably leave The Village Church. This has been my home for the last year or so. There are wonderful people there, many whom I've come to love and respect. They are not perfect; nor am I. They do not always get everything right; I certainly don't. One thing I do know for sure, there is a lot of love there. God is moving there. New people visit weekly, and while some leave as they always will, the church is growing.

With all that said, the logical question is "then why would you leave?" Again, some decisions are just hard to make. The reasons don't really matter. I'm not into the justifying or defending or explaining of specifics that should remain private. In the grand scheme of a person's faith journey, there are many transitions. Moving from one church to another, if need be. Moving from one spiritual level to another. Moving from one area of serving to another.

I recently shared with some of the amazing women of The Village in my Thursday night Bible study that people are like onions. We have layers that need to be gradually peeled away. During life, God will allow us to work through issues and He will bring people and experiences into our lives that give us the grace and ability to heal, grow, and mature.

One of my layers that has for many years needed to be peeled away has been the curse of people-pleasing. You know those people, right? We have a few common traits: we want everyone to like us which leads us to compromise our boundaries; we want everyone to get along at the expense of our own peace. I have sacrificed myself, my health, my peace, my boundaries, my emotions, etc., all to be liked, popular, feel "worthy", whatever.

The Village has allowed me to grow through a number of times of testing. I no longer desire or crave to be approved, valued, etc. by a position, a ministry, a person, or a group. As one of my dear friends said in an email today, "The Lord is with you, your identity is in him and your acceptance is secured by Jesus." Praise God for that assurance!! I am able to stand in the wisdom and maturity of my decisions, knowing that they've been prayed through, that they are my own, and that they are wise.

However, I ALSO know that, even if I make a "mistake", God is with me and He's working ALL things together for MY GOOD!! So, with that knowledge, and that confidence, I am about to go and share the news with my Pastor and my friend. My prayer is that the news will be received with dignity and favor, wisdom and grace.

Hey Everyone - very rarely will I share a blog post from someone other than myself. However, I LOVE the writings of this guest blogger: Hudson Russel Davis. He makes me think about singleness in a very different way. I was touched by his words today; as someone who has thought myself as "Ugly" for many years, the realization that I am BEAUTIFUL in God's eyes is freeing....now to find that 40-something fella who ALSO thinks I'm BEAUTIFUL! :-)

Do good things,
Kara


The Relational Economy: Currency - Part 3
Hudson Russell Davis

Some folks suffer in sorrow
Thinking they're just no good
They don't match the magazine model
As close as they think they should
—David Wilcox

If I could shape the English language I would leave in the word beautiful but excise the word ugly. I would remove from the language the words to paint any person as less lacking in visual worth. I would so order things that we had only words to build each other up. Then, if I could, I would make it my goal to so shape ALL world languages so that there would be no unkind word but only those that are “helpful for building others up according to their needs ...” (Eph. 4:29). It is that world in which I want to live.

But we live in a world where words build AND destroy souls. We live in a world and participate in a relational economy in which physical appearance is a valued commodity. We live in a world where singles judge one another on their marketability, a world in which “ugliness,” real or perceived, can feel like punishment.

God has no ugly children. God plays no favorites. We don’t need to impress him. As Rich Mullins said, “He’s already knocked out about you. He already loves you more than you could imagine.” And yet, there are many poor souls convinced that ugliness is the reason for their singleness. I cannot deny it. I also cannot confirm it. The whole issue of singleness is both simpler and vastly more complex than that.

There will ALWAYS be someone prettier, someone more handsome, or someone with more charm. There will always be someone with a smaller waist, firmer breasts, less body fat, or some other agreed upon trait of “beauty.”

If what we pursue is some arbitrary standard, there is no end to the search. There is no person who lives up to the title of perfect man or perfect woman. We are more than the sum of our parts. I am valued beyond my looks and so are you—or we should be.

I avoid saying just plainly “those who ARE beautiful” and “those who ARE ugly” because I just don’t believe in the full reality of those categories. Something in me accepts the “beautiful,” but cannot stomach “ugly.” To declare someone ugly is to speak of more than their looks. To call someone ugly is to make a pronouncement of their relational worth.

Let’s face it, we rarely bother to comment on a person’s ugliness outside the realm of their “dateability.” In most cases we do not even notice a person’s looks unless we are considering dating them. For the most part they are people until they stumble across our relational radar. Then we feel compelled to decide whether what they have to offer is enough—whether they are attractive or not.

If they please US—they are beautiful.

If they do not please US—they are ugly.

This is ruthlessness. We are here for more than marriage and thus here for more than dating. We possess value beyond our relational appeal. Thank God! If the feet of those who bring Good News are beautiful, then we who are the temple of the Holy Spirit are beautiful—EVERY ONE OF US. If the ground near the burning bush was sacred, then we should remove our shoes in approaching a daughter or son of Heaven’s King. Who of us would DARE speak the world ugly in addressing the King’s daughter—the princess? Who would dare call a heaven’s prince ugly?

And yet I have thought and at times said that someone was ugly. I spoke in ignorance. I spoke from my own limited perspective and for my own benefit—not theirs. I repent of that judgment. “Ugly,” for what it’s worth, is ethereal—ghostlike—it is neither real nor tangible. But then again, so is beauty. The “Maker of Noses” made them all to HIS specs, and I dishonor the maker if I call ANYONE ugly.

We sometimes treat relational currency as an objective standard of observable facts. Anyone who sees themselves as ugly grants another person the power to determine the standard of beauty. This is madness given the fallen state of EVERYONE we encounter. Not only do the makers of beauty not have our best interests at heart, they quite often do not have God’s heart. The world constructs social ideas of beauty in order to draw boundaries. This is why we might wonder, “what she is doing with him.” Or we might wonder, “what he is doing with her.” There is nothing more scandalous than beauty joined to that which appears to us—ugly.

It is for this very reason that the gospel is scandalous. That beautiful God of all ages is willing to be seen with us. He is willing to be loved by us and to be known as ours. He is willing to have people stare, willing to have them talk. And if for a moment we feel the rush of embarrassment, he does no more than take our hand and squeeze.

He did not come because we were beautiful, but he did not disdain the disfiguring horror of our sins. He did not choose us because we would improve his reputation, but because he wanted us to know we were loved. He does not care that some people think him a fool for condescending to our poverty. He has come to make us rich, and he has come to make us beautiful. He makes all things beautiful.

Thank God we are more than the swing of our hips, the cut of our pecs, more than the length and color of our hair. If it were not so, I am not sure who would fit in. We are more than blue eyes, grey eyes, brown eyes, or green eyes, and yet all the stars MUST have green or blue eyes. Have you noticed?

It is wonderful if someone else finds you beautiful but it is more important that YOU find yourself beautiful. You may look in the mirror and be disturbed, so don’t look with your eyes alone. You share in Christ’s beauty even as you share in his suffering. This is the beauty of the Christian life. We are being “transformed into his likeness” (2 Cor. 3:18). This means that, although in our sin we resemble his homeliness, in his righteousness we reflect his beauty.

What Else I Know for Sure

Ok, seems I'm on a bit of a roll here:

21. Thanks to a pastor friend: there are "little stinkers" all over the place. In life, in work, in families, in churches. Are you one? I sure have been!

22. Trisha Yearwood was right: "The Song Remembers When".

23. Rodney King was right, too: "Can't we all just get along?"

24. Kara McAbee is right also: when you meet people at different places in their spiritual journey, especially along paths you've already walked, you must be able to extend grace to those persons.

25. Sloane Wood is right also: "The Theatre is a fun place to be." If you're a Drama Queen or King, come out and audition for a show...."keep it on the stage"!! I'm too old to deal with your drama!! LOL Love my Sloaney!

26. Spiritual maturity has NOTHING to do with a person's age....some of the most mature people I know are the youngest.

27. Carolina > Duke. Ok, I had to do it. But I do know that for sure!

28. I lay my requests out to God daily, boldly and confidently.

29. If I EVER am blessed to get married, Lord, may he be a man like Jerel Law who loved (and loves) his wife with a passion, a grace and a beauty unparalleled by any I've seen. (And if he's a Carolina fan, has a passionate heart for you, and loves old movies, then that would be just great too!) Go check out Jerel's blog at www.susanlaw.blogspot.com for an amazing look at being Jesus' hands and feet while on earth and loving your spouse to the ends of the Earth. What a blessed woman Susan truly was to have found a man like Jerel. I don't know Jerel and never knew Susan, but through their words and devotion to Christ and to each other, I feel a part of their family.

30. I know that heartfelt cards, words of thanks, and a hug at the right time can be a balm to soothe a broken heart, fits of loneliness, and boost a person's spirits. (They certainly do mine.)

31. I konw that being single CAN have its benefits - no one cares if you eat the ice cream out of the carton at night.

32. I know nothing makes me wanna throw the top down on my car (if I could) like some 80s Bon Jovi or Journey and some Broadway show tunes!

33. I know that sometimes God removes friends from our lives for a time. But when He sees that it's time to reunite those friends, we can be overwhelmed with the beauty of that relationship.

34. I know that this past year allowed me to make a strong decision for my life (my surgery) and that there have been more blessings out of that decision than I ever could have imagined.

35. I know that the ending of a relationship does not have to be a heartbreaking thing. Sometimes it's a blessing.

36. I know that I don't really know anything.

What I've Learned for Sure

Hey Friends,

I've heard over the years that Oprah Winfrey has a section in her "O" Magazine called "What I know For Sure". I've really been pondering that thought lately....what are the things I know for sure? Just decided to give it some time to breathe on the "pages" of the blog. So here's what I know for sure....feel free to add your responses and share what you know for sure!

1. I know for sure that substance matters over style.

2. I know for sure that if a person is willing to gossip about someone else in front of you, that person is definitely willing to gossip about you behind your back.

3. I know for sure that people who will tell you one thing to your face, may not be saying the same thing to others.

4. I know that if you can count your true friends on one hand, maybe two, you are richly blessed.

5. I know that some people never grow up out of the locker room from high school.

6. I know for sure that quitting is not the same as leaving.

7. I know for sure that people-pleasing does not work, nor does it engender loyalty and respect.

8. I know for sure that high school girls aren't the only ones who are mean girls...meanness always has a history, perceives a threat and CAN be healed, if the person is willing to admit their faults and allow God to heal them.

9. I know that I know that I know that God is ALWAYS working in each and every situation we encounter, whether we understand what He's doing or not.

10. I know for sure that having gifts and talents that enable us to "DO" something, does not mean that we are "CALLED" to do that thing.

11. I know that situations truly are put into our lives for reasons, seasons, and lifetimes. And when it's a reason or a season, sometimes it hurts to turn the page on that situation and close the chapter.

12. I know that people make assumptions, choose to take offense, live in bitterness, hurt, resentments, etc., only because they also choose not to heal.

13. I know that I know that hurting people hurt people.

14. I know that I've been given the gift of a discerning spirit that I need to be more willing to listen to and follow its lead.

15. I know that people who aren't Christians are immediately turned off by the Church today when they see jealousy, bitterness, cattiness, gossip, anger, and the plethora of sins that people who claim to be Christ-followers display within the walls of the church.

16. I know that I am a Christ-follower who has been jealous, bitter, catty, angry, etc.

17. I know that I am a sinner saved by the Grace of a MARVELOUS loving and generous God.

18. I know that I may fail, but that does not make me a failure. I get back up and keep walking.

19. I know for sure that I lived way too many years deathly concerned about what people thought about me, to the extent that I was a people-pleaser, compromised principles in dating (don't let your minds roam too far on that one...it's not what you think), and accepted the way people treated me...all in a failed attempt to belong, to fill what felt as if it was missing, to make myself feel better about myself.

20. I know the Good News About Kara: I am whole, healed, saved, redeemed, lavishly loved by my Creator, a friend, a daughter, far from perfect, getting stronger every day, and enjoying life.

Those are some of the things I know for sure.

Perfect Imperfections

Have you ever had one of those days when you thought to yourself, "Man, I'm lookin' pretty good today?" It's a good hair day. The makeup looks pretty youthful and natural all at the same time---which is increasingly harder the older I get! You think that the shirt you wore just a few weeks ago now seems to fit a bit more loosely. You're ready to walk out the door, ready to face the world with a smile on, excited about what the day ahead holds for you.

I had one of those yesterday!

I have had a wonderful few days. Took Friday off and enjoyed some basketball, some reading and listening to show tunes, had a great lunch with my pastor. Excited about some things to come. Saturday was a fantastic day...women's retreat with some ladies who have truly become "sister friends". (NOT to be confused with sister wives....they're all welcomed to their husbands....Mormons, we are not!)

Sunday morning started off great! Hair looking good, makeup in check, wearing a cool tan crocheted number with some smaller-sized jeans. You know? Just one of those good days where I was excited to head off to worship, then to the Theatre for a production that was "paying tribute" to the amazing Veterans of Cabarrus County. In for a great day....feeling pretty good about myself!

It was chillier than I had planned for, so I went back into the house and changed into the pink sparkly shirt from a tan number I had chosen. Put some more appropriate jewelry on with the outfit. Grabbed some hot pink lipstick...smashing!! Headed back out the door and on my way to church....again, feeling pretty good about myself!

"Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties.". 2 Corinthians 12:9-10

Well, I'm driving in, singing my lungs out, when all of a sudden, I notice them....my fingernails!! Now for those of you who know me well, you'll probably chuckle, because I rarely HAVE nice fingernails, but lately, I've been trying to let them grow out. They were ORANGE and, worse than that, CHIPPED...BADLY!! Please remember, I'm wearing a hot pink shirt. Talk about a serious clash issue!

What do you do when the details don't match up to the big picture? I could have turned around and gone home and painted over my nails, but that would have made me late. I could have gotten angry at my failure to pay attention to the details. I could have worried that the man of my dreams was going to be at church or the Theatre that day, and I wouldn't have been looking my best. I COULD have done those things, or I could choose the best thing.

So, I did. I laughed. Hard. Loud. 'Til I got tears in my eyes. I realized I was dealing with a perfect imperfection. Just that morning, my devotion was Ecclesiastes 3:11, "He has made all things beautiful in His time." Not just some things, but ALL things...even my poorly colored fingernails.

The next time you're confronted with one of life's little "perfect imperfections", take some time to think about how God can use the hardships, trials, imperfections and weaknesses in our lives to show us that we can get too caught up in the details and miss the big picture that He's trying to show us.

What did I learn from my encounter with a perfect imperfection? Well, I certainly don't need to take myself so seriously. I also don't need to put so much focus on the way I look (don't read this as my giving license to run around looking like John the Baptist). I also enjoyed the day yesterday, once I got over myself and thinking about all that was coming up. I stayed "present" in the day....worship at church was powerful. The Theatre presentation was humbling and inspiring at the same time. My Tar Heels won!! (Thanks John for ruining it for me...LOL) And God probably got a great chuckle out of one of His princesses!

The picture is of my long-time friend, Ali, from elementary school through until today. I hadn't seen her in many years, so it was wonderful to catch up. Her Dad was one of the Vets who had his story told during "Paying Tribute". I'm proud to be an American...and proud to say "THANK YOU" to all our Veterans!

Word of Prophecy for the Day

Hello Bloggies!

I have to say that this past week has been one of seeming setbacks and failures. Struggling in all the "whys" of a number of things....trying to dig in and settle in deeply in the Word.

I received this devotional this morning, and, while I didn't write it, I believe it spoke to me exactly where I am. My hope is that it may do the same for someone else out there:

"What you might see as the winds of adversity, are really spiritual opportunities to exercise your faith and to overcome. So, I say, rise up and take advantage of every situation to prove My existence and power in your life.

You do not belong to yourself; you belong to Me, says the Lord, and I have given authority to those who are Mine. I have already gained the victory over Satan's kingdom so that your victory is assured in all things."

1 John 5:4 For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world-our faith.

March is OUR Month!

In 1987, President Ronald Reagan delcared March to be Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month after years of advocacy efforts from The Arc www.arcofcabarrus.org and the intellectual and developmental disability (I/DD) community. A lot has happened in the nearly quarter of a century since the proclamation. As a movement, we've taken major steps forward in terms of attitudes and opportunities. Landmark legislation has addressed issues in education, health care and civil rights. Just recently, President Obama signed Rosa's Law to remove hurtful terminology from federal legislation, demonstrating a shift toward greater respect for people with I/DD.

However, there is still much to be done. There are millions of people living wiht an intellectual or developmental disability (closer to 7 million now instead of the 4 million to which Reagan referred). And, their needs and wants have not changed dramatically since 1987, because they are the same basic needs and wants we all have. Opportunity. Respect. Self-determination. Simple things, really, but sometimes frustratingly elusive.

The Arc helps people with I/DD and thier families by creatig opportunities. We foster respect and protect the human rights of people with I/DD through the kind of advocacy that led to President Reagan's proclamation. But, we can accomplish more together with a strong collective voice. So, we invite you to join us during March to raise awareness for I/DD and the challenges ahead. Throughout the month, you'll find posts on our Facebook page with some simple suggestions as to what you can do to help raise awareness. And, we welcome your comments now and always about why protecting and promoting the rights of people with I/DD is important to you!

Weight No More.....

Hey Everyone,

I've had several friends on Facebook and out in public ask me a few questions about my recent and on-going weight loss, so I finally decided that I would break it down here and expose the truth, the whole truth & well, you get the picture.

If you've known me most of my life, you'll know that weight has been a pervasive issue throughout my life from middle-elementary school on until today. Believe me, there are plenty of reasons, and if you want to, go back to the beginning posts on the blog and read about all of them. For now, suffice it to say that life knocks you down sometimes, and for me, food became a source of comfort, a friend, and ultimately an enemy that I haven't felt strong enough to defeat until recently.

Most women would have a panic attack at what I'm getting ready to say: 353. Yep, that's it a number. A significant number, at that, but it's just a number. I'm sure you've already guessed, that was the highest weight I ever hit. At just 5' 5", that's packing a lot of excess weight around.

Last year, my company provided health insurance to all employees, and I began to start wondering about the possibility of having bariatric surgery. I started to do a lot of research, and if you're wondering, Cabarrus County has one of the BEST weight loss centers in the country. Here's the information, in case you're doing research as well: www.carolinaweightlosssurgery.com The website is a treasure trove of information about Dr. Bauman's clinic. Dr. B. has become one of my heroes in life.

Here's the basics of getting approved for surgery (all the pre-op hoops you have to jump through):

1. You attend a seminar at his office where you'll learn about the different types of surgeries (bypass, lap band, etc.) You'll meet plenty of other people who need surgery as well. You'll learn about the side effects, the dangers, and all the positives of taking the step of having surgery. A very important point that's made right up front is this is NOT easy; this is NOT all that will be needed to lose and sustain the weight loss; the surgery creates a TOOL; it's up to each individual patient to take charge of his/her weight loss. This was a very eye-opening experience for me. I've always looked at myself as the largest person in Cabarrus County. Relieving, yet heart-breaking to realize I wasn't even close!

2. After the seminar, you can begin the process of registering to have the surgery.

3. You visit your Primary Care Physician for a battery of lab work and tests. They record your weight history (different insurance companies require different information, so I can only tell you what BC/BS needed). They sign off on a form that agrees that they will be your primary partner in following up on your surgery and weight loss for the rest of your life.

4. You have an appointment for an upper GI xray...you drink some stuff that tastes like it was brewed in the depths of Hades. No big deal really, but not great fun, either.

5. You have a psych evaluation where you meet a person you'll never see again in your life, and he/she has the ability to say yes/no....this was the most stressful part of the whole process for me. Not the actual testing; that was simple, but the wait to see if he approved me for surgery...wow!

6. You start taking tons of chewable vitamins that you will be on for the rest of your life. (If you can find me one that tastes good, let me know!)

7. You meet with a nutritionist that works with the surgeon to explain what will be required of you as far as eating and exercise goes.

8. You meet twice with the surgeon (Dr. B. and his amazing nurse, Tammi). During these meetings, you watch a video with the actual surgery you're going to have. That was kinda fun, but not for the squeemish!

9. After all the doctor visits, his office sends all the paperwork out for approval through the insurance company.

10. Once it's cleared through BC/BS, you get your surgery date!!

I started all the investigation in August, and then my surgery was slated for October 20, 2010. What a day it was!! More to follow later!

Gosh, this makes me PROUD to be from NORTH Carolina...I always said there's Greater and Lesser Carolina.......enjoy!!

Oh, How I've Missed You!

I wasn't sure my little corner of the blogosphere would still be here when I came back for it! But here it is, and there you are! My readers! So glad to see you again...I've missed you!

So, so much has gone on in the past year or so since I've written, and I must confess, I find myself aching to write again, so here we grow again! My hope is that, as you read these posts, especially if you read from the beginning, you'll see a tremendous amount of growth and change in me over these months away.

Growth, in the sense of some spiritual maturity and just life knowledge. As I type this, hard as it is to believe, I am just a few days away from turning 40 years old! My how time flies, but these grey hairs in my head certainly attest to the "sands through the hour glass" streaming away.

I'm a member of a new church now, called The Village. (Feel free to check us out at www.thevillagechurch.us) I'm responsible for all the communications that goes on, and while I'm certainly not perfect in all I do there, I'm enjoying learning new avenues for my responsibilities. This year, I'll be taking over the newsletter and the website (that oughta be fun), as well as continuing the weekly e-blast update that comes out. I'm also helping to plan monthly fellowship events called "The Village Potluck", and I serve on three leadership committees, so my time is quite taken up with meetings, but I wouldn't have it any other way. I love the people I serve with and beside. It's finally become a joy to serve in a church setting again.

Change, in several realms of my life. I suppose the first and foremost of these is in my physical well-being. In October of last year, I made a very difficult decision to have gastric bypass surgery. Trust me, ANYbody who tells you this is the "easy way out" has either never had the surgery or needs his/her brain operated on! Easy? No way. Effective? Definitely; if you follow the guidelines. As of this morning, I've lost a slight bit over 70 pounds. Now, if I could just get my butt moving more, the pounds would pour off easier. (Someone out there owes me an elliptical machine,....if you happen to know (or BE) that person......I'm just sayin'! But you still rock!)

I'm still working at The Arc....love the clients, love my co-workers, and love many aspects of my job. It's not what I'm supposed to "do" for the rest of my life, but it's where God has placed me for such a time as this, and so I choose to do my best to make the most of it. Now, if anyone KNOWS what it is that I'm supposed to be doing with the rest of my life, could ya give a girl a clue, here?

Last year, The Old Courthouse Theatre produced a play called "The Boys Next Door" about a group of young men with developmental/intellectual disabilities. The Arc was able to sponsor a benefit performance of the production. What a blessing it was!! I met some amazing people, and have a newly adopted family of theater performers! That has been SUCH A BLAST!! I used to hang around the Theater folks in school, but not really since then, so I've had a great time getting to know everyone at OCT. If you haven't been to a local theater production, especially at OCT, I highly encourage you to do so. Go check them out at www.oldcourthousetheatre.org You'll be mightly glad you did!

Gee, what else? Ummmm, I'm a Bears fan now! DA BEARS! (Just a random, thrown in there.)

I've really stepped away from politics, although I will offer an opinion here....Hey! It's my blog, and I can post what I want! LOL The recent tragedy in Tuscon is dispicable and shows the worst of our society. The rhetoric, vitriole and hatred those on the extreme right and left spew is just nothing short of useless. Surely, the American people are better than this. Don't we want our representatives to fight for our beliefs? Of course, we do. But, we must, we must find ways to do it that will keep the political pundits who make their living stirring up dissention and discord at bay. How? I wish I knew....my prayer is that we can begin today. I think it's a great idea that the House of Reps will be bi-partisan seating during this year's State of the Union address....hoping no idiot shouts out "You Lie!" again, but that's just my personal plug there.

It's basketball season....oh, my Tar Heels!! Bless your sweet little, trying, hearts!

Oh, back to the Bears...HOTlacher!!!

For those of you who will ask, Mom & Dad are doing great! Mom's still working as the Register of Deeds for Cabarrus County, and Dad is King of the Honey-Do list (and the Kara-Do and the Mother-in-law-Do lists!)

For that 40th Birthday Party, let me just add that you're all more than welcome to attend! It's gonna be on Saturday, January 29th from 2-4:30 PM @ The Village Church; check the website for address/directions. No gifts necessary, unless ya just want to! Cards are great for me! We're gonna have a great time, celebrating ME being "Fierce, Fabulous & 40!" So none of that "over the hill" junk!

Updates, updates, I know that's all this is. So I'm going to wrap up with an invitation to go check out a video testimony I shared in church a few months ago. If you want to, feel free to mosey on over to http://vimeo.com/channels/thevillagechurch#17313483 and scroll to the 26 minute mark or so. First time I've ever shared my testimony in church in a large group setting!

I am in a writing mood....so you faithful readers know what that means. I write a lot! So, expect some new updates along the way. I'm definitely MORE than a beautiful mess now!!

Love y'all along the journey,
Kara