Your P.A.L. Kat

because he is my best friend in the whole wide world…

because he makes my world a better place to live in…

because he loves me with a love that could make time stand still…

because he makes me feel safe…

because he is makes me giggle….

because he is funny…

because he is smart….

because he is HOT…

because he never gives up on me…

because he is the prince who rescued me…

because he is so like me in so many ways…

because he gets me, in ways no one ever has…

because he loves God…

because he is so opposite of me in so many ways…

because he has a good heart…

because he is gentle…

because we are in this journey called life together…

because he is so talented at capturing “reality” and “life” so beautifully…

because he makes me want to be a better person….

because he encourages my stregnths and does not judge my weaknesses…

because he calls me his sweetie…

because he loves UNCONDITIONALLY…

because he puts up with my me…

because he wants to have a family with me…

because he never compromises what he believes in…

because he is strong…

because he wants to grow old with me…

because he is who GOD made him…

I love this man because he is my Husband!

2 years ago we said i do at the happiest place on earth…and since that day, i have grown more and more in love with jon every day…i have learned more, accepted more, gained more, and loved more…without him, i don;t know where i would be today..for this gift i have with him, i am forever grateful and abundantly blessed by God!

Happy 2 year anniversary!!!! Leta keep trekkin’ on our life journey together…

I cannot wait for what’s next!

I LOVE YOU WITH ALL OF MY HEART!!!!

your sweetie….

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this is my sister deanna… aka neenee as i like to call her…

she is my hero…why you ask?

she has the biggest heart of gold, the smile of a thousand hugs and kisses, the wit of someone well beyond her years, the strength of a bull, the innocence and essence of life, the joy of a child, the laughter that makes my world a better place…

my sister is over 7 months pregnant right now, and that in itself is a MIRACLE and a BLESSING…she was unable to conceive for over ten years of trying and endless attempts and avenues, and with what life continued to throw her, she was so strong…but alas, she is pregnant, she is beautiful, and she has the attitude everyone should have when being blessed with a miracle….she is positive, radiant, and courageous…she is confident, soft, and lovely…i love watching my sister with my adopted nephew aedyn, who will be 1 on sept. 21st…she is an amazing mother to him and will be an amazing mother to connor patrick in a little over 2 months…throwing my sister her baby shower for this miracle baby was such a gift…the funny thing is, both aedyn and connor are miracles…blessings…unexpected miracles really have  a way of revealing the strength one has inside of them, the hidden hero in all of us…

nee is my best friend, my kindred spirit, my life line…she is my sissy, and im so proud to be hers…

My sister is my hero…and i love her with all of my heart…

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My aunt mary and her husband josh, along with their daughter katie, have traveled to Chongqing to bring home the newest addition to the family…his name is DANEIL…they blog about their journey here…they say he seems like hes has been with them all along…GOD is so good…their family is so very blessed…we all cant wait to meet him…here are some pictures mary posted of their new family…isnt he cute..

maryanne and her children…katie and daniel

(she looks so happy)

katie and hew new baby brother…

(proud big sis)

josh and the kids…

seriously, im so happy for them…GOD is so good…

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okay, so this is a silly post…maybe not necessary, but im so excited…so i might as well share…

JON and I officially are trying to get PREGO!!!! (pregnant)

so, some prayer would be nice!  this is something that has been on our minds and hearts for some time…jon and i are so excited to start trying for a family…but unfortunately, there might be possible road blocks…some advice i got was to not think about the negative that “could” happen, rather focus on God’s plan for our family…it has been decided that we WILL be adopting at some point…there is no question in that…so, we are embarking on a new journey…and would love all the prayer and support we can get…we are keeping God’s will in mind for our future family…and with this state of mind,  i know He will provide and bless us…

so, there you have it!

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I love this man…he is wonderful, funny, loving, kind, and  COMPASSIONATE…he is my best friend!  wanted to share what i was feeling right now…and share this pic Christina Ellis took at disneyland…

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well, as most of you know who actually read my blog, jonny-ri’s and my weekend was not as we expected…go here to read all about…

never the less, it ended up being exactly what we needed…just time together, with some great laughs and one of my most favorite games…SKIP BO…played this game endlessly with my grandma baird (god, i miss her sometimes)…she was the funniest lady, stubborn as all heck, loved unconditionally (literally)…and, could cook the “most” amazing biscuits and gravy on the planet…seriously, dont even try to top g-ma bairds biscuits and gravy folks, never gonna happen…anyway, back on track…

jon and i when we got home sat. night, mosied on over to a lovely coco’s dinner, where i enjoyed a steak (my favorite) and then to panera, to enjoy their cafe blend coffee (so yummy) and a carmel pecan brownie…and we played skip bo…it was seriously one of the best nights i have had in a while…and it was so not what we planned…goes to show you “we” are not in control, even of hotel reservations…but wonderfully satisfying just the same…i got to be with my boo, eat a steak, drink coffe, and play a game…now really folks, what for me, kathy, gets better than that?

so much satisfaction in the small things…thats what matters…

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well, my love day was lovely…how was your LOVE day!

was it filled with love?

this weekend jon and i are going to escape to some hotel bliss!

cant wait!

oh, and bday pics still to come…jons figuring out my computer, its being poopy!

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ok, so i am crying…of course…i just read my husbands most recent post about me, his “weepy wife”…go and read it if you dont know what the heck im talking about…him posting this shows just how much he does feel, how he is moved by things…we just show it in different ways…i am a blubbering fool, and he is a thinker, and i can always tell if something moves him by his expressions…and apparently when i bop up and down from a little diddy i hear and he notices out of the corner of his eye and calls me adorable…that there is a perfect example of what gets us both going…my being me gets to him and him being him and noticing my silliness and embracing it really gets to me…as i am now posting about it and crying…a good cry…

i love my husband with all of my heart…he is my prince…and i am forever his “weepy wife.”

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what do you do at 630 in the morning on christmas eve morning 2007? BLOG, of course!

im seriously werid, i know!

Well, if you are me, you have a migraine since last night…but that certainly doesnt stop me from waking up anyway, lighting a fire, turning on the christmas tree lights, and taking some blog photos of myself at around 7am on christmas eve morning 2007… i am 28 years old this christmas eve morning…soon to be 29…good lord!

and i cant help but still get excited…because its CHRISTMAS!!!!  after all these years of going thru Christmas with so many different traditions, priorities, experiences, and people…i think this year tops them all…

this year my christmas will be different than any other…this year my christmas will be spent focusing on the every day gift i receive…GODS love, grace, and comfort!

this christmas for me is about people, not things…about new traditions for my own family, about being grateful that i am even here on this earth, about rejoicing in the birth of Christ and his abundance that only HE can give on Christmas… this christmas i celebrate the love from others people around me as a gift…and that in itself is better than any wrapped present under any tree…i dont NEED anything this Christmas…instead, i am reflecting on what i already have…

i have life thru Christ…

i have peace in my heart

i have a place to lay at night

i have clothes on my back

i have a variety of friendships, each unique and dear to my heart…

i have amazing family members, as crazy as we are, we would do anything for one another…i know this with all my heart…and i have a love for them that is unexplainable and unconditional

i have a husband and best friend who loves and cherishes our marriage, and who is every day accomplishing me falling in love with him more and more…

i have an unbelievably wonderful family i married into…they have showed me a peace and a stability that has helped me grow closer to GOD…

i have the ability to grow closer to GOD every day of my life…to love others, to serve HIM…

i have all i could ask for this Christmas…

although this year is not about  “actual” gifts in my family, this year my gifts are unnumbered…

and i am so excited about it all i had to share and take some photos…

no chestnuts…but it is still nice! even alone while your hubby is snoozing away!

bella ‘n’ me…she says, “why am i awake with you right now mommy?”  as she trotted off after this photo to go sleep on my side of the bed next to daddy!

our tree…oh my goodness, are those presents under there?  dint i just say this year wasnt aout presents for me?  yes, i did…dont get scared, the presents are for all the children i call nieces and nephews and for a traditional gift exchange we do yearly at my dads…whew, didnt want to be labeled a hypocrite!

so to all out there this CHRITSMAS EVE morning, MERRY CHRISTMAS EVE morning, everyone!

i must now get ready for my days festivities…go on a bike ride to the grocery store to get ingredients for Christmas morning breakfast, come home, prepare it, shower, await my sisters arrival, head to mothers, go look at the mission inn, festival of lights!  i waited this year to go with my sissy…go to Christmas eve service at the grove, head to my brothers for dinner, and then back to our neck of the woods to revisit Chapman Place and others for a wonderful light spectacle, and home!

I LOVE CHRISTMAS!

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 December 11, 2006

decmeber 11, come and gone…WOW, yes, its been an entire year since i married my best friend and became Mrs. Jon Risinger…

this past year has been amazing…i have learned so many things…this past year has brought me:

MORE PATIENCE (hey, im not perfet yet, Lord knows that and so does everyone else who knows me)

CLOSER TO GOD

MORE FRIENDS

AN UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT LOVE IS REALLY ABOUT

A MAN WHO STILL ADORES ME EVEN AFTER BEING WITH ME FOR A YEAR

(and i can be a real pian in the ass)

PEACE

JOY

STRUGGLES THAT WERE UNBEARABLE AT TIMES (and we persevered, together)

LOTS AND LOTS OF LAUGHTER

CLEARER PATHS…ABOUT LIFE

EXCITEMENT

CONTENTMENT

FRUSTRATION (heres where i got to pratice patience)

A DEEPER LOVE FOR AN AMAZING MAN

TEARS… but then again if you know me, that shouldnt surprise you!

NEW HOPES

NEW ADVENTURES

A STRONGER FRIENDSHIP WITH JONNY

PERSPECTIVE

SIMPLICITY

A PASSION FOR STRIVING TO BE THE WIFE I KOW GOD INTENDED ME TO BE…

just a few things i have learned and been thru with my wonderful and amazing husband who i am so excited to still be getting to know and will continue to grow with and learn with and love with and cry with and laugh with and get pissed off with and not understand with, and well, just enjoy the journey with…this past year has been the most fulfilling year of my life…thanks baby for 1 wonderful year down in what i hope will be 50 more…Happy Anniversary stinky!

here is a cool pic of us all last year at the wedding….silliness!

and us skipping away in to the sunset…well, not really….we were just skipping away

how cute….

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