I'm struggling! Oh, and welcome to my blog.

The idea of blogging has intrigued me for quite some time, as I have found myself fascinated time and time again by the thoughtful ideas and feelings of individuals who I often know very little, or not at all.  Yet, I have never made the plunge.  Until now.  I suspect the appropriate way to start a blog is to offer an introduction of sorts, a little insight into who you are and what you have to offer the reader.  But here's the deal:  I have no idea what I am doing.  I just know this- I am sitting at my computer with an empty bag of veggie chips at 12:11 in the morning.  An empty bag.  My precious but extremely demanding little boys are sleeping peacefully in my bed upstairs.  In my bed. And I just ended a skype conversation with my husband in Afghanistan who has been dodging rockets this weekend.  Dodging rockets.  So guess what,  friends?  I am a mess.  A big ole' messy messy messy mess.  And the empty bag of chips, the lack of boundaries with my children, and the stress of a military deployment prove it.

So don't expect to find recipes and goodies here.  To the women who are master coupon clippers, gourmet cooks, smock embroiderers and experts in all things domestic, you truly have superpowers.  I applaud you.  I often wish I were like you.  But alas,  I'm not that girl. So if you'll just allow me to use this venue as an outlet to express concerns, frustrations, ideas, and on occasion, raw emotion, I would be so appreciative to you! 

One last thing.  I am a Christian.  My relationship with my savior defines me.  Some of you will quit reading now.  Some will become uncomfortable.  But as I struggle, miss my husband, worry over the things I might not be getting right as a wife, a mother, sister, daughter, or friend (and believe me, there are plenty),  my hope comes from the Lord.  And because He gives me grace, I can move forward.  It's too big a part of me not to include it here.  And as I go to bed tonight (on an air mattress beside my bed), I will be singing the old hymn...

Just a closer walk with Thee,

Grant it Jesus is my plea

Daily walking close to Thee

Let it be, Dear Lord, Let it be.

Until we meet again...

Katherine