Kelly Visited!

I meant to post these pictures BEFORE we left last week for Florida.  We were really excited and grateful that Doug's sister Kelly came to visit us before we left.  Kelly was fresh in the States from Europe (literally--she just flew in hours before) where she was having a lot of fun with a good friend of hers from college, Mery, over the holidays.  Doug is very fond of his sister (me too), Kelly.  She is hard not to love, honestly.  Kelly is independent, thoughtful, adventurous, smart, kind-hearted, mature with a great head on her shoulders, a very talented figure skater (she skates and goes to school at Miami University in Ohio) ....and is just a chill fun person to be around.  So, when she was here, we all went out to dinner (sushi), out to a coffee shop and then saw "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button", which I thought was excellent, thought-provoking movie.  And, while I was at work the next morning, Doug and Kelly were able to catch brunch together.... :) 

Not sure if you read this, but thanks again for coming, Kelly! You are fun. :)

Love, Doug & Katie :)

We're Home from South Florida!!!

There must be quite a few things that a hot bath and rest won't cure, but I don't know many of them.

~Sylvia Plath, The Bell Jar

Hello Everyone!

Doug and I arrived home yesterday (actually, this morning!) After one boat ride (from Captiva to Pine Island), two car rides (to and from airports) and three planes (yes, three!), Doug and I finally made it home at 2 a.m. this morning (delayed flights due to weather and ice on the planes--fun, eh??!). We had an AMAZING time in North Captiva. The weather was STELLAR, beaches were simply stunning, and Doug and I had a BLAST together....laughing, laying out on the beach (at least 6 hours a day!), going back to the beach for sunsets and back to the beach again for late night walks with cigars in hand (the ocean is full of so much mystery at night...love that). Overall, our time was full of reflecting, resting, talking, laughing, DANCING (of course!) , reading, a morning run (everyday...love these especially on the beach). I also saw DOLFINS on the boat ride (which was very cool for me, an "old hat" for Doug--LOL). We were so grateful that we had this opportunity to go and ENJOY...it was a beautiful time and vacation. :)

SO..........now we are back at REALITY (oh, yes). After getting in the wee hours of this morning, I had to get up for a 7:30 a.m. meeting this morning with our company business consultant, Doug is finishing up a big game at his work and is planning on working at least 14 hour days/6 days/week for the next month, and Doug starts back at Northwestern (Kellogg) this Saturday (seriously, that man is amazing....I don't know how he gives so much to work and this MBA program and still have the positive attitude he does). Not to mention....laundry (lots of sandy clothes), putting away our Christmas tree and decorations, mail, etc. (you name it). The intensity of the next few months with work and Doug's MBA program made this vacation even more special, NEEDED, and appreciated.

Special gratitude, love and hugs again to Mike & Marcia who not only let us use their second home is Captiva (it was so lovely!), but whom also personally boated us across from Island to Island and picked us up and dropped us off at the airport (in STYLE, I might add :) ). Thank you again Mike & Marcia--we had a GREAT time with you guys and love you both tremendously. We are grateful for you both!

Lastly, I took about 270 photos (yep! I LOVE my new camera). So, I will post about 10 or so later today or tomorrow. If you are on facebook, I am sure I will post an album or two in the next few days, so...if you are interested....there will be quite a few to look at. :)

Thanks to our family and friends for your prayers for a wonderful trip (it was) and for looking after our home while we were gone. Special thanks to Adele & K.C. for dropping by our home during the week to take care of Bitty (our expressive funny cat). Adele and K.C., thank you so much for your time and everything! K.C., you were right about the ice on our driveway...the first thing I did when I got out of the car at home was.............to slip and fall on the ice.....at 2 a.m............with gold sparkly t-strap sandals still on my feet (not on purpose, I forgot to pack my closed toe shoes in my carry on--lol).

Back in Madison and back at work...Hugs & Love,
Kate :)

Pictures from the Celebrations! :)

Merry Christmas & Happy Holidays to you!  Here are just a few pictures (with my new camera!!!)  from a couple of our celebrations..............ENJOY!

My Handsome & Talented Hubby--the FIRST picture I took with my new camera!!! Yay!

Mmmmm....cupcakes for our guests.  (My Christmas theme is Silver & White)

Tryistan, Michelle & Alyse on Christmas Day. :)

Alyse was having a GREAT time--such personality!!! This was after opening her presents--lol.

Oh....Tryistan is one happy young man.... :) :)

Laura, Blake & Doug at our home for a Christmas party!  

Our sister-in-law Allison, and Doug's brother, Jeff at the party (after the dinner & before gifts!) 

Opening one of my gifts and obviously having a great time doing it! 

Presents under the tree (pre-parties, of course!)

The table was set for the dinner party.......

Bitty (our cat formerly known as "Miss America, the Kitty") making me laugh with her expressions....she's a fun pet...we love her :)

:) BEAMING :)

“Photography is a small voice, at best, but sometimes one photograph, or a group of them, can lure our sense of awareness.”
W. Eugene Smith quotes

“Photography is a way of feeling, of touching, of loving. What you have caught on film is captured forever... it remembers little things, long after you have forgotten everything.”
Aaron Siskind quotes

This was my early Christmas present from the hubby (Can you tell I am excited and BEAMING??--LOL) !!! :)

Doug, thank you SO MUCH for always surprising me and encouraging my passions. :) :) :) Those of you who know me, know that I have been wanting a Digital SLR for a long long LONG time (This one is a Nikon D90). I LOVE taking pictures.......I LOVE the art of photography (I took two photography classes in college using my Dad's Nikromat from the 1970s and developed my own photos--awesome)....I LOVE capturing moments. One picture really can say "a THOUSAND words" (no doubt about that).

Needless to say, this just may be my favorite gift I ever received!!! I am having a blast learning how to use this thing and reading all about it!!! I am excited to use it on our coming vacation (yay for warm weather and a break from work and school!) and with all the guests that will be staying with us over the Christmas holiday. :) :)

Can't wait to share these photos with you--CANNOT WAIT! :)

Merry Early Christmas & Happy Holidays to you and yours,

Kate

WOLVERINE !

Congrats to the WOLVERINE team for the cover of EGM!

It's Party Season!!!

Doug (Hubby) & I at Doug's brother and sister-in-law's party (Jeff & Allison)

Some of the ladies enjoying the party--Bridget, Emily, Jennifer & Carla :)

Cinsy & I at Raven's Christmas party (Doug's work) :)

A candid shot (sort of --lol) of Marisa, me, Adele & K.C. at the Raven party

Doug and his good friend, Brandon. Hanging out before AXIS at Willow Creek.  Brandon is one of the head pastor's at AXIS. 

Liam playing with his Mom's (my sister Valerie's) necklace (I thought this was a cute moment).  

 Dad, Erica (my sister) and my niece, Jenna.   Note:  the matching blue outfits ;0)

Steve (my fantastic brother-in-law :)  ) and Doug :) 

My Step-Mom, Julie, & Jenna

Happy Monday to you!  Hope everyone had a peaceful weekend. :)  Doug and I had 3 Christmas parties this weekend (Friday, Saturday & Sunday) and Doug had class all-day Saturday (which, of course, means we were up at 5 a.m. after getting to bed at 1 a.m. from party #1--we were tired--lol!).  All the parties were very fun and different!  Friday night was Doug's company's work party here in Madison at a hotel ballroom (it was lovely and a lot of fun!).  Saturday was Doug's brother, Jeff, and sister-in-law, Allison's Christmas party at their home in Palatine, IL--they threw a great party!  And Sunday, Doug and I celebrated Christmas with my Dad and Julie at their Chicago place with the fam--great times, great food (thank you, Julie!!).   Also, on Saturday night, we had the opportunity to stay with the Grissom Family, Brandon, Beki & Stella. :)  Doug and Brandon are great friends and it was awesome to catch up.  :)  Needless to say though, by 8 p.m. last night when we finally pulled into our driveway, we were very excited to get home and REST!!!  Of course, I took 70 pictures over the weekend (I know...that's A LOT...thank the Lord for Digital cameras!-lol).  So, here are a bunch.  Happy Holiday Season to you and yours.... Love, Kate 

Baby!

Congratulations to our friends, R.J. & Marisa on the birth of daughter, Eden Rei!!!! What a gorgeous name--LOVE IT! Eden arrived this morning--Mom and baby are doing well. And, Noah is now the super cute big brother to Eden. :0)
What a gorgeous day to be born--it's a bright beautiful day here in Madison!

Pictures of Eden to come!

Congrats again!
Doug & Kate :)

"It's Going to Be Alright"

My very good friend, Matt, of almost nine years (he and his family are like family to me), who resides in Carmel, Indiana, wrote out the lyrics to this song and sent them in a letter after a phone conversation I had with him months ago. I posted the written lyrics up on our home office 'note board,' and Doug and I have been reminding each other of these words whenever we need to hear it (you know.... on 'those days') :) It is comforting because it reminds us that in life, we can only do what we can do, and the rest we can surrender to God (it's liberating, actually). And, that, ulimately, when everything is said and done...."It's going to be alright."
I believe it really will.

Hopes these words also bring you peace today....

Happy Wednesday! Kate :)

Lyrics to It's Going To Be Alright
(Song & Lyrics by Sara Groves--my favorite lyrical songwriter).

It's going to be alright
It's going to be alright

I can tell by your eyes that you're not getting any sleep
And you try to rise above it, but feel you're sinking in too deep
Oh, oh I believe, I believe that

It's going to be alright
It's going to be alright

I believe you'll outlive this pain in you heart
And you'll gain such a strength from what is tearing you apart
Oh, oh I believe I believe that

It's going to be alright
It's going to be alright

When some time has past us, and the story is retold
It will mirror the strength and the courage in your soul

Oh, oh, I believe I believe,I believe I believe

I did not come here to offer you clichÈ's I will not pretend to know of all your pain
Just when you cannot, then I will hold out faith, for you...

It's going to be alright
It's going to be alright

Thanksgiving Pictures :)

Brooke, me, & Ted!

Doug & I :)

Our Grams & Doug--Again, she adores him! :)

Me & Grams..going through pictures & letters...

My super-cute nephew Liam James ---LOVE this pic--lol. :)

My pretty niece Jenna & Liam--lookin' good. :)

LOL--Jenna is so cute (a total diva). She was POSING...loves the camera!

I am SOOOOOOOO thankful that we are still enjoying time off and that Doug was here and did not have to travel to Chicago for class this weekend--YAY!!!

This Thanksgiving, we drove down on Wednesday night (after work) to spend Thanksgiving day with my 92 year old Grandmother (Grams) in Decatur, IL. She was DELIGHTED to say the least. :) Doug and I were her only guests this Thanksgiving...so, although we could only stay until the afternoon, we had a wonderful time together (every minute of the trip was worth it to see her so happy!).
Since we came in rather late on Wednesday night, Doug and I had the opportunity to see some of my very best dearest and closest friends, Brooke and Ted (both grew up in Decatur, IL as well and I attended college with both too). I also saw some old/close friends, Liz & Nate (along with wife Audrey). The entire evening was just a TON of fun...to catch up ,laugh, and laugh more. :) We spent the evening at a cute musical outlet/bar in Decatur called BLOCKS. Thanks you guys!!!! I miss you a ton.

SO, after our visit with Grams, Doug and I drove a couple hours to see my Mom and sisters for Thanksgiving. As usual we had an awesome time at my Mom & John's...wonderful company (family), great food, lots of laughs, and a very loving casual atmosphere (my favorite). :) Thank you again, Mom & John!

ABOVE are just a few pictures from Wednesday night and Thursday --ENJOY! Love, Kate & Doug :)

Happy Thanksgiving! :)

Happy Thanksgiving!

Doug and I are so thankful to God for His unconditional beautiful love and all the gifts he has given to us…..for our FAMILY and FRIENDS (many of whom read this blog—thank you!) who often model such beautiful love to us in our lives. We thank God for breath, a home, jobs, for hope, good health, hugs (especially BEAR hugs), the ability to exercise, the gifts of site and hearing (amazing gifts!), freedom, the opportunity to go after our dreams (we don’t take this for granted…with great opportunity comes great responsibility), for warm beds, LAUGHTER, courage, the gift of mobility, smiles :0)….the list goes on and on….

May you SEIZE THE DAY…everyday….and find gratefulness….

Thank you God,
Kate

To speak gratitude is courteous and pleasant, to enact gratitude is generous and noble, but to live gratitude is to touch Heaven.
Author: Johannes A. Gaertner

There is a calmness to a life lived in Gratitude, a quiet joy.

Gratitude is one of the least articulate of the emotions, especially when it is deep.
Author: Felix Frankfurter

True thanksgiving means that we need to thank God for what He has done for us, and not to tell Him what we have done for Him. -.
Author: George R. Hendrick