A song for Saturday.

This week's is a new song by Matthew West. He wrote it in response to the K-LOVE Valentine's Day Special Song Contest (I don't know the real name of the contest, but its the one they have been holding the last few years and an artist writes a special song for the winners of the contest, tailored to the love story they submit to the radio station.) 

Anyway, I think this one is very sweet and wanted to share in case you haven't heard it. K-LOVE may still have the winner's story posted on their website. So... without further ado: Matthew West's: When I say I do

There must be a God, I believe its true. 

Cause I can see His love, when I look at you. 

And he must have a plan for this crazy life. 

Becuase He brought you here and placed you by my side.

chorus:

And I have never been so sure of anything before, 

Like I am in this momment here with you 

Now for better or for worse are so much more than only words

And I pray everyday will be the proof 

That I mean what I say when I say 'I do'

Yeah I mean what I Say when I say 'I do'

You see these hands you hold, will always hold you up

When the strength you have just aint strong enough 

And what tomorrow brings, only time will tell

But I will stand by you in sickness and in health 

Cause I have never been so sure of anything before 

Like I am in this momment here with you

And now 'for better or for worse' 

Are so much more than only words

And I pray every day will be the proof 

That I mean what I say when I say 'I do' 

Ya I mean what I say when I say 

Take my hand and take this ring

And know that I will always love you through anything.

And as the years march on like a beating heart

I will live these words 'til death do us part'

Cause I have never been so sure of anything before 

Like I am in this moment here with you

And now for better or for worse 

Are so much more than only words 

And I pray everyday will be the proof 

That I mean what I say when I say 'I do'

Ya I mean what I say when I say 'I do'

Full-Faith Disclosure. Well, Sort-of.

**Note: I posted this and took it down because I felt a little self-conscious about it. I'm posting it again though, because I was encouraged by a good friend that it was okay to post!

I have been avoiding faith-related posts lately, for no reason other than I'm having a difficult time articulating the faith things that are going on in my heart and head. 

Writing about and thinking about faith is much more difficult than I realized before I started doing it for an audience. That is an audience other than the Lord who already knows my thoughts before I have written them.

I don't know if this writers block is because I have applied pressure to myself to try and post about faith, without just letting it come up naturally, or if its because what is going on is too personal, or if its something I don't think anyone else might be interested in, or if its something all-together different than that... 

And I just don't want you to give up on me. I would like to be a place of encouragement for you in your walk with the Lord, and even to myself in mine, by writing about things I'm thinking, etc... So I'm still going to try to do so. Just without the pressure of: Post about faith X# of times per week or per month or per issue; because I feel like forcing it, forcing quantity over quality, just won't do be the best for us. (Not that I'm doubting that the Lord can work with any little thing or any greater thing, but I'm just going to take the pressure off of myself and see what happens. See if maybe I have things I'm more willing and / or able to share.)

So keep reading with me until then because...

I'm here and I'm still writing.

-Katie Beth

Your Blog Does Not Make Sense.

Well, last night Handsome told me my blog yesterday about the J.Crew bag didn't make sense. (Partially because he didn't know about online "shopping bags" and partially because I didn't write it very well.) And I will say I'm not surprised. I was tired while I was writing and though I re-read it and it made perfect sense to me, I should have known it might be a little bit of my loopy-brain coming out. And the loopy brain almost always makes perfect sense to me, though often not to anyone else.

So anyhow, I'll try to write more clearly, and less when I'm tired. 

P.S. I'm thinking about a new blog design. Kinda want to get it done professionally, because I don't know how, but also kinda want to figure out how to do the cool stuff on my own. Then the blog would be even more of a creative outlet... hmm. Decisions. Decisions. 

Happy Friday. 

So. Cute.

So I definitely don't need another bag of any variety. (Except perhaps a duffle for weekend / shorter trips, because right now I use my super duper large rolling bag for EVERY trip seeing as it is the only luggage I own... but that also gives me a reason to overpack for every trip I take... and I digress) But I happened upon one a while back that I like now and I apparently liked before (because it was in my online shopping bag at J.Crew even though I had forgotten about it) and how stinkin' cute is this? 

Mr. Rh: It wasn't in the shopping bag because I intend on purchasing, but was merely there so I could go back on a day like today and find it waiting for me to admire again...

Friends, it can be monogramed. And can be yours for only, oh gee, lets just say entirely too much money for a newly-wedded graduate student to spend on a bag she doesn't need.  

New Friend for Old Chores.

Mr. Ruggedly Handsome and I had been having consistent issues with our two inherited vacuums and finally this past Saturday they were both laid to rest. He picked out our new one. You see, he inherited the good-vacuuming gene from his Pops. And boy I am a lucky lady because of that.

So we recently welcomed this little guy into our home.

He is a Dyson and though he is heavier than my last Oreck, he is definitely more stylish. (RIP Oreck. Everything around here seems to be getting heavier, and you little eight pound friend, just couldn't keep up with the weight gain. It tis probably a better thing for you and your vacuum-arteries anyhow.)

So that new Dyson is probably the most stylish Vacuum I have ever owned. The design is quite ingenious if I do say so myself. And that puppy eats dirt, dust mites, tissue that accidentally got washed, shredded into a million pieces by the washing machine and shaken off the clothes and onto the ground as the clothes ventured to the dryer, pizza crumbs, and probably just about anything else you could possibly imagine.

Oh I never knew how cool household appliances could be. And what a dang great expenditure(!), seeing as it makes vacuuming and household chores so much more fun. So now Handsome and I have something new to bicker about: who gets to vacuum the floors.

Miss Manners Doesn't Know.

So...I got a little behind on some wedding thank-yous. Mostly to people who helped out, etc., not so much with those for presents, but more with those for presence. I partly got behind because of graduate school, but the fact that I really wanted to write some meaningful, personalized notes also set me back a bit. 

So recently I got a set of notes out: Notes to a group of people who each individually mean a whole lot to me and some who also mean a lot to Handsome.

And today when I got home, there was a manilla colored envelope of personalized stationary addressed to Handsome and me. And it was the nicest thank you note back to us; a thank you for allowing that person to participate in our wedding festivities and for being a blessing to him. This is when I thought that he had been such a special blessing to us and when his actions had perhaps been a bit out of his comfort zone. (He sang a duet of one of our favorite hymns during our wedding ceremony). The note was very sweet and he started off by saying that Miss Manners might not approve of his gesture, writing a note back to us... I'll say that I was very touched and felt very honored by it even if it wasn't what Miss Manners prescribed as appropriate for the situation. Perhaps it is because manners don't always equivocate with kindness and thoughtfulness. And it was his thoughtfulness and kindness that touched my heart. So I'm thankful that not always doing the "appropriate thing" but something thoughtful can touch another in the way that the polite thing is meant to. (And because Miss Manners would probably gasp with horror at the fact that I'm still writing some thank yous).

iTunes Tell-All.

I found this on anothers blog...which I sadly can't remember right now. What you do is set your iTunes on random, and as you click forward the song that comes up is the answer to the question. 

I know this is not the greatest post ever, but a girls tired. And she and her man made a deal to stop computer and TV at 8, but I needed to post today! (because I made a bit of a pledge to myself to post each day in February) and... THIS is a fun post. Enjoy! and feel free to steal. It will give me a little insight into your musical tastes!

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOURSELF?
All At Once-The Fray

WHAT DO YOU LOOK FOR IN A GUY/GIRL?
Intoxicating--Dave Crowder Band

HOW DO YOU FEEL TODAY?
God Blessed The Broken Road--Rascal Flats

WHAT IS YOUR LIFE'S PURPOSE?
Things I'll Never Say--Avril Lavigne

WHAT'S YOUR MOTTO?
A Mighty Fortress Is Our God--The Hymn sung by a choir

WHAT DO YOUR FRIENDS THINK OF YOU?
Obsession--Dave Crowder Band

WHAT DO YOUR PARENTS THINK OF YOU?
Barren Land--Shane & Shane

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT VERY OFTEN?

American Baby--Dave Mathews Band

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT YOUR FIRST KISS?
Just the Way You Are--Michael Buble

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR BEST FRIEND?
Twisted--Carrie Underwood

WHAT IS YOUR LIFE STORY?
(I've Had) The Time of My Life--Dirty Dancing Soundtrack

WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GROW UP?
(O Praise Him) All This For a King--Dave Crowder Band

WHAT DO YOU THINK WHEN YOU SEE THE PERSON YOU LIKE?
When I Say I Do--Matthew West

WHAT WILL YOU DANCE TO AT YOUR WEDDING?
Reflections--Jim Brickman

WHAT WILL THEY PLAY AT YOUR FUNERAL?
Everyday America--Sugarland

WHAT IS YOUR HOBBY/INTEREST?
Sweet & Low--Augustana

WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST FEAR?
Pantala Intro--Dave Matthews Band

WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST SECRET?
Check Yes or No--George Strait

WHAT DO YOU WANT RIGHT NOW?
Goodnight L.A.--Counting Crows 

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR FRIENDS?
What a Wonderful Girl--Louise Armstrong

WHAT WILL YOU POST THIS AS?
Hale--Deep Blue Something