just because

i am so far from being a perfect christian. i often tell people that i will be sweeping porches in Heaven. i'm pretty serious about that. there are lots of parts of me that are gross and fleshy and not adding rooms to my mansion (aka TENT) in Heaven. i hope that my life honors God and that He is ultimately pleased with me (thanks to His Son!) so saying i'm not perfect doesn't mean i don't try to live a life that blesses Him... i do! but for friends out there who aren't in a good place spiritually or don't really trust God at all...I'd like to just share some reasons i believe in Christ and hope you will too. i am saddened by my sin. i feel like i have struggled with the same old stuff for entirely too long. but being a mom has taught me a lot about His grace. good grief, i can't imagine loving G anymore than i do. that kid stole my heart before i ever held him in my arms. but every day...multiple times a day...i have to correct him, discipline hi...

i've been a tad overwhelmed and a little (ok a lot) grumpy today. i looked through my old blogs and saw that a year ago i wrote my 100th blog. for that one i listed 100 random kaci thoughts. so instead of being a grump i thought i'd try to list 100 things that make me happy. now, we all know i love Jesus. i appreciate his grace, mercy, love etc. so this list isn't going to hit everything thing...and certainly wont hit all my Jesus-y things. so heads up on that. 100. FALL. i love cool mornings and comfortable afternoons. (is that too much to ask?! ha) 99. a new dateline and/or 48 hours on my dvr 98. the show franklin & bash. i think i am the only one who watches it but it makes me laugh. 97. the food network. right madison?! :) 96. seeing all the "regulars" at lake bottom in the mornings. 95. getting in bed with clean sheets 94. supper with my boys...every night at 6! 93. having candles lit in my house and office 92. the coffee Jonathan Moore makes ...

i keep seeing status updates about the iPhone 6. which makes me laugh. so i thought i would confess some things about myself...and about specific areas of my life. just kaci confessions: - i've never had an iPhone or iPod. - i don't know what a birch box is - i buy my makeup at walgreens. - except for running shoes and my tony lama boots...i've never paid more than $25 for shoes or a purse. - i refuse to pay for a pedicure or manicure (i need my gross feet for running, thanks!) - at 35 i have, for the first time, someone who cuts my hair. i'm almost in therapy for having to pay for it. but my cheap cuts were killing me. - i could talk about food all day. and am almost always hungry. or at least could eat. being a mom of an adopted son: - i LOVE it. but sometimes i think people don't think I'm a "real mom" because i didn't give birth to g. that may not be true but sometimes i do feel like less of a mom b/c of it. but you know whats ...

few random things to start... - i am challenging myself to wear makeup and real clothes at least 4 days a week. we'll see how long that lasts. - i have given up on not having calloused hands. i'm realizing you can't have baby soft hands and lift heavy weights. - it's only wednesday. but i am super excited about saturday at 3:30. i will be on my couch, in pjs, watching UGA play. i am pumped. Gabe update: - hearing him "Jesus loves me" is MY FAVORITE. so darn sweet. - he's doing so well in his big boy bed. he doesn't STAY in it...but he doesn't keep me up so who cares! jay and i laugh hearing his little feet run across his room to grab toys and run back to bed. like we can't hear it! funny kid. sunday jay went to pull his blanket back before bedtime and toys went flying. real slick g. last night he and i were talking about snacks that we love. (he was eating pretzels saying he liked them.) i said pretzels are overrate...

i have fallen in love with 154 teenagers. sure, they can get on my nerves, ha. they do stupid things, say incredibly insane things sometimes and  Lord knows they don't always pay attention. but i just love them. every one of them is unique. i spent my weekend looking at them as i spoke, watching them as they shared in small groups, played nine square, square danced, worshipped and laughed. i saw all types of students. some nerdy, some super athletic and "cool", some very quiet and reserved, some you'd NEVER pick out of a crowd to be a TA (those of my favorites!) and some that blend in with the crowd. but i asked God, and He was faithful, to let me SEE each one of them this weekend. i'd written their names at least 5 times on name tags, ocho lists, cabin lists, etc. so i had prayed for each one individually and i hoped i would SEE each one just as HE does... when you are looking at people the way He does...your heart just melts...it simply loves. i am t...