things i have learned from a child..

... patience. Patience with myself. Patience with others. Patience with horses. Patience at meals. Patience while walking across the gym lawn. Genuinely learning what patience is about and how valuable it is.


... love. How to love when it's easy. How to love when it isn't so easy. How to love when I think I'm too tired. How to love when there is honey and butter all over a child's face and they've just spilled their second glass of orange juice in the morning. How to love a horse that hasn't been cooperating all day. How to love a child who doesn't want to be with you. 


.. that fear is okay. No matter how brave you think you have to be, it's always okay to be fearful. No matter how many times you've done something, it's okay that it scares you. No matter how comfortable you should be, it's okay to still have fear. No matter whether you're in charge or not, it's okay to be fearful. Fear stretches us. It teaches us. It grows us. It's okay, and it's good. 


... to listen. Sometimes the greatest things aren't the ones that are the most easily heard. Sometimes they aren't even said. Sometimes the child that needs you the most is the one that is quietly sitting in the background. Sometimes a friend only needs you to listen, and doesn't actually need your advice. That "I'm doing okay" really means "please pray for me."


... that fun is everywhere. That fun can be had at any time of day. That a Bieber dance party pulls energy from you that you didn't know was there. That you can turn a riding ring obstacle course into a magical adventure through a candy forest with a chocolate bridge and lifesavers that shoot out Gatorade is the best thing that'll happen to you in a day. That pretending makes things ten times more exciting. That you don't have to be a good singer to sing. That if you just let go, you'll enjoy everything more. That having to put on the show when you think you can't changes your attitude instantly. 

love always, 

kels

the circus

Oh hey, yeah I'm exhausted. But so completely filled at the same time. 


Couldn't have had a better weekend/past few days. I got the great pleasure on Sunday morning of having breakfast with some of the best kids I know. My little babies from first term last summer came into town to visit church on Sunday morning, and Katty Cox and I got to have a fantastic breakfast with them bright and early. I've missed y'all so much and it was SO great to see you :)

Monday (yesterday?) the circus came to Camp DeSoto. And I don't have my camera cord on me {and obviously my pictures aren't this good} so I'm gonna borrow a few from the Camp DeSoto website for y'all to check out. Seriously, when I say circus I mean circus... and mostly just the food part. Three corndogs is where I had to draw the line, but I really think I could have done more damage. 


And I stood on a horse while wearing a tutu. That picture is still to come. 

Love you all. Thank you so much for you're encouraging texts, emails and comments. You have no clue how much it means. 

the south

My love for Mississippi, and more specifically the Mississippi Delta, grows each and every time I spend a weekend at home. 

Just this weekend, I had three of those ahhh this is perfect and I wouldn't want to be anywhere else moments. 


Laying out in my backyard on Friday afternoon. I know that isn't MS Delta specific, but being 10,000 miles from anywhere in the quiet of my own house with baby corn sprouting all around us made me so appreciative of my home.


Sitting on the back porch with a solo cup of wine. The utter perfection of this one was fighting off the mosquitoes long enough to listen to a little music and hear the bugs start to chirp. Perfect evening weather and no street lights or honking horns in the background. 


Lounging on the dock on Sunday afternoon. One of our friends has an absolutely stunning lake house, with a dock/patio that sits out over the water. Looking out over the lake with family, friends and a frozen drink in hand, I was so grateful to be from the Delta. 


It is beautiful.. whether it is spring, summer, fall or winter. I take it for granted so so often. I can quickly see the real world coming my way, and I have recently started realizing that the Delta is "where I grew up" and it will always be home but it may not be where "I am moving back to" anytime soon. And I'm just not sure how I feel about that anymore. 

Mississippi,  you have my heart. And always will.

love always, 

kels

22 from my 22nd year.

Happy Birthday to ME! 

Today is the day, my 23rd birthday. I. heart. birthdays. And in honor of completing my 22nd year of life, I'm giving you a list of 22 things that were important to me from my 22nd year. 

one. I wrapped up my four years of undergrad at Mississippi State. I moved out of the Chi O house for the very last time. I worked my last game at Dudy Noble. I watched my friends get jobs, get into graduate school and move away. So bittersweet. 

two. I started a blog. What a great outlet it has been, and what encouragement I have received from so many people. 

three. I met Camp DeSoto. Three months on a mountain with some incredible people, making some incredible memories and learning some incredible lessons. It's hard to believe Camp and its people weren't even part of my life a year ago. 

four. I learned about faith.

five. Student teaching. You've heard enough about that here and here and here and here. 

six. I graduated from college. And tried to start living into the idea of being an alumus of Mississippi State University. Hail State. 

seven. I went rock climbing, twice. And I was pretty dang good at it. 

eight. I've gotten to celebrate with lots of my precious friends that have gotten engaged! 

nine. I learned how to open up to others. Yeah, it took me 22 years to learn how to do that. Judge me. 

ten. I learned about forgiveness. 

eleven. I got a new computer, and a Kindle. And I am now a technology addict. 

twelve. I was offered the Head of Horseback position at Camp DeSoto. Another summer on the mountain, it's good for the soul. 

thirteen. I've gotten to hang out with my sissy in college. It's been fun. Glad I've got a whole two more years of it. 

fourteen. I read LOTS of books, and some faves were: Water for Elephants, A Praying Life, Crazy Love, The Wednesday Letters, The Help, Heaven is For Real and Look Me in the Eyes. 

fifteen. I went to see Garth Brooks in Nashville. 

sixteen. Mississippi State demolished Michigan in the Gator Bowl, and of course I was there to witness it... cowbell in hand. 

seventeen. I was tested by the Lord, and failed miserably. But got to see Him pick me back up again. 

eighteen. I went on a cruise for SB2K11. I also fell in love with the Caribbean. 

nineteen. I rode a mechanical bull. Bucket list---check.  

twenty. I got into grad school at MUW. Future Speech Pathologists. Look out world. 

twenty one. I gave a sermon. 

twenty two. I loved, a lot. 


Here's to 23rd, and the many many things it holds. Thank you all you great readers! You're the best. 

love always, 

kels