Mug-spiration Monday *Vol. 20*

*Warning- you may need lot's of coffee to make it through this post. Go get some before you regret it!

Last week was a doozy! I couldn't go to Facebook without seeing posts-galore about France, how terrible Obama is, the Syrian refugees and how Christians should only have one view of that situation. I know they are all very important issues, but with all the noise, sometimes it's a little hard to think clearly.

I'd like to say three things and then move on to coffee and happy thoughts:

1.) There is more than one way to think Christianly about the refugee situation. I highly recommend this blog post by Kevin DeYoung.

2.) No matter how much you (and me) dislike our president, the Bible is clear that we are to treat our leaders lovingly and pray for them. Meme's and posts that are rude and hateful about the president are in blatant opposition to what scripture says. I don't trust him either guys, but for all your "standing up for Christian principles for the country" you forgot that God says to love
E V E R Y O N E. That includes our president. Stop blasting profanities and saying we are all doomed and it's Obama's fault. God allowed him to be in office. God has a plan. And yes, God is in control- not the president. Does your hope rest in God, or in what a president does or does not do? Am I scared of what our leadership may mess up? Yes, but I know God is bigger than anything they may do.

3.) Facebook is not a news reel. Speak your mind, but also remember that your life's existence is not to convince everyone on Facebook (or Twitter, or Instagram) that you are right and they are wrong. Let's engage each other cordially and not assume the worst about each other. And let's try to spread some positivity too. As huge as these issues are, they don't have to be all we talk about. That's what newspapers and news channels are for.

Whew! Now that I've gotten that out of my system, can we move on please? Thank you.

Week in Retrospect

Baby E turned 1 this past week!
I have been with baby girl's family since the beginning of September. I like them a lot and enjoy being a part of their lives. This past week, Evelyn had her first birthday. I cannot believe how time flies. I can already tell how she has advanced since I first started. She is such a sweet girl!

My blog is getting there!
Last week, I added a new affiliate program, I set up my first ad package with Passion Fruit Ads, and my page views more than doubled. I don't know why exactly, though I did join a couple new blogging groups.
If you are looking for an inexpensive way to promote your blog, check out my ad packages. I would love to be a part of your process!


Coming Soon

Thanksgiving!
I cannot believe Thanksgiving is this Thursday! How crazy is that?! I am excited to see my husband's side of the family. It will be so nice to have that time with them- and lots of yummy food is an added bonus! Woot woot!

Etsy Shop.
My Etsy shop is up and running, and I am hoping to add some more items to it within the next week. Check it out here.


Be Encouraged
I know it's Monday again, and I know that Mondays are even harder when there are so many unknowns in the world right now, but remember the bigger picture. If you know Jesus, you can trust that all will work out. It may be terrifying, it may (will) be difficult, and you may have to force yourself to keep going, but all will be ok. We have hope. We have all we need.
And if you don't know Jesus, don't feel alienated. Don't feel like this post isn't for you. It absolutely is. You know why? Because Jesus is there. He loves you. Let Him in. He holds us lovingly. Call out in the midst of all this chaos and let Him be the driving force of your life. He offers hope, despite all the hopelessness.


Happy Monday, all! Let's keep going!

Identifying the Lies of Marriage

I grew up as your stereo-typical little girl. I was convinced that I would grow up, meet a man who treats me like an absolute princess, we would get married, and then life would be complete. Marriage was my goal.

Marriage continued to be my goal even as I got older. I wanted to meet a good, Christian guy who loved God and loved me. Again, even though I would have denied feeling this way, deep down I felt that life would just always be fantastic once I was with my guy.

Fast-forward to college where I met my now-husband. Taylor was (and is) great. He loves God, wants us to grow, and tries to live his life for God. He has fantastic qualities and we tend to help each other in our weaker points. Yes, it was what I had waited for.

But we had a problem. I had been carrying around this false idea of the right person, of godly dating, and of godly marriage since I was a child. So when God brought Taylor into my life and everything wasn't perfect- because we weren't aren't perfect, I flipped out. Why did I still have any struggle with depression and anxiety, if I had found the right guy? Shouldn't I always feel perfect peace when I am with him? Why did we ever have any sort of disagreement? Why didn't every single moment of every single part of our relationship run smoothly?

The real answer to that question is, of course "Because you are both human beings, Kristin!", but my little Cinderella brain couldn't quite get there. I had assumed that if it wasn't pure joy all the time, and if all of my struggles weren't gone, then I must not be with the right person.

People with anxiety don't just feel peace all the time. Being in a great situation doesn't mean there is nothing but peace. That is particularly true for people with anxiety, but it is true for everyone. God is the only one that has and gives perfect peace. Perfect peace doesn't come from being in a perfect situation. Perfect peace comes from a perfect God.

But since I was convinced that I had to have perfect peace about every moment of my life in order for it to be of God, I would worry if Taylor and I disagreed about anything, thinking that there was something wrong with us. I would worry if we didn't like the same hobbies, because it might mean we would bore each other in marriage. I would worry if we got in a fight, because obviously, Christian couples don't fight... #sarcasm.

But the thing is, none of these views were really coming from Scripture. No, my ideas of godly dating and marriage were a strange hodge-podge of Disney fairy tales mixed with "Christian" false-teaching that the Holy Spirit leads in your gut. I had bought into the lie that I would feel complete peace about anything that God wanted me to do, and I would have anxiety if it was sin. But that false view doesn't account for people with anxiety disorders. It also doesn't account for all the times people feel peace about something that God clearly wasn't calling them to do. It leaves out that fact that, just like our hearts, our emotions are tainted by this world-by sin. We can feel all sorts of crap. But feelings are not God. And though peace is a fruit of the spirit, that doesn't have anything to do with feeling peace about every decision you make. That's not what it means. And likewise, though our dating and marriage should reflect Christ, we will never reach perfection on earth, which means our marriages will never be perfect.

I spent so much time wrestling with all of this. I had so many false ideas to work through. I had so many rude awakenings that it was painful. And those false ideas were just so embedded in my perfectionist, fairy-tale brain, that I had to really fight to see the truth.

*The truth is that God uses our differences within marriage to help us grow, and to help us help each other.


*The truth is that when God brings two people together, they will never be perfect, but they will fit together well, help each other, encourage each other in God, and they will be committed to godliness. They will bear godly fruit together, even through their struggles.


*The truth is, that God knows exactly what we need, and He sees the big picture.


*The truth is, perfect relationships (if they existed) wouldn't grow us nearly as well as messy relationships that strive to know God more.

*The truth is, the bible never says anything about finding "the one". It simply tells us to be equally yoked, gives us qualities to look for, and implies that we need to be bearing godly fruit and helping each other in God and in our relationships with God.


The truth is, I still struggle with all of this. I am so incredibly blessed to have a husband that loves God and has a passion to see others thinking deeply about God and knowing Him as much as we are able to. He helps me in some of my weakest spiritual areas and I do the same for him. That is completely of God. We could not have cultivated that on our own. We could never have forced that to happen. Praise God for bringing us together and knowing what (and who) we needed. But since my false ideas were so deeply rooted for so long, I still have to fight to believe truth instead. It's easy to have a fight and think, "Oh, we must be a bad couple", but that is just so wrong.

I also know I am not alone. I am learning that more and more women, particularly around my age, fight against these lies too. They are right there with me, forcing themselves to remember that their ideas of marriage have to come from Scripture, not some load of crap that implies everything should be perfect, we should always feel fantastic, and we should never have any problems. Good grief! If that were true, no one would ever get married or date.

So join us as we fight the lies. Be thankful for and build up your spouse and your marriage, even if things aren't perfect (because they never will be). Know that God has you and your spouse together to bring Him glory, not so that we can get grumpy over every little imperfection.

Stand against the Enemies lies. Stand against your own lies. Stand against the lies of media and society.

And if you'd like to read more blogs about similar marriage issues, here are a few of my favorites:

Sobremesa Stories: How Perfectionism and High Expectations Impacted Our Marriage and Five Tips for Living in an Introvert-Extrovert Marriage.

She is Joyful: How I Knew He Was the One: It's Not What You Think.

His Endless Love (Guest Post): Marriage 101- Opposites Attract.


I hope those posts, along with this one, are a blessing to you. Remember to be discerning about what you are believing, and to constantly be thankful for your marriage.

Mug-spiration Monday *Vol. 19* Hodgepodge

Happy Monday, all! It is actually chilly and I am so excited that I can wear a hoodie without fear of roasting by mid-day! Woot woot!

There's a lot going on in the world right now. Paris is the issue that stands out the most, but there are so many others too. Chandler Larsen of Life as Larson had an excellent blog post about all that's going on in the world right now (read it here). It is important to actually be aware of all that is happening and to figure out ways to help. I may not be able to do anything for Paris, but I can find things in my own area to help with. We have a duty to know what is going on. Living in our own little bubble should not be an option. But, with that being said, we also have a duty to remain thankful and optimistic in all circumstances. It does no one any good to just be a blob of fear and sadness all the time. Don't sit around in self-pity wishing for good- be the good.

I'd like to remind each one of you that God has got this in His hands. God being in control does not mean a lack of evil in the world. As long as sin is around, terrible things will continue to happen. But God still holds us, and still has a plan. It isn't always easy to see in the face of tragedy, but He still holds us and still loves us.

I'd also like to encourage each one of you today that you are worth more than you think. You have such great worth, but it has nothing to do with anything you do. You have many gifts and talents- each one of us does- but even if all of that was stripped away, you would still be worth everything in God's eyes. He loves you.

Carry that with you today as you brave another new week. Despite all of the horrific things going on in the world, He is still good. Despite your own personal struggles, He is still with you. Even if you feel worthless, you are worth everything to God. And on a smaller (but still very real) note, even your meek and meager week may be filled with a good bit of dread. Regardless of what you are going through- whether you are fearing the Paris attacks, or just fearing how to pay rent next week- remember that you are loved and that the week will end, but God's goodness is eternal. I am so thankful that it isn't the other way around!

I hope that this bit of knowledge makes this Monday (and everyday) a whole lot sweeter. There's a lot that goes on in a week- some good, some bad- and we can choose to dwell on the tough stuff, or we can pull it together and reflect on the good. Sure, there are bad parts of the day, but there are always reasons to be thankful, and there is always something to smile about.

Think back on your week. What was the best part? Was there anything that stood out as worthwhile, even though it was difficult? What are you enjoying at the moment?


I definitely had some good moments!


Weekend Recap!
This weekend, I spent Saturday at the farm with my mom, bro, and their new Great Pyrenees puppy, Blaze. Blaze is the sweetest little guy. He is so mellow and he just follows everybody around on the farm and sits there when they stop in one area. He is a heart-melter!

On Sunday, Taylor and I went to church with our friend, Jeff. We are still trying to find the right church and the hunt has seemed to take forever.

Holiday Excitement!
I am really excited about Thanksgiving, you guys! It'll be so nice for me and Taylor both to be off for a couple of days, and we get to go see his side of the family. It'll be a really nice visit and a good little break. I love the little girl I take care of, but sometimes I just want my hubby :)

And personally, I think my November has been a great success so far, simply because I have already watched six Christmas movies, listened to Michael Buble's Christmas CD about three times, and have had my Pandora Christmas station set for about two weeks. Yep, you are very welcome ;)

Coloring Fun!
I have also really been enjoying my new adult coloring book lately. I don't color in it super often, but I will get it out every once in a while and it is really fun. I didn't know adult coloring books existed until about a month ago. I am thinking it would make a great gift to color a page and then frame it. I think a lot of people would really enjoy that.


I know that coloring books, puppies, and Christmas movies don't matter in the grand scheme of things, but I really do believe in seeing the good. We should never hide behind those things, but we should find joy in them and be thankful, despite any hardships that come.

Happy Monday! Stay strong!


What are you thankful for and taking joy in today?

5 Questions to Replace Negative Thoughts

The bible talks a lot about our minds. We are consistently instructed to guard our minds (1 Peter 1:13), to renew our minds (Romans 12:1) and to choose what we allow in our minds (Philippians 4:8). Personally, the mind is the hardest battle for me to fight. I usually feel ill-prepared, like someone who brought a pocket knife to a gun fight. When my mind starts firing bullets, I'm still over in the corner fumbling with the tiny blade.

Unfortunately, I don't think I am alone. Millions of people struggle with depression, anxiety, and more serious forms of emotional/mental illness. And even for those who don't struggle with those things, everyone struggles with negativity and negative thoughts. We all get down, we all hit slumps, and we all fall prey to the devastating effects of negative thinking.

But what can we do? It often feels like the uphill battle cannot be won. But since the Bible gives us a guide for how to think, we should start there for our help in this battle.

Here are 5 Biblically based questions to replace negative thoughts.

What Is There to be Thankful For?
No matter where we are in life, there is always something to be thankful for. Some people have a tougher life than most, but even then, there is always something to be thankful for. Think on those things. Remember the good, instead of dwelling on the bad. Seems simple, but sometimes this can be a tough task- do it anyway. It's a necessity.


What is Something Productive that Needs Doing?
When I get caught up in my own head, I often neglect the things around me that need to be done. Instead of sitting around in an anxious state, I could clean the house, give the dogs a bath, wash my car, go grocery shopping, etc. We all have chores and responsibilities. If we busy ourselves with those (since they need doing anyway), we will have a tougher time sitting around in a negative thought process. Plus, a clean house tends to make us all feel better anyway.


How Much of This Am I Bringing On Myself?
Not getting enough sleep, not exercising enough, and not eating right are huge contributors to feeling down, tired, depressed, and negative.
The same is true when we watch depressing or frightening shows and movies, or listen to sad music. Contrary to popular belief, we are affected by what we watch and listen too.
If we continue in unhealthy habits, our mindsets and feelings are not going to change. We bring a lot of our emotions on ourselves when we don't take care of ourselves.


Do I Know Anyone That Needs Help?
Turning to help others is an excellent way to stop depression from rearing it's ugly head throughout the day.
Do you have a friend that is grieving? Do you know of an elderly person who is ill? Did your spouse get passed over for a big promotion? Turn your attention to them and their needs. Think of ways to make their days special. Take your friend chocolate and watch a sappy movie with her. Take flowers or a card to the ill elderly person. Visit with them for some extra company. Or cook a special dinner for your spouse and let them know how proud you are of them. Let them know they are still skilled and talented, and they don't need a promotion to prove it.
Focusing on others means that the focus is off of our problems and struggles.


Have I Been Giving My Passions Enough Attention?
Do you love to paint? Go for runs? Solve math equations (God bless you)?
How long has it been since you allowed yourself to do what you love? If you can't remember the last time, then it's been far too long.
We all need to utilize our gifts and do the things we love, or we will always feel trapped. Using our hobbies and gifts to release tension should help in easing negative thoughts.

Yes, it's true. None of these things will make anxiety, depression, or emotional disorders disappear, but they will make a good, daily aid. These things will work to help ease the pain of emotional struggle and negativity, if done persistently.

Remember though, to seek out God in all of this. If we aren't spending time in God's word, focusing on His truths, and coming to Him in prayer, we are missing the most key aspect of healing. God is the healer.


*Note: Just because God is the healer, doesn't mean that He will choose to instantly heal you. Nor does it mean that medicine is bad. If you have a legitimate, emotional disorder, or you think you might, ask your doctor if there are any natural supplement that can help you. And if after a month or so, those aren't working, ask your doctor if they think medication would be helpful.
There is nothing wrong with medicine, and taking medicine does not mean that you lack faith in God. Don't fall into that trap. Seek the help you need medically, along with God's daily grace and strength.

Blame

"I only yelled at you because you were being rude."

"I only talked about you behind your back because you talked about me first."

"You were supposed to help me become a better person. If you had helped me more, I would have made way more progress."

"You are supposed to keep me accountable for reading my Bible. It's your fault I haven't spent more time with God."

It's a lot easier to blame another person for our failures than it is to admit that we have failed, isn't it?

The list above is just random, and not all of them are necessarily pertinent to my life, but the one I'm really bad about is the last one. I am terrible about not reading my Bible. I don't pick it up and read it. But if Taylor doesn't ask me if I have read my Bible, I get mad at him and say he isn't keeping me accountable. Sure, I love when he remembers to ask me about it. Yes, I think that is important. But to blame him when I am the only one that is responsible for spending time with the Lord, is ridiculous. I know that deep down, but I find myself constantly repeating this attitude- but there is no excuse.

When I mess up, it is not someone else's fault. When you mess up, it's not because of someone else. We are responsible for every move we make, every thought we think, and every word that comes out of our mouths. Can other people influence those things? Can the devil himself influence those things? Yes! Absolutely. But when it is all said and done, only I give account for my actions. Only I can decide to do the right thing- or the wrong thing.

A popular pastor was recently found out to be having an affair. And he only had an affair after catching his wife having an affair. I have no idea what has happened with this situation. I have no idea if this pastor blames his wife or not- but if he does, he is wrong.

Cheating is an awful thing. I feel terrible for him and the hurt he suffered when he found his wife cheating on him. But one person's sin does not give us the right to go out and sin too. Regardless of what anyone else does or says, we are responsible for our own actions. We have no right to blame anyone else.

So what do you blame others for?
Do you blame others for your anger? Your selfishness? Your infidelity? Your half-truths? Whatever it is, start admitting that it's your fault. It's not your husband's fault, not your mom's fault, not your teacher's fault, and not your boss' fault. It's yours. It's mine. It's ours- only ours.

We must get rid of this desire to place our failures on the shoulders of others. We have to own up to our messes. We have to repent of our sins. And we have to be willing to say " I messed up, but God's grace is enough".

You see, when we blame others for our mistakes, we are doing what Adam did in the garden of Eden. Blame is not new.

And when we blame people, we are doing it out of fear- fear that we aren't good enough, fear that we've disappointed, and fear of rejection. But as Christians, there's no need for that. There is no condemnation for those of us who are in Christ (Romans 8:1). There's not even a reason to cast blame anymore, because we have long-since been forgiven. We have no shame...so why are we still trying to out-run it?

Stop running.

Accept the blame where blame is due.

And then let it go.

It's not anyone else's fault but yours... but it is also long-gone.

Accept your mistakes and accept Christ's all-encompassing forgiveness.

Apple Picking and an Update

Hi guys! I am so happy you are here! Thanks for always joining along with me in this big ol' blogging world. You're the best!

I've mention a lot on Instagram lately how excited I have been that my family and I are living closer together again. Having them so close has been super exciting! We've been able to spend so much time together even just in the past month.

In fact, this past Wednesday, my mom and I were able to go apple picking. The apple orchard that I always went to in college is only an hour away, so we drove to Flat Rock (just outside of Hendersonville, NC) and picked apples together.

Mama had never been picking and I was so glad I was the person who got to go with her on her first trip to the orchard.

Their were mostly Fuji apples to pick when we went, which was fine with me because I love em'!

It was so nice to be in the mountains again. I love the crisp air and beautiful views.

After we were done picking, we headed inside to see if there were any other types of apples we wanted to buy. I ended up with the Fujis and mama ended up with Ida Reds. We bought a few Asian pears too (YUM!).
Oh, and there was also a giant pumpkin :)

We also tried a homemade apple slushie and bought a half-dozen apple cider donuts that the orchard makes right in front of you. Seriously, they are absolutely fantastic!

I am so thankful for this time with my mom. I feel like we are catching up on all the time we missed while I was in college. Six hours apart doesn't sound like a lot, but it really is when you are as close as we are.

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Now, for a brief Charlotte update:

We have been in Charlotte for over a month now, and I am loving my job. Baby E is the sweetest little one ever and her mom and dad are great too. We have a great time playing outside, listening to music, and hanging out with the family dog.

Taylor got a job working at a Gourmet hot dog shop in Charlotte. He stays so busy and so tired, but I am proud of him and we know it will be worth it :) He is loving seminary and we are both working towards making friends and finding a church to call our own.

Thank you to those who are following and supporting our journey.

Happy Tuesday, friends!

Merely Existing

It's so easy to float through life, waiting for the next moment of bliss. But while we are waiting, we miss out on our life.

Sometimes, I just want to sit around and do nothing. I want to wallow in my struggles, be lazy about my goals, and avoid anything that would challenge me. Bettering myself, though a desire of mine, tends to fall second to laziness and the comfort that comes with it.

On my days off, I keep thinking, "I could crochet a scarf today", "I could make candles today", "I could go for a walk at the park", "I could go read my bible", or "I could get ahead on my blog". Instead, the end result is usually me watching Netflix for far too long, eating salty, fattening foods, or giving in to negative thinking for hours at the time.

Oscar Wilde once said "To live is the rarest thing in the world. Most people just exist." Honestly, this quote sounds like something that would end up on a refrigerator magnet or a Facebook cover photo. But if you really think about it, there is a whole lot of truth in that tiny little statement.

Each day, we get out of bed and immediately start hoping that the day goes by quickly. We wait for the end of our work day before we even get to work.
On Monday morning, we are already waiting for Friday afternoon. And the day after Christmas, we start waiting for Thanksgiving. We are a culture of unsatisfied creatures, always waiting for the next best thing.

Living in such an unsatisfied state keeps us from being effective in the here and now. If we are constantly waiting for the clock to hit "go home" time at the end of each day, we are probably missing all sorts of small moments to connect with people, to go the extra mile in our work, and to take advantage of our talents.

When we exist, we float through and half-heartedly participate in our own lives. When we live, we thrive!

Living means:

- Actively searching for ways to improve our lives: How can we change our bad habits? How can we improve our attitudes? How can we strengthen our faith?

- Looking purposefully for ways to make a difference in the lives of others.

- Using our talents: how can we use our gifts more effectively today than we did yesterday?

- Enjoying the little things: our spouse's smile, our dog's slobbery kisses,
the sunshine's warm rays, and the boldness of a cup of coffee.

-Pursuing goals and dreams: even if it seems impossible, we should search for ways to make our dreams into reality.

Existing means:

- Refusing to change: staying exactly the way we've been, with no interest in improving.

- Ignoring opportunities to help others.

- Avoiding, ignoring, or not being open to using and growing our talents.

- Choosing to complain about little annoyances.

- Believing that our dreams will always just be dreams.


If we want to thrive, merely existing can no longer be our way of living. We must dare to dream, strive towards those dreams, and constantly improve ourselves. Every single person on the planet could stand to improve. Ghandi and Mother Theresa could have even improved. We all have flaws, and until Jesus returns, we always will, but we can constantly strive to do better. And working towards that in every sphere of our lives is, in fact, living!

It's really tough sometimes to get into the right mindset, or to push ourselves to be our best. It can be difficult, frustrating, and sometimes even scary, but the alternative- the not living- is far more frightening!

We are all capable of great things. We have the potential to change the world through our character, through our faith, and through our talents. We have been given gifts that can make an impact- if we use them, sharpen them, and put them into practice. The question is, do you want to change the world, or merely exist in it?

Live your life. Live it fiercely and purposefully. Do not just exist.

The Uselessness of Regret

Every once in a while, I start thinking about things I should have done differently. I can think of a million different instances, but no matter how many examples I can come up with, regret only leads to shame and depression.

I've always been a perfectionist. I have always beaten myself up for my mistakes and felt guilty about every little thing. I think I win the record for how many times a day I repent for things I have done. And repentance is a good thing...until you are looking around trying to find something- because surely I've done something bad within the past hour...

We all make mistakes and bad choices every.single.day. Bummer. And as much as we should be striving to live rightly, there comes a point that we have to realize that we are humans. We are not Jesus- we are never going to cultivate the perfect life here on earth. If we could do that, Jesus would never have needed to come.

And when we realize that we are human, we also begin to realize that we have to let go of our regret.

Regret, in essence, is dredging up the "what ifs", the "I should haves" and the "I wish I had's". 

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In college I began struggling very heavily with anxiety. I had already dealt with it some in high school, but I suppose that with the newness of college, being away from my family, and so many new adventures all coming at me at once, the anxiety grew. And because of this, I spent much of my college years inwardly focused on the fact that I was anxious and not very good at dealing with it. I had a great support system (Taylor, my family, and several wonderful friends), but I still was focused on my troubles, not my blessings.

When I would go home on school breaks, I was always so happy to see my family, but my anxiety made me feel distanced from them. I tried really hard to be myself, but I always knew they could tell I wasn't all there. I would leave from break feeling guilty and sad, because I knew they wanted their old Kristin back...so did I.

I eventually started getting a little bit better, slowly learning how to handle the anxiety. And I knew they could see the improvements too. I was more like myself again and we talked more freely without my struggles hindering us. But this didn't change the fact that I wasted a lot of time with my family-fun, untarnished time- because of my anxiety and how self-consumed I was for a while. In addition to my battle with anxiety, I was still enjoying college, I had a boyfriend that I loved and was completely twitterpated over (Bambi, anyone?), and I was soaking in all of the new adventures. With so much going on all at once, it all added up to one thing: I was insanely busy and rarely called my family, and I was distracted when I did.

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It happens, I am not alone. Most kids do go MIA for a while when they are in college, but I regret this. I regret that I didn't talk to my nana more, and let her know how much I appreciated her. Now, she has a hard time talking because of her stroke and I may never hear her normal voice again. It probably hurt her feelings that I didn't call more often too. I wish I would have shown my mom more appreciation both over the phone and when I visted. I wish that I had spent less time dealing with my emotional issues and more time playing with my little brother when I was home for the holidays. I wish I had spent more time with my dad and grandaddy too.

But the thing is, my family understands. My family loves me, cares for me, knows what I was going through and they do not have hard feelings towards me. They are proud of me and they are proud of the person I am becoming. They are proud of what Taylor and I are and strive to be, and they are proud of me for pursuing my goals. They don't think of me as "Kristin: loser with anxiety", or "Kristin: that obnoxious girl". I'm the only one thinking that. And the only reason I think like that, is because I give into my regret. I let the regrets creep up, consume me, and lie to me.

Can I learn from my regret? For sure. Regret should cause me to change my actions. I try to call my family more often than I use to, for example. But my regret should not lead me to dwell on the past, chastise myself for my mistakes, or make me hate myself. Regret is useless in that way. It causes us to focus on the things we cannot change, and renders us ineffective in the present, since we are too busy dwelling on the past. Regret only makes us depressed and shameful. And guess what- Christ died for our shame, and rendered our depression pointless. We are forgiven, we are redeemed. We are not shamed. We are not defeated. We are not what we feel like we are- praise God!

So the next time we feel regret creeping in, we must remember that it is useless. Remember that the shame that comes with it is a lie. God has covered every one of our wrongs- from the tiniest mishap, to the largest of sins. Regret is useless. Cast it out!

Mug-spiration Monday *Vol. 13*

Was anyone else just absolutely thrilled by the weather yesterday? I know I was!
I pictured myself frolicking in a meadow, but one must be able to run to do that, so I settled for rolling the car window down ;)

The weekend was filled with a lazy, Bones-binging Saturday morning. Then my mom, dad, and brother came for a late afternoon visit. My brother spent the night with Taylor and I, and the next morning we got up and went to church.

Church searching is getting a little old. No church is perfect, but our tiny little church in Waynesville was truly the best church I've ever been a part of. And as we try new churches, I am seeing more and more how blessed we were.

After church, we headed over to the farm to hang out with my parents and brother and eat Sunday lunch. We hung out with the chicken, ducks, and goats, and I swang (swinged? swung? are those words?) on the farm swing, which was so fun!

Now we are back to the work week. Even though I am tired and dragging this morning, I am thankful that I really do like my job. I am thankful that I don't have to do the whole "office job" thing in order to provide for Taylor and I. I am also thankful that during the baby's naps, I am allowed to work on this blog. That is a huge blessing!

But regardless if you are a nanny too, or if you work in an office, at a school, at McDonalds, or even if you are the CEO of a major company, you can choose your attitude for the day. You can choose to be grumpy because it's Monday and you don't want to go to work, or you can choose to be thankful you are living another day, and thankful that you have the opportunity to do great things and be a good influence today. The choice is yours, but my recommendation is to skip the grumpy ;)

Mug-spiration Monday Inspiration

Spiritual Inspiration- God is with his children always.

Creative Inspiration- Make some art.

Work Inspiration- Dream dreams for yourself, and have a purpose.

There is enough negativity in this world to last a lifetime. How about we decide to be the light in the darkness, and the perky amidst the grump-monsters?

Have a wonderful day, friends!

Mug-spiration Monday *Vol. 11*

Happy Monday! :)

Before I get going on Mug-spiration Monday, I would like to take a minute to update you :)

Two weeks ago, I announced that I was going to be working at a coffee shop.
The people were super sweet and I felt like I did a pretty good job. But Taylor and I really needed me to have more hours and better pay. So when I was offered a nanny job a few days ago, I took it. I hated to quit the coffee shop, since everyone was so welcoming and I enjoy working as a barista, but I felt like this nannying position would be better for us and more laid back for me.

So I started today :)
The job is near my favorite part of Charlotte and is for one baby girl. She is napping right now, so I had a little blogging time.

On another note, one of my close friends got married yesterday!

Stephanie was my suite-mate in college and she is truly one of the most dedicated, loyal friends I've ever had. Stephanie has waited a long time for her man, and yesterday, she married him! Woot woot!

Stephanie was a gorgeous bride and her ceremony and reception was beautiful. She had it at The Ballentyne in South Charlotte, which was just perfect for her and her groom. Congrats, Steph! I love you!


Now, on to the inspiration!

I tend to think a lot about my motives. I try to do the right things in my life, but I also want to be doing them for the right reasons. That doesn't always happen, but it is important to me that my life and walk with God is always being transformed into something that isn't just going through the motions. It's important that we not only live rightly, but that we do so for the right reasons.

Doing the right thing for the right reasons can seem absolutely impossible when we are still in weekend mode, grasping for more sleep, or feeling like we need another gallon or two of coffee.

But when we are feeling like that, we can either grumble, remain in our own little grump-fest, and shuffle our feet through the day, or we can choose to perk up, smile, remember why we get up each morning, and work hard to show the grace and love to others (and to ourselves). Believe me, the second option makes for a much better day!

*Inspiration for your Monday*

Work/Creative Inspiration- This chart has some great ideas to get motivated about your day and your work. I haven't read the article, but the chart is great!

Health Inspiration- Now that Fall is approaching, try this 30 minute outdoor workout.

Spiritual Inspiration- This must be the day for charts. This one is also fantastic and very encouraging!

Have a great day, guys! I hope to be more present in the blog world now that I think I am actually starting on a consistent schedule! :) Can't wait to continue my week with all of you!

Finally Here: The Cooks Go Charlotte

Hello, blogging world! I've missed you tremendously!
How have you been? Have you been loving life, having new adventures, and drinking good coffee? I sure hope so! It's only been a week since I last posted, but it feels like it has been so much longer!

As most of you know, my husband and I just moved from our small North Carolina mountain home to the very busy city of Charlotte. We did this so that my husband could follow God's call for him to attend seminary. We have a lot to get used to, but I am sure we will enjoy Charlotte once we get the hang of it.

Actually, on Saturday when we moved in, I even got to meet a blogging friend that I had spoken to in The Peony Project, an online Christian blogging group with writers from all over the world. How awesome is that?! Vanessa, over at Tapestry Chronicles, and her husband came over to our home to help us move in, along with two Waynesville friends, and three other friends from Charlotte. We are truly blessed. We even had help from our church and family the night before with loading up the truck. We are incredibly grateful for all the love, support, and help that everyone has shown us.

Once all the rooms are fixed up and all the boxes are gone, I plan to do a post showing  how we've decorated the house, but for now, I figured I'd share a few "so far" pictures. Enjoy.

Our living room. We LOVE the mantel. Please excuse the slippers and red snuggie ;)

My new succulent friend, a close-up of our mantel, and our coffee wall in the dining room.

Our house is coming along slowly but surely. We have plenty more boxes to unpack, we are trying to help the dogs transition well, and it will take us a while to learn the area, but we are so excited about this new adventure God has us on, and we know it will be good. To God be the glory.

If you are following our new adventure on social media (Instagram, Twitter, or Facebook), search the hashtag #theCooksgoCharlotte and #Cooksonthemove to see more pictures and posts.

Mug-spiration Monday *Vol. 7*

Whew! If ever I needed to be reminded of my own Monday Mantra, it's today, yesterday, and all this week!

A friend, my mother and father-in-law, and I got quite a bit of packing done this weekend, but there's still a lot to go... I seriously have way too much stuff! So, this week, I work 9 hours a day, then come home and pack every night. Wednesday there won't be any packing because we are having our last Bible study. Then, Friday, as soon as I get off of work, I'll come home to load up the moving truck. Saturday morning we will leave for Charlotte. We will unpack the truck with the help of some wonderful friends, and then we will head back to Waynesville for a wedding. Then, the next morning, we will leave for a six hour drive to the beach so we can attend my Nana's 70th birthday party. Honestly, I am so overwhelmed I cannot see straight.

But, as I have said before, when we feel overwhelmed, stressed, or just plain grumpy, we must remember what we are thankful for!

1. God has provided an adorable house that meets all our needs in Charlotte.

2. Taylor has all his school books and they didn't cost that much.

3. Our church, family, and friends have all rallied behind us and helped us with this move in every way they have been able.

4. My husband and I get to embark on this adventure together. What a blessing!


There are about a ba-jillion other things to be thankful for, but those stick out to me at the moment. And when I think about those things, it's a little harder to stay grumpy and freak out. It'll all be ok.  I'll just take one day at a time. Or, better yet, as Kimmy Schmidt puts it:

You can handle anything for 10 seconds. So when you are doing something tough, just count to ten. Then start with a new ten seconds, until you've completed your task (paraphrased, The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt).

So, without further ado, here are a few mug-spirational posts to get your Monday off to a fantastic start:


Health Inspiration: These look fantastic!

Spiritual Inspiration: Greater Joy.

Creative Inspiration: You can never use it up.

Work Inspiration: Work hard, succeed big!

Are you motivated for the day? Or are you struggling? Find joy in the Lord if you are His child. What can you do differently to change your state of mind?

Vacations- This is How I Do It

I am exciting to be linking up with Grace Mountain Diaries and The Boutelle Family Blog today for their monthly "This is How We Do It" link-up.

I haven't been on many vacations in my life, but they were always good when we did go. We had several memorable trips that we took as a family, but even when we didn't get to go on vacation, my family always made life sweet and fun.
We were always spending time together, always watching movies, reading, or playing games- even when my parents were exhausted, they still made it happen.

To me, that's vacation. It's not where you go, it's who you are with. Vacation is about loving life with those you cherish most. That almost sounds new-age-y: "Vacation is a state of mind"...  :p

But seriously, vacation is what you make of it. Whether you jet off to Paris, stay at a B&B in the next town over, or remain in the comfort of your own home, a vacation is still a vacation. Relax. Sleep more. Eat out at a nice restaurant that you usually would't go to. Go for a walk on the beach. Stroll under the night sky. Frolic in a field of wildflowers. Hike your favorite trail. Swim in the sea.
Whatever your favorite thing is, do it. And do it with your favorite people. Whether you are single and taking a trip with girlfriends, or married and enjoying time with your main-squeeze, make your time-off count.

If you are close to your parents and grandparents, you could also use your vacation time to go visit them. The last few times Taylor and I have had a break, we've gone to see my family. Now, I will say, since I'm from the beach, that trip is advantageous in more than one way. But even if your family lives somewhere not-so-exciting, you will still enjoy going. Ask them if they are up for visitors, and if you can be tourists with them in their town. Go to their favorite restaurants, go with them to the park where they walk every evening. Join them on their weekly trip to the ice cream shop. Relax with them. Laugh with them. Cherish each moment with them.

Those are just a few pictures from our last beach trip (right after Easter). It may be a while until we get to go back, but I am thankful for our time there. This was our vacation: we got a few gorgeous days at the beach and it was also a fantastic time with family and friends. I love that we got the whole package. Some people aren't able to do that, but if you are, take the opportunity. It's a blessing!


What do you do for vacation? How often do you get to have a vacation or staycation?

Mug-spiration Monday *Volume 5*

Hello, beautiful people! It's Monday. it's summer, and it's a brand new week.
Yesterday, my pastor gave a really good sermon, I sang with the musicians, and we had a nice evening with my in-laws after that.

Did you have a good weekend? I hope so. I hope it was sweet, restful, and fun. I hope you experienced relaxation, peace, and grace. But what if you didn't? What if you had a hard, tiring, emotional weekend, with very little peace? If that's you, I'm sorry. But you know what? You don't have to stay there. You never have to stay there. Dust yourself off. It's Monday- a new day, a new week, a new opportunity, and a new chance to seek God, to focus on Him, to embrace the good, and let go of the bad. Be inspired to start afresh.

Did someone hurt you this weekend? Did you lose a loved-one? Did you fail at something you had put all your time and energy into? It's ok! It really is.
This week, choose to forgive. Choose to thank God for the time you had with the one you lost. Use your failure to propel you into a time of success- whether it be trying again, or deciding to do something new. You can do it.

You can't change your yesterday, but you can choose to make today exceptional!

To inspire your week, here are a few Mug-spirational Monday links for you. I hope they encourage you and get you going in the right direction.

Mug-spiration Monday- Inspirations for your week.

Spiritual Inspiration- Your life is a permanent sermon. It is essential that you put your trust in God.

Health Inspiration- Consume things packed with nutrition, and know that your body can do more than you think. Just keep working on it.

Work Inspiration- Whether you are working your dream-job or a grunt-job, work your hardest always.

Creative Inspiration- Don't hide your talents. Use them!

I hope you have been officially inspired! You don't have to be perfect to do well or to enjoy life (thank God!). You just have to take one day at a time, starting fresh, and being very present in that new day!

Happy Monday, everyone!

How was your weekend? Are you feeling drained? Will it be a challenge to be positive today, or are you feeling awesome?

Get It Together Initiative (update and a grateful heart)

Last Month, I started The Get it Together Initiative- a health and fitness goal Facebook group. It's a month-long challenge (June 15th-July 15th) that encourages accountability, shared goals, and community. As the challenge is winding down, I thought I'd share about how it's going.

I have been pretty pleased with how the challenge has turned out. Some people started out strong and then stopped posting, which is to be expected. But for the most part, I have a solid group of ladies that have actively participated in both the Facebook group and our Pinterest Board.

The thing I love most about this, is that it is so diverse. The group is comprised of some of my closest friends, my mother-in-law, my mom, some acquaintances, and some wonderful people from the blogging world who joined in too! And what's been cool to see is how well everyone jumped right in and got to know each other.

On the 15th of July, all of us will weigh-in and share if we lost weight and met our goals. Points will be awarded based on goals met, as well as activity in the Facebook group. My friend, Grace, has offered one of her pottery items as a prize, which is an awesome treat!

And though the challenge ends on the 15th, my hope is that we will still use the group to encourage each other. Just because the challenge is over doesn't mean our health and wellness journeys are!

If you would like to be a part of this community, feel free to join. You won't be able to participate in this challenge, but we would still love to have you. And who knows, maybe we can do another challenge soon!


I am very thankful for this group and all the wonderful women who are participating. I am also thankful that I got to be the one to set it up and lead. I've never done something quite like this before and I have enjoyed it :)

Also, I am posting links below to the blogs of those who are in our group. Show them some love!

Trine Hansen: Creative Pink Butterfly

Destiny Barker: The Journey

Hannah Johnson: Hannah Says

Mug-spiration Monday *Vol 2*

It's Monday again. It's time for a fresh start- fun projects, new ideas and a positive outlook- no matter what your week may hold. That's what Mondays are for; not this hum-drum, tail-between-our-legs attitude that we usually have about Mondays. Nope. That's not allowed anymore!

How was your week? If the weather is anything in your area like it is in mine, you are roasting. I'm talkin' sweat-dripping, clothes-soaked, roasting! And unfortunately, it's been rainy almost everyday when I've gotten off of work, so I haven't been to the pool in a while. My white self could really use some sun ;)

Despite my unfortunate lack of pool water and over-abundance of sweat, I am excited for a new week! I am thankful for what it holds, and I am ready for our trip to Charlotte to look at Taylor's seminary and search for houses. I am thankful that Taylor and I get to share our life in the smallest and largest ways, and I am thankful for a family (biological and by marriage) who loves us and cares for us. We are blessed.

I am thankful for those things every day, but since Mondays are for fresh starts, why not think of all the things we are thankful for? It couldn't hurt, right?

Need a little boost? Not feeling the Monday excitement? Try counting your blessings. Try thanking God. And check out my Monday inspirations below. I sincerely hope they will motivate you.

Mug-spiration Monday Inspiration

*Spiritual Inspiration- I stumbled upon this on Pinterest on Saturday. 

*Work Inspiration- This post by Coffee with Summer is great for any blogger.

*Health Inspiration- Yummy, simple, quick, low-cal lunch. Woot-woot!

*Creative Inspiration- The Nectar Collective always has great tips!


What is inspiring you today? What can you do to make Monday less "blah" and more, well, inspirational?

If you are inspired by this post, get on Instagram or Twitter and share how you are making your Monday work to your advantage. Use the hashtag #mugspirationmonday.

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Life in Balance- Motivation Monday

Reflect link-up

A Fresh Start