november highlights.

 

November. I loved seeing all the colors of this month in Texas. The leaves were every shade of yellow, orange, red, and brown. The sky was gray on more days than it was blue. Fall. I love ya.

Here are a few highlights from November.

• I went home for the first time in over 3 months. It was a much needed restful weekend. I got to watch Alex cheer, Hannah & I did a 10.7 mile (!!) run, I met Ella Jane, and my parents & I ordered Thai food takeout. It was so great. Never have I appreciated my hometown so much. 
• I ate my first satsuma! For those of you that know me know this is huge.
• Some of my darling students wrote me thank you notes for their ASL class. Melted my heart.
• My first Christmas tree is now standing in my living room! It was my Mawmaw's - needlessness to say, it has a bit of sentimental value. :) 

Not pictured (are the two things I wish I had pictures for):

• My small group, Catalyst had our Thanksgiving dinner at Babe's!!! Endless biscuits and sides. Yum. Oh how thankful I am for Christian community.
• My best friend, Eleni visited me! Of course, we didn't take a single photo. But we did cook a delicious butternut squash chili, drank coffee, shopped, laughed, played. It was a beautiful time to have her here!

harvesting memories.

This is how you know you're an adult: everyone comes to your house (that you own) for Thanksgiving!

Okay...maybe there are other circumstances that make being an adult evident, but this is one... My family and Skye all came here for Thanksgiving. We had such a wonderful time. Skye (hasn't made an appearance on my blog because I hadn't seen her in a year!!:() arrived on Tuesday and my parents and sister arrived on Wednesday. Skye and I were in charge of desserts. We baked a chocolate pumpkin bundt cake. We wanted something pumpkin & festive, but also chocolate. This cake ended up being the perfect combo!

Katelyn: MK attempting to be Aunt Jemima.

 
Our TG couldn't have been more perfect. The sun was shining and the skies were blue. Katelyn's friend Erin also joined us along with the four dogs, Skyler, Chloe, Pita, and Brody. It was a dogsgiving as well as a Thanksgiving.  My momma did a fantastic job on our meal. Complete with ham, corn casserole, mashed potatoes, dirty rice, and rolls. Mmmmmmmm. Thanks momma!

And of course we had to get "holiday pictures."

             

 

After our food coma, we took the pups to the park!

After these past few days, I am overflowing with thankfulness. I am most thankful for my Jesus, my family, my close friends, my home, my church family, my job, and my salvation. Jesus has given abundantly to me this past year. Today I make the choice to be thankful for what He has provided and blessed me with, instead of comparing myself to others and what I don't have. I choose to eat from all the trees in the Garden of Eden, instead of focusing on the one tree Jesus has not provided me the freedom to touch. 

He is so gracious! 

P.S. Skye and I found the most affordable Nativity scene the other night after we ate IN-N-OUT BURGERS (it was Skye and I's first time to eat there>>>"harvesting those memories"). 

Skye: I'm waiting on some guys to come ask us out.
Me: Skye, we are at In-N-Out & we just stuffed our faces. 

Me: Isn't baby Jesus so handsome?!
Skye: I can't see him.
Me: Neither can I. 

obedience.

On November 2, 2012, I journaled, "Become obedient from the heart." 

On January 5, 2013, I journaled, "Jesus, I give you my life. I surrender..."

On January 20, 2013, I journaled, "'For at the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but it leads to the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been called by it.' Hebrews 12:11"

On February 17, 2013, I journaled, "praying according to God's will includes the need to pray in faith, with patience, in obedience, and in submission to God's greater wisdom." (from my commentary)

On April 13, 2013, I journaled, "A word from Jeremiah: 'I will give them a heart to know that I am the LORD, and they shall be my people and I will be their God, for they shall return to me with their whole heart.'" (emphasis mine)

On April 22, 2013, I journaled, "'....as obedient children do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance.' 1 Peter 1:13"

On July 18, 2013, I journaled, "GC said, 'I will set you on high because you have known My Name, but it must be a purified you to be so exalted.'"

On August 7, 2013, I journaled, "'If you are willing and obedient you shall eat the good of the land; but if you refuse or rebel, you shall be eaten by the sword; for the mouth of the LORD has spoken.' Isaiah 1:18-20"

On October 6, 2013, I journaled, "'I am the Lover of your soul, Mary Kathryn.' -Jesus"

On October 13, 2013, I journaled, "Hebrews 5:8 says, 'Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered.' I love this. You totally understand how I feel!"

On November 2, 2013, Jarrett Stephens from Prestonwood said this: "What could Jesus do with me if my obedience was immediate?"

And finally I got it. 

On November 3, 2013, I journaled, "JESUS IS TEACHING ME....OBEDIENCE."

We learn so very, very slowly. Thank goodness our Jesus is so very, very patient. It took an entire year for me to truly see and understand exactly what Jesus wanted me to learn...obedience. There is freedom in tiny revelations! Obedience is defined as, "compliance with an order, request, or submission to another's authority." It's the submission part that is the hardest for me personally. 

It's hard for me to submit all my hopes, plans and heart's desires to Him...knowing and trusting that He is sovereign and really does have things under control. It's hard for me to not do the one thing that I want to do, but He says no. You would think it would be easy for me to submit to the One that holds the entire world in His right hand, but my selfish heart gets in the way. Thank goodness my Jesus is selfless and loves me unconditionally and understands my faults. Praise Him!

As I sit here I pray that I would strive to become obedient to the Father from my heart.