Simple Connection

I was driving home from my bible study the other day and a sweet memory came to me. When Big Chick was just a baby, Honey and I used to sing to her every night before bed. It was our prayer. We'd cradle her in our arms and gently sing these two songs...

Jesus, Jesus, Lord to me.

Master, Savior, Prince of Peace.

Ruler of my heart today.

Jesus Lord to me.

Because He lives...I can face tomorrow.

Because He lives... all fear is gone,

and I know I know He holds the future.

Life is worth the living just because He lives.

It was the perfect wrap up to the day. In one song we told the Lord what He meant to us and in the next we reflected on why we felt that way. I think a prayer doesn't always have to be a "prayer". Singing a song or reciting a special passage of the bible is just as intimate. I know a lot of the time I repeat myself or just don't know how to pray. He was reminding me that drawing near to Him can be as simple as singing a song from the heart. Do you ever struggle with prayer?

Have a blessed day.

Photographs available on

Etsy - Kyle Jacobs Photography

You changed my name!

My mom just got the wonderful privilege of hearing Beth Moore speak last weekend in Springfield, IL. I just wanted to share some of the footage of their praise and worship time. The song that plays with the video is really powerful...take a minute and listen to the words.

Living Proof Live - Springfield IL from Rich Kalonick on Vimeo.

Have a blessed day.

The new j.o.b.

Today we played hookey from church and took a little fieldtrip to downtown Minneapolis to see where Honey's new office is. He's been getting adjusted to a new job with a much longer commute and bigger stress load. Thank you Lord for this new job!

We had to warm up his space with some pictures and plants.

The girls were so impressed with the city and his office.

They think "dad is cool" ... so do I.

It's not easy pushing yourself out of your comfort zone...doing things that make you uncomfortable. Growth and change are hard...remember the butterfly? Well that's what Honey is right now...a caterpillar wrapped in a confining shell. He's in the transformation stage. The cocoon is isolating, painful and scary, but so worth it. The thing is I can't even help him right now. This is something he has to work out on his own.

It's been years since I've worked outside the home. If I was to have his job, with his workload, this room is where I would want to spend all my time...the comfort room:)

And this chair would be my safe space...ha:) Why is it when we feel overwhelmed we just want to run away??

Thank you babe for not running away:)

I'm so proud of you.

Have a blessed day.

Kristine's Housewarming

My sweet friend Kristine recently moved into a new house. I wanted to do something for her as a housewarming gift, so I went with fall colors and a folksy feel.

I'm learning to incorporate collage into my work and I have to admit I love the texture and pattern it brings. It's so much more interesting:)

It was Big Chick's idea to add the swing. I know that is a dream of hers, as well as mine, to live in the country with big trees and a swing...maybe someday;)

Finally in it's new home. I think it looks really pretty there.

Have a blessed day.

My silent answer

I took a nap this afternoon. Both my girls had playdates after school. I was drowsy and the house was quiet. When I woke up and looked out the window I had the most amazing treat. God had painted the sky with the most beautiful sunset I have EVER seen in my entire life.

Now I know He didn't paint it just for me, but I sort of feel that He did:) See earlier in the day I was calling out to Him. I've been in a tither placing all sorts of demands on myself. I want to open my Etsy store soon and I of course am struggling with time, creativity...stumbling around trying to figure out how to do it etc... I feel so inadequate. I put so much pressure on myself to be perfect and I know I'm not alone. I've heard from all of you too. We all do this.






But this sunset...this promise of a new tomorrow...another day with a beginning, middle and end. This picture in my heart of a God who is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. Who's unfailing love for me never ends....well it just touched my heart! He is the author of my faith...He is the great I AM. He is the ultimate artist. No one can compare.







This gorgeous display was His silent answer to me. Yes you are inadequate, and I know you don't know what you are doing...but I do. I DO!!

Have a blessed day.

All photos were taken from my deck...lucky me;)

The St. Paul wedding march

My friend Leslie told me about this utube video. It is so funny!! Makes me think back to the day I walked down the aisle. I remember my wedding dress being too long and I didn't realize it until I put my bouquet in one hand and my other arm through my dad's arm. He helped steady me as I kicked my feet out and waddled down the aisle... so I wouldn't trip on my dress:)



To go back and do it again in style...that would be so fun:) Check this out!! It will make you want to get up and dance.

Do you have any funny memories from your wedding day??

Have a blessed day.

Oh and take a look at Blabbing about Blogs today.

My friend Amanda started this new blog and featured me...yay!!

The dangers of Facebook

When I was 15 I fell head over heels in love. Remember your first love? The butterflies in your stomach...the complete obsession over this one person. The person that you thought would be THE ONE for a lifetime. Well that was my experience and at 15! Several months ago he Facebooked me. Shocker!! I had not seen or heard from him since our break-up 20 years prior. I sent him a short message wishing him well and never heard another word...until the other night.







We got home from our Halloween party and I was checking messages (with my husband standing behind me...he NEVER does that) and there was his name... I couldn't believe my eyes. I opened the message and started reading and quickly realized that Honey should not be reading it! I needed to see it first. It was soul baring, intimate and really personal, but I knew I couldn't keep it from him. So after I read it I called him back in, and he read it too. I wanted him to know I had nothing to hide...no secrets. He's a really secure man, but even so he was a little upset.





Facebook has opened the door for a lot of things...good and bad. It gives you the chance to reconnect... to revisit the past, but it can also open a "can of worms" so to speak. What if things were not good in my marriage? What if we were going through a tough spot and this person whom I had this connection with became more than just an online buddy? It happens all the time.

I really am thankful that God protected me by allowing my husband to be looking over my shoulder. To be honest I would not really have wanted to share that letter. I wouldn't want to hurt my husband and bringing up the past can be painful. I probably would have shared it anyway, because I would want him to do the same, but with him there it took away the secrecy and that is the danger in Facebook.


I'd be lying if I said it wasn't flattering and interesting to hear from an old flame, but what I really felt when I saw his name was "danger". I encourage you to evaluate your online friendships. What can start as a casual conversation, can easily turn to flirting and so forth. Would you want your husband looking over your shoulder? Satan would like nothing more than to break up a marriage. Remember he comes to kill, steal and destroy.

Have a blessed day.

All images can be purchased on Etsy - Chickalookate's