just smile.

The point of these pictures is none other than to lighten my heart (and yours, too).

7 days left of Spring 2010!

Denver on Monday, sporting his red toggle jacket.

Priceless.

nut jar.

Anyone else feel guilty for using baggies?  

I can't stand it...I use maybe 3-4 a day and it makes me so sad.

So enter the nut jar.

(an old spice jar.)

A little 4 inch jar to hold Dan's nut mixture.  

At just the right perfect size for my man.

He laughed at it.

But at least it makes me happy to use one less baggie a day!

2 days.

Two days of praying, brainstorming, discussing, sharing, dreaming, eating, snacking (hence the peppermint patties), playing, and note-taking were spent on this lake. Needless to say, we were productive.

Am hoping this organization has more direction and guidance as to what's next for them. Am also hoping they walked away as uplifted, encouraged, and excited as I was. What a humbling thing for an organization to lay everything out on the table and say, "What on earth do we do with all of this?" I couldn't be more proud to partner with them.

Have you been to Grand Rapids before? I just loved it! Though it was beautiful, the company truly made the experience as grand as it was. Am proud to have made the connections to Canada and Michigan that I did.

Oh and I am just now starting my first writing piece for their online newsletter. I knew something incredible would come from this!

share.

Here are some announcements/updates/things/words of advice I would like to share.

1.

When you leave for the airport at 4:30am, make sure you zip up the back of your dress. Otherwise, you will walk through the airport showing off your entire backside to all passersby. And no one will tell you.

And you won't even notice yourself until you're halfway through the flight.

2.

York Peppermint Patties.

Oh my goodness.

Have you ever had one? They are...oh, I have no words.

That little silver packaged wonder is my new weakness.

3.

You never know who you'll be sitting next to on a flight, so be prepared. You might just sit next to a seminary theology professor who asks you how you feel about women in ministry. And you'll have to respond. Luckily, my heart is my spokesperson in this department.

4.

10 days and I will be a 3rd year seminary student. That means in 1 year and 10 days I will be graduating with my Masters of Divinity.

That also means that the next 10 days are going to be nuts.

5.

Ask your husband this question tonight.

"What do I do that makes you feel valued & loved?"

And go do it.

6.

Dinners for this week consist of:

-risotto & sautéed mushrooms

-homemade tacos, beans, rice & brownies for dessert (go Lakers!)

-This meal. we had it a few times during our fast sans cheese, but now we want the real deal.

7.

Our grocery bill totaled at $40.52 this week. What???

Thank you, Jesus.

For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him.

Psalm 103:11

p&p.

I have much to share about my holiday. But first, an announcement about the book club.

Here are the logistics: one girl per month will pick a book. We will all read. And then we will all discuss on a Saturday over great food in my home (or at the park or coffee shop or...).

One book a month. One Saturday a month. Totally doable.

So first up...

Pride & Prejudice. I chose this book because I adore the movie and because my husband said it is a must. It is lengthy, but it will be well worth it. I started this weekend and am already hooked.

Mark your calendars for May 22. And let me know if you're in!

on holiday. sort of.

Tomorrow morning I will be flying out to Grand Rapids for this. I am sort of nervous but mostly really excited! I'm coming home Friday afternoon...then will be doing laundry, re-packing, and driving out to Dana Point for a youth pastor + spouse retreat that our church is sending Danny and I on. (omg. Am I really the youth pastor in this combination?!) What fun!

Meanwhile this blog is getting a little makeover. Huzzah!

Will be back on Monday with tons of pictures and stories from my adventures.

Over and out.

goals for today: pack...write & hide little love notes for Danny...write e-mails to professors...print my flight itineraries...make kitchen sink sparkle...charge camera battery...double check airline regulations for carry ons...make a quiche for Danny to eat while I'm gone...and be still.

we're zombies.

from this Friday's talent show/awards night at church...

Pretty sure I am the worst zombie there ever was.  I did great throughout rehearsal, but looking out at an audience who is cheering and grinning makes it real hard to keep a straight face.  So, a smiling zombie I am.  

Happy Monday to you!

book club.

Can I just tell you know stinkin' excited I am for my book club?

Oh. my. goodness.

And by the sounds of it, a few of you are, too!

So if you have book ideas, send them my way and I'll post them here so we can all have some input. In a few weeks we'll talk about days and times that work for us, too.

And if you're interested but haven't spoken up yet, just do it. This is going to be a blast.

peace.

Kay

12 months and 3 weeks.

When we're bored in class (because it happens...) we pick out outfits for each other.

My picks for Carley.

Carley's picks for me.

I am very ready for summer.  Unfortunately, I am jumping straight into a summer school class.  But at least it's only one class instead of juggling four.

And then, twelve months and 3 weeks from now,  I will be Mrs. Kaylyn Unterkofler, MDiv.

...I see the light...

the verdict.

We made our dinner at my father-in-law's house because he likes the company and sometimes needs help with a good, healthy meal.  

We went with this recipe from last month's Real Simple, because it was, well, um, real simple.  Ha.

I walked into the kitchen to see what Danny had started.  I gagged.  Who knew you had to peel shrimp?!  Bananas?  Yes.  Potatoes?  Yes.  Shrimp?  Apparently so.  Danny responded by saying, "Honey, you might not want to come in here for a little bit.  I promise it won't smell like this once it's cooked."  Not a good start.  (The benefit?  Being at our parents' homes means Cable TV.  Booya...Julie & Julia made it all okay.)

So that's when I decided to let Danny do the majority of the cooking.  I did things like boil the angel hair, cut the asparagus, squeeze the lemon, and sprinkle the feta and dill.  It was amazing to watch the little guys turn clear and then pink. (By the way, did you know shrimp need to be in the shape of a "C" for "cooked", and if they are in the shape of an "O" they are "overcooked"?)

The verdict?  I did it!  I ate shrimp and even cleared my plate!  I think I may have even said, "Hey, let's have this again."  Danny agreed.  

I've crossed into a new level of adulthood.  I am now a shrimp eater.  Whoa.

shrimp.

It's not the taste of shrimp that freaks me out. It's the texture. I might as well be chewing on a rubber band or ear cartilage or something. Oh gross. And it's a little bit about the shape, too. I can't stop thinking about the underwater Planet Earth episode we watched a few weeks back. Poor little swimmers...

I may or may not have dry heaved while buying them this afternoon at the grocery store. (So embarrassing.)

Please pray for me, wish me luck, send positive thoughts, blow kisses, or something, anything, that will encourage me as I cook my first shrimp dish.

Here I go...

i love.

126. succulents

127. a good sneeze

128. Max Lucado's book You Are Special

129. dreaming, thinking, and praying for our future children

130. looking forward to lunch as soon as breakfast is over

131. wearing two completely different patterns in 1 outfit

132. hearing this little girls heart

133. sharing a smile with a stranger

134. face lotion + spf

135. enclosed candles hanging from our tree

136. cloth napkins

137. traveling alone

138. randomly speaking/thinking in French (Denver, est-ce que tu as faim?)

139. re-heated coffee

140. Burt's Bees chapstick with pomegranate oil

I am so sad at how long it's been since my last list. From now on, every week.

news.

news from this weekend.

-The cone of shame is gone and Denver is back in action.

-Peppermint Mocha CoffeeMate creamer is now being sold year-round. Huzzah!

-Zombieland. What on earth were we thinking? Better yet, what were they thinking?

-Chinese take-out is just the best.

-Found a new hiking trail that is my favorite. Must do weekly.

-Afternoon showers + naps are my favorite.

-Doing the thriller dance with our youth group for this Friday's talent show. Omg.

-Grocery shopping is fun again. BBQ chicken salad tonight.

-Tried a shrimp taco for the first time last weekend and am making shrimp for the first time in my life tomorrow night. So scared.

-Denver swims!

-I want to start a book club this summer. Would anyone come? Am thinking a weekly coffee date at my home to discuss our readings. I am thinking a fictional book (it is summer, after all!) but am up for suggestions.

-What I wouldn't do for a scone right now.

-It is so good to be married.

Peace.

monday petition.

So thankful for Monday morning e-mails from D. He's right...poor Monday.

Good morning my love!

Welcome to Monday. Monday gets a bad wrap because it follows the weekend, and who can really compete with the weekend? Monday is really a nice guy at heart. It's not his fault people have to get up early to go to work. Monday has actually started a petition for the 4 day work week. Under this new policy, people would work Tuesday - Friday, thus making Monday the new Sunday. Monday would love to be church day, out to lunch day, park day, family dinner day and best of all God's Day. But until the petition goes through Monday wants you to know that it's the start of a new week with many wonderful things to look forward to.

Love :)

Your Husband

PS Thank you, thank you, thank you to my bestie for my new header...so pretty!

be happy.

having my camera on loan this week + finishing off spring break + having spring fever = sad, lonely blog.

Last night we were driving and we had this conversation.

me: How are you my love?

D: I am good!

me: But how are you really?  (because we all know that's a different question.)

D: Really?  I am so good.

me: Me too.

And it's true.  Life has been so sweet lately and I am just...happy.

Little things can change our life.  So do something little today to remind you of all you have to be happy about.  And in case you can't think of anything, here are a few things I've been doing & finding great joy in.

1. Paint your toenails.  Spring is here so get those toes ready to be revealed.  Take extra time around the edges.  Even do a second coat.  And, if you're feeling really crazy, put a clear gloss on top.  Then let them out for the world to see.

2.  Work out.  We haven't been able to do this much because the fast left us with little to no energy.  But we're back on track with the Biggest Loser video workouts (which I recommend x 100).  I never knew sore calf muscles could make me so happy.

3.  Dress up.  Don't have a place to go or a date to take you?  Doesn't even matter.  Just feel beautiful being you.  Maybe even wear your red lipstick (I love "Showstopper" from Victoria's Secret) without blotting it first.  Whoa.

4.  Write a haiku.  Send it to someone you love.  Like...your partner in crime, husband, wife, dog, sister, momma, friend, boyfriend, girlfriend, etc.

5.  Music it up.  You know that guilty pleasure?  (Don't judge...this is mine.)  Blast it.  Whether you're cleaning your house in your underwear, blowdrying your hair, or making a big batch of oatmeal for the week...it will surely make you smile.  

Now go be happy.

Easter feet.

I have been wearing heels a lot lately.  But sometimes, like on Easter, slippers suffice just nicely.

update.

-Our fast is over. I can hardly believe it. When I think about it, I almost get really emotional. It was a difficult 40 days but we made it. We made it! We prayed and chose to break our fast three times: 1- to celebrate D's promotion, 2- to celebrate our nephew's birthday, and 3- at a Friday night baby shower/man night. Other than that, we stuck to the Daniel Fast: fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, seeds, and beans. So thankful to not have to read the label anymore to check for sugar or flour. Still, we're going easy on the food this week.

-Denver is still a cone-wearer. We eased up on his crate-living and cone-wearing, which resulted in some bleeding. Poor guy...sort of. He also ruined 2 rugs this weekend.

-We had a wonderful Easter Sunday. D and I woke early and read the different Gospel accounts of Christ's resurrection, ate cereal (!), went to church, had great car conversations, and got to see both of our families (I just adore my big sis).

-Since I don't have school til Thursday, I still feel like I am on Spring Break. I have met all my homework goals so now I am fully taking in the break. I always think, What on earth will I do when I graduate next May? Judging by the past few days I will thrift shop (Seven jeans for $7.99!), deep clean the house, finish sewing projects, and think about the cultural implications of Mr. Darcy helping Elizabeth out of the carriage. (as opposed to Jesus eating dinner without washing his hands. Well wait, I take it back...I'll still think about that, too.)

-It is Monday morning. It's raining and pouring and I've got a heater at my feet and a coffee mug in my hands. We have a fridge stocked and meals planned and we're seeing DCB on Friday. Oh yes, I am pretty sure these are signs of a great week.

-Hallelujah Jesus.

you wild animal.

We took over 150 pictures last Saturday at the Wild Animal Park.  Here are just a few!

Blurry love is still love.

Something is missing here.  The strangest bird I've ever seen.  Without a beak.

This picture makes me laugh.  Danny and I kept wondering why the elephant would have a nipple in her arm pit.  Then we realized that the baby was using its mouth (not its trunk).  Oh my...

A real gorilla.  With a huge belly.  We guessed she is prego.

In case you want to know how we size up to earth worms.  :)  Just kidding.

We spent about 5 minutes standing at this exhibit looking for this bird.  Then, we looked at our feet!

This bird was my favorite.  It's called a Gray Crowned Crane.

Giraffe.

Us on a safari tour.  It was so windy my bangs were gone.  But seriously, I only see my sister in this picture.