Valentine’s Day 2019

Ah, love. I love LOVE. I love seeing people happy, watching relationships evolve, seeing families grow and knowing God loves me. But Valentine’s Day has always been my least favorite holiday because of how it can make others feel. And trust me when I say, my heart goes out to others who are felt unloved and alone during this holiday. I have been there! When I was single I always tried to make the best of it. I’d buy myself some chocolates, wine, rent a movie. Yes, yes, I tried to make the best of this miserable holiday. I knew I was worthy of being loved, so I just continued to pray for God to bring me someone and, in the meantime, I embraced being single as much as I could. And now that I am married with my forever Valentine and love of my life, Valentine’s doesn't even seem to be about us. It's of course, more about the kids. And we are okay with that, because Valentine's is over rated as it is...love should  be celebrated everyday! And so here it is, Valentine’s Day 2019, with the kiddos:)

My little cupids, ready for their school Valentine's Day party.

That morning, instead of giving the kids candy (like we need more of that in the house, because let's face it, I'll eat it before they do) Mark & I gifted them toys. Cause they just don’t have enough of those either...Mary Kate received some Hatchimals & a Fox Enchantimal. Will loves STEM toys, so he received a Discovery set. Ryan and Matthew both received gift cards to Dominos pizza.

My sweet girl is too sweet for candy!

Digging for treasures...

But he's my greatest treasure!

I don't usually decorate a whole lot for Valentine's Day. There are lots of pretty Valentine's decorations out there, but I keep it simple...because we're all still recovering from Christmas decorating! I found some super cute signs at Hobby Lobby for our entertainment center, that I just loved! And with Hobby Lobby and their amazing sales, I was able to get these for just a few bucks each.

The Grateful sign comes from Kirkland's and the two at the end are from Hobby Lobby.

I always decorate our mantle for every holiday and all I did was add this heart wreath on top of the boxwood wreath. I think I bought the heart wreath at Wal-Mart for under $5 (I've had it forever!) and the love banner comes from Hobby Lobby...again:)

My "lovely" mantle.

Every holiday, Mark's parents also send the kids a fun box full of goodies. The kids received a craft, candy and one of my Mother-In-Law's beautiful homemade cards. The kids are always so excited to receive special gifts but they especially love receiving gifts from their Nana and Papa in Wyoming.

This craft was a little hard and time consuming but my perfectionist daughter, kept going until it was built.

Cards made by Nana

Will's little robot man that he built!

When we went to Tulsa for Mark's birthday, we ate at a restaurant that gave Wikki Stix instead of crayons for kids to play with. The kids loved them so much, I knew I had to have some for Valentines! I found a Valentine themed Wikki Stix and paired them custom labels. They were a hit with their classmates and teachers. 

Click here to order Wikki Stix
:

To order custom labels, click here

Easy Peasy Valentine's Gifts for friends

The kids' class Valentine's Parties were filled with lots of treats, crafts and games. They had a great time, as always, celebrating with their classmates and friends. I used to be a room-Mom for my kids' preschool classes and Mary Kate's kindergarten class. It was exhausting...so when I see all the work these room Moms put into these parties, my heart fills with love and appreciation for all they do. I've been there Mamas and we are truly thankful for all that you do!

The classes don't do boxes, but bags instead.

And we are soooooo grateful for that! Boxes are a pain:)

One of the many crafting stations the room Moms and teachers do for the parties.

Sweet friends and silly grown-ups!

Best Principal and Vice Principal! They are all about making the kids feel special and we love them for that!

Oh and don't think that Mark and I forgot about each other during Valentine's Day. Oh no, we could never do that. He is the love of my life, remember?!! He's the reason we have this incredible marriage and why we have 4 beautiful children. He is my whole world and I couldn't imagine my life without him. I'm beyond blessed to be loved by my husband of 10 years. 

He spoils me way too much. My gorgeous watch from my Love.

My hard to buy for husband, who has everything, was given his favorite beer and pretzels. He also bought some records for
himself (plus he's getting his own brewery too;)

Well, that's it...our little Valentine's Day. I hope everyone had a good and even a great Valentine's Day. And please remember it's more important that you love yourself first. Trust God's timing, pray for the man that He has planned for you. Don't give God a list, He's not a wish maker....love will come in all sorts of forms but first and foremost, it's how we love ourselves and our Lord that matters most. You are worthy of love and I pray each of you find love.

From A Private Life To A Public Life

When we decided to enroll our two youngest children in private school it wasn't an easy decision. We knew the financial cost would be pressing. And we knew the judgement would be harsh. When most family and friends hear you are enrolling your children into private school they think you are "too good for public school" and that you are "showing off your wealth." We certainly weren't too good for public school and we are anything but wealthy. For us it was all based on providing our children with the best education, and with daily doses of faith to prepare them for the Godless world around them. I was never good in school, I struggled when we moved from Iowa to Arkansas and I never bounced back. School was hard for me but faith was easy for me. My husband was the opposite. School has always come easy for him and faith wasn't. We wanted to give our children the best of both of us and after lots of research and doing our own homework we decided that private school was the best choice for our children at the time.

Back to school garden flag, for purchase click on link below:

https://www.amazon.com/Evergreen-Burlap-School-Double-Sided-Flag/dp/B00Y3C2NQU/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1504619984&sr=8-3&keywords=back+to+school+garden+flag

Fast forward 3 years later and we found ourselves at a crossroad again. With the buying of an older home, we have found ourselves making constant updates and splurging with a purchase of an in ground pool for our children. We had long decided that this home was going to be our forever home and so we want to make memories now instead of after the children grow up and move away. One in college and one a senior in high school, its very likely we'll have grandchildren before our youngest two are high school graduates. So we wanted to invest in something the whole family could enjoy now and later. But with the purchase of a memory maker like an in ground pool, we're not talking pocket change....it's a big investment. Now with the cost of a pool payment, private school, home repairs, one in college and one with an upcoming jaw surgery and still in braces, we HAD to make cutbacks so we could pay off debt and put money in savings. And sadly that cutback came from private school.

My little girl in her Catholic school uniform and school picture.

 I'll admit I miss the uniform, but she doesn't.

Pulling our children from private school was the hardest decision I had to make. I felt like I was failing them in so many ways. I felt like I was failing God. I felt like a bad Mom. I know, you're probably thinking its completely silly to think like that over a school but it wasn't just a school for us. This is our Church, and I felt like I was abandoning our faith and turning away from God. After so much prayer and financial planning we decided it was time to go from private school to public school.

Printable made by me, Kat Smith: feel free to download and use. 

Now I'm not a sugar coating, lie to my children kind of Mom. I talk to them like young people but I focus on the positive. I do not like saying negative things about one thing to make the other thing sound better. If I'm happy, they're happy and if they are sad, I will talk and listen to their words and we work through it. But I do not lie to make them feel better. Being upfront and honest about the change of schools was hard but they were amazing about it. I mean, when you tell your 7 year old she doesn't have to wear uniforms anymore and she can wear flip flops, it's not hard to get them excited about changing schools. Missing their friends would be hard, but we are pretty good about keeping in touch with others. Already, she's seen old school friends multiple times.

Swimming with old school friends, a few weeks after school started.

So summer came and went way too fast this year....we started our new school and its been amazing for them. They are adjusting so incredibly well and the school-oh my goodness this school-we all love it!!!!! It's a change we needed and a change that we don't regret. Now we are paying off debt and we are praising God for helping to guide us into this new direction in our children's lives. I think God made this change happen for a reason. My daughter, at 7 years old, has already witnessed to a girl in her class, asking her if she knew about God. And if it wasn't for her time in private school, she wouldn't have thought to ask that question. She's so secure in her faith at only 7 years old, I think God knew this school or that one girl needed someone like Mary Kate, who not only shares her toys but shares her love of God too.

First Day of School in our new clothes! No uniform required!

First Day of Kindergarten-Will never got to experience the joys of school uniforms.

Chocolate Covered Lent

This Lent I was originally going to give up chocolate....really. So my savior dies for me and I think, giving up chocolate is great way to show my love and gratitude. I'll connect with God by giving up chocolate...yea, right. Why is it so hard for us as Christians to see the big picture? We pray to God when something bad happens; begging and pleading for His help and mercy. We pray to God when we need something, again, begging and pleading for His help and mercy. 

But what about when its our turn? 

God comes to us each Lent begging and pleading for our help and mercy. He needs us to do something for Him and all I had was, "I'll give up chocolate for you." So incredibly sad. Lent should be time of growing closer to God, reconnecting with God and examining who we are as Christians. Are we Sunday Christians? Are we Social Christians? Are we PC Christians? Who does God really call us to be as Christians? Lent is an important to time to get ourselves right with God.

The days leading up to Lent, I struggled a lot with what I wanted to give up. I also struggle with a sweet tooth and well, food in general, and I thought that giving up chocolate would be a good sacrifice. It would be hard, because Mamma loves her chocolate. But the more I thought about it, not necessary prayed about it, the more I thought, the more I knew that I could really do more than just give up chocolate.

http://dynamiccatholic.com/bestlentever/?gclid=CjwKEAiA9JW2BRDxtaq2ruDg22oSJACgtTxcVrnDkvuPfpdefRfiqUhrfgEChrOShyeik-r7stYIUBoCHevw_wcB

{click on link above to hear more about how to make this the best Lent ever}

So....I'm giving up on my own selfishness and I giving more of me to God this Lent. My Lenten promise is more than just giving up on a tangible something, its about reconnecting with God and scripture and discipleship. It's about "fixing" myself: mind, body and spirit for my Savior. I say "fixing" because I'm not entirely broken, but I do have some parts in my life that need a tune up. I know from experience that once I'm more grounded in my faith, like I once was, that I'll naturally want to give up what isn't good for me. Because I'll be full of God and not of myself.

I have just now begun my journey and its not easy by any means. I'm watching what I eat, I'm really trying to focus on praying about things instead of thinking about them, I'm trying to exercise, I'm trying to pray the Rosary, I'm trying to look in my Bible more often and less on Pinterest. I'm in the beginning phase of my Lenten journey. Everyday is a struggle to go back to old ways....I'm doing everything I can to live my life the right way for God. 

God has given me so much and I remember how I used to pray, beg and plead for His help. "Give me a Husband who'll love me" He did, and he is the BEST husband in the whole world....never gets mad, always happy, very sweet, very loving, the list goes on and on. I'm madly in love with the husband that God gave me,

"Give me children" He did, and I have the smartest, funniest, sweetest children a woman could ever want. And they are healthy, helpful, loving and my whole world. I still can't believe they are mine!

"Give me a nice home" He did. I have a really nice home in a really nice neighborhood. 

"Give me a nice car" He did. I used to drive around in a clunker, and now I have new vehicle that has AC and doesn't break down every week!

"Give me, Give me, Give me" He does....He gives to me all the time and I'm so selfish that instead of being happy with what I have, I still ask for more. And again, what do I give God in return? An hour of my time in Mass on Sundays, sure. Washing Church linens once a month, yes I do that. Sending my children to Catholic school, of course I can do that. Tithing, yup. But pray the Rosary? Oh God, you are asking too much of me....but God, while we are talking, can you make me skinny? I'll give up chocolate for you, just to show you how serious I am.

Not this time...God has been so incredibly generous with my life, He has been so wonderful, loving, forgiving and precious to me and my family....I must give more, and that starts with me. Giving up on extra TV time so I can read the Bible, giving up on extra Pinterest time so I can pray the Rosary, giving up on junk food so I can take care of my body like the temple God designed it to be. Lent doesn't have to be a sacrifice of chocolate, it needs to be more than that. It needs to be a sacrifice of our own selfishness. This Lent, make it about more of God and less of ourselves. Lets give this Lent to God and work together as Christians to grow closer to our Heavenly Father, cause lets face it, is giving up chocolate really going to bring anyone closer to God?

Welcome to Southern Sweetys

Hi and welcome to my blog!! I'm so glad you have stopped by! Please feel free to leave comments, questions and please Pin away to your hearts desire!

Okay so let me tell y'all about myself and my beautiful family...

My name is Katrina "Kat" Smith. I am originally from Keokuk, IA and moved to Springdale, AR when I was about 8 years old. I consider myself from Arkansas, since I have lived here most of my life. I know where my roots are and still consider Keokuk home to me as well. The South has definitely rubbed off on me and now I am all Arkansas with my southern drawl, love of sweet tea and consistent use of the word "y'all." And I wouldn't have it any other way. I'll continue with more about little ol' me after I brag on those that make my story worth telling about first.....

I am married to my husband, Mark, of  almost 10 years now. We met on Match.com and he is the love of my life. I smile most when he is around and he is the most supportive, adoring, Godly, caring, sweetest, giving, loving and gorgeous man I have ever met. Saying he is the love of my life is clearly an understatement. I am your constant emotional screw-up, I deal daily with depression due to medication I was on to help heal my back after the birth of our 4 child & good ol' hypothyroid disease. My head is often in the clouds yet I am too insecure to try new things....crazy, I know. My husband is my best friend. Without him, I don't know where I'd be in my life. He is my knight in shining Armour who swooped in to rescued me from a life of loneliness. One word to best describe Mark would be Lifesaver. He the person that keeps our family afloat. Mark is an structural engineer, home brewer and lover of sports. This Spring he will be opening up a brewery {his life long dream}. Mark is braver than I will ever be and I am beyond proud and happy for him.  Mark is all things fall to me...warm and cozy and he smells good too:)
Mark is smart, talented, patient and

 just simply amazing. God blessed me ten-fold with this amazing man.

My husband, Mark and myself, Kat

Together Mark and I have 4 awesome children. We have Ryan (Ry) who is 21 years old and lives in Fayetteville, AR. Ryan has worked for Wal-Mart for about 3 years now & just bought his first car as a grown-up! Building that credit up, y'all.  Ryan has Asperger's Syndrome and has come so far in his life. He and we still struggle at many times with his AS, but we are always Ry's biggest supporters and cheerleaders. He is always making us proud and we are excited to see him grow and live the life he has only dreamed about. Best word to describe Ryan would be Determined.  With help from his Grandpa Glasgow he has learned how to play the guitar and everyday he practices the guitar looking to become better. Ryan loves music, writing and being creative. Ryan rarely gives up and when he finds something he is passionate about, he gives it his all. 

Ryan

Then there is Matthew who is 18 years old (AKA Sweets).  Matt earned the nickname Sweets for his love affair with all things sweet. Matthew is a Freshman at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville. He is majoring in Science and he just landed the job of Track Manager at the UofA for the Razorback Track team. Matt is a former State winning runner and our family athlete. Matt is your constant perfectionist. He is a rule follower and hardest working kid you'll ever meet. He is loving, caring, kind, sweet and a hugger. He hugs, a lot, and I love that he hugs. He'll be like his Dad when he grows up-a very loving & attentive husband.  There's a lucky woman out there waiting to meet this prince charming one day. Matt is literally tall, dark and handsome. A word to best describe Matt would be Honorable. He is a man of his word and there is nothing that he wouldn't do for his fellow man. He's always got your back and would never turn his back on you. Matt will always be a kid at heart. He loves to build  Legos, video games, reading and singing. 

Matthew

Next is our only girl, Mary Kate (AKA MK or Kitten), who is 8 years old. Named after two of her Great-Grandma's, she is a pleasant mix of all girl and a little tom boy too. She loves hanging out with the guys playing basketball and baseball and loves dressing in pink with bows and pretty sparkles. She is the sweetest kid ever. She cares about others so much. Every morning we pray in the van on the way to school for her classmates. Is she knows someone is struggling, she keeps them in her thoughts and prayers. She is seriously just the sweetest. Mary Kate is an observer, she is a lover of animals, music, cooking shows and she is simply beautiful. Mary Kate is swimmer and singer, and she works very hard at both. But more than anything, she makes me smile, laugh and most of all she makes me proud.  She always leaves me silly messages on my phone and it just makes my day. Mary Kate is in the 2nd year grade and she is an amazing reader for age. One word to best describe Mary Kate is Talented. She sings, swims, draws, writes stories, reads a lot, and she loves performing made up songs outside for our two dogs. 

Mary Kathryn

Last but certainly not least is William, (AKA Will, The Wills, Will-Will, Little Man). Will is almost 7 years old. He is our little miracle baby that we nearly lost during pregnancy due to an infection and surgeries I had at 13 weeks gestation. Will was also born with 3 knots in his umbilical cord that could have cost him his life or could have given him brain damage. Will was born perfectly healthy. I often say that Will is perfect name for him because he had the Will to live and boy is he strong-willed too. Will is sweet, cuddly and always making us laugh. He is the comedian of the family for sure. There is never a dull moment with Will around. He is a quick witted mama's boy, who I REALLY wish would stop growing up!  Will is so much like his Daddy it's crazy. He loves to build things and take things apart, he loves staying busy. He loves Legos, baseball, drawing, playing tricks on me, board games and helping me in the kitchen. A word to describe Will would be Curious. He loves to touch everything and try to figure things out on his own. He is independent, he likes to work with his hands and I can easily see him becoming an 

Engineer like his Daddy one day. 

Will

So that's it....wait, oh there's more about me....

 I am a Catholic Wife and Mom. As mentioned above, I do suffer from depression and anxiety but have chosen to not be on medication. Medication & hypothyroid disease is why I struggle with it like I do. Instead I deal with it by praying, reading scripture, exercise, being present with my family, baking, and trying to talk myself up from my downs. Depression has caused me to have severe anxiety around other adults and so that leaves me with few friends.  I'm learning to be excepting of that, but it's hard. We all needs friends. Outside of that mess in my life, I do have lots of scattered ambitions and I love to cook, craft, photograph and laugh. Even though depression and anxiety are in my life I am a  happy person-if that makes sense at all. I am most happy when I'm together with my whole family hanging out in our back yard cooking out, swimming, tossing the football, sitting by the fire pit, date nights with my husband, sipping on a Mommy drink and holding my husband's hand. I love taking pictures of my family and I love anything kitchen, Hobby Lobby, Kirkland's and Euna Mea's.  I was saying "I Love You More" before it was cool to say. I'm your typical Southern lady; I love manners, big bows, lipstick, hairspray, sweet tea and Jesus. A word to describe me would be Blessed. Yes, Blessed. I'm hoping my blog over time will help others who are dealing with depression and anxiety due mainly to hypothyroid disease. I obviously don't want it to be my sole focus, because it's important to focus on what makes us happy. 

Okay so that is it. This is us.  These are my "Southern Sweetys." I hope you enjoy this blog. Again, please feel free to comment, message and pass it on. 

Blessings,