Winter Favorites

In this joyous Christmas Season, I wanted to share some of my

SPARKLING FAVORITES for 2008:

Favorite YouTube Vids:

Sara Bareilles w/ Ingrid Michaelson - "Winter Song" &

Foy Vance - "Gabriel & the Vagabond"

Favorite Movies of the Year:

Favorite Smell of the Year:

Pumpkin Pie candles!

Favorite Books of the Year:

The Twilight series by Stephanie Meyers

Favorite Bible Study of the Year:
18-2-24 CBS/Captivating!

What are some of your favorite things about this past year?

What are you thankful for???

Photo Shoots

Have you ever asked God to show you who you are...and He does? Lately I've been struggling with "my purpose." I'm 32, a graphic artist & I feel I'm not doing what He MADE me to do. So I asked... Then the email started coming in, "Would you be free to take some pictures for me?" "Hey, can I get you to do our family photos again this year?" "Hi...I would love for you to take my bridal portraits...pleeeease..."

Now this made me a little nervous, because I put my camera down a couple of months ago when I was getting ready for the Big Move. In a moment of despair, I cried out to My Father "I'm sorry for shoving your gift to the side. SHOW ME, because I might be blind & deaf, what you want me to do with it!" So my phone rang. My good friend Mel was calling to say, "Okay, I have a precious newborn & we want you to take the pictures." So I did.... with a little fear in my heart...but total faith my Papa God would show me the way. And here are a few of the results.

Parker 1...

...2....



...& 3!


I've been having an issue with my stuff not "looking like" the Ulmers' or Lyndsay Hyatt-Almeida's (Pink Coffee) photoart. I would love my photos to appear soft & commercial. So what am I missing??? (I ask myself) As you can tell, it's very heavy on my heart....then a friend hit me with a dose of reality. "Kate, maybe your stuff isn't supposed to look like someone else's. You have a style all your own....so accept it, use it & soar above your own expectations." (Letty you're so wise...)

So.....I'm going to give that a shot! Imagine....my own style....

I don't know that I've ever accepted it before!

Carra

Molly (Specs & Wings)

So, I'm going to use Thanksgiving to try it out! I'm going to take my camera along as a friend, again, to see what we discover together. Perhaps it'll show me what I've been missing all along.

I AM THANKFUL FOR FAMILY, FRIENDS & FAITHFULNESS!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING, O TRIBE OF LOVE & GOODNESS

Birthday Celebrations

God's blessed me with a couple of new designs!

I am totally thrilled to be making new gifts!

My hands need a purpose to share His love with others.

Kathleen's birthday card

Dad's birthday frame, sans card

(which I actually sent in time for the actual date).

How does He use you to make the world smile?

Six Things You May Not Know About Me

Welp, I've been asked to update my blog, soooooo I'm updating my blog. I was tagged by a fellow W. Texan, so I'm following suite on what seems to be the current trend. Woo Hoo!

Six things you may not know about me....

#1. I sang opera in high school & college.

#2. Dallas Cowboys' Cheerleader was my chosen profession until I was old enough to know I really just wanted to be Madonna (gag).

#3. I learned to process & print my own film at the ripe age of 13 when I broke my foot playing volleyball in P.E. Mr. Cadell, my science teacher, appointed me to yearbook staff & taught me how to run a darkroom en solo.

#4. I still like to watch cartoons when I have the Mondays.

#5. Graphic design was self taught in the year 2000....accidentally. *LOL*

#6. I was told by the Johnson O'Connor Research Foundation I would be an FBI Profiler, NOT an opera singer....because I am tone deaf.

(Tell that to the faculty @ Texas Tech)

What are some things people don't know about you???

Inside the MRT Newsroom!

Election Night 2008. I'm sitting in the MRT, observing the action from the graphics dept. Lots of prep work has been going down today, as Jimmy, Stew, Craig & Josh (with several others) have been gearing up for live action from the inside. Jimmy will be interviewing several special guests throughout the evening, with Newsroom Stew blogging away as the action unfolds.


This is all very exciting for a girl who hasn't had much exposure to the election overall. As most of you know, I don't have cable & don't really watch television. Any information I receive is from the newspaper or internet. I've been able to form my opinions from personal research & reading. I like it this way.


I'm soaking in the excitement crackling in the air as votes are being reported. Jimmy's ease on camera goes to show the versatility of our awesome newspaper. I am so thankful for the wonderful opportunity to work with some amazing talent & some insanely crazy folk.






Stay tuned to My West Texas Chatter for total coverage! There are fantastic guests & a few surprises. MRT Publisher Dave Wedel is keeping sentinel as the Presidentials unfold. We're all anticipating the end. This is it, folks....the day we've all been waiting to end.











You're doin' an AWESOME job, Jimmy! Keep it up & thank you for your hard work.

Find me tonight on http://www.mywtxchatter.com/profile/wildcurl !

Fiddlesticks Farms!

Good days with friends harbor in the soul of memories. I am blessed to have spent the afternoon with two amazing friends & a squirt of a girl with a 10+ personality! We headed out east on Hwy 158 to Fiddlesticks Farms to take part in none other than their outstanding "cornfield maize." ha ha. The farm provides family fun with generous supplies of funnel cake, corn & pumpkin cannons & a hay ride around the farm.

We were greeted at the entrance of the maze by a baby rattle snake. At that point I tried to turn to leave. I was cheered forward into the depths of the 1,000+ cornstalks grown in the shape of an armadillo & rider (see photo lower down). Kathleen was pumped about getting to the Super Slide, while Audrie & I whined about 3/4 of the way through the maze about funnel cake. Maribel lead us through the maze with great confidence as we attempted to avoid dead ends--ohhh, there were MANY. With the aid of a "Corn Cop," Kathleen soldiered us onto victory! Maribel proudly clanged the black finish-line bell to announced our survial! After the maze, there were funnel cake intros (Kathleen's 1st fried-treat experience) , goat observations, a little rain & lots of pictures.

cow train ride

(complete w/ John Deere tractor)

entrance to the Cornfield Maize

Children of (God) in the Corn. *LOL*

Kathleen & Maribel on the Super Slide

country store & the actual shape of the cornfield maze

carved into their official pumpkin

what's up with this cool farm truck

from my home state?!

Audrie & her "little sister," Maribel

All in all it was a great afternoon & a completely fantastic way to spend time with friends I love dearly. I am so thankful for really awesome, entertaining friends & sisters in God.

How are you making memories these days?

leave me a msg or email me!

Moments of Pure Joy...in the Past 7 Days.

Do you ever have moments of pure joy where God shows you how big & very real He is?

Last Saturday, I enjoyed the St. Ann's Fair w/ a friend & his son. God showed me every possible combination of joy, love & peace in a few short hours. Believe me when I say I took in every sight, sound & smell possible. I was completely engrossed in a world full of whistles, music, children's voices, books, cotton candy, bright colors, & laughter.

for more see my PhotoBucket: http://i486.photobucket.com/albums/rr224/TheWildCurl/St_Anns_Fair/SAF1.jpg

A few days later, I spent a most wonderful evening with my precious friend Molly. As always, our time was filled with talk of God's change in our lives & His amazing goodness as He forms us in this world. As an über-bonus, we talked of art, creation & our use of it to glorify His profound wonders.

Let me share some of our night...

Art mags, yummy joe & wedding planning.

A quiet spot in the corner of the café for secrets & prayers.

Molly after too many cups of coffee.

Molly's favorite artist, revealed!

Molls shyly peeking from behind my journal.

My Week of Joy went a little like this:

- Wed. night, Molly introduced me to a new sister--

The Passionate, Vibrant Amazing Carra!

- The next night, The P.V.A. Carra & I shared a lesson over Acts 4 at 18-24 CBS along with Bonnie the Fabulous, Kim the Amazing & Angie the Inspiring.

- Friday, I was humbled to be able to make lunch for my darling Cymbre. Parts of my heart cry she & Mike (Big Jerkface Bob) are leaving to begin a new life in South Texas, but I am thrilled to have yet another place to visit! They bring me joy every day! Their dedication to Our Papa God has been so inspiring & healing for me!

- Saturday, I spent an exhilarating breakfast w/ Carra talking of

GOD'S ENORMITY & UNENDING LOVE!

...which lead to lunch....which broke at 2 o'clock only by a previously scheduled event.

I am humbled by undeserved moments of joy...

and my God who lovingly, willingly & joyously brings them to me.

Now it's YOUR turn to share with me:

What brings you surprising joy?