the Creator.

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Sunday school.  I was taught all of the common bible lessons as a young child, using felt boards and puppets. Yet even at a young age I never felt completely at ease with some of the things I was told.  One particular Sunday morning we learned about the disciples and how they spread God's love, becoming fishers of men.  My Sunday school teacher shared with us our responsibilities to share the love of God with others, especially those who have never heard about Him, otherwise they may not go to Heaven.  I remember feeling very worried for those who didn't know.  Would they not go to Heaven?  What if it wasn't their fault that they had never met someone who could teach them?  I kept thinking about people that roamed the deserts, or lived high in the mountains that didn't have much contact with the rest of the world. I remember thinking about people that lived on other continents a long long time ago.  Could such a loving God have really created opportunities for people to live in places where they would never be able to hear about the word of God?

My little heart felt confused and sad.  It didn't make sense. 

That memory has always stayed with me for some reason.  I would think about it from time to time, even with my more mature and logical brain.

Now in the present, I've had the most incredible opportunity to sit in the company of elders of the tribe I work for.  They live traditional lifestyles and practice traditional, spiritual beliefs and "religion".  Their ancestors have lived here for thousands of years, long before contact with Europeans.  When spirituality is brought up, which it often is, they speak of the Creator.  With all of their stories and oral histories, and no matter how different they may be from what I was taught growing up, there is one common belief.  The Creator.  

Some may think  ---  well their Creator is obviously not the same as our God.

But isn't it?  What I've heard from them I won't repeat out of respect, but there have been many moments where my heart has been full and all questions in my mind cease.  I've felt comforted by their stories that have been passed on for hundreds and hundreds of years, solidifying my beliefs that God is loving, God is everywhere.  Sometimes we have such a narrow mindset, only thinking it can be one way.  If you didn't hear about it on Sunday morning, then it must not be true. God created us all and would not abandon those who didn't know Him in the same way that so many of us have been taught is the "right" or only way.  

We don't know everything and we never will.  We must also realize although we are only a small mark in the world, we are all connected in such an incredible way. God is bigger and greater than we could ever imagine.  

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sparklers + 1am

I had a few friends over for a little birthday shindig.  I think that they had a good time because everyone stayed until almost 1am!  After everyone left, Bobby and I sat on the couch, with our bellies warm from some yummy spiked apple cider and I remembered I had bought some sparklers from the grocery store.  

"lets go light them!"

We went behind the house, giggling and shushing each other so we didn't wake the neighbors.  Gold sparkles with snaps and pops glittered in the darkness of the early morning hour.  

29

I am officially 29.

Where has the time gone?

I have some big goals for this year --- some personal, some professional.  

Hoping this next year is wonderful!

Happy Birthday San the Man

Yesterday was my little nephew's 2nd Birthday.  Two whole years!  I can't believe it.  Sometimes it feels just like yesterday that I was holding the most tiniest and cutest baby boy in my arms, all snuggled up in his candy cane jammies.  Now he is a talking machine and if you repeat it enough times he will say "hi aunnie kaay" :)

*rain dance*

Happy Birthday dear San

Auntie Kate and Uncle Bobby love you so so much and are so blessed to be able to watch you grow into such an eager, handsome, and loving little boy!

xoxo

quiet time

Do you ever just have those days where you feel like curling up and staying hidden from the world for just a little bit?  I feel like this week has been a struggle, emotionally.  My anxiety has been in full throttle and I feel especially homesick with my birthday coming up and not being able to spend it with my sister.  

I laid on the couch tonight with the lights on low and my new Nordic Pine candle flickering away.  I felt like I was young again, lying on the navy blue couch with the little white dots in our living room.  I have very distinct memories of dark, winter nights when I wasn't feeling well, or just needed a little rest before dinner and my mom would let me lie on the couch with the brown and white blanket.  The only lights on would be from the kitchen, and I would quietly lie there, listening to the sounds of dinner being prepared.  I would eventually hear the garage door open and hear my dad come in from the laundry room, walking through the kitchen and stopping by the couch on his way to drop off his briefcase.  He would gently rub my head as he walked by.  It was such a comforting feeling.

Tonight I laid on the couch, cuddled up in my own brown blanket and watched Bobby doing dishes in the kitchen.  I love that such a mundane task can bring me such comfort and it was exactly what I needed to bring a little peace to my heart.

hello.

Life has been busy lately and looking back over the past month I'm not even sure what I've been up to--all I know is that every evening I am exhausted and find myself crawling into bed earlier and earlier each night.  

We've had a few cool days here, but it seems to go in sporadic cycles and the last few days have felt more like July than November.  It makes me homesick.

My sister and I turn 29 on Saturday.  Last year was the first in many that I actually got to spend my birthday with her.  It was glorious!  This year will be back to our separate celebrations and most likely spending hours on Skype, pretending that we aren't really 2,000 miles away.

Bobby and I are always in a constant debate on whether Fall or Spring is better.  He loves the warmer weather of Spring, the brown turning to green.  I love the relief from the heat, the rainbow of colors falling from the trees.  Each one though is fleeting and always gives my life a timeout, a reset.  I always find Autumn to be the time when I need regrouping and change.

Here are a few snapshots of life lately

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 Conference Time: Speaking at the Southeastern Archaeological Conference in Tampa, FL

 Dog sitting Ms. Bailey

Neighborhood sunrise- on my way to work

 Afternoon walk on the boardwalk

 Proof! It was below 80 degrees

 One lonely fall leaf

 Driving home from work- a beautiful sunset over the Everglades

 What's the one bad thing about having curly hair and resuming my walks during lunch?  Giant bugs get caught in your hair for unknown amounts of time.  yuck!

 Went to my first Ethiopian Restaurant during my conference.  Not bad!

Ended my trip to Tampa with a visit to my friend and college roommate and their newest addition to their family-- precious!

AIAC

It was that time of year again, our annual American Indian Arts Celebration at the Ah-Tah-Thi-Ki Museum.  

It was a very busy and exhausting past few days and I stumbled through the door at 10pm last night after working a 12 hour day!  But overall I think it was a very successful event.

 My new basket I purchased!