back in the 'Ville

I am back in the 'Ville for another day before leaving for work. I struggled the first day here between trying to find my footing and being annoyed by the musicness (new word alert) that embeds the culture here. I have started to breathe again. I am busy with advancing tour dates and am a little anxious about this weekend. I am housesitting for my friend Sara Beth and then I move back into my place September 1st.... CAN'T WAIT!

After a tough day yesterday I enjoyed some downtime with SB and then food, movie, and dancing with my good bud Sanders. I use the word dancing very loosely. I am hoping to use this Fall to re-group. And figure out my next step...I am confident that it will become clear. And in the midst of all of that I plan on having some fun. Here are some of my plans.

1. Wearing tights and cardigans and boots
2. Pumpkin Patch
3. Halloween!!!
4. Apple Cider on the porch
5. TN State Fair
6. Going to movies and concerts
7. Reading books all day and not leaving the house
8. Riding a bike to coffee shops and not sweating
9. Fall trip to NYC
10. HANGING WITH FRIENDS AND FAMILY!

If you know of any other fun Fall activities that I am forgetting shoot me a message.



Picture is from my trip to NYC in the Spring. :)

TGIF

Happy Friday everyone. I will be enjoying my Friday afternoon by hoping in a car and driving to Polk County- L-town to be more specific to hang with an old college roomie. Jessica Francis. She married The Chad a few years ago and he is perfection for her and they together happen to be one of my favorite couples.

Don't know if anyone else watches SYTYCD... but Jeanine won and I couldn't be more thrilled for her!! On a personal note I know some amazing dancers. Young ones that are not only as good but maybe better than some of the kids on SYTYCD and I hope they get the opportunity one day to show their stuff.

Leaving you with a picture that I took in Farmville, NC. Hoped on some persons property for this one... risking you life for the sake of a hobby. Probably not a good idea. :)

Happy weekend everyone! 2 more days in FL.

lists for '09

Back in April I wrote out the list of things I wanted to accomplish in 2009. Since we only have 5 more months left in this year I wanted to check in on it and see how I was doing...

1. Stay out of the hospital (2008 I was in the hospital more then 5 times) Fingers crossed
2. Pay off all medical debt Being somewhat unemployed since April hasn't helped this :)
3. Be able to play volleyball again (post 2 knee surgeries) Going to try and join an indoor league this Fall. Feeling pretty strong right now
4. Do something I have never done before Nothin yet that I think should count-i feel like it should be really bold
5. Get tatooed (know what I want just need the nerve)- Not yet
6. Visit Jerry in NYC- DONE!
7. Spend a weekend with Leslie, Lila, and Matt in Florida- DONE!
8. Love better...including myself- GETTING THERE
9. Be Happy and stay off meds- done with the 2nd half & workin on the first
10. Sing in public- karaoke doesn't count- Singing at a wedding in December- booyah!

The other list I wanted to do after seeing a friend of mine do one on her blog is a Happy List. Things that make me happy.

HAPPY LIST 2009
1. SUNSHINE!!
2. ART- and let me state that only good Art makes me happy. But really in all forms. Music, photography, theatre, dance, visual art, graphic art, poetry, writing, design, ALL OF IT!
3. Being able to go to sleep at night knowing that there is nothing I have to do the next day. (haven't had one of these since May)
4. Coffee shops- so cliche Nashville, but dangitt they are so great! Sitting in one now. :)
5. Watching one of the students I have worked with, mentored, whatever you want to call it, pass it onto others. Has only happened a few times but man is it rewarding.
6. Making Christmas cookies in the kitchen with mom and Jen
7. Slurpees and lounging with Lila and Leslie
8. Wine, cheese and crackers, trashy mags, and dance movies, with Rach
9. FALL!!!!!! Can't stinking wait- brisk air, football games, tights, leaves, pumpkin patch, so GREAT!
10. Nerdy stuff- reading, sci-fi, computers, movies, and people that will nerd out with me.
One to grow on....
11. AMERICAN IDOL NIGHTS AT GABE'S WITH THE WHOLE CREW!

Can't wait to see everyone else's lists!!!!

Happy Thursday!!

Love and Peace,

Katie

family update

So the latest is that they are keeping Dad at the clinic until Sunday now to do one of the 3 procedures he needs. They are thinking that he will need to come back up there every few months for more stuff. The doctor said this will be a marathon not a sprint. Not real sure about the terms for everything or the names of the procedures but they should know the extent of everything by end of day tomorrow at the earliest or Tuesday at the latest. I am planning on staying here through next week to help with Shannon, see friends, and hopefully talk to a few people about future jobs.

I have a tour this Fall that I am doing but will still like to eventually have a "regular" job and possibly be closer to here to help out. Plus I miss being close to my FL friends. Realized that alot since I have been here. Nashville has been great for me but I think it brews with competitiveness and insecurity for me as a person. I am always willing to go or do what God calls of me and for some reason I feel like it might be to come back here. Who knows...

I would continue to ask for your prayers for my family. For me to serve them in every way possible. And for me to know the next direction in life. Love to you all.

Katie

back to the Burg

I am leaving for FL in the morning. I am excited to see family and friends and NOT excited to be in FL in the middle of July. Blech! ;)

I am getting to go to Lila's 30th birthday party with her and Bubba which is such a bonus to my trip. And I get to have dinner with Leslie and her family on Monday night. For those of you who don't know who these people are...they are three of my most precious friends. I have known Leslie and Lila since birth basically. We grew up in church together. Went to 3 different high schools, 3 different colleges, and live in 3 different towns, but there will never a time where I don't consider them to be family. The amount of time and memories with the 2 of them is incomprehensible but most can be summed up in a slurpee and a blockbuster movie. Bubba has been part of the crew since I was 15...he started coming to youth group around then. We have been as close as cucumbers ever since ...we are completely opposite in every way and he never listens to my advice-especially about girls but I love him to death and know he would do anything for me.

I will be spending the bulk of my time with Shannon. Dad and Diana go to Jacksonville on Tuesday and I will have her until they get back- which were not really sure when that is. I am thrilled to get to spend that kind of time with her...I hope I am creative enough to come up with fun things for us to do each day.... and I hope that is a very special time.

Appreciate your continued prayers for the family. Mom sent me a vegetarian cook book in the mail today- which was great. So excited to get to try some of the recipes out. Although I don't think anyone in my family would ever eat any of them. :)

I still don't have phone numbers...so please forgive me if I don't know who you are when you call or text. I have a toy phone right now.

Sidenote: I have been staying with the Farrens in Spring Hill this week and am very thankful to them for housing me. They are in a band called Pocket Full of Rocks and they are currently working on their latest album. All I can say is--its going to be amazing. I am more than excited for them and for you to get to hear it all- i think it will be out the first of next year. Our mutual friend Brian came over for a cookout one night and he played us some of his new stuff as well...its pretty rockin. So check out B. Reith on itunes too- his comes out in September I think. And lastly my bestie Ryan Greenwalt has a new album out on itunes you should probably get too-especially if your into good music. Hehe.

Love to you all. I plan on writing a bit this weekend on what I learned during my stay in Nashville....would love to get opinions on it. Jammin to the new Jordin Sparks....Night!

Katie

been too long....

-picture in PA at Creation East

Let me start off with deepest apologies for not keeping everyone updated this summer as I should have been. It has been a crazy summer full of highs and lows but learning to find goodness in all things...or at least attempting too.

For a quick update on the state of things professionally. I spent the last few months in Greenville, NC working for my sister. She just opened a brand new Hampton Inn there and so I helped with that and helped her with her dogs and keeping up things at the house. I felt like it was where I was supposed to be. Like I was contributing something...which is huge for me. I have to feel like I am making a contribution in everything I do...big or small. It was a great experience to get to spend time with her--we hadn't lived together since I was 16 so a few years ago. :) Lots of chats on the couch and movies and we both love SYTYCD. We also took a few mini road trips which were fun too. I feel very blessed that she provided me a job and a place to stay when I had none and I hope that I was able to serve her and those around her during that time.

I got back to Nashville a few days ago. I drove in specifically to see Harry Potter with my friends. You might think this is silly but it is tradition. And we always have so much fun in the preparation...although I didn't dress up this year. But without a doubt will make sure I do for the last two. I saw some great costumes I will HAVE to copy. Things have been weird here thus far. It is strange to be back in your home town and have to stay on people's couches even though your house is like right there. For those that don't know I subletted my apt for the summer. So even though I am VERY thankful that worked out it is my safe haven here and its tough not too have it and humbling to sleep on couches for weeks at a time at almost 30- we all need to swallow a big pill of pride sometimes. But I am thrilled that I have such wonderful friends who allow me to crash with them.

I am in process of finding work for the Fall...I have one thing that looks promising tour wise...even though it has been a big battle. I have been fighting against the idea of hopping on tour. Merely for the fact of wanting some normality...but at this point going to feel blessed in any opportunity. The other thing I am working on is graphic design. I had been doing some on the side and did a few marketing pieces for my sister in Greenville. Thought about how I could maybe work on that a little more and do some freelance. So...I am relying on friends for help and word of mouth marketing. :) That means you. Hopefully it can help subsidize in between tour dates. The last little project I have is photography and hairclips. I have been selling some photography and hairclips for awhile now. And am hoping that takes off a little as well. I have an etsy.com site under lilhaskell and am going to work on getting that up to par. I have four photos up in the lobby of the Hampton I took...they are of the local area.

-picture at Hampton Inn in Greenville, NC


I leave here in less then a week to go to FL. As many of your know this has been a very difficult time for my family. My mom still has kidney stones and no health insurance and no job. Which has just been a constant struggle....although as always she has handled everything with class and dignity. I found myself in my car on my way back to TN crying out to God. "Why Lord can you not give her a FREAKING break?" "Why must she continuously go though these things?" Of all people who deserve a miracle and a lottery win its my mom. So I just continue to pray for her... her headspace dealing with all of these trials and for God to provide, which He always does.

On the other side Dad has been having some health issues. Knowing my father he would not like me to put on the internet what is wrong with him. But know that it is serious enough for me to go down there for 2 weeks to take care of Shannon while they meet with doctors. Everything at this point seems treatable but would covet your prayers in this time. For him and his health and for my stepmom and lil sister Shannon. Shannon is only 10 and has had a tough year. So I am hoping to go down there and have some sister FUN time with her.

I think overall I am constantly learning about myself and learning about life. I become more thankful for friendships everyday. More thankful for family everyday. More thankful for what I DO have everyday. I am re-reading Captivating for the 4th time right now. I need the reminder every year or so. :) If you have never read it, I highly recommend it. Especially for the females. I thank you for your prayers and friendship.

Love to you all,

And thanks for the couches....

Katie

NC

I have been slacking majorly on blogging since I have gotten to NC. Things have been a little crazy here getting the hotel ready for its opening. We were officially declared as open on Monday at 5PM. And got our first guest about 20 minutes later. There are some wonderful hardworking people here and I couldn't be prouder of my sister and the way she runs this place. I have had to swallow pride multiple times here but am doing it all for her.

I am trying to learn daily to embrace myself the way I am. When I was younger that meant such a different thing then it does today. Today it means to know my limitations, my strengths, my hang-ups, my gifts, and to grow and learn in love of myself and God. I have always looked at it as a short coming that I am a nomadic person. That I never have a straight forward answer when someone asks me about a dream job or a dream place to live. I am not great at one particular thing but thrive on many things. If I ignore the creative side of me I am stifled and sad. The things that I have learned about myself is the need to create boundaries...just because I can do something does not mean I should. I think we all have to learn the word "no" and realize that saying it does not make us a bad person but maybe a healthier person.

I continue to beseech your prayers as I try and figure out this road I am on... I am pretty much done here at the end of the month and am not really sure what to do or where to go next. I go through highs and lows of stress about it but ultimately know that as Bob Marley says "Don't worry about a thing. Cause every little thing is gonna be alright" So profound. :)

I haven't had anyone to go see movies with since I have been here and have been majorly slacking on my summer blockbusters. So hit me back and let me know which ones I have to go see and I will suck it up and go see them all by myself. :)

Love to you all.

Go buy a pair of Toms Shoes, support Invisible Children, recycle, smile more, and try and be a joy to every person you come in contact with, it will help you more than it will help them.

Katie