Baby, I'm Bad News

I have some sad news, friends.

I have come to realize that my "photo a day" challenge to myself is just too much.  I just don't have the time/capability to keep up with not only taking the pictures but also posting them even every other week.  It was a great idea and I still want to live through the concept of cherishing the little moments but I found myself feeling bad at the end of the night that I didn't take a picture and taking one of my bed or closet... or even cheating (I already cheated at least 3-4 times in the posts I did do!  haha).

So sadly, I must forfeit the challenge but I will still try to blog occasionally.  Blogging was especially great when we didn't have a ton going on, but it kind of became more of a chore than anything...  I already feel pretty spread thin with working 40 hours a week, plus church 3x a week, plus extra youth activities/games/concerts, and just keeping up with the house, meals, and also VERY importantly just spending time with my husband!

I do want the record to show that I had a great birthday.  Steven worked really hard to plan it and make it special for me- bought me balloons to wake up to, a nice card, took me out to dinner, and even bought me my favorite ice cream cake from Dairy Queen.  He got me everything on my birthday list (perfume, jean jacket, and bikini for our trip this summer!)

Here are a few random pictures from lately:

Hopefully I will post soon, but if I don't, I won't feel so guilty about it.  :)

Coughing is no fun.

Hello, friends!  Welcome to another week in the life of Kelsey Branch.

 Sunday, April 21- look at my cute new flip flops!  So excited to go to the beach with my family this summer.  :)

April 22- my first RE/MAX Sales meeting!  Pretty cool!

April 23- day 1 of me not feeling so hot... nasty cough!

April 24- I skipped Awana so that I could work on these yard sale signs for our next Camp Fundraiser!  I think they turned out well but of course I just read that it is supposed to rain both days...

April 25- Steven took me to Mimi's Cafe to celebrate getting my Real Estate License.  My Chicken Parmesan was so good!

April 26- Had some yummy hot chocolate at a new place in Cottleville- The Chocolate Bar- with my friend Lauren!  It was so good and would be a perfect place for date night with their outdoor patio seating and fire pits!

April 27- my last ever shift at Delmar Gardens.  So sad!  Broke my heart to write that letter but one Full-Time job (plus everything at church) is enough... I will miss it!

I have struggled recently with jealousy/comparison.
Not the nasty kind from High School- I wish I had her boyfriend, body, hair, etc.
But there are a couple of people in particular that it seems like their life turned out SO perfect... like they got the life that I would have picked out for myself...  Just in the blessings that God has given them.
I try to remind myself to have joy for these people instead of jealousy... to be happy for them...  as they love God and give Him the glory for what He's done. Remind myself that God's story for me is different than the story for them, but is just as special.

The last 6 months or so, this verse has knocked on my heart:  "But godliness with contentment is great gain." 1 Timothy 6:6.   I think this is my life verse.  I need to learn to be content with the amazing things He has blessed me with, while living a holy life, and trust Him with the rest.

Easier said than done though!

 

Here we go Again!

Oh, boy...
My last post was March 27.
Today is April 21.
It has been a while.
Today I will try to catch you up on my past MONTH

March 29- we left for our Senior Trip to CHICAGO!  After a 5 hour drive, we got to our Hotel which was SUPER nice.  That night we went to China Town and a Chinese Restaurant for dinner, then on the Ferris Wheel at Navy Pier after dark!

March 30- we had a full day in Chicago including Millenium Park, Shedd Aquarium, shopping, swimming, and Giordano's for our LATE dinner.

Sunday, March 31- our last day, I had to make sure to buy a magnet!  Steven and I's tradition is every trip we take, we buy a new magnet from that place then write on the back the occasion, dates, and hotel and put it on our fridge.  I ended up getting the bottom one.  :)

April 1- Barkley was happy we were home!  And he loves sneaking on our bed to nap.  :)

April 2- this Bacon, Egg, and Cheese biscuit made my day.  It's the little things...

April 3- I was so excited that it was FINALLY warm enough to put out my Spring/Summer hand soaps!  :)

April 4- last minute picture with Barkley  :)

April 5- just another day in paradise...

April 6- I am trying to be ahead of the curve with these pretty mason jar lids and straws!

Sunday, April 7- pretty magnolia tree in front of our house!

April 8- started working on Yard Sale signs for our next Youth Group Fundraiser.  1 down 15 to go!

April 9- lazy puppy on our love seat

 April 10- a bird made a nest in my Spring Wreath!  There's 3 eggs inside!

April 11- We had "Teen Night" at our house, my Real Estate License came in, and Steven surprised me with a Keurig to celebrate!

April 12- my WONDERFUL family (and pretty mama) came for the weekend!  Had a great time just hanging out and talking with them.

April 13- my parents helped us plant flowers and a few other things around the house!  We all went to Fritz's after dinner, and we worked on planning our vacation to Hilton Head together this summer!

Sunday, April 14- Took Barkley to the Dog Park after my parents left with Cassie, Karsten, Bella, and Kami!

April 15- At youth, Steven had us all write out 1 verse from each book of the New Testament to work on memorizing.  I'm excited about this!

April 16- took my first Orientation class for SCCAR.  It was actually ok because I was surprised to see (and get to sit with) my friend from my licensing class!

April 17- it was a GREAT day because I finally finished my "old" body wash and got to start this new one!

April 19- just sitting on my desk working on the laptop while the IT guy looked at my computer for 3 hours... and still wasn't able to fix it!  That night we went to Steve and Cassie's- we will miss them when they move.

April 20- Sweet Tea from Chick-Fil-A and Aldi!

Not a lot of exciting things going on but life sure keeps us busy.

Now to shower and off to bed!  I need to get more serious about these pics and posts... sorry for the boringness of this one.

 

The Breakfast Club

Hello friends!

It has been a good week here at the Branch household... and it's about to get even better because we are going to CHICAGO with our Seniors this weekend!

To start us off, here are some pictures from our week:

March 23 was our Second Annual Pancake Breakfast!  And ironically, the only picture I have is this one...  The girls did a great job and although less people came than last year, those who did come were extra generous and the girls got $74.50 each to go toward Camp!  Praise God because I know there is no way that would have happened without Him...  After the Breakfast, Steven and I went to help my boss move her office furniture from her old office, then home to take a nap!

Sunday, March 24- we had a freak Spring snow storm!  This was just the beginning when I was walking in to church.  We ended up getting over a foot of snow...  and when we got home our satellite was covered with snow.  So Steven asked our neighbor if he could borrow his extention ladder to sweep it off!  That is a dedicated NCAA Tournament fan right there...

And then a picture of me and my buddy Barkley for your viewing pleasure:

March 25- I couldn't help but be thankful for our garage while driving to work Monday morning!  Shoveling the driveway stinks but it is great to have a warm, clean car to get into in the mornings!

March 26- the bad thing about the snow is it melts... and then your dog comes inside looking like this!  Time to go to the toilet to wash his paws (and neck!)

March 27- remember how my last post I was struggling with feeling unappreciated?  Well I got a sweet text from one of our Seniors today... In my reply I told her how it has been my goal since before Steven and I got married to build relationships with our girls where they would feel that way about me.  God is so good and I am so glad that He is using me in a small way in their lives.

Have a great weekend- I know we will!  :)

 

March Madness

So my NCAA bracket is already done for and it's only the second night!

But in other news...

March 13- just hanging with our teens having Game Night!

March 14- it was over 60 degrees for one whole day so I celebrated by putting up our Spring Wreath and taking Barkley on a walk!

March 15- helped chaperone one of our teens 16th birthday party!  We did an awesome job singing Happy Birthday...

March 16- cleaned the church, went shopping at GAP with 40% off coupon, and had Barkley's best friend Kami over (with his owners Cassie and Rachel!).  They love each other!

Sunday, March 17- God is so good to bring me verses like this one when I need them!

March 18- We love veggies!!  I think I have eaten more veggies in the last 6 months than in my entire life before that...

March 19- my sister turned 13!!!  And we went to watch three of our teens' Choir concert at Timberland High School.

March 20- exciting news... we are changing offices at work!  My boss opened her own brokerage!  RE/MAX Platinum here we come... call us with all of your Realty needs. :)

March 21- was busy packing and moving things from the old office to the new one!  I am so blessed that the new office is only 7 minutes from our house (and there's a QuikTrip at the halfway point...).  God is so good!  Mike was able to get the cubicle wall out of this cubicle so my coworker Angie and I can see each other and share files (and share Chips and Salsa of course!)

March 22- my view driving to work this morning.  The old sign is covered up and the new RE/MAX sign will hopefully be up Monday!  (sorry for the poor quality picture... but I was driving!)


I'll be honest with you, this past week has been a hard one.

I have struggled this week feeling unappreciated, and also with hurt feelings from a family at church.

We are not in the ministry to seek approval from people... we are there because we want to love on our teens and show them God's love and lead them to grow in their personal relationship with Him... but some days it is tough when you work so hard on fundraisers, activities, etc. and no one even notices and really everyone just complains about how we should do things different!  haha.

God has been so good to bring verses to me and to encourage my heart through this week.  I know it is just Satan trying to get me to allow myself to be discouraged and I want to push through that and be even better and more effective than before.  :)

"Ordinary people, who faithfully, diligently, and consistently do simple things that are right before God will bring forth extraordinary results." -David A Bednor