Seriously, how cute is this new blog design?  I told y’all it was coming.  It just took a little time.  I wanna clap and giggle every time I see it.

Vanessa at ButterflySparks Designs made the header- she is so awesome, so if you are looking for an inexpensive redo for ye old blog, give her a holler!  She is creative and artsy and all the things I dream of being.  She’s the best and you should get her to make you a design.  Today.  For real.  It’s the Fall- who doesn’t want a fresh look?

And as always, my Bloggy-Friend-To-The-Rescue, Lauren, worked her Saturday off getting everything set up all pretty like.  If you’re looking for a host, she is your girl.

Happy weekend.  And no, you cannot date my blog.  I know she’s cute.  But no.

Hey friends.  Thank you for your patience with me this week as I attempted to focus.  Its going fairly well.  I have enjoyed my blog-break (all of three days), but I have missed it too.  I don’t have an update on Catherine yet except that she made it out of surgery, but keep checking her blog and THANK YOU for praying.

Mild amounts of hilarity have occurred, including but not limited to: attending a photo shoot with Country Weekly at the Nashville Zoo, seeing Michael W. Smith (my first famous person sighting), watching the Georgia game with the Nashville UGA alumni, trying to find an outfit for THIS, playing the mutual friend game with a country star (don’t ask, I’m not saying), falling in love with a $200 dress that I just couldn’t bring myself to buy, watching an ungodly amount of Reba, and balancing my checkbook.  Yeah, that was really hilarious.  In a “where did that money go” kind of way.

I’m working today and I think I need to blog.  I told myself I wouldn’t until the giveaway (which may be Monday- CDs are being shipped tomorrow and I hate to giveaway without them in hand), but today’s writing has been intense.  I need the relief of a lighthearted happy blog.  I’m working on a chapter that kinda anchors the whole book- my personal struggle with self-image.  [I don't blog about it, but apparently I write about it.]  But typing out details of specific pain-filled experiences kinda makes me relive them in my heart.  Which isn’t fun.

The upside is how much I enjoy seeing new things in the Bible when I’m researching.  For example, I’m using some scripture from Mark 12.  And as I read, I came across something I have never seen before.  After Jesus explains the most important commandments, in vs. 28-31, the teacher who questioned him then gives his response.  He agrees with Jesus, and then here is verse 34-

“When Jesus saw that he had answered wisely, He said to him, ‘You are not far from the kingdom of God.‘”

I love that.  I feel like Jesus had a sly grin when He said this, like it was a breath of fresh air.  Like, “Yeah, dude.  You’ve got it. Well played.” [That is the Annie interpretation.  Not direct translation.]

I like to be reminded that Jesus was human.  That things impressed Him.  That He enjoyed hearing others’ opinions.  That when someone actually sorta understood Him, it really meant something to Him.  That maybe He wasn’t always so alone in His thinking- every now and again, someone was “not far for the kingdom of God”.

I want to live and think and move in such a way that Jesus smiles and says, “Hey, actually, no matter what you feel, you are not far.”

From the kingdom.

From Him.

From His love.

Now that’s worth blogging about.

My friends Donnie and Katie had a baby girl about two weeks ago. There were many complications that they found out about during pregnancy- here is a quote from their blog (because I am not NEAR smart enough to explain this), written to their newborn daughter Catherine.

“on april 2, at 17 weeks and 6 days pregnant, we got great news! it was a sweet little girl growing inside of me and we would get to buy lots of pink and frilly things! but we also got some very sad news. on the same ultrasound we saw that your heart was on the wrong side of your body, and that your stomach was up in your chest next to your heart. this means you have a congenital diaphragmatic hernia. silly diaphragm not closing like it should…there is a chance more things in your belly could slide up there into your chest, but that’s actually not the biggest problem-that could be fixed with surgery pretty easily once you get out here and meet us. the problem is that your heart is now taking up the right side of your chest and your stomach is taking up the left side of your chest, and your lungs might not ever have a chance to grow without anything in their way.”

As of today, she is doing far better than anyone expected. On Tuesday, September 2, she will be having her first surgery.

Please pray for baby Catherine and for her parents Donnie and Katie. God could not have picked two more trustworthy servants to bring Him glory in all of this. We believe that NOTHING is impossible for Him. We claim 1 Corinthians 14:33- “For God is not a God of disorder but of peace”- may He continue to bring peace to Donnie, Katie, and their families as well as bring order to Catherine’s organs.

You can read all the letters to Catherine during the pregnancy HERE at their blog. (Have tissues, you mommy-bloggers out there.) This is also the best place to keep up with them during/after surgery.

Donnie and Katie, you are in our hearts. Much love, and prayers, to you both and to sweet Catherine.

[All comments will be sent directly to Donnie and Katie, if you'd like to leave a prayer or word of encouragement or specific scripture for them. You are also welcome to comment on their blog directly.]