In sickness and in health...in Gator Country

Are y'all staying cool? It is HOT in KY. I can't help but feel for the families in Colorado dealing with the fires and then the flooding that occured last week in Florida. Y'all be safe out there!

In my last post, I told you I would give you updates on our vacation and our tour of UF law. Here is our expereince at UF and what an experience it was...

On our last day in Florida we visited University of Florida, Gainesville. I can't tell you how long I have daydreamed about visiting this campus. Last summer, Jace started talking to me about what an LLM is and the conversation hasn't stopped. I did plenty of research into LLMs and Jace told me what schools offer a tax program. I specifically researched UF and tried to learn as much as I could about their program. UF is ranked #2 in the nation for Tax LLM, right behind NYU, and is substantially cheaper than other programs and cities.

Another school that offers a tax LLM is Washington University is St. Louis. So, this past December we toured WashU and we loved it. It is a gorgeous campus and we both looked at each other and said we could live there. The advantage to WashU is that it is only 3 hours away from family and if we needed to get home quickly, we could.

Just like we explored WashU, we wanted to explore and get a feel for UF. We thought while we were vacationing in Florida, we might as well drive to Gainesville. It was a four hour drive one way, but well worth it. We were in a little rain on the way to campus due to Tropical Storm Debby but the sky cleared up just in time for us to tour the law school.

If you know me, I am a sucker for live Oak trees with Spanish moss blowing in the wind. It doesn't get more Southern than that. Y'all the drive up to the law school had so many live Oaks--is that a sign? I think so!

UF Law

We met with a woman from admissions and then a woman who works with just the tax students as a career counselor. It was so interesting to talk to them because they are solely focused on the tax LLM students. We left impressed with the program, had our questions answered, and looked at each other and said we could do UF. However, y'all if we get accepted into UF I will have big hair from all the humidity and heat! This KY girl will have to get used to the swamp like atmosphere. Don't worry though, I can chomp on with the best of them!

So we had this wonderful meeting, got a good feel for UF, and practically skipped all the way to the car. We get into the car and we decided we would drive around campus and explore a little bit more. Y'all we weren't in the car 5 minutes and I thought I was going to throw up. You know that "pull the car over RIGHT NOW" kind of feeling. Poor Jace tried to whip it into a semi-private space and we ended up near a hospital in a tow away zone. I sat in the car and had the air on full blast and I thought I was going to throw up. THE.WORST. FEELING.IN.THE.WORLD!!!!!! I go to open the door and Jace had his hands on the unlock button setting on go, and the next thing I know I was bent over thinking my breakfast was coming up. Of course that day, I had a deep scoop shirt on and while hanging out of the car feeling as sick as a dog, I was trying not to show the world all I have.

Jace loves me to death and I know this. However, he also loves his new car. It still has the new car smell and he really didn't want to ruin that smell with the smell of vomit. I understand. So, Jace and I created a game plan. He told me to go into a building and he would come check on my after finding a real parking spot and not in a tow away zone. Later he told me there was a group of men touring the area and they were right behind our car. He didn't want me throwing up in front of these guys or in his car.

Too much information yet? Don't worry, it gets better.

So I go into the building Jace instructed me to go to and found a bathroom ASAP. Of course, there is someone in the stall next to me. She wasn't going #1 either. I walked into my stall, splashed cold water on my face and hovered over the toilet. Nothing. I didn't want to throw up but you know you will feel so much better if you do. It didn't help that I was so close to a public toilet. Closer than I ever really want to be again. But you do what you have to do sometimes. I stayed in there quite a while and was trying to pull it together. I felt awful but knew we were 10 hours from home and it would be a long car ride back to MS.

From what Jace says, when I am sick I have little patience and am not real sweet. Is anyone? I say this because I was getting real tired of the lady next to me. She was quiet as a mouse and was hoping that I didn't notice her. Well, I could see her feet and knew she was there. I was still feeling so sick and really didn't want to throw up right beside her. Y'all I tried to be nice and I thought I would politely ask her if she could leave. I said in my Southern accent, "ma'am, I am not feeling well so you need to go ahead and do your thang". That is exactly how it sounded. Needless to say, the lady left pretty quickly. However, her granddaughters came in shortly after Grandma left. I know they were granddaughers because I overheard them say to each other, "Grandma told us not to come in here!". Great. I have now scared these kids, made Grandma mad, and am nauseous. I wanted to curl up on the cold tile floor but resisted the urge.

By the time it was all said and done, I never threw up but the wave of nausea hit hard. It passed but not for quite some time. I found Jace in the same parking spot and we drove home. I saw the rest of Gainesville from Jace's sunroof with my seat back all the way. We were supposed to tour an apartment complex and we never got there. In the car after I was feeling better, Jace told me that he parked far away, ran down a hill, went up and down the hospital hallway, and tried to call me repeatedly. He later went back to his car and parked in the spot I saw him last. He told me he loved me but really loved that I didn't vomit in his car.

So after months of building up anticipation and daydreaming about UF, I was sick for most of the day. I still enjoyed our time there, am pleased with the facilities, and feel comfortable there. I think they have a wonderful program and am hopeful that Jace will get accepted.

I hope this post didn't gross you out. It is just a day in the life of Katie Keith. Jace and I tried to find laughter in whole mess. We experieneced our vows a little early... in sickness and health...in Gator Country.

Sweet friends!

We're back! After months of planning and growing anticipation, we are back from vacation and reality hits tomorrow. 

Over the next couple of days, I will post about our vacation and tour of UF. Lots of laughs, a wave of naseau, and a little tropical storm named Debby (what a downer!)

Tonight, I couldn't get to my computer fast enough. I have been wanting to blog about last Wednesday for a week now and gush about these girls!

Emily, Lane, Haley, and me

Haley, Emily, and Lane are sweet, precious girls that I absolutely adore. Jace is friends with their husbands who are also MC students and I became good friends with these girls after we went to Barrister's Ball together this past Spring. Barrister's Ball was an absolute blast and I have missed them since.

When I knew I would have one night in Jackson, I wanted to get together with everyone and catch up. We ate at some Mexican resturant and laughed the night away. Just like at Barrister's Ball, us girls were loud and laughed until it hurt. Our poor boys probably had to leave a generous tip because we had so much fun. Fun as in stomp your feet, clap your hands, side pain laughter! That is why I love these girls.

Not only do they make me laugh but they truly understand the demands, the pressure, and worry that is accompanied with law school. One moment we could be loud and the next we are talking serious about our boys future (where ever that may be).

What I enjoy most about being with Emily, Lane,and Haley is that I don't have to explain myself or our situation. I don't have to explain what a LLM is. I don't have to explain that I don't know where we will end up. I don't have to explain that I have no idea what I will do for a job in whatever town we land. Simply put, they get "it".

By "it" I mean, they understand the unknown factor and the excitement and sometimes worry that goes along with the unknown. There is an unspoken understanding of how important grades are, the pressure our boys go through (and we secondhandly endure). We joke that we will earn a JD as well with as much as we worry about law school and feel as though we are law students too.

Lane, Haley, and Emily are a breath of fresh air for me. Their husbands are great friends and will be fine attorneys. I am thankful for friends that I can laugh with, that understand, and keep me running back to Mississippi!

Is he not the cutest!

Mail

What is it about receiving mail that is so fun? I am not talking about bills or junk mail. I am talking about sweet letters and cards that put a smile on your face. Nothing is more wonderful than recognizing handwriting and tearing into the envelope.

When I got our mail today, I had a few things waiting for me. The first was the sweetest engagement card from a dear friend from church. Jace and I have received so many well wishes and congratulations in the past two weeks via cards, texts, phone calls, Facebook messages. So many people are excited for us and their excitement doesn't even compare to our excitement about this time in our lives. I still can't believe we are engaged!

The engagement card was enough for today but then I spotted it. THE box. Inside the box was my two bound Master's copies. I read each syllable making sure all words were spelt correctly. I am happy to say that SLAVES is now SAVES!!!! Holding the copy in my hands made everything real: Katelyn Jo Keith, BS, MS. Two little letters that took 3 years to earn!

At this point, I could have skipped around the block! But there was still one more piece of mail to open. This one was not as much fun as the other two. It was my bank statement for the wedding fund. Y'all those deposits are adding up! HA! Thank goodness Jace made the Excel spreadsheet!

I hope you have had a wonderful Thursday! As for tomorrow, we are all workin' for the weekend!

3s

My momma always said bad things happen in 3s. Well in the past 24 hours I have heard 3 devastating stories. The stories make you stop in your tracks and my heart hurts for 3 families. One family lost a loving grandmother, one family has lost a precious newborn daughter, and one couple is getting a divorce after several years of marriage.

We don't know why God works the way He does or why he decides to take loved ones so early. Maybe we aren't meant to understand. Maybe the saying, "only the good die young" is actually true.

I have tried to go about my day and unfortunately have found myself complaining about minor frustrations and differences. I feel selfish for these complaints because these 3 families are hurting.

When you hear stories such as these three, everything is put into perspective. The meaning of life becomes a little bit clearer. You realize what means the most. You pick up that phone call. You hug a little tighter. You say I love you one more time. You thank God for what you have and stop focusing on what you don't have. The world stops for just a moment and in that moment you realize you are blessed beyond words.

I found this saying circulating on Pinterest and Facebook this week and I think it puts our crazy, busy lives into perspective and we begin to realize how rich we really are:

I am thankful for...

• the taxes I pay because it means that I am employed
• the clothes that fit a little too snug because it means I have enough to eat
• my shadow who watches me work because it means I am out in the sunshine
• a lawn that has to be mowed, windows that have to be washed and gutters that need fixing because it means I have a home
• the spot I find at the far end of the parking lot because it means I am capable of walking
• all the complaining I hear about our government because it means we have freedom of speech
• the lady behind me in church who sings off key because it means that I can hear.
• the huge piles of laundry and ironing because it mans my loved ones are nearby
• the alarm that goes off in the early morning hours because it means that I'm alive

 (Author unknown)

May God surround these families. May He comfort them not only in the coming days but forever. May we all realize that life is precious,to enjoy our time with our loved ones, and to be thankful. Amen.

Hodge Podge

Friends! I have missed y'all! Life has been busy since our engagement and I have been meaning to blog for over a week now. With that being said, this post will be a hodge podge of things that have happened, my thoughts, and just whatever comes to mind.

Can I just say that I have the best girlfriends! Mrs. Lauren Hinton is back from Hawaii and the-after-the-honeymoon phone call took place last week. It was so good to talk to her and hear about the honeymoon, her thoughts about her wedding day, and married life. I am visiting her and Adam mid July and can't wait to see their home and catch up. Phones dates are nice but nothing beats sitting down to dinner with your girlfriends and laughing the night away.

As for Whitney, I love that girl. I love her because I can be totally honest with her. No matter what I am feeling, she will listen. She is also a great reader because I have sent her many an email pouring my heart and soul out. I can be raw and emotional and she lifts me back up. That is a true girlfriend.

Both of our jobs crossed paths and today I got to see her! We are both teaching at 4H Teen conference this week and she was presenting on the floor below me. Earlier this week,  we decide to go to Butts and Guts and Zumba tonight but with our teaching sessions running until 4:15 and the logistics of picking up her sweet baby, we decided to cancel. That was fine by me and I welcomed a night of getting home at an earlier time. Now, I could have gone to Butts and Guts and Zumba tonight. I have nothing scheduled. So I went. I went straight to Hunan's and picked up beef lo mein carry out! She called me when I pulled in the driveway and I confessed as to what I did. We both laughed!

I am beyond blessed to have two best friends.

I am also blessed to have a wonderful fiance! Last week Jace and I were talking about his school and in our discussion, he brought Jesus to the table. I was letting my pride get the best of me and I was getting a little too big for my britches. It was Jace who brought me back down to Earth and reminded me that we are not in control of this life and all glory comes from HIM. I am thankful for Jace's unwavering faith and am in awe of his humbleness. Lord, I pray that I can be more like him.

Speaking of faith, I am so excited for the additions to Crestwood Christian Church. This summer, many small groups have started with one being a bible study. I went to the informational session on Sunday evening and can't wait for the group to get going. The group is meeting the next two Sundays but I will be attending a conference and on vacation. I am ready to learn. I am ready to grow. I am ready to see what God wants to do with this group.

Now for a wedding update: y'all I have been BUSY!!! I can't tell you how fun all the planning has been. I have looked at linens, china, booked the caterer, scheduled our engagement pictures (in Jackson, MS!), met with the day of coordinator, poured through invitations, etc. Jace created an Excel budget spreadsheet for me. Bless his heart, he even used the colors of our wedding. Is he not the sweetest? But in all the fun, I have had my fair share of sticker shock. I am getting pretty good at comparison shopping y'all!

In all this planning, there have been some ironic things come up about our wedding date (Aug. 3, 2013). It is exactly 6 months from Jace's birthday, one day before my grandfather's birthday, and almost 8 years to the exact day of Jace and my first date. None of that was planned so it has been funny/ironic to think of all that. Must be a sign :)

Oh and remember when I talked about my Master's creative project misspelling HERE.  Well, I am still waiting on the revised bound edition. I called on Monday and they said it should be here this week. This has been a process but hopefully it will all be over soon.

In 8 days I am flying down to Jackson and then Jace and I are stealing away to Seaside, FL for a couple of days. I can't wait for an entire week of privacy and no agenda. Hallelujah for vacation leave!

I told y'all this would be a hodge podge of post. Thanks for reading!