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Happenings Under the Blue Skies

in Fun Stuff· Giveaway· Prayer· Writing

Kelly Sauer headshot 2

It’s been quite the crazy few weeks, y’all.

And sometimes a girl just needs to calm herself down, grab her pumpkin spiced chai, and talk with her friends. Ya know, tell them what’s been going on lately. So I’m sitting under my backyard aspens today, patting the warm grass beside me, and offering you your own favorite drink as I share about this and that.

Last month while attending the annual retreat for the (in)courage writers, I had the opportunity to have the one and only Kelly Sauer photograph me. Kelly is a wedding, portrait, and fine art photographer based out of Charleston, South Carolina. Do you know her? If not, I beg you to get to know her pronto. You can do so by visiting Kelly’s website here and her blog here. You can also follow her on twitter, facebook and instagram.

Even if you don’t live near Charleston you should get to know her because  y’all, she travels. 

Kelly Sauer Headshot

I have admired Kelly’s work for years. Her photos are light and warm with an effortless, relaxed quality. I personally never had a sitting like this before, so I worried the whole thing might be a hundred shades of awkward. But Kelly made everything feel natural instead of posed. I think part of that is because her spirit is just like her work: calm, encouraging, and sincere.

Kelly makes having your picture taken feel less hey look at me! and more this is me.

Kelly Sauer Headshot 9  Kelly Sauer headshot 6   Kelly Sauer headshot 4

Kelly Sauer headshot 5

  Kelly Sauer Headshot 13 Kelly Sauer Headshot 8 Kelly Sauer Headshot 7

Kelly Sauer headshot 10

Kelly Sauer Headshot 12

Thank you, Kelly! You are a gift.

***

Because my cherubs are on fall break for the last half of this week and all of next week (a perk to starting school August 1st), we’re taking a little trip to the mountains. The purpose of our trip is twofold: 1. Spend some wonderful, distraction-free family time together and 2. Enact Operation Get Kristen to Appreciate Colorado. Because lately, Colorado and I have been going round and round.

Basically, I’ve been a little sore at her for bulldozing spring right off the calendar. Then, a massive hailstorm turned most of my plants and garden to shrapnel. But my pumpkin plant survived, and to my giddy joy grew and grew like a horizontal version of Jack’s beanstalk. I counted almost two dozen growing pumpkins.

So when a fierce windstorm with freezing temperatures appeared on the radar last week, my husband and I worked tirelessly to cover those pumpkins. I declared war against the Colorado weather and said you shall not win.

The Colorado weather just laughed in my face and unleashed her fury anyway. She won the war and my pumpkins were the casualty.

While I know things could be a million times worse (no wildfires or floods here), I literally cried and wanted to smack Colorado.

So this is why we’re going to the mountains: because when you feel ungrateful for your location, it’s best to travel where you feel grateful again. For me, this doesn’t always mean a trip to the mountains. Sometimes, it means a trip to the backyard or the local park.

If you follow me on instagram, this is why I take so many pictures of our state.

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Because when I do, I’ll see shots of a sunshiney aspen with the mountains in the distance. I then fall on my knees and beg Colorado’s forgiveness for my awful attitude.

I repent! I repent! 

And I’m grateful again.

If you’d like to see some quintessential fall foliage yourself in the next few days, feel free to follow me on instagram. Also, I am taking a small bloggy break during this time so I can hang more with mah peeps.

***

The winner of Emily’s A Million Little Ways is commenter Amy Grace! Amy Grace, check your inbox for an email from moi. And thanks so much to all who entered. I loved reading your comments on whether or not you consider yourself an artist and why. So insightful.

***

Finally, I would love, love, love your prayers. I’m wrapping up not one but TWO special projects, and I feel the hot fingers of stress pulling me in opposite directions. So you wouldn’t waste a prayer on me as I finish both. I can’t wait to share them with you!

So, enough about me. What’s been going on with you? Please tell me everything!

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Filed Under: Fun Stuff, Giveaway, Prayer, Writing

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Comments

  1. Jamie says

    October 10, 2013 at 12:35 pm

    First of all, those pictures are AMAZING! I especially like the ones where you’re busting up laughing, to me those truly reflect you and your personality…and I’m jealous that I wasn’t sitting there cracking up with you. 🙂

    Second, good luck on your mission of learning to appreciate Colorado. You are not alone in your disdain for this state and it’s wacky weather! In fact, it’s only one of the reasons I don’t love CO. Don’t get me wrong, I’m making the best of our time here and I’m not miserable, but I just know that CO will not be my forever home. To me, it just doesn’t feel like “home” and I am having the hardest time trying to feel any sort of settled here. Our time on Maui was filled with a homey-ness that I’ve not experienced at any of our other assignments. Because I know you guys have chosen this area to be home for at least a while, I will pray that you are able to feel at home here and really start to appreciate it. As for me, I’m kinda glad to know that I only have 2-3 more years here….at least on this assignment. Haha. I keep telling Bryan that he really needs to try and get back to Maui!

    Love you friend. Enjoy your mountain getaway with your family, I think I may need to schedule us one of those soon. 🙂

    Reply
    • Kristen says

      October 10, 2013 at 2:57 pm

      Thank you darling! Thank you so much. For your kind words about the pictures and your prayers.

      And ya, Maui had a lot going for it in the homey-ness department, and a large part of that was found in the people. (Like you!)

      Love you friend. xo

      Reply
  2. Sue Tell says

    October 10, 2013 at 1:01 pm

    Hey Kristen.

    I’m wondering is waste a verb that should be used with prayer? Or is that a southern thing?

    Father I pray for a delightful time for Kristen and her fam in the mountains. Would you make it restful, energizing, and fun. Please give wonderful picturesque weather worthy of many photo memories. Amen.

    Still looking forward to coffee with you. I’ll let you initiate.

    Denise in invited me to share with her group in a few weeks.

    One of my blogs was accepted by Dayspring. I’m excited.

    BEAUTIFUL pictures. All of them.

    Keep writing my friend. Sue Tell

    Reply
    • Kristen says

      October 10, 2013 at 2:52 pm

      Sue! Bravo on one of your posts being picked up by DaySpring! Cartwheels and handstands for you!

      “You wouldn’t waste a prayer…” is just an expression. I’ve heard it said all over, but maybe it originated in the South. I don’t know. Thanks *so* much for your beautiful prayer. I’m so grateful.

      And yes, I would still love to have coffee with you. Really love to. We’ll make it work sooner or later!

      Reply
  3. Bev Duncan @ Walking Well With God says

    October 10, 2013 at 1:15 pm

    Kristen,
    I just got back from the mountains of NC with my mom…nothing like their majesty to restore a grateful heart!! LOVE, love, love the photos of you! They capture your beautiful smile and your welcoming personality! I will certainly add you to my “prayer warrior” list…may it go well with you! Enjoy this precious time with your family!
    Love ya,
    Bev

    Reply
    • Kristen says

      October 10, 2013 at 2:49 pm

      Thank you so much, Bev. I appreciate your prayers so much.

      Reply
  4. Dana Butler says

    October 10, 2013 at 1:58 pm

    INCREDIBLE pictures, Kristen!! You are gorgeous and adorable all at once. LOVE.

    I’m so sorry CO’s weather hasn’t been kind. Lame. Your instagram pics always make me sigh with longing. I miss it there so. much. But yeah, the weather can be nuts. Anyway. Hope your trip and your family time are refreshing and awesome.

    Bless you!!

    Reply
    • Kristen says

      October 10, 2013 at 2:48 pm

      You are always a light for me, Dana. Thank you!

      Reply
  5. Lisa says

    October 10, 2013 at 4:00 pm

    I grew up in Colorado and loved it for the diversity of the weather. It was always interesting. However, I didn’t have plants and pumpkins to worry about. That would be very frustrating.

    Reply
  6. Heather says

    October 10, 2013 at 6:25 pm

    Ok, So you just inspired me to get a haircut. Your hair looks great, and once upon a time, many, many ponytails and messybuns away, I used to have good looking hair! 🙂

    Reply
  7. Mary says

    October 10, 2013 at 6:39 pm

    Those pictures are amazing…but then, the subject of said photographs is absolutely gorgeous!! I hope you have a great time in the mountains. I love October in Breckenridge.

    Reply
  8. Angela Giles Klocke says

    October 11, 2013 at 5:01 pm

    Wow, love the photos. So bright and beautiful!

    And I hear you on the Colorado thing. It’s the part where we skipped summer that has me torn up a little this year. A few warm days does not a summer make. I love the beauty and the sunshine, but I need that small window of summer each year to push through. Alas…

    Reply
    • Kristen says

      October 11, 2013 at 5:47 pm

      Thank you, Angela! That’s high praise coming from your amazing self.

      And yes, I hear you on the summer thing. Totally.

      Reply
  9. jdukeslee says

    October 14, 2013 at 10:57 am

    Praying for your and your projects, friend.

    You are such a beauty!

    Reply
  10. Aprille @beautifulinhistime.com says

    October 14, 2013 at 4:49 pm

    I LOVE all of your photos! they are so beautiful and I love the airy lighting and setting! so pretty!

    Reply

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Hey there, dearheart! I’m Kristen, and welcome t Hey there, dearheart! I’m Kristen, and welcome to my little corner of the world here in the Colorado woods outside Colorado Springs. 

I wondered if you’d want to go inside, pull up a chair ‘round the fire, and hang out a bit? 

If you’re newer, here's a little about me: 

I like: 
▫️Country and classical music. 
▫️Most hot teas and cocktails with bourbon. 
▫️The beach and the mountains. (Why must we pick one over the other?) 

I don’t like: 
▫️Muffins (They’re just sad cupcakes with no frosting.) 
▫️Long winters (God shows His sense of humor by placing me in CO!) 
▫️Cruises (In spite of being told otherwise, I did, indeed, feel the ship moving.🥴) 

👏🏻I’m a mighty fine encourager, and if you do/say/wear something I genuinely love, I’ll let you know it and/or tell others about it. 

🙁I sometimes let fear dictate what I do or don’t do, and that’s exacerbated by my bossy inner critic. 

🙅‍♀️I don’t like mean people. BUT I can be awfully sarcastic, and sarcasm is often just mean in cuter clothing. 

😢A friend and I talked recently about how raising teens and big kids has us tender to the touch, often with tears just below the surface. 

💙Speaking of kids, I’m mama to three hilarious, hard working, and big hearted kiddos—twin sons and a daughter—whom I adore. 

❤️I’m wife to a USAF veteran, David, (raising my Polish pottery mug of hot tea to the military spouses here!), who’s also an all around amazing, amazing fella. 

📚I wrote two books called #GirlMeetsChange and #BackRoadstoBelonging. I love to help folks see their change and lack of belonging it often brings in a more hopeful light—because difficult change is never the end of things. God’s grace and goodness are. 

☕Thank you for being here—I’m passing you a virtual cuppa your favorite hot beverage and a cupcake (sorry, no muffins). 

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#FridayIntroductions
The sun sets on a downright delightful month of ha The sun sets on a downright delightful month of having all the chicks back in the nest. We puzzled, Uno’d, and played a new game called Knope for President. (So fun!) We watched Mandalorian all together, and David and I started a Netflix show called Turn. We had tea (and coffee!) at 4:30 each afternoon like some kind of Brit wanna-be’s. I cooked like a crazy person because cooking is the most predictable Enneagram 2 thing I do. Pot roast, spaghetti, and baked casseroles, oh my! Plus, 21 year olds who’ve had a semester of fending for themselves on the food front are mighty appreciative when dinner magically comes out of the oven. 

Said 21 year olds are back at college now, but I’m thankful for the good memories that stay with the rest of us Strongs after they’ve left. This last month held hard stuff for many of us, I know, but I hope it left you with some good memories as well. 💛
If your life looks anything like mine, difficult c If your life looks anything like mine, difficult change that started in 2020 didn't give one whit about the new year and walked right with you into 2021. Your change could be more broadly felt like fallout from a lingering pandemic, or it could be more individual —marital, parenting, job, or relational struggles that refuse to let go. 

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My daughter read that this past Christmas season, My daughter read that this past Christmas season, Christmas light sales were up 300% compared to years past. We may leave ours up for another week or two, and I’m 300% okay with that. 

In the wise words of @iamtabithabrown, it’s my business. 

It’s also my business how I choose to respond to something—indeed, it is a choice. Will I be thoughtful or defensive? Will I be someone who displays or douses the light of Christ? 

In our work to love our neighbor as ourselves, may we be a people who persevere and refuse to stop using our own unique God-given light to dispel the dark. People are desperate for it, and this work matters.
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