They Call Me Kasie Boo

For the record- I should be writing a Welding Safety Test right now. Actually, I should probably just go to bed.

However, this one is short and sweet.

One of my favorite roles in my life is that of an aunt. As of Tuesday with the birth of my nephew, Kyan,  I am now the proud aunt of two nephews and one niece. When Brynley was born my family decided that my name to her would be Aunt Kasie Bo. My Papa, Dad and many family members on my Dad's side have called me Bo from when I was real little. In fact, Papa may have forgotten that Bo really isn't my name. Needless to say, Bryn never picked up on that moniker but she called me Kasie Boo instead. It was cute, or rather she was cute, so it stuck. When Cooper was born she passed on my name to him too. For awhile they both called me Aunt Kasie Boo.

Nowadays, Bryn is really growing up. In fact she has said that she is too old for "that princess stuff" and has turn more toward Justin Bieber and nail polish. Yes, scary. But Cooper really is a charmer. He knows that all he has to do to melt my heart is to call me Kasie Boo. Then his wish is my command. He is seriously too dang cute for his own good.

About a week or so ago, I visited Kami while I was in Wichita. I get to my sisters house and the kids run out to greet me. "Kasie Boo is here!" Cooper immediately runs to me and hugs my leg, I pick him up and hug and kiss him. He then proceeds to ask me if "I wanna box?". We play hit each other and then I give him more hugs until he wiggles out of my arms.

The next part of the story is the best. Kami was in the bathroom when I arrived. But then Cooper runs into the bathroom to interrupt my sister and proceeds to rub Kami's very pregnant belly, put his face right next to where he thinks Ky can hear him best and tell my little baby nephew Kyan, that "Kasie Boo is here Ky! Kasie Boo is here Ky!".

Each and every time I see Cooper he greets me like this. In the hospital when I arrived, I guess he saw me in the hallway and then asked all the visitors in my sister's room if they wanted to go see Kasie Boo. He is just so excited to see me and the rest of his family every time we meet.

His enthusiasm never fails to make me feel loved. It never fails to brighten my day. It never fails to make me laugh. It never fails to make me feel like I am the most blessed person on this earth. Finally, it never fails to hit me smack dab on my forehead with the force of a 2X4.

When was the last time I greeted someone I knew with the enthusiasm of a child? More often than not, I take for granted the people I see each day and even the people I see on rare occasions. This week I am going to make it a point to make those I meet feel loved and welcomed by me. I will greet them with my best Kasie Boo impersonation.

Burn Me Up

First things first. At the moment, I feel a little up in the air. As in, I am not happy. As a teacher I feel as I am being a second rate version of myself. My mind is usually anywhere but school. I miss a few people an awful lot. I miss daily mass. I probably did morning prayer twice in the past week and a half. Last week I was excited for two things: having a solo adoration on Monday and driving to Wichita for daily mass on Friday and then picking up a former student who is attending Friends and is currently carless.

But there is a problem. I am only thinking about me. It like the world should revolve around me and me being all self-consumed. Ahh I hate it. 

I think that God has been trying to communicate this message to me as well. : ) Mostly because it is just popping up everywhere. And usually when something is reoccurring, it is fairly important. Here's what has been going on: 

After mass on Sunday I came home to eat lunch. As I was looking for something to watch on TV I came across First United Methodist on the guide channel..... 

Yes, I watched it. haha Honestly, mostly because I was curious to what a Methodist church service was like. I know, I know.....you are probably thinking, "Weren't you Methodist?". Yes, but not really.  After all, it has been a long time since I have been to any kind of church besides the Catholic mass. Two things I got out of it.....I love celebrating mass and the world does not center around me. The pastor actually had a really good message that I'll summarize briefly. 

Sometimes we are in darkness. Sometimes we are in a situation where nothing seems to be okay. Our relationships are suffering, we are dealing with really difficult people, we are unhappy, we feel like nothing is going for us. Remember that God put you there for a reason. God brought you to the people you are around each day for a reason. To be a light for those people. Does a light do the most good in the daylight? No, in fact, it does the most good in the darkness. Be a light for those people around you; even the ones it is most difficult to do this with. The world does not revolve around you. Quit thinking about you and help the people you are around. 

Well played God, well played. Then, I went to the lake to spend time with my family. 

I spent most of the time in the camper. My Nannie and I spent a few hours together just catching up and talking about anything and everything. And in between feeding Cooper PB&J sandwiches and changing the background of Kami's phone to a picture of me, Nannie made a statement to me: "Kasie, you are too independent." 

I love Nannie but she can sure kick me in the butt sometimes.

In addition to all the above. I wore a Lady Bulldog softball shirt that said "We > Me" on the back. For some reason, everybody had something to say about that shirt today. Mostly, it was- "Don't follow that motto, Kasie. Don't get married. Don't have kids. Do whatever YOU want the rest of your life." Geez, people that is horrible advice. 

Plus on a particularly tiresome day last week I turned on my radio to the chorus of this song: 

"Burn me up, Burn me up, Burn me all the way, 

til there's nothing left but You"

To wrap up this long story and make it shorter. I think sometimes we are all in need of a short little prayer. 

"He must increase; I must decrease." 

-John 3:30