Avenues Counseling blog

Avenues has a blog! Check us out here.

I had the privilege of writing a post this week. Let me know if you would like us to cover anything specifically. And feel free to add us to your blog roll and tell people about us. :)

Katy's Words of Wisdom this Week:

"Real friends allow you to complain about your child's bodily functions."

You're welcome.

Seriously, I would be in a deep, dark potty-training abyss if it weren't for Jill and Greta. And a few margaritas.

Avenues Counseling

So now I'm working for Avenues Counseling which just opened June 1st.

WOO HOO!!!

This is an exciting adventure, and I'm thankful to be a part of it. I work with great people, feel blessed by our mission statement, and love what I do.

Check out our website: http://avenuescounselingcenter.org/.

AND check out our blog: http://avenuescounseling.blogspot.com/.

Please keep us in mind and feel free to refer to us. :)

And add our blog to your reader. We'll have some interesting articles and resources every week.

A whole lot of celebrating!

So yesterday was Father's Day and today is the Husband's birthday.

That's a whole lot of celebrating!

I don't have any cute pictures (because the husband wouldn't love for me to post any of him) so I will instead celebrate him with a list.

Top Ten Things I love and appreciate about him:
(in no particular order)
10. He is an unbelievably wonderful dad.
9. He is an amazing husband. He loves me well.
8. He's hilarious. We laugh a lot in our house.
7. He can make up a song about anything.
6. He's pretty darn good-looking.
5. He's great at fixing and building things.
4. He has a lot of artistic talent.
3. He says what he means and means what he says.
2. He's a man of action. In life and faith.
1. He is an amazing provider and leader of our family.

Your girls love you very much, Husband!

Ugh.

I couldn't think of a better title for this post.

Ugh.

Claire seemed to be potty trained for the last few days but today has been a never-ending series of puddles. I definitely didn't pressure her into this; she seemed ready and willing. But today was like being back to square one. Although she's had a little look in her eye that's let me know she probably just hasn't felt like walking over to the potty. I have NO IDEA where she gets that kind of stubbornness. (yes, that's said dripping with sarcasm)

Now before you try to make me feel better or give me advice, all four of you who read my blog, I know that this is a normal perk of a two year old. She will be fine and don't worry about it...

But seriously, I'm not worried or concerned. I'm TIRED. And I can't help wondering, how did people manage before Clorox wipes?

Did I mention that Claire also put me in time out TWICE today?

Gosh, I do love this girl. The day was redeemed by running around the house for probably a half an hour after dinner playing a game of "pretend the alligators are going to get us!" This game looks like this: run around the house, yelling, and fall down every few minutes saying, "the alligator got me." (Claire totally made this up and gave me careful instruction.) Then we cuddled in our recliner watching Wonder Pets.

If only I could get that dang theme song out of my head...

Now the youngest beckons from her crib.....

Feedback from Mamas

I've been working on a specialty in eating disorders and body image. I truly love these topics. I truly love meeting with women and talking about how there can be freedom in how you eat and how you look. You may read that and think something like, "I don't want to change anything" or "I don't have a problem" or "There's nothing wrong with being healthy." All could be true statements. But don't we all, at some point, feel a bit controlled by certain thoughts? Why not find some fun and freedom in what you normally do?

Here's my question for you:

As a Mom, what concerns you? What do you think about? How have things changed for you since having your kiddo(s)?

More to come...

Flip Flops

Here it is:

I really, really love this picture more every time I look at it.

I wore flip flops when I got married.
I ended up changing into them at my Dad's wake when he passed away.
(He would have gotten a kick out of that. Heels hurt.)
I wear them almost every single day as soon as the weather gets above 60.

Flip flops are me.

And my sweet girl loves them too.

It may not be the best picture you've ever seen but I really love it.

No word on the contest results.
I'm just happy and proud of my final product.

Contest

I mentioned in a previous post that I took a class with Fresh Art Photography. Well, they are hosting a contest this weekend for all of us who took this class in April. They are announcing the winner tomorrow.

And how am I?

Freaking. Out. I feel like I'm back in graduate school again when professors and classmates would listen to tapes of my counseling sessions. (sidenote: I had written consent from all of my clients)

These women, who are talented and professionals, are CRITIQUING MY WORK.

Okay, my freak out is over. I feel a bit better. Seriously.

On top of just a contest in itself, the topic could NOT BE ANY MORE DIFFICULT:

a portrait of yourself.

Really? ME? Why not cute kids? A cute dog? Flowers?

We were challenged to be creative, so I started with this question:

Who am I?

My answer: God's daughter, Wife, Mama, sister, daughter, friend, counselor, learning to take pictures, learning to garden, cook, baker.....

How in the %*&$ do you photograph any of THAT????

Okay, before you throw out a million ideas that probably popped into your ahead, please read ahead.

How do you photograph those things when you wonder how good you are at any of them? Especially when you have two small kiddos that suck the energy out of you? Especially when you feel tired, stretched, challenged? Especially when you're finally adjusting to living out a calling as a counselor, raising two little people, trying to invest in friendships, and trying to love your husband well?

Uh, narrow THAT down to one picture!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So after tons of pictures, I got it. A picture that sums up the me I've always been, with the addition of the person I've become. You'll get this if you know me well.

And, no, I'm not showing you the picture yet. I'll post it tomorrow after the winner is revealed... so until then.....