my job is a gift

The other night my papa told my heart of the joys of being with kids. I'm being for serious. I'm not just talking about the monotony of messes, snacks, and skinned knees. Although, there was plenty of that happening for me last week.

Then what was the epiphany you ask? Ok, if your gonna beg I suppose I'll tell you. I had the challenge/blessing of babysitting (with another sitter) 6 kids. Only six you say? I'll throw in there that two of them are type 1 diabetic and are absolutely precious but also require a quite a bit more attention. The nights can be sleepless because when your pancreas doesn't function its hard to stabilize growing babes blood sugar. I have been exhausted and this week has taken a toll on me without a doubt.

Yet, I have been moved by the innocence of these kids. Yes they fight and are selfish and whiney and human but they are absolutely of greater worth than gold. Their joy is so pure it pulls life from deep within my dry bones. Their spirits and blind trust give me a picture of the Lord's heart for his children.

 Trusting without abandon is not number one on my list of things to do. How do I even begin to trust God with some of the stuff in my life....to me it feels so, well important and big. Silly Kaylee, he is a trustworthy God, a good dad. He isn't going to hurt me: He may allow my life to have parts that hurt, but he is shaping me into the image of his son. These kids don't focus on the hurt, they focus on the adventure and the joy. Dax, the youngest fell 4 times that day. He got banged up pretty good, but as soon as I held him and told him he was ok, he believed me and ran back to what he calls "the forrest" to play.

I know that my heavenly papa is like that. He says Kaylee this hurts in the moment, but its going to be ok there is still adventure even if it stings a little, but I'm gonna grow new skin there, better skin. I really wish I could say this is so engraved in me that I don't doubt. The truth is I find myself questioning him with lots of circumstances in my life. My pastor Jeremy says that asking God why is an invalid question that makes you an invalid (in -vah- lid). Thats the truth. Deep in my heart I know that why isn't the right response to my circumstances.  Instead, it's thank you for loving me enough to make me like your son.

Trying to wind down before bedtime that night, Amy, the second sitter, played worship music on her guitar. As I sat in the living room atop a mountain with 6 of life's most precious gifts, I felt tears form in my eyes. The innocent voices sang "bless the Lord oh my soul" at the top of their lungs. I felt the presence of the Most High thick in the room. He showed me what a privilege it was to care for his beloveds. He showed me how he sees me that night: a pure, innocent babe that is his delight.

Broome Family Beach Trip

It’s summertime folks. I remember as a kid my official summer vacation always started with our Broome family beach trip. I would finish up my last day of school on Friday and then Saturday we would be on our way. I would get so excited that I wouldn’t sleep well the night before and would be wide awake at the rise of the sun.

The Broome beach trip is such a special time for me to connect with my whole family not just my siblings and parents. It’s crazy that we have been taking yearly beach trips together since I was born.  Hilton Head Island is the stomping grounds for all 19 of us Broome’s. I have many irreplaceable memories from over the years; I’m reminded of my 3 allotted cream sodas that tasted like liquid gold, bike rides on the golf course where Tucker was chased by an Alligator, breakfast with the girl cousins and my grandparents, and countless laughs.

This about sums it up

 Because I am in summer school in Boone Monday through Wednesday, this year was a little bit different for me. I wasn’t able to go until Wednesday afternoon; however,  I am so thankful that my schedule worked out so that I had the time that I did. Last year, I was in San Diego and missed the whole thing…it made my heart hurt.

After my six-hour trek to the familiar island, I was greeted by the notorious gourmet meal that my grandparents make every year. I want to kick myself for not photographing it because it was literally phenom (short for phenomenal for those of you non abbrev peeps). My pops is virtually the grill master. He invented the Weber grill….ok maybe that isn’t true. Lets just say the man can twerk a grill, ya dig? My plate was filled with Filet Minion, Shrimp, sweet potato fries, and salad. It was a special night that ended with a beach walk.

In honor of the delicious meal they prepared

 Thursday morning, Madison, Sydney, Gracie, Lettie, and I were awoken by Grams and Pops at 6:30 for our traditional breakfast. These girls are so old. I mean really, why am I questioning time at 20 years old? I thought only old people did that. They are so beautiful and have hearts of gold. Boys, watch out I will take you down if you touch them. From breakfast, we went to Harbor Town where the breakfast tradition started. We enjoyed walked around the harbor in awe of the beauty of the huge boats. Then we rode by each house we have stayed in that we can remember.

I’m so thankful we got the breakfast in Thursday before the rain came. I mean seriously it’s a good thing I was more excited about spending time with the fam than the beach because the weather was not my friend. Friday was sunny though! We spent a special day out on the beach…soaking up the sun and serenity of the waves.  We ended the trip Friday night with pizza by the pool and a good ‘ole bike ride. It was a much needed break. I know how blessed I am to have such a Jesus loving, people loving family, but this past week served as reminder of God’s goodness to me specifically in this area. My heart is full, and I am beyond blessed by the people I get to call family.

It’s the coolest feeling when you just fit, belong, know your place. From the time I arrived until the end of the trip came, I could just feel how I fit so perfectly. This feeling rarely shows its face and stays in my life. There is always an ounce of discomfort, a wondering: “What is she thinking about me?” “Why is he giving me the stank eye?” Then it hit me, Christ desires me to feel this way in the skin He chose for me every single day. He wants me to love people the way that my family loves me and more importantly- the way he loves me. In the end, we are all family right? Don’t hear me wrong, I’m not going hippy every body love everybody on you. On second thought, I take that back I am. I just believe that everyone needs to feel what I felt at the beach with my family.  Loved. Accepted. Cherished. Join me in asking Jesus for help loving the family, Jesus way. 

P.S. I came back to hickory with fresh blueberries on da vine and lulu being cray in the trees...holla back

The Daunting Future

My brother, Tucker, graduated from college over the weekend. Crazy. How is the whole getting old thing happening to all of us? I always thought it just happened to other people. Guess not...

We had a fun family day. The whole Broome family caravanned to Raleigh and cheered for Tuck as he crossed the stage. We went out for lunch at Kanki. The food was great, but the company was better. It was such a sweet blessing to spend a day with family.

Everyone kept saying, “Kaylee, your next.” I couldn’t even handle the thought of being next. Because what happens next anyway? What does the after look like? I began to ask myself these questions. Anxiety hit me…. where did my sophomore year go? I am a junior. Eww. Then I began to think about the American college experience: You take 4,  5, or sometimes 6 years, graduate and then go off and settle into your place in the world.

Having Déjà vu from Trey’s graduation two short years ago, I watched Tucker walk across the stage into the real world. Distracted by thoughts of my future, fear crept into my being without knocking. Just as I see my brothers transition from college and look for a place to belong and thrive, I began to question: Kaylee, where are you going to belong in the real world? I stopped myself, tuning into the gentle whisper in my heart that assured me of the beauty in the unknown.

Normally, I think of the unknown as anything but beautiful. It is scary. It is loss of control. It is chaos, but Jesus reminded me this weekend that there is no place like the present. That is where He is. My mom always says that fear is allowing your imagination to take you to a place absent of Jesus.

Instead of thinking that I graduate in two years and freaking myself out when I reminisce on the lightening speed of  the 2 years I have already spent in college, I have the choice to see the endless opportunity and growth that two more years entail. I find relief and joy in viewing it this way.

The right now is what I’m given. The where I belong is in His presence. This weekend at church, I heard "Where I Belong" by Cory Asbury. The words in this song reassure me of my identity and acceptance in his presence, not in my future.

It's hard to drop my control. It's harder not to worry about the what if’s, but right now I know that walking with him day by day is exactly where He wants me. I’m gonna keep playing this song until the words become truth in my heart.

Here’s to the next two years, the memories, and the time spent at the foot of the cross basking in my papa’s presence.


Just because this makes me melt...

Gram and Pops

It's about time

Hello friends,

This side of blogging is new to me and quite scary to be honest. I love reading a good food blog, faith blog, fashion blog, life blog, but feel utterly overwhelmed at the thought of being the source of the words, stories, recipes, failures, and laughs. I have wanted to have a space of my own for a while now....but where do I fit into the blog world, whats my story worth telling?

To top it all off....I am not the most tech savvy human: making this an even greater challenge. Today is the Saturday before exam week, making this probably the worst time for me to actually sit down and conjure up this blog that I have been thinking about for months now. While I should be writing about Gothic British Literature (vom), I'm gonna give you guys a little picture of my hope for this blog. 

Jesus has been working on my heart in the area of adequacy. He is showing me that my story is worth telling, my joys are worth rejoicing in, and my voice is important. Before you say, what an arrogant little fill in word choice here, I don't believe that I am the best thing since sliced bread or store bought ice cream, but I believe that Jesus in me can reach others through words. Jesus in me can use my brokenness to relate to others in a beautiful way. Jesus in me can give someone a good laugh who hasn't cracked a smile in days. It's all grace anyway people. I wanna be raw honest; you know the real life kind: the honest that hurts, and tickles, and embraces.
 

I’m just a simple college student, learning all kinds of life lesson sometimes the easy way, but mostly the more challenging route. I'm going to blog about the things and people that bring joy to the depths of my being: my Jesus, my family, my smokin' hot friends, yummy food, an active lifestyle, and my precious little cat, Lulu.

All in all, I'm pumped to get comfortable in this space! God's going to do big things here, if not in you-without a doubt in me. 

For starters, here's a little bit of eye candy....

my besties: Mary Margaret and Jessie

My little Lulu

 (iPhone red eye corrector status)

                                                                                                 My boys

                                                                         Papa Bear, Casey, Trey, me, and Tucker

My sweet mama and soul sister