Out with the OLD, In with the New!!! :)

 

This picture basically says it all!

2012 was a fun and fabulous year! It started with a great New Years Eve party at the home we were renting. Many laughs were had by all! We then proceeded to move into our home, drop our boxes and then literally turn around and leave! I won a cruise through work, so Todd and I left the munchkins at my parents and spent five wonderful and romantic days in the sun! Derby weekend rolled around quickly! We threw a huge bash at the house for friends and family Oaks night and woke up and partied some more at the Derby. (See May 2012 post) Summer was spent enjoying the peace that comes with living in the country! Riley and Bailey spent a week with Todd's parents and a week at Flipfest camp. Longest amount of time I have spent without them by far! Missed them, but knew they were in good hands! We enoyed a vacation to WaterSound in South Walton Beach as a family ending the summer bronzed and rested. As anyone with four little kids knows, school starts with a bang and then you blink your eyes and it is Christmas break! That is how fast it seems that this first half of the school year has flown by! Christmas was Norman Rockwell-ish (cheesy but true). Following the tragedy that was the devastation in Newton, CT, I found myself again reminded of God's goodness and his blessings and really trying to emrace my children more then ever. That desire to slow down and soak in the moments was hindered a bit by the fact that I was sooo behind ("I have never been this far behind!" came out of my mouth more than once reminding me that I am absolutley my mother's daughter) forcing me to show up until Christmas Eve! Ugh! Regardless...Christmas beautiful and I do believe that Christ was the center of the season. That brings us to New Years!!! 2013 is HERE!!! Which brings me to the whole point of this post...OUT WITH THE OLD, IN WITH THE NEW. What do I mean by that? I don't do resolutions, but I do reevaluate my life and goals and try to see where I can improve. OUT goes over committing myself, IN comes saying YES to things that are top priority. OUT goes disorganization, IN comes a system (I am not talking anything rigid...let's get real folks, we are talking about ME here!). OUT goes fly by the seat of my pants dinners, IN comes planned weekly meals. You see my point :) I feel like life is so good right now. I am blessed with a husband that I am closer and more in love with than ever, four fantastic kids that are all thriving, healthy and lovely, 3 four-legged critters that bring me so many smiles, a job that is fun and motivating from which I have made many new friends this year, the best friends I could ever ask for, a wonderful family, an amazing new home...I could go on for a long time. But most of all, God has given me hope and peace in my heart this year. Without his grace, I could not have those things. Without Him I am nothing!! Can't wait to see what His plan is for 2013!!! :)

Anyone Looking For A Horse Farm? :)

As a realtor, I am always excited when I have a new listing! It is always a challenge and an adventure at the same time! I am EXTREMELY excited about my newest listing. It is a turn-key 15 acre horse farm in fantastic condition in the heart of Kentucky horse country! Interested in a horse farm? Contact me at khostutler@semonin.com or 502-426-4577 (Kelly Hostutler/ Semonin Realtors)

I'll Have Another...I think he will!

I'll Have Another...I think he will!

I am a horse person. I do NOT consider myself an expert by any stretch, but have spent the last 26 years involved with horses. I started riding hunters at age 9 and continued to ride competitively through college. To gain experience, I would hop on anything that needed to be worked, from a polo pony to a hunt horse. I love them all. I rode for the University of Kentucky's Equestrian Team and had a ball. All through school at UK, I worked for Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital (www.roodandriddle.com) as a tech and supervisor and had the luxury of taking care of some horses that I could NEVER imagine I would have even been able to touch! I did everything from help with foaling to nursing dummy foals to surgery help to assisting in a fetonomy. After college, I worked as a copywriter for Saybrook Advertising in Lexington. Saybrook mostly does advertising for the racing industry, so my ads mostly ran in The Thoroughbred Times and Bloodhorse. I learned alot about bloodlines and confirmation. It was a great job! But...it does qualify me to have a slightly informed opinion about racing. And...if I am right, I'll Have Another will win the Belmont Stakes and take the Triple Crown next weekend! I can just feel it...! And if not, well, he is still a great horse and deserves many kudos for a fantastic year! Pray for a safe trip first, and a TRIPLE CROWN winner second! GO I'LL HAVE ANOTHER...I think you will!

(Photo courtesy of www.horseracingnation.com)

New Shoes

This morning I was thinking about how I could use a new pair of running shoes. I have been logging some miles, and my old ones are getting a little worn. Something like this was what I was imagining...

 Until God put this picture in front of my face later today, and I realized that I truly don't need anything...but Him. God Bless.

**Photos courtesy of Nike and Pinterest

Job Well Done Nora, Job Well Done.

May 13, 2012: Mother's Day

I do not believe that it is by coincidence that God called my Grandma, Nora Deutschmann, home today on Mother's Day. I believe that it was his way of saying to her, "Job well done Nora, job well done!" She is and always be a shining example of what a mother is to me and to many that know her. All the fruits of the spirit she not only held but showed everyday: Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Gentleness, Goodness, Faithfulness and Self-Control. It must have taken these nine characteristics to carry 14 babies and raise them all to not only know Christ but to be loving and good people.

 She brought joy to anyone that came in contact with her and she would light up when children were around...especially any of the almost 74 grandchildren (including the great-grands).

 Just look at the famous baby pictures of the 14 kids that have always hung on their wall! I cannot imagine cooking for and cleaning after them all!

 73 years of marriage! My prayers go out to my grandpa who will be undoubtably lost without his best friend. They are an inspiration in a generation where this kind of commitment to "believing in forever" is not the norm.

 Just a glimpse of the legacy that Grandma leaves behind....

And a beautiful reminder of the great love that is the foundation for it all.

I love you Grandma! I am a better person and mother because of your example! You will be greatly missed, but I know that your eyes are fixed on your Maker today, and you could not be happier! Happy Mother's Day!

Kentucky Derby Weekend Fun 2012

Kentucky Derby 2012

Hey ya'll! Remember me? I haven't written a post in FOREVER, so I thought Derby weekend would be a fun re-entry into the blogging world! I have been knee-deep in boxes and contractors running in and out, not to mention real estate is CRAZY again! All good and busy things that have kept me from updating my blog! (And the fact that in the country the internet isn't the greatest, so posting while Todd is doing his patient notes isn't possible due the fact that it is slower than molasses with two users! But...not a bad tradeoff for peace and quiet and roosters in the morning.)

Derby weekend consisted of 9 house guests...friends new and old. It was great fun and I truly enjoyed getting to know some new people. Friday we held an Oaks Party for about 50 friends and family, and then Saturday we had 3 boxes together at Churchill where 18 of us gathered to lose money and enjoy each other's company! I'll Have Another brought home the victory to a record crowd! Fantastic Day! Here are some pics...

Julie and I getting ready for Derby

                                                          Jeff and Katie Norris

                                                       Todd's parents Joann and Danny

                                                       My friend Jeff Buchek and I

                                                        Catey and Julie

                                                         Todd and I (top and bottom)

                                                   (don't know how I posted this pic twice...sorry)

                                                 At the track...

                                               Hats Hats Hats!!!!

                                                Doesn't my hubby look cute in his hat?

                                               The pretzel was short lived after I found a hair on it. Gulp.

                                            OAKS SHINDIG at the house!

                                              Steve and Allison...new friends! So sweet!

                        Hey! Steve and Allison again...still sweet...(I am notorious for double posting pics)

                                           Katie and Jeff....love them!

                                                Bob and Shawn...aren't they cute?

                                                Joann Jessie and Erin Hogan (my sis!)

                                     Stephanie Hilner, Nicole Burke and I (the short one)

                                                     Michelle and Jonathan Ray (they are darling)

                                     The most adorable picture of Joanie and Mount

                                                 My oldest daughter and my sis!

                                                        Sisters!

                                                My cute parents! Marilyn and Richard Hogan

                                       Jessica and Jesse Hedden...great pictre of this sweet couple

                                           Michelle, Catey and Julie (aren't they beautiful!?)

Last Week of Construction :) :)

These aren't the best shots (I was hurrying)...but you can see a few more additions! The right lantern in the dining room needs to be adjusted (crooked city) and the exterior flatwork is still being completed, but it's moving along! :) Have a great weekend!