So it has been awhile...

I started this blog several months ago intending to keep up with it. It is harder than you think, especially when I am so easily distracted by other things. I have a tendency to start "new" things all the time, but I very rarely finish or keep up with things I start. Seth and I are very alike in this way, he describes our problem as having a lack of self-discipline, and I would agree with that. Here are some things I have started, but not finished or just quit doing in the past year: a painting, knitting a scarf, several books, coupon clipping, using the envelope system for my budget, going to the gym, running outside, raw food detox, using my juicer, marketing myself as an independent make-up artist, eating out only one time a week, reading the NT in a year, and many more things, including this blog.

So, when thinking about the past year, 2009, I am reminded of how I am consistently inconsistent. I tend to focus a lot of energy into my goals at first, and it quickly fades away to me spending zero time doing the things I originally set out to do. I never really attempt to create a New Year's Resolution for this very reason. Even though my lack of self-discipline makes me the unique person that I am, I can't help but think that I need to improve this area of my life.

All though I did not accomplish some things in 2009, I will point out a few things that did go very well this year. My second year of marriage is almost complete, and I whole-heartedly believe that Seth is the best Husband for this girl. He drives me crazy sometimes, but it is totally worth it. We also purchased our first home this year, which took a lot of patience and waiting for God's perfect timing. We spent most of the year serving in the High School Ministry at our church, which we left to start a connect group (small group bible study). We are both working full time jobs, and managed to not really be affected by the economic downturn. We have very fulfilling and blessed lives.

I will say that we have great plans for 2010, whether we we achieve those goals or not, we are content in all we do. Having a happy heart and a happy home has brought the most joy to our lives. This joy and peace is one that can only be found in the Lord, Jesus, our savior and redeemer. May He be the guide and light to our path in 2010.

So where did I leave off?

Thinking back to the beginning of mine and Seth's relationship makes me aware of how blessed we are to have found each other. It is so easy to get caught up in the events of each day that we forget our purpose in marriage. I remember why we fell in love to begin with, and who we are as a couple. It is a great reminder of my role as a wife, and how I work harder at serving and honoring my husband.

The first date:

After I finally decided to take a deep breath and go on a date with Seth, everything just fell into place. I remember driving to meet him, thinking I was about to make a bad decision, that I was being too impulsive.

When I got there I was a little jittery and a lot nervous. Seth walked out to meet me, and I immediately noticed that he was wearing house shoes. I had spent a long time getting ready, making sure that I looked just right...and he was wearing houseshoes!!! I was not impressed. Seth asked me, "So, Is this a date?" I responded to that, "I don't know, I will decide later." He took me to The Irish Rover in Louisville, then decided we wouldn't eat there because the wait was too long. I was thinking, "This guy is impatient and doesn't care enough to wear real shoes on our first date!" So he then takes me to Ernesto's, where we get a table and begin our conversation. That is where the direction of our date really made a turn...for the better.

All I can remember is us laughing about the paintings on the walls in the restaurant, we joked around, just like we do now. That is all it took, it seems really dumb, but after that moment there was no turning back for us. It was an amazing night, I would love to live it all over again; it was fun, romantic, daring, and I made fun of Seth's houseshoes numerous times. He took me home to meet his parents the next day, told me he love me the day after that, and then we started talking about marriage a week later.

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Where It All Began: Our History

When thinking back through the history of Seth and me, from dating until now, I realized how completely unprepared I was for married life. Since taking the first step in our relationship it has been an amazing journey, but not the easiest thing we have ever done. Everyday, there are new sacrifices that we make for one another, and these lessons have helped us along the way.

Seth and I started dating on April 23rd, 2005. It was a fun and exciting adventure, almost hilarious actually. Seth had been trying to date me for months, and I had been turning him down for months. I honestly didn't think he was "marriage material," at least not for me. I loved being around him, we laughed at each others jokes, we were always around each other, but I couldn't bring myself to take Seth seriously. He was, after all, always the loudest person in a room, and he clowned around all the time! I needed someone who was more focused, less obnoxious, and any other excuse I could think of. We were great friends, and that was it for me.

What it took for me to change my mind about Seth was jealousy. I had no idea that this is what would flip my switch. Sure enough that is all it took for me to realize, "Hey! You are moving on? I think I care about you. I decided that I like your attention." Seth didn't know that he had to make me jealous, but he did. After months of trying to win my love, Seth had given up on me. He was going to date another girl, and I was not so happy about that. It turns out that God ended the pursuit of the other girl before Seth could even begin it (That's a funny story that you can ask Seth in person). So, Seth was back to square one and I soon started to turn the heat up a notch. He was OK with that.

It is funny how God brought Seth and I together, Divine Intervention, and there is no other reason for it. Seth and I went on a mission trip to Mexico with the college students at our old church,BLBC. This was a few months before Seth started trying to date me, and we really didn't know each other at all. God really began our story on this trip, because soon after is when Seth started really "spitting game."

When we were in Mexico there were two projects that our group was working on; one was refinishing the pews in the church, and the other was building and painting a sign for the church. The sign painting was a two person job, and ironically Seth and I were the two people who were assigned to this task. We had seven days of one-on-one conversation along the side of this Mexican street. We worked great together, we made something together, we laughed a lot, talked a lot, and became great friends. I am so thankful for those moments in Mexico, if I had only known then what God was planning for us in that moment.

For those of you who care about time lines, Mexico was in January and our first date was in April. That means Seth tried for four months before he was successful at landing a date with me. It was totally worth the wait in my opinion.

Jeremiah 29:11-For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.

The truth is, I had been praying for months for God to bring me the man who I would marry. He caught me off guard when He decided it was going to be Seth.

To be continued...

Hello There Blog

It seems as if I have had lots of extra time on my hands lately. I have spent many of those hours viewing the blogs of others, and finally got up enough nerve to start my own. Initially I was very intimidated about blogging, mainly because my life is not very entertaining at this point. I soon realized, that my purpose is not for entertainment, but being honest and real about what is "my life." That, surely, is interesting enough.

My name is Kasie, I am about to turn 25, and I have been married to Seth for a year and a half now. We live in Lexington, and love it here. There is always something exciting going on in this town; living in the hometown of the Wildcats is a bonus too. We love to just drive around some days, out in the country, looking at the gorgeous farmland, horses, and houses. In the summer, we go to the farmer's market downtown, picking up some fresh veggies to cook for dinner the next week.

One of the things we spend the most of our extra time on is Center Point Church. Seth and I have been actively involved in this church since it began 3 years ago. We have loved watching this church grow and evolve into what it is today, God has done an amazing work within this body of believers. The church started as nothing, and three years later we have a thriving congregation of about 250-300 people. We work with the High School Student Ministry together, Seth plays drums, I help with the 4-5 year old Sunday School Class, we are involved in Connect groups...it truly is an investment of our time for something we are passionate about.

We also have another thing that keeps us busy, and that is "Maybelle." She is our dog, and boy does she keep us busy. Maybelle is not yet 2 years old, and she has unlimited energy and a big attitude. She is a mix-breed; Her mother was a pure-bred Weimer Reiner, and the rest of her mix is a Catahoula Leopard Dog. "A what?" That is what we thought too, what is a Catahoula? Well, they are a breed originating in the swamps of Louisiana; a Cajun, Wild Boar Hunting, crazy looking, too much energy for an apartment, kind of dog. She has her good days, but most are bad days. Seth is in love with this dog, and I love her sometimes. I remind Maybelle quite often, the she is an animal, not a human!

I guess, this is a good enough introduction into the lives of Seth and Kasie Ralston. We have a great marriage, a home, a dog, jobs, friends, a great church that we believe in...and we trust in the Lord for all these things. It is God who has given us a blessed and joyful life, through faith in His son Jesus Christ. We have so much to be thankful for in our simple life. I am even thankful for Maybelle...sometimes.