Queen Bees – The Queen of the Kings {Linkup #1}
Welcome to the very first Queen Bees Link Up party. We hope you will join us as we give a shout out each month to a woman who inspires us.
Once upon a time I found this amazing photographer and never would have dreamed she would have led me to find this incredibly adorable little family! Because of Facebook I was always stalking all Sarah’s pictures and when this little family popped up I was so drawn to them.
Maybe it was the fact that they were a sweet, young little couple starting their family or the fact that they chose such awesome baby names like Radley and Emersyn (and later Landry!).
Flash forward a few years and my photographer as well as a friend {Nichole} who designs Christmas cards were all hyped up and promoting the “Merry Mommas”. What? Women who have created an entire blog based on Christmas card photo ideas! You had me at coordinated outfits and perfectly placed props! I was definitely inspired!! (For real you need to go check out their blog Your Merry Mailbox because it went live yesterday for this season!) You will find wonderful ideas like this!
Still, our paths did not cross! I didn’t even know this girl had a blog…and oh my gosh what goodness I had been missing!!
Believe it or not I then chose the same person to design my blog last October and as I was looking through her templates there she was! The beautiful, amazing Queen of the Kings! I may have wasted a half day reading through her blog posts right then and there.
What may have been her greatest photo shoot ever crossed my photographers Facebook near Christmas and I was just thinking I have GOT to meet this girl!! I mean come on….beautiful children, a husband willing to participate in this shoot…she has to be a goddess!
So then, one night in the craziest ways ever I finally met her and may have made a bit of a fool of myself! I was working a food drive drop off lane and the Merry Mommas and their sweet kids drove through. I almost peed my pants when I realized it was them!
After Christmas I really began faithfully following Katy’s blog and realized quickly there was so much more under the surface. Yes, she makes beautiful babies and yes, she has an amazing husband but much to my surprise she is also extremely human! She is a busy mom just like many of us trying her best every single day to make it all work and wondering all the while if she is screwing up her kids! She works outside the home and struggles with loving her career but wondering what it would be like to be a SAHM. I loved her Life After 5 post so much! She often shares moments and honest thoughts like these and to me that is so reassuring to see another mom battling with the same thing I may be battling.
I am always inspired with people who feel free to speak their mind and be honest about who they really are and not hide from their past. I feel like Katy totally embraces her past and realizes that, while there may have been a few moments that would make your grandpa blush, they shaped her into who she is today. I love that! I seriously think Katy and I may have burned a cigarette or two together had we not been separated by a decade!
She believes in her marriage! Even with three kids she finds a way to make time to connect with her man. It is so easy for us to get sucked into being a mom and we forget how important keeping the home fires burning can be. She wrote about the decisions to give the gift of a year of dates for Christmas last year (read here and this one I loved here). So many of these work even if you are in a marriage on a budget. I love that even when the world threw her a curve ball and she wanted to have a fit at the news that her hubby would be MIA more days than not the next year; she threw a fit but then picked herself up and supported her man.
I was blessed to finally meet her face to face! This girl has guts and along with her friend Cindy decided to host a bible study and I was fortunate to receive an invite! This so inspired me because as much as I want to embrace the bible I am so lacking in my every day knowledge. Being willing to step outside your comfort zone and open your heart to God and actually act when he is calling you to is so incredibly inspiring! Seeing her open her heart and act moved me.
Katy is the kind of girl who jumps at the opportunity to organize a school carnival or a birthday party in which the gifts were all donations. She is the kind of girl who loves her girlfriends! She is the kind of girl that makes you want to be a better person!
So meet Katy, the Queen of the Kings! My friend and Co-host.
My question to Katy: Tell me how you handle all the “in betweens” in your life.
1. Pray. A lot.
2. Have a wonderful husband that wants to be involved. (Even if I make him. Sometimes).
3. Make lists. A lot. (Even if on it are items I have already done because, crossing things off is fun).
4. Create routine.
5. But I have also learned to adapt because of the whole “we plan, God laughs” thing.
6. Give myself a break (not often…but sometimes).
7. Cry when I need to.
8. Have a hidden stash of chocolate. And wine.
9. Rely on my village – even if I don’t like to ask for help; I know that I can.
10. And sometimes, I say yes to the mid-day snack of fried chicken.
And I think one of the best things about all of the chaos of my “in betweens” is that I WANT to do it.
It’s understanding your limits. It’s accepting what you just aren’t able to do. It’s realizing that not doing it all does not make you a failure. It’s remembering that being kind to yourself is just as important as being kind to others. Oh, and I always eat the ice cream.
Did I mention she is incredibly funny? Love her! Katy thank you so much for inspiring me this past year. I’m so grateful our paths crossed.
If all of this was not enough you can also add creative to the list as she is also responsible for our adorable link up design!
Now it’s your turn to join the fun!
A little linkup etiquette:
We want you to post about women who inspire you so feel free to post old posts – new posts… it’s up to you! Please link to your specific post URL and not to your blog home page.
Please place a link back to this link-up in either your post or on your party page so that others can link up too.
Use the hashtag #beaqueenbee on other social media
It’s a party, try to visit at least 2 other posts and show them some love! This is the fun part! Be inspired, inspire someone else – don’t just link and run!
We would love, love, love for you to follow us on some form of social media but it is not required.
What a great idea for a link up. I don't have a post today, but look forward to reading everyone else's. I enjoyed reading about Katy, who is a new-to-me blogger.
Fabulous post! I'm so glad that, through you, I was able to meet Katy and Cindy! Can't even belive I've lived less than a mile from her all this time and am just now getting to know her. I just love her! Thank you for this link-up – I can't wait to follow along!
What a beautiful family! Katy seems like a beautiful woman inside and out. She's a new to me blogger – I'm looking forward to learning more about her after reading this! So when her family drove through your lane, what did you say?! I was laughing so hard at that part! -Jess
Sweet Little Ones
Aren't they gorgeous?!! You will love following her. When they drove up I was like "you look so familiar" to her friend Cindy and when she told me her name I screamed "oh my gosh your one of the Merry Mommas!!" and then found out Katy was in the back with the kids! It was like my very first celebrity siting! haha
I'm totally blushing over here! Thanks for such kind words, friend! I am so glad that this crazy internet world brought us together. Can't wait to see all the fun that is yet to be had!
I love this! I did not plan well (go figure) to participate today but I can't wait till next month. You guys rock! I think this is such a great idea!
Have a great week 🙂
JulieAnn….Hope you are having a fabulous summer! I am so behind on my blog reading and have only been following thru IG but it looks like you are having fun! Our link up will be open for the month so please feel free to write something anytime and link up! If not we hope to see you next month!
I just love that you are doing this! And was glad to be introduced to Katy!! My mom and older sisters inspire me!!
I can totally tell how close you are to those two! Isn't it amazing what other women can bring to our lives!
Congrats on your first link up party, and I loved reading about how you got to know Katy, and follow her online. I can totally relate to some other sites Ive followed too. The pictures you showcased are so beautiful too!
I know I've already commented like a zillion times via email. I'm checking back each day (stalker here) to see the new ones added.
I think I teared up a little. This was so great. I love Katy so much and I feel so FORTUNATE that she is in my life because you are so so so right. She is amazing. The entire family is amazing.
Stephanie @ thedishbcs.com
Okay, I want to be in your Bible study and in your group of friends! Lol! I love this post and your idea for a linkup. I have been thinking for a while about doing an occasional "feature" of people who just inspire me, so this will be a good incentive to get started with that. Looking forward to following along with you ladies!
Haha Wendy…..I feel pretty blessed to have bumped into this girl! We would love, love, love to have you join along with the link up!