Hello. My name is Kathy Stock and I am an independent beauty consultant with Mary Kay cosmetics. You may log onto my personal website at www.marykay.com/kathylynnstock or you may contact me at anytime at kathylynnstock@marykay.com

Help me help you feel fabulous!

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

Ok, a little bit of a cheesy oversell, but I did actually sign up with Mary Kay and am excited about what will come of it. I've already gotten some offers to do facials and sell products so I'm off to a good start. Hopefully I can have fun while making some extra money and having something that is mine where I can dress in something that is not covered in baby drool.

Wish me luck!

State of the Union Address

I was going to count how many times G.W. said the word 'terror' to entertain myself while my television was taken hostage by this yearly political event but I actually got slightly wrapped up in what was going on. I'm not a republican. I'm not a democrat. Legally, I'm not even able to vote given my citizenship, but I'm not sure that I would even if I could. Not because I don't have opinions and not because I am complacent in the direction of the nation I live in, but because I really have not yet been moved to follow any of the "leaders" I have ever seen run for office.

Politics is just so laced with lies and broken promises that I have little faith in the whole mess. I really don't know enough to speak strongly on anything the President spoke about tonight, except for health care...and his solution did little to impress me.

I began to drift off into my own world when he began talking about the war and the extra troops they are sending into Bagdhad. I didn't think about the strategy or even the long term goals of congress....I thought about the families who have loved ones in a foreign and scary place. I can't even imagine having my husband gone for months and months on end..let alone if he was gone to fight in a war torn country. I praise God that he has given me the ability to have empathy for people who are in situations I may never experience or fully understand. My heart goes out to them.

On a lighter note, my husband just suggested that Condaleza (spelled completely wrong) Rice resembles a cling-on.

George W. also touched on "The Baby Einstein" series creator which made me very happy. God bless that woman. They recognized her for her contribution to childhood education and her entrepreneurship. I recognize her for creating something that allows me to get a shower in peace.

So G.W. says he's going to balance the federal budget, create more jobs, decrease the need for oil and stop depending on foreign countries for their production of it. He recognized heroes, ran his mouth about health care reform and said the word terror approximately 23 times.

What a week. Finances and a teething baby have made this week more than stressful. It seems to be that way for most everyone I talk to. My prayers go out to everyone who has sickness in their family, who is sick themselves, who is mourning the loss of a loved one, who is being struck with financial burdens that they didn't expect.
I'm not one to blame Satan for my problems, but I think he is having a field day with our emotions, trying to get us to live by them. I encourgage anyone reading this who had a hard week to take a deep breath and thank God for it. It'll make you stronger.

Yesterday was my husbands birthday and we went to see a movie in a real theater for the first time in about a year. Big thanks to Micah for babysitting at the last minute. You rock my friend.
We went to see "The Pursuit of Happyness." It's one of those movies that you can't stop thinking about the day after. It was amazing and I think everyone should go see it or rent it as soon as it comes out. It is a story of how desperation can assist us in overcoming anything. Lack of resources, money, education....I found myself becoming mentally tired just watching one mans struggle to succeed in a world that isn't fair. The fact that he had to take care of not only himself but his 5 year old son in the midst of poverty and homelessness was just heart breaking to me.

When Jason and I worked for the Salvation Army, we got to see first hand the poor within our own city. I remember becoming very emotionally involved with a family in our homeless shelter in Greenville, SC. The husband stayed in the men's shelter which was 60 beds in a large room and the mother with her 3 children (ages 3,4 and 5) stayed in the family shelter where they shared a room with a couple of other women and had to be out of the shelter between the hours of 8 and 5. This encouraged the women to look for work, but this woman didn't have that luxury with 2 children younger than school age and one in kindergarden...so they would sit at a picnic table on the parkinglot under a tarp day in and day out. For about an hour a day the whole family would gather under the tarp and play. Then the two parents would kiss eachother goodbye and go to their seperate shelters. She would try her best to entertain the kids and her attitude was phenomial in the begining. After weeks of this I could physically see her spirit dying in the expressions on her face.
I remember going home to my apartment at night praying for them and praising God for my blessings.
I'm not arrogant enough to think that God put them in that position just to give me perspective, but it did none the less.
I often wonder where they are now.

So at the end of a long, LONG week, God has once again given me a gentle reminder that I have SO much to be thankful for. Even though there's little if any money left after the bills are paid, God has provided my husband with a great job and the abilities to excel in his field. He's given him the ability to make good decisions and effectively provide for his family. Though we will have to do without some things for a couple of years, God has given us the resources for me to be with my Son everyday. Our home may be an apartment but it's consistent and warm and it has everything we need.

At the end of a long week there's nothing I hate more than someone deminishing my struggles... afterall, sometimes you just need time to wallow in the garbage that life dumps on you, but it does help to take a deep breath and focus on all that is good around you. I hope this brings encouragement to people who need it at the end of a long week.

Photo Update

A little tangled up at the moment

PRICELESS! HAHAHAHA!

Nap time is over!

Caden now cries and whines to play the keyboard...I smell a child prodogy

Baby's first Mohawk

It was hard to leave a face like this

Bored on the plane

These shoes are the devil!

Callin a cab

Up close and personal

It's time to PARTY!

Our trip to Southern Florida was FUN! We had such a great time.

Things started out rocky because the person who was suppose to watch Caden called Sunday morning sounding very miserable and said she was sick but would be more than happy to still watch him if we didn't mind. I didn't so much care about Caden catching a bug as much as I did this poor woman having to take care of two babies while feeling like poo, so I frantically searched for an alternative. Luckily, we found one and the Philips family gladly took Caden to their house after church where apparently they all had a glorious time.

We got to Fort Lauderdale around 2:00pm and once at our hotel we simmered for a while in the hot tub and Jay watched a little football while I made fun of football. Then we got ready and headed to his company party at the Blue Martini. It was a NICE place. Jay wouldn't put the camera in his pocket and I didn't have a purse that matched my dress so we didn't get any pictures of the actual place, but it was pretty swanky.

We met all of Jay's co-workers and his boss's. I was SO proud of him after hearing from everyone what an amazing job he is doing in the Tallahassee store. It was like he was known by reputation before we even met everybody. He'd introduce himself to people and they would be like, "You're the guy in Tallahassee?!?!? You're doing great up there man!!!" It was comforting to see how much he is valued as an employee and it gave me an even greater appreciation for him and his abilities. His boss pulled me aside to tell me how great of a guy he is and to let me know that things are only going to get better for him. Praise Jesus!

When we got there they handed us little gold cards to cash in for chips and they had several black jack tables set up in every corner. At the end of the night they had prizes for the top six chip holders. Let me just say that although I didn't win anything, I am a SERIOUS black jack player. I went from 2500 perverbial dollars to 10,000 in record time. I ended up with 13,300 but the top players were a bunch of cheaters so I didn't win anything but it was alot of fun. I know one thing... I will NEVER gamble with real money because I have the potential to be an addict. It was too much fun. I was doing all the pro gambler moves, tapping the table and sweepin the cars. Rackin up the big bucks...well...not really...there was no actual money involved which is better for my soul and my families financial future :)

The food was fabulous, the blues band was amazing and the people were really great. We had a wonderful time.We got back today at around 12:30pm and now we're relaxing at home. I learned several things during my 24 hour vacation:

1) Where God closes a door, he opens a window

2) I am SO happy and fulfilled in being a stay-at-home mom. I work harder than I ever have before and I get to spend every moment with a precious gift from God who is just amazing. As much as I needed the break, I missed him terribly. We definitly could use the money from a second income but I will work as hard as I can to help provide for my family while continuing to be with him.I don't know how, but I'll figure it out. I just feel like I am suppose to. God has shown me my purpose through my family.

3) I can tease my hair to give it lift.

4) Cab drivers in the Fort Lauderdale, Miami area are CRAZY drivers.

5) I have an incredible husband who is doing an amazing job at taking care of his family. I couldn't be prouder. It's disgusting how much I love my boys.

6) I am a force to be reckoned with at the black jack table.

Curse of the Spotted Baby

Caden was attacked in his sleep by some kind of vicious bug. Several people scurried away from us when we were out running errands today...I heard one man say, "...Chicken pox..." under his breath. Luckily it is not because they are only on his face and two on his hand. He hasn't developed anymore and after a nice slathering of hydrocortizone he is now resting comfortably with little itching. Poor little man.

Jason and I are going to a company party in Miami next week. A wonderful woman from church has agreed to watch Caden overnight for us and Jay's company is flying us to Miami for a Christmas party at 'The Blue Martini.' I'll try not to get to wasted....jokes....anyone who knows me knows the difference. In fact i'm not really sure that I know the difference between a martini and a margarita...I'll just down one diet pepsi after another.

I bought a new dress for the occasion today. Got a beautiful, flowy dark purple dress and some black shoes at Ross for 30 bucks total! I am the bargain queen.

It's going to be nice to get away for a while. They are putting us up in a nice hotel and apparently there are some sweet door prizes like ipods and stuff. I'm excited. Jay deserves this big time. He has been working so hard ever since we came here. I hope he gets recognized for all he's done. He's really turned this store around.

I hate football. I am probably more excited for the super bowl than anyone because it marks the end of the professional football season. Bring on February 4th!

This is the face I usually make when Jay has been watching football for 4 hours straight....

Don't be jealous of my hot red lipstick!

Mmmmm...Green Tea

Okay, If anyone is looking for a caffeine free alternative for enegry, look no further then Green Tea. Seriously. I have completely turned my apartment upside down, cleaning, organizing, sorting and I have SO much energy! It's crazy. I started drinking Green Tea on Monday. Yesterday was the first day I didn't have any and I felt like poo all day. Green Tea is a magical happy drink that won't complicate your morality or mess up your body. Get some. Put some splenda in it. It's delicious!
Caden woke up yesterday with red spots all over his face and two on his hand. I think something got on him in the night and bit him. I checked all though his crib and room last night and couldn't find anything so I put him down and this morning he woke up with two more on his face. They aren't anywhere that his pajamas cover so I know it's not chicken pox...but the poor little thing looks like a leopard. I've taken everything out of his crib and am washing it all...hopefully whatever it is won't survive the washer and dryer. I was going to go walking with him but I don't want people to run in fear of his bumpiness. We're laying low at home today.
I had three very healthy days. Yesterday was Jay's day off so we split a double doozie cookie from the Great American Cookie place in the mall and had some fried chicken for dinner. I've decided that I am going to relax on the day's Jay is off, but every other day I am going to be very strict. That way I am treating myself once a week and that's more of a lifestyle than a diet. My problem is that I start off strong and say no to everything and then two weeks in I crash and eat a plate of brownies...If I allow myself once weekly treats, I won't be so likely to throw my hands up and say, "I HATE HEALTHY EATTING!" We'll see.
I have rearranged my living room and I love it. It's so much more open and inviting. I love a good rearrange. I've also managed to find three bags and a box of stuff to give to the goodwill. It's crazy. We've moved so much that I thought I had purged through everything we couldn't possibly want or need but everytime I purge there's more to give/throw away. It's insane how much junk you can accumulate.
Well I should go eat lunch while Caden is sleeping and "What not to wear" is on.
By the way, if anyone wants to secretly sign my up for that show I would not be offended. I would be very grateful. Help a sister out.

A Good Start

Yesterday was a great day....today is also a great day! I'm feeling very motivated to start fresh this new year. My last entry was kind of un-motivating but I have since had a change of heart and am feeling very upbeat and positive about making some small but momentous life changes. The fitness and right eating routine began today...I said goodbye last night with a caramel chocolate bar and a bag of party mix....Mmmmm.
Today I am saying hello to salads, broccoli, squash and salmon. Caden and I went to Lake Ella and walked 2 miles. Caden enjoyed the ducks, turtles, mini-alligators and strange looking stork-like birds. My hip and back are a bit sore from the excursion but I figure it's better to work through the pain and get some of the excess weight off which I'm sure isn't making my elderly self feel any better....Why did God bless me with a 90 year old frame?
Yesterday our Pastor began a series on Money...about Debt and how we are all victims of bondage if we have it. It was the greatest punch in the face I have received in a long time. It really got me thinking about our financial situation and Jay and I have created a plan to tackle some of the debt we have, which praise God isn't much. I think sometimes it is easy to live life feeling like all of the bills you owe and things you need are just swarming around your head. It can be very overwhelming...but we have decided to do without now so that we can reap the benefits later and we're really excited about it. We've already developed a plan to pay off some debt by the end of this month! It's amazing what you can accomplish when you're given the proper tools, accountability and motivation.
This is why I LOVE my church...practical life lessons God's way. Seriously, if anyone wants to be challenged beyond belief and taught by a very educated and blessed teacher of God, check out www.genesischurch.tv. Click on GC media.
So I'm feeling really good. Organized, energized, healthier and more positive..Ok I know it's only the first but I'm really on task and that's a good feeling. Jay as been selling like a mad man today with the New Years Day sale. Caden is in a good mood today and went straight to sleep when I put him down for his nap. We went to the grocery store to buy healthy food and we laughed and acted silly the entire time...people probably thought I was a crazy person but I have so much fun with him. I just made a rockin salad and am drinking a bottle of water....for anyone who knows me, water+kathy=nasty...but I added some crystal light and I am enjoying it!
Life is good. 2007 is going to be fantastic. I'm going to be hot and rich...haha.