Treating Others As You Wish to Be Treated

Bear with me, as today’s post is one I felt called to share, but is not my usual home decor hacks, recipes, or parenting tips.

This is not about your politics; this is about your humanity.

You cannot claim to support “family values” (however you may define that) and then laugh in the face of a child who is overcome with pride and love for their father. Furthermore, you cannot claim to support family values and to value life and then mock someone with diagnoses.

I don’t care who you’re voting for – any political post of mine won’t change your mind and your comments won’t change mine – but the way you treat other humans continues to matter after ballots are counted. The way you treat mankind, as a whole and individually, determines how others perceive your character. Your actions ARE related to your character, and a “delete” button on a mean-spirited post doesn’t solve that.

Ann Coulter should be ashamed of herself for mocking Gus Walz, a son who was moved by seeing his father on a national stage, a father who had just expressed his love for his family as he accepted the nomination for VP by the DNC. If it were me in the chair and my dad on the stage, I’d be proud and emotional, too. If it were me at the podium, I’d be moved to see any of my children emotional and proud as I did my job. And, no, her explanation that she “didn’t know” about his diagnoses is not enough – that’s not an apology and, frankly, mocking someone for being transparent about their emotions (even with no diagnosis) is shameful.

What happened to the golden rule? Treat others as you wish to be treated – or as Jesus said it in Luke 6:31:

And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise. (KJV)

Do to others as you would have them do to you. (NIV)

And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them. (ESV)

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: as an adult, many children are watching you. MY children are watching you. Choose to model compassion and kindness.

This post is not in support of any political candidate; this post is in support of a child showing unbridled pride in and love for his parent, which is a beautiful thing to witness – and a far cry better than the usual nightly news stories we usually see on our screens in America.

Screen shot of the original post by Coulter on X (formerly Twitter).

Also, please do not post how you’re voting in the comments. My website is not a front yard for you to stick your corrugated campaign signs into, and if you try, such comments will be removed. However, I welcome your comments on the topic at hand.

Theological Ramblings on Philippians 1 & 2

I’ve been reading Philippians daily with one of my youth group members, and Paul has a lot to say about how to treat one another and a lot to say about joy despite circumstance.

When I scroll through social media, I see an awful lot of complaining. What’s interesting is that it seems that well over half the time, the complainers are NOT the people struggling to make ends meet. Rather, many of the complainers are folks who have ALL their needs met and MANY of their wants satisfied.

Perhaps spiritual joy has a lot to do with choosing to be content and a lot less to do with what we have.

Some spiritual food for thought.

Philippians 2:14 (first part) in a few different translations – take your pick:

  • NIV – “Do everything without grumbling or arguing”
  • NLT – “Do everything without complaining and arguing”
  • ESV – “Do all things without grumbling or disputing”
  • KJV – “Do all things without murmurings and disputings”
  • The Message – “Do everything readily and cheerfully – no bickering, no second guessing allowed!”

Philippians 1:27 (again, first part)

  • NIV – “Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ.”
  • NLT – “Above all, you must live as citizens of heaven, conducting yourselves in a manner worthy of the Good News about Christ.”
  • ESV – “Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ”
  • KJV – “Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ”
  • The Message – “Meanwhile, live in such a way that you are a credit to the Message of Christ.”

My church-worker heart wants me to add: I am not a cherry picker of verses – these verses sum up a reoccurring theme and therefore are worthy of being used in this manner. If you’re curious about this topic, I encourage you to read all of Philippians to see what I mean.

Have you read Philippians, fully, recently? What do you think Paul is saying about joy, contentment, how we treat others, and grumbling? I’d love to hear in the comments!

Registry Checklist for Subsequent Babies

When having Baby #2 or Baby #3 (or even further down the line), it used to be said that mothers didn’t need an additional baby shower. That mindset has definitely gone by the wayside, and it’s very popular now for moms to have a friend or family member host them a “baby sprinkle” (mini shower) or diaper shower. I love this practice! It acknowledges that every baby should be celebrated, and it helps the parents prepare for that baby – even if all they need are diapers, wipes, et cetera.

If you’re a second-time or third-time (or beyond!) momma-to-be, you may be wondering if you should have a registry and, if so, what is appropriate to put on it. Hopefully today’s blog post will help you prepare!

I do think a small registry is helpful – not just for someone who wants to gift you and baby something, but also so you have a sort of checklist as you prepare before your due date.

While most moms will only need the basics, please note that if your children are very far apart in age, you may not still have things like an in-date car seat, and adding those larger items is totally appropriate if you no longer have them or they no longer meet the safety procedures/guidelines of the day. (Recalls happen a lot – so check your bigger items to be sure they’re still good to go for your new baby!)

For MOST moms who are expecting an additional child, this guide should help you add the most essential items to your registry.

  • Diapers & wipes in preferred brands (I do suggest adding 2 different brands, and adding multiple in each diaper size, size 1 through size 3 or 4)
  • Diaper Cream
  • Infant medicines
  • Care kit (such as the Safety 1st Baby Care Basics or Safety 1st Health Kit)
  • Diaper genie bag refills (or diaper bags if you bag them and use a regular trash can)
  • Baby lotion & soap/shampoo
  • Replacement bottles, nipples, pacifiers, teethers
  • Replacement safety items (IE – outlet covers, cabinet door latches, baby gates, et cet)
  • If nursing/pumping: Milk storage bags, breast pads, lanolin, pump replacement parts

I do suggest going through your bibs, burp cloths, swaddles, muslin blankets & flannel receiving blankets, hooded towels, and crib sheets to make sure you have items in useable condition; if not, definitely add a few to your registry!

I do think it’s totally okay and appropriate to add a couple “fun” items to the registry – a new blanket to match the nursery or personalized with the baby’s initials on it, some board books you don’t have yet, or a lovey that is brand new for this newest baby! For example, on our third son’s registry, I added a Harry Potter baby toy that I couldn’t resist, some Disney baby bib sets I just adored, and a couple books we didn’t have yet.

For parents who have had more than one child: what else would you suggest restocking on and/or adding to your registry for little ones after Baby #1? Comment below – I’d love to hear from you!

Pro-Tip #1: I love Babylist, and I think it’s very appropriate when you are having a first baby or, on a later child’s registry, when you’re having to rebuy lots of items. When you are just registering for the essentials and a few fun items, and when you’re having a smaller celebration, I do suggest just choosing one store and registering there – or two if you prefer. (I registered at both Target and Walmart – our nearest city has a Target, but our smaller county area where we live only has a Walmart, and we had guests who lived in both areas.)

Pro-Tip #2: Check out Pampers’ tool, Diaper Stash, if you have a need for mostly diapers! This is a free, online diaper fund that folks can add money to ($10 or more) as a gift to you. You can, through the Diaper Stash login, use those funds to order the kind and size of diaper and wipes you need when you need them. Totally free! (They’re not like a sponsor or partner – this was just a cool thing I found.) you can find this service at DiaperStash.Pampers.com. (If you want to see a sample fund, feel free to look up mine by typing “Kate Miller” in the search feature.)

AJ’s woodland-themed baby shower, hosted at a local historic inn by my family for family, friends & church members to attend (2018)
AJ’s fox-themed baby shower hosted by my work friends when I was employed at a local college (2018)
AJ’s baby shower thrown by the church youth group – I was youth leader and our kids were so gracious to want to celebrate (2018)
Teddy’s animal-themed baby shower hosted at my sister’s by my family for family & friends (2022)
Franklin’s surprise baby shower, hosted by our church’s UMW/women’s group at their February meeting (2024)
Franklin’s brunch-time baby sprinkle hosted by my best friend at her home for family to attend (2024)
Pink-themed baby shower hosted by me for church friends in our fellowship hall (2019)
Donuts & Diapers-themed diaper shower for my best friend, hosted in my backyard (2021)
Diaper Shower (“A Baby Girl is on the Horizon”) that I helped the women’s group at church throw for our music director (2025)
“Heaven Sent & Showered with Love” baby shower I hosted for my sister and my nephew-to-be (2025)
Cake & Cards Baby Celebration our church small group hosted for two expectant moms after worship service (2025)

Hello, Franklin!

If you follow me on social media (Instagram: @kate_witha_twang or Facebook: Kate with a Twang), you have seen the announcement of our littlest boy’s arrival! I decided it was time to share the news – and more newborn photos – on the blog!

Franklin Joseph arrived on April 4, 2024 at 4:55 AM. He ended up inbetween his brother’s newborn sizes – 7 pounds and 15 ounces and 21 inches; his oldest brother was smaller at 7 pounds 1 ounce and his other brother was 10 pounds even.

My labor with Franklin was difficult – approximately 19 hours long – and we both had some scary moments. I honestly haven’t processed all of it on my own yet, so I won’t go into details here. Despite the nerve-wracking moments in L&D, we ended up with a healthy, happy baby boy! (Still thanking God every time I look at this sweet baby.)

His big brothers and his grandparents got to meet him that evening, and now that we’re home and working on adjusting to our new normal as a family of five, our hearts feel really full. (Even more full than our diaper genie with 2 under 2, haha!)

Here are some sweet photos of our littlest boy in the hospital!

And one of his daddy taking the photos… (We’ve found our photo-taking rhythm – Jake takes the shots, and I edit a little.)

And a few since we’ve been home!

Italian Cucumber Salad

It’s fresh veggie season! The countdown to summer is here, and I’m already excited about and making some favorite summer dishes.

This Italian cucumber salad is a favorite veggie dish of mine – especially when the veggies are fresh and at their best!

You just need:

  • Red onion
  • Roma tomatoes
  • Small cucumbers
  • Italian dressing

Chop a few slices of red onion. Dice your tomatoes into large – but bite sized – chunks. Then place all three in a mixing bowl.

Add several squeezes of Italian dressing – basically until you think your taste buds will be satisfied or any Italian ancestors you have whisper into your soul that you’ve got the right amount! Your vegetables should be sitting in the dressing so they get all of that flavor as they sit and chill in a bit.

Pro Tip: Don’t have ant Italian dressing? Just use Italian seasonings and olive oil!

Stir everything together so it’s well mixed – you want your veggies mixed up and your dressing to be on all of them.

Cover your dish and chill until serving!

It’s delicious – and really that simple! Comment below if you’ve made this before or if you try it this spring or summer.

Postpartum Essentials Basket

Postpartum health is critical – and it’s not talked about nearly enough or candidly enough. This isn’t a comfortable topic for someone who considers themselves pretty modest, but the importance of being transparent about maternal health outweighs discomfort, in my opinion.

As we approach having our third baby, there are several essential items I want to have in my bathroom during postpartum recovery.

So, what’s in my postpartum essentials basket?

  • Frida Mom disposable boy short briefs
  • Frida Mom upside down peri bottle
  • Target’s Up & Up medicated pads
  • Target’s Up & Up flushable cleaning wipes
  • Always Radiant overnight sanitary pads

If it helps, for shopping purposes, I got all of these items through Target – in person and online. (I do not get any benefits from sharing these – just trying to be helpful to other mommas-to-be!)

If you’ve been through labor & delivery before: What would you add to the must-have list? Comment below!

If you know a friend expecting soon, share this blog post with them in the hopes that it helps them prepare for their “fourth trimester.”

Theological Ramblings on Psalm 69

I am very fortunate and blessed to lead a Bible study, twice a week, at church as a part of my job as Christian Education Director. (Some might use the verb “teach,” but I often learn as much from the group members as I share, and often times they teach me in ways I could not have anticipated.)

We currently have a session on Monday nights and a session on Tuesday mornings, covering the same book and lesson so that both working folks and retired folks have an opportunity to gather in study together. These groups have been a big blessing to me this Lenten season.

I have felt led to share some of what we discussed this week, so I hope you, as my blog readers, won’t mind a slight detour from the usual parenting and recipe topics I usually post.

In preparation for this week (week 5 of 6 of the study Finding Jesus in the Psalms by Barb Roose), we read Psalm 69, with suggested New Testament readings from Matthew 26 and John 18.

In both sessions, we talked about how King David experiences the full gamut of human emotion – grief and overwhelm, guilt and shame, frustration and anger, affliction and pain – but he doesn’t end there. He ends this fairly long psalm – which, in my opinion, has a sense of being like a very raw, personal journal entry – with a prophetic word: he calls out the messianic promises and future reality in God’s plan – that God will restore Zion (which we see in Revelation and the teachings of Jesus to be Heaven), and he calls out the promise of dwelling forever in God’s house (again, Heaven or eternity).

This is so important: David doesn’t end with his own downtrodden emotions, but with the promises of God, in a prophetic understanding that only God Himself could have given to David.

David was an ancient Jewish man – they religiously and culturally did not have the same understanding of eternity that we have as Christians in a post-Resurrection society. And yet God ordained David, appointed him, and anointed him. God directed him when he would accept direction; God gave him the ability to see and share His vision for His people. God gave him an understanding of life after “here,” of salvation, and of messianic signs that would not have made sense to most others in that time and place.

God used an imperfect man (who committed numerous sins and lived through numerous sorrows and numerous joys) to help pen and foreshadow His ultimate plan – our salvation and our eternity.

I write this to share that if King David, his heart hurting so badly as he wrote this psalm (even writing that he is sinking and drowning and worn out), can end his litany of distress with a call to the hope that God has for us, then so can we. In the midst of personal hardship, we can remind ourselves that God is good and has a plan for our future with Him.

Whatever your hurt is – loss of loved ones, fracturing of relationships, illness or disease, financial concerns, employment loss, etcetera – please hear me when I say that I’m so sorry the world has been so cold. I’m so sorry that humanity so frequently causes pain, frustration, and grief. God is warm, and God is good, in the midst of the highs and lows of human experience.

Perhaps, as you pour over a list your own grievances and concerns, you – like David – can add a few words of hope at the end of the list.

Psalm 69:29-36 (NIV)

But as for me, afflicted and in pain – may your salvation, God, protect me. I will praise God’s name in song and glorify him with thanksgiving. This will please the Lord more than an ox, more than a bull with its horns and hooves. The poor will see and be glad – you who seek God, may your hearts live! The Lord hears the needy and does not despise his captive people. Let heaven and earth praise him, the seas and all that move in them, for God will save Zion and rebuild the cities of Judah. Then people will settle there and possess it; the children of his servants will inherit it, and those who love his name will dwell there.

Expecting Baby 3

If you follow me on Instagram or Facebook, you know that we are expecting our third baby boy this spring! Franklin is due in early-mid April, but with him tracking along as over the 80th percentile, we know it may be more like late March or the start of April when he arrives!

I wanted to document some sweet moments so far in our pregnancy as we continue to wait on his arrival in the coming 40-ish days.

Learning About Franklin

We found out we were expecting pretty early on this time – which was amazing! We were sure we felt called to add one more to our family, but hadn’t expected to be with child so quickly. We felt (and feel) so blessed by this good news and opportunity to grow our family.

For our 20-week anatomy scan, we had both of our boys – AJ and Teddy – with us. We all found out together that my gut instinct was correct: another boy!

Preparing Our Home

In our preparation, we’ve decided to flip some things in our home setup to make things more accommodating when Franklin arrives!

The little boys – Teddy and Franklin – will be only 17-ish months apart, so they will share the slightly larger room, and AJ, about 4.5 years older than Teddy and about 6 years older than Franklin, will have his own room. We flipped rooms and began redecorating. This project, as of end of February 2024, is still in process – but I’ll be sure to share photos on the blog when we complete both rooms!

For the first several weeks – possibly the first few months – we know Franklin will be sleeping in our room for easier midnight nursing sessions and cuddles. I set up a nursery nook with a bassinet in the corner of our master bedroom.

Celebrating Our New Addition

We have had an amazing community surrounding us, praying for us, and supporting us as we have grown our family for the last several years. This pregnancy is no different!

My job is at my home church as the Christian Education Director. One of the best parts of this job is working with all of the various small groups as they meet, fellowship, and do ministry.

Our United Methodist Women’s group meets monthly and includes some of my very favorite people – and they surprised me in early February at their monthly meeting with a baby shower! They are the sweetest friends and have embraced my whole family, so I am so grateful for this wonderful celebration they held for our newest little one. He is already so loved!

My best friend and college roommate is also hosting a baby sprinkle for us in March, and we’ve invited our local family members. I’ll be sure to share photos in this blog post after that event in early March!

Updated on March 12 to add these photos from our weekend baby sprinkle, hosted by my best friend, Diana.

Maternity Photos

Like we did when I was pregnant with Teddy, Jake and I have DIY’ed the maternity photos we wanted.

At 32.5 weeks, we loaded up my Nikon camera and went into the Smoky Mountains. We found a pretty spot with trees and water, and Jake set up some shots of just me, me and the boys, and of all four of us (plus the baby bump, of course).

Jake set up the shots, and, when we got home, I did just a few basic edits.

Now we’ve commemorated this pregnancy and taken some sweet family photos!

I’ll continue to keep you posted when Franklin arrives. We’re counting down to meeting our little guy face to face!

Thoughts on Contentment

Contentment: (noun) feeling of being happy or satisfied. (Oxford Dictionary)

It’s easy, on social media, to assume everyone else has it all together and is living the life of their dreams. It’s easy to assume that behind perfectly magazine cover-worthy front landscapes, they are living every day like a highlight reel.

The reality is that no one’s life is perfect. And no one’s bucket list or wishlist is checked off completely.

I’m so thankful for this little brick home. It’s not a new construction house with four to five bedrooms; it doesn’t have a two car garage for my husband to store tools or for my mom-mobile to park in; it doesn’t have a brand new kitchen or even two bathrooms yet. But it’s ours, and it shelters my family well and holds our memories and laughter even better.

I’m thankful for each drop of sweat we’ve poured out as we’ve finished the basement, or built the kitchen island, or created the fire-pit area in the backyard. I’m thankful for each new milestone we’ve achieved here – for marriage, and birthday celebrations, and wobbly first steps.

I’m thankful for it all.

My brick may not be limestone washed or painted yet. My laundry room isn’t the laundry and half bath combo of my vision board yet. My to-do list may be long, but this is home, and I’m satisfied and happy, just as it is.

Thankful, truly, for a season of intentional contentment.

*Originally posted on my Instagram (@kate_witha_twang) on January 24, 2024.

Kate’s 2023 Reading List

As the year 2023 comes to an end tonight, I wanted to share the books I read this year.

I have always loved reading – I used to buzzsaw through novels as a kid and teenager, and this year, I tried to get back to it. I can’t dedicate as much time to reading as I’d like, but I am proud of myself for getting back to reading as a hobby and hope to continue in the new year!

I really wanted this list to be comprised of what I read for fun in 2023. As such, this doesn’t count re-reads (revisiting favorites), and it doesn’t count the devotional books I’ve read (or taught from) or the 8 books of required reading for my Christian Education Certification program. It also obviously doesn’t count the numerous children’s books I’ve read to my boys (even those read for the first time this year) or cookbooks I’ve poured over and read.

Here it is, my 10 books from 2023, ranked by me with stars, out of five:

1. My Evil Mother: A Short Story by Margaret Atwood ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

2. Galatea by Madeline Miller ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

3. The Ickabog by JK Rowling ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

4. The Pioneer Woman – Black Heels to Tractor Wheels: A Love Story by Ree Drummond ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

5. Talking As Fast As I Can: From Gilmore Girls to Gilmore Girls (and Everything In Between) by Lauren Graham ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

6. The Inn on Harmony Island by Anne-Marie Meyer ⭐️⭐️

7. The Shop Around the Corner by Anne-Marie Meyer ⭐️⭐️

8. The Bad News: From Moral Disorder (A Vintage Short) by Margaret Atwood ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

9. Resting Scrooge Face: A Short Story by Meghan Quinn ⭐️⭐️⭐️

10. Where There’s Smoke: A Short Story by Jodi Picoult ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Now, for my recommendations. Let me start with this caveat: I’m not a literary genius of any sort. I enjoy poetry, prose, biographies and autobiographies, and essays, and I enjoy writing. I have an odd affinity for the English language – and for grammar and punctuation – which makes me supremely interested in the arts of writing and storytelling.

All of that being said (or written), I do want to offer my thoughts on the titles I enjoyed most, in case you’re looking for new titles to read in 2024!

Romance

By far, the best romance I read this year was Black Heels to Tractor Wheels: A Love Story by Ree Drummond, the Pioneer Woman. I am a big Ree Drummond fan – I enjoy her writing, her line at Walmart, and her show – so that’s might not be a huge surprise to anyone who knows me well. However, I went into reading this book fairly objectively. In fact, I worried that I might not enjoy it as much as I like Ree’s other creative outlets, like her recipes or design.

Yet, I found I enjoyed her prose immensely because reading it felt like reading a letter from a friend. Her voice as the main character of her own love story was approachable, relatable, and entertaining. It matched the impression her viewers, followers, and fans get from all of her other endeavors. She has a willingness to share things outside of the “rose colored glasses” view that some celebrities want to write from; her authenticity was refreshing and fun to read.

Short Stories

My favorite short story, by far, was Jodi Picoult’s Where There’s Smoke. When I finished reading this on my Kindle app, I just said, aloud, “whoa.” And when my husband asked, “what’s up?” I told him I’d just read the best thing I’d uncovered in a while. Picoult’s storytelling is fantastic – and her ability to tell a tale that doesn’t have much resolution, but somehow still carries a deep message, absolutely shines in this short story. I was hooked from beginning to end. If you’re interested in the afterlife, or in the mystery surrounding television spirituality, or are just interested in psychics – this is a great read. It’s prose at its finest, and it’s a captivating read.

I also really loved Madeline Miller’s Galatea. It’s a retelling of the Greek myth of Galatea, wherein a statue is brought to life and married to her sculpture. This one has some intense language and imagery, so if you’re sensitive to such, you might avoid it. If you’re not sensitive about that, though, it’s an excellent read. Miller guides the readers, through expert prose, into feeling the captivity of Galatea and the desperation for freedom – and even more, the desperation to see metaphorical generational curses broken.

Autobiographical Nonfiction

As far as autobiographical nonfiction, I absolutely adored Lauren Graham’s Talking As Fast As I Can. I wanted to read it because I’m an avid Gilmore Girls fan, but I ended the book feeling like a Lauren Graham fan club member, even more than a Stars Hollow junkie.

The actress writes the way she speaks, and you constantly feel like you’re talking with an old friend over – you guessed it – a cup of Luke’s coffee. While I found even deeper appreciation for her characterization of Loreali Gilmore and her experience on the Stars Hollow set, I also grew so much in my respect for her journey as an actress and person. I highly recommend this – and the way it’s written is almost like each chapter is its own essay, so it’s easy to read a chapter here and there if you don’t have a large chunk of reading time. I read this in the school pickup line as I waited, parked, for my eldest and while my baby napped in the backseat.

Family-Friendly Fiction

The Ickabog was another great read. As a huge Harry Potter fan, I just really wanted to read more JK Rowling. This book did not disappoint. Yes, it’s for children or families – but the point it makes about blind faith I the government, believing the media, and trusting your gut are all poignant and definitely eye opening for adults, too.

I received the print version with artwork from children in it for each chapter, which was precious, too!

I will definitely be reading this one aloud to my boys as they get older, too.

Those are the titles I’d recommend the most for those searching for their 2024 reading list. Let me know in the comments if you read any of the titles I listed, too!