Sponsor Spotlight: Meet (Anima) Kinsi

Hey, “Messy” readers! May I call you “Messy”? Oh, good!

I’m Kinsi.

 

I’m the author of Anima Kinsi.

I’m a happy girl.

I believe that things happen for a reason.

I believe that God is love.

I live life in the one, holy, Catholic, and apostolic church.

I grew up in Florida, and so did my husband.  Thanks to his military career, we lived in four different cities by the time we were married for only two-and-a-half years. 

We’ve lived on the Florida coast, under the shining Cali sun, and now, we’re in North Dakota.

Yeah, you heard right: North Dakota.

So, what’s in North Dakota? Well, I am! Every day, I’m gaining new experiences and expanding my horizons as an ambitious home cook, occasional freelance writer, and all-the-time lover of Our Lord.  Something else you should know about North Dakota: it’s cold. 

Like, legit cold. 

I saw snow a couple times before moving here, but I never had to live with it until now.  Of course, after the initial wonder wears off and reality settles in, one realizes that we have a lot to learn from the fluffy white stuff.

-1-

God is the master artist.

A good flight over some post-storm clouds reminds me of the same thing.  Think about it: some of our greatest artists are merely copycats.  They’ve come close to imitating that which is already perfect: nature.

-2-

My husband looks really cute in a beanie.

I mean, adorable.  Another related lesson: he will only choose pants over shorts if he wants to, and the freezing weather will have little bearing on his wardrobe choices.

-3-

It’s okay to go slow.

Walk too quickly and you might eat it.  Drive to quickly and you might wreck it.  Zoom out of the door and you might forget your gloves.  Thus is life.  Sometimes, things take time and rushing them doesn’t do you any favors. 

-4-

You are not ultimately in control.

Whether you’re tired of the cold, deterred by icy roads, or running late (and your stinking car won’t start!), things will not always go your way.  You can’t find solutions until you stop freaking out, though.  So embrace the unpredictable and remind yourself that for every lousy situation, there is a solution.

-5-

Always be prepared.

You may not be in control of the circumstances, but you can definitely control what’s in your toolbox! This goes for your cold weather car kit as much as it does for life.  Is your windshield iced over? Bust out the scraper! Living in a stressful atmosphere? Equip yourself with prayer, and so on. 

-6-

You are tougher than you think.

It actually didn’t take me long to get “used to” this crazy winter stuff.  Fact is, God made us capable of adapting to some pretty crazy things.  While my Facebook friends might be impressed that I can live with -25 temps, it’s not all that impressive.  I don’t have a choice!

-7-

Things could always be worse.

I’m sure that I’m driving my husband crazy with this one.  He’s a textbook melancholic, and enjoys a good grumble every now and then.  But, when it’s 10 below zero, I still have a million things for which to be grateful: a warm house, hot cocoa, and hey- the wind could always be faster, right?

-8-

Snowflakes actually look like snowflakes!

Okay, this one is pathetic- but I honestly did not know that the real, itty bitty snow flakes that fall from the sky actually look like those pretty, lacy cartoon ones I’d always seen on TV as a kid.  It’s another good reminder of lesson #1.

 

If you think you’re ready to jump in on my real-life adventures, stop by my blog, Anima Kinsi, any time you like.  There’s something going on all the time!

Every Monday, I co-host a Marian Mondays link-up.  It’s an awesome opportunity to educate ourselves on the most respected lady in Church history!

I’m also passionate about keeping Fridays sacred, so every Thursday I post a new and tasty recipe for all of my Friday pescatarian Catholics! I call it My Thursday Entrée, and I hope it inspires you to get creative in the kitchen and make every Friday a meaningful memorial. 

Of course, there’s always a smattering of fashion and humor for you to enjoy.  So what are you waiting for? Stop on by and let’s laugh and learn together!

~(Anima)Kinsi