Another year older (not me)...

With the end of September also came a special day...

This guy...

...got older!!!

Happy Birthday Brett!!! 

I'm glad God saw it fit for us to do life together and look forward to what crazy will come our way next!

"I can't let the day end without saying Happy Fathers Day to this man right here...some may dare to say He is not a dad, but he has made a life long impact on so many kids! He loves every kid he knows as if they are his own.  Maybe one day he will change diapers, play catch in the yard, braid pigtails, and be called "daddy"; but until then we have the faith in knowing ours is in the arms of the greatest Father, and will only know a Perfect love!"

I posted this picture/post back on father's day.  He is so sweetly reading a good night story to a friend's little girl who we love so much!  

Love you Brett

How to save the most on everyday shopping!

Save even MORE for everyday purchases!!!

I used to be coupon superwoman!!! I lost my way for awhile and every time I bought certain items I would be sick because I just knew there where coupons available I wasn't using.  Money I was letting slip through my fingers.  

Recently I have been more conscious of my spending/saving and have been taking advantage of coupons.

BUT, this isn't about coupons, it's about all the other ways you could be saving and earning money that you are letting slip by, more than likely because you didn't know about them, but that is changing today...

Here are resources that you can use as stand alone, or in addition to clipped or digital coupons for even more savings!!!

#8 - Survey Mini

 Survey Mini is gives you occasional surveys that you can participate in and at the end of the survey you get coupons to local retailers, free items, or points.  Points can be redeemed for gift cards, with hundreds of retailers to choose from!  Surveys are quick, easy and don't require any purchases.  The ap uses your location and provides surveys for recent stores and restaurants you have visited!!!                                                                                       

Click Here for information and download!

#7 - Shrink
 Shrink will not be useful to everybody.  It only offers deals and rebates for specific brands.  The brands are mostly specialty brands for health foods.  In my area where we only have retailers such as Walmart, Kroger, and local grocers, most these brands are not available to purchase anyways.  But if they are brands you use there are several deals and rebates available!

Click Here for download

referral code: BTWQKG

#6 - Snap

 These next few are all pretty similar aps.  Look through the available rebates and select ones that match items you normally purchase or plan to purchase. Even if you are purchasing an item with a coupon you can redeem an available rebate.  Then "snap" a picture(s) of your receipt.  Once you reach $20, request a check be mailed to you! How easy does that sound!!! Earn money back on items you are already buying!!!

Click Here to get signed up and start earning TODAY!

#5 - Checkout 51

 Checkout 51 is pretty much the same thing as Snap.  Double the money and use both!!!

Click Here for more info and download!!!







#4 - Mobisave

 Mobisave is similar to use as Checkout 51 and Snap.  Make sure you put your rebates in your cart BEFORE you checkout!!! Then scan your receipt.  With Mobisave it will transfer your rebates straight to your paypal, there is no waiting til you reach a minimun limit!

#3 - Shopkick

 With Shopkick, you earn points just for shopping,you dont have to buy anything, you just have to shop, you get points for walking in and more if you scan a few items around the store!  Points ad up quick adn can be redeemed for gift cards.

Click Here to start earning now.

#2 - Find&Save

 If you are familiar with Ebates for online shopping (Sign up here for a free $10 gift card of your choice) this is very similar but for in-store shopping.  Just scan you receipts for cash back, either a specific amount or percentage.  The ap also provides weekly ads for local stores.                                                                                                                                                                                                        Click Here to start earning!

#1 - ibotta 

 This is my favorite!  Most of the rebates available on ibotta are also coupons that are available to clip or print, so you can double up the savings!!!  You just have to unlock the rebates and then scan the item and scan your receipt!  The earnings dont start there! The more people you are connected with you earn extra rewards.  Some of these are several dollars and ad up quick!!!  Dont pass this one up!!!

Get started NOW, Click Here

Also checkout these other money saving Aps!!!

  

The Importance of Each Other - Guest Post

Today I am so happy to introduce you (again) to one of my good great friends Katie from Walking in Unity.  Katie's love and passion and desire to know more about the Word of God brings me so much joy!  When she asked what I wanted her to write about it didn't take me long!  This last year I have become so aware of the importance of community and fellowship in our lives.  Having a community of  God loving women has been the wind beneath my wings (cheezy but true) that brings me back up closer to our Father!  And who better to encourage you in this than one of those women in my life...

Are we assembling? Are we uniting?

              You are my “one another”

                         

  You sister, daughter of the one true King…

                                  You!

Hebrews 10: 23-25
"Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching."
 
  As we hold fast & faithful to His promises, we are to hold “one another” up in love and encouragement
WE are to Assemble together
 
  Rather it be at church, in a living room bible study or in the deepest underground church- we are to assemble

Why is this important you may ask?
1st Because our Father said so!
2nd together we share our faith and our prayers together, that we strengthen “one another”- and tell me who can’t use some strengthening in this world today?

He tells us in....

Romans 12:15
Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.

How can we do this sisters?
     if we are not assembled together
                if we are not united
                        if we are not there for “one another”

Ephesians 4:11-13
And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ;

     That “body of Christ” mention in vs. 12 is the church.
      It is us- “one anther” united to do His works through Love and Fellowship with “one another”

How do you sisters assemble together with “one another”?
Do you encourage one another?
Do you pray with one another?
Do you study His word with one another?
Do you rejoice with one another?
Do you weep with one another?

Remember…………

                Matthew 18:20 says….

                            “For where two or three are gathered together in My name,
                                       I am there in the midst of them.”

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Thank you so much for joining me again for the Blog-tember link up!

Who is She (online me)!?

Wednesday, Sept. 16: The real you vs. the online you. Are they the same or different?

To answer this question I had to start thinking about the "online me," who she is, what she does, where she is at...

Instagram (@kyleecm) is because  I LOVE a good picture, I don't like being in them, but I appreciate beautiful photography.  Through Instagram I follow several ministries around the world; and what better way to see what God is doing than to SEE His work!  My presence on Instagram is not planned out, I don't stage beautiful photos, I don't "post 1 and only 1 a day"  or follow any specific "gram-ing" rules, but if a moment that says "capture this" flies by, it likely ends up in my photo stream!  So what does all that mean?... what you see is all real. However, I don't think anyone would "know all about me" if all they had was my spot on my list of followers; I like it that way.  It leaves room for the intimate everyday relationships.  And lets face it, some of life's moments need not to be "captured!"

This blog (RecklesslyChosen) only exists because I desired a way to document what God is doing in my life and the seasons He has carried me through.  Pen to paper still happens sometimes, but this crazy life includes so many testimonies that I think others could find hope in!  I personally have found so much encouragement in reading post after post of how God has been faithful in lives around the world.  So I hope that as I share the stories of a living Jesus in my life, you know that they are Real, and Raw, but also there may be some details spared for the special relationships that exist in everyday life.

Bottom line,  I value the people close to me, and those relationships help make me who I am.  If there were not moments and experiences exclusive to those relationships, they simply wouldn't exist in their true form.

 "She" is me!  The same me! -maybe less than the whole "me", but still me!

"She" (the online me) exists in most forms to bring glory to Him (Jesus)

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

This is another post in the Blog-tember link up.  I hope you have been enjoying getting to know a little bit more about me!

back-2-school Around the World

So, my favorite part about back-2-school was the shopping of course. But, it wasn't about the clothes, it was about the SCHOOL SUPPLIES!!!  To this day, 10 years post any back-2-school excitement for me, I still get excited when I see the school supplies piling up in the stores! 

I think there are mixed emotions when the Back-2-school season rolls around.  At least it is for students who for them, the school year is just part of life for 13 years.  But there are kids around the world who don't know what "bakc-2-school" is all about.  Because for them, school isn't an option.  School is either too expensive, too far away, not available at all, or frankly, may just not be as important as working a job to help provide for their family!

Worldwide, nearly 80 percent of primary-school-age children attend school. In least developed countries, this figure is around 66 percent.

The largest out-of-school population is in sub-Saharan Africa, where around 45.5 million children of primary school age are out of school.

Of the 67 million primary-school-age children who do not attend school, 53 percent are girls.

Worldwide, only 49 percent of children of secondary school age actually attend secondary school.

Of the 49 percent of secondary age students who do not attend school, 52 percent are girls.

The world’s functional illiterates include more than 130 million children who do not attend school, 73 million of them girls.

These are some heartbreaking statistics.  Something that we take for granted so often.  Around the world kids are dreaming of an education. 

Here is a chance for us to help!

First and Foremost...PRAY!

Do you sponsor a child!? Your sponsorship helps provide an education to your child, and you get to write back and forth about what they are doing in school!  We love hearing about Brenda & Alvaro's experiences in school!

Provide textbooks and learning materials to kids through Compassion's learning centers.

Weekend Blog-Tember Catch Up

Friday, Sept. 11: It's a Friday night and you decide to stay in. What do you do?

A night in? Any night of the week for that matter, has been virtually unheard of in a couple months!  If I'm not working, we are gone on a youth trip, or at a meeting, or fundraiser, or conference, or concert, or visiting with friends.  Honestly, I think if you gave me any night at home with nothing to do, would fall asleep sacked out on the couch!  

But honestly, lets say we had a planned "night in" we would probably rent a movie and that's it! We're exciting people I know!

Saturday, Sept. 12: What are you up to currently? 

Reading... Not enough!

Playing... catch up, 4 posts in one! 

Watching... Finishing up America's Got Talent, We don't really get to watch until we go to bed, so I only catch the beginning of each episode!

Trying... To make SOME kind of routine despite a non-routine job!

Cooking... Anything quick

Eating... Whatever is available 

Drinking...water. Always water.

Calling... Mom: baby shower plans.

Texting... Jessica & Katie...it's just what we do!

Pinning... Baby gifts and baby shower ideas

Tweeting... Nothing

Going... 1000 directions 

Loving... Fall weather

Hating... Allergies

Discovering... I'm a very busy person

Thinking... I need some "me" time

Feeling... Exhausted 

Hoping... Things will slow down soon

Listening... Can't get enough Crowder these days

Celebrating... Babies. LOTS of babies

Smelling... Nothing...(see "hating"...)

Thanking... God for great friends

Considering... Best way to plan ahead meals!?!?

Starting... Getting the word out about packing shoeboxes! 

Finishing...all the summer festivities.

Basically, I have been super busy! I would like to think things might start to slow down, but we shall see! 

Sunday, Sept. 13: Create a collage or inspiration/mood board for this season in your life.

Monday, Sept. 14: The 5 books that have impacted your life the most.

First and foremost, nothing has impacted my life more than the message of God's Word! The hope laced through the words of the bible saved my life.  Had it not been for the message of Jesus, these other books wouldn't have meant what they did to me! 

2. Falling in Love with Jesus: 

The message and testimonies from Kathy and Dee were just what I needed to hear as a young Christian and truly guided my heart as I set out in pursuit of Jesus!

3. Redeeming Love:

I can't imagine this book NOT being on someone's list! Francine River is truly a phenomenal writer and makes me crave the word of God! No other fictional work has ever come close to bringing Gods grace to life the way Rivers does. And this book was only the beginning to falling in love with EVERY. SINGLE. BOOK. that she has written! See also Mark of the Lion Series

4. Kisses from Katie:
Wow! If your looking for a testimony that will make you jump into action, this is what you need. Katie's love for the Lord and dedication the the Kingdom will leave you wanting and doing more!!!

5. The Power of a Praying Wife:
The first time I read this book was actually when Brett and I were just dating!  The message behind the book is really quite simple but this has become a go to book for me.  It remains on my night stand and is just the encouragement and guidance I need sometimes to seek God's face on Brett's behalf! 

Well, I hope I didn't overwhelm you, but I didn't want to miss out on anything from Blog-tember!!!  Weekends leave no time for a computer stare-down!!! 

Glad you made it!

The Bucket List to be!

Exciting news!!! - I have officially completed now 10 days of Blog-temper!!! I had to do some catching up after the weekend, but I made it through!!! Jump on over the BraveLoveBlog if you're not sure what I'm talking about!!! 

Here it is, Day 10...

Thursday, Sept. 10: 10 items off your bucket list. If you haven't made one, now's a good time to start!

So I don't have a Bucket List! Not a tangible one.  I'm not sure why, I LOVE to make lists, I love to cross things off of lists. But I have never even considered putting pen to paper for a bucket list! But I do have ideas! Lots of ideas! So here are a few of them...

1. Serve {missions} on every continent.

2. Start my own business.

3. Alaskan Cruise.

4. Adopt.

5. Sing a special at church.

6. Visit all 50 States.

7. Run a 1/2 marathon.

8. Learn to play piano/keyboard.

9. Give away/donate more than we spend.

10. Read through the Bible in a year.

 

So I know this isn't a super impressive list, I hope it doesn't end here! It is scary and exciting to put these things somewhere besides the back of my mind! Hopefully you will stick around long enough I can tell you about completely some of them!!!

*sorry it's not a fancy post! Editing from my phone in the middle of a 12 hr shift today!!!  

That Song in My Head...

This has become one of my absolute favorite songs, and frankly, I just couldn't risk one of y'all not ever hearing it! So here it is...

I'm all about some Crowder!  He has some pretty good ones out there. 

Brett's current favorite is "Lift Your Head Weary Sinner." It's my other favorite! ;)

Dear 16-year-old me,

                                                  Wednesday, September 9: Write a letter to sixteen-year-old you.

Miss Kylee at Sixteen,

We don't know each other, we are two very different people.  Our passions, beliefs, friends, and dreams are very different.  There are probably things we could learn from each other.  You do fairly well with handling stress and channeling emotions, try and keep it that way!  Keep pushing yourself to be better at everything you do! One day you will be able to look at all those years of effort and improvement with a sense of pride.  Be careful not to try too hard tho, you can get wrapped up in it and start to think feel like you haven't gotten anywhere.

But it will get you somewhere, you will end up in college with another two years in a sport you love! Cherish the moments and friendships that come from that, they will fade away all too soon!  I'm sorry to tell you it is there that your 4 year relationship will come to an end.  It will hurt. A lot.  But please know that there is an amazing path ahead for both of you!  The two of you will reconnect a couple years later and see that had that pain not occurred, you would have both missed out on huge blessings.

You career path will unexpectedly change, and you won't have any clue then, but it is all part of a grander plan, one that you don't even know about!  Your heart will be torn apart a couple times, but each knock down is bringing you closer to your knees, and when you finally hit them you will meet someone...

You'll learn that He has had his eye on you for quite sometime.  You'll slowly get to know Him a little bit better.  You'll start to realize the many times you broke His heart and you didn't even know it.  But you will then discover that despite all the hurt you have caused Him, He loves you just as much as He ever did; and He gave up everything to be in a relationship with you.

Then, that day, when you let go of what you think your life is suppose to look like; That day your life will change. Because of Jesus.  Your hopes and dreams will all become His. And girl let me tell you, are you in for it!  You can't even imagine what your life will look like after that!  But trust in Him, trust the Journey He will take you on. He has a messy, beautiful, life planned out for you!

Love, me You (the redeemed version)

Dear Younger Me By MercyMe

Are you wondering where this very uncharacteristic post came from...well, it's part of Blog-tember hosted by BraveLoveBlog!  

If your joining me from the Link-up, WELCOME! I'm so glad you found me! 

This one was kinda hard for me, what about you!? It got a little easier once I got started, I liked the challenge!!! 

Also read...

Hope in Miscarriage (& other trials) Part 2

Recently, I found myself diving back into God's word specifically for what He had to say about these trials life brings us.  It has been three months since the loss of our first child.  Yes, I still think about him/her everyday. Will that eventually change? I don't know! Will the hurt go away? I don't think it will, but I do think it will change.  With each season will be a different sorrow.  Baby showers. Due Date. Childless Holidays. It will change us. These trials that we go through, there is good in them to.  When our faith is tested, it draws us ever closer to Him.  Despite the pain, we can choose to rejoice in His goodness.

“In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” 1 Peter 1:6-7

“Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing…Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.” James 1:2-4, 12

“We rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.” Romans 5:3-5

“For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.” Romans 8:18

Not only is God there to comfort us, but there are those who have already been through the same trials who are called to rise up and comfort us.  All the same as one day, our afflictions will be the experience we need to bring comfort to the afflicted.

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For as we share abundantly in Christ's sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too. If we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; and if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which you experience when you patiently endure the same sufferings that we suffer. Our hope for you is unshaken, for we know that as you share in our sufferings, you will also share in our comfort." 2 Corinthians 1:3-7

Not many of my words are spread across the page, and that is because there is nothing I can say in comparison to the Living Word.  Dig into It.  Let the Father wrap His arms around you.  Choose to embrace Him.  Rejoice in His goodness, even when you can't see it anywhere else.  Run to Him, and Glory will be revealed.

See 12 verses for Miscarriage...

And other posts about Miscarriage

Time of Singing...

Tuesday, Sept. 8: Tell us about your favorite season. Why is it your favorite and what does it say about you?

I can appreciate the beginning of any new season.  

When the summer sun ushers in camping, lake fun, & fresh vegetables.   

Then when the months of heat begin to break, the leaves turn colors, and cardigans are in style. 

Even when it's bitter cold outside & outside chores take twice as long, I can appreciate the beauty of frozen precipitation.

And finally, when the days start to get longer, warmer, and more colorful, Spring has Sprung!  New life is all around, the animals are emerging from their warm homes, the flowers are in full bloom, the trees get fuller...

Spring is my favorite!

Creation calls out to be appreciated and enjoyed.  After months of cabin fever, there is work to be done.

"For behold, the winter is past; the rain is over and gone. The flowers appear on the earth, the time of singing has come, and the voice of the turtledove is heard in our land." SOS 2:11-12

Whats your favorite season!? Share with us over at BraveLoveBlog for Blog-tember!!!

What is Style Anyways!?

Sunday, Sept. 6: Share your style. What fashion trends do you love, frequent, or avoid?

Yes, I do know I am late - that's my style! (Actually I married into it)

Whats my style you ask!? 

Well, when addressing this topic I wouldn't be honest unless I included the scrubs, with which I spend 50+ hours a week wearing!  I keep them simple, usually even just scrub pants and a T-Shirt.

Beyond that, you will find me pretty much in the same outfit, with minor adjustments for climate consideration.

Jeans. T-Shirt. 

I have a closet FULL of t shirts.  What I like most about my t shirts, is each one usually has some sort of memory or purpose associated to it!

Mission Trip Fundraiser

Concerts (I love lyric tees!!!)

Fair Trade Organization

Cause Awareness

Every time I wear them, I am either reminded of their cause, or I get a chance to tell a story when I am asked about them!

This uber comfy apparel is paired with any of the following depending on the season...

Jeans, Capris, Shorts (I'm a knee length kinda girl,) 

Maxi Skirt (you know, to make it Fancy and all)

Flats, Sandals, Flip flops. Boots.

Cardigans (YES! I am obsessed with them,) scarf.

I love the "vintage" colors, aztec design (real original right!), some might even say I have a bohemian/hippy-ish style.

Do you know of any tshirts for a cause!? Point me in the right direction!!!

This is a late post in the Blog-tember series from BraveLoveBlog.  

Why, Recklessly Chosen?

Blog-tember

Monday, September 7: Tell us about your blog name. Where did it come from?

This is the post I originally wrote when "Recklessly Chosen" was first launched! My reason behind starting this blog was to share what the Lord is doing in my Life.  I wanted a name that described "this life"...

Recklessly Chosen

When we think of "reckless," what do we think?...

A book I have recently read, The Prodigal God,made me take a second look at the definition of "reckless."  The author, Timothy Keller, first brings up reckless when he refers to God as "prodigal."  Again, not my choice of words for our never moving, ever present father in heaven, however, he points out that the definition of prodigal is, "recklessly spendthrift."  Now that I think rings a little truer of a God who gave up His only son, just so we could return to Him for eternity!  Seeing Him as "reckless" took a little more thought...

The definition of "reckless" is... "marked by lack of proper caution : careless of consequences."

Is my God reckless?...  Of course He is!

He did not need to take caution or worry of the consequences because He ALREADY KNEW what the consequences were!  He knew what He would loose and what we would gain, and He did it anyways!

The more I thought about it, I couldn't help but think..."Would any god who was "playing it safe" or "weighing the consequences" have ever saved ME?

Absolutely not!

Keller ends the intro with this...

"Jesus is showing us the God of Great Expenditure, who is nothing if not prodigal toward us, his children.  God's reckless grace is our greatest hope and a life changing experience."

--------------------------------------------------------------
You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you.- John 15:16

My God Recklessly Chose me, and I hope to share with you the grace and hope He bestows upon me daily!

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

So here's what you'll find if your just joining me here!  

Where did your blog name come from!?

iTunes playlist

Saturday, Sept. 5: Put your iTunes/music player on shuffle and share the first 10 songs that play.

1.What if His People Prayed...Casting Crowns

2. Don't Give Up...Calling Glory

3. Lord, I need You...Matt Maher

4. Awake My Love...I Am They Band

5. Everything Glorious...David Crowder Band

6. The Proof of Your Love...For King & Country

7. Wake Up...All Sons & Daughters

8.  The Power of the Cross...Matt Hammit

9. No Turning Back...For King & Country

10.  Come Alive...Crowder

11.  God Gave Me You...Dave Barnes

12. More than Conquerors...Rend Collective

13. The Harvester...Brandon Heath

... Ok I need to stop!

I LOVE music.  It's one of my love languages...but NOT a spiritual gift.  Unless I'm in the car, there... there I give Francesca Battistelli a run for her money!  Brett and I LOVE live Worship Concerts!!!

Some of our absolute FAVORITES...

All Sons & Daughters

I Am They

Crowder 

Rend Collective

NEEDTOBREATHE

For King & Country

Hillsong

Lauren Daigle

Ok, so with this post you might have got more than you bargained for, but please check some of these out if you are unfamiliar! They SING to my soul!!!