blessed.

bellingham. gorgeous, friendly, green and uniquely bellingham. it's a city all it's own.
a.) work --> hours --> money for bills. b.) i actually like my job. and who wouldn't? they're adorable.
dustin dean hill. inspiring, encouraging, faithful, loving and sweeter than sweet.
mom and dad. they love each other, and they have for 31 years.
these are my cousins. i love family.
double wammy. wonderful, inspiring friends like Sarita, and a fab-u-lous trip to Mexico.

See? I'm blessed.

"So this is my prayer: that your love will flourish and that you will not only love much but well. Learn to love appropriately. You need to use your head and test your feelings so that your love is sincere and intelligent, not sentimental gush. Live a lover's life, circumspect and exemplary, a life Jesus will be proud of: bountiful in fruits from the soul, making Jesus Christ attractive to all, getting everyone involved in the glory and praise of God."

-Philippians 1:9-11, The Message

Helping Haiti

Hi friends,
I hope this note finds you well. I am writing in regards of a new mission I am on. Recently I have began working with Childcare Worldwide as an ambassador. My job is to find sponsorships for children who have either been orphaned or whose parents can not support them. My heart is breaking even now as I watch CNN and am hearing about this terrible situation in Haiti. Thousands and thousands of children are in desperate need of our help.

I have been supporting a little girl in Uganda for three years now, and have been so blessed by it!

The cost is $35- a month, and it is such an easy way to get these children what they need. Childcare Worldwide ensures that they are well fed, have clothes on their backs, and also receive all items necessary to go to school. Kids are taught in schools until they either go to college or begin an apprenticeship program. It is our hope that children can start breaking the cycle of poverty if they have an education. If you have any more questions, I would be happy to answer them.

Childcare sponsors children in Haiti along with other third world countries such as Uganda, Kenya and Ethiopia, and right now, I can assure you that there are thousands more orphans who need your help.

If you decide that you want to join me in this endeavor, we can meet together and I will give you pictures and information on different children.

Thanks for taking the time to read this!

Blessings,
Katy

New Years

2009:

Fabulous year. Another year at Western, new friends, new adventures. I traveled multiple times to New York, went backpacking through five European countries (Italy, France, Ireland, Scotland, England), and also recently made a trip to the Oregon Coast. Most of my time was spent in Bellingham though and I'm happy about that. I've got a new nephew and a huge family that lives here. I am blessed for sure. I continued to lead worship at my church, Hillcrest Chapel, and decided to start leading a Bible study for college women. I've grown a lot this year, and while I've certainly had a significant amount of failures (think Behavioral Neuroscience), it's been mostly uphill. And recently in my prayer times, I've been able to confidently tell the Lord that I'm content. My worship pastor and friend wrote a song called "Home" and one of the lyrics is "Whether to the right or to the left, you'll say 'Go and serve this is the way.' I'll follow you today." That right there seems to be my life motto right now, and I'm loving it. All in all, 2009 was great.

2010:

I'm looking forward to becoming a CNA (Certified Nursing Assistant) this next quarter. I'm taking the class at Bellingham Tech, while taking Biology at Western and a nutrition class online through Bellevue Community College. It's going to be a weird quarter, but it'll be good to get more pre-reqs finished. Hopefully I'll be making more trips, nothing quite as crazy in '09, but Hawaii, more trips to Oregon, and New York are all in store. Oh wait- kidding. I forgot. I'm going to Tuscany in June to nanny, and also to Nantucket. :) I'll be applying to Nursing schools soon, and I'm thrilled. I'll continue my Bible study and also leading worship.

Resolutions:

Last year I chose three Fruits of the Spirit to work on. They were kindness, goodness and self control. It was amazing to see God working in me in these areas. I've been thinking and praying about which three to choose for this year, and patience is certainly going to be the first one. I'm not sure which other two I'm going to choose, but I'm still thinking and praying. I love seeing the opportunities God puts in front of me. When I prayed for kindness, I found myself in situations that I had to be choose to be kind.

So for now, patience. More to come.

A Perfect Afternoon

Let me paint you a picture. I would ask you to close your eyes in order to see it better, but for obvious reasons, that won't quite work.

I am currently sitting inside the Woods Coffee in downtown Bellingham, typing on my beautiful new MacBook. I'm wearing a summer dress with cute black stockings underneath, and a long sweater over top. I have a scarf on, too, and my trusty "jingle flats," as I lovingly refer to them, are on my feet. I'm drinking a warm nonfat vanilla latte that is in a for-here mug. (Much better than the to-go cups. I'm working on slowing down, remember?) Oh. And one more thing. John Mayer is singing "Gravity" in my ears and I love it. Now, right here, in this moment. I am content. Oh so very content.

Contentment seems to be this crazy, radical idea that is always just out of my reach. I love my life, and I always have. I'm happy, and I feel like I always have been. But contentment just seems to never be approachable. But awhhh let me tell you. Today, I have discovered it. I've been thinking about Paul, and how he says "I have learned to be content in every situation." I love The Message version:

"I've learned by now to be quite content whatever my circumstances. I'm just as happy with little as with much, with much as with little. I've found the recipe for being happy whether full or hungry, hands full or hands empty. Whatever I have, wherever I am, I can make it through anything in the One who makes me who I am."

Okay. How beautiful is that?! Love it.

So. Right now, I'm content. And man oh man, am I loving it.

This kind of has to do with this post, but not really.

These kids are the lights of my life.

These kids just bless my life so much. So much joy. So innocent. They add to my joy for life.

Be Still.

"Be still and know that I am God."
-Psalm 46:10

Be still.

Quit the worrying, quiet your heart, and just be still. Stop talking and over-thinking. Just. Be. Still. Take a breath and listen.

And know that I am God.

The Prince of Peace. The Solid Rock. The Good Shepherd. The Creator of All Things. The Alpha and Omega. The Beginning and End. The One who was, and is, and is to come. The Lord Almighty. Maker of Heaven and Earth.

"Be still, and know that I am God."

I have this problem. I don't have a husband or any cute kids to blog about (which really isn't a problem at all, come to think of it...). But this makes me wonder what interesting things I could possibly write about. Most of the blogs I read are either cute little families or amazing superwomen-type folk like the Pioneer Woman. And you know something? I just don't fit into either of these categories. Therefore, it's been two months since I've blogged anything which is just pathetic. So here I am. Back in action.

Today was my first day back at Western. I walked through the Arboretum to get to school, and from my house it only took 12 minutes! This is exciting news. I walked it four times today, and am thankful that I got to enjoy some peace and quiet in between classes. I used my morning walk as a prayer walk, and prayed specifically for my sister and her munchkins. (It's Reese's 3rd birthday tomorrow, so she was on my mind.) I also took time to thank my Jesus for my generous parents who are blessing me with the gift of an education at Western.

...Then I started to think about what I am thankful for. It wasn't hard to make a list...

I am thankful. I am thankful for the beautiful colors of the leaves and trees. I am thankful for the view of the Bay on my walk to class. I am thankful for my friends- faces that I haven't seen in months, lining the fountain in Red Square. I am thankful for freedom. I can make my own decisions. I am thankful for the gift of relationships. I am thankful that I get to serve at my church. And tonight, tonight I am thankful that I have a constant friend in Jesus. I may not get to see Jesus in skin form, but I see him everyday. I saw him at my worship night tonight. Friends gathered in a basement to sing praises to our God; to pray for one another and for our campus. I saw Jesus in Tino. He blesses me everyday and spreads Jesus' love. I heard Jesus in my mom's words today. She looks out for me. She cares for me. She wants me to succeed in all areas of my life. Today, I am thankful. I am thankful that the people around me spread the love of Jesus. These people really are the hands and feet of Jesus.

I just had a little baby Bible study over the phone with T. We read some of what Paul spoke to Timothy. "Flee from all of this, and pursue righteousness, godliness..." So, as I begin my Fall quarter at Western, I plan to pursue righteousness. I plan to pursue godliness, and to live a life of life. A life that is truly life.

I'm inspired by the Word of God, and I'm ready to fight the good fight of the faith on my campus.

Because I know some of you LOVE to pray...

Umm I lost my camera last night. There are only two places I think it can be, and then just the short distance that we walked in between them. I called both places today, and neither has seen my camera. :( I also called the Edinburgh police station and wasn't able to get through, but I'll try again. (They have a lost property number you can call.) I'm just really frustrated. I never forget things, and I'm always super, super careful with my camera. At this point it's not even so much the camera as it is all the pictures that are on it. 

So please pray that it'll show up. I'm worried that someone took it and isn't going to return it. I don't know. Please just do me a favor and pray that it turns up. Thank you, thank you.

Easter

He is risen! We celebrated Easter with lots of family. It was perfect.
I led worship at church (and by the way- the sermon was amazing. I sat in both services and learned even more the second time around.) Then we finished up watching the Masters. I still can't believe that Kenny Perry didn't pull out a win, but thats okay. And then we headed over to Jay and Leslie's. I love my family. :)

Uncle Warren, Steve and Terri

Doesn't get much cuter than this!

Me, sister and Kyler!

Me and my "sweet step cousin Devin"

Brother, Katy, Clea, Devin

Hope you all enjoyed your Easter! He is risen!

Jesus, Jesus, How I Love Thee

I love Jesus. Gosh.... Yes. I love him. Every Wednesday I go to a worship night at some friends' house. Anywhere between 15 and 35 of us head into the basement where mismatched carpets line the floor, tea lights flicker (to create ambiance, of course), and a single strand of blue Christmas lights stretch across the ceiling. It's perfect. What I love about it is that there aren't any frills. It's just a dark freezing cold room filled with passionate students ready to worship our creator. A couple friends play guitar and we have an overhead projector so we can all follow along. Are you picturing it? Tonight was a great night. It was a good worship set, which always help, and I could just feel the passion. We sang Amazing Grace, a different version than what most are used to, but I absolutely love it. It is such a powerful song, even though I've heard it about a million times before.

Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound.
That saved a wretch like me.
Once was lost but now I'm found,
Once was blind but now I see

Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah.

So powerful. What a blessing it is to be able to serve a God who loves us- a God who wants to save us, and wants us to be free. Free from bondage. Free from slavery. Free from being silenced by fear or anything else.

How sweet it is to be in the presence of a God who is compassionate, strong, courageous, gentle, slow to anger, abounding in love.

Be blessed, my friends, and know that wherever you and whatever your story- there is a God who loves you with a love deeper and more unconditional than your mind can even fathom. As I once read, he loves us to the very core of our beings- and that is something I am dwelling on tonight.