Christmas Expectations

Wow, what a year it has been. As I look back on all that has happened this year I realize that this is definitely the hardest season I have ever walked through. And not only me, but most everyone I love has been affected in one way or another.

But it's Christmas!

And Christmas means time with the family, Christmas dinner, presents (grr), laughter, stockings, Mom's quiche, my brother putting on every single present he opens (even if it isn't clothes), and so much more.

At least that's what I was expecting.

But this Christmas is definitely not that. It looks a little more like medical bills, chest xray, new meds, Dad in the hospital, no time for dinner, no money for presents. And honestly, my first reaction was: This Christmas is a bust.

Until I remembered something...

Last week while leading worship, I said something that I was reminded of this morning: "Jesus does not disappoint." This has been a hard year for most people - losing jobs, losing loved ones, losing faith. And if my expectations for Christmas, or any other season for that matter, are placed in the "stuff". Stuff like dinner and quiche and "how it's always been", then I find myself disappointed - disappointed because my expectations were not met. But, if my place my expectations for the season in Jesus - that He will be just as good this year as last, and just as available, and just as much my Savior - He will not disappoint. And suddenly everything else is an add-on. Spending Christmas in the hospital with my family goes from a miserable thing to a wonderful blessing.

Expectations are a funny thing, and I'm learning a lot about how they change my thinking. What do you expect Christmas to be? I hope you find your expectations exceeded in who Jesus is and that you find yourself blessed beyond measure, no matter what comes your way. Merry Christmas!

Thankful and so blessed,

Katie

Snow Survival Tips

Well, it finally happened. The first snow has hit and Bend (and all the rest of the state) is freaking out appropriately. Since I know many of you bloggers out there may have just moved to the area, I thought I'd offer some insight and wisdom from a seasoned snow lover like myself. So, get a pen and get ready:

DO

1. Get an ice scraper. This is priority # 1 people.
2. Get some thick gloves - the kind that make you have sausage fingers. (This helps with #1)
3. Get a spare key and hide it somewhere good.
4. Learn to crochet or knit - it comes in handy when you're poor and cold.
5. Run to the window expectantly every morning to see how much snow has accumulated (if this is done with some sort of ridiculous slippers such as giant ducks, there is a bonus).
6. Stock up on airborne and vitamin c.

DON'T

1. Try to scrape your windshield with your debit card. Just trust me.
2. Forget gloves - they are like gold. Thick gold that keeps your hands at a temperature that is not painful.
3. Lock yourself out of your house in 4 degree weather. Let me just save you some time and tell you that the recycling can is not tall enough to get you high enough to get to the roof...and it's slippery.
   
4. Spend lots of money on cute hats and gloves - just don't. If you're going shopping - invest in boots because you can't knit those.
5. Run into the window when you check to see how much it snowed.
6. Stop taking vitamin c. Never, ever, ever, ever stop.

Well, there you go. Now you are wise and seasoned and ready for anything.

Happy Snow Days!

"Finish what you start."

As dictated to me by the Holy Spirit this morning. Thought I'd share.

Today's The Day

Today is the day that we're supposed to be thankful, to count our blessings, to be near our loved ones. And so I'm willing to play by the rules. This year has been without a doubt the hardest year of my life. And I know that is the case for many, many people. And do you know what it has made me realize? (Say "no", and ask, "what?") It's made me realize how selfish I am. It's made me realize that I cling much too tight to the things of this world, and not tight enough to Jesus. It's taught me to be thankful in any season, no matter what. And so here's what I'm thankful for. Are you ready? You should maybe sit down...

I'm thankful for my loss.

It's true, I am. You may not always know it at my low points, but I can already see a glimmer of what God is doing in me through this, and it is really good. He's doing something that He couldn't have done if I weren't so stripped bare and without. And when God works on you, He makes you look more like Jesus...which is kind of the whole point. As much as I wish I hadn't gone through a lot of what has come my way this year, the end result will be well worth it and I'm 100% certain of that.

So on this beautiful Thanksgiving Day, I hope you are thankful, if for nothing else than the air in your lungs. Because you know what - it's God's air so you are blessed. I love you dear friends. Thanks for reading and loving me and I wish you so so much joy on this amazing God-given day.

Thankfully,

Katie

My Life In 72 Hours

Let me just say, this isn't going to be pretty...

Tuesday night/Wednesday morning: unutterable depths of the plague
Wednesday day: the most pointless TV shows in existence, no movement for 12 hours
Wednesday night: the most pointless nighttime TV shows in existence, no movement for 6 hours
Thursday morning: dare to emerge from the house, head to work for 3.5 hours, then go home
Thursday afternoon: eat a small amount of food, vow to never do it again
Thursday night: continuously regret all amounts of food ever eaten in my life
Friday morning: regret still in tact, stomach missing, will to live missing, pointless TV shows still in tact.

Well friends, I could have been more eloquent, but mostly it is just driving me crazy that I haven't posted anything in what seems like an eternity. Until next time, remember:

Food poisoning is a foretaste of hell. And trust me - you don't want to go there.

The Lighter Side - EPI 2

If I were an animal...



I'd be a chameleon. There's no doubt in my mind.

I was so surprised, shocked, thrilled, ravenous (wait, wrong use of adjective...sorry), and inspired by all of the comments from the last Lighter Side post. I hope you'll all keep posting your quirks, as it brings so much joy to my little heart.

So, for this week, I thought we'd take it from a new angle. See, I've had many conversations this week in which I have referred to myself as "the chameleon". And I've been met with a few confused looks. So, let me explain why I am a chameleon:

• It's the only animal that gets to change its "clothes" as often as it wants.
• I'm really good at impressions, which is funny, but also a curse because people are constantly repeating a line and then begging, "You do it, Katie!" Which would be great...if it didn't make me look totally stupid.
• I tend to mimic people's style in song. This was evidenced when I discovered a tape of me singing My Heart Will Go On along with a recording of the song. And I probably thought I was singing normal, but I was totally mimicking Celine. I've never laughed harder! "Neahhh....Fahhhhh...whea - ehhhvahhh you ahhhh."
• I pick up accents really easy. I've tried not to, but it's inevitable. If you have an accent and I'm around you for 10 minutes, I will have an accent. It's terribly embarrassing

There are probably other reasons, but I think you would now agree - I am a chameleon. I don't try to be, it's just who I am! Which leaves me just one question...

Which animal are you and why?

It is so good

I have been at the Oregon Coast since yesterday, and it is marvelous. Sadly this is the only picture I have so far as my camera is totally dead (this is from my cell phone). So, since I have no pictures, I will simply use captivating and picturesque words that will allow you to see it all in your minds.

Wow.

Anyway, here's my day today:

• Get up and go for a run on the beach. (Wait I said I'd use picturesque words. Allow me to restate that: Awakened by the rising of the crisp, warm sunlight I sprang to my feet and pulled up the blinds to allow the sunlight to flood the room. You could see the waves crashing against the giant rock and smell the ocean. I put on my tennis shoes and ventured out to the beckoning sand and ran as far as my feet could take me.)
• The most decadent and wonderful breakfast imaginable at The Grateful Bread. Perfect blueberry pancakes delighted my senses.
• Many card games and much merriment
• A climbing adventure to the top of a cliff where we got soaked as the largest wave I've ever seen crashed against the rocks, giving me a new respect for the ocean, and a healthy fear for my life.
• Long walks on the beach - several, actually.
  
• More card games
• Dinner at The Pelican - beef medalians so tender and decadent, garlic mashed potatoes and crisp vegetables
• Now - blogging about my adventures, preparing to eat lots of oreos - thus making me start my day tomorrow just like this one.

Now that I have sent you on a great adventure in your minds and incited much jealousy, I leave you to your non-beach lives. Stay tuned for more picturesque words as I do not anticipate a camera recovery.

The Lighter Side - EPI 1

I've spent way too much time in the last few months crying over stupid things, or big things, or really big, important, life-altering things. Well, anyway, let's just say I've been quite dehydrated. With that being said, I thought I would start a series of posts called "The Lighter Side" because let's face it - we all need it!

The problem is I didn't really have a brilliant idea for today's post. So instead of brilliance, we'll settle for adequacy in a list I like to call "Weird things I do." Do you ever catch yourself doing something, well, weird? You're probably fortunate enough to think that you're 100% normal, so you can't relate. But on the off chance that you have 23% quirk or 45% freak in you, this could be a fun comment list.

So without further adieu...

• I say warm like farm, arm, charm. It is my nemesis.
• I blow in cups before I use them. This is probably due to the fact that I had a bad experience with dirt in a cup as a small child...but I'm not sure.
• I have to eat my food in sections. (All the peas, then all the mashed potatoes, then all the salmon...yummm salmon...)
• I'm really tall. What? That's not weird enough to make a weird list? Well, it's my list! I'll do what I want!
• I sleep with both my arms over my head - with one across my forehead. This is because when I was a little girl, I believed a prince would come find me in my sleep and I wanted to have the whole "damsel in distress" look down. And now I can't sleep any other way. It's terrible.
• I hate soap. Hate it. Hate the residue. Hate the word residue. Hate that it never gets cleaned up if some gets on the counter. (Don't worry - I don't smell bad. I use it. I smell like roses.)
• I create attack plans for rapists or robbers sometimes when I can't sleep. I could write a book, and I pity the fool who breaks into my house!
• I color code my closet.

Well, that's all for today. There are many more - OH - so many more! But now I leave it to you:

What's one weird thing about yourself?

You can't stop the flood...or the train

I took this picture back in September in the flood ravaged parts of Cedar Rapids, Iowa. We drove downtown (where we could) and saw all the buildings, businesses and homes that were completely destroyed. Glass was broken, buildings were crumbling, houses were abandoned. And then on the side of a jewelry store was this spraypainted sign, We Survive. A small glimmer of hope among destruction.

I've been reading in the book of Acts lately how the early church was formed, how Stephen was murdered and persecution scattered the believers, how the gospel was preached no matter what and how the church survived everything thrown at it. And then there's Job - the man who lost everything, but refused to curse God.

And you know, you can't stop a flood. I can't prevent suffering in my life, but I can respond to it. And I am determined, that where the enemy has come in like a flood, and wrecked and ravaged what I have built - I am not going down without a fight. I will break out my spray can and declare that I am going to survive. The walls will be re-framed and repainted. The cracks in the foundation will be repaired. And what the enemy meant for evil, my God will turn around for good. And I'm just crazy enough to believe that my declaration displayed on my brokenness will give others a reason to hope.

__________________________________________

P.S. Tomorrow look here for the lighter side of life. I'm back!

Bigger And Better

"Then He told them this story: "The farm of a certain rich man produced a terrific crop. He talked to himself: 'What can I do? My barn isn't big enough for this harvest.' Then he said, 'Here's what I'll do: I'll tear down my barns and build bigger ones. Then I'll gather in all my grain and goods, and I'll say to myself, Self, you've done well! You've got it made and can now retire. Take it easy and have the time of your life!'"
-Luke 12:16-19 (The Message)

Friends, this is us. Me. You. Way too much of the time. In America, the land where greed is admired, we learn to get bigger and better. That is the American way. And it's killing us. Today is a historic day, and to be honest, the state of our nation is starting to keep me up at night.

I look at the economy and the wars and all that's going on and I start to get that anxious, butterflies-in-the-stomach kind of feeling. It's been with me all day, in fact. I don't feel settled, I don't feel peaceful. And then just when I'm at the point of losing my mind, I read this:

"People who don't know God and the way He works fuss over these things, but you know both God and how He works."
-Luke 12:28ish (The Message)

I know God. He is good and loving and faithful and extravagant. And the way He works? Good, loving, faithful and extravagant. He brought the nation of Israel out of bondage. He fed the 5,000. He sent His Son to pay the worst price for my worst sins. And I'm figuring something out. That the battle is not won or lost in the economy, or in Iraq or in the election. The battle is won or lost in the arena of my mindset.

It's time to change my mind.

Vacation Time, Ya'll

Earlier this month, I went on a quick trip to Iowa. The response I got from most people was, "Why the heck are you going to Iowa?" and "Where is Iowa?" and "What's an Iowa?".

Needless to say, most Oregonians spend the majority of their life completely clueless to the fact that Iowa even exists, let alone ever visit there. However, since that is the land that produced my family, I have visited there many times. I know by now what to expect from Iowa: corn fields, chiggers, locusts, humidity and good times. But this time, I went to the city. Iowa City, that is. And it was a whole new experience. There were still locusts and humidity and good times, but no corn fields and NO chiggers! PRAISE THE LORD!

I went for the baptism of my little cousin, Sophia. I'm one of her godparents.


She is absolutely adorable and only cried 9 out of the 10 times I held her.

Here are her parents, and my uncle and new aunt, Matt & Ping:



Did I mention I have a giant family? Oh, well I do. My mom is number 5 of 7 kids and so I've got a whole lot of cousins and aunts and uncles. On this trip I also got to see my Uncle Mark & Aunt Sue, and my cousin Anne.



Other than Mark & Sue, I hadn't seen my family in twelve years. But the great thing about my family is that it doesn't matter if it's been 12 years or 30 years. You just pick up where you left off. And you eat corn. Lots and lots of mouth watering corn on the cob.

Mmmm....hang on a sec.

Mmmm........yummy......yum...

Okay, I'm back. Sorry about that.

It was such a great trip and I had a blast. Even though I am not at all a country girl, I love Iowa becomes my family comes from there, and in a strange way it reminds me of home.




And corn. Yum......

One Life

One life can make a difference. Just one.



I was constantly reminded of that when we went on our annual CLC Encounter Retreat.



I watched as young men and women laid their lives down at the foot of the cross.



I watched as they traded in old identities for new ones.



I watched as they traded old mindsets for new ones, and I couldn't help but think of Hebrews 11.



Every person mentioned in that chapter stood for God in amazing ways. And what I find even more incredible is that so many of them stood alone. I thought about Paul, Esther, David, Deborah. Each one representing one life that made one big, enormous difference.



If all it takes is one life fully submitted to God, what could happen with 15?



Doesn't it just make your spirit tingle?

I love this picture. They look so small compared the the giant mountain (okay, hill) in front of them. But they conquered it - all of them. Together. And I have no doubt that they will conquer every mountain they face, physical or spiritual. Because you know what is more powerful than one life fully submitted to God?



15, 16, 17, 250, 5000 lives fully submitted to God and fully invested together in His Kingdom.



Tingly.

This Really Isn't My Style...

What I'm about to blog is not at all my style. I'm not really the let all your feelings out for all the world to see kind of girl. But for the next few sentences, I will be.

Unsettled. Do you ever feel that way? Like a baby being lifted out of it's crib, not knowing where it will end up. Back in the crib? In a parent's protective embrace? On the changing table? In the high chair? I feel that way now.

Unclear. There are so many changes stirring right now. Changes I wish I even remotely understood. But I don't. I feel like a puzzle piece trying to find its place in a constantly changing landscape. Perhaps - if the changes could relegate themselves to just one, or even two areas of my life - perhaps then I might be able to catch my breath, take a moment, renew my perspective. But no.

Uncomfortable. I love home. I love security. But I'm short on both right now. Compared to millions my discomfort is something they would trade for in a heartbeat. I know it's comparably small, but it matters to me. So I have to believe it matters to Jesus.

Unresolved. I'm not asking for answers, or looking for attention. I just had to get this out there. If any of you had doubts (though I highly doubt that's the case) that I was a regular, twisted soul like the rest of the world, now you are certain of it. Let me be clear: Jesus will provide the answer. He will give me peace and He will bring me through this. He just hasn't yet. Sometimes I think He likes to use these seasons to sift me so that I can be more like Him. He is good that way - at least He's using this junk for good. He is using it so that I will be stronger. He allows it so that He can build something in me. So that when all is said and done, I will be...

Unshaken.

Dad

Today is my dad's 59th birthday. That, in and of itself, is a crazy fact. Somehow my dad has stayed a solid 40 years old in my mind, until today when I actually did the math. He is an amazing husband and father and I have learned so much from him. Here are a few things:

• How to change a tire. He wouldn't let me drive my car until I'd changed my tire 5 times. Turned out to be helpful...many, many times.
• How to build a house. Namely, my house. Okay, so maybe not the whole house. Okay, so he just let me help. Okay, so I mostly watched. Okay, I suck. Sorry, dad.
• How to work hard. My parents are the hardest workers I know.
• How to ride a horse.
• How to manage thick, curly hair. I got it from him and he's got a rockin' fro!

My relationship with my dad wasn't the greatest in my teen years, probably because we're very alike! We're both passionate and opinionated...even to our detriment. And we both stand up for what we believe in. Oh and did I mention I was a jerk in high school? Anyway, last year my dad was rushed to the hospital for emergency surgery. It's funny how moments like that can strip away all frills and seeming importance and boil a relationship down to one thing: I love my dad. I love him with all my heart. I love that he's a die hard Raiders fan. I love that he loves my mom. I love that he cried at my brother's wedding. I love the way he eats popcorn. I love my dad.

Dad, I know you don't read my blog (what???). But mom does. And when she prints this out and reads it to you, I hope you know how very much I love you. And if I could wish anything for you today...it would be that you would get the big cup. (Long story...)

Happy Birthday, Dad!

___________________________________________

P.S. This is my 50th post! Yay me!

He Answered

Have you ever looked at the overwhelming statistics that exist in our world today?

• Every 15 seconds, another child becomes an AIDS orphan in Africa
• Every day 5760 more children become orphans
• Every year 2,102,400 more children become orphans (in Africa alone!)

143,000,000 orphans in the world today spend an average of 10 years in an orphanage or foster home, but...

Every 2.2 seconds, another orphan child ages out of the system with no family and no place to call home. So, by the time you are done reading this blog, about 23 orphans will be homeless. Many of them get trapped as sex slaves, and the cycle continues.

It's overwhelming, and difficult to know how to help. But you CAN help. I CAN help.

Many months ago, my friend, Bo Stern, looked at these statistics and asked God possibly the greatest question that can be asked: "What can I do?" And He answered. Big. Many of you will read her blog and learn about Amani. But if I can get this to even one person she can't, that's powerful.

Want to know more? You should! Click here.

My Job

I get paid to be here.



I get paid to eat this for dinner



And this for breakfast!



I get paid to work with these amazing women


And these awesome guys



I get paid to wake up to this



And this



And to hang out with these weirdos



And to climb this :(



I get paid to watch young adults have their lives changed.

I get paid to be here.

And tomorrow maybe I won't. But for now, I'm really grateful for where God has placed me. And not just that I get paid to do it - because let's face it, I'd do it anyway - but because 15 people that surrender their lives to God can change the lives of 15 million. And that's not a hopeful dream, it's a fact. And I'm reminded that serving Jesus is a REALLY good life!

Stay tuned for more stories from CLC Encounter!

My exciting night

So, last night I found out that Coldplay was coming to Westside Church to do a concert. They decided to do one West Coast show and we were it! You can imagine my excitement when Chris Martin walked through the door of the church...which actually looked like a very strange attic. Huh. Anyway, the band came through and a few of my friends and I were there to greet them. Being in leadership at Westside Church, we were charged with helping them set up.

The date was June 15th...huh. Anyway, being that it was June 15th I made the remark that having Coldplay come was such a great birthday treat. Well Chris overheard me and said, "I didn't know it was your birthday! We're going to have to do something special." He then proceeded to tell me that for my birthday, he would fly me to New York City on his private jet! I said a very small "thank you" and then rested my head on my friend's shoulder and cried a little.

Why was I crying? Well, I want to go to New York City more than anything in the world - and the fact that of all places, Chris Martin picked that...huh. Well, it was just an overwhelming happiness and I didn't know what else to do. Of course he asked what was wrong, and my friend, Mekenzie told him about my deep love for NYC. So he upped the ante. He got me a private session on the Rockefeller Center Ice Rink and more things that I just can't remember.

All in all, it was the greatest night of my life. Huh.

Moving...and an update

I moved on Sunday. I wasn't expecting to, but an opportunity for a cute little yellow house with a balcony presented itself, and I just couldn't pass it up. It's a great little place, and sooo much better than the place we were before.
But there was just one problem: moving. I hate moving. It is one of my least favorite things in the entire world. The process of neatly packing everything up, just to drive a little ways and unpack is so frustrating and exhausting!

Also, I have really weak arms - did I mention that? Well they are uncharacteristically weak - very unlike my friend, Lindsay, who is freakishly strong. It's true - don't mess with her.


As I was getting things ready to move, I stopped just for a moment and considered calling it off. That's how much I hate moving. But you know what motivated me to keep going? A new balcony. Washer/dryer hookups. Two bathrooms. More than one outlet. A dishwasher. The place I was going to was so much better than the place I was leaving. And I knew it.

But what if I didn't?

There is not a chance that you could get me to move somewhere I'd never seen. No way, no how. What if my new place had no outlets? What if I had to share a room with a girl named Helga (no offense to you Helgas out there)? Without knowing where I was moving to, the work would not be worth it. It would be too great a risk.


And then I realized: God asks me to do that all the time. He asks me to pack up my mindsets, my neatly organized perceptions, my comfortable ways of doing things, and asks me to move them into a better place. Somewhere that they will be challenged and changed. The catch is that I've never seen that place...but He has. And suddenly my battle is not with the work it takes to move, but with my faith in who God is. Because if I really believe that He is good, then He will take me to a good place - even if it is hard to get there. But too often I've dreaded the task of moving, and missed out on God's plan for me.

Change can be intimidating, seasons are shifting, and moving sucks...but God is good.

"Praise our God, O peoples, let the sound of His praise be heard. He has preserved our lives and kept our feet from slipping. For You, O God, tested us; you refined us like silver. You brought us into prison and laid burdens on our backs. You let men ride over our heads; we went through fire and water, but You brought us to a place of abundance." - Psalm 66:8-12 (NIV - UK)

I long for the faith it takes to get to the place of abundance. Don't you?
_______________________________________________________

UPDATE: There was an ornament hook, a few pens, a highlighter, crumbs, 7 cents, and a receipt in my couch cushions.

God save me from my own twisted brain

I woke up this morning thinking about a lot of things:

• Orphans
• Money
• What my laugh sounds like to other people
• If I'll get my laundry done today

AND...

• What is in my couch cushions.

Yes, I know - I'm sick. I have a severe problem. My brain gets shut off for 8 hours, and suddenly the alarm rings and it goes into overdrive. And even worse is that then I started thinking about what could be in your couch cushions! Oh, God save me from my own twisted brain indeed!

So if you could help me out and tell me what is in your couch cushions, I think there could be hope. That giant question could be set aside and room could be made for much more important questions, like: What is under your bed?

Oh no! There I go again...

Why Computers Are Sissies

So, my computer has been having a hard time lately. It all started one winter day, not so very long ago. I would like to make this small disclaimer - that my computer was purchased in the ancient time of 2003, so it's bound to have issues anyway. That being said... It was a beautiful winter day - the kind of day you want to just sit by a fireplace and read and nap all day long.


On this particular day, I was at Backporch enjoying a delicious coffee beverage and was joined by a friend (who shall remain nameless). On snowy days, sometimes coffee just doesn't cut it. Sometimes you need something a little more comforting...something like tea...tea with honey. Anyway, you can guess what happened next - the tea somehow fell in love with my computer and decided to give it a little smooch...okay the entire cup of tea was poured onto my computer. And since that day it has had...issues.


Needless to say, the days of the beautiful blue Dell Inspiron are over. It has gotten to the point where I can no longer handle it. But here's the thing. I've had tea with honey spilled on me. I've been dropped. I've been shut down. But you don't see me slowing down or shutting off - refusing to get the job done.



Oh no, I press on dear friends. I press on. I don't give up, and I don't quit doing what I was created to do. No matter what information I have to download, or what errors I face, I am faithful to continue on.

And that, my friends, is why computers are sissies.

Sophia

Meet my newest little cousin, Sophia Mei Schulz. My uncle Matt sent me this pic, and I can't get over how stinking cute she is! I will be flying to Iowa to see her get baptized the end of this month, and I'm excited to squeeze her chubby little face.

Here's one thing that is just an undeniable fact when it comes to babies: chubbier is better!

Vacation Is Where It's At!

Okay, so after (finally) finding my camera cord, I realized I didn't take all that many pictures. Sorry - I was having too much fun! So here is a very small synopsis of the awesomeness that was Lake Tahoe (shut up it is too a word!)


Friends...

Prehistoric mini-golf...

Winners!

Bears...

Jesus...

Skip-bo!

Casino (It was only a dollar, don't worry)

Birthday (Mekenzie's, not mine)

Massages (Yikes!)

BEAUTIFUL...

Water...

Jetski (My new fav)

Cabin... (I'm the most tan! Yes I am, yes I am, YES I AM!!!!)

Homeward bound...

Now you know all the details about my vacation. But really, Tahoe was great. Thanlks, Mekenzie's family for inviting me! I hope to come back someday!