future :: a time yet to come

As senior year is starting, one can't help but think of the future. Although most classmates are pulling their hair out, just counting the days until they walk past our principle, shake his hand, and then take their diploma and get the heck out of this little boring town we call home, the fact that we have to have a plan, and we kind of have to figure it out soon... is kind of a scary thought.
I mean, don't get me wrong. I'm stoked for the future and how it's going to turn out for me, but the real fact of the matter is... i dont' really have a plan.
I really admire the people that know exactly what they are doing after high school. Some are going to serve our country, while others have known what college there going to for a year. Me on the other hand, I have not a CLUE where I'm going to college. There are so many options. I want to be an elementary school teacher, but heck, that may change. I don't want to be bitter about the fact that I don't really have a plan, so I'm not going to be. (just give it to the Big Guy katie.. just give it to the Big Guy...) so that's what I'm doing for now.. sorry for this boring post, that's just what has been on my mind...

Where art thou smmer?

Summer 2010 has come and gone in a matter of time that I truly saw flash before my eyes. It was a time of my life that feels like it was just yesterday, with also a sense of being years ago. My summer had a variety of events that literally made it the best one yet. Let's start with the usual... SOFTBALL.

With Iowa being the one of few states (not sure how many others there are... google it if your really interested) that plays high school softball during the summer, it makes summertime very busy, and it's kind of hard to have a social life. Don't get me wrong, I absolutely LOVE the sport, but there are times where I wish that we could be like other states and play high school softball in the Spring. Our coach is awesome, but being the teenage girls that we are, some of the rules kill us, especially since it's SUMMERTIME. Example One: we have a 10 o'clock curfew on game nights. Okay, YES this is smart, but it means no bonfires, late movies, or even sleepovers with friends. Example Two: No being out in the sun on a game day. Well crap...this means that those weeks where we have games literally every day, we have to stay inside... allll dayy! Well that's enough complaining about the rules. I understand them, but jeez, i sure do like to bake in the sun on a wonderful summer day ;] no worries, we found time! (see picture to the right)

Okay, so ever since I went on my missions trip to Galveston, TX, missionary work has always been on my mind. After that trip I decided that I was done planning out my life and I was just going to go with the flow..ya know.. let the Big Guy be in control. ;] Well since I have softball literally all summer, thoughts of going on a missions trip were not even in my thought process until I started talking to Lauren Meyer about the trip that she was thinking about going on later in the summer. South Africa. She told me that she was leaving the 24th of July. Knowing that last years State Tournament ended the 24th last year, I thought there was absolutely no way that I would be able to go, but to my surprise the State Tournament was ending one day earlier this year. (now if that isn't God's work, I don't know what is...) so of course... this experience was the BEST thing that has EVER happened to me. Changed me in ways that I can't even begin to describe. I'm thinking about my future a lot more now. There are so many different options that I want to do with my life, but that's a whole different story ;] Oh, how I miss Africa and all the people I got soooo close to.... I can NOT wait for more opportunities in my life to start flashing before my eyes. Bring.It.On. :D

africa...

i miss this place.

come and make my heart your home

okay so last time i blogged i was freaking out about my testimony about africa that i was sharing last sunday. well lets just say, it went exactly opposite of how i planned. i thought that pastor tom was going to be asking me questions and that didnt happen. which im totally okay with now. at the time i was freaking out in my head of what in the world im going to say. dont get me wrong, i definitely had bullet point parts of the trip that changed my life that i was going to share, but i literally felt like i was going to die once i started talking. everything felt like it was all over the place and not making any sense at all, the point that i wanted to share just wasnt coming across the way i wanted it to. BUT God has bigger plans than i do apparently. even though i really cant tell you what i said during that time, many people came up to me thanking me and saying that i did good. BELIEVE ME i did not think that i did good at all. (i was so embarrassed that when i sat back down i started crying... right in the middle of church. WHO DOES THAT?! i dont even cry that much! it was ridiculous i tell ya! lol) haha i guess i was just overwhelmed. ANYWAY... this sunday lauren and i are sharing about our trip after church. like what we did there and stuff. were going to go into more detail and such. we have to make a powerpoint (that we havnt started yet) lauren is in NY right now so we will get everything done when she gets back. no worries, ive started a little bit of it. ALSO. im getting baptized sunday night. BIG THING. i really feel God nudging on my heart to do this, its time. my life has changed so so much during my trip to africa, and i literally feel born again in my faith. Praise DA Lord ;] anyway tootals! more to come...

africa testimony

hey everyone. katie once again to write about what is on my mind! (everyone runs away) but right now what is really on my heart is that i am sharing my testimony about my trip to africa this sunday at church. in front of the whole church. everyone. and to tell ya the honest truth, kinda freaking out on the inside. sure sure, i only get what, FIVE minutes? but thats a long time! (trust me i know... i took speech class last year!) but then again when i think about it, its not near long enough to share how and why my trip changed me. like. what in the world can i say to make the people listening even try to grasp everything there is to grasp? so i have been praying like crazy and trying to dig in my Bible to find something to cling onto to get through this the way God is intending it. but then again. WHY am i worrying about it? God is going to give me the words to say, the right words for the people to somewhat grasp the true heartbreak and love that i experienced, and its kind of exciting. just going with the flow. SURE SURE, dont get me wrong, i have some bullet points on where im going to focus in on, but for the most part im just going to speak what is on my heart and let that hopefully touch the lives of the people listening. i pray that the church hears my testimony and wants to make a difference in the same eagerness that i do. i want to help be the change in the world that i want to see, and hopefully (with God speaking through me) others will want to take action and help be the change too.

¹⁵When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon son of John, do you truly love me more than these?"
"Yes, Lord," he said, "you know that I love you."
Jesus said, "Feed my lambs."

¹⁶Again Jesus said, "Simon son of John, do you truly love me?"
He answered, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love you."
Jesus said, "Take care of my sheep."

¹⁷ The third time he said to him, "Simon son of John, do you love me?"
Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, "Do you love me?" He said, "Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you."

Jesus said, "Feed my sheep. ¹⁸ I tell you the truth, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go." ¹⁹Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, "Follow me!"

John 21:15-19

how He loves.

Hey guys. Katie here. IM HOME FROM AFRICA! even though i didnt want to leave at all, once i got on the plane home, the ride there couldnt have gone any slower. i was so ready to get home and see my family (which before this trip i didnt really think i would miss them to tell you the honest truth) during my trip to Africa i thought about my family a LOT. i cant even begin to describe my experience there but to say that i am incredibly blessed. just the fact that i can go to my fridge and get something to eat whenever i want? yeah im never complaining about not having "any food" again. im not going to get into much detail about my trip on here cause i would much rather you just ask me about it rather than typing it all out. so seriously. stop me and ask me about it. i would absolutely LOVE to tell you everything about it and all that i learned. my life has truly changed, and im SO excited to see what God has in store for me!! :]