Author Archives: Katie

>The "I’ve peaked, and I’m kidding myself" Party

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>My 10th high school reunion was last night. WHEW!

The planning nearly killed me at times, but last night ended up going really well. We had well over 100 people there, and I think they all had a great time. We had a money shortage, but everyone was AWESOME about throwing cash into the donation basket to help out. We’re still about $150 short, but that’s WAY better than $600.

This was my first reunion, so I wasn’t sure what to expect. I feel like I have changed so much since high school, so I guess I assumed a lot of other people would have too. I was so wrong! From what I could tell, everyone is still basically the same. The jerks were jerks. The nerds were nerds. The pretty girls were still pretty…prettier actually. (Am I really the only one who has gained wait since high school??? SERIOUSLY!)

I actually found that I didn’t really fit in with many people anymore. A couple of my band friends were there, and they are good friends I have kept in touch with over the years. Other than those folks, I had a hard time feeling like I was connecting with anyone. People were really nice, appreciative for the planning I had done, and they feigned the expected interest in my life (Married? Kids? Job?). We reminisced about high school (middle school even!), laughed about the stupid things we had seen each other do, etc. I still felt like a stranger. It was weird.

It has been ten years…ten long, life-changing, interesting years.

(Fun blog connection: my classmate’s wife came up to me last night to let me know she reads my blog and even asked about how Buster was doing! Isn’t that funny? If you’re still reading, Melissa: It was great to meet you last night!)

>Seeking His Face…

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>We were in Texas last week with our youth group. We took 14 teenagers to a small town named Carthage (just 2 hours east of Dallas) to do ministry in any way we could. We shoveled rocks in 103 degree heat. We helped host a kids Day Camp at a church in town. We played bingo with people at a nursing home. We painted shelves for a day care. We loved and cared for the people in that town the best way we knew how.

We were hosted by a group called YouthWorks. This group does an AMAZING job at organizing mission trips for groups just like us. If you are wanting to take a group on a mission trip, you should check them out.

At night, after we had worked hard all day, we gathered for “Club” where we thanked God for what he had done in our lives that day, worshipped in song, listened to a lesson, etc. Afterwards we would have time with our church groups for some more discussion, prayer, etc. Each night our group wanted to sing some songs. Thankfully our friend Jeremy brought his guitar, and he was able to lead us in some great songs. One of my favorites we sang last week is this one, “Give Us Clean Hands” by Chris Tomlin…

Thursday night was our last in Texas. At Club time, the YouthWorks staff had arranged a foot washing service. The staff washed the feet of the adult leaders, then we got to turn around and wash the feet of our kids and pray for them individually. Matt and I were washing kids feet, praying for them, etc. when we noticed a commotion going on around us. We turned around to find our kids praying for each other. These kids were gathering around each other (and us), laying hands on each other, praying for each other like we have never seen before. They were all crying, all speaking words of truth to each other…and they knew that Jesus was there. They knew it! It was like a mini-revival just for our group. There they were, seeking God’s face, just like we had sung.

That night was such an answer to prayer! This year has not been easy for me and Matt, and there have been times when I have wanted to call it quits. That night made all of that pain and frustration worth it. After everything was coming to an end that night, I just collapsed on Matt’s shoulder and sobbed. Thank you Jesus…this is so worth it.

>Not If…only WHEN

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>I got an e-mail from an old SIFAT friend of mine this morning. We had lost touch for a couple years, but we’ve recently reconnected. Here is his e-mail:

“Not if, only WHEN.”

The exact words the Lord laid on my heart today when I was praying, words He told me to share with the ones I prayed for.

I know we haven’t had much chance to talk yet about a lot of things since we’ve reconnected, but you should know Karen and I have been praying diligently for you both in the matter of having a child, and today was one of those blessed Holy Spirit moments when God’s voice rings crystal clear. Just thought you might want to know. 🙂 Hang in there, both of you…the plan is always His.

Seth

Once again, God has my attention!

We didn’t really talk with Seth about our baby situation. He knows what you all know from reading this blog. He doesn’t know that over the past year, I had changed my language from “When we have kids…” to “If we have kids…” because of the hopelessness and doubt I have felt. I have been trying to be intentional about saying “When” lately, because we have received a lot of neat encouragement from God through other people. Dreams are being had, prayers are being said, and hopes are being realized again. I am so blown away that people would even pray for us, but even more so that God would speak to us through these friends of ours.

God’s words for us today are an encouraging command to TRUST that He has our family in His hands. It’s not up to us to know when this promise will come to fruition. It’s only up to us to trust God, place hope and faith in Him, and live in Him as we continue to dream. Our hope is being restored…

Thank you Lord for this awesome word today! It’s starting to sink in that we WILL have a family. We WILL be given the opportunity to raise up children in your name. Awesome!