The Body of Christ

Here's the group of people I was able to spend an entire week with. These people truly personify the body of Christ. I have amazing brothers and sisters. But more importantly, I have an amazing God.

photo credit to Dr. Nisius

Love,

Katie :)

That Dreaded Word

                                                    Source: jojolete.tumblr.com via My Upside on Pinterest

There's this word you see. This word that I dread saying more than anything else. That one word that I put off saying for as long as I can. Yes, you can butter it up or try and make it as happy as possible, but you can't take away that sorrowful connotation. Some of you may have already figured it out.
Goodbye.
We've all heard that saying, "It's not goodbye, it's see ya later." But does that take away any of the hurt that goes along with that? If you're anything like me, it seems to just hide the pain that we all really feel. Just a mask for the hurt and the sorrow we amplify by giving that final hug and waving that last farewell.
I had to do that today. I had dreaded this goodbye all summer. I put it off anytime I thought of it. Busyness kept it off my mind for sometime. This past week was quite a bit calmer and left me plenty of time to think. It wasn't a bad thing necessarily, but those adios's replayed over and over in my brain. I questioned why I had to be the one left behind. Yes, I know God has a perfect plan. Thank goodness for His promises never to forsake us. But oh the thought of loneliness threatened to overtake a thousand times over.
Believe me, that goodbye seemed to almost kill me. One of my best friends for over 14 years is leaving for college. I know we'll always be close friends and sisters due to our bond in Christ. But no more spontaneous Starbucks runs, no more stupid impulse shopping trips, no more just hanging out to watch movies and paint our nails. I'll be driving over to bug her all the time. She'll be so annoyed with me.
And this isn't the only goodbye. Three other of my dearest friends are leaving. Two to begin their sophomore years at college and another to serve for 9 months in a foreign country. I love these girls. I would do anything for them and I have done everything with them. These are my dear sisters in Christ who have been there for me countless times. Girls who I trust and love with all my heart.
Thank goodness for Sundays. The text preached just yesterday included this verse that I shall hold near and dear to my heart as I struggle to make this adjustment: "And behold, I am with you always to the end of the age." Matthew 28:30b. The LORD is with me to the end of the age. What better promise could I ask for to cling to? Praise God I have an amazing family and good friends to keep me company. I am blessed with a church who seeks God in everything they do and strives to reach out to every person in attendance.
In just a week's time, I'll be with my wonderful CollegePlus! friends who are diligent seekers of our great God. It will be a time of refreshment and encouragement that will be much needed and met with gratefulness.
God is good. Change is hard, but God remains the same through it all.

My "niece"

My family had a precious little visitor at our house last Friday. Brielle Nix is perhaps the cutest baby EVER. I'm maybe a little biased since her mommy is one of my bestest big sisters. But you'd have to be blind not to admit she's adorable in every sense of the word :)

Here's a post showing off sweet Brielle's facial expressions as she celebrated being five weeks old!

Love,

Katie :)

A Wedding and Good Friends

(photo credit to Jason Manion)

Elijah and Megan Lofgren.

The wedding of Mr. and Mrs. Lofgren was absolutely beautiful.

I cried.

The love that those two have for each other is incredible.

But even though their love as husband and wife is mind boggling, they love the LORD their God way beyond that.

That's what made their wedding that much more special and wonderful.

Megan is a great big sister to me and I simply adore her.

(photography credit to Jason Manion)
there was a joke after Megan and I hugged for the first time after her wedding that we hugged longer than Megan and Elijah's first kiss....yeah :P

(photography credit to Amanda Bridger)

Since Megan is sister to Robbie, who is a CollegePlus student, it naturally attracted lots of CP students.

Some I had met before...

(photo credit to Amanda Bridger)

(photo credit to Amanda Bridger)

(photo credit to whoever had Amanda Bridger's camera)

(photo credit to Jason Manion)

(photo credit to Jason Manion)

(photo credit to Jason Manion)

 And I got to meet some new friends too....

(photo credit to Amanda Bridger)
Marie was the person I was most excited to meet :D
She surprised me and it was AMAZING!

(photo credit to Amanda Bridger)
Emily Kunkel (Robbie and Megan's sister)
she's wonderful :D

(photo credit to Jason Manion)
Joey's a hoot :D he was my buddy

(photo credit to whoever had Jason Manion's camera)
Minion and John :D

We had an all around good time :D

I LOVE my friends so much!

(photo credit to Amanda Bridger)

(photo credit to Amanda Bridger)

(photo credit to Amanda Bridger)
BUBBLE FIGHT

(photo credit to Amanda Bridger)

(photo credit to Jason Manion)

(photo credit to Jason Manion)

(photo credit to Jason Manion)

(photo credit to Jason Manion)
"do it again!"

(photo credit to Jason Manion)
two peas in a pod right there

(photo credit to Jason Manion)

(photo credit to Jason Manion)

(photo credit to Jason Manion)

(photo credit to whoever had Amanda Bridger's camera)

The wedding was an overall success :D

Congratulations to the wonderful couple of Elijah and Megan Lofgren.

Love,

Katie :)

Say Cheese!

Lissie inspired me to post some random pictures because it's fun and easy and it keeps the blog alive.
This will probably be my last post before I leave for Africa on SUNDAY!!

How bout some pics of my crazy awesome siblings?!

Peaches is such a drama queen!

Eddie Joe has always got a smile!!!

T-bird, such a beast over there.

Bring out that smolder, Rye Bread.

There are no words to describe the coolness of The Big Fella

I LOVE MY PUPPY!!!!!

We have WAY too many of these at our house.

Miss Squishalicious was helping us pack for our big trip!

....melting....

Uh yeah....I have studly muffin bruthas.

The weather has been all over the place lately....

I miss my two older CP sisters!! (India (l) and Manda (r) )

My CP sister Melody who I miss TERRIBLY!

And my crazy awesome CP bruthas Josh (l) and Robbie (r) and my adopted CP daughter BEKA!!

Love,
Katie :)

A Little Catching Up

It's so hard to watch blogging fall farther and farther behind.
Ah well, such is life I suppose.
Sometime soon here I'm hoping to be able to write a nice long detailed post. :)

Here's a cool video to keep you company in my absence ;)
(and yes I do realize Christmas is over....is there a rule about when you're supposed to STOP?)



Some little tidbits of news you might enjoy:
- I got my little sister hooked on Hannah Montana.
- I got two Christmas items in the mail yesterday: one from Alaska and one from Ohio. Both of them were from dear CollegePlus! sisters.
- Last night, one of my wonderful "older sisters" got ENGAGED!!!! I'm so excited for the happy couple :D :D :D
- Spending a lot of time with my family recently has shown just how hilarious each member really is.

Happy Wednesday!!

Love,
Katie :)