Finally Home

I'm gonna wrap my arms around my daddy's neck and tell him that I've missed him and tell him all about the man that i became and hope that it pleased him there's so much i want to say  there's so much i want you to know. 

  [chorus]  When i finally make it home when i finally make it home. 

  Then I'll gaze upon the throne of the King frozen in my steps and all the questions that i  swore i would ask words just won't come yet so amazed at what I've seen so much more than this old mind can hold. [back to chorus] 

  And the sweetest sound my ears have yet to hear voices on angels. [back to chorus]

Love...

Why is it that you find your friends that are in love...and you have yet to find even an inkling of someone special?? 

 

I've been watching the Bachelor this season with Jason and Ty (his son). Personally I think the idea is neat...but I'm not sure if I would have the guts to go on that show and "fall in love" in what? 9 weeks? I do understand that some people do find love that way and in other ways like online dating and I respect that. I do. 

 

I have recently deleted my subscription to all of my online dating sites, which were mostly Christian--just so you know. My friend, Lindsey, gave me some much needed perspective and told me that I probably shouldn't be on there. She told me that if God wanted me to meet someone, He would bring him to me. And I should believe her. I do believe her. I want to believe her. So I deleted all of my sites except Facebook and Myspace, because I don't use those for dating. 

 

I talk to friends who are in relationships and if they've been dating for a while and are thinking about marriage, they say, sometimes, that "I'm not ready"...or "I can't wait". But why wouldn't you want to be married and live a life with someone who you love and want to be with? And where, for that matter, do I find this, so called, man? I feel like the only places that I will meet him will be at church, any kind of store, or friends...and a couple of these options don't sound very promising as of right now. 

 

*sigh* Am I being stupid about this? Everyone wants to find that one person that they will spend the rest of their life with, right? So, naturally, I'm wanting the same thing. 

 

So when I talk about this, I feel so bad because I should be focusing on our Lord as my best friend and the Lover of my soul. I just don't know. urgh. 

 

That is my rant. 

 

-katie

PICS!! :D

YES...i did REALLY take ALL these pics! :)

 

let me know what you all think!!!

 

-katie

Possible Profession?

So, I'm really into photography right now. I absolutely love it...and here is a sample for your viewing pleasure.

Jackson, Graham, and Cate Willis.  they are so fun to shoot! 

 

I'll post some more photography pics soon! :)

 

hope y'all have a great week!!

-katie

I'll always keep asking why...

I'm mad. I'm mad because my dad isn't here. He's missed so many big events in my life since February 2, 2006. He missed me turning 18, 19, and 20 (so far). He missed me graduating high school. He missed me going to college and dropping out. He's missed the privilege of being the father of a (then) teenaged girl. He's missed the fun of interrogating the boyfriends/dates. He's missed 3 Father's Days, so far. He's missed Mom turning 50. 

 

There have been so many times that I wish I could talk to him. So many times that I could talk to him about college, friends, family, God, life, and guys. I wish I could just lay my head on his chest, listen to his heartbeat, and feel safe. I miss his smell--he used to smell like Irish Spring soap and Old Spice deodorant. 

  

But what sense does it make that a seemingly healthy man could fall and nearly shatter his knee and end up dead three weeks later???

Matthew 11:28-30

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened,

and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me,

for I am gentle and humble in heart,

and you will find rest for your souls.

For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."

Matthew 1:23

Merry Christmas!! I hope you are all having a wonderful time this morning!!

 

Last night, I was so overwhelmed by the Lord...He just calmed my spirit and I could feel His love all around me. It makes me soo happy when He does that! 

 

I hope you all have the merriest of Christmases!!

  

Let me know your favorite Christmas memories and traditions!!

 

In Christ,

Katie

finally

UPDATE:::::so Todd was wrong--his name is Spencer Vinsant Kelley and he is absolutely BEAUTIFULLL!! too bad i don't have pics :( So we have a new addition to our Calvary staff family! Baby Spencer Ryan Kelley is here!! He was born today a little before 4! I just cannot wait to see him!! Emily, Avery, and I are going to see him, Jonathan, and Lauren tomorrow around 3:30!! :) God is amazing!! :) love you all, katie

Joy and Visions

Let's start with visions. 

 

I was sitting here reading my cousin's blog--kinda starting from the beginning and working my way toward the present. Well I never made it to the present. I ran across the post from when my dad passed and it was very funny and sweet. I kind of let my mind wander while I stared at the computer screen. I've been struggling with the idea and the execution of joy. So, in letting my mind wander, I feel like God put a vision in my head. I had a vision of what leaving this Earth and going to Heaven would be like. In my vision, I was dead and in Heaven and all that I could focus on was seeing the Lord and all of my family and friends who were waiting for me to join them. I wasn't thinking about who I had left behind and how much pain they were in. I could see my dad and he was such a beautiful sight. He was perfect. I could see his huge smile that I miss so much, that I see every time I look in the mirror. This vision made me miss him even more but I know, deep in my heart, that I will see him again one day. I've never wanted to go to Heaven more than I do right now. I've heard that the people who are deepest in their walk with Christ want to go to Heaven more than anything in the entire world. My great aunt Madge was exactly that way. She loved God so much--every time I saw her, she would say something about how she couldn't wait to be with her God and Julian (her late husband). 

 

This weekend has really opened my eyes to finding real joy in my everyday life. I can't think of a better person or idea to put my trust and hope in (which I've also had trouble with lately). We had a Youth Girls' Retreat and joy was the topic--just what I needed to hear. 

 

"The LORD is my strength and my shield;

my heart trusts in Him, and I am helped.

My heart leaps for joy and

I will give thanks to Him in song."

Psalm 28:7

 

"Restore to me the joy of your salvation

and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me."

Psalm 51:12

 

"Be joyful in hope,

patient in affliction,

faithful in prayer."

Romans 12:12

 

"May the God of hope

fill you with all joy and peace

as you trust in Him,

so that you may overflow with hope

in the power of the Holy Spirit."

Romans 15:13

 

I'm going to try to go to sleep now--1:13 am. doesn't agree with me

-katie

the start of something new

I'm starting this Beth Moore Bible Study and I'm rather excited about it. It's called "Breaking Free: Making Liberty in Christ a Reality in Life"

 

So far, Beth has challenged us to memorize a verse: Galatians 5:1 which says, "It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery." (no i didn't do that from memory :[ )

 

Lately I've been feeling trapped by life and thoughts and such. I've just need to get rid of all of the negativity in my life. I realized, after talking with two of my mentors, that Satan was trapping me so that I could not be joyful in Christ. 

 

I love those mentors to death--they keep me sane! Haha! 

They are such inspirations for the Lord. They humble me in such a way that I feel that the Lord is doing it Himself. They are completely devoted--in everyway--to our God. I absolutely love the way I feel when I talk to them. There's a peace (that passes all understanding) that comes over me and I know and feel like everything is going to be okay. How do they do that?? I definitely want to be able to do that when the younger generations come to me and ask me what advice I can pass on. I want to help them just as these women of God help me everyday. I don't even have to talk to them on a daily basis and I feel their words helping me (yes, i know that God's speaking through them). 

 

Who's heard the song by Mandisa (i love her!!) called "God Speaking"? absolutely incredible lyrics. They are below:

 

Have you ever heard a love song that Set your spirit free Have you ever watched a sunrise and Felt you could not breathe What if it's Him What if it's God speaking Have you ever cried a tear that You could not explain Have you ever met a stranger Who already knew your name What if it's Him What if it's God speaking Who knows how He'll get a hold of us Get our attention to prove He is enough He'll do and He'll use Whatever He wants to To tell us "I love you" Have you ever lost a loved one Who you thought should still be here Do you know what it feels like To be tangled up in fear What if He's somehow involved What if He's speaking through it all Who knows how He'll get a hold of us Get our attention to prove He is enough He'll do and He'll use Whatever He wants to To tell us "I love you" His ways are higher His ways are better Though sometimes strange What could be stranger Than God in a manger Who knows how He'll get a hold of us Get our attention to prove He is enough Who knows how He'll get a hold of you Get your attention to prove He is enough He'll do and He'll use Whatever He wants to To tell us "I love you" God is speaking "I love you"

 

 

 

 

I LOVE this song--listen to it sometimes. It is just so powerful!

love to all,

katie