Wiping the dust off the blog...

It's been a long time!

Here's. rundown on what's going on in my life:

I'm currently engaged to the most amazing man I know, Brett. We are getting married on August 3rd. That's 16 days away, folks!!

My niece is almost 2. She's as awesome as the day she was born. 

I'm graduating from UWA in December (as is Brett).

This weekend Daddy and I are planning to move a lot of stuff into the house we're renting through December. Nothing has been packed yet...

I'm almost done with my online summer class. 

I'm done with work for the summer. 

The wedding is almost here, but there are still plenty of small things to do! 

Alright... That's the quick and dirty. Hopefully there will be a lot more posts to come!

Love,

Katie

Brett's favorite engagement pic:)

Strip Me Away

God, please just strip me away and make me disappear. 
This lonely feeling is something I can't bear.
The anger that keeps me away,
So far away from your love...
It eats me up inside until I burst.
To most I'm ok- that cute, happy girl who can't be hurt.
But now, oh God
I'm hurting more than words.
This pain is real... But it's almost nonexistent.
Satan is waging a war for my soul,
And he's coming close to winning.
Because I'm giving up hope, God.
I need your intervention.
God, strip me away,
Take all of me that's lonely and afraid.
Replace all of it with a warrior,
Someone who can fight with strength and courage.
Make me strong again so I can wage war for you,
Go out and win battles.
Because right now, oh God,
All I can do is surrender.
Please God,
Strip me away...
And make me whole again. 

Perfection in Real Time

My niece Sophia Grace was born last Saturday at 11:07 AM. She weighed 8 lbs, 5 oz and was 21 inches long. I was there in the waiting room when she came. Watched her get a bath in the nursery. Held her a few hours after birth.... And cried. Oooed and awed over her. Talked to her about how she'll always be able to rely on me. And most importantly I told her about Christ.
Yeah, she was asleep. Yeah, she was barely out of the womb. But hey, we gotta start soon with our young 'uns, right? One day, I pray that she will accept Christ as her personal Savior.
On another note, Sophie is the most perfect being ever!! It used to seem lame how people would coo over babies and proclaim their perfection... Turns out that when you're related to the tiny one, he or she truly is perfect. So yes, I gladly proclaim her beauty and perfection to anyone who asks about her (and to those who don't ask!)
It's quite amazing to see how God works... Such a tiny little person who is utterly reliant on Mommy and Daddy will one day grow up to make her own decisions. One day she will be having a little one. It's a lot to think about if one let's their mind wander.

Pondering our Father's Amazingness...
KT

Impatiently Waiting

Well...
It's just past midnight: officially Thursday September 8th. My niece was due 3 days ago (Labor Day). For some reason, little S is determined to stay warm in her Mommy's womb. My poor sister-in-law. I mean, I've been telling everyone that S is due this week, but A is the one who's been pregnant for 9 months! This is she and my older brother (M) 's first child. A is my age and M is 2 years older. Can you imagine what they both must be going through right now??
Personally, I'm just the aunt-to-be and I can't sleep. Instead, things keep getting added to my quick get-away bag. Books and homework have been put in my M/W/F backpack. The camera battery is charged. The GPS is ready to go. The only thing I haven't done is study. Yeah, there's a microbiology test Friday. But little S has got her aunt all amped up and unable to focus! Well, that's the excuse for now... 

This is the part where I should pray, right? Well, here goes:

Heavenly Father, you have absolute control over this entire situation. You are Lord over all. Please bring S safely into this world. She is very comfortable in her Mommy's tummy, but she can't stay there forever. A and M are young; they constantly need your loving guidance. Father, please help them to raise our sweet little S in your ways. Lord, she is SO loved and hasn't even made an appearance yet. I pray that we love her always and raise her to love you and follow your ways. As for school... God, please kick my butt into gear and make me learn this stuff! Especially in microbiology. Gracious Father, you are Lord over everything. You have control and I give my worry up to you right now! Thank you for your never-ending love. You are so majestic and the earth displays your creativity and intelligence. Soon, my beautiful niece will mirror your design. I love you Father God. Amen.

Wannabe...

I want to be brilliant.


Not just smart.
Not just knowledgeable,
Not just a book-lover.
Not just cute.
Not just weird.
Not just easily entertained.
Not easily fooled.


I mean, I want to be a bright young woman who exemplifies Christ in everything. And I want to be super smart, make people laugh, love my work and enjoy the people I work with. I want to run just for fun, to love my body, to look in the mirror and say, "This is the life!". I want to be so smart and able to apply that knowledge into useful problem solving and abundant people skills.


Please tell me that one day I'll get there... Being called "brilliant" will be the best compliment anyone could ever give me.


Oh... And I wanna be humble about it too...


Now back out of la-la land I go.
Love always,
KT

Heart Wrenching...

I took my beautiful pup, Rusty (5 YO), to the vet today. We were really going to get his dew claw (the one that looks like it could be his thumb) checked out because he snagged it on a blanket Tuesday night and it's been bothering him. He also needed his shots updated, so of course that was taken care of.

However... I found out today that he has heartworms... The young vet kindly but sternly told me the course of treatment recommended in addition to the adverse effects if Rusty goes untreated. She also told me how much it's going to cost: a lot. Now don't get me wrong, I'm not saying that his life's not worth it! I plan to use whatever I can to get my precious boy taken care of.

I just feel so... helpless! There's nothing I can do now but give him his medicine (he's on antibiotics from the claw and a powder for intestinal worms) and make sure he gets the treatments (preventative heartworm pills then an overnight stay at the clinic to kill the adult worms in his heart). Now every time I look at Rusty I have this image of nasty worms in his tiny heart... Stopping up arteries and slowly choking him to death.

Obviously, I have to pay for the treatments (2 separate visits-- 1 for a day, the other is the overnight stay). That doesn't bother me-- yeah, there will be constraints and I may not be able to go out and buy some clothes or spend the money eating out, but that doesn't matter! I need him to be healthy and happy. He needs his heart to be healthy so he can do what he enjoys most: running around our 15 acres, chasing tennis balls, and dipping in the pond to cool off. I just hate that when I look at him how worried I get.. But at least I'll be here this summer to be beside him through the process. Right now I feel like an awful parent who could've prevented all this (hearworm pills do just that) but we couldn't afford to take him to the vet, and I honestly didn't know how bad this could be... 

So, if you're reading this, please pray for Rusty. And please pray for my family. The treatments and care will be hard for him and us. He's a young, active dog and deserves the best care imaginable. He's my heart and my joy... 


Because He watches over even the sparrows.
KT

You know who I mean...

That person...
Yup, I bet a lot of people have one. A certain someone who you just don't know how to define. You like each other but for various reasons it will just never work. It's the sad truth.

And it may not be a romantic thing either. You could have a friend who comes and goes from your life.

To all those people who have a person, I'm praying for you. Maybe one day things will work out and you'll both meet in the middle. Probably not though. Because if God's will isn't in it, I doubt he'd let it happen.

So stay strong and keep doing your thing. Love on that person who swings like a pendulum back and forth into your life, because he/she is easy to love and you care for him/her. Just know that you could get hurt and try not to set yourself up for failure. But keep loving and persevering because there's a reason for your person.