MALIBUUUUYAAAA!

BEST MONTH EVER. Seriously though, it was one of those months where you just feel the JOY of life in Christ every moment of every day. The people were too awesome. So many are from WA, which is so great and of course, my favorite southerners! We just had a blast.  I was on the Harbour team working on the Outer Dock helping kids get destroyed on the caribe. It was great. The campers were so full of life and I was blessed to get to know a few of them and their stories and then to be able to pray for them throughout the week. Hundreds of campers joined the family of Christ and I got to watch it all unfold! I don’t even think I realized how cool that was until I just wrote that down. God taught me a lot throughout my time there; I need to learn how to experience God through thankfulness in my joy, I need to be content where I am, and I am worth everything to HIM! (Even those freaking big, beautiful mountains I got to stare at every day!!!) We had adventures on a yacht, at Chatterbox Falls, Beyond Malibu, WAKEBOARDING (I mean cleaning the blob), on the caribe, and under the blanket of stars and giant moon. One day we got to go to the Goff’s home around the corner from Malibu and be blessed by Bob’s stories and encouragement to make our own. Leaving there I realized there are some things that I just need to go for, be bold for, and trust God with the rest. One night we had an all camp worship and I got to dance on a table with my dear friend Kelsie singing praise to our BIG, RIGHTEOUS Father and I felt for the first time in a long time that ultimate freedom we are offered through Christ. I mean come on guys, what more could we want!? So coming home was a bit of an adjustment to say the least. To leave a place that kind of resembles what I imagine HEAVEN to be like and step out into the disgusting Phoenix weather and see nice cars, women dressed in their underwear, and everyone looking so hopeless was hard. Then I drove home with my mom and came back to a family that loves me so much and even better loves the Lord! I felt so overwhelmed again with the love of God and how much He wants to give us FULL LIFE! My dad and I had a great talk last night and we got to watch the sunset and remember together how we have been blessed by God and that the reason for our hope in making things new and better is Jesus. We sat there until the stars were covering us. It was from the Lord. No other way to say it. Also, I got to talk to my roommate from last year and my roommate for this year in the same day, which just got me so stoked for Whitworth. Kelsie is flying down here and we are road tripping to school together! I can’t even wait because we get to spend like four straight days together and I get to see Hannah Berve, my mom gets to see Kappy, and then Sara Collette, and then Gig Harbor friends, and just so much JOY! Life is good. Even when it is not though I remember that God is. He is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. So I can’t wait to jump into this next part of His story and see where He takes us all.

A Week of Lovely people

Just as I predicted…this summer has ben full of days not worthy of writing about. Until last week that is! My brother married a beautiful, smart, and kind girl who I am glad to call my friend. Alongside my oldest brother's wedding, it was one of the best days of my life. I think it was the first time I truly understood the feeling of being proud of someone…you know the type of "Oh honey I am so proud of you" you get from mom and dad when you manage to graduate kindergarden. As I stood in front of all of our closest friends and family (and cried for the entire ceremony) God seemed to let me in on a hint of that emotion He must feel when He sees us do something according to His plan. And I think that is just what Scott and Grace have done. They have chosen to listen to what God has for them in their individual lives which has led them to the relationship I believe God has always had waiting for them. On a run today with my friend Hannah she put it very wisely. She said something like, "I don't know if I believe there is just one person for everyone. Sometimes I think I should be doing something about finding that person. But then I remember to stop looking around and trust God with my life. If God wants to put my life with someone else's…ok." I have admired my brother's patience for the last four years as he dated Grace and remained faithful to her and God to wait and see if God would ultimately bring them together. So, when they finally were pronounced husband and wife (after an impromptu Happy Birthday from the guests to mom) it was as if God was saying, "You have both waited and trusted me and included me in your relationship. Good job. Now go be married." Now, enough of all the emotional stuff. Everything at the wedding was perfect; of course, the most fun part being the dancing. EVERYONE DANCED! for hours. And that was to be expected after a week of bachelor and bachelorette parties, eternal Juniper Street block party, an unforgettable rehearsal dinner party, and a wedding day of preparation. All the fun had been building up and climaxed on the dance floor. Oh, and I forgot to mention the day that was clearly a gift from God. Somehow, we got to have a day of mom, dad, Joe, Scott, and me together without anyone else around. I can't remember the last time that happened and it was so much fun bouldering, working, and eating together all day! Anyways, I was so blessed by seeing the way everyone in the bridal party loved my brother and sister-in-law and the way they took time to love all of us back. Not to mention the way the Irwin family has made mine feel completely a part of theirs. The next day, after everybody had left, our house felt strangely empty. It was ok though because we got to see Scott and Grace again Tuesday night to open gifts which was really fun! Just another of many family celebrations to come. They are living the life in Costa Rica right now and I can't wait for them to get home. All to say, I love my brother. And all this wedding stuff really got to me…Hannah, Aubrey, and I just had to watch Pride and Prejudice the next night and make lists of predicted bridesmaids…but we definitely didn't make lists of what we want our husband to be like…or did we?

Arraigar y crecer

Me llamo Kate. Pensaba de escribir este blog en español pero realicé que yo no conozco nadie que hable español. For those that didn't put that into google translate I basically said that I wanted to try writing this in Spanish but nobody really knows Spanish that I think might ever read this so...for you I shall write in English. As of right now there is nothing too exciting to write about because the season of summer has swallowed my life in every way, including not leaving the house for inappropriate amounts of time. However, I am hoping that I can use this blog to write about the many adventures I have coming in the future starting with my brother's wedding in three weeks, then on to Malibu for summer staff, round two at Whitworth, a month at a "monastery", and a semester in Costa Rica! In between, I hope to write about the ordinary things I find worth giving appreciation to through my thoughts and reflection. Who knows what that might be!? My only regret is not starting this before the scary and oh-so-rewarding Freshman year at Whitworth so there might be a couple posts reminiscing the glory days. Also, I apologize in advance if you get sucked into reading something that you find to be a complete waste of time. These silly blogs will get the best of us. Now, I need to go because my lips are chapped.