Yeah

Miracles Happen...

2008-07-13T19:01:00.001-07:00

I love my Roommates!!!

2008-02-09T12:52:00.000-08:00

New Roommate

2008-01-20T14:12:00.001-08:00

I'd like to introduce you all to the newest member of my farmhouse family....none other than Carsen Gray! 10 days...WooHoo!

Peek-A-Boo with Pa Pa

2008-01-10T17:11:00.001-08:00

Kersten and I spent the day with good old Pa Pa Peace. First we played peek-a-boo on the way to the mall...

Then Pa Pa drank a ton of "Glo".Pa Pa drove a taxi around town. He's a stud.
He was so excited about hanging out with Kersten and I that he peed! (Probably from the ocean of water he drank...)

Not too happy when I changed him.

After all of the excitement, Pa Pa was tuckered out.

23

2008-01-01T19:45:00.000-08:00

So, yesterday was my 23rd birthday. 22 seemed a little old, but the year flew by. Now that I'm already 23, the realization that years are going to start flying by is a little bit scary. (This photo demonstrates how I feel about that).

Thank you Jamie, Kersten, Adam, Brandi, Jeff, and Forest for a great birthday.

Happy New Year everyone!

Santa's House

2007-12-24T19:07:00.000-08:00

I love hot cocoa and snow. I love sledding and Christmas carols. I love when I can see my breath outside and snowball fights. I also love going to visit Santa with my friends.

Santa Baby

2007-12-15T11:17:00.000-08:00

10 days until I get to see this fabulous chunker butt!

Junior

2007-12-12T12:05:00.000-08:00

This is what cool looks like.

Birthdays, Boochie, and Tattoos

2007-12-03T23:00:00.000-08:00

Some kids buy their mom's jewelry for her birthday...I bought mine a tattoo. =) My mom's birthday was the day before Aaron died. So for her birthday and to mark the one year anniversery of my brother hanging out with Jesus in Heaven, Derek and I bought mom this special gift. To be honest, I can't believe that she actually did it! These pictures were taken by Derek's girlfriend, Jaclyn (www.jaclynmichele.com).

Boochie, we miss you!

Say Cheese

2007-11-29T17:27:00.000-08:00

Lovely Girls

2007-11-17T09:18:00.000-08:00

Haitian Roomies

2007-11-16T12:46:00.000-08:00

Ang and Carsen...I miss you!

Flat Mal

2007-11-13T17:36:00.000-08:00

Meet Flat Mal. She was born last week in Haiti and quickly became great friends with Carsen, Angela, and myself. She was always there... helping in the clinic, playing with the kids, and even taking care of some personal issues. I surely miss her.

Katie in Haiti

2007-11-05T19:12:00.000-08:00

I love it. A lot. Even the pee.
Photos will be up when I get home.
And they will be fabulous.

Simple Mathematics

2007-11-02T18:24:00.000-07:00

These

plus

These

Equal

One Happy Katie

365 Days

2007-10-27T23:47:00.001-07:00

One year ago, you were here...well barely. Jesus held out his hand, you smiled, and then went with him. I was so proud of you in that moment, Aaron. You ran the race and came out winning the ultimate prize. I'll never forget when that 6 letter "C word" snuck into our lives and changed them forever. You were always so strong, and you know, I just didn't get how you could do it. The 19 years that I got to have you in my life is worth more than almost anything to me. It's worth the pain of missing you now. Sometimes I shut my eyes and try to will myself back to that place of pulling you on that little black sled we had while the snow was coming down, or you asking me if you could sleep in my bed because you were scared of the dark when you were little. After you went to Heaven, I just couldn't imagine living my life without you. Now it's been a year, and I still can't imagine living my life without you. I can't believe it's been over a year since I've looked into your blue eyes, held your pale, bony little hand, or rubbed your shaved head. I can't believe that you won't be here tomorrow morning to go to church with us or tell some lame joke that only you think is funny. I wish more than anything that I could tell you I loved you, just one more time. You amaze me. Thank you for teaching me how to love, how to suffer, how to praise the Lord, and how to bring glory to his name. Thank you for being my annoying little brother who would want to hang out with me and my friends and tell on me if I did something wrong. Thank you for being my best friend who I would tell everything to and bring me a slurpee every time you came home from town. Thank you for loving me, making me laugh, and making me cry. My heart hurts without you and I miss you...more than I even know how to say.

Praise you in this Storm (Casting Crowns)

2007-10-25T17:21:00.001-07:00

I was sure by now that you would have reached down and wiped our tears away, stepped in and saved the day, but once again I say amen, and it's still raining. As the thunder rolls I barely hear you whisper through the rain, "I am with you." And as your mercy falls I raise my hands and praise the God who gives and takes away. I'll praise you in this storm, and I will lift my hands. For you are who you are no matter where I am. Every tear I've cried you hold in your hand. You never left my side and though my heart is torn, I will praise you in this storm. I remember when I stumbled in the wind. You heard my cry. You raised me up again. My strength is almost gone. How can I carry on if I can't find you? As the thunder rolls, I barely hear you whisper through the rain, "I am with you." And as your mercy falls I raise my hands and praise the God who gives and takes away. I will praise you in this storm and I will lift my hands. For you are who you are, no matter where I am. Every tear I cry you hold in your hand. You never left my side and though my heart is torn, I will praise you in this storm. I lift my eyes unto the hills. Where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of Heaven and Earth.

Chicken Pot Pie

2007-10-24T10:18:00.000-07:00

Sarah's explaination of a pot pie:

"You know, the bowl of bread with food in the middle."

This is why we're friends.

Hanging out with Lucas

2007-10-24T09:19:00.000-07:00

Kersten

2007-10-22T12:56:00.000-07:00

I miss this girl. She is irreplacable, compassionate, hilarious, beautiful, kind, joyful, patient, ambitious, adventurous, serious, caring, loving, smart, gorgeous, quirky, charismatic, just, and GLORIOUS! She loves the color pink and dipping pita bread in hummus. Running, soccer, reading, listening to music are some of her favorite downtime activities. She always has a plane ticket to go somewhere. Perceive her as you may, but she won't let you define her. To me she is : sister, best friend, confidant, comedian, travel buddy, soul mate. Kersten, I love you. YOU CAN CHANGE THIS WORLD (you already have)....keep truckin.

Chris

2007-10-16T20:34:00.000-07:00

This is an amazing person.

Country Boys and Girls Gettin Down on the Farm

2007-10-14T12:55:00.001-07:00

Home: There's nothing like it!

Half Of Team Ice Cream Will Just Have To Do

2007-10-10T10:17:00.000-07:00

Carsen and Angela...I will be there in 3 and a half weeks. Get ready for some fun! (The market better not run out of ice cream when I get there!)

I miss you guys!!!

Jacob Aaron

2007-10-10T10:05:00.000-07:00

Jacob, Jean Ba, Ba Ba Tise

You're amazing. Hang in there.

Bethany

2007-09-16T07:18:00.001-07:00

Bethany, you are a beautiful daughter of Christ. Keep shining...

Best Friends

2007-09-12T16:12:00.000-07:00

Jefferson, Jeffey, Jeff....This is one little boy that I miss every single day. His constant love and little kisses melt my heart. What I would give to squish his little cheeks together right now and hear his laughter. November just isn't coming soon enough!

Aunt Katie and Lucas James

2007-08-23T10:22:00.000-07:00

I love this little boy.

Caleb and Isabel

2007-08-17T10:24:00.001-07:00

Caleb and Isabel Krotzer...I have been praying for you two way before I even knew who you were. Your mommy and daddy are very important to me and they love you very much. Caleb, you are a lot like your daddy...in an odd way you kind of even look like him. And Isabel, you are so much like your mama blanc that it kind of makes me laugh. I love you both and I can't wait to watch you two grow up. (Seriously Hope, I'll babysit all the time!)

Jonas and Ellie

2007-07-27T10:45:00.001-07:00

Jonas and Ellie girl...there are no kids on this planet quite like them.
Jonas is always running around; finding something to chew on, someone to hold him, or somewhere to do a cartwheel. His nickname is Katush, which means Bullet...I find it very fitting for him. One of my funniest moments with Jo is when he was on his hands and knees pretending to be Wah-Wah (the dog) and all of the kids ran away from him. He just crawled right up and started licking my leg. He's such a goof-ball.
Ellie has this amazing smile (as you can clearly see). There were only a few moments where that smile dissapeared from her face, but it was never for too long. She was my snuggle-bug. Ellie's laugh is something that is unforgettable. One time she pooped her diaper and I smelled it and looked at her with a smile and said "poo poo". She started laughing so hard and instead of being concerned with getting her diaper changed I just broke into a full out laugh. Her joy is contagious.
Kristina- your kids are so full of love and I'm so excited that God has brought your family together. I'm praying for you guys...soon they'll be home.
Jo-Jo and Ellie Belly...I love you.

Steven and Belle

2007-07-26T11:37:00.000-07:00

These are two of the most beautiful children that I have ever met. They're inspiring and fun and they love their Lord. Steven is an amazing dancer and piano player. Belle is such a spitfire and has such a heart to worship God. Angela and Shawn...you have amazing children!

Paul the Evangelist

2007-07-25T10:18:00.000-07:00

So...the other night I went with my friends Hope and Rob to their church Potter's House in Mt. P. They have this week revival thing every summer called Camp Meeting. The speaker of the evening was Pastor Rick. After a week of being completely overwhelmed by coming back to America and missing the kids in Haiti, I felt as though some good truth was exactly what I needed to hear. Something that Pastor Rick shared was so powerful that it stuck with me and I haven't been able to get it off my mind now for 3 days. He talked about knowing who we really were...knowing our identity in Christ. As an example he brought up Saul of Tarsus. It was when he met the living God that he finally saw who he really was, not Saul the persecuter, but rather Paul the Evangelist. I began thinking about what I define myself as and if that's my identity in Christ. Pastor Rick said that when we tell the evil one who we really are, he has to say it back...WE ARE THE ZION FOR THE LIVING GOD! I don't really know why I decided to write about this, but it's just been on my mind for a couple of days. Who are you?

Back in Michigan

2007-07-15T12:07:00.001-07:00

After spending 3 of the most amazing weeks in Haiti, home just doesn't cut it for me. Usually I'm excited to be at the airport and to be getting on a plane, but yesterday I had no desire to come home. I left on June 24 to go to Port Au Prince, Haiti. There I stayed at Three Angels Orphanage and fell deeply in love with 39 kids. Who knew that a bunch of kids would have such a strong impact on my entire life. They taught me about courage and strength, laughing and crying, and most importantly...about love. It may sound corny, but it's true to the core. Yesterday morning when I had to rip Jefferson out of my arms and put him on the ground screaming and crying, something inside of me broke. My heart became hard after my brother died in October, but these kids melted it. I pray that I can continue to walk in this path of genuine love.
When I was in Haiti, I met some amazing girls. Angela, Anne, Carsen... seriously, I love you guys. You've showed me what a true servants heart looks like and for that I'm grateful. I will be back...seriously.
So now here I sit, in front of my computer and cable modem. I took a real shower this morning and actually flushed the toilet. I stared at my plethera of clothing in my closet wondering what I was going to wear. I drove my car and went in to town and ate lunch with my mom. All simple things that I take for granted every day. The funny thing is, I would give it all up in a second to be back with those kids.