Just a warning before you read.. This is a little mushy and biased.

This post is a little bit about my little knowledge about love & a little gratitude for Mike Ristrom. 

Love is a funny thing. I don’t think love is just a feeling but it is many things. And honestly I don’t quite understand love. Even though I don't completely understand it,and many of you may think I am naive, but I am in love and i know that I am very loved. I thought maybe I had been in love before, but I was mistaken. I mean I am no expert in love, that's for sure but if I could suggest.. Love makes you a little crazy.  Love makes you do things that you aren’t proud of (such as jealousy), takes you to new places, it makes you do things you never thought you would do, and makes you feel things you have never felt. But what if love is more than just a feeling between two people? Love is a commitment and words put to action. To love someone fully I believe that you have to be open and honest with that person. You have to show them parts of yourself that you didn’t even know existed. I hate when people give up on love.. There was a reason in the first place why you loved that person, so why did that change? Oh you don’t love them anymore because life got hard, they got fat, or they showed their moody side to you? Grow up. It is sad to me that people give up on the ones they have loved. “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.  It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.  Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.” (1 Corinthians 13.) The man I love loves me in all of these ways.

Mike treats me like a woman, he treats me with the respect I deserve, he talks highly of me to others, he comforts me even when he doesn’t know what to say, he respects my body, he tells me I am beautiful always, he listens to me, he is real with me, he holds me, he makes me laugh and laughs with (and occasion at me), he treats me like his princess, he is patient with me, he puts me first, he forgives me, he shares life with me, he encourages me, he leads me in ways pleasing to the Lord, he protects me, and most of all he loves me with all he has and makes sure I know it. 

Mike is generous, loving, kind, a gentleman, respectful, smart, handsome, hilarious, friendly, a leader, driven, adventurous, my best friend, and so much more. I am thankful for his love for others and his love for me. I am excited to see where life takes us both and I will choose not to give up on love through the highs and lows.

Every person deserves to be loved and to feel special. Life is too short to always be fighting and bickering. Everyone wants to be loved and to find that person for them. I hope that whomever I choose to marry, if that be Mike or someone else, that I can love them half as good as I have been loved and share a love like 1 Corinthians 13. 

-

Love Always..... Katlin

RA RA RYAAAAN HOUSE!

Many people have asked me about my experiences at Ryan House thus far and I get so awkward or emotional talking about it, so I figured I would write to tell y'all about it.
What is Ryan House you ask?
For those of you that do not know what Ryan House is, it is a place where kids that have been diagnosed with a terminal illness can come and give their parents a break for a few days (respite care) and hang out with all the cool people that work there, or where families can come to receive end of life care for their children. (For more specifics you can visit their website that the bottom)
anywayssss..
Ryan House is AMAZING.
You ever have one of those times when you are so incredibly humbled? That happened to me tonight.
Up to this point Ryan house has been quite the emotional roller coaster. It is the biggest blessing, but also causes the occasional heartache.
Every week I fall in love with at least 6 kiddos. They sure know how to love like no one else I've ever met.  The are brave, funny, love and act just like any other kid, except they have lived a majority or all of their life with a terminal illness.
Funny how we can live more time than many of these kids, but not live as much as these kids. Who says that we have to reach certain milestones in life to experience life. Yes getting our driver's license, graduating high school, getting married, having kids, and growing old are all great things, but who says that should be the norm? What if the norm wasn't about reaching these things but living a life of reckless abandon for our passions, being a best friend and listening to those to need it most, loving everyone, appreciating people for who they are instead of wishing they were someone else, and being honest and respectful of each other.
Wouldn't this be a crazy, awesome world? Well this is the world I go to when I enter Ryan House. They make me want to be a better person, they fill me with so much joy and life, and they continue to bless and teach me so much more than I imagined.
Yes, at times Ryan House is sad for the loss of a friend, but many times it is filled with games, laughter, walks up and down the halls, and snuggles as we appreciate each other.
I am so thankful to be involved with a place like Ryan House and wouldn't trade it for the world.
I know that the career path I have chosen (as a Child Life Specialist) is where God wants me regardless of the ups and downs.
Be you. Live fully. Love others.

Thank you for reading my post that is so dear and near to my heart. If you want to make a donation or see what Ryan House is all about here is their website.
http://ryanhouse.org/


-Katlin

Late night thoughts

I don't think anyone knows where they are headed. I was asked in a interview the other day where do you see yourself in a year? What an impossible question. A lot has happened this last year and a lot has changed in my life. People come and go, opportunities change, and life happens. 

Sometimes life just isn't fair. It's hard. And you have to work for the things you want. Nothing makes me more mad than someone who believes they are entitled to everything. 

This year ahead will be a busy one, that is for sure. But what I want to challenge myself to do is enjoy all the little things more, take every situation and make good of it. So many times I pass up memories and opportunities because I am enthralled in my phone, or stressed and worried about something else. 

Maybe the times that things don't go the way I wanted are because I need to know that I am not in control, and He is, and to maybe take a step back to just enjoy a moment and not have to control everything. 

As I look into what this next year might bring for me and what the future holds, I have a lot of decisions to make.. But I have peace knowing that God has me. He has the best for me. And whatever road I decide to take or any of you decide to take, to stop and enjoy the little things because they are oh so precious, and to trust that HE has a perfect plan for YOU (even when things don't seem so good.) 

my new pet peeve but old habit

I know, I know, this may come off as me being hypocritical but I am trying my best.
This new pet peeve of mine is judging someone before you know them, judging someone by their past, or well known as JUDGING A BOOK BY ITS COVER.

Me, being a blonde, many people have the preconceived idea that blondes are "more fun" "dumb blondes" and as wikipedia put it "a woman that relied on her looks rather than intelligence"
And honestly for some blondes these all may be true, but I want to make my own name for myself not those that are set for me by society.
This is just only one example.

How come we are so quick to judge someone based upon word of mouth or looks?

 IT'S NOT WORTH IT. there is so much to learn from anyone and everyone, we all just want to be heard and EVERYONE deserves the chance to be the true them.

What if we were all judged by our outward appearances or our past mistakes??
What would be said of you?

Proverbs 31:30-31 says,
"30 Charm can fool you. Beauty fades. But a woman who has respect for the LORD should be praised. 31 Give her the reward she has earned. Let everything she has done bring praise to her at the city gate."

How awesome would it be if we lived in a society that did not dwell in the past mistakes, the outward beauty, but saw the heart.

what are you pouring yourself into?

A few weeks ago I got the pleasure of meeting a young boy that would changed my persective on things.
This young boy's name was Maxford Brown.
Maxford is a boy that can't be any older than 8 years old and he has Down Syndrome.
He greeted me the first time with so much love, joy, and was completely genuine. He was visiting the restaurant I work at and he was very anxious to meet me, find out my name, how I was doing that day and tell me all about himself. This genuine SMALL gesture made a huge difference in my whole day and attitude. Everytime he would walk past he would say "Hi Katlin" over and over again while he was eating. A few days later he came back to see me at the restaurant. When he got there he immediately looked around for me, when he spotted me he came sprinting to me saying "Hi my friend Katlin, can I have a hug?!" This sweet gesture may be small or insignificant to many to you but here are a few things that I draw from this:

Why am I not living like Maxford?
Maxford genuinely loved me for NO reason. He cared when he didn't know me. He had more joy than anyone I have ever met. He made me feel special and needed.

How come an 8 year old (or how ever old he was) can have this much impact on someone's life when more than half of us can look at our lives and have never made this much of an impact on anyone.
Looking at these two short moments with this sweet boy, I wonder as a Christian, why am I not doing this? If everyone just picked one person to make feel special, loved, and cared about daily this world would be a completely different place. God calls us to love like THIS.
As I go into the season of Lent and Easter I think of how God made the ultimate sacrifice of LOVE for his people, sending His son  to die on the Cross for you and me.
 JESUS calls us to love. love strangers, family, friends, enemies, coworkers, grumpy people, happy people, everyone we come in contact with.
Going ahead  I want to challenge YOU and I to make a difference in someone's life.. Make them feel LOVED. SPECIAL. CARE FOR THEM.  everyone deserve that.
40 days of encouraging one another
40 days of random acts of kindness
40 days of making those around you feel loved, wanted, needed and cared for.
I think we can do this. Be intentional, even if its small.

Love God. Love Others. No Regrets.

-Kat

anxiety

Anxiety is defined as this: a feeling of worry, nervousness, or unease, typically about an imminent event or something with an uncertain outcome.

Why do we worry, stress out, or have anxiety?
I am faced with this question daily and struggle with this daily. 
I struggle with anxiety with my school work, pleasing others, worrying about my future, anxiety about losing the ones I love and struggle with Trusting God's plan for me BUT
God never intended his children to carry the weight of the world and when we worry are we really trusting God's plans for our lives?
Growing up in the Word I was taught that trusting God is second nature.. But for me I really struggle with "Letting go and letting GOD."  

The verse that brings me most comfort and encouragement when I am dealing with this is one that was a constant reminder from the kids I nannied and they always told me this

Philippians 4:6-7

 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

When talking with some mentors the other day they said this:

"God knew you before you were created and knows you better than you know yourself. Be patient that His plans are far better than you can imagine and letting go of control or fear will give you the freedom you desire. You can't win a tug a war with God."

For everything God will provide and sustain in us if we trust in Him.

My desire is that I give the Lord my all

give Him all the glory, honor, sorrow, happiness, worry, and all other emotions. 

I hope this can bring some encouragement and hope for you too..

Thank you for reading & praying for y'all

-Kat

My past year in a short blog post

As I sit here and think of what to say so many thoughts are flooding my mind. I have never learned so much then in the last 10 months of my life. Lets take it back to the beginning of this all, to May.

In May I decided to take a huge step for me and move to California, leave all behind in Arizona. I shared a room with my good friend Brie from high school and was living the California dream right? The whole first month of living there was quite tough because I could not find a job. I had applied for about 40 jobs and reached the point where I was very homesick and wanted to move home. So I prayed and was like you know what God, if California is where you want me I NEED A JOB, and gave God the deadline of the first of June... And what do you know, God provided.
Over the next two months in California I was living the "dream" if you would, I met a great guy, lived by the beach, had a great job, and living on my own doing what I want. I thought it was perfect. I came home to visit in July and told my family and friends that God had a plan for me in California and that I was going to drop out of school and stay in California.. God really did have plans for me but I was also very stupid in my rash decision making.
August was a fun month of moving but also hard because some of my friendships were on the rocks because of my decision to move. I was selfish and would constantly defend my side of things giving no one else a option or a chance. September came around and things started to change for me and I was NOT happy. Life was tough. The boy wasn't around, all my friends were in school, my family was a state away, some friendships were failing, and I felt so alone and like God had abandoned me. Why would He do this to me when I was alone in a new state? So frustrated I would spend hours crying because I was so angry and home sick. After some convincing from my aunt, I got back out there and met new people. This is when I found Sea Breeze Church and fell in love with "Young Adults" their college age ministry. I branched out and made new friends who were on fire for Christ. They encouraged me on this journey and kept me going. They gave me HOPE. In the weeks following I became stronger in the Lord and confident in the person He made me to be. He taught me to be myself, not what my parents wanted me to be, or society says I should be, but ME. I found my true identity in Him.
In November I moved back to Arizona and that was be a whole different trial. Living at home and being in a familiar place is great and my family is a huge part of me and is so important to me. Though being home again was amazing I got back into my daily routines and selfish ways. January came around I found a job that provided for my financial needs, I started school, and so the chaos of life was surrounding me. My life consists of work, homework, school, eating, sleeping repeat. It is so easy to get caught up in this routine that we make for ourselves.

The last few months I have been reminded of this: Life is short. Life is so short and its not all about the big things. Its not about when I am going to get married, what  I am going to do the rest of my life, or the things I have.. It's about the little things. It's about living in every moment that you have, seizing opportunities as they are given. It is so easy of us to get into our norms and to never get back out. I want to encourage myself and everyone reading, switch things up. Live a spontaneous life, love the people in your life like there is no tomorrow, do things that YOU want to do while you can, don't live in fear of what other people think, don't be afraid of the things you can't control, BE YOURSELF, and be the person that God has called you to be. With Christ anything is possible. He brings hope, protection, restoration, and a love that surpasses all.  Treasure life and live it to the fullest because you never know what day will be your last.

A friend gave me this idea that instead of doing New Year Resolutions to pick a word or phrase that you want to describe your year.. It has taken me a while but I think I finally have one: FEARLESS
and by this I mean I want my year to look like a year of opportunities taken, not missed. I want to be fully confident in the person that I am. And I want to trust the plans that God has for me by not fearing the things that I cannot change.

I know my thoughts are kind of all over the place and I am not the greatest at writing, but hey it's the thought that counts right? I hope that from this poorly written blog you will find hope and inspiration.
I'll leave you with the words of the song "Oceans" which really inspires me.

"You call me out upon the waters
The great unknown where feet may fail
And there I find You in the mystery
In oceans deep
My faith will stand

Your grace abounds in deepest waters
Your sovereign hand
Will be my guide
Where feet may fail and fear surrounds me
You've never failed and You won't start now

Spirit lead me where my trust is without borders
Let me walk upon the waters
Wherever You would call me
Take me deeper than my feet could ever wander
And my faith will be made stronger
In the presence of my Savior

I will call upon Your Name
Keep my eyes above the waves
My soul will rest in Your embrace
I am Yours and You are mine"

There will be more posts to come but until then ADIOS AMIGOS.