//Capturing Moments with My DSLR//

Sometimes I feel so clique in my passions. Making it hard for me to share them with others.
A love for Africa feels so common now. Yet my young heart didn't understand that's what was happening when I was there after High School. Before it was a 'cool' thing to have a heart for. It wasn't something I had planned for, or even longed for.
It happened when God orchestrated my being there without me even realising it would.


And if I could have stayed. I would have.

But then I never would have developed other passions I have in my life, so its probably a good thing I didn't stay in the heart of Africa. Although Africa certainly stayed in my heart.
It's been 8 years since I was there, and still I get this deep longing when I think about that trip.


I'm learning to listen to those deep heart pangs. They tell me things. Things I perhaps hadn't realised I was passionate about. They make it hard to ignore.



Art always captured my attention in school, even though I was never very talented at it. It was the class I was excited about all day when I saw it on my schedule. The one I invested the most time into. So many of my high school art projects were centered around photographs, you know the kind you have to get developed because digital images were still a dream yet to come. They just drew me in. Something about working with an image that was captured, it displayed something I could never create with my two hands and a pen. It captured and said things that I could only hope to with paints or even words.


Another thing I am passionate about (who knew I had enough things to talk about for a month! And almost have...oops!) is photography. I look back on these pictures from my trips to various places & so badly wish I could go on a journey around the globe again with my DSLR. Capturing the beauty in a more detailed way, a more skilled way.

Sneek Peek of a Dream.

I don't talk about this passion much either, because again it feels so common. Making me feel so insignificant. But reading Emily Freeman's book A Million Little Ways nudged me. Reminding me that there is always someone who will make art in the same way as you, who will do it better than you, but that is not the point. More thoughts on what I have been learning next week though. 


I have big dreams with this passion. Really big ones, and I'm still waiting for them to bear fruit, in the meantime I have been learning a lot about software, cameras, light. 
I have to want to learn it, because I have to make it a priority in an otherwise busy schedule. 


The huge blessing is that despite all the equipment I own, it was all given to me in one way or another. The Lord has given me all the tools I have needed so far to keep pursuing this passion, I own 3 DSLRs (I was given all of them, one is my new baby!), a full version of lightroom (another amazing gift!), a tripod (Christmas gift), 2 books on learning your DSLR (won in giveaways from other blogs!). The only thing I need are more memory cards because I can fill the ones I have in the space of a few hours!! haha!

I share all that to praise God, who has given me more than I deserve when it comes to this interest. For no other reason.  

Pray about your passions! You never know what He will do....

And someday I hope to figure out how the Lord will use particularly my passion for Africa, Children and Photography for His glory. Because that would make me burst! Feel alive! Feel made for what I was doing! 

This post is part of my 31 day series for the month of October, 
fighting through the fears and sharing the confusing passions I have. 
Hoping to figure out the bigger picture of all these interests.

//The Dream//

{Via}

This.

Such a picture of heaven to me.

Of redemption & adoption.

Of how heaven will one day look.

Where physical appearance is irrelevant.

We are family.

This is my dream.

My someday.

What I am praying for. 

This post is part of my 31 day series for the month of October, 
fighting through the fears and sharing the confusing passions I have. 
Hoping to figure out the bigger picture of all these interests.

When God Answers.

Hello dearest readers, I feel so grateful for L allowing me to blog post. 

I cannot wait to get to know you ladies better! 

 When L first mentioned writing a guest post, I wasn't sure what I wanted to share. But as I sat down and prayed and reflected, sweet Abba brought me to a lovely memory of when he took me on a journey from brokenness to freedom. 

 I was two years out of college, and in that marvelous season had moved to Thailand where I taught English and then spent the following year traveling around the country with a non-profit that worked in Uganda. It was filled with adventure and fun. However when those two years ended and I moved home, my world seemed to come to a crashing halt.

 I was jobless. 

Friendless {most of my friends had moved out of my hometown in northern California} 

Boyfriendless. 

 Truly, I felt alone. 

Every job I applied for never even contacted me! Did I have the plague, I wondered? 

 {Come on people...I have a college education!} 

 My self esteem was quickly draining empty. 

 In the meantime, 

I realized it was probably best to buckle down and take any ol' job to make a little money. 

 So what does this girl decide to do? 

 Yep....work for her dad. 

 And what does this girls dad do? 

 He's a rice farmer! 

 You guessed it, I became a farm girl. 

 Growing up in a city, I never actually had worked for my dad before, so there was a steep learning curve involved. Also involved were flannel shirts, work boots, 11 hour work days, and packing a lunch pail the size of texas. I drove a tractor which was quite the site to see because I was the only female out there and I was tiny. The rice fields were hot and dusty, and I came home exhausted every night, covered heard to toe in mosquito bites, rice dust and dirt. The only human interaction during the day was with a fellow tractor driver named Fidel who brought me one of his wife's home-made burritos. 

Happily, I have no pictures to show of that time period, haha. 

 I'm not going to lie people, I felt was a little pathetic. 

 So amidst Taylor Swift on the radio, the tears flowed freely as I cried out to God asking him what the heck I was supposed to do with my life. 

 Where do I go? 

 What do I do next? 

 Am I even capable of anything, because after like 20 companies turn me down, I didn't feel like it. 

 It was raw out there on the farm people. 

 raw. 

 One night I came home, showered, and curled up in bed. 

 I took out my tear-stained journal and a pen and began to pour. 

 I poured out my fears, my dreams, my insecurities, and hopes.

 I asked specifically for 3 things: 

1) An incredible, vibrant community that loved the poor. 

2) A job at a small non-profit that worked in Africa {I was an African studies minor in college} 

3) A husband that loved the Lord and had a heart for the world. 

 And then hope began to unravel, real and genuine before my eyes. 

 To begin, an organization that worked in Africa contacted me out of the blue. A little background....out of college, I had started a small non-profit called Africa Hope where I designed t-shirts and sold them online. When someone purchased a shirt, a portion of the proceeds went towards an organization listed on my site that was doing work in Africa. Well, this organization, Empowering Lives International (ELI), found my website and asked to be one of the featured organizations listed. 

 My pulse quicked as I scanned their website. They were an incredible holistic organization empowering lives in Africa. And they were also located in Southern California! So I emailed them back to let them know I would put them on my Africa Hope website. I also decided that I should go visit their office and meet them in person. A month later I planned a road trip to Southern California, and met with their staff. I casually mentioned that if they ever had a job opening, I would love to apply. 

 Well....a month later I got a call from ELI. 

 A position opened and they said I was the first person they thought of!!!! 

 I couldn't believe it...I almost died of joy!

 People always used to joke that studying African history wouldn't help me much in the job hunt, but with God all things are possible:) 

 I started my job with ELI a month later. 

 It was a dream come true. 

 God had specifically answered 1 of my 3 desires. 

 Since I had just moved down to Southern California for my job, I needed a place to live. Knowing no one, the pastor of my home church suggested I live with one of his best friends and his family, The Cooks.

 Well, it turns out that the Cooks had a son who was exactly my same age, Kevin. Kevin had just returned from living in Europe, and was currently also living at the Cooks house. 

 I moved into the Cooks house. 

 Kevin lived at the Cooks house. 

 And what do you know. We fall in love. 

 You can read the longer story here. 

 So now I have a man that loves Jesus. 

 God specifically answered 2 of my 3 desires. 

 While I was living at the Cooks house {before dating Kevin} 

I remember being a little uncomfortable in the suburbs. 

 It wasn't that I didn't know them. Heck, I grew up in a suburb. 

 It was just as though I felt God convicting and asking me "katie, how is it that you serve the poor when you travel, but you don't even know the poor at home?". 

cough, cough, awkward silence.

 i.didn't.even.know.the.poor. 

 I had to think about that one for a minute. 

 God kept opening my eyes to the hundreds of scriptures where he talks about loving, serving, caring for the poor. 

 How can I love the poor if I don't know them? 

 So I cried out that God would show me where to go. 

 Well, in Orange County it's a bit hard to find the poor...but they are there amidst the glitz and glam of the beaches and disneyland. 

 At church one Sunday a man came and shared about the amazing ways God was moving in a low-income neighborhood. 

 I immediately stalked him after the service, and he told me to fill out a volunteer application online. 

 In my mind, I dreamed that maybe when I had been volunteering there for a while, I could possibly move into the neighborhood. Big dream. 

 When I went in for my volunteer interview, a girl came up to me that worked in the neighborhood. I didn't even know her, but the first thing out of her mouth was "Are you looking for housing? We have a spot in the girls house if you are interested". 

WHAT? She caught me off gaurd. How did she know? 

 Two weeks later I moved into this neighborhood filled with color and immigrants, and food trucks, and spanish. 

 And I fell in love with a community. 

 And they have changed me. 

 So now I have a vibrant community. 

 God has answered all 3 specific prayer requests. 

 This all happened over 4 years ago, 

 ut what I learned in that season was how tender and loving our God is to our most deepest desires. 

 Pray Specifically.

 Ask Boldly, 

 Dream Big! 

 And now we have a new journey coming our way! 

 Kevin and I were recently asked to move to Asia for 5 months this year to help partner with an aftercare home for girls rescued from sex-slavery. 

 We are excited, nervous, overwhelmed, and overjoyed. 

 But we know this, God is BIG and LOVING and powerful, and will continue to guide us on this journey!! 

 can't wait to meet you all, please stop by and say hello! 

 Blessings on YOUR journey! 

 love Katie

Isn't sweet Katie just precious! 

You can keep up with her journey here:

//Blog//

Pearls & Tunes Vol 10.

Song Lyrics: Steven Curtis Chapman, Whatever you Do

Song Lyrics: Steven Curtis Chapman, Whatever you Do

Striped sweater: Old Navy, Owl Necklace: Claires, cami layered underneath: Old Navy, Jeans: Aeropostale, Boots: Old Navy, Earrings: All Glorious Within

What dreams are you afraid to chase, what are you being tested on?

Today, I'm linking up to Krysten's blog for some Kite Project discussion.

We are talking about fear. I feel there is always a little fear associated with dream chasing.

Fear it won't happen. Fear it won't be the way I thought it would be.

Fear that the dream actually isn't a good thing in the end. 

Fear of what other people will think. Fear in comparing myself to others. 

I'm always a little afraid that I won't be good enough. That the dream might come true but I might fail at actually walking the dream. 

I also realise in the process that fear is not trusting God. Fear is believing that He is incapable of something. 

So I strive to be fearless. To trust. 

I often fail at it. 

But I'm trying.

What do you guys think about fear and dreams?

Much Love,

L

Welcome Chasers! Discussion on Why We Dream. {A Link Up}

I find myself here. 

It is day five of the kite project and it finds me sitting, pondering, praying, fearing and full of excitement  

It has already gone very differently than I thought it would, and that's ok. 

My plans for completing baby steps to seeing a dream come true have yet to even begin. 

But before I get ahead of myself I want to welcome you guys to the Kite Project! 

(If you don't know what it is then see here first)

A few short months ago the Lord crossed my path with this beautiful woman named Rae, with a beautiful heart for the Lord, dreams and community. 

Since then He has had me on a rollercoaster of growth and emotions as I have wrestled with questions about my dreams, identity and plans He has for my life. 

So coincidence that we met? I think not! 

I really hope that each of you has felt welcomed and a part of this community as we chase alongside one another!

I want to begin a discussion by pondering Why we actually dream.....

Why do we feel that profound sensation about something? A pull towards an idea or dream?

I have no idea what your dream is, maybe the Lord is calling you to be a light for Him in a foreign land, be a songwriter, share your life through writing a book, learn a new skill or own a business.

But whatever you feel that God has deposited in your heart, it has been put there by Him.

He has a purpose for it, because He has a specific perfect plan for you!

'For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.'

{Jeremiah 29:11} 

I have really wrestled with the issue of understanding how chasing my dreams is really a God thing.

I have searched through scripture because the last thing I want to do is chase something that I want if its not what He wants for me. 

Because I really do have dreams.

Some big ones.

Ones that make me shake because they scare me so much. 

And I've struggled with seeing how these fit with being the best wife I can be, 

supportive of my husband's own dreams,

and the best light for Christ. 

Then because he is amazing, God has revealed Himself to me as I have sought Him with these issues.

Throughout the Bible the Lord reveals himself to his children through dreams and visions.

He revealed the plans He has for Joseph's future in a dream, which lead down a difficult but God-honoring road. (see Genesis 37-50)

I really believe that God reveals himself to us not only in dreams while we sleep, but also visions and dreams we have while awake.

He is not limited to just our sleep state. 

When we fall in love with Jesus and seek Him, we want what He wants.

Our hearts begin to line up with His.

Hearts to see people know Jesus, to see much made of Him.

Then those dreams of adopting a child, shining for Him where we are, using our skills to bring much to His name.

They are all an extension of God bringing glory to Himself, through us!  

And those dreams........

.......those unique scary dreams.

Should be chased! 

Because then we see God furthering His kingdom when we are willing to be used.

And you can guarantee He will do a lot in our own hearts through the mess which happens as we chase our dreams. 

Changing us to be more like Him.

And friends, that mess is beautiful! 

'God can do anything, you know—far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! He does it not by pushing us around but by working within us, his Spirit deeply and gently within us.'

{Ephesians 3:20}

So join us and linkup your thoughts below! 

Lets discuss why we dream.

Much Love! 

L

Daring to Dream.

{Via}

I have been thinking a lot about dreams lately. About how I have these ideas I want to pursue. 

But something stops me from even sharing what they are, let alone chasing them.

It has been on my heart and mind a lot since talking with Rae about doing the Kite Project.

I really can't decide what holds me back from them.

Maybe its fear of what others will think, because as much as I try not to, other people's opinions do matter to me. Even if they shouldn't.

Fear of failure because I don't want to announce a dream I have and then fall flat on my face in front of a whole bunch of people. 

Fear of being vulnerable.

Writing about fashion and sharing cool finds is much safer.

So I'm not sure that I haven't been hiding a little these past few weeks.

Waiting out the busy crazy season in which sometimes I mess up big time trying to complete my million and one projects.

Everyone else seems to be managing so I don't see why I feel I can't keep up and cope.

So I say yes, to too many things.

I'm working on learning how to say no.  

Somewhere along the way I have been wrestling with the issue of understanding how me chasing dreams is really a God thing.

I have been searching through scripture because the last thing I want to do is chase something that I want if its not what He wants for me. 

Because I really do have these dreams.

Some big ones.

Some which make me shake because they scare me so much at the thought of them actually becoming a reality even though they are dreams which I really would love to have happen. 

And I've struggled with seeing how these fit with being the best wife I can be, 

supportive of my husband's own dreams,

and the best light for Christ. 

Then because he is amazing, God showed me through my morning devotional some thoughts on what He thinks of these dreams.

Throughout the Bible He revealed himself to his children through dreams and visions.

He even gave Joseph and Daniel the gift of interpreting dreams. 

So I really believe dreams are important to God, they are right there in scripture.

I realise that the scriptural references are to dreams while sleeping.

But are these not just our subconscious thoughts?

It is defined in the dictionary as the following:

dream

(Noun)

'A series of thoughts, images and sensations occurring in a person's mind during sleep.'

  

I really believe that if God reveals himself to us not only in dreams while we sleep, but also visions and dreams we have while awake.

He is not limited by something such as sleep. 

I have even had visions during worship, which I have sometimes been embarrassed to share

as not everyone agrees on the nature of these. 

But I truly know that these have been given by the Lord.

Especially since everytime I have been brave enough to share them, they have touched someone else who heard them. 

That has to be a God thing. Not me.

Solomon reminds us in Ecclesiastes chapter 5 that dreaming apart from God is meaningless. 

It is nothing. 

So I have been trying to be careful about checking my dreams are in line with God's agenda and not mine.

But this devotional reminded my that by laying my dreams out before Him 

and submitting to His will....

He will do more than I could ever dream.

 “He replied, ‘I tell you that to everyone who has, more will be given, but as for the one who has nothing, even what they have will be taken away. But those enemies of mine who did not want me to be king over them—bring them here and kill them in front of me.’”

(Parable of ten Minas, Luke chapter 19)

Sometimes that might mean a dream does get removed or doesn't work out as planned.

But I would rather dare to dream and have it not come true than not live completely alive

to all the possibilities God has placed on my heart. 

As Rebecca St James writes:

'On the other hand, not being willing to dream keeps us out of 

touch with certain parts of our hearts, and therefore we live

but are not fully alive. I don't want to live that way anymore. I

want my heart to be fully alive and kicking - even if it does hurt at times.'

I don't want to grow older and forget how to dream like I did as a kid.

Or to settle for mediocrity.

I would rather keep dreaming.

Surrender those dreams to the Lord & see what He does with them.

Life may not ever look the way I dream it will.

But knowing Him, 

I have a feeling it will be even better.

So stayed tuned.

This girl is done hiding and is ready to see what God does with these big dreams.

Much Love,

L