I haven't blogged in a million years.

I started typing this out as a facebook status, and well, it got way too long, and I really don't want to 'get into it' with people.  That's not my thing.  So, I typed and typed and typed and then copied it to blogger, for no one to see. But at least it's out of my head.

David and I are on opposite ends of the political skew. It probably isn't surprising to most, although we both are fairly moderate in either of our sides. We debate quiet often, which usually ends in my frustrated because I am just not good at debate, and he is very, very smart.  We respect each others ideas, and every now and then one will say, "You are right, that is an excellent point." 

The other day we discussed the famed 'Obama Care', or, if you want to sound like an educated individual and not a media zombie, the Affordable Care Act. It has already helped our family the last few years but... that's a story for a different day.

He was frustrated because of a overlooked loophole, we will actually not qualify for any of the Affordable Care Act subsidies like we originally thought we would. He was more than frustrated.  But I wasn't.  I have heard some success stories and I live a not-so-success story (when it comes to the Affordable Care Act.)  These are my thoughts.

The reason our country is in trouble, the reason we are in debt way past our eyeballs, fighting in wars that we maybe shouldn't, fixing problems we maybe shouldn't, etc etc. is because of the people who live here.  We, the people. 
Everyone thinks that everything should benefit them at all times.

"The affordable care act doesn't do anything for me, so much for your promises, Obama!"
"I don't agree with this war! Thanks Pres. Bush!"
I could go on and on and on and on and on.

The simple truth of it all is this.  Not everything will work out for your benefit at all times. That is not the reality of life. And most people I know, they should know that by now. But everyone goes to their outlet, be it facebook, twitter, the bar, your friend, your spouse, and throws their little tantrum, and then we all vote for some guy to be president with a hopeful message and a lot of promises that we all know no single human can keep.  Then we get mad and hate him while he (someday she!) is in office, then 2 years after his term(s) we start to like him(her) again and hate the current president.

People.  WAKE. UP.  You don't like something... don't just complain about it, make your heart angry over it and waste your breath. DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.  And in your passion to do something, whether its just to discuss it with others or start/join an organization, do not forget about being kind and loving to your fellow humans.  If they don't agree with you, get over yourself.  If someone had the answers like you seem to think you do, don't you think they would have tried it already?

I understand that some issues get heated simply because of different life experience. David and I are very prime examples of that, I live that in my daily life.  But, having a life experience doesn't make it ok for you to be an extremist, talk down to your fellow humans or disrespect other's opinions.  Because when you are out there, so passionate that you have the correct answer and you think that anyone that opposes you does not, check yourself. Someone probably had a different life experience that they are passionate about.

That's all folks.


K~

P.S. Here's a super cute kid (mine!) to make you smile.

Small update

Hey Everyone!

I know I am not the best blogger in the world. But someday, I hope I can improve! I also don't feel too sad about it, because sometimes life is just too fun or busy or important to waste away sitting at the computer typing! :)

In other news, I have two awesome friends who are starting the adoption process. They have started a blog, and their first fundraiser, so check them out HERE!

I have started an internship at H2M. H2M is an advertising agency in downtown Fargo. I am ab-so-lute-ly lov-ing it! I love what I get to do, I love who I work with, I love the atmosphere, the attitudes... etc etc etc! It is just another reminder that the Lord is patient with me, even when I am impatient, and he provides, just at the right time!

So, in the mornings I am at H2M, and the afternoons I am working at Fargo Glass and Paint in Data Entry. It's not ideal, but I have pay checks, and that is a blessing in itself!

We recently have sat down to re-budget our life. School loans start in December for the both of us and we want to pay those suckers off as soon as possible! So, we knew we had to do something drastic. So... we sold my little red car. I LOVE that car people. But we made a choice that there are a lot of dreams we have, dreams we believe God has set in our hearts and minds for a reason. They might not all come to be, but we know they have a purpose. We decided that if the sacrifice of going down to one car meant we would be one step closer to where God wants us, then we could put up with that for awhile. My car was paid off, so that money will go towards paying off schools loans. (Think debt snowball people!) Also, you don't realize how much you use both cars until you don't have both cars! haha!

That is all I have. Just a little update for the few who keep track of us!

Love,

K (& D)

Off again, On Again

This is my relationship with blogging, off again, on again!
I seem to be really into for a few posts, then completely forget about it!
oopsie!

Anyways... this spring/summer has been grand and not so grand! (pictures/events in no particular order)

I graduated (which I have no pictures of, even almost 3 months later, because that is how my family rolls.) :D



I ran a 5k! My first 5k ever! I ran it in 49 minutes and some seconds. My friend Brandon and I ran together :)


Then, the next day, I RAN A 10K! It was soo fun. I am hooked. I think I am going to run a 10K in October, then a Half for the next Fargo Marathon. It was fun and I honestly haven't been that proud of myself... like, ever!


We went to Peru... That was actually wwaaayyy back in March. It was a marvelous adventure, David's first time on a plane/out of the country. Both of us had never been on a mission trip .. it was an amazing experience to have together. The people of Peru will forever be in my heart.

This little boy will forever be on my mind. If there were a way, David and I would have taken him home instantly, no matter the cost. His home life was so tragic in many many ways, but look at his smile. He loved me but he absolutely adored David. Completely. Someday we'll be parents, and David will be the best dad ever. Although I am not ready, that is one thing I get very excited for when I think about kids :)
Us in front of the church in Peru. :D



One of my best guy friends got married... aren't they such attractive people!? We have good looking friends :D It was a beautiful wedding and the dance was SO much fun!My sexy husband and I. He is so attractive... maybe not our best photo, but we're just having some fun... can't be too serious!

fist pumping with some of my high school kids. This is the group of kids I have been hanging out with this past year... some are missing, but this is a small chunk of them. I love them. A lot. They are such wonderful kids and I love all that they have taught me in such a small amount of time!

The not so grand parts are well... not so grand. I have been searching for a job since graduation. I was working in 3 part time positions at my school and since I graduated, I could not continue with those positions. I recently, as in 2 weeks ago, got a job doing data entry for Fargo Glass and Paint. This struggle has been very had for me to comprehend as to why God has blessed me with talent in the Graphic Design industry, but I haven't been able to get a job in it. I guess I will never know and just need to trust that God has my best interest in mind :)

I also have lost a dear friend. He was a friend of mine in high school, his sister was and still is one of the best friends I have ever had in my life. He and I went to prom together (i was an awkward sophomore, he was a 6 foot 7 inch senior. ha!) we spent time in drama together, newspaper, the lakes and just hanging out. My heart of course hurts that he is gone, but mostly it hurts for his sister, family and his wife, who is just a year older then me. Words always fail me in these situations, but I am so grateful for the hope that I have, that we all can have, in Jesus.

Last, but certainly not least, David and I are chaperones for our Youth Mission trip to New Orleans. We leave Friday, the 29th, and will be back August 7th. We are both very excited but slightly nervous. We've been trusted to lead these children emotionally, physically and spiritually, and sometime we still feel like children! :) I'll post a blog when we return.

In Love,

K and D

I have this dream...

"There are dreams inside of me and those are mine and my guess is that they're there for a reason." -- Jamie Tworkowski

I have this dream.

And I dunno if I am just realizing it because I feel this pressure to apply for a job that I think I might want but I am not so sure...

I have this dream. I have this dream to work for my church doing graphic design and helping youth on the side. I have this dream of dedicating my life to pointing people towards eternity. I have this dream of holding kids up when all people do is hold them down. I have this dream of hanging out with youth and giving value to their ideas when people only push them away and devalue their youthfulness.

I have this dream to get AFSP (American Foundation for Suicide Prevention) and To Write Love On Her Arms to work together in Fargo. I want them to work together in our town to bring awareness to the thousands of students who live in our town 9 months out of the year. I have this dream of designing materials for this event. I have this dream of photographing this event. I have this dream of even just one person understanding that they are loved and they belong on this earth for much longer then the rest of the night.


But... I have this pressure... bills, teachers, friends, family... that I should apply for this job. Dress to impress, bring my best, bring my work, bring my smile.

I don't really know what to do.


k~

"I Don't have time to do everything I'm supposed to do."

Hey Everyone!

It has been a little while since I have blogged. Sorry about that. I keep thinking about it and have things I want to say, but life is pretty busy. School is picking up. There is a lot of pressure right now to finish our portfolios. We have interviews in March and we need to be ready for them, which means resume, cover letter, leave behind, online portfolio, portfolio (photography portfolio if applies) and business cards should all be... well, DONE. and Perfectly done. On top of that, I am leaving for Missouri on Friday for a conference for my workstudy position at school. This cuts my time down a lot.

Speaking of time, I recently started paging through the book "The Lies Women Believe, and the Truth That Sets Them Free." My friend Jess borrowed it to me and I had a little time to read last night (while I was avoiding my to do list of homework) and stumbled upon the chapter about busyness. (Here is goes)

In this chapter the author talked about how in our day and age we have up to 50 gadgets that are time saving devices and equipment. So imagine what it was like in the days before microwaves, washing machines, cars, or even worse, no plumbing!? She talked about how we are living in the future and we still seem to think that we have no time to accomplish all that we should accomplish.

"The fact is, we have no more or less time than any other humana being who has ever lived. No one, regardless of his position or responsibilities, has ever had more than 24 hours a day, 168 hours in a week, 52 weeks in a year."

Boom goes the dynamite. Point taken. But then the author goes further. She talks about how Jesus only had 33 years on this earth to 'accomplish the entire plan of redemption." ha. What a to-do list hey?! But, at the end of his life, he lifted his eyes to His Father and said "I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do." John 17:4 KJV

I have finished the work which you gave me to do. Not the work that I wanted to finish, not the work my teachers needed me to do for them, not what my mom thinks I should do, not what my dad wishes I did, not what my husband asked of me, not what my friends expected from me, not what my dogs wanted from me, not what society required of me. I have finish the work which YOU, the Lord, gave for me to do. What Your will is for me, I have accomplished, if I am pursuing you.

There are a lot, A LOT, a lot of things I would love to do every day. Homework, work, blog, read, design, read my Bible, pray, hang with God, photograph, eat healthy, work out, walk the dogs, hang out with friends, spend time with my husband, watch movies, play video games, read magazines, talk on the phone, write letters and well... you get the point. A shorter list is of what I think I need to finish everyday.
Did you catch what that last sentence was focused on?
ME ME ME ME ME.

How selfish. I am placed on this earth to point to my mighty, powerful, wonderful savior and make HIM famous. I am not here to accomplish anything for me, for David, for my church, my friends, family, society, coworkers, bosses, my youth kids, dogs, orphans in Haiti, poor in Peru, the polar bears, the bald eagles... you get what I am saying.

Does the Lord call me to do things for these people and things? Yes. I believe He does. Does He ask me to serve all of them, at all times, without stumbling? No. He doesn't. He asks me to trust in Him. He asks me to follow Him. He asks me to be obedient. He does not ask for perfection or busyness. He doesn't enjoy seeing me frazzled and emotionally ready to break down.

He loves me and wants the best for me.

So today, I look at the things on MY to do list... and look at the Lord and ask, "Did I finish what you wanted me to finish today? And Tomorrow, please guide me in what you want me to do for you tomorrow. And forgive me God, for forgetting yesterday that my to do list is actually your to do list. And thank you, Lord, for that forgiveness. A forgiveness you provided before I even asked for it."

Amen.

k~

CrazyLove

I am reading CrazyLove by Francis Chan currently with the youth. There is so much in the book (I have only read 3 chapters so far) but there is SO much that is really forcing me to look at myself, but this caught me the most.

In chapter 3, pages 60-63, Chan brings up a question that the first time you read it you go, Well that is a stupid question. The second time you read it, you realize it's only stupid because you don't want to know the true answer of your heart. And the third time you read it, you bow your head in prayer, asking for a pure, loving heart.

The question is:

Do we truly love God, or do we just love all His stuff?



If I may be honest and blunt (quickly, because we have to leave the house soon! :) ) but to be honest... I am not sure. I reflect on my time with Jesus, in worship, reading, bible study, fellowship, serving, etcetc. and I can only say that I know I am blessed and am so grateful for those blessings, but I also don't think I can say that I know Jesus well enough to say that I truly love Him.


I think I need more time to process this, and I am going to continue reading the book and reflecting on here probably. My question for you is this: What do YOU think you love more? Your blessings, or the one blessing you?


Love,

Kayla

p.s. 6 days and I will be done with FedEx, HOLLA!

Peru. School. FedEx. Illness. and other things

So. Nothing insightful today. Just plenty on my mind.

Today I am not feeling well. Just a little under the weather. To be expected, being as I am overworked, over emotional, eating awful things and our roommate has strep and a sinus infection. So I canceled work and school today to rest and do nothing. I am so blessed that the people I work with at the school (in all 3 jobs) are so understanding. And I have worked hard to stay on top of things, so they know I am not slaking! Hopefully I can rest it out of my body before it takes over!

School is going well, I got some of my first grades from one of my professors who is new this year and I am pleased. I was nervous but am happy with what I got. I am starting to calm down about the semester... but that leads me to other news...

David's 100 days off from work started on January 18th. Officially. Officially, the person who makes a majority of the money in the household is now officially making nothing.

EXCEPT!

He was approved for unemployment and on top of that, it is more then last year. This is all good news, for obvious reasons, but the best news is this: with this and my other jobs I am working, I CAN QUIT FEDEX! Praise the Lord! I am so excited to get sleep, not forget about things due for my other jobs, get to focus on my freelancing, AND spend time with my husband! This is very very exciting, if you can't tell!

Lastly, and certainly not least, we JUST just JUST ordered our tickets to Peru! I am having a small heart attack, thinking about how to pay for all this, how to budget, how I shouldn't have bought that coffee yesterday... etc etc. Yet, I am excited. I am over-joyed. I am...content. God is so awesome, so powerful, so faithful. David and I were praying the other night and David said something about how He shows us, all the time, that we are silly for worrying. So I am going to do my best not to worry, work my hardest to do my best and honor Him daily, and it will workout for His Glory, in His timing, the way He has it set out... and it will be far better then I could ever imagine.

Amen!

<3

Kayla (and David)