Maine

Wow, two posts in one day? What craziness. It's a new record for me! I hope you all enjoyed my Father's Day post.

M and I on the hike!

Well, I went on a hike today with my family, minus my brother, S who is having the best week of his life up in New York at Young Life's Lake Saranac! I'm so excited to hear all about his week and how he has grown in his relationship with the Lord. I know my week at camp sophomore year at Lake Champion was one of the most meaningful and life changing weeks of my life.

Anyways, going on the hike with my family made me long to be in Maine.  We leave on Friday!!! Ahhh, I can't wait. Anyways, I thought I would share with you all this awesome webcam that shows the exact place I am every summer. Isn't the lake beautiful?! I love it so much and I can't wait to spend extra time there this summer.

Hope you all are enjoying your father's day!

YOU are Beautifully and Wonderfully Made,
Ky :)

Happy Father's Day!

Happy Father's Day to the best dad.  You and I are so very similar.  We've gone on numerous spur of the minute road trips to go see a basketball game or to tour a college campus.  Dad, you always support me in all my decisions and have taught me what it means to be committed to something.  You challenge me to really think about something before I do it and always push me to reach my highest potential.  You and Mom made a point to be at every one of my sporting events (home or away) and every choir show.  Whether I was playing a soccer game or running a XC meet, your voice was one of the only ones I heard out of the crowd.  You always made me want to push harder.  When I asked to use our house for Campaigners, you didn't bat an eye.  You two have been so supportive in my walk with Christ.  I know that you two will always be there for me.  When I wanted to go to UT, you made me look into other schools, but in the end, you supported me in my decision.  I love you, Dad!  You are the best.

Zac Brown Band

Yay! It's official! I graduated! It's almost been a full week of official summer, which for me, puts me in a serious country music mood.  I'm also starting to embrace country music so I'm prepared for when I go to UT, hahaha.  My favorite country band, by far, is the Zac Brown Band.  They're SO GOOD.  Ahhh I love their harmonies.  Go ahead and give me chills why don't you.  They have a new single out that I highly recommend you listen to.  It's amazing.  

I hope you all are having a wonderful beginning of summer!  

YOU are Beautifully and Wonderfully made,

Ky :)

Notes

While I was looking through my old study bible today, I came across an old note that I wrote myself on an index card after Young Life Camp at Lake Champion, my sophomore year of high school.  Tim Toy explained Christ in a way I'd never heard before, and it changed my life.

Excuse my run on sentences and bad grammar, haha.  It goes as follows:

"June 18, 2009

Today I realized that I need to make time for the Lord and also that I need to put Christ first and do everything else through him.  He will always love me, no matter what.  I need to treat him like my best friend and want to spend time with him everyday, all day.  I am making a goal to read the Bible and start every morning off with Christ.  I feel empty if I don't."

It's crazy to look back and see how I've come back to that point.  I'm two years older and I've learned so much and grown a lot in those past two years, but I've strayed so much this year.  I've hardly picked up my Bible out of Small Group or Campaigners.  But now I have the desire to read the Bible again.  I'm my most happiest when I'm regularly in the Word.  I don't want to get comfortable, and that's exactly what I've let myself do over the past several months.  I need to grow and challenge myself and I'm ready to start back on the journey.  I'm ready to walk beside Christ again, not have him drag me along behind him.  I love Jesus and I need to have that shown in my life ALL THE TIME. I'm being made new.

Heaven is for Real

I actually had time to sit down and read a book today, a WHOLE BOOK.  Imagine that.  I can't tell you the last time I was able to actually read a book for pleasure. The "Easter Bunny" left it in my basket this morning.  Holidays are pretty low key at my house.  My parents never really encouraged "Santa" or the "Easter Bunny," but have always encouraged us to focus on the real meaning of the holiday.  I'm really appreciative of that and plan to do the same for my family, whenever I have a family of my own.  Anyways, I woke up this morning to find Heaven is for Real by Todd Burpo in my Easter basket.  I started it on our 30 minute car ride to church this morning and was finished by 5:30 today.  It's a very easy read, but one that makes you think and is very encouraging.  Plus, it's a true story, which makes everything more meaningful.  I'm not going to ruin the plot, but I would recommend that everyone read this book.


All I know is, this book took away doubts about heaven and increased my desire to join the Father.  I can't wait to see family members, and I know that they're up there looking down on me, praying for me still.  Jesus does hear EVERY prayer, every desperate call.  He loves the children.  We are called to have faith like children, like Colton in Heaven is for Real. I'm still mulling over this and I know I'll have more to say about it later. 


Read this book.


YOU are Beautifully and Wonderfully Made.


Love,
Ky

Changes

I sent in my confirmation to the University of Tennessee today! Oh my goodness, I'm going to college, the college I've wanted to go to since my freshman year of high school. It's surreal. I'm confident this is the place God is leading me to be. I'm so excited/nervous/terrified, but mostly excited right now. To honor this momentous occasion, I thought I'd share with you a little Rocky Top. GO BIG ORANGE! Enjoy!

You are Beautifully and Wonderfully Made!

Love,
Ky :)

10K!

So, this morning, my mom and I (and 70 other runners) dragged ourselves out of bed at 6:30 to run in the Spring Fling 10K organized by my XC coach!  It was so much fun.  I was skeptical if I could make it the whole 6 miles anymore, but I did, and I beat my mom, haha.  You'll fully appreciate the significance of me running this race if you read this post.  My dad nominated himself to be the official race photographer, so here are a few of the shots he got.  Enjoy!

Hope you all enjoy this beautiful Saturday!

You are Beautifully and Wonderfully Made :)

Love,

Ky