Flat on your face.

Ok I realize that this won't be nearly as funny as it was to witness it first hand, but I must share a story of my family. I arrived at the beach this morning and met my aunts, Jean and Cherie. We chatted in the condo as it rained outside...went to a movie as it continued to downpour...and then ate a yummy dinner at Carraba's, while it continued to rain. Did I mention that it was raining at the beach? And maybe this contributed to the delirium that ensued as the afternoon slipped away. Or maybe its because we haven't all hung out in a couple of months. Whatever it was, it made for a laugh-your-tail-off funny day.

So on to my story. Like a cherry on a Sundae, this topped the day off.

We arrived back at the condo tonight as my parents pulled in...We embraced, laughed a little more and headed across the parking deck to the elevators. I say we, but I mean, we followed behind Jean who was trucking it across the deck, mumbling something about parking on the wrong side and now we have to walk a long way. In her haste, she failed to recognize the bright yellow speed bump on the cement below her feet. Before we knew it, she was flying through the air like a 747. It took what seemed like 10 minutes to actually hit the ground, but when she did, she landed smack on top of our to-go boxes from dinner. PLOP! Taters everywhere. MEANWHILE, in HER attempt to catch her sister, Cherie began to run toward her fallen comrade paying no mind to the SAME SPEED BUMP THAT TOOK HER SISTER OUT! She, too, went out in a blaze of glory on the pavement. Through tearful eyes and shallow breaths, we picked them both up off the ground (fortunately with no injuries other than skinned knees and bruised egos)...Needless to say, we will not be having left-over Chicken Marsala and Filet Bryan for lunch tomorrow.

I love my life.

Waiting.

I think its safe to say that we are almost always waiting. On something...on someone...Whether it be waiting to check-out at Publix...for an eternal Kingdom...or simply for the weekend. (Which in my case right now only means that I will actually get paid for the work I do :).

Like I said, we're waiting. I believe that character is not built upon one's ability to wait. We can all do it. I believe that one's true self is gloriously revealed in the manner in which they wait. Are you tapping your foot? Watching your clock? Or do you FORGET that you are waiting because you are too busy living life to the fullest in the present? My deepest desire is to be described as the latter. To be hopeful of things to come, while being content in the here-and-now.

Here's to building patience. And to the incredible journey that occurs while we wait...


While I'm Waiting- John Waller:
I'm waiting
I'm waiting on You, LordAnd I am hopeful
I'm waiting on You, Lord
Though it is painful
But patiently, I will wait

I will move ahead, bold and confident
Taking every step in obedience
While I'm waitingI will serve You
While I'm waitingI will worship
While I'm waitingI will not faint
I'll be running the race
Even while I wait

I'm waiting
I'm waiting on You, Lord
And I am peaceful
I'm waiting on You, Lord
Though it's not easy
But faithfully, I will wait
Yes, I will wait
I will serve You while I'm waiting
I will worship while I'm waiting
I will serve You while I'm waiting
I will worship while I'm waiting
I will serve you while I'm waiting
I will worship while I'm waiting on You, Lord

Kaylie: A Social Hazard.

So, I woke up this morning with a sore throat, upper respiratory congestion, a cough, and fatigue. And I immediately thought, "Hello, Yearly Sinus Infection! What took you so long!?" But when I shared these symptoms with my sister (who is in her third year of nursing school), she flipped and persistently, but calmly urged me to get a swine flu swab! Now, we were at lunch at this point, so if I had been inoculated with this potentially deadly strain of the influenza virus, I was putting the entire restaurant at risk and therefore a social hazard. 

Amber leaned back every time I coughed and looked around the restaurant to make sure no one heard it/saw it. Then, I began to get paranoid that maybe I DID have the swine flu! I would have to be quarantined for 7 days! And people would throw tomatoes at my house and put a sign up that said  "Stay away! She's contagious!"...and no one would let me keep their children ever again! Ok clearly, I mildly overreacted. 

To make a long story short (though the clinic visit was not!), I have good news and I have bad news. 

Good news: No swine flu here!

Bad news: I am convinced that I sustained a brain injury from the nasal swab. 

A Foundation for Freedom...

Today, my heart is burdened for my country. My heart is broken by the decline of virtue in the land of the free and home of the brave. In the beginnings of this great country, the men who established it had a faithful, abundant love for God...their Creator...and sought to build a republic that celebrated that. Freedom being only a by-product of religion and morality as a foundation for this country. Love of God and an increasing knowledge of Him being central. 

What happened? When did we run from these truths? Many have speculated...but it doesn't matter how it has happened...all we can do now is draw near to the heart of the God who loved those men that built America from the ground up. For He is the same God who builds and tears down all empires as His will permits...And I believe that He hears us when we call to Him...He rejoices in repentance...delights in our faith in Him. I pray that the remnant of believers in this country hold out the light of truth and proclaim the hope of Jesus Christ. Because He is all we need. And the only One able to save. 

God bless America. 

"If my people, who are called by name will humble themselves and pray, and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear them from heaven and forgive their sins. And I will heal their land."

2 Chronicles 7:14

But Take Heart.

There have been many times in my life when God has quieted me with His love. There have been countless times that God has calmed my heart with a mere word or whisper. And I know that there are thousands of days ahead when only His voice will give me the peace I long for. 

God has not let me down this week. Faithfully. Again. This week has been one of the busiest, most exhausting (both physically and spiritually) weeks. And yet, I feel refreshed today knowing that He has overcome all of my frets. All of my plans. All of me. 

Tonight as Chris Tomlin led us in worship, he sang these words: "Jesus has overcome. And the grave is overwhelmed. Victory is won. He is risen from the dead." And I as I sang, the singing turned into reflection...which turned into worship. And there I was. Fully aware of His presence in my life and His sovereignty over all. Christ has defeated all that separates me from the greatest Love I will ever know. And He is alive in me today. I am friends with the God of the Universe and my life has been placed in His Hands to use as He wills to glorify Him. In light of that truth, my troubles...my worries seem but as vapors. 

"I tell you these things so that you might have peace: In this World, you will have trouble. But take heart, for I have overcome the World."

--Christ in John 16:33

The Stillness...

In the stillness of morning, I am filled. My heart is urged by the Holy Spirit to celebrate life today. For God is revealing Himself to me in all of my blessings...in my struggles...in my grey days. And that is cause for rejoicing. Because the God of the Universe knows my name and knows my heart. And desires for me to know the same of Him. He is steady running after me so this morning, I long to steady chase His heart. In all things. Forever.

Isaiah 43 says:

1 But now thus says the LORD, he who created you, O Jacob,
   he who formed you, O Israel:
"Fear not, for I have redeemed you;
   I have called you by name, you are mine.
² When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;
   and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you;
 when you walk through fire you shall not be burned,
   and the flame shall not consume you.
³For I am the LORD your God,
   the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.
 I give Egypt as your ransom,
   Cush and Seba in exchange for you.
⁴Because you are precious in my eyes,
   and honored, and I love you,
I give men in return for you,
   peoples in exchange for your life.
⁵Fear not, for I am with you;
   I will bring your offspring from the east,
   and from the west I will gather you.
⁶I will say to the north, Give up,
   and to the south, Do not withhold;
bring my sons from afar
   and my daughters from the end of the earth,
⁷everyone who is called by my name,
   whom I created for my glory,
   whom I formed and made."

Oh how I am thankful that I am His.

Paint and Prayer for Peru!

The weekend before Easter, I held an art show at my home. I painted a variety of pieces and invited some of my friends to come, advertising that all the proceeds would help send me to Peru this summer to share the gospel and help run a medical clinic on the Amazon. And the turn-out was just overwhelming! God sure does provide when He calls you. And this event was no different. I sold almost exactly as much as I needed to with funds to spare for vaccinations! Hallelujah, He is good!


So thank you to everyone who came, bought, and prayed. (I am already up to my elbows in canvases, but no worries! I love it!) You all are amazing people. Not only because you love me, but because you believe in spreading the good news of Jesus Christ to those who may never hear it otherwise. I promise to take a little piece of you with me as I go...And I will always be thankful for you, as you played a precious role in carrying out His Providence and showing love when you might not have even known its full impact. :) Which just happens to be something else He calls us to...


Jesus proclaims in the gospel of John in chapter 15: "I have loved you even as the Father has loved me. Remain in my love. When you obey my commandments, you remain in my love, just as I obey my Father’s commandments and remain in his love. I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow! This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you. There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you slaves, because a master doesn’t confide in his slaves. Now you are my friends, since I have told you everything the Father told me. You didn’t choose me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce lasting fruit, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask for, using my name. This is my command: Love each other." I have seen God moving in my life most recently through the people around me. Through your love of Him and of me...For that, I am grateful. 

Be praying for the Peruvians we will meet and treat and love in Iquitos, June 27th- July 6th! I am praying that their hearts be softened to His word and their minds be open to accept the Truth. I also pray for their health and prosperity after we leave them. That they will live long, abundant lives filled with the Spirit for their children to see...and their children to see...and their children to see. I can't wait to see what the Lord is doing there and am thrilled to be a part of it!


P.s. If you are interested in buying a piece of art, go to http://www.abound.weebly.com/ and contact me! :)