Spring vs. Fall...Anyone??

you know you're in southern california when your friend turns to you and genuinely asks,

"is it fall right now? i've always gotten spring and fall confused..." LOL! :D

vicky beeching - "join the song"

i heard a cover of the doxology tonight by vicky beeching, and it's funny how old words seem new when they're sung to a different melody! i'd recommend listening to the song if you've got time. :)

"Praise God from whom all blessings flow,
Praise Him all creatures here below;
to Him all the glory belongs.
Praise Him above the heavenly hosts,
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
Let all the earth sing along..."

nighty night!
kc

too comfortable...?

hey there,

how's life going for all of you?

i feel like my life has been very comfortable lately! it's wonderful to enjoy the blessings that God is so kind to give me. blessings like friends, perfect weather, and yogurt palace...the world's best frozen yogurt place that just happens to be in Fallbrook, CA haha ;)

in all seriousness, it's hard sometimes not to feel bad about being so comfortable. i think of some of my heroes in the faith who live such tough lives. people who live in huts in the jungle just to share Christ with others. i respect people like that so much, and it makes little sense to me why i am able to enjoy so much right now.

i almost have the mentality that the more uncomfortable i feel, the more like Christ i'm being because if i'm uncomfortable, it means i'm giving something up for Him. yet i don't think that mentality is universally true. i think it can bring God just as much glory when we are so thankful for what gifts He has brought into our lives.

so that made what my friend told me the other day ring true. she was encouraging me to enjoy and rest in what blessings God has brought into my life right now. she's right that we never know what tomorrow brings, so it's fine to delight in what joys today brings... :)

anyhow, i'm working on the camp newsletter from our time in China! it's been so fun to sort through pictures and hear people's stories from camp...what a treasure this summer was!!

all for now,
kc

a child of weakness

"I hear my Savior say, 'thy strength indeed is small. Child of weakness, watch and pray, find in Me thy all in all."

It encouraged me so much to sing the verse of this song yesterday at church. Sometimes I put pressure on myself to do more than God asks me to. Yet He calls me to come to Him and watch Him work.

I was talking about this with some girls after the service and one of my friends reminded me of how in Isaiah it talks about God accomplishing things in our weakness so we can say at the end, "The Lord has done it!" It's just so great that God doesn't wait for us to get over our short-comings, but that He works though us despite of them...That truth encourages me so much today!! :)

the beach with my cousins :)

i spent some time at sea isle, nj with my family before heading back to san diego. man, my little cousins are so cute!!


the kids were miffed why no one was on the beach at dusk and came to the conclusion that "the beach was closed."


Sisters!!
Maddie taking a sippy -cup break...
Cute little Owen. :)
Livy lookin' cute...
sand angels...miss.blue eyes
Owen and Liv at the Cape May Zoo

i see you!!
Maddie really loved that corn!! She had about 4 corn on the cobs that night! haha
sweet summer times...

I think I have a small addiction....

...to coffee! haha I found all these gift cards in my wallet today...scary, huh?

Anyways, I hope you all have a wonderful Labor Day tomorrow! Please be praying for my trip back to Cali! Thanks!!

~k

Learning from the "unreal," living in the "real"

"The most difficult person to deal with is the one who has the smug satisfaction of an experience to which he can refer back, but who is not working it out in practical life. The experience must be so genuine that it is shown in life..." ~Oswald Chambers

This quote really sums up what I've been thinking about and trying to live since I have gotten home from China two weeks ago.

Our time in Nanchang this summer was so precious. It felt almost surreal to see God's hand work in such varied ways each and every day. Some days I saw the Lord work by opening the kids hearts and letting them feel loved. Other days it was having conversations with our translators who were so hungry to know about Jesus. And sometimes it was my friends and I being changed...watching God mold us to be more like Him. It was one of those summers you can't believe you actually get to live...

Now, I'm trying to carry those "unreal" experiences into my "real" life...I want the faith God grew in my heart in China to carry over to who I am now in America. That's not always easy...

To be honest, the process to understand and embrace everything that happened this summer is a slow one (which is why I have yet to email my supporters since I've gotten home!) I was at the beach for the past few days where God started opening my heart to really think and journal and pray about all that has happened...I've still got a lot to hear from Him about, but, it's a start! A really great start! :)

I'm going to enjoy a few more days of vacation at home until I head back to CA to work on some post-camp projects. But until then...cookie making and a movie is on the agenda this afternoon!!! Can't wait!! :)