to paris with love, our exciting news

Thursday, May 30

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oh friends, i'm so excited to share with you some lovely little news. 

I suppose this story goes back a few years. You see about six years ago my family decided to host an exchange student. I remember my dad showing me a list of girls the organization gave my family to choose from. I mean, as if that isn't awkward...like, ok pick a girl, any girl. 

But, the moral of the story is that sweet Aline from Switzerland came to live with us for a year. And our family was never the same. In that year she became our third sister, and my parent's third daughter. Our whole family fell in love with her. 
{aline and I at my bridal shower}

Since that year, her whole family has visited our family in the US, and our family has visited her family both in Switzerland and met up when them when we were in France one summer. Aline and her two siblings even flew out for our wedding and they all pitched in to help! 

To say the least, we have been So blessed by them and love this little connection!! 

So...fast forward to this year. Aline is now getting married to an awesome Dutch man named Rick, and our family is invited to the wedding. When we moved to Nepal in April, I wasn't sure if we'd be able to go to the wedding. Flights from Kathmandu to Europe aren't exactly cheap, ya feels me? 

soooooo, I prayed. 
every day. 
I know that seems like a silly thing to pray for, but going to their wedding was something so special to me that I didn't want to miss. My whole family would be going, and I also didn't want to miss out on time with them! 

and you know what, 
God is just good. 
He knows our hearts and the little itsy bitsy desires we have. 
and for ALL his crazy power, He's so completely tender and kind. 
He is. 
That's his nature. 

For the last two months I've been checking out how many points it would take on our credit card for us to receive a free flight to Europe. 
I checked 
almost.every.day.
I was a bit obsessed. 

75,000 points it said, 
Kevin and I were almost to 70,000 and didn't think we'd make 75,000.
I was really, really sad. But trying to have a good attitude. 

Then, all of a sudden, the points dropped to 70,000. We couldn't believe it! 
But the flight only flew out of Delhi India and we are in Kathmandu Nepal. 
Hmmmm....
Then, my sweet parents offered to help get us to Delhi! I couldn't believe it! 

I seriously danced around the room praising God! 
So this past weekend, we bought our tickets! 
wait, what?!!?

YES, we're going to Paris. That was the cheapest place to fly into. 
We'll be in Paris for two days just Kev and I. We've both been to Paris a few times before, but never together, so I'm over the moon about being in the city of love with the one I love:)

Then we'll meet my family in Northern France to see and learn more about the D-Day beaches, and see Mont St. Michel (pictured below) something I've ALWAYS wanted to do! 
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To prepare for the D-day beaches, Kevin and I have started watching Band of Brothers, the HBO mini-series about paratroopers going in on D-day during WWII. If you like history, or just good tv, this is an amazing series. However I will say, I close my eyes during almost all the fighting scenes...it's hard to watch! But it makes me so thankful for all the brave men who literally gave their lives to help stop Hitler! 

From Northern France we'll go and explore Belgium, and then on to Holland where the wedding is! I can't wait to share pictures and our experiences with you all! 

Basically, I feel so overwhelmed with thanksgiving. God made all this possible. He cares, deeply. Oh, so thankful! 

Thank you for following this journey with me! So thankful for all of you readers!!! 
happy Thursday, 
Love Katie

and ps- my sweet friend Kristyn featured me on her blog here

33 comments :

  1. totally NOT a silly thing to pray for! and the Lord knows even the "silliest" desires of our hearts, does he not?!?! HOW EXCITING! I am beyond thrilled for you, dear friend!

    CAN NOT wait to read those adventures as well!!!! YAY!

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  2. Wowowowow!!!! That's amazing!!! SUCH a blessing!!! I bet you're so excited to see your family! God is SO good!!! :)

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  3. This is amazing news! I can't wait to see all your gorgeous photo. I wasn't prepared for how emotional I'd feel on the D-day beaches. Such a powerful experience. I am so glad you are surrounded by so much love!

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  4. umm that's awesome!!! I'm so excited for you!!! I have a dear friend getting married in Portland on the weekend of July 4th and I've been praying every day that God would provide money for me to get there and be with her. He hasn't yet, but I haven't given up hope. This story is encouraging that He indeed does care about those little things!

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  5. That is some wonderfully exciting news!
    We have such a sweet and caring God. He does know our hearts!

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  6. katie - that is so awesome! i love how even like you say the itsy bitsy desires of our heart God hears and provides for. what a an awesome blessing!!

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  7. Wow! What an amazing blessing! God is so good!

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  8. Awesome! I'm tingly all over from so many blog posts today about God working miracles. Paris would be ahmazing!

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  9. Awesome! I am tingly for reading all these great blog posts today about God working miracles. Paris is ahmazing too!

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  10. That is so nice about the exchange student and that you kept in touch all these years and such! How wonderful for you all! That's so nice that you get a chance to go to Paris for a while too! I hope you have a nice couple of days!
    +Victoria+

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  11. so excited for you that you get to go to Paris! How wonderful! I went there for my "senior vacation" after I graduated high school, and it was absolutely wonderful! God is so good to us, I love how He just loves working in the little things of our lives. :) I can't wait for you to do my guest post!

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  12. GOD IS SO GOOD. Katie you SO deserve this I am so happy that everything worked out for you!

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  13. That is amazing news! God is good. :)

    I love the points system with air flight credit cards. They really do help for those surprise trips. I'm flying to Vegas next month using my free points. It's a huge weight lifted off your shoulders not having to worry about the expense of flights.

    Hope you have a safe trip! The trip already sounds amazing!

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  14. yay yay yay!!! i'm so happy and excited for you guys :) that is awesome! you and aline look like sisters, btw haha. you will have such a wonderful time!

    grace & love,
    kristyn

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  15. Huzzah! I will see you in France, Mon Amie!!! Say Hi to Paris for me!

    Peter

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  16. This post reminds me about how the Lord cares about the little things in our lives and therefore He HAS to care about the bigger things. Perfect reminder that I need to remember always :)
    Thanks beautiful.

    You're an encouragement and inspiration!
    LOVE YOU!!!

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  17. oh my! that is exciting! russ and i have both been to paris, but not together. i would love to go with him someday. i hope you guys have the best time. take lots of pictures!

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  18. Yay! That's so exciting! I'm so happy for y'all! I love how God is so apparent, even in the little things. :)

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  19. Yayyyyy! So glad you get to go!

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  20. 1. Oh my gosh, your life is a dream!
    2. I LOVE that you get to go to her wedding! You're going to have so much fun!

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  21. don't you just LOVE the way God works?? i hope y'all have an incredible time...and take lots of pictures, okay? :)

    xo
    purposelyathome.blogspot.com

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  22. That's awesome girl!! SO Jealous you get to go to Paris and that you have been there before! :) Have so much fun at her wedding, how sweet that you formed such an amazing bond earlier! Really neat to see God provide in such a big way!

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  23. That is wonderful news!!! Wow!!! Ahhh God is so good and NO pray is ever invalid :) When shall you be in The Nethelands? Much love! Happy weekend!

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  24. Wow!!! That is great news!! YAY!!1 Ahhhh God is so good - He sure does know our hearts :) When shall you be in The Netherlands?

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  25. You have a very lovely blog! I'm glad I found you over at A Lavender Sea.

    xo Lisa
    Making Life's Lemons

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  26. What I love about our God is that there is NO silly prayer requests!! And what I also love is that He always faithfully answers!! Thanks so much for sharing and for encouraging my heart about a wedding I have been praying about going to!!!!
    :) love ya!
    Rebecca

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  27. That is so wonderful Katie!! Say hello to Paris for me I miss it already! ;)

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  28. That's so wonderful Katie!! Say hello to Paris for me! I miss it so much already ;)

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  29. I love how God works! Sometimes he just spoils us silly!! I remember once, about 15 years ago, praying a pipe dream prayer to be able to go to some conference in the UK. I was a seminary student at the time and totally broke, and actually had other commitments in South Africa during the week of the conference. And wouldn't you know it: the next week a couple in my car pool said, "you know Bronwyn if you ever wanted to go to that conference in London, we would gladly pay your conference fees." I was gobsmacked! And then, within a few weeks, an air ticket opened up!! HE SPOILS US!!!! Bon voyage. Have a wonderful, blessed time in Paris.
    p.s. thanks for commenting on my blog. you're right - comments make my day :-)

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  30. Thanks for the reminder that in all things we can lift them to our Father and that He cares so deeply for even the silliest of things in our hearts. I needed this lady! So excited for y'all to be able to go & celebrate your friends :)

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