Happy New Years! A year in review...

Thursday, January 2


I'm not sure about you, but I LOVE reflecting.
with a passion. 

You know how they all say "an unexamined life isn't worth living"…
and  I agree. 
We find richness in taking the time to process our year, 
growing and learning from all we encountered. 
introspection is where it's at! 

today I read through almost my whole journal from the past year,
and saw all the prayers and tears I poured onto the pages,
asking God to make me new, to grant me peace, to replace the unhealthy with the healthy.
And as I got to end, I realized,
the culmination of this year was that the Lord did 
just that. 
my heart was the last page, and it is
new
at peace
and healthy. 

This was one of the best years of my life, absolutely. 
From Asia, to Europe, to the Rice Fields…God did a miracle. 

Let's go…

Big Sur
We started off the year with some fun trips around California…driving up the Coast to Big Sur! It was beautiful and we got to spend time with Kev's brother and his wife!  {here}

Celebrated a Birthday
I'm all about themed dress up parties, and this was no exception! My sweet friend Chels and I co-hosted a Mad-Men styled themed birthday party! It was a blast. You can see more pics {here}

Nepal
The biggest most life-altering change was moving to Nepal. and it was AMAZING. 
We fell in love with the girls in the home where we worked {here}
learned the art of open air shopping for our food {here}
travled a lot around the country {Pokhara, Bhaktapur, Swayambou, Boudha, Pashuputi, Chitwan}
and just loved to explore our hometown of Kathmandu {here}

Europe 
 We were so blessed to get to fly to Europe for two weeks this summer to attend the wedding of our old exchange student Aline! {here}
Kev and I flew into Paris for 2 romantic days
Then met my family for a few week trip to Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany, France, 
and finally Holland where the wedding was! We rented an adorable home in Delft! 
So much beauty {here} and a slew of pictures to come in 2014!!
 

Shooting a Wedding in Nepal
Out of the blue, a sweet couple who had found my blog, asked if I would shoot their wedding in Nepal.
I was honored! The day was absolutely stunning! 
To see more lovely pictures..{getting ready} {ceremony} {couple shots}

SE Asia
 After a very tearful goodbye in Nepal, Kevin and I took advantage of being in Asia
and spent almost a month traveling through Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam. 
Vietnam {posts coming!!}

 The Farm
In a random but fun turn of events, my dad who is a rice farmer, suggested that if Kevin and I wanted
we could come home and work the rice harvest! 
And we thought…"why not?" {here}
It was an incredible experience!! I mean, come on…I drove a tractor! haha
Getting to farm with generations of family was amazing! 
{especially with my 90 year old grandfather blowing me kisses from the harvester!}
farm sunsets {here}

Channel Islands 
Much like starting the year with some trips around our native California, 
we ended the year by taking an incredible backpacking trip with my siblings to the Channel Islands!! 
To see more pictures {here}

Even though all the travel was amazing and incredible,
my favorite part of the year was seeing God work and mold
my anxious heart into a place of abundant peace! 
I will be sharing more about my peace journey this coming year, 
but a few posts related to this process are below:
forgiveness {here}
peace from pain {here}
my health journey {part 1} {part 2}

I am so excited for what 2014 has to offer. 
I find that HOPE seems to be spilling out everywhere I look. 
Many blessings on you this next year for:) 
May it be full of peace, freedom, and feeling LOVED and wanted by the King of Kings! 

much love,
Katie 

33 comments :

  1. Reflecting is one of my favorite things as well Katie. I absolutely loved following along on your 2013 adventures. You are just beautiful inside and out my friend. Can't wait to see what 2014 holds for you!!! XOXO

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  2. Beautiful year! Wow, God is so faithful!! I love reflecting too and seeing how He never changes and is always faithful!!!

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  3. Love seeing how the Lord answers prayers and the way He not only gave you a desire to travel, but continuously gives you the opportunity to travel! What a blessed year! Praying this next year is even more wonderful! xox Chloe

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  4. What a year! So beautiful to see all of this Katie!!!

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  5. Once again another reason we are so similar. I absolutely adore reflecting. It gives us meaning and purpose! Your year was absolutely incredible. Nepal was obviously my favorite part of it (for good reason) but I loved seeing God work throughout your whole year.
    -Alyssa
    www.pinchoflyss.blogspot.com

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  6. what a beautiful year Katie! so glad you got to experience all of it. I'm sure the Lord has so much more for you and your husband in store for this year. you are such an inspiration in allowing God to do what He will in your life. Blessings friend!

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  7. What an amazing year. Your photos are gorgeous!!!! It would be a dream of mine to travel. :)

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  8. What an amazing year you've had. So happy to hear of the good work God has done in your life. Happy New Year friend!

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  9. Lovely year. I've enjoyed following along and can't wait to read more.

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  10. So glad to see how God blessed you this past year! All the photos were beautiful! Thanks for sharing all your adventures. They're inspiring me for a year of travel this year. Big wishes for you for 2014!

    xo, gina

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  11. What an amazing year! It was nearly a year ago that I first "met" you through the blogworld and I'm so grateful for it! :)

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  12. This sounds + looks like such a beautiful year!! Cheers to 2014!

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  13. you two are ones of those people with the biggest hearts i've ever known :)

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  14. yea for everything that God did in 2013! Can't wait to see the adventures that He has in store for y'all in this coming year! Hugs! :) Rebecca

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  15. You guys had quite a big year of living in 2014!

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  16. Beautiful! I love reflecting--especially with pictures!

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  17. You certainly had an amazing year! I can't wait to see what the Lord has in store for you in 2014! :-)

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  18. As usual you are so inspiring Katie!! I've been meditating a lot on what it means to "live your life for Jesus" and reading your posts always gets me so excited! I love that you have found your "way" to live and I'm going to keep praying that I know mine and find mine (I don't know if that makes sense but it's the only way I know how to say it!) ;)

    Hope to see you soon! The dinner invite is always open! xx

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  19. aww. i always enjoy reading your posts. i think one of the reasons that people enjoy your blog is because it's really inspiring & you have a healthy dose of gratitude poured into each one.

    for me, i encounter so much brokenness, sickness, wickedness, criticism, skepticism on a regular basis (being a nurse is not easy) so the negativity can seep in and overwhelm me at times. this is the reason why visiting your blog is like a breath of fresh air. it's like coming up from an ocean full of choking seaweed and stinging jellyfish, then resurfacing and breathing oxygen again. so thanks for your posts! the photos are beautiful but as always it goes deeper and its all about the message.

    look forward to seeing what God has in store for you this upcoming year. keep writing and giving Him the glory =)

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  20. What a great year, love seeing your photos from all of the beautiful places in this earth! Exciting to know that God did a work in you and has so much more in store for us for 2014! Happy New Year!

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  21. I did a terrible job keeping up with blogs this year, so I loved recapping your year of travel in this post! I can't wait to read more about your adventures, Katie.

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  22. Love your heart girl. I love reflecting too!! So many wonderful adventures. Can't wait to read all about your 2014. :)

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  23. What a great year! I can't wait to see what adventures 2014 has in store for you.
    Have a fantastic year

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  24. What an amazing year girl! Glad God has given you peace and a wonderful journey.

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  25. I love that your year came full circle and was continually centered on His love! Can't wait to read the stories that come this year :)

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  26. I love that your year was filled with so much color and life. I love, love your blog! You and Kev give me so much hope that a relationship centered around Christ blooms beautifully. :) Happy new year, Katie.

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  27. I want nothing more to go on adventures with you guys. Also, I think you're the most gorgeous person I know.

    Happy New Year! LOVE YOU.

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  28. OH MY GOSH, KATIE!!!! This is pure AWESOME! I love this re-cap! When you put it all together in one post, its evident exactly how blessed and adventurous our faithful, loving Father has made your 2013 to be... and you just wait for 2014! I am sure it will be just as amazing. Maybe not as many globe-trotting memories, but I am sure God will do great things as you study counseling and how to better serve the emotional and mental needs of His beloveds. That in itself is an adventure worth taking (though a painful one, I should add!)
    I have been wondering when you'd post your Europe pics! I am so excited to see them in the next year!!
    I could go on, but I would turn this comment into a novella, so I digress. I wanted to tell you I gave you a little shout-out on my last post "goal setting/ what fires you up") because your blog truly inspires and fires me up! Your selflessness and servant's heart are contagious. Thank you for allowing God to work in you, and then sharing His goodness in doing so! You always point the glory back to Him and it is beautiful to see! I am so, so, so thankful for you (and excited to see you in 2014!!!!)

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  29. Goodness these photos are gorgeous! Looks like you had a fantastic year. That Eiffel Tower picture ohmygosh! Linking over from Elah Tree :) Hope you're having a great start to 2014!

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  30. Not going to lie, I'm a little jealous of all the adventure you packed into this year. Isn't it amazing when we pour out our heart to God each day, and the one day we look back and discover He's answered all our prayers in big ways? We serve an awesome God. Wishing you the best in 2014!

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  31. What an incredible year! God is so so good and what an amazing thing you two are doing for his kingdom. So honored to call you 'friend' :) Here's to an even better 2014.

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  32. Looks like you had an amazing year! I hope 2014 is just as wonderful for you, friend! :-)

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