We're Moving!!

It's true…after living in Southern California for the last 7 years, we are moving! And I couldn't be more excited:) For a few years now we've been dreaming about going back to Northern California (where I grew up)! The timing never felt quite right, and we were not sure what we'd do up there job wise. At times it was discouraging and we wondered if anything would ever open for us! 

But last December, the perfect job came in the most unexpected place…my family's business!  

That's right…all my life i've been a farmer's daughter…and now i'm going to be a farmer's wife:) haha! Kevin will be partnering with my Dad and our family on the rice farm. As a fun fact, my family's business has been going for over 100 years now which I think is just so neat:) 2 years ago Kevin and I worked a harvest on the farm, which you can see here and here! I truly think there's something special about tilling the soil and growing something from the ground up. I can't wait to be back up there! 

So yeah, i'll be graduating with my masters in December…we'll be taking a few fun trips in December and January, and then in mid-January we will be making the trek north! 

Please pray for us in this season! It's been a stressful one, and quite honestly there are still a few unknown variables! It's hard not to be in control or know where our house or my job will be, but i'm learning to trust God and feel confident He has something special for us:) Thank you so much for your support! 

I will keep ya'll posted as we move forward, but for now…so so grateful for God's timing and provision! Thanks for your prayers:) 

farm dreaming

this past month working on the farm has been incredibly peaceful and, in a funny way, liberating. 

every morning Kevin and I wake up early, 

pack our monstrous lunches that hold us through our 12 hour days, 

and suit up in our old jeans and flannels. 

the drive to work is a highlight, as Kevin and I talk and read the bible and pray together. 

we dream about our future going back to southern california in a few weeks. 

as a confession, i'm so unsure of the future there is so much to pray into. 

but that is exciting to me:) 

we get to the ranch, and we spend the first hour greasing our tractors. 

this is probably my least favorite part. 

i'm not exactly a muscle woman so I literally have to give it my all to complete this task, haha! 

then, I sit in a tractor for almost eleven hours and drive and chop straw. 

Now, I'm sure the very mention of this monotony may put you to sleep, 

but truly this uninterupted time has been a beautiful sanctuary for the imagination, 

as I feel profoundly justified and liberated to just sit there and dream and pray. 

lately we've been dreaming of where to live when we move back to Southern California. 

I dream of an old house in an immigrant neighborhood. 

With a big porch and room for us to host anyone that passes through. 

a house that is filled with love and laughter and parties and 

candles that burn and fill the room with a delicious aroma. 

so i've been trying to pray boldly into that. 

trusting that God is going to move in an epic way. 

i'm excited to see what He's up to in that department!  

but on the farm, I get to dream because all I have is time:) 

I love these farm sunsets...they inspire me. 

and add to the mystery of this God who asks us to pray BIG and BOLD into our dreams. 

What are you dreaming of lately? 

love Katie 

Why Not?

When I'm old and saggy and can say whatever I very well please,

what I really want to tell my grandkids is that I lived a good story.

that I took risks and listened to the Holy Spirit.

that I made cookies with my neighbor kids spur of the moment

and moved to Nepal with my husband.

That I skinny dipped in italy,

and ate bugs in Asia, 

and opened my home to anyone looking for love. 

and then I realized that all of those things I wanted to remember,

anything that was worth repeating,

were opportunities that presented themselves that others might say, 

"well, why?..why would you do that?"

"why eat a bug?"

or

"why move to country where the freaking electricity is never on?" 

or

"why live in a neighborhood that has a gang?" 

and here's my very deep and profound answer,

"why not?" 

why.the.heck.not? 

Jesus's life wasn't normal, so why should mine be? 

Jesus didn't have a picket fence or a fat salary or even a permanent home on earth. 

He just carried love around in his pocket, and sowed seeds of beauty and depth, grace and forgiveness. 

these are the thoughts swirling in my head right now, am I weird? 

and so in honor of the 

why not 

statement, 

I am now a farmer. 

I know, laugh. 

please. 

it's hilarious. 

While still in Nepal, my dad mentioned that if we wanted to come and work the rice harvest he'd hire us! 

You see, my family has been growin' rice like nobody's business for the last 100 years. 

and while I didn't grow up in the country or on a farm, i'd love to believe that i'm a farmer at heart. 

Most the time, I settle for being a farmers daughter.

but now with great excitement, I can now say i'm a legit farmer {for 4 more weeks! haha}

Kev and I decided that for one month this Fall, we'd learn how to grow grain like it was our job. 

In fact, it is our job. {not to grow the grain, of course, but to harvest it}

So for the next month, you can refer to me as farmer Katie:) 

I've got my flannel, my jeans, and work shoes...i've even got a grease gun! 

so why not randomly work on a farm? 

we're young, we're able and we still have our eyesight to drive a tractor! 

and won't that make a good story someday? 

I think so:) 

So today, I hope you'll find something to ask

"why not" to! 

surprise yourself, cut loose, and love life for all it's surprises!! 

love Katie