In the Flowers: Photo Shoot Link-Up

Never lose an opportunity of seeing anything beautiful, for beauty is God's handwriting.

Ralph Waldo Emerson

I've been thinking a lot about beauty lately,

and how when we bring beauty to the world, 

we show God to the world. 

when we forgive, 

there is beauty that grows in a place once fixed with bitterness. 

when we offer grace,

we cultivate the vines of beauty that otherwise would have sown condemnation

and when we live our lives in a way that welcomes and embraces others,

we offer a beauty of hospitality that says "you are loved and important" 

We must see ourselves as "beauty bearers" 

If we berate our image, we are berating God. 

But if we embrace how He has made us, 

we can humbly use our earthly bodies as vessels to radiate the Beauty of heaven...

of kindness, of love, of gentleness and of grace.

beauty is from God. 

I'm so so looking forward to seeing your beautiful pictures today:) 

love Katie 

ps: you can add this little link in your blog post if you'd like:

feel free to copy and paste this,

and insert it into your blog with my link below!

we are back!

In the last month alone Kevin and I have 

Flown on 11 planes

Traveled through 10 countries

Rode on 4 buses (2 of them crossing international lines)

Taken 3 Tuk Tuk rides

Spent 2 days on Bicycles

and 1 day cruising the countryside in Vietnam on a motorbike 

and now we are home. 

I'm not even sure if the emotions i'm having are a result of 

jetlag, 

reverse culture shock, 

or just my emotional self, 

but let me tell you, 

i'm all over the freaking map, friends.

yesterday I laughed, I cried, 

and I sat silent wrapped in my own thoughts 

trying the figure out what i'd even consider "home" to be right now. 

Thankfully, I don't need four walls of my own to call home. 

My home is my husband, and he's by my side, so all is well. 

This morning I woke up early, and just sat with the Lord in utter thanksgiving. 

Who I am to have experienced what I did in the last six months? 

It overwhelms me to think that he is So good and knows our hearts and opens doors to feed our desires.

I then spent time writing down the verses that have impacted me the most in these past six months. 

Oh friends, God has changed me in Nepal and has grown and repaired my heart. 

He has taken so many hurts and turned them around in a beautiful bouquet of forgiveness and peace. 

I hope to share more of this with you soon, but for now, I'm still just thanking God for his faithfulness. 

So thank you,

thank you dear friends,

who encouraged me through our time in Nepal. 

I'm looking forward to sharing more of our time from Nepal, Europe, and SE Asia with you hopefully soon! 

much love,

Katie 

And PS- Don't forget about the Photo Shoot Link-up on the 15th! Can't wait to see your lovely photos:) 

Nepali Wedding: Garden of Dreams

If you missed it...Part 1 & Part 2

After the lovely wedding, the bride and groom and some family members

walked through the streets of Thamel in Kathmandu towards the Garden of Dreams.

We were quite the parade, it was so fun!  

The Garden of Dream is this amazing fairy tale place, smack in the middle of chaos,

but you wouldn't know it, as it is peaceful and stunning from every direction. 

It is a garden built amidst an old Rana Palace. 

I had the privilege of snapping a few pictures of this gorgeous couple:) 

enjoy, love Katie 

and PS- If you would like to take part in the Photo-Shoot link-up, I'll be posting it on Sept 15th,

so get out your camera and get creative:)