New Normal

     Today is the first day of all the change in my life. I mean, obviously not really, since I've been engaged for 7 and a half months, and you could point out numerous other changes along the pathway of my life. BUT today is the day it really gets real. 

     Yesterday was my final day working at the greenhouse. I have been working there, in various capacities, for more than 13 years. I've been full time there since I came back from YWAM in 2016. It's my second home, a place where the people are like family. I've experienced a lot of frustrations and annoyances there, but I have also had a lot of laughter, fun, and friendships. That place has produced friends that will, God willing, be in my life forever. I've learned a lot, from the practical things about growing plants to the strategies of leadership and supervising. I've learned how to have fun while doing crappy jobs, and I've learned how to multitask like crazy. It has been a fantastic ride, and one that I am sad to see end. I had a lot of emotions over the past 8 months, processing the end of this era, and it's been quite the pendulum. Ultimately, it was a bittersweet goodbye. 

     However, it's ending means a tremendous new beginning. Today, Raymond arrives in Ontario and our time as a long distance couple officially comes to an end! A week from tomorrow, we will be getting married! 

     This is the beginning of our new normal. To which Raymond would say "There's no such thing as normal, it's just a social construct!" 

     Our wedding is going to look drastically different than we first imagined it would. Back when we got engaged in late 2019, we had no idea what was about to unfold in our world. Covid-19 was something no one had ever heard of, cause it hadn't even been named yet! Instead of a church wedding with everyone we love, we will be having a smaller, outdoor ceremony. Wedding planning has been a crazy ride, one that changes constantly, but honestly, I'm so happy with how the plans are turning out. I'm okay with a smaller ceremony and even smaller reception. I'm completely happy with it.

     Because ultimately, all the matters is our marriage. Saying the vows and committing to each other. Entrusting our lives to God. If Covid has taught us anything, it is that God is in control and He is what truly matters.

     Blessings,

          Katie

Re-Boot

     Hey! It's been so long, but my life is changing yet again and I feel like this is a good platform to process it on.

     For the last few years, since 2016 and coming home from YWAM (wow, has it really been 4 years already?!), I've been living at home with my parents, attending the same church, and working at the same job. It's been normal. Rooted. I'm home. I'm flourishing, I'd say, in some areas. I've been working at my high school job, a greenhouse, but in a very different capacity, and it's a place I've very much felt called to. And I love it! I've also become very involved at my church, even becoming the youth director this year, along with my friend and a girl I mentored, a now twenty year old sweetheart. It was super hard and super challenging, but God was so faithful and good.

     Here's the thing, though: in December, I got engaged to my amazing fiance, Raymond. How we met is a complete God story in and of itself, one that I will definitely be telling another time, simply for my own reflection! Every time I look back on how God brought us together, I can't help but laugh and be in complete awe of Him!

     Raymond, however, lives not in the Toronto, Ontario, area where I live, but in Edmonton, Alberta. So after we get married on August 29 of this year, I will be moving out west to Alberta! Which is equally scary and exciting. I have to say goodbye to my job, which I love, and my church, which I also love, and to some extent my family. It's not going to be an easy thing, but it is where God is calling us to begin our marriage, and so there we will be. I'm excited to enter this new adventure with Raymond, and to get to know his family and friends better. I'm also very very VERY thankful that my cousin and best friend, Rachel, already has lived in Edmonton for several years for work. God is good!

     So, with that being said, here is my life. We'll see how often I write, but this is really just for me, anyway. And if others get enjoyment out of it, I'm glad!

     Blessings,

          Katie

A Reluctant Bride

   This summer, I received a book titled A Reluctant Bride, by Jody Hedlund, to read and review. I have always enjoyed Jody's books in the past, so I was looking forward to this one. Mercy Wilkins has a chance to escape her life in the slums of London, by last minute joining a group of women sponsored to immigrate to British Columbia. It isn't until after she is on the ship that Mercy realizes that it is a bride ship. While on board, she finds herself the assistant to the ship's surgeon. It isn't long before the two have fallen in love- but she is meant for those awaiting them in British Columbia.
     I enjoyed this novel. It has been awhile since I've read a historical romance, and this was a nice one to break the streak with. I stayed up late to keep reading it, and managed to finish it within a few days, even though my life was pretty busy. One thing I really appreciated -though it wasn't until I read the Author's Note at the end- is that this book was loosely based on truth. The ship was real, as was its purpose, and the ship's surgeon really did fall in love with and marry one of the women intended as brides. All in all, I would say this book was a satisfying read!
    *** Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. ***

Jerusalem's Queen

This past Sunday, I had spent a majority of the day with my nose in a book. Jerusalem's Queen by Angela Hunt, to be exact. A book in the Silent Years series, it follows Salome Alexandra, a simple country girl who becomes Jerusalem's queen. After the death of her father and sister, a distant relative -also the high priest- takes Salome and nurtures her, providing her with everything she needs to become an influential woman. Her thirst for learning is recognized and encouraged, but when Salome grows older, she realizes that she still is just a pawn to be used by her guardians.

I enjoyed this book. It provided an interesting look at the time that the Bible is silent on. I found Salome and Kissa and the other characters to be real and I felt like I could connect with them. It was a satisfying historical read, for anyone who is interested in that era!

Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.

Mind Games

I recently had the opportunity to read a book called Mind Games by Nancy Mehl. From the beginning, the novel intrigued me. This novel is about Kaely Quinn, an FBI Behavioral Analyst who is the daughter of a serial killer. Many people don't agree with Kaely's methods, by they have always proved to be effective. Now, a killer is taunting Kaely, seemingly mocking her and daring her to find him. Kaely and her new partner, Noah, must race to figure it out before its too late.
From the beginning, the characters felt real and I was invested in this novel. I started reading and didn't want to put it down. I thoroughly enjoyed this first book in the Kaely Quinn Profile series. It wasn't completely unpredictable, but that's okay. I enjoyed it all the same!
Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.

Book Review: River to Redemption

I have once again had the opportunity to read and review a book, this month one titled River to Redemption by Ann H. Gabhart. The description of this book drew me in from the moment I read it- "Orphaned in the cholera epidemic of 1833, Adria Starr was cared for by a slave named Louis, a man who passed up the opportunity to escape his bondage and instead tended to the sick and buried the dead. A man who, twelve years later, is being sold by his owners despite his heroic actions. Now nineteen, Adria has never forgotten what Louis did for her. She's determined to find a way to buy Louis's freedom. But in 1840s Kentucky, she'll need all of the courage and strength she possesses- an more." (back of book).
I thought this story sounded interesting, but I didn't realize at the time that it was actually based on true events. Louis, his heroic efforts, and his eventual freedom were all true. The author took liberties to imagine how his freedom might have happened, but the gist of the story was historical. I really appreciated this, when I got to the end and realized it!
The book itself was a decent read. It was rather slow at times, and in a way felt anti-climactic, but it was a good plot and the author carried it well. While I generally find books to be predictable, I found myself surprised at different areas of this novel. This is unusual, and I like it!
So really, if you are a fan of historical fiction, you should read this book. It's well written and -I feel, anyway- historically accurate.

Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.

The Return

This month, I had the pleasure of reading a book called The Return by Lacey Sturm. This book was simply reflections on loving God back. This is something that I've thought about quite a bit lately, since in recent years (starting during my DTS, in fact), the fact that GOD loves ME has moved from being head knowledge to heart knowledge. And knowing that HE loves ME makes me want to show HIM even more how much I love Him.
If that makes any sense at all.
Anyway, I was excited to get this book, and I'm still not 100% sure how I feel about it. It was good to spend time reading, but what it says on the title "The Return: Reflections on loving God back" is very accurate. Essentially, this book is a collection of Lacey's old journal entries and prayers and Bible studies, as well as current reflections. It is very interesting and personal, and real. I also did enjoy her list of questions with Bible passages underneath. It was a very full book. My only hesitation was that because it was so personal, sometimes I didn't really know what was going on. It was at times random, with random stories from throughout her life with little to no context. This, however, also gave it an authenticity; the author didn't worry about spending the time making sure the reader knew exactly who everyone was. She wanted to share her reflections of loving God back, and in this, she was very effective.
All in all, I enjoyed the book and it did actually help me when I had a major life decision to make recently. Some of the things that Lacey was reflecting on were similar to what I was thinking about at the time when I read it. So that was pretty great. :)
Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.