a GREAT Thanksgiving

I had the privilege of having two Thanksgivings this year- one with my friends in Pittsburgh and the other with my family in Greenville. Here are some pictures of the Jancey Street meal, including pictures of our very first whole turkey! It's a beautiful thing! There was music, wonderful fellowship and of course great food courtesy of Jayme's awesome cooking! (sorry about the randomness of the picture lay-out... if it makes you feel any better, it's driving me nuts too...)

Here is my AWESOME FAMILY for Thanksgiving in Greenville including the most beautiful child in the entire world! My dad's sister and brother and their families joined us at home for the festivities. Filled with laughter, football, and way too much food, it was a really great day. William Isaac ate his first solid food on Thanksgiving day... not much of it got into his mouth, but every day he got better and better!

I mean... is this not the cutest child you have EVER seen!?!?

YOU'RE IT!

My sister, Beth, recently "tagged" me in her post a few weeks ago and in true Katie fashion I have not gotten around to writing it until now.
Here are the rules: I have to write 7 little known (or unknown) facts about myself and then tag 7 other people to do the same. This might be tough for me since most of you know my strange nuances.

1. I love fall. It is by far my favorite season. The leaves changing, the great pumpkin activities and cooking, the colors of autumn, apple orchards... it's all wonderful. All except the pumpkin spice that is in everything. Nutmeg. BLEH. I dread fall for this one reason... having to continually say no to pumpkin spice. I so wish I liked it!
2. When I was a kid, I lied a lot. I remember telling Megan Tinley in 3rd grade that there were Indian spirits living in the big rock next to the creek in our woods. I told her I would talk to them. I also told her that I was good friends with Joey from New Kids on the Block. She believed me.
3. I love to experience new things with people... and I don't really like being by myself. I need alone time like everyone, sure, but even going to the grocery store by myself isn't all that fun for me.
4. I am pretty sure I am in love for the first time in my life.
5. Jayme has been teaching me how to knit and absolutely love it. I secretly want to stay home from work every day to sit on the couch and make things.
6. I don't like "potty language". Unless it refers to my little nephew's bowel movements, I don't really want to discuss yours or your flatulence. Sorry folks.
7. I don't have a favorite color. I love them all!

Alright you 7 lucky people... now YOU are it:
Christopher Scott, Lizzie, Ray, Elizabeth, Diana, Brittney, and Michelle!

priorities

It has been a great summer... a hard summer in some ways... but a great summer. God has been stretching me and encouraging me and showing His faithfulness through the events of my life in ways I could never have even imagined.

After a lot of praying and Godly counsel and wisdom- and after a series of meetings- I was officially announced as part-time at Urban Impact (if you want all the details, I'd be happy to share!) And while it will stretch my budget to the absolute max (you may be getting lots of homemade Christmas presents, friends...), I truly believe this is God's will for me. It allows time for me to take lessons again...to SING again!..., to spend real time studying for all those classes I am taking, and maybe even get to see some of you more often! I know God will provide for all of my needs. Send up a few prayers for me if you think about it...:-) It's going to take a lot of discipline.

My summer ended with an awesome trip to Orlando to visit my boyfriend, Evan. What? Boyfriend, you say? Yes. That's right, friends... a boyfriend.

This girl has got it bad.

Evan and I met about a month after I came to Urban Impact and it was pretty much all over for both of us... There is one little hiccup though... a few months before he met me, he felt God calling him to go to Seminary in Orlando, FL. From the very beginning of our relationship we knew that he would be leaving Pittsburgh in August... August came and went, friends, and Evan is now in Orlando. He's actually staying with my Uncle Mike and Aunt Anita for a few weeks! And as hard as it is, I know it's exactly where he needs to be. I have already planned a trip to go see him at the end of October... and then of course there are holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas. Thank goodness for holidays...

So- while I wasn't in one of the places the choir went this summer, I was probably with Evan. It was an incredible summer with him to say the very least... I can't wait for you all to meet him. He is wonderful... and I miss him very much.

The Search
by Evan K. Fairey

When searching has stopped, surely you won’t find
One special to you, who catches your eye.
You think it’s your script, made up in your mind,
When Wisdom steps in, you see it’s a lie.
The past had been filled with games of all types;
Oh so much trying to make them seem right.
Pretend, substitute, and basically hype
Truths start to spring forth once seen in the light.
When we least expect it, the Author begins
Another great chapter, exciting it is.
Portfolio filled with many an epic,
Our lives, not our own, we must stand on this.
The present, unsure, may seem that it stands,
The future, secure, in His stable hands.

PS-- Are you still checking out my sister's blog for pictures???
Isn't my nephew, William, ADORABLE!?!?!
Here he is with my Daddy last week...

where there's a Will, there's a way

Hi, friends. I would like to introduce you to the newest member of my family, my nephew...William Isaac Dekker
Born July 3, 2008
9 lbs 13 oz

At four days old, William is possibly the most beautiful thing I have ever seen in my life. Mom (Bethy) is recovering wonderfully... she truly has been a champ through all of this. Dad (Nick) is beaming like I have never seen before and all their family and friends abound around this little kid. As the first grandchild for my parents, my dad has already talked about the pony he is getting for him as well as the four-wheeler he has picked out... Don't worry... I'm only half kidding. Well, I better run. Abbey and I have a fist-fight scheduled to see who gets to hold William next.

If you want to see more pictures of Will go look at nickandbethdekker.blogspot.com!

Urban Impact Singers

The girls of the Urban Impact Singers, from left to right: Brittany, Teyanna, Ebonee, Andraya, Breann, and Diamond.
This summer these girls and 5 boys chosen from the Urban Impact Community Choir will be traveling around the country singing on tour. From California to Michigan these kids have the opportunity of a lifetime not only sing for a great number of people but also, and more importantly, to dive into God's Word like they never have before. I can already see Him doing a mighty work in their lives.
I will be on tour with them along with a few other leaders over the next few months and will be in and out of Pittsburgh all summer... I covet your prayers as we are away. Miss you all very much...

Oh, and only a few days until I am an aunt! Pray for Bethy, Nick, and Baby D as he will be joining us very soon! :-) Check out all of the updates: nickandbethdekker.blogspot.com

bedtime friend

Everyone has a certain sense of security. Maybe you find it in the make-up you put on everyday. Maybe you find it in holding another's hand across the street or just in the embrace of an old friend. My roommate finds it in her blanky. Yes. That's right. Her blanky.
Jayme is 23 years old and every night sleeps with her childhood blanket (if you can still call it that). She claims that it had bears with striped t-shirts on it and large pine trees all over it on an off-white background. My other roommate, Abbie, and I are quite skeptical. Maybe the picture of this so-called blanket will help you determine with us what it is exactly.
Where is 'blanky' in that picture, you may ask? Is it the pastel-colored fabric underneath that ball of strips? Oh no, friends. That little wad of gray matter IS in fact her blanky. We asked her why she still sleeps with it every night- especially because soon there will be nothing left of it. Shouldn't she try to save it? "Well, if one piece falls off, I just tie it back on. That's why there are so may knots in it", she said. Abbie is still quite offended by the thought, sight, and smell of this little creature. She says, "It's really creepy when she strokes me with it." Fun is had by all on Jancey Street when Jayme chases Abbie around with blanky in hand.
I guess security does come in all shapes and sizes... smells and colors. We love you, Jayme... you and your blanky.

my blues are a little rosey

Maybe you don't know this, but I hate that I am emotional. Although all of you have seen me cry, for sure, I probably hated that I subjected you to that. I feel petty, ridiculous, and dramatic. The truth is though, that when I cry, I truly care about whatever it is that causes those blasted droplets... but it's not like I sit around and dwell on things and then finally let it all out in a good cry. It comes about suddenly. It's like I think to myself, "Oh my gosh. I really have a lot of feeling about this and I didn't realize!" It comes in an overwhelming sweep. I almost never cry around people that I don't know well. But as soon as I'm around people who know and love me, it's all over and I am a basket case. I hate this about myself.

But you know what? Being emotional is not a weakness. This is something I have to remind myself frequently. It's not something that makes me less of a person or more of a woman (although, some may argue that) but just makes me human. We're all wired differently and this just happens to be my thing. I am a crier. Can't change it. Shouldn't have to. And I just have to be okay with that. Um, hello? Ever heard of the shortest verse in the Bible (John 11:35)?

I was reading a sermon online and the preacher, J.O. McCloud, said this, "I have come to believe that suffering and love come from the same place deep down in the soul. If we did not love, we would not suffer. We suffer and hurt and weep for our kids, our parents, our siblings, our friends, our community, our nation, because we care. We get homesick because we love home so much. We shed tears over some one's death because we loved her living so much. Jesus wept for us because Jesus loves."

Know that when I cry, it just means I love something very much.

new job new job new job

You just never know what God has in store...

I was called about a job on a Wednesday, interviewed on a Thursday, and hired on a Monday. Sometimes it feels like it takes forever to see God working... and sometimes it only takes 24 hours! I can't tell you how many people I have talked to in the last 6 months and told them I really wanted a job that encompassed three things... music, ministry and administration. Where was I going to find something like that? It seems so specific... TOO specific. But not for God... He found it for me.

I work at Urban Impact Foundation here in Pittsburgh (our website is being redesigned and should be up within the month or two- www.urbanimpactpittsburgh.org). I work in the Performing Arts Department as a Program/Administrative Assistant. We have an 80 person choir comprised of inner city kids from the North Side as well as a drama class and dance team. It is so great to be involved with this ministry... I get to sing, lead rehearsals, plan trips and performances for the choir, and assist our director in whatever she needs. We are also starting a group of about 10 students for a traveling choir. Almost our entire summer is already booked with potential gigs! God is really blessing this ministry in its growth- the choir has tripled in size in 2 years!

I am still taking private voice lessons with the head of the vocal department at Duquesne and I am also up for the assistantship there for next fall. I am still waiting to hear about it and I'm not sure what is going to happen. My life is by no means "settled" but that's okay-- it gives God ample room to work.

Studying is also a large part of my life right now. I am in school online at Liberty Theological Seminary where I am earning my Master's of Arts in Religion and Worship Studies. It's really great, and I love my classes- especially the one I am taking now "Personal Evangelism". It is really helping me with my job in teaching these kids about Christ. Perfect timing as I start my new job!
Love you all and I would love to hear how you are! Keep in touch!