The 29 Years of ME!!

Tomorrow I will be 29, but it seems like yesterday that I sat here editing this post before my 28th birthday.  It's amazing to me how quickly a year flies by!  For the past several years, I've taken this post and added to it on the night before my birthday.  I love rereading the memories of years past and then documenting the highlights of the last year.  There's always something so sweet to me in reflecting on the journey Christ chooses to take me on.  It's funny to me how it never seems to turn out the way I would expect, yet when I look back, I realize that God's hand was in it all.  It's proof that God's journey for me is so different than anything I would have chosen for myself, but it is good!     

YEAR 1: It all began on February 16, 1985 when all 10 lbs. 11 oz. of me made an entrance into the world. Of course I don’t remember anything from this year, but pictures and stories tell me that my fat rolls had fat rolls. I was extremely chubby! This was also the year when I began all of my broken bones…a skull fracture at 9 months old!

YEAR 2, 3, 4: I’m lumping all of these years together….In these years I spent a lot of time with my Mama Sue. Mama Sue kept me while my parents worked, and I loved going to her house. We spent lots of time in the garden…chasing cows that got out of the pen…shucking corn…and snapping green beans. I gave my “passy” away to her baby calf because it didn’t have one. One of the biggest memories I have of spending time with Mama Sue is when we got into a wreck on the way to pick her kids up from school….even at that age, I still REMEMBER it (not just hearing stories about it!).

YEAR 5: During this year, I started taking dance. I’m pretty sure it only lasted one year…I definitely turned out to be a tomboy instead of a girlie girl. So sorry, Mom! At the end of my fifth year, I got a little sister. Hard to say if I was excited or not….I’m pretty sure I wanted to send her back. (No worries…I love her now!)

YEAR 6: I started Kindergarten this year, and I absolutely loved my teacher. My favorite part of Kindergarten was the memory verse cards we had. Each week was a new verse starting with a new letter of the alphabet. We learned scripture while learning our alphabet…I thought it was amazingly cool back then. I also began playing t-ball this year!

YEAR 7: This was the year when SOFTBALL actually started, and I was hooked from the beginning. I got to “play” on an all-star team which I was almost too young for, but I made the cut because I was “coachable”…what really ended up happening was I sat the bench and occasionally got to play right field [read…picking flowers!].

YEAR 8: I started piano lessons this year from the organist at our church. I enjoyed learning to play, but I hated practicing and hated recitals even more. At my Christmas recital, I walked in, saw everyone looking at me, started crying, and walked out. I can’t remember if I actually played my pieces. My FAVORITE softball memory from this year is warming up with my brother before a game and the ball hit me in the face. I had a bruise in the pattern of the “stitches” from the softball. I was SO proud! I’ve always loved my battle wounds!

YEAR 9: I got my first kitten this year, Oreo! I also had my first teacher in school that I didn’t like. Other than that, softball continues!

YEAR 10: I had my favorite birthday party in this year. My mom planned a Mexican Fiesta at our house and we all played Bunko!

YEAR 11: I broke my leg on Christmas day of this year, and ended up being in a long cast for several weeks. I vividly remember getting my cast off and a couple of days later having the first softball practice of the season. The last thing my mom told me before she left was DON’T run the bases. As she came to pick me up, sure enough, I was running the bases! OOPS! You couldn’t keep me away from softball.

YEAR 12: This was the year of my favorite vacation of all times. We spent two weeks going to New Mexico, Arizona, and Colorado. We had two weeks worth of pimento cheese and chicken salad sandwiches (which we STILL talk about to this day!)…and stayed at the “Best Inn”. Oh the memories from that vacation…

YEAR 13: This begins the awkward years…and I had it bad. I started 7th grade during this year, and it was a big deal because it was the first year for all of the kids in my grade to be at the same school (we came from several elementary schools). My best friend at the time, Amanda, moved to town, and we were instant friends. Without a doubt we were inseparable until she moved in 9th grade. I got sent to the office this year for accidently touching my teacher’s paper cutter, and I thought my world had ended! We added on to our house and I FINALLY had my own room. I started taking dance again because I thought I might want to be in drill team in high school.

Most significantly in this year is that the Lord began showing me through someone I looked up to greatly that I needed to make my faith in Him my own….

YEAR 14: March 4th of this year Andrey (from Ukraine) came to live with us while he had surgery on his eye. It was an interesting experience, but one I wouldn’t trade for anything. On June 24, 1998, I accepted Christ as my Savior and began following Him. My faith went from going to church on Sundays to having a relationship with the one true God! My life has never been the same since that day!

YEAR 15: I started high school during this year. I was on the JV Drill team and I made Varsity softball as a freshman. During my freshman year, I had two of my best friends, Amanda and Mallory, move away. I had to find a new group of friends which isn't always the easiest thing to do in high school.

YEAR 16: During July of this year, my parents bought me a red Volkswagon Beetle! It was what I always wanted…I couldn’t believe I was actually getting one!! I remember being so happy that I couldn’t quit crying as my mom and dad signed all the papers. Sad thing was that I was TERRIFIED to drive it because it was a stick shift. I finally learned, and at the end of my 16th year (on my 16th birthday!), the K8TBUG was mine!

YEAR 17: During this summer, I went to Super Summer and the Lord put China on my heart. I knew from that moment on that I would serve there someday…I wasn’t sure when…I wasn’t sure how…but I knew I was going!

YEAR 18: The thing that sticks out to me most during this year is junior prom. I didn’t like it one bit. It was my first (and only) dance I ever went to. That summer I went to several camps (like every summer) including softball camp at Texas A&M!!

YEAR 19: This was a huge year for me! I graduated from high school #6 in my class, and then packed my bags to move off to Texas A&M which was a dream come true. I left home being one extremely shy little girl afraid to order my own meal at restaurants. I was scared to death to be on my own, but I wanted to be an Aggie so badly!

YEAR 20: At the beginning of my 20th year, the Lord blessed me with an incredible friendship that proved to be one of my best friends of all time, Christi! She was (and still is) a huge blessing in my life. I learned so much of the Lord’s character and how much I needed Him DAILY during this year. I donated my hair to Locks of Love for the first time, and I got the chance to work at T bar M.

YEAR 21: I went back to work at T bar M this summer. My 21st year ended with my mom and dad driving to College Station just to take me out to dinner on my birthday. I was reminded of how blessed I am to have a mom and dad who would do things like that…and even sometimes just drive up to surprise me!

YEAR 22: Year 22 was another big one for me! I took the MCAT for the first time, and didn’t do as well as I had hoped. A few months later (only days after getting my MCAT scores back), I hopped on a plane and spent a portion of the summer in China teaching English. God used the MCAT to form a bond between me and my sweet friend from China, A! The best part of the summer was that A came to know Jesus and she loves Him with everything she has. The Lord showed me that summer that He works out ALL THINGS for the good of those who love Him.

YEAR 23: During year 23, I took the MCAT for the second time, and the Lord began to reveal to me that medical school wasn’t the direction He wanted me to go. Not knowing what to do instead, I applied to medical school and again hopped on a plane back to Nanning, Guangxi, China (where I left my heart the summer before). This trip to China was cut short due to a broken arm, and I was completely devastated!

Oops…I can’t forget to mention that I graduated from TEXAS A&M! WHOOP! Proudest member of the Fightin’ Texas Aggie Class of 2007.

I also began working at College Station Middle School in August. It was during this time the Lord led me to nursing school, and I began the application process.

YEAR 24: I continued to work at the middle school in the Special Education classroom where God taught me so much about unconditional love through two students that I affectionately call “My Honor Student” and “My Ray of Sunshine”. The entire experience of working at this school allowed me to fall more in love with Jesus and see new aspects of His character. I was completely changed by the lives of these two precious students!

I decided to come to San Antonio for nursing school, and it was a HUGE change for me! Little did I know that when I moved so far away from my family that God would bring a big sister (something I always prayed for) into my life. He also completely blessed me with an amazing house church of people with a heart for the nations.

YEAR 25: If I can sum up my 25th year in one word, it would be FREEDOM! I’ve learned a lot this year about what it means to truly walk in freedom in Christ. Freedom from fear…freedom from failure…freedom from perfection… Life isn’t about living for other people, but it’s about living for Him and following Him wherever He chooses to lead me.

YEAR 26:  This year has been a year of change in my life….I’m no longer a student.  :(  The early months were filled with a job hunt.  The process was not fun, but I was completely blown away with how the Lord blessed me. I experienced post earthquake Haiti, firsthand.  And to say that I fell in love with the people there is an understatement!!  The month of April was difficult because in the midst of applying for a job, one of my favorite clinical instructors/mentors unexpectedly went to be with Jesus. Then in May, I walked across the stage and received BS degree #2.  You can betcha that when I walked across the stage I flashed a big GIG ‘EM to the camera as I received my diploma.  I may have got to a “t.u” system school, but I am still 100% Aggie through-and-through.   In July I started an amazing job as an RN in the Pediatric ICU at Santa Rosa.  At this point, I have been there about 8 months, and Jesus has changed me.  I’ve been humbled by the trust of my patients and their families that is given to me on a daily basis.  Each day as I go to work, my prayer is the same.  I pray that I would bring hope, comfort, joy, and peace in Jesus’ name to my patients and their families.  I don’t want to miss any opportunity to be Jesus’ hands and feet.  A definite highlight in my 26th year is my roomies.  I live with 4 of the greatest girls I know….they deserve their own post.

YEAR 27:  This year has been one of many, many blessings!  I started off this year as the assistant coach for SACS Middle School softball team.  These girls had so much heart and gave their all 100% of the time.  They definitely worked to earn their undefeated season.  I was so proud of them!   The summer of this year {mostly June!} was busy, busy, busy, but I love busy!  Two of my closest friends got married two weeks apart during the summer, and I was honored to be able to stand with both of them as they said their “I do’s”.   In a seemingly “random” series of events {although it was completely orchestrated by the Lord}, I found out about a trip to Haiti, and God made it evident that I needed to be there…SO I WENT!!  Through this trip to Haiti, God brought about one of the biggest blessings of this year, A CHURCH HOME!  I have been so blessed and challenged by the people at Grace, and I love them so much!  During June, I also managed {somehow} to squeeze in working Vacation Bible School, taking girls to GA Camp, and working as a nurse at Camp Waldemar.   The end of the summer marked the end of living with my roomies at the M&M House and moving across town into an apartment by myself.  My 27th year also had its fair share of hard times…my grandpa passed away in May and some very sweet friends moved away in December.  Throughout this year, I have come to know Jesus in a whole new way.  I was constantly reminded that God knows the cry of our hearts, and He longs to give good things to His children….in His time!  I’m learning that His timing, no matter how crazy it seems, is perfect!  I finish this year blessed, thankful, and full of anticipation for the year ahead!   Oh…and I can’t forget that the last week of my 27th year landed me in the Emergency Room for an evening.  Evidently when you are kickboxing and pass out…people take that seriously!    

YEAR 28:  How do I even begin to describe this year: Injuries, adventures, illness, and friendships!    INJURIES:  Please tell me you are not surprised by this anymore!  In March, I had an unfortunate incident with a rather large rock in Haiti, which you can read about here and here.  OUCH!!! ADVENTURES: During this year, I was extremely blessed to travel back to Haiti for the third time and travel for the first time to Mongolia where our team mended many physically broken hearts .  Man, oh man, I loved Mongolia!!  Each place I've traveled has it's own amazing stories of what God is doing, but something about my time in Mongolia was different.  God used Mongolia to change me!  FRIENDSHIPS: In December of 2011, some good friends moved from San Antonio, and I spent  part of my 28th year not really feeling like I had a "place" in San Antonio where I could just feel at home.  Not only did I gain fabulous memories and a newfound love for taking care of children's hearts while in Mongolia, God gave me some new friendships that I treasure.  They bless me, encourage me, and have helped me grow more in my faith.  God knows each of us so well, and He gives us exactly what we need at exactly the right time!  He is SO SO good!  ILLNESS:  The last part of this year I have been fighting through some sort of illness with my lungs.  I've become all too familiar with neb treatments, inhalers, PFT's....and the list could go on!  

If I have one word to describe what I've been learning this past year, it is DEPENDENCE!!  Even when i think I have things figured out, God reminds me that in ALL things, I have to depend on Him.  He is the source of LIFE and STRENGTH...and apart from HIM, I can do NOTHING!

YEAR 29:  This year has been a whirlwind!  It's hard to remember all that went on during my 29th year....is it too early to start blaming old age?!?!   I have spent most of this year out of the safety of my comfort zone.  As a nurse, I got to add a few letters to the back of my name.... Katie Tankersley, RN, BSN, CCRN.  CCRN is a certification for critical care nursing that requires a certain number of hours as a bedside nurse in a critical care setting in order to be able to sit for the exam.  Let me tell you, it was a relief to have that exam behind me.  This year I have also stepped out of my comfort zone and into a new role of being a charge nurse in the Pediatric ICU.  I returned to Mongolia in September as part of our medical team to help mend broken hearts.  I was honored to be asked to take on the role of charge nurse for our team of nurses during that trip.  Less than two months later was probably my biggest test of stepping out of my comfort zone on faith and trusting Christ with fears of the unknown.  In November, I again traveled with For Hearts And Souls to Kurdistan.  Originally our trip was planned to be a heart catheterization trip to Fallujah, but God had VERY different plans.  We spent our time in Kurdistan screening children for heart defects and teaching the Kurdish ICU nurses.  Little did I know that when I returned home I would be able to add "International Lecturer" to my resume.  If all of the other things I've mentioned were "steps" out of my comfort zone, I would say that lecturing to nurses in another country about nursing care in a post-op pediatric cardiac patient would be light years away from my comfort zone.  

In spending so much time out of my comfort zone, I realize that it's in that place where growth happens.  Growing pains occurred and I frantically sought out the familiar on many occasions, but through it all I realized I'm capable of so much more than I think.  Out of my comfort zone, God has shown me His goodness.  The overwhelming message of this year for me is that God is GOOD. Period. End of story.  In the good times---He is GOOD.  When things make sense---He is GOOD.  When I have no clue what step is next in my life---He is GOOD.  When I'm physically sick and can't figure out how to make it better---He is GOOD.  Regardless of any conditions---He is GOOD.  He stretched me thin at times, but that just meant less of "me" to get in the way as He worked in and through me.  

In other news, I ran my first half marathon, and Lord-willing it won't be my last one.  I've fallen in love with running more than I EVER thought I would.  I'm hoping that a full marathon is in my future for my 30th year!  We'll see!!  Unfortunately this year had to end with my PawPaw going to see Jesus.  It's sad for us here, but I know that he is not sad at all!  

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I know this is long, but I love keeping a record :)  What I didn't have time or space to do was write down everything. So woven throughout these years were many more broken bones, lots of laughter, lots of tears, lots of amazing memories! In doing this, I was reminded how incredibly blessed I am. I have the best family…the best friends…and I serve the most amazing God! These 29 years have been full, and I wouldn’t have it any other way! I’m so blessed and so thankful!  As I look back at these memories, I am blown away by the life the Lord has given me.  I can't wait to see adventures are in store for the next years of my life. 

Feel free to comment and add some of your own memories.  :)

It's a WILD RIDE following Jesus, but I wouldn't have it any other way!

Mongolia 2012 Slideshow

In just a couple of months, I'll be going back to Mongolia (God-willing!)!!!  I could not be more excited!!

This is a slideshow of pictures I put together after our trip in 2012, and I love watching it and remembering how clearly I saw God at work that week.

I don't think I've posted this before....so watch and enjoy!  

The 28 Years of ME!!!

Tomorrow is my 28th birthday!!  It's become somewhat of a tradition for me to revisit this particular blog post each year around my birthday.  As I read through it {and add to it!}, I thoroughly enjoy my trip down memory lane.  This year is no different…I continue to be amazed at the journey the Lord continues to take me on!  Read and enjoy!  

YEAR 1: It all began on February 16, 1985 when all 10 lbs. 11 oz. of me made an entrance into the world. Of course I don’t remember anything from this year, but pictures and stories tell me that my fat rolls had fat rolls. I was extremely chubby! This was also the year when I began all of my broken bones…a skull fracture at 9 months old!

YEAR 2, 3, 4: I’m lumping all of these years together….In these years I spent a lot of time with my Mama Sue. Mama Sue kept me while my parents worked, and I loved going to her house. We spent lots of time in the garden…chasing cows that got out of the pen…shucking corn…and snapping green beans. I gave my “passy” away to her baby calf because it didn’t have one. One of the biggest memories I have of spending time with Mama Sue is when we got into a wreck on the way to pick her kids up from school….even at that age, I still REMEMBER it (not just hearing stories about it!).

YEAR 5: During this year, I started taking dance. I’m pretty sure it only lasted one year…I definitely turned out to be a tomboy instead of a girlie girl. So sorry, Mom! At the end of my fifth year, I got a little sister. Hard to say if I was excited or not….I’m pretty sure I wanted to send her back. (No worries…I love her now!)

YEAR 6: I started Kindergarten this year, and I absolutely loved my teacher. My favorite part of Kindergarten was the memory verse cards we had. Each week was a new verse starting with a new letter of the alphabet. We learned scripture while learning our alphabet…I thought it was amazingly cool back then. I also began playing t-ball this year!

YEAR 7: This was the year when SOFTBALL actually started, and I was hooked from the beginning. I got to “play” on an all-star team which I was almost too young for, but I made the cut because I was “coachable”…what really ended up happening was I sat the bench and occasionally got to play right field [read…picking flowers!].

YEAR 8: I started piano lessons this year from the organist at our church. I enjoyed learning to play, but I hated practicing and hated recitals even more. At my Christmas recital, I walked in, saw everyone looking at me, started crying, and walked out. I can’t remember if I actually played my pieces. My FAVORITE softball memory from this year is warming up with my brother before a game and the ball hit me in the face. I had a bruise in the pattern of the “stitches” from the softball. I was SO proud! I’ve always loved my battle wounds!

YEAR 9: I got my first kitten this year, Oreo! I also had my first teacher in school that I didn’t like. Other than that, softball continues!

YEAR 10: I had my favorite birthday party in this year. My mom planned a Mexican Fiesta at our house and we all played Bunko!

YEAR 11: I broke my leg on Christmas day of this year, and ended up being in a long cast for several weeks. I vividly remember getting my cast off and a couple of days later having the first softball practice of the season. The last thing my mom told me before she left was DON’T run the bases. As she came to pick me up, sure enough, I was running the bases! OOPS! You couldn’t keep me away from softball.

YEAR 12: This was the year of my favorite vacation of all times. We spent two weeks going to New Mexico, Arizona, and Colorado. We had two weeks worth of pimento cheese and chicken salad sandwiches (which we STILL talk about to this day!)…and stayed at the “Best Inn”. Oh the memories from that vacation…

YEAR 13: This begins the awkward years…and I had it bad. I started 7th grade during this year, and it was a big deal because it was the first year for all of the kids in my grade to be at the same school (we came from several elementary schools). My best friend at the time, Amanda, moved to town, and we were instant friends. Without a doubt we were inseparable until she moved in 9th grade. I got sent to the office this year for accidently touching my teacher’s paper cutter, and I thought my world had ended! We added on to our house and I FINALLY had my own room. I started taking dance again because I thought I might want to be in drill team in high school.

Most significantly in this year is that the Lord began showing me through someone I looked up to greatly that I needed to make my faith in Him my own….

YEAR 14: March 4th of this year Andrey (from Ukraine) came to live with us while he had surgery on his eye. It was an interesting experience, but one I wouldn’t trade for anything. On June 24, 1998, I accepted Christ as my Savior and began following Him. My faith went from going to church on Sundays to having a relationship with the one true God! My life has never been the same since that day!

YEAR 15: I started high school during this year. I was on the JV Drill team and I made Varsity softball as a freshman. During my freshman year, I had two of my best friends, Amanda and Mallory, move away. I had to find a new group of friends which isn't always the easiest thing to do in high school.

YEAR 16: During July of this year, my parents bought me a red Volkswagon Beetle! It was what I always wanted…I couldn’t believe I was actually getting one!! I remember being so happy that I couldn’t quit crying as my mom and dad signed all the papers. Sad thing was that I was TERRIFIED to drive it because it was a stick shift. I finally learned, and at the end of my 16th year (on my 16th birthday!), the K8TBUG was mine!

YEAR 17: During this summer, I went to Super Summer and the Lord put China on my heart. I knew from that moment on that I would serve there someday…I wasn’t sure when…I wasn’t sure how…but I knew I was going!

YEAR 18: The thing that sticks out to me most during this year is junior prom. I didn’t like it one bit. It was my first (and only) dance I ever went to. That summer I went to several camps (like every summer) including softball camp at Texas A&M!!

YEAR 19: This was a huge year for me! I graduated from high school #6 in my class, and then packed my bags to move off to Texas A&M which was a dream come true. I left home being one extremely shy little girl afraid to order my own meal at restaurants. I was scared to death to be on my own, but I wanted to be an Aggie so badly!

YEAR 20: At the beginning of my 20th year, the Lord blessed me with an incredible friendship that proved to be one of my best friends of all time, Christi! She was (and still is) a huge blessing in my life. I learned so much of the Lord’s character and how much I needed Him DAILY during this year. I donated my hair to Locks of Love for the first time, and I got the chance to work at T bar M.

YEAR 21: I went back to work at T bar M this summer. My 21st year ended with my mom and dad driving to College Station just to take me out to dinner on my birthday. I was reminded of how blessed I am to have a mom and dad who would do things like that…and even sometimes just drive up to surprise me!

YEAR 22: Year 22 was another big one for me! I took the MCAT for the first time, and didn’t do as well as I had hoped. A few months later (only days after getting my MCAT scores back), I hopped on a plane and spent a portion of the summer in China teaching English. God used the MCAT to form a bond between me and my sweet friend from China, A! The best part of the summer was that A came to know Jesus and she loves Him with everything she has. The Lord showed me that summer that He works out ALL THINGS for the good of those who love Him.

YEAR 23: During year 23, I took the MCAT for the second time, and the Lord began to reveal to me that medical school wasn’t the direction He wanted me to go. Not knowing what to do instead, I applied to medical school and again hopped on a plane back to Nanning, Guangxi, China (where I left my heart the summer before). This trip to China was cut short due to a broken arm, and I was completely devastated!

Oops…I can’t forget to mention that I graduated from TEXAS A&M! WHOOP! Proudest member of the Fightin’ Texas Aggie Class of 2007.

I also began working at College Station Middle School in August. It was during this time the Lord led me to nursing school, and I began the application process.

YEAR 24: I continued to work at the middle school in the Special Education classroom where God taught me so much about unconditional love through two students that I affectionately call “My Honor Student” and “My Ray of Sunshine”. The entire experience of working at this school allowed me to fall more in love with Jesus and see new aspects of His character. I was completely changed by the lives of these two precious students!

I decided to come to San Antonio for nursing school, and it was a HUGE change for me! Little did I know that when I moved so far away from my family that God would bring a big sister (something I always prayed for) into my life. He also completely blessed me with an amazing house church of people with a heart for the nations.

YEAR 25: If I can sum up my 25th year in one word, it would be FREEDOM! I’ve learned a lot this year about what it means to truly walk in freedom in Christ. Freedom from fear…freedom from failure…freedom from perfection… Life isn’t about living for other people, but it’s about living for Him and following Him wherever He chooses to lead me.

YEAR 26:  This year has been a year of change in my life….I’m no longer a student.  :(  The early months were filled with a job hunt.  The process was not fun, but I was completely blown away with how the Lord blessed me. I experienced post earthquake Haiti, firsthand.  And to say that I fell in love with the people there is an understatement!!  The month of April was difficult because in the midst of applying for a job, one of my favorite clinical instructors/mentors unexpectedly went to be with Jesus. Then in May, I walked across the stage and received BS degree #2.  You can betcha that when I walked across the stage I flashed a big GIG ‘EM to the camera as I received my diploma.  I may have got to a “t.u” system school, but I am still 100% Aggie through-and-through.   In July I started an amazing job as an RN in the Pediatric ICU at Santa Rosa.  At this point, I have been there about 8 months, and Jesus has changed me.  I’ve been humbled by the trust of my patients and their families that is given to me on a daily basis.  Each day as I go to work, my prayer is the same.  I pray that I would bring hope, comfort, joy, and peace in Jesus’ name to my patients and their families.  I don’t want to miss any opportunity to be Jesus’ hands and feet.  A definite highlight in my 26th year is my roomies.  I live with 4 of the greatest girls I know….they deserve their own post.

YEAR 27:  This year has been one of many, many blessings!  I started off this year as the assistant coach for SACS Middle School softball team.  These girls had so much heart and gave their all 100% of the time.  They definitely worked to earn their undefeated season.  I was so proud of them!   The summer of this year {mostly June!} was busy, busy, busy, but I love busy!  Two of my closest friends got married two weeks apart during the summer, and I was honored to be able to stand with both of them as they said their “I do’s”.   In a seemingly “random” series of events {although it was completely orchestrated by the Lord}, I found out about a trip to Haiti, and God made it evident that I needed to be there…SO I WENT!!  Through this trip to Haiti, God brought about one of the biggest blessings of this year, A CHURCH HOME!  I have been so blessed and challenged by the people at Grace, and I love them so much!  During June, I also managed {somehow} to squeeze in working Vacation Bible School, taking girls to GA Camp, and working as a nurse at Camp Waldemar.   The end of the summer marked the end of living with my roomies at the M&M House and moving across town into an apartment by myself.  My 27th year also had its fair share of hard times…my grandpa passed away in May and some very sweet friends moved away in December.  Throughout this year, I have come to know Jesus in a whole new way.  I was constantly reminded that God knows the cry of our hearts, and He longs to give good things to His children….in His time!  I’m learning that His timing, no matter how crazy it seems, is perfect!  I finish this year blessed, thankful, and full of anticipation for the year ahead!   Oh…and I can’t forget that the last week of my 27th year landed me in the Emergency Room for an evening.  Evidently when you are kickboxing and pass out…people take that seriously!    

YEAR 28:  How do I even begin to describe this year: Injuries, adventures, illness, and friendships!    INJURIES:  Please tell me you are not surprised by this anymore!  In March, I had an unfortunate incident with a rather large rock in Haiti, which you can read about here and here.  OUCH!!! ADVENTURES: During this year, I was extremely blessed to travel back to Haiti for the third time and travel for the first time to Mongolia where our team mended many physically broken hearts .  Man, oh man, I loved Mongolia!!  Each place I've traveled has it's own amazing stories of what God is doing, but something about my time in Mongolia was different.  God used Mongolia to change me!  FRIENDSHIPS: In December of 2011, some good friends moved from San Antonio, and I spent  part of my 28th year not really feeling like I had a "place" in San Antonio where I could just feel at home.  Not only did I gain fabulous memories and a newfound love for taking care of children's hearts while in Mongolia, God gave me some new friendships that I treasure.  They bless me, encourage me, and have helped me grow more in my faith.  God knows each of us so well, and He gives us exactly what we need at exactly the right time!  He is SO SO good!  ILLNESS:  The last part of this year I have been fighting through some sort of illness with my lungs.  I've become all too familiar with neb treatments, inhalers, PFT's....and the list could go on!  

If I have one word to describe what I've been learning this past year, it is DEPENDENCE!!  Even when i think I have things figured out, God reminds me that in ALL things, I have to depend on Him.  He is the source of LIFE and STRENGTH...and apart from HIM, I can do NOTHING!

I know this is long, but I love keeping a record :)  What I didn't have time or space to do was write down everything. So woven throughout these years were many more broken bones, lots of laughter, lots of tears, lots of amazing memories! In doing this, I was reminded how incredibly blessed I am. I have the best family…the best friends…and I serve the most amazing God! These 28 years have been full, and I wouldn’t have it any other way! I’m so blessed and so thankful!  As I look back at these memories, I am blown away by the life the Lord has given me.  I can't wait to see adventures are in store for the next years of my life. 

Feel free to comment and add some of your own memories.  :)

It's a WILD RIDE following Jesus, but I wouldn't have it any other way!

A Visible Change- Mongolia (Part 2)

God speaks to me so often through pictures….little snapshots  I keep in my mind and heart as a reminder of who He is and what He does.   God gave me another "snapshot" while in Mongolia that I wanted to share.

 

Meet Ariuka! 

 

Ariuka is 12 years old and was one of the kids who had surgery while we were in Mongolia.  This picture was taken at church a few days before she had her heart surgery.  Ariuka and her mom both LOVE JESUS; it was a treat to have Ariuka sing some songs for us on Sunday after church.   Even though we physically couldn't SEE Ariuka's sick heart, there were several visible things that were a result of her heart being sick.  Ariuka had blue lips and fingers because she wasn't able to get as much oxygen to her body and she tired very easily.  None of those things affected her sweet spirit though.  She was such a joy!

 

(Holding Ariuka's hand as she went to prep for surgery) 

God had so much to teach me through this little girl and this moment was the beginning of it.  As I looked down at the difference in our hands I realized how much of an effect her heart defect had on her body.  But the crazy thing to me was that this was "normal" for Ariuka….she didn't know anything different.  This was the way life had always been for her.  Little did she know, her whole world was about to change.   Shortly after this picture was taken, Ariuka went into surgery to have her heart defect repaired.  At the hands of very gifted physicians, Ariuka's broken heart was mended.  

 

 

Can you see the physical difference in Ariuka after surgery??  Do you see those pink fingers?!?! 

 

 

 

 Talk about a miracle!  The hands of skilled surgeons repaired Ariuka's physical heart on the inside, and the change manifested itself on the outside.

 In this moment the Lord continued to speak to my heart:

"Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.  The old has passed away; behold, the new has come."  2 Corinthains 5:17

In a physical sense, Ariuka was a NEW creation!!  The old  life for her filled with blue lips and low energy were gone, and a new life with pink lips and increased energy awaited her!  

Oh, the similarities for ALL OF US in Christ!!! 

The GREAT PHYSICIAN offers to heal our broken spiritual hearts.  Although not all of us were born with physically broken hearts, none of us escape SPIRITUALLY broken hearts.  Just as it would be a sad ending to the story for Ariuka had her physical heart defect not been repaired, there is a sad ending to the story for each one who chooses not to have their SPIRITUAL heart healed by the GREAT PHYSICIAN.  Ariuka didn't do anything to "earn" her surgery, and we don't do anything to "earn" God's healing in our lives---it's a gift….a FREE gift!  That free gift will change the trajectory of our lives.  

Has your heart been healed by the Great Physician?

The story God was working in my life through this little girl didn't end there.  What he reminded me of then and continues reminding me of today is that there is a VISIBLE change when we choose to let God heal us.  He doesn't heal us on the inside for it to remain a secret.  There has to be outward evidence of inward healing.  

Ariuka's physical change will cause people to ask her about what caused the change in her life.  God wants the same from me….because of the change He made in my heart, I need to LOOK different.  I need to live my life in a way that other people notice the change in me.  I need to look, act, speak, think differently than the world around me.  When I am different than the world and people ask questions, it gives a beautiful way of bragging on my JESUS.  

Jesus, may the evidence of You in my life be as evident to others as the results of Ariuka's physical heart being mended!  

 

 

 

He Sees the Bigger Picture- Mongolia (Part 1)

If ever there is a time when I'm at loss for words on how to update you on the past couple of weeks, it is now.   

Type.  Delete.  Type.  Delete.  That seems to be all that's happening as I search for words!  

Without a doubt, this was one of the most physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually exhausting weeks of my life so far.  Yet, it was also one of the most beautiful displays of God's miracles and grace that I have ever experienced first hand.  To say that we experienced the highest of highs followed by some pretty low lows is an understatement...it definitely puts any roller coaster I've ever been on to shame.  Even so, there is NO WAY I would have wanted it to be any different.  

As a team, our goal was to mend physically broken hearts and also introduce the people to the Great Physician who alone can heal their spiritual hearts.  Mission accomplished!  There were 9 open heart surgeries performed and around 20 other procedures performed during our week in Mongolia.  Even more exciting than those numbers are the number of people who chose to follow Jesus!  I don't have an exact number, but I do know that when we get to heaven we will get to see many Mongolian faces who's hearts were healed this week!  

Amen!  Amen!  Amen!

As a newcomer to the For Hearts and Souls team, I had no idea what to expect for the week.  The interwoven theme of all of my trips has been to enter my time overseas not with EXPECTATIONS, but to enter with of a heart of EXPECTANCY of God to move.  When I  head into the unknown (or even the known, for that matter) with expectations, my preconceived ideas are usually left unmet.  Sometimes that's good; sometimes it is heart breaking.  With a heart expecting and trusting God to work in and through me, I find freedom in simply sitting back and allowing Him free reign to use my hands, feet, heart, and prayers to serve whomever He chooses.  It's a blessing to serve, and I get giddy with excitement over being CHOSEN to show Jesus to others.  

I left Mongolia with a deeper understanding of God's grace.  Don't get me wrong, I don't completely understand it all, but God allowed me to see the power of His grace.   Our team saw miracles...literal MIRACLES!  We got to see God heal hearts here on earth, but we also experienced God's perfect healing of a young boy who is now dancing with Jesus---his heart PERFECTLY whole!  Yes, both of those are miracles...both extremes are HEALING.  God's grace is what get's us through day to day---God's grace is what allowed many to come to know Him this week, and God's grace is going to be what gets the family of sweet Ireedui through this awful time of grieving.  

I also saw God's grace working in me this week.  So often I get caught up in the moment of what's happening right here...right now.  As we cared for sweet Ireedui during the night, my heart was broken for him and his family.  My flesh wondered why this sweet little boy had to endure what we presume to be a stroke which only days later allowed him to see Jesus.  We prayed over him, and we shared Jesus with his mom and dad.  My flesh wondered if mom and dad would BLAME my Jesus for this happening to Ireedui, and I was not okay with that.  If I had it my way, God would have reached down and performed another miracle that we could see with our physical eyes.  It was during the night and the following morning through some wise words that God spoke gently to my heart, "Dear daughter, you have NO IDEA what I am doing behind the scenes.  Yes, you are hurting.  Yes, the family is hurting, but I don't waste pain.  My grace is bigger than the circumstances you see right now."  He reminded me that I can only see the single puzzle piece right in front of me.  By itself, that puzzle piece doesn't make any sense, but He, the One who loves me, Ireedui, and Ireedui's family more than anyone can imagine, sees the entire puzzle...He knows EXACTLY where this puzzle piece fits, and in time He will fit that puzzle piece into the beautiful puzzle that He is already piecing together.  Then one day (which may be heaven) He will show us how it all words together for HIS GLORY!  

HIS GRACE!

HIS GLORY!

Nothing more...nothing less!  It's all about Him.  

We went to mend hearts, yet God changed mine in the process.  I'm so thankful!  

It is a wild ride following Jesus, but I wouldn't have it any other way!  

Mending Broken Hearts in MONGOLIA!!

So it turns out (as if anyone is surprised!) that I am awful at updating my blog.  But true to the blog’s name “Wherever He Leads…I’ll Go”---I tend to update when God is leading in a fun, new direction.  **Believe me, you wouldn’t be impressed with my day to day; therefore, NO NEED to update you on that! **

So I’m here to update and tell you…

GOD is at it again…
Opening doors that seem to be jammed shut! 
Oh, how excited I get when I get to be a part of His Heart for the nations!!

In less than 2 weeks I leave for Mongolia…yes, MONGOLIA!!! 

Before I get to that story, I feel like you may need a little back story to be able to understand why I’m so stinkin’ excited about this trip. 

Until 2007, I had every intention of graduating from A&M and heading off to medical school.  As I would soon find out, that was MY plan for my life and not God’s plan for my life.  Through a series of events, God opened my eyes to the world of nursing.  The more I researched my options, I realized that NURSING was the direction the Lord was leading me into….not medical school. 

I was confused…I didn't understand at the time.  Luckily God doesn’t ask or even desire for us to know all of the details before being obedient, He just says to listen and obey…He is faithful to fill in the details in His perfect time.  As I prepared for nursing school, God placed on my heart that I wasn’t just “going to school”.  Time and time again He showed me that nursing school was my training for the mission field HE was preparing for me.  I felt like the Lord preparing me for my future in missions----whether here in the States or overseas. 

Ok….back to Mongolia! 

There is a group of physicians,  nurse practitioners, nurses, etc. from the hospital where I work that go to Mongolia every year.  They go with a group called For Hearts and Souls.  When I began working at Santa Rosa in July 2010, my preceptor was preparing to leave for the trip they would take in September.  My interest was peeked. What was this group all about?  What are they doing in Mongolia?  MAY I GO, please please please?!?!?!?!?!  So I began to ask questions. What I found out is that For Hearts and Souls goes into Mongolia to screen children for heart defects and then they mend their little broken hearts.  I knew that as soon as I had enough nursing experience, I wanted to be part!  Last year (2011) I wanted to go so badly, but I wasn’t able to go.  I thought this year was going to be the same.  

But God had other plans…

He opened door….after door….after door.  He opened doors that I was almost certain couldn’t be opened.  I’m sure He gets a good laugh at me in situations like this!!  But honestly, there is nothing that thrills me more than seeing God at work in my heart in circumstances such as these----seriously, NOTHING thrills me more!  He’s so good to me! 

So what is it about this trip that gets me so excited??

My heart is for the nations….God has put something deep inside of me that desires to see ALL NATIONS know Him.  When God told me that nursing school was how He was equipping and training me for my mission field, He knew that this trip to Mongolia (and hopefully other trips like this---or more long term!) was part of His plan for me.  Yes….the PICU at Santa Rosa is my mission field, day in and day out, and I don’t take that for granted! But part of me knows that medical mission work overseas is what I was created to do---to HIS glory and for HIS glory!  I’m so excited because this the first trip I’ve taken that combines so many of the things that I’m most passionate about in life---children, the nations, sharing Jesus with those who don’t know Him, and nursing/medicine.  

So as we mend broken hearts, we get to share about the ULTIMATE Mender of ALL broken hearts….and God is LETTING me be a part of that!  :) 

Lessons from David

Since January, I’ve had the privilege of studying the life of David….one who was considered to be “a man after God’s own heart”.

I’ve always thought how cool would it be to be considered a woman after God’s own heart.

But it wasn’t until I really started digging into David’s life I got a glimpse of what that REALLY meant.  David was human…he was a man with big successes, but he was also a man with big failures.  Even still, God considered David to be a man after His own heart. 

David wasn’t the obvious choice to be king….but GOD CHOSE HIM!

God used David’s occupation (shepherd) as preparation for the plan HE had set out for David long before David ever knew what was happening.  {Psalm 78:70-72}  How awesome is that???  I love verse 72 where it says “he shepherded them according to the integrity of his heart, and guided them with his skillful hands.” 

God showed me that HE knows what He’s doing.  HE has me right where I’m supposed to be for a reason, even if that reason doesn’t always make sense to me.  HE is using each situation as a way to prepare me for His purpose for my life.  Often I forget to look at it that way, but I’m learning! 

I love that David wasn’t perfect….it gives me much comfort to know that God doesn’t call “perfect” people to make a difference in His kingdom…..whew, that’s DEFINITELY a relief to me!  Anyone else?!?! 

At the end of David’s life he was talking to Solomon as Solomon was about to take the throne as God had promised.  *I like to put my name in this verse * “As for you, Katie, know the God of your father and serve Him with a whole heart and a willing mind; for the Lord searches all hears and understands every intent of the thoughts.”  1 Chronicles 28:9

If David, a man after God’s own heart, is giving this advice to his son, I think it’s pretty wise that I take a special note to that too.  At the end of David’s life, he knew what was important, and that was the importance of willingly serving God with your mind and WHOLE heart. 

Won’t you do the same?!?  How awesome would it be for God to consider you and me as men/women after His own heart??  Even with all of our successes and failures, it can be said of us if we willingly serve Him with our whole hearts and minds.

When all is said and done, my desire is to be Katie, a woman after God’s own heart!