thanksgiving with baby emma!!! :)
brindy and emma <3>
stevie, kim, melissa, me
melissa and jess <3>
kim and jason
our thanksgiving dinner cruise
i look like i'm melissa's second head :)
ta da!!! :)
brindy got seasick... :( JK!!!!
brindy, stevie, melissa, me, and kim
today was literally the best day of my entire life!!! this weekend the master's students worked as security at Youth Convention...yeah, it was work, but i see it as getting to see planetshakers, switchfoot, and jeff deyo for FREE!!!! during the jeff deyo part of the concert, i actually was one of the security guards that stood at the very front of the crowd by the stage making sure nobody rushed the musicians... i'm pretty tough like that. :) actually, the other guards that were working with me kind of laughed because they thought i looked "too fragile" to be a tough security guard. oh well... if provoked, i think i could protect switchfoot. :) :)
anyways, while at the convention, i met big john... he is the most incredible christian i have ever met!!! he basically made me realize just how truly awesome God is, all while encouraging and uplifting me in my security duties... cuz i really wasn't very good at them. :) but he taught me that God knows the intimate details of every being and substance in creation, yet He desires a relationship with me. he taught me that many people have a heart for God, but what truly matters is having the heart of God. he taught me that church is simply having fellowship with people...talking to and spending time with those God places in your path. and he taught me that it is possible to find common ground and start a conversation with absolutely anybody. all it takes is showing someone a little kindness and love for them to see Jesus in you. because that is what Jesus did--he spent time with people, pouring out of himself and being a servant to anybody and everybody. i learned so much this weekend that it was just overwhelming. i realized that i will NEVER stop learning about God. if i let him, he will ALWAYS blow my mind. i am in love with an amazing God. :) :) :)
Saturday, November 22, 2008
Stevie's birthday!!! :)
we decorated pine cones... mine came out looking like the abominable snowman! :) 
stevie's birthday christmas tree--she LOVES christmas... :)
melissa and brindy decorated the house to surprise stevie while kim and i distracted her at the mall... it turned out really well!!! :)
her birthday outfit... :)
yes, we are adults... :)
i was having fun mimicking the faces around me... :) :)
the two-story merry-go-round!!! fun stuff!! :)
stevie and me... :) :) :)
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
crazy love
this evening was spent dying brindy's hair-- stevie's a great stylist... :)
brindy, stevie, kim, matt neff, and jp
melissa and me having some fun... :)
i love my roommate!!!! :)
ME!!! :)well, last night was INCREDIBLE!!!!!! coram deo's have a way of making you evaluate your life through the eyes of eternity, and realize that the stuff we go through right now is so temporary that it's not worth ruining my attitude over. last night we had worship and then every master's student was asked to come to the front and pray a personal prayer to God so that the class could agree with your requests. i was told to go first, so i didn't have time to get nervous, and it was the first time that i really focused solely on God. normally it freaks me out to know that other people are listening to my prayers--but last night it was like it was just God and me. his opinion was all that mattered--he captured my heart last night. i really am "in love" with God... i don't think i've ever been so excited about him!!! :) :) :) he gave me a vision, which was really an intense experience for me because that doesn't normally happen to me: it was like i was suddenly standing at the edge of a cliff and looking out at the most beautiful scene i'd ever seen--mountains, valleys, blue skies and an eagle flying. and it was my future. it was big and unknown, just like i have no idea where God is going to take me--but then i heard, or more felt, God ask, "are you ready to jump?" and i really was. i'm so tired of living "blah" and not fully trusting that God knows where he's leading me... it's like he sees the whole picture of everyone's lives intertwined, whereas i can only see my own life--and even that view is limited to the past and the present. but if i can comprehend that God coordinates everyone's lives, then i'll be able to understand that even in the hard stuff, although it might be horrible to me, it may be affecting someone else's life in a way that may lead them nearer into Jesus' arms where they will find healing and restoration. my life is not my own---i am here as a servant, made to love others with an incomprehensible, unconditional love.
that's something else i'm learning about!!! i just started reading a book called Crazy Love, and it is SO good!!! its purpose is to teach love the way Jesus taught it--yes, it's illogical, and yes, you risk yourself in full and abandoned love...but that's how Jesus loved.
~...to some, it may seem idealistic to believe that one life can really make a dent in the world. but that is the ultimate reality. all it means is someone believes that God really is who he says he is and that the true reality of this life is to follow him wholeheartedly. --crazy love
thank you all for praying for me---God definitely used this week to stretch me, and last night to encourage and refresh me. i'm still a work in progress, but i think last night was a huge turning point for me, and i'm so thankful for all of your support and love!!!! yay! :) :)
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
more fun pictures!!!
a really cute cat that decided to move in with us... she walked in when we left our door open today. :) 
how cool are we in our "ASK ME" shirts??? :) :)
my new friend michele and me making the most of an 8-hour work day. :)
my work area at snowjam
i am the abominable snowman!!!!! or a really shiny giant marshmallow... :)so, i would really like to ask everyone who's reading this for prayer. i'm still super thankful to be here, and i still love almost everything about this program... almost. there are just a few things i'm having a hard time with; a few situations that have been kind of a bummer. and it's not like i wasn't expecting stuff like this--i knew coming in to the program that i was going to have to go through hard stuff to grow into who God is calling me to be. but it's so much easier to talk tough and wise than it is to actually be those things in the midst of the situation. ya know??? but anyways, please just be praying, cuz i know that if i keep pressing into God, i'm going to continue to experience His presence in ways that i can't even begin to imagine. :)
now for the really happy stuff... cuz there is a lot of it that i'm so thankful for!
yesterday i was reminded of one of the many reasons why i love san diego... i got to go surfing!!! :) i didn't do so great, but i did get up a couple of times, and i had a ton of fun--even in the falling!!! :) tonight is going to be incredible because it's our first coram deo in like a month, and those are my favorite!!! i know that i can meet with God anytime that i want to, but with coram deo's it's like i can't even contain my excitement. i talk to God about how excited i am to meet with him! is that silly??? :) i just get so filled with anticipation because i know that God will always meet me and reveal something new to me, even if it's simply that he dwells in the silent moments when i can't hear his voice. i LOVE going to coram deo!!!! i know that i'll probably leave there emotionally drained like i always do, but i'll also be spiritually refreshed...and i KNOW that i can use that right now. :)
this afternoon i went to the apartment park, took my sleeping bag, and read a book. that's like one of my favorite things to do: just go to the park and relax. it's funny because i never used to like the outdoors--it was just too outdoors-y. :) but now, i don't think i'll ever be able to go more than a couple of days without finding a quiet, peaceful place outside to have my quiet time with God. i just feel so close to him when i can feel the sun shining, or the rain falling, or the wind blowing, and know that God's presence with me is as real as those creations. he's right there with me, all the time... all i have to do is focus my eyes on him, and not on my circumstances.
and that right there was me giving myself a pep talk. :) hopefully it encouraged someone else, too! :) :)
i miss you, family and friends, and please know that you are all in my prayers!!! i'll be seeing most of you in about a month--i'm excited! :) Christmas is coming... yay!
Saturday, November 15, 2008
Snowjam!!!!! :)
ASK US!!! :)these are the shirts we have to wear every day for snowjam... that way people can know who to ask... :)
lots of ice cream... but...
kim and stevie (stevie is sad because the pumpkin ice cream season is over...) silly girls!!! :)
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Tomorrow is snow jam!!!
hello everyone!!! today was a wonderful day... prayer this morning was amazing!!! one of my new favorite songs is by misty edwards: "I will waste my life" and she's talking about giving everything to God. my favorite line is "there is no cost-- i am in love with You. there is no loss--i am in love with You." actually, there's another one of her songs called "lovesick" that's absolutely amazing, too. my favorite lines in that one are: "happy am i to live a hungry life; and blessed am i to thirst. only You can satisfy." i just like it so much because it puts a new perspective on going through trials. it's like, we should be happy (joyful) to go through times of hunger and thirst, because in those times we can rely on God to fill us. obviously, i know that's easier said than done, but i still love that song--it makes me have a more positive attitude about life in general when i think about it. :)
this afternoon we had ministry time: we had to choose a primary and a secondary ministry, and so i'm doing creative arts (worship team) as my primary, and children's ministries as my secondary. so normally during ministry time on wednesdays i will be working with the worship or children's pastor and helping set up for wednesday night service, but today neither of them was available, so i worked with jason and learned how to make podcasts. i'm really computer stupid, though, so it was kind of not captivating to me... :) but i still enjoyed it, and now if i ever feel the need to make a podcast, i could at least make an admirable attempt at it.
tonight i had missionettes which i absolutely LOVE!!! the girls are so precious (and sometimes slightly hyper :) but they are a total blast to be around...if i ever work with kids in the future, i think i really like the 3-5th grade age group.
and tomorrow begins snow jam. this takes place in del mar...like 30 minutes away from us. it is a snowboarding/ski show where a bunch of big sports places come together and sell their products. we help because they pay us and so the master's program gets money for missions trips... tomorrow we set up and then it goes through sunday when we will probably be there till the wee hours of the morning tearing everything down. but we have monday off!!! and i really do think this will be a fun and great experience! so anyways, that is my plan for the weekend. i am really happy cuz we get to come home every night after and sleep in our own beds--yay! and that is the update on my life... i'll hopefully write again on monday!!! :)
this afternoon we had ministry time: we had to choose a primary and a secondary ministry, and so i'm doing creative arts (worship team) as my primary, and children's ministries as my secondary. so normally during ministry time on wednesdays i will be working with the worship or children's pastor and helping set up for wednesday night service, but today neither of them was available, so i worked with jason and learned how to make podcasts. i'm really computer stupid, though, so it was kind of not captivating to me... :) but i still enjoyed it, and now if i ever feel the need to make a podcast, i could at least make an admirable attempt at it.
tonight i had missionettes which i absolutely LOVE!!! the girls are so precious (and sometimes slightly hyper :) but they are a total blast to be around...if i ever work with kids in the future, i think i really like the 3-5th grade age group.
and tomorrow begins snow jam. this takes place in del mar...like 30 minutes away from us. it is a snowboarding/ski show where a bunch of big sports places come together and sell their products. we help because they pay us and so the master's program gets money for missions trips... tomorrow we set up and then it goes through sunday when we will probably be there till the wee hours of the morning tearing everything down. but we have monday off!!! and i really do think this will be a fun and great experience! so anyways, that is my plan for the weekend. i am really happy cuz we get to come home every night after and sleep in our own beds--yay! and that is the update on my life... i'll hopefully write again on monday!!! :)
Monday, November 10, 2008
the mexican orphanage...
today was one of the most fun, yet heartbreaking, days of my life. the master's students went to tijuana, mexico, where we volunteered at an orphanage--basically we just played outside with all of the kids for, like, four hours. it was absolutely adorable, because the second we stepped out onto the playground, this one little fifth-grader girl walked up to me, put her hand in mine, and basically didn't let go for the entire four hours that we were there. her name was dulce (i don't know how to spell it, but it sounded like "duel"-"chay") and she didn't really speak any english. anytime i asked her a question (in english, because i can't speak much spanish) she'd say, "eh?" it was so cute! :) every time she asked me a question, i'd say "no comprende" and she'd laugh at me. :) mostly we ran around the playground, climbing hills and slides and monkey bars and swing sets, and...playing tag. okay, i know that is a relatively easy game, but try playing it when you are out of shape and in the mountains with less oxygen!!!! :) one of my favorite things that we did was sit (finally rest :) and sing songs together. we sang Jesus loves me, and i sang in english, she in spanish, and it sounded so cute together!!!! leaving that little girl was one of the hardest things i've ever done. she saw we were getting ready to leave, so she came over and hugged me and wouldn't let go. she just held on and then, looking at me with her beautiful, big eyes, she said "i love you" in the most precious accent i've ever heard. i would've given anything to take her out of that life and offer her more. i prayed that God would break my heart today, and He did. i pray that we touched those kids lives in a positive way, and that our visit might have planted a seed for God to grow--that they would've felt Christ's love through us and that it would give them hope and faith in Jesus. i really think that my passion is children's ministry. i've loved doing it here in san diego, and then playing with those kids in mexico was just like an affirmation of where my heart really lies. children are so easily accepting--so i love approaching them, and then they are so easily influenced. one kind word of love can have them running into the arms of God with their child-like faith--and i love kids! even the ones that are...uh...more difficult, really just need someone with patience, who can love them enough to work with them. i'm definitely not a master of patience, but i can learn... :) anyways, i'm just really excited to see what God's doing in my life and the lives of all of us master's students. big transformations, and we are only a couple months into the program!!!! please be praying that we can all continue to throw ourselves fully and passionately into everything we do!!! it's all for God's glory, and i pray we would never forget that--even when stuff isn't fun at all, that we would know that it is not about "me" but about being a servant.
going to mexico made me think of a verse in Acts 1:8... "you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."
i love it because God wants us to tell everyone about Him, and He doesn't expect us to do it on our own! He has sent His Spirit to give us courage--to empower us--and so we don't have to fear anything! that is just so encouraging to me, and i hope it was to somebody else, too! i love you all, and i miss you, family and friends, so very much! i'll see you in a few more weeks!!! :) :) :)
going to mexico made me think of a verse in Acts 1:8... "you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."
i love it because God wants us to tell everyone about Him, and He doesn't expect us to do it on our own! He has sent His Spirit to give us courage--to empower us--and so we don't have to fear anything! that is just so encouraging to me, and i hope it was to somebody else, too! i love you all, and i miss you, family and friends, so very much! i'll see you in a few more weeks!!! :) :) :)
Saturday, November 8, 2008
An 80's Birthday party :)
Monte and Kim
the country club for Annie's birthday party
Melissa, Brindy, and me! :)
Melissa and Me! ... we're drinking lemonade!!! :)
Brindy, Melissa, me, and Kim
Monday, November 3, 2008
my day off...
the cutest statue EVER!!!!! 
me and grandma :)
my part of the bedroom--i cleaned it and thought everyone should see... :)
grandpa and me!! :)
i bought new sunglasses!!!! yay me! :) (taylor, if you're reading this, this pic is for you! :)today was a wonderful day! i got to spend it with my grandparents who drove over to see me all the way from yuma, arizona! YAY!!! so we went to seaport village and ate at anthony's...this cute seafood resaurant by the water, overlooking the harbor...it was gorgeous!!! then we walked around for a little bit, i bought some sunglasses, and then we went to paradise yogurt--praise the Lord! :) after that, we got lost for a while, literally :), and then found target. after i did some shopping, they brought me back home...it was such a fun time seeing family again! it made me really miss the familiarity that you can only have with your family members--it is just this complete feeling of "aahhh...i'm home." i really am starting to miss that...and i can't wait til christmas break!!! :) but until then, i am enjoying my time here, and i loved having a day off!!! i just finished writing my homework essay for this week--yay!--and now i have tomorrow off, too!!! my roomies and i are all going to go get pedicures (we have man-feet from walking barefoot all the time) and then we are just going to hang out and relax!!! i LOVE days off!!!! :)
so, i just wanted to really fast write out what i put in my essay that i just wrote. my verses this week are all on the topic of "love" and after reading 1 corinthians 13:3-7, 13 these were my thoughts...
"if i give all i possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames but have not love, i gain nothing. love is patient. love is kind. it does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. it is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. love does not delight in evil, but rejoices with the truth. it always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. and now these three remain: faith, hope, and love. but the greatest of these is love."
in addition to those verses, i really like the beginning of verse eight because it says "love never fails." i always think of a walk to remember when i read these verses, and it encourages me. life may get really hard, but love remains. i may be super lonely, but God's love never fails. my future may seem unsure, but love perseveres and can carry me through; Christ's love gives me hope. Christ is love, and so he, himself, is my hope. His love is always with me...thank God i am never alone. :)"but i trust in your unfailing love, my heart rejoices in your salvation. i will sing to the Lord, for he has been good to me." --Psalm 13:5-6
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About Me
- kaylee
- i want to be someone who steps out of my comfort zone to try new and random things. i love being with people, but i also enjoy my quiet time with a really good book. i love God, love my family, and love my friends--and i hope that i always live like it. :)