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| One year later........................ My Heavenly Father has me in FAMILY TRAINING SCHOOL!!   God is so GOOD! Eight years ago I had a desire to nanny for the Graves....never guessed it would have happened like this.
  These kids have captured my heart. I have so many sweet moments with each of them. God moments!! He really does speak through children!
15-16When the religious leaders saw the outrageous things he was doing, and heard all the children running and shouting through the Temple, "Hosanna to David's Son!" they were up in arms and took him to task. "Do you hear what these children are saying?" Jesus said, "Yes, I hear them. And haven't you read in God's Word, 'From the mouths of children and babies I'll furnish a place of praise'?" 
One of my favorite moments: After putting the littlest one down for a nap I found the gang having church. They had "kids hillsong" video playing and were pretending to pray for people at the alter. I went and sat down beside them. Sarah said "we can pray for her, she’s a kid." So Hannah, the oldest, ask me what I needed prayer for. I said "I just want more of God!" So they all laid hands on me and began to pray for more of God in my life. The prayers were simple, sweet and so precious. God was in that little room and it was one of the best church services Id been to in a long time. After praying we dances freely to worship music. Words can not describe how I felt...overjoyed, encouraged, and ministered to by little hands. :)  I’m blessed to have a roommate like Anna in this full house. Anna and I have known each other since Teen Mania/ Life Challenge days...and let me say God has completely changed both of us! Anna is a true sister in the Lord and continues to lay down her life to bless me. I’m honored to have her as a friend!
 I’m so grateful to live with a woman who loves and respects her man! When I think of Nicole Graves this scripture comes to mind-
Let the wife see that she respects and reverences her husband [[f]that she notices him, regards him, honors him, prefers him, venerates, and esteems him; and [g]that she defers to him, praises him, and loves and admires him exceedingly]. Ephesians 5:33 Amplified John exceedingly cherishes his wife!! When I think of him I think of a man dead to self. He is always laying his life down for his wife, family and people. What an example of Christ in this home! Husbands, go all out in your love for your wives, exactly as Christ did for the church—a love marked by giving, not getting. Christ's love makes the church whole. His words evoke her beauty. Everything he does and says is designed to bring the best out of her, dressing her in dazzling white silk, radiant with holiness. And that is how husbands ought to love their wives. They're really doing themselves a favor—since they're already "one" in marriage. Ephesians 5:25-28 The Message The greatest thing that has happened to me since I’ve been with the Graves is the Lord has changed my vision; my vision of marriage, family and children. God has redefined me! Redefined who I thought I was or what I wanted in life. The Lord has given me a new vision for life-becoming a wife and mother!! What a high calling!! More of the Graves http://lifeisgoodnicole.blogspot.com/ Pictures done by Kim Jarman http://www.kimberlyjarman.net/ | | |
| God is so so faithful! I am so in awe of how he takes care of me...way better than I could take care of myself. When you obey the Lord even when you completely dont understand HE shows himself faithful! Very faithful! I had some obstacle to overcome this week and He showered HIS love on me in great ways!! And it really helps to have great friends to lean on! So last night Emmie decided to take us, managers, all out to get pedicures! Fun Fun!!     
So many times this week the Lord spoke...words of hope, words of blessing...I was at this dinner party earlier this week and there were 4 brothers who love to play-play hard. They kept asking me to play hide in seek with them in the dark. It was like they knew I needed to play, enjoy, be like a child...So I played hard. I ran hard and hid well. Its crazy how much faith children have...these boys had no shoes on and it was pitch black out...and they ran like nothing could hurt them...no fear...just trust...It was like the Lord was saying Katie trust me like a child. Have faith in me like a child. "You have taught children and infants to tell of your strength." Psalms 8:2  Word of God for the week: He led me to a place of safety, he rescued me because he delights in me. The Lord rewarded me for doing right; he restored me because of my innocence. For I have kept the ways of the Lord; I have not turned from my God to follow evil. I have followed all his regulations; I have never abandoned his decrees. I am blameless before God; I have kept myself from sin. The Lord rewarded me for doing right. He has seen my innocence. To the faithful you show yourself faithful; to those with integrity you show integrity. To the pure you show yourself pure. but to the wicked you show yourself hostel. You rescue the humble, but you humiliate the proud. You light a lamp for me. The Lord, my God, lights up my darkness. In your strength I can crush an army; with my God I can scale a wall. Gods way is PERFECCT, all the Lords promises prove true. He is a shield for all who look to him for protection...God arms me with strength, and he makes my way perfect. He makes me as surefooted as a deer, enabling me to stand on mountain heights. Psalm 18:19-33
What an adventure!! I have seen the most beautiful things eyes can see! Panama was an amazing trip....Heres a few pics..I am uploading some to my www.myspace.com/katielynni So when I came back I told Teen Mania that I will go wherever they want for the rest of the summer....so its 99% sure that I will be going on "Z" trip..with Jamin and Jackie! How fun is that!  We went fishing with the people of Maje!! Man that was the best fish I have ever had!
   Karla Marrow came down to Panama to do free medical care...What a blessing it was to have her! It was really cool because the Lord birthed Medical Missions in her heart in the jungles of Panama....So great to be back with her! So the other pics are of a water fall George, the photographer, found. Once I saw it I was like....man Im jumping in...God just blessed me in Panama with so many little surprises!
I pray the Lord show himself strong in your life and that His faithfulness would cover you...His love and mercy would surround you and that you would HEAR his still small voice...and not only hear but OBEY!! Be blessed | | |
| A year later......And He is still faithful!! My King, My Love, My Friend has become more and more faithful and has shown himself strong! I am currently in Panama City, Panama living it up with the Lord! Let me just say this-I am still captivated by HIS love for me, by HIS faithfulness in my life, by HIS discipline in my life-I am more in love with the Lord now than ever before-He has and continues to pursue me, love on me and man I´m in awe of him and his strong presence in my life. What can I say...Im in love with the creator-words can not describe what my heart feels! Why I exist: to be loved by the Father and to love Him! The song of my heart in this season- "In the quiet, in the stillness I hear your voice calling and I am overwhelmed and I am lost for words to describe you! Jesus your more than my friend, Jesus your more that my heart can express. Your love and grace never fails me, your merciful touch always heals me...you bring Joy to my heart! Jesus your more than my heart can express".... I spoke to a women I admire before leaving for Panama and she told me how the Lord took her on a honeymoon with Him. I thought-I want that! I couldn´t have asked for a better set up! Ive been in the San Blas Islands on the Caribbean...BEAUTIFUL! Its blue/green water, palm trees, white sand-breathtaking! If the islands were not enough God has totally used me here! I spoke at a church the other day about being romanced by the King...wow talk about His presence falling!...Man He is Good.   Crazy but true...Noel and I are still best buds! And we cant seem to get rid of each other! Going with Teen Mania this summer has been on my heart this past year and I was place in Panama as a Project Director with Ed Giles...well one of our Team Leaders dropped two weeks before the trip and well guess who volunteered??? Yep my side kick NOEL!! She is the best friend ever! Seriouly I am so blessed to have her around-she keeps me in line! In these pics we are traveling to the San Blas Islands-We went through some rough water and got soaked.   Here is some of the teams boats traveling to the islands...the ride was about 4 hrs...in the wide ocean...crazy! And yes this is a bathroom, nice, clean....ummm ya...kinda nasty...makes me want to go swimming :)
 This is Moses-the head police officer of the island, Nargina. Well you know there is a reason I have blond hair....God can use anything...So this Man Moses kept making comments to me about my hair and eyes, ya and I was kinda getting sick of it, kinda made me nervous...anyway it gave me an in, and major favor on the island. One night I asked to use the phone with a translator and I was waiting in his office cause the phone were going in and out. I was sleepy and was falling asleep on the couch when I got this nudge that I could be missing a divine appointment. So I woke myself up and started telling him my story. I told him that I had never dated before, that I was waiting for the Lord to bring my my man. That I kinda met someone that really loved Jesus and becoming friends..and Moses told me that the Lord wanted me to be with him. Well I was really bold! I was kinda stern but I put him right in his place. I told him that he was off and that God wanted his attention! I started preaching hard core and the Lord totally showed up! Like his presence fell in the room and WOW his eyes were opened. Like the light clicked in him. His eyes of lust turned to puppy dog eyes...wanting Jesus. He started saying things like "I feel God speaking to me" "I want what you have" "I can tell you have something" I kept telling him that this very moment God was knocking on this heart and wanted a relationship with him, that he was created for the Lord, that the Lord wanted his life! He had to go to work that evening but asked that I come back for breakfast the next morning at 6am.....So that I did...and at 6:30 the next morning Moses gave his life to Jesus. He got out his bible and started highlighting things I gave him. He kept asking me...how was he going to learn, how do I know more..I invited him to church and had the pastor meet with him. God can use anything to get someones attention, even blond hair! I am so excited to see where God takes him!
 One last story...This is Josiah...and Yes he told me I could put this picture on my xanga...So Josiah and I had to fly back to Panama City before the team...because as you can see he got a major infection! Major, Nasty infection! We were both sad we had to leave the beautiful islands but we knew God had a purpose. So this kid is awesome! We have spent hours talking about God and what we want in life. He has inspired me to run after the Lord more and more and to always keep my hopes up even when things look the worst! What a trooper!
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| Yes....... its been a LONG time since I've updated and alot has happened....I'll try to give a quick down load!
Noel and I came back from Europe a few weeks ago and stayed in Texas for thanksgiving...than parted our ways! Me to Oregon and Noel to Maryland. We both packed up our cars and drove....forever. Thanks to Teen Mania and all the friends God has given me, I stayed with people the whole trip. It was great seeing Nancy in New Mexico, Noels grandmother in Arizona and the lots of TM alumni in Sacramento! I am now in Oregon and loving it! Its been great hanging with the family and just waiting on the Lord. Right now the plan is for Noel to move here to Oregon after Christmas (I'm going there for the new year than driving) and then we plan-God willing-to go full force on our business idea...Right now the Lord has been really teaching me to keep my mouth shut and just wait, listen, and if God wants I speak. I have come to realize more and more that my mouth is my worst enemy. James 3 is becoming alive to me..... "We ALL make many mistakes, but those who control their tongues can also control themselves in every other way" James3:2 WOW!!
As for our Europe Trip....Words can NOT describe how Awesome MY GOD is. He blew Noel and I away...The word to sum up my trip to Europe is "Faithful" God was so faithful to us! More than I ever asked or imagined. About 90% of our trip we stayed with families, some families that we didn't know and other we did. My King truly wined and dinned us. We ate the best food, drank the best wines and were pampered like the richest kids on the block. I don't know how God did it. I feel like I'm HIS FAVORITE KID! Here are some pics of Europe..
 Here we are at the Opera in Budapest...The family we connected with treated us and man was it amazing...I felt like we went back 500 years.
 Here is a Hungarian dish made with love from our new friends....
 This is one of my favorite places in Europe...Crazy I would have never thought that Budapest would be so Romantic!!
 Here we are with our new Canadian Friend in front of the Neushwanstein castle in Germany. This castle is said to have inspired the Disneyland Cinderella castle.
 Here we are in Venice with the birds... :)
 and in Rome at the coliseum with my cousin that was studying a semester in Italy.
 And this is my favorite picture...in Paris...it looks so unreal...I can't believe we went!
 and Yes Italy has the BEST Ice cream...gelato. Oh my goodness we ate it every day!
God totally blessed us...Last place we went we stayed with an amazing missionary family in Brussels they let us stay for about 10 days and we made day trips. With them we went to an international church that has a huge ministry for refugees. I met a lady from Iraq who walked for 1 month in the forest with her family fleeing for her life. One time on her trip she wanted to give up and she laid on the ground crying. While crying a Shepard came up to her and wiped her tears and told her to keep going. When she arrived in Brussels she went to an outreach the church had put on. When she arrived she started crying. She said "what is this I feel, the only other time I've felt this before was when a Shepard came to me." A man was able to go through scripture and show her who the great Shepard was and she gave her life to the Lord!! Her and her whole family now serve at that church! Amazing-God is so Good! | | |
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The Williams missed me so much that they came all the way to Oregon to visit me :)...I'd like to think that anyway!! and we had a blast................................................
Great fun in the snow, Ernie went turkey hunting and I got a kiss from my bro! 
I flew to the Eastcoast and went to New York for New Years....to the right is my great friend Angela...She awesome!! Been friends for yrs...we used to play in the mud as kids. She took us to her favorite places in NY and we met all her cool friends.. 
Than Noel and I drove all the way from the East Coast to the West Coast with all of her stuff packed in the back...great fun!!! Well we made it fun!! Wow to step out and move into the unknow, to try and start something that hasn't been done before....some call us crazy, we have even called ourselves crazy at times...but to OBEY God is the call-Obey not matter what! No matter how uncomfortable-to obey!! 
And during this journey staying focused on why the Lord has had me here in Oregon has not been easy. Its so easy to get distracted with life and loose focus on God and what He's speaking....And this whole process has taken every ounce of faith in me. Trusting that when He speaks its right and good and just to believe-Believe my KING. The Oregon coast is beautiful and loving being with old friends!
And the Lord completely opened the door to go to Tandra and Stevens wedding...Man I love when God puts two people to gether.....
The Lord know we needed the trip to Texas.......Man He's Good!!!!! 
Oregon is BEAUTIFUL....Heres me, mom, sista, and Noel hiking....7 mile hike, 5 beautiful waterfalls...I love the outdoors here. 
I love how my Family is active...here we are claming....My dad took us all out...I have the best dad!!!