Happy New Years! A year in review...
I'm not sure about you, but I LOVE reflecting.
with a passion.
You know how they all say "an unexamined life isn't worth living"…
and I agree.
We find richness in taking the time to process our year,
growing and learning from all we encountered.
introspection is where it's at!
today I read through almost my whole journal from the past year,
and saw all the prayers and tears I poured onto the pages,
asking God to make me new, to grant me peace, to replace the unhealthy with the healthy.
And as I got to end, I realized,
the culmination of this year was that the Lord did
just that.
my heart was the last page, and it is
new
at peace
and healthy.
This was one of the best years of my life, absolutely.
From Asia, to Europe, to the Rice Fields…God did a miracle.
Let's go…
Big Sur
We started off the year with some fun trips around California…driving up the Coast to Big Sur! It was beautiful and we got to spend time with Kev's brother and his wife! {here}
Celebrated a Birthday
I'm all about themed dress up parties, and this was no exception! My sweet friend Chels and I co-hosted a Mad-Men styled themed birthday party! It was a blast. You can see more pics {here}
Nepal
The biggest most life-altering change was moving to Nepal. and it was AMAZING.
We fell in love with the girls in the home where we worked {here}
learned the art of open air shopping for our food {here}
and just loved to explore our hometown of Kathmandu {here}
Europe
We were so blessed to get to fly to Europe for two weeks this summer to attend the wedding of our old exchange student Aline! {here}
Kev and I flew into Paris for 2 romantic days
Then met my family for a few week trip to Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany, France,
and finally Holland where the wedding was! We rented an adorable home in Delft!
So much beauty {here} and a slew of pictures to come in 2014!!
Shooting a Wedding in Nepal
Out of the blue, a sweet couple who had found my blog, asked if I would shoot their wedding in Nepal.
I was honored! The day was absolutely stunning!
SE Asia
After a very tearful goodbye in Nepal, Kevin and I took advantage of being in Asia
and spent almost a month traveling through Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam.
Vietnam {posts coming!!}
The Farm
In a random but fun turn of events, my dad who is a rice farmer, suggested that if Kevin and I wanted
we could come home and work the rice harvest!
And we thought…"why not?" {here}
It was an incredible experience!! I mean, come on…I drove a tractor! haha
Getting to farm with generations of family was amazing!
{especially with my 90 year old grandfather blowing me kisses from the harvester!}
farm sunsets {here}
Channel Islands
Much like starting the year with some trips around our native California,
we ended the year by taking an incredible backpacking trip with my siblings to the Channel Islands!!
To see more pictures {here}
Even though all the travel was amazing and incredible,
my favorite part of the year was seeing God work and mold
my anxious heart into a place of abundant peace!
I will be sharing more about my peace journey this coming year,
but a few posts related to this process are below:
forgiveness {here}
peace from pain {here}
I am so excited for what 2014 has to offer.
I find that HOPE seems to be spilling out everywhere I look.
Many blessings on you this next year for:)
May it be full of peace, freedom, and feeling LOVED and wanted by the King of Kings!
much love,
Katie