First Day of Term.

The real fun begins this week.  I'm getting over a cold and starting online classes, as well as keeping up on all of my Australia stuff!

Ready for some good news?

• I submitted my Blue Card Application!  My daddy is the best and took the paper to be signed. :)  Lucky for me, I've known the Chief of Police for a very long time.  He and my dad have worked together for over 20 years. 
• Next item on the list is to print my sponsorship letters.  The official on these sorts of things has reviewed it and given her stamp of approval, so we're a go. 

Due to my cold this weekend, I didn't get anything else put up in the shop, so that's still a work in progress!  But today is Monday, so I still have two days to get as much done as I can. :)


And did anyone notice the ticker, count-down, thingy-ma-bopper over on the sidebar? That's mostly motivation for me to be on time with things!  The cool thing is though that once it hits zero, it will start counting up so then we'll all know how long I've been in Australia.  Handy-dandy.

 I'm off to sleep so my body can keep fighting this cold.

-Katie
This is what the Lord says:
"Stand at the crossroads and look;
Ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is,
and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls."
~Jeremiah 6:16 (NIV)

Good News.

We found out last week that my Papa's cancer does not involve a tumor or any lymph nodes!  Praise the Lord!  They decided to still go on their yearly trip to Hawaii, although this will be their last year.

In other good news I found out that I was accepted into a Youth With a Mission (YWAM) Discipleship Training School (DTS) in Townsville, Australia!  I'll be going this October, and will be back in the States in March of 2014!  I'm blogging about that over here.

Praying that you all had a safe and happy New Years!

Until next time,
Katie

Week's End.

I know it's the middle of the week... but I've decided that Wednesday is my goal day.  It gives me something to look forward to!
Here is a re-cap of the things I did (and did not) accomplish this week.  Find the original post with my goals here.

1.  Fill out my application for a Blue Card.  The application has been done since Saturday!  The only thing I'm waiting for is the local Chief of Police to notarize it (a.k.a prove that I am who I say I am).  With New Years being yesterday, and the fact the New Years Eve is pretty much a holiday, it's been hard to track him down.  It will hopefully be done tomorrow!

2.  Pay my downpayment! Check :) This one is done.

3.  List all of the craftiness Sarah and I have been up to in my Etsy shop, then open it!  My Etsy shop if officially open!  I'm still adding to it every day, but open it is.  All of the proceeds of the shop go towards my DTS.  I'm selling rice bags, hats, scarves, and cowls!  I will also be listing jewelry int he future made by the fabulous Sarah.  Everything in the store is hand-made by the two of us.  To purchase or just look around, please visit:  easy.com/shop/totheoutback

4.  Finish and start sending out sponsorship letters.  I'm down to the fine tuning!  And happy with how it's turning out.  The best part?  Yellow paper :)


Thank goodness for grace, and the fact that deadlines can shift a little here and there!  
This coming week I will be working to complete #'s 1,3, and 4.  I also start online classes this coming week, so I'm going to have to figure out the balance of everything!   

Have a wonderful evening!
In Christ Alone,
Katie

Happy New Year.

Welcome to 2013.  I pray that this year brings you closer to the Lord and that you grow in your faith.

This year I'm really working on getting back on track with my quiet time.  It has been severely lacking since I moved home.

Anyway, I though I'd post a little update on how I'm doing with the list of things I was supposed to accomplish by the end of tomorrow.

䕄one:

•  Payed my downpayment.

Half-way done:

• List everything in my Etsy store and open! (I've listed one item in my Etsy store, and it is open!)
• Fill out blue card application. (The only thing left to do is get the local police chief to notarize it, saying I am who I claim to be.... My dad could do it... but since he's related to me, I'm not sure how the Australian government would take it.)
• Finish and start sending out sponsorship letters.  (I have one draft that I liked, but I've decided to re-write.  My goal is to have the final draft finished by tomorrow.)

Even though there are more things in the "half-way done" list, I think I will be able to accomplish them in time to meet my goal.  This week I plan on completing more projects to list in my store, and I'll share all the details when it's all ready to go!

Have a blessed New Year!

In Christ Alone,

Katie

Just One Phone Call to Change My Day.

Today I actually received two phone calls from YWAM Townsville.  The first call I knew was happening, and had set up earlier this week.  It's been a long time since I've been so nervous!  I prayed for a calm stomach and that my fear would be gone.  When the phone rang and I answered, my nerves were gone!  The call was just to get a better understanding on how migraines sometimes affect my life.  I've had them since High School, but for the most part do not incapacitate me.  At the end of the phone call, the nice lady (I don't remember her name now) said that the gal I've been emailing would be in contact with me in a couple days with the decision on whether I'd been accepted or not.

I did not know that second phone call would also be today. :)

And so I've been accepted into the YWAM Reef To Outback October 2013 Discipleship Training School.  {That's a mouthful!}  I'm blessed, excited, a little nervous, and overall just praising the Lord for His goodness.  Now comes all of the planning, work, fundraising, and learning how to live out of one suitcase for six months!  Praise the Lord!

I'll be doing my best to keep y'all updated on what stage of the process I'm in and what's going on.  There will be lots to share and tell!

Here's a little list of my goals to be accomplished by January 2nd {One week from today}
1. Fill out my application for a Blue Card
       (A Blue Card is necessary to work with youth ministries while I'm in the state of Queensland, Australia.  Not quite the same as our green card ;)

2.  Pay my down payment!

3.  List all of the craftyness Sarah and I have been up to in my Etsy shop and then open it!
      (More details to come after I've opened it.)

4.  Finish and start sending out sponsorship letters.
      (I have a rough draft, but it needs to be fine tuned!)

I think that this is plenty to keep me busy over the next week!
If you have any questions or ideas for fundraisers shoot me an email or leave a comment.  I'd love to hear from you!

In Christ Alone,
Katie
katie[dot]mcd[at]me[dot]com


p.s.  Here's a little map for a better idea on where I'll be!

A Little Update.

My entire application has now being processed by the YWAM-RTO Leadership Team!  Hopefully I'll hear sometime in the next week whether or not I've been accepted.

In the meantime, my bestie and I have been busy making lots of projects to sell for fundraising!  I'll post more info later when I know more!   

Merry Christmas.

All's grace,

Katie

Hard Things in Life.

It's seems like it hasn't been that long since I've been here, but that's because I've thought about posting a lot... and just haven't done it.  So welcome back.

Today my family received some very hard news.  We found out that my grandfather (Papa) has cancer. It's in his breast, which is rare for men, and his doctor is going to operate to remove it somewhere around January 9th.

My Papa is the strongest, kindest, funniest man I know.  It's from him that we get our music, although I'm sad to say I did not get his whistling gene!  It upsets me that he has to go through this, but life if fleeting.  I stayed with my grandparent's two weeks ago for a week and one night at dinner Gammy and Papa started talking about their childhoods and how things were different.  We're talking no electricity or running water in their older sibling's homes. (They are both the babies of large families)  I love to hear them talk and reminisce about an entire different world, a simpler world.

Right now we're praying that the cancer doesn't spread at all and that the doctor can remove everything during the surgery.  I'm not ready for him to go anywhere.  Although I know that I'll see him in heaven someday if his last day is anywhere in the near future.  I want to make my grandparents great-grandparents, and I want my children to know my Papa.  He's the best Papa in the world and has been there at every turn for me.  It doesn't sound like the cancer is bad, but having a family member diagnosed is not something you ever imagine.

Hug your family tight this Christmas, I will be especially.

"For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord.  Plans to prosper you, not to harm you."
Jeremiah 29:11