Sunsets in Rearview Mirrors

Facebook free, indeed.

2011-09-21T01:22:00.000-07:00

This past June, I left the facebook world. I was getting pretty wrapped up in it (so time consuming,) and found that over 3.5 years, it went gradually from being a handy contact device to a place where I was putting too much identity. My facebook page became too much about me. About my kingdom. And not about the One whose kingdom I should be seeking. Or those He put in my path to love and serve.

I can just hear Jane Austen as she penned the oft quoted words of Marianne Dashwood: "Oh, Elinor, where is your heart?" Only, somewhere in the back of my mind, it was my name in the plea, not Elinor's.

Facebook free. This doesn't mean I can't be in touch with family and friends overseas, there are plenty of other ways to connect! But the freedom I've tasted is so... so good. My relationships have become so much more genuine. For example, when I ask someone how they're doing, I'm much more interested now since I haven't already read about it on facebook or seen the pictures. I have no preconceived ideas about what they're going to say. My conversations are so much more real! How did I miss out on this?

The other day I spent some time with a young friend who had recently been volunteering in the Philippines. She laid the most beautiful collage of photos on the living room floor, as she explained the stories and moments and smiles behind them. It was truly a special time, because I wasn't at home in my office or at my dining room table surfing facebook by myself. I was with her, and she shared her journey as we laughed together. It was good.

Last week, it was my friend's birthday who isn't living in the area. I picked up the phone. We chatted for an hour and a half! We laughed, we talked about serious things, we laughed some more. It was good.

I've been missing my "family" from Peru. (They aren't blood related, but after living with them for 2 months, we've all adopted each other just the same.) I somehow (oddly enough, it was accidental!) logged into MSN chat, and two of my dear friends were online. We chatted and visited in English, Español, and "Espanglish". It was good.

My three nieces popped by with a friend the other evening during some free time at a retreat weekend. (Yes, I live at a camp. And it's a blast!) We piled on the bed and whatever chairs we could cram into my one room suite. We talked and listened and encouraged, and laughed - yes, and nearly cried too. We were just... together. It was SO good.

If you're feeling lonely. If you're feeling disconnected. If you're feeling like you need to refocus. Here's my challenge: close facebook for the day. Put down the iPod. Pick up the phone. Get on your bike. Arrange a skype date. Reach out and touch somebody else. Give your Aunt a hug. Bake cookies for the lady down the street. Pray down the phoneline with your out of town friend. It may surprise you how much you can bust out of loneliness when you seek out the lonely, the hurting, those who speak into your life and encourage you, or those who have just always been there for no particular reason.

Something I'm learning in real time.

the Pauper Burger

2011-04-12T14:16:00.000-07:00

I admit it: I love cheeseburgers. Especially with lots of spicy sauce and loaded with tomato and onion. But when the juicy craving hits, I usually can't bring myself to spend $6 for a burger that I know is going to show up in my arteries later on. It's a cruel fate: the things we crave are often not the best for us. (Um, let's address doughnuts and Oreos another day!)

So I've formed a habit of propping my fridge open and inventing all sorts of cheeseburger-substitute sandwiches instead. Not only does this save me $6 since I'm using common ingredients on hand, it's also a much healthier option that doesn't leave me lethargic for the rest of the day! Here's my most recent addition, cheekily deemed the "Pauper Burger." (Move over, A&Dub!)

By the way, this sandwich doesn't actually contain any hamburger at all, since my schedule often doesn't leave a lot of time for making lunch. Eggs, on the other hand, are quick, nutritious, inexpensive, (thanks, Cherith Brook Farm! aka: Mum and Dad!) and I always keep a stash of them. If you're looking for a real hamburger, better head back to town. Or you could look here: http://allrecipes.com/ (aka: my favourite cooking site.)

The Pauper Burger: A&W Substitute no. 17

2 slices of toast, buttered lightly (real butter is better for you than hydrogenated fats!)
1 farm fresh egg (high in iron)
Italian seasoning and red pepper flakes (yum!)
a splash of milk (...I don't know. It's something people put in omelettes. I don't usually bother!)
a few pickled banana pepper rings (zesty goodness)
handful of fresh spinach leaves (also high in iron)
a slice or two of cheese (so many options right here!)
3 slices of tomato (heaps of health benefits: http://www.dietobio.com/aliments/en/tomato.html)
optional hot sauce (I love Sriracha, found in the Asian isle)
Salt and pepper to taste

Basically, all you do is make a little omelette with your egg + milk splash mixture, Italian seasoning and red pepper flakes, sprinkling the pepper rings on top. Once it starts to set, lay the spinach on one side and fold the omelette over itself, so that the spinach steams lightly inside the egg. Top with a little cheese, and pop a lid over the fry pan for a couple minutes until the cheese melts and the spinach starts to wilt. (Not too long, or your spinach will overcook!) When it's done, make a sandwich out of the toast, omelette, and tomato slices, flavouring with a little salt, pepper and hot sauce if you're feeling spicy.

Tada! Gourmet sandwiches at home. Hearty, healthy, and much less than $6!

Justice: love and truth inseparable.

2011-04-02T14:29:00.000-07:00

Looking for a read to get you out of your chair? Here's two:

The Bravehearted Gospel by Eric Ludy. A little slow for me getting started, (I'm about halfway through,) but the essence of the book shakes our rather tame and watered down ideas of Christianity.

N.T. Wright; Simply Christian. I'm only in the beginning stages of the book, but it's got my wheels turning full speed...

Here's what these two complimentary books have got me thinking about so far:

It's crazy. We, the western society, "want" justice so badly, yet we refuse to grasp Jesus' example of how it is lived out; how it works. We are so preoccupied with our own personal rights. Justice isn't hung up on me, on my rights. Yet we forget to check ourselves against Jesus' teaching: love God, love your neighbor. Have we lost touch with what Christianity truly is? Are we stomping on each other by willingly ignoring truth?

Yes, there is love in justice. There is grace, warmth, healing and a sense of peace. We cannot dismiss that justice also embraces the harsh reality of truth. Justice draws lines. Just like Jesus did. Jesus didn't simply think that truth was a nice idea. He lived it. He was truth in living form. He still is.

Luke 10:27 He answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”

John 8:31-32 NIV: To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. (32) Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (ESV: "...If you abide in my word..." v.31)

John 14:6: Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life..."

art and the heart

2011-01-17T13:05:00.000-08:00

Oh, that my ways were steadfast in obeying Your decrees! [Psalm 119:5]

After seeing a friend's photography artwork, and while working on a devo for the YFC music crew, the verse I jotted on my arm for the day inspired this shot... (Backdrop painting by my sister Kerri Anne.)

change. celebration. and the Stamp River.

2010-08-24T00:52:00.000-07:00

A new day. A new dawn, new pages
a fresh leaf to overturn
I gaze at the swirls and ripples
the play of light so casually interrupted by foam
ever moving, taking new form

The water seems to breathe and sigh and sway
yet steady as the border, majestic, stands
jagged, they are, but in places smooth
weathered and worn, yet strong
the rocks stand unmovable as a guide
and I take refuge in a cleft
staring mesmerized upon the motion picture before me

Is this what I am to become?
The water guided so gently. A life surrendered fully.

In pockets the river stills
perhaps that's what You ask of me sometimes
in places bold and courageous
but still a soft direction holds...

In this small view, I cannot tell from where it comes
or where it goes
but this, I know; it is tangible
I can touch it. Smell it. Taste it.
Celebrate it.

lifted eyes

2010-04-25T01:03:00.000-07:00

So I was walking up the beach the other day, heading back to my car with damp feet, when I looked up and noticed a clear pathway in the rocks. Dandy! you're probably saying. Thing is, I didn't see the path on my way down the beach, hence the wet feet. (Yeah, see to the left of the photo? That nice tidal pool that I picked my way through?)

I guess I was so absorbed in what I was thinking about that I headed straight through the water, hopping precariously from rock to seaweedy rock. On the way back when I saw the path over to the right, I realised how life is kinda like that. (I know... more parallels!) But I was so focused on my feet on the way down that I didn't even stop to take a look around me or note the scenery (not to mention the easier trail!) If you've read much of this blog in the early on days, you might remember the deal behind the name, Sunsets in Rearview Mirrors. Actually, the beach experience was pretty funny in the end, but it was just another reminder to think about the bigger picture out there. To not get stuck on the me-myself-and-I of what's happening (or not happening) in my world right now.

...forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal... [see Philippians 3:13-14]

"for a happier, healthier crop"

2010-04-25T00:21:00.000-07:00

...Romans 5... [ESV] ¹Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. ²Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. ³More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, ⁴and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, ⁵and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

How To...

2010-04-01T23:06:00.000-07:00

Create a Compost Heap! Using common materials, build a compost heap that will develop into beautiful, rich dirt. ...Can you draw any parallels from this one?

[Okay, okay. So... me and a couple friends were talking the other day about how tough stuff in our lives makes compost... it helps us grow! Maybe this is taking things too far, but I found this on YouTube and figured it was particularly appropriate. Happy gardening!]

Making Every Moment Count.

2010-03-17T00:03:00.000-07:00

here she be, Isfeld Discussion Group. notes from today...
not from Isfeld? not to worry! you can read it too :P

[psssst!] [insert community interpretive art game here] [...or just ask what it was all about] :)

Some buzz phrases I've been using a lot lately: Attitude and perspective shape the day. Make the most of every op. God redeems junk.

Questions I've been pondering....
• If I were on my deathbed tomorrow, would I be able to say I've lived well?
• If I were to die today, would my Father God be pleased with me - in the way I've lived my life? In the choices I've made? Would He say, "Good job, Kat!"?

97: Random Thoughts... by Justin Lookadoo, story #37 Duck!
[super book! i recommend this one.]
• Anyone out there relate? Have a similar story?
• Sometimes stuff happens and we don't know why. Sometimes we haven't even made a bad choice and we still get a curve-ball... and things derail.
• How does that affect how you live 5 mins later? For the rest of the day? Does that first day affect you a week or a month down the road?

Philippians 3:13-14... ESV 13 Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

Ephesians 5... NIV 15 Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is.

[The NKJV says it this way: 16 redeeming the time, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is.]

What does it mean to "redeem" something?
[John Wesley's Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible: Ephesians 5:16
With all possible care redeeming the time - Saving all you can for the best purposes; buying every possible moment out of the hands of sin and Satan; out of the hands of sloth, ease, pleasure, worldly business; the more diligently, because the present are evil days, days of the grossest ignorance, immorality, and profaneness.]

Colossians 3:23... NKJV And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men.

Have you ever seen junk [experiences, mistakes, or plain old stuff gone wrong] redeemed in your life?

Romans 5... ESV 3 More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, 5 and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

Romans 8:28... NKJV And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.

Okay, so I still haven't got it... I haven't figured it all out, but here's what I wrote in my prayer journal the other day: "God... change my little world to big." In other words, open my eyes to see things YOUR way, God. Sometimes that's what we need - just to admit before God that we haven't got it all together. That we need His perspective on stuff.

By the way... a couple days later, I had this amazing day. Not because of anything special or spectacular, just because at the end of the day, I looked back and saw a few times where God made good things. (Seriously, they were simple things... like the rain. Rain is good!!) God heard my prayer and helped me change the attitude of my mind... He changed my little world to big. Make sense?

Are there things you need to trust God to redeem right now? Is there anything you can do to "redeem" today... [this day]?

1 Samuel 12:24... NIV But be sure to fear the LORD and serve Him faithfully with all your heart; consider what great things He has done for you.

side.note. Be encouraged! Sometimes stuff doesn't turn out... at least, not how we want it to. But God is constantly doing good stuff! He can use those tough things that derail to make us more like Him... conformed to His image. [Romans 8... NKJV ²⁹ For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. ³⁰ Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified. ³¹ What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?]

Artificial Vanilla.

2009-12-20T00:56:00.000-08:00

We have this vanilla in the cupboard. It's nasty. [Not Really Trying To Break The Company] Brand® Artificial Vanilla Extract. After attempting to bake with it, even just the name triggers a muscle tightening of my nose and left side of face. Yuck! (Note to self: vanilla is not supposed to taste like rubbing alcohol combined with toxic resin. Nor is it supposed to leave a rancid-rice-pudding after-taste.) I guess artificial vanilla is never quite like the real thing.

Coffee whitener. Plastic. Artificial vanilla. Frosty the Snowman. Hmmm...

A friend asked a few of us a question a couple weeks ago. He asked, if we took away our jobs and all the stuff that we do and titles that we have, who would we be... really? It surprised me how difficult this simple question was to answer. "Well, I'm a musician." Nope. That's a title... something I do. "Okay... I play guitar and piano." Narrowing it down? Way off the mark. "I am someone who finds music very moving; I am often best expressed through music??" And that's just one thing about me. Sheesh!

The other day, I was playing my guitar. It was one of those songs that you hear one day, and instantly becomes your life-theme song for the next several months or so. It's been an ongoing theme for some time now:

I won't be satisfied

I won't be found alright 'till I find

Who You are

I'd climb every mountain

I'd travel the deepest valley to find

Who You are

In the middle of the song, it struck me that I am the most lost, have the least purpose and direction in life, and know myself the least... when I lose sight of who God is.

You, You cause the lame to walk

You open lips to talk

You're everything and that is who You are

You, You calm the storms at night

You turn the dark to light

You're everything and that is who You are

My Saviour, my Healer

Redeemer, that is who You are

Creator, my Maker

My Father, that is who You are

Christmas will be here in a blink. Everywhere in town, there are signs, advertisements, propaganda. "Half price!" "Best seller!" "Going quick!" Bigger. Better. Images of Santa. I was curious: I Googled "how to find the right gift," which brought up 219,000,000 search results. Are we obsessed? What is Christmas, anyway?

I'm kind of hitting this from two different angles, but I hope this Christmas, Jesus will be more to us than just a cute little story. I hope that we'll take time to pause and revel at the mercies of an all-powerful God. I hope that we'll remember who He is... really. I hope that He will define us. Define me. And my story. Because how we view God defines who we are and what we do, whether or not we intend. And I'm not too crazy over that artificial vanilla.

But when the kindness and love of God our Saviour appeared, He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of His mercy.

He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit,

whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Saviour,

so that, having been justified by His grace, we might become heirs

having the hope of eternal life. Titus 3:4-7

all along...

2009-09-29T23:55:00.000-07:00

Ever have moments so shocking that you didn't know what to do with yourself, so awful that you literally cannot believe what you're seeing, but so impacting that you find yourself propelled toward change? I still remember. I don't really know what to say to explain this song I wrote two years ago. But what I can tell you, and those who were there with me that evening can attest to this: we will never be the same after this experience. The scene ever imprints my mind, and I wonder... how can I be Jesus' love? Can you forgive us for looking away?

How may years have you lived here, under my sidewalk

In the dirt and the filth, trying to keep out of the rain?

And how many times have I trampled on your ceiling

While unnoticed, alone down below

You wondered what life would bring today?

Up above, all the noise and the bustle of the city

Waking up, early morning lights glow in full array

As I passed you by with the crowds, did you see me?

Did you see us all carry on by

With much less than a wave?

Did you ever wonder what you could gain

By suffering through another day

Did you shed a tear in your pain?

How could I not know you were there all along

Alone and in need?

How can my ignorance be bliss?

Were you watching me?

Well I never knew you, never knew your name or your story

That you lived in a wall, down the bank, under my streets

But just today I heard a little bit about you

I wanted to ask for your pardon

But 'I'm sorry,' sounds so weak

And I didn't really know what to say

When I saw the suffering you'd been through, today

But the tears are welling in my face

How could I not know you were there all along

Alone and in need?

How can my ignorance be bliss?

Were you watching me?

How can I say that Jesus loves you?

Have I been Jesus' love to you?

How can I be a sister to you?

Walking

2009-07-17T23:53:00.000-07:00

Walking, I am. Tracing the shoreline.

Looking. Listening. Smelling. Touching. Tasting.

Aged stones. Barnacles grasping. Waves crashing.

Weathered remnants of silent stories untold.

An eagle takes his watch in stately pose.

Salt glistening, teasing the tongue.

Blisters: unnoticed. The coast draws me on.

Walking, I am. Tracing the shoreline.

Every bay a beauty of its own.

Each point; new perspective.

Lines drawn of sand. Sunlight on waters.

Beguile. Charm. Discover.

Mystery; the journey welcomes.

Stumbling, I am. Tracing the shoreline.

Curious; continue. Trust. Wisdom. Virtue.

Efforts pressed forward.

Pursuit of the unknown.

Battered feet. Tottering. Alone.

Simple bough fallen; support to become.

Distractions: unnoticed. The views draw me on.

Walking, I am. Tracing the shoreline.

Looking. Listening. Smelling. Touching. Tasting.

Every dawn invites to adventure.

Minutes. Moments. Memories to hold.

Hours to days. Fables of old.

Wisdom of years. Trust of a newborn.

Apathy cast aside.

Life. Love. The tide.

home sweet home.

2009-05-08T00:40:00.000-07:00

Sunsets in Rearview Mirrors has found a new home here at shouldercheck.blogspot.com!

Same blog, different address. I will be tweaking it for the next few weeks, so don't give up on me too fast! I hope to make a few improvements and then post some new stuff, but for now you'll have to put up with the oldies. Or get off the computer and go take a hike. Just make sure you're back for dinner.

Anticipating aNticipation?

2009-03-15T01:25:00.000-07:00

Hi Everyone!

Well, it's here! The moment we've all been waiting for! Okay, not really. But I did upload a new song on GarageBand.com. It's called aNticipation. Check it out and tell me what you think!

http://garageband.com/artist/caeti

Curious Climb

2009-03-01T00:35:00.000-08:00

Curious.

I begin my climb

My past, like a scroll

I leave the now behind

I scale the unknown

A mystery opens before me.

Higher I go

I can feel it now

Can feel the untold

The breeze meets me

Tousles my hair

It beckons me upward.

Not looking down

No! I keep going up

Intrigue pulls

Like a match to straw

And my eyes are wide

With spark, and the now gets dark.

The wind

It picks up

How it wrestles and moans

And I cling to the limbs

As the distant unfolds

A moment, I freeze in fear.

Horizon.

What is that, far away?

For the now is gone

And the branches sway

I catch my breath

And glance down below.

Downward:

What am I saying?

The past, the familiar

Or is it today

That I'm missing?

The clock still ticking.

With one last gleam

Lowering frightened eyes

I begin my decent

One by one

Carefully, steadily, slowly

The ground comes in view.

The breeze.

It becomes friendly again

And the now becomes nearer

Drowns out echos; the stormy tempest

I lower myself

At last; my mind regains peace

It cannot be said

What is seen up those trees

With the now thrown aside

Tomorrow; no. It is not yet time.

Today is held precious

On it tomorrow depends.

Thanks, God, that You give the right glimpses of the future at just the right times. May we hold today precious and not throw it aside - tomorrow will come - in time.

February 2009

Caeti's music now featured at GarageBand.com

2008-11-12T02:16:00.000-08:00

Hey everyone! I have [finally] successfully submitted an original song for you to listen to/enjoy/download for free at GarageBand.com. Check it out and tell me what you think!

Thanks to everyone who has supported me, taught me, and given feedback through this unending process.... Caeti ;)

Sunsets from Jerusalem

2008-11-06T23:38:00.000-08:00

I recently was in Israel, touring with a group of friends. During our trip, we volunteered to do maintenance work at home for disabled children, run by the St. Vincent de Paul. I wrote this in my journal during the long flight homeward...

...And there is always one I want to bring home. This trip, it was a girl, 23 like myself, but helpless. So fragile. She lay there in her crib (yes, crib,) peacefully - her face turned away from me, but her eyes alight and soaking in everything around. So small, she was. So tiny. The nurse gave her a gentle massage through her hair as she talked about the young woman's daily life; her struggles, her victories, her joys. The group began to move away. I moved in. Hello, I said softly, reaching my fingertips to her hair so she would know who was addressing her now. My name is Katie. I'm 23, too. She smiled... seemingly weakly, and yet with great strength. You have a beautiful smile, I continued, smoothing her locks.

Heartbreaking. How should I be describing this scene? I can only think of 'heartbreaking'; not because of how I saw her so much as for how I saw myself. Here we are; two women of the same age with a vastly different life-experience. I saw before me in my mind many blessings I have had for all my life, but forgotten they were, forgranted, unthanked-for. Lost amongst the me, myself and the I-want, I-deserve...

And so content she was. It's funny looking back... I wonder if that young lady even understood my English as she smiled in response? Even if she didn't, I know we understood each other in a different way.

a dollar-thirteen

2008-08-30T00:57:00.000-07:00

You sat on the pavement outside

hat on the ground

I saw the look in your eyes

tired, dirty, weary, worn

years of experience, I'll never know

where you have been

What has brought you to today

as I stooped

placed my dollar-thirteen in your hat

my gaze met yours

the world skipped a beat

and I wondered

where you have been?

Your leathered face softened

as I stood to your thanks

and lowered my head to avoid

the stares of those watching

and watch, they did

but still I must wonder

where have you been?

Questions racing, I strode to my car

nodded courteously at your wave

as I climbed in, asking myself

what you'd eaten for supper

when your next meal would be

you'd been at it a while;

how far could you stretch a dollar-thirteen?

where have you been?

Nudging my car toward home

I realised what I really wanted

was to know your name

sit on the pavement beside you

to believe you're a person

to hear your story and know

where you have been

I don't know how I can help you

but I wish you well

wish I could find a way

to sit on the pavement with you

help you to know that you are

a person of value

regardless of where you have been

So I lay now awake, and I write

wonder if I'll ever find you

meet you again?

you are here today

may God remind you of Him

in every sunset of where you have been

backtracking: thoughts on worship

2008-07-15T23:55:00.000-07:00

Some rambling thoughts I jotted in 2002....

True worship is the act of laying everything else aside and looking to God and His greatness, surrendering completely, wholly devoted; not just singing praises in church, but a lifestyle committed and completely devoted to serving Him, to His service which is altogether divine; and living in surrender to God. Living life in the footsteps of Jesus, to become as much like Him as possible in completely pure love with a humble heart that truly desires to honour Him. Worship is not a show. It is not something we do to impress one another; or to become better in their eyes; or to become set apart as 'more spiritual'; but rather is an act of dying to self; giving ourselves over completely to the Father and His work; walking His 'path'; giving Him all the glory and none to ourselves; or to our neighbor; or to our friend...only to God, for He is holy. Worship is responding to the way that God loved us by laying down His life for us; we respond by giving up our lives to Him.

Wow, hope I remember this throughout today.....

Sunsets in Rearview Mirrors has changed its look! What do you think?

2008-06-23T12:22:00.000-07:00

Jello and Pet Injustice (or maybe it was not my day for deep thinking?)

2008-06-23T00:21:00.000-07:00

So I found this old email that I wrote to some friends and family one New Years' week when I was really sick, and it made me laugh... (I do, however, hope you will soon recover!)

Hi Everyone.

Well, being sick can really be quite a bore. Having a generous amount of brain energy but little to no physical stamina, I decided on one of my favourite pastimes: writing. As I pondered what to write about, tossing ideas to and fro in my mind, I stumbled upon one of culinary's great mysteries: Isn't the consumption of JELL-O gelatin desserts rather like eating solidified Kool-Aid?

Not that I've tried it myself, (solid Kool-Aid, that is,) but one can only imagine how similar they would be. (No wonder I don't like JELL-O!) But think about it for a moment: the sweetness, the colour, and the intrigue that both are produced from envelopes of tiny, crystallized...something-rather. They are even made by the same company! It's like a conspiracy. Hmmm...

Maybe I'll think of a different topic to write on.

Like pet injustice.

So my fish has been rather sad lately. Poor Mordecai. I think he is depressed because my dog, Jenni, got a stocking at Christmastime, but he didn't. Honestly, though, what do you put in a fish's stocking? I suppose some dried worms might have been nice, or maybe a fancy new treasure chest. But then, where would an appropriate place have been to hang a stocking for Mordecai? It would most certainly have to be a waterproof stocking if it contained dried food, or perhaps I could have tied it to the outside rim of his bowl...okay, maybe the idea wasn't that unreasonable after all. My word, I have insulted my fish!

But really, where does one draw the line with things like Christmas stockings? If I hung a stocking for Mordecai, then it would only seem fit to also hang one for each of our hens as well. And what, pray tell, does one put into the stocking of a chicken? (My, I would not make a very good St. Nick, would I?)

In all honesty, the stocking for the dog wasn't actually my idea. In fact, (and my sincere apologies to Jenni for what I am about to say,) ...a dog is simply that: a dog. (Thus, a fish is a fish, and a hen is just, well, a stupid chicken.) Perhaps I have insulted poor fishy, but; I hope he understands, it was most unintentionally done!

Okay, I think it's time to stop writing now, before I cause some poor soul more harm! I pray you will soon recover from my writing.

Kate

Biking Up the Hill Down By the Bay

2008-05-03T22:39:00.000-07:00

Well, it's not really a bay... it's actually just a little beach. But I did bike up the hill. You know, part way...

Okay, so I'm not exactly what one would describe as a marathon biker. I mean, I enjoy it and all, but when it comes to the big hill down by the bay... er... "beach", well, I'd best not too quickly pass off my day job. Maybe I should get some tips from my cousin, David - he bikes long distance back and forth to work all the time! Or from my friend, Jodie - who is biking her way from Campbell River, British Columbia, to the Mexico border, get this; to raise funds for the BC Children's Hospital! Now THAT is dedicated biking. And I can't even make it up the dumb old hill! (For more information on Jodie's amazing trek, check out http://www.journeyofcourage.ca!) Now where was I going? Ah yes, uphill!

So I get a good start. I'm feeling some power, got some speed, putting my full body into this thing. This is called stand-up biking; or something along those lines. I'm throwing all my energy into my bike pedals. Woosh. Woosh. Left. Right. Come on, I can do this. I will NOT let the hill get the better of me this time. Uh-oh, gotta gear down... 6... Woosh. Woosh. 5... Woosh. Woosh. 4... Oh boy, not looking good! How far have I...ahhh! I've been humbled to dismount my bike. I pretend to have a flat, or some sort of problem with my chain, as I grin valiantly at passing drivers in their shiny, high-powered little cars. I then grit my teeth and march my bike the rest of the two-thirds uphill. Sound familiar?

Sometimes I find myself doing this in other areas. Not at different beaches...I'm talking about the things I do everyday. See, I can be sailing along just fine through my day. I'm feeling good, got my happy ditties going through my head as everything goes tickity-boo. I think I'm doing great, doing it all right, until suddenly, *OOOF!* I start to feel it. Uh-Oh, *OOOF!* gotta gear down. I can look behind me and congratulate myself on my accomplishment, (look how far I've biked up this hill!) and shake my head at those who are maybe a little slower moving, maybe they haven't got it all together... *OOOF!* What's that, God? What are You saying? *OOOF!* Uh-oh, I have to gear down? *OOOF!* What? I don't have it all together, either? *URCH!* ...So what You're saying is, I'M NOT PERFECT?!

Perfect: excellent or complete beyond practical or theoretical improvement, entirely without any flaws, defects, or shortcomings, expert; accomplished; proficient. (www.dictionary.com)

Okay, God, so about the way I handled that situation earlier...

Huh. Ever find yourself halfway up the hill, or a third of the way, as the case may be, when you come to a thundering halt? Maybe God asks us to gear down sometimes; to stop, look at ourselves and realise, Hey, maybe he/she/they haven't got it all together but, hang on a minute, neither have I! Do we turn around to look behind us and congratulate ourselves part way up? (maybe.) Does it slow us down? (you bet!) What about looking ahead toward the goal? (what is my goal?)

So I'm thinking I need some practice before I attempt the hill again. But that's okay, God is a loving coach.... And, next time you see me huffing and puffing my way up that slope, remind me to gear down. Better yet; offer me a ride!

Judge not, that you be not judged. For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you. And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove the speck from your eye’; and look, a plank is in your own eye? Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye. Matthew 7:1-5, NKJV

You do all things well....

2008-04-17T20:50:00.000-07:00

When I wrote this song, it was one of those songs that one writes in a moment of inspiration, but doesn't fully know why until sometime down the road. Funny how something written in one instant can so fully impact the writer later down the road. While I was in Peru, this song became so much more real to me. Oftentimes, it seems God uses those broken places in life to bring the most healing.

Anticipation :: Summer 2007

I don't really know where I'm going with this

All I know is that things are changing

It breaks my heart to let go of something good

But sometimes even good things have to be sacrificed

And this is the life I chose to live for You

Something's gotta give

If I hang on too tight I'm gonna squish it to death

But if I let go, well I don't know

But You do all things well

You do all things well

So I give it up to You and wait in anticipation

Anticipation, expectation, revelation

I'm trusting You....

Peru 2008 :)

2008-04-15T01:13:00.000-07:00

Hola, amigos y familia!

Thank you for all your precious notes, letters, and especially for your coveted prayers! Te quierro mucho - I love you all very much!

I am now home in Canada and am settling back into routine. I have a huge praise report: I've been home only a week, and already am back to work! Praise the Lord for providing in this way!!

I've decided that Canada is...chilly! Each morning as I wake up and go to wear shorts and a teeshirt, I throw my blankets off my bed, (blankets???) and stand up to the window...only to realise that it's 8 degrees outside and much to cold for barefeet! Then I remind myself how much I love hot chocolate and fireplaces, and I'm okay after that. But...I confess I miss the Lima sunshine.

Hmm...where to begin? I'm procrastinating because I have too much to say; how can I summarize two amazing months of God's gifts and faithfulness? I guess I could start with saying that God is really giving. And faithful. As I try to absorb the riches of everything I've experienced these past two months, I find the message consistent: God is faithful, and He completes His promises.

He promised to take me to Peru. He did.

He promised to provide for my needs in this trip. He did.

He promised He would teach me. He did.

He promised He would hold my hand and guide me. He did.

He promised He would be my strength. He was.

He promised to give good things. He gave.

It makes me cry that I got to meet these people I have prayed for over the years, because I don't deserve such a huge gift. For so long, I've heard about their love for the Lord and for each other, and now I've seen it firsthand and have experienced their friendship. Two worlds met. What can I say, except for our God is a big God, and it's a small world, after all. We laughed together. We cried together. We prayed together. And these things we did, even though we spoke different languages. There is a friendship that goes deeper than can ever be communicated with words. It is communicated through tears, through giggles, through hugs and through living life together. It is communicated through events, both normal and of routine as well as special occasions. It was communicated through smiling eyes and through tiny hands slipped into mine. Towards the beginning of my trip, I wrote in my journal a question: "What is love?" I think I understand better...it cannot be confined into words.

I want you all to be encouraged - if you have dreams, if you have hopes, if God has things He has placed in your heart - don't let go. Hold on. Pray. Grasp His promises with both hands. Because when we forget, He doesn't forget. He remembers. And He fulfills. My second day in Iquitos, I wrote the following: "After we got here yesterday and had lunch with Camella and her son, Daniel, we headed into town. I caught my first glimpse of the Amazon River from a few blocks away...wow. God, I don't even know what to say, except to thank You for making childhood dreams come true. (If I thought I was dreaming when I arrived yesterday, that theory was blown by the drenching Amazon rain that absolutely soaked Brandy and I last night ...wow... when it rains, it POURS!!) So thank You. And I am filled with fresh hope that You are a King of fulfilled promises and that You can make my other dreams come true - You have that ability and those resources! WOOT! Thank You for bringing me here. Thank You for bringing me to this place in my life. Thank You for what You will do next...."

As one of my current favorite songs proclaims; "Now I know that I'm alive, all the loneliness is filled by You inside, and as I finally breathe the air, You've opened up my eyes. Now I'm alive." (Hotel Aquarium, by Falling Up).

Alright, I have so much more to say, but I fear this may become rather boring, or repetitive, or boring and repetitive.... Thank you all, each one of you, for your love and support in SO many ways during this time. It was not just a trip to Peru for two months, it was life. And this is just the beginning.... Be blessed and encouraged today!

Because of His rescue, Katie

Joshua 1:9! WOOT! :: "This life is very crazy!!!!! ...it is an adventure, in which we live on the edge and strive for the best, and when we fall, we get back up and climb higher; God always offers us His strength." - me and a friend in Peru. :: "You cannot take hold of all that God has to offer until you first let go of what you already hold in your hands."

Peru Trip Update ...and stories about God´s cool gifts...

2008-03-26T00:12:00.000-07:00

Hello all, and Happy Easter!!!!

The time in Peru is flying very quickly...faster each day, I´m sure! Right now, the girls and I are in Cusco for a week, (Chris and Joel stayed behind in Ventanilla,) and are waiting for the feeling to truly sink in that now, when we see pictures of Machu Picchu, we can recognise the different sites! (Yes, I have photos....many photos!!) It is an indescribable feeling to stand at the top of the Andes mountains, looking across valleys to other mountains...wow - how majestic is our Creator!! I wish I could share with you what I felt looking across at the late afternoon sun rays and shadows on the high peaks...but alas, words cannot fully describe.

Back tracking a little... So much has been happening here, I wish I could write out every day! CFO camp in Iquitos went well, and we also got to experience an Amazon tributary, foods like heart of palm salad and...alligator! (mmm, tasty!) The poverty was more evident to me in Iquitos in some ways. There are always children on the streets who are dirty and undernourished; it was heartbreaking. The town of Iquitos itself is very beautiful - colourful and lively. It amazes me how Peru can be so very different in each place...if you want to really know Peru, travelling around the country is a must!

Back in Lima Central, about 2 hours away from ´home´ in Ventanilla, we helped out once a week at a house for disabled people, which includes all age groups. Our time was spent in the men´s wing, where we did things like playing interactive and mind-stimulating games with them, cutting hair, colouring, and spoon feeding lunch to those who couldn't feed themselves. I made some friends there, so if you think of it, pray for E. and K., that God´s love would be evident to them. We had our final time there last week, but those three times were an experience I pray I won´t ever forget. English classes have wrapped up for this year, as half of the team heads home mid-week next. We fly back to Ventanilla on Tuesday, and they leave Peru on Wednesday night. Four of us are staying behind for an extra week, and we look forward to spending that time with the families we´ve been staying with. Then I have one week more with some friends in the United States, before...home sweet home!!! I really look forward to being with my family again :)

I´ve been thinking a lot about gifts...what is a gift; and what does it mean to give? I can´t stop thinking about how much this entire trip to Peru has been a gift in my life. And how many other gifts do I receive - every day?! Smiles, food, water, majestic views of mountains and sunsets, hugs, a window seat on a combie, (a seat on a combie!! haha!), letters and emails from loved ones (THANKYOU everyone!!!!!), the knowledge of the God who created earth.... On Good Friday: forgiveness. For tomorrow: a Saviour who wars for my eternal life. And on the Third Day: Salvation - we walk in victory with our Jesus. WOOT!

I hope you each are well, and I pray that each day this Easter, you will be fully blessed - with many gifts. Love and hugs to each one of you!!
Katie

ps - check out these random-not-so-random verses! In any not-so-particular order... James 1:16-18, Luke 23:34a, 2 Cor. 8:14-15.

psps - He is risen...INDEED!

Cold Showers and Warm Embraces

2008-03-26T00:07:00.000-07:00

:: Wednesday, February 13, 2008 :: Ventanilla, Peru :: Weather: um, hot ::

Cold Showers and Warm Embraces

Dear Family and Friends,

Hola! Greetings from Ventanilla, Peru! I hope you are all well - I think of you often.Wow, where to begin? Peru is so amazing!! I think it is finally sinking in that I´m actually here and fulfilling a dream. I am so blessed to be here, and the peace and joy of the Lord is so evident. The Peruvians are very welcoming - after only one week, I have been ¨adopted¨ into three families, complete with five sisters and three brothers (who are all somehow distantly related in some way, shape or form...) We´ve just returned from Ventanilla CFO camp, (February 6-10,) and had a really good time there. My fourth day in Peru was deffinitely the hardest in a new culture...this was my 3rd day at camp, so I was really feeling the language barrier, but God was so faithful (as He always is) and I´ve been able to learn a lot of Spanish in a very little time.

Life in Peru: Morning showers are very fun...there is no hot water, (this is normal in Peru,) so one wakes up feeling quite alert after their shower. Actually, it is so very warm here just under the equator, that the cold water is quite welcome, even in the morning! I often wonder if my body will climatize so that I won´t be in this unending state of sweating. (Now aren´t you all wishing you were here? Tee hee hee) Peru is so beautiful, and I can´t wait to show you my pictures later on.There has been some sickness amongst the team members, and my health was also a little shaky during the first week - a cold, followed by some sort of stomache flu (amongst other things). But last night a few of us had some prayer time together, and I was instantly 98 percent better! Today I am very well - thank God for His peace and healing! Please pray for bettered and continued good health for the team members and myself.

What´s happenin´: The dates for CFO in Iquitos have been finalized; Feb. 21-24th, and we begin teaching English classes tonight, so I look forward to rejoining many of my new friends from the last CFO camp!

Thanks!! ...to everyone who has written with thoughts, prayers and encouragement! I appreciate all of you so much, and am greatful for your support in so many ways. May you each be blessed in a personal way today!

Love and hugs to all, Katie

Post Script! Thought for today: ´´He said to them: ´´It is not for you to know the times or dates that the Father has set by His own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and and you will be My witnesses....to the ends of the earth.´´ ´´ Acts 1:7-8 :)

More info: www.lifeembraced.org

been thinking about...

2007-08-28T23:25:00.000-07:00

Don't be afraid to be that person who God created you to be! When we are always ourselves, it gives those around us the privilege of appreciating us for who we are. :: For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Ephesians 2:10 ::

Camp & After Thoughts...

2007-08-19T17:56:00.000-07:00

Whoa, hard to believe how this summer has flown by! (...Has flown? Is flying? Guess I won't rush the next couple weeks...) My work with Camps Farthest Out is 'rapidly-wrapping up' for the year, and the sunny evenings are quickly getting shorter. I just came home from BC Van Isle CFO, and wow, what a great camp this year! (Endless thank-yous, Council Ring!!) It is always so good to see people coming together for the same purpose of celebrating Jesus and His awesome love!

In the short few years of my life thus far, God has used Camps Farthest Out in amazing ways. It has changed me, it has moved me. It has made me hungry for more of God...for reality, not as the world sees it; but rather, from the Holy Spirit's perspective. It has healed me, it has stretched me (big time!!!) and grown me. Each and every CFO has its own flavour and its own gems to offer, and I'm continually blessed by the diversity of the people who attend; "one body of Christ, many parts."

My "home camp" as I call it, Van Isle CFO, meets annually by a large river on the Island. Every year, we eagerly head down for some swimming and, if one is brave, perhaps a few dives off the huge "jumping rock". Each year, the river changes bit by bit. This year, however, we were all in for a big surprise. Over the winter, the rushing currents knocked out a few large trees, taking out the bridge to the beloved rock and creating some new bends in the river with a whole lot stronger current. There was still a small, safe swimming hole, but it is amazing how much the river has changed. I think we were all in shock!

I was marvelling about this as I unpacked my things this morning, and the thought hit me that the river should be a parallel to my life. (Now, please bear with me, I get tired of parallels to water/rivers/oasis/rain too! Yet still...)

It struck me how easy it is. Easy? Yeah, easy. Easy to slip into that oh-so-familiar after camp mode. I'm tired. I've had a long week. A long summer! I have to go back to my "real" job. Winter is coming. Time to start thinking about firewood. And soon after, about Christmas. (Shoot, did I really say that?! Somebody smack me!) I'm gearing down. Why do I feel so apathetic? But really, it's so... so easy.

What's not easy is to be like that river. You know, the one that changes so much every year. It doesn't just change overnight, oh no...it changes bit by bit, everyday. It does its regular thing, flowing along, brushing past rocks and debris, sweeping around trees and etching into banks. Sometimes it changes more quickly in a flood or storm, and sometimes slowly as it bubbles along. Just like it always has, and always will. Hey, rivers have mundane tasks, too! (How would you like to spend the whole day and night carrying logs and dirt?) But the river has a direction. A purpose, if you will. It's going somewhere.

We know that we are to be "transformed by the renewing of our minds" (Romans 12:2,) "redeeming the time, because the days are evil," (Ephesians 5:16) (So much for settling into apathetic routine!) Huh. Is my life going somewhere? Am I going somewhere? If I'm being transformed to be more like Christ, I should be changing. Everyday. Different. Like the river. Huh.

Okay, I think I've talked enough for one posting. In conclusion, thank you for reading this far! And when you think of me, (echoing 1 Thessalonians 5:25,) "Brethren, pray for us." Let's be transformed!

Aha! Here it is...

2007-07-21T22:55:00.000-07:00

...the sunset in my rearview mirror :)
Actually, I lost the original; this one isn't quite as neat, but still fun!

What? No answering machine?!?

2007-07-20T08:47:00.000-07:00

Are you absolutely out of your mind? How can this be, how is this possible? Do you have any idea how ridiculous this is, that you do not have an answering machine?! ...How do you do it? How do you survive?!

Yes my friends, it can be done! Contrary to popular belief, it is not mandatory to own an answering machine! In fact, statistics show that more homes in Canada are without answering machines than those that have them! (http://www.oee.nrcan.gc.ca/corporate/statistics/neud/dpa/data_e/sheu03/publication_en_036_2.cfm?attr=0) Take a moment of silence...just imagine, a life without the worry and stress of "calling back..."

You, too, can have this stress free, no-call-back life right now, with no down payments and zero percent interest, for a minimal fee of $0.00! Save money! Unplug your answering machine now!

(...On second thought, I'm probably getting voice mail for my cell phone soon, so... give me a call and leave a message! I love getting messages!)

Sunsets...

2007-05-24T23:41:00.000-07:00

So I was driving along the other evening, and this amazing sunset -- full of colour -- was just beaming at me in my rearview mirror. I was admiring how beautiful it was, feeling quite disappointed that I was headed away from the sunset and could only catch little glimpses of it in the mirror. But...it kind of reminded me of how there are sunsets in life -- really beautiful times that you don't ever want to end -- and the only way you can re-live them is by looking in the rearview mirror. Problem is, if you stare in those mirrors too long, you're gonna miss a bend in the road and wind up in the ditch! (I know this because I was trying to take a picture of the reflection while I was still humming along at 78.2 km/hr and...yeah. But I'm okay! So is my car. So is the ditch. And actually, the picture turned out pretty cool!) (No fibbing...Yes, I was taking pictures of my mirror on my cellphone while driving, and no, I didn't have any accidents!) (Kids, PLEASE don't try this at home!) (Woah, what was the original topic again? Rabbit trails!)

Anyhow, one could almost say that there are bends in the road of life, and as you enjoy the pretty sunsets fading behind you, you still have to keep your eyes on the road ahead because 1) you never know what's coming up, 2) you don't really want to go puddle-jumping in the ditch, and 3) the sun always sets before it rises again (...hence the rising part).

...That's not really why this blog is called "Sunsets in Rearview Mirrors".

...So I was driving along the other evening, and this crazy sunset -- just wild in colour -- was glowing in my rearview mirror. So I took a picture and thought, "Hey, that would make a nifty name for a web-loggy-thing!" So I came home and made this web-loggy-thing and named it after my exciting experience. Then I thought to myself that I really should think of some deeper meaning than that...guess this'll have to do. ;)

Happy driving!

:: Life must be lived forwards, but it can be understood only backwards. - Soren Kierkegaard ::

thoughts on...life

2007-05-20T23:32:00.000-07:00

I once heard about this guy who wanted a personal mission statement for his life, so he and his wife chose a Scripture verse to describe what they felt was their purpose for living. "How cool is that," I thought to myself, being the sort of person whose favourite collection, besides notes and pictures from kids at the camps I've worked at, has to be quotes and such. (Actually, I love quotes so much, I started a book in which to write my favourite ones, so I really do, in fact, have a quote collection.) Anyhow, I got thinking about mission statements and verses and quotes to live by, but I discovered....it's rather hard to pick just one!

One sentence -- or one verse -- to sum up my reason for living everyday. My reason to go on with the day when I'm tired or sick. Or when there's no cream for my English Breakfast tea, or when there's no English Breakfast tea, for that matter! My reason to be cheerful when I'm having a crummy day at work, my reason for smiling at grouchy customers or at the guy in the Porsche who's puttering along my road doing 30km/hr under the speed limit when I'm late for skate class...okay, you get the idea.

I may never settle on one statement for my life, but all things aside, there's this Bible passage that I just cannot get out of my head...

:: But whatever was to my profit, I now consider loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith. I want to know Christ, and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of sharing in His sufferings, becoming like Him in His death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead. Philippians 3:7-11 ::

Whoa, that's who I want to be everyday....