tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-89194592207028591932024-02-07T21:23:26.729-06:00Leap YearTX to ORkait.http://www.blogger.com/profile/13284562106319115069noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8919459220702859193.post-48103317834747936372012-07-26T21:18:00.000-05:002012-07-26T21:18:27.705-05:00let's go to the beachEver since we hit the ground, we have been active non-stop! Running, walking, biking, climbing, hiking, etc. and it's been a blast. My legs and feet are definitely feeling it, but it is a welcome feeling. In no way am I a beast at all of these activities, but they are thoroughly enjoyable and I love engaging in fun new ways to exercise.<br />
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Back in mid-June we took a trip to Cannon Beach, less than two hours from Portland, and hiked in the nearby Ecola State Park. It is just a short fifteen minute drive into town from there, but when standing at the lookout point, breathing in the cool sea air, you feel isolated in nature. The sky remained overcast, but even so it was absolutely beautiful. It may have even been more vibrant because the sun was not washing out the gorgeous colors of flora and fauna. From the top viewpoint, we hiked down the "difficult" trail about 1.5 miles before reaching the beach down below. The easier trail was blocked by the tide, so our only option was the more challenging route. It was a bit of a challenge, but also very short. The clouds over the ocean were magnificent, stately and bubbling like rising bread dough. And just beyond them, the sun shone a few rays onto the water, creating a breathtaking ocean view.<br />
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Less than a year ago was my first Pacific Ocean encounter, back in September on a spur of the moment trip to San Diego and Pasadena with my Young Life team. Now I feel so privileged to be this close to the water and experience it more than just once a year. Being from Texas, I have not had many beach trips simply because the beaches in Texas although in existence, are not much of a sight to see. In fact, my first trip to a beach in my life (that I can remember) was the summer after my senior year of high school when I travelled through Europe. I saw a French beach as well as a Dutch beach. Both were amazing, but I am really glad the ones I get to enjoy here in Oregon are equally as beautiful. Now as for swimming in the water... well that might not ever happen unless I am in a wetsuit. The water was shocking. I literally felt shocked when I ran down the sand to about waist high water. I could not handle it for more than three seconds, so I darted back out and shivered until I was back to a relatively normal body temperature. We hung out at that spot for a while and then headed back up to the car to journey down the beach to the city of Cannon Beach.<br />
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The quaint little town is quite tiny with only a handful of roads, but it is most certainly a tourist spot. We stopped for lunch at a local pizza kitchen, where we scarfed down three extra large family size pies, all of which were very delicious. Just down the road from there was a new coffee shop called Insomnia. I love the atmosphere there and they serve coffee equally as good as any local shop in Portland. A huge plus! You might say this place is just as hipster as Portland too, although the patrons don't always match that vibe. Our next stop was the beach, which we were all looking forward to because that was our last stop of the day. We found a good site to build a fire and watch the sunset. We also played a few rounds of bocce ball, which has become a staple in our group and a game of ultimate frisbee, which was quite a challenge to play in the sand. Of course you can't have a campfire on the beach without s'mores! When the sun went down over the ocean, we gathered our belongings and made our way back to Portland. The relatively short trip was well worth it!kait.http://www.blogger.com/profile/13284562106319115069noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8919459220702859193.post-5466173567689115972012-06-08T18:57:00.000-05:002012-06-08T18:57:41.340-05:00one week in pdxLast Friday morning I woke up before the sun and flew out to the west coast to start this wonderful adventure in the north west. I can't even remember everything we have done so far because we have done a ton of things, and I mean a WHOPPING TON! Food is the main gathering center in Portland. There are millions of restaurants and coffee shops (I'm in one right now). And since we all eat, why not spend that time together in community? We've eaten out a lot because there so many new places and unique items to try. Just to name a few, there is Laughing Planet, Chowdah and the Grilled Cheese Grill (both food carts), Blue Kangaroo, Papaccino's, Habibi (Lebanese), etc. My first meal off the plane was shamelessly Panda Express. This is very rare, but I had a craving for it and coincidentally I stumbled upon it and I couldn't pass it up. NOTE: Taylor, I solemnly swear from here on out to steer clear of the chain restaurants and eat local.<br />
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This list goes on. Very rarely have we eaten meals at home, partly due to the fact that we are in a practically sparse apartment with little food in stock. We have made two trips to the grocery store, so hopefully that will change a bit. My stomach is begging me! It's all good stuff, don't get me wrong, but I am used to eating meals that I have cooked myself a little more than this.<br />
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A major difference I have noticed here is how active people are and by active I mean they actually use their bodies to get from point A to point B. My body is screaming exhaustion simply because of the amount of walking we've done. This would be a good time to point out the obvious, that I am out of shape and sore! My butt is sore from riding my bike just ONE day! My arms are sore from playing frisbee and from climbing at a gym. My feet are aching the most because of the miles I have trekked so far. All of these seemingly complaints are quite the opposite actually. This is the kind of life style I love and I have been longing for. All of these things seemed like forever dreams and never realities while living in Austin and going to school. There was never enough time in the day to do everything even with a car! I was always and I mean always (my sister can attest to this) on the go, running around like a headless chicken. Now I am forced to go slowly and notice things. For instance, I have taken in the beautiful flowers here, like I have never seen them in my life. I'm serious. I stood looking at the fresh cut bouquets at the Farmer's Market in Woodstock because I just couldn't get over their beauty. My pictures aren't the greatest, but they give you a hint of the beauty. Calla lilies are my absolute favorite and poppies could easily be a close second. I am astounded at the variety. They all seem so exotic to me.<br />
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Another obvious difference between Portland and Austin is the weather. WOW, it has been crazy here! Everyone keeps telling me this is not normal June weather. My theory is we brought the thunderstorms with us from Texas. I think it has rained everyday so far, although the rain here is not an all day downpour-type rain. It is more like the clouds decide to dump a few buckets every so often, like a water amusement park. Then the sun comes out and warms the air. As I sit here typing, I watch the cars get pelted with hail. Hail! Who knew?<br />
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Now that I have spent a week in Portland getting to know the city and our drop zone in particular (the neighborhood Sellwood), I am settling in quite well, enjoying a slower pace of life, getting to choose what I do and how I spend my time, and learning how people live here. So far so good! I really do love it here. I am excited to meet people, make friends, and see how the Lord has planned out this summer, using our parachute team in Sellwood.</div>
<br />kait.http://www.blogger.com/profile/13284562106319115069noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8919459220702859193.post-36743988313307034112012-06-04T14:53:00.002-05:002012-06-08T18:57:52.407-05:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
so many beautiful flowers in Portland!</div>
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<br /></div>kait.http://www.blogger.com/profile/13284562106319115069noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8919459220702859193.post-25936418948495048072012-04-29T19:22:00.002-05:002012-04-29T19:22:24.324-05:00still here<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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If you were worried I fell off the face of the earth, well fear not. I still exist. I promise I will post soon, I'm just a little preoccupied with trying to finish school. That's right I'm graduating! More to come.<br />
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<br />kait.http://www.blogger.com/profile/13284562106319115069noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8919459220702859193.post-62724101045627101252012-03-19T18:04:00.003-05:002012-03-19T18:04:39.874-05:00a spring afternoon<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span style="font-family: Candara;">In just two short months,
I will graduate from the University of Texas at Austin with two degrees. Where
did the time go? I don’t even feel like I am old enough to earn that honor
(although the man hours I logged sure do make up for that feeling!). I am still
living life to the fullest and enjoying every moment I have here in Austin.
This place I have called home has been good to me, and I feel, although I will
be leaving very shortly, that I will someday return and come to enjoy it all
the more. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Candara;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Candara;">As you can imagine, I am
preparing for the “big move” by minimizing my stuff, which may mean there is a
garage sale in store in the coming months! I am also gathering support for my
summer in Portland. This means not only am I asking my comrades to rally for my
cause, but I am also spending a good chunk of my own time AND money for this
adventure. As a part of serving with Go Now, the students are required to give
sacrificially for their own and other students’ trips. My sacrificial giving
portion is coming form babysitting. It is my current trade skill, and a good
one at that. I get to have fun playing with kids, eating snow cones, going to
the movies, etc. and I collect my pay at the end of the day. So far I have
contributed the largest portion of my support so far in this way. It is not
strenuous; rather it feels good to be contributing to the Kingdom by
intentionally apportioning my income to serving the Kingdom. It’s almost like
working hard to tithe. Crazy, huh? Who does that? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Candara;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Candara;">There are times when I do
feel anxious about arriving, and not feeling content with the journey. However,
this posture has been thwarted by the Lord and replaced with JOY! I love that I
get to live in a gorgeous place with beautiful people. My community has been
nothing short of supportive and active in my life. It is phenomenal to have
such a group of loving people surrounding me. Absolutely a stunning picture of
the gospel!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Candara;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Candara;">I just wanted to keep up
with my life here and put into practice this consistency of blogging. I hope
this post finds you well and that you are taking pleasure in the exquisite
spring weather! And one last thing to leave you with: <a href="http://www.foxnews.com/travel/2012/03/19/10-reasons-to-fly-to-portland-oregon-right-now/">Top
10 Reasons to Fly to Portland, Oregon Right Now</a>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Candara;">Enjoy!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<!--EndFragment-->kait.http://www.blogger.com/profile/13284562106319115069noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8919459220702859193.post-27804879652550757212012-03-13T23:46:00.000-05:002012-03-13T23:56:47.257-05:00a humble plea to join me<br />
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<span style="font-family: Corbel;">Okay, so here is the
skinny. I have been saying I want to live in Portland, and my opportunity has
come knocking. Most would think that since I am going on a long-term mission
trip, that I would be doing some charity work, building houses, feeding the poor,
etc. That may very well be what I end up doing in Portland, God only knows!
However, my job description mentions nothing of the sort. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Corbel;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Corbel;">You might be thinking, “Why
in the world would a missions organization send students for an entire summer
into another U.S. city just to <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">live</i>?”
That, my friends, is a great question to ponder. Upon first hearing of the
Parachute Project I too was baffled. It seems almost counter-intuitive to allow
students to do whatever they please for an entire summer on someone else’s ticket.
Wouldn’t they just be lazy, mull around, and do practically nothing for the
Kingdom? Well, let me tell you there is a new movement or approach, if you
will, to how Christians are seeing the world. In a post-modern culture, the
church today is struggling to keep up. It is drowning in dogmatic legalism
( <-- redundant?) and is currently doing close to nothing in terms of growing the
Kingdom and making Jesus’ name known in the hearts of Americans. What a sad
thing to admit, yet a humbling thing to acknowledge. Instead of struggling in
the vortex of doing things the old-fashioned way, pockets of Jesus followers
are coming through the woodwork. These are the people who see the problem
clearly and are doing something to change it. A couple of these people are the
authors of a recent read called The Tangible Kingdom. Hugh Halter and Matt Smay
attempt to lay the problems out for everyone to see and offer ideas on how to
make a change for His name’s sake. One point emphasized heavily in the first
fifty pages is tension. This argument resonates within me:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Corbel;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Corbel;"><i>Oftentimes, if you decide
to embrace the tension and move forward, this is your first battle. To move
forward, we can’t keep everything we’ve always had. We have to pick what to
take, what is absolutely necessary, and leave behind some things that have been
important to us. What used to provide comfort may now only take up space or be
a hindrance to getting where we need to go.</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Corbel;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Corbel;">Yes, as you can tell, this
new way of living The Way is stirring tension because it often seems to go
against what we know and what the church has been about in the past. But if the
old way of doing things is working against the church, does it not make sense
to change the way we live out the gospel? Just a thought.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Corbel;">All this to say that
this is the new approach to life I am going to practice in Portland (well,
really from here on out). In a way, I think my appointment to this project is
going to be inconceivably more challenging than just building houses and
feeding the poor. It is abstract and there is no handbook or how-to study.
Discovering a new rhythm of life will be my “job” this summer. In fact, the
coordinators of this Portland Parachute Project say that our “mission is
simple: live missionally by building relationships and seeping into the cracks
and crevices of the culture.” Cultivating the spiritual soil and living a missional life in community. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Corbel;">And well there is no easy
transition to this point but I feel it must be shared. It is a huge part of the
whole process. <u>Finances</u>. There, I said it. And I hate bringing it up. It is a
touchy subject for many, including myself. For this part of the journey I am
relying fully on God’s provision, meaning I know I am not capable of following
through with this whole thing if I don’t trust God completely to aide me in
raising support. As I said, I hate it, but He has asked me to do this, so I
will remain faithful. Many of my family and friends know I need to raise $2350
by May 1<sup>st</sup>. If you did not know, well there you go. Not an easy task
for a college student with no current job. My trust in the Lord here is knowing
that you will all be able to support me, not only with money to go, but also
with encouragement to go and be a doer of the gospel. So what does this support
look like? Well, there are a few ways you can be involved in sending me to
Portland!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Corbel; font-size: small;">1.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Corbel;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Corbel;">Buy a t-shirt!
Who doesn’t love a good cotton blend with a quirky design, inspired by yours
truly? The price is to be determined very soon. As soon as I know, you will
know.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Corbel;">2. Come to my grill-out party! This is also
to be determined (end of March, beginning of April?), but the idea is to have a
great time with delicious friends and lovely food. That came out wrong. There
will be delicious food and tons of fun with lovely friends. Again, I will keep
you posted.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Corbel;">3. Make a donation
in my name through <a href="http://www.gonowmissions.com/">Go Now Missions</a> online. It is a simple three-step process on
their <a href="https://secure.acceptiva.com/?cst=98f714">website</a>. I would love for all of you to take advantage of the first
two options, but if that is not possible, or if you are just feeling extra
generous, please support me in this way.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Corbel;">Dear friends, I consider you
already a part of my journey to Portland. Through all of my relationships with
you I am encouraged to be a carrier AND a doer of the gospel for Jesus’ name.
Nothing would make me more joyful than to know from each of you I have your
support in this mission. You are loved and cherished by me, and most
importantly by Our Creator.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Corbel;">Peace and Blessinz<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Corbel;">P.S.- You all should know
that I could never say anything without a good joke to go along.<o:p></o:p></span></div>kait.http://www.blogger.com/profile/13284562106319115069noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8919459220702859193.post-20028492605155864092012-02-29T23:54:00.001-06:002012-02-29T23:59:44.538-06:00appointmentHello dear friends of mine.<br />
This is long overdue. I'm sure you have missed me, as I have missed you. I decided if I were to blog any day out of this year, this one in particular is a must. This day is the reason for the name of my blog, after all. It is a unique day we get to cherish, and I have definitely done so. First, I would like to give a birthday shout out to my wonderful mother. She turned ** yesterday! I could have asked for a better mother, but no one would have ever surpassed the one the Lord gave me (or I guess He gave me to her). She is the best, by far! I love you, mom.<br />
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Another important note to make, which is another reason why I decided I must write today, is to inform you of some very thrilling news. It is official, folks. I am going to live in Portland, OR this summer as a summer missionary through Go Now Missions. There is a long explanation for what exactly I will be doing there, so I will save you the pain of reading a story as long as Harry Potter now. That will be for another post, or maybe even a series. This opportunity to be supported through Go Now fell in my lap, thanks to the Lord making that happen. I have expressed a desire to go and have felt peace from the Holy Spirit, but the logistics had not been worked out until a friend casually mentioned this ministry to me. I checked it out and about a week later I was scheduled for an interview. Not long after that interview I received word of my appointment to the Portland Parachute Project. I couldn't have been more ecstatic and blessed through that process. God is good!<br />
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So slowly, but surely I am navigating toward what God has in store for me upon graduating from the best university. It has been the perfect place for me. In less than three months I will be on the ground in the Northwest learning more about what it is like to live incarnationally. I crave these experiences and the best part is, they are even happening now with my church here in Austin. I pleaded with the Lord to take away thoughts of just wanting to be in Portland already and instead be filled with joy in life where I am at. He has come through. I can't tell you how blessed I am through all of this semester thus far, and I can't wait for more. Now please understand that this joy does not come from blessings of health and wealth as some "Christians" would say. It has come from a renewing of my mind through time with the Lord, and learning over and over how to abide in Him. It's so funny to me how many times we learn the same lesson. I am convinced we will never reach a moment in life where we have learned all there is to learn as humans. He uses the same lesson in different contexts to teach us more about His character. And every time I realize it, I laugh. The Lord has a sense of humor!<br />
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I feel like all of this is word vomit, so I hope it all makes sense. Maybe the Holy Spirit will intercede on behalf of my attempt at this. In any case, I hope this finds you well and that you enjoy this semester as much as He wants you to. I love you all dearly.<br />
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-Kaitkait.http://www.blogger.com/profile/13284562106319115069noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8919459220702859193.post-15288354480000546822012-01-21T13:53:00.001-06:002012-01-21T13:56:55.071-06:00project: completeHi friends. I have had this post on hold for a while since my Portland trip interfered a little. But alas, here is one project I have had in mind for a while and finally got around to finishing it. That doesn't happen often. There are plenty of materials and half finished projects laying around, so I am pleased to present this special gem to you. I found a similar project on pinterest and modified it according to the materials I could find.<br />
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I was a little hesitant to put more holes in the wall of my apartment so I went in search of an alternative. My lovely Phi Lamb friend Kayla had a similar diy at her wedding (or shower, I can't remember) so I inquired.<br />
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I picked up a roll of chicken wire at Home Depot and a can of oil rubbed spray paint to make the chicken wire look "vintage-y" (forgot to photograph this process). I discovered the wire was secured with a single strand of the same wire so I just repurposed this to wrap around the neck of each vase.<br />
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With my wooden frame (60% off at Michael's) in one hand and chicken wire in the other, I got to work with the staple gun and wire cutters (kitchen scissors). I aligned the edge of the wire to the edge of the frame to save on cutting.<br />
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The raw edge in the foreground was sticking out about a half inch, so I took some pliers and folded each piece down for safety. Have I mentioned how many times I have accidentally cut myself in the past few weeks? This was definitely for my benefit. Then I started cutting the wire to fit the frame and folded each piece down along the edges.<br />
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You'll notice the staples along the edge as well. I secured the wire to the frame with my handy staple gun (only $10). I pulled the wire taut so it would not bubble or warp in one direction and so the vases would not sag once attached.<br />
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Once all the wire was cut, I attached the vases by twisting the wire around and pulled tightly to make sure they were secure. I certainly would not want broken glass on the floor! And then I hung up the nearly finished piece.<br />
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And last but not least, I added some fresh gerber daisies. These are not my favorite flowers, but they were cheap and they looked good for a photo.<br />
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The neat thing about this framed work is that it will change constantly. Once my gerber daisies keeled over, I sought out a different bunch. These don't fit as well in the "frame", but I still like them, especially with more than one flower on each stem.<br />
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There you have it. A super simple project that should only take you and hour and a half (I took about a month!). What do you think? Not too bad, eh?<br />
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<br />kait.http://www.blogger.com/profile/13284562106319115069noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8919459220702859193.post-34443909856182388992012-01-16T01:01:00.003-06:002012-01-16T01:05:36.379-06:00friday the thirteenth<br />
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Pardon me for the delayed post, folks. There’s just
something about traveling for an entire day that just takes it out of you. And
then of course there is everything you have to do when you get back, such as
tackling this:</div>
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In any case, I would like to update you on my last full day
in Portland, which was Friday. I started out with a second visit to Western
Seminary where I got to sit in on a class that is specifically geared toward
Intercultural Studies students who are feeling out their own gifts and desires
of service in the Kingdom. Coincidentally, this is similar to the
self-exploration I would consider myself to be going through as I attempt to
enter into the “real world”. The class was great and I got to show off my
acting skills in a little activity demonstrating cultural differences. I must
say so myself that my British accent is coming along swimmingly. In fact, one
of the students commented on how great it was! And on top of this, in order to
get to the seminary I took the public transit from one side of town to the
other during prime travelling time. Did I mention I’m getting the hang of it?
After being briefed on the “cultural onion”, I headed down to Albina Press,
which is just a few blocks west of the school and hung out there for a couple
hours. Melody met me there and we then made our way to the crepe food cart to
begin our food tour for the day. On the agenda were savory crepes for lunch
followed by a delectable array of quirky doughnuts from Voodoo Doughnut. Then
for dinner we planned to hit up Jade Bistro in Sellwood then on to desserts at
Papa Hayden’s with a friend from a few years back at Tulane. </div>
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So onto the crepes
we forged. I was very excited to indulge because I hadn’t had a good crepe
since my freshman days at Tulane, where these magnificent creations were just a
hop, skip, and a walk across the lawn from my dorm. Melody and I chose the
same: Turkey, Brie, and arugula. Mmmm, so fantastic.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-8j04GIetnNTaYpSFPWSHK0GZXSlm4orCXKoSFn9Ef8HxeRNIEHEyNM3IreWTUBsysvQTbNyZnO5-ebayMOPKz_Tk5Lo6coNUMENNVs4Tl1d2JU5PqGhXN7et9b4ZChJ1ztuYgRnfXbE/s1600/DSCN0220.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-8j04GIetnNTaYpSFPWSHK0GZXSlm4orCXKoSFn9Ef8HxeRNIEHEyNM3IreWTUBsysvQTbNyZnO5-ebayMOPKz_Tk5Lo6coNUMENNVs4Tl1d2JU5PqGhXN7et9b4ZChJ1ztuYgRnfXbE/s320/DSCN0220.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Onward and upward we travelled to stand in line for that
treasured fried dough and icing… and bacon. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ1ngzAuCljZi3UtZEeQKHGnTEzm6KysTKBVNuq-jog1uDNU1NZiXBV0LWKpRb3Rh8YgQNqx-2kyRZ1xEvZWflnk_mJ0fSTJcgeygzc-q9wwkMJCX7rZq9t3ca1W_17_S6vITmZdkg7QE/s1600/DSCN0226.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ1ngzAuCljZi3UtZEeQKHGnTEzm6KysTKBVNuq-jog1uDNU1NZiXBV0LWKpRb3Rh8YgQNqx-2kyRZ1xEvZWflnk_mJ0fSTJcgeygzc-q9wwkMJCX7rZq9t3ca1W_17_S6vITmZdkg7QE/s320/DSCN0226.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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If you are not familiar with Voodoo
Doughnut, you may not know that they are notorious for some strange toppings,
flavors, and names. As we entered the building I noticed an odd arrangement of
stained glass above the doorway. Their three most cherished doughnuts are
enshrined in the glass for all of Portland to see. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMD3CqPZwITgN3HpJyoic1EwjTSWbaL5oPktdedr7z-EhozaIYtRGd6-2P0AC4vxdTVWywpdxuVeOiJHAdE0v54W00_qgLZRJn9n5DTVeMhf0wNmNx-ktXTaIzzGiej-IEJaF6xwSohoE/s1600/DSCN0233.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMD3CqPZwITgN3HpJyoic1EwjTSWbaL5oPktdedr7z-EhozaIYtRGd6-2P0AC4vxdTVWywpdxuVeOiJHAdE0v54W00_qgLZRJn9n5DTVeMhf0wNmNx-ktXTaIzzGiej-IEJaF6xwSohoE/s320/DSCN0233.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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I really had no idea which
doughnut to choose. Should I go for the classic voodoo doughnut? What about the
giant version of a glazed, dubbed the Texas challenge, which is the size of six
normal doughnuts? They say if you can eat this monster in 80 seconds it is
free.</div>
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Well I didn’t think I was up to that challenge, but I did
pick out three (and I ashamedly ate all three of these suckers in one sitting):</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBUeYZq__eGvTSaLeqgZIhVHrGz0WrapEtwTFPnwsThF32szmq8AEDcEkZcA_dc3UKFV6zq-QBW2O-TK9fETiFVVcXTdDIf7UPpKDsxzPaOxn5NwWFaG0heBZYLa4xZVcdwfG7Ld8fT64/s1600/DSCN0261.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBUeYZq__eGvTSaLeqgZIhVHrGz0WrapEtwTFPnwsThF32szmq8AEDcEkZcA_dc3UKFV6zq-QBW2O-TK9fETiFVVcXTdDIf7UPpKDsxzPaOxn5NwWFaG0heBZYLa4xZVcdwfG7Ld8fT64/s320/DSCN0261.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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The Voodoo Doughnut, complete with the lucky number thirteen
in honor of Friday, the 13<sup>th<o:p></o:p></sup></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg7GXPTvt_l8KksFtLrTzShHc07kb2lpIIHkFn9c2LH4YSsntLNyNlpbnJurzRnRRTluU_G8j9SbUpUWxGijaNEuwrNWO2FdotBkx4ncqZwfZTeW1loprPDFjX6Vni4CCytUnlxQUcUUo/s1600/DSCN0259.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg7GXPTvt_l8KksFtLrTzShHc07kb2lpIIHkFn9c2LH4YSsntLNyNlpbnJurzRnRRTluU_G8j9SbUpUWxGijaNEuwrNWO2FdotBkx4ncqZwfZTeW1loprPDFjX6Vni4CCytUnlxQUcUUo/s320/DSCN0259.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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The Bacon Maple Bar, highly recommend it!</div>
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And the Old Dirty Bastard, which is topped with chocolate
icing, Oreo crumbles, and peanut butter drizzle.</div>
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Needless to say I was in a steady food coma for the next
four hours or so, which did mess with our strict food tour.<br />
<br />
We skipped out on
Jade for lack of room in our tummies and instead opted for a sip from
Stumptown, a Portland staple. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVFyF2tNz7u0Lto4ksEiMMpRJOfhqZgLRIfUu7WldDw1mLPIQMMyLA509Fjn2tNNBgYER-tZjCUcIUPEYe30l4OJqmp2wWYqNKhgX2OfEc_tpWbfL9mjcPSYDf-ry9C7fZaJ9Go3J3kiQ/s1600/DSCN0252.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVFyF2tNz7u0Lto4ksEiMMpRJOfhqZgLRIfUu7WldDw1mLPIQMMyLA509Fjn2tNNBgYER-tZjCUcIUPEYe30l4OJqmp2wWYqNKhgX2OfEc_tpWbfL9mjcPSYDf-ry9C7fZaJ9Go3J3kiQ/s320/DSCN0252.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Unfortunately, we did not get to meet up for desserts with
my friend that evening. Plans changed. But that only means this occasion must
be postponed until June! And after all those doughnuts and sugar overload, I
was almost relieved to not be coerced into more desserts that day. The rest of
the evening was spent in great conversation and some challenging reads. Melody
and I somehow ended up peeking into each other’s books and subsequently spent a
couple more hours delving into them. The Tangible Kingdom is definitely next on
my list once I finish Barefoot Church, both equally stimulating. </div>
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So there you have it, my first Portland experience in a
nutshell. Now if you don’t mind, while you enjoy hearing about this pretty cool
experience through my corny wit, I will take some time to process everything
and then fill you in on my journey and how the Lord’s hand is in all of this. I
hope to not keep you waiting in anticipation too long, however it is not up to
me. It is His timing! Until then...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOuH15jo4XrfZUbjiLRl8Q1RS8D4t7L6m5NOLWDTxaEEkXXfqONpVE-tUAag95OFhgWCugqdHZqpmfH_Akp4lfD5cGIiOpMVj70SrGh82PFTfwob7u3nT6MoyG04PA765HmxiCtEDcy5I/s1600/DSCN0230.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOuH15jo4XrfZUbjiLRl8Q1RS8D4t7L6m5NOLWDTxaEEkXXfqONpVE-tUAag95OFhgWCugqdHZqpmfH_Akp4lfD5cGIiOpMVj70SrGh82PFTfwob7u3nT6MoyG04PA765HmxiCtEDcy5I/s320/DSCN0230.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>kait.http://www.blogger.com/profile/13284562106319115069noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8919459220702859193.post-76130221126618418012012-01-13T15:56:00.003-06:002012-01-13T18:29:52.633-06:00great reads and good eats<div class="MsoNormal">
Starbucks on every corner. It’s just baffling.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaa26b9WbvcBWOkkoF-OT78EjmmviKBL1r_O0tESnQaJrYo52xOhh_kRY_Prc0cEdk_P3wpSv3NfbiiGICRBbFzFe0RuJwTaakYEq_lLFEJ5ZauTMRIvNAk-ScIF-BtwKjcPbeTWqodCA/s1600/DSCN0169.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaa26b9WbvcBWOkkoF-OT78EjmmviKBL1r_O0tESnQaJrYo52xOhh_kRY_Prc0cEdk_P3wpSv3NfbiiGICRBbFzFe0RuJwTaakYEq_lLFEJ5ZauTMRIvNAk-ScIF-BtwKjcPbeTWqodCA/s320/DSCN0169.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Yesterday Melody had the day off from work (at Starbucks!)
so we spent the majority of the day together. We started off with a fabulous
breakfast of from scratch waffles, maple syrup, and a yummy raspberry, cherry,
rhubarb preserve. And of course, some French press to start out the day. I
think I’m in love with French press. Because of my proud Texas roots, I wanted
to give Portland a little taste of Texas, so I heavily suggested to Melody that
we have pulled pork sandwiches for dinner. We decided on an apple slaw as a
side. A short trip to the grocery store later, that delicious shoulder roast
was smothered in seasonings and barbecue sauce and in the crock pot where it
stayed until dinnertime. We then headed over to Sellwood to meet up with
Taylor, a dear friend of Matt’s from the past two summers here. We had a great
time together for about an hour at Blue Kangaroo, yet another great coffee shop
in SE Portland. I’m sure I will be spending a lot of time there over the
summer. It is just down the street from Grand Central Bakery and right in front
of Cloud Cap Games. One of the best things about this place is an iconic piece
of décor. No, not a kangaroo, but a flying pig hanging right in the middle of
the room. Love it! </div>
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After we dropped Taylor off at home, Melody and I went over
to ¿Por qué no? for lunch with Ken and Wes, the main men involved with the
church planting effort in Sellwood. This was our second trip to the beloved
Mexican food restaurant this week. I fully approve! I just love this little
taste of the South up here in my soon-to-be new place of residence. Melody
commented on how weird the décor of the place was, but to me it seemed fairly
normal to see such odd things displayed in disarray. At least that’s how Chuy’s
does it! </div>
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Some of you may know of my short architecture background and
my love for the craftsman style home, so it’s only fitting to note that
Portland consists largely of these types of homes. They are just too cute!<br />
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Now since my arrival I have had the luxury of being carted
around the city in a car, but I knew I needed to step out and get a feel for
the tri met system the city depends on. And let me tell you, it’s great! Melody
dropped me off at Powell’s to browse a bit before I was to meet with a Young
Life staffer for Central Portland. This would require me to hop on the
streetcar, locally known as the MAX, and travel a short distance over the river
to meet at… you guessed, it: Starbucks. I had a great time chatting with Karin,
the assistant area director. I shared about my vision and passion for serving
the Latino community and the low socioeconomic class, which is apparently a
good fit for being centrally located in this city. The two schools in the
Southeast area have just that, a good variety of kids from all walks of life.
Perfect. If I get to stay in Portland after the summer, I will definitely get
my hands into Young Life here because of the ministry’s relational aspect being
so relevant and necessary for reaching an unchurched city. Afterwards, I hopped
back over the river and made my way back to Melody’s place… All by myself! I’m
already a pro.</div>
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Shortly after I arrived “home”, it was time to feast. And
feast we did! Feast your eyes on this beauty:</div>
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My first attempt at pulled pork was superbly successful,
thoroughly enjoyed by all.</div>
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Our last and most treasured stop of the day was to
Moonstruck, a favorite local chain here in Portland. I was mystified by how
many choices of delectable truffles there were, but I finally decided on this
trio: A Bailey’s Irish Cream, a Broadway (a spin on PBJ with a wine/berry
preserve and hazelnut mousse in a mini teacup and saucer), and a Mayan dark
cocoa drink. What a way to end a long day!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhApd6dmXOH-UMmaiFz2cJXGXFwKM79egWMTqgOKpnGlxY6JETw-uYt_TcIL0oABxm8dvMqgATr0cA2mvj_xtXXZwcRsC_OCo4SRS2uzPUwmQTwSGP5EUh7p__-8qWPz5myoK-JRspELno/s1600/DSCN0200.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhApd6dmXOH-UMmaiFz2cJXGXFwKM79egWMTqgOKpnGlxY6JETw-uYt_TcIL0oABxm8dvMqgATr0cA2mvj_xtXXZwcRsC_OCo4SRS2uzPUwmQTwSGP5EUh7p__-8qWPz5myoK-JRspELno/s320/DSCN0200.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br /></div>kait.http://www.blogger.com/profile/13284562106319115069noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8919459220702859193.post-46224709563828274132012-01-12T01:20:00.002-06:002012-01-12T01:25:46.169-06:00portland on a clear day<br />
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Since I promised frequent updates, I will give you a quick
run-through of the jist of my trip so far. You ready? Here it is:</div>
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I’m sure you are well aware that the Pacific Northwest
dabbles a little in the coffee business, as I was. However, just as several Southern
cities have a church on every street corner, Portland follows suit with coffee
shops, especially Starbucks. I am aware that Portland is very into the
supporting local industries and businesses, but I am astounded at how many
Starbucks stores there are. I have not seen Seattle, but I am willing to bet
there is more of Seattle’s hometown store here in Portland than in its place of
origin.</div>
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Ken, the guy with the title too long to explain, so I’ll
just call him the man in charge (not to be confused with THE Man in charge),
was driving me around the city today to see a few different sites. As we were
passing the Portland Building and the 133<sup>rd</sup> Starbucks I had seen
thus far I exclaimed my fascination at how many of these famous chain stores I
had seen. I said, “I can’t imagine how many Starbucks stores are in Seattle.
They are even bigger connoisseurs of the bean!” He then proceeded to tell me
that Seattle and Portland are neck and neck in the race of coffee stores.
Folks, you may think you know coffee, but you haven’t seen Portland!</div>
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I hope you have gathered by now that I must be partaking in
this popular pastime. And yes, it is quite true! I have been doing a lot of
this. Melody and I went for coffee on Hawthorne after my visit at Western
Seminary yesterday evening. We also went for breakfast this morning at a lovely
little shop called baker spice, and tomorrow will commence with a trip for coffee to meet
a friend of Matt’s and Melody’s over in Sellwood. So to Portlandians, coffee is
a way of life, and that’s an understatement.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtUR9r46cOeyBHDzgVpQh7upY7SSNpkqeci4PLsk4gtOoBZz7R2UoPkc2xw47405xiJDHiiuXR9jCankUme6nZEaa2h4OsbB5zxDUapnU5nnR6NSg_Kz0IBgJicIQW0aKXMQjB8pbE7AE/s1600/DSCN0132.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtUR9r46cOeyBHDzgVpQh7upY7SSNpkqeci4PLsk4gtOoBZz7R2UoPkc2xw47405xiJDHiiuXR9jCankUme6nZEaa2h4OsbB5zxDUapnU5nnR6NSg_Kz0IBgJicIQW0aKXMQjB8pbE7AE/s320/DSCN0132.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Since I have accidentally brought the sunny weather to
Portland with me, I had the luxury of seeing both Mt. Saint Helens and Mt. Hood
today. They were beautiful! Now if I could only take that short one-hour trip
over to hit the slopes for a few hours…</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVE7qf8bnnxho3JYlq-kXoy9OedTYHLOkA71qv_j8D4luz1-a8oPbyMHr2m0USb_r5Bpr8eDH7f7fCP-m9qJNy5pq8G7yExEp4Zz5_egmYAvsvJAcKAlFnlN-12vBmy9ILChoRTqdj4-Y/s1600/DSCN0140.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVE7qf8bnnxho3JYlq-kXoy9OedTYHLOkA71qv_j8D4luz1-a8oPbyMHr2m0USb_r5Bpr8eDH7f7fCP-m9qJNy5pq8G7yExEp4Zz5_egmYAvsvJAcKAlFnlN-12vBmy9ILChoRTqdj4-Y/s320/DSCN0140.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjikTA0bxnOq6v6xmF7l3-Idcnzz2EWnw2GnBKK0RAbQZeg_nveXGi2_wBPIbfUSS9O4hD58W6pspUa-sHi_YD0OeLntDH-H5Fc9apPlkf1gpvyeXMJxGfSuSXiub3LU3P8z5CqjCGkzko/s1600/DSCN0141.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjikTA0bxnOq6v6xmF7l3-Idcnzz2EWnw2GnBKK0RAbQZeg_nveXGi2_wBPIbfUSS9O4hD58W6pspUa-sHi_YD0OeLntDH-H5Fc9apPlkf1gpvyeXMJxGfSuSXiub3LU3P8z5CqjCGkzko/s320/DSCN0141.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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As I said before, I stopped by the Portland Building to snap
a shot with the infamous Portlandia statue enshrined above.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoR3oea1izKY8OfECUWr5qIEnc0pe_cGfiTij6qEQPMZtajlY4eHNxLl6K_t-gd7ENTq89uboOX7sNIyaITcZkS8i045noWVYSzK1wos7j9vesJ1Hc1cNCIMb3yPVER_lFBaX8Cj7Zqe0/s1600/DSCN0163.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoR3oea1izKY8OfECUWr5qIEnc0pe_cGfiTij6qEQPMZtajlY4eHNxLl6K_t-gd7ENTq89uboOX7sNIyaITcZkS8i045noWVYSzK1wos7j9vesJ1Hc1cNCIMb3yPVER_lFBaX8Cj7Zqe0/s320/DSCN0163.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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We briefly perused through Powell’s, the powerhouse
bookstore, and I decided I was too overwhelmed so we walked straight through to
the other side and headed to our next destination.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTHbZmsnt3XsEOlEkmfMSs9RFgiuOoPK33pdPHmOnieMrcyapen49QYjjxUAzJFpGPCeq-0PO96-30HuL-wX44Kr4ysGrz1kykm-hhbUl5jgX5GTK5rD68ZhmScphzLVACtwDCK7r58Vw/s1600/DSCN0143.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTHbZmsnt3XsEOlEkmfMSs9RFgiuOoPK33pdPHmOnieMrcyapen49QYjjxUAzJFpGPCeq-0PO96-30HuL-wX44Kr4ysGrz1kykm-hhbUl5jgX5GTK5rD68ZhmScphzLVACtwDCK7r58Vw/s320/DSCN0143.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMXjqsn4Zi39SAcqjWbS597ZiMmCsLWBvUVyh-6GXybrqa3BtLWsVzPwWMuOz0ydQpXEgADn6_U4Uu4XQsphf9JEcYevoP4pzGiwAH1h43eErvzwEXVnRMQg9mB7O_ERlp2Qcfu8ZN63o/s1600/DSCN0156.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMXjqsn4Zi39SAcqjWbS597ZiMmCsLWBvUVyh-6GXybrqa3BtLWsVzPwWMuOz0ydQpXEgADn6_U4Uu4XQsphf9JEcYevoP4pzGiwAH1h43eErvzwEXVnRMQg9mB7O_ERlp2Qcfu8ZN63o/s320/DSCN0156.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Ken and I made a stop at his friend’s favorite chocolate
fix, simply called Cacao, where I had my first ever cup of drinking chocolate.
This is not to be confused with hot chocolate. My concoction was made with 62%
cacao, milk, cream, and infused with cinnamon. Delectable. I’m sure I will
frequent this spot over the summer.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi50Sd0QoHAo4z2z5IGu7qsSENg3ekReAI_KmDRT8obHGNVP5DCB5SMG9SAMLudQ4GS8eazgPr98_oxk-A0Nk5ItChNxjC6MLWWWhyk5MtNrulwekSZ-QllGWT5JpQ-bbz7GE4Vb1v1NeY/s1600/DSCN0151.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi50Sd0QoHAo4z2z5IGu7qsSENg3ekReAI_KmDRT8obHGNVP5DCB5SMG9SAMLudQ4GS8eazgPr98_oxk-A0Nk5ItChNxjC6MLWWWhyk5MtNrulwekSZ-QllGWT5JpQ-bbz7GE4Vb1v1NeY/s320/DSCN0151.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Our lunch break consisted of a short drive through Sellwood
and stopping for lunch at Grand Central Bakery. This has been a favorite hangout for the
Parachute teams and rightly so. They are a little café that packs a big punch.
I tried the red curry lentil soup and salad and boy was it good! </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsClvsd1MAGkQD2Pkmfo3bLYXOQiVNU2CKpcW_L6WMNJAIMtZTy7mf96U53WkYBzqq1BZpWzFkvkQmZITK4CjJFHuYCqdrMZc-7amx5C4CO6wPJBOWyE7J-6ro39WRMgqC2cI6mauvJp0/s1600/DSCN0165.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsClvsd1MAGkQD2Pkmfo3bLYXOQiVNU2CKpcW_L6WMNJAIMtZTy7mf96U53WkYBzqq1BZpWzFkvkQmZITK4CjJFHuYCqdrMZc-7amx5C4CO6wPJBOWyE7J-6ro39WRMgqC2cI6mauvJp0/s320/DSCN0165.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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My last Sellwood stop for the day was game night at Cloud
Cap Games. Although I was pretty lethargic, I did enjoy myself. Melody and I
met up with her friend to play a couple of card games: Coloretto and Crappy
Birthday (a lot like Apples to Apples, but the object is to see who’s gift is
the crappiest). </div>
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All in all, it was a really good day. Can’t wait to see what’s
in store for tomorrow!</div>kait.http://www.blogger.com/profile/13284562106319115069noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8919459220702859193.post-24695857488058444592012-01-09T16:20:00.001-06:002012-01-09T16:44:39.734-06:00from rain to sunshine<div><p>Hello dear friends. My journey to the Northwest has begun! I am sitting at the gate anxiously awaiting a 737 to pull up and whisk me away to that beloved city I can't stop talking about. Ironically I will be traveling from stormy winter weather here in Texas to partly/mostly sunny in Oregon. Funny how that works out. God's sense of humor! To all of you who are curious to see how things go, don't fret. I will do my absolute best to write a post everyday on the things I see, the people I meet, and the amazing things God let's me encounter. And I will include pictures so you get the full experience (almost)! </p>
<p>So aside from this trip, let me update you on something the Lord is teaching me. For those of you who know me well, you may know that I share things quite often, whether they be very personal or pretty mundane. You might also know that I somehow don't share things easily. I find it very difficult to open up in certain areas to certain people. Strange? Yes. I can't figure it out. Sometimes because I feel as though there is a lack of understanding or being on the same page on both sides about the matter. And other times I simply forget. This is not because of a lack of importance in my eyes, but because in my mind it is not a pressing matter. I hope this is not so abstract that it does not make sense. I want to be able to share with my family and friends and be vulnerable in order to grow. I'm working on it, I promise, but it will take some time so bear with me as I go through this slow learning process! </p>
</div>kait.http://www.blogger.com/profile/13284562106319115069noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8919459220702859193.post-85070589518303744052012-01-05T18:59:00.002-06:002012-01-05T18:59:38.913-06:00the january blahs<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Some people go through the holiday blues while the others
thoroughly enjoy the break from school or work and celebration of the holidays
with beloved friends and family. I am of the latter group. However there is a
down side to being a cheery celebrator of the holidays. It’s what I have dubbed
the January blahs. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You know those feelings after the holidays are over as we
head back into routines, schedules, and no celebrations of friends, family, and
our Savior’s birth. Nothing seems too spectacular about January except that it
is the marker of a new year and probably the only month that the majority of
the world follows through with their resolutions. For me these blah days of the
first month consist of resting from the “go-go-go” lifestyle I live as a
college student with a job and regular volunteering. It is such a treat to have
a blank schedule for a full four weeks and a break from school for five. I love
having the time to catch up on things I feel like I miss out on during the
semester, such as finishing the framed vases project I started a few months ago
(pictures coming very soon!), decorating for Christmas (lots of diy’s here),
and refinishing my Ikea dresser (a work in progress for over a year now). I
have been catching up on some much needed reading as well, hacking away at that
never-ending list of must reads.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>So far I have finished two books and I am well into the next two. But after
all of this “relaxing and recharging” I am left feeling sort of empty and my
agenda seems too short. I feel like I have way too much time on my hands and
that I really should be contributing to society in more meaningful ways. How do
I remedy this feeling? It is quite ironic because during each semester of
school and work I long for this free time and all my efforts are fueled by the
idea that a break will come soon. On the flip side, during my breaks I just
feel ready to get back into a routine. There is one difference however with
this break in particular and that is my absolute longing to just skip over the
coming semester and land right at the edge of summer. And you know what summer
means? Freedom from school and the commencement of my adventures in Portland.
Oh please, I wish I could just call it quits now, grab up that diploma, and hop
on a plane for the West Coast. Unfortunately, I have been told it doesn’t
really work this way. Apparently you do have to finish the five remaining
courses in college to receive your degrees. So I guess I will stay here in
Austin and stick it out in order to receive that piece of paper that is costing
me well over $50,000. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As I reflect on my journaled thoughts relating to this
topic, I recall that I knew God’s plan for me in this last year was to prepare
me for the next step. At that time I did not know where I was going. I had no
plans and now that He has graciously allowed me to follow my heart to the
northwest, my focus has slowly crept away from complete dependence on the Lord’s
plan AND timing. I should know that I will get there eventually, so patience I
must practice. In the meantime I will not look only to the future while
neglecting the present. It’s so great here and He can use me wherever I am. So
why not actually live for the kingdom where it is: inside of me, wherever I am?
If you have any encouraging thoughts on this topic, please don’t hesitate to
share them. I will be forever thankful! In a few days I will get a little taste
of what Portland is all about, but I pray that does not hinder my journey here. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It’s not over!</span></div>
<!--EndFragment-->kait.http://www.blogger.com/profile/13284562106319115069noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8919459220702859193.post-38449438080264391642012-01-01T23:50:00.000-06:002012-01-02T00:48:47.446-06:00debut post, ladies and gentlemen<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In light of recent events marking the beginning or end of an
era (the commencement of 2012, and my finishing a book entitled The Irresistible
Revolution) I figured now would be a great time to add another check to my
bucket list. For some time now I have contemplated starting a blog for various
reasons: to share simple yet tasty recipes I come across, mostly from sharing
time with sweet friends cooking or baking, to indulge in crafting and clever
ways to make art, and to allow friends and family a glimpse into my everyday
life. A year ago my dream was to start a blog, however as feelings of
inadequacy (of writing, of course, not of a severe life crisis) crept up I
decided to make a different New Year’s resolution for last year. I kept a
personal journal documenting all of the past year’s events and promised myself
if I could keep that up, then I could certainly produce something worth tuning
into. Thus starts a chronicling of my life for you to enjoy. And of course
anything I might find interesting such as food, crafts, vintage finds, etc.
will wind up here for your viewing.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And so to ring in the New Year I would like to bring you up
to date on the highlight of my life these days!</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If the Lord wills it, I will be moving to Portland, Oregon
at the end of May, just after graduation to become a missionary. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Okay,
obviously there is more to it than that, but in short (and if you would like to
stop reading now!) that is indeed the highlight of my most recent months. So
let me start at the very beginning, a very good place… Never mind. Before school
started this past fall semester, I decided to make a commitment to follow the
Lord, wholeheartedly. No really. I REALLY meant it this time. I said, “I’m all
in” and man, has it been a whirlwind adventure. Yes, I have been on an
adventure getting to know the Lord since eighth grade when my dear best friend
stepped out in faith and invited me to church. But this time was different.
After all the challenges being a “real adult” has brought me thus far,
especially after last year, I knew I needed to be 100% sold on the Lord’s
faithfulness. So I jumped into this thing Christians call an intimate
relationship and I mean it when I say that I will never be the same. All of
what I have learned over the past five months or so has been good, bad, great,
terrible, joyous, heart wrenching, the list could go on. There is a lie we
often buy into when we decide to give our lives to Christ and that is once we
meet Him, our lives will get easier. WRONGO. In fact I have shared with many a
friend recently about this phenomena: When we give up our lives to the Lord, it
gets harder. What is that about? That seems contrary to what I learned in youth
group. But the fact is, and it’s in the Bible (John 16:33), that we will face
trials and heartache. We will be persecuted for following the Way, but we are
to take heart for He has already overcome. Have peace in knowing this and be
encouraged to step out in faith, a leap of faith, if you will.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So as I was saying, when faced with thoughts of graduation
and entering the real world on the horizon, I became puzzled with what it is I
want to do with my life. Any person who has given up their life for the Kingdom
would probably throw in the mix, “I want to serve Jesus in my career.” I can’t
tell you how many times I have heard that AND how many times I have thought it
myself. But for some reason it seems only fitting for me to actually make a
career out of serving Jesus. I love to serve; it’s my heart’s desire. And
knowing my nature of being completely consumed with the task at hand, I realize
that my focus on the Savior’s face is so easily torn away if my life’s work is
not about Him. (And by the way, this is my sincerest attempt at being humble
and NOT self-righteous.) I have come to the conclusion that I honestly want my
career to be about the Kingdom; about the mission Jesus charged His disciples
with before He went to be with the Father. So therefore, I am “going” to make
disciples; to introduce people to Jesus and real Christianity and help them grow
in their faith (you YoungLifers out there may recognize that saying... at least
my Austin West team). So how did I settle on Portland? Thought you’d ask. Well
some of you may know I spent a semi-miserable ten months in New Orleans, LA
attending Tulane University my freshman year. The one thing that kept me afloat
was the Baptist Collegiate Ministry and the friends I made there. I have kept
in touch with a few of them and I am truly grateful for their friendships. One
of my friends there has recently come on board with NAMB to be a missionary in
Portland, and he in fact has already spent two summers there. After hearing of
his tales in the city, along with my “radical” transformation with the Lord I
have become enchanted with this magnificent city in the Northwest. There have
been other contributing factors in the past few years, but I’ll save you the
extra chapter of my novel. I can’t get my mind off this place. I could be
completely wrong, but I think this place is right up my alley. I mean, I'm hippie/ hipster enough, right? I have lived in New Orleans AND Austin, for
goodness sake (joking, joking). Now I don’t want to stay so enthralled with this glorious place
for so long that I talk it up to be so much more than it is. On the flip side, I
also don’t want to move there and realize I absolutely hate it (like I did New
Orleans) so I have planned a visit. In fact, one week from now I will take a
short trip over to that side of the country and officially become acquainted
with Portland. I might even mutter under my breath, "Hello, Portland. It's nice to finally meet you." Prayers are greatly appreciated! I have no real agenda for
this trip except to simply get to know the city and spend some time praying
over this place. I’ll meet people, see exciting new (and green) places, drink
coffee. And then I’ll head back to Austin for the next five months of life. Clearly
because of the new blog, you will indeed be updated with all the goods during
and after the trip.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Dear friends I do hope I don’t take for granted the
opportunities and people here in Austin. This has been a wonderful place to spend three
years learning in academia and from the Teacher. He is preparing me to move on
and start a new chapter in life. I wish there was a different, not so overused
cliché for this transitional period in life, but that’s what it is. Who knows,
a lot can happen in five months! I can certainly attest to that.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So to sum it all up, my journey will be here for you all
to take in. I call this my “leap year” because this is a giant leap of faith I
am taking to trust in the Lord’s faithfulness and lean on His
understanding. And in following with the actual calendar, this year is in fact
a leap year. That obviously worked out in my favor.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFS013U20OAz7HAmN-dMrbXAUW84RBhSSD8M_GsWEzHCBVozyJnj50n0kiIop-i-rVf3FV8pr0b0tRv3VsUmoRsazRD3qyqLOSjIg1bhclMkuEGtUg8MtcPa00t5s7xrgKesfcZXpuk5Q/s1600/126523070751014193_WIK2ik8p_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFS013U20OAz7HAmN-dMrbXAUW84RBhSSD8M_GsWEzHCBVozyJnj50n0kiIop-i-rVf3FV8pr0b0tRv3VsUmoRsazRD3qyqLOSjIg1bhclMkuEGtUg8MtcPa00t5s7xrgKesfcZXpuk5Q/s200/126523070751014193_WIK2ik8p_c.jpg" width="159" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>kait.http://www.blogger.com/profile/13284562106319115069noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8919459220702859193.post-35454128571464156342011-12-07T20:30:00.001-06:002012-06-10T22:02:51.686-05:00starting something new<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Here I am with my brand spankin new blog! I'm on a mission to document my journey from Austin to Portland. I have no idea what lies ahead, but I couldn't be more excited to take this leap of faith and rely on God to provide as I make my way halfway across the country. Hope you enjoy hearing about it as much as I enjoy living it.</span>kait.http://www.blogger.com/profile/13284562106319115069noreply@blogger.com