so much fear

a lot has happened in these past few weeks since break, yet i've been running, running, running and i am still running and barely ever have time to stop and post and reflect. well... i'm tired of running and so i'm taking a break. here's my reflection and some pictures that follow of the past 2 weekends, the first in wabash indiana with the band and my family showed up... it was amazing and the most wonderful surprise in the world! and the other weekend was this past in traverse city michigan with work. there were 22 inches of snow and josh, amy, tyler, brenda and i had sooo much fun playing in it! hope you enjoy the pictures.
i think the biggest thing i have learned in these past two weeks is that God really does listen to my prayers and he cares about them even if i feel like they are petty or insignificant or stupid and i should just stop praying. that's not true and he loves me! there've been many sad and scary moments in these past days. i'm getting ready to pack up my room, move to ohio, and then journey to egypt where i will live for four months and while i am excited i am TERRIFIED!!! questions fill my mind all the time... legitimate ones, and others that are just silly. i was going through my cds 2 weeks ago and i found a worship song on one of my kids tapes that i sung over and over to myself this past weekend especially when i was just overcome by fear, and i will continue to sing it as i go. i wish that i knew more about technology slash blogs and the internet so that the song would play for you as you read my blog. i would love to hear it play every time i logged on! but anyways, it goes like this...

trust! trust in the Lord, lean not on your own understanding.
in all, in all of your ways acknowledge him... he'll make your path straight.

my eyes can only see the ground beneath my feet
but your dreams are greater your ways are higher, o Lord, please show me!
when i trust

trust in the Lord, lean not on your own understanding
in all, in all of your ways acknowledge him... he'll make your path straight.

you'll be my guide for life. i walk by your side.
with your hand in mine, i will go where you lead me!

oh, [kara], trust! trust in the Lord, lean not on your own understanding.
in all, in all of your ways acknowledge him... he'll make your path straight.

bless my choice! my dreams, my imagination...
step, step by step... your delight... your creation!

trust! trust in the Lord, lean not on your own understanding,
in all, in all of your ways acknowledge him... he'll make your path straight.

i am reminded over and over again of my grandma burkey and her amazing trust in Jesus in spite of the cancer that she is facing. those dear sweet words are often on my lips "tis so sweet to trust in Jesus... how i've proved him over and over." i KNOW that i can trust him and i know that i am going to make it through all of this... these last several days of crunch time and deadlines and studies and tests and projects and presentations and meetings; packing and shots and finishing things and turning papers in. and i KNOW that i can trust him just because his word says i can. psalm 125:1-2 says: Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion, which cannot be shaken but endures forever. As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the Lord surrounds his people both now and forever. he's surrounding me!! what do i have to fear?? AND!! psalm 20:7-8 says: Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God. They are brought to their knees and fall, but we rise up and stand firm. if i keep trusting in him, i will rise up and stand firm... there will be no falling!! what is there to fear??? he is WITH ME!!!
AMEN. let it be so.

"i see you got a lot of lit [homework] done there" -erin duey

If only I could push a button and as easy as that would then appear snapshots that are locked in my head, thoughts about life, and impressively smart things I have said in the past weeks on this blogspot. Yet, I find myself trapped searching for more time, more energy, more, more more... in order that I for real can actually post to you and share with you my life. Ya know, I feel this way about my studies too. If only my intentions were what really shone out. If only I could push a button and all the things I want to study, all the time I want to spend reading, all the conversations I wish I could make time to have would be done and had. Yet there are no magical buttons, so until I have more time and energy, I remain trapped and leave you hanging waiting for the day I will put more of my life out here so you can view it.

hey there and howdy.
just wanted to stop in and let you know i'm still alive.
it's been a crazy week.

thanksgiving break

yay!! first post with pictures from new laptop!!
this week was thanksgiving break. it was a blast. here's some shots from the week with the fam... starts off in the resort just chillin, jonathan taught anna and i the electric slide... here they are gettin their groove on. :)

next up: my favorite mommy face (NOT!) it's the "i said... go make your bed NOW!"
ha ha. love you mommers. :)

we went to chicago wednesday and had a great time...
this is the fam at chipotle. yummy lucious! :)

aj and me
hey sissy, i'm really sorry i never let you braid my hair. i really did want you to do that. i forgot... i was gonna have you do it today before we left so i could have it now... christmas time please?

we went up the sears tower... that was awesome.
here's cabes and me at the top of the world!!

the sunset was amazing... i wish i could figure out how to use my camera to give God's handiwork justice. it was breathtaking! :)

ha and then caleb gave jonathan a piggy back ride!! jonathan didn't think caleb could handle him! :)

mmm... egg rolls and starbucks across the street from barnes and noble in chi-town!

mom got up at the crack of dawn and slaved away over the hot oven to produce for us the most AMAZING thanksgiving feast ever!! chicken and stuffing, mashed potatoes, hawaiian chicken, sweet potatoe casserole, green beans, corn, salad, biscuits, and apple pie. it was fabulous and i think i gained like 30 million pounds! :)

we got home from chicago at 2am thursday night... and then dad and i left at 3:30am for findlay... black friday shopping... we went to best buy to see if we could find a computer. we didn't find one there, but we did get an amazing deal and now i'm all set for egypt!! thanks dad... that was a blast!!! there were people EVERYWHERE!!!

friday afternoon i wasn't a very big help, but i did help set up the christmas tree with anna. here i am hiding in it...

and here anna is the star!


then saturday we went up to aunt mary ann's house to spend the day celebrating thanksgiving with all those burkey's and grandma who is very sick with cancer. it was really good to see everybody! here's everyone... except mark... he couldn't make it because he was super sick.

this is me and lydia (or as i like to say: lydi bug)... we are the biggest and littlest girl burkey cousins. and i love her sooo much!! isn't she adorable? i'm jealous of her red locks. :)

and here's me and my gramma burkey. she looks super good for not feeling so well.

on our way home we stopped in ft. wayne to visit grandma nelson. here's mom and her momma!

me and my grandma nelson :)

and here's the four of us with grandma

this morning after lunch anna needed some pictures for her myspace, so jonathan got out his laptop and we had some fun with his mac. not bad pics if i do say so myself... and check out that hot little sister of ours!! :)

a new laptop and some hommus!! :)

first post from a new laptop!!
talk about suh-wheat!! dad and i got up at 3:30 this morning and went out on the town... "black friday" as i so lovingly call this day... we went and waited in an AMAZING long line at best buy, went to several different stores and found this bad boy at... yes, odd... meijer. but it's really nice and lightweight and will be perfect for egypt. :)
jonathan and i are rockin' out to the wireless connection at mcdonalds. :) it's sweet. AND!!! we went to my FAVORITE restaurant in all the world that, yes, i worked at once... Lazeza... which means "delicious" and boy is it delicious!! i got two of my favorites: hazelnut latte and, yes, hommus with pita bread. a-mazing!!!
welpers, that's all i got for the moment. i forgot to bring my camera cord home with me... didn't really expect to actually get a laptop... so pictures from break are yet to come. and be watching... the egypt site will be up and running soon!!!
much love,
kara joy :)

comment a praise... how has God been faithful to you?

i just want to take time to say...

GOD IS FAITHFUL!!!!

do you remember his goodness?? do you remember his love for you? do you remember that he has NEVER failed you? he is FAITHFUL!!!

take some time and post a praise to him... share with us how God has been faithful to you. we need to remember so that we can praise him. and we need to praise him because praise revitalizes us and helps us to press on and stay strong through the good times and especially the bad and hard.

so, wouldya just take a second and praise him???

update!! :)

update on the black eye for the momma... it doesn't hurt as bad today but it still really hurts, especially when the wind or something touches it, and when i sing. but that's not much. :) oh... and it's starting to get interesting and change colors... i kinda like it! ;) ha i'm totally kidding. i really don't want it to turn green. that's gonna look fun-tabulous this sunday morning as i'm traveling with the fellows. but oh, soon, sweet soon, it shall be back to normal. :)

i read a super sweet psalm today... about the moon!! well, not about the moon, but it was included. :) anyways... read up. it's good.

I look up to the mountains;
does my strength come from the mountains?
No, my strength comes from God,
who made heaven, and earth, and mountains.
He won't let you stumble,
your Guardian God won't fall asleep.
Not on your life!!
Israel's Guardian will never doze or sleep.
God's your Guardian,
right at your side to protect you-
Shielding you from sunstroke,
sheltering you from moonstroke.
God guards you from every evil,
he guards your very life.
He guards you when you leave and when you return,
he guards you now, he guards you always.
-Psalm 121