captured.

Back in June, my parents graciously gifted me with a DSLR Canon camera for my 16th birthday. As you can imagine, I was ecstatic...

It was a big upgrade from what I had been using, so I'm still learning how it all works. But here are a few of my favorite pictures so far.

Later,
Kathryn

thank you.

picture courtesy of google images

Every person has hobbies they enjoy. Mine are music, photography and writing.

As a writer, I do a lot of research. From bilge pumps to 1800s fashion to plane diagrams, I read about a lot of subjects. But one of my favorite subjects to study has always been World War Two. Sometimes I get thick books from the library full of pictures of battles, camps and soldiers from the War. As I flip through it, I become sobered. So many young men-covered in blood and dirt and sweat-giving their all for their country. I can't help but think of what happened to them... Did they survive? And if they did, what became of them?

This reality check got me thinking. Thinking of veterans. Not just from World War Two, but from Korea, and Vietnam... and others.

I had never noticed or paid special attention to them before, but when I started becoming aware of them, I realized... They're everywhere. At the grocery store, at Wendy's, at the library.

So I started thanking them. It's sounds easy, but it's another thing to walk up to a total stranger and talk to them. Even for me, who is no shy person. But what I found when I started doing this, broke my heart.

They were surprised.

Nearly every time I have approached a veteran and thanked them for their service, they looked up with shock written on their face, stuttered, and then said, "Why... You're welcome. Thank you."

Why should it be this way? Why should it be such a shock to be told thank you? Our society has become so focused on ourselves-it's all about me, me, me-that we forget to look around us. We're too busy to stop and talk to that elderly Korean War veteran sitting on that bench at Walmart or the disabled Vietnam veteran down the street.

My urge to you is to look around you. Thank your local veterans. Show them we care... But why not take it a step further? Why not give them a gospel tract-the good news of Jesus Christ-as well as a word of thanks? It's the most important message anyone can ever hear or read. God can do miraculous things with a small piece of paper with the Salvation message written on it. You're never too old or too bad to have your life changed.

So let's stop sitting in our comfort zone and start making a difference.

And to all our veterans: Thank you. 

Kathryn

long time no... write.

If you steal this picture, that's kind of rude... because it's mine... so, don't do that.

Hey-ho and mellow greetings to all you cyber people.

I've decided to revitalize my blog (bahahahaha, good one!). I know, I know... with school, writing and having a life, this may not happen. But, one doesn't get anywhere on a journey unless you take the first step. *cue polite clapping*

I hope to improve my writing, meet more homo sapiens, and just have fun blogging about the important and also mundane things of life again. If you're still around, comment down below and introduce yourself. :)

Well, th-th-th-that's all, folks!

Kathryn

to all the young women out there.

A message to all the young ladies out there, including myself:

Don't give your heart to any guy that wants it. Protect it. Keep it. Save it.

I have seen too many girls go through boyfriends like hairstyles. There for a week and *poof* gone.
I don't think dating before a marriageable age is a good idea. It's a controversial subject, I know. But to me, dating is getting to know someone more, with the intent of marriage. You can't really do that at 16, can you?

Our single years are ones that you can never get back. I'm looking forward to meeting the "one" (if he exists; we are not all called to be married) as much as anyone else, but I also realize that is years away. So what do I do in the meantime?

1. Grow close to God. This is so important. God should be #1 in your life, always. This doesn't change when you get married, so why not start now? Spend every day in His word. Pray. Years to come, when my path crosses with that of my future husband, I want him to find me as a mature, godly young woman, serving the Lord and striving to please Him in all I do.

2. Use your talents to glorify Him. I don't want to spend these precious years doing nothing. We should be doing our best in everything (school counts, guys). If God has given you a talent, use it for him. I enjoy being able to serve in the music and children's ministries at our church. I also love to write, and pray that God uses this passion of mine to firstly glorify Him, but also be a blessing to others.

3. Pray for your future spouse. Who knows, he may be praying for you.

We shouldn't worry or fret about our future. Whether we get married or not, our goal in life should be to glorify God, honor Him, and share His gift of salvation with those around us. 

I am reminded of a beautiful song written by William Himes. The chorus is as follows:

All that I am, All I can be
All that I have, All that is me
Accept and use Lord
As you would choose Lord
Right now today
Take every passion every skill
Take all my dreams
And bend them to your will
My all I give Lord for you
I’ll live Lord
Come what may

Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Proverbs 3:5-6

Later,
Kathryn

big news.

Hey, peeps.

Not dead, don't worry. Just a horrible blogger!

Quite a while ago (I'm talking July, here), I FINISHED the first draft of my novel, Saved Alone! *happy dance* And it only took a few years (please note heavy sarcasm). I'm super excited to announce that I'm in the process of editing it, with hopes of publishing it soon. Stay tuned!

Here's a little snippet:

My breathing became more erratic as I desperately tried to get their attention. My raspy, almost non-existent voice sounded like one who had been smoking multiple cigars each day for years.

“Help! Please help me!” I cried. But it didn’t carry.

God, let them know I’m here. Let them find me.

I held fast to the wooden plank with my left arm, and waved the other wildly in the air.

“Here, here!” I screeched.

The light began to move farther and farther to my right. My last hope of survival was disappearing and there wasn’t a single thing I could do.

Why aren’t you helping me?

Before I could make another plea-or rather, accusation-to God, my left hand slipped. A huge splash later, I was immersed in the cuttingly cold Atlantic Ocean. Darkness surrounded. The surface grew farther and farther away, and I began to sink. 

Saved Alone, coming 2015

Later,

Kathryn