So…. I leave in 9 hours and I’m still not packed. Everything’s there… I promise! It just hasn’t hit me yet… that I’m leaving on a trip of a lifetime. This trip has been on my “bucket list” since forever… and the only response I can muster up when people ask me if I’m excited is… wide eyes and a mouth halfway to a smile, and halfway ready to say something… but nothing comes out because I have no words.

There are so many thoughts running through my head, it’s hard to catch one… they’re fast and I’m out of shape. But one that has allowed more contemplation is the memory of leaving for YWAM in 2007. It’s weird to think this was 3 years ago because it still feels so fresh. But remembering who I was and the significance of that particular adventure opens my heart to the wonderfully different realization of who I am now, and the significance of this new adventure I’m embarking on tonight.

Last time, I was making the decision to leave my Junior year of college–everything I knew and thought I wanted. Last time, I took a gigantic leap of faith, trusting that a small hobby of mine would develop enough for me to call myself a mission photographer by the end of it. Last time changed who I am today. It’s about a 7 hour long story… so I won’t go into it now…. but the important thing is I’m a completely different person than I was when I boarded my nonstop flight to Germany in 2007.

This time is different. This time feels like a dream…. one that I never dared to have in 2007. I never thought that hobby would develop into a passion, that would develop into another leap of faith, that would develop into my job. I never thought I would have the privilege of doing what I love as my JOB…. and I never thought I would have the opportunity to combine it with traveling. The best of both worlds have become friends and tonight I’m embarking on the first leg of this new adventure.

You guys….. I’m seriously so excited. I sincerely hope you’ll join me on this new adventure… and I hope something about this trip inspires you to dream big.

Our life-changing journey begins this evening as we board our overnight flight to Cairo, Egypt.

Here’s some shots from my last adventure that bring back many memories of some largely defining moments…

Sitting on a bench overlooking all of Herrnhut and Ruppersdorf, Germany…. the birth place of The Order of the Mustard Seed.

Some shots taken one of the first days I went exploring in Herrnhut. I was unsure, nervous, but excited all at the same time!

See you in Cairo!

Sometimes I wish I could be more like Figero. He knows how to enjoy  life! Every morning I wake up with him sound asleep on my feet… I go downstairs to make breakfast and coffee… and when I come back upstairs to start my work day, he’s still asleep. About 10am, when the sun’s shining warmly through my window, he gets up… yawns… and then jumps onto the windowsill to enjoy the sun. Basically… that’s all he does all day, every day…. he enjoys himself. Sometimes I get jealous of him when I’m sitting at my computer doing a million things at once and he peeks his little cute head out from behind the curtains. So I get up, play peekaboo with him for a few minutes, pat him on the head…. and continue working with a smile on my face. Oh the life of a kitty…. soo good. Happy Friday everyone…. I hope you enjoy the simple pleasures today!

He had ridiculously blonde hair and laughing blue eyes. He gave amazing hugs. He was fired from his first job at Subway for being too small…. but even afterwards, he continued to wear that dirty and tattered forest green subway polo shirt EVERY…DAY. His dream job was owning his own In-n-Out Burger restaurant… and worked hard to get there starting from the bottom up. Whenever I go to In-n-Out… I call it “In-n-Oooot” in my head because of him…. and I laugh thinking about how his idea of a well balanced meal was a hamburger WITH the vegetables on it. There were years full of late night swims at Katie’s house, Cranium parties at Laurie’s house, Summer Camps, Mexico Mission trips, Del Taco runs, Switchfoot concerts, Sunday Lunches at the Crossroads… and even the times we all just hung out just to be together… nothing planned… just spur of the moment adventures.

One time he decided it would be a fun idea to jump from Laurie’s trampoline… over the fence… to the green belt. He broke his arm trying. We have it on video and we still laugh every time because it’s THAT funny. The earliest picture I have of him is at Indian Village summer camp when I was in 4th grade with his same crazy smile….

Sean grew up living one culdesac over from me…. my life’s been painted brighter by his  presence and friendship… and sometimes when I see a white truck like his beat up old one, I still think it’s him. It’s been crazy watching his Facebook page fill up with notes from grieving friends and family sharing their favorite stories and pictures of how he graced their lives and made them better people.

It doesn’t seem like he’s gone… but maybe that’s because he left such huge marks on so many people’s lives… it’s almost as if he’s still here. I wish it wasn’t so, but thank you for helping form who I am today, Sean. You taught me how to see the world from a different angle… a more light-hearted and amusing one. You taught me how to be a better friend…. and you taught me the value of laughter. I’m not the same.

Love,

Kate

I thought the day would never come…. But it did. My parents finally let me take their pictures for real! For a while there all I would get from them is dirty looks and excuses like “I look like an old lady!” and “It’s Sunday.” Well, they caved… and asked me to take some portraits of them to celebrate their 30th birthdays. (That’s not really how old they are, but I think it wise to pretend they’re younger…. for my own protection ) They chose my dad’s favorite place on earth, Laguna Beach, to take them… Here’s my favorites from they evening…

This one was my absolute favorite…. I love their smiles.

This was their absolute favorite…. because you couldn’t see their faces.

They thought they were soooo funny…. too bad they didn’t notice all the tourists looking at them funny…

Dear Mom and Dad,

Thanks for being so supportive and generous people. Thanks for loving me and Melissa the way you do. I hope one day you’ll love these pictures as much as I do…. and, despite what you think, they don’t make you look old.

Love,

Kate