twenty-one before twenty-two

1. Hold an art show.

2. Visit every (good) coffee shop in Nashville.

3. Learn to knit.

4. Learn "Montagues and Capulets" by Prokofiev.

5. Visit a new country. (x2)

6. Go to the farmer's market downtown.

7. Attend a show at the Ryman.

8. Write something once a week.

9. Read through the entire Bible.

10. Watch all seven Harry Potter movies in a row.

11. Make a new friend.

12. Begin learning Spanish.

13. Get organized. 

14. Grow my hair out.

15. Make a stop-motion film. 

16. Become confident enough to share my songs.

17. Host a party.

18. Re-brand my photography business. 

19. Read Flannery O'Connor's anthology.

20. Visit the Grand Canyon. 

21. Go on a fancy date. (Read: find a boyfriend.) (Read: just kidding.) (Read: kind of.)

This list is one-part new years resolutions, one part birthday goals, and one part insane. I didn't get anywhere near to finishing last year's list, but I don't see why I can't at least attempt it again. And these goals are somewhat more manageable, as many of them are already in the works. Maybe it's cheating, but since this is my birthday list, I suppose I can make the rules. :)




Me and my sassy self are off to watch Nashville and try not to get sick.

xo,
Katy

surprisingly, i lived to be twenty-one

 

I am now twenty-one years old. I have been for a few days now, though I feel no older. I am not the same person I was last year, but that is for reasons other than adding a one to the end of twenty. 

I spent my actual birthday day in Atlanta at Passion 2013. That, in itself, was a life altering experience and another blog post all together. I'm still processing everything I learned and the ways my heart has changed. There honestly wasn't a better way to spend the day than worshiping with my friends and getting to hear Francis Chan speak. I also got to act like a total idiot and say afterwards "it's okay cuz it's my birthday!" My favorite moment of the day? When my friends started singing Happy Birthday and I joined in singing before I realized what was going on. It's okay, it was my birthday.

 

On saturday night, I finally got to celebrate Christmas and my birthday with my family. We ate at my favorite restaurant, Rosepepper, and opened presents and ate cake. I received The Complete Tales and Poems of Edgar Allen Poe, a collector's edition of The Hobbit, a box set of the Little House series, as well as lots of fun candy (including bacon candy canes and a Christmas ornament shaped like grilled cheese.) I appreciate my family recognizing just how quirky I am. ;)

 

I can honestly say that the older I get, the younger I feel. And with that, I leave you a playlist, cuz it's my birthday!

 
xo, Katy

P.S. Look for a 21 before 22 list coming very soon. :)

Emmanuel

When asked as a kid what my favorite Christmas song was, I would always respond with "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel." I obviously didn't understand the full gravity of the lyrics, but I loved the melody. Something about it felt cold and haunting to me. Christmas for most people is hot chocolate and warm fires. For me, it's bare branches and drifting snowflakes. Though the tune of "Emmanuel" is melancholy, its lyrics are full of hope for the coming Messiah. The Israelites waited for His first advent, I am waiting patiently for His second. So, here's a playlist with some of my favorite versions of the song.

 xo, Katy

family and fences and trains

 

I got to photograph my sister's ridiculously good looking family this past saturday. Though it may look like frigid mid-winter in these photos, it was probably 70 degrees outside. The weather here in Nashville is so confused right now. It's currently pouring rain outside. 

 

My sweet sister and I. And yes, my hair is now a nice shade of Christmas red! Also...unicycles.

 xo, 

Katy

merry and bright

 

 OH HEY. This is just a quick note to say I'm still alive, and have some super fun things coming here to this dusty little blog once finals are over. Only a week and a half, and I'll be half-done with my Junior year of undergrad. Can I get an amen? Yeah yeah!

Anyway. I've been swamped with papers and performances and all that jazz. Life is full right now, but it's quite nice. I'm looking forward to Christmas break. Road trips to Missouri, Passion Conference, lots of book reading and movie watching, a new year, The Hobbit, seeing Relient K and House of Heroes, and another year older. (twenty-one will be upon me in less than a month. I can hardly believe how young I am.) 

Speaking of books, I'm working on a list of books to read over break. There are so many to choose from. I'm beside myself with glee! 

xo,

Katy

thoughts on life at the moment

 It's funny how unfamiliar places can sometimes feel like home. Even though I'd never seen this house or laid in this bed until today, I'm totally at ease. Maybe it's because we ate pepper steak for dinner. I haven't eaten that since my mom passed. That one familiar food brought me back to her. And instead of sadness, for the first time in a long time, missing her brought joy.

I'm so thankful Thanksgiving break is here. I've been sick with a bad case of pneumonia for almost a week now. I managed to get out of bed yesterday and come with my sister and her husband to his parent's house. It's nice here. Peaceful. There's time for me to rest and procrastinate even longer on reading Last of the Mohicans. 

Thanksgiving is still hard. It might be even harder this year than it has been the past three, due to circumstances that I must keep to myself. My sister and I were talking about it earlier. Instead of just grieving one day, we must grieve two--the actual date my sweet mom passed (November 27) and the holiday on which she passed (Thanksgiving). Just keep my family in your prayers. This isn't an easy time for us. But I'm thankful for the healing another year will bring.

It's funny how when life grows heavier in some areas, others grow exponentially lighter. God has placed some really incredible friends in my life for this season, and I am so incredibly thankful.

 

xo,

Katy

July 1971

 

"In sickness and in health"
Was more than just a promise.
You showed it to your children,
And taught them to be honest.
Now they don't go a day
Without saying the words
"I love you."