megh got married!

My good friend Meghann got married this past weekend. It was truly a beautiful wedding! I loved every minute of it! To see two people get married who both love Jesus and put God first before each other, is a wonderful thing. I believe God is going to use them, and already has used them, in big ways! And to know Meghann before they were dating, to see them as they began "talking", then start dating, and now married was awesome! So so happy for these two! They really are perfect for each other.

Meghann and I at the reception!

Stefanie and I got to be candle lighters for the ceremony. I was so happy to be a part of her big day! It was fun...and all the candles lit for us so that was a plus! :)

Here are some other pics from the day:

Meghann and her bridesmaids.

Stefanie and I. The candle lighters with the candle lighters! ;)

Stefanie and I!

Ariona was my "date" to the wedding. We had a good time!

I'm so thankful to have her as my friend. She fell asleep and woke up not long before the wedding began and wasn't going to come, but she came anyway. That's how much she loves me! ;)

Rachael, Stefanie, Ariona, and myself. We put the handy dandy self-timer to use...

Little did we know, my camera takes the picture twice. So as Rachael and I were walking back to check our cameras to see if the previous picture turned out okay, my camera snapped another shot and this was the result! Makes me laugh.

:)

Getting ready to head to the reception! Waiting on Stefanie so we could follow her so naturally, we got out the camera! :)

Stefa!!!

Where the reception was held. The Governor's Row House! It was a neat place. I love the way it was decorated!

Isn't it pretty?! :)

Reception time!

Cake, cupcakes, and pies! What more do you need?! :) Yum!

They had cool straws. What can I say, we are amused very easily!

Loved seeing Rachel there!

The happily married couple....Mr. and Mrs. Boatright!

Congratulations to you, Meghann and Clark!

new and improved.

Well...if you have visited my blog before, you might notice that it is different! New colors, new background, and new name! I decided it needed some change, I was getting bored with it. Bored with my very own blog...that's when you know you need to make a change! :) Let me know what you think.

When I first started this blog, it was kind of on a whim. I mean, I had thought about having a blog before, but never did anything about it. But one random day, I decided to do it. It was very out of the blue! So, the point of me telling you this is to say, the name was also very much on a whim. It was the first, actually it was the only thing that came to my mind. "A Day in the Life of Kaci"....how original, right?!

So I have been trying to think of something clever for a while, but I am not very creative when it comes to this kind of thing. I was at a loss.

I was talking to a friend (who is creative with this kind of stuff) about what to name a bible study I was starting up....and might I add that bible study still has the name of "Online Bible Study". See...all the creativeness is just overflowing from me! ;) Anyway, she gave me a list of possible ideas, one of them being "The Pursuit". That one really caught my attention, but not for the bible study. I mean, it would be a great name for the bible study, but I kept thinking about my blog!

I decided to look up the definition of pursuit and this is what I found: the act of pursuing; an effort to secure or attain; quest. How fitting! My pursuit of Jesus!

You see, blogging isn't just about sharing with my family and friends or whoever is reading this, about my life and what I am up to. I mean, yes, I guess that is part of it. But the other part is for myself! I'm not that girl who keeps a journal. I do, but I definitely don't write in it every day, every week, or even every other week. Sometimes it can be a monthly occurrence....if that. I tend to get "busy" and I forget to take time to reflect on my day. Then I get to the point of being completely overwhelmed by all the thoughts going on in my head, but don't take the time to "sort through". So, this blog helps me to stop and do just that...sit down and think. It makes me reflect on things I have done, what I have heard, things I have seen, things I have read, and conversations I have had, etc. and etc.. I can't promise I am going to share my deepest, darkest (muahaha) secrets with you, but I will tell you what I can promise to share with you...my pursuit of Jesus! My journey, as I walk through this life with the Lord. Cheesy? I know...it is. But it's the truth.

So what exactly does that include? Well...things I am doing. Places I go. Things I experience. Adventures with my crazy awesome friends and the crazy stuff we do just because we can. Challenges I am facing. Pictures I take. Awesome things that happen to me. Sad things that happen. A bible verse I like, or a song! What God is teaching me/showing me. You get the idea....

I have been doing a very poor job of blogging recently, so that was the other motivation for "the change".  I needed to make it new and exciting. And already I have so many "thoughts" I want to share with you so be ready! ;)

Aside from all of that, blogging is just really fun for me! And this is a warning...if you have read my blog before, you have most likely figured out by now that I am not a writer. I most likely don't always use the correct grammar. I don't always say things in the best way. Sometimes what I write may make absolutely no sense to anybody who is not inside of my head! But I have decided that I don't care....I will keep blogging anyway...even if nobody is reading it!

(Side note: the actual website address is still the same....the thing you type in your browser to get to this page. That will eventually happen, just not quite yet! I will give you a heads up for sure before I change that so you are able to find it!)

If you do choose to keep reading my blog, I am so happy you will be joining me in my pursuit! My pursuit of  Jesus and the adventure that He is taking me on in this thing called life!

On a different note....

For those who don't know, I work at Billy Vanilly Cupcakes here in Topeka. Let me tell ya, my boss knows how to make some yummy cupcakes and she is sharing that talent with all of her employees! But, I should make it clear that I do not make the cupcakes. I just work up front. When I tell people (especially those who have had the cupcakes before) where I work, they get so excited. Then they ask the question, "So you make the cupcakes?" and when my answer is "no, I just sell them." they always seem so disappointed. But the truth is...I love selling the cupcakes! :)

Anyway, on with the story.

Once you work at a cupcake bakery, I have learned that you just automatically become the cupcake lady. Seriously. I get picture text messages from friends of cupcakes, pretty sure almost every card I got for my birthday had at least one cupcake on it, and when my friends go to different countries, they brink me back cupcake things! :)

My friend Erin who was in France, and my friend (and my little brother Dustin's girlfriend) Chrissy who was in London, brought me back these.....

From Erin!

From Chrissy!

I am not complaining about this at all....it makes me smile! I am completely okay with being the cupcake lady! :)

recklessly abandoned.

I have started up an online bible study with a group of people from my church back home. This "online bible study" thing is new to me. Just an idea that really came out of nowhere. One day, God just gave me the idea, so here I am! It just started this week. We are reading the book Crazy Love: Overwhelmed by a Relentless God (which is a great book if you haven't read it!), and already the study has been a blessing to me.


Someone shared with the group about someone they know, for the sake of privacy we will go by the name of Brad, and their reaction to them finding out they had cancer. While his wife was mad, sad, and upset, she questioned God as to why he would do that. But Brad simply said, "Why not me?" He was never angry at God for giving him cancer, he never questioned "Why God, why would you do this to me?" Brad went on saying, I am no better than anyone else, so why not me? This has happened because it was supposed to happen. I don't know Brad, but from hearing that much of the story, I am going to guess he spent the less than two years of life that he lived, to the fullest as much as he was able to! 


What a faithful man this is! Obviously, he lived with the knowledge that God is a faithful God. He trusted the Lord, and while that may not have been how he had planned on spending the last two years of his life, he made the most of them. That was God's plan for his life. How powerful of a testimony is that to others who knew him?


Fast forward a couple of days to when I heard a song played on the radio called "Live Like That" by Sidewalk Prophets. Here are the lyrics:

Sometimes I think

What will people say of me

When I'm only just a memory

When I'm home where my soul belongs 

Was I love 

When no one else would show up 

Was I Jesus to the least of those 

Was my worship more than just a song 

I want to live like that 

And give it all I have 

So that everything I say and do 

Points to You 

If love is who I am 

Then this is where I'll stand 

Recklessly abandoned 

Never holding back 

I want to live like that 

I want to live like that 

Am I proof 

That You are who you say You are 

That grace can really change a heart 

Do I live like Your love is true 

People pass 

And even if they don't know my name 

Is there evidence that I've been changed 

When they see me, do they see You 

I want to live like that 

And give it all I have 

So that everything I say and do 

Points to You 

If love is who I am 

Then this is where I'll stand 

Recklessly abandoned 

Never holding back 

I want to live like that 

I want to live like that 

I want to show the world the love You gave for me 

I'm longing for the world to know the glory of the King 

I want to live like that 

And give it all I have 

So that everything I say and do 

Points to You 

If love is who I am 

Then this is where I'll stand 

Recklessly abandoned 

Never holding back 

I want to live like that 

I want to live like that

What a great song! Between this song and the story of Brad, it has got me to thinking! They lyrics to this song are powerful and convicting, but the words that really stick out to me are recklessly abandoned. The definition of reckless is this: utterly unconcerned about the consequences of some action; without caution; careless.

That seems extreme I know but stick with me... I went on to look up the definition of abandoned. Abandoned can be used in several different ways, but this is one of the definitions the handy dandy dictionary.com gave me: to give up the control of...

Now, before you think I am completely crazy put the two together....I want my life to be recklessly abandoned to God. I don't want to hold anything back. I want to abandon my life, give up control over it, and give it over to God to a point that is reckless! Call me crazy, but bear with me as I try to explain myself! 

As a human being, I have many fears, worries, doubts, etc. and etc. that can get in the way of what God is calling me to do. But I don't want any of that to get in the way of what the Lord would have for me. I don't want the fear of what could happen hold me back. I want to have the kind of faith Brad had. No matter what the Lord brings me to, I want to give it all I have! I want to live life to the fullest knowing that the Lord has His hand in my life, walking by my side every step of the way. I want to love people with all that I am. As the song says, "I'm longing for the world to know the glory of the King". That is my purpose in this life, to share the Glory of God to every person I meet! 

So here I am Lord, abandoning myself and running to You. I don't want to be the one in control of my life. I give myself to you! Where you go, I'll go. Where you stay, I'll stay. When you move, I'll move. Lead me, I will follow, trusting you every step of the way.

It's so easy to trust God and know that He is faithful when our lives are good. We have a job we like, a family we love, a nice home, a nice vehicle, finances are good, and etc. When we are comfortable with our lives it's easy to trust Him, to have faith in Him. But what about when the times are rough? What happens when our lives become uncomfortable? We lose a loved one? When finances aren't good? We have to move to a different town/state/country? When we find out we have cancer? When we lose a job? When our lives are turned upside down in a matter of a second? It's so easy to doubt God then, to lose our faith in Him, to question Him.

"He is the rock, his works are perfect, and all his ways are just. A faithful God who does no wrong, upright and just is he." -Deuteronomy 32:4

I want my life to point to the cross, not to myself. A verse from the song says this, "When they see me, do they see you?" Wow....that really makes you take a step back and look at your life and how you are living it. Show me where I am falling short, Lord!

I want everything I say and do, bring glory to His name. I want to love with all I am, never holding back. I will cling to the Rock... to the one whose ways are perfect and just! Even through the storm. He. Is. Faithful. and He does no wrong. 

come, follow me!

Lately, the band Sidewalk Prophets has really been speaking to me! I actually have another blog post ready that was inspired by one of their songs. I am waiting a few more days to post it though because I am speaking this Sunday and it would be somewhat of a spoiler for what I will be talking about! I know a few people who might read this, might be there Sunday and don't want to ruin it for them :) So you will just have to wait!

Until then, here is a song I will share with you:

You Can Have Me

If I saw You on the street
And You said come and follow me
But I had to give up everything
All I once held dear and all of my dreams

Would I love You enough to let go
Or would my love run dry
When You asked for my life

When did love become unmoving?
When did love become unconsuming?
Forgetting what the world has told me
Father of love, You can have me
You can have me

If You’re all You claim to be
Then I’m not losing anything
So I will crawl upon my knees
Just to know the joy of suffering

I will love You enough to let go
Lord, I give you my life
I give you my life

When did love become unmoving?
When did love become unconsuming?
Forgetting what the world has told me
Father of love, You can have me
You can have me

I want to be where You are
I’m running into Your arms
And I will never look back
So Jesus, here is my heart

When did love become unmoving?
When did love become unconsuming?
Forgetting what the world has told me
Father of love, You can have me
You can have me

When did love become unmoving?
When did love become unconsuming?
Forgetting what the world has told me
Father of love, You can have me
My Father, my love
You can have me

The first verse of the song says it all. If I saw Jesus tomorrow and He said, "Come follow me?", would I follow Him? Would I go right then and there, drop all of my belongings, all my plans, all my dreams, and follow Him? Or would I stop and ask Him questions...Where? Who? What? When? Where? How?

Matthew 4:19 says, "'Come follow me,' Jesus said, 'and I will make you fishers of men.' At once they left their nets and followed him."

Notice they didn't question Jesus. They didn't ask where He was leading them, what they were going to be doing. Instead they stopped what they were doing and followed him...no questions asked. Would you be able to do that?

Just something to think about!

Lord, I pray that your love would consume me and move in me! That I would be willing and glad to drop everything for you at any given minute. I know it would be well worth it! I know and trust that your plans, your dreams for me, are bigger than any plans I could make for my life and any dreams I could think up on my own! Let your will be done in my life...no matter what that looks like. Amen!