Life is like riding a bicycle

Picture from Pinterest

I woke up to a text this morning that said, "Happy Conference day miss Katelin :) would you like to go on a little date this evening?"

(This would be our second date; our first date was last summer)

 I agreed to it and asked if I'd need to bring anything specific. He replied, "Just bring your beautiful self and just some casual out door wear. We're going to go on a little ride that requires some physical activity!"

I was stumped. I had no idea what we could possibly be doing. A four wheeler ride? A hike? What else could it be? Well he said he'd come right after conference ended so to be ready shortly after 4pm.

*    *    *

I knew I was in for a surprise when the doorbell rang and was greeted with a friendly hug. My date came inside and visited with me and my parents for a couple minutes and then finally we left. We walked outside and to my surprise, there was a TANDEM BIKE on my front lawn! I was so excited!

We hopped on the bike and peddled up the road. The sun was shining, the breeze would catch my hair and sometimes it would whip me in the face, but I didn't care. I was having an enjoyable time.

After huffing and puffing once in a while (from going up hills), and permanently grinning from laughing and catching up on each other's lives, we made it to our destination: The beloved (and my favorite) Lions Park. 

As we pulled up to the park, I told him how much I loved this park. I explained to him that one of my favorite things to do when I come to Richfield is to bring a picnic there with my best friend after a fun bike ride or hike. He told me that this was his favorite park too! We parked the bike and hopped off. I had no idea what was going on so I just went with it. He was looking around as if he were looking for something in particular and I asked what was going on. He said we were looking for something, but he wasn't sure where it was. [At this point there were people at one of the pavilions and I noticed right as he looked over there, they pointed in a certain direction and he smiled and nodded. I'm pretty sure I wasn't supposed to see that, but I did anyways, ha ha] So we walked over to another area of the park and came upon a blanket that was set out with food set out on top of it! Along with the food was a beautiful red rose standing up in a vase tied with a red ribbon. I was in shock! It was such a fun surprise! We sat down to have a picnic and enjoyed our sandwiches and punch bags as we continued to catch up with one another. I swear we were laughing almost the entire time. He explained that he wanted to come to the place where we first met... that is why we were at the Lions Park! 

(About four or five years ago, we officially met at the Lions Park during the summer because of a get together before the school year started. There was water balloons and slip'n slides. We just so happened to go on the slip'n slide at the exact same time-- however, he was going the opposite way as me-- to make a long story short, I ended up getting a concussion from our collision and I hardly remember anything from that day. Story has it that he even brought me chocolate chip cookies to apologize, but that memory is very vague. So anyways, that's how we met! We've always had a funny "connection" ever since then.)

 Finally when we were finished eating, we packed up everything and road the bike back to his house where we were suppose to have ice cream cones but we were too full. We dropped off the bike and he drove me back to my house and then he left to go to the priesthood session.

It was one of the most thoughtful, fun, exciting, and surprising dates I have been on and it was lovely. I am so thankful for this great experience I had today. It will definitely be a memory I won't forget.

So like this cute saying, ya gotta keep moving to keep your balance. You'll never get anywhere if you don't start peddling.

Love,

Kate

A love, hope, and inspiration

I couldn't be happier to read these words that struck my heart so firmly-- knowing that he is changing, growing, and becoming the person the Lord wants him to become: 

"It's not about ME anymore. It's about sucking it up and getting to work, so that's exactly what I did." 

He told me that I was his love, hope, and inspiration. 

He said, "Never change and stay the course. Pray nightly because I do know that God hears and answers our prayers (as I have spent many hours on my knees pleading with him this week.)"

I too know that the Lord hears and answers our prayers; he loves each of us and wants the best for us. All we have to do is seek after him. He will bless us.

Love,

Kate

We're all laughing

 

...It's truer than true.

Love,

Kate

Cast not away therefore your confidence

"There is a lesson in the Prophet Joseph Smith's account of the First Vision that virtually everyone in this audience has had occasion to experience, or one day soon will. It is the plain and very sobering truth that before great moments, certainly before great spiritual moments, there can come adversity, opposition, and darkness. Life has some of those moments for us, and occasionally they come just as we are approaching an important decision or a significant step in our life. 

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(Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward.

For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise. [Hebrews 10:35–36])" 

Cast Not Away Therefore Your Confidence- Jeffrey R. Holland

This talk is one I would highly reccomend reading. It is amazing and it is beautiful! It is just a great reminder to keep your head up and to move forward with faith. 

Go confidently in the direction of your dreams, right? That saying means so much more to me now.

:)

I just love the gospel so so so much! I am really really really thinking about a mission and I would love to serve. But before I make any decisions, I have to figure out my school plans first. No worries, I'll let you know what's up when I figure it all out.

As for life, it is GREAT! I heard from Elder McAllister this morning when I received an email from him and oh I can't even describe how happy it makes me knowing that he is serving the Lord and preparing to share the good news with others! Joy fills my soul!

This is a pic on the day of his farewell. It is particularly great because of his older brother pulling that face in the background. Ha he's funny.

Anyways, I suggest you try sending your love to someone this week! Seriously, it will make their day... I just know it. And you know what else? Never waste an opportunity to tell someone you love them because you never know if you'll have another chance.

 Love,

Kate

ps. bike rides are my fav!!! I spent the afternoon with my best friend chatting about the thoughts of our hearts today. We rode around Richfield, made our way to the Lions Park where we had a picnic and ate our lunch, and then eventually made it back home after soaking up some sun. Check out a couple pics here. 

New & Improved

It's late and I really shouldn't be up right now but I am because I got the sudden urge to change up my blog a bit. I decided it was time for something new. It sure is different but I think I like it.

Well I'm home for spring break and it's been awesome so far. I spent Saturday afternoon with my amazing family as we went on a 14+ mile bike ride down Marysville canyon. It was a beautiful day and it felt so good to be in the sun. My heart has been filled with joy and gratitude lately. I am happy and excited for the week to come. 

Love,

Kate
ps. check out the different ways you can view my blog! Click on the different options on the drop down list located in the up left corner by the word [home].

A new chapter... :)

"Kate, just hold on to what you believe and you'll be fine. God will take care of everything else. May God be with you till we meet again!!!"

-Elder Tanner McAllister

Those were the last words I read from the boy who I grew to love in such a short amount of time. 

He is now in Preston, England at the MTC and from the pictures I've seen, he looks like he is doing great. I could not be happier :)

I didn't say goodbye to him... I simply said "see you later." I know Tanner is exactly where he is suppose to be right now and I know that the Lord has so much in store for him! He is an amazing person. I love him to death and I am so excited for the adventures, experiences, and stories he will be sharing with me!

I'm so excited to write him for the next two years, it will be such a fun experience! I can't wait to watch him grow even more.. I watched him grow and change SO much over the past couple months, I can't even imagine what two years will do! It's so exciting.

<you can see his blog  HERE>

He's my best friend... I will definitely miss him, but I wouldn't want him to be anywhere else right now. I am so thankful for the friendship we created the past couple months and I could not thank him enough for the things he has taught me. I testify that the Lord has his hand in all things and he loves us!!! The Lord loves each and every one of us so much. He places people in our lives for a reason. Like in the song, For Good, "people come into our lives for a reason bringing something we must learn, and we are led to those who help us most to grow if we let them, and we help them in return," could not be a better statement for mine and Tanner's relationship. The Lord knows what he's doing. 

always.

Just trust Him.

 And now, like the picture-- there is not time to wait, only to prepare!! This can be taken in so many different ways and that's why I love it so much. 

So take it how you will and love it.

life.goes.on. everybody and let me tell you, it sure is a beautiful life.

Love,

Kate