Worth The Wait

As many of you know last March I went through a terrible heartbreak.... One that if I’m honest with myself & all of you, I could’ve avoided completely. I didn’t want to listen to those around me who cared & loved me... I wanted what I wanted & I wanted it NOW; no matter how badly it ended up hurting me & the people who cared the most for me in the end. All I can say from my experience is:  True Love Is Worth The Wait !! There is nothing more beautiful in this world than Love. I’m not talking about the kind of Love you have for your favorite pet or even your best friend... I’m talking about the love that your heart keeps tucked away for that one person! I didn’t even know I had a section of my heart that no one had seen or experienced before, but when you find your true love... you’ll know exactly what I’m explaining! It’s a love you’ll find yourself so consumed by that it feels as natural as breathing! 

Growing up I doubted that I’d ever find a true fairytale version of love. I listened to what people who I thought were my friends told me.... I allowed my morals & hope to be swayed, which lead to months of heartbreak, severe sickness & depression. I promise you, True Love is worth the wait... it’s worth standing your ground, it’s worth being lonesome for a season.... If you find yourself asking God “ Why not me? I want to be loved!” just be patient because the truth is HE loves you, that’s why he’s asking you to wait. He’s preparing your heart and the persons heart who you will someday love.... Maybe you’re both occupied with things in your life that would distract you from him & each other. God does everything for our good and times everything perfectly! We can find ourselves even after we find love wishing it would’ve happened sooner.... I said that myself, but I wasn’t ready! God hadn’t prepared my heart & broken down my walls yet. Actually, God used my true love to help heal my wounds, prepare my heart & break down those walls! He knows what we need!!! He loves us so much that he isn’t going to allow us anything less that what he knows we need in our lives. If you find time just lags on & everyone around you has what they “need” and they have love, just focus that time in your life into prayer.... Pray for the person you will someday love, pray for yourself & God’s will & guidance... Pray that your hearts will be open to His desires for you & that your hearts will be mature enough & willing to follow his leading! Pray for yourself that when the time comes you’ll be ready to love completely, not allowing anything to hold you back... Pray for protection over yourself & them, that God would keep you both from harm & not allow yourselves to be overwhelmed with doubt & fear. Trust me! It will make your “waiting period” so much easier & you’ll find yourself drawing closer to God in the process & understanding yourself more fully. Just know that whatever life brings you, whatever tries to lure you away from what you know God has for your life... TRUE LOVE IS WORTH THE WAIT!!!! 

The Whole Need Not A Physician

"12 But when Jesus heard that, he said unto them, They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick. 13 But go ye and learn what that meaneth,I will have mercy, and not sacrifice:for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. " {Matthew 9:12-13}
We find ourselves feeling "better than thou" and self righteous when we think of ourselves being saved and forgiven by Jesus, but he didn't come here for us... He came here for the sick, the hurting lowely people of the world.It's such a daily humbling reminder that when we look and think we are better than " those people" that Jesus came for THEM!  The most eye opening parts to me in these chapters of Matthew isn't necessarily the amazing miracles Jesus preformed, but the fact that he didn't go around questioning the sick before helping them, he didn't check to see if they were "worthy" of is healing! He healed them and said " tell no one" {Matthew 8:4}He cared so much for them that He didn't want the credit or even care if they knew his name. He loved them enough to help them anyways. Oh to have lived with Jesus! To have witnessed his miracles and believed on him!! My daily prayer is to have the faith of the centurion in Matthew 8:5-13 " v.8 The centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof: just speak the word only , and my servant shall be healed." To have had the faith in such a troubling time to know that he just needed to speak one word and you're made completely whole.How amazing that must have been!
In Matthew 6:8 it says " Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask." How encouraging that is to me! My savior knows my every need before I ask his help. We as Christians are so incredibly blessed with an all knowing, loving and forgiving God that is ALWAYS there for us, my heart just yearns for those in this world who refuse him or haven't been given the chance to know Him yet. May we spend our times here seeking out the " sick" and help lead them to the great Physician.  

Life With Lyme's

Life with Lyme's Disease...
I'm sure most of you wonder what it's really like, is it truly as serious as people say? It's hard to explain in a whole without showing people... It's this ever present nagging feeling inside you that something is terribly wrong, but you can't pinpoint what exactly is. It's a feeling of worthlessness and guilt for feeling so low and upsetting the people you love around you. It's a feeling of never feeling good enough, pretty enough, strong enough to continue on. It's headaches and muscle-joint pain that takes turns on who's going to make you miserable today. It's a feeling of never being hungry, even when your Mom makes your favorite meals, but just the smell turns you off. It's a feeling of always being so tired.. You feel like you could just lay down in the middle of the highway and go to sleep forever and never pay anyone any mind. It's knowing that your pain is causing the people around you pain so you try to hide that pain from them... Only to realize it makes everything worse. It's not something you can handle on your own, I've realized that the hard way the last few weeks. I can't shut everyone out and fake smile and say "I'm fine" because people will believe you and the when you really aren't fine, you feel like you can't tell them. Thankfully, I have some of the best people in my life to pick me back up when I feel like I can't go any further. I have such understanding loving parents, boyfriend and friends! Even when I try to hide things from them, they keep prying until I spill my guts about it all. I'm ever grateful for their patience and love for me. Lyme's is that feeling where you walk  into a room and you forgot what you went in there for... Every single day, every hour, every minute. What's my advice for someone struggling with Lyme's? Have faith in God and the people around you... When someone reaches out a hand for you , accept it. Don't pull away and think you are shielding people from your pain, because trust me... You aren't. Be understanding to the people around you.. They don't understand what you're going through unless you tell them. They can't help you unless you allow them. Don't be afraid to open up and rely on your loved ones. It helps, I promise.
My advice for those who know someone with Lyme's... Never leave words unsaid... Never take days with that person for granted. Always show your love for that person... Randomness is a good thing... Surprise dinners, a card, a sweet text, a hug... just a hello... It means the world to someone hurting. Pray for them. Love them. Encourage them. It will go further than you could ever imagine.
Thank you all so much for your love and support! I don't know where I'd be without it. Lord Bless ~ Katlyn

Becoming a Butterfly

It seems like in our everyday lives we live that we often times forget the miracle of everyday life itself… We forget that every night when we go to bed we could never wake up in the morning, that everything we know and love could fade in an instant. We take for granted the little blessings we have all around us, the joy of love, friendship, happiness and just life itself. Albert Einstein once said “ There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle and the other is as though everything is a miracle.” Do you live your life as though everything is a miracle? Do you leap for joy when you wake up in the morning at the realization that you have another day here on earth to make a difference or do you groan that you have to even get out of bed? I myself am more times than not; the latter of the two,  It is definitely something I need to work on in my life. When you are blessed with a special friendship or something even as small as your baby smiling at you, do you stop to thank God for that blessing? We forget that everything in our lives happens for a reason… Every person we come in contact with, every flower that blooms are all part of Gods plan for our lives. Imagine the miracle of a Butterfly for instance. Everyone loves Butterflies ... They are beautiful and have a lot of significance to them. Butterflies start out as these ugly caterpillars that build a cocoon to grow into this lovely butterfly, but the miracle of it all is that if you help that butterfly out of that cocoon before it emerges on its own it will die. It has to slowly eat its way out to build itself stronger and stronger before it can come out, spread its wings and fly…. That caterpillar could just lay in there and hope that someone opens the cocoon or it can work towards the ultimate goal of becoming a beautiful butterfly. Which are you? The caterpillar that gives up or the striving beautiful butterfly? Let’s try to live our lives realizing that everything is a miracle! God has a plan for our lives and he will place people and things in our life to help us along our journey or should I say dig us out of our cocoon.  I pray that every morning you wake up, you see the miracle of life and experience the Joy of Christ in your life! May God bless you! 

Life's Journey

" Faith is taking the first step even when you cannot see the whole staircase" Martin Luther King JR


It seems to me life is one great big staircase. You must climb up each step one at a time. You can try to do them two at a time, but in the long run you'll just tire yourself sooner. If we have an ultimate goal in life, we have to take each level accordingly. We might think it's better to go full speed- straight ahead when really God wants us to take 5 more steps before we reach that goal. Just because you have a detour in the road doesn't mean you'll never make it to that destination. Maybe God has someone he planned for you to meet, a lost soul to save, or maybe he just wants to test your faith in Him and his guidance. It can be hard to except certain detours in life, but we must remain on the path laid for us by our almighty God and trust that he has a higher reason for this delay. Noone knows you better then God, He knows us better then we know ourselves and He loves us more then anyone in the world ever could. Do you think he would cause us to wait if it wasn't for our benefit in the end? Do you believe God would cause us to struggle if he knew we couldn't bear it?
The scriptures say " Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart; and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. Matthew 11:28-30" If you lean on Him there is nothing you cannot handle! Nothing is impossible with God and his unfailing love.

Living a life as a grain of sand..

" Like a small boat
on the ocean
Sending big waves
into motion
Like how a single word
can make a heart open
I might only have one match
but I can make an explosion."
  

Many times we feel like we aren't important, like nobody would notice if we were gone.. The truth is there is someone out there who couldn't live without you and looks forward to visiting you. The whole desert started with one piece of sand, a blazing forest fire with one little flame.
Imagine if we lived our daily lives waking up believing we could actually make a change! The world would be a much better place if we came at it head on knowing that we were needed to make the world spin. The Bible says " If you have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing is impossible unto you. Matt.17:20"
Faith is an amazing thing. Everyone has different levels of Faith, but we are all important. Some of us have enough faith we could move mountains and other know they have enough faith to make it through the horrible traffic they are in! Whatever level of Faith you have, If you just believe nothing is impossible!
One tiny little boat can make huge waves on the ocean, on rock can start an avalanche, one person can start a revival!  That is what we need! We need revival in our faith! We need the faith of early Christians. They were faced daily with trials and tribulations and yet they never stopped believing. I know hundreds of Christians in Africa, Pakistan, India, China that are faced with threats, hunger, death, and still they never give up. They don't have the amazing resources we have in America, but they still believe and have the strongest faith! I feel so blessed to live in a country where I'm free to practice my individual faith without being persecuted by death. We as Christians are going to face some persecution from time to time. Especially if you don't fit in to the "norm". I know personally being considered "odd" in society that it isn't pleasant, but if you just trust God and lean on Him. He will carry you through!
I know this is a little odd for my writings, but it's something I've been thinking on the last few weeks.
May God bless you and carry you through whatever comes your way!
Keep the Faith!
Katlyn

Autumn is my favorite season

"Autumn is like a second Spring where every leaf is a flower!"

Today my family and I went for a short hike around some of the state parks here in Nebraska. We enjoyed the cooler temperatures and beautiful fall leaves! Autumn has always been my favorite season. The weather, the leaves and just the all around good feeling! It's the best time of year for hiking and camping, You can build campfires and roast S'mores, go on hay rides, play in the leaves, wear jackets, scarves and boots... To me fall is just all around fun! I'm so thankful that God chose to give us a change of seasons. Each one just as important as the other. Each having their own specific  "theme" that brings happiness to different types of people. For me it's Autumn... What's yours? So go out and enjoy the weather and beautiful leaves!
God Bless~
Katlyn

I Love Fall! Especially this tree!



This weather called for a warm hoodie
and headband!

These red maple leaves were gorgeous

The red carpet runway:)

This beautiful tree has 3 different colors

Just Hanging around training for "American Ninja Warrior"

These are tricky! We can all dream right?:)

Pondering Life's Pathway

I have been  pondering my life lately and going over events that have happened in it. I really began to realize how very blessed I was growing up and still am to this day. I think about the blessing that I have two loving parents who support me in everything and my grandma who went out of her way and above her means to help us along our journey. I am even blessed enough to still have my great grandma alive to make memories with. I've talked to a lot of my friends lately who don't have grandparents, or take them for granted and never contact them unless it's a birthday or holiday. If you really think about it none of us would be here if it wasn't for our grandparents. I know seeing a loved one grow old is really hard, but they are still that same person who cared for you as a child or grandchild. The same grandma who prepared Christmas dinner every year and never complained or the same grandpa who would fix a broken toy when you were small. I guess I'm just trying to say never take them for granted. One day you won't have them anymore and you can't ask them about how they make their homemade rolls or how to sew a granny square. Whether they are in assisted living or on life support, never waste a moment that you could be visiting them. Take the time to hear their stories about growing up when times were harder or about being a young boy in the old wars. All of these times and stories will be lost and gone forever if we don't take the time to hear them, write them down, enjoy them. Spending that month with my great grandma in April and this past week I've enjoyed it so much. I've learned so much about her and our family. Why she won't eat green beans, how she met my great grandpa, how she worked really hard to care for her 9 children. How she and Grandpa moved closer to town so they could start a business and be closer to school for their children. Stories of loosing my great Uncle at a young age, how life goes on from there or how they had to drive my grandma to the hospital to deliver Dad. These are stories I want to be able to tell my children and grandchildren for years. I think about how I never visited her for 10 years and never really thought to call her , but she NEVER forgot my birthday. She has probably 60 people to think about and call, send cards to, but she never forgot about me, even when I didn't call or come see her. These are memories I never want to forget. If you haven't talked to someone or seen them lately, pick up the phone or go visit them. You will be glad that you did down the road. No one is guaranteed tomorrow or even another minute. Use the time while you have it. May God Bless your week! Katlyn

Visiting Eli's School

I was honored to be able to speak at one of  Denver Public school's fifth grade classes while we were there. Our friends son, Eli asked me if I would be the " show and tell" for his classroom. I enjoyed it  ( after 2 days of nervousness) and I was quite impressed with some of their questions for me about our hike. I really wish everyone could have the joy and curiosity of a child. It was such a blessing to spend this fun hour with these children full of interesting questions and complete curiosity. I enjoyed watching and helping them try on my 40 pound backpack! It really brought to life the scriptures about having the faith of a child and the Game show " Are you smarter then a 5th grader?" This weekend we leave Nebraska to head back south to Alabama. On our home way we are going out of the way through Texas and Louisiana because I've been asked to speak at a youth group of around 200 teens . I will be speaking on November 4th and I am super excited! We will also be going on a new adventurous road trip through New Orleans, so keeping watching for my photos and history posts from this adventure.

 If you know of a youth group or school/ college that would enjoy hearing our about our journey, I am available. Contact me at: backpackingkatydid@gmail.com. May God Bless your week! 

Mrs. Natalie's 5th grade Class

Eli and I!:)

Mission Accomplished

Where do I begin?

It is very difficult to put into words the feeling of Accomplishment.

Whether it be small or large, It's still great in the eyes of it's achiever .

Last Saturday my family and I completed our 5,000 Mile Trek across America in Denver Colorado.

As most of you already know we started on March 24th 2014 in Delaware at Cape Henlopen State Park.... We walked until November 17th 2014 where the snow stopped us from climbing the Rocky Mountains west of Denver. We wintered over until April in Cozad , Nebraska. We then took a Amtrak Train from Omaha Nebraska to Richmond California. When we arrived in Richmond a good friend drove us to Point Reyes National Seashore on May 2nd where we began the last 2,000  miles of our journey. 

From Point Reyes we walked East through Nevada and Utah. There we faced harsh temperatures and sandstorms, lots of spiders and rattlesnakes. When we got to Colorado we slowed everything down and enjoyed the last month of our trip. We stayed with many more families, made many more lifetime friends and found some amazing new vacation spots! We were blessed enough to have beat the snow this year and the weather was lovely for hiking in the mountains among the fall aspen leaves! On October 17th after an amazing week of staying with our friends in Denver..... We finally did it!

We walked the last 4 miles up cherry creek bike trail downtown to Union Station where we met with a few friends and family from several states and a Denver Post reporter to celebrate our big accomplishment. The American Discovery Trail had one of the board of directors with an award for Completing the American Discovery Trail and for being the only family to ever hike it. I was also presented with one for being the youngest to hike the trail! We also became Ambassador for the American Discover Trail... This all being said, If you have a Goal or a Dream... Never give up on it! Never let anything get in your way. You can do anything you put your mind to, from Climbing Mount Everest to running a 5K. It's Possible! 

May God Bless You!

The End is Near!

I'm so excited to announce that we're almost done! The end is truly near!

We finish on October 17th! 

Colorado has been the most amazing state. People are friendly loving and super helpful! If your from Colorado you should be proud of it! 😊

The scenery is absolutely breathtaking! God is truly amazing! 

Crystal River Mill

Colorful Colorado

Where do I start?
Colorado is a magical place... Filled with Aspen and Fir trees, Alpine Lakes, Bear, Moose and Elk roam free untouched by man.... The mountains are extremely difficult and the elevations high, but the views are amazing! You start early in the morning and climb until the afternoon, you ream the peak out of breath and tired.. You sit down to enjoy some cool mountain stream water and take in the beauty of the summit. It's difficult and tiring, but the reward.... Unbelievable! You would never know what this is like unless you faced the rocks and boulders, climbed up the steep switchback trails for hours, crossed rushing creeks only to get your foot wet on the last step! All of this and you are still amazed EVERY time you reach the top... It's like a whole new world waiting for you to glimpse its beauty. Beauty God set aside for those who choose to meet the challenges that come!
With the beauty of Fall almost here and the cooler temperatures that follow... Please go outdoors and enjoy the amazing wonders God has made for you!
Happy Hiking~
Katlyn🌲

Family selfie

Mama and I

Crossing a creek

Colorado sunrays

Our lovely new REI Half some 4

Filtering mountain water with my
Sawyer mini

Aspen trees

My friend Emily & I with
Her adorable puppy Mowgli

Marmot hanging out by
The lake!

Utah~Colorado Border

 I am so excited to announce that

We are in colorado!! Only 550 miles or so before we complete our 5'000 mile hike across America!

I am so thankful for this opportunity at such a young age. Most people aren't this fortunate! 

Hopefully I will blog more through Colorado! 

Peace, Light & Love of Jesus

Katlyn✌

Canyonlands National Park

Utah Highway walking

Glory clouds

Baby Horny Toad!

Beautiful Rainbow of Westwater Ranger
Station

Selfie!!