Big Announcement....

Do you remember a couple weeks ago when I wrote an apology to all of my blog readers for being silent in the blog world?  If not, you can read about it here.  Basically I shared with all of you that Josh and I had a lot of things going on in our lives and that I wasn't able to share all of those things with you...until now.

Ok.  So I still can't share everything that was/is going on, but here's 1 biggie...

I'm taking my oldest son, Garrett, on a mission trip to India this fall.

He is so excited.  He has had such a heart for India since he was 4 years old.  (he's only 9 now)  Every year since preschool he has befriended the one Indian kid in his class and has shared the gospel with them.  When he was 5 years old he told me that he wanted to be a medical missionary to India.  I asked him why a "medical missionary" and not a regular missionary.  His answer..."Because I don't think you can try to "fix" them on the inside until you try to "fix" them on the outside."  Seriously...Whose kid is this???

I don't know if my son will grow up and actually become a medical missionary or not.  That's not the point.  The point is that I want my children to look beyond their own backyard.  I want them to know how blessed we are and understand that we are blessed not only to bless others, but to also glorify God's name to ALL the nations. 

I look at Garrett and realize that I have just 9 more years with him at home, then he's off to college and wherever.  I have 9 more years to instill in him a passion for people.  9 more years to show him how to have compassion for the lost.  9 more years to help him loosen his grip on someday achieving the "American Dream" and instead becoming a servant to others.  9 years.  And when I think about how quickly the first 9 years went by...

So here are the details of our trip.

Where:  Chennai, India

When:  November 7-19, 2011

Who:  Myself, Garrett, and a team from our church

Why:  To bless others and to make God's name know to the ends of the earth.

Cost: $5600

Garrett has been busy working on writing letters asking for support.  I don't know about you, but $5600 is a lot of money to me.   However, I do know that if this is what God wants us to do this fall, then the need will be met.  I'm not worrying about the money, I'm just excited to see where it comes from.

If you are interested in donating money towards our trip you can email me at  katie_boggs@hotmail.com and I can give you the contact information for our church.  All money is sent directly to our church and is tax deductible. 

Otherwise, please keep us in your prayers as we prepare for this journey. 
Thanks,

Katie

"He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose." ~Jim Elliott

Photo credits are here, here, and here.

Oh, the places you'll go!

Well it finally came.  A few weeks ago our lovely postman delivered what I had been longing for since I bought our tickets to Italy...my Moleskine journal.

I don't know how many of you have used one of Moleskine's travel journals, but I {heart} them.  I bought my first one the year we went to Paris.  It was great!  Just inside the front cover are city maps and a little map showing all of the Metro stops in the city.  And then there are blank pages upon blank pages for you to fill in all of your travel notes.  Things like...where you are staying...the sights you want to see...the places you want to eat...the stores you want to shop...the things you want to do....and how to get there.  And did I mention just how chic you look globe trotting with just this little black book?  No more bulky travel books with Rick Steve's picture pastered on the front to make you look and feel all the more like a tourist.  I love this thing.

You would think that I have already filled mine up with all the little gems of information that I have gathered during the last several months of literally pouring over travel books trying to figure out some sort of an itinerary.  Nope.  Nada.  Not one single word.  Here's why...

I can't.  Everytime I think that I'm ready to nail down the itinerary I hear this small voice telling me to wait.  (not a literal voice...that would be crazy.  but you get the idea, right?)  I have exhausted every possible itinerary for this trip.  Staying in Italy for the 2 weeks, going to Germany for a week, taking a cruise...  Suddenly the other day, I had this sense that God had given us these tickets to Italy for a much greater purpose than just vacationing.  Not that there is anything wrong with just taking a vacation to Italy, but I don't feel that is what God has in store for us.  I strongly believe that God has blessed us not only to bless others, but to also glorify His name to ALL the nations.   So why not do that during our time in Italy? 

I have contacted a couple of missionaries on the field in Italy to offer our services during our time in Italy.  Josh and I don't speak a lick of Italian, but we are ready and willing to assist them in reaching Italians with the gospel of Jesus Christ any way we can.   And honestly...I can't imagine any better way to see the country of Italy than that. 

Ciao!

Katie

My Sincerest Apologies...

To my faithful blog readers:

I'm so very sorry for my absence these last few weeks.  To say that my life has been CRAZY is an understatement.  During the last few weeks, we have had some highs and some lows, but God has been faithful through them all.  I'm sorry to have left you in the dark for a while, but I have a hard time making small talk when other/bigger things are going on.  Please forgive me....

So I know you are curious and probably wanting to know what's been going on, but unfortunately I still can't publish everything.  I promise that over the next few months as things develop, I will keep all of you posted.  Please bear with me as I try making small talk, and I will update you when I can on the bigger things.

The best is yet to come...


Katie