KLB.

something new.

2009-06-11T12:40:00.001-07:00

hey. I've been working on something new. I am trying it out for a little bit. Check out this website.

http://web.me.com/ktbartlett17/ktjac

I will be updating that from now on...check it out.

a song.

2009-05-22T01:40:00.001-07:00

here is a little something something for all those who have asked me about music...anyways, please do not judge me because I did this in 5 minutes in garage band into a built in microphone on my computer...the quality stinks. Anyways, hope you enjoy.

Healer.m4a

and I thought i would put a few more...the first one I wrote and the last two are just randoms...enjoy.

I Need You-Kt Cass.m4a

Hearts of Servants.m4a

01 Katie Cass.m4a

there ya go people...

Silly-e-ness.

2009-04-30T01:49:00.000-07:00

April 30th, 2009 enjoi.

update.

2009-04-12T01:56:00.000-07:00

So we have had a refreshing and fun couple weeks. Mike had "spring break" and we hung out at home for the most part. We hung out with our friends too. Throughout the school year Mike has met some quality people at school. Really good people. Anyways, I have met and hung out with Pia, one of Mike's schoolmate's wife. She has been awesome to hang out with and hope to continue. I really feel like we(Mike and I) finally have connection with the outside world and by that I mean, outside of our apartment. I actually have friends now. We had a "girls night" when all the guys were at school last saturday, Jackie, Pia and I went downtown and hung out at Jackies place. It's really good to finally hang out with other people. Not only that, we all have SO MUCH in common. We all have dogs, we all love cars, our guys all go to Wyotech, we're all close in age, our personalities are pretty chill, outgoing, and fun. Needless to say, I really feel grateful for meeting the people we have met and have become good friends with. These are the kind of people who will go the extra mile for each other. We all have each other's back so to speak. Anyways, here are some pics of this weekend. We had a BBQ at Kevin's house and I met yet another chic named Kate she seemed really cool. Kevin has 3 rottweilers(sp?) Lola, Buffy, and Willow, kind of scary but really cool dogs. We don't dare introduce our pups to those girls. HA. Anyways, so our friends are...Kevin, the skinny dude with the shorts and tattoos(Kevin's girlfriend, Jackie, is in Vegas for the weekend), Greg and Pia, Briggs (in the red head) and Kate.

The only downfall is that now that we have a network of friends, it's making me less motivated to do school, cause I just want to hang out. Anyways, still trying my hardest.

Stella and mr. T (Pia and Greg's yellow lab) staring contest. new friends...kinda.

Our crew. The Bartletts, The Bolings, Jackie(not pictured) & Kevin, Briggs, and Kate

boys will be boys...

The Boling's...Pia and Greg

Willow, Buffy, & Lola all playing with one toy. mr. T running to join in.

awesome calla lilies.

a few pics.

2009-03-22T18:05:00.000-07:00

Hey, just wanted to share a few photos, nothing too extraordinary, but pics nonetheless...

So we finally got a "grown-up" bed and we are both enjoying not sleeping on a single mattress on the floor anymore. (GHETTO) and speaking of ghetto...that "head board" in the picture is actually our old mattress covered with fabric...ha. we had no where else to put it and didn't want to get rid of it. :) design on a dime yo. Thank you 2008 tax returns!

This is a tree that is blooming, the picture was taken in February, but just now uploaded it...anyways, it's pretty right now in this area, with most everything blooming!

.

Plans.

2009-03-16T18:33:00.000-07:00

So for a while now we have had a few plans.

Plan A- Win HGTV's Dream Home in Sonoma, CA. Win the SUV that comes along. Sell the home for about 1.8 million, trade in the SUV for a Lexus. Pay off all of our student loans and buy a decent home in the 300,000's or so. And give some money to the parents that have spent so much on us through the years. Live happily ever after and doing the things we love.

Well Plan A fell through. Some joker in FL stole our Plan A. So onto Plan B.

Plan B- Continue renting and watching our money disappear. Have so many student loans that it gets my stomach upset just thinking about it. Continue to drive a 97 Pontiac. Having the desire to buy a home, but knowing that it is in the very distant future. Live a life full of ups and downs, not knowing what is going to happen. Doing things that we need to do just to get by, not necessarily loving what we're doing.

So I don't mean to be pessimistic...it just can be kind of disheartening not knowing the future and only dreaming of the future with "present" eyes.

deeper.

2009-02-25T04:47:00.000-08:00

it's almost 5 am.

Be Here Now
Ray LaMontagne

Don't let your mind get weary and confused
Your will be still, don't try
Don't let your heart get heavy child
Inside you there's a strength that lies

Don't let your soul get lonely child
It's only time, it will go by
Don't look for love in faces, places
It's in you, that's where you'll find kindness

Be here now, here now
Be here now, here now

Don't lose your faith in me
And I will try not to lose faith in you
Don't put your trust in walls
'Cause walls will only crush you when they fall

Be here now, here now
Be here now, here now

alive.

2009-02-17T00:40:00.000-08:00

hey, just checkin' in. not alot has happened in our lives as of recently, hence the "non-updated" blog. sorry.

Today Mike started a new phase in school and this is the last phase in the core program; after this phase he will move into his elective ("fun") phases. I can't believe how time flies.

I am over half way done with my 2nd block (block=9 weeks/2 classes). A lot more to go.

I'm thinking a lot about the future lately. With the economy being not so good, I'm worried Mike is going to have a hard time finding a job. His school will help place him in one, but who knows the future. And I have come to the realization that I'm totally "out-of-luck" for finding a job anytime soon. I'm not really looking right now but every once in a while I put an application in here or there. No luck. There are a lot of questions and worries running through my mind. Just taking it day by day though.

Anyways, I can't believe it's Mid-Feb already, it's almost spring!!! We are trying to settle our situation with the motorcycle we bought, so we can ride it again (now that it's getting warmer out) ...we haven't gotten the title yet...:( If we don't hear from the previous owner by March 15th, we are going to start the court process, which we really do not want to do.

Well that's about it, not too interesting, I warned you. I promise my next post, whatever it is, will be a lot more interesting.

Once.

2009-02-05T17:57:00.001-08:00

No video this time, sorry folks.

one word: Once.
another word: Moved.
two words: awesome music.

If you love music and you want to be inspired by pure emotion and simplicity of friendship and music, please, please, please enjoy this movie.

The story line is simply about 2 people meeting and their journey in a music adventure. Ending...exactly where they both should be.

Set in Ireland, love love love.

This may be my new favorite movie...and I'm sad that i haven't watched it sooner (it came out in 2007).

***the reason behind the rated "R" is that they say the F-bomb alot, but not in a vulgar/sexual way....it's like how Americans always say "Crap." ...there is no sexual content or violence***

PART 2 : Speech.

2009-01-28T21:26:00.000-08:00

here's Part 2...going on part 100. thanks for all the comments; keep'em coming.

The Jam.

2009-01-26T01:39:00.001-08:00

Ok, so we got to attend the one, the only...Monster Jam! I seriously loved it. I guess, you can take the girl out of Wisconsin, but not the Wisconsin out of the girl :)

BEHOLD.... MONSTER JAM.

Jan 21

2009-01-22T01:35:00.000-08:00

so yea...i love my speech capabilities. :)

Up to date.

2009-01-16T01:42:00.000-08:00

So if you watched Jan 13th video, you would know I really want a Wii...anyways, after you view this video, you will realize that I got one. Good things come to those who wait. I haven't just wanted one since the 13th I've wanted one for a long time. Thanks to this Christmas season I now own one! It''s good fun! :)

2009-01-16T01:11:00.000-08:00

This was a blog from Jan 13...

2009-01-15T23:57:00.000-08:00

I'm giving this a try. video blog. this was a blog from jan 12...enjoi.

2009-01-14T01:36:00.000-08:00

you know when you listen to music and it takes you back to a certain place or time. yea i'm listening to music that reminds me of seattle. i miss it. don't get me wrong i love where we are now, but there is just something that always pulls me back to seattle.

anyways. waiting for mike to come home from school. not a whole bunch happening right now.

I'm still learning about myself as the days go by. I would love to be someone who has it all figured out, but I'm just not.

I realized that I'm a "phaser" --as mike calls me. I start something and I fade out of it within a couple of days, weeks, months, whatever the length of time may be. I think that is a big reason that I have not accomplished pretty much anything in my life. Thats why I think I'm not further along with music, school, or life in general. I lose motivation quickly. I hate this part of me.

How do i change? How do I continue with something? I don't know, because even if I'm motivated in the beginning, i lose it. How do i keep the motivation?

I don't know...

On another note, I've been keeping up with everyone's blog, i love reading about people's lives and journeys. I look back at my blog, boring at times, yes, I can't believe I have like 5 years of blogging on this site...i guess i didn't phase out of this! Old faithful.

Well I think I'm calling it quits for tonight. Thanks for reading, faithful readers of mine!

quiet.

2009-01-07T22:20:00.000-08:00

so life is back to normal.

mike is in his 3rd phase in school with new teachers and mostly same students.

I'm in my last week of my first 2 classes, monday I will start my next block (2 classes). this week is crazy with my school. i have 2 major projects due, one is done, but my 2nd project is really stumping me. i'll get it done though.

heather is gone. it was a blast having her here for 2 weeks. lots of laughs, lots of adventure, fun holidays. as the pics showed below...we went to LA, Santa Monica, Venice, San Francisco, downtown Sac. it was good to get a chance to get down to SoCal.

I think our dogs are depressed because the lack of people and activeness. They've been sleeping a lot lately.

I'm looking into different volunteer opportunities in Sacramento. I feel I have so much time on my hands that I want to do something more than just sitting on my butt. I have school, yes, but I do still do have quite a bit of time that I could be using for good use.

I don't know...I'm thinking helping blind people play Bingo. haha! what you think??

I'm not the best with strangers, striking up convos with random people, so I'm thinking maybe I'm volunteer at the Humane Society and hang out with dogs.

I'm still looking, we'll see what I come up with.

this is kind of a boring post, but whatev.

Break:3

2009-01-03T21:42:00.001-08:00

Today we went to San Francisco (2nd time for mike and I-1st time for heather), one of the most awesome-est cities ever! seriously love it. we went to chinatown, jeer-a-deli square, and Golden Gate Bridge...enjoyed every second...

LA Zoo.

2009-01-01T21:09:00.000-08:00

Our day at the LA Zoo...

this pic and the 2 after it...mike took and claim that these are million dollar shots... :)

Break:2

2009-01-01T19:35:00.000-08:00

near LA...getting there.

gotta love LA traffic... :(

Hollywood Blvd.

at Kung Pao Kitty on Hollywood Blvd.

LA Ink Tattoo Parlor...the show on TLC...

at Bellas on Tuesday, awesome Italian Restaurant

Santa Monica Beach and Pier...fun time.

Venice Beach at sunset. amazing...

Break:1

2008-12-31T21:49:00.000-08:00

Welcoming heather to sac.

the morning after...completely deflated.

the first night...inflated.

All the cookies we made for our neighbors!

after giving our upstairs neighbor the cookies, our neighbor gave us this cute wreath!

Christmas Eve, opening presents!

Taking pictures in the Capital Park.

heather liked laying on the ground. not sure. ha.

and again...

the orange doesn't fall far from the tree :)

heather amongst the bamboo.

mike and heather being mike and heather.

Mike and I enjoying lunch at Strings.

Mike's B-day cake.

Mike's b-day dinner...at Brewhouse, amazing!

Cass Family Christmas...through skype...gotta love it.

Mimi and stella love Heather!

Weekend in the Bathroom.

2008-12-27T17:08:00.000-08:00

Lance's girlfriend Heather lives in Los Banos, CA (i believe Los Banos mean "Bathroom" in Spanish--is that correct Sarah?). which is about 2 hrs south of us. we drove down there for her b-day on the 20th...and had a fun time with Guitar Hero and the Wii.

Lance and Heather

Mike hula hooping on the Wii...good times :)

Mike making his Mii.

BFF's jamming.

reunite.

2008-12-17T21:26:00.001-08:00

so this last weekend, Mike got to reunite with his best friend Lance. Lance's girlfriend lives about 2 hours south of us. We got to meet her for the first time and we all hung out. It was great to see him and meet her! Mike and Lance together in all their glory...a sight to behold. :)

Mike and Lance together again...like the old days.

All of us at Mike and I's fav italian rest...Strings.

Lance and Heather.

Mike being Mike...um....

not sure...

Mike's Christmas and B-day gift from Lance and Heather...loves the marsh. fluff.

season.

2008-12-02T20:09:00.001-08:00

it's here again. the holidays. this year has gone so incredibly fast.

yesterday I went and got holiday decorations. my cute little tree for 20 bucks. thanks to walmart! I listened to my favorite Christmas music (mariah carey's christmas) and I listened to Frank Sinatra. I drank a cup of hot cocoa.

I think I'm going to start my own tradition when it comes to christmas...I'm always going to decorate on December 1st. So I can enjoy christmas the whole month, not just for a couple weeks.

I love this time of year. It isn't as weird as I thought it was going to be out here in CA. There is a little "chill" in the air, but there is no snow. I'm ok with that. Last winter was my breaking point. I like that it's not that cold!! It still feels like christmas and winter here.

Heather (my sis-in-law) will be out here in 20 days. I can't wait to see a familiar face. I can't wait to bum around Sac and San Fran with her and just relax.

I wish all our families could do a Christmas in CA, but it'll still be a nice time.

ok, well I gotta work on school.

grade.

2008-11-22T02:49:00.000-08:00

it's 2:50 am.

mike and his friend austin just went to Wal-mart to get a movie and some food. they plan on pulling an all-nighter playing stupid video games.

we'll see if i get any sleep with them being loud in the other room.

an update about our school stuff.

mike is doing great. He passed his first phase and is now onto 2nd phase. He is the "foreman" of his class in this phase (foremans change every phase). a foreman is the student who is a "middle man" between the teachers and the students. He does his student duties, but then is there to help others if need be. he is still loving school! studies everyday. learning a bunch.

as for me, i have a 97% in one of my classes. and a 96% in my other class. I don't think i've ever gotten that high of grades, EVER. i'm just ending week 4 (9 weeks in each class) so almost 1/2 way done and I'm on to my next 2 classes. I'm learning a lot, but I'm excited for the next classes. the classes i'm doing now are pretty general about online education. after these I'll be doing more "subject" classes. math, writing, humanities, etc.

I'm really enjoying not working. of course, anyone would, right?! but it's different for me i think. besides the bad economy and poor job market, i really think that this is what i'm suppose to be doing right now. just focusing on school.

for a long time, i knew i needed to go to school, and i just had been putting it off. looking back now, I realized, there is NO way I could have done school and done it properly in Rochester. and maybe anywhere I've lived for that matter. there was too much "other" stuff. work, church, relationships, etc. I wouldn't have been able to focus so intently on school as i do now. I don't have work, we don't go to a church, i have only one friend (and have only hung out with her once) and mike is away at school mon through fri at night. what better time???

it's like God had to rid me of all this stuff to finally slap me in the face to start school. I have always felt that school was something deeper than it's "something people do after high school." i remember the time and place when I felt school was more of a thing God was "leading" me to accomplish. and my own way, won. "I" didn't want to go to school. "I" hated school. "I" will eventually do it, but not now. "I" have too much going on.

Stupid "I"

I regret not going to school sooner, of course I would regret it, cause I didn't do it when I knew God wanted me to.

I do wonder if because I can't find a job, "I" finally decided to do it. yea, "I" decided to do it now, my time. But I still feel like this is what God wants me to do.

I'm learning, or trying to.

anyways. I'm happy. Being here in Sacramento makes me happy. all the sunny days make me happy. I don't know where we'll be in the next few years, but I'm happy to be here now.

it's now 3:20 am. mike and austin are on their way back here. here's to a LONG night/morning, whatev.

a long one.

2008-11-09T00:31:00.000-08:00

i went to church tonight. a big church. with a pretty well-known worship leader on staff (however, this person wasn't leading the music). I wont mention names.

i was disappointed.

I've been disappointed for a long time, for about a year. we haven't been going to a church regularly. and i don't know if i want to, to be honest.

i've had different thoughts and ideas and realizations about "church" and it's very hard for me to go to one these days.

I am warning ya, if you're a "church-goer" or whatever, know that I'm being very honest with my feelings, and they are just my feelings, who knows if they are right or wrong. I don't mean to offend anyone or any church. I am just blogging about my feelings right now or what they have been for about the last year.

I grew up in a church, every sunday, every sunday night (when they had those services), every wednesday, every convention, camp, church outting, most of the mission trips, i was there. and i enjoyed it. the nights that i didn't attend a service (which was rare) i felt like my life wasn't complete and i was missing out on that night. i was honestly disappointed in not going or not being apart of that service. my friends, family, mentors, they were all in church with me, and they were my circle. rarely I hung out with someone outside of that group.

I had many great times and many bad times within the walls of the church. late night hide and seek in the church, water balloon fights. pulling the church wheel chair which was being occupied by a friend behind a car in the snowy parking lot. worship nights, prayer mornings before school every week. jamming out with a band. lots of laughing, lots of crying. lots of questioning, lots of excitement.

I have worked at multiple churches, had great times with those too. From the hidden sushi that i had in my office for days, even weeks, before i found it all, on the edge of dying from the smell, to the "run-in" with the UPS truck. And then there is always the time when I saw a friend slide down a huge slip-n-slide, literally, like a fish. he was wrapped in saran wrap and still to this day that vision makes me laugh out loud. again, many late nights, by myself, playing piano and singing. worshipping, praying. leading on stage with the band.

now i sit, haven't been to church regularly for the last year, thinking great memories, but not regretting our decision with choosing not to attend a church.

my view of church has changed. Finally, i have had the option to be an "attender" instead of a "worker/worship leader" and what i have seen or thought in the last year is a thought that if i was still working in a church, i would be offended...so anyone involved, again, don't mean to make ya offended. just merely my thoughts.

I am disappointed. and i know what you're thinking, well how can you say anything, if you haven't been in church a long time...what right do you have?? i know, i don't have the right, but i'm still going to say it.

tonight i attended a saturday night service at a local church, the first thing I noticed was the lighting they had. It was impressive, but literally, the first question I thought of, “hmm, I wonder how much this set’em back?” Then the music kicked in, it definitely was professionals up on stage. They did a good job.

Through it all, the lights, the music, the printed information, the building itself, which was all very nice, I couldn’t help but wonder, Is this the kind of church God imagined? Is this the church he was intending to build in Matt 16:18?

I want to say, NO. this isn’t the kind of church God imagined. It’s taking quite a leap in saying that, but honestly, I don’t think it is the same church.

Why do we do church today? Is it just to fill that routine in our lives? Is it to get fed? Is it to say, “we go to a ‘COOL’ church? Is it about fellowship? Is it to relieve some stress in our lives?

For me, my new ideas/thoughts, church is not the slightest bit of “show,” and it’s shameful to me, that I once thought of church to be that way. I thought, “I can get friends here to church, because we have good music and a cool light show.”

sometimes i wonder if we just stripped all the lights, music, atmosphere, or whatever else in the church, away, and lived lives literally just like Jesus', people would not careless about all that other stuff, they would just want to have a life like the other folks and Jesus. Peace, love, kindness, ya know, fruits of the spirit. I would even bet, all that other stuff wouldn't even come into ones' mind. They would be attracted to Jesus, through our lives, not through the church we go to. In fact the "church building" wouldn't even play a part, most likely. Unless it was to meet more people living just like Jesus, no rumors, no gossip, no lying, no whatever.

I don’t know if I’m overly tired or just in need of complete insight, but really, why do we do church?

For the last year, I have had a “vision” or a thought in my head, I imagined a department store. (and for those in love with church, I would stop reading right now…I don’t mean to offend anyone)

Macy’s. We love have been in one. You got your different departments, mens, womens, teens(girls & boys), kids, babies, fragrance, jewelry, home, shoes, etc.

I see church as a department store. I may get kind of confusing right now.
You have all the same departments/ministries, mens, womens, kids, teens, home, etc.

All the ministries are there to help you become a “better” you. In the store’s case, they want you to look better and spend your money at their store, for all metaphoric purposes. The church is the same, there are all different ministries to suit your needs. Anyways, so far, not a problem.

Here’s the problem I see, I FEEL that the church has a “salesman/woman” mentality on a unconscious level. The lead pastor (head manager) wants to get people into the church (store) and he tends be the best salesman of all. The associates want to sell the church(items) to the people (customers), not necessarily for their own agenda, but just because they want to see them feel good (look good). Overall, the church (store) wants regular attenders (customers).

I know, this sounds brash. I know and having grown up in the church, it is kind of a weird feeling saying all this, but it’s so deep in my thoughts and my heart to share.

I never will forget one of my former pastors had said one Sunday, “the church needs to be a hospital, not a country club.”

Going to some new churches in the past year…I have felt as a “first timer” like a lot of churches have become their own little community country club.

Now I’m not bashing having community (I believe the early church was all about community), but what about the needy, the poor, the orphans? Have we focused on getting a cool church instead of one that helps the helpless?

So I know you’re probably asking, then Katie, what you YOU doing to change this? What are you doing to change the church or help the helpless?

To be honest, not a whole lot right now. This is all a new process for me. I grew up believeing one thing and that one thing is transforming into a new “one thing.” If that makes any sense at all.

I have passions, like everyone. I have dreams, they haven’t been in my life for a while, but while I’m thinking about all this for the last, however long, my mind and my heart are conjuring up ways I can help or do something.

I really feel like something has to change. I really feel God has something bigger for us if our hearts are open to be stripped of all we believe and we know.

Tradition is bittersweet. Sweet because history and tradition has some really great attributes and taught us great lessons, but bitter, because, since it’s tradition, we don’t really question it, we just do it. I think we need to think outside of “tradition” however good or bad it is and be open to new things.

I’m not talking “new age” crap. I’m talking real stuff. Being real with God, being real in relationships, being real in our everyday lives w/ strangers and the familiar. I’m talking about being so real that it hurts bad, but so worth it in the end.

I have A LOT to learn and hopefully by YOU!!! I said a lot of my own opinions tonight and I would love to hear what you think.

Again, I truly do not mean to offend anyone, people in ministry, Christians, family, friends, etc. I am just getting it off my chest and hope that if you have any advice or thoughts, please share!

PS…I know some of you know that I have had some ups and downs with ministry and church and I want to make it clear that none of this is out of bitterness towards the church. There is no bitterness. I’m just eager to learn new things and hear others opinions.

our new ride.

2008-11-04T19:15:00.001-08:00

here is our new (new to us) car.

It's nice and cozy. I never thought we would be driving around an american made car, but I'm proud to be an american!!

crazy.

2008-10-31T23:39:00.000-07:00

so i was watching tv and a Dr. Phil commercial came on, letting people know what's on monday's show...it talked about abduction....then, it cuts to a REALLY familar face, and she was talking about her own abduction! I was shocked!! I know someone who is going to be on DR. PHIL!!!

Jessica Mullenberg, thinking back, I almost remember the fact that she got abducted. I think she was in Jackson with me (my elementary) otherwise she was in PJs with me (junior high) she was a total tom-boy and a year older than me, but we got along really well and if i remember correctly, i think we rode the same bus and it's crazy that her voice hadn't even changed, just how i remembered.....anyways, so i went on a search to find more about it...and here it is...

http://abcnews.go.com/2020/Story?id=2954522&page=1

copy and paste. check it out.

school

2008-10-29T01:21:00.000-07:00

so yea...officially started school again...!! And I am really excited about it so far. I think this online thing is way better for me then sitting in a stupid classroom, listening to someone lecture. It's on my time, but yet assignments are due on certain days so I still have constrictions, which is super good for me. When I did the classes back in the day with berean, it was just whenever I wanted to do them and ha, what you know, they never got finished. Anyways, so yea, really happy i started.

In 20 months I will have a AA degree, comtemplating whether or not I should continue on to get my Bachelors in something! For now, day by day.

in other news. nada. ha. still enjoying the nice hot fall that is upon us out here.

I will be hopefully purchasing a new car this weekend... no more Cali cruiser. It def. has seen better days. Ha. It has been helpful having it out here though, so we're grateful, just ready for a new ride.

anyways. thats it i think. it's 1 30 am, waiting for mike to get home soon. yawning. tired. my dog's eye has something wrong with it. stressed. whatev.

still.

2008-10-20T20:34:00.000-07:00

watching Dancing with the Stars. still pretty bored. i start school in 6 days. can't wait. I'm going to start recording tomorrow.
sarah told me about a website www.taaz.com and you can put new hair-do's on yourself and make-up...how bout this for me?

mike doesn't like this one...i do. what do you think?

some gross ones...hahaha. enjoi.
beautiful. ha.

you wanna see me w/ curly hair...here it is...ha.

butch....puke

thoughts.

2008-10-06T23:39:00.000-07:00

i'm sitting on my couch and i'm so bored. it's 11 30 pm, i'm waiting for mike to come home. everyday it's school for him from 4:30 pm to 1:30 am. so we're on a completely different schedule from what we did in roch.

so anyways, got me thinking. all the noise off. just my thoughts. i can't believe life. what our lives have become. i guess for me, a place i never thought i'd be. first off, married. ha. never thought i would be married. growing up i was always, "katie cass, never having a boyfriend, and certainly never getting married" how that became, not sure, but sitting here over a year that i have been married, feeling so content and happy. to start our "new" life together out here in Cali, has been so awesome. we're the same people but more "together" more "connected" it seems. i could not imagine my life with anyone else nor would i want to.

Secondly, feeling disappointed in relying so heavily on my own plans. I guess I just thought everything would just fall into place, jobs, music opportunities, money, and i'm sitting here, very down. Cause for some reason all my life i thought forsure by age 25 i would have been doing something amazing in music and that area of my life and i'm sitting here, completely opposite. not doing music and never having done anything 'amazing" with music. not really sure what "amazing" means, but I know there would be a feeling of happiness and contentment if i had done something. who knows the future and i've come to the point of just living for today. who cares about tomorrow...we'll figure that out when it comes, if it comes.

but on the other hand, not trying to plan the future...i do also know that time has come to get education. I have no idea exactly what i'll go for but i'm going to start...again. ha.

i have never thought of my time in all the places i've lived to be a waste of time at all, but i do wish i was a little smarter, instead of just thinking that experience was enough, to have a little backing with education to go along with the experience. I'm realizing more and more that i'm never going to get a "good" job or one that i really want with limited knowledge of the areas that mean the most to me. so i'm starting school. hopefully i can still get a full semester of credits even though i'm getting a late start or at least 2 or 3 classes and start full next semester. mike and I love the idea of starting careers, for the most part, at the same time. he'll be done in a year and i'll be done in 2 years (that is if i don't continue to get my BA in something)

I'm still working on getting a job, as well, part time though, so i can focus on the school. I haven't heard from any jobs yet, which is crazy to me, but i'm not complaining about the down time i have had. i'm ready to start something. to do something.

I am also wanting to get my songs recorded so I'm trying to work on that as well. So for everyone who has ever asked if i have a cd...i can say "yea, here...5 bucks suckers" ha ha...family and friends...3 bucks for you. ha j/k.

so that's kind of an update/thoughts blog...i'm excited to, again, start a new chapter in a new chapter. ha.

life style.

2008-09-27T19:42:00.000-07:00

mike and i have been motivated...new location, new school, new job, new life style...we are going hardcore and losing weight and getting healthy!! it's been a crazy few years for both of us...and we need to get healthier and skinnier! i'm putting it officially on my blog so we're accountable to everyone. so below are a few pics of the new decision...all the food in the freezer, gotta keep in the point system!! and Mike's new drinking cup is a 2 cup measuring cup...haha.

San Fran Cisco.

2008-09-24T19:13:00.000-07:00

We went to San Francisco yesterday...it was amazing! We both want to live there one day!!! Anyways, we just walked around the piers and went to a vista point by the Golden Gate Bridge. It was a sunny, clear, perfect day. There are still a lot of stuff I want to do...so we'll totally go back...hopefully sooner than later! love it, love it, love it!

Fisherman's Wharf, Pier 39

Lunch on Pier 39...beautiful...perfect day!

Ripley's Believe It or Not!

Golden Gate Bridge

home & dogs

2008-09-21T22:25:00.000-07:00

so here are some pics of our new furniture, our apartment/patio and our dogs being cute. enjoi.

Old Sac.

2008-09-20T17:39:00.000-07:00

So we got a chance to go down to Old Sacramento, it was awesome!! I love the touristy spots of a city. Definately a great date night option. Lots of little shops, comedy club, restaurants on the river, etc. We ate at a mexican restaurant yesterday and we'll totally go back to enjoy other restaurants and the comedy club...and we got ideas for christmas presents already!! ha. here are some pics...enjoi.

pretty sweet architecture (sp?) love it!

a huge wall of greenery. interesting.

lots of candy stores...free samples, so we went in...mike wants the top lolly pop-30 bucks, not so much.

cobble stone streets.

joe's crab shack on the river.

mike wants this nice lighting fixture, ha...again, not so much!

apparently mike is hungry and is going after this menu...restaurant was overlooking the street with all the shops and people, very cool...and good mexican! Mexican Nick Lachey was our waiter---SB, you need to get the heck out here!

waiting.

2008-09-18T10:29:00.000-07:00

Ok so i literally put an application in everywhere...Barnes & Nobles, Pier 1, World Market, Starbucks, Borders, Panera, tons of jobs on craigslist-to many to list, a grocery store to work in their cafe, bed, bath, & beyond, old navy, etc. And no body has called me yet, i'm stressing out. (Kids, this is why a college education is beneficial!!) I need a job!!! so in the mean time...i think i'm going to video record my favorite songs for all my loyal fans...at least i have something to do...so hopefully my first couple of songs will be done today...we'll see.

Stay Tuned.

more pics!!!

2008-09-16T16:33:00.001-07:00

here are more pics...of sac and our area

an intro of one of the shopping centers near our house...love the palms!

taking the dogs for a walk around the lake next to our apartment

dwtn sac

love the palms lining the streets

terminators work place....state capital

PICTURES!!!

2008-09-15T14:07:00.000-07:00

So finally we have internet at our house...so here comes the pics of the travels and sacramento so far. enjoi.

it was awesome to have the extra help! thanks!!

Mike driving through IOWA...good times..

NEbraska...yawn.

the great state of nebraska...flat.

one thing cool we did see was...a dust tornado...it was awesome!

road trip across US of A.

the hotel we stayed in Wyoming, there was the another penske truck w/ a car attached we were traveling twins! :)

wyoming, utah, & Nevada...pictures don't do justice.

coolest city...Salt Lake City...amazing!

Great Salt Lake!!

beauty

yup...this is just outside of Sacramento...ha.

Mikes fav coffee shop so far...by across the street from where we live.

and it's me...chillin' by the pool!!!

2008-09-07T17:24:00.000-07:00

so we're here!!! Sacramento, CA. it's so HOT!!! ha. i'm just chilling by the pool right now, i know, it's rough, but someone's got to do it. here are just a few pics the front door of your apartment, mike on our patio overlooking the lake...and the dogs enjoying the outdoors....more pics to come, but probably after the 15th...that's when we get internet in our place.

the trip was fine, we were going to stop in Reno for the night on Thursday, but we decided to drive straight to Sacramento which is like 2 hours away...we got to our apartment, unloaded the truck and went got food, we were in bed about 1:30 am. it was a long night, but worth getting there on thursday instead of friday!

I'll post some pics of our travels...nothing too exciting, Nebraska and Wyoming were by far the most boring drive we had to do...but Utah and Cali made up for it...Salt Lake City was awesome!! We haven't seen much of sacramento yet, we just have stayed within a 3 or 4 mile radius, cause everything we need is in that area...this week we'll go downtown and i'm going to find a job...wish me luck!! ok, well i'll update more later with more pics.

tomorrow.

2008-09-01T15:33:00.000-07:00

wow, well just like i guessed, the summer went quick. tomorrow we are off...we are heading west to Sacramento, CA. A new season, new adventure, new memories, new sites. we're both really excited. I'll take lots of pics of our travel and new home..

till we get to Cali.....

Anyone who wants to visit....PLEASE...we'll need visitors. just let me know.

cali update.

2008-08-22T08:39:00.000-07:00

So....11 days and counting...we're heading to the Great WEST!

I no longer have a job, as of yesterday...the "move" really hit home...when i left work yesterday ...we are moving to the west coast!! CRAZY...something we've talked about for SO long...is actually happening!!! Most of our plans don't work out.....so the fact that this HUGE one is...it's crazy. but excited.

a little update...we sold my car, the bike is selling today....we are mostly packed up, just my kitchen still needs to be done...and cleaning...we have a place to call "home" when we get there... Tuscaro Apartments in Sacramento....so hopefully we will be showing up there on Friday Sept. 5th. We're super excited for this next chapter in our lives...

we played at the G8 one last time this last Wednesday, it was really fun. It'll be interesting what I'll be doing "musically" out there in Cali...if anything...i got vids up on facebook, for you to check out...good times...

Ok, so i'll try to update before we go, but the next week is going to be crazy...

I'm excited for this weekend, lots of hanging out time!

cruisers.

2008-08-17T14:17:00.000-07:00

So here are the items that we will be cruising in California with!! Just another thing out of the way before we head out. in about 2 weeks!! crazy! enjoi. packing & cleaning for me..this week is my last week at work...the summer went so fast!!

Moped...Yamaha R6...and of courses the 1991 Honda Accord w/ 271000 miles on it. gotta love it!!!

falling.

2008-08-05T08:57:00.000-07:00

WOW!!! things are falling into place with the move to KIlla CALI. i'll give details when i have'em. God has really helped this thing all come together for us.

less than a month!!! no turning back...

Soon, we'll be packing, strapping the good ole Cali Cruiser ( brown honda shown below...haha) on the back of the truck and making the trek.

Lots of little details...annoying at times, but worth it!!

I can't even wait.

SP

2008-08-01T09:26:00.000-07:00

last weekend we went to Point...good times. river time, movies, sun burn, a car, dogs, helmets, friends, etc.

enjoi.

2008-08-01T09:23:00.000-07:00

2008-07-30T12:59:00.000-07:00

2008-07-30T12:40:00.000-07:00

mike's ready to attempt the "large" cone at BELTS.

"large" cone...he did it. it was all gone and he didn't have to use the cup at all.

met with good friends...!!

sale.

2008-07-17T14:58:00.000-07:00

so tomorrow is the moving sale!!! a month and a 1/2 to go and we're making our way to the west coast. can't even wait. anyways, i didn't understand how much work this freakin' sale would be. crazy, but to think all the stuff we're not going to hauling along with us...good stuff. it should be fun!!

i have a few pics of the wedding i sang at, wknd of July 4th. it was gorgeous!! Beautiful bride, heather. it was fun. unforunately i couldn't make the reception, cause my husband got really bad food poisoning at culvers (beware!!) ok, so enjoy.

CONGRATS HEATHER & SHAUN!

plans.

2008-07-10T19:18:00.000-07:00

so, reserved the moving truck yesterday....for beginning of Sept.
scheduled the carpet cleaning, end of july.
rummage sale next weekend. lots to do.

excited.

changes....

2008-06-21T16:10:00.000-07:00

OK, so, i thought i would update everyone with our plans for the future....a lot has been happening.

--so a lot of people already know, we are moving to Sacramento, CA in September. Mike is going to WyoTech School for Advanced Automotive Training and Performance Engines(race cars, etc. & such-pretty much a lot of crap i don't understand!) ha. Anyways, so I really felt as though, when we went out to Seattle in January, that was the confirmation time for me, at least, about this move, why seattle, i have no idea, it was just a time to get away, vaca, and think. So we got back, and I went and talked to my bosses at the flower shop and told them, we will not be staying for another year, we would be leaving this summer/fall. Anyways, so I've been researching the area, jobs, apartments, churches, etc. However, a couple of months ago, i really felt i needed to make a change while i'm still in Rochester. As I typed above, I told my bosses at FBJ's, i would stay until Aug, but I decided to cut that time short. The Tuesday after Memorial Day Weekend...I put my "2 weeks notice" or I said i would be quitting Mid-June. It was a shock for them, but it all worked out and I really feel at peace with my decision and enjoying my time a lot more...so right now I am just working about 30 or so hours at Dunn Bros Coffee and loving it. great people, great enviroment, etc. Mike got a GREAT job in a town about 20 mins away from where we live here in Roch and he is enjoying that as well, and best yet it is a 90 day job, so it worked out perfect with the timing of the move in Sept. He loves riding his new toy out there and saving a hell of a lot of gas on that sucker!! The weather has been perfect!!

ANYWAYS...so that is now...as for Sacramento, as i said before, I have been researching a lot about out there. I kind of got a good feel about where the "ghetto, rough" parts of town are...so i'm staying away from there, I figured I would just get a quick job at a Starbucks out there or some coffee shop. Anyways, for apartments, i had pretty much found the "zip code" we wanted to live in...95833. ha. Close to Mike's school, a nice area, close to a couple of Starbucks, just north of downtown Sacramento, and real close to the river.

These are the apartments, we're looking at....you let me know which ones you think we should live at...

**Regatta Apartments:
http://www.forrent.com/apartment-community-profile/999909648.php

**Garden Villas:
http://www.rent.com/rentals/california/sacramento-and-vicinity/sacramento/676880/

**Terracina Meadows:
http://www.rent.com/rentals/california/sacramento-and-vicinity/sacramento/484565/

**River Glen Apartments:
http://www.forrent.com/apartment-community-profile/1007408.php

Just to make sure i was on the right path, i decided to send a random to a few churches out there, asking about the area, what areas to stay away from, etc. One church didn't respond, another church gave me a general idea, but the other one i email, has really gone out of their way...with just a random girl's email. ha. I really feel good. anyways, the churchs name is "Mars Hill Family" church in Sacramento ( marshillfamily.com ) . The Pastor's wife, Pastor Karen, has been in contact with me. Giving me good advice and ideas...anyways, I had emailed her back to tell her why we're moving and where Mike's school is and telling her I was just thinking about getting a job at Starbucks for quick employment... and she responded with excitement, cause her daughter went to North Central in Mnpls and i think she felt a "connection" in that way...anyways, she said that West Sacramento(where Mike's school is) is really close to where the church is...and that in the same area as the church there are some nice apartment complexes to check into. She gave me a rental agency's contact information as well...

but best yet....she told me that her nephew and son both work at Starbucks...her nephew (he is also a pastor at the church, i later found out) is a Manager, so she told me to be sure to connect with him when we're out there!!!! AN IN!!!!

BUT the BESTEST PART OF ALL....like i said i found the zip code i wanted to live in before i even connected with this church....i looked at the address of where they meet on a weekly basis for church and you guessed it.....SAME ZIP CODE!!! all in the same area!!!!

Need less to say....we feel so good about this move so far, and much more to come i know, but a good start!!!

It's crazy to think we're moving where we know no one, don't know the area, etc, but we really feel a peace with everything. and are very, very excited!! WARM YEAR AROUND!!! Hallelujah!!

Anyways, so that's that, right now.

Our plans this summer so far are...
July 5th-Heather's Wedding
July 18-20 Rummage Sale (we're selling pretty much everything we own...give or take a few items, ha)
August 3rd- OUR ONE YEAR!!! (went by fast, holy crap)
August 15-17-Family Reunion in Iowa.
there will be a couple of trips to Point, i just don't know exactly when...

i'm tired, my fingers hurt.

2008-06-15T12:50:00.001-07:00

so. yea, i haven't typed for a while. it's good to be back. sitting at Dunns, getting some things in order for the big move. lots to do and think about. Less than 3 months now. Anyways, new things on our front.... my last day at Flowers By Jerry was YESTERDAY!! no more flowers for me. it was a "season" and now onto something different. I'll be working at Dunns about 30 hrs. a week, it'll be a good change for me. Mike got a good job....90 day job, so it works out perfect with the move time. He starts tomorrow. And he'll still be working at checker 10 hrs a week or so.

anyways. so that's that. in other things. my cousin, (shall remain nameless) ...deserted me in Rochester. interesting times this last year, but i'm convinced that we will reunite somewhere in this world again. she is missed right now, tho.

planning the summer out....crazy. this summer is going and will continue to go really fast. it'll be fun though.

Adventures, i love'em.

One of our new adventures is this...

we got rid of our truck and got this. Mikes baby, although, now he wants something bigger. We both got our motorcycle permits, so enjoying these awesome days with that...it's fun.

Ok i'm bored....

view.

2008-04-29T08:45:00.000-07:00

views. a lot has changed. a lot is still changing. my mind, my heart, etc. instead of sitting in my house glued to my TV and browsing on the internet, i am sitting enjoying the view in the good ole Roch PL. looking at the skyways and the muddy water of the great zumbro stream (i think it's called "zumbro", not forsure)

ANYWAYS, we had a fantastic weekend away. Mike and I went up to Mnpls for a night, ate at Cheesecake Factory and went to Comedy sports, stayed at the Hyatt dwntn and then on Sunday we went to MOA. it was really good just to get away. do something different. back to normal now...work, (i started back at Dunn Bros coffee) as well as Flowers by Jerry. I just love the atmosphere of Dunns, just chill, i missed it. and need a little extra cash...always good.

Life is good, but i'm ready to get out to CA...start a new chapter. the unknown. love it.

views. i'm realizing a lot about myself lately...things i've always thought were bad, but actually things that are ok. like.....i am always in need of change...any kind of change. i can last about a few months, then i need change, whether that be location, occupation, or whatever...need it. I'm always going to need it, but for a long time, i have hated that part of me, cause i wasn't like everyone else who hates change....,and that's ok, its just another thing that makes me, me.

well, i gotta go now...my time here at the library is done.

reading.

2008-04-13T11:19:00.001-07:00

i'm reading more lately. it's good cause we're getting rid of our internet/cable. so it gives me something to do.

i just started reading this....

www.alongwaygone.com

read.

2008-04-01T06:42:00.000-07:00

http://www.johnmayer.com/blog

FROM THE HEART....

read. good.

outer space.

2008-03-28T19:02:00.000-07:00

life...wake up in the morning, go to work for 8 hours, come home, eat, go to bed, just to start it all over tomorrow...life.

that's the life i long for, when i'm busy and crazy, but when i'm not busy and crazy, that's the life i dread. so where's the in between?

Is it possible to do something you love with out getting burnt out or discontent in a few years??

Is it possible to be content?
As "christians" are we suppose to be content or not content? i get confused.

Is there always going to be uncertainty?

is there always going to be defeat?

Is there always going to be a fog in my mind?

When is it all going to unfold?

Is the ache ever going to go away?

will i ever let God in completely?

will i ever give over control to Him?

will i ever lose control?

is this really the life i am meant to live?

am i suppose to be doing something bigger?

how can i do something bigger?

will i ever get to where i would love to be?

Answers?

--i'm just sitting here, thinking. questioning things. pondering. those questions are in no particular order. just came out.
it's a friday night. i'm wanting to be in Seattle right now just chilling, but i'm here in rochester and i'm going to wake up tomorrow and still be in rochester. why can't i be content??? is it always going to be impossible for me?? who knows...

so i leave you with this quote from Michael Scott -
"I am an adult. I don’t have to think…or…do anything"

laughter.

2008-03-22T20:31:00.000-07:00

so tonight Mike surprised me with a date night. chinese, always good choice. Horton Hears a Who, cute movie. and lots of laughs...till i cried :) ha. it's always a good feeling to laugh. to smile. to feel free to let loose. we both were dancing to "Low, Low, Low" in the car (only a couple of people have seen me do my dance to that song...ha.) ...people along side us must thought we were weirdos...pretty much correct. Anyways, it started making me think...what makes me smile...

*surprise date nights
*music (esp. rap/hip hop...hehe)
*Mimi & Stella
*Baxter
*Spring...with no snow...
*Walks outside
*Driving with all the windows down.
*Sunsets (preferably FL sunsets-the best)
*Strawberries
*New ideas
*Photos
*Seattle
*Real-ness
*Words spoken incorrectly...ha.
*Popcorn
*Piano
*Singing
*Light at the end of the Tunnel
*Bush's Stimulus Package
*Crossword Puzzles
*David Archuleta & Brooke White
*Naps

And lots of other things...everyday, i hope i can focus on the things that make me smile, instead of the things that don't. That's my goal. Where my pet peeves and annoyances...turn into something to smile about...ha.

thats my thoughts right now...

new addition....

2008-03-19T19:26:00.000-07:00

so we know it isn't the most practical...but we couldn't resist...

say "hello" to STELLA!!! our new puppy!! Doxie/Terrier.

church

2008-03-02T18:14:00.000-08:00

So for a long time now...it seems like it's been forever since we've done music or even gone to church, but really it's only been like 5 or 6 months, but doing music for about 10 years or so...it's a big gap...long over due break, I'm getting new thoughts and new ideas through these months. why oh why do we play music? why music in church? silly music. anywho. we got to play at a church today bout 45 mins away. We really felt at home. Great time and great conversations. Great people. The Pastor & his wife are amazing people, we had a great lunch with them. Just felt so comfortable and felt like we belong there for the time being. It's what we have been on-again/off-again looking for a long time. I can't wait to go back...since it is 45 mins away, we'll be going about every other week. We're very excited to start this new journey. I'm so happy to see excitement back in Mike's eyes and words spoken, new dreams, etc.

Ok well that's some new stuff for you, all the faithful readers.

***Side Note...All the songs on the show "Oprah's Big Give" are AMAZING!
*Need to Breathe-"Shine On"
*Five For Fighting-"World"
*Suzie McNeil- "Believe"

In fact...after listening to more songs... I will go out on a limb in saying... NeedToBreathe is my new fav. (and it just happens to be a "christian" band...and i dont 'normally like those bands...) the singer dude seriously sounds like John mayer on a few diddys.
Good stuff!!

my precious.

2008-02-23T11:52:00.000-08:00

so we've been keeping my dog in the kitchen, cause she's being a "bad girl" so the other day, we had kept the dryer door open (washer/dryer are in the kitchen) and Mike came home to find her inside of the dryer, laying on the dried clothes, it was so stinkin cute. so he took a picture.

2008-02-10T17:14:00.000-08:00

so not much new here, i went to the doctor today for the first time in a long, long, time. apparently nothing is wrong with me, but why do i feel like i do then...?? not good.

whatev. i'll be going again soon.

valentines week. i think after this week. i'm going to forever hate that day. last year wasn't as bad as i thought it was going to be but this year, already...on friday i was getting annoyed. this year...new store, new customers...we will see. i always thought of it as a "romantic day", bull. it's hell for people in the floral business. ORDER EARLY!! haha.

so i'll be working crazy hours this week, for all your valentine's needs.

peace out.

have i said how much i "love" MN, yet??? -40, are you kidding me???? CA here we come!

memories.

2008-01-29T16:24:00.000-08:00

so many of you will not understand. but the link below is just a little tiny view of what kind of fun times i had in WA. haha. thanks to my good friend, mr. brandon patoc, this is brought to you. listen to it. it's kind of a long story, but long story short, the people at Denny's didn't like us very much. and Mike/Brandon/whoever else...they thought it would be funny to put a "soundtrack" to it, if you will. it's me singing w/ the manager at Denny's leaving a message. this was played for everyone at a "appreciation" dinner thing after christmas sometime.

copy/paste the link & download---enjoy.

http://www.box.net/shared/oxw1lz280g

i was told there is more to come!! haha.

2008-01-29T06:23:00.000-08:00

these days seem to be dragging. filled with thoughts, plans, decisions, pains.
i need these days to speed up. i need clarification in my life. little by little it's coming.
a lot i am realizing. good though.

seriously hate MN. how can it be like 40 yesterday and then today it's like 0...so freakin' cold??
i can't wait to get out west again.

plans, plans, plans.

Stop.

2008-01-14T19:24:00.000-08:00

S T O P ! ! !

Stop running, stop working, stop watching, stop waiting, stop moving,
stop doing, stop, stop, stop.

Stop for a moment. Give yourself a break. Relax for a quick second. Breathe, Breathe in a deep breath.

Life always keeps on moving, things keep rollin'. Doesn't hurt just to stop for a moment.

That's all.

Good.

2008-01-13T09:30:00.000-08:00

We're back in Rochester...I'm sad. ha. didn't want to leave, but that was expected! Good travels back and forth, and it didn't rain too much when we were out there, so i've heard it was worse in MN. Anyways. i'm in the process of making my first ever "video"/ slideshow thingy. so hopefully i can get it up on here.

So not only did we do the tourist stuff...seattle center, pike place, etc. we got to see some of the people that made my time in Seattle(Fed way, auburn, etc.) so awesome!!!

First, there is Lan and Susan Erickson...i dont' even know where to start. It's my "west coast" home and they are my "WA parents". We got to hang out a few times, and over and over realizing how amazing they are!!! I'm so thankful for them in my life, grateful for their hospitality (sp?), kindness, and their hearts!! Good people!

Second, Brandon and Nicole, we got to hang out with them for a little bit on Wednesday. So many memories flooded back into me, while sitting there talking. Good, funny, amazing memories. It was fun walking through the church, seeing where/how everything is now. Lots of changes. I wish Nicole and Brandon the best in the future, they are truly gifted and talented people and i miss you guys tons and tons!!

--then there is Mark Johnson...we saw him at the church, it's always good seeing him, lots of jokes fly around, but what an amazing guy!! Hopefully, we'll see him in April/May-ish!!

Third, Erica Pogue. I pretty much keep saying the same things about everyone...amazing, talented, etc...cause everyone is out there!!! there must be something in the water. Anyway, when i think of Erica I think...consistent (sp?) she was always there for me and i was always at her house. haha. laughs, tears, fun memories with her. we got to meet up with her on Thurs night, and it was definately awesome seeing her again, it's been too long.

Then we met up with David Dodd, always quality w/ David. Good talks, good laughs, good stories, and he has such an amazing heart for God. We are praying for David as he goes to Africa on Tuesday for a month or so...to teach/train up pastors and ministers for God in Tanzania. Excited to see great things happen there.

We got to hang out with an amazing family, The Babcocks! Raquel, Mark, Syndey, & Taylor. Always supportive, always kind, again, always fun to be around. I miss them!!

--Sheri it was good seeing her right before we left to head back to MN.

so to recap....amazing people, talented, gifted, kind, supportive, funny.....everyone out there is in a special part of my heart. They marked me for life.

Hopefully, i will see everyone again REAL SOON!!!!! who knows what the future holds???

Lan & Susan Erickson

Brandon & Nicole

Erica Pogue

**i tried getting the video up on this site, and it didnt' let me. go to my page on facebook and you can watch it. ENJOY.

Day Three

2008-01-10T11:17:00.000-08:00

we were privileged to go to lunch with some of my friends out here...Brandon and Nicole, it was great hanging out with them and hearing about their lives. miss'em so much. good people. after lunch, we got a tour around the church that i worked at when i lived here. so many changes, but i'm glad things are still rollin' there. then we drove to Enumclaw, it seems that the mountains are in it's backyard, amazing! for dinner we went up to seattle to Jazz Alley. i can't even tell you how much i enjoyed that. Great food (expensive, but worth it), great music (Sara Gazarek-check her out, excellent) and just a great time.
Its going to very tough leaving here again!!

This is the church i worked at when i lived here...lots of changes, but still miss it so much!!!

and this is the huge casino just down the road from the church. they added a bingo building, a smoke shop, and a huge parking garage...since i've been gone! crazy those muckleshoots really know how to do it! :)

2008-01-10T10:00:00.000-08:00

Mountains! amazing! this is Mt. Rainier but the clouds are hiding it a little.

2008-01-10T09:56:00.000-08:00

Jazz Alley...amazing. one of my fav places. Great food, great jazz, great atmosphere...great, great, great!!

2008-01-10T09:53:00.000-08:00

Day Two.

2008-01-08T22:35:00.000-08:00

got up...had breakfast...drove to Alki, took pics(below), drove to dwtn Seattle, walked to the public market...went to seattle aquarium, looked at fish....walked back to car....drove to Seattle Center...walked around, played arcade games. enjoyed day 2. getting tired though!!

me at alki.

view.

2008-01-08T22:31:00.000-08:00

views from Alki. oh, and us.

alki.

mike at pike place.

2008-01-08T22:27:00.000-08:00

the famous...

the fish throwing place...

lots of flowers. awesome colors.

2008-01-08T22:20:00.000-08:00

the first Starbucks. woo hoo. excuse the mermaid nakedness.

on the way to the aquarium.

all different starfish i couldn't push myself to touch one.

2008-01-08T22:16:00.000-08:00

octopus (sp?) ha.

jelly fish.

mike chillin with the jelly fish.

2008-01-08T22:10:00.000-08:00

goofy me.

so many different kinds of fish and underwater craziness!! God has a very creative mind!!!!

2008-01-08T22:06:00.000-08:00

we named this little guy...MIMI (after my dog) cause he was on guard. (like my dog!)

2008-01-08T22:02:00.000-08:00

fishies.

feeding time.

sweet seal things.

2008-01-08T21:58:00.000-08:00

good old sn.

awe.

shot of mike. seattle center.

Day One.

2008-01-07T21:01:00.000-08:00

our first whole day here, so good. we went to the Snoqualmie Falls, i was amazed. great way to start off the day, well we did go to IHOP to eat breakfast before the falls, but then we went to the Auburn Supermall. only bought a scarf. then we went to one of fav places i use to go to...redondo-along the Puget Sound. then we went to Dash Point Park, again-along the puget sound. lots of outside-had to enjoy such a beautiful day. then we went out to eat w/ Lan & Susan (the couple i lived with and are staying with again now) good times!!!

my WA home. it's so good to be back.

our sweet rental car.

and to prove to people...it's not ALWAYS raining!!! beautiful day today!!

2008-01-07T20:50:00.000-08:00

on the way to the falls. so pretty.

driving to the falls.

mike at the falls.

2008-01-07T18:24:00.000-08:00

i'm surprised i never went here when i lived here!! amazing!

awe.

2008-01-07T18:14:00.001-08:00

one of my fav places out here. Redondo.

on the way back from snoqualmie falls. beautiful!

just me.

2008-01-05T17:46:00.000-08:00

i'm off to seattle tomorrow (less than 24 hrs.) we will arrive around 4:30 pm (Pacific time) and will love every moment while we are out there. i dont' know if i'll beable to sleep tonight. we'll see. i'll take lots of pics and post as soon as possible.

**side note: look for our video of Deagol (my parents dog) on You Tube, i couldn't put it on here, for some reason. it should be under "scary chihuahua" try to find it.**

2007-12-26T16:30:00.000-08:00

i think this is my new favorite song...Ironically, it's my thoughts.

"Hide And Seek"- Imogen Heap

Where are we? What the hell is going on?
The dust has only just begun to form,
Crop circles in the carpet, sinking, feeling.
Spin me round again and rub my eyes.
This can't be happening.
When busy streets a mess with people
would stop to hold their heads heavy.

Hide and seek.
Trains and sewing machines.
All those years they were here first.

Oily marks appear on walls
Where pleasure moments hung before.
The takeover, the sweeping insensitivity of this
still life.

Hide and seek.
Trains and sewing machines. (Oh, you won't catch me around here)
Blood and tears,
They were here first.

Mmm, what you say?
Mm, that you only meant well? Well, of course you did.
Mmm, what you say?
Mm, that it's all for the best? Ah of course it is.
Mmm, what you say?
Mm, that it's just what we need? And you decided this.
Mmm what you say?
What did she say?

Ransom notes keep falling out your mouth.
Mid-sweet talk, newspaper word cut-outs.
Speak no feeling, no I dont believe you.
You don't care a bit. You don't care a bit.

Ransom notes keep falling out your mouth.
Mid-sweet talk, newspaper word cut-outs.
Speak no feeling, no I don't believe you.
You don't care a bit. You don't care a bit.

You don't care a bit.
You don't care a bit.
You don't care a bit.
You don't care a bit.
You don't care a bit.

it's time to go. it's been time for a long while. so glad.

address/music.

2007-12-24T19:54:00.000-08:00

new email address, please use from now on...:

ktbartlett17@gmail.com

thank you.

the music i'm into recently

*Imogen Heap...amazing.
*Frou Frou...cool.
*Feist...fun.

enrolled.

2007-12-20T06:53:00.000-08:00

exciting news on our horizon. but i can't share it with ya just yet...and NO, i'm not pregnant, come on!!?? another thing. change. sooner than later. we're both so excited!! ok that's all i can say.

more details in January i'm guessing.

kt.

color.

2007-12-18T08:37:00.000-08:00

change, yes, pink, but i didn't want any other one of the colors. so there-matt! ha.

anyways....just chillin right now. i'm off today and i have lots of things to do. take mimi to the vet, get my computer fixed, grocery shopping, etc. life.

i'm reading 2 books right now, one...re-reading the Velvet Elvis, good stuff. and another book that the title escapes me at the moment. i'm sick of just sitting and watching tv and watching my life fly by so i thought i would dust of these books and read. it's a crazy concept. ha.

lots of questions in my mind. but i don't think that i need all the answers. it's good i don't know.

it's fun going back in my "archive" and reading old posts from like 4 years ago. it's crazy, this site has been faithful to me. ha.

i'm random today, i'm still so stoked to go to Seattle!! i'm trying not to plan anything, besides hanging out w/ people and going to places that meant the most to me w/ mike and friends!!! it'll be so freakin' fun!!!

went to see "i am legend". i can't handle movies like that, i'm done with those. i have to admit it was fun sitting next to mike and feeling him jump everytime something jumped out at will smith. ha.

ok gotta go and have mimi get shot up.

birthday.

2007-12-10T15:33:00.000-08:00

so yes today is my birthday. good day so far. will continue to be.

last night i got to hang out with my wonderful cousin sarah bla and had conversations, as always.

after that, i talked mike into letting me open this huge box that he had wrapped and i proceeding to find that he planned (with help from friends out in Seattle) a vacation out there Jan. 6th thru the 12th!!!!(the box was just filled w/ newspaper and books, etc. -to throw me off) i was in shock, i cried, it means the world to me, he understands i miss out there so much, that he went over and above with this one.

then i got to sleep in this morning, the best husband in the world got up and went and got me birthday donuts and then baked me a cake. then we went shopping i got a bunch from old navy and now we are heading for a great dinner and night on the town! i can't wait.

sorry ladys, i really do have the most amazing husband! mike is more than i could have ever expected. thank you Lord.

so that's the deal yo. go ahead...be jealous! ha :) j/k.

kt b. 24.

2007-12-09T12:09:00.000-08:00

mikes new toy!

christmas tyme

2007-12-02T07:34:00.000-08:00

i'm so excited for christmas, it's such a great time. i love it this year more than any other year, i think. and my dog. mimi. annoying to some, but i will always love her with unconditional love...like the Father loves us. ha.

birthday is coming...mike has something incredible planned but i just don't know what it is...he says "best gift i ever received" hmmm?? he has a big box all wrapped up by our tree.

i love presents and suprises. i can't wait.

besides that stuff....nothing else new...well things are but i can't really talk about it right now...new changes coming sooner than later. all i'll say i can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel...so to speak. ha.

mike is getting a dodge. i'll post pics when we get it. tuesday probably.

p.s. i love you...december 21. must see.

events.

2007-11-19T18:46:00.000-08:00

date night.

found our sleep number.

laughed.

dreamed.

ate.

memories.

guessed.

thought.

held hands.

smiled.

asdjfkl;

2007-11-07T21:55:00.000-08:00

i can't quite explain it.

asdlfkjasd;fljas;ldfkjas;dlkfj;alskdjf;lkjasdfjkl;asdfj
as;dlfkjasdf;lkjasd;flkjas;ldkjfas;lkdjfasldkfja;lskdjf
asd;flkjasldkfjas;lkdjfalskjdf;alskdjf;alskjdflaksjdf

that's close enough.

kt (c)b

2007-11-03T18:36:00.000-07:00

it's crazy how views, beliefs, and opinions change as i get older. i'm in a place right now i never thought i would be. maybe my eyes are opening. or maybe they are closing, i'm not sure.

Too many shadows in my room
Too many hours in this midnight
Too many corners in my mind
So much to do to set my heart right

Oh, it’s taken so long
I could be wrong, I could be ready
Oh, but if I take my heart’s advice
I should assume it’s still unsteady
I am in repair
I am in repair

Stood on the corner for a while
To wait for the wind to blow down on me
Hoping it takes with it my old ways
And brings some brand new luck upon me

Oh, it’s taken so long
I could be wrong, I could be ready

Oh, but if I take my heart’s advice
I should assume it’s still unsteady
I am in repair
I am in repair

And now I’m walking in the park
And all of the birds, they dance below me
Maybe when things turn green again
It will be good to say you know me

Oh, it’s taken so long
I could be wrong, I could be ready
Oh, but if I take my heart’s advice
I should assume it’s still unsteady
Oh yeah, I’m never really ready, yeah
Oh yeah, I’m never really ready, yeah
I’m in repair
I’m not together but I’m getting there

2007-10-16T18:23:00.001-07:00

fall always brings feelings in my heart and mind of good times, bad times, new times...

it's doesn't help i'm on a grey's anatomy kick right now, and i miss Seattle so bad, i wonder through out the years now having
this website, how much i've typed that comment..."i miss seattle" it did something to me, it messed me up...not in a bad way, in a really hopeful way and happy way. i, well now since it's not just me anymore..."we" will be back there one day.

mike and i are doing great. it just the day to day stuff. work, school, sleep, eat, work, school, sleep, eat, etc.

this coming sunday is my 3rd sunday not doing music and i feel good. i don't miss it. it was time.

it does feel weird not doing any music though. my whole mindset has shifted, long time needed, but finally happening. good thing. i was so disillusioned with certain dreams. it's like i'm bitter towards music. it ruined me.

well that's it for now, i actually felt motivated to put pics on this website and it won't let me...ha. too bad.

got the wedding pics back, pretty cool.

2007-09-12T16:31:00.000-07:00

so we're in the new apartment, and everyday i love it a little bit more. it's so cute!!! God's blessings...amazing.

i must say, it's september, but it's starting to feel like fall...and i love it! i love the colors. love the feeling. i'll have to make a trip to point soon...october is my fav. month in WI. weird i know, but it's true.

honesty. truth. real. it's a tricky business. lots of thoughts in my mind. my eyes are opening more and more. not going deeper into that.

i'll post pics of the new place, soon.

new.

2007-09-01T11:21:00.000-07:00

we found an apartment!!! it's so cute. i'll post a pic of the outside here in a bit...can't move in for a couple of weeks tho.
-2 bdrm, 1 bath, 2 car garage, near lake, between jobs and school, etc....pretty cool.

everything is so on a roll!!!

Shane and Shane's new one is pretty good...a little different style, but cool.

i can't wait to quit music, ha!!!! crazy i'm actually really excited to stop playing music!
....
so people won't freak out...maybe something else will be in the works....cd? what? yea, maybe, maybe i'll have time to focus on writing/creating my own music. then get it into people's hands... but i'll do it on my time, when i want to, so it might not be for a while :)

have a great day/night...whenever you read this...

till next time.

2007-08-25T20:04:00.000-07:00

Ok so, some crazy stuff has been happening and not even a month of being married.

One... I got promoted from just a sales associate the place i work (FLOWERS BY JERRY) to a store manager. CRAZY!! i really feel honored, i've only worked there just over a year and they asked me to be a manager. it'll be a growing time and a learning experience, definately, but i'm up for the challenge. I've never worked at such a sweet place. Christian owners are such a blessing!!!!!

Two...Wednesday Mike and I were both at church just getting stuff done for practice that night, when my landlord calls and says someone wants to check out the apartment i'm living at in Pine Island...(trying to get out of the lease, cause of the distance to and from work and the gas prices suck.) anyways, so we drive back home to clean the apartment and get it ready for the viewing and i leave back to go to church in roch for worship practice. mike stays there with mimi. anyways i guess the dude comes and walks in the apartment and just says, right off the bat..."I'll take it" w/o even looking at it...so we're moving in like 3 days!!!! packing up once again, but it's all worth it.

Three....i have decided not to continue leading worship at rochester assembly of God. I've been there over a year and a half or so and i just feel this is what God wants me to do. I just need a break...i need to get back to the "heart of worship" not to sound too corny. but it's personal thing and i want to focus on our marriage and life...it already is a breath of fresh air. last sunday is Sept. 30th.

So like i said, crazy junk, but everything seems to be falling in place.

obedience. good.

Katie Bartlett...still weird.

2007-08-13T00:58:00.001-07:00

so we're in SP right now, rolled in at bout 2 am. reunited with my dog...and thought i would just post a pic or 2 or our honeymoon!!! AMAZING!!!

happy birthday to christy
happy birthday to sarah
happy wedding day to sarah prin/sir william

enjoi.

2007-08-06T09:00:00.000-07:00

Ok so as you look at the pics...they should be in order...rehearsal, rehearsal din din, wedding day and then just a couple of the morning after brunch with the family. i have tons more...but thats all i'm posting till i get the fagans pics. i'm on my honeymoon!!!!

enjoy.

katie bartlett

2007-08-06T08:53:00.001-07:00

2007-08-06T08:53:00.000-07:00