surviving or thriving

When we lived in Africa, our 'missionary mom' would often ask me,
"Katy, are you surviving today?  Or are you thriving?"

The first time she asked me, it was one of the most profound things I'd ever heard.
The question has stayed with me since we moved back.
I ask myself often.

When the answer is "surviving", I know it's time to re-asses.
"What am I lacking right now that would make me thrive?"

I've spent too much time surviving.
Sure, every season of life comes with it's ups and downs.

But we aren't called to live sub-par.

"I came that they may have life and have it abundantly."

{John 10:10}

The "YOLO" (You Only Live Once- a common excuse for people to do dumb things) thing has come and gone.  But it's true... you do only live... {wait for it}... ONCE.
Why the heck not make the most of it!?

For me, it's fear.  

I mean, if I don't take big risks, then I don't fall hard, right?

Fear is a big thing that often keeps us from thriving.

What if I change my mind?

What if I fail?

"For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, 

but of power and love and discipline."

{2 Tim 1:7}

I'm learning though.

I want to make the most of today.

To take every opportunity to live the oh-so-abundant life that only God can give.

If I don't take big risks, I won't do big things either.

It's different for different people.
And the things that make you thrive will even be different through different phases of life.

Right now...

I thrive when I'm "doing".

I thrive on creativity.

I thrive with my husband.

I thrive on alone time.

I thrive when I'm surrounded by people (I know those are opposites...)

I thrive when I have rest.

I thrive in the sunshine.

I thrive when I am found in my Savior.

I thrive when I'm loving people.

I thrive on Africa.

So, today I'm asking you- are you surviving or thriving?

{And if you're just surviving, what are you going to do so that you can thrive?}

Also, pray for us?  We're under a pretty severe tornado watch until sometime tonight and after the devastating tornado in OK yesterday, it's got us all on edge a little more than usual...

Rwanda 2013

I realized that I have mentioned several times that I'm going to Rwanda this summer, but I haven't written a lot about what we'll be DOING.

The trip will focus on these general areas:

-Pastor Training: Many pastors in Rwanda are not trained in how to teach and lead a church.  One27 partners with village pastors to provide the training and resources they need to better lead their churches.  This will be the 5th training of this type, as all the trainings in the past have proven to be very fruitful and encouraging to these pastors as well as their churches.

-Women’s Conference: The women in the church have expressed to us their desire to be trained in Bible study.  This year the Lord has opened the doors for us to host One27's first women’s conference. If you've followed my blog for a while, you know that I'm stoked about the opportunity to be a part of this!

-Youth Ministry: We have been asked to work with the children and youth in the church.  We have established relationships with many young people in the church already and are excited to see what the Lord has in store as these plans are still unfolding.

-Village Outreach:  The team will be following up with village churches that One27 has partnered with in the past and assisting in outreach at new church plants.  

-Exploration of Future One27 Opportunities: There is great need among the people of Rwanda.  We hope that this trip will provide insight as to doors the Lord might  open for the future ministry of One27.

Here's a copy of a letter we recently sent out to let some of our friends and family know what's going on...

Dear Friends and Family,

We hope this finds you doing well.  We are settling in to our new home since Kahler has recently taken a position as an epidemiologist with the Health Department.

This summer, Katy has the opportunity to return to Africa on a mission trip.  She will be helping lead a team of about 10 people to Rwanda on a multi-faceted trip with One27 Ministries.  Katy’s role on this trip will be to help the team leader organizationally, help train team members, and serve as an advisor/mentor for team members who have not been to Africa before.   She is very excited to be taking on these roles.  The trip will focus on the following areas:

~Pastor Training
~Women’s Conference
~Youth Ministry

~Village Outreach and Encouragement

First, we ask each of you to be praying for this trip:
~Pray for the planning and preparing phase: Please pray that the logistics will come together as we work on plans and schedules.  Also pray that our team would be protected from the enemy’s attacks.

~Pray that our time in Rwanda would be fruitful, and that the Lord would use our efforts to create a platform from which His gospel would be spread throughout the country.

Secondly, we’re asking you to prayerfully consider partnering with Katy financially.  The trip will cost $3,500.  The majority of that cost will cover airfare, which is due at the end of May.  The rest will go towards lodging, food, transportation and ministry efforts while we are there. 
We have a few fund-raising efforts in progress: 

~Katy is selling t-shirts on her blog.  (Click here.)
~We have opened an Etsy shop online in which all of the proceeds go towards Katy’s trip.  (Click here.)

You are receiving this letter because you have already played a role in our lives- encouraging, supporting, praying for us.  We are so thankful for your love and blessed to have you in our lives.

That all may hear the Truth,

 The Stones

If you would like to partner with Katy,

you may send checks to:
One27 Ministries

1812 Southwood Dr

College Station, TX  77320
(Write “Katy Stone” in the memo line.)

2 years: I don't want to forget

Today marks 2 years since we moved back from Africa.

Not a day goes by that my heart doesn't ache to be back.
I miss it so much that it hurts.

Africa did something to me that I can't describe.
I can't put into words what I love about it.

Living in Africa taught me so much.
I hate that I'm often so quick to forget those lessons.

Africa taught me to value people and relationships more.
It taught me not to take life for granted because what you have today could be gone tomorrow.

Africa taught me how to cook- more than that, it taught me to explore the unknown and find myself there.

Africa showed me what was important in life... and guess what- it's not any of the things we typically value the most.

I miss it.
I want to sing and dance with the "Mamas".
I want to hug on the little ones and fill their empty bellies.
I want to sit in silence, away from the busy-ness and distractions of our world.
I want to soak it all in again.

I am so thankful that God took us there.
These memories and lessons will be forever engrained in me.

And I know He's not done.
Which is so, SO exciting.







{I'm helping lead a missions team back to Africa this summer.
Proceeds from my shirt sales and our Etsy shop are going toward my trip.
If you're interested in partnering with me, please email me: katystone87(at)gmail(dot)com.}

Mama's Day Weekend

We spent the day Saturday celebrating these incredible women...

I don't think you realize just how much love is represented in this picture.

{Our Mamas, sisters (who are mamas), aunts, grandmas.}

Multiple generations with one great love in common.

{My heart is full when my home is full}

{My Mama and her dad}

{Kahler, his "little" brother, and my dad}

{Kahler's dad, his mom, and Kahler's mom with our baby nephew}

{My gorgeous sister and our Grandma}

{Kahler's grandma with baby Stone}

{my Mama and Kahler's Mama}

{Kahler and his dad, doing man stuff (grilling)}

{My dad, his youngest daughter (the furry one), his nephew, and my sister's husband}

{Kahler and baby Stone}

Kahler: "Ok, kid.  This is me holding you."

...we gotta work on the baby skills...

{My sister and I with our Mama... LOVE this picture!}

Linking up here:

What'd you do this weekend?

Weekend Shenanigans
No Rules Monday Blog Hop
Miscellany Monday

Moms' Day

{Reposted from here.}

Growing up, I probably never thought I'd say this (at least on some days), but when I have kids, I want to be JUST like my mom.

I want them to have siblings to love/hate/learn from. :)

I want to take them to the park and push them on the swing until the sun goes down.

When they go to kindergarten, I hope they love being with me so much that they cry when I leave.

(Ok, so maybe I just want the love- without the tears.)

I want to teach them that their napkin is their friend.

I want to breastfeed my kids and then make their baby food from scratch.

I want to scratch their backs until they fall asleep, even when I'm about to fall asleep myself.

I want to stay home with them and teach them that things like people and God are more

important than grades and efficiency.

I want to walk them into school, to their classroom, every day.

(Even if their teacher says they'll never be successful because I do.)

I want to kiss their boo-boo's while teaching them that sometimes, you just have to "suck it up".

I want to teach them about Jesus.

I want to teach them to squat when using a public toilet.

I want to let them make forts and sleep outside.

I will cure every ailment with TUMS, advil, gargling with salt water, or soaking it in epson salt.

I want to save all their school crafts and awards in a "keepsake box" for them to go through when they're older.

I want to show them that anything's possible

I want to read them to bed EVERY night.

I want to give them chili bowl haircuts until they're 7. (ok, maybe not)

I want to take splinters out and bandaids off so painlessly that the anticipation is the worst part.

Don't rip the tags out of your clothes- there are scissors for that.

I want to give them freedom to be their own person, teaching them the importance of making decisions for themselves.

I want to teach them there is a right AND wrong way to fold clothes... and load the dishwasher.

I will make them wear sunscreen.

I want to have a place for everything and everything in it's place.

I want to teach them that sometimes you just have to "build a bridge and get over it".

I want to play music when I clean so that they always associate cleaning with music.

I will not allow them to watch cartoons that use bad words like "stupid" or "dumb"...

and spank them if they call their siblings any of those 'bad words'.

I will not allow them to wear 2-piece bathing suits until they can afford to buy it themselves.

And even then, I'll ask what their dad will think when he sees it.

I want to help them with their school projects, but not so much that it becomes 'my project'.

I want to teach them to make good choices, or don't complain.

Better yet, just don't complain.

(Though I'm more likely to be sympathetic if you make good choices.)

I want to teach them not to measure when cooking with vanilla- you can never have too much.

I want pack healthy lunches for them and write notes on their napkins...

...and take their lunchbox to the school when they forgot it at home.

I want to teach them the meaning of clean.

I will teach them that drinking water when you eat out really isn't torture.

I want to let them make a pallet in the floor of our room when they have bad dreams.

I want to teach them that the playground at McDonald's is germ central and that you CAN live a normal childhood without playing in the pit of balls.

I want to ask how their day at school was... EVERY day.

I want to be on the sideline for every sporting event they play (or sit the bench) in.

I want to be so hospitable that their friends always feel welcome and it's not unusual to have unexpected guests stay for dinner.

I want to teach them the importance of putting on a new roll of toilet paper when you finish the roll... even if they NEVER learn. :)

I want to teach them to respect their elders, regardless of the situation.

I want to let them have pets when they beg and promise to be the ones to take care of them, even though I already know the truth.

I want to teach them that fast food is only for special occasions.

I want to one day reach a point where they can talk to me about ANYTHING.

I want to make sure they still feel loved in college and send them surprise care packages when they move away.

I want to show them what a godly marriage looks like.

I want to keep their rooms "their rooms", even when they move out, so they know they always belong at HOME.

I want to be able (even if it takes 25 years) to call them my best friends. :)

Love you, Mom.

Linking up here:

No Rules Monday Blog Hop
Miscellany Monday