Why I Believe in Christ

 With a blog filled with memories, families, my favorite foods, my likes and dislikes, I cannot not talk about what makes me who I am: my faith. My faith all stems from my belief in Christ. 

I know Christ lived. I was brought up in a home where I was taught stories of Christ from the Bible. I learned how he served his fellow men, how he taught his disciples to "feed my sheep," how he raised Lazarus and others from the dead, how he forgave and, finally, how he atoned for my sins. Some might say that believing in Christ is like believing in a fairy tale--too good to be true and with no factual evidence. How could someone really take upon themselves the sins, pains, and agony of all mankind and feel all of that? I don't know how. But I know it happened. What would the purpose of life be without Christ? For me, that would mean that I would never be able to return to my Father in Heaven; I would never feel completely clean after wrongs I had committed; there would be no eternal perspective. I know Christ's life and mission on earth was real. He truly did walk in Jersualem, He bled at Golgatha, and He prayed in the Garden. How do I know? Have I seen the scientific proof? No, honestly, I haven't. But I have felt the warmth and truth of Christ's life as I have read the New Testament. I read fairy tales all the time that do not leave me with that same feeling: His story is real.  I have seen His example change lives. Although seemingly unexplainable, I believe that He distributed five loaves and two fishes to thousands. He is what makes the impossible, possible. His example has touched lives everywhere. He was the epitome of selflessness, the only perfect person to walk this earth.

I know Christ lives. I know Christ died for my sins on the cross, but I also know that He continues to live. I believe He is concerned about the choices I make on this day-to--day earth life. I know that He wants to lead and guide each of us to happiness.

This song, "I Believe in Christ," sums up my belief in Christ, more eloquently than I could ever pen.

1. I believe in Christ; he is my King!
   With all my heart to him I'll sing;
   I'll raise my voice in praise and joy,
   In grand amens my tongue employ.
   I believe in Christ; he is God's Son.
   On earth to dwell his soul did come.
   He healed the sick; the dead he raised.
   Good works were his; his name be praised.
   2. I believe in Christ; oh blessed name!
   As Mary's Son he came to reign
   'Mid mortal men, his earthly kin,
   To save them from the woes of sin.
   I believe in Christ, who marked the path,
   Who did gain all his Father hath,
   Who said to men: "Come, follow me,
   That ye, my friends, with God may be."
   3. I believe in Christ--my Lord, my God!
   My feet he plants on gospel sod.
   I'll worship him with all my might;
   He is the source of truth and light.
   I believe in Christ; he ransoms me.
   From Satan's grasp he sets me free,
   And I shall live with joy and love
   In his eternal courts above.
   4. I believe in Christ; he stands supreme!
   From him I'll gain my fondest dream;
   And while I strive through grief and pain,
   His voice is heard: "Ye shall obtain."
   I believe in Christ; so come what may,
   With him I'll stand in that great day
   When on this earth he comes again
   To rule among the sons of men.

London Lists

I was "rummaging" through my files the other day and stumbled across this forgotten list: 


My Favorite Things To Do in England

Favorite Intellectual Spot

· The British Library (my most favorite thing I did in London in this regard--Handel’s "Messiah," Dickens, Wordsworth, Bronte manuscripts)

Favorite Places to Eat

· Nandos--Portuguese Restaurant--delicious pitas!

· The Waffle House--best waffle recipes in the world

· A lot of pubs have delicious food ☺ but be careful where you go...

· Pret--chicken salad sandwiches and croissants! 

· Tesco--amazing bakery aisle

Favorite Beautiful Spots

· White Cliffs of Dover

· Countryside of Kent

· A lot of the historic spots were my favorite beautiful spots...

· Cambridge University 

· Hampton Court--beautiful gardens

Favorite Historic Spots:

· Tower of London--funny guards--the key to London’s history

· Osborne House--Where Queen Victoria & Albert lived for a time. It was one of my most favorite places on the Isle of Wight (have to take ferry to get to it)

· Cambridge (again--absolutely stunning)

· Fountains Abby (amazing ruins, absolutely beautiful)

· Warwick Castle--tons of neat interactive activities and beautiful

· Wallace Collection--amazing Paintings--Rococo

· Definitely favorite art museum--The Tate Britain--beautiful Romantic style paintings such as The Lady of Shallot

· The British Museum, Victoria and Albert,  Imperial War Museum (very impacting)

· Stratford-Upon-Avon

Favorite Must Dos:

· Walking along the Thames at night (either by the Millennial Bridge by St. Paul’s at night (a little more dangerous though) or Parliament at night with Big Ben and the London Eye--definitely a favorite thing to do)

· Musicals obviously--Les Mis, especially

· Going to Harrods--such a neat experience

· Going punting (boat rides--these are at Cambridge etc.)
· St. Martins-in the field for concerts (classical

 I am so glad that I wrote this list down because I had already forgotten some of my favorites. Reading this list makes me want to go back. Let me rewind, in 2007 I went on a Study Abroad to London through BYU and was able to live in London for two months, and I loved it. In fact, love is too insufficient a word. I adored it. I relished it. I know I made that list for myself as a future "guide" if I ever go back (oh, how I long to go back!), but I decided to make a list of what I remember most now, seven years later. Wait, seven!? It can't be seven! Did I do the math wrong? That's insane. It feels like yesterday. 

~I made some dear life-long friends. We even had our last names make an acronym: COSMOS. We had too much fun together. Oh such dear memories! These friends helped sustain me through, although a joyful, a very difficult time as my dad had been diagnosed with a grave cancer five days before we left, and I was very worried. They helped me through my occasional emotional-ness :) They are some of the best girls I have ever met, and each of their examples had a great impact on my life. 

~I loved the feeling of belonging I had in England. I have always had this unearthly connection with Great Britain; when I learn about it, I feel like it is part of my identity. It's hard to explain. Maybe it's because of my heritage. Maybe it's because of my love of British literature. Or maybe it's just because I love the rain, history, and delicious food. They love bread. I love bread. It totally works out. 

~I loved that Study Abroad gave us the opportunity to participate in the wards there. They divided us all into groups and spread us throughout wards surrounding London. I can't remember exactly how long but I know that it took at least an hour to get to our church, and my group rode the tube, a train, and then walked to get there. It was so worth it. The members were diverse and had so much faith. We even had the opportunity to be given assignments there to help out.
~Speaking of diverse, that was the thing that most shocked me when I arrived in London. I had read too many Victorian novels. It was not filled with a bunch of white gentlemen with top hats and proper ladies. The streets of London are some of the most diverse I have been on. There were many Indians, Africans, etc. that gave London a very international flavor. Yet somehow, simultaneously, London feels very British. 
~I loved that my homework was to go to plays, museums, ballets, etc., of course, we had real homework too, but I loved being able to apply what I was learning Humanities (my minor) to real life. 
~The musicals, ballet, and plays are events I will never forget as long as I live. They were as good as they come. I discovered a love of Shakespeare when watching Shakespeare plays: The Merchant of Venice at The Globe, Macbeth in Regent's Park, and King Lear in Stratford-Upon-Avon (Shakespeare's birth place).
~I loved riding the tube! It was such an efficient way to get around. That doesn't mean we never got lost or missed a stop, but once you get the hang of it, it's hard to imagine life without it. I miss the reminders, "Please mind the gap between the train and the platform." 

After two months of living there, there was still so much I had to leave unseen. I  could write hundreds of pages about why I love London, but Samuel Johnson says it best, "Why, Sir, you find no man, at all intellectual, who is willing to leave London. No, Sir, when a man is tired of London, he is tired of life; for there is in London all that life can afford." Yes, Samuel Johnson, you couldn't have said that any better.

Doing our nightly Parliament walk. 

At Hampton Court

At Edinburgh Castle

In Ireland!

Our whole Study Abroad group lived here. I loved this place so much. What's even more special is my mom did Study Abroad through BYU and lived in this exact building twentyish years before. 

Everyone wrote their favorite things to do on the bunk bed. I spy Courtney & Katie's entry! 

Sharing a bedroom with twelve girls is one of the most exciting things ever! 

At tea! (We just had scones :) 

Family in Vermont

Thanks to my mom and dad, I had the wonderful opportunity to go to to Vermont to visit/"help out" (which I really didn't) with my sister, Kim, and her baby Everett. I was a lucky girl: I got to see and catch up with Kim; I got to hold and meet baby Everett; I got to eat a meal cooked by Steve (Kim's husband is going to culinary school--amazing), and I got to be in one of my new favorite states, Vermont. 

I am still, as ever, in love with Vermont. I love New England--the old buildings, the history, the scenery, and the established character of the towns there. I was in love with the bed & breakfast I stayed in, originally built in 1818. I kept wishing the walls could talk so I could hear their stories over the last almost 200 years. The homemade maple yogurt and granola was such a treat every morning! When I drove through Montpelier to Kim & Steve's apartment, I was struck by the charm of the town. There are hardly any fast food restaurants, people walk everywhere, even in the bitter cold, and you feel like time has slowed down. It was the perfect way to start my mornings. 

My beyond charming room: 

The dining room for breakfast: 

Now, for the real reason I was in Vermont--meet this little cutie (and prepare yourself to be bombarded by pictures galore). 

Cute mama and son~

We had too much fun dressing him up like his dad in his baby chef outfit. Adorable.

Everett made these faces in the matter of sixty seconds: 

Kim and I tested out her stroller which she loves (thanks to Kristen!) We lasted about five minutes in the 32 degree weather (the warmest it was while I was out there), but the wind chill made it feel much colder. 

He made the best poses. 

Pictures of sweet Everett and Kim: 

I have had too much fun with my niece and nephews the past few months. I am so excited to watch all of them grow up! Hopefully, they'll know their Aunt Katie loves them dearly :)

As a side-note, this psychedelic tunnel is through the Detroit airport. It stresses me out every time with its lights flashing with the music. It would be really cool if you weren't in an airport trying to catch a plane is what I've decided. 

Fun with Chase

A couple of weeks ago Ben and I were able to visit Seth, Leslie, and Chase in Rexburg for a weekend in honor of Chase being blessed. We don't get to see them very much, so it was fun to go up and spend some time together. It was Ben's first time meeting Chase :) Here are a few pictures from our fun times. Chase is such a cute, happy, and alert baby! I love him already!

Chase's favorite way to sleep. 

The most darling smile!

Right before we went to church for his blessing!