FEELING THANKFUL!

 

Anytime this season approaches, I find myself contemplating gratefulness. It’s something I feel can slip to the back burner in the hustle and bustle of life, as much as I hate to admit. But when I stop and really think about all the blessings in my life, I can’t help but feel SO immensely grateful for what God has done in my life. There has been hardship and pain, for sure. But I find myself being thankful, not just for the good things going on and the blessings, but the hope that I have because of Jesus even in my pain and the brokenness of the world. Here are just a few things I am grateful for, with some stories or updates intermingled into some!

- You, my team of supporters! I am so blessed to be able to do what I do, and I owe it all to your generosity. You all partnering with me in the vision and excitement that I have for college students and the mission field on UTD’s campus is something I never want to take for granted! 

- My students. I get to meet with the sweetest girls every week and talk about Jesus, family, school, work, relationships, and everything in between. A lot of my girls pour back into me by asking questions to seek to get to know me, which is really special.

-My staff team! I work with some of the best people ever. Not only are we coworkers in the mission of campus ministry at UTD, but I am thankful to call each of the people on my team, “friend”. 

- My family. As most of you know, I got married this year and it’s been the best! I love Johnny dearly and am so grateful that I get to be his partner through life. My sister is having a BABY this year, so I will be an Aunt for the first time!! I am so excited to see her and my brother-in-love be parents. I have the best parents, brothers, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins…. Just feeling so blessed with the family I have.

- My community! I have been going to the same church since I was born. When I was 12 or so, my home church planted a church in Wylie where my Dad became the pastor. Then, when I began my apprenticeship for FOCUS at UTD, I switched back to my home church in Garland and have been there since. There are so many foundational people in my life that have been there since I was very little, and I am so thankful for the foundation they laid, and the way they continue to pour into me all these years later. My church actually celebrated their 25th anniversary the Sunday before Thanksgiving.. Praise God!

- My dog :) I got Moose in October 2020, my COVID puppy. He’s a funny little guy that brings me so much joy. Johnny and I did a home renovation that took 8 months. My dog lived almost that whole time with my sweet past roommates, and I’ve just recently gotten to have him back home with me. I am SO thankful for him, especially after being apart for so long! 

- A working kitchen!! Now this is juicy ;) LONG story short, Johnny and I started a kitchen renovation in early March, a few days after our wedding. In May after many delays already, we found out we need to reverse the renovated space back to the size it was before. These things always take longer than you think they will, and the people who stepped in to help us get it done are busy and lead lives of their own! All of that to say, we are just now closing in on the kitchen being finished. We couldn’t cook or use dish ware for 8 months, and are just now opening our wedding gifts to use in the kitchen and buying furniture for the living room (living room became storage for appliances and new cabinets because kitchen/garage were part of reno!). I am EXTRA thankful to get to do dishes, have people over, and cook a homemade meal. There were lots of questions in that process about what God was doing, but I learned valuable lessons throughout the whole thing, and God has been faithful to us. We are so blessed.

- FOCUS!

I am so thankful for this organization that I get to work for. The number of lives that are changed because of FOCUS across the DFW metroplex is CRAZY! We have about 200+ students in our UTD ministry alone, which is a God deal.

Every year we have an initiative called, Keep Focus Growing. This money goes towards our administrative team salaries, printing Bible studies for our students, and so on to keep this ministry running so we can continue to impact lives in the many years to come. 

If you are interested in giving even $10, please let me know! Any gift you give will be matched, and some generous donors have pledged about $54,000 for total matching funds! This is a really neat opportunity, and I hope you’ll join us to Keep FOCUS Growing :)

-Give without fees at facebook.com/anyfocusministries.

-Give to the “Keep FOCUS Growing” fund at anyfocus.churchcenter.com

-Can’t give now but want to take part? Make a pledge by emailing casey@anyfocus.org. *Pledges are still eligible to be matched!*

I think that’s all for my November update! Please pray for my students and their final exams, and for them to finish the semester strong. I hope you know how thankful I am for you!

Love, Kylie