2 Weeks n' counting

Adjusting here in Leo is going great. I really enjoy the work and the people. I do miss the people I am use to seeing daily and enjoying in Chicago but I look forward to keeping in touch as life is all about changing, adjusting, but staying focused on the Spirit, Son, and Father. I have started a Bible study around Acts which has impressed upon my heart the ability and the beauty of the Holy Spirit that lives within me by no work of my own but by the blood of Jesus Christ!

in other news... Ahhh The marathon is 14 days away! Kind of crazy... well actually REALLY crazy. Today I went out for a 13 miler. (which I ran as a mini marathon event here in Fort Wayne. It was a good way to see a little bit of downtown). Weather was great and I really enjoyed the run. I made a new PR (personal record) which is always a bonus.

It is cool the impact running has had on my life and my discipline. Through running I am supporting an orphanage in India, with your help, known as As Our Own (). I would really love to reach my goal. I am at about the halfway mark with 2 weeks left. Please consider supporting me in this race by donating to As Our Own through

Settling In...

SO I am moved to Leo, IN. I have changed my driver's license and gotten a license plate on a car (which I haven't owned a car in like 3 years!!)IT'S OFFICIAL. I passed the written driving test and finally got everything to change over the title - thanks to my cousins I didn't breakdown at the driver's place because of a "few bumps".

work... I am loving it. I am working with families in a home based program where I am going out into people's homes and trying to support families and help in reflecting on valuable parenting skills and life skills. I am also working wtih adoption. I have worked with 3 families so far and have loved them so much! Their stories are all so unique; I am looking forward to writing a homestudy in the next few weeks (which is pretty much like a 10 page biography on a family)

socially... I am so blessed. I jumped right into feeling at home here. I enjoy my roommate although haven't seen much of her the past 2 days. I have been babysitting for friends and spending a lot of time with friends and family out here. The challenge is not to crowd the Lord out as Satan would love me to do TOO MUCH (even if it is all good things)

running... it has been great to see how God is using this for His glory. I am feeling the sunlight coming later in the morning but have been able to stay on top of my runs and enjoy the crisp mornings. I have been enjoying running with a few friends here in Leo, Biking with a friend, and running with my cousin's dog :). Even this evening someone asked if I would want to bike with them sometime this coming week. It is interesting to see how exercising can be contagious and I am excited for that.

Visiting the City - I am looking forward to leaving for Chicago tomorrow morning. It is time for the dreaded 20 miler so I am going back to the Lake to run it. I am looking forward to the farmiliar chicago skyline and the fellow runners and bikers on the trail.

speaking of running. Another reminder that I would love it if you want to support me in my run by donating to As Our Own (http://asourown.org/take-action/what-you-can-do/your-team)

And here is the site to donate --->
http://www.firstgiving.com/fundraiser/kaitlyn-isaia/chicago-marathon-2011

Change...

I look forward to change and newness Indiana will braing, but there is a lot I will miss about this city, about this little flower shop apartment, about my biking to various cafes and different events or work, I will miss the people that have invested in my life and have encouraged so much growth and freedom in my walk with Christ. I will miss the lake to run along, and my running partner. I will miss my local grocery store - Stanleys. My favorite ice cream shop - Margies. My starbucks baristas who can tell me my hair looks fine even after I randomly chop off 10 inches! I will miss my babysitting kids that have poured so many hugs and love into my heart. I will miss the community that has come beside me and has taught me to love and be in community. I will miss the individuals here that have encouraged me to really love God with my whole mind. (not that I won't come see and keep in touch with my Chicago friends it will just be different)

But I look forward to loving the open air, to enjoying the quietness of cornfields again. I look forward to learning how to apply the skills I have learned in school for God's glory. I look forward to learning to run long miles somewhere in Indiana. I look forward to having a car to my name. I look forward to applying the things I have learned spiritually about God and His kingdom in a new location, I look forward to developing new, life-changing friends and growing the ones I already have. I look forward to being used in whatever ways the Lord can dream up. I look forward to visiting the city. I look forward to cheaper or no taxes on various items! I look forward to living with in 5 miles of my cousins!!!

"O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man [or woman] that trusteth in him" Psalm 34:8

It's blog official...

HOT OFF THE PRESS... not yet on facebook but "on the blog" :) I am officially moving from the city in the next month. I have been blessed to be joining the case-management office team at Gateway Woods in Ft. Wayne, IN (well technically Leo, IN).

I will be working with the home-based team to begin with and may have the opportunity to be flexible and get to know a few other areas. It will be a great experience and I am sure it will come with it's downs and ups but in the end I know God is good and He won't take me from good to bad. Knowing how much I have enjoyed and grown in this time in the city makes it hard to leave but I believe the Father, Son, and Spirit are constant and will continue to refine me and allow me to love on life in the meantime!

I am leaving the city Sept 1st and start my new job around the 6th. I will be living with a friend from high-school and look forward to getting know her better - nope, still don't have my own room but I don't mind sharing space. :)

The Lord has been taking me on a journey with this decision. It has been coming for a few months. I had another job offer here in Chicago, which would have been an AWESOME experience also, with christian co-workers and living with 2 great friends maybe in Little Italy area. I had both offers during the same time and it was hard to put finality on this decision but I feel the Lord was quietly speaking peace into my desire to work at Gateway. I don't know if it will be forever but it will definitely be a new season.

Training - Please consider joining me

So life is crazy right now but one thing that is constant is the the Lord and His grace and provision. I am facing taking on the responsibilities of a full time job in the near future and I am sure I will post more about that later.

Mainly I would like to use this post to create awareness around another constant in my life... MARATHON Training. I have chosen to participate in the October Chicago Marathon. Along with that I would like to raise funds and awareness for an organization called As Our Own. You can check them out at asourown.com. My fundraising page is http://www.firstgiving.com/fundraiser/kaitlyn-isaia/chicago-marathon-2011. On there I have more information about how to give and what it is going towards "Operation Schoolbook".

I would like to start raising funds now because I am doing a program (Hal Higgins) and tomorrow I am going out at 5:15am to run my long run for that week. I pray this time is a glory to the Lord and I find encouragement knowing I am running for a greater cause. Please prayerfully consider joining me with prayer, encouragement, or supporting As Our Own.

I will keep you posted on training (I am running with my friend Natalie up here so that is a great help) and also catch you up on other parts of my life soon,

The Lord is good and His mercies are perfect.
Thanks.

Where did May go?...

Well to Graduation weekends. Good weather, bad weather, and perfect weather. In the month of May I...

(1) started biking the city - I have always wanted to bike in the city and now I have, yesterday I biked up to Montrose Harbor (about 6 miles north or my apt) it was a beautiful day and I enjoyed every minute - except a few times I was scared the wind was going to blow my bike and me over :0) and I also bike to work!!

(2) walked in a Graduation - I didn't walk for my Associates or my Bachelors but did for my Master's. It was a wonderful weekend (- the weather). Both of my grandma's came up for it. I got to ride up with them and we stopped at cracker barrel on the way up - our waitress actually started crying when she heard that both my grandma's were going to be there for my graduation day - which was so special. I also had some good friends willing to sit through the hour and 1/2. It was a fun day full of friends and family.

(3) started to meet with a group of women here in the city on Tuesday nights. It has been wonderful to study the word together and get to know some more christians here in the city. This weekend we are going to an art fair and grilling out on Saturday.

(4) went to a Turkish festival at Daley Plaza which means summer is here and the festivals are coming back in full swing!

(5) started getting serious about running - I start official marathon training next week! My friend Natalie has been getting up with me around 5:45 to get our runs on! I love it once we are out - but I couldn't get up and motivated without her.

(6) Maggie and I have been enjoying this beautiful weather. Last night we went on a walk for a little over an hour - running into a guy trying to get TV reception on the sidewalk - he had a fairly large TV and was using an outlet that is used for Christmas lights in the winter (but it didn't last long soon the security guard had to ask him to move...)

(7) Finished another Science Project with one of the kids at our after school program. Every year it always creeps up on us and this year we tried to get the project moving sooner but sure enough a few days after it was due (TJ was able to get an extension) we were rushing to finish it up. I figured out I am not a science fair teacher... I can help put together but the actual meat of the project - NO THANK YOU :)

(8) discovered a fro-yo (frozen yogurt) place near our apt - so we are done with the cupcakes for the year time for the Frozen yogurt! I'm excited to check out some of the fro-yo places here in the city - possibly bike up to them!

(9) I was going for 10 things but I'm done so ... otherwise just enjoying the city - not sure about what is going to be happening in the next few months. I only have 3 more days with Cameron (this week and next) and a week in Florida visiting my Aunt!! I'm really excited to spend some time with her and on the beach!

Trusting in God's might and power and knowing He will speak but not sure how and when. Until then I continue to learn of His power and love in my life. I pray I can continue to share that no matter where I am.

Wrapping it up...

So I started this blog about 2 1/2 years ago as I was heading up to Chicago unaware at how this city and the people in it would turn me into a "city girl", by God's grace I was able to enjoy the change although not all my memories are perfect but the majority are and as I am finishing up with my Master's I am strongly thinking of staying in the city...

Yes. I am finishing my "college years" AH!! I have one more presentation tomorrow and a potluck in my second class. I will be walking out of Loyola tomorrow around 2:00 pm never to return as a student... (yep I have one friend doing his doctoral studies and that is enough to scare me away from that idea forever :) )

so the infamous next question... "What are you doing after you graduate" well I will still be nannying with Cameron part time until June 13th after that the sky is the limit. I had an interview last Thursday for a foster care case manager. I left that meeting a little overwhelmed about the idea of working a full-time job. I mentioned to one of my social work friends that I was looking at that position to which they replied, "Once you do foster care casework, you'll feel like you can do anything!!!" I think that was suppose to be an encouragement :) Also in the interview I was asked how I deal with stress to which I replied, "well I don't get stressed much... [but made up a few coping skills like running, socializing, taking a time out]" After he described the work I would be doing and that I would start with hours that might reach up into 60 hours a week and involve people, courts, and other systems unsatisfied with my work, lots of paper work and driving; I realized I may learn a whole new meaning to the phrase "you're stessin me out".

Otherwise the city is killing me with this gloomy weather although good for runs if it isn't raining. oop Cameron's up. Will write more later.

More from the North Pole

Monday Val went into work for the morning and then enjoyed the Visitor's Center with her friend Maria. A visit to the Fudge pot and some wonderful blueberry fudge.... yum. In the evening Val and Maria went to a meeting and I was able to spend some precious time with my new friend and sister in Christ Cherie. She is a wonderful mother of 2 children, Gabi and William along with a faithful wife of Adam who is currently training in Arizona. It has been an experience to live with these women who have come to love their husbands and be loved as Christ loves the church but then have them taken for months or more than a year a time in the name of America. The sacrifice these women experience is great but to see God's hand and way He strengthens these women is also a testimony to me. It has been a gift to be here with them and get to know their hearts.


Tuesday involved a visit to Santa Clause's house (which happened to be closed but no worries I got a good picture with the BIG guy - biggest Santa Clause in the world - and saw the reign deer :) )






Wednesday we got to introduce Sushi to Maria and Cherie - there was a fun place in Fairbanks. Val enjoyed the rest of our evening just relaxing playing some Monopoly deal, watching Despicable Me (so cute by the way), and making some delightful good (avocado salsa, spinach quiche, and bread pudding with a carmelly sauce :) ). And we got to go on a dog sled ride in Fairbanks! It was so majestic and beautiful! The lady that gave the tour was a blast to talk with. We talked most of the ride. It was a beautiful day and a light snow started as we ventured out on the trails.



Thursday I was able to join Val on post with a Women's ministry to the wives of Army men. It was a great time of prayer, worship, and truth based on Jonah - what a rich illustration of the need to pursue God's direction in our lives. Also enjoyed the infamous Cookie Jar - another cute restaurant in Fairbanks. And finished the evening with some wonderful homemade oil sauce pizza, left over bread pudding - yum - and the movie "Life as We Know It" <-- I would highly recommend this movie - super cute chick flick :)

Signing off for now. 2 more days and then heading back to Chicago where I hope it is warming up!!

Going Dog sledding!!!

We are going dog sledding this afternoon!!! Can't wait. I will catch you all up when Val is at work tomorrow afternoon - stayed tune for pictures and memories to come...

2 posts in one week!!

This past week was full of adventures. Monday presented itself with many threats of a storm coming to Chicago. And it did come! 20 inches or so fell within the 24 hours between Tuesday afternoon and Wednesday morning. There also was thunder and lightening in the midst of it all. It was absolutely incredible. I did not go out in it (much to my Grandmother's appreciation - although there were a few times I almost got the spirit to venture to the lake). One of my friends went out to the lake in the blizzard and at one point said the gusts of wind were so great he couldn't move forward. I went out after it settle around 11:00pm. Then on Wednesday Maggie and I ventured out and got some fun pictures.



Thursday was pretty calm. My morning class was cancelled and I geared up to head for Alaska! I left for Alaska on Friday. Left from Chicago around 3:45 pm. Arrived in Seattle 6:10 had a lay over till 9:30. Got into Alaska around 12:45am (which felt like 2:45 central time). Val picked me up! On our way home the Aurora was so incredible. Val said it was the most beautiful display of the lights she has ever seen. As one of my friends said, it is like the sky was dancing. It was an incredible shade of green and at one point we even saw some red and pink and then they would move - wow. how creative Lord!



Saturday we ventured out - found me camera, ID, credit cards, transportation cards which I had dropped in the snow in my excitement of the lights the night before. Praise the Lord we found them all just where I had gotten out of the car. My camera was even in good shape. We then went to the Chowder house for some chowder (salmon) and visited the pipe line. Saw the mountains. Got to hang out with some of Val's friends here.



The days are longer than I expected the sun coming up around 10:00 setting around 5:30 but the sun never gets very high but it is still fairly bright. It makes for beautiful color in the sunsets and sunrises.

Today's super bowl involved about 8 ladies, commenting on the football players hair. watching the "puppy bowl" on animal planet during the half time. 4 of the ladies got out their crochet projects. and not a lot of the game watching, but the food was excellent which is the importance of the superbowl :)

Looking forward to many more adventures here with Val and the Alaska :)

Almost February, I know...

So how do I catch up from Nov till now???

Started my last semester in School. (Ending on March 14th at 6:30 - Graduation!!!). Kind of crazy to think about.

Loving living here in Chicago - My roommate Maggie and I are getting along just great. She is such a blessing and safe place in my life. Two of my friends recently (well since I last blogged) moved about a mile away (Caleb and Livy Zobrist). I have had some fun times with them - including some crazy x-box game that doesn't have controllers but reads your body movements - visit to Molly's cupcakes. Scarey Halloween movie. and a few trips back and forth from the central illinois. Caleb was looking at moving to Chicago when I first moved up in '08. It didn't work out then but it is incredible to see how God works and has brought them up here now. Livy is a good friend of mine from elementary school and since.

Maggie and I are exploring the city and the States. In December, we were able to visit Phoenix which was a great time for both of us. We got to see all our good friends in that area (Maggie had worked out there for a few months when she was a traveling nurse). We are working on visiting the top 15 cafes in the city and have been enjoying some great brunch places on the weekends.

New years came and went this year - I did go see the fireworks here in Chicago. (although I was not happy they were so late. Really 10:00 pm would have been much better than midnight : ) ). I had a few wonderful girls from central illinois in the area which was such a blessing that weekend (Polly, Lisa, Alyssa, Jenna, and Leah - they stayed in a hotel not my apt).

Bears did not make the Super bowl - big surprise - I really thought they might though this year "welp. There is always next year :)"

My sweet friends Dani and Daniel were here from Texas for the weekend. It was wonderful to get a chance to catch up with them (sometimes I wonder why God connects us with people so wonderful but SO far away :( )

Tomorrow... I am going to be signing up for the marathon here in Chicago! I am going to be partnering with a local church and raising funds for world vision. Check later for a link and you can challenge me in my training and possibly donate yourself. This is an opportunity I have been praying for. Running has been a wonderful opportunity for me in many ways. I have had the chance to run socially which is great. Also have watched my dad start running and been encouraged by his disciple and hope to some day run a 5K with him. Also it is a time for me to spend with the Lord and in the quit of Chicago along the lake or other places in the US (California, Florida, Phoenix, Wisconsin, Michigan, Indiana all places I have enjoyed runs - not races necessarily). Also this summer running was a part of my ministry with the girls and also I am looking at running with "Back on my Feet" when the weather gets warmer - which is an association which runs with those who find themselves homeless for a season and works on getting them "back on their feet" through job training and awareness. who knew someday running would be such a big part of my life.

well I'll let this be the update for now and try to keep up a little better. Snow storm on the way and then on Friday I head up to the north pole!! For real :) I'm going to see Santa Clause - also going to see my friend Val (whose real address is the north pole a little south of Fairbanks Alaska)