People in my room

Two Saturdays ago there were 30 people packed in my 750 square foot apartment.

I honestly was doubting if this would be possible.

I was proved wrong.

Mike and I hosted our January launch team party at our house. Our launch team parties are simple get togethers with every one who is committed or just plain interested in planting a church with us. It is chance to meet new people, catch up with old friends and make new ones. This last one was probably one of our best ones yet. We packed as many fold up chairs as possible along the edges of our living room. We also opened up the french doors to our bedroom and put some chairs in there too. It was madness, but fantastic madness. 

I found that this particular meeting put me to the test in some ways. As I was cleaning before the party I was realizing that every part of my house would most likely be on display. A large group of people would see the empty grey walls in our bedroom ( I plan on hanging pictures). They would see the sloppily painted paneling, and the fact that the refrigerator door is hooked on the wrong way. They would see our cheap target comforter and maybe notice that our pillow cases do not match in the least. The only thing that was not on display that night was our clothes closet in the farthest corner of our bedroom. I will not disclose to you what was packed in there to make room for everyone. 

There was a point during the evening when I was sitting on my bed with several other people ( it was being used as another piece of sitting furniture) and thinking, 

"There are so many people in my room..." 

Before I could figure out if this was ok with me or not, I realized that being in someone's room is something personal. It's usually a quiet place that is invitation only. If you're like me, it is a place where you quickly shove stuff before people come over. It is sometimes the place where you cry without reservation and fight most loudly. It is the place of rest when you are sick. Some rooms are safe havens, retreats, and almost sacred. When people are in your room they really see you. You become a little more vulnerable than usual. No hiding. 

In this moment I was suddenly aware of how important it was for me to open up my room to everyone that night. I wasn't even thinking about what it would feel like while I was cleaning earlier in the day. All I was thinking about was how in the world we were going to fit everyone in our apartment and what they were going to see.

The past few weeks I've been replaying this feeling in my mind. A part of me felt so much joy and an interesting closeness to our team. Another part of me was resisting the urge to build some really quick walls to hide vulnerability. This was my insecurity, my deep desire to be accepted and liked. 

Before Mike and I moved to Texas I thought church planting would be long nights, long talks, lots of cooking, and an endless amount of dishes. I am learning that these things are certainly apart of church planting, but it is not all that it is. 

Church planting is mostly about opening up your room to a bunch of people. 

Its about vulnerability, being real, and living with people. It is about sharing your struggles and victories. Its about letting the real and living Gospel show up through you no matter how messy it may look. 

Its about deciding to open up the doors of your room.

Its about letting people in. 

It is about letting Jesus in. 

I think that vulnerability may be an endless battle that rages inside of my mind and my heart. I will probably be working on insecurity issues until I am like 80 years old. But I don't want to ever give up on fighting that battle because its in vulnerability where we find Jesus. And I so want him in my room. 

So let them see my mix matched pillow cases! Let them see my empty walls! Let them see my dirty dishes! Welcoming people to my life, and to the heart of the Gospel is of more importance than looking pretty. So come on in, the doors are open. 

The Graduate

So I received my diploma in the mail the other day. I could hardly breathe as I opened the package. I think I remember myself hopping up and down in a parking lot as I ripped it open. I had waited and worked a long time for that piece of paper. That small moment in the parking lot was so personally important. It was not the traditional graduate moment in a hat and gown, hearing my name called, and walking across a stage, but it was my moment. I don't think I'll ever forget it.

I officially finished classes around the same time we moved out to Texas. There was so much going on in those few months before our move. My last semester I worked like a robot. I didn't take it in, I just worked. This past week I have had some time to think back on my college experience. It was a pretty untraditional road, but I met so many amazing people and learned so many different things. I went to four schools and pursued three different majors. Yeah... I was that kid. I didn't have it all figured out then...but I can't say that I have it all figured it now haha.

I want to remember so I decided to share some of my favorite memories and lessons. 


1. Toccoa Falls College (Major: Cross-Cultural Adult Education Minor: Ethnomusicology) 
  
- My ethnomusicology classes! One of my finals was listening to pieces of music and writing down the composer and time period. This is harder than it sounds. The first day of this class my professor told us that we didn't know how to listen to music and that he was going to teach us how...and he did. I also took a world music class that covered cultural music. We took a trip out to Emory in Atlanta to play an ancient gong instrument that was played in Emporers' palaces in Asia. I remember we had to take our shoes off for the entire session out of respect. 

- There was a beautiful waterfall on campus. Some people said that a Native American princess committed suicide by jumping off of the falls. It was the classic Romeo and Juliet legend. She apparently had a lover from a rival tribe that she could not be with. 

-My Hmong friends! This was a beautiful community of students at Toccoa. They introduced me to Pho for the first time. It was the best soup I had ever had. 

- A girls dorm. I remember getting used to living with all girls. It was very intense at times, but other times is was so much fun! I didn't grow up with sisters, but I gained some during that time. 


2. Kennesaw State University (Major: Art Education)

- Studio Classes! I took several art studio classes like drawing and 2D design. I had never thought I was much of a drawer, but I learned that it could be taught. I loved everything about these classes. I always had some kind of chalk or paint on my hands. We worked on easels the whole class period in rustic studios that smelled like paint. I learned how to look at things differently. I learned how to pay attention to light, detail, and composition. The art department was a different world. The students had wild hair and interesting vocabulary. They were experimental and honest. It was refreshing. 

-Nude Models. Yes one of my classes required us to draw nude models. We were learning how to draw the human form. I remember the first class, I probably turned five different shades of red. I learned how to open my eyes in this class. Believe it or not, there is something so deeply amazing when you can draw the perfect curve of a shoulder or even a facial expression. I remember being grateful and amazed at the way that God created every detail of the human body. 

-Art History! I am in love with art history. In these classes we studied works of art, technique, and how art is one of the greatest indicators of a culture and time. 

- Independence. I learned how to enjoy being by myself during this time. I loved being able to navigate unknown and sometimes uncomfortable territory. I loved all the different people that I met and how they didn't believe like I did. I found out what I believe. It stretched me for the better. I feel like I became more relevant in those few semesters. 


3. Columbus State University (Major: Business) 

-Married, Commuter Student. I learned about the challenges of being married and still going to college. It is possible if you stick to your guns! 

-Planning ahead. I learned the art of planning ahead. I drove an hour to school and was in full time ministry. 


4. Ohio Christian University (Major: Business Management)

- Perseverance even if no one is looking! Online school is a different world. You don't see your classmates or professors and sometimes you feel a little alone. But it is doable and works out for the hermit perfectionist types like me haha. 

- A love for meaningful business. I learned that business can really make an impact on the world. I believe that God can use it to accomplish His purposes. 

- Quiet Celebration. I learned that some of my accomplishments would only be seen and felt by me. It was important for me to acknowledge those wins and keep going. 



There is so much more that I could probably say about my college experience. It was unique, long, lonely, challenging, exciting, and worth it. It was mine. 

I am thankful for my parents for being patient and supportive through all of my changes. 
I am thankful for my husband for reminding that I am more than what I do in school, for seeing my hard work and my wins, and for being my consistent cheerleader especially during online education. 

Advent Calendar Giveaway Winner!!!

The time has come to announce the Advent Calendar Giveaway Winner! I wanted to thank you all for making this so much fun! I am so grateful for all of the calendar orders and for those who shared the giveaway with their friends. I hope that everyone has an exciting and meaningful Advent season! 

I currently have two more calendars for sale. Please let me know if you would like to purchase one!

Advent Calendar Giveaway!

For the past few weeks I have been furiously working on a new project for the holiday season. I am honestly proud of myself for thinking about the holidays before the month of November. Planning ahead is not one of my personal strengths, so this is a win! 

Over the past few months I have come across several online crafters and artists who are designing and printing Advent calendars for the month of December. Their calendars are jaw- dropping magnificent, but I found I can't afford them.

So I decided to make my own.

 

"If you can't buy it, make it. " 

The word 'Advent' means  "the arrival of a notable person, thing or event..." Those who celebrate Advent, celebrate the coming of Christ into the world. As I was reading, designing, and painting I fell more and more in love with this idea. I found that Advent is so much more than celebrating the event of Christ's birth. It is also about celebrating all that he brought with Him as he came to dwell among us for a while. He brought with Him peace, joy, salvation, hope, life, victory, light, and commonality.

I am reminded that Christ chose to be vulnerable by coming to Earth as a man. Christ is a picture of hospitality because he came to Earth to feel what we feel, and to see what we see, so that we could know Him and feel comfortable to be apart of His family. We always feel a little more comfortable with those who have gone through what we have. Christ wanted to bring salvation, but I also think he wanted to achieve common ground. 

So He chose to be human. He came to our level.

We can talk about being a kid with Jesus, because He was one at one time. 

We can talk about sorrow, hurt, betrayal, and pain, because He experienced it first hand. 

We can talk about deep friendship, being hungry, being tired, beauty, telling stories, and laughing at jokes because he experienced and saw and heard and touched some of the same things that we have. I imagine that he loved it all because He knew we would feel closer to Him and vice versa. 

Christ's vulnerability brought commonality!

This is why I am in love with Jesus. 

I thought I would celebrate this truth by having an:

Advent Calendar Giveaway! 

#adventgiveaway2014

The winner will be chosen at random, and will receive my handmade Advent calendar. The calendar consists of 25 scripture cards for each day in the month of December.

 

Each print contains a design on the front and a scripture to read for that day on the back. There is also a place to jot down some meaningful notes for the day.  

How to Enter:

1. Follow The Well DFW Instagram account 

@thewelldfw

2. Like The Well DFW Facebook page at 

www.facebook.com/TheWellDFW

3. Repost my Advent Calendar Giveaway Instagram post and tag me in it

 @katie_gerald 

&

#adventgiveaway2014

The giveaway ends on November 22 at midnight. So enter soon!

Results will be posted on Instagram, Facebook, and my blog on November 23. 

If you would like to purchase an Advent Calendar for $15 please email me at gerald_katie@yahoo.com. Get your order in soon!

Top 5 Instagram Treasures

So I have stumbled upon an Instagram treasure trove that I wanted to share. These are just a few inspirational people and companies that I am following right now. Check them out and follow them!

1. @shereadstruth 

She Reads Truth is an "online community of women who study God's Word together". Their website is managed by a group of women who write genuine and relevant devotional plans.They also collaborate with artists who design beautiful devotional books, prints, and so much more! It is my favorite website right now. They also have an app available! I am currently going through their study on Hospitality and it is rocking my world. Check them out at www.shereadstruth.com !

2. @naptimediaries

Naptime Diaries is a family owned print and design shop that sells colorful scripture prints, canvases and more for your home! Jess Connolly is founder, a mom, an artist, and a fellow church planter's wife! Check out her shop at www.naptimediariesshop.com and her blog at  www.naptimediaries.com/blog. I recently purchased one of her printable bundles and I am in love! 

3. @lilyasher

LilyAsher is a shop that sells beautiful handmade button earrings. This beautiful idea and business originated in Tulsa, OK by Kim Gottsacker. Check her out at www.lilyasher.com!

4. @miriamdesigns

Miriam Designs sells "handmade & hope-filled goods." Gracie Moakler and her team create beautiful pieces of jewelry. Mike bought me their compass necklace for my birthday this year. Check out their website at www.miriam-designs.com. They just came out with a fall sweater line! 

5. @thelittlecraftshow

The Little Craft Show is an indie craft market in the midwest. Their Instagram features so many lovely and interesting artists and crafters. I so wish I lived closer to their venue! Check them out at www.thelittlecraftshow.com! 

Christ. Beat. Fear

"I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but rather the assessment that something else is more important than fear." - Franklin D. Roosevelt

Fear has always gone straight to my stomach. I feel it and look immediately for any exit doors available. The bathroom...the back door...the car (with keys). I have always been a pretty quiet person, I like quiet safe places. I like whites, blues, clean smells, cool spaces. I like my British movies (Downton Abbey), mashed potatoes and my softest socks. I like my closest people around me and planned days with details like when, what, who, why...etc. 

Does this sound crazy? Would I completely annoy you? Maybe...

I like safe, and hate fear. Fear makes me mad. Fear can take things from me. It can take my experiences, my sight, my blessings, my lessons. 

But Christ beat fear.

 I think he beat it that night on the Mount of Olives before He was crucified.

 "He withdrew from them about a stone's throw away (He was near his closest friends), knelt down, and began to pray. 'Father, if You are willing, take this cup away from Me- nevertheless, not My will, but Yours, be done.' 

Sometimes I wonder if Jesus felt it in his stomach the same way that I do. I wonder how long it took him to say ..."nevertheless, not my will, but Yours, be done." But he prayed and valiantly held onto a cause, a promise, a reason, a power that undermines the grip of fear of every time. I think it was in this moment Christ beat fear with His courage. Jesus believed that closeness with humanity was far more important than the events that he would experience in the next few hours... and I think He knew exactly what would happen in these next few hours. 

Could I be as selfish as to ask if I crossed His mind in this moment? Did He know that His triumph in a quiet garden would give me the strength to do scary things in this life?  Did he do this with my freedom in mind? 

All I can say is that my beautiful Savior is boldly and unselfishly courageous.

The past few weeks I have had some interesting encounters with fear. It has crept up beside me in unexpected moments. My husband and I just moved from Georgia (my home) to Texas to plant a church. I feel the stir, the call, the pull to accomplish what God has asked us to do, but sometimes I also feel the apprehension, the fear, and the smallness that comes with something so bigger than me and so new. But I am reminded tonight that Christ has gone before me in this. I know that He knows about fear and that He pushed through for something more important...for me and for you. 

The honest truth is that I will most likely feel fear every now and again. Like when I drive on these enormous Texas highways, when I open up my heart and my home to strangers, when I interview for a completely new job, when my husband and I work to create the foundation of a church that doesn't exist yet, or even when I stay in our apartment alone while Mike is away. I will probably turn for those exit doors and consider excuses to get out of things. But what I do know is that if Christ beat fear for a worthy cause, I can do the same. Because of Him, I have the freedom to pursue what is most important without being paralyzed by fear. 

And for this I am truly grateful.

This beautiful graphic is by Jenny of French Press Mornings. Check her out at http://frenchpressmornings.com/2014/10/encouraging-wednesdays-deuteronomy-316/.

Lipscomb Street

Five and a half weeks ago my husband (Mike) and I moved from a small town in Georgia to the great state of Texas. Let me describe the past few weeks: 

cardboard boxes

fast food

heavy lifting

a constant messy bun

tired tears

and a few more cardboard boxes

This week things have finally settled down a bit. My husband and I are breathing and looking around at where we are. It is pretty exciting, and pretty new, and it's all alright. 

We have settled in a small, 1930s apartment on Lipscomb Street. So far we have met a few of our neighbors, Roy the maintenance man, and a small fluffy kitten who lives across the street (Mike saved him from a tree twice...we are beginning to feel he gets stuck on purpose). The walls in our apartment are painted a beautiful shade of grey that changes with the light. We are growing accustomed to the sounds outside... the dog across the street, the train, and the kids playing at the boys and girls club beside us. All these things are beginning to charm us. I have a feeling we will really like it here. 

Lipscomb Street is certainly different than anywhere I have ever lived in my whole life. This move marks a new phase for us, and I am excited to see who we will become, what we will see, what we will do, what will inspire us, and what we will experience. I hope to share some of these things with you.