Why Not?

Friday, September 27

When I'm old and saggy and can say whatever I very well please,
what I really want to tell my grandkids is that I lived a good story.

that I took risks and listened to the Holy Spirit.
that I made cookies with my neighbor kids spur of the moment
and moved to Nepal with my husband.
That I skinny dipped in italy,
and ate bugs in Asia, 
and opened my home to anyone looking for love. 

and then I realized that all of those things I wanted to remember,
anything that was worth repeating,
were opportunities that presented themselves that others might say, 
"well, why?..why would you do that?"

"why eat a bug?"
or
"why move to country where the freaking electricity is never on?" 
or
"why live in a neighborhood that has a gang?" 

and here's my very deep and profound answer,

"why not?" 

why.the.heck.not? 

Jesus's life wasn't normal, so why should mine be? 
Jesus didn't have a picket fence or a fat salary or even a permanent home on earth. 

He just carried love around in his pocket, and sowed seeds of beauty and depth, grace and forgiveness. 

these are the thoughts swirling in my head right now, am I weird? 

and so in honor of the 

why not 
statement, 

I am now a farmer. 
I know, laugh. 
please. 
it's hilarious. 

While still in Nepal, my dad mentioned that if we wanted to come and work the rice harvest he'd hire us! 
You see, my family has been growin' rice like nobody's business for the last 100 years. 
and while I didn't grow up in the country or on a farm, i'd love to believe that i'm a farmer at heart. 
Most the time, I settle for being a farmers daughter.
but now with great excitement, I can now say i'm a legit farmer {for 4 more weeks! haha}

Kev and I decided that for one month this Fall, we'd learn how to grow grain like it was our job. 
In fact, it is our job. {not to grow the grain, of course, but to harvest it}

So for the next month, you can refer to me as farmer Katie:) 
I've got my flannel, my jeans, and work shoes...i've even got a grease gun! 

so why not randomly work on a farm? 
we're young, we're able and we still have our eyesight to drive a tractor! 
and won't that make a good story someday? 
I think so:) 

So today, I hope you'll find something to ask
"why not" to! 

surprise yourself, cut loose, and love life for all it's surprises!! 
love Katie 


39 comments :

  1. My husband just took a job in England for the simple reason of "why not"? It's such a once in a lifetime opportunity to live in Europe. Most people don't understand our move at all but just like you, I want to be able to tell the story of how we took a risk and more importantly, can look back on my life and not regret passing up the chance of a lifetime.

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  2. I LOVE THIS!

    I would love to be able to try something new like that. And I think career-wise, you'll learn a lot. :)

    If I were there I would sing to you. Jason Aldean's Big, Green Tractor to be specific! haha

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  3. You two are the cutest farmers I have ever seen! Way to continue your journey in another totally different direction and keep being such a perfect life role model, Katie. You rock!

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  4. Oh girl...I just adore you. You have such a beautiful story already, will only get more beautiful. I love this and can so relate. I actually have a piece of a white picket fence hanging on my wall here and I say that it's the "American dream" it just has to follow me everywhere Jesus takes me :) We are living the dream...chasing after God's will for our lives! You're such an encouragement and I'm so proud of y'all! Thank you for using this blog to make girls strive for Jesus. You are the cutest farmer I ever did see! Love you, girlfriend!

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  5. LOVE this post! "Why not?" has been my motto for the last 6 months or so, and I have found myself taking so many risks than I thought I would (like up and moving to Nashville in less than 2 weeks)! I actually just wrote a post about how truly following Jesus isn't supposed to be normal or comfortable... it's supposed to be crazy! Love your heart :)

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  6. LOVE this post! "Why not?" has been my motto for the last 6 months or so, and I have found myself taking so many risks than I thought I would (like up and moving to Nashville in less than 2 weeks)! I actually just wrote a post about how truly following Jesus isn't supposed to be normal or comfortable... it's supposed to be crazy! Love your heart :)

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  7. LOVE this post! "Why not?" has been my motto for the last 6 months or so, and I have found myself taking so many more risks than I ever thought possible (like up and moving to Nashville in less than 2 weeks)! I actually just wrote a post about how following Jesus isn't supposed to be normal or comfortable... it's supposed to be crazy!! Love your heart :)

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  8. I've always wanted to have my own farm! Seems like such a simple life :)

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  9. Oh such a sweet, fun reminder. I love that you will always have this experience to look back on fondly, what a fun thing! <3 Enjoy being a farmer, I've always kind of wished I was a farmers daughter ;)

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  10. This is an amazing post :) I've always wanted to be a farmer!

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  11. WHY NOT! is right.. I loved what you said about JEsus too "Jesus' life wasn't normal - so why should mine be"
    Seriously, I love reading y'alls life, it's inspiring and challenging.
    so many good why not questions I need to be asking myself!

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  12. That is so stinkin' awesome! Where will you be farming!? Those tracker pictures reminded me of our family reunion this summer in Iowa! Lots of farmers! What you said reminded me of our sermon on Sunday. "If Jesus does it, I'm going to do it." "If Jesus says it, I'm going to say it." "If Jesus goes there, I'm going to go there."

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  13. I love this! Everything you write about & the way you write it is so inspirational. Farming for a month sounds awesome! Can't wait to hear more as you go :)

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  14. I love this SO MUCH and to answer your question, yes, you are weird. But I'm pretty sure everyone who loves the Lord has a little bit of weird in them in order to make us to jump out in faith. That takes weirdness! I LOVE IT!

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  15. YES! Farmer Katie! I love it and can imagine that manual labor is highly rewarding! Have fun!! :)

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  16. Fantastic for you! I work indirectly in the ag industry. (A post for my blog next week, ironically...)
    You wear the plaid well!

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  17. Your grandchildren are going to have the coolest grandparents around. Good luck with farming and I look forward to hearing stories all about it! Also, you're not weird. You're awesome.

    Have a lovely weekend :)

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  18. Love this post...so true! And you guys are seriously the cutest:)

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  19. Love this...so true! And you guys are seriously the cutest:)

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  20. haha i LOVE this! what an awesome experience to have! i don't think i would last the month though ; )

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  21. Katie, you guys are just so freaking awesome. :)

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  22. Love your heart, girl! You remind me so much of my best friend, she has the best perspective on everything and truly seeks out God's voice in all that she does. Admire her of course, and you...farmer Katie. :)

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  23. ahhhhh! I love this!! What an amazing new opportunity and adventure! I can't wait to hear more about it!!! And you're right, Why Not?? Why not allow God to work out His amazing plans and watch and see His hand at work?!

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  24. Farmer Katie! I love it and no farmer has ever looked cuter on the job. :) I love your view of life and agree 100%. Why not?!

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  25. Love this! Such a great motto. You are just precious.

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  26. I absolutely LOVE this post and what you're doing. I too am a firm believer in "why not?" and it has given me some of the most unique and amazing experiences thus far. Wishing you best of luck with the season ahead! :)

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  27. You are seriously going to have awesome stories to tell when you're old!!!

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  28. I envy your "why not?" attitude. Way to seize opportunity.

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  29. Love this post. No, really. Adore that you live your life in hopes of telling a great story (and I know you will! What awesome adventures!). Excited to read about your new expedition as a rice farmer ;]

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  30. Why not?! I think that is so awesome that you get to be Farmer Katie for awhile!

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  31. Oh Katie, this made me smile! :) Andrew and I have also been doing farming together here in Virginia!!! Isn't it fun to work alongside your husband on a new adventure??! Love seeing your photos and updates here! xx

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  32. Oh Katie, this made me smile! :) Andrew and I have also been farming together here in Virginia!! Isn't it fun to work alongside your husband on a new adventure?!! Love seeing your photos and reading about your journey! xx

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  33. I love it! What a cool opportunity to do this for a month! Christopher grew up surrounded by farm land in central Illinois. Most summers he worked as a lifeguard, but the summer he was saving for an engagement ring for a special lady (that's me!) he "walked beans" as well. It was fun to hear him talk about the farm life. I hope you are loving it and learning a lot!

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  34. i absolutely adore the thoughts in this post. I find the whole "why the heck not?" question to be one i constantly throw at myself. glad to see you share the same thoughts on the matter.

    you seem incredibly rad.

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  35. haha! love this. :)

    so maybe i missed it somewhere -- or i need to read more. are you guys home from nepal for good or just a furlough?

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  36. hahah that's awesome! good for you guys!

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  37. haha i love it. why the heck not! :) yeah.. living like jesus has been and always will be counter cultural.

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