Wow. 10th week. 10th state. 10th conference. 10th host home. Yup, I'm in Cadillac, Michigan. And the major significance of that is that it's our last one of this year!! As we drove into Cadillac, we were all amazed how all year we'd been knowing that "Cadillac" was our last conference...and here we were, driving into town.

And last night...I had a first! But I won't tell what it is until I can post my pictures. But folks, it's been extremely memorable here so far! Can't wait to show you pictures! It may not be a big deal for some people, but it was huge for me!

And yes, wedding pictures are soon to come.

Got home safe and sound Thursday afternoon, and right from the start, it's been everything I thought it would be...BUSY!! Going here, going there, going everywhere, and in every direction at the same tim! The church is set up, the dresses are here, the rehearsal is behind us...and tomorrow is the big day!

It's been really emotional being home. Seeing my family again, and realizing how much I love my family, and how much I miss them while I'm gone...but also just processing and realizing that my sister is getting married, and leaving this life behind and beginning a new one, in a home of her own with her own traditions and memories to make. I so desparetely just want to sit and cry it out, but there's not time for that now. I've had such a good life going up, surrounded by siblings and loving parents, creating memories and foundations that have held us together and made us into the family that we are. But now, that period of our lives is over, and a new "normal" is to be established. And one day, it will be normal. But for now...it's just difficult to see everything I've known and held onto so tighly come to an end.

 Well, on with the show!

Just two days and then I'm home for the first wedding of the Trout clan! Right now we are ministering up in Michigan, and so far, it's been good! We've had up to 50 kids in Dynamite club, and so it's been sometimes a challenge, but mostly just a whole lot of fun for Shanna and I.

Like I said, I get to go home in just two days! I am SO excited about seeing my family again! It's going to be a whirlwind of a few days while I'm there...and then back to join my team on Monday in Niagara Falls, New York! But go figure...they are going to see the Falls while I'm not there! Hhmm...I'll have to see what I can do about that!  Anyway....

Folks, I'm a'comin' home!!

Washington DC was an awesome trip! It was amazing to just look around at all the places where history itself had been made! It was especially powerful for me, because several years ago a friend of mine had gone to DC, and I had seen all of her pictures, and had thought to myself how I'd love to go, but never thought I'd have the chance! And so to stand there and see with my own eyes the places that I had seen in her pictures and history books was amazing! The Lord has brought me over so many places! Doing ministry 24/7 is tiring, but moments like these make it worth, as the Lord drops in my lap all the opportunities to see things that I never would otherwise have seen.

We visited the World War monuments, where there was erected a pillar for each state that fought in the war. Here I am proudly by my home state!

Another monument to the fallen soldiers during the wars. And yes, that's me...the sunlight made my hair look red...

Alright folks from home, take a look at that girl on the right...does she not look like my little sister Karis or what?? She made me so homesick that week...

Tuesday night we teach the Max Lucado lesson of "If Only I had a Green Nose," which addresss peer pressure. And part of the evening is getting our noses painted! What fun! Definitely not just a hit with the kids, but with the teachers, too!

On a lighter moment of the day...*wink*

Me and Emily, one of my Dynamite clubbers from TN, who was also the little sister of one of my team mates.

Me and Crystal with our dear host family from Tennessee

Last Wednesday was "Happy Day!" or otherwise known as the day we wash our Life Action "fleat"...consisting of two Rv's, the Semi truck, and the bus! What fun!

Good job, team!!

And a few of the guys and friends sporting their way-so-cool "Happy Day Comb-overs." Doofuses!!

Well, there's a lengthy picture update for you all!

So, where in the US was Kellie at two Thursdays ago?

I basically know what day of the week it is by what we are doing that day. Like, for instance, Tuesday is marked by it being the Ladies Luncheon. Wednesday is tear-down night. Thursday (whoohoo!) is usually our off day. And then, of course, Friday is travel day!! Ranging from 5-9 hours on the bus...with typically only one stop at lunch time...our day on the bus is definitely a breading ground for memory making!

Here's me being studious in my seat on the bus (row 5):

And Friday is also eat-out day. Fast food for lunch. And some other "nicer" restaurant for supper. And so, last Friday found us sitting in Red Hot & Blue BBQ. Where they served us our southern sweet tea not in cups, but mini pitchers!

Me and Shanna, my Dynamite partner

Matt and Austin

I almost don't know what to do with myself. For the first time in probably 3 months, there was not a set time in the morning that I had to get up this morning! As me and my room buddy Anna crawled into our bed last night, we sat there almost dazed as we realized that we didn't have to set our alarm at all! I really almost couldn't get my mind around the fact! Road life just does some things to you, let me tell you! And so, what time did I wake up this morning?? That's right--7:30 am! Go figure...I had to literally force my body to go back to sleep until after 9!

The plan was for us all to go to Philadelphia today for our day off, but us girls decided to stay back and have a girl's movie afternoon instead. Pride and Predjudice, here we come!

You know what, folks, I am continually amazed at how big God is! I mean, think of all He does. All the promises in the Bible. All the times He's done the impossible. All the times He's healed your broken heart. The God that we worship is beyond our comprehension. We could be the wisest person alive...yet still not even have the brain capacity to understand Him. Yesterday, we had a girls team meeting, and I was sharing a few of my struggles with them. Andrea, our revivalists wife and a woman of great wisdom, shared a profound statement. "You have to get beyond what YOU think and feel...to what is TRUTH!" I knew that...but it was like learning it all over again. I have to claim the truth..and God will do the rest! And He'll even assist me in the claiming of the truth process! Wow, what a God we serve!

And so, I sit here relishing my entire day off. A whole day!! But we head to Virginia tomorrow morning. From Michigan to Illinois, to Pennsylvania, to Massachusetts, to New Jersey, to Virginia...leaving behind a trail that testifies to the greatness of our Lord!

Pictures from Massachusetts:

Me and my host sister/Dynamite clubber, Krystiana. I just loved her!

Anna, Shanna, me with our host sisters at Red Robin for dinner

Team picture in Boston

RC girls by the Boston Harbour

Eating lunch at Kingfish Hall in Quincy Market...in Boston

It's been awesome for me to just sit back and watch how the Lord is growing me. Well, I guess it's not just sitting back. The past few weeks have been so hectic, and I've felt so pulled in so many different directions all at once! But already I am able to look back and see how the Lord has grown me, and changed me! Like last night in clubs, for instance. I was giving the application to our story on obedience. Now, giving the applications is not my strong point and definitely not my favorite. And the first few times I did it, I was so scared and relied so much on my scripted notes, etc etc. But now...it's amazing, that as I've become more familiar with what I'm saying, how the Lord is able to give me insight right on the spot, and to just allow the words to just flow from my mouth with a passion and conviction that can only come from the Lord.

Everything is going so well! The Lord has opened my eyes to so many of my faults and my wrong attitudes, that made my outlook on the things going on around me to be absolutely wrong. I've realized how prideful I am, and so self-centered. The Lord is faithful, tho! I've become so challenged by the verses in 1 Peter that say "but as He who has called you is holy, so you also be holy in all your conduct. For it is written, 'You shall be holy, as I am holy." Wow, to walk in holiness! What a challenge. Not only to just do it..but to actualy define what holiness is! It's been an interesting journey for me.

I love my team. Each and every one of them. They all challenge me in so many different ways. Like iron sharpening iron.

Watch out, folks, 'cause here we come! Tuesday morning, our host dad and some of the other men from the church took Jordan, me, Shanna, and Anna out on.....motorcycles!! Yup, we girls were biker chiks for an hour!

I had the pink leather jacket, which totally floated my boat that morning. It was an amazing ride, something that I've wanted to do as long as I can remember. Here I am with my bike buddy.

Here's Shanna...

And Anna...

And Jordan...

Yup, that's how it was! Road life affords for some fun times, that's for sure!