Day 29 Top of my Bucket Lists

The top of my bucket list this is exciting because it's dreams that I hope one day will happen. The very one top thing would be a trip to Ireland, most specifically the Isle of Man, that's where my family came from on my dad's side of the family. That would be so amazing. The next thing on my bucket list would to be travel across the country. My bucket list is short not that there aren't many dreams but I am listing all of what I think is realistically going to happen. I tend to dream realistically I guess because there are crazy dreams I have; dreams that I am afraid to even speak words to; for fear that they may not come true. Crazy dreams that would top my bucket list and blow some other peoples bucket list. I am excited though to see if the crazy unspeakable things to top my ucket list come true.

Day 28 Last time I cried

Last time I cried was watching my friend Angela's wedding. They were happy tears. I am so happy for her and her husband. I love seeing people fall in love and find the one they are going to spend the rest of their life with. Her and her husband are a truly sweet and amazing couple. She was a beautiful bride and he is a devoted friend and husband. 

Day 24 A difficult Time in my life.

Everyone encounters difficult times in their life and depending on their past experience something that isn't a difficult time for you but would be world changing for someone else. I think a life changing difficult time in my life was when my mom was diagnosed with cancer and died 8 years later. I was 9 years old when she was diagnosed and 17 when she passed away. It was a long hard period of time there. I remember thinking so many times that I wondered if I would make it through. I believe that God healed my mom by taking her home to heaven. There are so many days when I miss my mom and wish she was just a phone call away. I still remember her cell phone number. So many times since I was 9 I wish my mom could have been a "normal" mom. That she didn't have to be so sick and that her cancer could be gone. So many times since I was 17 and she was gone I wish I could have called her or seen her. I missed her on my graduation and wedding day and the time during when I was moving to help with packing and going through pictures and family memories. While time has definitely healed the biggest parts of missing her there are still moments when I miss her incredibly.

Day 6 3 Personality Traits I am proud of...

Hmm... this one makes me think even more than yesterday.

The first one I would say would be I am fiercely loyal. If you are a friend or family or someone close to me it takes something major that would change my loyalty. I would stick my neck out for you and defend you to the death.


The second one is my inner strength. Many times and many years have gone by and in the past I would say that I wasn't strong but I look back at what I have had to deal with at such a young age that I know that it is God who gives me the inner strength to lean on Him and to have made it through so much.

The third one is that I tend to see the best of anyone. I try to see the best thing about anyone I meet really until that person gives me a reason not to.

30 by 30 revamped!

Small break from my 31 Day Challenge.

So today I was looking through my pas blog entries and came across this one. I started reading through it and I was like man it has been 2 years and I don't think I can really check any of these off; which makes me sad in a way but I think about these goals and since I am a year away from my 30th birthday I think I can still make some of these happen. So here are some incorporated from the last one and some new ones.

The ones I can think that are pretty much completed are these:

Have the ministry self-sufficient.
       *For the most part it is in fact I can't remember when we last had to pay a bill for the ministry although we are far from where we want to be we are growing by God's grace every month; in fact we have been able to take a small salary from the ministry and also been able to bless people who have been in need a few different times this past year.

Have dream house plans picked out.
       *Funny thing about that. I don't think Jeremy and I will ever build a house but we bought a dream house in August of '14, so I think I can consider this one done.

Buy new pots and pans.
       *Did this for my christmas present 2013. Definitely needed to do this.

Buy a mac laptop
       *I am pretty sure we bought a mac laptop since writing this list, however it was a used one and I don't even know where it is because it had to be plugged in all the time and we just didnt have a good place to put a laptop that had to be plugged in all the time at this point.

Buy a never been driven before totally new vehicle.
       *The plan for this one is to have it bought in the next couple of months. So this one is half way done. we have the car picked out just waiting to get the rest of the money and we will be good to go.

4 1/2 out of 30 kinda stinks, so heres to a better year of accomplishment. Maybe cutting down too on my list for now will help. I can always add to it later

• Walk a 5K
• See Jeremy healed (that one is out of my control and in God's hands)
• Become a notary
• Get my florist license
• Read 25 new books that I have never read so any suggestions appreciated
• Start the adoption process
• Get Healthy
• Plan a vacation to somewhere we have never been
• Go to Ohio
• Update wedding rings for each other
• Finish getting the house unpacked and painted/decorated
• Read the Bible 6 times
• learn to knit
• learn to crochet more
• Build our savings
• develop new friendships
• Blog at least 10x a month
• Try a new recipe every week

AN Update on whats going on

The easiest way to do this is to just copy our newsletter that our ministry just sent out to let everyone know whats been going on and everything that is changing.



Greetings In the Name of Our Lord Jesus Christ,

I (Katie) am writing you today to let you know about some exciting changes happening in Pastor Jeremy and I’s life as well as changes to Jesus Saves International Ministries. We are very excited about the changes coming in the next few months and years.
Personally, Pastor Jeremy and I (Katie) are excited to announce we are moving to Iowa. This was a long thought out process. The idea of moving to Iowa was put on our hearts 3 years ago when we went to visit right before we were married in the fall of 2010. We have patiently waited for doors to open if this was the right decision. Fast forward to June of 2013 and the biggest obstacle standing in our way was removed in such a way that only God could have done it. We are excited to step into this new chapter in our lives and everything that God has for us.
Changes for Jesus Saves are amazing and scary and faith filled all at the same time. The first change is we brought Pastor Juan onto our board of Directors as our Chief Financial Officer. We also are able to hire Pastor Juan as an office assistant. Pastor Juan served as assistant youth pastor at Harvest Christian Center until 2014. He also has several years of ministry experience. Angela will be stepping down from our board after 2 years of faithful service.  The biggest change goes hand in hand with us moving to Iowa. Pastor Jeremy and I have been praying about how God would use us in Iowa and the new community we will be in. That’s when God began to lay a vision on our heart for the community and how we can reach out and minister in a very real and tangible way.
The vision God has laid on both of our hearts is to open up a community center. We are looking at a building that is currently empty and has been empty for a couple of years. It is a 10,000+ sq ft building with a gymnasium, commercial kitchen, showers, and several classrooms. It is currently zoned as residential which would allow for “civic” activities. We are currently in contact with a local building official who is helping us figure out what we are allowed to do without having to change the zoning and would allow us to live on the campus. The reasoning for us living on campus is two-fold and that is one to be able to watch over the building and two; security. Also depending on how we purchase the building one option is to use the money from the sale of our house to buy the building which is why we would also live on campus. The second option would be to try and get a grant to purchase the building. Right now we are looking into grants. I have been talking to a friend who wrote grants as a job and they were honest and let us know that it is almost impossible to find grants large enough to purchase the building. We also would like to get a grant that would help with payroll and expenses for the first year or at least until we can gain some income from the community building. The payroll grant would go to Pastor Juan as he is prayerfully considering joining us in Iowa and partnering with us in running the community center. He would also live on campus as the 24 hr maintenance man.
Two things you can do for us right now; Number 1 pray, pray, pray, it’s the most important thing; Number 2 is donate money. We hate always asking for money but unfortunately ministry takes money and God has given us big dreams and visions. We know God can provide for what He calls us to do and we know that ultimately He is who will sustain us. I know God never gives vision without provision. Thank you so much for your prayers we covet them daily. Thank you for your support; your funds go to support sending out our daily devotions right now and also sending out salvation packets via mail or email. We truly couldn’t do it without you. You are our biggest partners.
As always please feel free to email anyone of us with any questions.
Pastor Jeremy: jlempie@jesussavestoday.com
Katie Empie: kempie@jesussavestoday.com
Pastor Juan: jlagrandeur@jesussavestoday.com

Until All Hear His Name,

Pastor Jeremy & Katie
Pastor Juan