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 20 Where I want to be in 10 years

In 10 years I will be almost 40...Whoa lets just think about that for a minute. I can't believe that that makes me even a little more scared of turning 30 next year and thats turning 40 I mean I can't even wrap my mind around that it wasn't that long ago that I thought 30 was a long way off. So back to the topic at hand Where do I want to be in 10 years. I would love to be homeschooling our kids hopefully we will have 2 kids then. Our house should be paid off in that time. Maybe just maybe in 10 years we could look at still building a house, not sure how that will work. We love our house and Jeremy is adamant that he is never moving again until he's dead ha! I however would still love to build a house just for us (don't think it will happen though). I would love to have the ministry into it's own office building and reclaim our 5th bedroom in our house as a kids bedroom or guest bedroom or a joint office for Jeremy and I. I would love to maybe open an etsy shop in that time because I would love to say that I have had time to create and make. Another thing I would love to see happen is that the Jeremy and I can also travel speaking to churches and encouraging them. I would also love to start being able to ministering to wives who have a husband with "handicaps". It's been on my heart. 

It's a little hard to say where I want to be in 10 years because 10 years ago I was a young 19 year old girl. The only thing that is the same from 10 years ago is I live in Iowa. I never would have imagined 10 years ago moving back to Florida and get married and never thought I would be back in Iowa. To top that never thought I would have bought a house in Iowa either ever. 

I definitely believe in making plans and always having a goal, but I have always have learned that when you leave your life in God's hands nothing is predictable and it's the best adventure in life you can ever imagine. So while I have my ideas of where I want to be in 10 years God's plans and ideas are always better and always more fun!!!

Day 11 Most Proud Moment.

I don't know that I could just pick one proud moment. I guess what I thinking would actually accumulates a few moments in time. My high school graduation would probably be the first one of my proud moments, than it would be moving into my apartment, than getting married, than selling our house and than buying our house here in Iowa. I think those are my most proud moments because for me it represented so many "adult" life changing moments. I remember getting ready to move into my own apartment and the fear I had about what happens if I fail or I can't do it. However I did it I had my own apartment for 3 years before I meet and married Jeremy. Getting married it was definitely one of the biggest decisions I have ever made. When we decided to move to Iowa and all the stuff that comes with moving it was a big deal. Than going to the bank and getting financing for our house and being able to do that without having to have anyone co sign for us was huge for me and picking out our house and buying it was another proud moment. I think these are the ones that stick out the most because each one of them were the opening and closing of chapters in my life.

Day 2... 20 Facts About Me!

1. Today is my birthday 2-11 I am 29 years old
2. I have 5 siblings
3. I love to read anything and everything (seriously I would read the cereal boxes in the morning just so I could read something as a kid)
4. I have been married for 5 years this October
5. When I was little I named my pets after food (popcorn the goldfish, and pancakes the cat)
6. I currently live the farthest north of all my siblings
7. I am horrible at being surprised doesn't matter I always figure it out (just ask Jeremy) I think the only time he really surprised me was our first married Christmas he bought me a necklace and I wasn't expecting it
8. Molly is the first dog that I have ever owned
9. I use to want 10 kids now 4 is the most I think I want
10. I have always wanted to open and own my own florist shop
11. I was 16 when my little sister was born (I always wanted a sister growing up; I had severe denial when my little brother was in his way)
12. I am the second oldest female in my family (only my granny is older than myself)
13. I graduated as salutatorian of my high school class (it was awarded on a point system and I just barely missed valedictorian) 
14. I have moved 13 times in 29 years and none of it was for the military
15. I am the 3rd generation of my dads side of the family to be born in America (my great grandpa came over from Ireland before my grandpa was ever born)
16. I have always wanted to adopt 
17. I was a pastors kid
18. I love my in-laws (no messy mother in law/daughter in law drama here)
19. I want to travel to Ireland (dream vacation)
20. I once wrote a multi chapter childrens book about a bear named macaroni and a little girl lost in the woods.

The Real Deal...

So 15 minutes before you head out the door to church is not the greatest time to start a blog post but hey you grab the time you get and for me its very far and few between. I read blogs all the time from women who have full time jobs, kids, full time jobs with kids, some have full time jobs, kids, and go to school full time or part time, and here I am sitting here married with a dog. Like "Okay Katie get it together there are women out there that are doing more things and blog way more. However I know that everyone's situation is different and people make different priorities (not saying anything bad about making blogging a priority). I have been so encouraged lately though by a blog that I don't even remember how I found but it has done my heart so much good because its the real deal. Click here to read it Dana has had so many encouraging posts that have done so much good for my heart and soul and lets me know I am not alone. However it has also challenged me to become the Real Deal. To reach out and talk more about our marriage and the obstacles that come with it and the way we have to do things differently and to know I am not crazy to feel overwhelmed with things arise. In an interdependent marriage someone is left with a bigger load to carry and even if you have a health aid it doesn't necessarily eliminate it all. Sometimes you just get overwhelmed.

For Jeremy and I we really haven't had any consistency other than be crazy busy and having people live with us since we have been married. I think out of 3 1/2 years we have had 6 months were it was just us in the house us and the dog. However consistency is key in a marriage like ours I am sure in others too but I can only speak for my marriage. Things I have learned in the past 4 years (with an interdependent marriage) is that you have to keep a very loose schedule which doesn't really work in our able bodied focused world. While we strive to keep to a schedule and not run late its always when something major happens like a wire breaks, body functions go awry yes tmi but our marriage has been a journey has included a ton of tmi moments. Another thing is that no matter what as the able bodied partner you have two wear 2 different hats you have to wear a caretaker hat and you have to wear the spouse hat. There are so many times that it is hard or impossible to switch from caretaker to spouse in a heartbeat.


Obviously a lot of time has passed since this blog was first started and so much has changed since this. We have sold our house moved across the country and bought a house and are settling in. We also hired an aide for Jeremy. It has been wonderful and it has really helped our marriage a lot. I am not having to switch hats so often any more and its been nice to feel some doors open again that I thought had been shut forever without an aid. I still plan on being the real deal in my blogs and living a more transparent life in regards to a interdependent marriage. For now though I just will post this and leave it at that.

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