A Tribute

Katherine Joy Lawrence.

Katy.

Auntie Katy.

Nanny.

Friend.

Sister in Christ.

Lover of Nerds (the candy...and possibly other types of nerds).

Dutch Bliss fanatic.

NCIS freak.

Gleek (Glee fans unite!)

I would have never imagined Katy and I to have the relationship we now have today. If you would have been a fly on the wall 5 or 6 years ago, you might have thought I disliked her. Which wasn't true, but honestly, she frustrated me. She was a girl who didn't know how to live her life victoriously (and I didn't really know how to help her).

Oddly enough, she trusted me. She trusted me with deep things, with fun things, with life things. And somehow through it all, we clicked. There was never an expectation to be best friends or spend every moment together. Our friendship just was. Over the years, the Lord has brought us together through mutual friends and that allowed us to spend more time getting to know each other. And I have seen a life changed. She is no longer the girl struggling to life her life in God's freedom. She is no longer the girl worried about what others might think of her. She is a woman shaped by the hand of God. Living day-by-day in His grace; knowing that He is her ROCK!

Back in September when Katy agreed to live with us and help watch the girls so I could go back to work, my life was changed. I didn't want to go back to work, but I needed to. That's hard. There are a lot of emotions tied in with leaving your babies every day. But Katy made it easier. I knew I could trust her. I knew she would be mom to my girls while I was away. That she would love them like I would love them and care for them like I would care for them. I couldn't have asked for anything more.

Tomorrow, Katy will leave our family. She will be traveling through Europe for the summer and then possibly be in another state in the fall. (If you don't see me for a while, check the mental institute, I might be there.) All joking aside,

I WILL MISS HER!!!!!!!!!!!

She has been my rock through these past 9 months. She has blessed me (us I should say) beyond what I can express with words. So, Auntie Katy, this blog entry is a tribute to you. Thank you for being such a huge blessing to our family! We love you very, very, very much!

Love always,
Ryan, Emily, Evie, Ella & Hero too!!!