A Little Recap

It's been a little while since my last post, but I'm going to try to pick this back up. I thought I'd share a couple of highlights from the year so far!

First of all, John Michael's birthday was January 14th. He turned 13....he's getting SO old! Well back in probably October I heard that Rascal Flatts were coming to Little Rock in February, along with Hunter Hayes and Sara Evans. Rascal Flatts has always been a common bond between the two of us. I've loved them since I can remember and somewhere along the way I got John Michael hooked on them too and he literally bought me a CD of theirs every Christmas or birthday (I'm convinced for his benefit as much as mine! haha.) until I owned them all. So naturally, when I heard that they were coming I knew I couldn't miss the opportunity to spend a night at one of their concerts with him!

Because I went back to school January 11th, I gave him the tickets a little bit early. I wrapped them in a Victoria's Secret sack...his response when I handed it to him was, "Really??! You had to wrap it in THIS?!" Bahaha. Such a funny sister! :) I had gotten him all hyped up over this gift the weeks before, mentioning that I had never spent this much money on any of my siblings' birthday presents before and that it was gonna be his best gift ever and little comments like that along the way so it was a much anticipated gift! When he finally opened them he was so confused at first, then he realized what they were and said "Umm....is this what I think it is?!"

The night of the concert we drove through McDonalds (his choice) for dinner on the way. When we got to the door they scanned our tickets and told us we needed to go to the box office. I was getting a little worried that something was wrong with the tickets, but when we got to the box office we were pleasantly surprised to hear that our seats had been upgraded from the upper bowl to the third row on the lower row on the second closest section to the stage!! Then our good friend Mr. Brad got us into the Dog Pound and we were able to get some pretty cool pictures as well as touch all of the band members hands!! Pretty cool "first concert" for him! :) We had a wonderful time and it was a blessing to get to spend that evening with my first little brother!

Another little adventure from the year is that we got some snow a couple weeks ago! And snow during the school year is always an exciting thing. The anticipation of getting a day off kills us. We sit by the tv watching the names of schools scroll across the bottom while checking our school email and facebook every five minutes...or maybe every two? haha. This year wasn't any less exciting than all the others have been! haha.

It kinda came at a bad time because I'd been sick and wasn't quite over it and by the time we got up and got out to play in it, it was sleeting. So the combination of cold, snow, wind, sleet, and a cough probably wasn't the greatest for me, but it was all worth it for the 20 minutes of fun we got, sledding with friends! :)

These girls are some of my very best friends here!! Both new and old friends, they have blessed my life and I'm so thankful for each one of them. These freshman girls have already found a very special place in my heart and we've bonded quickly over 3 a.m. doughnuts, Bachelor watching parties on Monday nights, lunch in the caf, driving around singing in the car, and snow days! And I can't say enough how thankful I am for Tori, Rachel, and Kiwi who have been there since freshman year! Oh...and I can't forget Jilliann...she was playing with Ruthie (her little sister) on this day so she didn't make the picture, but I love her too! ;) haha.

This year has started off great and I can't wait to see what the rest of it brings! I know that awesome adventures and new chapters in life are ahead of me! Eeeeek! :)

Inspired

Wow...it's been a long time since my last post! As much as I love to blog, it really is something I am not very consistent at. It comes and goes with the different seasons of my life depending, especially on how busy I am.

This morning, however, I find myself blessed with the much needed "chill time" that comes with Christmas break. I have spent a good part of the week simply staying home and enjoying crafting, cooking, and spending time with family and friends. Around the holidays I always immerse myself in recipes and cooking, spending hours pouring over cookbooks and watching The Food Network (the TV in my room literally never changes channels unless the boys go down there to watch something).

I was particularly inspired this morning when I woke up and saw Ree Drummond on my TV! "ho is Ree Drummond?" you ask. ONLY MY SINGLE MOST FAVORITE PERSON IN THE COOKING INDUSTRY!!!!! lol. Ok...so I realize I might be a little over excited, but I literally jumped out of bed, ran into the family room, and said, "Mom!! The Pioneer Woman has a show on Food Network and she's on right now!!" She said, "Yeah, I think I knew that?"....not nearly as excited as I was but laughing a little bit at me, still in my t-shirt and sweats, with messy hair and sleepy eyes, jumping around in excitement. So needless to say, it was a good way to wake up! :)

I then sat, glued to the TV until the show ended...and yes...sadly, it did end. But no worries, I went straight to her website and have spend the last hour and half reading recipes and looking at her photography and just pouring over her life a little bit. haha. When I was home over Thanksgiving break, I actually re-read her cookbook "The Pioneer Woman" (which I had already read twice before) and made a few of her recipes...LOVE her cinnamon roll recipe!

It seems that over the holidays I always seem to get re-inspired in the kitchen! I never lose my love for cooking, but cooking with minimal ingredients and tools in a small apartment kitchen isn't quite as fun as being home where the supplies seem unlimited compared to my tiny few at school and I rarely get stuck needing something I don't have! Last year I made Christmas dinner and this year I wouldn't pass up that opportunity to do it again! I've been thinking and planning the meal all week and today is the day that I get to make the final grocery list for mom to get all my ingredients! :) I'm pretty excited to be back in the kitchen, where I'm happiest and can't wait to share picture of the finished Christmas dinner tomorrow night!

Constant

This word "constant" keeps repeating itself in my mind and in my heart this afternoon. I'm sitting at a table under an oning at the lake and it is raining. It's not pouring, but it's a constant, steady rain. The lake is peaceful today. Everything here is still and quiet. The sky gray and the air is cool, but with no breeze, just the stillness and quiet trickle of raindrops.

My hear needed to be here this afternoon. I needed this stillness and tranquility. School is wonderful and I truly love it. And for anyone who knows me well, you know I love to go, go, go, and keep going till I drop! But every now and then, I need to stop and just breathe.

Sitting here listening to the rain and my ipod quietly playing a few of my favorite worship songs has been a blessing and encouragement. The song "Constant" by Charlie Hall just finished playing. The lyrics say,

Just like the sunshine, you have been our light

Leading us into beautiful places

And we've walked through fire but You made us brighter
Leading us into beautiful places

Faithful Jesus, healing Savior

Compass center, bread of life

Faithful Jesus, cherished treasure

Our portion, wisdom, God's great light

Just like the starlight You shine in the black night

Leading us into beautiful places

Just like the atmosphere You've come to surround us here

Leading us into beautiful places

Faithful Jesus, healing Savior

Compass center, bread of life
Faithful Jesus, cherished treasure

Our portion, wisdom, God's great light

God, You are here with us, constantly here with us

You are our everything, faithful and true

God, You are here with us, constantly here with us

You are our everything, faithful and true

It was a sweet reminder that Jesus is with us in everything. He is walking through life with me, holding my hand, and carrying me when I fall. He is faithful and true. It was a blessing to be reminded this afternoon that as constant as this rain is that is falling from the sky, so is my God! Thank you Precious Father!

Always Faithful

This morning I opened my devotional book and this is what I read...

"The morning watch is essential. You must not face the day until you have faced God, nor look into the face of others until you have looked into His.

You cannot expect to be victorious if the day begins only in your own strength. Face the work of every day with your heart and God. Do not meet other people, even those of your own home, until you have first met the great Guest and honored Companion of your life--Jesus Christ.

Meet Him alone. Meet Him regularly. Meet Him with His open Book of counsel before you; and face the regular and irregular duties of each day with the influence of His personality definitely controlling your every act."

Wow! Good thing I've been trying to fix every problem and conquer every mountain on my own weak strength! Hmm...kinda explains why I've been FAILING!!! Gosh, God is SO good to smack me in the face and say "Hey! I've been trying to tell you this all along...but you aren't listening so I guess I'll just have to show you!" And yep..He showed me! He knows just what I need and He is always faithful to bring it into my life right when I need it.

I have been reminded this morning of God's faithfulness. That word......FAITHFUL....just keeps being laid on my heart. Even when I am not, He is. He never stops pursuing me even when I stop pursing Him. He never stops loving me, even when I stop loving Him. He is always faithful. I have never left His hand. I may not have remembered it, but He's been holding me all along. Today is a new day. Today is the beginning of a new week. And I will conquer it, not because I am strong, but because He who lives in me is strong!

Just Passing Through...

A few days ago I was driving to the next place on my list of places to go for the day, I was just going through my day doing my list of things to do and floating through life without really thinking...just going...as usual.

Then I came to a stop light....

As I was sitting there watching the cars go through the intersection and pass me by I was overwhelmed with the realization of how big the world is. I am one person. With one agenda. Living one life. But all around me there are other people doing the same. The guy in the red four door Ford F-150 was one person, with one agenda, living one life. The mom with the two kids in the white Honda CR-V was one person, with one (or maybe a few) agenda(s), living one life. The teenage boy in the black Ford Mustang was one boy, with one agenda, living one life.

I'm sure you're thinking, "Wow, Katie....You're a smart one. Glad you caught on to that..." I realize it seems so simple. Duhh...we are all living life. We all have things to do and places to be. But for some reason, as I sat there, God used that still moment to quiet my mind and just give me this awakening that, "Hey Katie...there's more to life than just YOU! I have plans for every person on this earth. I have a purpose for everyone here. Together you are all a part of my world and what I have created. There is such a bigger picture than just you and you're missing it."

Gosh..it seems so simple, but how often do I forget this? I seem to think that life revolves around me. But it doesn't.

I feel the Lord challenging me to search deeper...to seek Him...to look for opportunities to help or encourage others....to look beyond myself...and to pursue life passionately. I'm tired of just passing through. I don't want to leave this earth and not be remembered. I want to make a difference. Not for my name but for His. This has really been on my heart and my prayer is that I God will give me wisdom to know when and where He wants me to be, eyes to see those who I need to come in contact with, ears to hear His voice, words to encourage, and the strength and desires to follow through.

Life is short.

We aren't guaranteed tomorrow.

Your next breath could be your last.

Love deeply and live passionately.

Chacos and Headbands

It's funny that my last post was about "the simple things" in life because that's what I was about to post about this morning! Recently I've been all about dressing up at school...I guess I decided it's my junior year and it's time to start dressing more like a put together adult and less like a sloppy student? lol. Anyway...it's been fun, but this morning I woke up and decided it was a Chaco kinda day! :) So I'm wearing shorts, a t-shirt, Chacos, and a homemade braided headband: perfection. This is what I love. It seems so simple and maybe even stupid that what I'm wearing makes me so happy, and honestly it's kinda weird to me because I'm not really the kind of person that cares about what I look like all the time! But I find so much joy in the little things. Chacos remind me of camp....that means every time I look down at my feet (which happens a lot considering my shoe obsession! lol.) I think of the kids and summer and all the fun times we had and sweet memories we made. I absolutely love it!

This morning I have been reminded that Jesus is faithful. He is good and merciful. This is the day that He has made!!! It's HIS day and I want to choose to live it with a joyful spirit! :) I don't really have any reason for this joy inside of my heart other than the Holy Spirit living inside of me, but I wanted to share it with you all! Hope you're having a great day! :) Smileeeeee!

The Simple Things in Life...

Tonight I am thankful that God has given me a voice! I love to sing more than most anything on earth! It is one of the simplest, yet greatest joys in my life. In my car it's singing along with Jason Aldean and Carrie Underwood with the windows down for everyone to hear as I drive by. On road trips it's Glee and Wicked and Disney and Phantom of the Opera with whoever is lucky enough to be with me (sorry to all of you who have experienced that! lol.). In the kitchen it's old hymns and worship songs with my family as we make Sunday lunch. In my bedroom is Colbie Caillat and Needtobreathe and Jon McLaughlin while I clean or get ready for the day. Whatever the occasion, wherever I am, and whoever I'm with I love love love to sing!

For anyone who's known me very long, you know I'm a fairly dramatic and emotional person with plenty of attitude and personality. Yeah, yeah...I'll admit it! Singing is a huge outlet for that for me. Music speaks to me. I feel it...I don't just hear a song.....I can literally feel the emotions that music brings on. I started singing when I was little and it has become second nature to me in the way that I just do it without even realizing I'm doing it. I'm always walking around the house with a song stuck in my head singing or at the very least humming it. And every now and then I feel the need to break out into a concert in the kitchen sliding up and down the floor in my socks with a hairbrush in my hand. Yes, I'm 20 years old! And yes I still do this! haha. I think I probably always will? :) But I was just thinking about it tonight (after one of these concerts..lol.) and realizing how much I love it and how much joy it brings me! Not because I'm the best singer out there or because I want to become famous from it or anything like that. It is purely just enjoyable to me and something I often take for granted but I am so thankful to be able to do. So yeah....that's my little thought of the evening. Just thought I'd share! :)