Thursday, October 29, 2009

Oh, Kansas: an ode to Katie's week

A blues song.



I got the call today, bad news it came my way
I've lost a friend it seems and I just don't know what to think, oh
He says I've hurt him so, but, I just don't know!
Will he still be there? Does anybody care?
Don't even wanna go home, I have no home...

Cause I'm stuck here in Kansas state
Old days are lookin pretty great
But I can't go back to where I've been
I'm starting to enjoy this place (I know that's a sin)
Oh Kansas...you're making my head spin.

My roommate's lost her mind, and I can't seem to find
A place of quiet peace or even find the time to sleep, oh
I'm feeling out of sync, still don't know what to think
Will they still be there? Does my hometown care?
That I'm not at home, I have no home...

Cause I'm stuck here in Kansas state
Old days are lookin pretty great
But I can't go back to where I've been
I'm starting to enjoy this place (I know that's a sin)
Oh Kansas...you're making my head spin

A Heart and Spirit of Worship: Thoughts Inspired by Jon Foreman (7/7/2009)

My whole school career, I was the weird kid who hated summer. Seriously. I mean, both my parents are teachers, so every day of summer was filled only with my parents, generally without seeing my school friends for the two months we had to be apart before we were coerced into entering school once again. But every year, when summer was over, I felt incredibly changed and regretful to see the summer fade away. As I grew older, I realized that the boredom and loneliness provided an atmosphere NECESSARY to change. Solitude creates a time to just listen to what God has to say and allow Him to work without our stupid human interruptions of doubts and fears. This realization made me see that, while sometimes painful, summer is my time to run back to the Father that I so often push aside when faced with the struggles of daily life throughout the year.

So, when this summer started, I began praying that God would use these months to turn my heart back to him and get my mind in the right place before I got to the big bad world of college. And, up until MPH Camp (see photo albums for that AMAZING BLESSING, I'm not gonna go on a tangent in this note :D), I felt like I was playing the part of good Christian girl, fervently seeking God simply by reading a chapter of the Bible every night and falling asleep while mumbling a typical, generally selfish prayer. Then, camp. There are so many amazing, beautiful things that occurred at camp, but one of my favorite times of each day was doing a little Bible study and music time with Whitney! (Whit you are freakin awesome and you have no idea how much you inspire me :D) She makes me think and actually use my brain concerning God and His power, instead of just thinking about my Father and moving on with my life. We talked a lot about worship and other such matters, and the verse that stuck out in my mind throughout the week of camp was Romans 8:18: "For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us."(NKJV) Reading this verse made me realize that all the little, useless crap that we obsess over and spend our lives worrying about...really doesn't matter when stood next to an eternity with God and the things He has planned for our lives. This last sentence could branch into a whole different sermon, but sticking to my point! I realized that most of my time lately has been spent thinking about me, alone. "God, this is what I want" "God let me do this" etc. And it made me think, in eternity, we will spend forever before the throne of our Savior, worshipping. How much worshipping have I done on the earth, how much time of my life has really been spent in awe and adoration of my Lord and Savior? Thus began the learning, running to God part of summer. I began to ponder what exactly was required for a true heart and spirit of worship. As I prayed for wisdom, God granted it. In various Bible passages and worship songs I have come to this conclusion: Humility is the key to pure, raw, unashamed worship.

Enter the music part. Every summer, I inadvertently pick a single CD and listen to it every day of the season until I know it backwards and forwards. This summer's CD is made up of Jon Foreman's 4 Seasons EPs. 24 songs, 6 per season based on the changes and turns in a year in a life. While every song is not directly written about God, it has the most worshipful music I have found in a long time. The lyrics of these songs, combined with Bible passages in 2 Chronicles (of all books!), have led me to a desire for more Jesus and have filled each and every day with a desire to worship. I doubt anyone will ever read this, but if you do? I felt compelled to chronicle some of these worshipful lyrics with the discoveries I have been making in my Bible studies. If you get nothing out of this crazy-long note, I am writing it so that when those desolate Decembers come...I can remember how much God has done in my life, and remember this little key to humility that is required by my Savior.

So for the lyrics? In "Lord, Save Me From Myself", Foreman sings about how the world has so much to offer, but only God can save him from his selfish desires. I don't know about you, but I believe that going before an omnipotent, omniscient God and telling him your flaws, telling him your weaknesses, and, though undeserving, believe that He will grant the grace to free you from your weaknesses...if that isn't humility at work, I don't know what is. Swallow your pride and run to God, He's waiting to save you.

"Baptize My Mind" requests a renewing of the mind and heart that can only come from God. Foreman says "Baptize my mind, baptize my eyes. For these seeds to give birth to life, first they must die." What is more humbling than a desire for the seeds of your thoughts to die so that you can see God in a whole new way?

One of my favorite songs on the album is "Your Love is Strong", which is based on the Lord's Prayer. My favorite line is "Heavenly Father, You always amaze me!" When is the last time you were amazed at God and His power??

"Resurrect Me" is a song for humility. "I've been counting up the cost of getting up on that cross..." To truly give ourselves to God, we have to crucify our old selves and allow God to make us new :)

The song that hits closest to home is "Instead of a Show". Written from God's view. It's about how we like to look like perfect little Christians and do all the good things visible to man, but in reality, it's just a show. Being a Christian is more than just going to church and looking good. As God's children we should "Give love to the ones who can't love at all, give hope to the ones who have no hope at all, and stand up for the ones who can't stand at all".

"White as Snow", based on a Psalm 51. David showed absolute humility by asking God to "Have mercy on me Oh, God, according to your unfailing love, according to Your great compassion, blot out my transgression". What is more humbling than admitting your faults to the savior of the world??

The final song I reference is "Again". "Oh, Lord, God of the nations, This day let it be known that You are God of the present tense...Let the people know that You are turning the hearts back to You."

The last bit of lyric brought me to a verse in 2 Chronicles 29:36. "...all the people rejoiced that God had prepared the people [for worship]." God prepares us for worship. How crazy is that? God of the universe prepares our tiny hearts for worship to Him. Pretty deep, humbling stuff there...

But can worship really be a powerful force? Check out 2 Chronicles 20. Pretty long (like this note is becoming) so I'll summarize. The forces of Judah were being challenged to battle by other nations. King Jehoshaphat inquired the Lord as to what should be done, and God told him to have the army stand still and wait. Remember, these are warriors. Glory comes from battle, yet the Lord told them to stand still? But instead of being angry, the army did something unexpected. The seasoned warriors put down their weapons and bowed down, worshipping God in a loud voice. Once they had humbled themselves and acknowledged that God was their king...ambushes attacked the enemies and wiped them out completely. The army may not have gotten the glory of battle, but they witnessed first-hand the glory of God!

My final inspiration on worship is towards the Levites. This isn't a reference verse, just a thought I've been having. These people, their job was to worship the Lord. Day in and day out, no matter their mood or personal desires. They couldn't just pretend to worship--their "boss" could se their hearts. So how did they worship God as a job? I believe they had a heart and spirit of worship, and I pray that through the course of my life, God can instill in me a heart and spirit of worship, too, so that I can continue falling in love with Him all over again.

God Bless,
Katie

P.S. If you read to the end, wow. Kudos to you, sorry for the extreme rambling that accompanies my facebook notes! :)

P.S.2 You should check out Jon Foreman's Seasons EPs! Just type in his name on itunes :) I promise, it's a CD you won't regret spending money on :D

Greetings From the College Realm! (8/23/2009)

The warm, friendly, perfect facade of college ended exactly a week after I moved in, thanks to a drunk girl who climbed into my bed at 5 am.

No, seriously. You read that right. A drunk girl got into my room, went through mine and my roommate's stuff, puked in our trashcan, and then got into bed with me.Welcome to college, eh?

Despite the social downsides, college truly is amazing. I get to take all music classes (well, with an english class), and all the classes are interesting to me! Intro to Music Therapy had me in tears the first day because the description of the job is so perfect in contrast with what I want in my life! I have opportunity to do a TON of service projects that tie into my major! The campus is all uphill, so I get an amazing workout everyday, and I'm already building muscles! haha :) But after classes end, Satan does his best to dampen my mood and discourage me from my calling.

I live in an all-girls dorm, most of whom are in sororities. Nothing against sorority girls, but it's not exactly my style of life. The other day, I walked into the lobby with my horn, and the desk worker screamed "THANK YOU for carrying something more intellectual than a Prada bag in here!" Pretty funny stuff. Also, we have an AMAZING grand piano in our lobby, and I often go down to play hymns or work on stuff I brought with me. It's amazing the number of girls who come in, stare at me for a while, then say, "Oh my gosh can you play piano?!?" Obviously, I'm a little different than the girls in my dormitory. And not knowing anyone, well... it gets pretty lonely after a couple of days. But every time that I get so discouraged or frustrated in my alone-ness...God ALWAYS intervenes and provides exactly what I need!

For example: Last Wednesday=worst day ever. Late for rehearsal. Had a piano placement meeting I forgot about and had to skip lunch for. Took the piano placement, didn't pass out of the class. Horn auditions seemed to go bad. Tired of being treated like I was invisible from upperclassmen and sorority girls. Started laundry, didn't have change, had to walk a mile to get to the change machine, which was broken. Finally found change, trudged back to the laundry room. Started my load, called my parents to calm down. Talking to them, and a girl walks into the laundry room. Carry on my convo, and when I hung up, she said: "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to eavesdrop, but are you a Christian?" Seems she had heard me talking about God and church. She, too, was a Christian, and had come to the laundry room because she was feeling discouraged about the lack of believers at college and needed time to think. She had prayed, like I had, that she could find just one believer here. And we "just happened" to meet in the laundry room. If that's not proof that God knows what we need when we need it, I don't know what is.

And despite these obvious proofs of God's love and care for me, I still feel the pang of loneliness or fear almost daily. It's definitely a struggle. But in these times of loneliness and fear, God reveals Himself to me even more. I've learned that my job in this life is to spread His love to others. Due to this obvious revelation, I am learning to outwardly show joy no matter the circumstances and to consciously think about whether or not others would see Christ in my actions and manner. In doing this, I have begun to see every person as a soul, not just a person. I admit, when the drunk girl climbed into my bed and woke me up at 5 am, my first reaction wasn't a loving, Godly reaction. But within a few moments, I realized "this girl is loved by God just as much as I am". That realization made it easier to forgive and give compassion. I'm not trying to sound boastful or "holier-than-thou". I'm just amazed at how God can change a person's perspective in one short little week.But while the transformation in my heart is being a tedious, often painful process, I am learning to lean on God, for He always provides! When things get dark, He uses the love of my friends and family to strengthen me! It never fails. I'll be discouraged, and Whitney will comment something encouraging on my status. I'll be fighting panic over the workload, and Mrs. C will text to ask how the day is and give advice. I'll be all alone and wondering where to go, and one of The Buddies will call, text, or just be there to talk on the phone with me. Many others offer support or even a smile from the web or through a letter. And my parents have been there with every single phone call to offer advice and support. In addition to this home-base support, God has led me to an AWESOME church that I truly believe will become my home, and has introduced me to CRU. And in those times when the above support is not immediately available, I go to my Lord in prayer and study His word. He has not yet failed to provide comfort and insight, and I know He will not fail in these areas. Since I've been at college, I've read the book of Isaiah. I suggest you read it, but basically, it's the most beautiful story of love from a God to His creation. He knows of the trials of life, for He knows everything. But through whatever life sends our way, He is still there loving us and drawing us back to Him! I know the loneliness will fade, the fear will dissipate, and at the end God will still be the constant in my life, holding me to Him and saying, "Remember! I carried you through."So I endure. I trust Him with my life. I know that this is where He has called me, and the most beautiful story imaginable waits at the end of this road; I stand in anticipation to see what He is going to do! Great is His faithfulness, mercies new every morning!

With this being said, I will wrap this up. Thank you for your love, your support, even for reading all the way to the end of this. I love and appreciate you so much! May His glory be revealed to you in your lives, too!

Katie

Random. Thoughts. Three: Oh, sweet procrastination!

Believe it or not, writing these random. thoughts. notes really helps me stay on task when I have to write a paper. I know that doesn't make much sense.

Another pro to these lists is that, for some reason, people seem to enjoy reading them.

Lately, I've been quoting poetry a lot. Great thing is that no one knows I'm quoting poetry and believe I am a really deep, intellectual individual. I'll let them continue to believe that.

One day, I woke up and found I didn't despise PIAN 284 anymore. We'll see if that lasts.

I have always wanted a Nissan XTerra. I don't know why, I just do. Maybe it's because of all the exciting incidents we got into while using Regina Powers's old XTerra. Not that those exciting incidents ever happened, and no, no one ever went car surfing on the top of that vehicle...

I really really really want to paint pumpkins! Anybody else want to join in this activity?

Also, i have no idea what i'm going to be for halloween? Ideas?

Need a laugh? Think back to the embarrassment that was stumbling through "Baby, It's Cold Outside!" during the senior choir concert, followed by carol of the bells. That'll give you a chuckle.

Speaking of that choir concert...alyssa! We should have stolen that sparkly tree!!!

And while we are on the lines of things that alyssa and i find entertaining...I want those coffee cups. I miss the coffee cup game. We were so good at that! Could definitely be a pro sport.

Yesterday I sealed two air conditioners with trashbags and duct tape. I felt like redneck barbie. It was awesome.

Jim and Pam got married! Yay! PB&J!

Two weeks ago, my natural ties event was in a bar. I was seriously angry, but had to keep it together for my tie friend...

Apparently a little kid in Pauls Valley OK drew a picture of me in his sunday school class, because he says I'm his best Christian friend. Okay! Cute! But i have no idea who this kid is...

Clint Glover's senior quote in the yearbook makes me laugh no matter what: "A world without barbecue chicken is a world in chaos." Oh, how I miss our calculus class! "I'M SAILING AWAY!"

I already know who I want my maid of honor to be. No, I don't have intentions of marriage anytime soon, or even a guy for that matter. But I know who my maid of honor is going to be. Unless she screws it up....lol jk!

I cannot believe I am about to say this and I will take it back in the beginning months of 2010, but....I'm really looking forward to snow in Lawrence :)

One of the best band concerts I've ever attended was the Tichelli wind ensemble concert October 2. Sanctuary was so beautiful, i had major chill bumps! And Angels in the Architecture....oh wow.

Tyler, do you remember in eighth grade when I would create awesome names for your future children? "Taco Bell, Clara Bell, Ana Bell, Isa Bell..." I'm still sticking with the name taco, because then kristin could ask the kid if his name was taco.

I got bored today and drew lines on my lamp.

The more time I spend in Kansas, the more I am falling in love with it. I know, i know. That's heathenistic talk. But on days like today, I just have a weird feeling that four years is not enough time to be here, and I will miss Lawrence a lot over the summer. We will have to wait and see if this feeling persists.

I attended a Tuba Recital today.

Hakuna Matata, what a wonderful phrase! It means no worries for the rest of your days!

I need therapy to get over the song "In love with a girl". Seriously.

Pretty sure the happy bus driver thinks I'm an engineering student who carries around stolen band instruments.

I just got a strange urge to re-watch Super Chicken episodes.

Another urge, I keep having strange moments of absolute desire for Thanksgiving. It's my favorite holiday ever, and I just really am looking forward to it

Since the issue came up today at the Bell's house...No, I do not like pie. It repulses me. Something about fruit baked in a crust is gross to me. Pumpkin pie, Lemon meringue, and chocolate are okay, but that's it. SOrry, not meaning to be un-American.

I got to play guitar in church today :) it was amazing :)

I really sincerely crave Ireland. Don't think that will ever change.

Lately, I've been borrowing a lot of old black and white movies from the library. So great!

Currently reading Cyrano de Bergerac for the 9,742,651 time. Slightly exaggerated number there.

Tonight, I'm going with Kaleen to a recital for REC 100 credit. So I should probably stop writing this note and start finishing the essay I am procrastinating on!

Love bunches, Katie

Random. Thoughts. Too: Because my mind goes even faster when i'm sick/joyous :)

I write way too many facebook notes. I think it's just because I have so many thoughts, and I'm not always able to share them with the people I love, so I write to channel my thoughts and curb my Kristin-induced-tourettes :)

On the lines of channeling thoughts, I tweet way more than I should. It also reduces the Kristin-induced-tourettes :)

Do they have coke machines on the campus of BYU?

This weekend I tried to remove my earrings for the first time since I got my ears pierced 6 weeks ago. They would not come off of my ears. I had to go to clares on mass and have them physically pull them off my ears. Gotta love child-proof jewelry!

A month ago I saw Willie Nelson, John Mellencamp, and Bob Dylan in concert in Grand Prairie Texas! It was pretty epic. It also reminded me that my greatest fear in life isn't needles: it's illegal drugs. Marijuana was pretty prevalent and I was almost hyperventilating cause I was so terrified I was going to get some in my lungs. My dad, however, was totally calm, just accepting the fact that drugs were going to happen since his daughter insisted on being as close to the stage as possible haha. On the plus side, I got some AMAZING pictures :)

I adopt people very often and quickly become passionate about the things I'm involved in :)

On my way back to Kansas from my last visit home, I was getting gas and the pump exploded on me, drenching me in gasoline. I can't stand strong gasoline scent.

I love the scene in Big Fish where he covers the lawn in yellow daffodils because they're her favorite flower :) so cute....

Speaking of favorite flower, once upon a time Rachel and I decided the perfect guy was "a good Christian guy with tulips". This means, boy who loves Jesus and cares enough to know that your favorite flowers are tulips, not roses :)

I really want to be a female worship leader. Idk how to achieve that, just keep praying for opportunities maybe? God knows best :)

Since my last random thoughts note, I have jumped into the Chi O fountain twice :)

Since I've come back to college after getting swine flu, people unintentionally back away from me when i share why I was gone. I don't spread disease, people!

Today made me smile because I had a lot of people say they missed me last week! I didn't even know anyone here knew my name!

Every time I hear the song Out of my League, I just really want to be a ballerina or a princess. It's so adorable! Every time I hear it, I start dancing around, and I don't even realize I'm doing it :)

This week is going to include several "first experiences". I'm a little afraid, but the excitement cancels fear :)

My RA just gave me puppy chow :)

I have recently decided that Robert Pattinson is not as ugly as I used to say he was. If anyone comments on this thought I will "punch you in the kidney and not give you one of mine".

I am way more excited than I should be that The Office season six starts this Thursday!!!! I'm gonna have to figure out a way to see it! PB&J!

My roommate is gone all the time. Seriously. I have spent every weekend on my own. Sometimes I'm afraid I'm turning into Russell Crowe from A Beautiful Mind and have actually imagined my roommate. lol.

Today I was minding my own business, going to Murphy Hall so I could practice, and here comes Grant Reichert running down the sidewalk! I kinda screamed, because I saw somebody I actually knew before college!! Greatest event of an already great day :)

I really don't know how I survived life before Post-It Notes.

Hi, my name is Katie, and I have a severe orange juice addiction.

Every time I hear the song Hallelujahs by Chris Rice, I tear up. It's so gorgeous! Go look up the lyrics! It talks about all the simple, beautiful things in life that should make us sing in adoration to our Maker! The greatest line is one that mentions "the pulse of life within my wrist". This line gives me chills and tears no matter when I hear it. The blood pulsing through our veins is a sign of His great love for us...wow.

I have recently realized who I want to marry someday. And no, it's not David Cook (please don't die of shock there!). Basically, can I please marry Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy??

I am CRAVING fall. I love autumn. Especially October! I really want to go paint a pumpkin, wear a scarf, watch some football, and go jump in some leaves before going inside and making cider or hot cocoa :)

Relating to the above...October is my favorite month. I don't know why. It's just always been a beautiful, wonderful time of the year where God's power seems to surround me in every crisp autumn wind!

I think I have one free ticket for the KU/Duke game on 9/19/09. Any takers?

People like to tell me "You know, you would be a good preacher's wife." Um, hello people? While that would be great...kinda not my responsibility there. haha. Take it up with God :)

Yesterday I couldn't stay inside. I walked all over the place, then went up and down the stairs outside my dorm a hundred times. It's so good to feel good and to soak up beautiful, 70 degree weather! :D

I tripped up the stairs today. This lack of gracefulness is part of the reason that I yearn to define grace with my attitude and life :)

I really really really miss my 58 Chevy Fleetside Apache truck, especially on these perfect weather days :(

Apparently people I don't even know read my facebook notes and share them with others. It's an odd sensation. I don't write to be noticed; I simply write the contents of my heart.

I don't get motion sickness very easily, but the buses at college make me nauseous. Gonna have to figure out a plan for commute once the winter comes...

I'm writing this second random note because Ron told me to :p

Also, I call alyssa by her nickname (ron) more than I call her by her real name. I call kristin by her nickname (carl) on the rarest occassions. Strange...

There's a book my parents saved from when I was little called Counting Katie's Gifts. Basically about a little girl who goes out in nature and looks at and appreciates everything in the world, knowing that God made it all. I really want to go read this book again, because why should the sense of wonderment and adoration of God's creation cease with childhood?

Teardrops on My Guitar just came on my iPod. Brings back good memories of the sophomore band trip to Chicago....ah, good times on that band bus ;)

I truly, sincerely appreciate everyone who has written me letters :) they make my day and put a permanent smile on my face :) If I haven't written you back yet, don't worry. You're on my list :) I love snail mail correspondence :)

Carl, Ron, and I have formed a gang. We're the Woof Pack. Word.

I love love love the church that God has led me to :) If you are looking for a church in the Lawrence area, may I suggest FSBC? :)

Everything in the universe relates to MDA/MPH camp. I bet everyone who meets me thinks I'm crazy, because once I get on the topic, I just start glowing and talking and can go for hours with anecdotes and memories :)

When I'm feeling afraid or overwhelmed, I remember the book The Alchemist and remember that I'm just a girl in pursuit of my personal destiny :)

For my final thought...Before I came to college, I bought a book called Listography. It helps you list the important details of your life so you can remember. I filled it all out in the hopes that, should I lose sight of myself in the craziness of reality, I could always look back and see who I truly was. On the last page I put my life statement. I just want to put it here, so that my readers (whoever reads this) will know that I'm not trying to be somebody crazy or life-changing. Just living by this quote I wrote this summer:

"I am a sinner saved by the grace of God. I love and worship Him because He is my Savior and best friend! On my own, I am not special at all, but because of His touch in my life, I have been made beautiful and know that He's not done with me yet!"

Love bunches, Katie

Random. Thoughts.

My English class is in a parking garage.

I really enjoy walking aimlessly when I'm alone on campus.

Sometimes, it takes every ounce of self control in my body not to sing at the top of my lungs on my morning walk to class.

You wanna know how to freak college girls out? Tell them you don't date. Freak them out even more? Tell them WHY you don't date.

Everytime I drive turning onto Memorial and Campanile, I am reminded of Fly Away Home where the Mom turns right at a sign, the Mary Chapin Carpenter song comes on, and then they have a car wreck. Morbid, I know.

I thoroughly enjoy hearing the whistle announce the end of every class, every day

I think one of the best CDs ever made is Beautiful by Ginny Owens. Every woman needs to hear it, it's so powerful :)

Ever since I moved here, I have extreme OCD. Like, I will stay up and make sure my room is organized before going to bed, even if it's two in the morning.

These past few months, ice cream is the love of my life. For reals.

My horn's name is Ophelia. My guitar's name is Desdemona. Guess I have a thing for Shakespeare heroines.

I like letters. A lot. Getting mail makes my day, even if it's only a textbook coming in.

Every Tuesday and Thursday at 10:15 am, I feel completely invincible, like I could climb a mountain or swim really far or (insert your own superlative). This feeling is because I have just gotten out of Intro to Music Therapy, and am empowered and humbled by the fact that it is 100 % perfect for me!

I really believe I have moved into a refrigerator. I am cold 99% of the time in Kansas.

My "pumping up" songs are The Remedy by Jason Mraz, In Love With a Girl by Gavin DeGraw, and Rawkfist by Thousand Foot Krutch. None of which relate to me since I'm not worrying my life away about someone born on the fourth of july, I'm not in love with a girl, and I'm not throwing up a rock fist. Huh.

Every morning when I walk past the Art School, it smells like vanilla pudding. I think they make it in their kilns.

Also, on the lines of smell, all the intro to music therapy books smell like donuts. Trust me, our whole class checked it out.

My latest "gonna sing in heaven" song is What Wondrous Love is This by The Nelons. I listened to it every day when we were at Padre, and I could literally feel my heart swelling in exultation!

The next time I see people I love from home, I'm gonna attack them. Nothing bad, I just really want a hug.

At the end of July, I licked a piping hot metal spatula because I'm an idiot. First week of college, I licked a piping hot metal spoon because I clearly don't learn from mistakes.

There are six stuffed animals on my desk. All ty brand beanie babies.

Sometimes, I am so overwhelmed by the love of people back home. Like, when someone I love dearly will call or text or just tell me something funny, my people place grows. I am often brought to tears by the love I am given and feel towards my beautiful Oklahoma friends and family. But it's the good, belonging kind of tears :)

I think the saddest thing in the world is living in an all-girl dorm and seeing the broken hearts written on their faces after returning from a night of parties where they have done enough to regret their choices :(

I've grown to love the scent of rain as a perfume or lotion scent.

I should be working on an English essay right now, but I'm about to go grocery shopping instead.

I just found out today that Lawrence has a river! Who knew?!?

There are approximately nine million Katies at college. I am one of a million. Most teachers don't know my name, or call me Erin, for some reason. Do I look like an Erin?

Also today, I went to Blue Springs MO and took a picture of the David Cook sign (you knew I couldn't get through an article without mentioning him once ;)

College has made me realize the truth in a comment from a Charles Martin book: "Love" is spelled T-I-M-E

I adore church. Christianity seems so obsolete here, that every time I get a chance to worship with fellow believers, I am ALWAYS brought to tears.

I miss tourettes fits with the girls. CORN! WAFFLES!

I survive Mondays and Wednesdays with the knowledge that Tuesdays and Thursdays are the next day. I survive Fridays with the knowledge that the weekend and church is just around the corner!

My first english essay will be about working with MDA. Yay easy topic!!

I can honestly get lost walking down the hall. I have horrible direction sense.

The other day, I didn't have a dollar to get out of the parking garage, and the card reader was broken. A nice old man lifted the gate to let me out. Made my day :)

I like free newspapers and music given away on campus :)

Today i started a Book of Wonders, like J.J. does in the book "The Man Who Ate the 747". You should go read the book, cause it's great, but basically a book of wonders is where he wrote down all the amazing things people have done for him so that he can remember and be thankful :)I should probably go be productive.

More random thoughts to come later!