Last Post :(

Last Post :(

This is my last post for the year of 2014-2015. It feels like I just created this little space, and now it's already over. So for this fun post there will be some serious symbolism of pictures. Are you ready?

So my attitude towards ready this year is mountainy. That's the best way I can describe it. I always enjoy reading, just like these mountains are always beautiful. However, my reading comes in spurts, it rises and falls, levitates and dips. And sometimes quite suddenly. Just. Like. That. For example, I read Once Upon a Prince in 24 hours. And I read Camilla in 6 months. After re-starting it about 4 times. So my biggest obstacle in finding time is just getting into it even when the plotline doesn't have me on the edge of my seat. Because it's when it doesn't that Netflix sounds oh so much better. But, when I do find those grab-onto-your-seat-what-is-going-to-happen-next-I-can't-even-stand-this-pain-of-waiting-to-the-end books, I love them. And I spend 24/7 reading them. I eat breakfast with them, I walk around the house with them, I clean the house with them. I even ignore my mother because I'm so into them. So this summer, even with my incredibly busy schedule, I hope to find some great books to read. And I made a list of what I want to read not too long ago so I will be using that :) Plus I'm gonna have some pretty awesome travel time this summer to read during,

Ok, now this one is totally cliché but... blogging this year really "opened doors" for me and my "future". I've been reading people's bogs online for about 3 years now. Most of them are of people I know, some aren't. Some write about certain topics, others it's just random life stuff. But, either way I have spent  a lot of time reading blogs. And since I love to write I have always thought that when I got older I would write one too. So this blogging experience this year has been great training I guess you could say. And I've loved blogging. I almost don't want to stop for the summer. Ha. I love having all of my thoughts (ok actually not all of them, yikes!) out there for everyone to read. I love knowing that people can hear my voice through words I write. Because that's how it is with every other blog I've read. And I'm honored to have joined them.

Some of my favorite blogs:
One with the Pastor
Christian Wife Life
b r a v e l y f r e e

And lastly, this picture represents my blinded freshman year. It has been great, and I have grown so much. I learned that my extremist views from last year aren't always good, and that sometimes you have to look at something a little bit differently than you used to. I learned that sometimes branching out even when you're terrified can lead to something better than ever imagined for yourself. I learned to reconnect with friends I haven't spoken to in years. Overall, I took chances this year. I was blind in where they would take me but I trusted that it would all turn out. And these chances brought me so much more joy than the safe path would have. I made so many new friends. The swim team and water polo team have been experiences I've never had before. And I fell in love with these experiences. It was a blind year. But, I think that was good for me. For anyone really. Because if you're blind about something, you are all that more surprised when it becomes better than everything good you thought you had before.

That is my final bit of wisdom I am posting this year.
It's been good inter-web.

Kisses From Katie - Final Thoughts

 Kisses From Katie - Final Thoughts

So I finally finished reading Kisses From Katie!!!

And you need to read it. It was one of the most inspiring stories I've ever heard. I almost want to move to Africa. Almost.

Anyway, I'm just going to share with you the biggest thing I took away from this book.

Let God lead your life.

I struggle with this on a day to day basis. I want control over my life. But, the truth of the matter is, this is not my life. I did nothing to earn it. God created me and he gave me everything that I have. So where in the world did I get this crazy notion that my life is mine? Katie struggled through a lot of the same thing as she wrote in her book. And obviously God's plan for her life was pretty drastic. Moving to Uganda and adopting 13 girls on her own. But that doesn't mean that He can't lead my life in a simpler way. I do not feel called to move to Africa. And I really don't think that will ever change unless God does some pretty miraculous things. However, even though I can't move to Africa doesn't mean I just say to God, "Ok, you can't use me so I'm just going to do what I want to do". No. It means I follow Him here. I follow Him in the life I have going for me now. Because, everything I do needs to be for His glory. No matter how small.

This is one of my favorite parts of the book.

"I would like to be able to say that I always do exactly what the Lord asks of me. I would like to say that I always seek Him first when a difficult situation presents itself. While I am getting better at it, sometimes I don't. Sometimes I still think what I do with my life should be my decision. God asks, and reasons, and encourages. He gently explains that I do not know what is best for me and that I do not always get what I want. And I just look at Him, not understanding at all what He's trying to say. Sometimes, I even whine and sob and shriek, just like a tired, angry three-year-old. So God picks me up, exhausted from struggling, and plops me in the center of His will for my life. And then a funny thing happens. As I kick and scream and struggle, I remember: I like being in the center of God's will for my life. God's plan is usually pretty great. It is a whole lot better than mine anyway. I am so glad that He does not allow me to win."

Wow.

Anyway, I also learned something else.

I learned that so much of what I am spending my life thinking about does matter in the long run.

Do you think Katie's girls are worried about finding out what they want to do so they can take the most AP classes and get the highest test score and get into the best college? Do you think they worry about making sure everyone at the event they're planning gets something to take home? Do you think they worry about finding a new dress to wear to a wedding, or finding a new pair of shoes just because you want some? Everything that I may even think is good is so miniscule compared to them.

Not saying they live in a slump and never get anything. Not saying they live all alone. Just saying their priorities are different. And mine should be too.

I read Katie's blog after I finished the book and saw that she got married in January. Her life is a little different than what she first imagined, but in the end she got the same result. A husband, a job she loves, and beautiful children. The picture is just a little more colorful.