Some thoughts just running through my head...

At my small group tonight that I meet with each week, I couldn't sort my thoughts. I haven't been able to sort my thoughts. I'm one of those people that wants answers to questions- clear, distinct answers. I am not getting those answers right now. For some reason tonight, after reading a portion of the sermon on the mount with our group, I felt the need to just be still. I realized that I go throughout my day as a pretty cheerful person (lately). I have been making it a point to try to encourage those around me. I have been going out of my way to meet with people and enjoy time with friends. I have been doing all of these things, and while they may be good, they are not when I haven't found the time to just be still. As I walked back to my apartment tonight, I looked up at the stars and the moon, and everything in me wanted to be somewhere else. My life is not bad at all- I am very blessed. But when I forget about being still, and meeting with Him like I do with my friends, with study groups, with text books... it dawns on me all at once that I am not investing enough of my time in Him. I go throughout my day trying to please Him, talking about Him, thinking of Him... these are all good things. But what about spending just as much time meeting with Him?

Tonight Shawn passed out a list of questions that she found online, and I think they are very important to ask:
1. Am I investing in myself?
2. Am I genuinely interested in others?
3. Am I doing what I love doing and loving what I do?
4. Am I staying in my strength zone?
5. Am I investing my time with the right people?
6. Am I taking others to a higher level? (mission)
7. Am I taking care of today?
8. Am I taking time to think?
9. Am I developing leaders?
10. Am I pleasing God?

None of these things are possible if I'm not on the same page as my awesome Father in Heaven. If I try to accomplish these things... I fail. I feel miserable. Because during the midst of me not spending as much time with Him as I should, I begin to try to do the other things without Him. I begin to live in a way that suggests I don't need Him.

"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." - Matthew 5:2 (the first beatitude)

So I want to seek His face. I want Him to be my fuel. If He's not, then what I am doing is all in vain.

I never really write a whole lot about this, and I'm sorry to be so transparent, but I want to begin writing things on here that could be of encouragement to you. I want to call them "devotionals", but I don't know if this post would be considered that or not. I hope that this was encouraging to you- maybe you could recognize some of the same characteristics and need for change in your life. I pray that in any way, my words will spur you to chase after our King.

Car... again?!

Okay, so without going into too much detail (simply because I don't really want to dwell on this as much as I can), my car is having problems again. I'm taking it to the mechanic today, and I'm beginning to wonder if these series of problems is actually a hint that my car is about to die. I don't know, and I can't think like that- right? If you read this, please pray about this. I don't know how much money I can spend on this, especially since I have to take summer school.

Adventures in Townsend Memorial Library (and other UMHB spots)

So today Lauren and I did our usual weekend activity and went to the library to work on school work. No, I'm not joking, this has actually become a routine for us. Luckily, to keep our sanity, we shook it up a little and decided to document our adventures by photograph. So, while we don't normally do our homework while roaming all around the library, we figured it'd make for a good blog post! :)Today I kissed Orlando Bloom because he likes to read... :)

Lauren is trapped!

I've got school spirit, yes I do, I've got school spirit, how about you?!

There are so many things to do in a library... Lauren takes lessons in fencing :)


I "remember the Alamo" with a smile :)

Lauren learns survivor skills... just in case.

She is sooo excited about reading!

It's quicksand! Wait... quickbook?!


Way cool picture- good photography skills, Lauren!

I'm sure this girl is just as excited about reading, too...

I am excited!

This has been a wonderful week :)

God has just been reminding me exactly why I'm even in the education field. Let me share with you... About a week or so ago I was having huge doubts about my major. Nothing seemed to be going right, and of course there were some battles in my head. You know, the "You'll never be good at it" kind of thoughts. I even considered changing my major... to communications! My basis for this decision was only because I would save money and graduate a semester early. (I know, but I was on the extreme of 'I hate school right now!') I don't know if it's wrong to have these thoughts sometimes, like when you're up really ate and you just want to be in bed... but I'm pretty positive it's wrong when it's all you think for about 2 days straight. School had gotten that hard. I was mainly doubting because I was not even enjoying my Literature class- the one class any English major should enjoy. I wasn't thinking of the fact that I wasn't putting nearly as much effort into this class as I could have. So that was last week. It was not fun at all. Well... this week, it's as if God was like, "Krista, what have I called you to do?!" Well, let me tell you what I know. I know that God has called me to work with children, big or small. I know that God has called me to do this in different settings. I also know that I have a huge imagination and I often get far too much ahead of myself.. with thoughts of, "I can go to seminary and be a children's minister, I can go work as a camp director, I can teach, I can teach and go to seminary...." My brain seems to think at a speed that is not healthy, because with these thoughts come a desire for it to happen right now. So I forget the present and it's dire effect on the future. Well, this week... God has been confirming to me that I am in the right major. On a test that I was hoping to make a B in, I earned a 91. In a class where I wasn't understanding anything, everything began making sense. In classes that used to bore me, God has used to ignite a fire of passion for what I am learning. God has reminded me that teaching in itself is it's own mission field, and has endless possibilities. I have even compared public schools to communist countries... and something about not being allowed to tell children about Jesus makes it even more exciting to me that I will (and I will) find ways to. I am going to purposely choose books that will remind children of Jesus and get my foot in the door. I am so excited about the future, but for the first time in a long time, I am excited also about the present. I am learning valuable techniques and life lessons. I am learning the importance of a career that I often forget. I am excited!

91!

If you've talked to me recently, you know that one of my hardest, yet most enjoyable class has been Linguistics. Last week we took our first test and I was having so much anxiety about the test. Well, I went in and I was conifident that I passed it with atleast a C, hopefully a B. Well ,if you've guessed from the title of the post, I was totally surprised that I made the second highest grade in the class- a 91! I was so excited that I knew I had to blog about it. It's so easy to forget that studying pays off when it seems as if you do it all the time. :) So, moral of the story: study!! :)

Attention!

Attention all non-blogger friends!!

+ 10 Points to Rachel for finally jumping onto the Blogger Bandwagon! I highly recommend you follow her lead, and get on! :) If you don't have one... you're missing out. Plus, I'd put you on my link list! :)

Oh, and by the way.. what are we going to do in a year when we are almost all graduated?? I know, crazy thought to think about... I know we will still call each other, but trust me- blogger is a great way to keep up with the little things.

Oh, and Lauren B., I'm gonna have to see pictures of kids somehow!! :) (You know I'm kidding!)

A love for music and reading...

+ = WONDERFUL! :)


Can you guess which music I am listening to as I read?

Well, if you didn't guess Pride and Prejudice Soundtrack by Dario Marianelli, then you have not been keeping up. ;)

I have a pretty big test tomorrow night, and so I'm re-reading some of our short stories in American Literature. I think I have come to the conclusion that Theodore Dreiser writes very eloquently. It's as if the words are jumping off the page and taking the shape that they would be if it were all real. It's like dreaming while awake. :)

Or maybe the P&P Soundtrack just has the effect on me.... Either way, I am very much enjoying myself right now! :)

Weekends are one of my favorite things..

After a long, somewhat tough, week... I am enjoying the weekend. While I do have to study, I'm also finding time for myself to have some fun. I have a pretty big test on Monday in American Literature, but it's okay :)

Yesterday, Lauren B. and I went to a bunch of little shops and tried on cute little clothes.

I'm also very excited about an upcoming blog design by Susie at Bluebird Blogs. :) It should be done soon!! :)I've yet to decide on a color scheme from the many I am thinking of...

Okay, well it's time to enjoy lunch with a good friend and hen get some serious studying done! :)

Weekends are amazing!

This week was like finals week, only it felt a little worse than that. I had 3 tests in a row! :) I don't even think my finals are like that this semester. Anyways, I made it out, and now I plan on enjoying my weekend! :) MLC has a retreat tonight, which I'm excited about! We'll play games, act out osme skits, read the Word, worship, and eat some breakfast that all the boys are making. That should be interesting! haha ;)

So, I hope everyone else has a wonderful weekend! :)

Prayer of St. Francis

I pretty much love this:

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace,
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
where there is sadness, joy;

O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console;
to be understood as to understand;
to be loved as to love.

For it is in giving that we receive;
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.

Miss Quinn! :)

So I have started going to my "adopted mom's" 5th grade English classroom every Friday. It has been very insightful. :) Last week when I went, most of the kids just kind of stared at me and didn't really want to talk, with the exception of those sweet girls that smile and say, "You're pretty!" (now THAT makes my day). Well, today, when I walked in, all I head was "Miss Quinn" from a number of students. It sounded so great :) I never knew how affirming it would sound to me, but it was just like music to my ears. I had to stop and actually think, "I am going to be 'Miss Quinn' to SO many students in a couple years. That's crazy!

I'm really enjoying my classes. They have already proven to be challenging, but I'm enjoying the informaton that I am learning from them. It's just kind of neat to read for my homework, and then discuss it in class. Many students here always say, "Better you than me", but I really am enjoying it. Granted, I do have my days where I just feel overwhelmed, but those experiences are teaching me how to manage my time better. My hardest class yet has been General Linguistics. There are a lot of technical terms that I have to remember, but I can't say that it's not interesting. :)

Anyways, I'm going to read, drink tea, and listen to my Pride and Prejudice soundtrack. I am such a girl :)