Foiled Plans

Do you ever plan something and then it doesn't work out the way you thought it would? Because that seems to be how my life goes. As I mentioned in my last post, I decided to spend my summer with my brother and sister-in-law.I had this brilliant vision of coming out here, getting an awesome part time job, spending tons of time with my family, and being all around busy.

Did that happen? Yeah. Not so much.

I submitted a bunch of job applications and none of them worked out. My sister-in-law has spent the better part of the last month out of state training for a new job, and my brother has the weirdest work schedule EVER. Also, not having a car has severely limited my adventuring options. So I've spent the summer sitting on the couch reading (I have completed 7 and a half books) and watching TV shows (9 seasons and counting).

At first, I was on the disappointed side of things. But now that I've had some time to think about it and talk through it with a couple of people, I'm realizing that this was probably a really good thing. I thought what I needed was a job and things to do, when what I've really needed was a genuine break. A time when I could relax, and de-stress after the last quarter of school. A time to rejuvenate. This break has been such a blessing, especially since this kind of thing rarely happens...to anybody, really.

It has also been yet another learning experience. (I feel like 2013 has just been a year for that.) I've learned that I like to keep busy. So as much as I might not like my job at home, it is better than not having a job at all. I've learned that relationships are important to me. I used to think that I could easily be a hermit and not deal with anyone. Yet I get so excited to see the people that I've come to know here. I'm treasuring the time I have been getting with everyone. Plus I miss all my California people.

These have been pretty great things to realize, and this has been an awesome way to figure it all out. So now, I have about a month or so longer before I head home, and I'm determined to make the most of it. To be content in my circumstance. To enjoy the relaxation. To revel in the stress-free zone. And to recognize that God knew I needed this break. To thank Him for foiling my plan.

 I Corinthians 8:3 ESV
But if anyone loves God, he is known by God.

Newness

Phew. I made it. I finished this quarter. And that, my friends, is reason to rejoice indeed. I finished last Thursday, but this is the first time that I've really felt up to writing about it; also, grades went up yesterday, so I can write with some amount of certainty about things. I ended up passing all of my classes, and managed to pull a glorious B+ in French. HUGE BLESSING ALERT. While I didn't do spectacularly in another class this quarter, I did pass and at this point, I'm okay with that. When I saw it yesterday, I sat and stewed at myself for a good hour and a half, but then realized that, all things considered, it's okay.

Aside from that, it has been a pretty interesting week. I'll sum things up in a list, (which we all know I think are the bee's knees).

     ~I watched some people get married
     ~Left CA for Iowa
     ~Marveled at the sight of the Chicago skyline as my first plane landed (if you haven't seen it, you should. It's beautiful.)
     ~Arrived in Iowa
     ~Visited an AWESOME geek store
     ~Met some people
     ~Went to a minor league baseball game
     ~Discovered that my allergies hate Iowa
     ~Found an adorable cupcakery with delicious cupcakes
     ~Attended a sidewalk chalk drawing contest. Didn't win, but had fun anyway
     ~Broke down and bought allergy medicine
     ~Made plans for Friday night
     ~Remembered I'm supposed to run a 5k on Saturday...oops

Basically, we all decided (my parents, brother, and I) that getting away from home for a little bit would be good for everyone, so here I am. Not home and doing things. It's been great, although I'm sure I'll have a little bit of a meltdown sometime in the next two weeks, but so far, I'm loving it. It's the first real adventure I've been on (aside from starting college). It's been wonderful not having any responsibilities to worry about or due dates for anything, but I am about to embark on a job search for the summer, so we'll see how that goes.

Sometimes you just need new. New sights, new places, new people. So here's to new-even if it is temporary.

2 Peter 1:5-9 ESV
For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. For if these qualities are yours and increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins.

Another Learning Experience

I felt like sharing a little something that I have found rather exciting. But, it doesn't start off that way, so I'll just give you the quick, watered-down version.

This quarter I've been taking French 103, and it has been a whole different ball game than French 101 and 102. In short, it has sucked beyond belief. Until recently, I thought I was for sure going to fail the class, but in a surprising turn of events, I have discovered that I might actually pass! Not do well, but pass. (My professor doesn't put any grades online and hasn't given us grades for everything that we've done; therein lies the uncertainty.) And at this point, that's all I can really ask for. I have two days left of class and then the final...on one of those two days, I have a midterm. Yeah. It's weird. I know. My professor just does things like that. The good side is, half of said midterm was covered on a test we just took. Yay! It may not sound like much, but to me, it is crazy exciting.

Also this quarter, I've been taking Biology, Shakespeare, and a Fiction Analysis class. Biology isn't my thing, Shakespeare is, well, Shakespeare, and my Fiction class has been filled with books and movies that I personally don't think are all that great. It's been a rough nine weeks, to say the least, and I wish I could say that I've maintained a cool head and positive attitude the whole time, but that would be a lie. Yet as bad as this quarter has been, it's been a wonderful learning experience. It has basically been a nine week reminder course that I need to keep my trust in God, constantly. It is only by His grace that I can do anything, and I NEED Him. Always. It's been a wonderful lesson, full of opportunities to put it into practice. And for that, I am thankful.

While I've always know that it is true and can be encouraging, I've come to view Philippians 4:13 as one of those fail safe "Sunday School Answers" that you say because you can never go wrong with it, but this quarter I've seen just how marvelous a truth it really is.

Philippians 4.13 NIV
I can do all this through Him who gives me strength.

Welcome to Daisies and Daydreams!

Hi there, friends! So, I don't know if anyone actually reads these silly ramblings of mine (except you, Clarissa. Thanks!), but if you do, then you might notice I've updated things a bit. New background, new title. And that's what I want to talk about today.

I originally named this blog "Randomly Random" simply because I couldn't come up with anything that I liked, that was short enough. Then, today, it just kind of came to me. Daisies and Daydreams. It's really rather perfect. Daisies are "the friendliest flower" to quote Meg Ryan in You've Got Mail. I think daisies are a beautiful picture of what a young woman is supposed to be: sweet, optimistic, and exuberant, just overflowing with a joy that can't help but affect others. Although I am far from this, it's something that I'm striving for and praying about...I know nothing short of God's guidance can get me there.

Now about the second part: daydreams. I'm a daydreamer. I spend a great deal of time wrapped up in my mind thinking about what-could-bes and all those impossible things that I read about in novels. It adds a little pizazz to my otherwise rather mundane life.

So there we are. New look. Same me. Just a little bit more succinctly worded. Have a wonderful weekend!

Psalm 51:10 ESV
"Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me."

Pause

Another quarter is drawing to a close and that means looking forward. Looking forward to that last final. Looking forward to spring break. Looking forward to the next stage of education. Amidst all this, today something paused my looking forward.

Do you ever have those really odd moments that just seem to hit you and you aren't sure why it's a big deal all of a sudden? I had one of those today. I'm house sitting for my aunt and uncle, and as I was getting ready for bed tonight, I noticed something draped over a shelf that I managed to overlook for the past couple days: a beautiful scarf.

Now, you're probably thinking, "Kelly, what does a scarf have to do with anything?" Usually, I'd tell you that it doesn't have a whole lot to do with anything at all. But not today. This scarf is one of four that my grandmother brought back from Israel after a trip she'd taken with our church several years ago. My grandmother passed away almost five years ago (it'll be five years in June), and she was my best friend. It took me a long time to move on, but as they say, time heals all wounds, and I've been able to comfortably remember all the great times I had with her.  But for some really strange reason (I'm telling you, this is only the second time I've seen this scarf, and it's the first time in probably 7 years) the sight of that scarf reminded me of her. I wasn't expecting it, so in that moment, memories started to flood back and I couldn't fight off the tears.

I don't know why I reacted this way tonight. Not now. Not after so long, and with such a minor prompt. I honestly don't understand why, but tonight has been rough. As  I sit here, I think God is trying to give me a subtle reminder that sometimes, stopping and taking a moment to reflect and reminisce is a good thing. I'm all about moving forward and moving on, but sometimes you need to slow it down and revel in awesome memories. So now, I'm putting a temporary halt on that perpetual forward motion. I'm pausing, and giving myself a moment to breathe, a moment to think, a moment to look back.

I'm not sure if this post makes a whole lot of sense, so I apologize if it's weird. I just felt that I needed to share this, and that maybe someone needed this tonight, too.

Psalm 55:22 NIV
"Cast your cares on the Lord and He will sustain you; He will never let the righteous be shaken."

Still Here A Year Later

First of all, I feel that I should apologize for my month-and-a-half hiatus. I got caught up in the Christmas festivities and the first half of a new quarter of school and other nonsense life happenings.

Second of all, it has been over a year since I started this blog, and I'm still here...more or less. I kept at it better than I thought I would, and that is something I take pride in. :)

Thirdly, I'm going to address the really pathetic execution of last year's resolution: to read 100 new books. I kept a record of what I read and when, and looking back at it, I'm a little ashamed at how short of my goal I fell. I only made it through 32...and eight of those were plays that I was required to read for a class. Like I said, pathetic.  But it did, mostly, get me back into the habit of reading a little bit each day. Something I fell out of after I graduated, so it wasn't a complete loss. Plus, I have roughly two whole shelves worth of new books to keep me company for a while.

And now, here I sit, halfway through another quarter of school,and one that has been quite enjoyable, I might add. Finally, I was able to get into some classes that weren't GE's that are required for my major. Two of which are a children's lit class and a poetry class. Both have been wonderful and I've gotten to read some really awesome stuff. You can check out some of it here, here, here, and here. These are probably my favorite things I've encountered this quarter, and I have no doubt I'll come across more.

All in all, it's been an excellent start to 2013.

Isaiah 46:4 NIV
"Even to your old age and gray hairs I am he, I am he who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you."

BAD WOLF