Youth group last night

#49. Do something crazy.

I think I've got that one covered.

Last night we played kick the can, always an amazing event. I was running away from IT. I can't even remember who IT was. I ran into the women's bathroom (because IT was a boy). Or tried to. The door got stuck (did I even turn the handle?) and I went crashing through it. Let's just say it's a good thing the fall work day is coming up. They're going to have to repair the doorframe. :-D I thought I was going to have a giant bruise on my face, cuz I kind of ran into the door with my cheek, but nothing yet! It looked all red so I fell asleep with ice on it, but today it's just a little sore. No fireworks yet.

That was #49a, do something crazy accidentally. This is #49b, I also climbed through the Impact room window. The guys put a chair down and a bunch of us girls climbed in. It was fun.

Now all I have to do is

52. Do something just plain weird, on purpose, in public. (besides scatting halfway around the neighborhood last week with Dad and Hannah.)

I could tell you more stories. And I will, someday, but right now I have some catching up to do with Meg. She hasn't heard all this. :-D

that was pretty much the most amazing youth group event ever...

I love you guys.

Good night.

:-D

FIFTY...twenty-five THINGS TO DO...attempt to do BEFORE I DIE

Yeah, I have high goals. *sarcasm* Or, maybe I have such high goals that I can't assume I'll be able to do them. YOU KNOW WHAT this is just for fun who cares if they all get done HERE I GO AGAIN being all afraid of being wrong. WELL I'M JUST GONNA SHUT UP and write my list now. And you might think all these CAPS mean I'm MAD or something but I'm not I'm just sick of the usual ways of expressing ENTHUSIASM.

1. Figure out how to actually perform one of my songs. That would require, like, knowing chords, which is the trick.
2. Run a 5k in under 30 mins.
3. Get married to the man of my dreams.
4. Have lots of sweet, terrifying adventures with said man of dreams.
(THIS IS FUN. :-)
5. Have lots of sweet, terrifying munchkins with said man of dreams.
(LOL!)
6. Visit/live in a Spanish-speaking country.
7. Visit/live in a French-speaking country.
8. Lead someone to Christ.
9. Lead someone to Christ in Spanish.
10. Lead someone to Christ in French.
11. Have a job dealing with kids.
12. Score over 70 on two sections of the PSAT. (two guesses which two...)
13. And since this is just for fun: Score over 65 on the remaining section. (This one comes under the "attempt" category.)
14. Speak at a conference (in the FAR future :-)
15. Invite someone from dance to a youth group event.
16. Play a piano piece exactly as it should be played with no mistakes. (And, if a miracle occurs, it'll be during a recital).
17. Lead someone to Christ who's under the age of 13.
18. Make dinner.
19. Pass my driver's test.
20. Watch the sun come up with someone I love, for instance, said man of dreams. :-)
21. Stay up all night.
22. Make someone's day.
23. Have a big answer to prayer.
24. Take voice lessons.
25. Kiss said man of dreams for the first time on our wedding day. I dare you to say it's impossible.
26. I think I'll copy off of Gina and buy someone flowers. :-)
27. Do a really complicated Chem problem without messing up any significant figures.
28. Successfully graft two cacti.
29. Be a leader to LT.
30. Be a leader to the MSR.
31. Be a missionary's wife.
32. Listen to a song over and over for 30 mins straight.
33. Go to a RK (or switchfoot, or Matthew west) concert.
34. Make a difference in someone's life besides leading someone to Christ.
35. Keep this blog for 5 years.
36. Speak fluent Spanish without an accent.
37. Speak fluent French. (I'll always have an accent. lol)
38. Mentor someone.
39. Be mentored by someone.
40. Graduate from Danceworks.
41. Do a backwalkover.
42. Do a split. Ha. I think this goes under the "attempt" category too. :-P
43. Write a story. And finish it. Even if it's very short.
44. Get scholarships for college.
45. Eat ten cookies in one day.
46. Watch all three LOTR movies in one weekend (the same way I read the books! :-).
47. Predict something very significant about Harry Potter that comes true. Like, besides the fact that __________ comes back to life and _________ has one of the horcruxes. :-D
48. Look forward to something without any reservations or fears that I'll be disappointed. Besides LT.
49. Do something crazy. Like, not stupid crazy, like, "wait, did she just do that??" crazy.
50. Ooh! I know. Go to a Brown's game. :-D
And, since I thought of something else,
51. Learn the words to Be thou my vision.
:-D
What do you think? Do you have any AMAZING insights into my character? Are you SURPRISED by anything I wrote? It's all on the table now! :-)

I love you guys. yes, you. and you. and I'm glad you're reading this. And I thank you for reading this. And I hope you have a wonderful life, 50 things done or not. :-)

new profile description

How do you like my new profile thingy? :-) Here's the whole thing, apparently you can only do 1200 characters.

I'm a part of the fellowship of the unashamed. The die has been cast. I have stepped over the line. The decision has been made. I'm a disciple of His and I won't look back, let up, slow down, back away, or be still.
My past is redeemed. My present makes sense. My future is secure. I'm done and finished with low living, sight walking, small planning, smooth knees, colorless dreams, tamed visions, mundane talking, cheap living, and dwarfed goals.
I no longer need preeminence, prosperity, position, promotions, plaudits, or popularity. I don't have to be right, or first, or tops, or recognized, or praised, or rewarded. I live by faith, lean on His presence, walk by patience, lift by prayer, and labor by Holy Spirit power.
My face is set. My gait is fast. My goal is heaven. My road may be narrow, my way rough, my companions few, but my guide is reliable and my mission is clear.
I will not be bought, compromised, detoured, lured away, turned back, deluded or delayed.
I will not flinch in the face of sacrifice or hesitate in the presence of the adversary. I will not negotiate at the table of the enemy, ponder at the pool of popularity, or meander in the maze of mediocrity.
I won't give up, shut up, or let up until I have stayed up, stored up, prayed up, paid up, and preached up for the cause of Christ.
I am a disciple of Jesus. I must give until I drop, preach until all know, and work until He comes. And when He does come for His own, He'll have no problems recognizing me. My colors will be clear!
~Martyred African Pastor.

awww, seven comments, you guys are too sweet...I feel loved. :-)

So, life is good, cuz it's the weekend, and we have TIEDOWN and Gina's going to call me and we'll have our own mini TIEDOWN and oh yes. Yes yes. I'm just in a good mood I guess. ;-)

That is, until I actually start thinking about my life in detail. So I won't. :-P One day at a time....!

So, I think I should lengthen this tiny post with some good song lyrics...hmmm...

The pathway is broken
And the signs are unclear
And I don't know the reason
Why you brought me here
But just because you love me
The way that you do
I'm gonna walk through the valley
If you want me to.

'Cause I'm not who I was
When I took my first step
And I'm clinging to the promise
you're not through with me yet
So if all of these trials
Bring me closer to you
Then I will go through the fire
If you want me to

It may not be the way
I would have chosen
When you lead me through a world
That's not my home
But you never said it would be easy
You only said I'll never go alone

So when the whole world turns against me
And I'm all by myself
And I can't hear you answer
My cries for help
I'll remember the suffering
Your love put you through
And I will go through the valley
If you want me to

awww, seven comments, you guys are too sweet...I feel loved. :-)

So, life is good, cuz it's the weekend, and we have TIEDOWN and Gina's going to call me and we'll have our own mini TIEDOWN and oh yes. Yes yes. I'm just in a good mood I guess. ;-)

That is, until I actually start thinking about my life in detail. So I won't. :-P One day at a time....!

So, I think I should lengthen this tiny post with some good song lyrics...hmmm...

The pathway is broken
And the signs are unclear
And I don't know the reason
Why you brought me here
But just because you love me
The way that you do
I'm gonna walk through the valley
If you want me to.

'Cause I'm not who I was
When I took my first step
And I'm clinging to the promise
you're not through with me yet
So if all of these trials
Bring me closer to you
Then I will go through the fire
If you want me to

It may not be the way
I would have chosen
When you lead me through a world
That's not my home
But you never said it would be easy
You only said I'll never go alone

So when the whole world turns against me
And I'm all by myself
And I can't hear you answer
My cries for help
I'll remember the suffering
Your love put you through
And I will go through the valley
If you want me to

*sigh*

Judging by the fact that
1. No one has posted on their xangas (except Gina-- yay Gina yay)
2. No one commented on my last post
I conclude that
3. No one's going to read this or comment on it.

Which is ok, cuz I don't have time to post anyway.

Therefore:
*sigh*
+
*grrrrr*
=
the state of Katie at the moment.

quick post

It's gonna be quick again cuz Hannah wants to get on.

Today, I:

Cleaned downstairs
Cleaned my room
Dusted and webstered the basement (it really needs to be swept...next week!)
Ran around the neighborhood once, 13 mins and under 20 seconds (my system is very precise, is it not?)
Babysat Bethany, Logan and Mandy.

And now, I'm sitting and talking to Gina. Life is good. God is good. And it's as simple as that. I guess that's what you call irony. :-) With a life this complicated, you wouldn't expect anything to be simple.

short post

Tuesdays as usual
but different now

I ran
12 mins
just over a mile
School done
for today
Why do geometry proofs have to take so long??
If I went back to my school schedule from last year that would be great
All done except electives before lunch
Hannah has more reading
and less math
than me
so I guess that's something.

No new messages
in my inbox
I guess I'll add some
To yours.

Call me if you want to
Or I just might call you.
Miracles do happen.

press on
Be brave
be strong
in all His energy.

The Post

It's been a barbaric day.
This morning I cleaned my room for the first time after deep-cleaning it--I'm going to figure out a system for keeping it cleaner. Kind of like practice for having a whole house to take care of. If you can't tell by my brusque...ish tone, I'm sleepy! It's been a tiring day too.
Then, when everyone was ready, we got to go tour Timken! It was pretty cool--a neat experience. We got to see what Dad's talking about when he says "the computer room" "bottom pour" "the rolling mills." Oh! We saw his trailer and his desk. :-P The mill was LOUD and HOT but very interesting. :-D Then, we all sat around and vegged as a family for half an hour or so(at home.) And then Meg and I broke records and talked for 2 hours. And I'm still thinking of things I need to tell her!! How does that work?

Oh, and just for the record, we decided boys are snakes in the grass. I'll let her say the analogy thing (if she wants to) cuz I'll mess it up, but, boys are snakes in the grass. :-P

Abby made me get off the phone with Meg so we could skate/run again. This time, it was harder, I think cuz it was a little hotter, but we still went a little over half a mile after the usual around-the-neighborhood route. So I. Am. Tired. I think I'll go to bed after I finish this so I'll be all ready for the fall schedule to start tomorrow at church. Sunday School!

The post-Post

Hey, it was either that or the other one could be the prepost. Which makes even less sense, if that's possible.

Hungry I come
To you for I know
You satisfy
________________

Can I be close to you, yeah
Can I just touch you, Lord
___________________

Turn
Your eyes
Upon Jesus
Look full
In his wonderful face
And the things
Of earth
Will grow strange
ly dim
In the light
Of his glory
And grace.
____________________

I lay my life before you
And I'm not getting up
Father how I adore you
Those words are not enough
______________________

Never under
Estimate my Jesus
When the world around you crumbles
He will be strong he will be strong.
____________________________

You
Are the Lord
The Famous One
Famous One
Great
Is your name in all the earth.
______________________

Knowing you
Jesus
Knowing you
There is
no greater thing

You're my all
You're the best
You're my joy
My righteousness
And I love you
Lord

I love you, oh Lord, my strength.

LT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yeah, I know I just got done talking about this year, but
next year
LT
July 21-28
Myrtle Beach
I'll be there.

At least, I'm 99.999999999999999999999999999% [plus a lot more nines] sure I will be.

And if we go on a mission's trip, I'll totally do that too.
:-D

I haven't posted about running for awhile...

I just ran around the neighborhood with Abby. In 12 minutes. And I'm not dead. Do I feel lazy or what? Like, thinking about the fact that I'm CAPABLE of running faster than I do. Abby was even on skates and I managed to keep up with her! The thing about skates versus running is, she has more of an advantage going downhill and a bigger disadvantage going uphill.

School has begun! And my routine is looking good. Yesterday I was a little worried that I was going to get tired of structure before I really got used to it--just because it feels like there was no summer. At least as far as schoolyear habit familiarity goes. Usually I have a little trouble remembering what I write at the tops of papers, but none of that this year. Today, however, I've thought of several more interesting variations on my theme of routine--that's all it takes to keep me happy.

I'm reading a really good book in school: Shadow of the Almighty. It's about Jim Elliot and it's very good. I highly recommend it if you want some hardcore, encouraging, challenging reading material.

I think that's all for now--oh, my cactus grafting is not going well. The rubberband was too tight, so it bruised the scion, then I took it off and it's pretty much withering up because I bet the merismatic tissues got unaligned with all the rain we've been having. (Grafting is basically getting the merismatic tissue of two kinds of a plant to grow together. From my limited knowledge of merismatic tissue and stem cells, I think they're very similar--they can both grow into virtually any kind of cell.)

That's really all for now! Thanks for reading, keep fighting the only fight worth fighting! If that makes any sense.

thank you all for an awesome party...

Because it was, completely, awesome. You all make me laugh and I loved spending time with you. The girls stayed up till 2 in the morning, so I'm a little bit out of it. A lot out of it. But it was terrific to stay up and play woman in the middle and watch that crazy movie. :-P I love you guys! And girls! :-P

I cleaned up from the party until...probably 12 or 1, but I don't think I got dressed till about 1:30. And then I forget what we did--at any rate, I ended up getting to watch Pride and Prejudice, which is practically the best movie ever, and yes. Now I'm all sigh-y. :-P Mrs. Darcy... At any rate (again) it's dinner time! :-D

Cactus Carnage

Well, all of my cacti have some kind of bugs--mealy bugs or scale bugs. The brown one died some time ago--I think either after LT or after Meme and Pops'. Then the red one pretty much "got" the same thing and started rotting away too. The interesting thing about the red one is it's actually two cacti grafted to make one. That made me think: it's dying. It's practically dead. But only the center of the red part. All the little "sprout" bulbs around the edges aren't dying yet. So, I decided, it's dying anyway, why not graft? Again. I hope it works. Pictures:

Yeah, just to be nifty I grafted the green part onto the green part..we'll see if this works! I guess it'll be a miracle! haha! :-( and :-) I really should've taken a before picture of it. It was pretty disgusting. Let's just say, the paper towel is not wet because the table was, it was because the cactus was seeping. Eww.

hey, long time no post

I love Sundays. No work. Brilliant.

"Grandma camp" was terrific and fun and...fabulous and fun and...oh yes, the food was everything I imagined and more. Wow. Yes. And it was a looooong time ago. :-P :-)

Right now, I'm looking forward to school starting. I heard that: "WHAT???" I am! I'm looking forward to not having to leave the house in the morning for babysitting. I still enjoy babysitting, but I'm really not enjoying getting up and leaving and going. I'm looking forward to a more stable routine. HA. As if our routine could ever be called stable--new craziness happens every day. For instance, I emergency babysat Friday afternoon for a lady who got a bad hair coloring job and needed to get it fixed. The girls were both napping, though, so it was really no big deal. :-)

I'm also looking forward to knowing when dance is going to be. That'll determine a lot of our schedule.

Oh! And I've been going to driving school. This coming week and last week, Mon-Fri, 6-9. It's really not as boring as everyone says it is. Sure, some of the videos are pretty corny. For instance, we had to sit through The Cat in the Hat--Child Restraint Version. That was pretty bad. But I don't know how you could drink and drive after watching a video about a crash that happened because of it. That was sad. Also, I'm still trying to figure out how to balance "not speeding" with "not getting run over."

I drove to Kara and Bea's party yesterday!...never mind the fact that it took us 15 minutes longer than it usually takes Dad. And the fact that Dad pretty much had to chant, "Keep left. Keep right. Keep going. ... Keep right. ... You're slowing down again. ... Keep right." :-P

KnB's party was super fun. How could it not be? Don't forget, if you haven't told me (or hannah, or abby) if you can come to our party next week, please do! It's next Sunday! You can come anywhere from 2-3 (or later if need be), we'll have dinner around 5:30 or 6, and then we'll kick out the guys at some point later and have the girls sleep over until Monday. We're trying to think of fun game ideas that we haven't done a million times before (don't worry, that doesn't mean mafia and ultimate are out the window, we're just trying to think of something to spice it up) so if you have any ideas, do tell!

Like I said, it's fun to have a whole day to NOT work. For instance, right at this moment, I'm very pointedly NOT cleaning my room. It really really needs it--it's at the point where I've taken everything apart, but I still need to sort things out and put it back together. :-P

Alright, I'll let you go, thanks for reading, feel free to comment, and I'll talk to you later! Luv you guys! ;-)

Buhbye...!

I don't think it's totally sunk in that I'm leaving tomorrow and I won't get back for a week. No. Definitely not sunk in. Is life too busy when you don't have time to look forward to things?

Yes, it's a week of grandma camp--good food, fun activities, everyone's favorite grandma and grandpa, and yes, I might even get to sleep in a little bit and maybe check my e-mail once or twice! So I'm not even getting completely cut off from the rest of the world like LT.

I have no idea if I'm packed enough. Usually, the night before I leave I'm freaking out about getting things ready for the morning. But, this is the 5th time I've packed this year, and the paranoia has worn off. Yes, 5th. Florida, DC, Family reunion/TN&GA, LT, and "Grandma camp." Whew! And I'm not even a world traveler yet!

I think it's bedtime. Maybe. Oh, here are some SWEET lyrics that totally have to go on here.

Post LT:

I think we're going somewhere.
We're on to something good here.
Out of mind, out of state.
Trying to keep my head on straight.
I think we're going somewhere.
We're on to something good here.
There's only one thing left to do.
Drop all I have and go with You.
[Chorus:]
Somewhere back there I left my worries all behind.
My problems fell out of the back of my mind.
We're going and I'm never knowing (never knowing) where we're
going.
To go back to where I was would just be wrong.
I'm pressing on.
Pressing on, all my distress is going, going, gone. (pressing
on, pressing on)
And I won't sit back, and take this anymore.
'Cause I'm done with that, I've got one foot out the door.
And to go back where I was would just be wrong
I'm pressing on.
I think we're going somewhere.
We're on to something good here.
Out of mind, out of state.
Trying to keep my head on straight.
I think we're going somewhere.
We're on to something good here.
Adversity, we get around it.
Searched for joy, in You I found it.
You look down on me, but you don't look down on me at all.
You smile and laugh, and I feel the love you have for me.
I think we're going somewhere.
We're on to something good here, and we're gonna make it after
all.

Wow, they're like, already spaced and everything. Sweet. And, song #2, I know, I never read lyrics anyone posts either (and two songs???) but these are really good and they pretty much sum up LT and post-LT. At least read the stuff in bold and italics, ok? :-)

LT:
Feelings, inside my head
I don't know, but I'm thinking about you
Understand cuz it's so hard to tell you,
cause you already know
You already know
When it's twice as hard to realize
That I'm still trying twice as hard to satisfy
myself on my own
And I'm still waiting for things to change
Chorus:
I lay my life before you, and I'm not getting up
Father, how I adore you
Those words are not enough
Feelings, inside my head
I don't know, but I'm thinking about you
Understand cuz it's so hard to tell you, cuz you already know
Father, know I love you, and know I am wrong
Lord, please take my life
Make me your son
Make me your son
Chourus:
I lay my life before you, and I'm not getting up
Father, how I adore you
Those words are not enough
When it's twice as hard to realize
That I'm still trying twice as hard to satisfy myself on my own
And I'm still waiting for things to change
Chorus:
I lay my life before you, and I'm not getting up
Father, how I adore you
Those words are not enough

Ok, Katie has to go get ready for bed or she won't be able to run tomorrow, and she really, really, needs to.

{Isn't it cute how she refers to herself in third person?!}

I love you guys, I'll miss you, call me anyway and my mom can give you my grandparents' number cuz I don't know it off the top of my head.

Lotsa love! I'm praying for you, stay strong, remember: we're on the frontline!

The People make the Party

Cuz that was seriously fun! I should seriously take a shower and seriously run tomorrow and yeah, I'm not even thinking about how bad my next piano lesson is going to be, because it'll be the only bad one before school starts. *fingers crossed* but ya, I should be taking my shower, so I'll stop now, but I just wanted to say you all rock and I can't wait to see you again tomorrow. Wow.

*jesus*
*rocks on*

This is me, trying to stay surrendered...

No, this is me, pretending to get things done but not doing them because I really don't feel like doing them and they're the kinds of things that you shouldn't have to do if you don't feel like it...although that could be up for debate. I'm just dead tired and I get all *ugh* when I'm this tired. Nothing else makes me this...out of sorts. I should really just go to bed. At 8:15?

I guess if I'm really going to post I'd better not just ramble. I babysat the S's today. It was the most stressful and the most fun all in the same day...not at the same time, however. Playing Roller Coaster Tycoon with Mike and Sarah was the fun part. Trying to figure out what I'm doing and what's ok and what the kids are doing and what the kids should be doing was the stressful part. It doesn't help when they all have different versions of what's going on (and what's ok/allowed).

And now comes the tired part, being out of sorts and trying to get more of them or get into them or something like that. Didn't the phrase "out of sorts" come from all those little letters that they used for printing way back when, and they'd get out of their cases or whatever and end up being a big jumbled mess? Yeah, that fits, I'm out of sorts. :-P :-)

Everything's better in the morning...I get to get up 10 mins later. No, I'll round and say 15 mins later. Is this making any sense? Maybe I'd better stop now and do something on my to do list. I guess eventually my to-do list gets so long and hairy that I can't stand to look at it.

I'll be quiet now...press on. :-)

Hi everyone!

Oh yay! go here, it's our LT church service! Wow, I'm so proud of us guys! Wow!! Ok, I'm so hyped up right now!!! I love you guys!