Update Mate

Today is Wednesday, but you could have told me otherwise and I would have believed you. My days have been thrown so off kilter that it's slightly unnerving. Schedules are generally my friend and routine in small doses is also nice, which is slowly making it's way back into my life. Hi, i'm slightly ocd about those kinds of things.

Anyway, so this past week or so has been a crazy whirlwind of fun, new people, new places, adventures, revelations, and insights. Last week we talked about Kingdom Culture and what that involved and how to apply it to our daily lives. The five basic parts of Kingdom Culture are intimacy, honor, gratitude, life in the Spirit, and family, which can all be broken down and expounded upon. For instance, my small group took the five and wrote down our own thoughts concerning a particular aspect and then what we could recall from what we got in lecture time. I got the word intimacy and broke it down basically to 'knowing love from another without the fear of judgement' and then related it back to Song of Songs 4:7 which talks of how God sees us without flaw or blemish. Which really is a beautiful picture. I love that book of the bible anyway.

This week, starting yesterday, was the official start of lecture week. We have a local pastor, Black Mattocks, coming up the mountain all week to talk about the nature and character of God and so far it has been insanely awesome! He's laying down the building blocks and introducing us to his character in a really cool way. He's very engaging and excited about what God has done and shown him in his life and about teaching it to us. I'm excited too, to be honest. Yesterday he was talking about how there are no posers in the Kingdom of God. We're not allowed to have walls or fake identities because we've declared that we have surrendered that to God if we also declare that we are His children. It reminded me of that scripture, I think it's in John, where it talks about how nothing is hidden from God, but everything is uncovered and laid bare before Him, which is exactly how we're supposed to be living before God and before the body of Christ and the world. He's called us to be His ambassadors and we can't do that if we're pretending we're someone or something that we're not. He sees through our disguises so might as well take them off and surrender them willingly to begin with. Can I get an "Amen"??! :D

Anyway, I will write of more exciting God things soon, but right now I am wiped out. This upcoming week, Monday through Wednesday, our whole DTS group plus the other four ywam bases in CO, which adds up to somewhere around 400 people will be in Colorado Springs. We're going to this conference called Acts 1 and it's supposed to be awesome. I'm expecting amazing things to come out of this next week...and these next five months. I'm stoked, guys...to the core. I miss you all back home and hope to keep you more updated. Love!

~Josie

Cheers!

I leave bright and early tomorrow morning. . . as in by 5am. The sun won't even be awake by then, which is a miracle. You should right this down in your diary of many secrets and wonders so that one day you may tell your kids and grandkids that Josie K. was up and awake with coffee in hand before the sun ever showed his face. ;) So, I'm driving out with my friend Anna and we're taking four days to drive out to the beautiful Colorado. I am so excited about this road trip! The second night we're staying in this cool place in New Mexico, which I can't say here because I'm keeping it as a surprise for Anna. muhaha. But it looks fabulous and makes me happy.

Our itinerary, if you care to know, is as follows:

Thursday -- leave Starkville, MS around 5am and drive West. Most likely reach Little Rock, AR by lunch and Apache, OK by 6pm. Apache, OK is our destination for the first day, we're staying at a ywam base's hospitality suit for the night.

Friday -- leave Apache by 8am and continue driving West. By this point we will have traveled through MS, AR, OK, and be heading into TX. We're planning to stop at every State sign and take a picture. It's going to be awesome. Ok, continue driving and eventually reach NM where we will spend the night in unsaid location.

Saturday -- leave by 8 or 9am and head North where we will travel through Starkville, CO....completely awesome. Pictures will be taken. Take slight detour to the Great Sand Dunes, which are reported to be really cool. Drive to Colorado Springs and bunk for the night.

Sunday -- Tour around Colorado Springs and just chill and hang out for the day. Hopefully go see the Garden of the Gods which are also reported to be really pretty. Sunday is up for change and fun.

Monday -- drive to Denver and send Anna back home on le airplane to MS. Most likely cry some more. Drive by myself to Arvada, CO where I will know no one and be spending the next 5 months of my life. Eeegads.

I'm freaking out just a little bit, but i'm mostly just getting ridiculously emotional. I was watching what not to wear and started tearing up. I mean...c'mon! These next two weeks are going to be long, weird, exciting, good, scary, and thrilling I do believe. I know I'm going to miss my family and friends immensely. But I also know God is loving and I know that He is good and I know that He has called me to this place at this time and that He will never leave me. And for all of those truths, I am extremely grateful.

So, here's to life more abundant and love without end. . . .to God and God alone be the glory! Psalm 115:1

~Josie

1 Out Of 196

I'm so excited about my outreach destination come December! HE told me back in July which country, but now that it's reality and so closely tangible it's cool. . .and slightly weirding me out. I think I'm on a "this is too incredible to be real" cloud and that maybe I'll come down off of it at some point. Although, part of me doesn't mind being up here -- the view is quite nice and all.

So, because I am slightly ridiculous, here's a sneak peek of some nature from the fabulous country that'll I will be going to for outreach:

Booby Birds

The Huandoy Mt.

Alpacas

Cebu Cattle (see also veggie tales)

and The Amazon River & Rainforest

I'm going to Peru!!! Woohoo! I am really excited! It's going to be completely crazy and completely awesome and I almost can't wait. I don't know exactly where I'll be staying during the duration of my missionary travels, but I will inform you when that gets decided and announced when I get to Denver. My mother also so kindly informed/reminded me that anacondas also live in Peru. . .thanks mother dearest. Horror of horrors. I was doing some slight research since I don't really know where I'll be yet, but still, I found out that not only do that eat guinea pigs, which apparently everyone but I already knew, they also eat llamas. And they also make yarn out of Alpaca wool. I may have to get some of that for my cousin while I'm there. So now you know and can share in my excitement! Yay!

Yesterday I went to the lake in AL with G.C. and my brother and sister-in-law and had a most excellent time. We did some jumping off the dock and tubing behind the boat and sitting and chatting. The weather was really nice for it too. . .I'm pale, so the lack of sunshine and abundance of clouds was awesome in my opinion. I hate getting sunburned. We stayed in T-town and shopped and ate the foodsen for supper before G.C. and I headed home. Big Brother gives directions, Josie memorizes directions, G.C. drives. Somehow we get lost. We pull over on Shiver De Freeze Rd. (i kid you not!) to call Big Brother for rescue. After finally figuring out where the heck we were we find some county roads to take which will get us back to the main highway. . .eventually. It made for an interesting evening/drive which is always fun.

Currently listening to The National station on pandora which has been quite soothing on this rainy day. I'm wearing a sweatshirt and my toes have been freezing all morning. K.M. warmed my hands in church today and they have been toasty ever since! <3 I think I'm going to read some in Anne of Avonlea. . .i had to put it down during a potential crisis and I need to know what happens!

~me

Where My Heart Belongs

Hullo! OK, so i have been wandering around the Eastern half of the country for the past week....whew! and have things to share and tell and elaborate on, etc. But I will save that for when i'm not exhausted and have been on the road for 16 hours. Exactly.

BUT...i just wanted to let you know that the Smokey Mountains ARE RIDICULOUSLY GORGEOUS AND YOU SHOULD GO SEE THEM....NOW! i'm really sure that my heart belongs in the mountains, so i guess i'll test this upcoming fall to see if it's the East or West version of mountain that i prefer. In the meantime, however, drive to TN/NC and soak in the beauty because it is glorious.

~me

Summer Plans

My so-called summer "to-do" list:

1) girl trip to Virginia to see cousins

2) D.C. visit as well

3) dye a streak of my hair hot pink

4) make a few trips down to the beach

5) my BIRTHDAY! planning and celebrating and the likes

6) be a counselor at camp of champions

7) play frisbee or softball or volleyball at least twice a week

8) picnics

9) experiment some more with tie dying

10) apply to YWAM

11) write and send out newsletter

12) hopefully visit family in Nashville again

13) be a counselor at Ikthoos Camp

14) finish at least the fourth season of Buffy

15) talk G.C. into getting me a great dane for my birthday

16) make lots of artsy crafty doodads

17) go swimming and enjoy it. . .water--yuck

18) wrap up small groups :(

19) cook in more and eat out less

20) go to the zoo

21) ride the Bruce more

22) spend more time with the fam

23) soak up every moment of the last summer i will have with all of my friends in the same town

This could possibly be the most bitter-sweet of summers i will ever experience but God is good and all He does is out of love. So, i'm hoping and looking forward to a terrific summer and i hope that you are as well because summer is AWESOME. Exactly.

~me

Coffee Fairy

Tuesday i spent the greater half of the day and on into the night writing. Monday too, but Tuesday is what drained me. My final test and 10 page paper were due on Wednesday morning and i was scrambling to get the finishing touches on my paper. Grr. I stayed up until 5 am Wednesday morning and got up at 6:20am. I dreamed of literature and woke up with Joanna Newsom's song inflammatory writ stuck in my head. i kid you not. Took the test, the essay part was brutal. I think i did terrible. One hour of sleep will do things like that to you. However, teacher gave us a grace period to turn in our papers -- 5pm Thursday. THANKYOUTHANKYOUTHANKYOU! It made life look a little brighter. At one point while i was taking that exam and scribbling away on paper i realized that i had more or less been continuously writing for the past 12 hours. People, that is not cool. My brain has reached its limit i'm afraid. hoorah?

I have a Dr. for a sister now. She's so cool. Graduation was yesterday afternoon and it was far from boring but definitely long. 73 new Dr.'s. The storm blowing through took out the power on campus and all over S-ville. Made for a weird experience, especially the reception since it was at the V-school. c-r-e-e-p-y. Chats with Mr. G about missions and working with kids. Caught me off guard some. J.H. Ranch.

Youth Church practice at La's and Rudy's. Utilizing the daylight. Pro. Hunger pains were attacking the majority of the crew. Plan of action was put into play. Grilled the foodsen and ate by candle light. The stars....oh the stars were beautiful. Won't get that kind of a view in the middle of town ever again. G.C. goes home to where there is power. 2 papers left to finish. Sorrows. Little sis spent the night, she was sort of stranded.

And now that i have been successful at procrastinating.... i guess i'll get to work on finishing that horrid paper. yikes! wish me luck and stuff...or the abundance of creative juices.

Where is my coffee fairy when i need her?

~me

Wheeee!

Secret plans. . . .

muhaha

Lovely

Heck yes -- Monday:
early to rise -- it's hard
studying at the Bagel
work was boring -- minus the one regular couple
i think i did productive things later
...i can never remember mondays

Tuesday:
classes
freak out about quiz in SF ...no quiz (thank you!)
meeting with SF professor -- i may or may not have said something stupid
free day in psychology = sweet
the bakery is my new favorite place to be
studystudystudy
misunderstandings are dumb
Dooeys -- ridiculous and awesome convos
frozen yogurt has a special place in my heart
...ran into psych prof. -- we hang out at the same places. ha
CATAN -- camels. that's right.

Wednesday:
work -- i love the regulars, they just make me happy.
dentist evaluation -- wisdom teeth come out May 2nd!
...also, i'm NOT going under. woah
index cards
government is important yet boring.
Bible study prep. :)

Thursday:
no coffee
classes -- dear 6:45am, i do not love you... -me
cramstudycramstudy
band-aid conversations
govt. test
major headache onslaught
bible study -- longer than usual but good [<3]
biology homework -- fell asleep on the couch

Friday:
wake up early to work on that bio homework
rain -- why is it raining? whhhhhhyyy.
rode to class with G.C.
walked to class in the rain -- gave up on staying the least bit dry
sat in bakery to read war of the worlds...
tornado sirens -- very chill dudes: "that's just a firetruck...yea."
led to the tunnels under campus -- i love the tunnels
escaping and coaxing G.C. to escape too and meet me
plan worked
McCool Hall -- the laughing people, we loved them
City Bagel [<3 <3]
B. sat with us -- nice chat, new news
nap FTW!
work
taxes online
fell asleep on couch again

Saturday:
prayer walk
bagel cafe
work -- tips are so nice
buffy the vampire slayer -- Sid
K. is cute when it gets scary
cookie craving = satisfied
fell asleep on the floor...
also, i'm OK with this:

Sunday:
slept later than usual
yayayay
still managed to be late
*sigh*
guest speaker. . .
testing
lunch with the kids -- i love us :)
i also love olives
waitress lady recognized me from work -- we chatted about frustrating and confused customers. i think we bonded. it was awesome.
paper writing
i am going to make it. . . .i think
school, end soon please...kthanks

~me

Discovery Chanel

I currently feel like an old woman. Heat packs, ice packs, pain pills, and naps. What has happened to my body? I think i have begun to fall apart prematurely which does not leave me with a good feeling about what another 20 years will bring. AH! Perhaps my body needs a dose of adventure to cure its aches and pains. Rock climbing? Water rafting? Or would this make it worse? A greater part of me just says "who cares!" My bones can take it; i've never broken one so they have nothing against me and aren't likely to snap on me. So there.

Sometimes school can be dumb. But a lot of the time school can be cool. I guess that would make my relationship with school a love-hate one? Makes sense. I just want to graduate. As a nurse. Is that so much to ask? I didn't think so. Applications are in the process of being filled out and mailed. I know that in this day and age it is respectful and critical that one have a job with a steady income. Totally understandable. Money doesn't grow on trees, etc. BUT SCHOOL?!! Why? Why is it frowned upon if you put off your education or travel amidst the learning for awhile? Why do we feel we must live up to society's expectations and the worlds demands of how we should act, learn, love, behave, or just LIVE? Since when do 'they' get to have a say or thought in what i do.


I want to take a semester off again and travel, go on mission trips, and just explore the world with my own two hands and eyes instead of through someone else's interpretation through a textbook or whatever. Yes, trip[S], as in multiple ones. I want a door to just swing wide and loudly open before me so i can wildly go running through it. Call me crazy, call me dumb, call me ridiculous and naive, i don't care. There are almost SEVEN BILLION people in this world. There are ONE HUNDRED AND NINETY-FIVE countries. There are too many mountains to hike and rivers to ride and roads to explore. I have to go. I have to discover. I want to. I need to.

~Me

Your Great Aunt Helen Could Probably Think Of A Better Title Than I. . .

I'm really not sure why I'm updating my blog right now. Or why I insist on capitalizing my i's, so maybe i won't. But really, i'm at the beach and i'm updating my blog. Go figure. I thought about walking out to the beach tonight after we got in from supper, but i made myself some coffee and read a few bits instead. I've always heard that the beach at night is lovely. Although, the beach during the day, when proper amounts of sunscreen have been applied, is lovely as well. It's kind of hard to escape the beauty when you're outside. The ocean is so huge, the sky is so blue, the sand is hot but it sparkles in the sunlight, and we saw dolphins two days in a row. I personally love the mountains much more than the beach, but i have slowly grown an apprecitaion for the beauty that the beach holds, but perhaps not so much of an appreciation for the relentless beating down of the sun. Hullo, i am made of pale. It really amazes me that people can walk around day after day and take in the amazing glory and beauty and still deny the One who made it all. It's inescapeable. I so badly want to grab the arm of the closest human being and say "look! do you see that? isn't it glorious? have you ever seen such magnificent colors scraped across the sky in such a beautiful display? isn't HE awesome!" But part of me fears that their reply would be something like "yea, uh-huh, it's just another sunset..." Perhaps all i can do is hope that one may get it and realize the depth of HIS goodness and be broken and forever changed. If i could just have that one. Yes, I would like to be contagiously giddy on HIS behalf. That sounds like a fun life to lead.

I should probably stop this blog post here, but i'm not. It's a decent note to end on, however, i want to talk about dolphins. So, the closest i've ever been to a dolphin is watching the movie flipper. Yea, not so close. But that has all changed because Mr B and i went out in the kiyaks yesterday and it just so happened that those lovely crestures were headed our way. Those dolphins are HUGE. We must have come within about five yards of them and it was an absolutely amazing sight. Hurray for adventures!

I have not eaten lobster this week, but i am currently the color of one. We had dinner at Seaside and it was quite windy, but the crab cakes were yummy. My boyfriend shaved his head while i was away...i have no further comment on that at this time. I'll get use to it i'm sure. I have many pet peeves, one of which is cabinet doors that are left wide open... please excuse me while i go shut it...

~Me