Universe, I surrender. I will flipping watch LOST. I am 7 episodes into season 2, and due to my constantly curious nature and the inability of friends to just tell me what the deal is with the island, I am going to sacrifice my sanity to satiate my curiosity. Universe, 1. Katie, 0.
College has made me become an addict to chocolate soy milk. Yummm.
Before summer is over, a kiddie pool bubble party will ensue, I swear to it.
I feel that if someone had no knowledge of Christianity and listened to the Tenth Avenue North CD "By Your Side", they would not only learn who God is, but feel the strong desire to accept Him in their lives. Every song on that album is so scripturally sound and profound.
Supposedly, the dorm I lived in all last year (Corbin) is one of the most haunted places in Lawrence. So THAT'S why my doors would open and shut randomly at all hours of the day and night! (just kidding, no paranormal activity happened there:)
Although, speaking of that...this one November morning in my dorm room, when I was all alone, I heard a thump at about 5 am. I sat up but, seeing nothing, went back to sleep. When I woke up a few hours later, a banana that had been brand new and on my microwave when I fell asleep was in front of my closet all the way across the room, solid black from apparent age, despite the fact that the other bananas were still yellow. Oh, man...
I'm begining to believe I am a legitimate photographer. This is probably not a good thing for the sanity of those around me. My camera is constantly out and on.
Going back to my high school's graduation made me very cynical. I hated the feeling.
The other night, me and the rest of the five buddies each wrote down our standards for the guy we want to win our hearts. My list made me smile in anticipation of discovering who the awesome man is that God has for me to give my heart to :)
Why is it illegal to put prepositions at the end of a sentence?!? To quote Mrs. Courtney Green: "English is just something invented by old dead guys."
Within the last four days or so, I have discovered John Mayer for the first time. I am positively in love with the Continuum album.
I don't care what scientists say. I know that we must dream in color.
The summer before my senior year, I put in almost 600 hours of volunteer work. I like living a purposeful life. Summer drives me crazy if I just sit around doing nothing.
Apple Cranberry Raspberry juice by Minute Maid is the greatest stuff ever. No contest.
True conversation follows.
Katie: "What's the name of the most famous Eminem song? Like the one that I know?"
Tyler: "The Real Slim Shady."
Katie: "No, but what's the title of the song?"
Tyler:..."The Real Slim Shady."
Katie: "Ohh. For some reason I keep getting that mixed up with Beyonce."
I get cold really easily. It's not weird to see me wearing a jacket in 70 degree weather.
My favorite teacher in college so far just moved to Michigan :(
Am I a nerd for jumping and screaming in excitement when, during the surprise scene after Iron Man 2, I realized the next Marvel movie will be about Thor, and then explained it to all my friends?
Alyssa's new name is Tom Tom. I would be very lost without her. :)
My favorite flowers are tulips and daisies. These are also the flowers mentioned in the song "Firefly" by Jimmy Needham :)
C.S. Lewis may have been one of the most intuitive and genius men in modern history. I read his works and then have to sit back for at least an hour to reflect on his astounding views.
I recently discovered that James Earl Jones recorded himself reading the Bible. How awesome is that?
My new goal in life is to become skillfull at more than just chords on guitar. I am currently trying to learn the pluck/snap thing john mayer does on "heart of life". It's super difficult and makes me go crazy :p
I really want to see a tornado. Really really really.
Currently, I am covered in bruises. I think I beat myself in my sleep.
Shutter Island is the worst movie of all time.
Casablanca is the best movie of all time.
I should probably go take a shower now, because I went on a really long run earlier in humid weather, and since it's midnight I'm tired....goodnight world! :)
Monday, May 24, 2010
Saved to the Uttermost:Ten Years After Accepting God (or, The Beauty of May 24th)
Often, when people share their testimony (or story of how they came to accept the fact that they needed God in their lives), there is some dramatic story of a wayward life discovering redemption and making a complete 180-turn from their sinful ways. My testimony is nothing spectacular as far as great stories go, and would definitely be turned down by moviemakers or authors or anyone seeking fame through a good story. I was only nine years old when I accepted Christ as my Savior, entering into the greatest adventure and relationship of my life. This simple, yet powerful, statement declares the crux of the situation: I was a sinner, I surrendered my life, a relationship began. And even though it may not be a NY Times bestselling story, the steps leading to my first steps of Christianity are very clear and dear to my heart.
I believe I have been in church from the week or two after my birth. God blessed me with Christian, God-fearing parents who dedicated me to God before the church long before I was conscious of my need for a Savior. I grew up going to church every Sunday and Wednesday night, in addition to being at the church several other nights each week as my parents volunteered their time for God. When I was three years old, my Mom got hired as the English teacher at Christian Crusaders Academy, meaning I could start preschool a little early in yet another Christian environment. Each school day started and ended with stories from the Bible and lessons about Jesus. Naturally curious, I would plague my poor teachers with a million questions about heaven, God, and Biblical heroes. They put up with me lovingly, and taught me just as my Sunday School teachers did. When I reached kindergarten, our teacher, Mrs. Gambill, gave us a special Bible lesson about how Jesus died on the cross so that we could find life and forgiveness and a way to His Father. I remember she asked the class if we were interested in knowing more about salvation--everyone but me raised their hands. Something in the back of my mind told me not to say that I wanted this salvation-stuff if I still didn't understand it. I wanted to be positively certain of what I thought before I followed the crowd. Later that day, my Mom and Mrs. Gambill were talking about how some students had come to accept Jesus in their hearts during class. I remember my Mom asking me if I had, and Mrs. Gambill said that if I had, she would have come down to my Mom's classroom in cartwheels. I didn't know what cartwheels were, and, assuming they had something to do with the wheeled carts that carried books around in the building, I became mildly curious as to what salvation had to do with my teacher riding around on book carriers.
My knowledge and curiosity about Christianity faded for a couple of years. I don't remember exactly how old I was, but I believe that towards the end of my 8th year, my parents began asking me often if I was thinking about accepting Christ in my heart. Being rather rebellious, I would always adamently say no, before dropping the matter from my mind. Then one night, I remember hearing them pray that, when the time was right, God would open my mind and help me in finding Him. I begin to feel a twinge of stirring in my heart, wondering how I could possibly be missing something in my hihgly Christian environment. I chewed on my thoughts for several months until the May after I turned nine. My parents were very interested in the Southern Gospel music scene, and toted me all around the state to various concerts during the formative years of my life. This concert in May featured the McLaughlin Brothers, in addition to really famous Gospel pioneers, such as Ernie Haase, JD Sumner and the Stamps, and lots of other musical people who are now gone. My parents were really excited about it, but I could barely hear the music. God was convicting me of my need of Him, and it was grating on my little 9-year-old heart. I waited until intermission when my Mom and I went to the bathroom before asking her how old she had been when she had "gotten saved." She told me she had been 24 (? is that right?), and my heart became discouraged, somehow thinking that, as a 9-year-old, I would still have to wait 15 years to get this off my chest. She asked if I was ready to accept Christ, and I refused once again. It was a Saturday night, and I figured I would wait until the next morning at church to ask my Sunday School teacher about it.
Sunday School came and went, and still I stayed silent. During this time of life, I was painfully shy and hated to talk to anyone outside of my family. Surely if God wanted me to accept Him in my life, I wouldn't have to talk to anybody to ask what was happening in my heart! That Sunday started a revival at Sunray, with Kenneth Bobo preaching. I don't remember Sunday or Monday, but on Tuesday...I remember deciding that morning that I would go up front during Revival that night and finally ask Jesus to be my Savior and live in my heart. I finally felt courageous enough to make the decision, and was ready to go forward! That night, though, Brother Bobo taught a lesson about David and Bathsheba. I didn't know what adultery was exactly, but I knew it was something really bad. I just couldn't become a Christian due to a sermon about something like adultery! Miserably, I went home with my parents and cried myself to sleep, afraid that I would never get to become a Chrsitian.
The next day flew by in a blur, I don't even remember anything about it. I don't know what the sermon was about, and I don't know anything about the service. I just remember that when the music begin, I tugged on my Mom's arms and had her rush with me up to the front. Dennis, our regular pastor, talked to me for a bit, asking me if I understood and wanted Christ in my life. I responded by going straight to the altar, kneeling down, and praying quite simply, "Jesus, please come into my heart." In later years, I have heard many people pray elaborate prayers or salvation, acknowledging their great sin and greater need for freedom. At the age of nine, I wasn't concerned with that. I just knew that I desperately wanted God, and I wanted Him as soon as possible. And that's how on Wednesday, May 24, 2000, I accepted Christ into my heart, taking the first steps toward a life-long adventure and relationship with my Creator.
All that happened next was chaos in the church. All the older ladies who had watched me grow up came forward in the line to hold me close to their chest while happy tears streamed from their eyes. I was rather afraid, but inside I knew they all loved me, and I loved them. My heart seemed to be swelling with all the love from those tangible people around me and the love from the One I could now call 'Father'. After everyone had hugged me, Dennis took me over to the first pew and opened my Bible to John 5:24 and marked it as a memorial verse, writing the date of my re-birth over top (I remember feeling so special, that was MY verse, since the numbers of the verse coincided with the date I got saved--May (5) 24, John 5:24). After we left chruch, my parents had me call all the extended family and my current schoolteacher (and future uth minister's wife) to tell them my news. I was terrified of having to talk to so many people in one night, and really wished I didn't have to follow the hymn and "tell the world that I'm a Christian". Still, the word 'Christian' tasted good on my tongue as I realized that the term belonged to me, and I belonged to Him. I remember going to bed that night and singing a Poet Voices song until I drifted to sleep: "I'm saved to the uttermost, I know that I am washed in the blood of the precious Lamb. Through the Father, through the Son, through the Holy Ghost, I am saved to the uttermost."
Thus began my journey, and the constant re-molding into the woman that God wants me to become. It's not always been easy, but the life I've lived in Christ is so much more abundant, so much more beautiful, than life without Him could ever be ("I've come so that you may have life, and have it more abundantly!" John 10:10). Surrendering my life to God was the best and most important decision I have ever made or will ever make in my life. I have never regretted it, and am still looking to the future in anticipation of what God is doing and will be doing in my life for the rest of my days. I pray that my life may be a living reflection of who He is, and that I may exemplify grace and a sample of His perfect love in my daily life and interactions with others. I am definitely aware of my own depravity and failures, but I am also aware of His healing power and desire to draw me closer to Him. If you have not surrendered your life to the true living God, please do not delay. He is there, He is alive, and He desires a personal relationship with you so that you may be His. If you have any questions, feel free to ask me, or another trusted Christian friend, who can help you on your spiritual journey.
I promise you won't regret it.
"Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life." ~John 5:24
I believe I have been in church from the week or two after my birth. God blessed me with Christian, God-fearing parents who dedicated me to God before the church long before I was conscious of my need for a Savior. I grew up going to church every Sunday and Wednesday night, in addition to being at the church several other nights each week as my parents volunteered their time for God. When I was three years old, my Mom got hired as the English teacher at Christian Crusaders Academy, meaning I could start preschool a little early in yet another Christian environment. Each school day started and ended with stories from the Bible and lessons about Jesus. Naturally curious, I would plague my poor teachers with a million questions about heaven, God, and Biblical heroes. They put up with me lovingly, and taught me just as my Sunday School teachers did. When I reached kindergarten, our teacher, Mrs. Gambill, gave us a special Bible lesson about how Jesus died on the cross so that we could find life and forgiveness and a way to His Father. I remember she asked the class if we were interested in knowing more about salvation--everyone but me raised their hands. Something in the back of my mind told me not to say that I wanted this salvation-stuff if I still didn't understand it. I wanted to be positively certain of what I thought before I followed the crowd. Later that day, my Mom and Mrs. Gambill were talking about how some students had come to accept Jesus in their hearts during class. I remember my Mom asking me if I had, and Mrs. Gambill said that if I had, she would have come down to my Mom's classroom in cartwheels. I didn't know what cartwheels were, and, assuming they had something to do with the wheeled carts that carried books around in the building, I became mildly curious as to what salvation had to do with my teacher riding around on book carriers.
My knowledge and curiosity about Christianity faded for a couple of years. I don't remember exactly how old I was, but I believe that towards the end of my 8th year, my parents began asking me often if I was thinking about accepting Christ in my heart. Being rather rebellious, I would always adamently say no, before dropping the matter from my mind. Then one night, I remember hearing them pray that, when the time was right, God would open my mind and help me in finding Him. I begin to feel a twinge of stirring in my heart, wondering how I could possibly be missing something in my hihgly Christian environment. I chewed on my thoughts for several months until the May after I turned nine. My parents were very interested in the Southern Gospel music scene, and toted me all around the state to various concerts during the formative years of my life. This concert in May featured the McLaughlin Brothers, in addition to really famous Gospel pioneers, such as Ernie Haase, JD Sumner and the Stamps, and lots of other musical people who are now gone. My parents were really excited about it, but I could barely hear the music. God was convicting me of my need of Him, and it was grating on my little 9-year-old heart. I waited until intermission when my Mom and I went to the bathroom before asking her how old she had been when she had "gotten saved." She told me she had been 24 (? is that right?), and my heart became discouraged, somehow thinking that, as a 9-year-old, I would still have to wait 15 years to get this off my chest. She asked if I was ready to accept Christ, and I refused once again. It was a Saturday night, and I figured I would wait until the next morning at church to ask my Sunday School teacher about it.
Sunday School came and went, and still I stayed silent. During this time of life, I was painfully shy and hated to talk to anyone outside of my family. Surely if God wanted me to accept Him in my life, I wouldn't have to talk to anybody to ask what was happening in my heart! That Sunday started a revival at Sunray, with Kenneth Bobo preaching. I don't remember Sunday or Monday, but on Tuesday...I remember deciding that morning that I would go up front during Revival that night and finally ask Jesus to be my Savior and live in my heart. I finally felt courageous enough to make the decision, and was ready to go forward! That night, though, Brother Bobo taught a lesson about David and Bathsheba. I didn't know what adultery was exactly, but I knew it was something really bad. I just couldn't become a Christian due to a sermon about something like adultery! Miserably, I went home with my parents and cried myself to sleep, afraid that I would never get to become a Chrsitian.
The next day flew by in a blur, I don't even remember anything about it. I don't know what the sermon was about, and I don't know anything about the service. I just remember that when the music begin, I tugged on my Mom's arms and had her rush with me up to the front. Dennis, our regular pastor, talked to me for a bit, asking me if I understood and wanted Christ in my life. I responded by going straight to the altar, kneeling down, and praying quite simply, "Jesus, please come into my heart." In later years, I have heard many people pray elaborate prayers or salvation, acknowledging their great sin and greater need for freedom. At the age of nine, I wasn't concerned with that. I just knew that I desperately wanted God, and I wanted Him as soon as possible. And that's how on Wednesday, May 24, 2000, I accepted Christ into my heart, taking the first steps toward a life-long adventure and relationship with my Creator.
All that happened next was chaos in the church. All the older ladies who had watched me grow up came forward in the line to hold me close to their chest while happy tears streamed from their eyes. I was rather afraid, but inside I knew they all loved me, and I loved them. My heart seemed to be swelling with all the love from those tangible people around me and the love from the One I could now call 'Father'. After everyone had hugged me, Dennis took me over to the first pew and opened my Bible to John 5:24 and marked it as a memorial verse, writing the date of my re-birth over top (I remember feeling so special, that was MY verse, since the numbers of the verse coincided with the date I got saved--May (5) 24, John 5:24). After we left chruch, my parents had me call all the extended family and my current schoolteacher (and future uth minister's wife) to tell them my news. I was terrified of having to talk to so many people in one night, and really wished I didn't have to follow the hymn and "tell the world that I'm a Christian". Still, the word 'Christian' tasted good on my tongue as I realized that the term belonged to me, and I belonged to Him. I remember going to bed that night and singing a Poet Voices song until I drifted to sleep: "I'm saved to the uttermost, I know that I am washed in the blood of the precious Lamb. Through the Father, through the Son, through the Holy Ghost, I am saved to the uttermost."
Thus began my journey, and the constant re-molding into the woman that God wants me to become. It's not always been easy, but the life I've lived in Christ is so much more abundant, so much more beautiful, than life without Him could ever be ("I've come so that you may have life, and have it more abundantly!" John 10:10). Surrendering my life to God was the best and most important decision I have ever made or will ever make in my life. I have never regretted it, and am still looking to the future in anticipation of what God is doing and will be doing in my life for the rest of my days. I pray that my life may be a living reflection of who He is, and that I may exemplify grace and a sample of His perfect love in my daily life and interactions with others. I am definitely aware of my own depravity and failures, but I am also aware of His healing power and desire to draw me closer to Him. If you have not surrendered your life to the true living God, please do not delay. He is there, He is alive, and He desires a personal relationship with you so that you may be His. If you have any questions, feel free to ask me, or another trusted Christian friend, who can help you on your spiritual journey.
I promise you won't regret it.
"Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life." ~John 5:24
Monday, April 26, 2010
Bucket List.....and some more random goals that sometimes are remembered
Here it is, my list of things to do before dying. If you can help me conquer any of these, PLEASE let me know!
100. Say 'hello' in 50 languages
99. Run a half marathon (accomplished 4/18/10)
98. Witness a solar eclipse
97. See the Sydney Opera House
96. Meet Charles Martin
95. Attend the Olympics
94. Go storm chasing
93. Climb an active volcano
92. See the big statue of Christ in Brazil
91. Ride a camel (accomplished 4/3/09)
90. Have a picnic in Central Park (accomplished 5/8/09)
89. Visit Salvation Mountain in California
88. Ride a unicycle
87. Learn how to juggle
86. Write a letter to the president (accomplished 1/25/09)
85. Own a chinchilla
84. Have a part in a Disney movie
83. Visit every town in Oklahoma
82. See all 50 states
81. Go on a ride-along with a cop
80. Kick a pig
79. Fly in a hot air balloon
78. Jump into a fountain (accomplished 9/2/09)
77. See a breaching whale
76. Visit a castle
75. Learn how to surf
74. Go snowboarding
73. Go skiing
72. Be in a band
71. Learn how to play poker (accomplished 1/12/09)
70. See the Sistene Chapel
69. Drive a school bus once
68. Learn to French braid my daughter's hair
67. See a manatee (accomplished 5/19/10)
66. Climb to the top of a rock wall (accomplished 8/30/09)
65. Spelunking
64. Put a guitar pick on Buddy Holly's grave
63. Visit the White House
62. Catch a guitar pick at a concert
61. Bungee jumping
60. Cliff diving
59. Stand under a waterfall
58. Watch my car go backwards up the hill by Ardmore (accomplished 8/7/09)
57. Learn the constellations
56. Play paintball
55. Build a treehouse
54. Feed a venus fly trap
53. Play all 1030 songs in the Songs of Faith and Praise hymnal (accomplished 1/11/09)
52. Perform in front of a crowd of people (accomplished 6/13/09)
51. Paint with oil paints
50. Donate blood (accomplished 9/24/09)
49. Touch a moon rock
48. Eat freeze-dried ice cream (accomplished 10/15/08)
47. Wear a princess dress to my senior prom (accomplished 4/18/09)
46. Drive through a redwood tree in California
45. Write a song with somebody else
44. Teach my kids music
43. Take my kids to the zoo
42. Swim at the Blue Whale Swimming Hole in Catoosa, OK
41. Meet/get a picture with a Blue Man
40. Live in Chicago or another big city
39. Dance in a thunderstorm
38. Eat a philly cheese steak in Philadelphia
37. Climb to the top of the Eiffel Tower
36. Look through the Keck Telescope
35. Drive a 1958 Chevrolet Viking
34. Make a blanket for someone else (accomplished 5/27/09)
33. Hike to the bottom of the Grand Canyon
32. Walk on the Great Wall of China
31. Make my own outfit
30. Stand on the Canadian side of Niagara Falls
29. Swim with dolphins
28. See a Broadway play (accomplished 5/7/09)
27. Read all of Shakespeare's works
26. Camp on the plains
25. Record a CD
24. Go scuba diving
23. Memorize a book of the Bible
22. Ride a motorcycle (accomplished 3/17/09)
21. Play the violin (accomplished 7/3/09)
20. Kiss the Blarney Stone
19. Take a European vacation
18. Drive my 1958 Chevy Fleetside Apache down Route 66
17. Visit the Elephant building in Margate, New Jersey
16. Sail in the Caribbean
15. Publish a book
14. Hike in the Rocky Mountains
13. Go skydiving
12. Fly the glider from Fly Away Home
11. Fly in an airplane
10. Meet/get a picture with David Cook
9. Take a road trip with my friends (accomplished 7/20--23/09)
8. Audition for American Idol with Manuel
7. Graduate college
6. Graduate high school (accomplished 5/22/09)
5. Work in a children's hospital
4. Become a music therapist
3. Go to the University of Kansas (accomplished 8/20/09)
2. Be a mom
1. Get married
The following is a list I made AFTER the above list of other things that I would like to do, though I sometimes forget the things on this list...oops.
1. Listen to my Dad's favorite CD all the way through (accomplished 6/13/09)
2. See The Fray in concert
3. Attend a concert of a Rock and Roll Hall of Famer (John Mellencamp and Wanda Jackson, 2x each)
4. Visit London
5. Buy an electric guitar (8/2/09; thanks Tyler!)
6. Eat a Big Mac (accomplished 4/30/2010)
7. Study Astronomy, novice-ly
8. Stand at Four Corners
9. Stay in the Wigwam Motel
10. Fast for a day
11. Attend a bonfire
12. Ride a segway (accomplished 3/14/09)
13. Attend a St. Patty's Day festival in Ireland
14. Skip in NYC like Buddy the Elf (accomplished 5/8/09)
15. See Bob Dylan in concert (accomplished 8/7/09)
16. Kiss my two best guy friends on the cheek at graduation (accomplished 5/22/09)
17. Catch a bouquet at a wedding (accomplished 6/5/09)
18. Go back to Disney World
19. See all the Star Wars movies, and figure out why it's a big deal
20. Go driving for a whole day with the intention of getting lost
21. Suck helium
22. Buy a Chris Tomlin CD
23. Climb on the outside of a building
24. Run a 5K
(*25. Spoof videos with Alyssa ;)
100. Say 'hello' in 50 languages
99. Run a half marathon (accomplished 4/18/10)
98. Witness a solar eclipse
97. See the Sydney Opera House
96. Meet Charles Martin
95. Attend the Olympics
94. Go storm chasing
93. Climb an active volcano
92. See the big statue of Christ in Brazil
91. Ride a camel (accomplished 4/3/09)
90. Have a picnic in Central Park (accomplished 5/8/09)
89. Visit Salvation Mountain in California
88. Ride a unicycle
87. Learn how to juggle
86. Write a letter to the president (accomplished 1/25/09)
85. Own a chinchilla
84. Have a part in a Disney movie
83. Visit every town in Oklahoma
82. See all 50 states
81. Go on a ride-along with a cop
80. Kick a pig
79. Fly in a hot air balloon
78. Jump into a fountain (accomplished 9/2/09)
77. See a breaching whale
76. Visit a castle
75. Learn how to surf
74. Go snowboarding
73. Go skiing
72. Be in a band
71. Learn how to play poker (accomplished 1/12/09)
70. See the Sistene Chapel
69. Drive a school bus once
68. Learn to French braid my daughter's hair
67. See a manatee (accomplished 5/19/10)
66. Climb to the top of a rock wall (accomplished 8/30/09)
65. Spelunking
64. Put a guitar pick on Buddy Holly's grave
63. Visit the White House
62. Catch a guitar pick at a concert
61. Bungee jumping
60. Cliff diving
59. Stand under a waterfall
58. Watch my car go backwards up the hill by Ardmore (accomplished 8/7/09)
57. Learn the constellations
56. Play paintball
55. Build a treehouse
54. Feed a venus fly trap
53. Play all 1030 songs in the Songs of Faith and Praise hymnal (accomplished 1/11/09)
52. Perform in front of a crowd of people (accomplished 6/13/09)
51. Paint with oil paints
50. Donate blood (accomplished 9/24/09)
49. Touch a moon rock
48. Eat freeze-dried ice cream (accomplished 10/15/08)
47. Wear a princess dress to my senior prom (accomplished 4/18/09)
46. Drive through a redwood tree in California
45. Write a song with somebody else
44. Teach my kids music
43. Take my kids to the zoo
42. Swim at the Blue Whale Swimming Hole in Catoosa, OK
41. Meet/get a picture with a Blue Man
40. Live in Chicago or another big city
39. Dance in a thunderstorm
38. Eat a philly cheese steak in Philadelphia
37. Climb to the top of the Eiffel Tower
36. Look through the Keck Telescope
35. Drive a 1958 Chevrolet Viking
34. Make a blanket for someone else (accomplished 5/27/09)
33. Hike to the bottom of the Grand Canyon
32. Walk on the Great Wall of China
31. Make my own outfit
30. Stand on the Canadian side of Niagara Falls
29. Swim with dolphins
28. See a Broadway play (accomplished 5/7/09)
27. Read all of Shakespeare's works
26. Camp on the plains
25. Record a CD
24. Go scuba diving
23. Memorize a book of the Bible
22. Ride a motorcycle (accomplished 3/17/09)
21. Play the violin (accomplished 7/3/09)
20. Kiss the Blarney Stone
19. Take a European vacation
18. Drive my 1958 Chevy Fleetside Apache down Route 66
17. Visit the Elephant building in Margate, New Jersey
16. Sail in the Caribbean
15. Publish a book
14. Hike in the Rocky Mountains
13. Go skydiving
12. Fly the glider from Fly Away Home
11. Fly in an airplane
10. Meet/get a picture with David Cook
9. Take a road trip with my friends (accomplished 7/20--23/09)
8. Audition for American Idol with Manuel
7. Graduate college
6. Graduate high school (accomplished 5/22/09)
5. Work in a children's hospital
4. Become a music therapist
3. Go to the University of Kansas (accomplished 8/20/09)
2. Be a mom
1. Get married
The following is a list I made AFTER the above list of other things that I would like to do, though I sometimes forget the things on this list...oops.
1. Listen to my Dad's favorite CD all the way through (accomplished 6/13/09)
2. See The Fray in concert
3. Attend a concert of a Rock and Roll Hall of Famer (John Mellencamp and Wanda Jackson, 2x each)
4. Visit London
5. Buy an electric guitar (8/2/09; thanks Tyler!)
6. Eat a Big Mac (accomplished 4/30/2010)
7. Study Astronomy, novice-ly
8. Stand at Four Corners
9. Stay in the Wigwam Motel
10. Fast for a day
11. Attend a bonfire
12. Ride a segway (accomplished 3/14/09)
13. Attend a St. Patty's Day festival in Ireland
14. Skip in NYC like Buddy the Elf (accomplished 5/8/09)
15. See Bob Dylan in concert (accomplished 8/7/09)
16. Kiss my two best guy friends on the cheek at graduation (accomplished 5/22/09)
17. Catch a bouquet at a wedding (accomplished 6/5/09)
18. Go back to Disney World
19. See all the Star Wars movies, and figure out why it's a big deal
20. Go driving for a whole day with the intention of getting lost
21. Suck helium
22. Buy a Chris Tomlin CD
23. Climb on the outside of a building
24. Run a 5K
(*25. Spoof videos with Alyssa ;)
Sunday, April 18, 2010
I Am Still Running: Thoughts During My Race and Lessons Learned on the Way
Today I ran my first ever race. Back in junior high, I had hip problems and wasn't able to run until I'd stopped growing, at the least. When I reached the age of 16, I started running short distances behind my church or at the lake, though never doing anything serious. In my senior year of high school, I made a list of 100 Things to do Before I Die. I added "running a half marathon" to the list, but nothing was really done to achieve that goal. It was one of those "someday I will" things, and I expected to wait until I was older or something.
Enter this past January. The first two months of every year have been unusually difficult for me, for various reasons of problems and the lack of sun (and presence of cold). This winter was the hardest one yet. It was too cold to function, I missed my family and friends that I had been around for a month during winter break, and to top the misery cake, someone that I cared a lot for just disappeared from my life. I felt very alone, very hurt, and very in-need of constant God-time. So, with no other ideas, I went to the rec and started running. I didn't run much at first--usually only two miles or so while I listened to sermons and worship music on my ipod. As my loneliness and overall sadness from winter increased, so did my mileage. Soon I was running 3--5 miles every day. Running felt good and gave me a time in which I didn't have to think and only had to listen. Then in the beginning of February, a woman in my Bible study mentioned the Lynn Electric Kansas Marathon. I chewed on the idea for a bit before I heard Gabrielle and Kristen talking about signing up during lunch one Sunday. I got the information needed from them and, with nothing to lose, registered for my first half marathon. What followed was a strict training schedule and lots of life lessons learned between January and today, which will be addressed at the bottom of this blog. As I trained, I grew stronger physically and emotionally, and when my weekly runs faded into rests for the big day, I knew that I was ready to conquer this long 13.1 mile race. The following paragraph sections will display my thoughts during the race, and my thoughts on the lessons I've learned from January till now.
My Thoughts During the Race on 4/18/2010
Pre-race: I'm going to make a playlist just for this race! It will include john mellencamp, the first taylor swift cd, and chris rice. All mellow people that I love to listen to while I run!
Starting line: Maybe this won't be so bad! There's a lot of people here. And I have no doubt I'm ready!
Mile 1: (Up Naismith Drive and onto campus) This is awesome! I am actually running a half marathon! Ahhh! And I am about to conquer the hill of Naismith Drive!
Mile 2: I should not be feeling like I'm ready to quit. I'm only to Daisy Hill, and there is a long road ahead of me...
Mile 3: There's Heather, she's here to take pictures and cheer us on! So blessed to have amazing friends, and remembering the road that God led me on in meeting my friends...I can do this.
Mile 4--5: This is a breeze. I am so grateful for the ability to run and enjoy this beautiful day!
Mile 6: Shoe came untied. Bend while running to tuck it in my shoe. I am NOT stopping for anything...even when I reach a water station, I will just grab it and pour it into my mouth while I run. No quitting.
Mile 7: The Valley of Death. A mile-stretch through nothing-ness by the lake. Gives me time to think about how this race is no longer about the sadness that started my running--it's now about a passion to run and endure
Mile 8: Back on the road! Saw Gabby at the turnaround!
Mile 9: Legs starting to tingle. Ignoring the sensation
Mile 10: This is the farthest I've ever run in my life! Even though I'm slower than I would like...I'm going to do this!
Mile 11: *to the William Tell overture* Gotta pee gotta pee gotta pee pee pee! Followed by a hill from hell...literally.
Mile 12: One more mile to go! Heather cheers me on and I pick up the pace for the last 1.1 mile!
Mile 13: As soon as I see the finish line, I start to cry from joy. I did it! What I had once thought impossible had become reality!
Final time: 2:17.32
And now...
Love is a Marathon: Lessons Learned on the Journey
(in order of realization)
The times when we feel most alone are the times where God can tell us the most.
Don't take life so seriously. If it's not a heart in a cooler, then it's just not that big of a deal.
No matter how cold life may seem...the sun is guaranteed to always shine again.
Best friends are those people who can hold your hand from a different state and help you heal by praying for you and texting you stupid random conversations all day, every day to keep your mind off the fact that your phone isn't being inhabited by texts from someone else (special thanks to Alyssa, Ty, and the rest of the buddies for this one).
God can use us in the lives of others even if we feel we are un-usable.
The greatest thing in life is realizing that people we used to know as strangers are suddenly very dear, irreplacable heart friends (thanks bethany and alex :)
Another great thing is realizing that the people you've prayed to be friends with treasure your friendship as well (thanks morgan and kristi :)
God gives us church-sisters to listen to our stories, help us through understanding heart matters, and having picnics on warm spring days (thanks heather :)
When things seem as though they will never work out, God provides a way and sends your future roommate directly to you. Things are even better when you spend time with that roommate on a mission trip and realize you are eerily similar and actually look forward to the future with a roommate (thanks nicole :)
You know you are blessed with the world's best pesudo-sisters when they brave the Flint Hills to make your birthday special (thanks again loves :)
Life is more fun when it's hectic ;)
It's okay to run through a rainstorm. Really.
Sundresses are a girl's best friend because they allow you to feel summery and happy!
Don't care about what others think. Go lay in the grass and take pictures of the spring day.
Sometimes, God puts people in our lives to give us a change of perspective.
Even when a guy seems to be the epitome of all a girl could want, and even seems like a real life Todd Johnson....doesn't mean that there will be any feeling behind the perfect appearance. Love isn't about finding the "perfect guy".
Lakes are meant for deep personal reflection.
I have been given various guiding stars in my life that I didn't even recognize until I look back on my life now (thanks Mrs. C and Mrs. Hale :)
All my life, people would tell me that "someday the guys will be chasing after you!" I always laughed this off. I am the invisible one, always on the fringe of people's memory. But lately, guys have been noticing me. Please don't think this is vanity on my part...it's a shocking truth. I'm starting to realize that all the years of me wondering why guys only saw me as one of them was a blessing, not a curse.
While guys have finally realized that I am a girl, I realize that none of them have a chance because I'm still not over another guy.
And with the above statement, just recently I have begun to realize: I believe in redemption. I believe in miracles. I believe in a God-written biography. I believe that every question mark has an exclamation point. And I believe in hoping and dreaming even when things seem futile.
Lastly...
I believe in endurance. I believe in faith. And I believe in love.
Enter this past January. The first two months of every year have been unusually difficult for me, for various reasons of problems and the lack of sun (and presence of cold). This winter was the hardest one yet. It was too cold to function, I missed my family and friends that I had been around for a month during winter break, and to top the misery cake, someone that I cared a lot for just disappeared from my life. I felt very alone, very hurt, and very in-need of constant God-time. So, with no other ideas, I went to the rec and started running. I didn't run much at first--usually only two miles or so while I listened to sermons and worship music on my ipod. As my loneliness and overall sadness from winter increased, so did my mileage. Soon I was running 3--5 miles every day. Running felt good and gave me a time in which I didn't have to think and only had to listen. Then in the beginning of February, a woman in my Bible study mentioned the Lynn Electric Kansas Marathon. I chewed on the idea for a bit before I heard Gabrielle and Kristen talking about signing up during lunch one Sunday. I got the information needed from them and, with nothing to lose, registered for my first half marathon. What followed was a strict training schedule and lots of life lessons learned between January and today, which will be addressed at the bottom of this blog. As I trained, I grew stronger physically and emotionally, and when my weekly runs faded into rests for the big day, I knew that I was ready to conquer this long 13.1 mile race. The following paragraph sections will display my thoughts during the race, and my thoughts on the lessons I've learned from January till now.
My Thoughts During the Race on 4/18/2010
Pre-race: I'm going to make a playlist just for this race! It will include john mellencamp, the first taylor swift cd, and chris rice. All mellow people that I love to listen to while I run!
Starting line: Maybe this won't be so bad! There's a lot of people here. And I have no doubt I'm ready!
Mile 1: (Up Naismith Drive and onto campus) This is awesome! I am actually running a half marathon! Ahhh! And I am about to conquer the hill of Naismith Drive!
Mile 2: I should not be feeling like I'm ready to quit. I'm only to Daisy Hill, and there is a long road ahead of me...
Mile 3: There's Heather, she's here to take pictures and cheer us on! So blessed to have amazing friends, and remembering the road that God led me on in meeting my friends...I can do this.
Mile 4--5: This is a breeze. I am so grateful for the ability to run and enjoy this beautiful day!
Mile 6: Shoe came untied. Bend while running to tuck it in my shoe. I am NOT stopping for anything...even when I reach a water station, I will just grab it and pour it into my mouth while I run. No quitting.
Mile 7: The Valley of Death. A mile-stretch through nothing-ness by the lake. Gives me time to think about how this race is no longer about the sadness that started my running--it's now about a passion to run and endure
Mile 8: Back on the road! Saw Gabby at the turnaround!
Mile 9: Legs starting to tingle. Ignoring the sensation
Mile 10: This is the farthest I've ever run in my life! Even though I'm slower than I would like...I'm going to do this!
Mile 11: *to the William Tell overture* Gotta pee gotta pee gotta pee pee pee! Followed by a hill from hell...literally.
Mile 12: One more mile to go! Heather cheers me on and I pick up the pace for the last 1.1 mile!
Mile 13: As soon as I see the finish line, I start to cry from joy. I did it! What I had once thought impossible had become reality!
Final time: 2:17.32
And now...
Love is a Marathon: Lessons Learned on the Journey
(in order of realization)
The times when we feel most alone are the times where God can tell us the most.
Don't take life so seriously. If it's not a heart in a cooler, then it's just not that big of a deal.
No matter how cold life may seem...the sun is guaranteed to always shine again.
Best friends are those people who can hold your hand from a different state and help you heal by praying for you and texting you stupid random conversations all day, every day to keep your mind off the fact that your phone isn't being inhabited by texts from someone else (special thanks to Alyssa, Ty, and the rest of the buddies for this one).
God can use us in the lives of others even if we feel we are un-usable.
The greatest thing in life is realizing that people we used to know as strangers are suddenly very dear, irreplacable heart friends (thanks bethany and alex :)
Another great thing is realizing that the people you've prayed to be friends with treasure your friendship as well (thanks morgan and kristi :)
God gives us church-sisters to listen to our stories, help us through understanding heart matters, and having picnics on warm spring days (thanks heather :)
When things seem as though they will never work out, God provides a way and sends your future roommate directly to you. Things are even better when you spend time with that roommate on a mission trip and realize you are eerily similar and actually look forward to the future with a roommate (thanks nicole :)
You know you are blessed with the world's best pesudo-sisters when they brave the Flint Hills to make your birthday special (thanks again loves :)
Life is more fun when it's hectic ;)
It's okay to run through a rainstorm. Really.
Sundresses are a girl's best friend because they allow you to feel summery and happy!
Don't care about what others think. Go lay in the grass and take pictures of the spring day.
Sometimes, God puts people in our lives to give us a change of perspective.
Even when a guy seems to be the epitome of all a girl could want, and even seems like a real life Todd Johnson....doesn't mean that there will be any feeling behind the perfect appearance. Love isn't about finding the "perfect guy".
Lakes are meant for deep personal reflection.
I have been given various guiding stars in my life that I didn't even recognize until I look back on my life now (thanks Mrs. C and Mrs. Hale :)
All my life, people would tell me that "someday the guys will be chasing after you!" I always laughed this off. I am the invisible one, always on the fringe of people's memory. But lately, guys have been noticing me. Please don't think this is vanity on my part...it's a shocking truth. I'm starting to realize that all the years of me wondering why guys only saw me as one of them was a blessing, not a curse.
While guys have finally realized that I am a girl, I realize that none of them have a chance because I'm still not over another guy.
And with the above statement, just recently I have begun to realize: I believe in redemption. I believe in miracles. I believe in a God-written biography. I believe that every question mark has an exclamation point. And I believe in hoping and dreaming even when things seem futile.
Lastly...
I believe in endurance. I believe in faith. And I believe in love.
Monday, March 22, 2010
Random. Thoughts. V: Let's Make it a Love Song Instead!
My name is Katie. Not Katherine, Not Kaitlin, not anything other than Katie.
Folk music seriously rocks.
So does Humphrey Bogart... :)
Folk music seriously rocks.
So does Humphrey Bogart... :)
I am strongly against wearing sleeves after the first day of spring. I am also strongly against wearing dark colors after the first day of spring.
Please don't think I'm sadistic, but I absolutely adore tornado season. I think it has a lot to do with hearing "Stay with News 9, we'll keep you advised" every single time the tv is on :)
Speaking of weathermen, I think Mike Morgan sucks. Sorry, Channel 4 fans...
Strawberries and orange juice used to be gross. Now, they are the most fabulous food items in the world.
Over spring break, I read a book called "In Search of Noah's Ark". It has made my obsession with biblical archaeology re-emerge, and now I just want to go be the female version of Indiana Jones!
23 days to half marathon :)
I went on a mission trip to nebraska over spring break. The whole time I was working with the kids, I was trying to form therapeutic goals in my head. College has warped my mind.
I only wear hoodies the correct way if it is really really cold. Generally, I wear my hoodies upside-down and backwards with only my arms covered by the sleeves. Don't ask me why, couldn't tell you.
Favorite painting=Starry Night by Vincent van Gogh. GORGEOUS in real life...
Two words: Todd Johnson.
Go listen to the song "Christ is Risen" by Matt Maher. It will change your life.
Let it be noted that my father did, in fact, cut off the legendary hair of Michael O'Neal ;)
The average groom is 5.3 years older than the average bride.
Microwaving Peeps is not a good idea. And if you stick toothpicks in them in an attempt to puncture the other peeps...it doesn't work. Tried it. Failed.
Audrey Hepburn is the most gorgeous woman ever.
I am still incredibly sad that Buddy Holly died. I know it was way before I was even thought of, but it still makes me very sad. :(
Gustav Holst is my favorite composer. Ever. Absolute genius.
My current favorite hymn is Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing. Always loved it :)
Every time I read the story of the Prodigal Son, I get really emotional. What a beautiful story of God's love for us!
I really like to make people think and question their life. I know that sounds weird, but it is always encouraging to have a conversation with someone about something seemingly mundane, then having them come back days later and saying "You know, you made me think a lot and helped me change some things in my life!"
"I want the world to turn because of love, with mercy to find each of us doing what we can to just believe."
Dasani water tastes funny.
Today I rediscovered an un-heard cd from my bff alyssa containing all 80s music. I was listening to it and laughing so hard because it's so corny, yet catchy!
Speaking of my bff alyssa...when she first moved to our school in soph year, I had a moment of understanding what they meant in Anne of Green Gables by "bosom aquaintance" or "kindred spirit." I knew without a doubt that she would be my best friend and heart sister! The only problem...she was so shy that we didn't even speak to each other for an entire year. I was frustrated and thought I must be crazy for having such a strong belief in a friendship with a completely silent girl in my spanish/chem class, but...junior prom came around, and we awkwardly went with an awkward group and came out as besties. We fake-fight all the time, but i'm pretty sure there is no one else in the world with the same bizarre humor, sense of misadventure, and ability to be completely awesome in the whole world. She probably knows more about me than anyone else in the world, and I seriously don't know what I would do without her. I look forward to further adventures with ron and sam! :)
I smile all the time. Really. There's very few times you will see me where I'm not smiling.
Going with the above...today in therapy we had a discussion about how they think it's crazy I'm always happy. I think they have "happy" confused with "joy". Happy is an emotion that comes and goes. Joy is a permanent fixture in my life, thanks to my faith in God and His constant care and grace :)
Vegetarians can be really annoying sometimes.
I know everyone likes Queen. But Freddie Mercury really creeps me out, and there are only a few Queen songs I can tolerate. Sorry universe.
Also, I know my next thought is almost sinful, considering the fact that Jayhawks are trained to despise Missouri with their whole hearts. Still...I can tolerate Missouri relatively well. I cannot tolerate Kstate at all. I slightly hate their stupid wildcat. Sorry kstaters...
Nothing in the world is more boring than an essay over analyses of Haydn music (yes, that is the project that is currently inspiring my blogging....blech. Seriously, who would ever read this analytical nonsense??)
My friend Olivia is hanging out in my dorm while she writes HER paper. I forgot how nice it is to have someone around :)
I love flowers. Any kind, any time.
Subterranean Homesick Blues is kinda bomb.
I could easily spend all my money on disney movies and music. Easily.
Xavier Henry and I have a deep connection. Really. It's what happens when you are the same age and are both Oklahoma Jayhawks. We're practically bffs. ;)
Over spring break I started a list of questions for heaven. I have 40 so far, and growing every day.
I believe curiosity is a gift :)
My guitar's name is Desdemona. My horn's name is Ophelia. My camera's name is Prospero. Now I just need a Shakespearean name for my keyboard!
Greatest camera regret: Not taking pictures at the free Skillet/Decyfer Down concert at OU. Where me and my best friends were ridiculously close to the stage. And could see everything. And Skillet rocked for 1.5 hours. And I got no pictures.
I enjoy the occassional inspirational book :)
I am tired of hearing people use the adjective "cute" to describe the s10 I drive here at college. I miss driving a huge solid steel 58 chevy that was gorgeous and made people double-take to realize a GIRL was driving such an awesome vehicle.
Green grass and blue skies with abundant sunshine....heavenly.
Teddy Geiger, John Mayer, and Jon McLaughlin have the exact same voice.
I am going to write a book someday, I swear. I have been blessed with an abnormally eventful life. Interesting things just happen to me. Sometimes I wonder how life would be if I wasn't always getting into misadventures, but then I remember how BORING a normal life would be, and feel grateful for my life of craziness :)
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Help me to BE
This weekend, I volunteered with UCF to help at a DNOW (discipleship now, youth group revival retreat) in Valley Center, Kansas. It was a really amazing experience, and I am grateful to God for giving me the opportunity to give my time and love to teenagers in the process of planting seeds for Him in their lives. I worked with the middle school girls, and the whole time we were in Bible study, my heart was being touched by God, stirring me to realization of things that I have been chewing on for the past month now. That night as the girls were screaming to karaoke and all us college sponsors were settling down for the night, I opened my prayer journal and began to write. I am usually not a big fan of posting prayers publicly, but the conversation I had with my Father perfectly describes everything I have been trying to put in a blog for the past several weeks. So, here it is, a peek into a conversation with my heavenly Father. I pray that something I say will touch you as a reader or somehow inspire you in the way these thoughts have been changing me. In Christ...
2/26/10
Dear Father,
This past week has been so crazy. I have been so unfocused and restless feeling, like I need something desperately. And I know in my head what I need--You--but my heart has been stone-like. Today was the first day of the DNOW at Valley Center. I'm working with the middle school girls, and it just made me stop and think about my spiritual maturity level at that age. I was so far from where I am now, and it's haunting to think of how much I've grown, and how Your hand has led me through it all, both good times and bad. And sometimes I look at others and feel that maybe I'm ahead of them on my level of closeness to You, but the matter is that I am still growing, even now. Six years from now, I'll be looking back at these years with the same disbelief I now have viewing my junior high years. I can never be close enough to You; there's always a deeper love to fall into. In a way, this is an amazing blessing to realize: no matter where life takes me, I will always be in a process of being drawn closer to Your heart. Sometimes I will fail, but Your grace and love and pursuit of my heart will remain. On the other side though...I long even more to see You face to face in heaven...where I will be struck speechless with utter gratitude for the life and freedom You gifted to me, and where my love will be at it's pinnacle, always faithful and focused on You alone without other distractions. God, how amazing! I want to be there right now! But I know that the time for heaven is farther down the road, and there's much more to learn and experience here on earth. So until I stand before You in Your glory, help me to be:
A burning fire of Your love, not just a lowly flame.
Someone who changes the world--even if it's only the world of one life.
Someone who truly impacts the life of another.
A prayer warrior.
The one people can depend on.
Filled with Your grace.
Beautiful, on the inside where it is true beauty that spreads to the outer appearance through joy
A TESTIMONY to JOY.
Unshakable in storms.
Compassionate to all.
Someone who sees through Your eyes.
Amazed at every daily miracle.
A wise spender of time.
ALIVE with NO regrets.
And, above all...
The confident woman You made me to be in You.
I love You, Father. Thank You and praise to You for first loving me.
2/26/10
Dear Father,
This past week has been so crazy. I have been so unfocused and restless feeling, like I need something desperately. And I know in my head what I need--You--but my heart has been stone-like. Today was the first day of the DNOW at Valley Center. I'm working with the middle school girls, and it just made me stop and think about my spiritual maturity level at that age. I was so far from where I am now, and it's haunting to think of how much I've grown, and how Your hand has led me through it all, both good times and bad. And sometimes I look at others and feel that maybe I'm ahead of them on my level of closeness to You, but the matter is that I am still growing, even now. Six years from now, I'll be looking back at these years with the same disbelief I now have viewing my junior high years. I can never be close enough to You; there's always a deeper love to fall into. In a way, this is an amazing blessing to realize: no matter where life takes me, I will always be in a process of being drawn closer to Your heart. Sometimes I will fail, but Your grace and love and pursuit of my heart will remain. On the other side though...I long even more to see You face to face in heaven...where I will be struck speechless with utter gratitude for the life and freedom You gifted to me, and where my love will be at it's pinnacle, always faithful and focused on You alone without other distractions. God, how amazing! I want to be there right now! But I know that the time for heaven is farther down the road, and there's much more to learn and experience here on earth. So until I stand before You in Your glory, help me to be:
A burning fire of Your love, not just a lowly flame.
Someone who changes the world--even if it's only the world of one life.
Someone who truly impacts the life of another.
A prayer warrior.
The one people can depend on.
Filled with Your grace.
Beautiful, on the inside where it is true beauty that spreads to the outer appearance through joy
A TESTIMONY to JOY.
Unshakable in storms.
Compassionate to all.
Someone who sees through Your eyes.
Amazed at every daily miracle.
A wise spender of time.
ALIVE with NO regrets.
And, above all...
The confident woman You made me to be in You.
I love You, Father. Thank You and praise to You for first loving me.
Monday, February 8, 2010
'She Looks Just as Music Sounds!"
Yesterday, I was just sitting around when out of the blue, I was bombarded with an array of southern gospel songs, suddenly stuck in my head. All day long I have been listening to a southern gospel playlist, which takes me back to my early childhood. My parents took me to so many gospel concerts, and I didn't even hear non-gospel music until I was a teenager. Thinking on this form of Christian music and what it meant to my development, I contemplated my musical journey today while on my daily run. Music is such a huge part of who I am--how did it become this big of a factor?
According to my parents, when I was a baby, I would dance and just be so happy whenever 'Baby Baby' by Amy Grant would come on. I guess that was my first musical impact. When I was old enough to learn words and sing, most kids were learning 'Jesus Loves Me' and 'Twinkle Twinkle Little Star'. The first song I remember learning was "Love Lifted Me", page 448 in the hymnal. There's pictures of my parents singing at Victory (the church we were at when I was two-ish), my dad holding me up so I could sing, too! Victory became Johnson Road Baptist, where I learned VBS songs that still get stuck in my head under my Mom's music teaching and where I sang "Lord I Lift Your Name on High" at a tent revival after learning it in private school. When I was three or so, my Dad had a cherry red el camino. He would take me for rides and we would listen to 'Shine' by Collective Soul and the song that goes 'Time has come today....TIME.' (it was my job to scream the loud TIME at the end of every line :) The extended family touched me with music as well. There is a very strong memory in my mind of my Grandma standing at her sink in Hartshorne and singing "The Old Rugged Cross". The whole family surrounded me with hymns. When I was four, my family moved to Sunray Baptist, where I spent all my life until college. During this time, a man we had known from our old church offered to sell us his late wife's piano. My Meemaw wanted me to learn music, so she bought the piano and put it in our house. I started taking piano lessons just as my parents discovered southern gospel music. I'm pretty sure we went to every gospel singing in the state of Oklahoma from the time I was 4ish until I was 12, at least. I've met (and taken pictures, minnie mouse doll included) with some of the greatest influences in the world of gospel music (Phil Cross/Poet Voices, Greater Vision, Crabb Family, The Bishops (they come in again later), etc.) Dad started sponsoring gospel singings at Sunray, so these famous people became real in my life, and our family grew very close to several singing groups, both local and national. We often planned our vacations around gospel singings so that we could hear the music while also seeing the country.
During the ages of 10--12, I went through a musical rebellion. I didn't want to sing or have anything to do with music, but since Dad was in charge of the music in church...I had to sing. For a while my parents begged me to keep singing, but I adamently refused. They just let it go for a while, until I suddenly, out of the blue, had a desire to sing. As my voice matured, I realized I could easily hit notes way above the staff. And since no one else in church could do that and I thought it was really cool...welcome to music, once more!
When I was in 7th grade, I decided to give the whole band thing a try, picking up the flute. I played that for one year before Hilger took a group of us to a drum corps show, convincing me to switch to mellophone. I was supposed to play flute after marching band was over, but I made a bet with Hilger that if I could make honor band on horn, he would let me become a horn player full time. By the grace of God, I made last chair in the band and got my desire to play a brass instrument. Later that year, Tyler and I had been fighting, and since he lived right down the street, I was moping about for a couple of weeks feeling bored and lonely. Dad found a way to distract me--give me a sketchbook so I could practice my art while introducing me to the one and only...Beatles. Changed my life. After they blew my mind with their wonderfulness, my musical tastes turned to that of a freshman hippie chick. My favorite CD was the forest gump soundtrack (peace, man!) and I had more shirts with Paul's face on it than the original girls at Shea Stadium.
As I grew closer to Matt and Tyler, my musical awareness broadened. We would experiment the idea of a garage band (our only song was Heart of Worship, haha) and sit in the back of the bus on band trips and listen to green day at top volume...we were pretty punk, yo. I learned about modern country music, too, as we would listen to Rascal Flatts's latest albums every day at lunch in my mom's classroom. When Matt started driving, I was introduced to the world of popular music as we would drive around and blast KJ from his system. Then Junior year, I met Mrs. C, who took us up to OCU and exposed us to classical music and orchestration. Senior year, I began to feel music. My eyes welled with tears in sheer amazement at hymns such as "There is a Balm in Gilead" and "Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing" written and arranged for bandstration. My senior solo was Three Hymn Settings, a mixture of Abide With Me, Amazing Grace, and Shall We Gather at the River? The Amazing Grace arrangement was so beautiful, it better be played at my funeral someday. I got really involved in songwriting on the guitar, and began playing for tip money at Rodney's pizza. That gig is helping me pay for college, in addition to opening doors for more experiences. God gave me the chance to do worship gigs and perform on stage with some gospel greats (Mark Bishop, from the Bishops I mentioned earlier? I got to play before him...and he said I was really good! I almost fainted, best music moment of life!). The worship gig was an amazing experience--leading 100 women in worshipping our Savior? Nothing compares to that.
And now, I am a music major (go figure haha). I've been exposed to so many different genres and beautiful factors of music that I am fearless to try out new artists. My ipod has almost 6000 songs, and I feel that music or noise is a necessity to my every day life. When words fail, music speaks, especially the songs about my Savior and His love for me (i may have lots of music in my world, but my absolute favorites are the ones I grew up with--worship songs to God. I collect hymnals and ravenously read them, always seeking old hymns that are new to me :) I can be dumbfounded in awe of the realization that God made music. He is a musician! He created E flat major, dissonant chords, perfect fourths, etc...ALL FOR OUR ENJOYMENT. He gives songs to our hearts in our hard times, helping us to carry on. And when we are in distress..."He will quiet us with His love, and rejoice over us with singing." (zephaniah 3:17) What a wonderful thought!
Anyways, now that I've had my ramble that probably makes no sense to the general public, time to write an english draft! ;)
God bless!
Katie
According to my parents, when I was a baby, I would dance and just be so happy whenever 'Baby Baby' by Amy Grant would come on. I guess that was my first musical impact. When I was old enough to learn words and sing, most kids were learning 'Jesus Loves Me' and 'Twinkle Twinkle Little Star'. The first song I remember learning was "Love Lifted Me", page 448 in the hymnal. There's pictures of my parents singing at Victory (the church we were at when I was two-ish), my dad holding me up so I could sing, too! Victory became Johnson Road Baptist, where I learned VBS songs that still get stuck in my head under my Mom's music teaching and where I sang "Lord I Lift Your Name on High" at a tent revival after learning it in private school. When I was three or so, my Dad had a cherry red el camino. He would take me for rides and we would listen to 'Shine' by Collective Soul and the song that goes 'Time has come today....TIME.' (it was my job to scream the loud TIME at the end of every line :) The extended family touched me with music as well. There is a very strong memory in my mind of my Grandma standing at her sink in Hartshorne and singing "The Old Rugged Cross". The whole family surrounded me with hymns. When I was four, my family moved to Sunray Baptist, where I spent all my life until college. During this time, a man we had known from our old church offered to sell us his late wife's piano. My Meemaw wanted me to learn music, so she bought the piano and put it in our house. I started taking piano lessons just as my parents discovered southern gospel music. I'm pretty sure we went to every gospel singing in the state of Oklahoma from the time I was 4ish until I was 12, at least. I've met (and taken pictures, minnie mouse doll included) with some of the greatest influences in the world of gospel music (Phil Cross/Poet Voices, Greater Vision, Crabb Family, The Bishops (they come in again later), etc.) Dad started sponsoring gospel singings at Sunray, so these famous people became real in my life, and our family grew very close to several singing groups, both local and national. We often planned our vacations around gospel singings so that we could hear the music while also seeing the country.
During the ages of 10--12, I went through a musical rebellion. I didn't want to sing or have anything to do with music, but since Dad was in charge of the music in church...I had to sing. For a while my parents begged me to keep singing, but I adamently refused. They just let it go for a while, until I suddenly, out of the blue, had a desire to sing. As my voice matured, I realized I could easily hit notes way above the staff. And since no one else in church could do that and I thought it was really cool...welcome to music, once more!
When I was in 7th grade, I decided to give the whole band thing a try, picking up the flute. I played that for one year before Hilger took a group of us to a drum corps show, convincing me to switch to mellophone. I was supposed to play flute after marching band was over, but I made a bet with Hilger that if I could make honor band on horn, he would let me become a horn player full time. By the grace of God, I made last chair in the band and got my desire to play a brass instrument. Later that year, Tyler and I had been fighting, and since he lived right down the street, I was moping about for a couple of weeks feeling bored and lonely. Dad found a way to distract me--give me a sketchbook so I could practice my art while introducing me to the one and only...Beatles. Changed my life. After they blew my mind with their wonderfulness, my musical tastes turned to that of a freshman hippie chick. My favorite CD was the forest gump soundtrack (peace, man!) and I had more shirts with Paul's face on it than the original girls at Shea Stadium.
As I grew closer to Matt and Tyler, my musical awareness broadened. We would experiment the idea of a garage band (our only song was Heart of Worship, haha) and sit in the back of the bus on band trips and listen to green day at top volume...we were pretty punk, yo. I learned about modern country music, too, as we would listen to Rascal Flatts's latest albums every day at lunch in my mom's classroom. When Matt started driving, I was introduced to the world of popular music as we would drive around and blast KJ from his system. Then Junior year, I met Mrs. C, who took us up to OCU and exposed us to classical music and orchestration. Senior year, I began to feel music. My eyes welled with tears in sheer amazement at hymns such as "There is a Balm in Gilead" and "Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing" written and arranged for bandstration. My senior solo was Three Hymn Settings, a mixture of Abide With Me, Amazing Grace, and Shall We Gather at the River? The Amazing Grace arrangement was so beautiful, it better be played at my funeral someday. I got really involved in songwriting on the guitar, and began playing for tip money at Rodney's pizza. That gig is helping me pay for college, in addition to opening doors for more experiences. God gave me the chance to do worship gigs and perform on stage with some gospel greats (Mark Bishop, from the Bishops I mentioned earlier? I got to play before him...and he said I was really good! I almost fainted, best music moment of life!). The worship gig was an amazing experience--leading 100 women in worshipping our Savior? Nothing compares to that.
And now, I am a music major (go figure haha). I've been exposed to so many different genres and beautiful factors of music that I am fearless to try out new artists. My ipod has almost 6000 songs, and I feel that music or noise is a necessity to my every day life. When words fail, music speaks, especially the songs about my Savior and His love for me (i may have lots of music in my world, but my absolute favorites are the ones I grew up with--worship songs to God. I collect hymnals and ravenously read them, always seeking old hymns that are new to me :) I can be dumbfounded in awe of the realization that God made music. He is a musician! He created E flat major, dissonant chords, perfect fourths, etc...ALL FOR OUR ENJOYMENT. He gives songs to our hearts in our hard times, helping us to carry on. And when we are in distress..."He will quiet us with His love, and rejoice over us with singing." (zephaniah 3:17) What a wonderful thought!
Anyways, now that I've had my ramble that probably makes no sense to the general public, time to write an english draft! ;)
God bless!
Katie
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