Off I Go

I am (almost) packed. While it's hard to believe that summer is over, it really doesn't seem like I should be starting my sophomore year of college. (Or that I will be twenty in a few short months. Weird.)

I'm so ready to be back here:

As excited as I am, I'm also very nervous. I was sick most of last year, which left me isolated and lonely. I had good friends, but I could never really hang out with anyone, because most of the time, I felt like crap. I'm not feeling well going into this year, either. I'm very hypothyroid at the moment (my thyroid doc said that I really shouldn't be up walking around...) so your prayers are appreciated. God has given me the strength so far, and I have to give Him praise for that. I don't know where I'd be if it weren't for Him. :)

It's also bitter-sweet because my dad has taken one of the VP jobs at the college I attend, so he'll be moving down to Tennessee in January. So really, this is my last night living in Missouri. I love this state and all the people here!

I hope you all have fantastic weekends. :)

xo,
Katy

Happy Happy Joy Joy

Fact: taking pictures with glitter is difficult. Especially when:
1. The lighting is weird. (It seriously just took me five tries to get the word lighting spelled right.)
2. It's just you, your tripod, and a remote.
2. The ten year old kid that lives nearby runs behind your shot and yells "SORRY!"

I mean, the neighbors already think I'm crazy.

So, yeah.


These pictures were in order because: I found out today that I do not have a brain tumor! There is much happiness here in my heart, and a ginormous weight has been lifted from my shoulders. The doc said that I do have a slight handicap because of my hearing loss, but at this point, I don't care!  I am tumor-free! And nothing says c-e-l-e-b-r-a-t-i-o-n like glitter, right? Right?



I make weird faces.

Oh, I also gave in and bought a Kindle today. I love it so far! :)

Thank you all SO MUCH for your prayers!
xo,
Katy

Photo Challenge

Linking this up at Little Somethings!

Vacation really was fantastic this year. I love the Outer Banks. :)

xo,
Katy

Rainy Day Survey

I had planned on cleaning out my car today. I'm a lazy bum and never completely unpacked my car when I came home for the summer. Sadly, (or rather, fortunately) it's pouring down rain today. It's dreary, it's cool (65 degrees! yeah!) and it feels like fall. I am in love! It's the perfect day for sipping sweet tea, reading a good book, and (unfortunately) doing laundry.

It's also a really good day for eating frozen strawberry cheesecake. Um, but what day isn't? I digress.

I thought it would be fun to do a little A-Z survey which I found on this lovely blog. (Who remembers--back in the day--filling out surveys and posting them in myspace bulletins? Just me? Okay...)

So, hold tight. This could either be really fun or really boring. 

A. age:: nineteen!                                                          

B. bed size :: twin. Welcome to college life.

C. chore you hate ::Taking out the trash. It's so germy and smelly.

D. dogs :: I used to have a sweet dog named Lucky. He's gone, now. Hopefully on a nice farm somewhere.

E. essential start to your day :: prayer and sweet green tea!

F. favorite color ::green and blue.

G. gold or silver :: oh, i'm a silver girl!

H. height :: nearly 5'5". I'm a short one.

I. instruments you play :: Piano! I've played for nearly 14 years.

J. job title :: student, nanny, photographer, writer, artist, dreamer

K. kids ::Not for a long while!

L. live :: middle Tennessee, southwest Missouri. Soon to be Tennessee full time!

M. maiden name :: I'd rather not divulge my last name. It's short and lends itself to many nicknames.

N. nicknames :: Oh look...nicknames. Katy, Kat, Kate, Katybug, Katydid, Katykat, Cheeto. (Not because the hue of my skin resembles the crunchy snack. It's because I really, really like cheese.)

O. overnight hospital stays :: Never as a patient. I have, however, spent more nights in a waiting room than I even care to recall.

P. pet peeve :: rudeness.

Q. quote :: "I have but one candle of life to burn, and I would rather burn it out in a land filled with darkness than in a land flooded with light." - John Keith Falconer

R. righty or lefty :: righty!

S. siblings :: an older sister and brother, and a lovely sis-in-law

T. time you wake up :: This coming year I'll be up at 7 most days.

U. university attended :: Free Will Baptist Bible College

V. vegetables you dislike: peas make me want to gag.

W. what makes you run late :: I'm a piddler.

X. x-rays you’ve had :: I've lost count at this point!

Y. yummy food ::mexican, biscuits and gravy, grilled cheese, macaroni and cheese, bacon.

Z. zoo animal favorite :: the huge cats, penguins, and owls!

Sing it Out

You should know: I am a music addict. (This should not be surprising considering I am currently a church music major.) ahem, anyway, here are a few songs I've been addicted to lately. I could probably make a playlist but using youtube videos is more fun.

First up: Breaker, Breaker by Peter Bjorn and John.



This song is pretty old, but I love it. (Dark Blue - Jack's Mannequin)


(you should definitely look up the official music video. Unfortunately, it can't be embedded.)

I'm pretty sure everyone is super excited about this song. (Up All Night - Blink-182)



Cutest song ever. (Anything for You- Ludo)



This next song pretty much describes my life. Please note that some imagery in the video may be disturbing to sensitive viewers. (I Never Liked Anyone and I'm Afraid of People - Showbread)




Emery is one of my favorite hardcore/screamo bands. Their new record is fantastic. (The Cheval Glass- Emery)



And this is by far my favorite Mumford and Sons' song. (Roll Away Your Stone- Mumford & Sons)



I've been obsessed with Destroy Rebuild Until God Shows for a few months now. I saw them live back in the spring and it was incredible. Also, please note that they have a parental advisory on their music for a reason. This song, however, is pretty clean. And catchy. (I'm Here To Take the Sky - D.R.U.G.S.)



I'll leave you with this. (Fire and Rain - James Taylor)


xo,
Katy

Today

Yesterday, I complained. I was upset, and ugly, and rude. I worried and I panicked.

Today, today will be different. I will pray unceasingly about the things that are bothering me. I will let myself be optimistic.  I will embrace whatever the uncertain future may hold. I will make sure that you know you are loved: that I truly and honestly love you; that I do appreciate everything you do for me. Today, today I will be nice. I will finish packing and I will take out the trash. I will be understanding when you can't text me back. I won't be lonely or scared. I will take a walk and eat macaroni. I will let myself grieve, and I will make sure that I laugh at least once. I will find reasons to smile.

Today, today I will love and be loved. I will live a life worthy of love, of grace. I will stop being a hermit and attempt fellowship with my fellow Christians. I've been silent far too long.

I will let God change my heart.

xo,
Katy

ch-ch-ch-changes?

my time here
has been quite dear
but the sound
of the tolling bell
is near.

i'll creep away
leave this lonely place
behind,
turn my back
against the westward sun.


For those of you who haven't experienced college yet: it's really, really stressful. And I'm not even there yet. I leave in a week, and I only have one day this week that I can work on packing. Can you say freak out!? I just know I'm going to leave something really important behind. Happens every time. I probably should have worked on packing today...instead I watched The Fellowship of the Ring (um, as much as I love the movie, they changed so much from the book. No Old Forrest, no Barrow-wights. I understand they have to change things for the movies, but they literally left half of The Return of the King out. Regardless, they do remain my favorite books and my favorite movies.) I also went with my dad to test drive a '99 Camaro convertible. It was pretty slick, despite being twelve years old.

Oh, and I dyed my hair.

Ignore the awkward face, the awkward way I'm holding my phone, and the awkward length of my hair. I'm not a fan of the color right now. It's pretty close to my natural color, and honestly, it's a little boring for me. Unfortunately,  my thyroid currently hates me, and my hair is falling out. Which means I have to lay off the blonde for a while. I'd rather have brown hair than no hair! And as far as the awkward length is concerned, I'm getting my hair cut next week. Thank goodness. I'm starting to look like Justin Bieber, which is just awkward.

Also, I'm considering buying a Kindle. Does anyone have one? Would you recommend one? I love to read, and I think this would cut down on the cost of books...but it doesn't seem to have the charm that a physical book has. I have a vision in my head of some day having a room full of books...I'm afraid this might cause that dream to turn to dust. Haha. I've been scoping out my dad's Kindle, though, and it is pretty tempting.

xo,
Katy