Cleaning my bathroom...

I clean my bathroom for stress relief. I don't have anything due this upcoming week, BUT attempting not to procrastinate I looked ahead. I've been getting excited to come home for Fall Break on Oct 16th, but prior to this.... let's just put it this way... AHHHHHHHH!!!! hahahahaha. Oh man, so I have 3 papers due and midterm week. But when I go home, it is ALL over for another 3-4 weeks. haha. Oh life. The joy of being a college student in a shorter term school. Yeah. If you read this on Sunday night.. pray that my prof would work with me and let me write my art paper on the art piece I loved. I have proof I was at the museum, but no proof that I was in front of the piece I want to write about. Uber frustrating for a non-artsy person like me. Of course you can't take pictures of contemporary art.. DUH! tis life. Yeah this week should be good. I'm not sure about the job. I haven't gotten a call back yet. :-/ but honestly, maybe its better not to have a job. Life is going. I feel like I'm growing in practical ways instead of spiritual ways which is good, but different. Praise God for what He does!

life

so today I was able to learn about grace... and it was hard actually. I took a nap this afternoon and woke up in a very goofy mood. Spent some time getting angry at my art book... and then went to dinner with two lovely ladies. They thought I was funny which tends to make me want to be funnier. Came back to my room, talked to another lovely lady, then went downstairs and met one of my roomies parents. The dad was a hoot and I think we were playing off each other both being goofs. So I hadn't seen one of my roommates for a few days. I was sure she was busy, but I knew she had to work all night. So I went into bug her anyway. She's super busy, needs sleep, and she's sick. :( So being Kellie, I solved the problem with caffenine. haha. not really but you know. I told her I could drink a doubleshot and she could too. So I went and got them. Little forward, she doesn't drink much caffenine. So I decide I'm going to chug it. I get lots of liquid in my mouth. She takes a small drink, and its REALLY strong, so she made a face, which of course made me laugh... I ran for the door, but didn't make it. Like expresso went everywhere, and the sweetheart had to go to work in like 15 minutes. She stayed late to help me clean it up. She didn't get mad or even upset which would have been expected being tired and all. Then before she left she mentioned that she really appreciated my generosity. I'm thinking my generosity.... just like spewed expresso on your favorite photograph. Friends check this out: She said, "It's just stuff, you're much more important than stuff." Wow, God blessed me with that friendship. I mean I thought about continuing to beat myself up tonight, but then I decided it wasn't worth it. I am going to learn to trust this amazing girl! So I am going to continue my night smiling because God is gracious and I just saw Jesus's face through a friend! Bless her heart!
I just got through my test week which is why I haven't been blogging. I have been studying A LOT. 5 tests in a matter of three days, that's like tighter than ISU's final week. YUCK! It's over. I think I passed all of them. Yay! Funny story, so i am starting my social work exam and I hear this phone going off. I start getting annoyed becuase it just keeps going off. Then I realized it's my ipod that is ON. OOPS!!! So i scurried and fixed it, hoping my prof wouldn't think i was cheating digging in my bag.
I am learning to trust more and more out here. Like I have several guys I can talk to... 3 that is. I have my roommates that I am learning to trust more and more. It's great. I texted them tonight to see about dinner, and all three responded and one could eat with me. YAY! All in all I am enjoying life out here.
I thought I would share this since I love my great aunt Elly a lot. I wrote her a poem. If you would like to put a prayer up for her and for my family. She having health problems, and probably won't make it. This is my understanding from talking to people from home. I wrote her a poem of admiration. I hope after reading this you can see the impact Elly Taheny is leaving on Earth.

Beauty
Words cannot say what a heart has felt,
But, what if, that is all you're dealt.
I sit back thinking on your life,
And how you looked at obstacles of strife.
I never heard you utter a harsh thought,
Nor saw you give up on this battle fought.
You continue to see hope,
Amidst this high slope.
I know that children will grow up,
And remember you overflowing their cup.
You may have spent some of your days bald,
But I know that you have been called.
I’ve heard you sing a hymn,
Felt the Spirit deep within.
Remembering your smiling face,
And your continually warm embrace.
Wisdom falling off your lips,
Whether in Ames or on our different trips.
This battle is coming to an end,
But really it’s just a bend.
I know that I will see you again,
Beneath our Sovereign Lord, Amen.

I know that my sister and I have felt Elly's love for a long time. She has been a close relative even though she is from Illinois. It's going to be hard to see her go, but it is a blessing to know that I will see her again one day. Once again please pray for my family as we walk through this time. We are spending the weekend in Chicago for what I understand to be closure. Peace and love sent to everyone reading this. God is good all the time, and all the time God is good! I know Elly believes this.

I went to an interview today.. If I get them everything they need, I think I have a job. Although, it's 25.5-29 hours per week.... thats a BUNCH. I am also going to start volunteering at Salvation Army on Thursday morning that should be fun. I will be helping out with the food pantry.
This past weekend was great, my roommates hung out with me a lot. I met a couple new people and all around had fun. Friday I really wanted to drive home for the weekend, but I stayed and am glad I did. I have tests starting on Friday through the following week, one in each of my five classes. Could be very interesting... honestly, I should probably be studying instead of typing..... oops.

I just had a chai... and I thought I would nudge a friend in Omaha.. you should get one. They be good! :D

Tonight is my night class for 3 hours.. after that BED! I have been sleepy today.

Oh to Grace...

So yeah, I've had a rough past couple of days. I am so used to having people around me 24/7 that this whole not being around people MOST of my days is killing me. I haven't ever felt so lonely. It's interesting to think about how God could use this phase of my life in the future to help someone else out. I say that but need to add that is how I desire my heart to be, I'm not there. Right now, I just ran 2 miles, showered.. and hope that something will happen tonight that will be fun and I'll feel a part. I am ready. And maybe tonight will be a failure also, but at least I will know that I tried. I hate the word try, but that were I am at.
Trust me, I LOVE my classes. I BELIEVE God wants me here. I just really wish I had more friends... Pray for me to believe truth tonight. Thanks for being my friends back home... and family of course. I'm hanging in there. It has taken everything in me... and some help from my dad to convince me to not come home. I got to say, my dad talked to me for a bit, he was attempting to fix the problem. Then he called me and left a message while i was running that said, "I just realized that maybe I responded wrong... I think I should have just listened." It made me happy. My dad is growing SO much! :) Keep praying for me. I have an interview next Tuesday for a Res Tech in a Mental Health clinic which would fill up a lot of my time. :D That would be really nice. Keep praying please.

Oh goodness

Coming to the close of three days, I was expecting to be enlightened or something of the sort. What I didn't expect was for God to tell me to hug a random girl I was sitting next to. It's interesting the things I am willing to do, and the things that I go, Oh goodness, you have got to be joking. Well, this particular girl looked very nice and so my head thought she would flip out if I asked her if she wanted a hug. God affirmed that wouldn't happen. I told Him it would. He REaffirmed it wouldn't happen. Then the service ended and I walked my separate way, after listening to a message about willfully sinning. ERRRR.... so obviously since God gave me lots of opportunity to do this and I didn't I knew I would feel guilty. So I am walking back... and I am like "God, I am a failure." and God being the loving dad he is says, "No you're not. You're loved" Oh goodness, what a night. God is helping me through some stomach trouble. And I don't listen in the little stuff. God forgive me for that and still let me be a vessel of Your Spirit.
I thought I would let everyone know since I think people care about this sort of thing. Today during my ample amount of time to study, I had a firm feeling of missing my Body of Christ I am use to being around. I miss everybody. God is totally providing for me. He loves me SO much.
On another note, it's one of my house mates birthday tomorrow. This girl makes me happy in my heart! She's like optomisic all the time, loves to love on people... and its totally genuine, yeah, beautiful display of Christ. So if you wanted to lift of a pray that God would continue to bless her to be a blessing to others. Thanks~! Love you all!!!

Hard Night

So last night was rough... I went to a baseball game that was fun to watch, but I didn't know anyone. I thought it was a prime time to meet some people that also like sports. Well, everybody else went with somebody... I ended up sittin on the bus ride to ohio with a guy for 3 hours. Then when I got to the game, I was relieved and hopeful. This was squashed by the fact that I was on the end of a row with a guy sitting next to me with his girlfriend on his other side. All that to say, I didn't meet anyone... :( And I was with people for 10 hours. Made for a sad night. On the ride back home, I started thinking about what church to go to this morning. And I got that I should listen to a sermon on Matt 6 from John Piper. So being silly, I was like well lets see if I remember in the morning. This morning when I woke up the first thing through my head was listen to a sermon by John Piper on Matt. 6. When I got online and looked it up, Matt 6 talks about anxiety. It's a passage I know very well. But the sermon I just listened to talks about battling unbelief. Waring against the lies that are put in my head. Piper talked about it like a race car that an enemy throws dirt on the windshield. In order to see clearly again, you have to put on the wipers and washer fluid. His examples are symbolizing prayer and supplication. Praying in the Spirit for help believing the truths that are in the Bible.
Keep praying for my anxiety.. pray that I would believe truth. My stomach shouldn't control my life, but its slowly turning that way. :(
Couple verses to leave you with:
Ps. 56:3 "When I am afraid, I put my trust in you." Piper mentioned that the Bible doesn't say I put my trust in you therefore I am not afraid. It says WHEN I AM afraid, I will trust you."
1 Peter 5:7 "casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you."

homework ALL day... here we go!

Couple days in....

So I thought I would start by saying... please pray for my stomach... oh goodness. It's kinda a mess at this point like ya IBS is definitely eating me alive. It takes away my concentration in class and problems like that. Please pray God would calm my body down or whatever else you think should be prayed. Some people probably don't understand at all... and my sister, mom, and the rest of her fam could like nod A LOT. Please pray.
On a happier note, I am enjoying getting to know people here. I got to go rollerblading with a friend last night and talk, it was good. I'm to the point where I can tease with my roommates which makes me happy. It scares me sometimes because I feel rude. But they all said if I'm rude they'll let me know.. and laugh anyways. :) Last night, I watched a SCARY movie.... I like never do that... it was totally peer pressure. And the movie was, Secret Window.... which means we got to the end and were like why did we watch that... but oh well. It was nothing like Number 23... that one really messed with my head.
Classes are great, here's a quick synopsis if you haven't heard-
Old Testament- going to be A LOT of reading, journaling, hard core tests... but solid info and the prof is interesting so it'll be good. MWF 8:55am... this class is the one that makes my stomach so sick... and then i have the long day ahead :( but PRAY. God is good!
Fine Arts- This class is going to be interesting... even though i am not an artist. I get to go to a mueseum and write a paper on a piece of art that I thoroughly enjoy.. so that should be fun!
Chapel- music is tight... most played song "Saviour King" and the messages are tight too.. its weird cuz its so short, but its been good so far. Next week is Fall Summit so there are more chapels and a cool speaker!
Philosophy- ok.. imagine with me. Ben Franklin with short hair, but still the little curl that happens. Yeah, ok this is my prof for this class. I say that because he is so cute. He has a whistle to keep everyone awake which is funny. We are reading a book called Sophie's World. I get to read the first 5 chapters before Tuesday night. I'm not sure about Philosophy yet; although, I loved the thought processes he took us through last week which means I'll probably like it.
DRUM ROLL.........
SWK 170- ok here comes the nerd. We went over a case study the second day... and let's just say I fell in love. It was so amazing to know that I am going to help people, people don't do everything right or like I would necessarily do it. It was fun pondering what the social worker did right, and how I would have done it differently. One of my thoughts got shut down, but it was good to see that happen and learn from it. Oh, I know these classes are goign to be TOUGH, but oh I have love for this area. It is totally me, and God is goign to bring me through it for His glory and that makes me SO happy!
SWK 342- This prof is amazing. He cracks me up, keeps our attention, is real. I'm told his class is very hard, but I feel like most classes here fit in that catagory. It's human behaviors and I LOVE it.
I am going to a baseball game tonight. Reds vs. Cubs in Cincinnati. Fun stuff. Thanks for praying for me. God is moving. God is good! I am SO blessed.

computer takes over...

This morning was interesting. I went downtown to find the Grant Blackford Mental Health, Inc. to see if they had a job opening. Turns out that they do, BUT the position is for nights that start at 3pm and I have class everyday but friday till at least 3:15... so hopefully when the lady calls to talk to me we can work something out. I had one other job that sounded promising. You know data entry and FILING!! My long lost love----- filing. I went to the room number that I remembered... but the office was HUGE and I made a complete fool out of myself. Finally, to find out a computer is now doing the work that they were having students do, so the job is full. Found it slightly humorous. If I get the job at the Mental health clinic, I will have Tuesday and Thursdays till 1:30 free which would be amazing homework time. Pray that that would either work out or the door would be slammed in my face. I mean I guess God knows everything, so He knows I like clear answers... but anyway.
So tonight I am going to be doing 3 hours of PHILOSOPHY.... that will either be super fun... or if I don't like philosophy... really LONG. Hopefully I like philosophy. Life's good. Nerves are relatively low...
Here we go...