Summer. Summer. Summer! :):):)
I am pretty excited about this particular summer, which is funny because I have nothing planned. This summer signifies a lot of new things in my life...lots of changes and new beginnings which I am so excited about. I will save the details for another blog post though...keep you in suspense!
This particular post is designated to be my list of "to-do's" for this summer. Here it goes.
-Go swimming....a lot. I just need to find a friend with a pool first. Taylor and Ari just might solve that problem though! :)
-Read. I will finally be able to read the second and third books of the Hunger Games series! I have been waiting to read them until after school. I know once I start, I won't stop. I also want to read Forgotten God by Francis Chan. And a lot of other books that have been sitting on my shelf waiting to be read for quite sometime now. I will neglect them no more!
-Hang out with friends.
-Work.
-Lay outside and read by the pool.
-Take a couple road trips. I am hoping (crossing fingers) that I will be able to go to Colorado to visit a friend! Also, it has been discussed to make a weekend trip to Springfield, MO to visit a house mate!
-Go home and visit my family of course. For those who know me, that is kind of a given!
-Continue with my "read the bible in a year" plan.
-Hang out with friends
-I really want to ride a horse...it's been so long since I last rode one. And by long I mean since middle school. So I guess along with finding a friend with a pool, I also need to find a friend with a horse! :)
-Swim
-Walk around Lake Shawnee.
-CLEAN my room. And by clean I mean, clean, reorganize, throw things away that I don't need, and organize some more, re-decorate and who knows what else! The possibilities are endless! (And yes, I am excited about this. I love reorganizing things!)
-Play tennis. And perhaps ultimate tennis!
-Go to Worlds of Fun at least once. And I think I hear the Ripcord calling my name....
-Hang out with friends.
-Read.
-Work at the firework tent for Chi Alpha!
-Swim.
-Work.
-Hang out with friends.
Oh and did I mention reading, hanging out with friends, and swimming?! ;)
It is going to be a great summer, I can feel it! And it is sooo close!!! This semester can't get over fast enough. I know you shouldn't wish away your days, but I am just so SO excited about everything that is happening in my life. My "to-do" list of course, but also things like............well, I will tell you in my next post! :)
Wednesday, April 18, 2012
Wednesday, April 11, 2012
easter.
Easter weekend....it was definitely a jam packed weekend. All kinds of things happened! A lot of great things, and some not so great things.
Saturday I got to have lunch with two very lovely ladies. They are good friends who I never get to see enough. It is always so nice to see them and spend time together. This time, it had been November since we had hung out together. Let's just say we had a LOT of things to catch up on. I wish we could get together more often....maybe someday we will be able to! :)
I spent the rest of the day hanging out with the family and preparing for Sunday.....I had the opportunity to fill in for Pastor Harry. Yes...on Easter. I was more nervous about talking then, than I had been in a while. Don't get me wrong, I get a few nerves right before speaking anytime, but it was different this time. It was days before....actually the whole week leading up to Sunday I was a bit nervous. To speak on Easter, that is kind of a big deal. It's a big deal every Sunday, anytime you are speaking about God, but Easter?
Also, I wasn't quite sure what to talk about. Of course I knew I needed to talk about Christ dying on the cross, then three days later rising from the dead. That was a given. But everybody knows that story. We have all heard it over and over again. I needed to figure out something else to add to that. I didn't want everybody falling asleep on me.
God really called me out on this in several ways. Sometimes when I hear something or see something over and over, it loses its meaning. But God showed me that it is a powerful story. It is far from being "just another story", and far from being a boring story. I went to the Passion play here in Topeka and it was great. They had a granddad and his grandson sitting in a rocking chair, and the granddad was reading the little boy a story before bedtime. It was the story about Jesus. I knew then, that I didn't need to add anything to the story. He wanted me to tell it just as it is. Of course I wouldn't have the people there to act out all the scenes, but I could tell the story. So that is exactly what I did. I talked about the time leading up to the crucifixion, the crucifixion, and Christ rising, and then what he calls us to do...."Go and make disciples of all the nations."
Anyway, I was so excited and nervous I couldn't sleep Saturday night. I just kept going through everything, over and over again. Finally at 2:30am I went to sleep...only to get up at 5:30am! I got all my stuff around and got ready and off I went to sunrise service. My friend Stacy was leading that service and I wanted to be there to hear her. She did a wonderful job! Some of the ladies made breakfast for everyone, so I joined in. I didn't eat anything...to nervous to be hungry! But I sat with some friends and got to chat with them which was nice.
Then it was just me left. Everybody left to go home, take a nap, get ready for 10:30 service, or travel to see family, etc. I had a couple of hours to get everything ready and go over my message. It was great, I really needed the time. My excitement was building and my nerves were leaving! Everything was good. It was getting closer to time and I thought I might burst I was so excited, anxious, and just a little nervous.
And then I take a drink of coffee and of course it ended all over my shirt...and my shirt was white so it was very obvious. This was at 10:00. The service starts at 10:30. Panic sets in. I run home to change and get back to the church. Crisis adverted.
10:30 comes....it's showtime! You know the excitement you get when you are about to do something big? Maybe if you are into sports, the excitement you get before a basketball, baseball, or football game? A tennis match? A soccer game? I don't know....whatever sport or whatever thing it is you just really love to do? That is what I feel when I am getting ready to speak!
Once I started talking, it all just came out. There were times I said something that was not in my notes, and I found myself thinking, "whoa, where did that come from?!" I know the Holy Spirit was there speaking through me. From the feedback I received, it was far more than just another boring story that everybody has heard 100 times. I think it had a lot of meaning to each person in that room. Everyone seemed to like it. It was just an all around good service! Someone even told me, "I actually listened the whole time! I usually start daydreaming!" Hearing that made me happy. That is exactly what every speaker wants to hear!! It was so so nice to celebrate together with my church family that Christ is Risen!!!!!!! God conquered the grave! Hallelujah!
It was an honor that Pastor Harry asked me to fill in for him, since he could not be there. (He had surgery which is why he wasn't able to be there!)
After church, we spent the afternoon in Gridley at my grandparents! Of course we had an easter egg hunt....who says 23 years old is to old to hunt for easter eggs?! :) We ate lots of good food of course and just hung out. It was a good time. Then came time to leave. My siblings had already left, but I waited and left when my parents left. I was headed back to Topeka and they were going back to Chanute. Aunt T was right behind me (she lives in Topeka as well).
I get on the highway and drove for about 2 minutes when my car did something really funny. You know when you turn off your cruise and your car starts slowing down right away, that is kind of what happened. But when I went to push on the pedal, it was like my car had been put into neutral. I check to make sure it wasn't somehow knocked forward. Nope. Still on drive. So I push the pedal again. Same thing. Great. My car isn't accelerating at all. That can't be good. So I pull over, and so does my aunt.
Once I get the car stopped, it didn't move an inch forward or backward. I knew whatever had happened, it was bad. I immediately call my parents. I know they couldn't of been to far away yet. They then call my uncle who happens to be a mechanic...and an awesome one at that! At this point, I am trying not to panic and stay calm. I tend to freak out and cry...I know, lame....when anything happens to my car. I think it's because I don't know how to fix the problem. I did a somewhat decent job of staying calm....and it helped knowing my parents were so close. If I would of been closer to Topeka, I would of really lost it probably. haha.
My dad and uncle came to save the day. They towed my car back to my aunt and uncle's house. Uncle Danny predicted that it was probably my transmission....and that is exactly what happened, my transmission went out. Perfect. I couldn't help but think about how expensive it sounded like it would be to get it fixed. And I knew I had to figure out a way to get back to Topeka for my 8:00 class the next morning. All of this happened and I was running on 3 hours of sleep. Needless to say, I was exhausted by the time I finally made it back to Topeka.
How did I get back to Topeka you may be wondering...my aunt and uncle offered me their minivan. I can't thank them enough for letting me borrow it! So for a day and a half I was a soccer mom! ;) I met up with Dusty in Gridley on Tuesday and swapped cars again....Devo is letting me borrow his car until mine is fixed. What an awesome family I have!! :) I am so thankful. And even though I would of liked for it not to happen at all, I am so so glad it happened when it did! That I was so close to Gridley and my family was nearby. I wasn't stranded in the middle of nowhere.
God has always been so faithful to me and I am so so so thankful for that. Whenever I am in these situations, there is always someone or something there to make what could be bad situations, better.
With all that being said, my Easter was far from being a boring day! ;) Although it didn't end the greatest, it was still a really really great day!
P.S. Unfortunately, I was so caught up in the moment, and all excited that I forget to take pictures so I don't have any pictures to share from Easter day at Grandma and Grandpas. :(
Saturday I got to have lunch with two very lovely ladies. They are good friends who I never get to see enough. It is always so nice to see them and spend time together. This time, it had been November since we had hung out together. Let's just say we had a LOT of things to catch up on. I wish we could get together more often....maybe someday we will be able to! :)
 |
| Kiley and Amanda |
Also, I wasn't quite sure what to talk about. Of course I knew I needed to talk about Christ dying on the cross, then three days later rising from the dead. That was a given. But everybody knows that story. We have all heard it over and over again. I needed to figure out something else to add to that. I didn't want everybody falling asleep on me.
God really called me out on this in several ways. Sometimes when I hear something or see something over and over, it loses its meaning. But God showed me that it is a powerful story. It is far from being "just another story", and far from being a boring story. I went to the Passion play here in Topeka and it was great. They had a granddad and his grandson sitting in a rocking chair, and the granddad was reading the little boy a story before bedtime. It was the story about Jesus. I knew then, that I didn't need to add anything to the story. He wanted me to tell it just as it is. Of course I wouldn't have the people there to act out all the scenes, but I could tell the story. So that is exactly what I did. I talked about the time leading up to the crucifixion, the crucifixion, and Christ rising, and then what he calls us to do...."Go and make disciples of all the nations."
Anyway, I was so excited and nervous I couldn't sleep Saturday night. I just kept going through everything, over and over again. Finally at 2:30am I went to sleep...only to get up at 5:30am! I got all my stuff around and got ready and off I went to sunrise service. My friend Stacy was leading that service and I wanted to be there to hear her. She did a wonderful job! Some of the ladies made breakfast for everyone, so I joined in. I didn't eat anything...to nervous to be hungry! But I sat with some friends and got to chat with them which was nice.
Then it was just me left. Everybody left to go home, take a nap, get ready for 10:30 service, or travel to see family, etc. I had a couple of hours to get everything ready and go over my message. It was great, I really needed the time. My excitement was building and my nerves were leaving! Everything was good. It was getting closer to time and I thought I might burst I was so excited, anxious, and just a little nervous.
And then I take a drink of coffee and of course it ended all over my shirt...and my shirt was white so it was very obvious. This was at 10:00. The service starts at 10:30. Panic sets in. I run home to change and get back to the church. Crisis adverted.
10:30 comes....it's showtime! You know the excitement you get when you are about to do something big? Maybe if you are into sports, the excitement you get before a basketball, baseball, or football game? A tennis match? A soccer game? I don't know....whatever sport or whatever thing it is you just really love to do? That is what I feel when I am getting ready to speak!
Once I started talking, it all just came out. There were times I said something that was not in my notes, and I found myself thinking, "whoa, where did that come from?!" I know the Holy Spirit was there speaking through me. From the feedback I received, it was far more than just another boring story that everybody has heard 100 times. I think it had a lot of meaning to each person in that room. Everyone seemed to like it. It was just an all around good service! Someone even told me, "I actually listened the whole time! I usually start daydreaming!" Hearing that made me happy. That is exactly what every speaker wants to hear!! It was so so nice to celebrate together with my church family that Christ is Risen!!!!!!! God conquered the grave! Hallelujah!
It was an honor that Pastor Harry asked me to fill in for him, since he could not be there. (He had surgery which is why he wasn't able to be there!)
After church, we spent the afternoon in Gridley at my grandparents! Of course we had an easter egg hunt....who says 23 years old is to old to hunt for easter eggs?! :) We ate lots of good food of course and just hung out. It was a good time. Then came time to leave. My siblings had already left, but I waited and left when my parents left. I was headed back to Topeka and they were going back to Chanute. Aunt T was right behind me (she lives in Topeka as well).
I get on the highway and drove for about 2 minutes when my car did something really funny. You know when you turn off your cruise and your car starts slowing down right away, that is kind of what happened. But when I went to push on the pedal, it was like my car had been put into neutral. I check to make sure it wasn't somehow knocked forward. Nope. Still on drive. So I push the pedal again. Same thing. Great. My car isn't accelerating at all. That can't be good. So I pull over, and so does my aunt.
Once I get the car stopped, it didn't move an inch forward or backward. I knew whatever had happened, it was bad. I immediately call my parents. I know they couldn't of been to far away yet. They then call my uncle who happens to be a mechanic...and an awesome one at that! At this point, I am trying not to panic and stay calm. I tend to freak out and cry...I know, lame....when anything happens to my car. I think it's because I don't know how to fix the problem. I did a somewhat decent job of staying calm....and it helped knowing my parents were so close. If I would of been closer to Topeka, I would of really lost it probably. haha.
My dad and uncle came to save the day. They towed my car back to my aunt and uncle's house. Uncle Danny predicted that it was probably my transmission....and that is exactly what happened, my transmission went out. Perfect. I couldn't help but think about how expensive it sounded like it would be to get it fixed. And I knew I had to figure out a way to get back to Topeka for my 8:00 class the next morning. All of this happened and I was running on 3 hours of sleep. Needless to say, I was exhausted by the time I finally made it back to Topeka.
How did I get back to Topeka you may be wondering...my aunt and uncle offered me their minivan. I can't thank them enough for letting me borrow it! So for a day and a half I was a soccer mom! ;) I met up with Dusty in Gridley on Tuesday and swapped cars again....Devo is letting me borrow his car until mine is fixed. What an awesome family I have!! :) I am so thankful. And even though I would of liked for it not to happen at all, I am so so glad it happened when it did! That I was so close to Gridley and my family was nearby. I wasn't stranded in the middle of nowhere.
God has always been so faithful to me and I am so so so thankful for that. Whenever I am in these situations, there is always someone or something there to make what could be bad situations, better.
With all that being said, my Easter was far from being a boring day! ;) Although it didn't end the greatest, it was still a really really great day!
P.S. Unfortunately, I was so caught up in the moment, and all excited that I forget to take pictures so I don't have any pictures to share from Easter day at Grandma and Grandpas. :(
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
I lay me down.
Plans.
Nothing in my life ever seems to go as planned. Things I say I will never do, I do. And vice versa.
Examples:
I was only going to go to Neosho for one year....I went two years.
I was planning on going to K-State....I'm at Washburn.
I thought I was going to graduate with a social work degree a year ago....I'm still in school.
I was bound and determined to graduate college in 4 years. I was doing everything I needed to do to make that happen....I'm in my 5th year and still have yet to graduate.
When moving into the Chi Alpha House, I was only planning on staying a year at most....I'm staying another year.
I could go on and on with a list of plans I have made in my life that haven't turned out anything like I thought it would. But....fortunately I can say, everything has worked out perfectly up to this point. Looking back I see how faithful God has been in my life. While even though I may not be doing what I had originally planned, the Lord has worked it out beautifully. I look at the people I have met and the experiences I have had that have changed and grown me to who I am today, and I know that God has worked it out just how he had it planned.
Everything I have done up to this point, is in preparation of the future....whatever that may be. I look over the past couple years, and I have grown so much in my walk with the Lord. I have made some incredible friends who pray for me, who encourage me, who challenge me. It is very evident to me that the Lord has had his hand in my life, working everything out for the best and for that I am so thankful. He knows you and I so well!
It can be a scary thing though. It's not always the easiest thing to do, to truly give your life to the Lord...for me anyway. But, it is absolutely the best thing I could ever do and I wouldn't change a thing! He has never failed me. He has never let me fall flat on my face. Instead he feels me with His peace. He gives me His joy. His strength. His happiness. And when I get down, He is always there to lift me up again!
God is really showing me to follow Him....to trust Him and his plan for my life. I can make all the plans I want, but ultimately my prayer is that I am obedient to Him and what He wants me to do. Where He leads me, I will follow.
There is a song on the Passion: White Flag CD that is kind of my theme song at the moment.
Here are the lyrics:
Nothing in my life ever seems to go as planned. Things I say I will never do, I do. And vice versa.
Examples:
I was only going to go to Neosho for one year....I went two years.
I was planning on going to K-State....I'm at Washburn.
I thought I was going to graduate with a social work degree a year ago....I'm still in school.
I was bound and determined to graduate college in 4 years. I was doing everything I needed to do to make that happen....I'm in my 5th year and still have yet to graduate.
When moving into the Chi Alpha House, I was only planning on staying a year at most....I'm staying another year.
I could go on and on with a list of plans I have made in my life that haven't turned out anything like I thought it would. But....fortunately I can say, everything has worked out perfectly up to this point. Looking back I see how faithful God has been in my life. While even though I may not be doing what I had originally planned, the Lord has worked it out beautifully. I look at the people I have met and the experiences I have had that have changed and grown me to who I am today, and I know that God has worked it out just how he had it planned.
Everything I have done up to this point, is in preparation of the future....whatever that may be. I look over the past couple years, and I have grown so much in my walk with the Lord. I have made some incredible friends who pray for me, who encourage me, who challenge me. It is very evident to me that the Lord has had his hand in my life, working everything out for the best and for that I am so thankful. He knows you and I so well!
It can be a scary thing though. It's not always the easiest thing to do, to truly give your life to the Lord...for me anyway. But, it is absolutely the best thing I could ever do and I wouldn't change a thing! He has never failed me. He has never let me fall flat on my face. Instead he feels me with His peace. He gives me His joy. His strength. His happiness. And when I get down, He is always there to lift me up again!
God is really showing me to follow Him....to trust Him and his plan for my life. I can make all the plans I want, but ultimately my prayer is that I am obedient to Him and what He wants me to do. Where He leads me, I will follow.
There is a song on the Passion: White Flag CD that is kind of my theme song at the moment.
Here are the lyrics:
With this heart open wide
From the depths, from the heights
I will bring a sacrifice.
With these hands lifted high
Hear my song, hear my cry
I will bring a sacrifice.
I lay me down
I'm not my own
I belong to You alone
Lay me down, lay me down.
Hand on my heart
This much is true,
There's no life apart from you
Lay me down, lay me down.
Letting go of my pride
Giving up all my rights
Take this life and let it shine
Take this life and let it shine
I lay me down
I'm not my own
I belong to You alone
Lay me down, lay me down
Hand on my heart
This much is true,
There's no life apart from you
Lay me down, lay me down
It will be my joy to say Your will,
Your way, always.
I know this verse is used allll the time. Sometimes, I think I hear it so many times, that I really lose sight of the meaning here....but here it is!
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him and he will make your paths straight."
-Proverbs 3:5-6-
Monday, March 26, 2012
spring is upon us.
Spring break has come, and is going. :(
It has been a wonderful, relaxing and chill break. I have thoroughly enjoyed it!! Breaks from school usually mean all of my housemates leave and I am one of the few left here. Kind of sad and depressing The house that I live in is HUGE....especially when there are only 3 people here. To be honest, I wasn't very excited for break. I was prepared to be super bored. The only thing I had planned was to work. And work in some homework here and there. I probably didn't do enough, and I will pay for it these next couple of weeks. It was totally worth it though! I needed a break.
I did a lot of reading. I read a book that I have been trying to read for months and months and it just hadn't happened. But I finally did it.....I read a book! And I have started another...the Hunger Games! :) I'm not very far into it at all, but so far so good....I have heard such great things about it! I am trying to limit myself though....I know that I could easily sit down and read all three books in a few days, but I can't allow myself to do that as much as I want to. To many other things to do!
Besides reading, I have had lots of good quality time with a very dear friend of mine. She is such a blessing to me. We have had several heart to heart conversations over break. Literally, I feel like we spent the whole week just talking, talking, and some more talking. We tried watching a movie one night, Midnight in Paris, but we both fell asleep! Whoops. We never did see the end of the movie.
Some of my favorite things right now (in no specific order):
Here are some pictures from my surprise trip home....nobody knew I was coming! I'm so sneaky.
I love surprising people!!!! It's so fun! Later in the evening I went over to Dev and Kel's (they still didn't know I was in town). Dev was sitting on the couch watching tv and Kel was napping. When I rang the doorbell Devo looked over and saw me. Instead of getting up to unlock the door and let me in like most people would do, he just sat there completely ignoring me....must run in the family! Jordan on the other hand, I thought she was going to jump through the window. She was SO excited. Eventually, after having to stand outside again, Devin let me in.
Matthew happened to be in town which means....basketball time for the boys! They always play when he comes to town. So my mom, Kel, and I went along and walked while they played!
Recently, God has been wowing me with sunsets and beautiful skies! I. Love. It. His creation is simply beautiful. Here are some photos I have taken recently....
God always seems to make my drives to and from Topeka, what could be very boring drives as far as scenery is concerned, into something beautiful. He makes me smile! :)
It has been a wonderful, relaxing and chill break. I have thoroughly enjoyed it!! Breaks from school usually mean all of my housemates leave and I am one of the few left here. Kind of sad and depressing The house that I live in is HUGE....especially when there are only 3 people here. To be honest, I wasn't very excited for break. I was prepared to be super bored. The only thing I had planned was to work. And work in some homework here and there. I probably didn't do enough, and I will pay for it these next couple of weeks. It was totally worth it though! I needed a break.
I did a lot of reading. I read a book that I have been trying to read for months and months and it just hadn't happened. But I finally did it.....I read a book! And I have started another...the Hunger Games! :) I'm not very far into it at all, but so far so good....I have heard such great things about it! I am trying to limit myself though....I know that I could easily sit down and read all three books in a few days, but I can't allow myself to do that as much as I want to. To many other things to do!
Besides reading, I have had lots of good quality time with a very dear friend of mine. She is such a blessing to me. We have had several heart to heart conversations over break. Literally, I feel like we spent the whole week just talking, talking, and some more talking. We tried watching a movie one night, Midnight in Paris, but we both fell asleep! Whoops. We never did see the end of the movie.
 |
| St. Patty's Day! |
Some of my favorite things right now (in no specific order):
- Words with Friends.
- Draw Something.
- Coffee.
- My Bible, at the moment specifically the book of John. This is always changing though. God is always showing me awesome things in the Word.
- Passion: White Flag CD
- My new phone! :)
- Surprising my family!
- The beautiful weather...both the rainy weather we had this past week, and the sunny weather we are having now!
- Having my friends back in town! :)
Here are some pictures from my surprise trip home....nobody knew I was coming! I'm so sneaky.
 |
| I first went home where I knew my dad and dusty would be at home. Mom was still working. I rang the doorbell and this is what they did.....they just looked at each other. With very confused looks on their faces, I heard one of them say, "is it Saturday??" haha When I do come home it's almost always on Saturdays because of my work schedule! Funny guys. |
 |
| It's hard to tell, but he took my dad's jacket and hung it up over the window. I stood outside the door for a while before they finally unlocked the door. Welcome home to me! haha. |
 |
| I made Dusty go with me to my mom's office so she wouldn't see my car. I hid behind Dusty and when she opened the door he moved over to the side and there I was. Dusty makes a great wall! She was VERY surprised! |
Matthew happened to be in town which means....basketball time for the boys! They always play when he comes to town. So my mom, Kel, and I went along and walked while they played!
 |
| Somebody did not want their picture taken. |
 |
| The best of friends. |
 |
| Foul?? |
 |
| So fun to watch them. |
When I was leaving Chanute Thursday, the sun was shining. But I quickly ran into this....it
down poured on me, but didn't last long. The sun found its way out again, but still a little cloudy.
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| And then....I drove through this! It was so beautiful though! I didn't think it would be a good idea to take pictures while I was driving and while it was raining! :) But I wish you could of seen it. It was dark and cloudy, but you could see the sun trying to make its way through. It was so pretty!! I loved it! |
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
white flag.
Last night, I came home from work to the best surprise. There was a little something in my mailbox. I get excited about mail anyway, but especially when there is a certain CD in there that I have been ever so patiently waiting for! I opened the box trying to contain my excitement at least a little. I get the package open to find this:
That's right, friends....the Passion: White Flag Cd had finally come...and it was a day early!! It wasn't supposed to be released until today!
I have been looking forward to this day since, well, the day I left Passion. It's been a little over 3 months. Now, I know you're probably thinking, "really Kaci? It's a CD." And, "here she goes, talking about Passion again." I understand that...but it is so much more than just a CD. And it is so much more than just Passion. I wish I could explain better in words about how Passion has impacted my life in so many ways. It was so much more than just "another conference".
Think about something in your life that has impacted your life significantly! It changes you. You're not the same person after. You are forever changed. And because that "thing" whatever it may be has changed you, in most situations you are going to talk about it. You can't not talk about it.
For me, Passion was one of those life changing moments. I haven't been the same since. So many amazing things happened there, and I still can't believe I was there and a part of it. I am so so grateful that I had that opportunity. And I hope to go back. The Lord touched my heart in so many ways while there. In saying that, yes, I am going to talk about Passion a lot. I just can't help it.
The worship at Passion was incredible. I mean, anytime you have 45,000 people in a room singing at the top of their lungs, praising the Lord, and just going crazy....it is going to be powerful. As someone said, "It's a small glimpse of what heaven is going to be like!" That is the perfect way to describe it!
Now....I have a little piece of Passion here in Kansas, in my home. Literally! The CD was recorded at Passion. My voice is one of the 45,000 voices you here on the CD, crying out to God with all my heart. Raising my White Flag. Surrendering all I am to HIM! Lifting His name on high! God used the words of every song you will find on this CD to touch my heart. To speak to me. To experience Him in a deeper way. To be my anthem songs.
I'm not usually one to try and "sale" things to people. Actually, I never do that, but I think I am gonna have to change that today. haha I just want you to know in case you were wondering, it would be well worth the $12 to buy this CD. I just know the impact Passion has had on my life, and while you were not able to actually be there, this is a way to experience a piece of it! And when you buy the CD, I encourage you to go some place where it's just you and this CD....no distractions. Turn it up loud. Listen to the words. Sing the words. Cry out to God and see what happens!
Today has been a beautiful, beautiful day partly because of the weather outside, and partly because I have been listening to the CD on repeat...and probably will everyday for a while! It's just so good! This afternoon I put in my earphones, turned on my iPod (that way I wouldn't disturb my roommates) in my room, cranked up the sound, and I had a dance/worship/go crazy party...just me and Jesus. The only reason I am telling you that, because I realize that probably sounds silly to some people, but I encourage you to do the same. Who says you have to be in a room full of people to have praise and worship?!?! :) Maybe you have never done anything like that, just a warning: you might feel a little silly at first. But I promise once you get going, you won't even think about it. It'll be awesome. Let loose. Go crazy! And maybe lock your door... :)
Or, you could just crank it up and listen to it in your car. That works really well too! :)
"My heart is steadfast, O God; I will sing and make music with all my soul. Awake, harp and lyre! I will awaken the dawn. I will praise you, O Lord, among the nations; I will sing of you among the peoples. For great is your love, higher than the heavens; your faithfulness reaches to the skies. Be exalted, O God, above the heavens, and let your glory be over all the earth."
Psalm 108:2-5
If you do buy the CD, let me know how you like it! I would love to hear your thoughts!
That's right, friends....the Passion: White Flag Cd had finally come...and it was a day early!! It wasn't supposed to be released until today!
I have been looking forward to this day since, well, the day I left Passion. It's been a little over 3 months. Now, I know you're probably thinking, "really Kaci? It's a CD." And, "here she goes, talking about Passion again." I understand that...but it is so much more than just a CD. And it is so much more than just Passion. I wish I could explain better in words about how Passion has impacted my life in so many ways. It was so much more than just "another conference".
Think about something in your life that has impacted your life significantly! It changes you. You're not the same person after. You are forever changed. And because that "thing" whatever it may be has changed you, in most situations you are going to talk about it. You can't not talk about it.
For me, Passion was one of those life changing moments. I haven't been the same since. So many amazing things happened there, and I still can't believe I was there and a part of it. I am so so grateful that I had that opportunity. And I hope to go back. The Lord touched my heart in so many ways while there. In saying that, yes, I am going to talk about Passion a lot. I just can't help it.
The worship at Passion was incredible. I mean, anytime you have 45,000 people in a room singing at the top of their lungs, praising the Lord, and just going crazy....it is going to be powerful. As someone said, "It's a small glimpse of what heaven is going to be like!" That is the perfect way to describe it!
Now....I have a little piece of Passion here in Kansas, in my home. Literally! The CD was recorded at Passion. My voice is one of the 45,000 voices you here on the CD, crying out to God with all my heart. Raising my White Flag. Surrendering all I am to HIM! Lifting His name on high! God used the words of every song you will find on this CD to touch my heart. To speak to me. To experience Him in a deeper way. To be my anthem songs.
I'm not usually one to try and "sale" things to people. Actually, I never do that, but I think I am gonna have to change that today. haha I just want you to know in case you were wondering, it would be well worth the $12 to buy this CD. I just know the impact Passion has had on my life, and while you were not able to actually be there, this is a way to experience a piece of it! And when you buy the CD, I encourage you to go some place where it's just you and this CD....no distractions. Turn it up loud. Listen to the words. Sing the words. Cry out to God and see what happens!
Today has been a beautiful, beautiful day partly because of the weather outside, and partly because I have been listening to the CD on repeat...and probably will everyday for a while! It's just so good! This afternoon I put in my earphones, turned on my iPod (that way I wouldn't disturb my roommates) in my room, cranked up the sound, and I had a dance/worship/go crazy party...just me and Jesus. The only reason I am telling you that, because I realize that probably sounds silly to some people, but I encourage you to do the same. Who says you have to be in a room full of people to have praise and worship?!?! :) Maybe you have never done anything like that, just a warning: you might feel a little silly at first. But I promise once you get going, you won't even think about it. It'll be awesome. Let loose. Go crazy! And maybe lock your door... :)
Or, you could just crank it up and listen to it in your car. That works really well too! :)
"My heart is steadfast, O God; I will sing and make music with all my soul. Awake, harp and lyre! I will awaken the dawn. I will praise you, O Lord, among the nations; I will sing of you among the peoples. For great is your love, higher than the heavens; your faithfulness reaches to the skies. Be exalted, O God, above the heavens, and let your glory be over all the earth."
Psalm 108:2-5
If you do buy the CD, let me know how you like it! I would love to hear your thoughts!
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
tug of war.
This past Sunday, I got to speak at my church in Chanute again. So. Much. Fun. AND....I get to do it again this Sunday! :) I think I could get used to this....any job openings?! ;)
"A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones." Proverbs 17:22
Because I was talking on Sunday, I went home on Saturday. My plans for the day: finish preparing for Sunday and be productive in the homework area. As I was leaving Topeka, literally I was getting onto the highway, my phone rings. It's Devin. The Chanute girls basketball team was playing in Louisburg that night. If they won the game, they would then go to state. Him, Dustin and Kelli were all going. Devin wanted me to go. And of course my brother, of all people, wanted to go shopping. Still confused on that one, I didn't even know he liked shopping. I'm the girl of the family, and I don't even like shopping! haha. So they were making a day out of it...because Louisburg is so close to Kansas City they planned on shopping and eating somewhere meaning they were leaving Chanute around 12:30.
I told him I didn't know. Devo was not okay with that answer however. He kept trying to convince me to go...begging me to go, talk about peer pressure! ;) I told him I would think about it and that was the end of that conversation.
I get home, and Dusty is asking if I'm going to go with them, and then I have my dad begging me to stay home! Ahhh! You know the game tug of war? Well I felt the rope and my dad and Dustin/Devin were on both sides pulling me back and forth. I was torn. Part of me really wanted to go, but part of me knew that I should stay home and work on homework and prepare more for Sunday. In the end though, my brothers won. Of course. I am terrible at saying no to my brothers. My compromise for going....I would work on stuff on the car ride to KC.
But there is a challenge with that. I get car sick if I read in a car. Hmmm....what to do. Oh! I got it....I take Dramamine on plane rides and long bus rides and it always works, why not take it now! Except, I didn't have any with me. I could of made a trip to Wal-Mart but they were getting ready to leave so I headed off to the Medicine Shoppe which is just a block from our house. Perfect!
I go in searching the shelves and couldn't find it. A lady asks me if she can help me find something, so I tell her what I'm looking for. They didn't have any Dramamine. Darn. But they did have the off brand. Yay! I make the purchase and off we go! Well, turns out the off brand of Dramamine affects me in a different way. It knocked me out. You know the feeling you get when you are up for 24 hours straight? That is exactly how I felt. We were at the mall when it really hit me....I was so out of it. It took everything in me to keep my eyes open. I was out of it for the rest of the night! Needless to say, my plan totally backfired. So much for that productive day!
But, I did have a really great time. Although I didn't get much done, and I felt exhausted, I am so glad I went. The girls won the game!!! It was such a fun game to watch. It was a close one the whole way through. It had been a while since I had been to a basketball game, I had missed it! I love the atmosphere and watching basketball.
I was able to stay up and finish up stuff for Sunday. Although I didn't feel quite as prepared as I would of liked to, it still went well. The second service went a lot better than the first one as far as my message is concerned, but my mom assures me they were both good. Or maybe she is just saying that because she has to?! ;)
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| Kel and I! We may have gotten matching shirts while shopping! :) They looked so comfy neither of us could pass them up! |
Here are some very random and for no specific reason pictures! :)
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| My dear friend Ari is into trying strange things... :) Personally, I think it looks like she is getting ready to drink a bunch of gnats or something. Ew. I had to document this moment! |
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| Getting ready to try it... |
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| Taking a drink... |
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| Andddd she loved it! |
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| Rach tasted it....I think she was a little unsure of it at first but I think she liked it. |
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| This is the next drink she will be trying, or may have already tried....there are big chunks of stuff in there. Gross! I did try the above drink (wasn't a fan), but I don't think I will be trying this one. |
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| Even though she drinks strange things, I still love her! :) |
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| Sooo....it is/was Oreo's 100th birthday so it was a must to take a picture of our oreo in celebration! :) |
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| LOVE! |
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| When the 3 of us are together, there is ALWAYS lots of laughter! |
Saturday, February 25, 2012
birthday spectacular!
Today was an amazing day. I have enjoyed just about every minute of it. The time I had to spend in class wasn't my favorite, but even that wasn't so bad!
Today is my birthday.
I started out the day by waking up at 6:30am to go swimming. Now, you have to understand that I am the farthest thing from a morning person. I dislike mornings. I also have a really hard time waking up. I'm that person who can easily sleep through my alarm for an hour without hearing it....and everybody else in the house hears it but me. Sometimes, I push the snooze button without being aware I am pushing it. Other times, I just completely turn it off. And then there are the times I push snooze, but while I am aware I am pushing the snooze button, I don't wake up enough to comprehend what time it is, or the day of the week, and etc.
Anyway, a couple of girls I live with have been going swimming 3 days a week at the pool on campus. They have been asking me to go, but I kept choosing to sleep! But I finally gave in and went swimming with them. Best. workout. ever! I'm so glad I went! And I will keep on going! It's a good work out, it's fun, and it wakes me up for class. Used to I would wake up 5 minutes before leaving for class...literally! So I always got to class still half asleep. Not anymore though! :)
Back to the "not waking up in the morning" problem.... I have found the perfect solution. A friend got me this alarm clock for my birthday. It is the best thing ever!
Clocky, yes it has a name, has wheels. When it comes time to go off, Clocky rolls right off my nightstand and goes around my room and hides forcing me to get up and turn it off. And...when I push the snooze button, it keeps going. I should also note that Clocky is very loud and annoying. But I have successfully woken up on time everyday since receiving this gift! I love it....but I also hate it early in the morning! ;)
Also, just in case you were wondering, I did not name the alarm clock. It came with the name Clocky. How creative! haha.
After my classes were done, my mom and grandma came to visit! :) We went and ate lunch, I chose Olive Garden. It was delicious, I love their soup! After eating we went and did some shopping, then came back to my house to open presents and cards that had been sent with her from friends in Chanute! It was fun! And...my family got me a Kindle!!!!!! I was super excited. And I might add...I LOVE it!!!!
My mom also came with a cake!! Last year for my birthday, I wasn't able to go home for my birthday so I never got a birthday cake. Really, I was ok with it. But all year I have been giving my mom crap about how I never got a birthday cake. So when I was walking home from class, my mom texted me and told me she had something I needed to take inside before we left. So when I got there, they were waiting for me in the driveway so I went to get whatever it was they had...I had no idea what it was! My mom opened the trunk and handed me .....my cake! She had made me a cake! :) Isn't she the best?!?!
Here are some random pictures from the day!
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I had such a good day! I am glad they were able to come. It was nice to spend part of the day with them! :) And thanks to everyone who made it so awesome! All the cards, gifts, texts, and phone calls I got throughout the day made it a wonderful day! I love you all!
P.S. In this post I am saying "today is my birthday" when technically today is not my birthday. haha. But I wrote this on my birthday, just hadn't gotten around to editing it and posting it! Just didn't want there to be any confusion. ;)
Today is my birthday.
I started out the day by waking up at 6:30am to go swimming. Now, you have to understand that I am the farthest thing from a morning person. I dislike mornings. I also have a really hard time waking up. I'm that person who can easily sleep through my alarm for an hour without hearing it....and everybody else in the house hears it but me. Sometimes, I push the snooze button without being aware I am pushing it. Other times, I just completely turn it off. And then there are the times I push snooze, but while I am aware I am pushing the snooze button, I don't wake up enough to comprehend what time it is, or the day of the week, and etc.
Anyway, a couple of girls I live with have been going swimming 3 days a week at the pool on campus. They have been asking me to go, but I kept choosing to sleep! But I finally gave in and went swimming with them. Best. workout. ever! I'm so glad I went! And I will keep on going! It's a good work out, it's fun, and it wakes me up for class. Used to I would wake up 5 minutes before leaving for class...literally! So I always got to class still half asleep. Not anymore though! :)
Back to the "not waking up in the morning" problem.... I have found the perfect solution. A friend got me this alarm clock for my birthday. It is the best thing ever!
Also, just in case you were wondering, I did not name the alarm clock. It came with the name Clocky. How creative! haha.
After my classes were done, my mom and grandma came to visit! :) We went and ate lunch, I chose Olive Garden. It was delicious, I love their soup! After eating we went and did some shopping, then came back to my house to open presents and cards that had been sent with her from friends in Chanute! It was fun! And...my family got me a Kindle!!!!!! I was super excited. And I might add...I LOVE it!!!!
My mom also came with a cake!! Last year for my birthday, I wasn't able to go home for my birthday so I never got a birthday cake. Really, I was ok with it. But all year I have been giving my mom crap about how I never got a birthday cake. So when I was walking home from class, my mom texted me and told me she had something I needed to take inside before we left. So when I got there, they were waiting for me in the driveway so I went to get whatever it was they had...I had no idea what it was! My mom opened the trunk and handed me .....my cake! She had made me a cake! :) Isn't she the best?!?!
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| I forgot to get a picture before we started eating it! :) But it's my favorite, german chocolate! Thanks mom! |
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| I don't think this was technically part of the gift from my grandma, but I was super excited! I LOVE scarves!!! |
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| I put this picture up just for Dusty. He picked out my card this year. Scary I know. Keep looking below to see what was so funny... |
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| Yay for my Kindle! :) |
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| Not the best of pictures, but me and my mom! |
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| Grandma, me, and mom! |
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| This is the card Dusty picked out for me. Notice the, "You're 2" part....:) |
I had such a good day! I am glad they were able to come. It was nice to spend part of the day with them! :) And thanks to everyone who made it so awesome! All the cards, gifts, texts, and phone calls I got throughout the day made it a wonderful day! I love you all!
P.S. In this post I am saying "today is my birthday" when technically today is not my birthday. haha. But I wrote this on my birthday, just hadn't gotten around to editing it and posting it! Just didn't want there to be any confusion. ;)
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