J.O.Y.

Joy is a really fun topic. Or concept. Or emotion. Or way of life.

The acronym stands for J-esus, O-thers, Y-ou.

Jesus comes before everything and everyone. Everyone else comes before you. You humble yourself and put it last. (Am I allowed to call 'yourself' 'it'? Well I just did)

Anyway, now that I'm in college (haha) I'm having to learn some serious time-management skills, of which I am seriously lacking. Like, a lot. Honestly my biggest problem is my lack of focus and motivation. I get on facebook too often because I don't "feel like" doing work. Which is silly. I'm learning to prioritize. Sort of. I will learn how to prioritize. Eventually. I pray. I think the concept of JOY is a nice start.

Obviously for me Jesus comes first in everything I do. No matter what I'm doing it's all for the glory of God. Now, Katie, is getting on facebook every 2 seconds for no reason instead of doing work for your classes really glorifying to God? I do believe that the answer is 'no'. And I do believe that I am correct. The further behind I get the less I want to do work because there's always more to and the more I think about it the more it stresses me out. But I just have to do it. God wants me to work hard. He wants me to learn how to manage my time wisely. He wants me to glorify Him.

So then what's next? Everyone else. I guess it's kind of confusing, talking about all the work I have to do for my classes and studios and whatnot, trying to put others before myself. My school work has to get done. If I really have to do something, I can't blow it off to go hang out with someone. HOWEVER, if one of my friends contacts me and they really need something, I will of course drop everything and be there. It's sometimes difficult, though, to focus on what you need to instead of waiting for someone to call you for something. It's right to put other's needs before yours, but not when it comes to their school work. You do your school work, they do theirs, and when all that's done, anything they need that you can give them is theirs (since you can't give them their schoolwork/homework/tests. Did that make sense? I have no idea).

Last, and, in fact, least: you (me). Humility. Swallowing pride. Kneeling before the throne. Taking care of yourself after everyone else has been cared for. Let people skip you in line. Let someone else have the last piece of cake. Give someone your only pen or hair bow. Hold the door open (don't just hold it for the person behind you: step back and let people in). Give your friends (or your not-friends) the comfy chair.

Care.

I guess this is what's been getting to me lately. I really do honestly and sincerely care about people, and I always have. I just have a heart for people who need something that I have the capacity to give them. I love listening to people talk about their struggles because it gives me room to help them and share God's love with them. It's always fun for me to ask someone how their day has been, and get an honest answer that gives me a break down of it all. Just sitting and listening can be one of the most rewarding things ever.

Basically, you have to get your priorities straight. And I'm pretty sure every time I've said "your" I've mean "my". Same difference. It goes for anyone, I suppose. I know that I need to decide what's important, what's not, and when it is or isn't. Who's important? What relationships (in addition to the one with God) are worth putting serious time and dedication in to? How do I balance school work and a social life, with God as the head of all of it?

I suppose that's just it then. When God's in control, you can't go wrong. As long as YOU (I) are obedient and YOU (I) do everything that's pleasing to God, your (my) life will be filled with peace and fulfillment.

Side note: I would appreciate prayers for my life, as well as those of my friends who shall be unmentioned in this blog. May God do great and powerful works in each of our lives.

Song of the Moment: "Lay 'Em Down" by NEEDTOBREATHE: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3PN-BMHi5L8&ob=av2e

This Is Home

As promised, I am finally getting around to a blog post (this is mostly for you, Corina). ;)

It's been 3 whole whopping weeks since I've moved into college, and I'm slowly reaching the point where it's becoming less like summer camp and more like home. This is where I live. This is where I eat and sleep and do homework and facebook and tweet and shower (or not) and do laundry and wash dishes and play piano and go to church.

This is where I live.

I have discovered quite a number of things after living here for approximately 21 days:

1. I like muffins and coffee.
2. I don't like interacting with random people in the bathroom.
3. I don't like being cold when I pee. Or at all.
4. Taking naps at 2 in the afternoon is basically the greatest thing ever.
5. Caffeine has lodged itself into my central nervous system.
6. Philosophy is not a fun class.
7. I don't like having to wear shoes to the bathroom or in the shower.
8. Having to walk to a separate building just to practice the piano is a hassle.
9. Music Majors are some of the funniest people ever (We haven't learned rests yet!).
10. Math Majors are some of the weirdest people ever.
11. I've yet to break my addiction to minesweeper.
12. Skype is one of the world's greatest inventions.
13. I like wearing pants (that one's for you, Emily).

Clearly I've learned more than that, but those are some of your basics.

Having to establish a whole new life is very interesting and quite hectic. It's definitely an adjustment. I think one of the hardest things for me so far is trying to do everything for God's glory. He obviously has a reason for exactly where I am right now, and I get that, I just wish I could focus on it and be conscious of it all the time so I could live for Him better. It's as if I don't trust Him to have control over my life or something. I can do things my own way, but when it doesn't work ask Him for help.

Oh wait, it doesn't work that way!

God is the center. When you allow Him to be the center of all you do/say/think/feel/experience He puts everything else into place. I've been trying to hone in on that and build a stronger relationship with God and surrender myself so that He can form that relationship with me.

In college, life's a whole new playing field, and God is the only constant we have to hold on to.

I've started to realize that not even my nearest and dearest friends are going to be around forever. Correction: I always knew that, but now I'm experiencing it and I've accepted it. God is using all of my friends for His purpose, and that doesn't necessarily include my friendship.

It's cool, though. I'm liking this whole college thing. On Fridays, my classes end before lunch. Basically my weekend starts at 12:05, and it's awesome!

Also, I just took my first exam, and it was very interesting. I didn't think it was very difficult, but the time restraint was different because in high school a class period was an hour and a half, and now classes are 50 minutes, so that's as long as I had to take my test. Everyone else in my class said they didn't finish and that it was hard, so I feel even more confident that I did well because I finished (5 minutes) early and answered each question with almost complete certainty. So Theory's good.

I've adjusted to the school work, but now I'm second guessing whether or not I've adjusted emotionally. Coming to terms with the fact that Virginia Tech is my home now is difficult. It wasn't hard at all until I came home this weekend. I was excited to see everyone I'd "left behind" and it was a very happy experience! But then when I left it was like I was instantly depressed and I didn't want to go back to college. The people I couldn't wait to see are the ones I'm going to miss all over again when I go back. I've been told it's the hardest the first time, and I believe that. It also doesn't help that, well, I'm a girl... Yeah.

I guess if you're taking the time to read this, I would ask that you pray for me. But more that I will pray for God's will to be done in my life. Pray that I'm happy, successful, diligent, safe, healthy, but above all else, if my definitions of these things are not part of His plan, that His will be done above all else.

I'd like to be able to accept my new "home".

Song of the Moment: "This Is Home" by Switchfoot
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2cKNleDdUFY

Disclaimer: I realize this post is not entirely cohesive. That is entirely my fault for writing it in 3 different pieces. A lot's happened in the past 4 days. Regardless: lots of love, always!

This Title is About Nothing.

I was going to post something insightful and wise and deep tonight.

Then I got home and started doing my calculus homework.

Then I spent 45 minutes on one problem, only to come to find that I had done it right the first time. This afternoon.

Then I discovered that this calc assignment that's due tomorrow at 8 am is not finished.

Then I remembered that I needed to finish my Music Theory homework.

Then I remembered that I needed to do 30 minutes of Teoria for Sight Singing.

Then I remembered that I needed to read all about abortion (written objectively, of course) for philosophy.

At least Allie and Relient K are keeping me company.

I promise, I will write something resembling a blog post soon.

If I don't implode first, that is.

Welcome to college.

James 5:16/Jeremiah 29:14