Everyone is going places. As in moving to other states. Sometimes I feel trapped here. Other times, I'm perfectly content. I'm ready to finish school. Then move to New York City.

Okay, so the above statements were written yesterday morning, before my Bible study yesterday afternoon. Can I just say that God works in so many different ways? This afternoon Linda, the wonderful woman who is leading the study, introduced the book we will be working from during these next 6 weeks. The book is called Get A Life. It debunks the myths that we as women feel like we have to live by and things that we believe must define us. It's purpose is also for gaining a sense of contentment with the things that surround you. The cliche "The grass is always greener on the other side" is never enitrely true in most cases. We're always looking for something better than what we have. I still do want to move away and start a new life in a different place, but right now I need to learn to be content where I am. Moving to a different place is not a way for me to find that contentment that I desire so much. The point I'm trying to make is that we can't ever be content somewhere else, until we are content with the place we are at now. It's okay to want and desire things for the future, but until those things come along, and they will on God's time, we should enjoy the things where we are at now.

This Bible study is definitely what I need and it's come at such a good time in my life, because right now I'm so restless being in Starkville. I love it here, but I feel like it's a relationship that's gone on too long and I need something new. But when reading through the first day's study, I realized that God is using me in some way and maybe, just maybe, that purpose has not been fufilled to it's potential. When is fufilled, I'll know. I'm trusting God with this. It's hard for me to do that because in my earlier post, I admitted to be a control freak about my life, when in all honestly I don't have to be that way about my life at all. God knows what He's doing. He really does.

I'm going canoeing with MSU Wesley Foundation tomorrow. I haven't been canoeing in a really long time, and the last time I went, my paddle ended up far away from my canoe. It will be fun to see how this goes.

LK

The First One

The purpose of this blog is just to share what is going on in my life with people. My thoughts and rants, but also to share what God is doing in my life. I'll do a brief recap of how my life has been since this summer. My summer held a lot of "first-time" things. I went out of the country for the first time. (I guess you can call Puerto Rico out of the country, even if it's technically part of the US? For now we'll just say I went out of the country.) I went for a friend's wedding. It was truly a beautiful place to have a wedding. The evening of the ceremony, God's hand was in it all. From the love that surrounded everyone there to the beautiful sunset over the ocean. The pictures I'll put up don't do any justice to what it was really like. One of the first things that amazed me about PR was how friendly the people were. They were so friendly and wonderful to talk to. The concierge at the hotel always had a smile on his face as he opened the doors and greeted people. I remember having a conversation with him. He talked about his love for working at the hotel. He even mentioned that a couple of hotels from the States had offered him jobs, but he turned them down. His reason being "Every morning I can greet people here and look outside to what God has painted right here for me." I was amazed at his reasoning and it made me wish I could be more like that. Here was a man who loved his job, because he could interact with people and see God's creation right out the door. He said he didn't have a need for anything else. As he told me all of this I sat there and thought to myself "Why can't I be more like him? Why can't all of humanity be more like him?" I think that we always have to be doing something in today's society. We always have to be productive. I'm guilty of it. I plan everything and I mean EVERYTHING. I rarely ever just take the time to let God handle it all, yet when it all blows up in my face He's the first one I run to. I can hear Him say "I told you to let Me handle it. Here, this is how I wanted you to do it. We can fix it though, so don't worry." It's an on-going struggle that God and I have. I'm such a control freak about certain areas of my life, but I don't have to be. I want so badly to just give it all to Him because I do know, and I do believe that He will plan everything for me on His time. The PR trip really opened up my eyes to the things that He has put right in front of me to enjoy.

On a slightly different note, I now live by myself, in my very own apartment. I feel like a big girl. I really didn't think I could do it, but it feels exhilarating to know that I am capable of living on my own. It gives me time to think about everything: my life, my faith, my beliefs, etc.

I'm trying to simplify my own life. I no longer have cable. It's not a necessity. I'm actually happier without it. I mean sure, I miss some of my shows, but I have friends who TiVo things and we watch them together, or I watch it online. I try not to use internet as often when I'm at home. It's worked well so far. I'm becoming more environmental. I actually recycle. It makes me feel like I'm really helping the world, which I am, along with millions of others. I encourage anyone and everyone to recycle. It's a big deal. We get one planet. That's it. One. Be nice to it, treat it like you would your favorite thing.

I'm pursing my photography more. You can check out my photos on my site http://www.evelynkatephotography.smugmug.com. Look through the photos. Rank your favorite ones. You can even buy one if you want to, or you can just contact me and I'll be more than happy to take photos for you. I like it. It's fun for me. When I look through that lens of my camera, everything is good in the world. I see God's creations for what they are and so much more. He's blessed me with this talent and without His direction, I never would have found it. I praise Him daily for it and the other gifts He has blessed me with.

That's it for tonight, even though I have so much more to say. That's what this blogging deal is for though. Go in peace, and know that you are loved by a God who is so amazing and wonderful that He gives us second, third, fourth and so many more chances than we truly deserve.

Laura Kate