Snow Day (Again!)

Obviously this post is almost a week late, but nonetheless, here it is!
It's Thursday night, and that means that Stefan and I are cooking some new dish. Tonight it's Chicken teriyaki, fried rice, and egg rolls. The chicken and fried rice are made from a recipe, but the egg rolls are the store bought kind, only because it's been a long day and we felt lazy.

It snowed! (If you're in Mississippi, you know that by now). This was real snow, none of that icy snow that we saw last week and the week before that. No, this time, it was all powder. I was in love as I watched, from my apartment, the snow flutter down. Stefan and I went home to my parents house to see them and my sweet little cousins who I have not seen in 3 or 4 weeks. Fortunately I got a few pictures of E in the snow before my camera battery decided to die.

Finally!

I am finally in my Phase I Placement for student teaching! I am currently in my 2nd week of 6 weeks total in the placement. I am teaching second grade and I love every minute of it! I'm not going to lie, it isn't very easy to get up at 6:00 am to get ready for a day that doesn't end until about 3:30 or 4:00, but once I'm there, I'm in my element. I truly believe that God designed me to be a teacher, and I have no doubts about it. It takes someone of patience to teach 2nd graders. In a conversation with one of my friends the statement "God bless you for a heart to teach the little ones". It made me giggle and smile because I love that I get to wake up every morning and go to a job that I am being trained for that I know I will love! I have been truly blessed during my placement to have a mentor teacher who is truly amazing at what she does.


I have officially completed my first month as worship leader for Starkville FUMC's Pathways service. It has truly been a blessing in my life. I was so nervous starting out, especially since the person I replaced was both a vocalist and guitar player for the praise band. I prayed that God would show someone who could play the guitar to help with the instrumental part of the worship team. Here's one thing that never ceases to amaze me about our wonderful God: He always provides! Not only has He provided us with a guitar player, He has provided the Pathways service with multiple singers and musicians. Praise God, Praise God! 


A few weeks ago we had an abundance of snow. Stefan and I went on campus where I took pictures and he filmed some of the beautiful scenery.  First of all, I would like to inform you of how much I LOVE snow! I think it's because I don't really see much of it, living here in the South. Here are some of the pictures that I took:

I love purple flowers! I used my macro lens with this photo.

Stefan at work taking a few shots of the snow!

New Beginnings

So, part of my New Year's resolutions was to update my blog more. It's Day 9 of January, and this is my first post. Off to a great start, already. Much has happened since my last post in August. God has really been working in my life.

First of all, I looked into many different options for my career in teaching. I looked into applying for Teach for America and started an application, but have since halted that process for now at least. Another option I looked into was Teaching English as a Foreign Language. I felt that this experience was a great idea to look into at least. But for some reason, I could not bring myself to finish any of these applications. It turns out, that God has so much more planned for me than I could have imagined.

I should tell you now that I am a planner. I'm sure, if you read this, you have probably already thought to yourself "This girl plans WAY too much." But that, my dear readers, is what I do. It's like I have a back-up plan in case God's doesn't work out.....which is an absurd thing to have because God's plan always works out the way HE intends it to, not the way I intend it to work out.

So, going back to my "teaching career plans". Like I said, I never got around to actually submitting the applications to either of these programs. Part of me was apprehensive about doing so. I can't really explain why, which is why I believe that it was God's way of telling me to hold off on it.

In October, a friend that I have known for about a year and a half, asked me on a date, which after four times of turning him down, I decided to give it a try. We are now going into our third month of dating and I would like to share with you that it has been an amazing three months. I truly believe, and he can tell you too, that we are in God's plan for each other. For so long I was the person who agonized over why it was that all my friends were dating guys and I couldn't get one. I finally stopped complaining and prayed about it, and prayed, and prayed. It turns out, I was looking in all the wrong places for the type of guy I thought I should be with, and God was showing me the one he picked out.

I know you may think this is quite cheesy and mushy, but I'm quite happy because I've finally let God take control over the relationship part of my life. It hasn't been easy, but the wait has been worth it.

To add to the things that are new in my life: I'm the new worship leader for my church's contemporary service Pathways. Today was my first day, and I was very nervous, but was told I did a pretty good job. I pray that the Lord's will is done in my leadership of the worship portion of the service. I'm looking forward to this next chapter in my life.

The Last Year

I have successfully completed the first 5 days of my last year as an undergrad. It's weird to think about this being my last year. I look back on past college years and I think about what I could have done differently if I had the chance. Here's the list for all you future high school graduates:

1. Go away for college, for at least a year. Don't do what I did and just stay there for one semester. You'll regret it later. If you try it for a year and don't enjoy it, then you can go back to a college/university that is closer in distance to your home.
2. Get involved in something, whether it's a campus club, a Greek organization, or a campus ministry (or all 3)!
3. Study Abroad as an undergrad. I did not do this as an undergrad, but I wish I had.
4. Budget your money. Budget, budget, budget.
5. Study, study, study.
6. Manage your time wisely
7. Buy a planner. Trust me, you'll need it.
8. Exercise at least twice a week. It will catch up with you if you don't.
9. Be a healthy eater. Sure those Oreos look great and taste divine, but that doesn't mean you have to eat half a pack.
10.  Be open-minded to the people you meet and the experiences you encounter. This is the most important piece of advice I want to give to you. College is all about embracing different things and different people. You are going there to get an education. Be educated in different cultures and in new experiences.
11. Don't get married in college. Your friends do not have the money to pay for multiple bridesmaid's dresses, shoes, wedding gifts, lingerie presents, and bachelorette parties. 

I'm looking into my options for being a teacher. I know I don't graduate until May, but the sooner I research all the options, the better informed I will be about what I truly want to do with my Education degree. I have had advice from family and friends about Teach For America. I did a little research on it this afternoon and I like what I see. However, I feel a little uncomfortable going to teach in an inner city, high poverty area, but I think it's due to the fact that I'm not used to being around it. I'm not opposed to teaching in these areas by any means. It is something that I will be praying about. It would mean stepping out of my comfort zone entirely, but isn't that what serving God is all about? Another option that I have considered is Teaching English as a Foreign Language. I can go to Prague and study to teach English as a foreign language. Once I complete the 4 week program, I would be certified for a lifetime to teach English as a foreign language. If I choose to not teach once the program is complete, I can still do it when ever I would like. The school works with you to ensure that you get a great job in one of the many countries in the world. Either option would be a wonderful experience, and I can do both, but I'm not sure which one I'm being called to do at this point. I ask all you readers out there for your prayers as I start to think about where God wants me to be and what He wants me to do with my degree. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Peace and Love,

Laura Kate

God Moments

I'm sitting at the Wesley foundation on the porch swing. One of my most favorite places to be on this Earth. It's a place where I like to sit and reflect. Today is no different. I was studying for the Praxis II that is coming up in a couple of weeks and I look up and the sun is setting. For some people the sunset isn't really that big of a deal, but for me, today and everyday, the sunset is a Godsend. I just sat here on the swing and took it all in. The fact that our God created this beautiful thing for us to look at each day is just something so wonderful I can't even fathom. As I'm sitting here I realize that I'm not worried about being productive. I'm taking in the sunset, the sounds around me, and the occasional silence where no cars are passing by, which is a rare occurrence given that this is a university campus.

Today was different. I'm not even sure how, but I feel God in a way that I haven't felt Him in a long time. I'm happier today and more content since last Tuesday where I was in such a weird mood that nothing was going right. I'm finally letting go of the worries I've had because I know for sure that God is going to take care of it all, and I have no need to worry about that.

My God moments occur when I least expect them to. But then again, that's how most God moments are. They usually occur when I'm with my family or sitting at the Wesley. This past Saturday was no different. I had the wonderful opportunity of keeping my cousin for the day. It's one that I rarely pass up. To see the world through a child's eyes is so humbling and innocent. I took my cousin to the Drill Field and we strolled and blew bubbles. The kid loves to push her own stroller, so I carefully helped guide her down the sidewalk as she pushed. At one point she stopped, looked at me, took my hand off the stroller and said "No, no". I had to smile at her need for independence, so I let her push the stroller by herself but I stood close behind to make sure it stayed on the sidewalk After a few failed attempts of her strolling off the sidewalk, she looked to me for help and we continued to stroll down the sidewalk with both of us pushing the stroller.

As I was driving her back home I thought about how we as Christians are sometimes like children who are gaining their independence. We like to think that we can do it all by our self, take control of our lives, etc. We let God guide us to certain points in our lives, but then tell Him we can do it ourselves, and like any Father, He steps back and allows us to do it on our own, but He stands close by. When we go a few steps and realize we need guidance, we look to Him and He always helps guide us back on the "sidewalk". There's never any "I told you so's" exchanged. It's simply a matter of picking us up and brushing us off and saying "I love you, follow me".

That's really all that was on my mind tonight. I usually don't like to post things unless I have something meaningful to say and tonight I did, so here it is.

Peace and Love,
Laura Kate

Weekend

This past weekend, I had the incredible opportunity to attend Statewide Wesley 2010. For those of you who read this and are not sure what that is, it is a retreat where different university Wesley Foundations come together to glorify God and have fun with each other. This year we were blessed to have Todd Agnew as our worship leader. He talked about worship a great deal and what it means to truly worship. (I think he read my blog post on that very topic, because he basically said everything I talked about! :) Totally kidding on that one.) We also were able to participate in the Stop Hunger Now Program. Stop Hunger Now is an organization where groups can come together and package meals for children who are in areas where starvation is one of the leading causes of death among children. Here are a couple of facts about hunger :  

25,000 people die every day from hunger and related causes.

Every 6 seconds a child dies because he or she is hungry.

There are other facts listed on the Stop Hunger Now website, but those two are the main ones that stuck out to me. No child, or person for that matter, should die because they do not have enough to eat. We produce enough food in this world in order to feed hungry people everywhere.

In participating in the program, we were able to package 16,000 meals that will be sent to places like Haiti. 16,000. That is a lot of meals and a lot of children that won't go hungry. If you're reading this, I encourage you to get involved in this program somehow. It is something that I am extremely passionate about. I am part of a Hunger POD (Practicing Outward Discipleship) at Mississippi State University. We are bringing the Stop Hunger Now program to the Wesley Foundation on campus March 28th, though it's not limited to just Wesley Foundation attendees. We are working on fundraising and are still planning some details.

Things are going well. God is working in my life and I am in awe of the things He has done. He has blessed me with wonderful friends, old and new. I have been praying about ways I can help the world and I feel that He has called me to help with hunger-related ministries. I like doing good for people and I love serving God that way. It constantly gives me a reality check and I realize each time that I have everything I need. I have clean water to drink, I have a roof over my head, and I plenty of food. Everything else is just excess, things I have but don't necessarily need. That's a word we say often: Need. Think about that for a bit.

I'll post more tomorrow.

Peace and Love,

Laura Kate

A Rainy Day...

It's raining. Again. I should be going to bed right now because I've been walking around in a daze all day. This is what 18 hours of school does to you. I've been doing a lot of thinking (what else is new?) about the future and what it holds, and here it is: I'm looking at moving to either Birmingham or Kentucky. Two great places. Both hold opportunities of being able to get a teaching job. Pray for that. :) I know I still have a year, and plans can change. My plans most likely will change, because it's me.

I'm still in the process of finding web hosting site to host my photography website. So if any of you readers out there know of any good ones, your help would be greatly appreciated.

I like doing photoshoots. Wait, let me rephrase that: I like being the one to operate the photoshoot. I don't like being photographed, for some reason that is completely unknown to me. I just like being the person behind the camera. A few Sundays ago I got my sister (my built in model) and her friend (who absolutely LOVES doing my photoshoots) together for a little session. It rained all morning, but the sun eventually made its appearance around 1:00. My sister and her friend are two of my most favorite people to photograph, together and separate. When they are together they are so much fun, they just feed off of each other, which results in some really awesome photos. I'm not a fan of posed pictures, though sometimes I have to resort to them. I like my photography to be "in the moment". It's about capturing the essence of that person in a specific moment. So, as promised, I will leave you with a handful of the photos from the shoot.