Only 4 more days until my break is over. I can't believe how fast it went!

So at the beginning of this break I was really unsure of what it would be like to be home because I had been gone since summer. But it has been wonderful! Things had changed a little around here but it took no time to get used to. I did notice more little things I would do around the house like rearranging the bathroom, the towel I always have to have at the edge of the sink, how often I would clean or pick up things in other places yet my room was always disorganized, reinstating the knocking rule when doors are closed (brothers forgot how to follow this :), and so on, I'm sure there are others. I think the hardest part was being on a different schedule from them, which sometimes included not have a schedule at all. At first the boys were still in school so they would go to bed before 10 sometimes and at school I struggled to make it to bed by midnight. My desire to sleep in here did not work most times, so I have developed the habit of taking 3 oclock naps every afternoon that I could...and boy are they nice! Throughout break my family all had their usual things that they do so sometimes I was just kind of tagging along if I hadn't planned to do anything else. I'm sure there were lots more people I could have gone to see or things to do, but I really just enjoyed doing my own things around the house and getting away from so many people for a while. I forgot how much I missed the solitude that you don't often get living in a dorm with girls all around you. :) Besides that, I was with my extended family a lot this break and I had missed that so much. We are all super close and my family is very large so it was nice to have that too when I was missing being surrounded by people.

Over break I also found the time to evaluate myself and how this semester went. I felt I did not grow in applying things to my life the way I should have but what I did take away from this semester was the realization of all the things I should be doing and can improve in so this break I started the changes. I have been going to a prayer group every weekend at school and I think this has been a tremendous help with seeing what other girls struggle with too, which helps me think about if those are things I struggle with too. So with their prayers, strength from God, and decision to change, I am doing much better in areas of prayer, study, and time with God. In bible class here we have been going through 1 Corinthians, and personally I am going through the book of Ephesians. For various reasons I chose Ephesians, but I am really glad I started with it because I until now I have failed to learn how to effectively study on my own, without the aid of a class workbook or following a teacher's lead. At times I would try to start studying something, and all it became was a readthrough and I never remembered or took anything from just that, so I would give up. While there are a lot of things I still don't understand yet in Ephesians, I'm really trying to look a lot deeper into the text and see what Paul was telling them then and what he would say to me now.

To help along with my personal study Mom got me some books that I'm really excited about. One is "Manners and Customs in the Bible" because I've realized the more I know about the context of the time letters in the bible were written, the more it will help me understand what is being said.

Also, something I'm really excited about but nervous about at the same time is a study that a friend and I are going to try to start when we get back to school. We met a student from USF before break and had some really good spiritual conversations with them, so we are going to try to set up some more times to talk with them. My friend and I have both been talking with others and praying about this since neither of us have set up anything like this much or at all. But we know that this is the LORD's work and for His glory, not for us, so He will give us what we need to handle this. Please also keep us in your prayers for wisdom in what we say, in openmindedness, patience, control over emotions, and for open hearts of the one we talk to also. If we can at least walk into this and give them the truth to think about and share the gospel with them, then we have done what we should. It would just be wonderful if they continued to be receptive to it. Our main goal is to not shove things at them that they think we say they HAVE to accept, but that we can present and discuss with them in a way that they come to their own conclusions about the truth and convict their own actions if they have been in error. The same is true for us always too, so that we do not come to them with error in our own lives, thus being hypocritical when showing them where they may be in error. I am really excited about this and hopefully it will bring souls to the LORD and personal growth for me and my friend as well.

I have had such a wonderful time this break... Teen bible study in KC and seeing many of my camp friends, Bunko party with people from church, Playing in the snow, Vaughan family Christmas/gift exchange party, Working for one of the men from church, Sleepover with some of my high school friends, Getting to see visiting out-of-town family members, Going to Garrison's wrestling matches, Going to Grandma's on both sides often, Going to Columbia to visit my uncle with Mom's side for XMas, Reading books I didn't get to finish when school got busy, Talking with friends from school, Making Christmas cookies and holiday pies, Sending/getting happy mail from friends at school (I love this! :), Getting anonymous Happy New Year's voicemail :), Sending/receiving holiday text messages at odd hours of night ,and day! haha Watching movies (Man from Snowy River!),

Yet to come: Tonight's (late) New Year's Party/Oldywed game with people from church at Grandma's house, Tomorrow night's teen bunko party with kids from church, Finishing up a sewing project with Grandma, Ordering class books

and then to the airport I go on Monday!

I am really excited to be back to school (while blocking from my mind that we have to go to classes on Tuesday already :( ! Well, I have talked your ear off long enough. :)

Have a blessed day!

I have been home for 4 days on my first visit home since August. I don't think I have managed to get completely warm again since I left Florida, even as I sit here and shiver in my sweaters and blankets. :) Besides that, everything else is wonderful, it has been so nice to have some time to catch up with myself, and to see the family again. There are some interesting changes around here, but most things are the same. I did have to reclaim my old seat at the dinner table, my room is devoid of all my photos, the yard outside is no longer a hill, my two year old brother is quite a thinker now and comes up with clever responses.

Let's see, what's some of his funny lines..

"Can I have a bottle for nap?" "No, Elijah, bottles are only for bedtime" "Nooo...bottle. Hey, can I have half a bottle for nap?"

"You're a fluffy white marshmallow!"

"What's a deer say Elijah?" "BANG! BANG!"

So I think it's going to be an enjoyable break, but I also have much to think about for the future and I've got some decisions to make, so I would appreciate thoughts and prayers that I will be wise in my choices and that I will accept God's guidance.

Psalms 63 "O God, You are my God; Early I will seek you; My soul thirsts for You in a dry and thirsty land where there is no water. So I have looked for you in the sanctuary, to see Your power and Your glory. Because Your lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise You. Thus I will bless You while I live; I will lift up my hands in Your name. My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness, and my mouth shall praise You with joyful lips.

When I remember You on my bed, I meditate on You in the night watches. Because You have been my help, therefore in the shadow of Your wings I will rejoice. My soul follows close behind You; Your right hand upholds me. But those who seek my life, to destroy it, shall go into the lower arts of the earth. The shall fall by the sword; They shall be a portion for jackals. But the king shall rejoice in God; Everyone who swears by Him shall glory; But the mouth of those who speak lies shall be stopped."

I went ahead and divided the passage up where I did because the beginning of each part is something I am wanting to do better about and focus on. "Early I will seek You" and "When I remember You on my bed, I meditate on You in the night watches." Beginning and ending my day with the LORD one on one really changes how my day goes and what things I will accomplish that day.

Have a blessed week!

The things we do and feel are truly only bearable with our hope in the Lord.

Patience is the road hard to find and stay on but you hold on to it because you have to.

Being honest and making decisions are the hardest but most necessary things. I do a lot of second guessing and sometimes wish I could see where the other choice would have taken me.

Best friends are worthy of all the sacrifice in the world even when you must hold back from something else you really want.

Naps are ever so much more important than we thought they were in kindergarten.

Libraries are the most wonderful places on earth...and they go hand in hand with naps....

Time only moves slow when we're younger because we didn't really understand it or know what it was.

No TV is wonderful. Why did we ever need it?

Family means so much more when you've been separated.

Early mornings outside are the most beautiful and peaceful times to bow in prayer before a busy day.

Grown-up baby lotion is awesome... :)

...there are so many things to think about.

Being here at FC has been a wonderful blessing. This week we have had midterms, and I will have all my tests wrapped up by next Tuesday. I am looking forward to fall break; I will have a few peaceful days to myself since I will remain on campus. I am very much looking forward to a canoe trip as well next Friday. I don't know yet whether I would like to see any alligators. :)

Recently I have been tutoring students in reading. The children are so thrilled to see us come, which I am so glad because some children just don't like to read or give up. I find that sad because I love to read. It wears me out sometimes but they are already improving so I know I need to stick with it.

So long..kms

Proverbs 21:1 The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD, like the rivers of water; He turns it wherever He wishes

So, I haven't written on here much and some of you probably have no idea of where I'm at in life right now. I am now a freshmen at Florida College. Crazy, right!? I think so. I remember when I was in middle/high school and thought that the college kids were so grown up and I couldn't wait until I was an "adult" and independent. Can you say, WRONG?! I absolutely love it but I am definitely not as sure and grown up as I thought my older friends were. There are so many choices and good things to be involved in, I have to manage my own time and money, I am responsible for taking care of my own health and safety, the work I do now will affect the path to my future.... So, this all sounds like so much but I think it's great that I get to do all of this now! I know there will be times when it is a little overwhelming, but with God as my pilot like we talked about at Missouri camp I will do what I need to do.

Well, now that I'm here I absolutely love it! Some people have different experiences, but I am so blessed with the suite I am in this year. Sarah Oliver, Sarah Barnes, Mary Roberts...I love the girls so much and we have such a great time. They are very encouraging to me and we already are pretty close and supportive of the things we all do. There are some pretty amazing friendships you make here, that's for sure.

My classes still include some basics this year but next semester I will probably take some classes relating to my Elementary Education major. Stretch/Strengthen Personal Health and Fitness Liberal Arts Mathematics Elementary Spanish 1 OT History and Geography with Longstreth Marriage and the Family (one of my favorite classes so far. :) Honors Reading - Classical/Renaissance literature (a good class too)

Everything is going great so far, and I am still learning to manage my time, but so far it's been great having the library to get homework done and then the evenings in my dorm are free. We have bible studies several nights a week and they are very applicable to my life. Managing bible study time is another thing to learn also, and I have not done as well adjusting with my personal study, so I will be working on that now.

Last night was society sign ups and I am on PSI BETA!!! It's totally crazy and not completely me, but I decided it might be what I need at times this year. I tend to have a more serious attitude that could use some brightening up this year. Yes, I wondered if my personality would clash with this society, but I really think it's going to be great for me and I really liked the group when we went out last night...so all I have to say is PSI BETA baby! you might think we crazy! PSI BETA baby! we orange and blue that's how we do!

So this weekend I'm pretty much excited for Batman at the IMAX and the melodrama!!

Love, Kaitlin