XXI , year of the Ox

I was born in 1988, year of the dragon. My mom and dad have told me that when I was born it was snowing. I looked it up online. It snowed 12.1 inches the day I was born (Oklahoma City). What's funny is I really do not like snow, unless I'm with friends and I have a big hill and an awesome sled. 21 years have past and I like to think back of all the memories but it's impossible. I can't wait until i'm in heaven and I don't have to worry about memory loss and I'll be able to think about all the memories in my lifetime.

So time for another evaluation of the years past. Luckily for me my mom documented "great" moments in my life such as when I walked, the first words, etc... I won't bore you with those. I already bored you yesterday with brief moments of the year so I'm not going to go down that path.

However, I am very curious to see what is going to happen with my life. Graduation is 5 months away. It's absolutely terrifying typing that out. I have a few ideas of what I want to do but I know a lot of rejection is going to come my way. I'm going to apply for a lot of jobs, even jobs that are out of my league but I'm trusting that God will provide for me and everything will work out. It's going to be exciting to see how everything turns out and to "start" a new "phase" in my life. I'm totally pumped about grad school, I'm not however, totally pumped about the possibility of moving back in with my parents but we'll take it one step at a time.

Maybe now that i'm out of Ozark and officially not a college student but a "grad student" I'll meet someone. Someone once told me (Charlie Landis) that you are more appealing and more dateable when you're not in college and sometimes even irresistible ... (I might have added the last part :) ) I have hope that "mr. right" is out there waiting for me, but for now I'll be patient and content....

And now for another list, a list of things that happened while being 21.
1. I turned 21 in New York City, Celebrating with a shot of espresso
2. I went to Florida with my friends Korri and Chelsea for Spring break and chilled in a retirement community (blast!!!)
3. I said goodbye to a ton of graduating friends.
4. I raised $5000 to go to China.
5. I went to China and worked at New Day, and it inevitably changed my life.
a. Met Katie and Amanda from Manhattan Christian College and they began family to me
b. Met Jovy, Jamie, Caroline, and many others in China and have made friends with them for a lifetime
c. Perfected the use of a squatty potty.
d. Went to the beach in China... with Chinese friends and had many many memories--- funny and terrifying
e. Learned a little bit of Chinese, can use chopsticks, and eat rice like no bodies business.
f. Consider myself a "mother" to the orphans and feel responsible for their rescue.
6. I came back from China...
7. I started my senior year
8. I quit Gymboree and starting working at a Daycare
9. I started volunteering at church in the Pre Teen Youth group
10. I was accepted into John Brown's Graduate Program.

I'm excited for XXI year 22. I'm praying for God's blessing and guidance during a changing time.

Love,

Kinsey

Good Intentions verse God Intentions

The New Year always brings peace. It's the start of a new beginning a new year and a new time to set forth goals to become someone you want to be and to but aside who you were. I've been thinking about New Years Resolutions and i have a few.... At least I have a few things that i would like to happen but just happen to be out of my control (example: going to JBU for Free and well the obvious a relationship).

At church today (lifechurch.tv) I listened to Craig Groshell and was really inspired to have "God Intentions" not just "good intentions." His main question throughout the sermon was, "What do you want from God?" If i could have one thing from God what would it be. I have to answer this question and then center my prayers around it. Some people might wish for a friend to be saved, contentment, restored marriage, freedom from addictions, and the list goes on. I haven't decided what I want from God. I don't know what my "God intention" should be. Over the next few days I'm going to be praying for guidance from the Holy Spirit and analyzing what God might want me to have from Him.

Another question that Craig had was "What do you lack?" My thought was "so so much". I'm also going to be praying about an awareness of what i'm lacking. Currently I feel like I'm living in disappointment and sin. I hate the struggles that i'm going through right now. But hey, it's time for a change... right?

The third question was "What do you need to let go?" I also do not have an answer for this one. I thought I think i've forgiven everyone... But i'm sure there is something hiding from me trying not to escape the clench of my fist.


So 2010 should be an interesting year. I'll let you know what my answers are to the questions. But if you want to answer them yourself I think it would benefit you to listen to Craig's sermon on www.lifechurch.tv the sermon is called "One Thing".

I've also been thinking, should I reflect on the year past? well sure.

My favorite and most meaningful memories
1. My trip to New York City - Class with Gordon Venturella, Exegeting the American City
2. My summer internship at New Day Foster Home. Probably the best time of my life. It was extremely hard but God taught me so much about his faithfulness and unconditional love. Part of my heart is still in Beijing...
3. Senior year!!!!! woot woot!!!! Sad to go but i'm ready.

Shout out to my friends
1. Korri Lee Sears -- My right arm. Always there for me in everything, even my most dramatic moments
2. Chelsea Combs -- My starbucks buddy and crazy friend.

3. Morgan Weece -- My breakfast buddy who wakes me up in the morning.
4. Lindsey Doolittle -- My boss and friend...keeps the income flowing.
5. Molly Kruse -- My purple loving friend who allows me to love pink and not be ashamed.
6. Jess Moore -- My Honorary roomate.
7. Brady Roberts -- My friend who lives in Kansas and who I miss a lot.
8. Charlie Landis -- My card playing, awkward, deep conversations, share everything in life friend.
9. David Heffren -- My card playing friend when homework is not in the way....
10. Andrew Temm -- My "I've got an awesome apartment" and can make good spaghetti friend.
11. David Anderson -- My Asia loving friend
12. Ben Anderson -- My love hate relationship friend
13.Joseph Lang -- My reliable/always at pre teen friend
14. April Fillman -- My second mother and brings me so much laughter friend.
15. Karen Feiock Smith -- My married her high school sweetheart and we've been through so much together friend
16. Alicia Jacobsen -- My crazy best friend since 3rd grade.
17. Tracy Smith -- My Arkansas cutest accent and loving heart/always there for you friend.
18. Camille Conely - My Alumni/don't let stereotypes get us down friend.
19. Caitlyn Lippett -- My funny/i understand your craziness friend.

This turned into a long list... I think the title should now be called "I thankful for these..."

Well, this is all I can think of right now.

p.s. after the 3rd picture I got sick of trying to upload and such... sorry, but you can search through facebook if you need picture to picture detail :)

peace and love,

Kinsey

Double Deuces in 10 days

So my birthday is nearing!!!! Ahh year number 22! I can't believe it. Well I'm blogging early because I need some ideas for my birthday. It's unfortunate that my birthday is always during winter break!!!!!! And I love my birthday, i love to be with friends and family, I love cake, and i love presents (gifts are my love language...). Sooo I'll be in Tulsa so I'll celebrate with family and high school friends. And then I'll celebrate in Joplin the 7th and 8th with people who are in Joplin. Oh and there is more. I'm going to St. Louis to celebrate with my good friend Korri. And then I thought well I need to celebrate when I get back to OCC for school. Looks like a month of parties for me! I'm pretty excited!!!!! woot woot!

(pretty sure this is a lame blog... but I'm snowed in with nothing else to do...)

Blizzardy Christmas Thoughts...

Christmas was a little different this year. With the Oklahoma Blizzard tradition blew out the window and Mom, Dad, and I were snowed in. We were able to make it to the Christmas Eve service where I was picked to read a Scripture for the service because I go to Bible college. The exact words from my pastor was, "Since you go to Bible school we wanted to show them that you can read Scripture" very encouraging... :). After the service (6:15) we headed home to pick up some dinner to take to Grandpa and Grandma's house. The streets were so bad that we hardly made it home and the annual Christmas Eve with the Grandparents was cancelled. We were also suppose to travel in the morning to Oklahoma City but that too was cancelled. I have travelled to Oklahoma City every year on Christmas... this was a bummer. Anyways, with these things in mind I was told to sleep in (who does that on Christmas) and that we would open presents around 5 when my brother Jacob and his wife came over. I waited all day long to open presents! Oh, and I didn't sleep in. I woke up at 8:00 bright eyed and ready to go!

Although my family and I were not able to follow tradition it was a very peaceful and wonderful Christmas day. I was able to think and relax and do my own thing. It was really nice. I was slightly bored but it really put my mind to rest and the focus wasn't on what am I getting, it was on family and Jesus... which is really what it should be about.

I was listening to Taylor Swift sing, "Silent Night" and I just love her version of it. It's beautiful. The song really fits into the Christmas season. Silent night, Christ our savior is born. Yesterday at the Eve service my pastor said, "Jesus came to bring light into the darkness, that's what CHristmas is about. It's about the light putting out the darkness." I loved how he said it. It really made me think, especially since the sanctuary was filled with candles. A beautiful reminder that God is the light of the world and that we, as his children should shine like stars in the heavens.

So shine on. Peace. Merry Christmas

Wordless Wednesday: Little Debbie

I heart technology...

Can i just say, My blog would be much cooler if I understood technology...

That is all for today :)

Have a lovely few days before Christmas!

Baby Mac

I would like to announce that we have a miracle in my family!!!

My brother and sister-in-law have had complications during their pregnancy and we've all been very nervous about the arrival of "baby mac". You see my sister-in-law is a carrier of Hunter's Disease and her sweet little brother Michael has this disease. I don't really understand what it does to you but basically your muscles deteriorate and your life span is shortened and you live mostly through your youth.

The nerve racking thing about the pregnancy is that if the baby is a boy he has a 50/50 chance of having Hunters disease and if the baby is a girl she will be a carrier.

Well I've been praying for this little baby, and I felt selfish when I was praying so eventually i asked the Holy Spirit to pray for me and I asked the Lord to deliver my brother and his wife a healthy baby.

At 6 o'clock tonight we met my brother and sister in law and they announced to us what "baby mac" is...

A GIRL!!!!! A healthy baby Girl!!!!!!!

Praise the Lord, for a healthy little niece.

I am so excited for this little one to come into the world. I think i'll probably be the coolest aunt ever. I'll teach her my shopping skills, my memorization techniques (because hopefully she'll find her way to Ozark...), and I'll teach her my best jokes :) .

Keep praying for a healthy pregnancy! Baby Mac enters the world the end of may/early june.