reap what you sow

So, I'm feeling pretty good today. On Wednesday I slept all morning, and last night I went to bed early. I'm still a bit tired, but I have a lot more energy than I usually do on a Friday!

Yesterday was great fun. After my violin lesson I stopped at the bank, where I ran into Marie for the first time in ages. I met Marie last January on choir tour (she was traveling with her sister, a choir member) and we hit it off right away. I don't see her much because she graduated my freshman year (I think), but we always have a lot to say to each other. She was excited to hear I'd found a writing group, and now she wants to read my story. When I finish my current editing of the first portion, I'll have to drop it by the bank for her. Yes, she works at the bank, and we were having this conversation over the teller counter.

I even got to see Audrey yesterday, though she was at work too. I stopped into Barnes and Noble and chatted with her over the counter there. When your friends are extremely busy, you sometimes just have to go and find them where they are. Of course, I also had something to pick up at the store, but that's beside the point.

What I was picking up was a CD by the daKAH hip hop orchestra. The new band director played part of it for us toward the beginning of the semester, so I've been wanting to hear more for a while now. It's definitely not my usual musical preference, but the first movement is really good.

And right now I am so glad that we have a working record player at home. The library had a big box out marked "free," so I had to check it out. What I found were record albums of works of literature. I picked up the complete plays of Shakespeare's Julius Ceasar and the Merchant of Venice, as well as Death of a Salesman, The Cocktail Party by T. S. Eliott, Everyman, Aesop's Fables, Faustus (in German), and two albums of famous British poetry. Call me a dork, but I can't wait to listen to some of them.

I know I've mentioned this before, but I'd just like to say again how much I'm looking forward to having free time and my own space this January. I know I can get my book finished if I just make the time and devote myself to it, and this is my opportunity. I'm thrilled for Dianna, that she gets to have the experience of a lifetime in England, but that's her dream. Mine can come true at the same time, here in South Dakota. And if all goes well, it won't be the experience of a lifetime, but the start of my life. It's time to move from dreaming to planning, and that starts with finish what I began so many years ago with a short story about a little green bear named Peridot.

-Kim

purple flowers from God

I went to Wal-Mart the other day. Coming back out to my car I found the most amazing artificial flowers lying in the empty spot next to my car. They're huge and ugly and I love them! Since they came out of nowhere, I like to think of them as flowers from God. Hey, a girl likes to get flowers now and again, and who better to get them from?

On a somewhat related note, I've been reading a great book lately. It's called "If Singleness is a Gift, What's the Return Policy?" (Now, don't laugh. If you're just going to laugh, then don't even bother reading the rest.) It's actually a really good book written by two single, Christian women. And no, it's not about how to find a guy to marry. It's about how to take advantage of our single years and not waste them. I'm only about halfway through the book right now, but already I'm seeing things a bit differently. I mean, I've been slowly moving in this direction over the past year or so, but now I can finally understand why. And explain why, since I know some people are going to have questions.

Here's what I've realized: it is such a blessing to be single! Right now I have so many things going on in my life--schoolwork, music, writing, deepening my relationship with Christ--that I, quite literally, don't even have time for a boyfriend. Or if we turn that statement around then, because I'm not wasting my time chasing guys, I can put more of myself into what really matters in life. Even though there are times I find it hard to spend time in the Word, I've been learning more from God in the past year than ever before. And I'm finally getting serious about my writing. Writing stories is what God has gifted me for, and I've been foolish to let that go by the wayside for so long. (I've been talking to Kirby lately, and he's been reminding me to relax and focus on the things that really matter in life.)

Frankly, at this point I'm prepared to remain single for quite a long time. I at least intend to stay this way until I finish my schooling, which is an undetermined ammount of time at this point. I still have no idea what career path God has picked out for me, but that should become clearer as I continue to walk with him day by day. Who knows? Maybe the writing thing will take off. Maybe I really will become a librarian. My life is a story that hasn't been finished yet. The Author only lets me live it page by page, so I just trust that what he has coming later is more than I could ever imagine.

And before anybody asks, this is not a reaction to my brother's engagement. As I said, I've been thinking this way for quite a while now, though it has given me more food for thought. I am thrilled for Kevin, even though I still don't claim to understand his thought processes. Besides, its not like I'm vowing to never get married. I'm just not gonna even think about it for the next couple of years. No, I won't get lonely. How could I, whith all the amazing friends I have to support me, both here at USF and at home. Besides, the King of kings is passionately pursuing my heart every day. And he gives me flowers. What more could a girl ask for?

-Kim

drowning in notecards

Well, here I am again, taking a quick break from homework that threatens to deaden my mind instead of enlightening. I hate that it's my Genesis homework that pains me. I mean, I really enjoy what I've been reading, and I care about the topic. But I don't think I'll do the topic justice. I keep reading pieces of these sources, and never getting the full picture, so my notes are piecemental and don't quite fit together. (I blame Thea Holton and the stupid loon essay for this--why on earth did they make us do that two years in a row in elementary school?) How do I make something coherent of this plethora of facts, snippets and quotes? And where does the text fit in? Apparently I'm supposed to be exegeting along with presenting my research. I have nothing to do this weekend but this paper, and I just might go insane before I reach page 12.

I'm supposed to be playing recorder for Madrigals this year. So far we've not even figured out fingerings let alone read a piece of music. It's going to be interesting for sure if we get this to work.

You know, I really wish that it were still fall break. That was a good time. I mean, I ate pizza with my family and caught up on my sleep. I got to see great friends I hadn't seen in quite a while. I met with my writing group again and received the greatest encouragement. But then I got sick and didn't get as much research done as I had intended, which is why I am only discovering now that my notes are so disjointed. Maybe I would feel better after a good sleep...

I went to Crossroads today and found the most amazing things. I went in for the new Newsboys album, and then I found the newest VeggieTales CD, Boyz in the Sink Live in Paducah. Well of course I had to get that--it has the belly button song! It's great, because there is an actual crowd in the tracks, and the veggies work the crowd like it's a live show. I love it. Anyway, they've apparently developed a veggie DDR. You plug the dance pad into your computer instead of a game system, but it's pretty much like original DDR except for the fact that you'd be "dancing" to veggie songs. But it made me wonder what sort of a visual they put on the screen for a tutorial. The veggies don't have feet. I almost want to get it, but that's too much money to spend on pure whimsy. Besides, the dance pad is probably sized for chidren. Oh well, I'll just have a one-man dance party to the Boyz in the Sink!

-Kim

Much madness is divinest sense--

To a discerning eye--
Much sense--the starkest Madness--

Emily Dickenson, I am so feeling your vibe today. As it is midterms this week, everyone has, understandably, gone completely insane. And I absolutely love it. Tuesday night's study break involved Todd locking himself in our room, and then Adam and Todd together locking themselves in our room. I'm not sure how it became so popular, but it was fun. We also turned the prayer room into Dave's new bedroom by putting Polly's extra mattress on a couple of chairs. And then we all sat on it together and laughed about the stupidest and most random things. I can't help but wonder how insane we'll be come finals week if midterm was this bad.

Midterm tests are behind me now, and I seem to have survived. I still have papers to write, but they look manageable at this point. Genesis still seems a bit overwhelming, but I'm just going to have to work through it. The course listings for spring semester have been posted, and I'm discovering that it has become incredibly difficult to put together a decent schedule. Tomorrow I begin the process of speaking to professors about what I should take now, and what can wait until next year. It's crazy to think that I only have three semesters left to finish my major and minor (I guess I've decided to keep theology, and Dr.s Hiigel and Greg are delighted to have one more).

I've given myself the goal of finishing the reconstruction of my first book by the time my writing group meets this Sunday. I think I can do it, since I'm only about a page from splicing the new into the old. I'm terribly excited to see what the result of this reworking will be for the story as a whole. And I'm excited to see what my fellow writers think of it. Haveing this writing group to hold me accountable for actually working on my story has really given me the push I needed to get writing again. I'm so glad I found them.

Oh, I also think I finally figured out why I don't want to teach English, but that's a rant for another post. Right now I really ought to get back to my etymology paper. Once I have that emailed in tomorrow, I'll be headed home for fall break. Woot! I can't wait to slow down for a few days and catch my breath.

-Kim

fiercely treading water

Okay, I really should be writing my American Lit paper right now. Well, either that or going to bed. But I figured that I should at least tell you about the weekend before I dropped completely off the radar. Homecoming was pretty much amazing. Friday night was the scholarship recognition banquet and the variety show. I got to sit by Roger Frederickson at the dinner, which was great--I was afraid I'd get some old donor who would be hard to talk to. Then the variety show was great--the usual silliness and some real talent thrown in. I think the entire freshman class of girls is crushing on Adam after his performance of a song he wrote. He also tied for first prize, though he's been very humble about the whole thing. Sam put an actual saddle on the cougar statue for the cougar ride, which was too cold to be any fun.

Saturday we went flying. Seriously. The Experimental Aircraft Association out of Tea invited us to come take a ride, so we did. It was awesome, except that my ears started hurting. Darn sinus issues! Anyway, we went to the game that night but didn't stay for the whole thing because it was cold. And besides, we needed time to get ready for the dance. Our group went all out for the theme "dancing through the decades." I wore the amazing green dress and Brittany curled my hair, and Dianna was freakishly cool in her 80's garb. I really don't know how else to describe it. The dance itself was probably the best dance I've ever been to, because it was fun the whole time and they only played a couple of rap songs. And everyone kept telling me how amazing I looked, which I actually didn't know how to take.

This morning started far too early. The choir and band both performed at the services at First B. I was running back and forth all morning, but it was actally pretty fun. I don't know how it happened, but I really was awake by the time we started. I've been slowly crashing throughout the day, though. I took a bit of a nap in the comfy chairs in the library basement since nobody wanted any help from the writing center.

And now, I wish you all a marvelous week, because I don't expect to be posting again for a while. I have a crazy number of papers and things due this week, and Tartuffe is this weekend. I will probably go insane, but as long as they don't catch me, I'll be back to my normal life in time for midterm.



-Kim