I teach 3rd grade at this fabulous school, but right now it is a very competitive environment. That's because of the YMCA. Yes, the YMCA.
They created this competition between 4 elementary schools called "Shrinkdown"--a weight loss competition to promote a healthier lifestyle. The programs puts the 4 schools against each other to compete for the total weight loss and within our school we are competing against each other too. Picture The Biggest Loser...but with teachers. Pretty hilarious, actually.
So far in two weeks, I have lost 4 pounds. I am TIRED of working out so hard/counting calories so strictly and only losing 2 pounds a week... then I remembered that the competition lasts 8 weeks so I could be looking at -16 pounds by my birthday in March. That would be sweet.
So, as the verse in Philippians says, "I'm pressing on towards the goal..."
Friday, January 28, 2011
Friday, January 21, 2011
"That" girl
Throughout my teenage years, college, and apparently even now as I'm a mini-adult...I have always had a friend or two in my circle of friends who end up being"that" girl.
No, I'm not talking about the girl who passes out after a crazy night out. Not that girl. But the girl in the group of friends who always...ALWAYS...has a boyfriend. THAT girl.
I'm talking about the kind of girl who has not been single since the pre-teen years. The one who is always in a relationship. Now, this particular type of girl does not bother me. Do not misinterpret this post. I am not annoyed by this girl. But tonight, I perused a friend's facebook page and noticed that she is...yet again...in a serious relationship with a guy. This is probably her 9th serious relationship since high school. Sometimes I think "man! she needs to find one she likes and stop going from guy to guy so frequently" but tonight, a different though all together came across my mind:
Why is it that "that" girl can always risk so much for someone when I am the POLAR opposite and have (on the flipside) never once been in a serious relationship? How is it that she can be so committed and invested in someone else and jumps into relationships head first after going through bad breakups with guys she felt strongly about? Instead of thinking that she is foolish for risking so much all the time, I looked to "that" girl with a little bit of admiration. Just a little. Because, even though she has been through so many relationships, she goes full out, no holding back, jumping headfirst into love and takes risks.
So, here's to you girl who always has a boyfriend. Because, although I am not like you at all, I can find some positive in how much you go after life.
"Courage is not the absence of fear but rather the judgment that something is more important than fear. The brave may not live forever but the cautious do not live at all." -The Prince of Genovia (The Princess Diaries)
No, I'm not talking about the girl who passes out after a crazy night out. Not that girl. But the girl in the group of friends who always...ALWAYS...has a boyfriend. THAT girl.
I'm talking about the kind of girl who has not been single since the pre-teen years. The one who is always in a relationship. Now, this particular type of girl does not bother me. Do not misinterpret this post. I am not annoyed by this girl. But tonight, I perused a friend's facebook page and noticed that she is...yet again...in a serious relationship with a guy. This is probably her 9th serious relationship since high school. Sometimes I think "man! she needs to find one she likes and stop going from guy to guy so frequently" but tonight, a different though all together came across my mind:
Why is it that "that" girl can always risk so much for someone when I am the POLAR opposite and have (on the flipside) never once been in a serious relationship? How is it that she can be so committed and invested in someone else and jumps into relationships head first after going through bad breakups with guys she felt strongly about? Instead of thinking that she is foolish for risking so much all the time, I looked to "that" girl with a little bit of admiration. Just a little. Because, even though she has been through so many relationships, she goes full out, no holding back, jumping headfirst into love and takes risks.
So, here's to you girl who always has a boyfriend. Because, although I am not like you at all, I can find some positive in how much you go after life.
"Courage is not the absence of fear but rather the judgment that something is more important than fear. The brave may not live forever but the cautious do not live at all." -The Prince of Genovia (The Princess Diaries)
Thursday, January 6, 2011
Decisions, decisions...
As I continually think about the upcoming summer (a habit I have been in since college began...planning my life summer to summer) I am in a constant internal tug-o-war about what to do.
My two main options are both things that I LOVE and have devoted myself to over some time, but both conflict with each other and I cannot do both. I am sick of the phrase "I'm praying about it" because, although I am...constantly praying over it...it is not ok to hold off on making a decision for too much longer.
Camp Greystone or Teens Westward Bound?!?!
Let's start with Teens Westward Bound.
In 2004 (junior in high school, here), I got nominated by my friend Justin Carroll to go on this 23 day, cross country experience of a lifetime. The only thing I knew about this trip was that:
In more words that I could ever describe, this trip molded me into the person I am today. It took me from being a "nice" person, to being someone who put others' needs before myself. Having to depend on other people taught me to trust others. Being away from my parents helped me learn how to do things on my own. Being away from my friends gave me FREEDOM. Freedom from high school drama, freedom to explore life outside of Barnwell (population 5,000) and freedom to learn about myself in a way that no other trip could have done. It's a huge part of my life. The moment I returned after those 23 days I declared that I would return one day as a counselor, no questions asked. It was a no-brainer. The moment I graduated college I would return.
The rules for returning as a staff member were pretty clear: You have to be 21 or older and a former participant (with preference given to college grads, especially those that have shown how they work with kids throughout college)
In an effort to work with students as much as possible and serve the Lord in the process, I began looking for summer camp options during my freshman year of college. Enter, Camp Greystone in my life.
Here's how the Lord worked in this situation (totally a God thing):
I was sitting in my college ministry one Sunday and another camp's director came recruiting. It looked like an amazing way to serve the Lord and have fun at the same time (while also not going home all summer to my parents' house...since they had just moved to a new town). I had always idolized my counselors at camps growing up, so I knew that was right up my alley. I had an interview with that camp and was so stoked then, the day before my Spring Break trip to San Fran, I got the "thanks, but no thanks" letter. Really?? Rejected?? I was SO confused, and it really threw me for a loop. I had never failed at getting chosen for anything (unless you count the middle school cheerleading fiasco) and I began to doubt whether God really was calling me to camp. On the trip, a "mentor" of mine (aka: a senior FCA girl who I looked up to more than anyone at that time) told me in faith that God had something better planned for me. Little did I know that the next week, I would stumble upon Greystone's website after hearing that they needed people to work this one week camp called "Junior Camp." It sounded like fun, one week at camp being a counselor? Cool. So I applied.
I got a call a few days later from a lady named Kelly (ha, the one and only Kelly Carew) and the rest is history. She told me that "one week camp is fun, but you might be interested in coming for the whole summer." I decided to step out in faith and listen to the Lord. He had provided, now it was time for me to go somewhere I had NEVER heard of for nine weeks of the summertime away from my family and friends.
I didn't know how much I could fully devote myself to something until I worked at Greystone. I spent four amazing summers of my college life at that place...and throughout those summers I have had some MAJOR ups and downs. Who would think it's possible to laugh and simultaneously cry your eyes out at an all girls summer camp? Who would think that God would be able to break you so much and make you see yourself so clearly? So much for a care free summer teaching canoeing, I became invested in the lives of those girls. So much so, that they are still a part of my life now. The counselors uplift and encourage me like no small group has ever done for me. They are, without a doubt, some of the most amazing, beautiful, selfless, hard working women in the world.
I started Camp Greystone with the end goal in mind: being a counselor on the greatest trip and sharing that experience with 80 new kids. What I failed to realize is just how significantly my heart would fall for the girls at Camp Greystone. And I mean...significantly fall.
For Summer 2010, I decided that it was my time to try Teens Westward Bound. Instead of returning for my fifth summer at Camp, I convinced myself that TWB was everything that I had been waiting for all these years. In the back of my mind, it was always the launching point for me being interested in camp anyways (so I thought), so I needed to give it a try. It was incredible watching 82 high schoolers go through the same refining process I did, but my heart was no longer solely devoted to that trip. When we weren't caught up in crazy amounts of travelling, my thoughts would linger back to camp. I realized this past summer just how much a part of my life they both are.
I could legitimitly talk about both Teens Westward Bound and Camp Greystone for HOURS UPON HOURS, and will gladly do so if you want to chat it up. The point is, WHERE is God wanting me to serve this summer? What does He have up His sleeve that I can't predict? What is my role in the big picture he has designed? How can I be used most effectively in the time that I have available this summer?
I am reminded of Abraham and Sarah's story in the Old Testament, where Sarah was barren and knew that He had promised He would give Abraham a son. She took matters into her own hands by offering up another woman for him to have a child with. She thought that was God's will. I'm not comparing my situation to Sarah not being able to have a child, but she had to have faith that God would provide a solution and an answer. If you've heard the story, you know that at around 90 years old, Sarah was blessed with a child (after doubting that God was for real about His promise) who would be called Isaac. Beautiful stories throughout their whole lives about having faith and patience to wait for God's answer, and also of real struggles of faith to wait for His time.
"He (Abraham) was fully convinced that God is able to do whatever he promises." Romans 4:21
I am fully convinced that God will (I started to type "I will" but realize it's not my call at all) provide an answer, I am just waiting for His time and trying to seek what is best. The times when I am not seeking His will are the times of most turmoil within myself. I know that both will be great opportunities for me to pour into sweet, broken, unsure of themselves, awkward, AMAZING students' lives, I just and praying for some direction as to which one to choose.
(not so) Patiently waiting, Kathryn
My two main options are both things that I LOVE and have devoted myself to over some time, but both conflict with each other and I cannot do both. I am sick of the phrase "I'm praying about it" because, although I am...constantly praying over it...it is not ok to hold off on making a decision for too much longer.
Camp Greystone or Teens Westward Bound?!?!
Let's start with Teens Westward Bound.
- you had to sleep outside for most of the time
- you had to cook for yourself
- you get to hike the Grand Canyon and see America and,
- my friends could not stop talking about it.
In more words that I could ever describe, this trip molded me into the person I am today. It took me from being a "nice" person, to being someone who put others' needs before myself. Having to depend on other people taught me to trust others. Being away from my parents helped me learn how to do things on my own. Being away from my friends gave me FREEDOM. Freedom from high school drama, freedom to explore life outside of Barnwell (population 5,000) and freedom to learn about myself in a way that no other trip could have done. It's a huge part of my life. The moment I returned after those 23 days I declared that I would return one day as a counselor, no questions asked. It was a no-brainer. The moment I graduated college I would return.
The rules for returning as a staff member were pretty clear: You have to be 21 or older and a former participant (with preference given to college grads, especially those that have shown how they work with kids throughout college)
In an effort to work with students as much as possible and serve the Lord in the process, I began looking for summer camp options during my freshman year of college. Enter, Camp Greystone in my life.
Here's how the Lord worked in this situation (totally a God thing):
I was sitting in my college ministry one Sunday and another camp's director came recruiting. It looked like an amazing way to serve the Lord and have fun at the same time (while also not going home all summer to my parents' house...since they had just moved to a new town). I had always idolized my counselors at camps growing up, so I knew that was right up my alley. I had an interview with that camp and was so stoked then, the day before my Spring Break trip to San Fran, I got the "thanks, but no thanks" letter. Really?? Rejected?? I was SO confused, and it really threw me for a loop. I had never failed at getting chosen for anything (unless you count the middle school cheerleading fiasco) and I began to doubt whether God really was calling me to camp. On the trip, a "mentor" of mine (aka: a senior FCA girl who I looked up to more than anyone at that time) told me in faith that God had something better planned for me. Little did I know that the next week, I would stumble upon Greystone's website after hearing that they needed people to work this one week camp called "Junior Camp." It sounded like fun, one week at camp being a counselor? Cool. So I applied.
I got a call a few days later from a lady named Kelly (ha, the one and only Kelly Carew) and the rest is history. She told me that "one week camp is fun, but you might be interested in coming for the whole summer." I decided to step out in faith and listen to the Lord. He had provided, now it was time for me to go somewhere I had NEVER heard of for nine weeks of the summertime away from my family and friends.
I didn't know how much I could fully devote myself to something until I worked at Greystone. I spent four amazing summers of my college life at that place...and throughout those summers I have had some MAJOR ups and downs. Who would think it's possible to laugh and simultaneously cry your eyes out at an all girls summer camp? Who would think that God would be able to break you so much and make you see yourself so clearly? So much for a care free summer teaching canoeing, I became invested in the lives of those girls. So much so, that they are still a part of my life now. The counselors uplift and encourage me like no small group has ever done for me. They are, without a doubt, some of the most amazing, beautiful, selfless, hard working women in the world.
I started Camp Greystone with the end goal in mind: being a counselor on the greatest trip and sharing that experience with 80 new kids. What I failed to realize is just how significantly my heart would fall for the girls at Camp Greystone. And I mean...significantly fall.
For Summer 2010, I decided that it was my time to try Teens Westward Bound. Instead of returning for my fifth summer at Camp, I convinced myself that TWB was everything that I had been waiting for all these years. In the back of my mind, it was always the launching point for me being interested in camp anyways (so I thought), so I needed to give it a try. It was incredible watching 82 high schoolers go through the same refining process I did, but my heart was no longer solely devoted to that trip. When we weren't caught up in crazy amounts of travelling, my thoughts would linger back to camp. I realized this past summer just how much a part of my life they both are.
I could legitimitly talk about both Teens Westward Bound and Camp Greystone for HOURS UPON HOURS, and will gladly do so if you want to chat it up. The point is, WHERE is God wanting me to serve this summer? What does He have up His sleeve that I can't predict? What is my role in the big picture he has designed? How can I be used most effectively in the time that I have available this summer?
I am reminded of Abraham and Sarah's story in the Old Testament, where Sarah was barren and knew that He had promised He would give Abraham a son. She took matters into her own hands by offering up another woman for him to have a child with. She thought that was God's will. I'm not comparing my situation to Sarah not being able to have a child, but she had to have faith that God would provide a solution and an answer. If you've heard the story, you know that at around 90 years old, Sarah was blessed with a child (after doubting that God was for real about His promise) who would be called Isaac. Beautiful stories throughout their whole lives about having faith and patience to wait for God's answer, and also of real struggles of faith to wait for His time.
"He (Abraham) was fully convinced that God is able to do whatever he promises." Romans 4:21
I am fully convinced that God will (I started to type "I will" but realize it's not my call at all) provide an answer, I am just waiting for His time and trying to seek what is best. The times when I am not seeking His will are the times of most turmoil within myself. I know that both will be great opportunities for me to pour into sweet, broken, unsure of themselves, awkward, AMAZING students' lives, I just and praying for some direction as to which one to choose.
(not so) Patiently waiting, Kathryn
Monday, January 3, 2011
Catchya on the flipside, twenty ten.
When I got home to my parents' for Christmas break, I realized that I did not bring my laptop home with me. While my parents do have a computer, I didn't want to spend my time in an upright, uncomfortable, kitchen chair broadcasting my biznass over my entire household. I just felt like that wouldn't be conducive to good thinking. Or any thinking at all. There were many moments where I thought to blog-- I even had begun creating posts in my head. "Bloggese" is becoming a language I frequently think in.
This becomes a problem for me, the people pleaser, who thinks"this is something I should blog about" because it becomes ingenuine (which, according to Wikipedia and Urban Dictionary, isn't even a word...but you get the point). I feel the need to be funny or profound or just sit here not wasting space. Instead of just keeping it real, I am trying to make it into this bigger deal than it is. Seriously...I have zero followers. I think I'll survive not being witty all the time and my "rep" might still be in tact. Just maybe.
So onto Christmas...here's the Cliff's Notes version:
Saturday: Lindsay and Mason's wedding in Greenville. BEAUTIFUL and so much fun to be around my favorite sorority sisters. Kicked it with Katie and Reed (the Moore's guest room...uhh..not sure if I'm old enough to be visiting my married friend's guest room but it happened)
Monday/Tuesday: Charlotte to go shopping with mom at Concord Mills. Picked out all my clothes that I was going to get in 3 days. SURPRISE!
Wednesday: I cannot say this enough...Newspring Christmas service was legit. The word was brought. People stepped over from death to life. It was beautiful and moving. Followed by a Christmas sleepover with the roomz and Jen Poe. Sugar cookies and Love Actually while the tree was lit up. Heaven on Earth.
Christmas Eve: Got to serve at Newspring, then head home officially for a few days. Oyster Roast with my brother and two favorite cousins, and then traditional Christmas dinner at home with the fam.
Christmas morning: So nice to be in a family of adults and sleep past 7 AM. Even though, honestly, I rolled over at 5:45 and contemplated waking up. Then laughed and thought "not happenin' " as I rolled over and slept until 9. My uncle's house for Christmas day lunch and hanging out with my mom's side of the family. So nice to not be rushed and hectic.
Day after Christmas: Woke up to SNOW all over the ground, then went to Orangeburg for Baxter family Christmas. Which was held in grandma's nursing home for the first time, so that was a big change.
After that: TWB Reunion in Gastonia/Mooresville the day after. Home for a few days and then to Atlanta for the Chickfila Bowl with my family. Four adults in the car ride there/back means quality bonding time. There were ups and downs (ups being in Atl, downs being the game) Despite the outcome, we had GREAT seats, and enjoyed our time being surrounded by Gamecock fans.
Here's my spirited Gamecock family at the Dome on New Year's Eve. We were hoping to send this one out for the New Year after a victory since we didn't do a Christmas card. Fail.
Which brings us into Twenty Eleven. New Years.
January is a time when I usually think back upon the previous year and reflect on how things went and what is to come. I don't actually have a checklist of lifegoals (that would be disastrous) but I do want to start the year off right. I have one resolution, but it's actually a funny one and is just a challenge to myself to see if I can accomplish it. Let me start by saying that it's ridiculous how many t-shirts I have. I had a t-shirt quilt made for college graduation, and I used 15-20 shirts for the quilt alone. Now, 6 of my 8 dresser drawers are dedicated to short sleeve shirts. My last estimate was around 93 or 94, but this number has grown since that count.
My new year's resolution is to not repeat a t-shirt before wearing all of them. This excludes long sleeve t-shirts (it is winter, for cryin' out loud) and it excludes white v-necks because that's just ridic. I actually don't even have a chance to wear short sleeve shirts very often (hazard of being a working girl in the real world, does not offer many opportunities to do so) but I am beginning to go to the gym more so that will be the challenge. This is not a serious resolution, therefore, I probably will not loathe myself if I slip up and wear a shirt two times.
More to come, Happy Twenty Eleven!
Peace and blessin's, K-Bax
This becomes a problem for me, the people pleaser, who thinks"this is something I should blog about" because it becomes ingenuine (which, according to Wikipedia and Urban Dictionary, isn't even a word...but you get the point). I feel the need to be funny or profound or just sit here not wasting space. Instead of just keeping it real, I am trying to make it into this bigger deal than it is. Seriously...I have zero followers. I think I'll survive not being witty all the time and my "rep" might still be in tact. Just maybe.
So onto Christmas...here's the Cliff's Notes version:
Saturday: Lindsay and Mason's wedding in Greenville. BEAUTIFUL and so much fun to be around my favorite sorority sisters. Kicked it with Katie and Reed (the Moore's guest room...uhh..not sure if I'm old enough to be visiting my married friend's guest room but it happened)
Monday/Tuesday: Charlotte to go shopping with mom at Concord Mills. Picked out all my clothes that I was going to get in 3 days. SURPRISE!
Wednesday: I cannot say this enough...Newspring Christmas service was legit. The word was brought. People stepped over from death to life. It was beautiful and moving. Followed by a Christmas sleepover with the roomz and Jen Poe. Sugar cookies and Love Actually while the tree was lit up. Heaven on Earth.
Christmas Eve: Got to serve at Newspring, then head home officially for a few days. Oyster Roast with my brother and two favorite cousins, and then traditional Christmas dinner at home with the fam.
Christmas morning: So nice to be in a family of adults and sleep past 7 AM. Even though, honestly, I rolled over at 5:45 and contemplated waking up. Then laughed and thought "not happenin' " as I rolled over and slept until 9. My uncle's house for Christmas day lunch and hanging out with my mom's side of the family. So nice to not be rushed and hectic.
Day after Christmas: Woke up to SNOW all over the ground, then went to Orangeburg for Baxter family Christmas. Which was held in grandma's nursing home for the first time, so that was a big change.
After that: TWB Reunion in Gastonia/Mooresville the day after. Home for a few days and then to Atlanta for the Chickfila Bowl with my family. Four adults in the car ride there/back means quality bonding time. There were ups and downs (ups being in Atl, downs being the game) Despite the outcome, we had GREAT seats, and enjoyed our time being surrounded by Gamecock fans.
Which brings us into Twenty Eleven. New Years.
January is a time when I usually think back upon the previous year and reflect on how things went and what is to come. I don't actually have a checklist of lifegoals (that would be disastrous) but I do want to start the year off right. I have one resolution, but it's actually a funny one and is just a challenge to myself to see if I can accomplish it. Let me start by saying that it's ridiculous how many t-shirts I have. I had a t-shirt quilt made for college graduation, and I used 15-20 shirts for the quilt alone. Now, 6 of my 8 dresser drawers are dedicated to short sleeve shirts. My last estimate was around 93 or 94, but this number has grown since that count.
My new year's resolution is to not repeat a t-shirt before wearing all of them. This excludes long sleeve t-shirts (it is winter, for cryin' out loud) and it excludes white v-necks because that's just ridic. I actually don't even have a chance to wear short sleeve shirts very often (hazard of being a working girl in the real world, does not offer many opportunities to do so) but I am beginning to go to the gym more so that will be the challenge. This is not a serious resolution, therefore, I probably will not loathe myself if I slip up and wear a shirt two times.
More to come, Happy Twenty Eleven!
Peace and blessin's, K-Bax
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