Sign of the Times

I got a new phone today and I knew that I had crossed into true adulthood when I could not for the life of me figure out how to type a punctuation into my phone. Goodness, I can barely figure out how to make a call with the new thing. All this "Touch Screen" business is getting me flustered.

Went back into work for Teacher Workshops this week. I am really going to work at setting boundaries for myself in regards to the amount of hours that I am spending working on things. I know that I will be the best teacher for my students when I take time for myself. It is so easy to get caught up in perfecting everything, that rarely anything gets done. It felt odd to be leaving the building at the regular time, but I think I will get used to it :)

(Disclaimer: This portion of my writing is more or less so I have it written down as a reminder when it is about November and I am considering going in from 5:30 am to 6:30 pm, like I did last year.)

After school I came home and with all the extra time I had (okay I don't have much to work on yet...) I listened to a podcast sermon. The man I was listening to is fairly forward and just says it like it is. I love how this guy just lays it on the line. I normally would be turned off to hearing a message from such a speaker, but this guy has lived life and is credible due to his experiences...

I listened to the whole sermon and I really didn't feel like there was that much that pertained to me or my current life circumstances (how selfish of me to think that way- I know). It wasn't until I hit the last 5 minutes of the 5o minute sermon that I heard something...

Acts 17: 26b - 27 ... and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live. [Wherever we are, God has a purpose for that placement] God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us. [He is not far from each of us because he is with us].

I am by no means a philosophical or theological person, but the part that amazes me about God is that he really does love us enough to give us free will. This verse would not be as powerful if God didn't give us a choice. God is also a God of redeeming love. When I totally screw up his plans for me, he repositions himself to get be back on track to where he had me going. Wherever I am right now is where God wants me to be.

"Effin' Good Cookies"

I have a friend named Megan, we call her "Levs". Every Sunday (or fairly close to it) we talk on the phone. Our last conversation was very deep and heavy. However, in the midst of this rather profound conversation, Levs brought up a past experience that I had me laughing out loud on my doorstep!

In college, our track coach used to host these "intentional hangouts" in the middle of campus. It first started out as Fellowship of Christian Athletes people, and then progressed into anyone who wanted to show Christ's love in a tangible way. We would show up and sit at the gazebo, waiting for people to walk past. We would discuss course work, give directions to restaurants and bars, and offer home-made food to those who stopped by. The last part was my favorite part of the whole thing.

Now I know I should not be prideful in things, and I will pray for forgiveness as soon as I type this, but these cookies I made were freakin' AMAZING! I loved Thursday nights, just because I could make 100+ cookies and then relish the glory as people raved about the ooey-gooey bits of heaven they were consuming. (Goodness... this sounds so terrible but I loved those affirmations!!!)

One chilly fall night, a friendly and greatly intoxicated young man came by to say "hello", which actually means he heard there were free warm cookies and he wanted some. By this point of the year, there were quiet a few students who knew they would be able to get a snack before going downtown on Thursday nights. This young man enjoyed the cookies quiet a bit and was incredibly vocal. After inhaling his first two cookies he turned to me and said. "S@!$, these are some F'ing good cookies. No really, I mean good, so effin' good!!!! .

He continued this for a bit longer, adding a few more profane words. He then went on to ask who we were and what we were doing out on such an "F-ing cold night!". I can't recall exactly what was said or who said it, but I do remember him looking at us a bit dumbfounded, hesitating for a moment, and then complimenting me once again using his usual jargon.

From that night on the cookies had a new name- one that I am sure Betty Crocker would shake her head at in disgust.

Kaycee’s “F*n good cookies”

2.5 c. all-purpose flour

1 tsp. baking soda

¾ c. Blue Bonnet stick, melted and cooled

1.5 c. brown sugar

1 egg

2 tsp. vanilla extract

1 c. semi-sweet chocolate chips

1. Preheat oven to 350
2. Combine flour and baking soda. Set aside.
3. In a large bowl, combine melted Blue Bonnet and brown sugar. Mix Well. Stir in egg and vanilla extract until well blended. Add dry mixture and stir until just combined. Stir in chocolate chips.
4. For each cookie, drop a heaping tablespoon of dough onto a cookie sheet, leaving about 2.5 inches b/t each. Bake at 350 for 9-11 minutes or until edges harden and centers are still soft.

Revelations Upon Arriving Back Home

Before leaving for Europe, I prayed that God would reveal himself to me in ways that I did not know him. My entire life, all be-it a rather short period in perspective, but the only one I have known, has been an internal battle against my abilities to strive, pursue, and make whatever I willed to be rather than completely surrendering to God. However, the more I have come to know and understand who God is (and the more I know, the more I realize I don't know... oh goodness -that is quiet the conundrum. Psalms 147:5) I want to freely and whole-heartily surrender.

There is much from this trip and upon returning to process. Much that I would have been tempted to grab the reigns and try to take over, but I desire His plan and purpose, and for the first time, my heart is stirred to give it all up; to open my palms and place it into his hands. My might is weak, my abilities minuscule, and my foresight is blind. But "the Maker of heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them- the LORD, who remains faithful forever." (Psalms 146:6) is strong, mighty, and all-knowing. God yearns for his people so much that he sent and sacrificed his own Son's life, that we may have a glimpse of His unfaltering love.

"Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight." (Proverbs 3:5-6)

There are so many things that God is revealing to me and if I had the words to articulate them eloquently I would try, but it would not do adequate justice to how my soul is moved. What I can say is this - God is great and as my fear for his Almighty power grows, my heart is softened and my will becomes His. I am so thankful for God's Spirit of wisdom and revelation that he is bestowing upon me to know him better. (Ephesians 1:17)

Notre Dame Cathedral

Notre Dame Cathedral

No wonder Quazimoto was a hunchback... look at what he had to work with! (Sitting in the bell tower and Dana working her way out of the doorway.)

Direct quote from Megan Ness- "I want to find whoever invited the spiral stair case and punch them in the face." Well said Ness!

Arriving in Paris and the Eiffel Tower

Arriving in Paris!

Visiting the Eiffel Tower

The Fantastic Views! (L- Hotel room, R- Top of the Pantheon)

Traveling Love

My passport is quickly filling as we found our way back to the British Isles in Scotland!

I am continually reminded of God's enduring blessings in both the big and small, simple and profound.

Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. - John 15:13

One of the areas that I am just starting to scratch the surface of understanding is what love really looks like. True, authentic, Christ-like love.

This became evident once our plane landed in Paris and we were bombarded with the sights of self-seeking love lined along the streets. Being a bit of a romantic myself, the couples enthralled with one another did not bother me much... for the first 3 hours!!! It did not take long to feel a sense of emptiness and sadness within the cafes and parks as we strolled through.

While traveling, and since a large portion of our time is spent on public transportation I have been reading two books. The Five Love Languages, by Gary Chapman is a book that I can honestly say I had summarized through word of mouth but never actually read through a single page of it. (If you haven't read it yet, you are more than welcome to read my copy at the low cost of one Iced Americano ;)) Rather than summarizing the book and sacrificing the possibility of a cold coffee, I will refrain from pulling a cliff-notes and summarizing each chapter.

Rather, I will tell you how great it was to read this book while traveling with two dear friends. The book was such a quick read that we all were able to scan through it and discover what our own individual love languages are and how that effects each other. Interestingly enough, we all have different love languages and it has been a challenge to choose to love in a manner that is other than my own primary love language.

I have to choose to hug Dana and rub her back when she is feeling down or tired. I have to choose to make the bed for Ness or carry her luggage up the flight of steps. Just as they both choose to encourage and affirm me verbally even when I think I lose my airplane ticket at the security desk of Heathrow airport (That last one is hypothetical of course.)

The greatest example of love came on a tattered cross, in which suffering endured. Such great love, that Christ took on sin which He had not known. An understanding I have yet to fathom, but am eternally grateful of it's immeasurably outstanding implications of my life.

This Darn French Keyboard

Bonjour from Paris!!

We have successfully made it to France! It is very different from London ( A city which I loved dearly). The most challenging point up to this trip has been adjusting to the french customs, lifestyle, and language barriers. I have a greater understanding of the evening ESL students who use my classroom.

There is so much I would like to post for you all but the Louvre closes at 5... cant keep Mona Lisa waiting :)

More photos and updates will come when we land in Scotland!