19.  This is the number of days until I graduate from Lee University.  

18. I wear contacts, but I do not sleep in them.  At night when I take them out, I put on my trusty ol glasses.  Well, let’s just cut to the chase:  I am missing a nose-pad.  And it is very uncomfortable.  Thank the Lord for contacts, and for my eye doctor’s appointment in less than a week.  

17. I like to make lists.  And they have to be organized, neat and tidy.   (Although, this list is VERY unorganized. . . ) 

16. I hate philosophy.

15. Martin Luther was anti-semitic.  (ok, that’s not about me, but I did learn that this past week…)

14. I wait until the VERY last day to do my laundry.  You know, the day when you are wearing your last clean you-know-what.  

13. I could not live without kleenex.  I have minor sinus/allergy issues, which results in, well, let’s put it this way:  My uncle Tim likes to use the term “knothead,”  but in this case I could be considered a “snothead.”  

12. Sometimes I am too transparent.  (see above)

11. Going to church and sitting by myself makes me feel like an independent woman.  (This is quite the improvement, as it used to make me feel lonely.) 

10. I am going to be a true “adult” very soon.. . . WHAT!?

9. I spilt some air freshener oil on my carpet a few months ago, and I tend to set stacks of papers on that spot, not thinking of the repercussions.  (The papers absorb a musty, vanilla smell –yuck!)

8. I am fully capable of taking care of myself, and in my pursuit of a husband, I am not looking for someone to take care of me:  I am looking for a companion.  

7. I am now a part of the Twitter world.  

6. My name is finally in the paper edition of the Clarion, but is extremely unnoticeable.  (see here and here if you have no idea what I am talking about)  

5. My favorite movie is Ever After.  Although, there are many close runner-ups.  

4. I will be doing a lot of homework over Thanksgiving break.  This is quite unfortunate, but necessary if I want to graduate in 19 days.  

3. I only have 4 papers and 5 final exams to finish in the next 2 and a half weeks.

2. Speaking of final exams, professors are supposed to have graduating seniors’ grades posted by noon on Dec 10th.  Somehow I don’t think this is possible considering I have one exam from 10:15-12:15 on the tenth, as well as an exam from 3:15-5:15 on the tenth.  Not MY problem, though!  :)  

1. I never go to bed at the time that I intend to.  

I feel as though I may say SOMETHING outside my list to make this blog personal.  So, I just want to let you all know that my life is CRAZY.  and these next three weeks will most likely be the most insane three weeks of my entire life.  Feel free to offer encouragement or admonishment as you see fit!  

Love you all,

Katie

So I was searching for articles on the motor companies’ plea for bailout, and I came across this quote that I thought summed up my thoughts on the issue pretty well.  I am not endorsing the site or anything, because I haven’t even heard of it before.  I just want to give credit where credit is due.  :)  This article was talking about how the CEO’s all arrived on Capital Hill in private jets, and were not willing to give them up, yet were pleading for money.  

When the management of these automakers start acting like they’re in crisis, then perhaps we’ll believe them. They’ve come to Congress not to rescue their companies but to salvage their lifestyles. This is an industry that desperately needs bankruptcy and collapse to put an end to unrealistic labor deals and obnoxious executive behavior. The American taxpayer doesn’t have any business subsidizing this failure.

Here is the link to the article I wrote!  :)   And, my name is on it this time!!  :)  

I apologize that it has been so long since I posted.  I had a philosophy paper due on Tuesday as well as an exam in Systematic theology on Tuesday.  Considering me and any philosophy paper are quite the enemies, I only got about an hour and a half of sleep Monday night.  So, since then, I have been pretty out of it.  My body is still out of whack.  Hopefully a long night of sleep tonight will cure that    

Tuesday night we had a Roundtable meeting.  [For those of you who don't know, I am the Assistant Chair of the School of Religion Women's Roundtable.]  It was a fantastic meeting.  We watched the new Nooma video, She.  It was AMAZING.  It was so encouraging to listen to Rob Bell speak such liberating truth, knowing that it will be heard by thousands.  Yay for Rob Bell!!  :)    During our discussion of the video, some of our sponsors shared their thoughts and experiences in relation to the video, and it was beautiful.   I love the Roundtable!!!!!! 

My favorite word today is liberating.  I have waaay overused it, but I don’t care.  hehe.  In my 9:00 class this morning is where it started for the day.  We had an awesome discussion, and I couldn’t wait to share it with you all!   Here is my feeble attempt to relay it and my thoughts on it:

“We think that the intention for incarnation was salvation, but what if the intention for creation was incarnation?”  

That would mean that rather than Christ’s coming to earth being merely a rescue mission, creation’s very purpose was so that God could be one with us.   The incarnation was going to happen, even if there wasn’t sin in the world.  God’s beckoning is not a, “come, let’s get things right,”  but a, “come, I want to be with you.”  

Is that not a beautiful concept?  I LOVE it.  Think of it this way (although this analogy is lacking in many ways, it is just that – an analogy):

You are stranded by yourself on a desert island, and someone comes and rescues you, taking you back to civilization.  You are truly grateful to them, but your relationship is one of a “rescuer” and “surviver.”  BUT, if instead of coming to take you back, that person comes (with supplies, of course) and sits with you on the beach, and lives with you on the island.  That person is not merely your “rescuer,”  but they are your companion, and you will know them on an intimate level.  

God is not merely our “rescuer,” but our intimate.  Isn’t it greater to think that God created us to BE with us, rather than just to save us?  Isn’t it liberating to think that God does not see you primarily as “a sinner” in need of a savior, but as a being created to be with God?

Vocabulary lesson for the day:  

substandard:  deviating from or falling short of a standard or norm: as of a quality lower than that prescribed by law  

Unfortunately, this is the word going through my head at the moment.  This is not a word I enjoy using.  It is, however, very fitting for the situation.  

Over the past three and a half years, I have found Lee University to be substandard.  Let me clarify – The academics are not substandard, and therefore my education has not been substandard, either.   However, there are various ways in which Lee has been very substandard.  For example, there is substandard administration within the various offices on campus.  Financial Aid, Business office, Library, etc.  I name those three because I have had specific run-ins with each of these offices, and each situation was completely avoidable and unnecessary.  If only everyone had done their job with excellence, or at least to the best of their ability, then my stress level would not be so high, and I would not be disappointed in the people who work in these offices.  It has been extremely disappointing to me, finding a level of substandard work ethic at my institution of higher learning, where they proclaim, “Christ is King.”  If Christ was really king of your life, then you would not have done your job half-way.  You would do everything with excellence, in appreciation for the gifts and abilities God has given you, to glorify God.  

The real problem I have today, is not with Lee administration, but rather with the staff of our lovely school newspaper.  One of my friends writes for the religion column of the paper, and he asked me to co-write an article with him.  I was honored that he wanted to co-author something with me, and I was really excited about letting my voice be heard.  So, he and I wrote what I think is quite the article, and he submitted it to the editors, clearly identifying me as a co-author.   When the paper came out yesterday, our article was there in all of its glory -minus my name.  This is extremely disappointing.  Not only in the fact that they “made a mistake,” but that I was not given credit for my contribution.  It is highly ironic, though.  Our article was on women in ministry, and yet only the man was given credit for writing it.   [One of the editors apologized after my friend pointed it out, and he assured us that a correction will be printed in the next issue, and when they publish it online, both of our names will be on it -I will be sure to let you know when that happens!]

So, all of this talk about substandard work is making me re-think my current homework ethic  - but then again, senioritis is a real thing . . . Merriam-Webster says so.

So, without saying any names, I want to send a shout out to a certain friend.  I just love her, and she has been an awesome friend.  My life would be so dull without her in it!  

Thanks, KVMJF!

hello, faithful readers!  As most of you know, I am constantly counting down the days.  However, I want you to know that I may be counting down, but I am looking up!  I am looking forward to December, and I am extremely excited about what God has in store for me after graduation.  I can’t wait to find out what that may be.  :)

38 days

until I graduate.

20 days 

until Thanksgiving break.

5 days 

of Thanksgiving break.

4 days 

of classes

5 days

of finals/studying for finals

3 days

of celebrating and ceremonies!

Hello!  

I am so sorry it has been so long since I posted!  My life is crazy, as I know all of yours are!!  A lot has happened, but I am going to try to pic (pun intended) and choose what to share on this post.    :)  

My roommate’s birthday present to me was a pumpkin and a night of pumpkin carving.  Thanks, roomie!

Meet Harry the Happy Pumpkin:  (you may have to click on the pic to see it … not really sure what I did wrong or how to fix it, sorry!)

Despite the efforts of a certain trio, Harry still resides beside my front door.

On Halloween, my roommate and I threw a party!!  

We had LOTS of food…

…And candy for all!!   (even if we only had ONE trick-or-treater!)

Now time to get serious.  I have had a few major thoughts in my head that I want to share.  Warning:  they are in no way connected to one another.

• There is a group of children in my neighborhood that like to play in the middle of the road.  (yes, I know, their mothers obviously did not teach them not to play in the street…) They play a game that involves a ball and them standing in a circle.  This group is comprised of about seven little boys, and one little girl.  I have noticed a trend:  every time I drive by, they pass the ball to the little girl, and she holds it like she is in charge until I have passed.  I love the fact that this little girl leads this pack of boys.  
• I am tired of men preaching to young girls about modesty without saying anything about the pervertedness of young men.  Yes, I (obviously) believe that women should dress modestly, but I also believe that we should not be afraid to look nice.  When women dress up, they should not feel like they are pieces of meat to be gawked at.  It is one thing to appreciate a woman’s beauty, but it is another to treat her a certain way b/c she looks “hot.”  Also, sometimes I am afraid to wear certain things, even if they are modest, because of perverted comments I have heard men say.  This should not be the case, either.  Ok, enough ranting
• Last, but most important to me:   Last Links to Lee

As most of you know, I am graduating soon.  very soon.  like, 40 days soon.  (ok, 40 days and 40 nights like my dad pointed out — just call me Noah)  As I was talking to one of my very good friends today, she told me that I should make one of those chain things we used to make in grade school to count down the days until Christmas, only count down until graduation.   I am pretty sure she was at least half-way joking, but I got creative and ran with it.   Not only did I make one of these chains, but on each one, I wrote something to “do.”  Some are simply things to pack, others are thank you letters to write, and still other links remind me to cherish a specific moment.  I really think this will help me not take these last 40 days lightly.  Here is a pic of my Last Links to Lee.