Katie

I have a blog? Oh...cool.

2011-04-12T19:16:00.000-07:00

It's been a long time since I've been on this thing. I mean, I had to have my password e-mailed to me just to sign in! For some reason, I got the sudden urge to update. So, here I am. And just like every time I get the urge to blog, I have no clue what I'm about to type. I'm sure I can come up with something. By the way, it's good to be back. :) Not sure when I'll sign back on again...speaking from past experiences!

Here are some updates on my life...for those of you who are interested! If you're not, stop reading now, and get back to Facebook.

1. I am almost through my first year of teaching. Can I get an amen somebody!?! I. love. my. job. Enough said. :) I get 82929384 hugs a day. I randomly hear "Miss Hurt, I love you, and you're the best teacher in the world, and you're pretty" all day long. I laugh everyday because they're so dang funny, and I tape every picture that is drawn for me on the wall. These things make the tattling, and hitting, and talking when they're not suppose to, and running in the halls, and marking on each other's work forgivable. :) I'm thankful to God that He allowed me to be the one to teach them, love them, hug them, discipline them, and care for them... I'm a happy teacher.

2. I coached cheerleaders this year. Talk about staying busy. But, I will say, I had one legit Jr. High cheer squad. :) It was this coaching gig and these cheerleaders that God used to reveal to me my heart and love for teenage girls. I pray that they desire a relationship with Jesus and fall so in love with Him that they can't help but lean on and depend on Him every single day. Watching them grow in their relationships with Christ and each other puts a smile on my face! They're awesome.

3. I would give anything to be on a beach...right now. Ok, tomorrow would work too.

4. I'm moving to Texas. I have complete peace in knowing that God's got this all planned out for me. And that's all I'm going to say about that for now. :) I feel another blog coming on...

5. Warm weather makes me so happy! I want to be outside all the time. I did swing on the playground the other day, and I was one happy kid! Then I had to get off and share with a 5 year old...

6. Twitter is my new addiction. I do it to read quotes from people like John Piper and David Platt...who are legit. I'm a fan of Path too. I love technology...

7. I need a mission trip in my life. I need to love on some kids who are in desperate need of some love.

8. I'm obsessed with how much Jesus loves me. When I go outside at night, I'm overwhelmed with the fact that the moon and the stars declare who HE is (song quote...in case you didn't catch that)...HE is the same being that longs for a relationship with me. I'm constantly convicted about not giving Him all of my attention...when I've got all of His all of the time. He's there, He's faithful, He's loving, He's comforting, He's peaceful...He doesn't have to be all of those things, but He chooses to be. That kind of love just leaves me with no words. Literally, I can't even describe it. More thankfulness going on in this blog!

9. My birthday's next month, and I'm already pretty excited about it. I'm really trying to make it to 10 here...

10. Something that makes me really happy is knowing that I have so much to look forward to. I don't want to miss a thing along the way. I want to live expectant and ready to hear from God at any moment. Right now, He's telling me to go to sleep because it's late and I have little patience when I'm tired. Patience is kinda important at my job!

Ok, that's all I've got for tonight! This is where I struggle every time. How do I end this thing?? Goodnight! (That'll work!!) :)

facebook doesn't leave enough room in the "what's on your mind" box

2010-06-20T16:03:00.000-07:00

He is the Rock, His works are perfect, and all His ways are just. A faithful God who does no wrong, upright and just is He. -Deuteronomy 32:4

i do serve a faithful God. a God who knows exactly what He is doing. a God who's plans are perfect and just for me. a God who loves me despite my selfishness. a God who wants so much more than just mediocrity for my life, and a God who continues to stay faithful even when i am unwilling to notice or acknowledge it.

God has brought me to a place in my life where my world is being rocked all around. now...coming from a girl who is so very blessed and thankful that she has not had to deal with many hard and difficult times in her life...this is a toughie for me. i've found myself, once again, coming to my computer, starting to type, and having no clue what to say or where to start. my thoughts are all jumbled up inside! i guess this is the good thing about a blog...getting all of those thoughts out of my mind for just a little bit! :) but...here goes. a condensed "try not to cry" interpretation of my thoughts! :)

as you already know, God is moving my parent's to austin, tx. in one week. it is extremely weird to say(type) that! actually, i asked mom and dad if this will ever be un-weird one day, and i am agreeing with their answer of "no!" as much as it saddens my heart and brings tears to my eyes when i think about it, i honestly couldn't be more excited for them. my parents are the two Godliest people i know (and i'm not just saying that!). the fact that they are following His want and desire without question is just a glimpse of the examples they have set for us our entire lives. i'm so grateful to them and God for that! i look up to them so much...and find myself doing so more and more every day. i've never realized just how much i love them or just how much they mean to me until now. i will never take for granted the closeness of our family...and i know that this move is only going to grow us even closer, i can't wait for that! this is something that is definitely happening, so really, rather than pout and feel sorry for myself, all i can do about it is pray! i pray that God will comfort us here, comfort them there and use them in that church and the entire austin area! that church isn't quite sure yet of the blessing that's coming their way! :) God is the God of the cities, He's the King of all the people, and He's the Lord of this entire nation. no matter where we are or how our lives are changing, one thing is for sure, our God has not/will not change! He has great things planned...so my trust is in Him...even though i will miss my mom and dad so much, everyday, all day! mom and dad-i love y'all, i love y'all, i love y'all, i love y'all!!!!

ok, on a little different note now....i'm a KINDERGARTEN TEACHER! that's right, after many prayerful months of subbing, seeking, and searching...God has blessed me, once again!! i will start my first year as a teacher in august with a classroom full of 5 and 6 year olds. it will officially be "miss hurt's" class! i'll go ahead and throw in the fact that i'm smiling right now just thinking about it! i am excited to start decorating my first classroom, preparing for my first lessons, and gathering materials and books and everything else my kids (yep, my kids!) will need to learn! it's a dream come true!! just another way God proves himself faithful to me...and i love Him so much for it! :)

a few more life updates and then i'm calling it a night!! :) i've settled nicely into my apartment, which i've been in a little over a month now. i have two of the best roommates, who are fun, crazy, love God, and are willing to lend me a shoulder to cry on here lately! :) i've taken up swing dancing as a hobby!! thank you, craig for teaching us all your sweet moves...i'm hooked! :) i've met some awesome new friends and love hanging out with them. i'm spending my summer weeks with 3 of the sweetest, cutest, and most fun boys around...i have the best employer! :) i'm getting prayed up and ready for mission madisonville! i can't wait to invest in some sweet little lives and show them the love of Jesus! i love quick road trips with my brother. he's the best! one of my very best friends is getting married next weekend, and i couldn't be happier for her! i can't wait to be apart of their special day!! i'm excited about trips to austin to hang out with my mom and dad!!! i've heard a lot of good things about that place and am ready to check it out!! oh, and have i mentioned i got a job?! :) ...i think that's about it. it's getting late and my brain works slow enough as it is!! :)

it's time for me to sleep now! i hope you all have a great week! until next time...goodnight!! :) (i'm never good at ending these things!!!!) :)

into the mind of me...

2010-04-27T19:56:00.001-07:00

so, i'm pretty sure it's been almost 5 months since i've last blogged. oops, my bad. no wonder i have about...zero followers! ;) i'm not going to lie, i've been on here so many times and just felt at a loss for words. i don't understand how sometimes (try a lot of times) i can have SO much on my mind, but have no clue where to start or how to get those thoughts across to someone who may be interested in reading! thanks to whoever you are by the way! ;) well, here it goes...a little peak into my mind here lately...

i am a substitute teacher right now, and i'm pretty sure whoever is reading this already knew that information! and i bet you also already knew that i just graduated college and absolutely cannot WAIT to have a job teaching kids. my excitement is almost to the explosive level!! this has been a time in my life where God has been teaching me the real meaning of that word "patience." for someone as impatient as i am, waiting on and wondering about a job is hard work! however, i have a loving God who is constantly reminding me to wait patiently on Him because He hears my cries (psalm 40:1); and that if i wait on Him, He will renew my strength so that i can run and not grow weary (isaiah 40:31); and to stay joyful in hope, patient in affliction, and faithful in prayer (romans 12:12). these are just a few of his promises that keep me going. i could literally go on and on. He proves to me everyday just how MUCH He loves me, and that I am a crazy person for being so anxious when He's already got the perfect plans laid out for my life. what i am to do right now is live in the day....taking every step as He gives them to me...being loving, joyful, patient, kind, and faithful to what He wants me to do. right now. :)

i love the fact that everyday i am surrounded by different little smiling faces. every time i'm in a classroom i find myself thanking God for placing me there. i mean, seriously, what an awesome way to spend the day! i feel so honored and happy that He chose me to teach, love on, encourage, and just hang out with kids! thank you again for that, God!! as i get the chance to talk with these kids and just watch them interact with each other, i can't help but think about what an example they are to me! an example to be childlike and have childlike faith. luke 17:18 says that whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it. wow. when you spend so much time around children, it takes this verse to a new level. to have that dependency on our Heavenly Father the way that a child depends on his/her mommy and daddy (or teacher) is to me one great example to live by. childlike faith trusts, listens, believes some amazing things, and knows no bounds! i also never want to behave childish when it comes to my christianity. childlike faith is commendable, but childish christianity is not. this childlike faith to me means to just regard myself as unimportant, so that God gets praised for the utmost importance...because He deserves it!! "whoever humbles himself as a child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven." (matthew 18:4)
so...that's my prayer, and that's why i'm so thankful for the many little reminders of this i have running around me everyday. :)

now, that's that! here are a few other updates on my life right now...

1.) i'm getting ready to move into an apartment with miss haley hardgrave and miss jessica dean. we're pretty pumped and excited about decorating, movie nights (with popcorn), sharing clothes, dance parties, eating sandwiches, and singing a lot!
2.) it's going to be extremely weird not living with my parents. i'm not looking forward to adjusting to that change at all...but i love the fact that just because i won't technically live under the same roof as them anymore, my relationship with them will never change. i love them so much!!
3.) my sister and her husband are getting ready to move into their awesome new house that is being built just for them! what a fun journey (and FAST) this has been. their house is awesome and i'm so excited for them!
4.) i took gizzy to the ball-fields for the first time tonight and she pretty much freaked out and was scared to death! i think it's time to get her out of the house and around people more....
5.) i had the privilege of worshipping with hillsong united this past friday night. let me just say if you have never but get the opportunity to do so...DO IT! aaaa-mazing! nothing greater than worshipping God along with thousands of other people who are also in love. awesome! it was also a great little get away weekend with my family-who are the best!
6.) first lavaca's d-now is this weekend! i get to hang out with senior girl's and pour into them! i'm praying that God reveals things to them and completely catches them off guard! i'm excited to spend the weekend surround by all things...God! teenagers...come! :)
7.) i think that does it for tonight! i hope you have a great week...and maybe it won't be another 5 months before i login to blogger again. but i'm not making any promises! :) peace out!

i'm back!!

2009-12-09T20:52:00.000-08:00

wow...i almost forgot blogspot even existed...much less the fact that i had an account! so...let me give a shout out to one of my best friends...chrissy cash...for reminding me i even had a blog! :) and while i'm on the subject of chrissy...i'll add that she is the greatest friend in the world and i am so lucky to know her! chris-thanks for always being so awesome! i love you! :)

i have been so busy having the best semester of my life! it FLEW by...literally! all i remember is starting in august, and now i'm done?! it's true what they say, "time flies when you're having fun!" i have two more days as an intern...a college student, which is just crazy! i already get this weird feeling in my stomach when i think about not being with my kids after friday. like...it makes me want to cry! how sad is that?! they are 21 of the sweetest kids who have made me so happy and sometimes so frustrated all at the same time! but i'll admit...i'm very attached! they taught me so much that i know will help me in the future! along with melissa...my mentor teacher! i got pretty attached to her too! :) all i'm going to say is she is the kind of teacher i hope to be just like! God sure was smiling down on me when he set up this whole internship experience...because i got it good!! thanks for that, God! :)

so now...starting january 4th...i will have 21 second graders all to myself, and am pretty pumped about it! as much as i'm going to miss my 3rd graders...i am thankful that i'll be just down the hallway with a new bunch of awesome kids. i also can't wait for sophia joy to get here! i hope that i can do my best to give sarah nothing to worry about at all while she's gone. i've been hanging out with her these past couple of weeks learning all of her master ways...and i will say...she's so good! i have big shoes to fill for a few weeks! but i'm up for the challenge! i just finished what i call my "big girl" lesson plans today for my first week...now just ready to teach from them! i'm thankful for this long term sub job because i know it's going to give me so much practice...and because i'm just not quite ready to leave my lavaca buddies!! :)

next...december 17th. been waiting on this day for a long time! like i said...i'm so ready for this date that i don't even care about the ugly hat that i have to wear! i'll definitely be sporting it proudly! :) sometimes...it'll dawn on me that i have to awkwardly walk across a stage in front of a bunch of people i don't know...and i get nervous! but i guess i can handle it! ;) i'm thankful to God right now for a college education, and supporting parents who helped get me through it. it's been a good experience...but one that i am very glad is over! bring on the teaching!! i'm more than ready!! :)

that does it for this blog...i've run out of things to blab about! i'll be back soon...sooner than later...maybe! ;)

i'm so blessed...

2009-09-14T19:12:00.000-07:00

i just wanted to quickly and briefly share what God has really been dealing with me about these last few weeks....yes, weeks! here goes...

i am one very, very, very blessed girl. but yet i so easily let what i call "negatives" (psh) in life completely consume me. i put my full attention on things in my life that i don't think are just perfect. like life's even perfect in the first place!! the Lord's reminding me that He has given me such a good life and that i have no right in this world to not be completely happy and fulfilled in HIM. instead of focusing on those little "negatives", i should automatically look at the huge blessings in my life. so that's what i'm going to do. after a lot of good, long talks with God, i have promised Him to find joy in life and in what He has blessed me with.

so...instead of complaining about still being in school, i will be so thankful that in three months i will have a college degree in something that i am absolutely in love with. whenever i miss my sister, i will be happy that she is right where God wants her and that our relationship is closer than ever. when i feel lonely, i will love on my mom and dad even more and thank God for who they are to me. whenever i think about my future husband, i will pray for him and be excited for the day God has planned for us to meet. when i get discouraged about having no money, i will praise Jesus for the clothes on my back, the roof over my head, the food on my table, and the gas in my car. when i hate my body, i will thank God for my health. the days i feel completely overwhelmed with all there is to do, i will remember God's promise that He will never leave nor forsake me. Finally (and that list goes on and on), I will start every day by thanking God for another opportunity I have to serve Him and be happy with all He has given me.

life really is so good. i have the family, the best friends, a career in a great job, nice "things", and most importantly a relationship with Jesus Christ!!! i have nothing to be negative about!

ABC's and 123's

2009-08-21T20:20:00.000-07:00

hi. :) soooooo i'm starting to finally feel like a real teacher! not like i wasn't a teacher in the past...when i was technically doing some "teaching"....it's just different this time. this whole student teacher thing is a blast! and like, the real deal!

i've made it through the first week of school. well, three days of it. i'm feeling worn out. but trying not to complain about being tired too much when i have a mentor teacher who is one wonderful teacher, a wife, a mother of a precious three year old little girl, and twin boys that are 4 months old! she's kinda like super woman. literally! i don't know how she does it, but it's awesome. i couldn't have asked for a better mentor this semester. i've already learned so much from her!! not only do i enjoy "working" with her, but i love just hanging out and talking to her. i've made a lifelong friend...and i thank God for that! the same goes for the other two 3rd grade teachers (whom i love!) and so many more of the lavaca staff. they're some of my favorite people to be around!!!

i am spending my days in a classroom with 21 of the cutest, smartest, most talkative little 3rd graders. right now, i take LOTS of notes and just hang out observing and trying to absorb all that i am seeing. it's a lot! i pretty much write down everything my mentor teacher says and does. i need all the help i can get! ;-) we have a lot of fun in room 16, that's for sure. i love to just walk around the room (or sit at my desk) and watch these kids. i hear some of the most random conversations, i see them helping each other with their work, they argue, they play, and each have their own little personalities! have you ever just watched the wheels turning while a kid is thinking? if not, try it! there really is nothing like watching as that light bulb turns on....and they understand something new. and it's at those moments that i'm reminded of what i'm doing there. or why i put myself through the stress of school...because it's so worth it at the end of the 4 1/2 years!

so...i'm pretty much just prepping myself to get busy with the lesson planning and teaching. woo hoo! i'm feeling pretty determined. it's amazing how much better of a student i am when i'm not spending my days on the uafs campus! i'm just not a big fan of that place! surround me with kids...and i'm happy. :) i have a lot of work to do this semester, but know that i am less that 4 months away from graduating.....praise Jesus! i've made it this far...so i think i can finish this last little bit! the closer i get to being finished...and on my own, which is a scary thought...not going to lie, the more excited i get. i feel honored, blessed, and thankful to God that He called me into the teaching profession. because that's what i think this is...a calling! i can't wait to have a part of shaping a child, and hopefully, and with lots of prayers, change some little lives. they have so much to give, and so i want to offer them so much. yea...i'm getting pumped as i type. ahhh! : )

in closing...i love what i do. and i can't wait for the future. actually, i already can't wait for monday...so i can see their cute faces. i love their hugs, and smiles, and letters. i'm sounding kinda sappy...i know. but i don't care! i speak the truth! :) and that's that. i'm a teacher...almost officially! you can just call me miss. hurt...i answer to it now! : )

"Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it."

Proverbs 22:6

"Sons are a heritage from the Lord, children are a reward from him."

Psalm 127:3

in awe...

2009-07-10T19:04:00.000-07:00

hello my fellow bloggers! ok, i'm thinking this whole keeping up with blogs is a lot harder than i thought it would be! but...i will do better! i know you've just been so disappointed, huh?! ; )

so this is what has been on my mind a lot today, and i thought i'd share! i just started reading a book called Crazy Love by francis chan yesterday (definitely recommend this one). i'm only on chapter two and already have so much to think about! i'll go ahead and admit that i have been struggling with the very thing this book is focused around, which is being crazy in love with Christ. don't get me wrong, i love Jesus Christ with all of my heart and there is no doubt about it! my conviction here is the fact that i have not really been living every day all day in awe of God and who He is...the type of awe and with the acknowledgment that He deserves. it seems like i stay so focused on being that "good" Christian person that goes to church and doesn't cuss. or just going to God full of requests and concerns all about me...talking "at" God....rather than taking a long hard look at Him, who He is, and what He has done and still is doing before even saying a word.

in a video i watched about the book, the author pointed out something that is so true and also so sad. as he drew the word "GOD" in sand, he asked what comes to mind. is it that "God" is just a familiar word that we know and have heard of our entire lives? or do we think about that name representing such an amazing being!!! here is the question that got me...."is there any sense of awe in you anymore?" so do i really feel shocked...that wow, He is an amazing, holy, incredible being, who does in fact love ME! now talk about crazy love!

"men are never duly touched and impressed with a conviction of their insignificance, until they have contrasted them with the majesty of God." -r.c. sproul. all i have to do is take a look around. everything i see and feel was created by God. there are so many details in our world that are proof of just how awesome and amazing He is. from our galaxies to the little bugs crawling around, to the ways our body function to live and breath...all is a reflection of who He is and just what He is like. it's also the very reason why i want to worship Him...all of the time!

i am totally undeserving. even embarrassed to admit that i fail to give God credit of His awesomeness. like i mentioned earlier, i'm good with talking "at" God. i am a fool for not realizing that i already have everything i need, which is in Him. God is holy, He is eternal, all-knowing, and all-powerful and i am SO grateful that He wants a close and intimate love relationship with me. in proverbs 8:13 God states that he hates pride and arrogance. i no longer want to take Him and His blessings for granted by thinking of myself so much! so this is what i'm going to do....i'm going to stand in awed silence before my amazing God, whose tremendous worth has been made even more apparent to me as i've compared Him to my puny lil' self!

i have a feeling that more posts will be made about this as i keep reading. i honestly feel like God has purposefully given me this book to bring me back to such a crazy love relationship with Him, which is what i so badly want. He sure is putting me in my place and i have needed it! i'm tired of mediocre Christianity...it just ain't cutting it. i'm pumped about serving an amazing God and i want everyone else excited too! be in awe...He deserves it! :)

wedding bells

2009-07-04T13:50:00.000-07:00

so i've had the bright idea to start blogging and i'm not really sure why yet. but i'm going to give it a try! i guess i just want to share with whomever might be interested about all of the things going on in katie's world. the first order of business is my sister's wedding, which is quickly approaching in 14 days! holy moly! it's crazy how when you put so much time, planning, excitement, and anticipation in something how fast the date comes. we're two weeks away and are very excited. for those who don't know, emily is my twin sister. she is my best friend. the person i talk to about everything, the one who knows me inside and out; my strengths and weaknesses...and she still loves me! :) i've always felt extra special to be a twin. and even more special that my twin is emily. she is beautiful, smart, intelligent, fun, sweet, loving, and the list can literally go on and on. these are all the reasons why not only am i crazy happy and excited for her, but i am really going to miss living with her, and have quickly come to the realization that change is definitely not easy! it will take some time to get use to her not being in the bedroom next door, or just a holler down the hallway...but i am thankful to God for 22 years of of that, and i am also thankful to God that he has brought someone like drew for her to live with, since it won't be me anymore. :) drew has been an awesome friend to the both of us since we moved to arkansas 12 years ago! it was basically love for the two of them from that time on. drew has everything i could want in not only my sister's husband, but in a brother-in-law too. i have no doubt that he will take care of her and love her forever! so, putting the sappy stuff aside now!!!! the wedding is july 18th at first baptist in lavaca at 2:00 pm. everyone's invited, and we would love for you to come share the day with us! :) so i guess this now wraps up my very first blog post. stay posted, i'll be back!

p.s. happy 4th of july!!!!! hope you've had a fun and safe holiday!