That College Stuff...

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I started college this year.  Goodness, I didn't know it was like this. ;)

Actually I have been very blessed by it.  It has pushed me, and grown me, and broken me-but it has been good too.

It has definitely been busy though.  I'm not doing as much as others have done, but honestly, every experience is different, and every experience has different hardships with it.

But one thing that has been interesting is the fact that I have these small snippets of a moment here and there.  A moment of peace, of stress, of hope-and of true learning.

In my English class the other day, we had to go through and analyze Paul's two speeches in Acts: on in 13:16-49, the other in chapter 26.  Call me a complete nerd, but I found it fascinating.  How Paul grabs the attention of his brethren in 13:16, commanding they listen to what the Lord has shown him.  How he uses his skills of logic and knowledge of history to build impact.  Finally thundering, "Therefore, my friends, I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you.  Through Him, everyone who believes is set free from every sin" (Acts 13: 38-39).

But no matter how many "rhetorical strategies" he uses, what makes it important is what he is saying.  Yes, we can identify the strategies, but all of our analyzing ever falls short.  We can never truly grasp all Scripture has to say.  But yet, it was such a blessing to turn when my teacher pulled this out to talk about.

That was English.  Chemistry on the other hand, is a slightly different story.

Don't get me wrong, I don't hate it...but it is slightly more of a love/dislike relationship. :)

There are times when I really do love it!  I, again, find it fascinating to be able to calculate something like "Enthalpy" or use "Calorimetry,"  and that's because I understand that.  However, I don't really like it when a subject like "Quantum Numbers" goes over my head.  I'm still kind of lost on that one. :)

But no matter what, all my classes have grown me in different ways.  They've all been given to me for different purposes, and, with the Lord's help, I'm trying not to get overwhelmed.  Especially when I don't do very well on a test.  But why do we fall?

"So that we might learn to pick ourselves up."

We can thank Alfred Pennyworth for that one.  Or Christopher Nolan, whichever you prefer (from Batman Begins).

Anyway, I'm trying not to eat too much dessert, but maybe every once-in-awhile. ;)

Have a blessed day!
~Kristin

New Beginnings...

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So it's been a little while since I've posted.  Actually it has been approximately sixteen weeks and a day.

It's also been thirteen weeks, and two days since something else happened in my life.  Something really hard, and that still hurts, and that has changed me.

I lost my Papaw.

From my birthday "Tea"party a long time ago. 

I don't know why, I'll never know really.  I still have to adjust to it being real.  But I do know that God is in control. 

You know, I found out that just saying and truly believing are two different things.  It's so easy for me to have "sympathy" when everything is right and dandy in my life.  It's much harder when I'm on the other side.  How truly little I know, there is so much I don't have a grasp on.  Those first few days after I lost my Papaw I felt like I was spinning.  Didn't know which way to go, which way was up or down, right or left.  

It's hard to describe what my feelings were when everything has this fine glaze of hurt over it.  

But the Lord took me in His arms.  He is, and was, in control.  

Again, do you know how hard it is to truly say that?  Not to just flippantly spout "Oh, He's in control--no problems!"  But to deeply acknowledge his complete, omniscient power and control?  Well, let us just say it's a lot harder than I've ever thought before.  

But HE has been helping us.  My family I mean.  All of us who can't quite come home the same because Papaw's not there next door.  But HE will help us.  

HE knows the way to wherever you are

HE knows the way to the depths of you heart 

HE knows the way, 'cause he's already been

Where you're going

Jesus will meet you there.

-Steven Curtis Chapman Jesus Will Meet You There

 And so, our family starts a new life.  A new beginning.  One that's hard, but still filled with the Lord's many, many blessings.  We would appreciate your prayers.