It's a BLOG!!!

Fitting in is hard.

I guess I always thought that once I was out of high school and into college and beyond, finding a group of people I belonged with would be simple. I'm a friendly person.. I think I'm personable, funny, a little sarcastic, diverse and just generally pleasing to be around. I assumed that those qualities would help me to feel comfortable in any group-type situation I would find myself in.

However, in the past few months I've realized that there is a difference between hanging out with a group of people and feeling like you truly belong somewhere. You know that feeling when you're sitting in a restaurant with a bunch of people you know and the conversation is flowing.. But instead of being IN the conversation, the conversation is just happening AROUND you. You sit there, smiling and nodding and trying desperately to grab onto a snippet of something you can comment on or add to in some way. It's so taxing and frustrating.. Afterward it feels like you've just run a mile and ended up in the same place you started.

I've felt like this off and on for a few months.. I was doing a kind of spastic friendship-dance. Two steps forward and one step back. Some days I'd feel totally in sync with everyone I was interacting with. I'd go home feeling full and accomplished and all warm tingly with new found friendship. Other days I'd feel like the black sheep.. The courtesy friend.. Discouraged and lonely even though I was surrounded by great, funny, friendly and interesting people.

I've always been EXTREMELY interested in group dynamics. Having grown up with a group of close friends for most of my life, I was very comfortable being the leader of the pack. I haven't had a lot of experience being the new kid on the block. Lately, I've been able to sit back, enjoy conversations and observe a diverse yet similar (oxymoron, I know) conglomeration of personalities. I love watching how a tight group interacts with one another.

This past week was my spring break and I was lucky to spend a lot of time hanging out with my boyfriend and his friends, my new friends. I felt like this week was a bit of a breakthrough for me. 90% of the time I felt like I was a part of the body.. A piece of the puzzle. I didn't feel like I was on the outside looking in. I'm so excited and encouraged!

I remember one day I was sitting on Doug's bed and my phone kept going off.. He asked me who I was talking to and I rambled off a list of 3 or 4 people. He looked at me and smiled and said, "Sounds like you're talking to my friends more than I am today!" I stopped and looked at him for a minute before I realized that he was right! I consider them to be my friends now too, and I'm extremely thankful that he has encouraged me to stick my neck out and bond with them. I'm also grateful to them for accepting me, including me and making me feel like I belong. There were a few months when I didn't get a call or a text all day long.. I felt so lonely and abandoned and I couldn't even remember what it felt like to sit in a room that was so loud and full of people and laughter and chatter that you had to yell to make yourself heard. I had that this week and I can't describe how amazing it felt.

So I guess (if you've made it this far) that I'd encourage you to pull people in that are on the outskirts of your group of friends. It will mean more to them than you realize.. No matter how old we are, we still need people around us to enrich our lives.

<3 Katie

End of 2009.. Looking ahead to 2010!!

Ahh July 22, 2009.. How you were an amazing day. The day after Coldplay!!

Perhaps that is why I haven't updated since then.. I mean.. How can you top Coldplay?

I WILL ATTEMPT TO DO SO!!

Now. Things that have happened to finish out 2009.

1. Kaitlin and I moved into our apartment at DBU. I now realize that there are almost no pictures posted anywhere of said apartment.. Even though we were extremely excited to move in. And it is AWESOME. You should come visit us. We'll cook for you. ALSO, we just got TiVo. Woohoo!

2. I cut off all of my hair. I mean. ALL OF IT. I kinda wish I hadn't done that, in retrospect.. Not the best look for me. But it is growing back. I'm also toying with the idea of going back to blonde (yikes!!) If you don't remember me as a blonde.. Go find some pictures and tell me if you think this would be a good idea or not.

3. I finished another semester at DBU. Whew. It was rough. I had some health issues at the end of the semester which led to me taking Incompletes on three of my classes.. That will make this coming semester even more difficult because I've got to finish all of that work PLUS start going into music classrooms two days a week. (Woo Field Base 1!!)

4. Nick moved to California. SAD DAY. I miss him. BUT!! I get to see him in February which is super exciting. :D And then when I see him after that in April.. It will be to see him get MARRIED!! Aughh!!! I can't believe I'm old enough to have married friends. I mean.. Alicia got married in August and Crash and Laura got engaged over new years.. And now my NickyBaby?? Crazy.

So 2009 ended with a bang. I celebrated my New Year in South Padre, one of my favorite places to be, with a bunch of my friends and their families. It was bittersweet because it was the first time I'd been to Padre without Kaitlin.. And the first New Year I'd rung in without her since idon'tknowhowlong. But it was awesome because I got to be there with Doug, Crash, Laura and Dave and we had such an amazing week which ended in a beautiful, picturesque proposal during a fireworks show... I mean come on.. Get more amazing than that, New Years.. I DARE YOU!

So if that was any indication on how awesome 2010 is going to be, I can't wait!! My baby brother will graduate high school this year.. And I will cry. A lot. I still think of him as 12 years old at the OLDEST.. Most of the time younger than that. But he keeps getting taller, so eventually I'll have to accept that he's 18.

Other good things happening in 2010.

1. I celebrated my 1 month anniversary (awwwwwshutup) with Doug on January 5th. <3
2. I will turn 21 in 6 days.. (I forgot about this until my mom just came in and asked if I wanted cake on Sunday.. Happy Birthday?)
3. Spring semester starts on the 19th.. Which is the day before my birthday.. Laaame. But I do get to start working in classrooms and getting my feet wet teaching. I only have three semesters left at DBU.. Aughhh!!!
4. Trip to San Diego, California for the weekend in February to watch Doug play a show.. Meet some of his friends and visit Nick.
5. Also in February a trip to Oklahoma City for a show over Valentine's weekend <3
6. April: Back to Cali with Kaitlin for Nick's Wedding!!
7. This summer, Doug, Kaitlin and I will go to Florida for Infinitus.. A huge Harry Potter event that Kaitlin won't stop bothering me about.. (When did I become surrounded by nerds?? Traveling nerds, no less!!)
8. Tanner will graduate.. And then summer!!!

WHEW. Long blog.. Lots to catch up on.
But life is goodbusyawesomeinfuriatingcrazyamazing<3<3<3

If you've made it this far, your reward is PICTURES!!
Love you all,
Katie <3

Nickyy!! Ohh I miss him. Also, the aforementioned short hair.

They're getting maaarried!!

Fwiends. Padre '09

<3<3<3>

Me as blonde.. Thoughts?

Baby Brotherrrr. <3

Coldplay!!

Ticket!!

The free live album. I've had it for months, but it was awesome to get a hard copy as a souvineer

Ok seriously, hands down the best live music experience I have EVER had. I have loved Coldplay for years now, but I can tell you that after last night, every time I listen to them I will be a little sad that I'm not hearing them live. They were so incredible! I saw them at the Superpages.com center in my second home town of Dallas. I was pretty close to the stage and VERY close to a little mini stage that they set up and visited about a third of the way into the concert. Literally I was 6 rows away from the entire band. ablwkeja;wirrrrr I almost died. I couldn't believe they were right there!!

That in it of itself made up for the fact that I was too far to the right to get showered by the butterfly confetti, but I still managed to grab some as a souvineer :)

I got some pretty good pictures and some AMAZING video. Seriously, my camera recorded everything so great. I was very surprised. I'm going to post some links to a couple of the videos that I'll upload. They're all weird lengths because let's face it, I wanted to be screaming and dancing around - not holding a camera still. I'm pretty sure you'll like them though, if you're a Coldplay fan.

All in all, one of the greatest nights of my life. It was everything I thought it would be and more. And if it's possible, I love Coldplay more now than I did before!

Enjoy :)

Blacklight butterflies!

Regular butterflies :)

Ok, I don't think you understand how close they were.

Seriously. Like. Right there.

Epic.

Yellow!!

Videos: http://www.vimeo.com/user1938040/videos
They feel too short to me, but I didn't want to be holding my camera the whole time. Had to dance around some!! :D

Aha!

I've discovered a new summer project!

I know, I know. I'm bad at blogging.
BUT
Kaitlin has started up her blog again because she's in Oxford studying for six weeks and she posted a video.

So...
I responded with a video of my own!
Go watch hers first, otherwise mine won't make sense.
http://kaitlinprit.blogspot.com

I love you KP!
Hope this makes you smileee :D
(Also, it takes me a few seconds to figure out how to stop recording.. I'm new at this!)

http://www.vimeo.com/5265854
GOTHERE!!
<3Katie

I suck at blogging...

Wow. It has been awhile!

Obviously, I have not visited my own blog since November. But the amazing thing is that it was about this time last semester that I wrote that post, and everything I said then really encouraged me today. I've been pretty overwhelmed, especially these last few weeks, what with all of my classes and homework and tests and papers. I definitely underestimated the volume of work that would come with taking 20 hours. I've been falling behind these past couple of weeks and I'm slowly catching back up. My teachers have been really great about it though, they haven't been penalizing me for my late work and they all seem to understand that I'm struggling to get it all done in time. I've been forcing myself to go to bed at midnight and sleep until 7AM because I know if I get sick or just completely exhausted, I'll never get anything done.

It's just been a lot of things at once. School, church, family stuff... I've been pretty discouraged with 720 these past few months. Our attendance has dwindled to about 10 people on Thursdays, including the band. Tonight, I bet the only girls in attendance are me and Kaitlin. More people come to the "720 Bowling Night" than our group time of worship on Thursdays.

It's really pathetic. I'm trying very hard not to be upset or judgmental.

One thing that's really been helping is that the band has been going to The Village Church on Saturdays. The worship and teaching there is so amazing. I feel so refreshed after just an hour there. Last week, we saw 9 people baptized and took Communion with them. I just love doing new songs and hearing Matt preach. God has really blessed us by bringing us there, I think.

Anyways, I know this blog hasn't been very positive... But I do know that God is faithful and that everything is for His glory. So hopefully the next time I post, I'll have some answers to my prayers to report.

OH in happy news, Kaitlin and I got approved for an apartment!! We are so so excited!! :D
I'd actually forgotten about that, I guess I'm still not used to it.. We've been waiting to get into the apartments basically since we moved into the dorms (at least I have). IHATEITHERE.
It is gross.
I can't wait!!

Have a good day everybody!
<3Katie

Too Much is Never Enough

Musically, at least...


So over the past month, I have acquired many new CD's. Thankfully, I have been blessed with some music-obsessed people in my life who feel it is their obligation to expose me to all of their favorite bands. But I have created for myself an interesting problem. Now on my iPod, the number of songs I have NOT listened to, almost outnumbers the number of songs I HAVE listened to.

Aaahh!!

Here's where you must know something about my music-listening habits.
I love music, no doubt about it.
But I feel like I can't fully enjoy a song unless I can sing along with it, yes?
Ergo, I can't enjoy all of this music yet.

Grrr.. I feel very overwhelmed.
In a good way, of course.

And I wonder if this is a parallel for my own life. I spend so much time outputting information. Taking tests, writing papers, giving performances.
Information doesn't become real unless you can turn around and regurgitate it for someone else to learn from.
So I can't enjoy music unless I can fully experience it by participating in it.

Mmm.. Strange.

So look out Bright Eyes, Lostprophets, Fall out Boy, Lykke Li, Lovedrug, Mewithoutyou, Air, The Killers, Jason Mraz, Ida Maria, Eisley, M.I.A., Death Cab, Dear & the Headlights, Brand New 3 Doors Down and ALL OF YOUR ALBUMS I HAVE SOMEHOW GAINED.

You're all going down.
Fo Sho.


In other news..
Jessica, you are so gone. It's SO time for you to come home!!
I'm ready for a break, I'm ready for my best friend to be back on this continent.
I realize that we're on the downhill slope as far as the semester is concerned, but that means finals and juries in 9ish classes.

Which is no small feat.
But I just keep thinking that I'm doing well in all of my classes, God has been so faithful to bring me through this half of the year. 19 hours is no joke... Plus all of my responsibilities at Wedgwood with 720 and with the kiddos that I work with every week. This semester has truly been a testimony that faith can move mountains. So many people told me that I was crazy to take on everything that came my way, but I just said that I knew that this was what God had called me to do. And I had to pray every day before I started my homework. I had to say a prayer before all of my tests, before I wrote all of my small group lessons, before every worship set for 720.

But praise the Lord. He has delivered me in a powerful way. If we ask Him to work miracles in our lives, He will because He loves us and is faithful to complete a good work in our lives.

I'm just so full of joy because of the power of Christ in my life.
It hasn't ever been easy, but it's been so much more rewarding than just taking the easy way out. I can't wait to see what He has for me next semester, next year and for the rest of my life.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone.
What are you thankful for?

Remeniscant Ramblings

Everyone is kicking my butt at blogging.
I will not be beaten!!

Something that has been on my mind lately, is the fact that my friends and I are aging.
THAT'S RIGHT!
We are getting old, people.

Some of us can remember back to before we'd lost all our baby teeth and were still wearing knee socks, penny loafers and plaid headbands to school.

Here are some things that blow my mind.

1. We graduated from high school
I remember being in 7th grade and thinking that graduation was five years away and we'd never make it. That seemed like an eternity to me, and we're almost two years on the other side of that day.

2. Everyone went their separate ways.
Kaitlin and I to DBU, Jess to Abeline, Clayton and Michael to Seminary...
I knew we'd be apart after high school, but it's still so weird to not be a collective unit like we used to be. In some ways, I think that helped us grow stronger. I definitely value our time together more than I did a couple of years ago.

3. We completed a year of college.
Does anyone else feel like that year went by INSANELY fast?? Dear Lord.. It seems like yesterday I was moving in for SWAT and freaking out about finding my classes. Now I'm a freaking junior. What is going on?!

4. We met new friends.
God has been so good to us. He has brought people into our lives both individually and as a group that have truly blessed us. I know that my DBU friends are amazing and Jess has some great people at ACU that she loves. And we've got Steven, Matt, Nick, Krista and others that have come into the group. We're incredibly lucky to be surrounded by such amazing people.

5. We grew individually, in Christ and together.
Despite the distance, despite the challenges, we are all still close.
It's really amazing, I can't believe that I'm still best friends with the people that I loved and grew up with in elementary school, junior high and high school.
We are a strange bunch of people, my friends. But we work so well together.

I love my friends so fiercely and I can't imagine my life without any of you guys.
I would be lucky to have just one of you, but I'm more than that because I have all of you.

Thank you for accepting me, good and bad, and always encouraging me to be a better person and a stronger force for Christ. I hope that we carry on in these friendships for many years to come.


Ok enough sappy-ness for one day.
We're the best, end of story.

In the name of: Love, Life, Friendship, Continual Growth and Corporate Unity...
KatieIrene.