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I owe you (whoever and however many you may be...) an apology.

Its been, what, like 3 weeks since my last post? YIKES.

I blame this on my lacking time-management skills, my slowly dying laptop, and my overwhelming desire for sleep. Post-finals recuperation, if you will.

But I'm baaaaack! And I'm here to stay.

You couldn't get rid of me if you tried.

I'm still trying to figure all this stuff out. You know the types of post I want to do, finding my blogging voice, convincing myself I'm interesting enough to maintain an audience...

the blogger's usual.

In other news...

I am a television fanatic. I get wayyyy too invested in more than a handful of characters. The same kind of goes for movies. And I am a loyal fan.

I saw all four Pirates of the Caribbean films in theaters. Mind you, I was 10 years old when the first movie came out. And IMDB is telling me there's gonna be a fifth film in 2015. You bet your life I will be in my nearest theater the day it comes out. Growing up, I watched the first 3 films so many times (like dozens upon dozens, no exaggeration), I had the lines memorized. They are my absolute favorite.

Like I wish I could be Pirate King Elizabeth.

SO. These past few weeks, season finale's have been rolling out. One of my favorite times of the TV year! This week, my two favorites aired their conclusions: How I Met Your Mother and New Girl. 

And they couldn't have ended more wonderfully. 

I saw the Mother. And holy smokes not what I pictured. But I repeat, I SAW THE MOTHER. Hallelujah she actually exists and Ted will be happy and in love again!!! I'm super excited for the coming season. 

Annnnnd OMG Jess and Nick are doing this thing for real!! They're actually gonna see where their lil romance goes! Ahhhhhhh so happy lol. 

The box office has also been chock full of some movie greatness this past month. My two faves: The Great Gatsby and Iron Man 3. 

I read the great Gatsby last summer and fell in love with F. Scott Fitzgerald's writing. I mean dang that bro has a way with his characters. And I love love love me some Baz Luhrman. And he knocked this adaptation out of the park! Absolutely beautiful in Lubrman's perfectly unique way. I highly recommend seeing it, especially if you've read the book. And if that isn't enough here's a little extra motivation...

Mmm. 

Final words. Iron Man 3 was entirely enjoyable. Tony Stark *spoiler alert* ends his Iron Man career as no other hero could. I'm a sucker for a good Marvel film. See it :) 

Until next time!! 

K

The Perks of Being An Aggie

There are many wonderful things about going to A&M. Countless things.

But at the top of the list... at least top 5... There is Breakaway.

Breakaway is this big, on campus bible study, that exists solely for the purpose of connecting Aggies to Jesus. Breakaway meets every Tuesday night in Reed Arena. The study is led by Ben Stuart, Director of Breakaway, and all around wonderful person.

I cannot imagine my college experience without Breakaway. I heard about it before I even moved into the dorm. Breakaway became a place of refuge and weekly restoration during my Freshman year. The messages were all so timely and encouraging, totally soaked in the Spirit. In the middle of so much change, it was nice to take a break every week from the stresses of college life to just spend time with Jesus. 

So when volunteer positions opened up last Spring, I jumped on the application!

I had an interview about a month before I left for Passion 2013. The week of Passion, I found out that I was accepted as a volunteer. And I've been serving for Breakaway since.

It has been such a blessing to be a part of such a powerful ministry. I could go on and on about all the ways God is using Breakaway to minister to people here in College Station, and all the way around the world in China!

And what continues to surprise me is the outpouring of support Breakaway gets from Aggies across campus. It truly is the meeting place for our university's Christian community. 

Well, I'm done bragging about Breakaway now... haha. I encourage you to check out some podcasts! Ben is a wonderful speaker and the Lord has totally equipped him with the specific tool set needed to minister to college kids. You'll enjoy his messages, I promise!

Oh! The reason I actually started writing this post...

The Jeff Johnson Band is a huge part of Breakaway, leading us in worship most nights for the past few years. Jeff and his wife, Jourdan, and their band are soooo great. They just released an album on iTunes today, as a means to fund another album. Turns out this album is just crazy good and hit #1 on the Christian Music iTunes Chart not long after its release. Whoooooop ;)

Available on iTunes!

Please please please go give the Jeff Johnson Band a listen! We at A&M and Breakaway LOVE the Johnsons, and we really love that they love praising Jesus!!

Yeah. So. Love you blogging world.

Peace. 

K.

Easier Said Than Done.

 

http://shinystarrlight.tumblr.com/

I honestly can't add anything to this quote. Its just a lesson that God has seriously been teaching me over and over and over again this year. Yes, year. I'm coming to realize just how deeply-seeded my unresolved things are in my heart. 

 

Things done to me in the past that I still have yet to deal with. 

Emotional scars from sins that are long gone.

Thoughts and feelings that stir and scare me about the future.

But I'm being patient. 

I am praying, praying, praying, constantly praying through everything unresolved. 

I ask for healing and for wisdom and for understanding and for encouragement. 

And I ask for patience.

I acknowledge that I have issues. 

Consequence of the Fall of Man into sin: We ALL have issues. And that's okay.

God deals with us. And He works all things together for the good of those who trust in Him. 

So the things that are unresolved do not define me.

And they certainly are not staying unresolved.

I am welcoming the work that will be done in my heart.

Sometimes having God bring to mind sin and struggles in life is messy. And painful.

But I welcome the pain and the mess, because it is only temporary.

The sooner I go to Jesus, the sooner He can get to work on making me more like Himself. 

Awesome quote. Wonderful lesson. 

Grateful for a God who leads me into these seasons of resolution.

We certainly are journeying somewhere wonderful together.

Love,

K.

Thoughtful Thursday

I've been lazy lately guys. I am so sorry. I haven't quite yet got the blogging thing down, and getting in the habit of posting regularly is still something I'm practicing. 

But I really would love to hear from you, or a follow! If you have a blog too, post about it! I would love to check yours out! 

Anyways. Here are some things that are seriously getting me through this crazy week.

 Pray for Boston. Pray for West. Pray for healing.

Love,

K.

Praying Through The Crazy

Wow, what a week.

This past weekend I went to Baton Rouge to spend with some really good friends of mine. I hadn't seen them in a couple months, and I had never been to Louisiana, so it was a wonderful trip! Soon I'm gonna post about the trip and all the yummy adventures (amateur foodie here!) so you'll have to stay tuned!

This week I'm trying to hammer out a 10 page paper and study for my first of four finals. Let me tell you, the stress of the semester has finally set in. Add in some Breakaway and church responsibilities, and it all makes for one overwhelmed Kellie.

And just as I'm living in my own head, thinking I've got it rough... The Boston Marathon Tragedy happens. I found out about an hour after it happened, and man was I moved. It breaks my heart what goes on in our world today. And it breaks my heart even more that the world doesn't realize how badly they need Jesus. 

Nothing like a threat against people's lives to reawaken you to what really matters. 

The night of the Boston Marathon.. last night.. I prayed for those affected by the tragedy. And I prayed for the responders and the families and the police and the agents seeking justice. And I prayed that in the midst of their pain and struggle and vulnerability, that they would all open up to the Healer and the one who seeks to bring ultimate justice to this sin laden life we lead. I asked that those #PrayForBoston would call upon the Holy Spirit to move in the city and do what our own human ability can't -- offer healing on this side of eternity, and a place, a home.. on the other.

Please join me in praying for Boston, and for this nation. Hearts can be changed in times like these.

Love, 

K

P.S. My post will be happy next time I promise ;)

On My Beauty List This Week

Hello and Happy Friday :)

Today I'd like to share with you a few things I'll be buying here pretty soon, per recommendation from my closest friends and family.  Do you use any of these products already? I would love to hear from you!

1. Biotin, $10

I'm trying to grow out my hair, and lately my nails have been really brittle. Heard about Biotin from a friend and I'm ready to try it out!

2. e.l.f. High Definition Powder, $6

I keep seeing this pinned by some of my favorite bloggers. For only six bucks, I'm ready to add it to my daily makeup routine.

3. Mario Badescu Silver Powder, $12

My little sister heard about this miracle powder that dissolves blackheads like nobody's business. Only problem was it cost wayyyy too much. After some research, she found that Ulta had a very reasonable alternative. After trying it for the first time, she texted me immediately before and after pictures of her nose. Needless to say, she was a little excited. But heck, with her results, I'm convinced.

4. Butter London Foundation Base, $19

This product I've used before. And it rocks. A good friend and fashion blogger let me borrow her collection of Butter nail polish and I absolutely loved it. The base coat was the best I had ever used. It was slightly tinted (hence "Foundation") so it covered up little imperfections in my nails. I'm willing to bet that this super base coat works with all my other polishes as well. Time to get some of my own to be sure!

5. Monistat Anti-Chaffing Gel, $6

Say whaaa? Don't be weirded out. I recently read that this gel serves as a great make up primer. It supposedly has the same active ingredients as Smashbox's primer, but for 1/6 of the cost. This one I'm a little more skeptical about, but I love trying new things!

I'll keep you updated on how well these products work over time. Keep your fingers crossed! 

Important note: You and I are beautiful just the way we are. Though sometimes we feel we need to be convinced of that... The way I look may not reflect the image photo shopped and airbrushed and fabricated by our culture, but I do reflect the image of God.

I love being a girl. Messing around with all this beauty junk is fun :) But it is the condition of my heart that really makes me feel as beautiful as God knows that I am.

... but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God's sight is very precious.

1 Peter 3:4

Until next time beautiful,

-K.

Hump Day Slump Buster

Found this on Pinterest today.

I'm always looking for natural ways to feel and look my best!

A lot of times, what you don't eat in food can be made up for in Vitamin Supplements. (Now that's certainly not intended to make up for everything.) There are lots of benefits to taking a multivitamin to supplement your diet.

Here's to healthy skin!

What are some of your natural beauty secrets??

Happy Hump day ;)

-K.