Persistence Pays Off

There almost was no blog today because I've been entertaining all day. The only time I've had to be alone is when I've snuck in to the den to play Bejeweled Blitz (Yes, I am addicted to that facebook game). That is... until everyone was fixing to leave and we had a very important moment.

Every time we say goodbye in my family we always end up wrestling. Yes, there are a few reminders of our latest line, "No time for the ER on Christmas." It's not Christmas anymore, folks. Punching, hitting, flicking, and karate chopping is all legal. Right after we hug, I become the recipient of one of these things from my uncle. The problem is that he forgets I'm a girl and hits just a little too hard. I cry, he tells me I need to work on my speed, I grab his hat and disappear until I'm ready to forgive him. Anywhere from 30 seconds to five minutes later (yes, this is all while we've got coats on and are saying goodbyes) I come back and return the hat; he hugs me again (without hurting me). I've gotten a lot of self-defense lessons while fighting back tears. This has been happening for years; it's normal.

Today when we hugged he was holding a few boxes for Ziploc bags. After the hug, he picked up one of the boxes and went to hit me on the shoulder. With my left hand I grabbed the box and with my right hand I stole his hat. We stood there staring at each other both in shock.

I did it! I finally did it! I don't have any idea how it happened but the persistence paid off! Yes, I'm going to toot my own horn with this blog, but you have no idea how big of a deal this is! For my entire life I've been playfully beat up as part of "good-bye," and I finally was able to stand my ground!

<>< Katie

A List of my Lists

I'm sitting in the caf with Amber minding our own business talking. All of the sudden someone walks by and flicks me in the head. Twice. I turn around quick and I see a tall guy with brown hair walking away from me. The guys who would possibly flick me in the head are few and far between and none of them look like that.

"Who was that?" I asked Amber.
"I don't know. All I know is that he just walked by, his hand disappeared into your hair, and he walked away," she responded laughing. (She actually though his finger went into my ear... which would have been really gross...)
I eventually recognized him as our campus minister who's leading my mission trip this spring break.

I contemplated to myself how to retaliate for such an absurd act. Later this afternoon I got an email from him about the trip. He has saved us a significant amount of money, and we're all super stoked about it. Couldn't he have told me that at lunch instead of poking me in the head?

In about two hours, he went from being on my "hit list" to my "favorite people for the day" list. Does God do that? Does He fluctuate between your, "I don't have enough time right now" list and your "I LOVE YOU!" list? Shouldn't He always been on the top of your list?

<>< Katie

"There is one body and one Spirit--just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call--one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all." Ephesians 4:4-6