I'm extremely picky when it comes to pens. In fact, I'm so particular with the pens I write with, the only type of pen I write in my journal with is the PILOT G-2 07 gel pen.
With that being said, I'm obsessed with bright colors (which I'm sure you already knew, as it doesn't take long to figure out) so when I write in my journal, I use a different colored pen every entry: blue, green, orange, purple, pink. I never write with the same color two entries in a row, and I would never purposely break the pattern and write with blue when I was supposed to write with purple. However, I'm not perfect and accidents do happen, so the pattern has been broken a time or two. As I've grown older, I've learned that there are worse things in life than breaking the pattern of colors in my journal...I could lose a pen or someone could borrow a pen without giving it back (also known as STEALING) which may be one of my biggest fears in life...but I suppose that's another story. Anyway...to make a long story not so short, we had our Phi Lamb retreat this weekend. We met until late Friday evening, departed for the night, and then met again Saturday morning. I placed my 5 pens and 5 highlighters into the front zipper of my Bible case and headed home Friday evening...or so I thought! When I returned to retreat Saturday morning, I pulled out my highlighters and pens to line up next to each other, just as I always do, only to discover my blue pen was missing. I immediately began to panic, as I'm not one to just misplace a pen. I grabbed Casey's arm and let out a heartbroken sigh as I informed her of the awful news. I checked and rechecked my Spongebob "JUST ADD BUBBLES" backpack as Casey checked under the buffet table. My blue PILOT G-2 07 gel pen was nowhere to be found. We searched for several minutes but had no luck. Just as I took a deep breath and began to prepare myself for the possibility of having to buy a pack of five pens for a single color (yes, I have a problem), Casey spotted my pen on a table nearby! I immediately embraced my friend with both arms as I waved my pen in the air declaring victory. No words can fully describe the joy that bubbled up inside me. After sitting down with an overwhelming sense of satisfaction knowing my pen had been returned safe and sound to it's rightful owner (yours truly), I suddenly found myself convicted as the verse Jeremiah 29:13 came to mind: "You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart." As I stared at my pens lined up side-by-side in a nice, orderly fashion, I found myself wondering, "Do I seek God the way I sought-after my blue PILOT G-2 07 gel pen?" No. I have been guilty of reading my Bible solely for the information rather than the transformation. I have failed to acknowledge God's sovereignty over my life on a day-to-day basis. I have focused on my own desires instead of His plan for my life. I do not always put God first above all else. Seeking God wholeheartedly requires a conscious effort to empty ourselves daily so He can sit as King on the throne of our hearts. We must rid ourselves of anything and everything keeping us from knowing Him more. We need to meditate on God's word every time we open our Bibles and ensure we pray and ask the Holy Spirit to give us insight. Like my mom once said, "If we read the Bible but don't bother meditating on it, we might as well be reading the sports section!" We need to remind ourselves that God has ultimate control. We need to put aside our plans and desires and focus solely on His will for our lives. We need to put God first and foremost every minute of every day! We need to continuously seek God through the obstacles (selfishness, pride, doubt, etc.), just as I sought-after my pen...we need to lift up tablecloths in search for Him, dump out our belongings in search for Him (figuratively speaking, of course)...not because God is lost but because without Him, we are lost!
Reality has set in. I knew it would, and I wanted to be ready when it did. When my friend approached me at meeting Monday night to see if I'd checked the graduation schedule that had been posted on Howdy, it hit me: this is real. This is actually happening. I graduate from Texas A&M University on May 16th, 2015 at 2:00PM.Do you want to know what's even crazier? I didn't cry. I wasn't sad. In fact, I felt the complete opposite! I was overcome with joy and gladness!
I love college. I love Sigma Phi Lambda. I love the friendships I have made in Aggieland. They were right...you may not meet your husband in college, but you'll meet the rest of your bridesmaids! I love hearing my fellow Aggies exchange a "Howdy" as they walk across campus - whether they're saying it to students, campus visitors, or the Student Body President. I love grabbing my friends and yanking them backwards (and the occasional form tackle, of course...desperate times call for desperate measures) when somebody isn't paying attention and is INCHES away from stepping on the Texas A&M seal in Koldus, for as the story goes, if you walk on the seal, you don't graduate. Friends don't let friends step on the Texas A&M seal. I love the atmosphere - the joy, the happiness, the friendliness *flips hair as a reminder we're the happiest and friendliest campus in the nation* - but most importantly, I love the community. I love the traditions. I love the core values: excellence, integrity, leadership, loyalty, respect, and selfless service (I'll be blogging about those later).I love the "spirit that can ne'er be told" because "from the outside looking in you can't understand it, and from the inside looking out you can't explain it." I love the Aggie Family. I love everything about this place and as you've heard me say time and time again, there's absolutely NOTHING like bein' an Aggie!
I know Texas A&M does not reflect the real world (spoiler alert), but attending this university has prepared me for "life after college" more than I could have ever imagined...but I'll talk about that later on in the semester! The bottom line is, I have enjoyed every single minute of my time at Texas A&M - EVERY SINGLE MINUTE! It's been three years and I still wake up every day, grateful to be an Aggie. However, I know it doesn't end here! The best is yet to come!
Words cannot express how excited I am to discover God's purpose for my life and why he created me, Kristin Lee Koonce! I will soon be chasing after the dreams that have kept me awake at night since I was a junior in high school, and that fires me up! HOWEVER, God calls us to finish the race we started.Therefore, I will continue making the most of every minute I have left in Aggieland. I will give 110% of myself to this town, this community, and these friendships. I refuse to look back and regret not doing this, or not attending that, because, although I can't wait to put my last penny on Sully and "turn my tassel" as I dub myself a Former Student of Texas A&M University, this is where God has me right now and I am called to finish the race. I'm exactly where He wants me to be right now! I will have to remind myself daily that there is still work for me to do at Texas A&M these last few months. I'm not finished. My time isn't up just yet. So, with my traditional side-ponytail in tact and a smile on my face, I'm going to finish this race, and finish well!
I've been trying to think of ways I can be more present these last few months at Texas A&M but if we're being honest (and I feel like we have an honest relationship), I already knew. I need to put down my phone. Whether I'm walking to class, riding the bus to/from campus, or waiting to checkout at the 1/30 checkouts that's actually open in Walmart, the easy thing to do in this technological world is pull out my phone to occupy my time. "What's wrong with that? There's nothing else to do while I'm waiting! If you're not on your phone, you're just going to be sitting/standing there awkwardly in silence because everybody else around you will be on theirs." That may be true, but is it right for me to think like that? Is it right for me to believe my Facebook news feed or Pinterest page are more important than what's happening right here, right now, as I get from place to place? Common sense tells us to keep off our phones when we're spending time with others...but I've recently realized (AKA: been convicted of the fact) it's just as important to refrain from my phone as I make my way from Point A to Point B as it is to keep off of it when I arrive at my destination, whether that be the bus stop, the checkout counter, or the MSC (Memorial Student Center)! I need to put down my phone. With that being said, for the past week or so I've been trying to get into the habit of walking with my phone in my backpack instead of my hand/pocket so I'm not tempted to pull it out because I am guilty of getting on my phone to occupy my time as I wait! I'll be honest...it was difficult at first because I would often revert to my phone without even realizing it! However, the more intentional I am, the easier it gets! I now notice the group of squirrels gathering acorns in Academic Plaza and the smiling baby bouncing joyfully in the buggy behind me in line at Walmart hoping I'll look at her so she can show me what she recently learned - the floppy wave. That may be a little dramatic because I'm not on my phone that much, but you catch my drift...it's still too much! TOO MUCH, I SAY! I don't want to look back on my time at Texas A&M and find myself wishing I had used it differently. I don't want to miss an opportunity to smile at someone who is feeling hopeless, hug a classmate I haven't seen since sophomore year, strike up a conversation with God (because we can NEVER talk to Him too much), or pray for passersby. It has been a blessing putting down my phone as I walk/wait, as God has reminded me how precious our time is and why/how I should use it more wisely. In Purpose Driven Life, Rick Warren quotes: “Time is your most precious gift because you only have a set amount of it. You can make more money, but you can't make more time. When you give someone your time, you are giving them a portion of your life that you'll never get back. Your time is your life. That is why the greatest gift you can give someone is your time.It is not enough to just say relationships are important; we must prove it by investing time in them. Words alone are worthless. 'My children, our love should not be just words and talk; it must be true love, which shows itself in action.' Relationships take time and effort, and the best way to spell love is 'T-I-M-E.'" As Rick Warren mentions above, we only have a set amount of time. We can't create more time, and we can't get it back. I chose to use this quote because it really captures the essence of time and how important it is for us to take advantage of it. When we're on our phones, we're not taking advantage of our time. We're misusing it. Your Instagram post can wait. Your Facebook news feed will still be there when you get off the bus. That quote on Pinterest (and boy do I love quotes) can be pinned later. The people around you, however, can't wait. They won't be there when you leave campus, walk out of Walmart, or step off the bus. Don't worry, I'm not saying you have to strike up a conversation with them. I'm simply encouraging you to notice them. Talk to God as you walk across campus. Pray for the person sitting across from you on the bus who keeps yawning from lack of sleep or appears to be stressed about the study material they're tightly gripping in their hands. Smile at the women checking out in front of you who looks as if she's shopping for the cast of Annie. Be intentional. Post that Instagram picture when you get home. Pin that DIY project when you get bored in class. Oops, did I say that out loud? Also, I know we're talking about staying off our phones, but it wouldn't be bad to call up a friend you haven't spoken to in a while and let them know you love them and are thinking about them! Basically, I'm encouraging everybody (myself included) to invest in the things that matter; we need to love others by giving them our time! So, I put down my phone.
As I mentioned in my last post, we discussed the importance of keeping first things first in our Life After College Bible study the other night! In other words, it's crucial we keep the fundamentals of the Christian faith if we wish to remain spiritually stable as we transition through the not-so-stable stages of life. Do the little things, because they end up being the big things! They add up; they get BIGGER! As always, my mind naturally began comparing this to basketball. Specifically, shooting a free-throw. If you're unfamiliar with what fundamentals are, they are "central or primary rules or principles on which something is based." In other words, fundamentals are fundamental. They are "of central importance" and necessary to master if you wish to be the best you can be. How does this relate to shooting a free-throw, you ask?
You see, free-throws play a significant role in basketball games, especially close games. Many games are lost at the line because a player failed to make their free-throws after getting fouled just seconds before the clock ran out of time. Free-throws can often be the difference between wearing a jersey for the last time and moving on to the next round of playoffs or better yet, the state championship. I cannot stress the importance of free-throws enough! In order to be a successful free-throw shooter, however, you must do the little things and stick to the fundamentals. Assuming you already know how to shoot, free-throws require focus, practice, and routine.
1) Free-throws require FOCUS because you want a player who is mentally tough and able to block out anything that may be distracting while they're at the line (those loud-mouthed mothers on the other team, for example) as they focus solely on putting the ball in the net.
2) You must practice, practice, PRACTICE! You're not going to become a successful free-throw shooter overnight. It takes time. You have to put in the effort because if you don't practice, you don't get better...and the more you practice, the better you become!
3) It's vital you develop a routine. It's all about consistency! Be consistent. You must repeat the same process every time you step up to the free-throw line. Just as it's important to remember the fundamentals of shooting free-throws, we must also remember to keep the fundamentals of the Christian faith and do the little things, for it's the little things that have the potential to make a big difference in our day. This, too, requires focus, practice, and routine!
1) As Christians, we need to remain focused on Christ and seek to block out distractions that may keep us from knowing Him more, whether that be getting out of a relationship that doesn't honor the Lord or memorizing Bible verses to say to ourselves when our thoughts aren't God-honoring. He should be our main focus in everything we do! 2) In order to further develop our relationship with Christ, we must be practicing Christlike characteristics! I touched on this more in my post Practice Makes Permanentif you'd like to check it out! Keeping the fundamentals of the Christian faith takes effort. Be willing to do the work!
3) Just as shooting a free-throw requires routine, so does being a Christian. In my three years at Texas A&M, I have witnessed firsthand the difference being in God's word every single day can make. Reading the Gospel and seeking to know Him on a deeper level should be a routine and something we do religiously. It's a daily devotion that includes getting to know Him more, obeying Him, abiding in Him, etc. This requires consistency! The more consistent you are, the more confident you can be!
When you stick to the fundamentals of shooting free-throws, you don't falter. You rarely miss. When you do miss, you're able to quickly correct yourself (use yours legs, follow through, etc.) because you're so familiar with your shot. In the same way, when you stick to the fundamentals of the Christian faith, you don't falter. You can stand firm when trouble comes your way. Because you're spiritually stable, you can be confident in yourself during times of transition (graduating college, per se) and can adjust yourself accordingly. As I mentioned earlier, the little things turn out to be the big things that make all the difference! Remember, fundamentals are fundamental. Keep first things first!
Guess what, GUESS WHAT! I joined a Bible study called Life After College that my sweet Phi Lamb sister, Amanda, told me about a few weeks ago! As she was listing the topics that would be covered in the study, I knew immediately I wanted to become a member! I LOVE IT ALREADY! I'm so thankful for God's precious timing, as well as friends who aren't obligated to share opportunities with me but choose to do so anyway!
Blessings, blessings, blessings!
The study focuses on teaching us soon-to-be graduates how to continue "walking with God after graduation day" as we head off in different directions to begin "rebuilding" our lives in an unfamiliar location!
The Road Ahead: The study begins by comparing our current predicament to the predicament Chuck Noland is forced to accept if he wishes to survive in the movie Castaway. To make a long story short, Chuck finds himself stranded on an island after his plane crashed and is forced to make a living in order to stay alive, as he is "separated from everything and everybody familiar to him." Although he builds a life on the island, "he still longs to return to civilization and to the life he once knew." When he returns, he finds himself having to rebuild his life all over again, as he quickly discovered "the world [had] moved on without him." At one point in the movie, he finds himself standing at a fork in the road, unsure of which path he should take. In the same way, we've already had to rebuild our lives when we went off to college. We've "created a life for [ourselves]" in Aggieland as we've discovered who we are and who we want to become. With graduation only a few months away, we find ourselves standing at a fork in the road. The options are endless! Which path will we take?
Although there is a lot we don't know, there is a lot we do know because it's stated in Scripture: 1) God wants us to know Jesus. "Is your relationship with Christ the center of your life? Does it inform all of your decisions and actions?" God calls us to follow Christ, and anything we were once worried about or consumed with in the past is garbage, for there is surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus as Lord (Philippians 3:7-11). 2) God wants us to fulfill the Great Commission. We're called to go and make disciples of all nations, sharing the Good News with those we meet! This doesn't mean we have to verbally tell every person we see about Jesus. We're called to "Preach the Gospel at all times...if necessary, use words." Being a Christian means living a life of ACTION! The way you live shows who you live for. Our leaders encouraged us to be an effective witness and look for teachable moments. 3) God wants us to participate in a Christian community. Our leaders reminded us of C.S. Lewis' quote, "You can’t get second things by putting them first. You get second things only by putting first things first." Putting first things first means keeping Christ at the center of our lives as we invest in the lives of those around us.
"If you pursue God's priorities, and avoid distractions, you can have a life of lasting value. At the end of your life you will be able to look back and know that you have lived well. And you will be able to look forward and anticipate hearing those wonderful words from Jesus: 'Well done, good and faithful servant.'"
That's the gist of tonight's lesson. Be an effective witness. Live a life of ACTION. Stay involved. Remember, God needs Christians everywhere. Be willing to glorify Him right where He has you, whether you're cleaning dishes or sweeping floors, for "the most important job for a Christian carpenter is to make good furniture. Do your job well." No matter where you are or where you're going, do your job well. Be excellent. Be patient. Trust that God has a plan for your life!
I AM SO EXCITED TO DISCOVER GOD'S PURPOSE FOR MY LIFE!
Don't get me wrong, I'm still terrified, but there's a reason God created me and I'm eager to find out what that reason is! God created you with a purpose in mind, too, and I pray you're on the path to discovering it if you haven't already!
For those of you who know me, you know I'm a little OCD about certain things...and by a "little" I mean a lot and by "certain things" I mean just about everything. This has to be here and that has to be there. When I get in my best friend's car, I immediately start picking up the trash in my area and put it in whatever sack I'm guaranteed to find in there. When I'm texting hurriedly and make a spelling/grammar error, I delete the text from my phone so I don't have to see it...and usually send the exact same text with the corrected spelling/grammar in place. Everything has to be lined up correctly, whether that be the "just for looks" towels on the rack in the bathroom (that people aren't supposed to touch but they do...they always do) or the unused pillows I place on the chair in the exact same way every night: the two square throw pillows go first with their lines running horizontally, and the first pillow (with the pillowcase that matches the comforter) lies long ways while the second lies up/down to ensure the pillows remain perfectly balanced on the chair throughout the night.
As Jacques the Shrimp says on Finding Nemo, "I am ashamed." But not really because that's what makes me, ME! Am I right!?
With that being said, I'm also OCD about highlighting...and let me tell you, I LOVE highlighting! I highlight in every book I read - textbooks, chapter books, etc. In my Bible, I use a yellow Bible highlighter (one of the best creations known to man) partly because it's my favorite color (yes, highlighter yellow is my favorite color) but mostly because I'm OCD and the thought of adding another color made me wince and grit my teeth like one would upon hearing fingernails scratching a chalkboard. I'm here to tell you that I, Kristin Mignonette Grimaldi Thermopolis Renaldo Koonce, Princess of Genovia (I'm kidding...that's Mia's full name on Princess Diaries, not mine), stepped out of my OCD comfort zone and bought colored Bible highlighters on Tuesday, February 10th, 2015 around 6:54PM at Lifeway...and better yet...are you sitting down? I'VE USED THEM! I'M A CHANGED WOMAN! I was on Pinterest the other night (surprise, surprise) when I decided to search for Bible study suggestions and came across one that caught my eye! It's every highlighter-obsessed person's dream and it can be yours today for $1.99/highlighter! As you can tell, I am too excited not to share my recent discovery of studying scripture by color-coding it! SIDE NOTE: I love bright colors. I'm not kidding. They genuinely make me happy. I'm just as surprised as you are that it took me this long to branch out and bring extra color into my quiet time...but better late than never, right!? *crowd echoes* "RIGHT!" Here's the colors you'll need: Yellow Green Blue Pink Purple Here's how to color-code scripture: Yellow: Because Christ is the LIGHT of the world, you highlight His teachings in yellow! He is our SONshine! Pink:They haven't created a red Bible highlighter yet, so we're going to use pink in its place by highlighting the things God does NOT want us to do! When you see the color pink, you need to STOP! Quit it! Green: Green represents the things we're called to GO do! "GO and make disciples of all nations!" "GO tell it on the mountain!" "Love the Lord your God!" Blue: We use blue to highlight the BLESSINGS (BL-UE, BL-ESSINGS...see what they did there?) God promises us when we walk with Him and obey Him! Purple: They used purple to highlight things to work on, but I am using it to highlight the attributes of God because let's face it...I need to work on EVERYTHING! I AM TICKLED PINK (AND YELLOW/BLUE/GREEN/PURPLE...HAHAHAHA) The bad news is, I've already highlighted over 50% of the Bible in just yellow, as I'm currently striving to read it all the way through...and there will be NO overlapping colors whatsoever. Oh, the agony! It (not-so-secretly) drives me crazy knowing the entire New Testament has been highlighted in yellow. The good news is, I will highlight something new every time I re-read chapters (because God is always teaching me new lessons), so there's a good chance it will one day even out! THIS IS THE HAPPIEST DAY OF MY LIFE! I know, I know...this wasn't my typical blog post! Let's face it, though, with only 4hrs left to take, I have a LOT of free time on my hands! Why not blog about my new profound love and use of ALL Bible highlighter colors? Don't worry, I'm still Kristin. I still don't want you to touch my decorative towels or put your bare feet on my bedspread. Sick. I'm making slow, subtle changes...nothing too drastic! As Bon Qui Qui says in her King Burger YouTube video, "Welcome to King Burger where we can do it your way...but don't get crazy!" I don't plan on getting crazy. Never underestimate the impossible. I am an overcomer. You can be, too.
The following topic has been on my heart a lot lately. It is my prayer that as I write this post and as you read it, we both find ourselves challenged to do better, to be better, and that we find ourselves encouraged to reach above and beyond the call of duty to make a difference in the lives of others. Aside from Valentine's Day, why is February considered the month of love? Why can't EVERY month be the month of love? In fact, what is stopping us from making EVERY DAY the day to love more, to love deeper? What exactly does it mean to love deeper? Well, the adjective deep means "very intense or extreme" - and intense means "of extreme force, degree, strength" - and extreme means "reaching a high or the highest degree; very great." Therefore, from my understanding, to love deeper means to love someone to the highest degree, the greatest amount. Now let's look at 1 Corinthians 13:1-8 which reads, "If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast,but do not have love, I gain nothing. Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.Love never fails." The first half is self-explanatory. All signs may point to a Christian lifestyle (giving to the poor, feeding the hungry, attending church, etc.), but if we do not love, we've missed the point, as the two greatest commandments are "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind' and 'Love your neighbor as yourself (Luke 10:27).'" The second half is a little trickier because it challenges us to take a look at ourselves and how we treat others. It challenges us to peel back the layers and believe me, it won't be pretty. When studying 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 a year or two ago in Bible study, my friend encouraged us to replace the words love and it with our first name. Yikes! For example:
Kristin is patient.
Kristin does not envy.
Kristin is not easily angered.
Kristin keeps no records of wrongs. Is that convicting or what!? I do NOT fit those descriptions on a daily basis. I can be impatient. I've been envious of others more times than I can count. I've been easily angered, especially after losing to my brothers in basketball for the umpteenth time, and I have, without a doubt, kept records of the wrongs done to me (ladies, this is also known as holding a grudge). We are a work in progress and, as you can see, there is ALWAYS room for improvement! Let's go above and beyond surface-level loving. Let's dive in and make a splash so big, those around us can't help but be affected by the ripples. I encourage you to replace the words love and it with your name so that, together, we can strive to love deeper in every aspect of our lives...whether that be showing kindness to the AT&T worker who is trying to help us set up our voicemail password, not slamming the basketball down after losing a game of 21, forgiving those who have done us wrong, etc. Peel back the layers. There's a reason love is included in the two greatest commandments. I would like to encourage everyone (myself included) to find ways to love deeper, for if we do not love, we are only clanging symbols, resounding gongs. Don't wait for Valentine's Day to love those around you. Do it now, right where you are. Do it today, tomorrow, and every day after that. Go above and beyond! Remember, "ordinary can become EXTRAordinary with just a little EXTRA!" Challenge yourself to make a difference in the lives of those around you by loving them to the highest degree, expecting nothing in return. Whatever you do, don't miss the point: love God and love others.
I love The Sound of Music for a variety of reasons. There are a few reasons in particular, however, that this 1965 film musical captured my heart long ago and has remained my favorite musical/movie unto this day. The movie centers around Maria von Trapp who desires "to find out what is the will of God and do it wholeheartedly." Like all major life changes, Maria has a hard time accepting God's will at first and, when talking to Revered Mother about the Abbey, she proclaims the Abbey "is where [she] belongs. It's [her] home, [her] family. It's [her] life." It is then that Reverend Mother reminds her, "If you go out into the world for a time, knowing what we expect of you...you will find out if you can expect it for yourself." Maria finds encouragement in this and responds, "I know what you expect, Mother, and I can do it! I promise I can!" I believe God created each of us with a specific purpose in mind and, like Maria, my heart's deepest desire is to discover God's will for my life. As my "About Me" reads, my aim is to take the desires that overflow from the depths of my heart (encouraging others, being a positive influence, reaching out, looking on the bright side of every situation, etc.) and put them to work so that I may "glorify God and make disciples of Jesus Christ" as I progress through life's ups and downs and follow my dreams! Just as Maria had to leave the Abbey in order to discover what God had in store for her life, I know I'll have to leave the comfort of my home if I'm serious about chasing my dreams...and I've never been more serious about something in my life! Maria knows what her loved ones expect of her and she believes she can do it! I do, too! In her song I Have Confidence, Maria finds herself scared even though she's "always longed for adventure, to do the things [she's] never dared." Instead of dwelling on her doubts and worries, she decides to "show them [she's] worthy and while [she shows] them, [she'll] show [herself]." In the same way, I long for adventure. I long to change the world. I long to take chances, to take a leap of faith, to fly (figuratively speaking, of course...let's be honest, I can't even roller skate). Although I long to leave what's comfortable for what's uncomfortable, I'm scared. I'm scared of leaving a small town where I know everybody and moving to a major city where I know nobody. But just as Maria has confidence in herself, I am confident in both myself and God's faithfulness. Nothing is impossible with God. Reverend Mother sings Climb Every Mountain when Maria runs away to the Abbey. She wants Maria to "search high and low" until she finds what it is that makes her come alive! The lyrics are as follows:
Climb every mountain,
Search high and low,
Follow every byway,
Every path you know.
Climb every mountain,
Ford every stream,
Follow every rainbow,
'Till you find your dream.
A dream that will need
All the love you can give,
Every day of your life
For as long as you live.
This is, by far, my favorite song in The Sound of Music. I am willing to do whatever it takes to find my dream, and when I find it, I'm not letting it go. Conclusion: After watching the musical two nights in a row last week, I thought it necessary to share my love of The Sound of Music. Mind you, this movie is so long it requires an "Intermission" halfway through and I watched it...twice!Graduating in May, Maria's journey has become much more real to me. This movie can change your life if you let it, as it encourages (us) viewers to seek God's will for our lives, sing, have confidence in ourselves, trust God, have faith, and follow every rainbow until we find our dream! It has inspired me for as long as I can remember and I pray it inspires you, too! May you know that God created you with a purpose in mind, He has a plan for your life! May your heart be blessed with the sound of music! May you be confident in yourself! May you have faith and trust that with God, all things are possible, and may you follow your dreams and discover God's will for your life!
"Maria, these walls were not meant to shut out problems. You have to face them. You have to live the life you were born to live."
I'm going to try my best to fill you in on our trip to Los Angeles, CA! I originally intended on going this past summer but, as always, God had other plans. As some of you know, I've dreamed of going to LA for several years to see The Ellen DeGeneres Show so for several months Madi, Rylea and I checked for tickets every single day, waiting for tickets to become available for a date over Christmas break! We submitted our names and waited two weeks for a phone call informing us we had secured tickets to The Ellen DeGeneres Show! Unfortunately, the phone never rang. No tickets for us! However, we decided to plan a trip to Los Angeles anyway with the intention of calling/waiting in line for "Day Of" Tickets every day of the trip...so we booked a flight + hotel to Los Angeles, CA and said "Hello, Hollywood!"
Plan A: We were going to try and get "Day Of" tickets to The Ellen DeGeneres Show. Plan B: Even if we didn't get tickets, we were still going to make the most of our time in California!
Day One: Hop-On, Hop-Off Tour Bus As soon as we got to the hotel, I called the number for Starline Tours that was printed in our brochure to ask about getting tickets for the Hop-On, Hop-Off Tour Bus! It was then that the man at the other end of the line broke the news and informed us that those specific tours only run in the summertime. Curious as to whether we had simply overlooked this important detail, we searched both the brochure and the website but this information was nowhere to be found! Although the first two days of our trip revolved around the Hop-On, Hop-Off Tour Bus, we refused to let that ruin our day! Instead, we decided to walk a few blocks to Hollywood where the Walk of Fame, Chinese Theatre, Dolby Theatre, etc. are located and grab us a bite to eat while we figured out Plan B! Seeing that we had been awake since 2:00AM CA time and it was now 10:00AM CA time, or 12:00PM TX time, we were STARVING! While eating at Johnny Rockets, we decided to take a stroll down Hollywood Boulevard to weigh our options and see what we could do on our first day in Los Angeles, CA since we were unable to take the tour bus! As we were walking down Hollywood Boulevard, we noticed a Hop-On, Hop-Off Tour Bus parked by the curb and a woman working the kiosk nearby. We approached her and began explaining what the man on the phone had told us and asked, despite what the man said, if they were running. With the biggest smile on her face, she told us that they WERE running and we were more than welcome to ride! Overjoyed, we thanked the woman a hundred times and took turns hugging her. We spoke with her for a few minutes while making our payments to find that she had been working at that very kiosk for 14yrs! The amount of kindness this woman showed us in the little time we spoke with her was unreal and it was evident why she had been selected as Starline's "Employer of the Year" several times! After thanking her a few more times and leaning in for one last hug, we began walking towards the bus only for her to stop us and wave us back to the kiosk while she unlocked a cabinet. To our surprise, she pulled out three Starline Tours hats for us to keep and wear as souvenirs! WE WERE BLOWN AWAY BY HER KINDNESS! We immediately rushed up to the top deck, put our "posh" (LA term we learned) hats on and braced ourselves for the ride of a lifetime!
We walked for miles and miles in search of Ellen's star on the Walk of Fame! I can't think of a better cause to get a crick in your neck due to looking down for so long than a search for Ellen's star!
This is the "Urban Light" sculpture that can be seen in the movie No Strings Attached with Ashton Kutcher and Natalie Portman.
I now understand the "Beverly Hills" song by Weezer and why Beverly Hills is where he wanted to be. It was absolutely beautiful!
Day Two: The Ellen DeGeneres Show We woke up at 4:00AM so we could get to Warner Brothers Studio by 5:30AM. When we arrived at the parking garage, I approached the security guard to ask if she knew how "Day Of" tickets worked. She told me that hundreds of individuals stand in line every single morning and out of those hundreds, MAYBE 10ppl get in...but wait, it gets worse! We learned that in order to be eligible for "Day Of" tickets you had to have received a letter in the mail saying you had received Standby tickets which are first-come, first-served! Our chances went from being slim-to-none to NONEXISTENT! However, we decided to continue waiting in line (we didn't fly 4hrs to LA to leave without trying) until 9:00AM so we could ask a worker what we could do! To kill time we played cards, tweeted at Ellen, and drank coffee we got from this really neat coffee machine they had! As it got closer to 9:00AM, Ellen employees began walking by us on their way to work. I saw Andy (the guy who runs everything out to Ellen and wears the tuxedo suit with dress-shorts at different events) and also one of the Productions Assistant (I think her name was Tracy) who was there when I drove to Denton (see blog post: Divine Moments). ANYWAY, 9:00AM finally rolls around and we see a girl drive up on a golf cart! She walks over to the line (by now there's about 30ppl) and instructs everyone to have both their Standby paper and ID ready...one of which we had and one of which we definitely did NOT have! When the worker (we'll call her...Martha) approached us, we immediately began explaining our situation to her. We told her we flew in from Houston, TX and didn't know we were supposed to receive Standby tickets in the mail if we wished to try and get "Day Of" tickets. Realizing we didn't meet the requirements, she told us she hated to be the heartbreaker and kindly let us know we would be unable to get in because they were completely booked! We thanked her for listening and before she walked away, I asked if there was anyway we'd be able to at least get into the Riff Raff Room. Again, she was so kind and compassionate towards us, but we received the same answer. She said she didn't want to get our hopes up because there was very, very little chance (.005%) of us getting in. Before continuing down the line, however, she said, "Let me get your name and number just in case anything opens up! But again, please, please don't get your hopes up because, with it being the new year, we're overbooked!" She wrote down my name and number, we thanked her for listening to us, and then headed back to the hotel to prepare for Plan B, Santa Monica Pier! We changed clothes, walked the three blocks to the tour bus, and climbed up to our seats again! We were only on the bus for a few minutes when I heard the Friends theme song going off in my right pocket. I frantically pulled my phone out of my shorts pocket and read "Northern Los Angeles" just before it disappeared and my phone stopped ringing. Before I had time to be upset with myself, "Voicemail" flashed onto my phone. I held it up to my ear and repeated to Madi and Rylea everything that was said...and before I was finished listening to the voicemail, the three of us were making our way down the steps to get off at the next stop! It was Martha! THEY HAD ROOM IN THE RIFF RAFF ROOM FOR US! The bus stopped and I pressed "Call Back" as we began running 3mi back to the hotel. Martha said she had Riff Raff Room tickets for us! After I hung up with her, I called my mom (still running, might I add) and began bawling hysterically while I told her everything that had just happened. IT WAS A DREAM COME TRUE! Martha said we had to check in by 1:30PM but let's face it, it was 10:30AM and we didn't want to take any chances! We showered at the hotel, made sure we looked "dope" (another LA term we learned) for Ellen, and headed back to Burbank! We picked up our Riff Raff Room ONLY tickets! We got to sing, dance, and "have a little fun (today)" at The Ellen DeGeneres Show! In case you're confused about what the RRR is...we're basically separated by a wall! You're in this room that has TV's everywhere and there are stairs that lead up into the audience! I bawled...multiple times! IT WAS THE BEST DAY OF MY LIFE AND JUST AS GOOD AS BEING IN THE AUDIENCE IF YOU ASK ME! WE HAD THE TIME OF OUR LIVES!
This is us in the cab on the way to The Ellen DeGeneres Show!
WE GOT INTO ELLEN'S RIFF RAFF ROOM! We got to watch the show live from a separate room and got to dance as Ellen danced! This was a miracle that ONLY God could have made possible because we had NO chance at ALL! It was too good to be true! We're so thankful for this once in a lifetime opportunity!
This video was posted on YouTube! You can see us dancing in the Riff Raff Room! Bahaha! We had the pleasure of meeting this bundle of fun (I believe her name was Shanell) and she was SUCH a joy to be around! Rylea is in dark brown, Madi is wearing a red flannel, and I have on a black/white flannel with a white vest!
Day Three: Warner Brothers Studio
We also had the opportunity to tour the Warner Brothers Studio! Everybody who knows me knows the three things I love most are Ellen, Friends, and Gilmore Girls...and guess what!? ALL THREE OF THOSE THINGS WERE AT WARNER BROTHERS STUDIO! WE GOT TO SEE EVERYTHING! I'll let the pictures speak for themselves:
This was inside the Geller's (Ross and Monica's parents) house on Friends! This is the same staircase Ross sat on in "The One With The Prom Video" episode when Rachel's date didn't show up so Ross' parents encouraged him to step up and be her date! As you know, this episode was the first time Ross and Rachel got together!
We got to see Stars Hollow! This is in front of Miss Patty's Dance Studio where they held town meetings! We also saw Luke's Diner, Mrs. Kim's house, AND the Gilmore's house! THIS HAS BEEN THE TRIP OF A LIFETIME!
"That's not running! LET'S GOOOOOO!" We got to recreate "The One Where Phoebe Runs" episode from F•R•I•E•N•D•S!
"I'll be there for you when the rain starts to pour! I'll be there for you like I've been there before! I'll be there for you 'cause you're there for me, too!" We got to sit on *THE* F•R•I•E•N•D•S couch at *THE* Central Perk at *THE* Warner Brothers Studio! WE ARE SO BLESSED AND THANKFUL FOR THIS INCREDIBLE OPPORTUNITY! God is so good!
As if sitting on the couch wasn't enough, we got to recreate this famous picture of the six F•R•I•E•N•D•S walking down the street with their arms linked and smiles on their faces! THIS HAS BEEN THE BEST TRIP EVER! I'm so thankful for the memories we've made and the opportunities we received while in Los Angeles!
Friends ran for 10 seasons, 236 episodes!
Day Four: Hollywood Sign
We hiked up to the Hollywood Sign Friday morning before we headed back to Texas! IT WAS BREATHTAKING! I thoroughly enjoyed climbing up mountains "to look through God's window" but I don't plan on taking up hiking anytime soon! HAHAHA!
H O L L Y W O O D
"Climb every mountain, ford every stream! Follow every rainbow 'til you find your dream!"
California Crosses:
I wanted to conclude this blog post by pointing it in the right direction, and that's towards God! He had His hand in EVERY detail of this trip and it is my prayer that all glory goes to Him! We went to Los Angeles with the assumption that we'd be experiencing a culture shock but instead, we received the total opposite! EVERYONE WAS SO KIND TO US AND I CAN'T WAIT TO GO BACK! From being told the Hop-Off, Hop-On tours only run in the summer to being told there was a .005% chance of us getting into the Riff Raff Room, the tables were not turned by human hand. God personally guided every situation! No matter what comes from this specific adventure, I know I am more than ready for the adventure God, the ultimate Tour Guide, has mapped out for my life!
This is the view from the entrance to our hotel and was, by far, my favorite view! Though the culture in Los Angeles was a TAD different than White Oak/College Station, TX (wink, wink), God used this cross to remind us of His presence which was made known the entire trip. I was blown away by it's beauty! You can witness God's presence ANYWHERE when you take the time to look!
I took this picture because, if you'll notice, there is a giant silver cross on the right side of that building shown in the middle. As I mentioned before, God was/is present in Los Angeles, CA! Both this cross and the one in the mountains were reminders that we're not in this alone, for God is always, ALWAYS right by our side!
That's me crying while talking to a guy who works for Ellen! We flew 4hrs to simply TRY and get "Day Of" tickets to Ellen! Long story short, we make plans but God rearranges our schedule to match HIS agenda which is ALWAYS bigger and better than our own! Words cannot express how grateful I am for the kindness we received from EVERY worker at The Ellen DeGeneres Show! It means the WORLD to us! We went from having nothing to having, what seemed like, everything! Many tears of joy and gratefulness were shed the past few days and I know they will shed in the days to come! Dancing in Ellen's Riff Raff Room is a moment I'll NEVER forget! I AM SO THANKFUL AND STILL IN AWE, and I know without a doubt that the Lord was the one who divinely planned this trip well in advance! It may have been a surprise to us, but it was no surprise to God! He has done nothing but encourage me and reassure my hopes and dreams! I left Los Angeles with a "peaceful, easy feeling" and am even more excited about moving out there after I graduate!
GOD IS GOOD!
"Many are the plans in a man's heart but it's the Lord's purpose that prevails!"
For the past three years I've been introducing myself by saying:"HOWDY! My name is Kristin Koonce and I'm a (insert class year) Communication major from White Oak, TX! But more importantly, I am the LOUDEST and PROUDEST member of the Fightin' Texas Aggie Class of 2015!" Why am I telling you this, you ask? Well, as you can see by my Howdy Intro, 2015 is a special year because it's the year I GRADUATE from Texas A&M University! WHOOP! This will be a year of firsts as I finish up my college career and "go confidently in the direction of [my] dreams!" God has blessed me beyond measure and to say I'm thrilled/excited/happy/pumped to see what He has in store for my life this new year would be an understatement!
While the rest of the world scurried up and down the isles of their nearest grocery store gathering last minute items needed to kick off their New Year's Eve, I thought I'd kick back, relax and reflect on the lessons I learned this past year.
1. We're called to be a light in the darkness...not just when it's hard but ESPECIALLY when it's hard.
People constantly watch your reactions to circumstances. They pay attention to how you treat others when things aren't going your way and take note of the way you act when you think nobody's looking. It is in those times of darkness you must let your light shine the most! The harder it is to be a light, the more you will stick out to others because they will begin to notice that there is something different about you. They may not be able to put their finger on it, but they'll notice. Let your light shine at ALL times...ESPECIALLY when it's hard!
2. Practice makes permanent.
I learned that becoming like Christ is a lifelong process. How can we become more like Him if we don't practice developing Christlike attributes? If we're impatient, we need to practice patience. If we're ungrateful, we need to practice thanking God for things throughout our day. If we have the tendency to be unkind, we need to practice showing kindness. If we find others hard to love, we need to practice loving others. Again, it's a process! There's a difference between knowing what to do and doing it! We've already been taught how to respond to situations, treat those around us, etc., but unless we apply it to our lives, we'll never change for the better.
3. Don't rush things. Trust God's timing.
I was ahead of schedule (in my eyes) by the end of my junior year and could graduate a semester early if I decided to. However, God will rearrange our plans so they match HIS schedule rather than our own! Because I didn't rush graduating, God was able to work in and through my life in ways I never could have imagined! In other words, God's clock is never a "few minutes fast" or a "few minutes behind" but is, instead, always right on time! He knows what is best for our lives long before we do and it's important to trust his timing!
4. God is love.
As Christians, the most important lesson we could ever learn is what it means to love. We can go our entire lives claiming to be disciples of Jesus Christ but if we don't show the love that Christ showed us to EVERYONE we meet, we can't truly know God because God IS love. It is hatred that pulls others away from Christ; it is LOVE that draws them near. As Christians, we need to love, love, LOVE!
5. There's no sense in being jealous of anyone.
God has given each of us a variety of spiritual gifts, talents, and abilities! When you are jealous of another's characteristics, you miss out on your own unique characteristics! You were uniquely made. There is no other person in this world like you. Learn to love yourself because you, (insert name here), have so much to offer the world! Stop worrying about not having this skill or that spiritual gift, be grateful for what you DO have! Don't take your talent for granted! Accept the person God made you to be so you can become all He intends you to be! Be inspired by those around you, not intimidated!
6. There is no comfortable way to tan your underarms.
I think the above statement speaks for itself.
7. Actions really do speak louder than words.
You don't have to talk about God 24/7 for others to know you're a Christian. People will be able to tell who it is you live for by your actions and the life you live. The world has plenty of people that SAY they love Christ. The world needs more people to SHOW they love Christ. We're called to "Preach the gospel at all times. If necessary, use words."
8. God needs Christians everywhere.
You have the potential to make a difference right where you are. Yes, you read that correctly! Whether you're scrubbing tables, bagging groceries, taking blood, or selling perfume, you're in position to change a life. Someone who has never witnessed the love of Christ may walk through the doors today and experience Him for the first time through an interaction with you! You never know what one simple smile, conversation, or kind gesture can do to a person's life! Trust that God has you exactly where he wants you and know that it's your responsibility to make the most of the opportunities he has given you! Shine your light "every day, every day" in any and every way possible!
9. Happiness is a choice.
You choose every day whether you will walk through life with a chip on your shoulder or a smile on your face. Joy is not circumstantial. It's experienced as a result of looking at situations from God's perspective and trusting His bigger picture. Wake up every morning and make the decision to be happy and live a joy-filled life!
10. Don't wait for the new year to make a change.
Every day is a new day. You don't have to wait for a new year to do better, to be better! Today can be special...just say the word! Life is too short to put something off for tomorrow if you can get it done today!
In closing... Here is my favorite quote from the movie New Years Eve in regards to last night and the new year ahead of us: "And as you all can see, the ball has stopped half way to its perch. It's suspended there to remind us, before we pop the [Welch's Sparkling Grape Juice] and celebrate the new year, to stop and reflect on the year that has gone by, to remember both our triumphs and our missteps, our promises made and broken, the times we opened ourselves up to great adventures...or closed ourselves down for fear of getting hurt. Because that's what New Year's is all about...getting another chance...a chance to forgive, to do better, to do more, to give more, to love more, and to stop worrying about what if and start embracing what will be. So when that ball drops at midnight, and it will drop, let's remember to be nice to each other, kind to each other, and not just tonight but all year long."
HAPPY, HAPPY, HAPPY NEW YEAR! As always, God Bless and Gig 'Em!
