Polishing of 20 years..

It's June 1st. Which means I have 13 days left of being 20. I'm really, really, really young but a lot of life has happened. This past year life has changed, I lost friends, I've changed...it's been hard. Really hard. But despite this all it's been a learning process. Just like most of life goes.

I've learned that despite all my effort to love someone the way I think they want to be loved....sometimes it isn't enough. There's someone who I really hurt and I know I did but as selfish as this might sound.....I had to do what was best for me. I truly hurt because that person is hurt, but where is the line between protecting someone and doing something that is right for you?

Life is hard. It sucks sometimes. But for every sucky time there is a brighter one just up ahead...

I just needed to type this out... to an empty audience but nonetheless its helpful.

SCHOOL IS OUT SCREAM AND SHOUT!

After a terribly difficult 6 weeks of 3 summer classes....I AM FREE. Till mid August at least... So happy to be done with classes. Now I am focusing on preparing myself to head to Honduras in just a couple weeks! I am headed down to Central America to work in a safe home for victims of sex trafficking. The lives I am about to meet and the testimonies I will hear are something I don't think I will ever be prepared for.

My heart has been set on people who need help. The Bible speaks many times about helping other, either neighbors or strangers. Everyone is entitled to help and more importantly, love. This is going to sound crazy to say, but I can not wait to be completely wrecked by these people. I pray that I will be able to help to these girls that I will be meeting, but I also can't wait to have them impact my life.

"Yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me." // 1 Corinthians 15:10

I pray that I am a testament to this verse. That it was never me but the will and spirit of the Lord that is greater than I. 

Walk around yo' city

I live in beautiful and historic Downtown Saint Augustine, which (fun fact) is the city I've dreamt of living in ever since I was in 7th grade. I am a resident of Lincolville which is filled with a TON of history. (Another fun fact) Martin Luther King, Jr. once walked the streets of Lincolville as a peace rally. I have so much history right at my door step, yet I don't acknowledge it very often.

The other day, I took a stroll around town with two friends. We started off by going to get a cup of coffee which continued into trespassing into a building and trying to access their roof (...no luck...needed a key) then went into Flagler and tried accessing the solarium (also no luck...there was an event up there that night) and then it ended going to the top of the Lightner Museum and watching the sky turn colors.

I guess the point of this is just a reminder to acknowledge your surroundings. Something as a simple walk through the neighborhood reminded me of the reason why I chose to live in St. Augustine and why I continue to. I love this town far beyond it's history. I don't think I will ever love a city more than my beloved St. Augustine. I have grown and learned so much during my time here. I cherish this town far beyond my words could explain. It is humbling to me the thought that living in this town was never really apart of my plan but more of the Lord's plan for me. I was meant to live here. My heart will always be in St. Augustine.

Another year down

I AM NOW A JUNIOR IN COLLEGE! 

I can't believe it. This year was freaking rough. From moving into my first apartment to taking six classes to quitting my job at Harley and being trained in coffee...My life has been a bit of a whirlwind. Now I'm on summer vacation for exactly 12 days then I start 3 summer classes...


Life is cool and I'm blessed to be doing it with these gals.

unscripted

Life tends to get a bit chaotic and overwhelming and time consuming and...many many other things, but despite all of the craziness life is so wonderful. Everyday I see students walking briskly up and down the streets either on their penny boards or their vespas. Some students are wearing their bathing suit and no shoes while others are wearing the latest fashion trend.. you may be wondering where i'm going with this.. what I'm trying to say is that despite it all life is unscripted, and the thought of that drives me insane.

I am 100% a planner. I love to color code. I love to open my agenda and see that I have meetings and deadlines. Call that the teacher in me if you will but whatever that's how I am. I would rather a day filled back to back with meetings then a day sat on the couch.. although I do appreciate those days every now and then. I don't know.. I just love the constant movement in my days, but I have to say that the things I love the most are the moments I didn't plan. The moment where I run into someone I haven't seen in a while, or when I get an encouraging text message from someone I admire, or when i'm walking to class and it starts to rain just a little bit but the sun is shining so brightly. Those moments make those crazy, hectic days that much better.


xoxo
k

Changes

i'm sorry if my blog tends to get repetitive at times.. i seem to be in a state of nostalgia.

This week my youth group from high school is at camp, and this is the first year where I am not in attendance. It is a strange feeling to be independent.. i've always been an independent child but now I truly am. I move into my first apartment in 9 days (!!!) and I will be starting my sophomore year of college in just a short 2 months.. So much has happened in a year, I didn't even have a glimpse at all the Lord had in store for me but boy oh boy is it amazing. The people and community He has led me to, the town, the experiences.. it's all been more than I could ever imagine. The biggest thing I've realized is my relationship with Him and how much it has grown in just a short year. I can't help but sit back and be amazed.

What an ever loving, ever knowing God, friends. I am so in love with Him.


If all of this has happened in an year, I can't even begin to imagine what the next year has in store for me.

Stay tuned, friends.


xoxo

K

sunday morning

This morning I woke up with full intentions of going to church. I woke up got ready and headed that way. Once I got there I saw that the church was actually meeting in homes instead of the church and I proceeded to head to my favorite coffee shop for some quiet time. I get there, ordered a hot aussie, and sat at my favorite table outside of the shop. A man and his girlfriend approached me and asked if they could sit with me, this made me think of my English professor who encouraged us to sit with strangers at quaint places, such as a coffee shop. I told the man he was more than welcome to join me and he did. At first we were both quiet but I then broke the ice by asking if they were visiting the town for the weekend. His girlfriend tells me they are locals and we begin to talk about Flagler. They asked me if I was a student and the man told me he was an alumni. We talked for about half an hour about the town, the school, and the people of St. Augustine. He shared his heart and love for the town and school with me. The man and his girlfriend left, we didn't even exchange names, but the conversation was something so close to me that I don't think I could have had a better Sunday morning. They left and I began my quiet time and I have to say, it was the best Sunday morning I've had in a while.

"Therefore, I will praise you, Lord, among the nations; I will sing the praises of your name." // Psalm 18:49