Kairos.

Well, here we are.  Another year in the books.  Another year of change, of progress, of success, of failure, and of opportunity.  As I sit here on New Years Day (note- that's when I started this blog... I finished on the 6th.  Slacker me) and reflect over the past year, I am amazed at where the Lord has brought me and the things He has done. I supposed I could define this year by the word Kairos, which is greek for 'defining moment.' This year has been full of moments that the Lord has crafted.  The way he shaped these events, opportunities, and circumstances over the past year  has been such a beautiful thing.

Here's an overview of the past year.  Naturally we are going to do this in Katie fashion and make it completely out of order and just in the way my brain thinks it.  Here we go.

In the concert/theatre world: I had the lovely pleasure of meeting the great Sutton Foster and seeing her in concert.  Absolutely amazing.  I saw Disney Princesses on Ice.  Heavenly. I also had the pleasure of seeing Jersey Boys.  Phenomenal show.  I also saw Mary Poppins.  It made me smile.  The choreography in that show is absolutely incredible.  I did not make it to the theatre world as much as I wished this year but hopefully 2011 will bring much satisfaction when it comes to the theatre world.  

The year kicked off with a trip to Passion 2010.  Phenomenal speakers, great worship, and a intense time with the Lord was a great way to begin the new year!

Through this year I have learned how precious and dear my family is to me.  While I often catch grief for  all of this, I could care less.  I spent nearly my entire summer away from them.  Not only did I spend it away from them, I was often out of contact with them (which if you know my mom and I, that's rare).  I don't regret being where I was this summer in any way shape or form (we'll get to that in a moment) but the Lord definitely revealed to me how supportive, loving, and wonderful they are.  Because of this, I have spent many of my weekends this semester at home to kind of make up for that time and I am one hundred percent ok with this.  I don't feel like I have been slighted in anyway shape or form in "the college experience." In SO many ways, I have gained so much.  As I left to go back to school today, I realized how very precious every single day is.

I played intramural basketball early in the year with the lovely Pink Ladies.  So much fun, even though I was terrible.

My Carolina Gamecocks decided to show up for the most part this season minus several really important games.  Needless to say we can hold our heads high for a great bowl bid, beating the number one team at the time, a stomping of the local tigers, a SEC East title, and no players getting put in the pokey.  Despite a loss for the SEC title and a heartbreaking bowl game, it was a great year to be a Gamecock!

This year I met the most incredible man in the entire world, Justin Hernandez.  I am so SO thankful that he is in my life.  While he is down in Texas and the distance makes things difficult sometimes, there is no one in this world I would rather be with.  He is an amazing man of the Lord and not only do I have a wonderful relationship with him, but I have gained wonderful relationships with his parents and sister!  We have a long road ahead of us but I cannot wait for what the Lord has in store!

I would be completely remiss if I did not say that FUGE was easily the event in my life that brought the most life change.  Never ever in my life have I experienced the Lord in the way I did this summer.  The summer began in May when I went to program training for acting this summer.  I had no clue that when I pulled into Ridgecrest, my life was about to be drastically changed.  The camp theme this summer was Kairos, which is the greek word for Defining Moments.  My life literally had hundreds of defining moments this summer. First, I had the pleasure of meeting 30 strangers.  Little did I know that on that day in May that these people would become a second family, a support system, and many of them lifelong friends.  The Lord is so precious.  Then I got to be a part of life change in student's lives.  It was amazing to see the Lord break down walls week after week and see them surrender their lives to their Heavenly Father.  I had the pleasure of teaching seventh and eighth grade Bible Study.  Week after week I learned new truths as I taught these students about Kairos moments in people's lives such as Jonah and Hannah.  It was so beautiful to see them learn from these stories and people and connect something that happened thousands of years ago to something they were going through in their lives.  Camp is a moment that changed my life forever.  Not a day goes by that I do not talk with at least one or two people from camp this summer or that I am somehow reminded of some funny camp moment or story.  I am so thankful and SO blessed that I had such an incredible summer full of intentional ministry to students.  My life has been forever changed.

Movies worth noting (in my mind):

Toy Story 3- The end of an era.  I cried.
Avatar-  Pretty good.  Didn't completely get the hype but still- wonderful.
Despicable Me- Agnes.  No more questions.  Wonderful.
The Fighter- Great story.  Wonderful acting.  Realistic.  Amy Adams.  Deserves Oscar Nods

Books worth noting (again in my mind)
I don't read much so....
The Bible.  The Word of God.  Living. Active.
Choosing to See- MaryBeth Chapman.  Wonderful book by a beautiful woman of the Lord.  This book has opened my heart to the idea of potentially adopting children one day.  She explains their process so clearly and how beautifully the Lord has worked in her and Steven Curtis Chapman's life.  She also shares how their family has grieved yet also celebrated the life and loss of one of their daughters.

Songs again worth noting (note- some of these were not released this year, just impacted my life this year)

You're Beautiful- Phil Wickam.  Solid lyrically.
Mama's Song- Carrie Underwood
Savannah- Relient K
Beautiful Things- Gungor
Africa- Toto
Sing Over Your Children- Matt Maher

The last two are noted because they remind me of an amazing opportunity coming up!  This spring break  I will be headed halfway across the world to SOUTH AFRICA to share the gospel with the people of Soweto.  The Lord has been preparing me my entire life for this experience and I absolutely cannot wait what He has in store!

That makes me excited about what is to come in the next year.  It's gearing up to be a great year!  With South Africa,  Texas, camp this summer (back at Ridgecrest, by the way!), this semester, and starting my last year of college.... it's going to be crazy yet full of Kairos moments for sure.

xoxo
-kar