Goodbye, 2008.

Three hours, six minutes.

Yippee.

Resolution(s)

Oh boy. New Year's Eve is tomorrow. And I have yet to think of any resolutions. I never really had made any resolutions the years before last. I like to think I was at least semi-successful in keeping up with it, permitted I was given opportunities to do so. It will definitely carry over to 2009 and future years.

[See Part Two of Ch. Four in my 'So Close' blog to read about last year's resolution.]

I'm definitely going to have to come up with a new resolution. Honestly, last year's resolution was one more way to help me stay focused on God and it was great to grow in my faith through that resolution. I hope to do the same with this year's.

Change

I need a change.
Something new.
I don't know what, exactly.
Just...
something.
A new routine.
A new haircut.
A new hobby.
Anything, really.
I simply feel stuck.
And I don't like it.

...
I still can't wait to go back to school.

Favorites

'These are a few of my favorite things.'

















Phase 10.
My new study Bible.
History of Israel [homework].

And yes, I'm serious about the homework. It's keeping me sane through my ardent wishing to get back to school.

Coincidences

I'm a huge fan of coincidences.
Connections.
Similar occurrences.
Whatever.
I think they're a lot of fun.
One may say, "There are no such things as coincidences... only fate! And destiny!"
Eeeyeahhh. Well. To each his own, I suppose.

Anyway, something I found out today was somewhat coincidental and I appreciated it. I received a couple C.S. Lewis books for Christmas and have started reading one of them ('The Screwtape Letters'). I am, currently, talking with a friend (I'm a great multi-tasker) and we were talking about Christmas; we went over a few things that we received and he actually received a collection of C.S. Lewis books. The first one he has chosen to read is, in fact, 'The Screwtape Letters'. Coincidence? Indeed. We're even on the same letter. Fascinating.

Ankeny

So I'm in Ankeny at my sister and brother-in-law's house [with my mom, dad, and brother]. It's been a long day. We got here almost twelve hours ago. But it's been fun. We exchanged gifts and just hung out. Played a few games. My nephew, Jack, is such a joy. Just seeing him smile and laugh puts a huge smile on my face and I can't help but laugh along with him. Absolutely delightful. I like it here, I feel really comfortable.

The Birth

Merry Christmas to you!

'But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord." '
[Luke 2:10-11]

More?!

We received more snow last night and this morning.

Ick.

I'm so over it.
Not even kidding.

Shopping

I started my Christmas shopping today...
ummm yeahhh...

Usually I don't wait this long!
I'm basically done about a week before Christmas.
Not this year, obviously.
Oh well.

I had fun going out with my dad today.
Annnd tomorrow I'll go with my mom!
Such fun.
I love shopping with my parents.
They each approach going out in such different ways and with such different mindsets.
Too great.

Band

Tonight I went to the band concert at my brother's high school. He plays in the Wind Symphony. I've talked before about how amazing my brother is and what a talented trumpet player he is. I really enjoyed the Wind Symphony's performance tonight.

I always liked band. I played the alto saxophone from sixth grade to half of eleventh grade (due to 'The Incident That Shall Not be Mentioned'). I was not great. I was good enough, though, especially for one who never practiced or took private lessons. But I never wanted to be great; I didn't care about improving. However, I have this feeling I could have done really well. Maybe not to the point where I was the best of the best, like my brother is. But I probably could have made Wind Symphony if I really wanted to. In fact, one of the band directors actually encouraged me to audition for it, as well as one of the jazz bands. That was the year before 'The Incident'. I never cared much for jazz, though. Actually, not at all. And I still practically abhor it to this day - and want to cut my ears off every time I hear any type of jazz music. Ugh.

Anyway. I liked marching band the best. I didn't like sitting down at concerts to play Christmas jingles and slow, boring songs. I liked the competition, excitement, discipline, and movement of marching. Man oh man, it was always so fun: from band camp, to football games, to competitions... marching band was great.

Once a band geek, always a band geek.
For sure.

Cold

It is too cold.

CCCB

I want to be back at school already.
[I've only been home eight days.]

And it's not because I miss people or don't like being home or on break...

It's just that I'm really excited for my classes next semester and want to begin.
Man oh man.

Yella!

I am so complacent right now.
I like where I am in life.
Yet at the same time, I feel so complaisant.
To go out and do.
Do something.
Do anything.
Whatever needs to be done.
Help.
Long-term, I mean.
But I know I have to wait.
I have to learn.
Mature.
Grow.
Yet I can't help but think, 'Let's go! Now.'

['Yella!' means "Let's go!" in Arabic.]

Notes

I used my Pentateuch notes today to find a verse in Deuteronomy.
I was happy for myself when I found what I was looking for.
Brilliant.

Foundations

I got an A in Foundations of Christianity.
I got an A in Foundations of Christianity.
I, Natalie Paige Keene, got an A in Foundations of Christianity.

There is a God.
Which is probably a good thing for me to realize and know and believe, seeing how I'm going to a Bible college and taking classes like Foundations of Christianity.

In which, by the way, I got an A.

Chores

Tomorrow my mom is leaving a list of chores for me to do around the house while she is at work.

I am excited.

I'm so weird.

I've been kind of bored. I've done some homework for next semester and read quite a bit, but that's about it. My dad is in France on business. My brother still has school. My sister and her husband (and baby Jack!) live two hours away. And basically all my friends are either in Japan for the year (miss Abbie Burkle... !) or are still at school.

I should be able to look around and see what needs to be done, but that doesn't always work out well for me. I either don't realize it or am afraid I'll do something wrong.

So, yes.
Chores.
Good.

Christmas

Christmas is ten days away.
That's basically tomorrow, in Natalie-time.
Holy eggnog, where has the time gone?!
The day before last it was Halloween.
And just yesterday it was Thanksgiving.
And the day after tomorrow it will be January 1, 2009.
Oh my.

Service

There is simply nothing like a good, traditional, Methodist church service at 9:00 in the morning to bring you happiness.

Honestly.

I love St. Paul's.

Talk

I'm so tired of non-verbal communication.

Facebook.
Texting.
Emails.

It's ridiculous.

Verbal communication is coming to be a lost art, believe it or not.

This saddens me.

Winter Break

I'm home for winter break, and boy does it feel good.

Popcorn

I'm pretty sure I could live off of popcorn if I ever needed to. I wouldn't complain.

Flashcards

I enjoy making flashcards to a very large extent.
Let me tell you...
it's kind of addicting.

Final

I basically aced my Foundations of Christianity final.

That's all I have to say.

!

Pictures

I have neglected to take pictures for my last four Sunday posts... ridiculous.
This happened about a month ago, I think.

Man! I need to get on that.

Trinity

Trinity United Methodist Church of Moberly, Missouri is really cute. And the service is fantastic. I like it. A lot.

Godsends

God is so good.
He places people in my life, every day, who give me hope, encouragement, answers to prayer, love, and so much more. Honestly. They are true Godsends and I am so thankful for each of them.

Text-Talk

I think one of my favorite things to do is talk to people by texting them... when they are sitting right next to me. Private little conversations are the best.

Mutti, don't hate.
!

... Love you, Mutti. : )

Assignment, Revisited

I actually posted the assignment I wrote about yesterday on my other blog.
I'm in partial disbelief at myself.
I am ridiculous.
I don't care.

Assignment

So I'm sitting in the library right now. I just finished my last assignment of the year for LOC. I have one last assignment to do for the entire fall term. But I wanted to take a bit of a break to check my email (... /Facebook...). Then I thought I'd go ahead and write today's post on this blog while I'm online. The only thing on my mind right now is this last assignment I've got, so I figured I might as well write about it. The assignment is for Christian Discipleship. I have to write a Spiritual Growth Plan. A paper, essentially, which is designed "to facilitate self-evaluation of distinctive personal attributes pertaining to my spiritual walk, and to determine systematic and measurable means by which I will mature in my faith in Jesus Christ." Straight off the syllabus. I'm technically really excited to write my plan out. This is tough, though. Our first assignment for this class was a Spiritual Journey paper. That was easy. Writing about the past is no problem. But writing about the future? Entirely different story. I know I've said before that I like to plan things out and know what's going to happen. And this is kind of a chance to just go at it with full force and work out this crazy-awesome plan... but as I've been learning to sort of sit back and give the reins to God, I don't know where to start. I've just sort of let things fall into place. Also, it's a plan as to where I'm going to go with my faith. What I'm going to do with it, how I'm going to grow. That's a different kind of plan than how I'm going to spend my summer vacation... or even how I'm going to live my life after I graduate. I really am stoked to write this thing - but it's truly going to take a bit of thinking, that's for sure. I probably should have been thinking about it quite some time ago... seeing how the paper is due at 1:30 in the afternoon tomorrow... but hey, it's how I do. I'm not worried about getting it done. Trust me, it will get done. But I'm definitely going to have to sit and and plan this... plan. !

Presently...

I have my last Foundations class tonight.
And I can hardly contain myself at the thought of not having to go to this class anymore.
It's basically ridiculous.

Also, I want to go to Salt Lake City.
Very badly.
I talked to my friend Darcy last night and it was a bittersweet conversation.
It was wonderful talking to her, but it made me miss her (and everybody else, too!) so much more.

Man.

But I'm still really excited to not have Foundations anymore (with the exception of going to take the final next week, that is).

Edit: I GOT OUT OF FOUNDATIONS ONE HOUR AND FORTY MINUTES EARLY... !!!!!!

Cello

I am going to learn how to play the cello.
One day.

A couple years ago I decided that if I could go back in time and do things over... I would go back to the spring before sixth grade and decide to be in orchestra, learning how to play the cello - and not be in band playing the alto saxophone.

I would do a few more things over, of course, but that would certainly be the starting point.

"Katie, what was that thing you were playing today, the big thing?"
'Cello.'
"Ok. This is a bass guitar. And it's the exact same thing but instead of playing it like this, you tip it on the side... cellooo, you got a bass!"
[Name that movie.]