Uhhh… Check please?!

What’s on Kate’s plate today?

Today’s special:

One heaping portion of stress, garnished with anxiety. A simmering side of exhaustion with a pinch of loneliness and BAM! You’ve got Kate… a hot mess.

So lately I’ve been what you might call, ehh, overwhelmed. School is obviously an insane load. Then let’s add on the fact that I started a waitressing job that works me about 40+ hrs a week and mix that in with the fact that I’m somewhat emotionally spent from stress, sleep deprivation, and the loneliness I’ve felt from not having yet formed any close friendships and you’ve got a recipe for disaster. I know, I know, “do not be anxious for anything…”. Too late. Haha. I always tend to bite off more than I can chew (no pun intended) and I have done it yet again.  I like to do everything that I do to the best of my ability and when I don’t, I feel a bit of a failure. To ease some of this stress, I’ve put in my two week notice at my job and therefore will free up A LOT of time for more important things, like school- you know, that thing I moved here for in the first place. So that will be good.

One thing that I am really missing is my home church at Olive. By that, I mean my support and fellowship I had there. Not to mention great teaching by Pastor and worship/music which is a huge outlet for me. Still on the search for a church here, a long process I didn’t realize would be so hard. I’m beginning to see how those vast percentages of students step away from church during college. It’s not easy to find a place you feel you belong and with the stress of everything else going on at this point in life, it’s sometimes easier to just not go. College ministries- step it up! Hoping to find somewhere soon. J  Keep praying. And of course, the close friendships…. It’s difficult coming in as a junior from out of state in a school where everyone’s got their dorm roommates and sorority sisters already intact and by their side. It takes time to form tight friendships, I know. But it does get discouraging.

Wooo! How’s that for a plateful?? Uhh… CHECK PLEASE?! 

Or…. Better yet, I’m grabbin my runnin shoes to dine and ditch that mess. I have found that getting back in shape has also been a great stress reliever. I’ve gotten back into having a personal trainer (hallelujer) ((To mom- we have a plan)) and RUNNING. Yes, people, you read that right… running. I have danced for years, played some tennis but NEVER have I been into running. All of you who have known me since birth should be proud, considering my version of running as a child consisted of power walking accompanied by swift moving arms (I could’ve sworn I was running like the wind). Mom and dad have thoughtful videos making my poor little toddler self run back and forth the living room for their pure entertainment. (They paid my screen time in candy installments. ahaha). A word to all of you who despise running: stick with it, it’s great stress relief/ therapy and BONUS, it’s great exercise. A positive for body, soul and mind…. It should be a no brainer. RUN.

Since getting back into working out seriously, my trainer asked me to set a goal and about that same week, Leah Taylor mentioned the Nashville Country Music ½ Marathon. She and a group back home decided to run it and suggested I start training and go for it as well. So, ladies and gentlemen, the Nashville ½  on April 30^th became my goal. In case you didn’t know, that’s 13.1 miles. I’m a little nervous but sooooo excited. J

Well, there you have it. That’s the latest! 

Food for thought:

Psalm 119:32 “I’ll run the course you lay out for me, if you’ll just show me how.”

I read this today and the author commenting said “Your freedom as a human being depends not on whether physical or circumstantial chains bind you, but rather on whether or not your heart is free to worship in the midst of life as you know it. Run in the path of His commands, for He has set your heart free”. Embrace the path He’s laid out and trust He’ll show you how to run on it.

Breathe in , Breathe out,  Run on.