Light on the Horizon

Well, 3 exams down, 2 to go... I cannot wait until this semester is over. I don't know why, but every single person I've spoken to on this campus, regardless of their year, has agreed that this semester has been the worst of their college career so far. I've had a torn serratus anterior muscle (shoulder/chest area), problems with my right knee, and a heavy academic work-load. It's been a long semester of not being able to exercise (which is the worst!) and having tons of never-ending work. Talk about motivation being thrown out the window!

On a more positive note, in four days I will be school-free for 35 days! Well, that's almost true. I have to write a 12-page paper for "Model UN", which is a national competition me and about 18 other Lee students are taking part in. The competition will be in April '09 in New York City (I've never been there!) and we'll be representing Costa Rica. In other news, I'm moving off-campus next semester, so I'll have more $$ to work with budgetarily (I made that word up; get used to it b/c I do it quite frequently, right Anna?). Anna and I will quarrel over the validity or correctness of words; these discussions always lead to me pulling the dictionary off my shelf and usually end with me sighing and hanging my head in defeat.

Anyways, the weather here in southeast Tennessee is very nice. A little chilly in the mornings and evenings, but overall it's perfect brisk walking weather! One morning, to my dismay, my windshield was covered with frost and I panicked -- not because I haven't dealt with this before... -- but I panicked because I didn't have a scraper! So, using my creativity, I took a thin CD case from the car and used that as a makeshift scraper. Thankfully there are no scratches on any of the windows -- I was careful. Speaking of genius ideas, last night I slept with a water bottle full of hot water in my hands, which is a great way to save on heating bills when it gets chilly at night.

"I've missed more than 9,000 shots in my career. I've lost almost 300 games. Twenty-six times I've been trusted to take the game-winning shot and missed. I've failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed."

-Michael Jordan

Life.

Wow, it has been a while since I've updated this blog, hasn't it?

Life goes by so quickly, it's hard to keep up all the time with everything!!

Anyways, so lots has happened in my life since February 2008!

I was blessed with several weeks in the United Kingdom this summer -

I had a blast! I want to go back sometime soon, if possible.

Other life situations have changed (relationally, locationally, etc) and I've come to realize that through all the chaos of an always-changing life there is only one thing that remains the same. And that would be God. How grateful I am that my life is ultimately in His hands...and that I don't have to worry about everything because the One who created the world in its entirety also holds me in the palm of His hand.

In other news, I'm officially burnt out. Life has successfully overwhelmed me.

I am in no way admitting defeat, because I definitely have hope.

All I really want to do in life at this current moment is take time off and

work and travel. We overcomplicate life, filling it with so many unnecessaries...

and I just need time to get back to the basics.

Anyway, I hope you're all enjoying life, whether it's hot or absolutely FREEZING where you are... I guess now would be the perfect time to send a shout out to all my loving friends and family members up in Ontario.... may God bless you and your layering abilities. Haha. Maybe long-johns are on sale at Mark's Work Warehouse? 

Unfortunately I have lots of papers to write and presentations to present...and time is ticking.... so I'll leave off with a song quote. 

The shadow proves the sunshine - Switchfoot.

Think about it...it's quite true.

God bless you all. ♥

Dorm Wars

DORM WARS 2008

Simmons Hall, Victors

So last night I was involved in a campus-wide competition between the many dorms here at Lee. It was the craziest, most energetic, school-spirited event I've been to so far! Basically, every dorm has their own team, and they each choose a unique theme. Then they have to choreograph a dance, make decorations, design t-shirts and costumes, and prepare for the big night! (We actually went to a Walmart parking lot late at night to practice for the shopping cart race). Following the grand entrance (our dance....which by the way, was centred around our SIMMONS SPICE GIRLS theme!) there was an eating contest (cold hotdogs soaked in maple syrup), a shopping cart race, and an obstacle course. My knees are all bruised and rug-burned from diving through a 5-foot barrel. For the obstacle course we had to spin around 5 times with our forehead on a bat and then step through 4 pairs of tires (which is a very hilarious thing when you're super dizzy!), dive through the previously mentioned barrel, swing on a ropeswing from one platform to another, and then jump/propel yourself over a small wall. It was so fun! Our dorm ended up winning both awards that night....we got the Spirit Award and we won FIRST PLACE for female dormitories!!! Yeah!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We got medals, a trophy, and our hall will be put up on the Dorm Wars banner in the arena. Then, after the event, we all ran around campus military-style (in a line) shouting and screaming. It was crazy!! I attached a link so you can see more pictures. :0)

Other than that, I have been quite perplexed with life lately. Please pray for me as I try to make some adjustments to my life. I have also been tired a lot too. Plus, half the whole campus is sick (you think I'm joking - I am not!! Classes are bare, as so many students are sick in bed with the flu), so please pray for health for everyone. It's all about handwashing, just like my mother would say.

Well everyone, I love you all. It's supposed to snow here in Cleveland tonight (supposedly). Two days ago it was around 15 degrees Celcius. I don't do well with drastic weather changes like this. But anyways.... talk to you soon! Blessings in Christ! (p.s. my roommate is in the middle of the bottom picture; her name is Lindsey). 

Convocation

Hello everybody,
This week is Convocation Week at Lee; basically, we still have our regular schedule for classes, but profs are told not to assign exams/quizes/projects for us. We have 1-2 chapel services each day, and this 4-day event gives everyone on campus the opportunity to take time to focus on the Lord. It's great!

My parents are in Mexico, and, by the way, did not extend an invite to their favourite daughter who would looooove a break from school (no bitterness, honestly), and supposedly they're having fun soaking up the sun. I bet. Who wouldn't, eh?

The weather here is continually warming up, and it is really nice out today. On Saturday I almost fell asleep on a porch swing in the sun. Mmm..

Good news! Kyle submitted a photo he took in Mozambique to National Geographic, and it was featured in their "Daily Dozen" online! Isn't that great? You can check it out at: http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/ngm/yourshot/daily-dozen/daily-dozen.html (it's January, Week 3...it's a Black and White picture of a child's eyes through a fence).

Anyways, I'm about to catch a quick nap, so I will talk to you all later!

Happy February!

- Chattanooga, TN -

I don't know if any of you can sympathize with me on this one, but can you believe it's February already? Sometimes I feel that time passes slowly, but it's like all of a sudden it's a new month. Hmmm.... just another sign that I'm getting old. Haha.

This week was pretty simple - a lot of work but a lot of learning. Also, last night I was able to learn how to play raquet-ball with some friends I met at the courts here on campus. What a great sport that is! I think if I'm going to play it on a regular basis I should invest in a good pair of eye goggles. If the ball can give you bruises on your body I wonder what it could do to your face/eyes. Scary thought.

It's been raining a lot here lately, and it's hard to beat the dreary winter blues. It could be worse I guess, as we usually have sunshine when it's not raining. No snow this week in Cleveland, TN.

I really don't know what more to say! If you could keep a few prayer requests in mind that would be greatly appreciated. First, there's a little girl in Kentucky (I don't know her personally) and doctors discovered two tumours in her brain a few weeks ago; she celebrated her 13th birthday last week. Also, my roommate Lindsey's dad back at home in North Carolina is having some severe health issues, and she's actually gone home this weekend to see him. So if you could just pray for God's hand to heal and restore, that would be amazing. I forget sometimes that in the Lord's prayer Jesus said, "Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven." We, as Christians (if you are a Christian), are part of a revolution that needs to be praying for things to happen on earth instead of waiting for everything to be made perfect in heaven. Remember that God hears you when you pray, and that "nothing is impossible for God" (Luke 1:37).

Have a blessed weekend everybody! Drive safely and enjoy the snow while it lasts.

~ Caitlyn

The Weekend is Here!

"He reached down from on high and took hold of me; He drew me out of deep water."

- 2 Samuel 22:17

"Within the providence of God, we are allowed to succeed not for selfish reasons but for unselfish purposes. There is no lasting self-esteem produced by personal success unless you are dedicated to helping those around you. The only joy of success is knowing that you've increased your power and capacity to help others," says Dr. Robert Schuller, pastor of the huge Crystal Cathedral in California.

I thought that it was encouraging and a great reminder that no matter how old you are, what religion you are, or how 'successful' you are in society's eyes you can still make a difference. Use your sucesses to bless others, and the world will begin to change as we know it! Have you ever seen that commercial where one person does a random act of kindness for another person, and then a very long chain of acts of kindness are passed from one person to another, to another, etc? I love that commercial, and it's so true; never underestimate the difference that smiles, 'hello's and holding doors open for people can make.

Anyways, for a quick update on how my week has been...

My work week went well - I was kept busy at the office and enjoyed having something that took my mind off school. As for school, that went well too. My classes are so interesting! God is teaching me a lot here, especially through philosophical/theological debates (well, 'discussions' that have touchy subjects). I was just telling Kyle, though, that I can really look back on the past few years and see just how much I've matured and how my thinking has progressed to what my opinions are of things now. It's quite wonderful!

The weather here is nice - comparable to a brisk Ontario spring day. I still hear a lot of, 'Oh man, it's so cooooold out here!' and I think You ain't seen nothin' yet! Hopefully you're all reading this and not numb from head-to-toe up in Canada. Hopefully it warms up for all of us this weekend, eh?

Well, I love you all, and hope you're each having a great day. Stop and take a deep breath, look at the patterns/colours in the sky, smell a flower, pet your dog, give your best friend a hug, tell your loved ones you love 'em...because we never know when our lives will be over, do we?

Snow "Storm"

Today was a very interesting cultural experience that I feel I must share with you (mostly) northern folks. Last night we had a "snow storm", which is our equivalent of about a centimetre of snow that instantaneously melts when it hits pavement. Hmmm. Interesting, I know. Last night there were people having snowball fights (yes, I know, but it actually is possible) and taking pictures, simply having fun in the rare snowfall. I thought it was funny that when I got up this morning the radio announcer relayed the message that all schools in the surrounding counties/area were closed for the day because of the snow. It just goes to show you that we sure are blessed with the abundance of snow in Ontario. :)

Anyways, as I approach the end of a full week of classes, I feel somewhat tired. Maybe it's just that I still need to get back into "the swing of things". My classes are going well so far (well, my business prof is in South America getting his PhD, so we're left with stand-in profs to fill time) and I am being exposed to a lot of new and interesting areas of thought. Psychology is already a very interesting class!!! Last night I went 10-pin bowling with ten girls from my dorm. It was fun, after I got over the fear of getting my fingers stuck in the huge, heavy ball. Hmm...I think I like 5-pin better...

I went to a smaller chapel service today and was really taken aback by the message. It was simple, yet very impactful. Basically, the question for discussion was are we as Christians desensitized to the awe of the Gospel? A good discussion to bring up at the dinner table, I can almost guarantee. You know how if you've seen a commercial on TV sooo many times that when you see it you think, "oh, I remember the first time I saw that, I laughed so hard I cried" and then immediately turn your attention away from it (because you've seen it enough). Is that how we've become with Christ? When we hear about his life story (the fact that he was the Son of God, lived a perfect life, taught, healed, was murdered although he committed no sin, descended into hell for three days until he triumphed over the devil, and then rose) do we think, "man, I've heard this so many times it's kinda getting a little dull" ?

For me, the message challenged me to search into who Jesus really is and was, and how I can constantly be learning from him and about him. Since we will never be able to fully understand all that God is, we can easily spend a lifetime seeking this out. It's just that sometimes it's not as exciting as it once was right? I'll agree with you on that...because just like any other relationship, there are ups and downs (on our end). The difficultly sometimes is sticking with it even through the rough times.

So, I'm going to challenge you, if you have a relationship with Jesus, to stop and think about what Christianity means to you. Does it mean doing everything you can to live sin-free, to the extent that religion takes precedence over relationship? Relationships can get tiring if we don't talk or spend time with the other person. Take a few minutes to reflect on the entirety of Christ, the fact that it isn't just one aspect of Him that makes up Christianity. It wasn't just his teachings, or his death, or solely his resurrection. It was everything about Him.

Stand in awe today of our wonderful Lord and Saviour! He is everything we will ever need! Is there anything greater than someone else giving their life for you so you can be forgiven?

School Has Begun...

So, today is the second day of classes here at Lee University, and I am tired! I know...it seems unimaginable that someone who just had a full month away from school would be tired on her second day back, but it happens. Anyways, my classes seem interesting so far. They are as follows:

Psychology

New Testament Survey

Global Perspectives

Healthy & Effective Lifestyles

Computer-Based Systems

Intro to Business

Photography

I'm excited about learning a lot this semester, especially in my photography class and my Bible class. And, I have a new job as well, which is a change from last semester. I will be working at the CAPS office here on campus (CAPS stands for "Centre for Adult and Professional Studies") as a secretary. It'll be 10 hours per week, which isn't too bad. I'm in the process of trying to cut unnecessary things out of my life so I can enjoy more intimate time with God and really understanding who He's made me to be.

Well, I don't know what else to say, other than that it's insanely WARM here compared to what I had to endure being home in Ontario over Christmas Break! I enjoyed the snow, don't get me wrong, but deep down I'm a tropical climate kind of girl. Hehe. Annnyways, I hope you all have a great day and that you will see an aspect of God today that maybe you've never noticed before.

One last thing... I know I send out my address to everyone, but if you've lost it (or your dog conveniently had a rabies-attack and viciously tore the address out of your hands...leaving only a wet, destroyed piece of paper) just send me a quick email and I'll pass it along to you. cait.kooistra@gmail.com . Ciao!!