September 30th

And now as this is an end to another month, we enter into a new month. Throughout my day you never know what might come up. Today I went to a new church, ate popcorn, talked to my brother, friend and dad, chatted with ASL friends, studied for a class, praised God for a canceled class...and so much more! :) My days sometimes are crazy; like today when I was questioning whether majoring in ASL is right for me. I am humbled to always know that God knows what I am supposed to do because I just don't know. And that is amazing because trust in God is so important for my future and many other parts to my life.
Anyway enough babbling. I am thankful for popcorn. My roommates and I all love popcorn. It's so much fun to find new flavors too! We eat butter popcorn, kettle corn  lime and salt popcorn, and even popcorn with brownies, caramel, and vanilla ice cream (okay maybe that's just me)! Yummy popcorn!

September 29th

My roommate Rachel was so sweet tonight and let me join her and her mom and grandma on a little outing. We went to goodwill for a 50% off sale, ate dinner at Chili's, visited the mall for some shopping and then came back home. It was a very special day to join them and for that I am thankful.
Attitude of Gratitude #260~Chili's

September 28th

My roommate got me into this new idea called pinning. Have you heard of it? Yeah it's addicting right? I had a Pinterest account before I got to college but never once pinned a thing! Then I met my roomie and became an addict. My warning to you: Don't get a Pinterest account! And if you have one, well follow me and good luck. :)

September 27th

I'm thankful for tears. When you cry it just makes you feel better sometimes. I wasn't the only one who cried today. It's just been one of those days and I don't like it...but in the same sense it has been such a huge blessing to know God is watching out for me and that He loves me even through my tears.

September 26th

Today I had a conversation with a friend via a jar of baby food. Now I don't care for baby food but I have some friends here on campus who do. It's funny but awesome.

Attitude of Gratitude #257~baby food.

September 25th

I am thankful for running. Man I don't run very much and I can't make it very well. But I try. It's a new thing I am learning to do but yep running is what I'm thankful for.

September 24th

I have a love hate relationship for school...and I think you all know this, but when time comes for me to give presentations or to finish big papers and projects my heart always beats faster. Sometimes I can even hear it. I am thankful for my heart beat. :)

September 23rd

I'M THANKFUL FOR CAPS LOCK. WHEN I AM DOING MY ASL HPS PROJECT I LEARN TO TYPE IN CAPS LOCK...OR i TYPE WITH CAPS LOCK ON AND THEN i FORGET AND THINGS LOOK FUNNY.

September 22nd

Spilt coffee. You know when your day is not going quite the way you would hope and it seems one thing wrong is happening after another? It's those days where you have to just smile and thank God. Today I had to do this when my coffee spilt (which was the first thing that went wrong today).

September 21st

Tonight my roommate Rachel and (my roommate Krystina's boyfriend) Joe all cut out hearts tonight. We are making a Pinterest heart wall hanging decor. It is awesome but really good. Oh yeah meanwhile watching a really lame chick flick. It was a night of hearts. :)

September 20th

PENS!!! I love my colored pens! They make me smile and I am so thankful that they allow me to draw for my English class. So far this class is interesting but quite grand!

September 19th

For His Love Never ends has been going quite a while now and I am thankful for all the many things God gives me daily. Last week I was thankful for Skype as it allowed me to talk to my Bible study gals. I also have talked to family on it which is nice too. Tonight I think I Skyped later so not many people were using the internet which was REALLY nice.
An attitude of gratitude #250~Bible study.
I love that I can Skype into my Bible study back home. I also would really like to get into one here at Bethel too though. I know in time God will help me with that. For now I am thankful for the Bible study gals I do have.

September 18th

I'm thankful for Meijer. I had never heard of this store until coming to Indiana. It's an interesting store and I still might like another name brand store better with cheaper prices but it is always good to try new places.

September 17th

Tonight my awesome roommate (Rachel) gave me the awesome idea of taking an awesome picture of my awesome kitties that my awesome mom bought me! I know that was a lot of awesome but I have to keep my head up after an awesomely long day.

Now my awesome books don't fall down!
All thanks to the awesome bookend cats my awesome mommy bought for me. :)

Challenge 4~day 30

Persistence. In the end I know my relationship with God comes down to persistence with Him. Today will be my last day posting on my DTR challenge. I honestly think I learn from God everyday and not just when I want to determine the relationship with Him. Today was a long day and from here on out to the end of the semester Mondays probably will be. Persistence is what makes the relationship. It goes both ways, and for that I am thankful.

September 16th

I am thankful for "the nook". It's primarily Rachel's special spot...but on occasion I steal it to study.

Challenge 4~day 30

Today I have learned that my relationship with God is amazing. It is frustrating. It is my relationship that is ever growing. :) And because of that I like it.

September 15th

Attitude of Gratitude #246~The library. I went there to study today and I realized that it is going to be a place I go to often. It is quieter there and easier to focus...still not the easiest but it's much better for me. I hope that I won't be afraid to make the library my best friend this semester.

Challenge 4~day 29

When your day feels mundane or just like your not sure how to incorporate God into the mix let me just tell ya, God's always in the mix. This is where I pick up "not a fan". I am excited to start reading it. I love how every day is a DTR with Christ (I know I said that yesterday but it's true).

September 14th

Back pain.

Challenge 4~day 28

It's the little moments as much as the bib moments that count with God. I love that I can truly can have a DTR with God every day. I just grow in my relationship with Him. My heart is for Him. Isn't that just beautiful?

I don't know where I got this but I occasionally take things off the internet for the background of my computer...this just  seemed perfect for my post today. :)

September 13

Stories. I love to tell stories and especially when God is at work while telling them. From mexico bible stories, to sunday school class stories, to family stories, to stories with roommates, I am thankful.

Challenge 4~day 27

I am really having trouble studying and focusing on Christ tonight. My homework is like a devotional and I just don't want to study right now...but it is 8:18 and if I finish with this I have one more book to read and then I hope to hit the hay early (btw that is an idiom if you didn't know...and I am taking an asl class just for those. It is a different class but a hard one). Anyway, my ADD is kicking in and I know that with God's help I can focus, I first have to put my mind to it and work towards my goal.
DTR-spiritual growth.

September 12th

I Skyped my bible study group tonight. It was great and a lot of laughter. I am excited to read though "The cure" with them. It will be different but good too. I must say while campus internet isn't the best, it isn't all to bad. But Skyping people...ugg it's annoying. I guess I will just have to deal  with it and do the best I can with it.
An Attitude of Gratitude #243~Skype

Challenge 4~day 26

I don't have patience very well...I finished filling out some paperwork tonight (and I do hope that is all I have to do). It is to help me with my school and the slight learning disabilities that I have. I had to have my mom on the phone for an hour and a half to finish this. Oh boy. I sure hope it is worth it. I learn patience can be difficult for me, but the more I realize I have trouble with it the more I can work on it. I enjoy feeling God's presence in all that I do. DTR for the win of a better relationship. :)

September 11th

I am thankful for joy. Today I woke up asking God to help me be joyful. He didn't test me too much, but. I thought He might make this a bit difficult of a task. I underestimated God...and you should never do that. So I kept a joyful spirit today and while I still have a lot to do I accomplished a lot. The Lord is good and he is forever faithful. I think my favorite moment of joy today is when I took my frozen banana and blended it with chocolate milk. Yum :) I love having a joyful spirit. I pray it flows into the rest of my week.

Challenge 4~day 25

With just a few days left on posting in my DTR I have a lot of reading to do I am feeling overwhelmed. I want to start the "Not a Fan" book and just haven't yet. I also start my bible study tomorrow and will try to skype in for that.
As for my determining my relationship with God I am so thankful for spiritual emphasis week and it was only day two. Tonight God stirred in me things that I thought I had dealt with in my past. I love how He can bring about those thing all to say something so specific to you. I am excited to grow closer with God through this. It takes one little step to make a big difference.

September 10th

I woke up to a wonderful letter from on of the RA's in my building. It made my whole day and I haven't stopped thinking about it. The person who wrote it is so sweet and took a lovely walk with me last night. I thought God wanted me to go and spend time with Him but it turned out God knew exactly what I needed for it carried out into my whole day today. I have many a letters that I too need to write and I am thankful for this simple gesture from my friend. It meant the world to me.
For His Love Never Ends #241~a letter.

Challenge 4~day 24

As Spiritual emphasis week began today I have been hit with a number of things. I first realized that I am starting to feel overwhelmed with my home work status. I know God is telling me I can do it if I set my mind to the important things of school and to trust in Him.
(For the Spiritual part) I then realized that I came here to Bethel to be fed Spiritually. I came here to cling to the promise I have in Jesus Christ. I realized I have been stagnant so far in my faith since coming here. 
This morning our speaker shared of the story where a father has two sons. One of the sons asks for his inheritance. The other son stays at home working. He explained that the story isn't of the prodigal son, but the two sons because in the end the son who stayed home and worked hard still was in it for the money. The younger son was the one who went about it in a round about kind of way. 
At the end of his teaching the speaker asked us some questions that hit home for me.
~What son am I? ~What is God telling me? and what am I going to do about it?
Then for the evening service he talked about or sin. What am I living for? I wish I could have recorded it. I want to be the woman of God I am supposed to be. 
(A real moment) This past year I had a moment of feeling rebellious towards God...upon coming to Bethel I felt this was past and I don't need to deal with it. But let me tell you God listened to my open hurting heart tonight and caused me to step forward and know that I have to face things in my life that I don't want to. 
(In conclusion) I know that Spiritual emphasis week will be beneficial to me and a multitude of other people. I wasn't ready for what was to come...but tonight I am praying for an open heart and a willingness to hear what it is God wants me to get from the message.

To God be the glory,
EastonKat

September 9th

Today I am thankful for bad internet signal. I tried skyping my family today...and because Bethel is hosting the internet for all of the students, video via the internet isn't the best...but I was able to talk to my family a bit and work through it either way. Attitude of gratitude #240~bad internet signal.

Challenge 4~day 23

A friend texted me tonight 1 Corinthians 13:4-7. Now yes we have all read this before...and this was a challenge to take the verses and examine them. I did. It was weird...I read the text message twice and both times I got that God is love. He is all of 1 Corinthians 13. Not just that if we want to love we need to be all of.
Easton's paraphrase.
1 Corinthians 13:4-7
God is patient, and He is kind. He does not envy or boast. He is not proud. God does not dishonor others, he is not self-seeking or easily angered and he keeps no record of wrongs. God does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. He always protects, trusts, hopes and perseveres.

I feel this is a lot of things that are attributes of God that I need to take on. I love that God can call me to be these things in the same way that he already is and has mastered these.

For His Love Never Ends

September 8th

I am thankful for the gift of reading. If I were in another country it is possible I would not have learned how to read...and because of this gift I can be a college student reading textbooks way to late into the night.

Challenge 4~day 22

I love how by reading a text book I can see God. When I went to my jc back home this was not something that ever really happened. I find that with school I want to sometimes skip reading God's word. This is not something that should be. He uses the word to speak to me. Why should I ignore that?!

September 7th

I am thankful for re-organizing. Today my roommate Krystina and I switched desks and we worked on fixing up our room. It's so much more open and works really well.

Challenge 4~day 21

It still is a challenge in itself to realize what my relationship with God is like. He stretches me, molds me, and helps me realize what I need in life. Today I found the joy in just laughing. Some days are easier to smile than others but I love those little days in between where I can be thankful and happy for all things big, little, good and bad. I still am working on talking to God constantly and slowly finding the little things that pull me closer to Him. But hey, that's all I need. One little step plus one little step will soon equal a lot of little steps.
For His Love Never Ends

September 6th

I am thankful for my roommate Rachel...and her pushing me to run a mile. While I didn't make it today, I hope to keep up this effort of trying and get in shape. She was so encouraging and that is amazing to have when I was being so negative on myself.

Challenge 4~day 20

Tonight I saw how important it needs to be...having a daily intimate relationship with Jesus. It's something that I know I will continue to grow into but when you do spend that quality time with God in all areas...life with Him is sweeter.

September 5th

I am thankful for swing dancing. How the college life is new to me, but I love the little things that make Bethel a community. :)

Challenge 4~day 19

I was walking to Sufficient grounds today and I was thinking about something that I was challenged by...and now I really can't remember...I am slowly learning things about myself that I realized are good...and hard to understand. I love the little things I don't understand. I am happy about some of the homework I have and much more nervous for it too. May I see my strengths and weaknesses and use them as God intends.

September 4th

Packages...they are a little gift from home. ;)

Challenge 4~day 18

I decided this DTR will really last 30 days. If God lays it on my heart to do more than I will. I realized while talking to mom today I don't talk to God enough. So here is effort that I hope will spread out into my whole life. It just takes one step to make it somewhere.

Dear Lord,
While it is weird for me to know that I am publicly making this open for anyone to read I want to open my heart for you. I want you to know that I am ready to talk to you in all areas of my life. I realize that I try to do things on my own too often and this is not alright with me. As I head off to finish my home work tonight please give me the gusto to pay attention and be diligent. I know I can do it with your help as long as I put my mind to it. Amen

September 3rd

Tonight my roommates had 2 types of movies. It was great and I am already thankful for them.
Attitude of gratitude #235~meetings

Challenge 4~day 17

I currently have a headache, am writing my thank you notes, am finishing paperwork for school, and am stalling on the computer. I have Jessa Anderson on in the background. I love how I can feel God even though a song. When this happens you know that the DTR is going well. I just feel the presence of God. :)
P.S. I read Romans 12 tonight and it was perfect for my day. I am thankful that when I read, God gives me peace.

September 2nd

Walking barefoot. :)

Challenge 4~day 16

My deliverer is coming, my deliverer is standing by. I am slightly feeling depressed tonight...and what better thing to do but to just soak myself in the goodness of the Lord. :) He is what is always constant and honestly HE is what makes me smile and makes me happy! I love being His daughter. My deliverer is coming, my deliverer is standing by. Also it amazes me that I have such an awesome church back home, and not only that but an awesome pastor. Pastor Jon said a lot of things in his sermon (last week) that I needed to hear. It's a lot of what I am struggling with in the DTR with God. It's the little things he mentioned that I realized I need to grow closer to God with. I love the little things. My deliverer is coming, my deliverer is standing by!

Romans 11:36
"For from him and through him and for him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen.

September 1st

Attitude of Gratitude #233~YouCam.
I have had many a good time with my YouCam on my computer. It makes me laugh so hard. Today Laura and I took some crazy fun pictures. It was a blast. 

Challenge 4~day 15

I am currently finding it hard to focus on homework. And I am getting lost in direction for a bible study. But, one of my classes has me reading a book that is said to be a good bible study. Also I am supposed to be having a book sent to me from home that is a great bible study as well. For now I am going to finish readying Romans 11 and then go to bed.
Thank you God for the good, and the struggles.