Update

Doing the dishes is something I'm looking forward to today. I like seeing the mess cleaned up. I hope it's not a phase!

Also, my dad found our ancient bread machine, and I'm super excited. No kneading or punching down. Just throw a bunch of stuff in and let it go to work! Next, I'm convincing my mom to buy me an electric mixer.

My mom

My mom is crazy. And I'm pretty sure she feels the same way about me. This is what happens when liberal doctor meets conservative teen. And the fact that our personalities are so similar doesn't help. We're both stubborn, and think we know best. She's got fifty-some years of experience to back her up. I've got the Bible.
We fight alot, but sometimes we lay around and laugh about how different our opinions are. I could fill a book with the silly things she tells me. ("You're only dating one guy. But he's from another school. So find one at Rose too!") But since I started doing things around the house and being nice to her boyfriend, she's been alot less snide about me going to bible college. We're slowly coming to a truce.
The biggest thing we've argued over this week is her coming in my room to say good morning before work. Which is so. very. annoying. She does it every morning at 7am. And she has conversations with me cause she knows I hate it.
Well look out Mom, cause tomorrow morning my door's gonna be locked.

The Little Things

Therese Martin was born in 1873, in France. The youngest of five sisters, she was the little princess. Spoiled to bits. Never did chores, and expected everything to be handed to her. Then, one day, when she was fourteen, her reign of terror ended. She changed into a docile teenager who wanted to be a nun. She went into a convent with some of her sisters and lived there until her death at the age of 24. While there, she struggled with her faith. Therese wanted to be a saint and do miracles, but she felt small and insignificant. So the short little nun dedicated herself to the little sacrifices in life. She never asked for anything, and submitted to everyone else. She ate whatever the nuns put in front of her. Which apparently led them to give her all the leftovers no one else would eat. Therese did all the chores she could find and helped out whenever she could. And she never complained.

I'm not catholic anymore, and I don't wanna be a nun. But I have to admire Therese's attitude. Her life was all about the little things. Modern day, for me, that means cleaning dishes whenever they're in the sink, buying my dad a Dean Martin cd, and trying to tell someone daily that they're awesome.
This is not to pat myself on the back. I don't always enjoy this stuff. For example, I hate having to feed my animals. It's nasty, and I'd rather let my mom do it. But I made a blog to keep up with myself, and this is what I've been doing.
So Therese has taught me to look for the little ways I can serve other people.


But that singing Reverend Mother from Sound of Music is still my favorite nun of all time.

Heart of a Servant

So tonight I asked God to give me the heart of a servant. I was kind of scared to ask, because I'd heard to be careful what you wish for. But I did. Earlier today, in church, our preacher told us that our freedom in Christ would lead us to rescue others. I got out of his message that I need to serve people better. Because that's what love is.
If you know me, I'm fairly ego-centric. I like to buy clothes and get my hair done. This has been clashing with the pull in my heart to humble myself for God. When Saul was struck on the road to Tarsus, Jesus asked him if it was hard to "kick against the goads". An old-school reference to being stubborn against provocation by a god. Fairly often I feel compelled to do something, but I fight against it because I'm lazy and stubborn.
Last week I told my smallgroup that I'm in love with myself. And that this wasn't acceptable. I want to follow God, not Katie. Tonight I'm feeling such a strong pull toward changing that I started a blog. Maybe I'll feel different tomorrow and delete this, or maybe I'm about to start a journey that will change everything. Whatever happens, I'm definitely up for God to give me the heart of a servant. Even if it's the hardest thing I do. Cause right now, I'm not the person I'm supposed to be.