wait a second...

is today really Friday? Man oh man...

What a week it has been. I knew it would be, considering Monday and all.

I can't even express to you how perfect my new job is. And not perfect in that without-flaw sort of way, but perfect in that there-is-no-doubt-I-am-exactly-where-God-wants-me sort of way. It's beautiful. And if you saw my coworkers, my desk, the students, the smile on my face...well, you'd just have to agree.

Wednesday night I got introduced to the middle schoolers as the "new girl on staff". It was a sweet time we got to share- I told them about myself and they got to ask me any question they wanted, like "Would you rather jump into a pool full of jello or pudding?" and "Would you rather be rich or famous?" and "What is your favorite ice cream flavor?" and "What is your stance on predestination vs. free will?" (...oh wait...maybe that was my term paper that asked me that question...) Needless to say, I have dived in and can't wait to connect next with the high schoolers.

This weekend God opened yet another door to ministry that I am looking forward to. I am guest speaking for the youth ministry at Saddleback's San Clemente campus and I can hardly sit still I am so eager.

My favorite part of all of this? I get to do all of it side by side with my fiance. We do things together, including ministry...so when I see him talking and laughing and sharing life with the student who plays drums for the worship band, I know it couldn't get any better than this.

God is good and I am grateful.

Happy weekend.

a lovely day

Today was a great Monday. A really great Monday.

Started off with a drive in the rain and a conversation with God. We talked about good stuff like love and friends and youth and love and change and school and love. I noticed the dog behind the fence howling at the fire engine speeding by. And the chipped tooth smile of the man who checked out my library books. And I got all the books I needed for my thesis that's due next week, many of which are old and ragged and faded- just the way I like them. And I enjoyed the lemon poppy-seed muffin someone ate in class. Even if I only got to smell it. And I gave a thumb's up to the man who waved at me after unexpectedly changing lanes in front of me. We shared a smile and drove off in our separate lanes. And I ate a pb&j with the perfect ratio of pb&j made by my love, something I thought only my mom was capable of. And I worked happily as my hands got sticky from doing a run through of a bride's hair...like the joy you get from peeling glue off your fingers when you're in grade school. And I took a nap and dreamt of eating an orange and couldn't believe how it actually filled my mouth with flavor. And after that I went to the grocery story to buy fruit. Lots of fruit. Mmm.

And now I'm off to eat that orange and read those books and peel off the hairspray and continue on with that conversation because, let's face it, there's much more to be said.

Today was a lovely day for me. Hope it was for you, too. Let's carry this on throughout the week.

PS First day of work is tomorrow. It feels like my body has been invaded by butterflies and I couldn't be more excited!

happy weekend

Cheers to another weekend...

And in celebration, a favorite scene from a favorite movie of ours.

Have a lovely one!

4 interviews later and I...

am so grateful for God's provision through this time.

adore our church.

couldn't have imagined better, funner, & more comfortable interviews.

am so excited to use my gifts in Kingdom advancement.

love youth ministry even more.

have to go shopping for back-to-work clothes.

am an employed woman.

First day of new job: Tuesday, February 24th.  Hip hip!

why i'm not afraid anymore

If 7 months ago you would have asked me my biggest fear about entering seminary, I would have responded with this:

I am afraid of mistaking knowledge of God with intimacy with God.

It was a very real fear of mine...that somehow learning and studying would take away from my intimate, deeply personal, and cherished relationship with my Creator.

I was in class last week and something someone said flicked on a light bulb in my head (what a fun sentence!). This fear of mine has completely dissolved. It is a rather beautiful concept, really. I have found that the more I learn about God, the more I realize I am so far from ever grasping his greatness and understanding the depths of who he really is. This makes me fall even more in love with him, then yearn for more knowledge, then come to realize I know nothing, then love him more. and there you have it. It's an ever going cycle.

All that to say, knowledge and intimacy of God are more intertwined that I realized. There is something very beautiful about loving God with my mind, and I am enjoying the process more than I ever imagined.

Now for my list.

11 knowing I am being prayed for

12 light bulbs. literally and figuratively

13 a good, strong handshake

14 forehead kisses

15 successfully taking out a bunt cake from the mold

16 afternoon shadows in the apartment

17 a full cookie jar

18 freshly shaved legs between sheets

19 crossing things off my "to-do" list

20 fabric softener

21 being able to use one paper towel for the whole cleaning job

22 finding the perfect fabric on the sale rack

23 long car rides

24 putting away groceries

25 crock pot cooking

26 an entire day of rain

27 apples with peanut butter

28 refrigerator magnets

29 wearing dresses with tights

30 a neatly stacked cabinet of mis-matched dishes

-love-

Right now the love of my life is lying on the couch next to me, mouth wide open, snoring, sick & sniffly.  (and after we did everything to keep him healthy...oh man.)  I love him more than I did a week ago, a day ago, a minute ago.  He is so precious to me.

Our day of love actually started yesterday with a wonderful dinner (I made this to go along with the rest of our meal and heavenly is the only word to describe the way it smells.  Seriously.) and an apartment covered in heart garland.  Then started back up with a wonderful breakfast, a trip to H&M to use a gift card I've been saving, then to the jewelry store to pick out D's ring.  (Who knew that men's rings were so expensive?  Yikes...we didn't end up getting one.)  I just made a streusel cake and we will celebrate on through tonight...

Needless to say, love is in the air.  Do you remember this day last year?  Those same flowers are covering my patio today.  Love it...And who would have known that exactly a year later I'd be sitting in my apartment accompanied with a ring on my finger and the sweet sounds of my future husband sleeping.

Spread the love today.  Stop for a second to take it all in.  Write an email.  Send a note.  Eat a cupcake.  Let someone go first.  Give away a hug.  Make a phone call.  Hold the door for someone.  Smile.  Love pat someone's butt (preferably your valentine...but hey, that's your call).  Watch your loved one sleep.  And wherever you are, don't forget your first love.  All the rest follows.

new project

For it being such a lovely week, I haven't felt very lovely. I've been cramming the vitamin c & oj (eri, you'd be proud), and have been stocked on tissues w/ lotion (because the others are like kryptonite to my smeller) & Sudafed. I thought it was gone but lo, in spite of my hard work I awoke today with a runny nose and swollen throat. Wonderful. It'd be great to feel better by Friday because, quite frankly, I haven't kissed my fiance in over a week. Not an easy task, but has been effective in keeping him healthy as of yet.

Anyhow, I've decided to start a little project. There was this book my parents kept in their room when I was younger. It was 1001 of the author's favorite things. I have it now and it always makes me smile as I meander through the pages and walk through the author's fancies. I want to keep record of my own, and I want to share it with you, too...

So let's list, shall we?

1 blueberry special k

2 having a top to all your tupperware

3 tracking flower petals into the house

4 mom waving goodbye from the front porch

5 sleeping through the entire night

6 waking up without an alarm clock

7 a good pair of chocolate brown cords

8 mentholatum on dry lips or a sick nose

9 hearing my niece cry when I leave because she doesn't want me to go

10 making plans for an at-home romantic dinner for 2

Happy Thursday to you...one more day 'til the weekend's start. Hip hip!

reason no. 3973480 why I love my fiance

because when I'm sick...he writes my body a letter.

Dear Kay's body...

Please get better. I really need my love to be well for the weekend because that is when we get to see each other the most. I love her dearly and I am asking you from the kindness of my heart to please leave her. She deserves to feel well and I pray you understand my plea.

Sincerely,

Her fiance

i am happy

for a few reasons...

1- My cold has finally unleashed.  Not that I want to be sick, but it's been like a sneeze that's on the tip of your nose and you just want to get it out.  Hopefully it'll do its thing today so I can feel better for...

2- tomorrow, which is when I will be looking at a condo to possibly move into.  Danny and I have a list of things we'd like (2 stories, 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom, safe surroundings, garage, within our budget, etc...) and this little guy seems to have it all (+ $95, but we'll see if we can work that out).  I am anxious to move out of my apartment now that I know I won't be here too much longer.  The hunt for a new home is exciting to me.  But what is even more exciting is...

3- the weekend, which is almost here.  And i do love my weekends because i get to spend lots and lots of time with my....

4- fiance, who I just so happen to be more in love with today than yesterday.  Isn't it crazy how that happens?  It is all because of...

5- God, who has undoubtedly been working mightily in our lives.  Without sharing too much, I must share that a proposal concerning a ministry position is being brought to a consistory board on Monday night.  This is my heart's desire and as I keep praying for God's will, my excitement continues to grow for this position.  We'll see what God wants to do!  I am just blown away, though, and can hardly wait to share more as his will unfolds.  Okay, I must carry on with...

6- today, which consists of an 8 hour school day instead of a 10 hour day like last week.  Not too bad...

...love...

a confession

It started when a close friend shared with me that she watched the season premier of The Bachelor with her dad, laughing at all the overly-done girls who tried to make lasting first-impressions on the man of the hour.  (fake teeth, knock-knock jokes, a dance lesson...really?)

Anyway, it made me think back to my reality TV shows (which are really as far away from reality as possible) before I got rid of the television channels all together.  So I slipped online, caught the first episode myself, and have been hooked ever since.

Is it wrong that I justify watching this program because all my seminary friends are hooked as well?  Hm...

That being said:

Stephanie is one classy lady.

 I think I might want Molly to win.

Maybe...just not Naomi...please, not Naomi.

Doesn't it say something that he has to ask her if she is ready to be a mother?

And her hair hangs like wet spaghetti in her face and it drives me nuts.

And I am a jerk.

And that is all.  I'm done.

introducing...

TheUnterkoflers.blogspot.com

We are so excited to share our life with you!

This blog will continue but will mostly be my personal outlet about church, ministry, school, etc.  

...love...

kay