Real.

I'm always fascinated with the ways in which the Lord speaks to me and reveals things to me. I'm in awe every time. Lately he's been answering prayers and giving me confirmation in some really explicit ways.

First, I was feeling a little down and wanted to run to a friend, but the Lord reminded me that I needed to go to Him first for comfort. I sat down and began writing out a prayer, telling the Lord how I felt and asking for comfort. I was in mid-sentence telling Him I kept resisting the urge to call my best friend when my phone rang--it was her. It was just the comfort I needed and the comfort I craved, and He gave it to me as soon as I went to Him.

The second had less immediate gratification. I've been praying for weeks now about whether I should be president of my sorority next year. We had nominations two weeks ago, and I was nominated along with five or six other girls. I've still been praying that the Lord would show me if I should run for the position and put the right girl in the position even if it's not me. We have elections later tonight. As of this morning, all the other girls have taken their names off the ballot for president. It's just me. Talk about confirmation.

I think we often have this picture of God that He listens to our prayers and even answers them, but that he does so in an ambiguous way that's hard to understand and we won't see His voice or hand until months or years later. Sometimes that's true; but sometimes His answers and His provision are just as explicit and concrete as if coming from a friend. He's real. His love is real. His provision is real.

There's hope.

I did three things this weekend that I never thought I would be able to do ever again because of migraines:

1. I went to a movie. In 3D. (How to Train Your Dragon. I highly recommend it.)
2. I went to a concert. (Derek Webb. Also highly recommended. The concert was acoustic and outside, which made it migraine-friendly.)
3. I went to church. Big, loud church.

My head does hurt, and I'm really tired; but I feel better than I did on even a normal day a few weeks ago. If you had asked me in October, I would have told you I was going to be stuck inside alone in my pj's for the rest of my life. I'm miles better than I was then, and getting better every day. It's looking like I'm going to be able to lead a normal life someday--and someday soon.

Great news.

It's looking like I'm going to get to graduate next May! I won't be in school forever! Yes, it was doubtful for a while.

Now finding a job, that's a different story...

Spring has broken.

Spring break was great. I went to a teensy little town in Arkansas with my family and some friends. I went canoeing, spelunking (kind of), hiking, and shopping. It was a wonderful week--a pretty action-packed week for a gal whose idea of a party is a chocolate shake and a chick flick. Here are a few pictures.




It was really a fantastic week. I bonded with my brother on the river. His exact words: "Kaci, you must be feeling really good today. You're fun!" Mom bought me a super cool antique watch at Emma's Museum of Junk. I meant to take a picture of that too. I took pictures of some elk with Dad. His were better, but only because he had a better camera.

And Will gave me his cold.

So a fantastic spring break is over, and I'm left with an awful cold. I never get colds, and this is the second one in two months. I thought colds were supposed to be easy. I have a "chronic" illness for crying out loud, yet it's a cold that makes me miss class. How's that for ironic? I guess it's all what you're used to.

My mom is parent of the year.

I'm so proud.

Cute.

I know I already posted about June once this week, but it's really all that's happened in my life. It's been one of those weeks where I go to school and come home and do homework and then go to bed. I lead quite an eventful life. I also know that June's Ellisville family is probably wondering what she's been up to. And maybe I'm becoming one of those people who puts dog stories and pictures on the internet--so what?

June has learned a new game. She throws her toy off the couch. I pick it up for her, and she throws it on the floor again. Over and over again. And all the time she wags her tail. I think she might be counting how many times I'll fall for it. Here are some pictures.

Good day for life, bad day for headaches.

Today hasn't been a bad day. I went on a field trip with one of my education classes. We visited a school that is doing some pretty cool things with technology. It was nice getting away from Starkville and my classes for a day. I got to sit in on four different high school classes and talk to some of the students and teachers. Being in a high school and talking to students and teachers really confirmed that teaching is what I want to do with my life--what I'm supposed to do. So all in all, it's been a good day.

Headaches always seem to ruin the best of days, though. I expected it to happen. It was raining when I woke up, I had to ride on a bus for four hours, I had to be engaged for seven hours, and high schools have really loud bells--all of which are triggers for migraines. I took a lot of pain medicine today to dull the pain to a tolerable level, but then I was in a sort of fog. So it wasn't a great day as far as pain goes.

I made it though, and that's what matters. I'm learning not to judge how good or bad a day or event or situation is by my level of pain. As long as I'm able to get out of bed and continue with my life, I can look past the pain. If I take my attention off my pain to a degree and find something else on which to focus, I can cope much more easily. It makes for fewer depressing days and a better quality of life.

So even though today has been pretty painful, it's been a good day.