10 Day Challenge: Four Books

1. A Love Worth Giving by Max Lucado. I love his books! This one is probably my favorite, though. This book is based on 1 Corinthians 13: 4-8,

"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails."

He gives each part of this verse its own chapter, so it's a lot to think about! I got this book for $3 at a used book store and I am now reading it for the third time. I think I got my money's worth.:)

2. Owl Babies. This was my favorite book when I was little. If you've never read it, this lady on youtube will fix that. Ignore her creepy, creepy voice and enjoy!

3. Ten Things Every Child with Autism Wishes You Knew by Ellen Notbohm. I had to read this book for my Intro to Speech Pathology class my freshman year at Southern. I picked this book because it was the shortest book on the list of options, but I guess that strategy worked because it was so good! Before I read it I did not know much about Autism and it kind of intimidated me, but when I was done I couldn't wait to start working with children with Autism in my career. It completely changed my attitude about the disorder and there are so many principles talked about in the book that I think of often. It's an easy read and, of course, short. :)

4. Tips for Story Tellers by Archa O. Dart. My Grandma gave me this book sometime last year and I have loved reading it. It's filled with good stories and useful tips. It talks about how powerful stories can be. Everyone loves a good story. They are fun, but they also have a simple way of touching people's hearts and changing your typical way of thinking. It's an oldie, but definitely a goodie.

10 Day Challenge: Five Foods

1. Mexican food.

2. Biscuits and gravy.

3. Watermelon.

4. Peanut butter.

5. Grandma’s Grainola Bars. She makes her own. I could live off of them.

10 Day Challenge: Six Places

1. My favorite place is Oklahoma. I love the people, the scenery, the lifestyle, the accents, all of it. It’s home.

2. Branson, Missouri. When I think Branson, I think Christmas. Our family goes there most Christmas’ and its one of my favorite places. I always have a hard time describing it to people who haven’t been. It’s a very festive, old timey town where time just moves slower. There are all kinds of strange touristy things to do. Plus, there is great shopping. I could stay forever.

3. I’ve always wanted to go to China. Mostly for a panda, but I think it’d be fun to visit.

4. Ebeye. Bet you didn’t see that one coming… :) I think Ebeye is the most interesting place in the world. The history and culture are so unique! And it is the home of the best seventh graders in the world.

5. Camp Yorktown Bay in Hot Springs, Arkansas. I worked at camp at CYB for two summers and it just feels like home. My first summer working there was when I first developed a meaningful relationship with God. I learned so much there and made great friends.

6. Anywhere they are hosting the Olympics. I figured out the next summer Olympics will be right after I graduate with my Master’s. Maybe I’ll have to treat myself to a trip to Rio. :)

10 Day Challenge: Seven Wants

1. I want to see a panda. They’ve always been my favorite animal, but I’ve never seen one in real life.

2. I want to be fluent in ASL. 

3. I want a KitchenAid mixer.

4. I want to have twins and dress them like this for Halloween. 

5. I want to be retired. Seems silly, but retired life is what I'm working for. No stress. Just volunteering and planning Christmas.

6. I want Friends to make more episodes.

7. I want to go on a hot air balloon ride. 

10 Day Challenge: Eight Fears

1. I’m afraid of drowning.

2. I’m afraid of parallel parking. 

3. I’m afraid of mice. 

This was in my textbook from this summer. I hate it!

4. I’m afraid of my Achilles’ tendon being cut. It makes me hurt just typing this…

5. I’m afraid of hearing loss.

6. I’m afraid of eyeballs. They are sickening. 

7. I’m afraid of losing my memory.

8. I’m afraid of my ten-page paper due in two weeks. Yikes!

10 Day Challenge: Nine Loves

1. I love this song. I heard it the other day on the radio for the first time and I've been playing it on repeat ever since. It’s so beautiful!

2. I love Transcription Phonetics. This is my favorite class this quarter! The purpose of the class is to learn how transcribe words they way they are heard instead of the way they are spelled. I feel like I’m learning a secret language and I really love it. For example, “Karissa Knight is a junior at Loma Linda University” would be transcribed as, "kərɪsə naɪt ɪz e dʒunjɚ æt lomə lɪndə unɪvɝsɪtɪ." I lʌv ɪt!

3. I love my family. I am so blessed! I couldn't have asked for a better one.

4. I love Twizzlers Cherry Bites. I think they were invented for me. :)

5. I love sewing. Growing up my Grandma made Ali, my cousins, and me all kinds of clothes, doll clothes, blankets, and stuff from her little sewing machine. I'd wanted to learn how to sew for a while, so this summer I went over to her house for a lesson. She's the best! I fell in love. I spent the rest of my summer on sewing projects. Here are some of my the completed ones:

The valences my Grandma and I made and my first independent project: a heart pillow!

My ruffle shams. I didn't know what I was getting myself into. These took me two full days. I laughed, cried and griped over these things. But they are done and I'm never getting (or making) new ones.

Computer sleeve from Sweet Verbena

Anthro-inspired curtains from Besserina. These were pretty simple, just time consuming. I watched 3 movies as I made them!

6. I love these kids so very much!

7. I love this verse. My favorite. “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” John 16:33

8. I love sunrises and sunsets. I love how they're different everywhere and every day. I wish I could watch them all. 

9. Most of all, I love God. Time with Him is the best part of my day.

P.S. I really loved this quote from chapel! "Our greatest treasures are who we love and who we are loved by, not who we are or what we have."

10 Day Challenge: Ten Secrets

1. When I get coffee at Starbucks, I tell them my name is Lucy.

2. I tell people I’m vegetarian but I’m really not. I don’t know why I do that…

3. Instagram doesn’t make sense to me.

4. I have studied very little for today’s anatomy quiz.

5. I cried a little in the last episode of Breaking Amish.

6. I’ve always loved grammar. When I was younger, I pretended I didn’t because no one else liked it. That was dumb. It’s my favorite.

7. Last Sabbath I ate four pieces of pie.

8. Garth Brooks held the door for me at Olive Garden once. (Not so much a secret, but I like to tell that story!)

9. I really love that song “What Makes You Beautiful” by One Direction. So catchy!

10. I talk in my sleep.

Challenged

This weekend I encountered a dumb thief. I did not have the pleasure of meeting him/her, but he/she did seem to have a nice time looking around in my car. I was headed to my car (which was locked) to see if I had left my wallet in there and I noticed everything in the front was not where I left it. They rummaged all around but seemed to be disappointed in my valuables because my change in the cup holder, my copied CDs, and my socks were all still there. Why would they not want those things???  Had he been a little more thorough and looked under the towel in the backseat, he would have found my wallet and all my money! Thankfully, he was a dumb thief, but he taught me a lesson!

Ali and I decided we should challenge ourselves to a little blogging. We found this blogging challenge and we thought it'd be fun to do it together. Should be fun! Her blog is A's Days (like K's Days, cute huh?)

Looking Up

I felt like the best part of my life was behind me. What kind of twenty year old thinks like that? I have so much to look forward to. But when I think of Ebeye, tears fill my eyes. I am naturally a reserved person. It takes me a while to open up to people and really get to know them. I don’t know how, but my kids in Ebeye were a major exception. In those five short months, I fell in love with each of them. No reservations at all. My heart broke into 21 pieces the day I said goodbye and I’ve spent hours and hours reminiscing and crying over those precious kids God put in my life.

I felt like the best days of my life were behind me and it was all down hill from here. I did what God asked me to do and then I was back at home where life was on pause and all I had to do was look back. I felt like God’s plan for me was over and He had forgotten about me. Though I was now home, I was homesick for Ebeye.

One Friday night, when I was missing and googling Ebeye, I happened upon a blog of a woman who had gone to Ebeye as a student missionary several years ago. I enjoyed reading her post about the island and her students who were now in high school. I identified with her in many ways and continued reading other posts she had written. She posted regularly on her somewhat well known cooking blog and wrote about her current life. Since she had left Ebeye, she had become a teacher, learned to cook, met her husband, married him and loved her life. There was so much she had to look forward to after Ebeye. Her heart was broken when she left, but it was now cheerful. God had not forgotten about her. She spoke of her students with appreciation rather than tearfully missing them every day. Her life was changed after Ebeye, but certainly not over.

This struck me so personally tears welled up in my eyes as I read her simple posts about dinner for her husband. God had not forgotten about me either. I had forgotten about Him. He was the One that was with me every day in Ebeye and opened my heart to fall in love with my kids. He was there when I waved goodbye from the ferry, and as I first stepped onto American soil. He sees each tear fall as I miss my island home and feels my pain every day. He understands and He cares. I was awakened to the fact that God has a plan for my life, too. It isn’t over; it is just ahead. My career, new relationships, and new experiences are all awaiting me. I truly believe God is present in a special way during the Sabbath hours because as strange as it seems, this simple cooking blog filled me with God’s compassionate and constant love.

My life was changed in Ebeye, but it is far from over. It still has a purpose and He is not finished with me yet. I have to remind myself of this every day. I am working on keeping my eyes fixed on Him and trusting Him with my life.

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” –Jeremiah 29:11

Loma Linda Lovin'

We made it! I feel like so much has happened in the past week. My dad and I made the 22 hour trek to Loma Linda, CA in our big ol’ Budget truck (well, my Dad did the trekking, I just sat) and my mom flew out to help Ali, Juli (Ali’s roommate from LLU), and me get settled in our little townhouse. :) I really like it! And it’s only about 5 minutes from the school. It’s still a little bare-walled, so pictures will come later.

I started school on Monday and so far I am loving it! I really like my classes. For the first time I am genuinely interested in them. I didn’t feel like general classes were a waste of my time, but I wasn’t exactly eager to learn about psychologists’ theories or the nitty gritty details of the Civil War. So I think I picked the right major! :) The CMSD (Communication Sciences and Disorders) programs are pretty small, so I think I’ll get to know the people in my program pretty well. There are only 18 juniors. I've met most of them and I really like them. And to top it all off: for the next two years, no class on Fridays! I must be livin’ right. ;)

I'm official!

I do miss my family and friendly Okies, but California has its charm, too. Overall, life is pretty good. Thank you for your prayers. I think I will like it here! And happy Sabbath!

Passing Notes

Last night when I was about to go to bed, I found a big shoebox full of notes! And when you find a big shoebox full of notes you have to read every single one...

There were notes written on the back of permission slips about who started the pigtail trend and how great our bombardment team was. Then, there were special Valentine’s cards and more notes about creative invitations to the banquet and how the girls said yes. Notes about weekend plans, confusing boys, and phone calls from crushes. I found the ticket stub from my first concert, funny drawings, apology letters, and gossip. From Ozark there were the notes that came with cookies on cookie day, complaints of dorm rules, postcards from Grandma, and Friday night letters.

How can I throw that stuff away? I can't! I think I might have every note I’ve ever been given. After reading these, I feel so thankful for the people in my life. When I was grumpy, or gossipy I had a friend to help me. And the days when I was happy, or excited, someone was happy with me.

Getting ready to leave for Loma Linda is a little sad for me because I hardly know anyone out there. But I think this box of notes was just what I needed to find. God has given me great friends for every stage of my life and He will take care of me this time, too.

Look what I found at the end of one of the notes. :)

Back to Bloggin'

I guess I forgot to blog there for a few days… ;) I’ve kinda missed writing so I’ll try to keep this little blog updated with my life as I head back to school. It’s 3am and I’m powered by Dr Pepper, so sleep just isn’t happening. I’m leaving for Loma Linda next week and so many things are running through my mind. I’m excited to go, start interesting classes, meet the people in my program, and all that fun stuff that comes with the beginning of a school year, but all that means I have to leave home. :( I am a homebody. I haven’t been home this long in years so I feel even more attached! I love it here. But, this year I will have a part of home with me – my sister! I am going to live with her and her roommate in a little townhouse close-by the school. I am so excited! I’ll post pictures when I get there. :)

I’ve been home for four months now, and I still think about Ebeye every day. I miss my kids so much! Here is the paper I wrote for the Student Missions class about my experience and coming back to the States. I copied some of it from blog posts, so don't be mad if you've read some of it before. ;) Thank you all again for your love and support while I was gone. It meant the world to me!

Pie Love You

I’ve realized that life in Ebeye is a whole lot more interesting than life at home. I love being home, but I don’t have much to report on anymore. I’m taking 8 hours over June and July, so I’m pretty busy with homework and sleeping in. :) The last few days my dad has been working on a concrete floor job about an hour and half away. Let me tell you, that stuff is hard work! I went with him a couple times, the first time was ten hours, the second time we were there for twenty-four hours! This man is nuts. I really do enjoy working with my dad though. He’s the hardest working person I know and he’s a good teacher, so I learn a lot. Yesterday was the last day, but I stayed home to finish my homework. I thought I’d congratulate my dad on a job well done by mowing the lawn. Good idea, I thought. About twenty minutes in, the mower stopped working, so I made him a pie instead. He said he liked plan B better anyway, so the congratulations worked!

Banana Coconut Cream Pie from my new Joy the Baker cookbook! Mmm

Home for the Summer

So, plans have changed. Coming home I was a little nervous about my busy summer of condensed classes and camp all squeezed into a tiny amount of time. Well, my "before camp" class got cancelled and my only option was to take a class here in OK for the next two months. So, sadly, no camp for me. I am pretty bummed because Melissa, my good friend from Ozark, was going to work at Camp Cedar Falls with me this summer and we were going to have so much fun.

Valentine's Masquerade Banquet
February 2009
Cool "masks" we have, huh?

We haven't been together for more than a day since the summer after we graduated. I miss that girl! This could have been God's way of relieving me of the stressful summer I had planned. Now that I won't be working at camp, I will be taking an online religion course and I get to take elective classes that I will actually enjoy: Photoshop and Yoga. Plan B isn't too bad, but I will miss camp a lot. I'm hoping to find some sort of job, at least for the last two months of summer while I won't be taking classes. The little podunk diner down the hill is hiring, maybe I'll check that out. :)

I am still missing Ebeye a lot. I got to Skype Oronia, one of my students, today though. It was good to see her smiling face! I miss those kids. They will never know how they changed my life!

HOME

I am almost to my home! It was a long and all too eventful trip to California, but I finally made it. I was able to stay the weekend in Loma Linda for Ali's graduation! It was a very happy weekend. Today I am flying back to Oklahoma. I am missing Ebeye terribly. I keep talking about it and I can't stop. It's strange to be back. Normal life doesn't feel normal. Normal clothes don't look normal. And the things I thought I missed don't seem the same. I feel homesick for Ebeye. But I have so much to be happy about, too. I am thrilled to be home with my family and to see the people who have been so supportive while I've been away. I am so very blessed to have two homes and two loving families. I am praying that I will remain imprinted by my experience in Ebeye and continue to grow and be challenged as I have been the past five months. Ebeye holds a special place in my heart and I am forever changed by the tiny, overcrowded, beautiful, and loving island that is now my second home. I miss you, Ebeye.

School Is Out!

Man, oh man, am I going to miss these kids. This was our last week of school, so it was full of the fun stuff. Picnics and parties all week! Today was the last day of school. I gave the sixth graders stickers and chapsticks from my friend Olivia and little rainbow drawing boards from my mom. Some of them wrote me little notes on them. One of the boys wrote the sweetest thing.

“I LOVE you miss Karissa more than I can say and I just want you to know you’re your name will be in my heart and God bless you on your way thank you for anything. Rufos”

As if saying bye wasn’t sad enough, one of the girls in my class asked me why I was leaving. I told her, “When I decided to come I signed to be here only until May.” Then she looked at me with sad eyes, “You should have signed to be here forever.” Later she asked me why I decided to come to Ebeye and I told her why and she said, “I want to be that person when I’m older. When I am in college I want to do what you are doing.” She wants to help people! She didn’t know it, but that was exactly what I needed to hear—that my time here made a little difference in her life and that I’ve inspired her in some way.

I wish I could continue to be a part of their lives and see how they grow and what they are like when they are older. I would have loved to be here longer, but I know God has it all worked out.

May 22 is Littil’s birthday (also my mom’s birthday!) so the girls are coming over the 23rd to celebrate. Should be fun! This island is like a small town so I will see most of my students again before I leave on Friday. Next week will be the epitome of bittersweet.

I watched the sun rise every day last week! It was a good week.

Eighth graders during our class party

Oronia had to go to the doctor after school so Ngedikes and I went with her. As the doctor was putting the ear-light thing in her ear, she starting mouthing the words, "Take a picture. Miss, Miss, take a picture." Haha!

2nd and 3rd grade picnic at Beach Park

The student missionaries after our farewell party from the high schoolers

Cuties at the Pre-K, Kindergarten and 6th grade picnic

Littil and me

Ngedikes and me

The girls at the picnic

Boys eyeing the sandwiches

The Beautiful Barge

Rudyron, such a friendly little guy!

Jiko Gets a Puppy

Jiko, our little four year old friend, is now the proud owner of a cutie little puppy. Someone found a puppy by the school and somehow decided Jiko would be a sufficient owner for the little guy. Jiko came in the apartment today with his puppy and tossed him on the couch. We tried telling him he needed to be careful with his dog and carry it nicely, but he didn’t seem to care.

“What do you feed your dog?”

“…I feed him water.”

“Jiko, the dog needs food and water.”

“I give him water three times a day.”

“Make sure you give him food, too. What did you name your dog?”

“Molly.”

“But this is a boy.”

“His name is Molly.”

This poor little puppy is so scared of Jiko. He’s so sleepy and cuddly, but when Jiko comes around or if he hears his voice near him, he starts shaking. Poor Molly. He’s really funny looking. His right side is kind of albino and he looks like he’s half bat with his huge ears, but he’s so stinkin’ cute! I hope Jiko can keep him alive…

My Day at School

Week of Prayer!

Countdown to the last day of school. Now at 16!

Jeo, Ashiro, and Aeto

Lajutok, Rufos, and me

Littil and I listening to Justin Bieber. :)

This girl has Bieber Fever.

Making our crowns for heaven! Thank you Judi Carrico for the supplies. :)

Marialla

Flora, Almi, Baby Junior, and Oronia

Lajutok, Ronald, and Malvin

Ronald, Joey, and Ashiro

Rufos and Lajutok -- best friends, these two are so amusing!

Oronia and her Baby Brother

They all love him

Ashiro

Ronald

Ronald, Lajutok, and Joey

Littil and Marialla

Proud Ronald

Cutie Baaaabbbbyyyy

The girls and fussy baby

Joey (he doesn't usually make that face! haha), Malvin, Oronia and me

Junior and Nathasha

Finishing touches :)

Littil

Almi

Malvin and Joey -- best friends

The seventh grade classroom

Outside the eighth grade classroom

The sixth grade classroom at the end of the day. Trashed.

Seventh grade girls

The little store across the street from the school

The view :)

Kenye, Oronia, Ngedikes and their prize for cleaning well

Kenye and me

Clean-up time!