Why Would You Do That?

"Why would you do that?",they asked. This is a question I often get asked when I tell people that I changed from a Biochemistry major to an Elementary Education major. This is a question that makes me nervous and a little bit upset. I hate having to explain myself to people because I shouldn't have to do that, it's what I chose and it's what makes me happy. I did put a lot of thought into this and got a lot of opinions from close friends and family members before changing my major. It was not something that I just randomly did, it was a well thought out plan filled with many conversations and many meetings with advisors. I am so much happier with this major. I know it is something I will want to do everyday, and that it will bring new hardships, experiences, and celebrations each day as I get to help mold a kid's life. I get to directly impact a kid and their life. I get to help a kid realize that he or she is so much smarter than what their parent, peer, or other family member says. I get to see kids grow up and accept them as my own. I get to help a kid realize that they are worth something, that they can actually grow up and make a difference in this world. When I was a Biochemistry major I was wanting to do research. I thought I would help so many people by finding a cure for something but little did I realize that teachers get to help people too but in a different and almost better way. I am so happy with my new profession, and I cannot wait until I am able to actually get into a classroom and start directly impacting kids.

Finding My Second Home

Hello lovely reader! I hope you all are having a fantastic week and day! In this episode of Kiersten's Crazy Life, I wanted to talk to you about finding my second home. No, I'm not talking about a house that you reside in or that you put for your permanent address on applications and such, I'm talking about your church! Finding a church that you enjoy is such an important thing because no matter what is going on that is the place you can look forward to going every week. I never really looked forward to going anywhere last semester because I did not attend a church and the only other places I went was work and school. But, thankfully, this semester I have finally found that place that I look forward to going to each week. This is a place where I go to that I know people are going to greet me, a place where I can be myself, a place where I can express my love for our Lord, and so much more. I feel so at home when I go to church. I walk in and people who barely know me come up to me and talk to me as if they had known me their whole life. I come to this church and I can feel God in each and every crevice of that auditeria. It is such an amazing feeling to walk in there and just know you're going to be able to connect with God then. Each time I go in there at least one song brings me to tears because I can just feel God speaking to me. I am truly grateful for this church, the worship team, the pastor, and all the people that make the place feel like home.

Small Town

Have any of you ever heard of the song "Small Town" by John Mellencamp? Well, if you're from Indiana, especially Southern Indiana you should know this song very well as it was our anthem. If you don't know of it it is a song about the town that John Mellencamp grew up in in Indiana. He talks about all the memories he made and also about just being himself in his small town. Every time this song comes on my Spotify playlist I absolutely have to listen to it because it brings back so many memories of my small Southern Indiana town. It helps me remember back to high school, growing up with huge backyard and pond, and also all the memories I've made with my friends and family. Both of my parents grew up in the town that I lived in for the first 19 years of my life. At my dad's I lived across the road from my grandma's house and then at my mom we lived on the farm that my stepdad grew up on. This song is such a humbling song as it helps me reflect on all that my small town has done, how far it has come, and how much pride everyone has for it. It's such an awesome song that helps me think back on such an awesome town to grow up in. I am honestly so happy that I grew up there, that my mom worked in the same school that I attended, and that I have so many great memories of the small town that everyone looks forward to escaping. Do I miss that town? Heck yeah I do. It definitely took a good 7 months to living in a subdivision that is bigger than my town but now I am so happy with where I am (mainly because I no longer have to endure Indiana winter), who I am with, and who I have become.

Step 1

Hello readers (if there actually are any),
My name is Kiersten! I am picking back up on blogging! As you can see I dabbled in blogging when I was a *little bit younger (and by little I mean like 10+ years ago), but I really want my blog to mean something this time and to help chronicle my amazing walk through life with God. I am a 19 year old (I'll be turning 20 this year) Elementary Education student! I am really enjoying my major, especially since I switched it from Biochemistry to Elementary Education! I have about 2 and a half years to go of college and then I'll be out in the real world looking for an actual adult job, which is actually kinda scary to think about.
Well, if you're new here and wanted to know my origins, here they are. I was born and raised in Southern Indiana, in a little town that is smaller than my current subdivision. I attended Ball State University for my first year of college (I highly recommend that college for anyone searching) but then decided to move to Florida with my mom and step-dad when they decided to move in May 2016 to be closer to my step-sister, step-brother-in-law, and nephews. It's definitely been an adjustment moving from a place where everyone knew everyone to now living somewhere where not only do I not know anyone but neither do my parents.
Now, onto my journey with God. I was born and raised Catholic. I went to Sunday school every week and went to church almost every week also. When I moved to college I decided I wanted to try a different type of church. I had went to a bigger church with a live band and everything for a few months my senior year of high school and I LOVED it. I loved the feeling of the band and the feeling of really connecting with the songs that the band was singing. So, when I went off to college I decided I wanted to try something like that but I didn't make the effort until 2nd semester. I started going to this thing called CRU (I have no clue what it stands for) and I absolutely loved it! It wasn't like a normal church service. It was a bunch of college students worshiping Christ through songs and there was also a devotional/sermon each week. It was such a great thing to go to and I looked forward to it each week. Ok, so that was my quick overview of my first year of college and Christ.
When I moved down to Florida I had a really hard time with it, especially leaving all of my friends behind in Indiana. I started at my new college and had such a hard time making friends there. I thought that maybe, just maybe, I could go to a church, get involved there and be able to make some friends my age. In October I went to this church that someone I worked with told me about. It was a great church but it was soooo big! It had the live band like I wanted but I knew with how big it was that I wasn't going to be able to make the kind of connection and friendship with someone like I wanted to. I started going to Florida Power Yoga about 2-3 weeks ago. The lady who owns it is super sweet and I actually became friends with her on Facebook. While looking through her Facebook I noticed her church and how much she talked about it and how much love she had for it, so I decided to give it a try. I went to my first service there a week and a half ago. I absolutely loved it. It had a live band and everyone was so nice. While I was waiting for my instructor to get there I had countless people come up to me and introduce themselves to me and told me that if I ever needed anything to let them know. That made such a huge impression on me because they were coming up to someone that they don't even know and treating me as if they already knew me and wanted to get to know me more. I truly believe that God was speaking through them and that He was trying to tell me that I was in the right place and to stay there.
This church is a very small and new church. So new that they have the services in an elementary school cafeteria (how ironic considering I want to teach elementary). There about 50 people in the 9:30 service that I have been going to and they are so so amazing. The songs have blown me away the past two weeks and so does the pastor's sermon. This last week (1/15/2017) just absolutely blew me out of the water. It was my second week at the church and I was so looking forward to just worshiping God. I got there and took my seat waiting for church to start. When the first song came on I just knew it was going to be such a great service. I could truly feel God in that cafeteria that day. I could feel him telling me to let go of all my anxiety, let go of all my worries, let go of my home-sickness that I had experienced so badly when moving down here. I know that through those songs and during that sermon that He was telling me to trust in Him. To trust in the plan that He has for me! It was such a powerful day for me to actually feel God telling me that stuff. I was in tears by the end of the service and got in my car and just cried and prayed to God. That was the day I handed all my worries and my life over to God. It was the day that I felt so much peace that I had never felt before. It was honestly the best day of my life. After the service I went to breakfast with my instructor. It was so great getting to know her and her journey with God. It was amazing talking to her and just telling her about my life and where I come from. It was such an amazing day, and I could not be more thankful that God spoke to me that day because since then I know that my life is up to God. I can't change His plans for me and I just have to trust Him.
I'm so thankful I found not only that church but also my yoga instructor. She may be a lot older than me but I now know that she is someone I can confide in and that is also there to help me with my walk with God. I should probably end this post now because it has gotten pretty lengthy but I wanted to chronicle that day because it was so remarkable and such a HUGE turning point for me in my life. Have a great night y'all! I'll post again when I get some inspiration!
-Kiersten

Been a While

So, it's been quite a while since I've posted. Summer was really awesome. It was a really fun and relaxed summer spent with my best friends and work. Senior year is okay. There's a lot of work with the college and scholarship application process, as well as school work. I am taking 7 weighted classes. 5 of those classes are college classes and 2 of those classes are classes that I can test out of for college. My two main colleges that I'm looking at right now are Ball State and Hanover. I have already been admitted to Ball State, which is my first choice, and I am still waiting on Hanover, whom said they don't send out their letters until the end of this month. 2 of my best friends left for college and I miss them both so much. I have only been able to see them both once since they have left. I will hopefully get to see them again soon. Luke goes to Ball State, while Rachel goes to USI. They're both great colleges filled with two smart cookies. There's not much that has been going on in my life. If you have any questions, feel free to comment and I will answer in a separate post. I'll try to start posting more.

Today is the Day!

Today is the day! The day I get my hair done, have my nails painted, take lots of pictures, get into a big, beautiful dress, and have fun dancing the night away with my friends! Today is prom day, and I couldn't be any more excited!

3 Day

3 days till the best night this year. 3 days till I dance my butt off. 3 days till the night that will be filled with many laughs. 3 days till I get to put on my beautiful princess dress. 3 days till I get to have fun with an awesome date. 3 days till I can laugh the night away with my friends. 3 days till PROM!
I really don't think anyone will ever know how excited I am for prom. I have an amazing date and my friends will make this the best night ever. I'll be out on the dance floor the whole time dancing my little heart out even though I can't dance at all. I really cannot wait! You will for sure be updated with pictures.




But until then, here is me in my beautiful, princess dress