Another poem

So we had to write these "bio poems" for "Kiddy Lit"...

KRISTEN
Diligent, faithful, compassionate,
Follower of Jesus, friend to the needy, nurturer of children,
Lover of family and friends, Latin America, green tea,
Who feels thankful for special friends,
amazed at grace,
ashamed of continual unbelief,
Who needs loyal friends, a listening ear, time to think
Who fears loneliness, rejection, failure,
Who would like to see more of God’s glory,
Africa,
friends in other parts of the world.
Born in Taylors, SC.
HATFIELD

My Teacher Ate My Homework

Since it has been way too long since my last post, here's a little sampling of the world of an education major. I'm collecting poems for a resource notebook for my Preschool Curriculum class. Here is one from my collection:

My Teacher Ate My Homework

by Kenn Nesbitt

My teacher ate my homework,
which I thought was rather odd.
He sniffed at it and smiled
with an approving sort of nod.

He took a little nibble—
it’s unusual, but true—
then had a somewhat larger bite
and gave a thoughtful chew.

I think he must have liked it,
for he really went to town.
He gobbled it with gusto,
and he wolfed the whole thing down.

He licked off all his fingers,

gave a burp, and said, "You pass."

I guess that's how they grade you

when your in a cooking class.

Purity..."His lilly-white likeness"

Purity...does it even exist in our culture today? During our Bible study last week, we covered the topic of purity. For many girls, they simply envisioned physical purity, yet we challenged them with the Biblical call to purity. Why are we to be holy? Because we are to imitate Christ. We are to be holy because God is holy. This is purity of heart that is reflected in our emotions, dress, lives, loves, passions, and dreams. It is so much more that the cultural idea of purity...if that even exists in our culture today. It is a pure heart that is fully devoted to seeing and savoring our Savior without the distraction of other loves. Here are a few great quotes that we used:

Elizabeth Elliot – “Purity, I fear has gotten mixed up in people’s minds with the caricature of Puritanism, which, in the popular imagination, is a dour, brittle revolt against all the pleasures of the flesh. Purity means freedom from contamination, from anything that would spoil the taste or the pleasure, reduce the power, or in any way adulterate what the thing was meant to be. It means cleanness, clearness – no additives, nothing artificial – in other words, “all natural,” in the sense in which the original Designer designed it to be.”

Leslie Ludy – “True purity is much more than a Christian “rule” to endure. True purity is so much more than the noble descision to “wait” for our future spouse. True purity is complete set-apartness for our Heavenly Prince. True purity comes only when we fall into the loving arms of our Prince, surrender ourselves fully to Him, and allow Him to tenderly shape us into His lilly-white likeness.”

How do you forgive someone?

For an update on our Bible Study. This week were studying holiness. As God's people, we have been called to a life of holiness...a life that continually radiates His greatness and His majesty. This opened up a lot of discussion as it means living a life that is completely different from the world. It changes the way that we think, our passions, dreams, and attitudes towards others.

In our discussion, one girl, the same girl who last week told us she had never read her Bible, asked how to forgive someone. This question seems basic, yet it is really profound. Forgiveness is so crucial in understanding the Gospel. Other girls responded graciously to her question by explaining that the picture of forgiveness is in Christ. How do we forgive? Like Christ. How can we forgive? Because we have been forgive in Christ. Please pray for these girls that the Word would penetrate their hearts and that they would taste and see that God is good.

Back to School Again

Its hard to believe that the school year has already begun. Classes are in full swing and life is a little back to normal again. This year is full of many new excitements and opportunities. Specifically, this year a friend of mine from school and I are leading a Bible Study titled "Living a Chosen Life." Last night, we had our first Bible Study together...what a blessing this was to see girls that God has placed in our lives! So many opportunities for the advancement of His Kingdom. At the beginning, I asked the girls to open their Bibles to 1 Peter 3. One of the girls then said, "Honestly, I've never actually read my Bible...where is 1 Peter?" Wow! This is so exciting to have the opportunity to point people to love, serve, and delight in our Savior through His Word. Apparently this girl had gone to church but never actually read her Bible. If you are reading this, would you pray for these girls that God would warm their hearts for a longing and love for Himself?

Waiting

I was reading the blog Girl Talk the other day. This is an excellent site for women who are passionate about following our Biblical role as daughters of the King. It is practical, theoretical, encouraging, and very funny at times. As I was reading, I came across this excellent quote.

"Waiting on God isn't about the suspension of meaning and purpose. It's part of the meaning and purpose that God has brought into my life. Waiting on God isn't to be viewed as an obstruction in the way of the plan. Waiting is an essential part of the plan. For the child of God, waiting isn't simply about what I'll receive at the end of my wait. No, waiting is much more purposeful, efficient, and practical than that. Waiting is fundamentally about what I'll become as I wait. God is using the wait to do in and through me exactly what He's promised. Through the wait He's changing me. By means of the wait He's altering the fabric of my thoughts and desires. Through the wait He's causing me to see and experience new things about Him and His kingdom. And all of this sharpens me, enabling me to be a more useful tool in His redemptive hands."

The Valley of Vision

Desires
O THOU THAT HEAREST PRAYERS
Teach me to pray.
I confess that in religious exercises
the language of my lips and the feelings of my heart have not always agreed,
that I have frequently taken carelessly upon my tongue a name never pronounced above
without reverence and humility,
that I have often desired things which would have injured me,
that I have depreciated some of the chief mercies,
that I have erred both on the side of my hopes and also of my fears,
that I am unfit to chose for myself ,
for it is not in me to direct my steps.
Let Thy Spirit help my infirmities,
for I know not what to pray for as I ought.
Let him produce in me wise desires by which I may ask right things,
then shall I know Thou hearest me.
May I never be importunate for temporal blessings,
but always refer them to Thy fatherly goodness,
for Thou knowest what I need before I ask;
May I never think I prosper unless my soul prospers,
or that I am rich unless rich toward Thee.
or that I am wise unless wise unto salvation.
May I seek first its kingdom and its righteousness.
May I value things in relation to eternity.
May my spiritual welfare be my chief solicitude.
May I be poor, afflicted, despised, and have thy blessing,
rather than be successful in enterprise,
or have more than my heart can wish,
or be admired by my fellow-men,
if thereby these things make me forget Thee.
May I regard the world as dreams, lies, vanities, vexations of spirit,
and desire to depart from it.
And may I seek my happiness in Thy favor, image, presence, and service.
-The Valley of Vision

Summer has begun!

Although classes ended almost a month ago now, it just now feels like summer is beginning. Kids are out of school... the pool is open... and its actually possible to get overheated. The joys of summertime...mine has been long awaited since I "missed" it last year in South America.










A few weeks ago, we went as a family to Washington, D.C. Unknowingly, we went in the middle of May when all the eighth grade trips were ALSO going to Washington. We had a good time despite the swarms of middle schoolers and the excitement of getting lost everyday! Here are just a few pictures of the trip.
This is the tomb of the unknown soldier...which is pretty cool just to watch. The little boy is the picture with Philip is a family friend of mine that I met in Argentina. We met their family at the zoo on our last day. The picture was too cute!

Spring Break and Easter

It was so good to be home again for a little Easter/Spring Break. The week was pretty much low key, just catching up with family and several friends from church and work. I substitute taught one day, fun but tiring...preparation for the future. Here are a few pictures we took on Easter.

"Those who look to him are radiant..."

The other day I was meditating on what it means to glow as a daughter of the King in His righteousness and glory. Despite how easily my heart gets distracted, he is always pointing me back to himself and the cross, making me most radiant when I am most fixed up on Jesus, not myself. I was reading Psalm 33-34 and Hebrews 12:2-3 the other day. In Ps. 34:5, David says that, "Those who look to Him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame." I love that picture of being radiant...glowing..shining..with God's glory. His holiness, righteousness, and perfection shining through me, his meager, sinful yet chosen daughter. This is the holiness that I long for..the glory of God radiating through my life. Later, David says, "for those who fear him lack no good thing..." What a promise! Those who reverently trust and fear the faithfulness of our great God will lack no good thing! We may lack the things of this world, but we will never lack God's complete forgiveness, daily grace, and continual mercy. Do we get this? Do we live like this? So often I don't. So often I live like the Gospel isn't really real, like I am not completely forgiven. But we are! We are far more sinful that we can imagine, yet God's grace is far more abundant than we dreamed. This is how we radiate the glory of God...by daily resting and living bathed in the blood of Christ.

O to grace how great a debtor
Daily I’m constrained to be!
Let Thy goodness, like a fetter,
Bind my wandering heart to Thee.
Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it,
Prone to leave the God I love;
Here’s my heart, O take and seal it,
Seal it for Thy courts above.

O that day when freed from sinning,
I shall see Thy lovely face;
Clothed then in blood washed linen
How I’ll sing Thy sovereign grace;
Come, my Lord, no longer tarry,
Take my ransomed soul away;
Send thine angels now to carry
Me to realms of endless day.

By Robert Robinson

New Year's Update

Well, I have not updated for a long time so I figured it was long overdue. Christmas break just ended, and I came back to campus this morning. Christmas break was wonderful to be back with my family once again. Having been in Argentina over the summer, this was the longest I had been at home for a year. It was so good to reconnect (i.e. have long, serious conversations) with Mom and Dad and have fun (i.e. act silly and be made fun of) being the oldest, now the littlest, sister.

I also spent most of the summer working at a tea store. Although tiring, the job was lots of fun. I met and greeted customers and basically encouraged them to buy tea. The job was completely people oriented, which is what made it so much fun.

Until later,
Kristen

Are you a sprinkler?

I have another funny story to add to our list. Last night in our house, four of us made bean soup (we actually just heated it up) and had a cute little "family style" dinner in our kitchen. Later, we had some friends over and were making brownies together. We were going to put chocolate chips in them but forgot until the last minute so we sprinkled them on top. Then, I offered that we should put holiday sprinkles on them too. Another friend of mine said that no, sprinkles don't go on brownies. She asked, "Are you a sprinkler?" Being the Baptist that I am, I said, "NO! I was fully dunked!"

"House" Stories

This year I'm living in a one of several "ministry houses" that we have here on campus. Last night, we had a pot-luck dinner for all of the houses. We shared our funniest and best moments. Some of our funniest moments included Christmas in October, killing a roach with Lysol, and having campus security ring our doorbell at 1:00 AM. We thought that the best one was having security ring our doorbell in the middle of the night, scaring our house full of girls, all because someone left her lights on in her car.

Enjoying college life and looking forward to Thanksgiving break, Kristen

Argentina movie

I recently made this little movie as a part of my portfolio for the College of Education. I thought you all might enjoy it.

New Email Address

Just to let you all know, my email has changed to khatfield1751@andersonuniversity.edu. Supposedly, Anderson is updating the email system. My old email will still work, and I will check both of them until Nov. 1, 2007. After that, my old one will be removed or deleted, at least that's what the school has told us for now. Thanks.

-Kristen

Perseverance

"Perseverance is the hard work you do after you get tired of the hard work you already did." Newt Gingrich

"What's important in such matters is not how you got into college but how you leave." Clarence Thomas, US Supreme Court Justice

College Life

It's nice to finally be back into the full swing of college life again. Homework, tests, socials, and trips. This month's fun things on the calendar: RUF Swing Dance Night (tomorrow!), RUF Conference (great worship, great fun), Homecoming, and a trip to Charleston, SC. College days don't last forever. I was talking with a friend of mine, and we wish we could spend all our time just being involved on campus without the responsibility of classes. That doesn't really work though. This year has already been a huge blessing living with five other girls in a house. We love it. Its great to have the fellowship of others as well as working together to reach out to our campus. We've already enjoyed the conveniences of the house to host several girls' nights and just spend time together.

Until later,
Kristen

Back to School

Its hard to believe I'm already back at school. It feels like summer passed quickly, yet it feels so long ago that I was moving out. Its funny how life seems so fast in one sense and in another so slow.

Well this year "college life" feels a little different than last. Mostly because there isn't all that first year nervousness and uncertainty. Also because I'm living in a little house with some friends. Its kind of like home but not really because it isn't really home. Things have already been interesting. For example, the air conditioning doesn't really work well - of course on one of the hottest days of the year.

I'm actually helping with orientation, so I'm here more than a week before classes start. I guess it gives time to get things organized and prepared.

Until later,
Kristen

Finally Home

After my exciting adventure in Lima, Peru, I finally arrived home. I think I calculated that the trip from start to finish took over 50 hours, but it was worth it. I met some neat people and saw a culture totally different from Argentina. It seemed like there was much more poverty and danger in Lima than in the places I went in Argentina. According to one website I found,

"Ever since Pizarro tricked the Inca, Atahualpa, into capture, slaughtered him, and looted the City of Cuzco, this Andean country has become synonymous with robbery. Unlike Brazil, a gun is rarely used; the Peruvians are too professional. Their art is well crafted, and the sneak thieves are very nimble. If you give them the slightest opportunity, they will relieve you of your possessions quicker than an armed mugger could even produce a weapon."

The airline put us up in a very nice hotel that served all sorts of cultural cuisine and treated us wonderfully. Overall, it was a wonderful trip. But it is so good to finally be with my family again.

This week has been back to American stress and work again. Its so fast paced. I think that the Latin American culture is much more relaxed than here. I miss it, yet it has been good to be back. Sunday, worshipping in English felt so wonderful. I understood every single thing!

Back on American soil,
Kristen

Surprise trip - Lima, Peru!

I am spending the day in Lima, Peru. What an unexpected and cool experience! I was trying to go home and, well... do I have some stories to tell! Basically, in a nutshell, after waiting 11 hours in Santiago, my flight was delayed and missed my connecting flight. So I found myself with a German, an Australian, and a Californian at 3am in the Lima airport - no luggage and no flight. No problem really - my trip has taught be how to be FLEXIBLE! Thank goodness, the Californian girl and I speak Spanish, or we´d be sunk. We stayed in a very nice hotel here in Lima. The Australian woman and Californian girl and I have been walking all over Lima most of the day. Its very different from Argentina - so cool. Oh the stories to tell...

Hoping to arrive home sometime in the near future,

Kristen