I am not used to having so much time to think, pray, be alone, etc. It's beautiful, but at the same time so hard. I like to be with people I like to be in conversation, but I forget how precious quiet alone time with God is. The busy world around me is intriguing and as much as I get frustrated with the constant noise and chaos I miss having people around when things get quiet. My friends are for the most part away this weekend...my roommate included. It's quiet in my apartment. I like it, but it's been tough because I have been so excited about what God is doing in my life that I want to tell someone and no one is here to tell. I was reading back at my posts for the past year and I was amazed to see how GOd has changed me and grown me so much. It's incredible to think that I was struggling so much with fitting in and feeling a part of the community here and at times i still do, but to a lesser extent. I was questioning so much and God has given me peace about it all. I have jumped around to 6 different churches in the past year and finally God has said, "Katie settle down" and so I am. I love my church....I leave having been fed and at peace with what GOd is doing in my life and where He is taking me. I am encouraged by the worship that takes place there. It's real and genuine. I love it. On that note....God has been encouraging me so much recently. I have struggled a lot with Joy and desiring to fight for it and trusting that God would restore it. I am not saying that I have it figured out...I doubt I will ever have it figured out, but I am realizing when I am starting to drift and the Joy is slipping from me.....and i turn back to God and it returns. It's amazing. So easy, yet so hard. Today I went out to cambria to see friends from church....it was a blessing to spend some time in a very beautiful place and watch the sunset over the tidepools. The trees were so perfect and pointing back to God and there were little deer frolicking in the forest around me. i was encouraged. God is meeting my every need. the minute i try to rely on someone else to bring me Joy is exactly when i am miserable. God through others can bring me joy, but those people are not my source of Joy. I am learning this every day it seems. I have been amazed at how God has been using people in my life to bring me Joy. He did it...not the friends of mine. God speaks words of love and truth and it blesses me. I am His child and He adores me and finds me precious. So rad! So this week has been good and hard. I am so blessed by the amazing things GOd is doing. I am stoked for where He's leading me. I am encouraged because He loves me and gives me beautiful sunsets and truthful words that touch me deep down. God thank you!