Present Living

The longer I go without blogging... the harder it is to blog at all.  Why?  Stories seem to add up more than our national debt, and I never know quite where to begin.  But I am deciding right now that I will not leave this entry beating up on myself with the "Oh shoot I should have talked about ____!"  or "Was ______ really the best story I could have shared?!" that are typical to the overanalyzation that is Kelsey Cratty.  I'm just going to wing it, and hope that I can offer you a little something to brighten your day, inspire the masses, and change the world (kidding... but that would be sweet wouldn't it?!?).

Picking mushrooms by the side of the road
sure seemed like a good idea at the time...

I have had quite a bit of ups and downs since being here.  It feels like one minute all I want to do is fly back to Michigan, curl up on the couch with my friends, eat popcorn, and watch the Lord of the Rings, and the next minute I imagine all the plays I'd like to see us doing at A. D. Players in the next few years and ways I'd like to get involved with the community.  Homeless drama ministry anyone?!  Sounds great to me!  But brand new to all my dreaming, instead of simply excitement for the possibilities, I often find myself getting somewhat "stuck."  As much as I love the potential of this new place, it scares me that those possibilities might become a reality when deep down I want to go back home (to Michigan, to Katie Garrett's bizarre antics, to Camp Geneva, to Laura's nobody's-ever-heard-of-this-movie-before movie nights, to Wyldlife...).  But what good is that going to do?!?  Jesus tells us not to fear!  We are also told not to worry about tomorrow... So why do I?  I shouldn't!

So I decided... not to.  What's the point of figuring life out when it's going to happen on its own anyway?  Then came the brilliant idea: instead of wondering whether or not I like it here (which I do--I just miss home sometimes), why not spend my time trying to figure out how I can be a blessing to others?  Duh duuuh, I'm sure you could've told me that one a month ago!  And, let me tell you friends, this mindset makes aaaaall the difference!  Who needs an encouraging word today?  What can we do to add a little sugar and spice to the monotony?  Etc.


And OH MY GOSH God provides!  After hanging out with a group from church at a Greek festival, I started walking back to my car.  Being alone in a big city, per usual, lots of guys were friendly enough to offer a walking buddy or ride... which I, per usual, turned down.  If it's a busy city then there are more people to witness anything, so I'm set.  That's my philosophy anyway.  EXCEPT, on this particular night, for some reason I accepted a ride that two guys from my church offered.  One of their friends was picking them up... and low and behold when his car pulled up it had a YOUNG LIFE sticker on it!  I immediately introduced myself--I've wanted to do YL since I got here.  Not only was it just any YL leader, though, Nay nay!  He was the leader of Lamar High School--just a block from my theater, and they meet at the church where our theater hosts children's performances!!!!  Coincidence?  I think not!  I went to their club Monday night and fell in love!  I already met a few high school girls I can't wait to get to know better!

Dinner with Hannah and friends every Wednesday!

Other than that, I've been learning a lot about being faithful in the small things.  Not everything I'm assigned here am I particularly "in love" with--I do a lot of office work.  Emailing and calling schools, sending out calendar ads and emails, etc.  (In order to compensate for the long hours at a desk, I often go on runs during lunch break and to the amusement of my co-workers I rarely use my chair haha).  When we are faithful with little, though, God will make us faithful of much!  Already I've had so many blessings.  I got cast in the children's Christmas show--it's a 3 person cast of a mom (me!), a dad, and a ten year old kid (I GET TO HAVE A CHILD!  YES!!!).  It's going to be tons of fun because the mom and dad play all the different roles in the nativity story (diva angels, prudish British wise men, etc.).  SO FUN!  Also, I just got asked to sub for one of the Theater Arts Academy classes on Monday.  I just spent the past hour brainstorming with my friend/co-worker Braden about lesson plans... Guess what the lesson theme is... DINOSAURS.  Yup, I get to play dinosaur theme games and go on an imaginary dinosaur hunting adventure FOR. MY. JOB.  Granted, that's not my job, all the time... but I treasure the moments here that remind me why I love theater =).

Some random events and so forth that might be entertaining to y'all:
1.) Met up with a random Hope grad living in Houston who I'd never met (we had a mutual friend and got in contact), and I went with him (in a car with a stranger and a dead phone as I realized after the fact) to his friend Tony's 4 year old daughter's birthday party... Neither of us knew the rest of the family... I didn't even really know him... and I also, much to my dismay, realized I didn't know that much Spanish.  Crazy.  How do these things happen in my life?  I will never know.
2.) I'm known to far too many as the girl who goes barefoot.
3.) Performed a few scenes for an intern showcase... Such fun!  The interns I work with are such fun--we love each other =)
4.) My great friend here, Hannah Rode, is "moving" back to Chicagoland today.  She will be missed, but we're all hoping she comes back to stay after Thanksgiving ;)
5.) No, I don't want a relationship right now, and, no, that does not mean I am a nut job.  Well... yes I kind of am, but for many other reasons.
6.)  Created a Bucket List O' Fun for a really awesome friend back home... If you or a friend is feeling down, I highly recommend this.  And it's probably way more fun to write than it is to receive haha.  Some ideas to get you started: write a story about a billy goat and find 3 people you don't know and play "London Bridge."
7.) Once Upon a Time--thank you for living up to the incredibly epic, adventurous, magical reputation you made for yourself last season.  I still love you.
8.)  Still seeing lots of butterflies.  From the glittery butterfly t-shirt worn by a Disney channel character to the beautiful monarch that flew across my path as I was reading in Mark, God never ceases to amaze me with his daily reminders of his loving presence.

Well, friends.  Family... Random creepers even-- Sending lots of love your way.

 "I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers." --Ephesians 1:16