i know

i know, i know.  

It's been over a MONTH since my last update.  That doesn't mean I haven't written....  

I just found a way to pack 25 hours of activities into 24 hours/day, as my parents would say.  

And since I am ultimately in Thailand to give Jesus not Katie, that is not okay. 

So, blogger gets the back end these days.  

Some time soon (maybe after grades are due this week? and after I've re-prioritized and disciplined myself to actually receive the daily bread that IS offered to me constantly, even though I just stare at it or ignore it) I'll have time to just sit and write and write and write and then watch Smash and write some more.   

Laterzzzzzzzz....

Next Up....

Mom & Dad in Thailand.    :)  Here's a preview: 

 

The Breadth of Irony

... It extends across the Pacific.

Oh, irony.  You weird, weird THing.  emphasis on "th."  

You may need to read through this post a little slowly, or a few times to really get all the wild irony in each instance.  Not all ironic situations I find myself in get documentation.  These are too weird to skip, though.

1. Last Bachelor-talk, really.  for this month at least.  =]  
Okay.  
I promise I'm not obsessed with this guy.
But you are not even gonna believe this story.
  
In a few recent posts, I mentioned a dream I had about The Bachelor.  (Can I just say, it's been hilarious how many friends have sent me emails or messages about the new bachelor and how watching the show makes them think of me, and also how he freakishly reminds them of a former-significant-solid-buff-blue-eyed, blond-haired man I had in my life?)  Anyway - here's a quick re-cap - I dreamed that Sean came to Thailand for the filming of his show and he secretly began falling for me instead of the contestants.

Well, about a week after I had that dream, a friend sent me a message to say she had just read that Sean filmed his last few episodes in Chiang Rai.  

YA, I know. 

I said I'd only apply for the show if I knew Sean was The Bachelor, and there's no way of knowing beforehand. 

TURNS.OUT. 

kt moved to Chiang Rai, 

Sean became The Bachelor, 

kt dreamed about Seanzie coming to Chiang Rai, 

then he did indeed end up IN Chiang Rai as The Bachelor.  

omgah.  seriously?

::shakes head in an "oh, the irony" cliche motion::  


2. An Old-Acquaintance
Remember how I went to that Christian Educator's Conference back in November?  About 600-800 Christian Educators from around Asia attended, and all day long the first day, I kept seeing this lady that I swore I knew.  After the 4th time of running into her, I followed her up an escalator (haha, creeeperrr).  At the top, I stopped her and said, "Hi...uh... I think I know you."  Just then, I read "Rebekah" on her name tag and remembered.  "... Did you happen to teach English to some Somal*an refugees at an apartment complex on E. Berry Street?"  Y'all, that was 6 years ago.  Go ahead, you who always comment on my crazy-good long term memory... roll your eyes; I did, too.  


Rebekah:  "Yes, did we teach together?" 
me:  "Well, sorta... I subbed once for ___, and I know it's weird that I remembered you, but I actually just thought "gosh she looks familiar," and it wasn't until I saw your name tag that I remembered how I know you."  By the look on her face, I could tell she really was trying to remember who I was.  
And I was thinking, "omg kt, that was freaky."    

Rebekah:  "Hmmm, I'm trying to remember.  Do you happen to know A.V.?"  
me:  "Mmm, no, I don't think so."  
Rebekah:  "Oh, well I thought maybe you were there when she was teaching.  She's so sweet, I thought maybe y'all were friends.  She ended up marrying my son." 

Just then it hit me.  NOW I REALLY remember her!  As I was leaving the class, we stood outside my car and had a good conversation that led to her trying to set me up with her son.  I reminded of her that, and THEN she remembered who I was.  

Rebekah:  "Ohhhhh, now I remember you!  You drove a cute little Jeep!" 
me:  "Yep, that's me!  How weird to run into you, and I can't believe I recognized you!" 
Rebekah:  "I know small world!  Well, do you happen to be married or dating now?  Because I have this nephew... do you happen to know L. P.?"  
me:  "OMGosh!"  (L. P. is your nephew?!?!)
me:  "OMGosh!"  (L. P.'s bro & sis-in-law are friends of mine!  They're in my Life Group at home!  Y'all are related???) 
me:  "OMGosh! I know A. V.!!!  I stood NEXT to her in Yoga at L. P.'s sister-in-law's house for several weeks last year!"  

Not 1 connection. 
Not 2 connections.
But all 6 degrees of separation, folks.  She now lives in China but took a break for the conference in Chiang Mai.  We caught up on life during lunch, and Nellie & I went on a night safari with her and her friends one night.   It was a very sweet blessing for both of us to reconnect.
I love it when stuff like that happens.  :)  


3. A Run-in in Bangkok
You know in When Harry Met Sally, they're singing karaoke to Surrey with the Fringe on Top, and Harry spots his ex-wife?  

Sally: You sure you're OK?
Harry: Oh, I'm fine. Look, it had to happen at some point. In a city of eight million people, you're bound to run into your ex-wife.

No, I didn't run into any exes.  But THIS is SO WEIRD, and it reminded me of that line in When Harry Met Sally.  One morning on our trip in Bangkok, Nellie and I needed and take the Sky Train---Let me mention real quickly that Bangkok is one of the largest cities in the world with a population of about 10 million people.---  We ended up at a train docking station that we'd never been to, and I look over at the waiting station next to ours and said, "Hey, I think I know that guy."  He turned around talking to a friend and I said, "Yes, I do!  He works at Grace!"  Grace is an international school in Chiang Mai where I had visited for a curriculum survey trip about a month before this.  We stepped aboard our train and a rare thing happened - hardly anybody else in our section of the train car.   Usually it's too packed to find a seat, but divinely (although I have yet figured out the reason), we found ourselves on this e m p t y train car, so we sat down next to this guy and his friends.  He recognized me and so did the friend that was with him, the 2nd grade teacher from Grace!  I thought it was funny that I teach 2nd grade and music, and I ran into the 2nd grade teacher and the music teacher from Chiang Mai, but we all ended up on this random train car in Bangkok.  

That was enough irony for me.  "Woooow, that is SOooo weirrrrd.  What are the odds?"  

But THEN, 

The next day on our way home, we stopped in Chiang Mai for a bit to see a friend and enjoy the city for the day.  I checked my email at a coffee shop and read one from Mom that said, "Hey, I was just talking to Diane, who said she knows someone at Grace International School in Chiang Mai.  His name is ___ and he's the music teacher there.  I told her I wasn't sure what the odds of you knowing him are, but that I'd go ahead and ask."  I checked the time change between here and Texas, and Mom sent that email almost to the exact hour that I was running into this guy in Bangkok.  

I KNOW, RIGHT?!

When I find myself in situations like these, I ask myself - 

Does this mean I'm supposed to be here or something?

Because while there is a reason for everything, 

- The Bachelor coming to Chiang Rai doesn't mean I was supposed to become the dramatic "twist" of this season. 
- Reconnecting with Rebekah doesn't mean I should be dating anybody related to her.
- And receiving an email about a guy I know in Chiang Mai who I ran into in Bangkok on the day this email was sent from Texas doesn't necessarily mean... well, actually I still can't figure that one out.  That was weird!

Instead, I'll just believe that everything happens for a reason, not always for me to figure or find out. And that sometimes, no matter how wild and crazy or how small and simple of a moment it is, I'll just trust that it's God's way of telling me, "Don't worry, kt, you're right where I want you to be."  

Oh, irony.  Sometimes I think you're really just divinity and confirmation in disguise.  Other times, maybe you're just around for a good laugh and an entertaining story....  :)  

Change

You know how you can say a word so many times that it begins to seem like it's not really a word at all?  Without fail, the word "change" brings to mind the song "Chain chain chaaaaiiinnnn, chain of fools," and once that got stuck in my head just now, I began to sing "chain chain chaaannnggeee," and now the word "change" doesn't even feel like a real word anymore.  and that song doesn't even make sense for this post.  OH WELL!

what er ya gonna do???  =]

January brought some really big changes.  *typical of you, january....*

One of my new FAVORITE people moved back to the states to get mawwiieeeed.  I'm SUPER excited for her, but I already miss her!  I was BLESSED to get to know Leneigh Brackney and am thrilled to get to see her again in Texas! It's so great when you can meet someone and just *click.*  How divine that she ended up becoming my teacher assistant in the 2nd grade classroom.  Leneigh played many roles on my Thailand adventure.  

I especially knew 2nd grade would live happily ever after when I found out her favorite movie is Baby Mama (insert Amy Poehler's pre-natal yoga "what what" sound) and one of her fave tv shows is NEW GIRL (disclaimer: I may not agree with everything on it, but you know what, that show is HYSTERICAL).  #schmidtzie #schmidtism #schmidtbaby 

#hashtagsoutsideoftwitter
#yeahso

Aside from being tons of fun, Leneigh is diligent, mature, disciplined and motivated.  I learned so much from her initiative and discipline.  Having her in my classroom everyday ushered in an awareness&accountability of my daily decisions within the classroom, my responses to discipline opportunities, how my character shone (or shadowed), and the thing is, she didn't say anything about any of those.  I think it was Christ in her, as well as an unexpected but useful self-conciousness that grew me and shaped me further than I would've on my own.  I am grateful to have had a "buddy" in the classroom who got my jokes and recognized the times that I needed help or encouragement.  I'm so, so thankful for someone to change up the dynamic when we traveled, to make things feel at-home when we shared dinners or watched movies.  She is a lovely, new lifelong friend who once again, when I met her in the staff room before school began, I had no idea how she would be used in my life.  
Maybe someday we'll serve together again.  :)  

iloveit that Anthony came to visit Chiang Rai for two months before they both headed back to the states.  Blessed by them, indeed!  

New Year's Eve

First trip to Chiang Mai, first tuk-tuk ride

2nd graders and Mustache Day

CRICS Christmas Program

With Leneigh's departure came some rearranging. Here we go with some oldies again:  "When it's time to change, you've got to re-arraaange!"  

Leneigh had been teaching the three K-6 Elementary Music classes, so I took them on.  Music Education is something I've considered studying, and particularly I've had some interest in Music Therapy.  I'm looking forward to exploring a) music ed.  b) different grade levels  c) teaching outside of regular core content.  Today was my first music class....grades 4-6...quite different from my 1st and 2nd grade babes.  ;)  

Any advice on how to get 6th grade boys thinking that Beethoven and Schubert are cool is gladly welcomed.  =]  

Some elementary supervisors at school helped me spend some hours getting my schedule worked out, but we have a plan that seems to be working so far... and guess what, Leneigh, it's actually better than it was before.  

Like I said way back in my very first Thailand post, change is good.  
Growth
Learning
Exploration
Discovery
Understanding
FUN
APPRECIATION. 

I'm expecting all-of-the-above with these new changes.  I think these are reasonable, likely and attainable expectations.  

Leneigh Brackney (and any of my former music teacher readers), I'll do my best to make ya proud!  

Our first music class today began with the following apropos: 

Psalm 95 
1 Come, let us sing for joy to the LORD; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation. 
2 Let us come before him with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song. 
3 For the LORD is the great God, the great King above all gods. 
4 In his hand are the depths of the earth, and the mountain peaks belong to him. 
5 The sea is his, for he made it, and his hands formed the dry land. 
6 Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the LORD our Maker; 
7 for he is our God and we are the people of his pasture, the flock under his care.  Today, if you hear his voice, 
8 do not harden your hearts....






And just one more thing for the road - Bananagrams and John Denver at Charlie's Resort

October 2012

Julie & Julia

*Wrote this blog on December 21st.  It's one of those I mentioned in my 12/31 post titled "2012," that I wrote but never published for the public.  Letting go... published.  :) 

Good Morning, Christmas Break.   

I awoke with a smile on my face, probably not for any reason that you'd guess.  

I dreamed last night that while Sean Lowe from The Bachelorette was filming his season of The Bachelor, he was secretly falling for me even though I wasn't a contestant on the show, and it was the new "twist" of the most dramatic season of The Bachelor in Bachelor history, because ya know, we put our hearts out on the line.  Also, the whole show was filmed in T h a i l a n d (yeah, I know, dreamin' alright!).  He met me here, and I was so excited because even though we met in Thailand, I knew he could two-step because he's from Texas.    

hey, maybe it could happen?  ;)

I think it's hilarious that I literally woke up smiling.  Haha.  Embarrassing?  Slightly.  

But it's Real.  

And for some reason, that's what this blog has become. 

Very, 

very, 

real.  

So on that note  - I'm in a good mood.  And naturally, I turned on Bieb's "Mistletoe" after I woke up and realized the dream I'd just had.  

Next.

Relate.  Relate.  Relate.

and relate again.  [be mindful of the title]

#1:  I find joy in cooking.  I get lost in it.  Sometimes I follow a recipe, but my preference is to treat cooking like a piece of art.  It is.  It is art, creativity, and science all mixed into one.  Add to that nutrition and bent rules, enjoyment, pleasure, generosity, hospitality, variety, limitless possibilities - For me, to cook is to rest.  And I need more of it. 

#2:  I blog.  I document my life and send pieces of my raw emotions, my adventures, my opinions and even some of my p r a y e r s out into CYBERSPACE, wherever that is.  I wonder if anybody reads it, and I wonder who I'm writing to, sometimes.  Most of the time I feel like I'm just talking to myself.  Interestingly, my own self is the audience that can't wait to the turn the page or read the next chapter...  

#3:  Although Julie Powell was turning 30 in the movie Julie & Julia, I am one week away from 27.  Still young and enjoying my 20's.  However, glaringly aware that i. am. single.  i am single.  I am single, and there are things I can do right now in my life that I couldn't do if I had a new little family, which is perhaps part of the purpose in why I am still single.  That doesn't change how many of my friends are having babies with their cute husbands right now, though, and how I, like Julie Powell, wonder how good of an idea it is to document my life and my feelings on the internet.  I am embracing where I am, though, or at least trying to.  Remember that "Thankfulness Changes Things" post?  Still ringin' true, my friends.  It's still true.  

Ya know,

Sometimes...I think Facebook...is a thief. 

of joy.  

...and a catalyst...

for comparison.  

Have I said this before?  I've certainly thought it.  On the other hand, sometimes the connections made via Facebook are priceless, especially when you move across the globe.

#4:  (back to the focus of the post - my life related to Julie & Julia)  Julie Powell sat at her desk with blogger open and contemplated the depth and reality of her blog content.  I do this every time I open my webpage to write.  The direction of my blog has steered away from "teaching in thailand," and instead has become a place where I process the restorative moments that I did indeed expect this year.  

Hello joy, hello adventure, hello humility, hello contentment, ... hello lamentation.  

Julie Powell opened a blog to record 365 days of cooking new recipes.  I opened a blog for recording my experiences and adventures in Thailand.  She ended up with character growth.  I'm finding some identity growth.  

Psalm 139 comes to mind again.  Search me, God, and know my heart.  Test me and know my anxious thoughts; see if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.  

#5:  Given - half the movie is in France.  #leduh 
#6:  Meryl Streep is in it.  Nothing for me to relate to here, I just like that part.  I think she's fabulous.    

As a result of watching this movie, I have made up my mind to take a Thai cooking class.  My Thai friends can still teach me, but I've always wanted to take a Central Market cooking class - so, why not try an authentic Thai cooking class right here in Chiang Rai?  

Small side note - I think watching American movies are extra restful for me here because it looks familiar and sounds familiar.  Everybody speaks English, and it forces me to sit down and be still.  

Writing does the same thing.  

I swear I'll write about life events rather than my thoughts and feelings about Chick Flicks someday soon.... The Christmas season has been unbelievably busy [bizzy].  Joyous, particularly magnifying of the Sovereignty of the Christmas story, pretty stressful, and bizzy.  

It'll be okay if you go watch Julie & Julia now and don't like it. 
I'll still love it.  
:) 

2012

It's the last day of 2012, a blog is in order.

I wish I'd posted more blogs this month, but regardless of the fact that it was SUPER BIZZY, I did actually write some posts - but, I didn't finish any of them... I just went back to read a few and realized they aren't as melancholic as I thought they were, esp. because of the mentioning of my FABULOUS dream where I was a secret/surprise contestant on The Bachelor with Sean Lowe.  %-)  There are those google-y eyes again.  ;;;)  And that's me batting them.  ;;;)  Seriously if it doesn't work out for him on The Bachelor, hook a sista up!  
For now, it's time for reflection - because that's just what happens on December 31st of every year - thinking back on all the changes, events, memories and people of the past year and saying "wonder what I'll be doing this time next year?"  I had no idea that this 2012 would look so differently than what I thought.  weird.
I am so, so grateful for lessons learned, dreams fulfilled, character built and fantastic people along the way of my surprising and adventurous road in 2012.  
I get nervous to be an open book, I know I don't have to be, but it's where my blog is going and I think that's okay.  Julie Powell in Julie & Julia would understand, only her sphere of influence was MUCH greater.  Oh well.  I'm even naming names, this time.  Also, I think I will go ahead and post all 4 of the blogs I DID write this month, so if they seem out of order, oh well again.  One more week of holiday break + A RIDICULOUS LOAD OF UNWRITTEN POSTS & FUN/NEW EVENTS = blog-happy kt.  get ready, yo!

Okay 2012 open book... Have at it - 

I can't believe I just returned from a trip to Bangkok.

I got stuck in a rainstorm in Northern Thailand with people I had just met.  

I bought a necklace in Taylor Swift's hometown with Whitney and Deanna, where I also went on a Civil War history tour.  Yep, loved it. 

I greeted almost every single person who walked into my church on Sundays and it became one of the highlights of each week. The timing of that job was undoubtedly perfect.  The way of the Lord is flawless (Psalm 18).  Thanks, Joni and Chad.  :)

I fed giraffes and elephants from my hands. 

I went on a daddy-daughter date to The Colonial Golf Tournament, my first time there.  

I didn't marry David.

I learned how to grieve.  

I'm still learning how to lament.  

I listened to Florence & the Machine's "Cosmic Love" on repeat for about two weeks.  

I drank A LOT of lettuce juice.  

I drank lettuce juice? 

a lot?  

you can drink lettuce??

moving on. 

I ran into someone I taught English with ONCE in Ft. Worth, while we were at a conference in Chiang Mai, who now lives in China, and we cried together.  Then we went on a safari together.  

Nearly every person in my current Asian sphere, the ones I work with and see every day, the ones I have church with, travel with, hang out with on the weekends - I didn't even know they existed until 5 months ago.

I closed down Pete's in downtown Ft. Worth a handful-ish number of times as well as The Gingerman.  And I still love Jesus, and He still loves me.     

I gained 15 pounds.  Please consider where I started post-mono last January when you think about that.  

I kissed my 16 year old dog goodbye for quite possibly the last time.  He's still hangin' in there in case ya wondered.   

I laughed till I cried with more people than I can count.  

That's my favorite one.  

I learned how to bake.  

... vegan-style.  

I finally tried a Fred's Burger. 

I didn't kiss him when I could've, and I should've.  

Granddad was diagnosed with cancer. 
so was Aunt Charlene.  

I frequented Buon Giornio's Coffee Shop so often that when I called at 7 AM running late for work, Stuart prepared my drink before I even got to the shop.  :)  

I smoked my first cigar, a maple-flavored one.   

I asked a guy to dinner.  I flip-flopped it for a change.  

I went to a bar by myself (okay it was a posh Italian restaurant's bar, but still).  

I didn't finish a single book, but I started many.

I discovered a new love in writing.  

I kayaked UP a river.  

My body was healed the next day after a friend prayed for me.  Wow.  


(Disclaimer:  This isn't completely a high-light reel, I've left out many events, memories, people, etc.  obviously.)  But it's way past my bedtime.  I kinda wanna keep writing! (I kinda wanna hot dog! - youtube ref. again, please ask me about this one if you don't know it, the laughs are worth the few minutes of your time).    


2012 was the most eventful year probably ever for me.  I had NO idea what this New Year's Eve would look like.  Had no idea David wouldn't really be in the script this year - and even though he still sort of was, it wasn't how I thought it would look.  I had no idea that I'd be moving to Thailand, that I wouldn't be teaching at Northbrook anymore, that I wouldn't be living in downtown Fort Worth, that I'd be moving across the world with Nellie Lutz, that my life would get more and more ironic.  Every person in my world here in Asia wasn't on my radar at. all.  
Some friends that prayed for me as I was preparing to move to Thailand all prayed for the same things - individually, but they all said the same thing - this year would be restorative for me, one with joy and adventure.  Check, check and check.  Almost 6 months down, 5 to go!  Thankfully that's not where the joy and adventure stops - that's just how life with Jesus is!  i.t.'s.a.w.e.s.o.m.e.
It is now 4: 40 AM, January 1st, 2013.  I may have a general idea of what the next 6 months will look like, but beyond June, I don't have a clue. I am 27 and single, you can guess where I'd like this year to go.  And about those resolutions - meh, later.  ;)  
I'm really looking forward to finding out what 2013 has in store.  No matter what it is, even if it doesn't look good, it will turn out to be.  There is always something to learn if not to enjoy.   
Goodness I could continue writing but I DID only sleep a few hours last night on a bus from Bangkok to Chiang Mai, then spent today walking around Chiang Mai.  Rang in the new year tonight with dear friends back at home in Chiang Rai where we watched thousands of lanterns ascend into the air at midnight, fireworks light up from every neighborhood around, and a hysterical marathon of New Girl Season 1.  

... wait... 

... Bangkok???  

See you in 2013, blogger  ;)  

Lantern Festival Info.

Check out the blog "Eat. Phrae. Love" on my sidebar for information on what the Yi Peng/Loikratong festival means.

We sent up prayers for the Light of the World and His truth to be recognized, while participating in the beautiful cultural event.  :)