Right Now...

Following many other writers in the blogosphere...right now I am:

watching: well, I would like to be watching "Covert Affairs," but it gives me the creeps when I am alone and I could not sleep two nights ago, so...

eating: waffle and yogurt for breakfast. used the oven to toast the waffle, since I do not have a toaster! Stir-fry for dinner last night- yum!

drinking: yummy mochadoodle coffee

wearing: pink westie pj pants, and Damon's Ole Miss shirt

avoiding: writing another paper about my feelings. oh, counseling school.

feeling: hopeful and optimistic. I am getting married in 30 days! whoa!

missing: Damon. Homeboy is defending his thesis tomorrow! woohoo!!

thankful: for getting through the semester. with one week and two papers to go, I am in the home stretch. Sometime in October I think I seriously thought the world would end before this day would ever come.

weather: COLD! Chance looked like a fire-breathing dragon while I rode him yesterday. Seriously, the high today is 45, and snow is predicted for tomorrow!

needing: motivation to get all of my school work this weekend so that I can enjoy St. Louis for a week before I leave!

loving: flannel sheets, all of the thoughtful people who have thrown or come to my showers this semester- seriously, what a blessing, letterpress artwork, my almost finished Christmas quilt, my iPhone, the fact that I am almost about to marry Damon Stone Webster, hot chocolate, stir-fry and the ever-fuzzy and always energetic Chancers!

The BIG City!

St. Louis is the first big city I have ever lived in. I have lived on the outskirts of a couple of big cities (Oklahoma City, Jacksonville, Brussels, Houston), but never IN a big city. But the mail that comes to my door every certifies that I, Natalie Kate Haynes, live in St. Louis.

It can be kind of easy to forget this though, so thank goodness for that daily postal reminder. I go to a small school that has a cozy campus and I know a lot of people there. I go to the barn a lot, which is not city-esque at all. Everyone drives trucks out there- how much more non-city can you get?! I know where three feed stores are, and where to buy things that horse wormer and alfalfa hay. I don't think many city dwellers know those kind of things. My house looks surprisingly neighborhood-esque, despite being three minutes from the interstate.

But then, about a month ago, St. Louis did something that will be forever etched in my big-city memory. I listened to the radio daily with baited breath, folks. I started caring about something called the "rally squirrel." The St. Louis Cardinals WON THE WORLD SERIES!!!

It was awesome. My favorite big city radio commentators really made the experience for me. I loved seeing the city rally around the team. The kids at the school where I worked would rattle off baseball trivia their parents told them...that I would subsequently rattle off to other people, to pretend that I was a real St. Louis-ian.

Three cheers for big city living!! And GO CARDS!

The local Macy's supports the Cards. How sweet.

Thoughts on Transition

Three weeks have passed since I moved to Missouri. I am less than four months from getting married {!!!!!!!!}. I am hoping to hear about a job this week.

My house is completely out of boxes, and thanks to my mom and Aunt Joyce, everything is set-up too. I have gotten to see Damon once and my future in-laws twice. Chance is doing well and everyone likes him at the barn.

So what about grad school?!? Well, books such as "What Am I Feeling?" "Far As the Curse is Found," and "Anatomy of the Soul," are on my current reading list, with 15 others coming quickly behind them. I have loved the topics that we have covered so far.

I hear the question you are begging to ask. "Natalie, you aren't really in grad school. You are at seminary. What is that like? Isn't it so weird?"

It is true. I am pursuing a Masters of Arts in Counseling at a seminary. Before college the word "seminary" would have freaked me out. I thought that was a place for monks and nuns. For the most part, however, "seminary" and grad school really are not different. We have reading assignments and due dates. Our professors are educated in top schools around the world, and I often leave class day-dreaming about being as smart as them.

If I am completely honest, however, there was one "Wow, I am at seminary!" moment. It was two weeks ago at the convocation ceremony. I wish I had had a camera. I was in class right before the ceremony and our professor said he had to "dress up." I thought he meant a suit and tie. Oh boy was I wrong. "Dressing up" happens to give a historical nod to the men who were instrumental in forming the foundations of the church. Our twenty-first century professors may or may not have dressed like this guy:

Next year, I am bringing a camera. It was wonderful. We sang great hymns, and I got goose-bumps as we were given our "charge" for the year.

WHY the heck did I ever move??

I’ve just moved to St. Louis. It hasn’t exactly been a joy ride. Moving is stressful. There are so many factors to consider- are my favorite dishes going to break? Will I ever make friends? Am I going to pass my classes? How am I going to arrange the furniture? Thoughts flitting around at ninety miles a minute, all the while convincing myself that nothing is going to work out the way I planned. So WHY do it? WHY move? WHY the heck did I move to Oklahoma in the first place? Sure seems like a whole heck of a bother.

It IS a bother. When I left Florida I cried with Mom and Kristin. When I left Oklahoma I cried with Sally, Damon, Doug and Julie. These were not great moments. All of those people were really hard to leave. They are all a huge part of my life, and it was gut-wrenching to say goodbye.

But it some senses, having it be gut-wrenching is better than it not making me feel anything. The reason it was so hard is because I will be sad to not be around them everyday, not going on walks with them, not playing Agricola with them, not seeing each other at Plaid. We have been involved in one another’s lives and truly known one another. I don’t want that to stop. It hasn’t stopped yet with Mom or Kristin. Leaving people you truly care about should be gut-wrenching.

I still haven’t answered the question “why.” Doug told me it is because if nothing ever changed, we would all be stuck in the same place all the time. Nothing would ever progress. At the time I thought, “well that is fine for him to say, he gets to go back to Norman where the people I love live.”

But what he said is true. If I never left Orange Park or Norman, I would never get my counseling degree, and there would never be more counselors. And we need more counselors. Bad.

I have needed counseling before. Lots have people have needed and do need it. We need people to counsel, and counsel with Jesus. Any old quack could say “it is going to get better.” I think it is going to get better, but I can’t really promise that. But Jesus made all things new, and there is a lot of hope and joy in that reality- especially among the messes of our lives.

So, I am here for some bigger purpose {not that that makes me a bigger person.} A bigger purpose that seems really small in importance right now. I hope to find joy in it. I hope to find joy lurking around here somewhere, right in between my two broken dishes and all the empty boxes.

Day 6: Books

Without really meaning to, I have established a little collection of Children's Bibles. The Big Picture Bible on the left I read to my campers every night at Camp Desoto, Summer 2008. The Child's Story Bible is used at a classical academy in the area, is a little more grown up than the others, and is my most recent addition. The Jesus Storybook Bible is one that I did a Bible study on in the Spring of 2010 with OURUF.

What is important about all of these Bibles is that they do not reduce the Bible down to pointless stories. I put special importance on this since it was a big hindrance to me becoming a Christian. As a teenager, I did not understand why people kept asking me if I was saved, or even why they cared to know about my relationship with Jesus. Wasn't this whole Christianity thing just about a bunch of nice stories anyhow?!?

Each of these Bibles have their own way of making children's text accessible as well as filled with the hope and the truth of the Gospel.

The Big Picture Bible

The Jesus Storybook Bible

{the artwork is my favorite}

The Child' s Story Bible

Day 5: Today's Breakfast

I often visit the barn the first thing in the morning. It is a peaceful way to start the day. In this hot Oklahoma heat, however, it is hardly desirable to leave the house with a steaming cup o' joe. Since my sweet mom gave me a Starbucks giftcard when I was home last week, I swung by the coffee monopoly and got a grande iced caffee americano! Yum!

Day 4: Clouds

This picture was taken last summer out at the barn where I keep my horse. Beautiful tree line with a cloudy Oklahoma sky!

Happy 4th of July!

Day 3: Hands

Day 3 of the photo project is "hands." These are pictures I took last summer with my Grandma Schultz (my mom's mom) in Texas. Grandma is a great seamstress, and I have many things in my house made by her. She would be really embarrassed to know that there are pictures of her hands on the internet, but I really see them as a symbol of her hard work on the farm and in the home. She still wears a wedding ring from my Papa, who died 16 years ago.

Helping make curtains for my kitchen in Norman:

Sitting at her sewing machine.

Day 2: Favorite Shoes

Day 2 is "favorite shoes." Kinda silly, and I don't think I could just pick one, so here are my top three:

The MOST Comfy:

The MOST impractical, but a girl has to live sometimes y'all:

The MOST at-home feeling, these are my paddock boots for the barn:

Photo Project

The last two years this blog has served as a place to talk about my work with RUF at the University of Oklahoma. That has been great. However, change is coming. In seven weeks I am moving to St. Louis. My paycheck no longer comes from RUF. I am not "the intern."

So, as this change approaches, I thought I would share something a little more light hearted...a 30 day photo series! The outline of the series:

{Check out a full sized image here}

Picture Day 1- Self-Portrait: Holy Moly it is really hot in Oklahoma and my cheeks are always red from heat these days!!!

{I guess I should mention this was also taken after a trip to the barn!}

What is NEXT for YOU??

*The following is an excerpt from an interview one of our reporters, we'll call him Mr. Darcy, did with Miss Haynes a couple of weeks ago.*

Mr. Darcy: Natalie Kate Haynes, I heard your life is about to change. What on earth is all the fuss about?

NKH: Yes, yes, the rumors are true! I am moving farther into the midwest in August. I am moving to St. Louis, Missouri.

Mr. Darcy: Well what on earth are you moving all the way up there for? Haven't you heard that it gets dreadfully cold there?

NKH: Well, actually, yes I have. And I have also heard that it is a very big city for such a young girl, like myself, but I have decided to move anyways. I will be studying counseling at Covenant Seminary.

Mr. Darcy: Counseling {draws out a long hmmmmm}. Well, why will you be studying counseling?

NKH: Well first might I add that these are very poignant questions, Mr. Darcy. Bravo! But back to the topic at hand...I want to study counseling because I think there is a need for trained counselors in our churches. I want to talk with people about their marriages, their families, themselves, and how all of those things relate to Jesus.

Mr. Darcy: Well that is just fantastic. I am so excited for you! So you said you are moving in August, is that right? What will you do until then?

NKH: I will continue to live in Oklahoma. I would like to continue to work with RUF, helping the new campus minister as he moves here and gets to know the area. This can only happen, however, if I raise $4000 more for my support account. {We would like to mention, on behalf of Miss Haynes, that tax-deductible donations can be made here: www.ruf.org}

Mr. Darcy: I hope that you are able to continue your work with RUF in Oklahoma. There is an old adage about Oklahoma that is currently escaping me. Something about plains, wind, a broom maybe...I am not sure.

NKH: I hope that I can continue my work too. My time in Oklahoma has been wonderful. I have found family here. I will be sad to leave in August.

Mr. Darcy: What a pleasure it has been to sit and talk this morning, Miss Haynes. What an absolute pleasure.

NKH: The pleasure has been all mine, Mr.Darcy.

*This concludes our interview with Miss Haynes. Next month we will be interviewing a Miss H. Granger.*

Rebecca Black Themed RUF Activities

Rebecca Black's "It's Friday" has been voted the worst song ever. So, naturally, OURUF has caught the viral-video-virus and has done numerous parodies.

First of all, have you seen this video? At the time of this post, it has 84 million views on You Tube and has been a top selling song on iTunes. When you watch it you will wonder why that is...because people like us keep talking about it!

Go here to watch the original video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CD2LRROpph0

Now, go here to watch OURUF Summer Conference Promotion Video {Rebecca Black style}: www.youtube.com/watch?v=yjXM1V4naI0

I don't know about you, but I feel like our version was much better! Did it make you want to join us in Laguna Beach in May for Summer Conference?!?

Right about now I figure you have had enough Rebecca Black. BUT WE AREN'T DONE YET!

We had a Not-A-Date at the Norman Medieval Fair this weekend. We broke up into groups and did a scavenger hunt. The most points was given for asking strangers to sing, you guessed it, Rebecca Black's "It's Friday." Watch as this group asked two strangers to sing with them!

Well, that is what is going on in my neck of the woods! But I must go now because, "It's Tuesday, Tuesday..."

Boomer Sooner!

Day 5: FRIDAY!!!

We made it, folks! Today concludes my "Week in the Life" series. Thanks for sticking with me!

{not my original artwork, but I cannot find who did it to give them credit}

As you can tell from the previous four posts, a week in the life of an RUF intern looks like a lot of different things. It is my hope that through my internship I have been able to share some of who I am with the students I get to know. That is one reason I love taking them to the barn with me to meet Chance!

Just as I did in grade school and college, I look forward to Friday all week long. Friday is cathartic, and I always look forward to the feeling of completion that it brings. I meet with my good friend Julie Serven on Friday mornings. Sometimes we walk or run and sometimes we sit on her couch to chat. This week or good conversation took over our run, so we walked instead. Julie is a wonderful wife and mother, and I cherish the past two years in which we have become good friends!

{Julie and Me at Doug's Birthday Party in November}

This last Friday I also met with Katie Tracy (pictured earlier in the week at freshman Bible study). Katie has applied to work with RUF next year, and will soon find out at which school she will be working! Congrats, Katie!

Fridays also mean "Girls Lunch." Girls Lunch is every Friday at 12:30 at the Cafeteria on campus. The Cafeteria at OU is amazing. It is head above heels better than the cafeteria at Florida (sorry Gators!).

My quarterly newsletter will be coming out in a few short weeks! Be looking for it in your mailbox! Meanwhile, it is Spring Break here in Norman! Boomer Sooner!

Day 4: Thursday

I feel like I need to explain "Wolf Shirt Wednesday." Yes, wolf shirts are ridiculous. But here in Norman I know some people who would say that they are "ridiculously awesome!" Wal-Mart seems to agree, because they are currently selling them for $9. OMG. No worries, I did not buy one. It was provided for me. Like a uniform for work, it was provided for me. I have to admit, it was kind of exhilarating wearing my yellow happy wolf shirt! Ok, now on to Day 4...

RUF meets on Wednesday nights at 9PM. If you know me at all, you know that 9PM isn't exactly my most high-functioning hour. That being said, I am generally exhausted when I get home from large group at 11:30...so Thursday mornings begin slow. Despite the sluggish Thursday morning feeling, however, my first meetings were great. We had great conversation amidst the hustle and bustle of Cafe Plaid. I truly enjoy the "one-on-one" aspect of my job. Conversation topics range from school to boys, from Jesus to Spring Break plans, and from family to career aspirations.

After lunch I took freshman Anna Tracy to the barn! Anna is also a horse lover, so she is always eager to help out with barn chores! Look, I put her to work cleaning Chance's feet!

Chance just loves all of his visitors!

Later Thursday there was a cupcake philanthropy at the sorority house that my Bible study meets at. A local bakery provided the cupcakes. Here I am at the house with Tristen, Laura, and Sam.

That pretty much wraps up Thursday! Only one more day to go in this series!

Day 3: Wolf Shirt Wednesday

Hello, loyal readers! We have made it to Wednesday. It is the week before Spring Break here at OU, which means that we all feel that time is moving a glacially slow rates. Never the less, my day was filled with wonderful conversations and a great large group meeting!

My first stop of the day was at the Honors College to see freshman Kelsey Kolbe. Kelsey is from the Washington D.C. area. Kelsey is a joy to talk to each week and I am so glad we have been able to share our lives with one another.

{This is actually of us at the barn dance. I am vain and did not like the picture I took yesterday- my hair was wonky}

{above: Well hello there awesome Mr. Horse- I think I would like to call you Patches! I did not know you lived in the honors college. May I take a picture please? Thanks!}

I then met senior Caroline Macleod at Cafe Plaid. Caroline lives in the international dorms, and has a heart for ministering to those students. We had a great conversation about how small and large groups work, and how you draw people together. My RUF training at work!

Margo! Margo is one of the girls who comes to my Gamma Phi study. She is awesome and is wonderfully artistic.

Katherine Borgerding for Vice President! Katherine is a junior Journalism major who is running for Vice President for the student body. K.B. for V.P.!!!

Lindsey Brewer and Chance! Lindsey came with me to the barn yesterday to see the ol' guy! She was brave and brushed him, despite the fact that spring is here and he is shedding his winter coat!

And now for the more entertaining part of the post...Wolf Shirt Wednesday. I kid you not. We have wolf shirts, and we wear them on Wednesdays. Oh my goodness. Where will the madness stop?

Oh hey, here I am with 3 freshmen! Well, if they are doing it then it must be cool, right? Why does my wolf look so happy? I think he is mocking me.

Staff Picture! Doug, Ben and I in our wolf shirt glory.

Don't mess with us...we have on wolf shirts and we will...well, I am not sure what we would do but I don't think it would be good.

And with that...Boomer Sooner!

A Week in the Life: Day 2!

Two blog posts in one day?!? Whoa. This is too much. Well, continuing on with my series of a weeks worth of activities as an RUF intern at the University of Oklahoma...

First one on one in the morning was the wonderful Miss Laura Bartlett. Laura is a junior from Tulsa studying Music Education!

My first two meetings of the day were at Cafe Plaid, favorite RUF watering hole. Cafe Plaid is wonderful. My favorite spot to sit is on a long bench looking at the coffee bar. It is a great spot to people watch. Isn't it just adorable?? I forgot to get a picture with my second meeting- sorry Kassandra!

A plus to Plaid (which is what us locals call it) is that it is not on campus, but it is right across from campus! I took this picture from inside Plaid, looking out towards the Visitors Center and the Union.

Sam Carper was my next meeting. Sam is a sophomore, so we have had two years to become great friends! Sam is from Tulsa. Don't you just love her cute hat?!?

Sophomore Laura Atherton and I had a meeting after lunch. Laura is from- you guess it- Tulsa! She is studying Psychology. We did not take a picture, but here is us together at the Pink and Black Ball in February!

A consistent part of my Tuesday schedule is Freshman Bible Study. We meet on the top floor of one of the dorms each week. We are privileged to have an upperclassmen and a grad student join us weekly for this study. Katie Tracy and I were feeling pretty goofy today!

There was some disagreement as to whether or not we should smile for this picture. Silly freshmen!

Aren't you excited to hear about Wednesday??? Boomer Sooner!

A Week in the Life!

During the past two years of blogging I have hinted at what some of my days look like: Bible studies, one on one meetings, football in the snow etc. But most of those things are the exception, not the rule. So what does a "normal" week of an RUF intern look like? Ladies and gentlemen, I give you my"A Week in the Life!" series.

My intention was to chronicle from Monday to Friday, but Sunday night my roommates and I joined these lovely ladies for a joint roommate dinner. They live in the "Leslie House" and there are six girls living there (Maggie- we missed you!). Thanks for dinner ladies, it was delicious!

Monday morning starts off with some planning. I set up my appointments for the week, and I finish my Bible study for the coming evening. I lead a Bible study each week at the Gamma Phi Beta house on campus. We are doing a study called "Conversations with Jesus."

Most Monday mornings I also make treats for Bible study. I try to make them a little different every week. Last week I made Pioneer Woman's Chocolate Chip Cookies and they were FANTASTIC! They included instant coffee and two types of chocolate chips.

This week, however, I made a school-kid favorite: rice crispy treats!!

By the time all of my planning and baking is done, it is time to head to staff meeting! Doug and I meet for two hours to have lunch, plan, and talk. We were too engrossed in conversation yesterday for me to remember to snap a picture, but here is a silly one of us at Winter Retreat.

Immediately after I go to staff meeting I take Doug's youngest daughter, Anna, to the barn for a riding lesson. I have such a fun time with her because she often sees things in a much different way than I do. Yesterday she helped me shorten Chance's mane. It is not as simple as cutting his mane, and can hurt him a little if you don't do it right. When Anna would pull too much hair at one time I found her petting Chance each time and saying, "I'm sorry Chance- I didn't mean to!"

After Anna's riding lesson I head to Gamma Phi! These wonderful girls are great to talk to each and every week!

And that about wraps up my Monday! Aren't you excited to hear about Tuesday?!? Speaking of Tuesday, it is about time to head to that meeting...Boomer Sooner!

Not One but TWO!!

In my last post I wrote about the impending snowstorm. Well, since then we have had not one, but two storms blow through Oklahoma. With the storms came wonderful, white, powdery snow and 5 days off of school! Keeping OURUF's tradition, we played snow football the night of the first storm. My team won! It was a run-away victory. The other team never even made a touchdown!

Since the snow storms we have gotten back to life as usual. Two weeks ago OURUF attended a ball in the Union on Campus. Pink and Black Ball! We had 35 students join us for dinner, and then we headed to the ball together. I was out of town last year, so this was my first time to Pink and Black!

The snow has melted and, Lord willing, this week will be the 3rd full week of school since the semester started. Last week felt a lot like spring. The daffodils in my front yard are sprouting. This weekend my roommates and I threw a baby shower for a friend at church. Meghan is super sweet and was one of the first people to invite me to her house when I moved to Norman. They are about to have their second baby girl! Congratulations Barnes family!

Boomer Sooner!

Snowpocalypse 2011

Well, the weather forecast in Norman for the next 48 hours is pretty grim. Heavy snow and wind are predicted. I am not sure if it will turn out as bad as they are saying, only time will tell. This time last year we had some bad weather too.

During that time I hung out with the Trusty Steed:

AND I discovered Pioneer Woman! Most of you know about her, but if you don't, check her out: www.thepioneerwoman.com. She will change your life, or at least the way you cook.

And since I discovered the Pioneer Woman, or Ree as I like to call her, I have actually also MET Pioneer Woman! She lives here in Oklahoma, and came and spoke at OU in the fall. My heart grew three sizes from the joy of that day! Personal Hero!!! {other than Jesus}

So, what does the {potential} Snowpocalyspe 2011 hold? Who knows!! One thing is for sure, RUF Snow Football is going to be awesome! 10PM the night of the first snow (Tuesday maybe) we meet on the lawn in front of the Visitor's Center.