getting out of my own head

I know, I know...I haven't been around for a few days.

One word: school.

Oh yes.  It's true.  The monster hath overtaken me.

But not today.

Today I'm going to give a shout-out to KAST - aka Katie's Arizona Service Team.

Now I know what you're thinking, but it's a different Katie.  [A different, old roommate, best friend kind of Katie.]  She started this group because, let me tell you, the girl loves service.  And sometimes service is easier to do in groups.

A couple weeks ago, Tim and I went to an event for KAST called "Feed My Starving Children."  We've been before and it is a magical experience.  [Not to mention the fact that a little more than a year ago, it's kinda how our romance started.  But.  More on that later.]

There is loud, fun music, dancing, and enthusiastic people.  And by the end of the night, we ended up helping to feed 24 starving children for an entire year.  [Nothing like that to give you the warm fuzzies.]

And here is Tim's sister and her new fiancé [whaaat!]:

We get to wear those cool little hairnets to make sure the kiddos don't get any hair in their food. Because that would be gross. For reals.

And last Friday, we got to go to the Child Crisis Center, where Tim teaches little kids how to play the guitar.  [And oh, how they love him.]  He also started a service organization called Strings for Life.  [I like to surround myself with amazing people, apparently.]

And throughout both of these recent experiences I noticed a common factor:

I never feel like doing it beforehand.

I feel too busy, too worn out, too stressed, and too grumpy.

But afterwards?  I'm always so glad I did.

It's an amazing thing, but it gives me more energy, takes away my stress, and makes me just a little more cheerful.

Thank goodness for such amazing people and opportunities which allow me to get out of my own head for awhile.