One-eighty.

Can I please tell you something?

I'm really happy here.

WHAT?! But Katy, your last posts have been full of depression and sadness. What do you meann??

Well, several things have contributed to my happiness:

1. January 4th. I realized on this day that I had to completely apply to Fuller Seminary in 45 days. This meant studying and taking the GRE, asking for letters of rec, getting transcripts, and writing essay questions. All this made me work towards something and it put me in touch with who I am. I am Katy Johnston. I want to make a big difference in the lives of teenagers. I have honorable goals and I have been supported and loved my entire life and will accomplish these goals. And most importantly, the Holy Spirit is alive and well in me. He shines through what I do and it is my duty to have my life reflect the good He is doing in me.

2. Before coming out to Vail, I prayed for good girlfriends. God immediately blessed me with my room-roommate, Karin, who is amazing. We are great friends and she also loves Jesus. Over the past four months I have become great friends with Karin, Dana, Jessica, and Mariel. Most of these girls are Christians, and all of them are incredible. I click with each one in a different way than the other and they each complement a different part of my personality. It's awesome and it's such an answer to prayer.

3. I've stopped being so boy-crazy. Seriously, for the first three months the attention from The Ratio completely overwhelmed me. I let it completely effect my mood and how I thought about myself. Since working on my application, I have remembered my standards for potential suitors. And Mr. Alex Perez was completely instrumental in helping me remember that I need not settle for anyone who isn't up to my standards. So now, I have made some pretty awesome guy friends. I've started a dinner club with two of them. I watch chick flicks with another one. I grilled out on top of a mountain today with a few more of them. And it's so easy. It's so easy being around boys when you aren't looking for anything other than friendship.

The culmination of these three things has completely changed my life around. And on top of all this, I read Donald Miller's "A Million Miles in a Thousand Years". He says something simple yet profound:

"When you stop expecting people to be perfect, you can like them for who they are. And when you stop expecting material possessions to complete you, you'd be surprised at how much pleasure you get in material possessions. And when you stop expecting God to solve all your troubles, you'd be surprised at how much you like spending time with God."

That's just it. I was expecting people to be perfect (for me). I was expecting people to want more out of life than just skiing. I wanted them to want what I want. I wanted deep conversations and life-changing talks. Turns out a lot of that isn't in Vail. But what is in Vail is a lot of great people who deserved to be loved because they too are God's children. They aren't perfect and neither am I. The least I can do is try to love them like God loves me.

And I do, I love these people. And I love loving them. It makes life much more pleasant.
So thank you for reading through the hard times. I strongly believe that it was those three months of pain that has allowed me to experience greater joy over the past month and a half. Please continue to pray for me, and I'll pray for you. I love you all and am honored by our friendship. I can't wait until I can see each one of you again and we can talk of the many joys in our lives.