If John Luke and I were in the wizarding world of Harry Potter and it applied to college…we’d be fourth years. Funny that came to my head while typing the title rather than “senior year”…we have been in the middle of our annual summer Harry Potter marathon haha. So we usually watch those in the summer and then our back to school thing is Lord of the Rings, but we stared Harry Potter too late this year so now we’re kind of watching both!
The two weeks before school starts is so special to me. After being in Louisiana for camp in the summers, its always so sweet to be back in our house, just the two of us before class starts. So this week we are cleaning and organizing and buying groceries and getting ready for a new school year!
So yes- starting our fourth year at Liberty! This is actually me starting my fifth year of college haha, but I sat out a year and am finishing a semester late. Totally ok with that thought because I have loved my college experience and do not regret any major decisions during these past 4 years!
I’ll take a full load this semester, finish classes in December, and graduate in May.
We actually have some big news and changes coming up that we’ll share with you guys soon!!!!
(and no, we’re not having a baby just yet!! ha!)
It feels so good to be back though and I love getting back into a routine.
One thing I am working on this year is managing my time better and getting into a stricter routine. Not too strict, but just more disciplined than I have been with myself. I’ve realized I operate much better like that.
I wanted to help you guys a little in the t-shirt department if you want it! I get asked a lot where I get my t-shirts from, specifically my blue striped one, which was unfortunately thrifted so I can’t give you a link. BUT my friends over at ROOLEE have a lot of cute striped ones right now! Hopefully this one I am wearing comes back in stock, but they also have a lot that are around $25. So if you’re on that college girl budget but need a few basic tees for class in these hot months, check them out! At my school we have to wear pants (or dresses or skirts, just no shorts), which is totally fine except can get a little hot in September, so short-sleeve t-shirts are my best friends while I am walking what feels like a mile to my classrooms haha.
If you’re about to start school leave me a comment and let me know where you are coming from! Praying blessings over each of you who read this and are going into another school year- whether it be your first or your last or somewhere in between. Praying God blesses you and your time at school. That you would be filled with His Spirit and have the utmost joy and excitement throughout yours days. That you’d be lead by the spirit and follow what He’s put on your heart to do simply in the day-t0-day moments of your life. Praying for bravery and peace and comfort and all the things you need- that He’d be it for you.
links:
I love Roolee!
I’ll be a junior starting at Texas A&M this fall after transferring from an itty bitty college near my home town. I felt like I needed to be at a bigger school to get involved in Christian groups, since I had such a hard time finding other Christians at the old school! Can’t wait for this semester to start 🙂
So cool! I graduated from Texas A&M this past May!!! Keep working hard girl!
Also! If you want to get connected with some Christian Organizations on campus contact me! 🙂
So awesome! thanks so much!
Oh thats awesome!! Happy to hear you are trying something new…so brave of you! I feel like it will be super rewarding 🙂
Howdy! You’ll love it here, Texas A&M was the best decision I ever made. Let me know if you need anything
hii my name is kenn and i am starting my second year at liberty online! i live in california and came across liberty’s online program and after a semester of it i fell in love with their whole program! 🙂
Hi! So happy to hear that! I actually do a lot of my studies online and really enjoy it!
Emporia state university in Kansas!
Nice!!
Hi Mary Kate! I’m a big fan of you and John Luke ever since your Duck Dynasty days haha!
Sounds like you had a fun, blessed summer with family and friends. It must be nice to go back home though. Congrats on almost graduating!! haha
I am starting my 4th year as well at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay. I will be finishing up my classes in spring then graduating in May! SO excited!
After undergrad, I will actually be enrolling at Liberty University and completing my MBA fully online! So excited for that chapter in my life. Thanks for inspiring me to attend Liberty, I am so excited to see what it’s like (even though it’s online).
Hope you had a good summer! Oh, also, what’s your major?
Aww thanks for following along! Congratulations on being so close to finishing- so awesome! I am majoring in Interdisciplinary Studies with my areas of study being Bible and Fine Arts- specifically women’s ministry and graphic design 🙂
Mary Kate!
Love this! How did you do the graphics?
Thanks! I use procreate on my iPad! 🙂 just starting on it and having fun playing around on it!
Hey!! I’ve been following your blog for quite some time now and I LITERALLY check every day to see if you have a new post up! I love what you write. I’ll be starting my first year at LU actually next Wednesday which is crazy!! What you said in your lil prayer really touched me, and those words have been what I’ve been asking God for ALL summer in my prayer time, too… like you said, that He’d be *it* for me. So I just wanted to say thank you for what you’re doing with your blog 🙂 you actually low key inspired me to start my own!! May the Lord bless you and keep you safe, happy, and healthy during your last year at school :))
Awww! Thanks, that makes me so happy! so glad to hear you’re starting at Liberty!! It’s the BEST.
I was a “first through fourth year” at the university of Toronto and still to this day, when I ask are you in your first year every student will correct me “I’m a freshman” etc or look at me like I’m crazy!!! Way to represent ??
Oh my goodness! I thought I was the only Canadian here! What are you taking at u of T??
Hahaha I love that!!!
Read your blogs and after I started reading this one and read that you watch Harry Potter, just didn’t want to read any further. Do born again Christians really read Harry Potter!? WWJD?
Hey! i can tell you my experience with it and you can take it or leave it: I grew up in a Christian house where my sister and I were not able to watch Harry Potter along with a LOT of other things in tv. Glad my parents did it too! Then one night my dad, sister, and I started watching just to see the hype and realized it’s not what everyone thinks it is. I feel like it actually shows so much of the gospel which is cool! You see someone lay down their life for the friends and you see that good always triumphs evil!
First of all how can good triumph evil if witchcraft and sorcery are evil? It is exactly what everyone thinks, it is complete witchcraft and sorcery. They may stick up for their friends and lay down their life but we as born again Christians are to stand by the power of God, not sorcery and witchcraft. Are you talking about the same gospel that tells us it is forbidden to practice witchcraft and sorcery and yet it is okay to watch shows that promote it?
It’s so good to see that someone else is taking their time with school! I feel like everywhere I look, everyone I know is in such a rush to finish, but I really enjoy the college life. It’s also really cool to know that you go to LU; I have several friends of mine that go there and that’s a pretty amazing place!
I always feel so happy to hear when someone else is too haha! No need to rush if you don’t have to! 🙂
This blog post deserves all of the praise hand emojis!! haha! Thank you for sharing your encouraging prayer! annnnnd I will be starting my sophomore year at Georgia Southern University! It’s a school that’s in a city near Savannah! (Usually, people only know where Savannah is located so if I had a nickel every time I have said, “It’s near Savannah,” I’d be one rich gal 🙂 haha)
Haha yes I totally know where Savannah is so thanks for that connection!! So awesome!
starting my third year at the University of Tennessee! so thankful for all the encouragement and love you send out to everyone. You have helped me through some rough times struggling with depression and anxiety. thank you for being such a great role model and woman of God for so many of us to look up to. God’s work is so evident in everything you do.
your outfit is so cute!! i’m studying abroad right now in new zealand but i go to the university of iowa. i’ve met some of my favorite people there!! where is your bag from?
Hey sweet Mary Kate!!
Goodness your blogs so awesome to reaad!!! It’s so refreshing and encouraging! You and John Luke are precious!
I am going to be a sophomore at University of South Carolina and I’m studying middle level education! I leave my home, Charleston, tomorrow and it’s been a bit harder to get excited to go back to Columbia this year! I just love love love my home ya know?!
I am a wyldlife leader at school and I am so so excited for what Jesus is gonna do in my middle school friends lives I just know Columbia is where he wants me!!!
Thankyou for your kindness of social media and sharing your heart for jesus and life!
You are wonderful!!
Yours Truly,
Kendall
Marykate, I have to say, thank you for responding to comments! I think a lot of us girls look up to you but not in a “influencer/ famous person” kind of way but rather as a long distance friend who reminds us what a Christian life can look like for young adults. You are truly so sweet and stunning in every way.
P.S. Would love to see a blog post about some of your favourite Christian bloggers/ bloggers/ books etc. I love Kristin Johns but I’m just not sure who else is out there!
It means a lot when you guys read my blog! That’s such a good idea for a blog post, thanks for commenting that!
<3
Hi! I am also on my last year of school at Point Loma Nazarene University in San Diego, CA!
I’m starting my second year at Liberty University online! I’m going for a second Bachelor’s degree, this time in Business Administration with an emphasis in HR! (My first degree a Criminal Justice degree from Murray State University in Kentucky.) I’m working full-time, so who knows how long it will be before I finish this degree, but I’m thankful for the opportunity to be back in school and for my employer paying for this degree!
I’m at Tyler Junior College and this is my last semester before I transfer to Liberty University!! I’m so excited to start taking classes more into depth of my major!! Love your blog ❤️
Hey Mary Kate! Well It’s funny bc “4th year” sounds perfectly normal to me, like that’s just what we say down here in Australia haha. I’m halfway through 2nd year myself being down here on Australia time 🙂 Have a fab last year of college and thanks for the encouragement to make God “it”. So super important. Xx
Your blog is awesome! I just started reading it and I love it already! Thank you for the prayers! I’ll be a high school freshman, but I’m still kinda nervous. Nevertheless, the Lord is with me, so I don’t need to worry! Thanks again for your blog!
Just had to say, your smile makes me smile!! I love when you put up new posts. : )
HELLO!!! My name is Maggie Jo and i will be a freshman at liberty. I am actually playing lacrosse there too!! I’ve loved reading all your blog post, tips and everything else:)
Hi Mary Kate!
I move back to Elon University for my sophomore year in a few days and I’m so excited. I actually have a good friend of mine who is going into his second year at Liberty that I met working on staff at a camp this summer. I adore reading your posts, they really inspire me. Thank you so much for your sweet heart!!
Hi Mary Kate! I am going to be a junior at the University of Nebraska. I am starting nursing school this year, so I also am praying for strength, courage, and discipline this year! I love following your blogs, as you show how to have fun in college as a Christian student. Would love to see you post more about your daily lifestyle- routines, how you spend time with God, how to stay focused on priorities, etc.