All the Best Things about Christmas

So I've decided to dedicate a blog post to all the best things about Christmas. So here we go...Christmas is by far my favorite holiday. It makes me want to sing and dance and pull out all the stops when it comes to Christmas spirit. I dream of Christmas traditions and my heart beats a little faster at the sight of a decorated Christmas tree. I count down the days to thanksgiving because then and only then can the best things about Christmas begin.

Having Darius and Cynthia around has made Christmas 10x better. Remember on Elf when the store manager announces to the shoppers that Santa is coming and Elf screams at the top of his lungs "SANTA COMING! I LOVE SANTA!!!!!" Well that's everyone in my family right now. Getting to pretend that Santa is actually coming to town...is the coolest thing. I will never grow tired of watching my little brother and sister get giddy over seeing Santa, writing him letters, watching for reindeer and wearing Christmas pajamas every night in anticipation of Christmas Eve.

I love Christmas Movies. Love, Love, Love them. I get excited at the thought of the hallmark channel and all those Christmas movies. Some of my favorites are Elf, A boyfriend for Christmas, the nativity, A Charlie Brown Christmas and any and every hallmark Christmas movie. I love snuggling up on the couch with the Christmas tree lights on and a good Christmas movie while we count down the days till Christmas. (Which is 6 days away in case you were wondering) :)

Have you heard some of the Christmas music these days? Casting Crowns, Michael Buble, Barlow Girl, Dave Barnes, Bing Crosby...the list could go on forever. I love them all. I'm completely against any and every kind of Christmas music before thanksgiving day. But as soon as Thankgiving hits turn up the Christmas music, put up the tree and let the craziness of the Christmas season begin.

Another of my favorite parts of Christmas is the food. While I was at school this semester my mom bought an apron from a friend who had a Sak Saum party (You should go check out this ministry, it's pretty sweet!), And as soon as I saw it I fell in love!! In that moment I thought of all the things I could cook and bake. Christmas day couldn't come any faster...I can't wait to use it to cook Christmas dinner.

Snow. snow. and more snow. Big, beautiful crystally flakes that, as if cued...began falling right as I decided to turn on a hallmark Christmas movie.I may have literally jumped up and down at the sight of snow this afternoon. So I grabbed a blanket and made myself comfy on the couch. Have I mentioned how much I love Christmas break and the feeling of having nothing to do. I really do love it.

But most of all and the most important thing about Christmas, the reason for the season and the thing that makes everything worth it...the Birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ. I get so excited and overwhelmed at the thought of God coming down and taking on flesh for us. He made himself nothing, taking on the flesh of a helpless baby to save us from of sins. Amazing huh? So as family begins to gather, the snow is falling and Christmas is right around the corner remember to enjoy these moments. Enjoy being with your family and friends. Because Really there is nothing better than coming together to remember that this baby set into motion God's plan for saving his creation.

Much Love, Kristie Lynn

The Count Down...

I'm 7 days away from leaving for the National Missionary convention in Atlanta, GA.

I'm 12 day away from see these beautiful people...

I'm 5 weeks away from the end of the semester. 3 weeks till the end of classes and 1 week of Finals before the semester is over. And I couldn't be more excited. Because the end of the semester means that I have made it through all of my crazy projects for classes. 

So Colorado here I come!! I can't wait to see those snow topped mountains. 

Plus my heart just sings a happy song when I think of Christmas lights,Christmas movies, Christmas cookies, Christmas music, Christmas parties, Christmas food and happy Christmas loving people! Yep! I love Christmas.

Much Love, 

   Kristie Lynn

Dorm Life...

I couldn't begin to tell you about all the thing I have learned over the last three years, since I moved to Joplin. It has been one of the most challenging and awesome adventures of my life so far. And even though I love it here I will always miss home and these lovely people more than anything...

 But I have learned that even though leaving people is hard God has a plan for it. And I have learned that the saying "absence makes the heart grow founder" is a very true statement. The times I have at home are way sweeter now than they were before. I look back on the moments and the memories we making during those quick weekend trips home and think these will be ones I will remember forever!

One of the best things of College is definitely dorm life. There is never a dull moment and you can always find someone who is being ridiculous or someone who will be ridiculous with you.So here's 9 random things about my dorm life...
1.) Here is my roommate Lisa and I during the convocation banquet this year...

Here's Lisa and I right before open house. That's our plant...we named her Nadine.
2.) Here are some pictures of our room...

This is my side...

Lisa's Side...

3.) Constant Community! My life pretty much focuses on creating community and living my life around other people. I love sharing life with the people around me. 

4.) Random Free Food.  That's pretty self explanatory. Who doesn't love food. :) 

5.) It keeps you humble. There is always a chance to serve the people around you. 

6.) It keeps you from becoming to serious.  You really never know what you might find...

7.) Roommates. The ones that live in your room and the ones that don't. 

8.) Random sleepovers. the ones that are planned and the ones that happen randomly.

9.) People that become your second family. Within the dorm and outside the dorm you learn how to do family better. You learn to resolve conflict better and faster.  You learn to interact with people. You become each others support. 

So there you go a little overview of my life in the dorms. I'm loving life in the dorms and it has taught me a ton about my self. I have met people that will always be a part of my life and I can't wait to see where were all at in 10 years. I love my campus and the people on it. God is moving on this campus. He's hand is here and I am so thankful that he has lead me here. I will be forever thankful. 

Oh yeah and this tree takes my breath away every time I see it. The leaves are far  redder now than when I took this picture but you get the point. 

Oh yeah and one more...Can you believe this one ?...

Our God is so good! 

Fall...The Years Last and Loveliest Smile.

Fourteen of the Best Things About Fall: 
1. The changing leaves: The transition from summer to fall provides a brilliant display of warm colors like orange, red and rich browns.
2. Running Outside in the Crisp Autumn Air
3. The Fashion: Coats, SCARFS, Hats, Tights, hoodies
4.  Fall spices- Cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves
5. Fall Festivals, Pumpkin patches, Apple picking
6. Football. I haven't always been into football. But the atmosphere it brings to a group of people that are    living life in community just does something to my soul...In a very good way. I always looked forward to the Sundays, where after church we would have TONS of people over for food and football. I look forward to the days where instead of it being my parents home, it's mine. :)
7.  Fall TV. Psych comes back on in two weeks and I'm so excited!!
8. Hot Chocolate. I love the days where the sky is overcast and dark, chilly nights. I look forward to snuggling up in a blanket with a good cup of hot chocolate and a book.
9. Holiday spirits. With Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years approaching, everyone seems to be spreading holiday cheer with smiles and laughter.
10. PUMPKIN!!! In all forms. Pumpkin pie, pumpkin bread, pumpkin spice latte, pumpkin cookies...
11. Crunchy Leaves
12. Scarves (This is a serious weakness of mine. I love them)
13. Soup! I love my Mom's soup.
14. The Color Yellow...and not the bright yellow like you see on small children but the yellowish brown color that shows up on coffee mugs and walls.
I look forward to fall every year. Fall just seems to usher in the start something new. It always bring a new school year, and it allows for new beginnings. So after a very full summer of learning and changing and finding new things that I want to change and things I need to change in order to become the women God is creating me to be. I'm ready for a new beginning. I ready for change in my life. I'm ready to start pursing the dreams that are rolling around in my mind and to start living life full of anticipation at what God is doing. He's always up to something and that's the coolest part of my life. So look forward to new things and new blogs.
So until next time...This sing is changing my life and my view on men... It's so GOOD! I've listened to it about a hundred times in the last couple days. Have you seen the movie? I want to...Maybe next weekend.
Courageous by Casting Crowns...

I like to Paint.

So at the end of last semester my roommate and I started painting. Whitney Lee was kindly enough to teach us a few of her tricks and listened patiently to all of my questions. So at the beginning of this semester we went and stocked up on paints and canvases. We haven't stopped painting ever since. I LOVE IT!!!

So Here's My first painting...What do you think?

These are the ones that I painted this week...

Our room always smells a little like paint and you can always find one of us with a paintbrush in our hand. It's been great. I'm super excited to paint some more. It's relaxing and allows a little break from the stress of school. I'm glad that my roommate and I both love to paint and we end up painting till 2 in the morning.
Well I'm off to do something productive.

You're Simply delightful.

Today a friend said something that really stuck out to me. She said that she doing the things that she is doing now like school, ministry and what she'll do after she graduates out of obedience to what God has called her to. What a solid faith and trust in God. She has no idea of what God's plan is yet she is choosing to follow his lead out of obedience. She is putting all her trust in Him knowing that he will bless her through her obedience.

I am at Ozark out of obedience to God because this is where God has called me, yet I have no idea why. I haven't picked a major - I have no idea what I want to do with my life. I have dreams and desires that currently seem very far out of reach. But even still Kid's and Children impress me with their child - like faith and the confident knowledge that when they pray God hears them. Middle Schooler's cause me to be completely ridiculious (and I love it). The thought of missions, or church planting, non-profit or youth ministry even campus ministry makes my heart skip a beat. Oh...the adventures I would go on. The thought of doing ministry itself just gets me excited.

 

I have a weird personality that enjoys the company of others and the thought of being alone scares me. I enjoy singing - even though I'm not very good at it. I have a huge smile that sometimes causes my face to hurt from laughter. I don't walk down steps- i mostly trip or fall or avoid them all together. The sight of the moon leaves me weak at the knees. Sunsets along with a good book will bring tears to my eyes. I find joy in the simple things like- bendy straws, scarfs, smiles, coffee dates with good friends, the start of a new journal, fall, the color yellow, My little brother and sisters mixed up words (their smiles can melt my heart), ice-cream, road trips...the list could go on and on. 

My list of dreams are always changing, evolving into bigger and better and sometimes completely different things as God shapes and molds me. I have dreams i'm afraid to voice because the thought of them not coming to be frightens me. I have dreams that are also common and known. Like finding the right guy and God using the two of us to further his kingdom in ways we never could have done or imagined on our own. I dream about the ministry God has picked out for me. A ministry that consists of having an open house where anyone is welcome. I have dreams of friendships that last forever. Conversations over tea that last till morning. I have dreams of over seas trips and adoptions. Pages of one thousand gifts and a list that keep going. 

I have no idea where all this is leading me. I have no idea where HE is leading me. But out of obedience I will continue on the journey. I'll take small steps and leaps of faith, wrong turns and confident steps forward. I'll continue to lean on Him trusting that he has a plan- because I have no reason not to. He's never failed me before. :) 

"Today I will Transfigure all things into beauty, and refuse to see anything else."

Today I am choosing to find beauty in everything. From 7am classes to afternoon naps. Road trips down long highways. Pictures in the clouds. Perfect weather where windows are down, the music loud. Conversations under the moon. Gas station coffee. Hello's and Goodbyes. Beginnings and ends. Understanding eyes. Hopeful conversations. Honest Prayers to God. The times when we allow God to move. Sweaters and scarfs. Long nights full of homework. Yes' and No's. Laughter, Dorm Life. Fresh air, cool nights and warm days. Accountability groups. Frosting Wars. Waterfalls. Camp fires. Friends- New and Old. Future Plans. Fresh beginnings. New creation. God's unending Grace. Smiles. Prayers. Mail. Footprints. Fall leaves. Good books and so on...What can you think of?

Who thought up 7am Classes?...

School has been crazy these days...and I'm loving it. When I have more time I'll write all about how I've spent the last couple of weeks. But for right now a paper for Personal Evangelism and a 9 verse memory work is calling my name. and normally this would be no big deal...but I have a 7am class tomorrow morning. So here's a few pictures that I've taken recently...

We saw Jelissa at work! 

We also visited Keisha at Work! - Chick - Fil- A finally opened up!  

Orange Leaf 

Roommates

Lisa and I with our 3rd Roommate! We love Katie!

Frosting Wars! -Dorm Floor Party

War Paint!

There's Nothing Normal about it...

The last time I blogged was March. MARCH!  That was so long ago. Fail. I really have been meaning to blog. But finding the time can be hard.  Things have just been really busy. But enough of my excuses. Here to a long awaited blog about nothing more than what's going on in my life.

Summer has come and gone. i am both super excited about that and sad. This summer was different. It wasn't like any other one. Normally when I think of summer warm thoughts come to mind. Thoughts of sunshine and the smell of sunscreen, water games and afternoon naps. I think of afternoons filled with friends and Dinners that last forever because, well no one has to get up in the morning. Summer brings a spirit of spontaneity, random trip to the park, ice cream dates and walks through the Colorado mountains. To me summer must include more than one trip to Como and an epic adventure or two. Summers are just great! You never know where they might take you and you always find your self changed at the end.
Summer 2011 was nothing like that though. It was challenging and hard. It left me tired and ready for a break. Summer 2011 left me unsure and hopeful. It was exciting and always left me guessing as to what could be next. Its a summer that lasted forever, but looking back I'm not sure where it went. This last summer was nothing like I thought it be. But one thing I know for sure is that God changed me in ways...I have yet to understand.

I could write blog after blog about the different camps we went to. I could tell you countless stories of water fights and games. I could tell you about all the people we met. I could tell you about the time Bethany and I almost died in a kayak and how we laughed through it all.  I could tell you about the stories that broke my heart and the strong people that were brave enough to tell them. I could tell you all these stories and more...But you would be here forever.
I could tell you about how the place that has become my temporary home had a EF5 tornado destroy 1/3 of the town 2 days after school got out. I could tell you stories from people that I knew that went through the storm. But by now I'm sure you've heard plenty of stories.
I could tell you all these things but none of those really matter. The only thing that really matters is that this summer...I saw the church rise up and BE THE CHURCH. I saw God's continuing faithfulness and protection. I saw him move in the lives of so many students. So even though my summer was nothing Normal. It's okay. Because this last week I have learned that there is nothing Normal about my family, there is nothing Normal about my school, there's definitely nothing normal about my roommate Lisa. There is nothing Normal about my friends or the church I go to. There is nothing Normal the town I live in or the God I serve.  God has been faithful to me and I am so thankful for that.

You should watch this video.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OE9l5Vun2Ko

That's all for now.

Kristie 

Life On The Moon...

Well, were half way into the week...and well...Life is just good! Spring break is so close I can taste it. Colorado here I come! I'm so excited to be going home...I can't wait to see the mountains and breath in that crisp mountain air. But more than that I am counting down the hours till I can see these two.... 

I'm ready for a break. Ozark has been wonderful and I'm going to miss everyone here at school but getting away for a week will do everyone some good! :) 

Lisa and I bought matching sunglasses a couple weeks again. We match. It's ridiculously awesome, take a look...

We also bought a turtle...His name is Penguin the Turtle!

Isn't he cute? We kinda like him. lol

Did I mention that today it was at least 70 degree's outside. There is just something so incredibly freeing about  warm weather, that just puts everyone in a good mood. It makes you just want to roll your windows down and turn up the music and bob your head to whatever song your chose. Blaring it as loud as you can. Oh yeah and if it includes ice cream and yellow sunglasses...what could be better. :)  

Also if I might add...I love teaching the preschool kids on Wednesday nights! Kid's always have a contagious joy about them. I love it! Tonight I got to enjoy some time with the kiddos at college heights, and we all just laughed and laughed...kid's say some of the funniest things. And you can always tell when it's been a warm day because everyone smells like sunscreen. 

Today was good.

Well...Now the I've clearly waisted all of your time with My complete randomness...I'm going to to go write a paper. I hope your all having a lovely week. 

Dr. Pepper + Kristie = counting sheep to no avail.

It's Sunday night (actually it Monday morning) and I can't sleep. I started a blog...and it was meaningful, had a purpose and described my life as of late... then I deleted it some how. And because it would take forever to try and write it again, this is what you get...


5 things on my "to do" list today:
1. Camp Teams Meeting
2. Give a tour.
3. Work in The cafe
4. Study for Psalms test
5. Read Timothy and Titus

Things I would do if I became a billionaire:
1. Backpack across Europe 
2. Give to World Vision and Rapha house
3. Pay off my school bill  


3 of my Bad Habits:
1. Cleaning....I'm way to OCD for my own good. 
2. WORRYING
3. Being too critical of myself

Places I've Lived:
1. Colorado Springs, Colorado 

5 Jobs I've Had:
1. Babysitting 
2. Aeropostale
3. Camp Como
4. Student Ambassador ( Campus Host)
5. Camp Teams  

Things that most people don't know about me:
1. I'm a really picky eater. 
2. I LOVE to sing! Probably more than anything! 
3. I really enjoy cooking and baking
4. I want a gum ball machine in my kitchen. 
5. I had a medium Dr. Pepper today. The first one in like 2 years....Now I realize why I'm still awake. 
Dr. Pepper + Kristie= counting sheep to no avail. 


Well, Now that I've completely waisted your time. I'm going to bed. :) 

I miss them....

School is weird, challenging, crazy and full of excitement. It's always changing and yet very much the same. I guess you could say...it's me that's changing. But all this to say that even though Ozark has this very special part in my heart....and Joplin is just so....lovely ( Ha!)...I will always love Colorado and those oh so pretty Mountains. More than anything my heart longs for family.  I really miss my family back home. As well as my church family and the comfort they all bring to my life. I can fully breath fresh air and breath a sigh relief when were all together.
 My little sister called me today to sing to me (sister after my own heart.) The last couple of days I have really been missing my little brother and sister. I love them so much and I am sad that I can't see them everyday... anyways.....I MISS THEM.
I was looking at these pictures today.... We took these over Christmas Break

Are they not the cutest things?!?!?! Love them!

I was born in the wrong era...I Love the 80's!!!

Last Friday One of the dorm dad's hosted a "Back to the future" 80's party! It was so much fun! Everyone dressed up and there was live music. We had a costume party. It was a blast.