This is my third and last Junior Bridesmaid. Presley Thomas!:) She is 13 years old, and for the past four years, I've had the joy of knowing this easygoing country girl;). She's the gal i can count on for being rough and tough outdoors, from slip and sliding in the backyard to wrestling in river. Mudsliding, whitewater rafting, Wrestling, kayaking, and everything fun you can do outside, we've done it. I love this girl to death because she is so confident with herself and doesn't conforms to what her peers may do or say. Its great. She seems quiet, but don't be fooled, cuz she's got mischief up her sleeve-lol, girl after my own heart. I love the times with her, and she's in our wedding, because Ryan and I both love her so much. She calls Ryan, "Ryry" and looks forward to his visits, cuz we usually go out and do something with her, ale, and ashley. so here she is!:)

Flow pic... jumping on a hot summer day... tough girl

the wrestling match that i realized how much stronger this kid is than me. Sleepovers with her are fun:)

So here they are!!!:) my Three Beautiful and wonderfully crazy Junior Bridesmaids!! I get to see these girlies every break I have, and usually we go out for a movie...back when the fun park was open, we used to go there:). Sleepovers with these three are pretty hilarious, and although they are alot younger than me, I love these girls and each moment i spend with them. Can't wait for these three young ladies to stand with me at the altar...Having them in our wedding represents the intention of having them in our lives, to encourage them in their faith, and because I just love them just like little sisters.

Presley, Ashley, and Ale grace


Three Crazy ladies ;)

Our December 2008 movie date:) Highschool musical 3:)

Bridesmaid Update!!!

So, I finally asked my last bridesmaid to be in my wedding:). I never got the chance to ask her, because I rarely see her, so before i left Chicago, I got together with her, and finally got to ask her!:) I'm so thrilled that she'll be in it, along with her hubby, Jeff (who is a groomsman with Ryan). This couple means so much to both Ryan and I, because without them, I don't think that Ryan and I would be together now!:) They have been an encouragement to us, and have shown us so much love, and i can't tell you how much i love our times with them. Irene mentored me and kept me accountable through the past year of my relationship with Ryan, and I couldn't thank her enough for just how willing she is to invest in my life. I so appreciate her, and Jeff, and their friendship. Ryan and I LOVE the times we get together with them, they are so refreshing to be around. It's fun to have friends that are a couple, and this is a couple that both Ryan and I adore. We asked them to be in our wedding, because we know that they will be a part of our lives forever. 

FREE WEEK

today, i'm officially done with this semester - whoohoo! that leaves me with a free week of fun, work, and friends....loooove it! The past few weeks didn't seem like they'd ever end, but they did and i'm free, and i'm *strangely* almost done with my Moody Years. One more semester to go.

i feel so strange being free with no homework burdening me. i kinda want to do a bunch of thingss, like play in the snow, play wii, watch movies, have a good conversation by my window with hot peppermint white mochas...*sigh* but everyone's still finishing up with finals and studying. oh, well...

the other night, Charika and i chilled at my place and drank some apple cider with yummy sprinkles, and caught up with each other:). we played phase 10, the game i bought and no one has been wanting to play with me :(, but Charika and i made some to die for pop corn, and played the game. playing cards with her made me think of old times in Beaufort with friends, especially the times after Flow or Ukraine trips, when everyone would get together to play cards, Egyptian Ratscrew and BS. :) Anywayz, Charika was with me when i found ilene's ipod that i had lost a few days before, and found it under the sheet on the couch. hehe, we took pictures of how happy we were that i found it. (cuz i wouldn't have to buy her another ipod;))

yesterday i went shopping down on State st, which i absolutely love to do. something about the chill air, crowds of people, and tons of shopping bags that totally appeals to me. the Macy's windows are just as beautiful as ever this year, and the street performers are going at it with Christmas songs. I got most of my Christmas shopping done. I'm going to get everything wrapped tonite before the Christmas party that we're having for the Gameroom workers.

my ring is being resized right now. i'm really excited:) it won't go slipping and sliding off my finger anymore.  ryan's getting it back today, so that'll be nice to have it back:) 

Don't really know what to do with my self right now. i need to go to jewel, clean up some, and then figure out a time to hang out with Haley Rivers, a girl from back home who is in the Chicago area. should be fun:) maybe she likes sushi and we could go for that!

okay, after all my rambling on and on, i'm gonna go. Sorry for the random thoughts, i'm just so thrilled to be done with school for the sem! can't wait to go home and see the family...Ashley and i have a date this weekend, so she can finish her Christmas shopping and then we're going out for sushi! i miss that kiddo, so i'll be happy to see her:) It might be my last Christmas at home for awhile...next year, i might be in Kansas with a HUSBAND and a new family!! Crazy that i'll be married this time next year!:)

FLOWER GIRL UPDATE!!!!!!

(I was playing with her hair to make it look like a Who from Whoville [Dr. Suess];))

i'm so excited:) i didn't know who i wanted to have as a flower girl. i did not have any options at home, and the one little girl that i wanted as my flower girl had moved to Texas. However, her family came to Chicago this past week and I spent a day with them this past Friday. I was so excited for the chance to ask them, and both her parents gave me an enthusiastic, "YES!" so allow me to introduce you to my Flower girl, Grace Parr:)

Grace is three years old. I got referred to this family to babysit, and ever since then, i've had this special spot in my heart for Grace. Grace and I always have such fun pretending to play house, school, babies, and reading books together. Grace is also one of my ringbearer, Clark's, best buddies, and on a few occasions, I've gotten the treat of having both of them at the same time! Grace is so independent and loving, and just an absolute doll. Her giggle is contagious, and she's got a smile that could melt anyone's heart. I love spending time with her, cuz she's such a cuddlebug, and loves to talk! 

I can't get over the picture in my head of my flower girl, Grace, and my ringbearer, Clark, walking down the isle together...it'll be the cutest thing ever.

She's such a great kid...heres a pic of me and her, and a pic of her and her little bro, Patching.

2nd to the last week of school...

here are a few pics of whats been going on the past week.

Snow day with the Shinohara's while Kristie decorated for a Christmas thingy:)

Kristian and Kory

Bundled up boy-kristian:)

Kory

Big Grin from Kristian:) He found his drumsticks:)

studying at Argo Tea and getting a visitor!:) bethany:)

All nighter at my place with Katie...well, she stayed up all night...and all day...and probably all night too...i slept at 4 and slept in. lol:) i like my sleep.

Studying and chatting.

and the HIGHLIGHT: i got visitors!!!:) My lil man Clarkster, and his mom, Dani, and lil Sister, Lily!:)

we made gingerbread cookies which ended up really...crumbly. totally unedible:)

ryan joined us for dinner:) first time ryan's met clarkster - our ringbearer:)

Clark helped me alot with the gingerbread stuff:)

Clarkster and Wheely:)

painting out cookies

my Lil Man and his car, Wheely!!!!:) (should have rotated it before posting...)

i had some great videos of dani and clark playing baseball on the wii...but it won't let me upload them! i'll figure out a way...

wish i could go...

dear vova pochapski always sends me updated pictures of the kids at the orphanage. it usually is my favorite part of the day when he sends those pics and it makes my heart long to go. Here are some of the ones i received today:) 

I've been praying and praying that things would change so i could say yes to going this month, but its still looking like a no. i miss them though. so very much. 

When i was flipping through the pictures this morning though, look at what i found. made me smile:)

Ula, marina, tanya, me and ryan:)

shopping, eatting, and puppy loving

i love the city during the holidays. after thanksgiving, there's something about the holidays that makes it so magical. I love the feel of walking down the street with shopping bags with crowds of people along side of me. I love drinking White Hot chocolate in the city with lights with a friend while it is snowing. I love the coziness of the apartment when its cold outside, and i'm in my pjs and drinking apple cider. Not to mention, Christmas shopping! whoo! LOVE shopping for christmas presents. (and a couple fun items formyself;) found so wickedly awesome VS Pink signiture sweats. Its blue with UNIV of PINK written on the side. i love them!i'll have to post a pic of my new favorite pj bottoms.) 

oh yes, and of course WII playing...i obviously lost in this pic;)

my fabulous roommate and i. i love my sister and the fun times we have.

Oh and this is Moose, my newest puppy friend

I haven't taken very many pictures lately. i probably should. there is so much exciting stuff going on this time of year... 

I love my man-second engagement photo shoot

I went on a walk tonite with my favorite boy ever, and it was just really enriching. Reminded me over again why i love him so much. we just talked on a walk on a cold evening after midnight, and it was just so encouraging and simple, but made me love him even more. here are a few pics from our second engagement photo shoot. i'm not putting up too many, but those Save the Dates are going to go out sometime near Christmas!:)

Outpranked...

10pm-12am...completely oblivious to anything thats going on.

1st voicemail: " hey Kristina, its rappin chad. saw that you needed help and i'll eat your food. i can also help with your wedding next year if you want. call me back. thanks."

1st text message: I would love to get some of that cookin. let me know when would be a good time to come over. Thanks! (unknown number.)

2nd. text message: hello kristine. I would be willing to be your guinea pig for your cooking experiment. i'm Kenneth. (also an unknown caller.)

ok, so after these first three weird messages, i was so completely confused. at 12:34 am, i got home from a nine hour shift at work, and was taking my shoes and jacket off when my phone rang. it was a colorado number, one that i didn't recognize. i picked up my phone, took a deep breath and answered it. 

K: Hello?

A: HEY KRISTINE!!! ITZ AUSTIN!!!

K: Who's Austin?

A: From Dryer!!! We're in a class together!

K: we are? ok...

A: I just wanted to call you. I'll help eat your food!!! 

K: WHAT?! what is going ON!?

A:We want some of your southern cookin! (guys in the background agreeing...) we're just responding to your poster!

K: WHAT?! what poster?!

A: The one thatz EVERYWHERE on campus...about you cooking for us 

K: I have no idea what your talking about...what poster? whatz it say?

A: *reads the poster* so....you're not cooking for us?

K: no! totally not real...

A: Awww...we thought it was. we were so excited about a homecooked meal!

K: itz a prank...where did you find the poster?

A: EVERYWHERE. In our dorms, sweeting doors, hallways, stairwells, elevators. They're everywhere!

Oh. My. Word. 

so the past few days i've been getting text messages, voicemails, and phonecalls, not to mention guys who stop me everywhere in hopes that i'll cook for them. 

It was a good prank...but you can be sure there'll be retaliation for it...

*hint hint* (Dani)

a tiny hint of what clark wants for Christmas;) hope you enjoy dani and andy!

Ring bearer update!!!:)

      


I have an official ring bearer everyone:) This is the Clarkster. I asked him a couple weeks ago if he would be my ring bearer. this is how the conversation went:

K: Hey Clark, i have a really important question for you.

C: ok, what is it?

K: Would you be the very important most special boy at my wedding?

C: YE-es! 

K: Would you help me get married?

C: uh -huh, what do i do?

K: Well, you'll bring me and ryan our rings.

C: but you ALREADY have rings!

K: different rings.

C: Wheres it at?

K: near the beach!

C: You're TAKING ME TO THE BEACH?! 

K: yes! 

C: O-kay!:)

Ok, so it was much cuter than the conversation you just read. Add in his giggle, cute smile, and his lit up eyes, and it would totally melt you. Clark and his family are very special in my life. Clark is just one of the four in his amazing family. this family started off as a random babysitting job that i had gotten from another family i was babysitting for, but Clark's family totally became more than just another sitting job. I LOVE their family, and Clark is gonna be the representative of his entire family, because they are all so very dear to me. Clark will be 4 and a half when i get married, and i can just picture him in a little tux walking down the aisle. sooo cute. this little guy and i have had so many fun memories together. going to the playground, the Children's museum, having him visit me at school, biking and playing outside, and our many "adventures" of camping (in the living room), fishing (in the den), going to Chuckee Cheeses and the doctor's office (his room), and playing hockey or with a remote control car (in the hallway.) The rest of his family are just as amazing, esp with Dani, his mom, who has become a dear friend that i love to talk to. I think what stood out to me at the beginning, when i started sitting for them, was that they were believers, and that showed in everything they did. through a random babysitting job, they became some of the very most important special people in my life, and that'll be represented by Clark being my ringbearer.

dreary day

     itz pretty rare for me to get really  down and discouraged. i'm not really the type to dwell on the unpleasant things or the hard things in life. i usually just get through it as it comes and usually choose not to dwell on those things, because honestly, there are so many more things in life to smile about than to get depressed about. Even if things are burdening me, therez usally always something or someone that gets me to smile. and i like that. I like that God made me that way, because i can easily bounce back and not dwell on the things that go wrong. He made me with a joyous heart and a light heart that is simple, and a way of looking at life in the light of His glory.

    today though...is a day out of the ordinary. for some reason, i couldn't just bounce back and smile. for some reason, one thing after another kept coming up, and my heart just hurts. i'm so burdened right now with desires for unreachable things, the hurt of words, and the feeling of failure. right now, i just want my daddy. i want my daddy to hold me, stroke me hair, and just listen to me cry. i just want to be held by my daddy.

    This is the kind of day that daddy isn't here though. i'm a grown woman, living independently in a big city of chicago, where i'm one of millions. Daddy is hundreds of miles away, and i can't get to him to cry or be held. 

     I'm still blessed though. I'm blessed that God is able to fulfill my need of wanting to be wrapped in love. I can cry to Him, and know of His love. He's never hundreds of miles away, He's always right here right now where i can reach out to Him. 

Gameroomness

This is the crazy crew from last year...

My Sundays usually goes like this:

7:00 am - wake up, do my quiet time, and drink my coffee

8:00am - get ready for church

8:40ish - if i'm ready by this time, i pull out the wii and do some fighting action on super mario galaxy

9:05 - wait for ryan downstairs in the lobby and then walk to the bus to go to church

10:00 - church starts. lately, church has been absolutely amazing. we just got a new pastor and he really really really knows how to challenge and encourage the church. he's right on with his preaching.

11:30 - have lunch out in Oak Park or make our way back downtown to have lunch at my apartment with ilene.

12 - 2:50 pm - hang out at the apartment. play wii, eat food. talk. take a nap. the three of us usually end up playing Wii or reading.

3:00 - go to work.  stay at work til midnight.

*sigh.* i thought the whole sunday afternoon working thing would be great to do homework.  i don't ever get anything done though! i always want to play a board game, ping pong, foosball, pool, cards...anything. i love when friends visit, and we usually end up talking for a couple hours. each. the random visits of friends i don't see often are great too. I've had some really uplifting conversation with Daryl and Tyrone lately. Last night, Daryl let me practice on him with my ping pong skills, or lack of. i told a friend from home that i could whoop him at pingpong, and now i'm just sharpening my "skills" so i can actually put my money where my mouth is. hehe.

anywayz, back to the topic. The game room is such a  great place to work at, i must say. I really really enjoy everyone i work with, and we find alot of time to do some hanging out while one of us is working. we have such a crazy crew in the gameroom, you can always find something fun to do. Next week, josh, melody and i are gonna go out to the burbs to visit Mike, he's a youth pastor now! we're gonna visit him and then check out his youth group. we're pretty excited. We all got to know each other from work, and now we kinda just like hanging out. we've gone on some fun rollerblading trips in the city.

anyways, all this to say, the game room is an awesome placeto work out, simply because of the people. and we get to play games while working:) socializing while work? heck yes, the best job on campus. 

First pic: left to right: melody, mike, josh, and i.

Second pic: rollerblading trip down to the beach...ended up playing in the water, rather than skating...oh so fun. can't wait for the next outing with these guys.