Cupid cupid

Ryan and I had our fourth valentine's day together.  I had fun thinking through the last three years of valentine's day while i made my first cake ever. German chocolate cake. Its his favorite. I'm really starting to realize i like to bake and cook and all that stuff. it makes it completely worth it when i see his face after he takes the first bite:)

Here we are back from our date at McCormick and Schmick's, the famous seafood restaurant of Chicago...we went to the restaurant part of it, and had an AMAZING dinner of maryland crab soup and clam chowder, juicy Steak AND incredible Lobster, as well as a special chocolate creme brule. it was absolutely amazing. 

We had pretty much an amazing conversation over dinner, and i observed alot of things during this date. i noticed as cold as it was outside, that i was the only young woman in the room NOT showing cleavage or lots of leg. it was sooooo cold outside, yet the room was filled with women showing everything they got. I felt my heart ache for women all around the country that want love so incredibly badly, and this is the night, when sooo many women throw themselves in whichever way they need to to recieve "love." This is the night, one of many many nights, when so many women are taken advantage of because of their vulnerability of desiring to be loved. My heart hurts as so many girls want love so much, yet do not know of the one PERFECT love that won't take advantage of them or use them. just a lil bit on my thoughts about that. 

on a lighter note, my night was lovely with my man:) Ryan had to work all day, so i spent the day with my FIRST LOVE, and had a really really really deep time with Him as i read His Word and prayed while i baked. I did alot of thinking and praying, as God prepared my heart for this day of love. I had alot of fun spending time with Him as i baked, and spent the afternoon talking to God. Loooved spending my day doing that. 

Heres a pic of us in the elevator after our dinner:)

I prepared Ryan's gift. My theme this year was our Love languages. The first envelop was a card with "Words of affirmation" to build Ryan up:) The Red box was the game Sequence, which was to spend "Quality Time" together The second envelop was a giftcard to get chips and salsa and burrito bowl stuff to eat while we played our game. the third envelop had a picture of the German chocolate cake that i made for him:) and the box of russel stover chocolates...his faves:)

This is the first cake i've ever baked...not to mention from scratch! i dont like cake at all...but this one was soooooooo yummy!

these are the twelve roses he gave me....beautiful:)

each year, Ryan writes me a reflection of the last year we had together. every highlight, special events, and ups and downs, he writes down. i have three of them so far:) i love them because they are made specially for me, and completely from him:) this year, he made a little book out of the reflection and binded it together with a little cover and everything:) he's really really good at this whole romantic thing;)

and this is the cake put together...it doesn't LOOK the greatest, but it TASTED amazing.

Founder's week...

Itz here once again...I love this time of the year. Besides the freezing cold winds, the snow packed ICE that cover the sidewalks, the snow that messes up whatever hairstyle you fixed before leaving a building, this week is one of the best weeks Moody Bible Institute has to offer. This is the time of the year, that my pride of being a Moody Student renews. Great Men and Women of faith come together, and teach their wisdom and life experiences to the students and people of chicago. Man...so many legacies leave their mark at Moody Bible Institute.

So far this week (its only been a day and a half), we've had Dr. Michael Easley, our former president, Crawford Loritts, and Jarrett Stevens speak. We still have sooooo many more people to look forward to like Alistair Begg, Francis Chan, Charles Colson, Frankling Graham, Jerry Jenkins, David Kinnaman, Phil Vischer, and many proffs and alumni. My goodness. It has been so amazing the past three years. Bob McCrea told the youth min seniors this the other day, "In about ten years, you each will give your right arm to take a week off of what you're doing to get fed as well as you do during Founder's week. To hear the Bible being preached and being ministered to -this one of the last times you'll be able to do that. "


so that said, i'm very much enjoying the speakers. soooo good. Jarrett Stevens who works for Andy Stanley's church in Atlanta, is a moody alumni. it was SO encouraging hearing him speak and about the ministry he is in. It was inspiring to say the least. to see what he's doing and where he's gone with his ministry. I loved his stories about being a moody student, a totally normal moody student. curious, mischievious, etc. Got into trouble at moody by setting a big number "3" on fire in his dorm...just cause he wanted to see what would happen. I like that he went through the moody life as a normal college student, and now look at what he's doing!

Makes me wonder...

what will i be doing in 13 years? Will I be leaving a legacy like the Founders week speakers have in peoples lives? how will God use an silly energetic crazy kiddo like me? where will i be and who will i be ministering to?

For right now, I love that i know who i am going into ministry with for the rest of my life. I love knowing that my best friend, and love of my life, Ryan, will forever be my partner in ministry once we are married! I'm so excited to see how God uses us together, and can't help but wonder where He'll place us.

I found this pic that Ashley scanned. this was when i was eight years old, and completely unaware of the amazing things that God would do(and has done) in my life! Founder's week makes me think back alot...and kinda ahead as well...anyways, i'm the kiddo with the fannypack and hot overall shorts.;)

Working on the wedding website!!

Check out the progress of our wedding website!! and leave a message in the guest book:) the site is not completely done yet, but its getting there!

 www.mywedding.com/kristineannandryan 

(you might have to copy and paste it or just type it in)

Whoa, what?! I've got senioritis!

(Freshman year-2005)

in chapel today, one of the freshman on 6west asked me, "Kristine, do you have senioritis yet?" It's weird, cuz, well, I do.

I never thought I would get senioritis...i've always been pumped being here at school, cuz i love Moody, I love my friends, I never thoght I'd want to leave it. I remember my earlier years here at moody, when i'd look at the seniors and wonder how they could EVER want to leave Moody...Our school is amazing. I loved living in the dorms and loved staying up late and being crazy on our floor with my roomie. Classes with my friends totally rocked, as we were all so excited to be in the same classes together, but none of us could ever stay awake in class, because we'd be awake all night long trying to catch up on homework or just laughing and talking constantly through the night. I love those memories, and I love college, however:

I do have senioritis. not necessarily the kind that most people have. most people are just ready to not have homework, not have chapel, not have Moody rules, and not have to live on campus.  I don't have a problem with any of those actually...I have senioritis, because I'm ready to be done and hit the ground running with ministry. I'm itching to get done so i can jump into the waters of youth ministry while i'm fresh with my education from Moody. I visited Pat, the career develoment, and he gave ryan and i a stack of churches around the country that are looking for Moodies to hire. In Senior Seminar, we're working on our resumes, so we can start sending them out. I'm so excited to start! If the summer was a taste of youth ministry, both with the ups and downs of it, I'm really really thrilled to be going in to youth ministry. 

Theres just so much excitement with this part of life. And after this sem, i'm getting married, so i'll get to do ministry with my best friend and husband!! Ryan and i are praying for leading in the direction God may want us...could be anywhere as far as Alaska, Washington, or Pennsylvania! I feel like we can really compliment each other with our ministry, as he is so solid in Bible, theology, and teaching, and I am experienced in youth ministry with a youth min degree. together i think God's made a pretty cool team. can't wait to see what God's gonna do this year. I'm pretty hyped up about all this. I'm at a pretty cool point of my life, i must say. 

From Scratch...

Last valentine's day i made Ryan coupons of things I would do. One of them was to cook him dinner whenever he wanted. He finally put the coupons to good use, and I made him dinner saturday night. So, i put to use the Christmas gift the Schurman's gave me, and made Ryan Yummy pesto Chicken, french bread with olive oil and parmesan cheese, and for dessert Peach pie (which i found out was his Favorite pie ever!!! score!) I have never ever ever never in my life made a full meal, ALL FROM SCRATCH, and i did it on Saturday night...I am so proud of myself, so i'm posting the pics that document this memorable occasion.

here are the recipes i used...one is Dani's recipe and the other is from the cookbook she gave me...

I made a real dough ball!!! i've never done that before! and i followed directions and actually got the RIGHT results!!!! (i've never done that either!!)

It turned out to be sooooooooooo yummy and he LOVED it...I topped it with vanilla ice cream...yum!

Herez the pesto chicken!!!!!  it was sooo easy and sooo yummy...Ryan loved it!
 

I forgot to take pics of the finished products, but it was actually ALOT of fun to make everything. Never thought i'd enjoy cooking, but i really really really did, and I'm gonna try again next saturday night. Im so excited! I've never gotten so much satisfaction out of something as serving my man dinner...haha, i loved it. He's so cute too, he made me feel so good to, with sweet compliments and enthusiastic reactions whenever i brought something new out. can't wait to cook another meal for him!:)

winter break...

Here are a few pics from my winter break...looooved it!

started out with visitors at work!:) Dani, Clark, and Lily gave me an apron, cookbook, bread basket, measuring spoons, and recipes for Christmas...I LOVED it. (for those that don't know, i don't know a thing about cooking, so now i'm gonna work on my domestic skills.

isn't this the cutest apron?

my favorite chicago family.

one day this is how i'll look...with my own kids;) i love this pic, it makes me smile.

 

going home is always such a treat. i try to spend as much time as possible with my family...sisters...God's gift of best friends.

our lil boy, Peyton...the best dog in the world.

i can always count on ton of laughing while i'm home.

and seeing blessings from my past:)

the fraley girls are so much fun.

sister dates are the best...

and seeing old friends:) Chloe and i have known each other since she was in the third grade back in Jacksonville NC!

i even got to have some time with the girls i'd grown to love this past summer...they're in highschool now!:)

Danielle Bratz totally blows me away with her maturity, yet girly spirit!:)

Lauren Ward is an absolute sweetheart

megan cracks me up with her sarcastic remarks and her sense of humor;)

these girls ALWAYS provide a crazy fun time.

on of my best friends, peyton...he's the most loyal, sweetest, and adorable dog in the world.

he's good at his tricks and i'm proud of him:)

got to see Lindsay, one of my bridesmaids.

and have a late night IHOP run with our other family.

mirror pics are the best...

and coffee with our feet "off" the tables.

lucky swing or unlucky swing?

sushi with the family!!!!!mmmmmmm...

my mom

and daddy

and the three juniors:)

my home sweet home.

OH!!! and this is view of where the reception for my wedding will be at...on Fripp Island!

the perfect sized chapel with ONE aisle to walk down:)

naps with my boo boo are the best...i like it better when i'm hugging him and we can cuddle:) 

Well, my last college break at home is over. next Christmas I could be either in Kansas, Beaufort, or Chicago! who knows?:) i'm excited for whats to come this year...