Armor of GOD

My friend AT did devotion tonight on the body Armor of God:::: A pair of running shoe, camouflage Teflon vest, a white belt, a chair shield, and an army issued helmet oh and the bamboo looking sword. What a sight to see all on Jason! LoL :::: As funny as it all was it really made me think about how important it is to wear the armor of God everyday and not just be clothed in it every once in a while. Aaron said in addition to this is that we need to not just focus on playing a defensive battle because we are never going to be perfect or flawless, but we need to be on the offensive side and protect ourselves from those things that can come at us by getting to them first….what does this mean? We need to focus on the word of God and come to him with our problems, with our pain and he will help us strike back those things that can hurt us. What an awesome thing to remember….putting on the Armor of GOD everyday….it is much better than walking around naked.

10Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. 12For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 18And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.
19Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, 20for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.

Brain Teasers

So I went on peer ministry calls with Aaron tonight..as we were walking down the hall to the last person on our list we say a flier that had questions on it.....it was calling our name....testing our minds so I thought I would share them with you.

1. What letter is like an island?

2. If a man was born in Greece, raised in Spain, came to America, and died in San Francisco where is he?

3. A doctor and a boy are fishing. The boy was the doctor's son, but the doctor was not the boys father. Who is the boys father?

Care to share with me what you think the answers are?


This was one of three random thoughts today!

DASH

With it being so close to Halloween it is only appropriate that our class take a walk through a cemetery. Walking through ISU’s cemetery I will admit was a nice field trip it explains a lot about the town I live in currently. We talked about the dash and how it is important to our life because that dash in between the date of birth and date of death is all about our life. That dash is really what defines us. I never really thought about it until today. How are you spending your dash?
How would you define the dash?


ps any one up for going out friday night give me a call!

Famous Last Words

"I just want to be friends"

Not only are they the famous last words to the shortest relationships I have ever had, but my quote of the day. I know I have said them many times….I know that those words hurt….most of the time however, when I say them I really do mean it and for lack of any better words ya just have to say them, but how do I know that is true for when other people say them? Hmmm? :::in deep though::::: Can you count in your lifetime the amount of times you have heard those words? What a crappy day this is. My sister stated in our phone conversation tonight “God has a plan for all of us…even you.” My response “I will be the Vice President of my friend Jill’s spinster club forever and ever minus the cat.” What do I intend to do now….well starting Thursday and Friday and Saturday maybe even Wednesday….getting trashed it is! Lol j/k I’m going to go for many a runs around the track.

What's in your pocket?

Do you ever put on a pair of jeans, reach into the pocket, and realize last time you did laundry you washed a dollar or two in the pocket. Isn't it an exciting find? You know you have all done it....if not a pair of jeans maybe a purse or a coat.....I know you know what I'm talking about tho. Well today it was a little colder in the morning than it has been...or so it appeared with the frost on my car windows. I put on a winter coat I had not worn since last winter and as I was walking down the hall I went to see if I had gloves in my pocket....nope.....didn't find money either. Instead I found a big plastic beetle....oh what a gift. There's nothing like finding a big black (fake) bug in your pocket at 6:20 in the morning. (just for the record I didn't freak out) It was just a little surprising. Which got me thinking on my short drive to work. How many days are we surprised by something so small....shouldn't we be? Look at all the amazing things God has created and there is something new and different everyday....do we ever take a step back to appreciate them?

Fall

So you know fall is in the air when the trees now match the color of my hair! Campus is so beautiful this time of year.
What is in the corn????


Last night I went on my first corn maze....in the dark. Where is Phil? I recommend going if you have a chance it was fun! Didn't get to lost and on the second time around Chris and I were the fist ones out!

Aunt Kristy

John III
me and my grandma.....she makes me feel tall
Another one of the new born!
me as an aunt!
she is a great grandma now!

Bouncing Baby Boy!

(Before Picture)
Well sorry for never posting anything. I feel I have been sick for weeks...oh wait I have been...lol
Good news in my life (there has been lots of really good things happening :-) the number one good thing tho is my sister had a baby... John Allen born on Sunday at 11:30am 8lbs 5oz and 21 inches long....God created gift, a blessing wrapped in a blanket. I will try to post pictures later!
Other good things going on fall, my favorite season is upon us. A bunch of my friends are gettting married! Few of my friends are having babies really really soon. Large groups of people are showing up for ulitimate frisbee...Workouts are fabulous. .....school is almost to a break, and I like being able to have the time to start new relationships with people.
I want to take the time to Thank God for all the Blessings in my Life. ::THank YoU:::

I hope all of you have a wonderful day. I'm off to bed to get some sleep and get rid of my yuckyness!

Mission Impossible

I was looking through my agenda book today and was focusing on all the things I have to do in October and realized that it is almost half over....meaning one more month until I'm 23 and 2 more months until I'm student teaching....wow! In the wonderful organized mess of a book was a question that was well typed at the bottom of the page that reads " if i had to write a one-sentence mission statement for lmy life, what would it be?" I hadn't really thought about that before...I have thought about my purpose here and as a teacher I know I'm going to need a mission statement for my classroom, just like i had one when I was coaching. Why should it be any different with my mission statement in life? hmmmmm ::::thinking of what my mission statement could be:::::::it is taking longer than I thought:::::::hmmmmmm
ok so my mission statement in life is
"I am who I am and nothing less, I will not change for anyone, but am molded by everything."
What about your mission statement?

Hope everyone is doing well, have a great week!

God Bless,
Kris

Focus for week: serving others....how do we serve others? (sunday school topic of last week :-) )

Question of the Day!

Yesterday Jodi talked about her trip with IOWAY this summer....she asked the question.... "where did you see Jesus today?" So I ask you the same question, some days get so busy and we have such heavy burdens that we don't take the time to see the whole picture to see those who enter our lives daily like Christ. So where did you see Jesus today?

I answer that question with a smile....I saw Jesus in the lady that visited my multicultural class today. She was visiting our instructor and I got a chance to talk to her about ASP and the mission trip to Kentucky I took last spring....she has been out in that direction several times and she seemed to talk so passionately about it. I saw Jesus in the thank yous and hugs constantly coming from one little boy named matt this afternoon..... I love hugs!

Where did you see Jesus today, yesterday?



Congrats to Taylor and Anne in their engagement! May God Bless your lives together through your love in Christ.

Prayer

hey,
I know I know, I don't have the internet working at home so I'm sorry if you try to look for something to read some days and there is nothing here that is to your liking.....well I'm not going to write anything thought provoking today either....cause I'm short on time but thanks to those loyal readers who check my blog daily.....just so I don't leave you today without some useful information here it is....
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I was teaching Sunday school the other day (I teach 1st graders) and I held in my hand a cell phone. We talked about how with God there is never a busy signal, missed calls, loss of signal, answering machines, voice mails, you never get put on hold when you are talking to Him and they will never hang up on you or mute you. Our daily conversations with God are important with out communication where would we be with one another....where would we be with God. I encourage you to pray. What do you pray for? Is there a certain way to pray? those are questions I asked my students....they replied "you can pray for your mommies," you can pray to get well," "you can pray for the sun," and the best one..."you can pray for everything." how do they think they have to pray...."before we eat..." "before bed....." "at church," and the best answer given was ....? "any time, any place" How cool is that! How awesome that when we need some one to talk to ...(besides talking to yourself) we can turn to him with our thoughts, questions, thanksgivings, request. Wow!


Have you talked to God today?

Have a great rest of the week….!

God Bless

Pudding

so i will do almost anything for my kids if they are good. They filled up a chart and therefore got to throw---more like dump pudding pies on me! laugh it up...it was a cold day!

How is your sex life?

So this morning I went to go give a little speech thing at Memorial on peer ministry with a few other girls. Before the speech however Pastor O was giving the devotion and this line stuck out in my mind and I thought I would right it because it is so true.
If someone came up and randomly patted you on the back and asked you how your sex life….that would be a little too personal right? Well how often is going up to someone and asking about Jesus in their life is the same way. In some ways that might even be harder for some. How do we break through and cause a crack in our personal being. Get inside someone’s head with questions that are just too personal?


ps. yes i made it home just fine...thanks for asking! :-)









How is Christ in your life....?

Shout out to Friends

So often I wander down the side walk thinking about how do people see me....I know I have a blog some where in the stack that has mentioned these things before. I am a people watcher, I love to try to think about what people are thinking...I love trying to get the minds of people and make a story up about their lives....as random as it is. When I was growing up my best friend Casey and I would sit in front of the TV and make up the words to the television show that was on mute. (Great entertainment if you need some) Man did we get creative. Which brings up my random thought of the night. How friends are important to me...and why I call them my friends. My closest friends are like a second family to me....friends mean the world to me and I would be nothing life without them. So then who do I call my friends....? My friends are those I meet when I walk down the sidewalk....those that might not even really know me, those that say hello and continue on in life.....friends are those who leave foot prints to guide...."friends in the family" are those who forgive me for my mistakes in life and stick around in the walk with others...they are the ones that will pick me up on the side of the road at 1am or those who will listen to my tears. It is so hard coming to a new place and think about making friends...but i learned you have to let people in...you have to let people think what they want. I know that I normally hang out with just guys....why is that? I don't really date...nor do I feel the need to any time soon...( must stay focused)...by guy friends are my thing I guess....always has been. When I analyize the circle of friends....i see patterns I hang out with church people, speders, co-workers, and people from my past like high school. Most of my friends that I remain true to are girls....It is so cool that no matter how long we go without talking the minute we begin to it feels as if we hadn't stopped talking in forever.....we just connect. I guess in all my ramble mumble mess of words I just wanna give a shout out to all my friends ....thank you for always being there for me, for understanding and accepting my randomness and my giggles. I'm so blessed that God has allowed you to walk into my life and I into yours. Thought as you continue on for the day...where do friends come into play in your life? What do you look for in a friend?
God Bless Friends,
Kris

sorry for the typos....forgiveness is a good quality in friendship. :-)

Old School

With the week coming to an end I'm full of randomness....from comments to activities. Question for you....what is one of your favorite childhood games to play either with others or yourself.

Thanks to a good friend I got Mario Brothers 3 in the mail!!! That is what I will be doing with my evening! It was one of my favorite video games growing up that didn't require battling someone else! Enjoy the day God has made! I know it is a little old school but why mess with a good thing!

May God continue to bless your life,
Kris

GUMMY

How do you eat your gummy bears? How do you eat animal cookies/ crackers? What does that say about your personality?

I like to pick out the colors and separate them in groups when eating gummy bears. Then I either eat them one at a time head first….or I eat them in a handful at a time. (Green first) With animal crackers I like to go for the body parts one at a time. I will eat the whole animals first and leave the half bodies in the bag until the end. I like to savor the animal in my mouth and kind of let them dissolve in my mouth. Mmmmm this is making me hungry as I sit in class.

How do you eat yours? Does that say anything about you…what does mine tell me about me?

Hmm?

>>>Oh and added information today: it is Talk like a Pirate Day! RRRRRrrrrrr

Walking Around

You know what I love…I love being able to walk across campus and know people. There is 25,000 some odd people enrolled I can walk across campus and find 5 or 6 that aren’t people in my classes that I know and can say hello to or stop and have a conversation with. It is such a great feeling. When I went to community colleges (two different ones to be exact) I never felt like I fit in…people stuck in their own little clicks just like in high school. I feel so much a part of where I am and have a circle of friends that is ever changing. God Bless those who enter our lives and leave many foot prints on our hearts.

I also love this beautiful weather and walking across campus with the sun beating down and the breeze that brings a slight chill to my skin. As many people as I know, I need to always keep in mind it is in those I don’t know that I can impact lives. Those who don’t know the love of God that I have the opportunity to share with them.

Do you ever feel like you are just wondering around in life? Just a thought?

Forgive and Forget!!

Sunday’s Gospel Lesson about forgiveness….are you like the man in the parable?
The Parable of the Unmerciful Servant
21Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, "Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?"
22Jesus answered, "I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.[a]
23"Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. 24As he began the settlement, a man who owed him ten thousand talents[b] was brought to him. 25Since he was not able to pay, the master ordered that he and his wife and his children and all that he had be sold to repay the debt.
26"The servant fell on his knees before him. 'Be patient with me,' he begged, 'and I will pay back everything.' 27The servant's master took pity on him, canceled the debt and let him go.
28"But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii.[c] He grabbed him and began to choke him. 'Pay back what you owe me!' he demanded.
29"His fellow servant fell to his knees and begged him, 'Be patient with me, and I will pay you back.'
30"But he refused. Instead, he went off and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay the debt. 31When the other servants saw what had happened, they were greatly distressed and went and told their master everything that had happened.
32"Then the master called the servant in. 'You wicked servant,' he said, 'I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to. 33Shouldn't you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?' 34In anger his master turned him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed.
35"This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother from your heart."
Yesterday’s sermon talked about forgiveness. Pastor O said that “If you can’t be forgiving then you can’t be forgiven…and if you can’t be forgiven then how can you forgiving?” We looked back at Genesis 50:15-21 the story with Joseph…the brother that got sold, then enslaved, then read dreams and reunited with his family…well his brothers still felt that guilt and were worried so much that Joseph hadn’t really forgot and even after being back with him for 17 years they still felt scared that revenge was still due to them, that Joseph wasn’t forgiving…they even said that deceased father had left a note for Joseph to make sure that he had forgiven them and to bring no harm to them. I sat through this sermon twice so listened contently as things were repeated in a different manner to the different crowds of people sitting in front of the pulpit. Do you ever feel that you are just holding grudges and that it is just so hard at some point just to let them go, to fess up to even holding one. I know I have. I have a friend that let me down and for some reason after a while we just stopped talking to each other, it took forever to just say sorry on the part of both of us.
Forgiveness
The verses above Jesus is talking to Peter about forgiving his brother not seven times, but seventy-seven times. Take this as meaning 7 as being a complete so in terms saying we should forgive our brother (others) every time they need forgiven. Oh how hard that is for us sometimes, but like in the story above how can we expect forgiveness if we can’t deal it out. With the word Forgiveness comes Grace. Because God’s forgiveness is something that we don’t deserve, it is the reason we go up for Holy Communion it is the reason we say “Forgive us our trespasses…” God is Gracious and Good our Sunday school teachers teach, but look at that word…the word inside it is Grace, How important that word is to us as sinners. With out it where would we be? How do you forgive someone who doesn’t deserve to be forgiven….are there such people such events that take place that forgiveness isn’t an option for you to give. Pastor talked about fools.. “Fool me once shame on you, fool me twice shame on me.” We should let people continue to hurt us, how can you forgive someone for something such as rape, incest, brutality if they don’t repent from there actions if they don’t want forgiveness. We shouldn’t put ourselves in positions to get hurt over and over again when we know that forgiveness is something we can’t always offer. That is so easy to type and such a hard thing to do…. So often in people are in relationships that things happen and reasons are found to stay in them…I know as a female the male population isn’t full of ‘nice datable men’ according to our father’s respectable sense…and I also know that the female population at large isn’t the nicest group of women, we use men just like they use us. It is hard to say the words I forgive you and it is also sometimes hard to just walk away because we put ourselves first over what should be important in the relationship. If God isn’t in a relationship with a person whether it be your partner in life or in friendship how well off is that relationship? ---wow I got off track from my forgiveness spiel---
The main point I’m making is ask for forgiveness from God, but remember you need to ask forgiveness from those around us too. Give forgiveness to others around you just as God forgives us.

Prayers: Pray for forgiveness that I don’t feel bad about not beating the Hawks and I pray that you forgive the off task in my writing and all the typos.

May God Bless this beautiful day!

Who would have thought?

WE WON!!!

GO ISU!!

23ISU-3Iowa

Go Cyclones

Who's going to win the big game...Iowa State Cyclones...or Iowa??? Hmmm

I know that Iowa has the favor for a win, but ISU can always surprise you...at least I hope!

The Worlds Most Important Discovery

See what God has done! Numbers 23:23

On May 24th, 1844, the inventor Samuel Mores sent a message by telegraph from Baltimore to Washington. His message contained only four words: “What hath God wrought!” (Wrought meaning created, fashioned, or produced) That successful demonstration sold his inventions, and newsgathering agencies turned to its use. In our day of satellite television and cell phones, we have to go to a museum to learn about Morse’s inventions or read about them in history books. How many of us have cell phones and don’t think about 10 years ago or even 20 years ago when touchtone phones weren’t even prominent.
There is no replacement for the telegraph God uses to transmit his message to us. Jus as to the generations before and after us, God speaks to us through his Word. The methods used to carry his Word may change. Through television and radio, the computer, recordings of all kinds, the printed page, and the witness of people, we receive Gods’ message. In the future, ho knows what means might pop up? And we’ll thank God even as we try to harness those means to get his Words out.
But the message will still be the same. It’ll still be, “See what God has done.” It’ll point at the sinner within the chilling reminder of God’s law-what man has done can only doom him. Then it’ll point to God with the saving revelation of God’s gospel….what Jesus has done is more than enough to save the sinner. “See what God has done in the amazing love to save the sinner. See what God has done in the enduring love to ready the sinner for heaven.” For that timeless message there can never be a replacement.
Another great invention….that I didn’t talk about above is the printing press. With the invention of the printing press it made the scripture more readily available to the common man….more easily able to translate and spread the word of God. Oh and it helped Martin Luther out too…who could forget the reformation that changed the world.

"Everything that is done in the world is done with hope."~Martin
Luther

God Bless Your Day

Devotion guided by Together with Jesus by Richard Lauersdorf

Get Excited

Ok so I have a story for you, you might not enjoy this or it might not bring a smile to your face like it does mine…but I’m going to tell you any way. so I’m an aide in the afternoon around lunch time with the three year old group and one of the younger ones came up to me outside and said he had to poopy. +spelling of which I’m unsure of+ so I sent him inside to find the other teacher…. Background…sometimes it is hard for young boys to go on the potty….and this boy while never peeing his pants anymore sometimes doesn’t tell us in time for the other job. He came back outside about ten minutes later with a smile ear to ear. He ran right over and told me what he did…he didn’t go in his pants he went in the potty. Man was he excited…he ran another boy down to tell him what he’d done…then went on to the next little one. They were all happy for him, they would say good job and tell him that they had gone too or what not. For some reason a child being so excited he had to share the good news with everyone made me think of how we all should be excited to share such good news. Tonight at devotion Anne talked about being bold and getting out their to find out about people and were they stand in relationship with God…and their background. I feel that sometimes that is hard for someone who is more introverted like me. I pray tonight that all of us get as excited as this pure hearted boy that went potty….that we can take something as simple as God’s word and share the good news.

God Bless

Extra Extra Read All About It: Jesus Loves U

My Opinion of filling the TUB.

Ok so I have been watching things like CNN, local news, and what not. I have been following the devistation of the south and while my prayers and thoughts are on them I think about how it is impacting our nation. We have the technology for advance systems, we knew this was going to hit and there was fair warning to get out of New Orleans, knowing they are under sea level, knowing that they would fill up like a bath tub. They made a choice...and for some it cost them their lives. I know it is a high poverty area….but what things could have been done to prevent the deaths, to prevent such high numbers of those that are just sitting and waiting it out. People were told to evacuate the city….yet now they are complaining when the United States is slow to aide…..I agree as a nation the response of getting materials such as water and food was slow incoming, but when fear of lives are at risk for just walking into the sitting because of the primitive behavior…it makes you wanna look at what our nation has become. If people can complain about not having a shower for a few days while a dramatic event such as this is going on….what does it say about our culture? There is so much blame being put on President Bush…but he is one person, yes he is in the public eye as being the leader of our country right now…but there are sooo many people that should be doing their jobs….one person doesn’t make decisions for our nation…we elect who is in office…we have a voice…so that blame is on all of us for not being prepare for something like a natural disaster to hit this land. I know many people in the mid-west that are turning off the news and saying this isn’t affecting them, but then they look at the gas price right now, hovering around $3.00. I think as the United States maybe we weren’t prepared for this…the Red Cross is asking for money, but how much of that money goes where it is needed…sure there are thousands of volunteers, but what about those who are on a million dollar salary that comes from those funds…? I know people in the National Guard, I know people that are driving in supplies for near by sites. I know that those people with money and those that had the physical capabilities to get out for the most part seemed to have tried…but when it came time for it to hit land….the ones left were primarily those that couldn’t afford to get out…the major gangs that are down in that area. In the news they brought up that right now this issue of distribution and help is going to those of upper status and those that are not of color…they are making sound like this is a racial issue….when in terms is right now…social status is they are all homeless with equal loss of everything whether it be a brick house or a box….a home is a home and the feeling of lose is still the same….as for the color of skin…how could a person look around and judge something to that magnitude when there are people dying, people sick or injured….there are people in need and color isn’t an issue when it comes to human rights…so people need to look around them and start thinking about life in general looking to the Lord for comfort and guidance. New Orleans may come back in to play with in a few months…but I just question why rebuild a city that is sinking….why let this happen again? Yes I’m voicing my opinion….it isn’t like I don’t care for those that have gone through loss…that I don’t feel for those who have lost everything…I feel for those who are sitting and waiting to find out if their loved ones are alive. I have and aunt and my two cousin’s that live in Mississippi and they have managed to get one call out to a friend so that we know they are ok. I guess I know they should have left…they had places to go, but at the time it wasn’t suppose to be shifting more to the east and it did….they dried out fast….Mississippi isn’t a bath tub….I honestly think that rebuilding would be a mistake, that the mannerisms of people during this time is sad…that there have to be people set up as guards every where just to keep order when there are so many people that still need to be saved. I don’t want you to get the idea that I’m heartless, but I feel that right now that there are reasons for everything….God has a plan and we just need to take a step back and follow.
Feel free to comment….I hope I don’t offend…but o-well that is ok you don’t have to agree with me.

Sorry if this is a bunch of ill-informed crappy opinion…I sometimes ramble lots of thoughts on my keyboard…Oh and sorry for the typos….when I ramble…I type semi-fast…so I don’t forget what I’m thinking…

My prayers go out to all those in need of one tonight!

hurricane katrina

Psalm 69
For the director of music. To the tune of "Lilies." Of David.
1 Save me, O God,
for the waters have come up to my neck.
2 I sink in the miry depths,
where there is no foothold.
I have come into the deep waters;
the floods engulf me.

3 I am worn out calling for help;
my throat is parched.
My eyes fail,
looking for my God.

4 Those who hate me without reason
outnumber the hairs of my head;
many are my enemies without cause,
those who seek to destroy me.
I am forced to restore
what I did not steal.

5 You know my folly, O God;
my guilt is not hidden from you.

6 May those who hope in you
not be disgraced because of me,
O Lord, the LORD Almighty;
may those who seek you
not be put to shame because of me,
O God of Israel.

7 For I endure scorn for your sake,
and shame covers my face.

8 I am a stranger to my brothers,
an alien to my own mother's sons;

9 for zeal for your house consumes me,
and the insults of those who insult you fall on me.

10 When I weep and fast,
I must endure scorn;

11 when I put on sackcloth,
people make sport of me.

12 Those who sit at the gate mock me,
and I am the song of the drunkards.

13 But I pray to you, O LORD,
in the time of your favor;
in your great love, O God,
answer me with your sure salvation.

14 Rescue me from the mire,
do not let me sink;
deliver me from those who hate me,
from the deep waters.

15 Do not let the floodwaters engulf me
or the depths swallow me up
or the pit close its mouth over me.

16 Answer me, O LORD, out of the goodness of your love;
in your great mercy turn to me.

17 Do not hide your face from your servant;
answer me quickly, for I am in trouble.

I pray for families to find comfort in the Lord, so they know not everything is as a loss because the Lord is with them always.

God Bless

squeak squeak...like a mouse

Today I happily walked across central campus grass with my shoes off…how many of you can say you have done that…I want to enjoy that ability until they put up the snow fence…and before it gets too cold and I won’t be doing such a thing. While I was walking I also had a little squeak. My backpack was having some problems, no matter how many times I rearranged stuff it still kept squeaking…man did I get some odd looks today.
I’m so very excited about tomorrow, while I will be going to my two classes I get done a little after noon and …. I skipped the best news…I get to sleep in cause my class isn’t until 9:30am…that may not be sleeping in to some, but when I’m at work by 6:25 every morning it is sleeping in. I have the next five days off of work and I’m headed home to see the parentals.
I hope all of you enjoy your holiday weekend…remember to keep those caught in the damage zone of the hurricane in your prayers.

i'm full of randomness :->

Stop Ahead

Have you ever wondered about why they make four-way stops…how confusing sometimes if all four cars come to a stop at the same time and you all want to go straight…has it ever happened to you? Twice in one day on my end. What do you do?
I was thinking aloud in my car today…wow this is kind of like life. So many times some of us come to the same spot in life…and all question what direction we should go, who should go first (or what should go first) in our lives. We all might have a general idea of priorities in our lives but what do we really do with that list we have made….what do we really put first and foremost in our lives? At a four-way stop some times others wave on the other car…it is like getting guidance or knowing that it is safe to go the straight path without smashing into someone else….,much like hitting a dead end in our lives. Sometimes a stop sign could be a way of telling us that we might need to assess situations in our lives to see if they are what would be pleasing to God. There are so many ways to look at a stop sign…wow
Well that was my random thought for the night!
God Bless

walking...what does that mean?

Today started out wonderful, I got up after going to bed way to late, I went to church where I repeated “good morning” at least sixty-five times. I got to sit be hide a nice young gentleman and pick on him. Then I went grocery shopping, worked out, watched a movie on the tube, then went and played ultimate Frisbee on central campus. Which we had a great turn out for this weekend and the weather was beautifully hot. Then I waited for Pastor Marks dinner to be done and ate at the church, which also had a great turn out. I came home to do homework and decided I had no focus because all I could do was watch the CNN news about the category five hurricane that is about ready to hit New Orleans in the morning. My aunt lives about 100 miles northwest of there in Mississippi, which will get hit pretty hard because it is in that upper quadrant of winds. So I ask for prayers for her and her two children along with millions of other people that are down in that area. I pray that they may come through this tragic event alive.
I’m going to jump back up to this morning…I park at the MU and walk over to church from the parking ramp as I was walking over I had a thoughtful moment…I was looking down at the ground for just a second….I started thinking about how we walk…or how we carry books is a good sign of our personality or how we are feeling that day. I often like to people watch and try to figure out what people might be thinking and I notice people that walk with their heads down a lot…and other clutch books in their hands wrapping their arms around them like they are wanting to give them a good bye hug. I think that means that they aren’t so secure about things, or that they are worried. I sometimes see people with there heads straight up and walking quickly, which to me shows that maybe that person has a lot of confidence….any ways I started to think about how I walk compared to my moods or compared to others that are feeling the same way. How do you walk and why?
That is all I have tonight! That was my day in a nut shell, I hope yours was good.

God Bless,
Kris

I have one more question…why is it so hard for me to get along with girls? I knew I should have moved in with a guy…I just don’t like to deal with petty conflicts…is that sooo wrong?

Chirp Chirp

Today was kind of exciting…the movie I wanted to take the kids to wasn’t showing and because of the straight down pour we couldn’t really do a whole lot outside. I only have four kids at this time that are either going to the private Christian school or to the new middle school which they both open on Monday. Instead of the movie we walked around the mall and randomly picked stores to walk through. I bought my first pack of Harry Potter Jelly Bellies today to share with them. If you haven’t heard of them they are like the candy’s they eat on the train ride in the movie…candies that have disgusting flavors like ear wax, vomit, soap, sardine, dirt, earthworm, grass, black pepper, bacon, rotten egg, and boogers….my advise if you ever try these is to stand by the trashcan while eating and expect exactly what is says it is to enter into your taste buds….yuck!
One of my oldest kids had his last day and his mom was in tears when she first left this morning…and she knew it would only get harder when she came back that night to pick him up. She is such a great mom (some day I hope to be half the mom she is), we get a long really well so I will miss seeing her five days a week…I will miss the boy too, he bought a lot of different personalities in the room. When the twelve left on Wednesday I said my good-byes and left so they didn’t really see me get to emotional (even though I was) today I was crying in the hallway all teary eyed….and another one of my kids thought that was funny he thought I would be laughing because the boy was leaving….he then kept repeating that it was his last day too and I better cry when he leaves as well….lol it really wasn’t the last day for him, but he knows that I will leave before him so there will be tears then too….well enough about that emotional stuff.

Have you ever had a cricket sneak into your room and when all the lights are shut off and it is peaceful…you here it chirp? Oh how it drives me nuts…it is like a fly in the summer time that will buzz around your ear while you are sleeping or half awake and sound is just annoying. Well I hunted down the cricket in my room tonight….hiding in a corner. I kept telling myself I wasn’t going to bed until he was found.

Well now that the cricket is gone I can sleep in peace.

God’s peace be with you

Focus on Christ

I was sitting in a Sunday school teachers meeting yesterday and Pastor O said that the main objective for the children in our Sunday school class was to teach them about Jesus. We are going to be looking at the OT and individual based stories. He said that no matter what the story is we really need to make sure that we are pointing out where Jesus fits in with it. I think the main goal of teaching children in Sunday school is to help them keep their child like faith. To have them know God’s love, know that Jesus was sent to us to forgive us and to love us. I don’t wanna go to teach how to be good people or what they should do to be a good Christian…I want them to know about Jesus with an undoubting faith. Later in the evening I was listening to Taylor give a testimony of his first days of college and where Jesus fits into that picture. How many times do we go some where new…and feel like we don’t fit in, to feel like there is something missing and then come to the conclusion that things are going wrong in life because this isn’t a perfect world, that things can’t always go our way….that we are sinners and if we want to find what is missing in our daily lives that we should look toward God for that love. I know that I do a lot of things that people might get the wrong idea about…maybe it isn’t so Christian-like. “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst.” 1Timothy 1:15 I know that my life isn’t something great or grand that I’m not going to have a movie made or even a biography written about my life…it isn’t anything spectacular….I’ll make the newspaper someday with just a few facts about my life printed in the obituaries. If I were to write the story of my own life I would start by confessing the number one fact in my life and that is that “I am the worst of sinners: Such a confession isn’t easy to make. Everything I like to exaggerate, but sin I like to shrink. Other peoples’ sins I can easily spot, but my own somehow escape detection. Yet the plain truth remains that I’m a sinner. I don’t need a microscope to examine my daily life. Sin’s contamination is clearly visible. My confession is in order: I am number one, first in line when it comes to sinners. Fact number two in my life is thanks to God. “Christ Jesus came into the worlds to save sinners.” There was only one reason Christ Jesus left heaven, entered a virgin’s womb, and came into our world of sin and sorrow. Only one reason why he lived in this world as flesh and died in it, as well as rose again. That was to save sinners. He came not to judge, but to seek and save the lost. Ad he came for me. Because of him God won’t write the word “lost” on my grave stone, but “saved” by his grace in Christ Jesus. Come to think of it, what more needs to be said in the story of my life? We need to remember that Jesus is walking with us daily.

God Bless

I pray that we can all keep in mind that Jesus is with us, that his love is simple and at the purest form.

Tears

I bet you are going to wonder why am I playing this song on my blog and why did I dedicate it to F-troop. F-troop is the name of the class I have in the summer. It is what I call “my” kids. People think that it is weird the way some people talk about other peoples children. I call them my kids because I spend some times eight hours in a day with them some times eleven. I know these children sometimes better than their parents. This summer Holiday by GreenDay was one of their favorite songs….we would drive in circles in the high school parking lot just so we could crank the radio in the vans and all the kids would bounce around and sing. There other favorite song is Hear I am by Kelly Clarkson. They have a tendancy to throw out there arms and scream…. “Here I am…” one time they all jumped out of the pool and all the lifeguards started laughing. Their next favorite song is Gwen Stefani “Hollaback Girls”…aka to them BANANAS. My kids make me smile. So with this being their last day of summer I dedicate their favorite song of the summer. I left work in tears today. Tears of joy that I would no longer have 34 kids by myself, tears of happiness that they are starting back to school, but also tears of sadness. Today I had to write a dozen going away letters, take pictures with the children leaving, watch mom’s walk away crying, I had to give hugs to children I might not ever see again, but have spent over two years getting to know 5 sometime 6 days a week. I have to go through this again on Friday too because some kids are starting in the middle school on Monday…and then leaving the center as a whole is going to be a big big deal…my eyes are all ready watering just talking about it. I’m attatched to them, they are my lives…I know them inside and outside the center. I watch them for weeks at a time when parents are gone, I watch them on weekends, I go to their baseball games and book fairs with them. I visit their schools. I’m a wanna be parent of the worst kind….or so it looks on screen. I love each and everyone of them no matter what they have done day in and day out.
Tonight’s devotion went well we had a good number of students, most of which were there last year. We ate smores afterwards..mmmmmm I met two really nice freshmen as well as others. Now I’m off to bed to get some sleep.

Dedication to Summer F-Troopers

There was a music video here...but too many songs playing at a time leads to mass chaos of sounds

Video code provided by Music Video Codes

On the second day of class my true love gave to me...

Thinking about December/Winter Break....Christmas songs came to mind...lol

Today…work 6:30-8:30am…visit with Al….classes 9-12…meeting 12-1 visit with Al again…work until 5:30…..walk to class…class 6-9…Bible Study with Pastor Mark until 10pm…hope to be sleeping soon. One question asked yesterday was how do you describe yourself…draw a picture, don’t use words…me I drew a calendar with a bee….what does that say about me?

Well come December 1st I will know where I will possibly student teach…how exciting! (found that information today…thought I would share)
I was on a crowded bus this morning standing up trying not to fall flat on my face while the lady turned the corners…and I thought about how it is a little strange to be around so many people that are going in the same direction as me I mean that in the literal sense cause we were all going east on the red route…ha ha I mean we are all heading to class to better our place in society. People on buses are a little weird…I ride the bus I will admit to it being weird that is. I don’t like it when people just stare at me…what is that all about. ( I hadn’t eaten all day so it wasn’t anything in my nicely brushed teeth.) I try to at least space off at the floor…just ya know at their shoes.

Questions to make ya think:

Why do children have bad behaviors?
My opinion: It is a learned behavior, sometimesgenetic disposition, others could be due to mental disorders
What is the role of a teacher?
My opinion: To be a good role model for children and help them become beneficial members of society

Ok so I’m full of randomness tonight…must be cause I’m hungry and really sweepy???

I have another abstract thought though first some background info. I teach before and after school at the center I’m at and I’m looking for good positive reinforcements last year I did “stuck on good behavior” and let them duct tape me to the building and to the wall inside….they later got to have donuts one morning and ice cream sundaes in the afternoon, ooo and can’t forget the silly string war which was still visible come spring. I will do almost any thing for my kids if they are well behaved. They way they earn them is by filling up the picture on a poster I have made for them. They fill it up with masking tape when they are good and then the tape is removed if they aren’t listening. I have 3 charts made but I’m looking for one more idea. I am going to let them throw chocolate pies at me, wet sponges at my head (I made a cool sponge bob square pants poster for that) and then I’m going to create a big bubble in our room for them to play inside of. They thought eggs would be fun to throw at me, but I’m up for any ideas if any one has any???

Off to sleep am I. My prayers are with you.
God Bless

First day of school

Well today was long to say the least, enjoyable non the less. I just got home not to long ago from doing calls for peer ministry. Calls are where two people get together with a list of names of people that have come to church, who put down that they were Lutheran on the application, or that were requested by home congregations for us to visit…we don’t just stop by random places. So two days in a row I have done that…tonight was pretty good didn’t really have to leave any notes saying “sorry we missed ya we stopped to say hi”….those are good notes to fling under doors…which is a talent I might add. I love meeting people, but I know deep down ones that are new to the area are a little freaked out by us knocking on their door….but that is all the fun of it!
I worked about eight hours this morning with twenty eight school agers and then headed to class for a few hours. I’m kind of excited to get creative and write lesson plans and create history/social studies units…to create board games and do lots of useful education things. I’m glad to see eleven special ed majors in my class it is comforting to know that we have each other to make it through classes together because we already know that we all work well together and get a long or as I like to say mesh well together. I have three classes tomorrow on top of work on the in-between times…and then I’m headed to Bible study. I didn’t run into any lost freshman…I’m sure I will catch up to some later. I pray that everyone had a great first day to a new semester. God Bless
I’m off to sleep~ dream sweet!

Kris

Oh yeah do you remember growing up and having your first day of school...did you do anything special...pick out a new outfit...take pictures...?
When I was little ever year before getting on the bus we would put on our backpacks and stand in front of the magnolia tree in the front yard. I would always lay out my outfit the night before so I would be on time and motivated the first day of school....ummm that is all i can remember. M;y bus driver always did donald duck voices on the first day of school to...loved Ron...he was the greatest bus driver ever! What about you...share a little please!

Where does He fit in?

So walking around campus tonight I realize that tomorrow is my last first day of class as a college student…wow, how weird is it to write that down. I’m excited a little nerve racking…I’m sure the moment will pass.
This morning I was standing greeting person after person a non creative “good morning” that I just repeated over and over again…meeting person after person two nights in a row and not remembering names. I’m normally really good at faces I’m awful with names though. I could tell you about a person and not recall a name of any kind…weird. I know 150(min) kids in my center all by name and I can recall names of kids I taught 6 years ago, but I can’t recall a single name from last night or from even dinner tonight.
Any ways the point of my blog was to give Pastor Mark props of the campus tour during the sermon today…helping the freshman feel more comfortable. I remember feeling like a freshman for 3 years in a row….going to a new school every year has that effect on a person, so I feel for those of you who are new and are roaming around trying to figure out the little maps and finding a place to fit in. I pray that just because you are a freshman that you don’t abandon your morals and ethics…that just because you are a way from your parents that it gives you a new sense of freedom to go out and party it up and start doing stuff that would displease them. I have talked to so many people that say they don’t go to church because for the longest time they just went because their mommies made them…..I like talking to the people that said they are trying to experience something new and searching for a church that fits them…. I think that is important, I knew my religion but yet I was looking for a great foundation. Today’s topic for the sermon was where does Jesus fit in with each building you run into on campus…where does Jesus fit in with our lives. I know that my life will get busy during the semester and often times I will not turn to Christ, but I pray that my life focus more on him as my semester rolls around. I pray that others will find a way to witness on and off campus and that more people this semester will come to know where Christ fits in in their lives. I looked for a foundation and I have found a great one where I am at in school…I have found Christian friends that help to be the rock I need. I know that sometimes I get lost and all I need to do is look right in front of me …. Quote from pastor today… “we don’t see what is right in front of our eyes.” This was said on more than one occasion to me today. How true is it though…Christ is always in front of us, always there and sometimes we just see right past it….what else does this line work with? Personally I think this terms works for guys too…lol cause I know some really great guys that are single…I’m single and yet I’m right in front of them…what is wrong with that picture…grrr lol that is just a random connection. Well I’m off to bed so I can get up in the morning put in a full 8 hours and then go to class, work out, and then go on peer ministry calls and repeat it all over the next day!!! Well here goes a whole new semester. Lots of prayers for those who are just starting college and for those who are done and out in the world doing what they love.
God Bless your day
Kris

Throw your hands up like you just don't care.....

Have you ever had one of those days where you just want to stomp your feet and throw a fit like you were a child again? I did tonight…no real reason. But I see kids doing it everyday and it drives me insane when I can’t act out like that feel free enough to stomp my feet and throw my hands up in the air. We always tell kids that if they are going to get angry they have to do it right… squint their left eye, show their teeth, and grrr. So this was one of those moments…like I said no real reason, I just wanted to do it to be doing it….I’m pretty random! I’m a little stressed out I know this because work and school are going to mix in 4 days and it is going to be messy. My last full semester of class before student teaching…man is that nerve racking….o well I’ll deal. Well I’m off to bed so I can rise early. Just some words of wisdom…if you feel like stomping your feet you have every right….if you feel like throwing your hands up in the air make sure that you aren’t going to smack anyone in the process.

God Bless

question of the day...who are you?

I was looking through the calendar for the new school year….I’m the pickiest person when in comes to picking out calendar. I will literally open up everyone one until I find one to my liking. Well the one I have is just right except for the extra pages of print in the front that has nothing to do with a calendar or anything related to that. One of those nonsense pages says “Discover your strengths, What makes me the individual that I am? What makes me tick?” looking further it has a list of words
· Adaptable-some times, depends on the situation
· Trustworthy-yes
· A self-starter-yes
· Witty-I some times have mean comments to say in response
· Rational- yep
· Conscientious -yes
· Spiritual- very much so, it is are large part of my life
· Attentive -yes
· Content-some times…other times I feel like things are missing in my life and then I’m not so content
· Enterprising-yepper
· Punctual-try to be all the time
· Talkative- I think I am, but it depends on who you talk to
· Detailed-yes when it comes to décor, or lesson plans
· Organized- my mom would say not at home but very much so at school, I think I am
· Reliable- yes
· Athletic-no so much, coordination is there and if dancing counts
· Sincere-yes
· Energetic-depends on the day or really how tired I am cause when I’m super tired I get really energetic (how does that work?)
· Thoughtful-yes
· Intellectual-I’m not dumb
· Easy-going-no so much
· Honest-yes
· Decisive-depends…not on dates, I would rather take turns picking some where to go or eat
· Patient-I think I am cause otherwise I wouldn’t do what I do and that is work with children daily, nor would I be going into special education
· Creative-I like to think so
· Motivated-some days more that others, example I’m more apt to working out with the commitment of some one else…I have more motivation
· Thrifty-yes, I love old things, and I don’t like to spend money
· Cheerful-day to day judgment
· Considerate-yes
· Artistic-I did a wonderful painting today on our classroom windows….back in the day like 6th grade, I wanted to be an art teacher
· Compassionate-yes
· Responsible-yes
· A leader-yes, I don’t mind working in a group..but when it comes right down to it I would rather lead than follow
· Sensitive-yes….some days I will even cry at movies
· Practical- yes
· Enthusiastic-I use to be a cheerleader….so I do have a little enthusiastic
· Fun-loving-yep yep
· Generous-I am very generous of my time some days..
· A team player-I like being on a team…if everyone else is a team player too
· Persistent- I don’t back down on things
· Friendly – smile…. J
· Spontaneous- I like to be wild and crazy sometimes…but I like my calendar…and schedule
· Flexible- I have been working on that…I need to be flexible as a teacher…so work in progress
· Committed-yes
· Analytical –I like to think
· Fair – depends on how the word is used
· Respectful- character counts
· Caring-it is all about the love
· Positive- some times I tend to focus on the negatives but I try to point out positive more so than the negative

So there are my side-comments about myself after looking through the list of words…what about you how do these words fit into who you think you might be? Random thoughts of the day…I was just trying to think of something to post rather than the bathtub one I really had written from last night…a bubble experience…how much fun could that be to read?
I hope all of you are having a wonderful day…God Bless

Small World After All

It’s a small world after all. So I took part of the day off to go to the Iowa State Fair. I was a ten-year 4-Her and loved every minute of it..so the fair has always been a little part of my life. I wasn’t really impressed with the fair this year it was all about the food….there were venders everywhere, the cost of food was outrageous, and the things they put on a stick….wow, eggs on a stick better yet bologna on a stick…really who thinks this stuff up. I did enjoy walking around the fairgrounds this afternoon in the sun….but I saw everything I needed to see within a few hours. I ran into my old music teacher, her daughter, and an old classmate of mine in one walk through a building then later I walked past another teacher I had in school that moved away ages ago…he had a wife and a baby girl…not even like 10 mins. later I ran into some one else I graduated from high school with, with his family. However, I only ran into one parent from work…which was the funnies cause she wanted to know why I wasn’t there and I told her that I already went to work for the day and this was the only vacation I have before starting school a week from today. (where did the summer go) I just think it is odd who you know and how you are connected to so many people. Have you really ever thought about it? I think it is truly a small world after all. I was always told that in life it isn’t always what you know, but who you know is how you are going to get to the top.

where is the line?

Where do you draw the line? Pastor Mark’s sermon this morning asked just that. He told us about a scientist in the 1930’s who invented a way to preserve blood for transfusions but in the 1950’s when he was in an accident and was bleeding to death they refused they denied him a transfusion….why the rejection? Because he was an African American. How many times in our lives to we reject people are racist or prejudice? Today we still draw the lines all over the country all over the world. People fighting wars tribe against tribe. People judging people because they don’t have the same income or they don’t dress a certain way. I know I do it…I don’t mean to do it and sometimes I don’t subconsciously do it but I’m not perfect. I realize today it is ideal to be tolerante of one another to except ones differences. I’m going to say that is true up unto some point. I think that when it comes to my beliefs I draw the line. I will listen to what you have to say about yours but when I comes down to it I’m going to follow my beliefs and stand firm to them. It isn’t that I didn’t go in search of others, but I have found that being a Christian and having someone help me cross the line and jump on to God’s side is the best and ultimate choice. God drew that line He called us to be different than others. He makes us different as Christians makes us standout because we have Christ Jesus. He is what makes us special. He doesn’t want us to reject those not like us, but wants us to continue to follow him regardless of the influences around us. While I’m typing this I’m listening to music that would be music I wouldn’t play in my traditional church, but it doesn’t make it any less Christian just because it is rap. I mentioned it in Mark’s blog Nova…G.O.D Til I D.I.E cause I knew he was listening to it…lol the words are great they have a great message in them but isn’t something my parents would say is in any way good music that represents God’s word. So many young people are defined by the way they dress and the music the listen to, but there are so many options to choose from why be tolerant on lyrics that talk about death and sex when you can have great music that carries great sound and lyrics that are pleasing to God. That was a little random but it still has to do with where you draw the line even with the small things in life. How accepting are you and how do you stand for the beliefs you have. God may have told the Israelites to distance themselves from other not like them, to be different. He didn’t lower his line so he would be closer to us instead you picked us up and carried us to his line because to jump it would be impossible on our own.
Thanks be to God for sending Christ to carry us to the Lord for helping us choose to cross the line and be a little different than the crowds.
Have a blessed day,
Kris

sorry for the typos and randomness

Disappointment

So it was a random night out on the town a bunch of my girls from high school some random people from college taking the time to party it up at a new club in town. I’m out dancing have a great time when the fire alarm starts going off we are all leaving the building trying to figure out what is going on. One of my friends left her camera up stairs so we were just waiting around until we were able to go upstairs to get it. The police and firemen were on the scene. With in 15min the people at Chasers could go in, but those of us as Club Element were left to wonder what happened. We went around to the front to talk to the bouncers (we are girls so we cut right to the front of the line) a police officer had to take my friend upstairs to get her camera cause he couldn’t find it the first time on his own…how nice was that? (So nice) So besides to weekends in a row calling my night short before even getting a second wind to dance, I had a few other disappointments. Don’t get me wrong I’m not normally a judgmental person, but I don’t really like those that smoke around others. My grandfather had his lung removed when I was younger and I saw how the addiction affected his life. He finally quit and no more that a year and he passed away from something that related to just that laps of judgment called smoking. I think that those who smoke are some what weak, they don’t see other was to spend their money, so don’t see through the eyes of their children who breathe in the second hand smoke. I had not only one good friend but two good friends make the choice to smoke tonight. I’m very strong willed, very opinionated and they already knew how I felt about the subject and sill I was lead to a big bucket of lies, discrete, and a cloud full of smoke. GRRrrr so that was my evening. I hope I didn’t offend any one but it is a really gross habit. If you could have only seen the look of disappointment on my face when I saw what they were doing. Also the fact that some friends that said they were coming out and didn’t really made me sad too. GRRrrrrr

RISK

(no not the game of RISK...the action)
Most of us are familiar with Peter walking on water(Matthew 14), his faith, and the fact that we aren’t meant to walk on water but with our eyes fixed on Christ all things are possible. Peter did undoubtedly walk on water for a short while before looking down and filling head of doubts. Today in the sermon pastor Mark wanted us to focus on our struggles and how Christ saves. It wasn’t that Peter wasn’t suppose to be out on the water it is that he took the RISK and did it, he followed the path upon the water to Christ unlike the others in the boat. Even though he struggled Christ reached out his hand and saved Peter, just like he does for us everyday. Here is the deal with Peter and why no ones would get into the water with him. Back in the day they still believed in ghosts and stuff just like today we have this fascinations with not only spirits but aliens. The storms that surrounded them are like evil things to them as well as the sea they were on. So knowing that they could drowned in the evil sea to the deep water abyss scared them so they didn’t wanna take that RISK. They were struggling earlier on in this chapter as well when a storm came to them and Jesus was sleeping in their boat….he had to awake and calm the sea because they were struggling. How many times to we turn to Christ when we are struggling and in need of help. I know that I try to fix things on my own but I really need to start turning more to Christ because only He knows my true struggles and not just the small ones like fitting into a pair of jeans or trying to make it to a swim class after work. We all struggle even if you don’t know it to be a struggle right then later on down the road you may look back and know you made it through that moment because you looked to the Lord. The title of my blogs is called RISK, cause I have been having troubles with that lately, I know that not everything around me is going to be comfortable and safe, but I need to step out of my safety zone to meet new people and take a step in getting to know those in my life a little deeper. I pray that I can take new RISKs, as I start a new semester of collge….I pray that I take RISKs that cause me to stay challenged and bring me closer to him as well as bring other to him.

God Bless

moving out

i feel like i have been packing all day....then it is loading it up....then it is unloading it....then it is unpacking it....the cycle will happen again in one year from now. I'm only moving across town, but i'm very excited to be somewhere new. I'm a little scared, but all shall be good.

I hope all of you are doing well and enjoying this beautiful weather!

peace be with you,
Kris

du itch

Have you ever had one of those days were your hands are full, your going up hill, and all of a sudden you need to itch your nose?

Today was one of those days!

God Bless you

off day

Do you ever just have those off days where nothing is really wrong, but it really feels like there is something wrong you just can’t put your finger on what it is? That seems to be my day I’ve been a little moody lately I’m the first to admit when I’m a little bitchy. I feel like there is something missing in my life, like something isn’t there. I haven’t really been hanging out with my friends this summer like I wanted, nor I have gotten a lot of the things I need to be on top of before finishing up with school….maybe I’m not missing anything, maybe I’m just scared. I’m not really sure. I know that it isn’t because I’m single…cause while I wish I had a better half I know that timing isn’t on my side right now. (I’ve learned to except…I could be single for a really long time) I love being single and ready to mingle when I go out…but sometimes it just gets old. I know that God has some ultimate plan for me and maybe that is to walk the path alone as for now I’m going to search for what I’m missing in my own life and hope I feel more comfortable in my own shoes. I got a letter in the mail today from an old friend and maybe that is what has sparked my really odd mood this evening I’m not really sure or it could be because my co-worker is no longer working with me any more and it is weird. Man all of this is really random, but I have needed to clear my head and the best way to do that is writing. Dream Sweet

God Bless,
Kris

"Will you....."

I might as well post this picture too...cause it is kind of funny...in a way a little sad, there were quite a few people around in the pits at the races last weekend and there Frankie is on his hands and knees asking forgiveness cause he hurt my feelings and lied to me....lol Kodak moment in the making. In away it looks like he has a question he wants to ask...but there wasn't a ring so I couldn't answer yes.

Fogger

So this is my funny story since I have a little time to write before a busy week of packing and moving are ahead. Last weekend when I was home for yet another wedding I managed to walk in the door roughly 2am. There is nothing like the shock of squeezing frog on the door handle...why was it even there? It scared the bejezzes out of me...(not sure if that is how you spell bejezzes...but you know what I mean) it was pitch black so I didn't even know what is was...our door is kind of hard to open...so the frog got a nice hard squeeze and feel down the the ground and hopped off....the story continues...... So when I woke up later that day and started to walk in a different door after watering the garden...there it was again, what I can only believe to be the same frog with a fetish for door handles. What are the odds twice in one day?

Is it worth it?

Is it worth it?

What are you willing to give up for your faith. Yesterday was the first time I have been to church in about a month…I have been out of town or not feeling well enough to step foot in church. With the scorching heat that feels like it is roughly 108 degrees we had service in the lounge (air conditioned part of the church which in the 50’s was the sanctuary) Any ways back on subject. I have been babysitting the last week, meaning I didn’t see my own bed until late Friday night. In my head I think all the stress I feel all the time with these kids has to be worth it. It is a good experience, good way to get to know them, a good way to experience something new like being a parent in a way. In my head I kept repeating the words “is this worth it” I needed a break come midweek ….just an hour or so away from kids that weren’t mine. I needed the break to keep my sanity and to keep my mood semi positive. As I thought I still kept asking myself is it worth the money I will be making on the side to suffer through this for one week. It is only 2 families here another one there…I can handle this. Well all of those thoughts are on the side….(I made it! The week and weekend of babysitting is over) I bet your asking how is this story related to the church talk I started with?? Well that is the line that was repeated during the sermon on Sunday…

“Is it worth it?”

Matthew 13:44"The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.
45"Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. 46When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.
47"Once again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was let down into the lake and caught all kinds of fish. 48When it was full, the fishermen pulled it up on the shore. Then they sat down and collected the good fish in baskets, but threw the bad away. 49This is how it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come and separate the wicked from the righteous 50and throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
51"Have you understood all these things?" Jesus asked. "Yes," they replied.
52He said to them, "Therefore every teacher of the law who has been instructed about the kingdom of heaven is like the owner of a house who brings out of his storeroom new treasures as well as old."




Wow what a parable, I love when I can sit in church and something can just hit me, reach out and touch what a week I have had, make me reflect on everything. This was the gospel lesson from yesterday’s service. Pastor O quoted a theologian that died under the hands of Hitler a man that said something like… “grace is free, but it is costly”…may not be the exact words but it is close to that (I should have written it down before now) How true are those words. A man that found the treasure and who wanted to keep it sold everything just to hold on to it. That is telling us that our grace is treasure, Christ is our treasure, God’s love is our treasure. In Matthew 4:18-20 Jesus is calling his first disciples. These men were fishermen they fished to survive in their time they did it for food/money it was a way of life. Jesus had spoken with them and told them to drop everything and follow Him, He would make them fishers of men. And they did, they dropped everything to follow Him. While grace is free because grace is a gift from God. At times it may cause us to take a hard path, a costly path, a path that we have to give up the things we love and sometimes even our lives. Does Christ’s love have as much value to us as the man that found the pearl in the parable above? A man who sold everything just so he could buy the fine pearl….Is it worth it. Is Christ love worth giving up everything…our earthly possessions, our lives? Is it worth it. Is your faith and convictions strong enough to give it all up? Would you lay down your life for him? Is it worth it? I think this is something easier said than done even those who knew Christ couldn’t do this John 13: 37Peter asked, "Lord, why can't I follow you now? I will lay down my life for you."
38Then Jesus answered, "Will you really lay down your life for me? I tell you the truth, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times!
It is written in 1 John 3:16 (not to be confused with John 3:16) This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. (brothers meaning our neighbors, friends, enemies, people we don’t even know)
If you were in a burning building and you could save the man lying in the hallway but knew that in doing so you would be sacrificing your own life would you safe his life or would you leave him and save your own? It isn’t something you would say to yourself…hey I’m dying for Christ here if I did safe him, I’m laying down my life for a man….but that is the truth for it is written Matthew 25:40 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'
So is asking the question… “Is it worth it?” even if it cost you everything you own the answer is yes, even if it cost you your reputation the answer is yes, even if you loose your life out of that love and grace it is worth it.
Knowing the love of God, know his Grace is worth everything…it is priceless.

"Knee High by the 4th of July"

4th of July

Our Independence Day was declared at the cross on Calvary.

2 Cor. 3:17"Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is,
there is freedom."

God Bless America

What type of Ice Cream are you?

Your Icecream Flavour is...Neopolitan!

You aren't satisfied with just one flavor. They say variety is the spice of life and this shines through in your Ice cream of choice! Just don't eat all the chocolate and leave the strawberry and vanilla behind!

What is your Icecream Flavour?

Find out at Go Quiz

You Scream I Scream We All Scream 4 Ice ream

mmmmm....my favorite kind of ice cream is mint chocolate chip...what is yours?

Who am I...?

Who am I...? I should have put my head through the guy instead..ha ha I love going on field trips with my class. I never got to go to places like the Iowa Historical Society in DesMoines when I was growing up.

Wanna be like....Mike?

The girls had out the mat today and were dancing around the room when all the other little ones came in (like they do at the end of each day) Kakai is in the youngest room we have so he is the age of two. He doesn’t speak much English, but he can repeat almost anything. He started dancing on the mat with the other girls…when they laid down to kick up their feet so did he….it was the funniest sight. It made me want to dance around the room too…what made it even funnier is the little three-year-old that sat on the side in a chair laughing it up as loud as he could. Isn’t it funny how it is so easy to imitate those around us? (some times we don’t mean to..it just happens) Some days that isn’t a good thing that we imitate…to be like Christ would be the best imitation we could do. Who do you some times imitate in your life?

God Bless,
Kris

Salty Thoughts

As I wonder around the kitchen (that I should be packing up into boxes), I search for something to eat. I have food in my apartment, but it is something that would take time to bake, cook, or grill. Don’t get me wrong I like to cook, but I have to be in the right mood and I have to want to spend the time to do so. In my hunt for food I found a bag of popcorn…microwave it is….. I can hear it, I can smell it…mmm. Have you ever wondered why microwave popcorn and theatre popcorn doesn’t taste the same…why is that. I use to make 3 to 4 large batches of popcorn a night working in a small town theatre…the ingredients are the same…? Is it the idea that makes it different? Have you ever thought about it (or is it just me?)
All this talk is a way that I distract myself from what I’m really thinking about. I was at my sister’s mother-in-laws house this afternoon to take a peek at all the baby clothes and toys she got at such a good deal on for my sister’s baby soon to be. While sitting there she asked if we had heard about the boy that died in our home town….. I froze in my seat. I’m from a small town, so you know almost everyone. She said she couldn’t remember the name, that it was in the paper, an 18 year-old boy died in a car crash. I then went in search of the paper to find out who it was. I came across the name. A boy so young. A boy that I use to tutor since he entered kindergarten…A boy that worked hard for everything he had and didn’t care that his family didn’t have much to begin with. He was never the sharpest crayon in the box when it came to school, but he always had good intentions. I watched him grow in his faith in Sunday school, in conformation…He made it to graduation, which he never thought he could do. I called my dad to wish him a happy Father’s Day and to tell him to make sure my mom knew when she returns from Florida (she is his Sunday school teacher) My dad asked me if I knew how he died. He went on to tell me the whole story, the part that wasn’t in the paper. He fell asleep at the wheel and crossed over the center line flying over the bridge. There he hung upside down for over 5 hours trapped in his truck. A lady stopped and then went to go get help 911 was called, but by the time they had gotten there the truck was in flames…they couldn’t get him out…they said he cried out several times….by this point in the story I had to pass of the phone to my sister because I couldn’t listen any more…I didn’t want to know that he suffered so much. Even writing this I have a hard time holding back my tears. He is so young, he had so much a head of him. Not once did I question God’s plan in all of this…I know that he had to leave this earth for a reason. I know that all people go through mourning in different ways, I chose to think of the positives about someone’s lives and think of how they effected those around them. Have you ever thought about someday when you are gone if you are leaving behind something positive, something that makes people think about the life you lead? How will you be remembered?
It is like the popcorn in the microwave... it is ok, but the popcorn that you remember is that from the theatre...something that has a special flavor. What is your after taste...your salty buttery goodness that you leave behide for people to flavor and remember?

God Bless,
Kris

I was asked what is a favorite memory of my dad and this is the one that appeared in my head last night. My favorite times with my dad aren't on any vacation or opening fabulous gifts at Christmas, but it is the times we get to lay around and relax. This is me as a child 5/6?. My dad built a swing set for us in the backyard...not one from a box or a kit, but one he designed for my sister and me...after the work was all complete (well besides putting sand in the sand box....18 years later, I'm still waiting for that) we relaxed in a hamock. The good o'l days!

To Dad: Happy Father's Day

Father’s day is just around the corner….I haven’t forgotten, I have just chosen not to get my father a gift…mailing him a card (yes..a very nice one that he will leave on the kitchen table for everyone to read…and it could take them a while to do so, cause it is that good) I can’t think of one thing that he needs…or doesn’t already have….so no gift is better than something he will never touch or look at again. (What do you get a man who has everything…? Any ideas?) I wish I had time to go home and go fishing with him….many memories have I of fishing with him (good times) I heard a song on a commercial tonight… “You are the Wind Beneath my Wings” this song has great meaning to me because when I was a little girl I use to sing that song on tape and send it to my father when he was serving in Desert Storm. That was a year that he wasn’t here for Father’s Day. I don’t remember all the gifts I have given him over the years..and he has trouble remembering yesterday so I doubt he does either. So a gift like a song is priceless! Make sure you make this Father’s Day memorable…you never know when it will be your last. What makes the day memorable the memories or the gift?

God Bless those who are our FATHERS blessed are those who our like our FATHERS!

This song always brings tears to my eyes...I will remember you...

Video code provided by Music Video Codes

In Loving Memory.....

In loving memory of Paul.

A man in his late 80's ready to enter into the kingdom of God.
A widow for over two decades.
A man that loved to chat.
A man with a smile no matter how he was feeling.
A man with hundreds of memories and stories.
Oh how he will be missed.
Oh how he was loved by family and friends.
He believed in Christ.
He believed that he was saved.

I will remember this man in my prayers.
I will remember this man in my heart.
I will remember this man in my future.
He believed that things happen for a reason.

Life goes on, this time should be a celebration.
For Paul is Home.

Dear Heavenly Father,
Bless this day in all it's glory Lord, for a friend is ready to come home with you Lord. I pray that he is with you in the place you went before us to prepare oh Christ. Lord help us to know that it is ok to cry and to know that he will be missed, but help us to celebrate his life on earth and his life with you in heaven. Amen


May God continue to bless all of you,
Kris

Me and Peter getting comfortable!

Just to clarify...everyone has to take their picture with Peter Pecker...it is a tradition.

The Bachelor

Patrica...is still going through some changes.
Isn't she beeeeautiful?

The Party! Wild & Crazy Folks!


I did blur the crown....just to make everythng ok

Bachelor Party....hmmmm?

So last night I threw a bachelor party for my co-worker/friend/fellow elementary ed. major. I know you are thinking...girl throwing party for male getting married...little backward huh...? It was a good time however even Peter Pecker got to join us. I'm sure you are thinking who is Peter Pecker? Well he is the manliest of men, he attends bacheloret parties, baby showers, wedding showers, and now without the proper sex change completed yet he even came to the bachelor party. Peter Pecker (aka Patrica). Life of the party no doubt, comedic relief when some special blue punch was added to the situation.
Well now you know about my entertaining evening or little bits of it anyways. Unfortunately when you get together with co-workers you are bound to talk about work. (Which is my normally conversations anyways...I'm addicted to my job, what can I say) Any ways while I was laying on the carpet listening to the conversations...trying not to participate and ruin the ideal bachelor party i over heard the line "once they leave our classrooms they grow they move on and they initial forget about everything that was done and us." so that wasn't an exact quote but it is initially what they said. And I laid on the floor (hoping not to get stepped on ) trying to stay focused on what they had said...thinking to myself that is very sad, but very true. Many of the children will leave my room and never mention my name again I will long be forgotten as they grow....just thinking of this made me very sad. I hope that it isn't true...I hope that I can impact at least one child in my classroom that when they leave they come back whether it be the next year or 20 years down the line. I would love to know if I made an impact on at least one child's memory.
So these are all of my random thoughts for this morning...a picture / two may be posted later....I will make sure to blur part of the images so it isn't inappropriate for the site. (however I don't have my camera because I'm a silly drunk girl and left it in my co-worker's car (and no I didn't leave it there on purpose...regardless of what he thinks...lol)

First time ever attempted by me...girl that loves to repell but hates to climb up. Who would have thought. ??? 

I have been in deep thought on what makes a good friend...what makes a good friend to you? I have known Leah (girl on far right) since we lived across the street as little girls. Regina and I have been friends since like sixth grade and Shannon and I danced togther at a young age and have been friends since like second grade or so....I think that these friendships are important because they last we have been close friends all through high school. We have now been out of school for over 4 years now and we are all still close. I want to thank those of you who I call friends because your friendship means the world to me and I hope they last a life time. 

What are you wearing

So I’m at home taking it easy. It has been a stressful few first days of summer…but I’m dealing. I was flipping through channels and found Spiderman and they have a good quote that stuck in my head…. “with great power comes great responsibility.” How true are those words in your life? I relate them to work for me….I’m a lead teacher by myself with several responsibilities some times it gets to me. Also when I heard this line I thought of how Christ had such great power and with that power came his responsibility on earth to fulfill the promise.
I have a bunch of random thoughts today. I was reading a devotional (Philippians 3:1-11) and it was talking about being well-dress. [I want to be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own…but that which is through faith in Christ.] With it being a gorgeous, sun-drenched, scorching 90 degrees…it got me thinking about righteousness and the true meaning of righteousness, what we are clothed with…what does it mean to you? Righteousness to me means FORGIVENESS. Just like on this scorching day you wouldn’t sit outside on the hill wearing a parka and long johns with a stocking hat for hours on end…not the ideal clothing selection for the day, but in the same manor God wraps us up even on the hottest of days in His love, he keeps us safe and protected. He has given us a robe of righteousness. “how well dressed are we?”

God Bless,
Kris

Forgive the typos…a little tired after working…that would be why everything is so random.. : -)

Beautiful Butterfly

On our fieldtrip today we went to Reiman Gardens it was a wonderful sight to see children following butterflies around...having them land on their fingers while children stared in awww. God Bless the little things in life.