Just Married!!!!

It has been a very long time since I have updated my site. Much has gone on and I hardly know where to start to fill in all the events that has transpired. I suppose it’s fair to mention now that I am married and living in Illinois with my husband. It is still strange to think that I am now married and have begun a completely new chapter of my life. I went from being in a long distance relationship where I was in Idaho and he was in Illinois to being married and moving here with him, leaving my home, family, friends, doggies, and Idaho life. I thought I would have had a hard time adjusting to the new change. Sometimes I am afraid of change and there is a fear of the Unknown but God has given me so much comfort and peace and I am truly grateful for his providing for all of my needs.

My Prince Charming

Life is flying by. One minute you’re a girl who longs for her prince charming to come along, the next moment you’re a girl who is engaged. The Lord has brought my prince charming along and I feel as though the Lord has blessed me much more than I deserve. The man the Lord has brought me is one-of-a-kind and wonderful to me. He treats me very well and loves the Lord so much. He pushes me closer to God all the time. He truly is concerned with my holiness and purity as is described in Ephesians 5, which is the job description for the position of  “prince charming”.

AWOL (for a little while)

Absent Without Leave

This is a little update for all those readers I have…all my adoring fans…*cough*.

My boyfriend (soon to be fiance) proposed (wait wait, not THAT type of propose…sheesh, you women…) that he and I do a type of fast – things that take up our time that aren’t necessary when we could be spending time with the LORD. That means, no TV, no movies, no magazines, no books (other than the Bible and not counting school books). This also includes the world of blogging. I don’t write much anymore, but I read like crazy on here. There are some of you who I stay updated on daily, and I’m going to have to turn off my feeds so I don’t know that you’ve posted, so I wont be tempted to read.

How long is this going on?

Well, I am spending 3 weeks with Danny starting on December 18th. That’s 20 days from now, and we want to be pure during the time that I’m there, and so we want to just grow so close to the LORD. So the fast is 20 days.

We are going to pray at least 30 minutes a day, and read the Word at LEAST 30 min. If we are cutting all this stuff out of our days, then we can fill it with time with God.

I covet your prayers. I do. I want God to use this time as a time to let go of some of my blocks and weights. I have hit some walls lately. I want to break through them. I am discipling a young woman and I feel completely inadequate to do the job, yet possessive and prideful because I dont want to hand her off to anyone else. I want God to use me in her life in big ways. I need to be focused on God with ALL my heart.

A passage in the Bible that I am constantly flipping to (on accident) is Jeremiah 29:11-13

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.”

That is one of my favorite passages in the Bible. I must seek God with ALL my heart right now. And that means letting go of some distractions.

With all that being said, I have a few comments.

• Again, I COVET your prayers. Please pray that God will fill my life in big ways during this time. Pray that Danny’s life is filled with God’s Spirit as well. Pray that we stick to this goal and not compromise.
• Because this is my last venture into the blog sphere for a while, please, if you comment, and are a new commentor, please do not fret when you do not see your comment appear on my site for a while (note: I can still read them because they’re sent to my email inbox). I can’t guarentee I’ll get on wordpress just to approve new commentors, though (after your first comment is approved, then all other comments you leave are immediately visible on the site). If you’ve commented before, then know that I’ve gotten your comment in my email and I’ll read it there, but I’m going to try not to log onto the site to check.
• With the above just being said, I will welcome any encouragement throughout these 20 days. Again, I receive all comments in my email so you can be sure I will get them. Feel free to email me if you would like to discuss anything: sharks_swim_alot@hotmail.com
• If no one comments, that’s fine too! I’m just trying to add a few disclaimers to the commenting part of this post. Ha!

Well, thankyou all for everything. We shall see what God brings from this. I hope to have some stuff to write in the new year (I don’t know how much I’ll be able to write…if at all…after the 20 days are up since I’ll be visiting my Sweet Man in Illinois). I will have mucho ideas to write on though. Hopefully the Kristy who comes back will be a much better one! ha!

God bless you all!

♥Kristy

Homosexual Unions and Proposition 8

Well, you wont be hearing mainly from ME today about this, but a fellow blogger named Laura. She wrote a thought provoking post in which I read and it made alot of sense to me. I believe she has alot of truth to what she says. The jist of it is that before we Christians start forcing the State to abide by our faith’s rules and regulations regarding marriage, we should focus on those within the Church first. We have enough problems within the church and it’s precisely the church that the world judges Christ by. The divorce rate for Christians is the same as for non-Christians. This should raise our concerns. Christians don’t even know what “sanctity in marriage” really is, by the looks of it, and so who are we to try to show the State how they should do marriage?

Anywho. If you didn’t catch the link above to her site, here it is again.  Please go to her site and read it and leave a comment if you can. If you have any thoughts, let me know.

I still have alot of thinking I need to do about this issue, and it’s all very controversial as it is (and that’s the type of stuff I try to stay away from, whereas there are much more courageous bloggers who tackle this stuff). Hope you enjoy!

♥Kristy

Where have I been?!

Hello all! Life has been really quite busy and I have finally gotten some relaxation. This post is going to be somewhat random. It shall start off with what I’ve been doing for the past 2 weeks, and then go on to talking about a potential future home for Danny and I.

Well, I started my new job on October 20th at Forever 21. The store didn’t open until the 24th though. When I got there on the 20th at 6pm I walked into a huge store that was completely empty except for all the other employed bodies. We had a few semi-truck loads of stuff to bring into the store. First it was all of the racks and stands and manicans (lots of these! …and they are in weird positions too..eh) and many MANY boxes of merchandise. We set the store up and then began opening the boxes. This was the first time I’ve ever seen Forever 21 clothing apart from quickly browsing through their website once. Interesting stuff! I worked the 21st, 22nd, and opening day – Friday the 24th. I also worked that Saturday and Sunday. The next week (last week) I worked Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday (for 8 1/2 hours..that’s the most i’ve ever worked at once!) and then yesterday. Ha! Just CRAZY!

I’m liking the job. I’m a sales associate right now. It’s kinda tough though because we are understaffed and so it means that fewer of us have to do more work. Yesterday 5 girls called in sick. I’m pretty excited to get my first big pay check though. Ha!

I’ve been so very dependent on my parents for so long that to have a little independence before I get married will be good. I’m really set on saving money since marriage isn’t far off and I dont want to regret how I spent my money that I earned. We are looking at homes to buy (well, technically HE is looking at it since it is 1500 miles away from me). Danny and I have been looking into a particular house that is quite inexpensive and on lots of land. I know we are going to have some remodeling to do. I’m excited!  We’ll see how it goes, but it would be a great starter home. If it’s God’s will, and it becomes ours, I’ll let you know more about it.

On the topic of homeowning…I have a question to pose to all those silent readers out there. Since I am very new to this I truly have alot to learn. Any advice for looking for that first home? Any experiences you’d like to share? (I know some of you have SOMETHING you could offer *wink*)

That was just a quicky update. I have more to write but I shall devote that to its own entry! Yay!

God bless!

♥Kristy

A Short Love Story by Carlos Lascano

This is simply amazing. Watch and be inspired…and watch again.

A SHORT LOVE STORY IN STOP MOTION from Carlos Lascano on Vimeo.

Journaling

It has been a little while since I’ve blogged. I always find it harder to write online what is going on in my heart and head than it is for me to write in my journal. I write in my journal so much and it is definitely a blessing in my life. God uses it to draw me closer to Himself. It’s different than writing blog posts because in it you can be honest and real in ways that you can’t online. For me, it is sort of a way I communicate to God, so I write a lot of prayers in my journal. I love writing. I love being able to put my thoughts down. I’m not the best at formulating thoughts for the purpose of entertaining an online community. I tend to just say things as they are and as they come to my heart. I’m not that good with organizing my thoughts either. I have hoped that by journaling and blogging would train my mind to be able to think more clearly.

Back to my journal. There have been a few times where I will go back and read my journal and something will really stands out to me and convict me or encourage me in a current situation. There are also times where I will go back and read a desire or prayer that I lifted up to God that I really didn’t quite know what I was saying. I just wrote what was on my heart, and later on God answers the prayer.

For example, I met a man online about a year and a halfish ago and we began a relationship back in January. He came out and visited me in July. Seeing him for the first time was amazing. It was such an incredible experience. One thing I never really realized was how strong our sexual drive. It is a part of our human nature. Danny and I didn’t get ourselves in deep trouble but things surely could have gone that way. We are very thankful to each still hold on to our first kiss and we want to save that for the wedding day. After he left I just would contemplate the visit and realize that I learned a lot about myself. I learned that my actions on my convictions are usually delayed and that Danny’s is more sharp, and thus he was the one to speak up and initiate discussion about our actions. The fact that my convictions weren’t that strong really bothers me. It scares me too, but it shows me what I can work on before I see him next (Christmas break!!!). Before he came I wrote in my journal “Lord, use Danny’s visit to show me something about myself”. In my mind I had pictured that it would be something good about myself (how self-centered I am). It wasn’t good, but God isn’t in the business of boosting our pride, he’s in the business of humbling us to make us more like Him. After all, we are created in HIS image, are we not?

That is just one way in which the Lord has spoken to me through journaling. I want to journal for the rest of my life. Someday I’m going to give all my journals to my kids so they can have something when my time on this earth is done. Sure, there will be lots of material possessions to pass down, but what a treasure it would be to have the inside knowledge of your mother (or father) as they were maturing in the Lord. They will read of my struggles and my fears. They will read of my hopes and dreams. They will read of the lessons I learned and the insignificant things I delighted in to find them worthy enough to find its way into my journal. They will read of the deep life lessons I’ve learned. You all in this blogging world get a peice of all that. You get a bit more of a polished Kristy. I can edit my entries and beautify them and all that, but my journals is just raw. Raw emotions and raw hurts and raw joy.

What are your experiences with journaling?

What have you found out about yourself through writing about your journey?

Do you have any insights or advice as far as journaling goes?

Feel free to leave a comment to let me know what you think. I’d love to hear!

May God bless you abundantly.

♥Kristy

p.s. I got a job here.

An Unloved Woman

Now, This is NOT something I have written. I just want to make that clear. The following is something I take no credit for whatsoever, but I wish I could. It was written by Pastor Jason Holdridge, who I know about through Kate McDonald.

You can find his original post here. If you have a blogger account you can leave him comments and I suggest you do so. One of the reasons I am posting it here is for a constant reminder to myself, and to spread this amazing truth. May God use it to His glory through you.

God bless.

♥Kristy

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An unloved woman…

Proverbs 30:21-23
21 “Under three things the earth trembles,
under four it cannot bear up:
22 a servant who becomes king,
a fool who is full of food,
23 an unloved woman who is married,
and a maidservant who displaces her mistress.”

I’ve been married for just over ten years. It seems like a lifetime unto itself in many ways. I struggle to remember life apart from Heidi. I know I’ve lived longer without her than with her, but the B.C. years seem more forgettable since she entered my story. With every year we’re together, I’m losing clarity in my remembrance of the first 18 years of my life. I think this is the magic of love. “It covers over a multitude of sins” as the Scripture says. Her love has covered over me so beautifully.

I read this text a few weeks ago and it has been pestering my heart like a little poodle nipping at your heals. I can’t escape the power of these six words…”an unloved woman who is married”. An unloved woman is unconscionable in and of itself. But an unloved woman who is married?…this is unbearable to creation itself. There is nothing that causes the universe to hide in fear like the reality of a marriage where the husband leaves his bride unloved, unwanted, unvalued, undone. It just can’t bear up under these conditions.

I’ve left my wife unloved before. I’ve gotten busy with life. I’ve said yes to too many invitations. I’ve sought the rush of accomplishment. I’ve chased my own adventures apart from her. I’ve sat in silence in front of the television letting her take care of the household duties. I’ve seen her eyes hollowed out by monotonous obligations without so much as an acknowledgement of appreciation. I’ve seen Satan ravish her with insecurities without lifting a finger to fight off her inner demons with the “truth that sets free”. I’ve let words stay inside me when she needed them…oh, has she needed them. I’ve complimented everyone but her. I’ve befriended everyone but her. I’ve changed my schedule for everyone but her. I’ve left her to wonder at her place of importance. I’ve made her feel replaceable. I’ve given her the name, “Afterthought” by my actions. I’ve left her to wander in a world of uncertaintly as to her role in our marriage. I’ve made her read between the lines too much. I’ve left her to fill in the blanks on too many occasions. I’ve left so much inside her unfinished, promising to come back and complete what I said I would do, and letting time take the edge off my vows.

I’ve left her at home with the girls too many nights. I’ve shrugged her off when she needed “adult” conversation. I’ve been a lazy listener. I’ve made her feel like a bother, a nuisance. I’ve seen her dying for my affection, and sadly left her for dead. I haven’t asked nearly enough questions of her heart. I haven’t done much to sacrifice myself to make her dreams come true. I haven’t been the creative leader in the home that I am in the church. Some of these weaknesses go beyond neglect toward abuse. This is unacceptable.

I don’t want my wife to be unloved. I want more for our marriage, our friendship.

Here are some declarations I must make in order to avoid the dread of this verse:
1. I will speak when I’m tempted to stay silent.
2. I will move when I’m tempted to stand still.
3. I will hug when I’m tempted to withdraw.
4. I will kiss when I’m tempted to stare.
5. I will ask questions when I’m tempted to just talk.
6. I will affirm when I’m tempted to attack.
7. I will enjoy when I’m tempted to endure.
8. I will create when I’m tempted to shut down.
9. I will date when I’m tempted to distance myself.
10. I will listen when I’m tempted to solve.
11. I will enable when I’m tempted to disable.
12. I will understand when I’m tempted to be understood.
13. I will sympathize when I’m tempted to criticize.
14. I will forgive when I’m tempted to forgo.
15. I will gaurd my eyes when I’m tempted to feed my flesh.
16. I will accomodate her interestes when I’m tempted to push my own.
17. I will give her freedom when I’m tempted to pursue my own.
18. I will look for the good when I’m tempted to point out the bad.
19. I will defend her when I’m tempted to dis”gaurd” her.
20. I will pursue her when I’m tempted to abandon her.
21. I will trust her when I’m tempted to question her.
22. I will serve her when I’m tempted to let her serve me.
23. I will help her when I’m tempted to let her do “it” herself.
24. I will honor her when I’m tempted to talk about her.
25. I will crown her when I’m tempted to “down” her.

I don’t want my wife to be unloved. I want my chivalry to cause her to feel captivating. I want my romantic heart to break up things she’s scared to try for fear of failure. I’m a guy, but that doesn’t me I’m the incorrigible grunt that culture says I am…I’m created to love my wife with such passion that it confounds all of creation. And I want to…I really, really want to.

There is nothing so dreadful as an unloved woman trapped in a marriage with a misguided man.

How do you know you are saved?

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~Tell me what you think~

The Unsuspecting Stalker

So I went on a photography shoot a while back on August 29th, 2008. It was a nice Friday afternoon and I decided to see what amazing shots I could get on ma “comra” (say it phonetically now!) Now, with any of my posts which include photography, I would be very very thankful for any constructive criticism that anyone with an opinion may give. I am an amatuer and I’m still learning so I will take whatever help I can get! Thanks! I went over to the park next to the campus and found some new Friends. They didn’t run away from me like some other friends try to do. They listened to me and cared about me…at least for a little while.

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This is my little Bee Friend that I found. I was trying so hard to zoom in and find the little bees and there were so many that you’d think that it would BEE easy to take some pictures, but those little buggers don’t fly still. Dey BEE a Buzzin all over da place!

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After stalking some bees for a while with my zoom lens, I traveled on down the path until I came to a creek. I looked up into the trees and found a little man in his home. What a sight to be seen! How strange it was! He looked comfy indeed. I wonder what thoughts goes through his head as he rests with his head poking out of his wittle home.

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The little man surely has some beautiful scenery. I played around with the settings on my camera that I do not yet fully understand. I really like the look of the water and the shiny stick and rocks in this. The water is all flowing but the objects are clear and crisp!

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After hanging around the creek I walked along the path along the river once more and crossed the Friendship Bridge to Julia Davis Park. There I found my Geese Friend. I know that he is one goose, but he is still my Geese Friend. There were two geeses. The other is my Goose Friend.

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And this is my Goose Friend.

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This is Duck Friend. Duck Friend didn’t realize he still had a feather on his beak. I’m rather fond of this picture and it might be the best out of all I took. I love how the reflection of the sky has turned the water blue instead of green like in other pictures.

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This is Duck Friend’s Girl Friend. She is very gorgeous if I should say so myself. These two love birds (wocka wocka wocka) followed each other around the pond and it was rather adorable. I wonder what sweet nothings he quacks into her ear.

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This little guy was “caught in the act”. You see…if I can get any animal successfully in an action shot I am very pleased with myself. The colors in this one just seemed right and so I do enjoy it quite much…yes…quite much.

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These are the witnesses to my stalking. MINE! MINE! MINE! MINE! MINE!…I tried that when I was with them and they didn’t think I was at all humerous. I don’t know why…Finding Nemo gave these guys their 5 minutes (in my humble opinion, much longer) of fame. Gees.

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Then I got shunned…so I went home.

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Well, yall! Thanks for coming on this adventure with me taday!

God bless!

♥Kristy