It's That Time of Year.

Everyone will soon be posting New Years resolutions and I thought I'd get a jump on it since the next few days will be too full for blogging. If you recall, last year I didn't really make any resolutions. In the span of time between then and now, I made a huge life decision (for me) to change my major from elementary education to business administration. So far it feels like a much better fit. I also gained a boyfriend and best friend all rolled into one. He really is wonderful, but I'll spare you the details.

As for this year, I have a few small resolutions I'd like to work on. In no particular order, here they are:

1. I want to make it a goal to save $5-10 from each of my paychecks to put towards buying myself one "big" nice thing. I also have a coffee tin with spare change in the bottom that I rediscovered in my bedroom and plan to add to it and eventually add that to the stash. By the end of the year, we'll see how much I have.

2. I want to maintain my goodreads profile more meticulously, recording every book I read for the year. I'll also make it a goal to read 30 books this year. That isn't a lot compared to what some people commit to, but for me it feels right. Sadly, I have too much going on in my life to read as much as I'd like.

3. I want to do my best to read my Bible more regularly and maybe even find a devotional book that I will stick to. It's something that I think about all the time but never really put any effort into changing. Now is as good a time as any.

So those are my resolutions for the year. Have you made any of your own?

♥♥Kristin

A Confession

Can I admit something? I am absolutely terrified that somehow, someday, out of the blue, something horrible will happen and my world will never be the same. I try to reassure myself, I pray about it almost constantly, but the fear still manages to creep in. I read posts about people getting cancer and dying, I hear about fatal car crashes in the news, and I can't help but worry that something like that will happen to someone I love. When The Boy doesn't text me soon after he gets home, I start to panic. When my Mom is a little late from work, I have to fight the urge to send her a text or call her. When my brother is at a late night movie with friends I cannot fall asleep until I hear him come in the door.
I know that it's a horrible way to live, but sometimes I just can't help it. The world can be such a terrifying place. It's hard to remember sometimes that my God is bigger than all this, that He will keep me and the ones I love safe (unless it is otherwise in His greater plan). Trust is hardest for me. I feel like I have to hold the weight of the world on my shoulders, and I forget too often that He took it upon himself for me. Remembering is hard, but I'm trying.

♥♥Kristin

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas

 It was snowing and blowing today, the perfect day to sit inside with a good book, a fuzzy blanket and a cup of hot chocolate. It really cemented in my mind that Christmas is only fifteen days away. Fifteen, people! This is my favorite time of year. I love the way it just feels different than the rest of the year. More cheerful and bright. Christmas music is playing everywhere. Lights on every house make the night a little less dark. Happiness is everywhere. Tidings of comfort and joy. Charlie Brown Christmas trees (mine is sitting on my desk right now!).
 What's your favorite part of Christmas?
♥♥Kristin

Hello Again

It's been almost a month and a half since I've even thought about this little blog. I would love to get back into blogging again if you'll have me back. I think that little hiatus was really what I needed, because I was digging myself into a pretty deep rut. Here's a bit of an update on what I've been up to these past few months:

School has pretty much consumed my life. I've been writing papers and history outlines, struggling through pages of math homework and studying for tests and quizzes. I've barely had time to keep up with The Book Chewers, much less this little blog. When I haven't been at school or working, I've been spending a lot of time with The Boy. I have also been caught up with watching Netflix (but really, what did we do without it?) as well as feeding my Pinterest addiction. It's a problem, people.

In any case, I really am planning to be much more active here, especially considering that after the next week of finals I will have a month off of school. I truly have missed writing (which I have done entirely too little of lately) and sharing with you guys. I plan to make some seasonal themed posts (because Christmas time is my favorite time) as well as little tidbits of life posts. In short, I plan to pick up right where I left off, and I'm so happy to be back.

♥♥ Kristin

Book Chewers Linkup

I don't get to do these very often because I'm busy busy busy (Christmas break can't come soon enough) but this one sounded too fun not to do!

Here's the prompt: What are your favorite book covers? Why do you like them? Because it's simple, brightly-colored, mysterious? Make a list of at least three and explain why you like them!

It's going to be so difficult to choose just three! But, here goes...

This. This this this. This. I just recently discovered this cover, while writing my post over on The Book Chewers about Anne book covers. And I fell in love. It's just gorgeous that's all. I can't even think of any other reason that I like it so much. I think that pretty much says it all.

This is one of those covers that kind of makes more sense after you read the book. To me it's a really accurate picture of the way she just seems to pour the words from her coffee cup in her letter to Ed (which is essentially what the book is).

I had such a hard time picking a third one since there are just so many! But this is another one that I thought makes so much sense once you've read the book. The tiny plant growing up out of the hard, cold, snowy ground says so much about Lina during her time in the camp.

Feel free to link up yourself! They're always tons of fun.

The One on Anxiety

Anxiety is something I struggle with every day, nearly every moment. I've always thought of it as a form of depression though I'm not sure whether this is the case. If you're also someone who suffers from anxiety, then I'm sure you'd sympathize with me. If you're not, I know how hard it can be to understand what it's like (I've experienced this firsthand because, as much as The Boy tries to sympathize with me, he somehow never makes me feel much better).

I'll try to describe what it's like (for me, anyway. I'm sure it comes in different forms for everyone). have you heard the phrase "You're making a mountain out of a molehill"? Well, that's what I do. I make mountains out of molehills until I'm surrounded by mountains so high I can't see out. Every little thing becomes monumental. The smallest things completely stress me out. At one point I became extremely angry over something incredibly insignificant and of course afterwards it seemed silly but at the time my emotions were huge and very real. I will become almost physically ill. There are times when all I want to do is go home, lay in my bed, and just cry. I have good days, and I have bad days (the good days outnumber the bad).

Overcoming it is a constant struggle. Along with the intensity of it all, I think that's what's hardest for those looking in to grasp. It's not just one decision when you get up in the morning not to worry for the rest of the day. It's a mantra in your head whenever you start having a moment, telling yourself everything will be okay, praying the same few words over and over, fighting it until the feeling goes away. And this is sometimes multiple times in one day. It isn't easy.

It's a battle that I fight nearly every day, and I'm here to say that it can be won, at least on a daily basis. I don't know if it's something that ever goes away. It hasn't for me. What I do know is that you can control it, and you mustn't let it control you, easy as it is to give in.

That's my personal experience, and I felt led to share it, so hopefully it helps someone else.

♥♥Kristin

Taylor Swift Was Wrong.

Loving you is not red. It never was. Loving you is the most brilliant blue of a late fall sky. Loving you is the yellow of the golden hour when summer is young. Loving you is the cool green of a forest that stretches uninterrupted for miles. Loving you is the crisp white of a brand new snowfall, untouched by grey humanity. Loving you is the cheerful orange glow of a campfire's embers. Loving you is the flashing silver underside of a minnow as it glides through a creek. Loving you is every color imaginable splashed across my heart, filling me in more ways than one. Loving you is color like I've never known.

Hey There

I know, it's been a while. Honestly, I haven't felt very inspired to write much on this little blog lately. I do not, by any means, want to give it up. I enjoy this blog a lot and it's a great creative outlet. All I'm saying is that I'm going to step back, and there may be large intervals between posts. I have a lot on my plate right now what with The Book Chewers and school and my job. This isn't goodbye, just I'll be seeing you. I may post once or twice a month but frequency (as I'm sure you've noticed) is going to be significantly declined. I hope this doesn't make you un-follow me, but I also understand that consistency is important. Hopefully you'll be sticking around, because even I don't know what's in store for this little place.
♥♥ Kristin

fallfallfallfall

 That's right, blogglings. It's that time of year again. If you've been following along for any amount of time, you know that I absolutely adore Fall. Today was the perfect Fall-type day: the sky was a deep blue with fluffy white clouds puffing along, there was a cool breeze blowing just enough to be comfortable. It just felt like Fall was in the air. On that note, and considering that it's finally September (EEP!), here's my list of what i'm looking forward to for Fall this year:

- cool days

- leaves changing colors

- mugs of tea in the evenings

- cardigans

- pumpkin carving

- making applesauce

- stubbly cornfields

- long walks in the woods

- fires to sit around

- pumpkin flavored everything

- boots

- corn mazes

- snuggling under blankets and reading or watching tv

- burning candles

- crisp air

What's your favorite thing about fall?

♥♥Kristin

My Latest Obsession

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This show is Absolutely. Phenomenal. Next to Doctor Who, I'm pretty sure it's my favorite. In my opinion it's pretty underrated. If you haven't seen it, it's about an evil queen who curses all fairy tale characters to live in our world in a town called Storybrooke in Maine. They've forgotten who they were, and the only people who know the truth are the evil queen (who is the town's mayor, Regina Mills) Rumplestiltskin (who is the town pawnbroker and owner of many town buildings and is known as Mr. Gold) and Mayor Mills's adopted son Henry. Henry's real mother is the daughter of Snow White and Prince Charming and the only one capable of breaking the curse. He finds her and brings her to Storybrooke, but she doesn't believe him when he tells her the story. Henry knows she's the only one with the power to break the curse so he does his best to make her believe. Each episode is a mash-up of the modern-day story and fairy-tale flashbacks slowly revealing the queen's and everyone else's backstory.

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This guy right here ^^ (Rumplestiltskin / Mr. Gold) is my favorite character hands down. I still haven't decided whether he's the good guy or the bad guy overall (though Rumple is "the dark one" in fairytale land...). His backstory is so intricate, and he's the character I can sympathize with the most out of all of them. The Boy thinks I'm crazy but I can't help but feel bad for the guy. If you've seen the show, you'd understand.

If you want to watch it, the first season is on Netflix and you can find all of the episodes (seasons 1 and 2) here. Don't say I didn't warn you if you find yourself watching one episode after another and neglecting to sleep or eat. And now, I leave you with...

6 Signs That You Watch Too Much Once Upon a Time (which may or may not apply to me):
1. You've started calling people "dearie" like Rumplestiltskin does
2. You've begun to wonder which fairy tale character the people around you are
3. You pretend you ARE a fairy tale character
4. You want to visit the woods in Maine because they look so beautiful
5. You begin to refer to bad things happening as "curses" even though you know that they don't exist and you believe that True Love's Kiss is really the cure for anything
And finally 6. You watch the show when you should be doing more important things like homework (on second thought, maybe I shouldn't encourage you to watch it)

♥♥Kristin

Organization Makes Me Giddy

I have slightly OCD tendencies with a penchant for organization. I just love it when everything is neat, orderly and in its place. I did my school shopping the other day and I spent the afternoon labeling all of my folders and notebooks, organizing my backpack and writing all of the days we don't have class in my planner. Then I just sat there and stared at the beauty of it all for a while. The sad part here is that I'm not even kidding.

When I actually have a house of my own, I'm probably going to go nuts. I'll probably take a couple of days and an expensive trip to Target and make a space for EVERYTHING. There will be bins and binders and shelves and everything will be in its place. It makes me feel all excited just thinking about it! I don't know if it's connected with my nerdish tendencies (probably) or separate somehow, but I do know that some people do not consider it normal. I've already been asked if I am OCD (the answer is no. Not officially). I just really like organizing things.
♥♥Kristin

Oh, Hey August!

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I know, I know, I haven't posted for almost two weeks, and now this post is three days late. Forgive me? Anyway, here's what this month has in store:
- soaking up the end of summer while also anticipating the beginning of fall, my absolute favorite season
- starting school again on the 19th
- camping with the family and cousins
- the fair
What does this month hold for you??
♥♥Kristin

The Moon

 She often wished she could meet the moon; he looked like a jolly smiling man having the time of his life up there among the stars. He was always bathed in sunlight, and instead of soaking it all up for himself, he reflected it back to earth. What a kind, gentle being he must be! She imagined the conversations they'd have. He'd tell her all about his life watching over the earth and she'd tell him all about her life living on it. She imagined it'd be like Lucy's tea with Mr. Tumnus: two creatures alien to each other yet warm and cosy and talking like old friends. The moon already felt like a familiar comrade. The world looked like a less friendly place when his smiling face didn't shine upon it. 

♥♥Kristin

Currently

It is raining quite nicely outside. I do enjoy a good rainy day every now and then.
I worked this morning and have the whole evening to relax.
I made a cup of lemon zinger tea and drank it while watching an episode of Doctor Who.
Thunder is rumbling in the distance.
For today, nothing could be more perfect.
♥♥Kristin

Longing

I have this theory that every person has one season, one time of year, where they feel the most like themselves. The season when they feel the most alive. For me, that season is Fall. Actually, to be precise, it's the four month span of September through December. I just love the transition from the heat and the green to cool nights and colorful trees. I love the way time seems to slip by in blue skies and falling leaves until before I know it, it's Thanksgiving, the segue into the Christmas season. Soon the leaves have all fallen and the weather is getting colder - perfect for cups of tea to warm my fingers and cozy blankets and books. And then the Christmas season is in full swing: decorations and lights are everywhere and the whole world feels just a little bit more cheerful. I absolutely love everything about it. There's nothing quite like it.

And now here are some photos I've been aching over:

{all images via}

What is your favorite season?

♥♥Kristin

The Impossible Bucket List | Linkup

This is also a mini-announcement, I suppose: I'm going to be a staff blogger on The Book Chewers blog. It's a great blog, and I'm so excited to be a part of it. Anyway, they're hosting weekly linkups, starting with this one: writing our literary bucket list. It sounds like a lot of fun, so I thought I'd give it a shot. Here's the "linkup" part:

And here's the bucket list part:
1. Spend a weekend (Or a month. Or a year) with Anne at Green Gables, or Windy Poplars
2. Sail on the Dawn Treader
3.Visit Aunt Beast on Ixchel with Meg
4. Have tea with Mr. Tumnus
5. Listen to music with Eleanor and Park
6. Visit Camp Half-blood
7. Read books with Liesel
8. Bake with Peeta
9. Go to the Anne Frank house with Hazel and Augustus
10. Kythe with Meg and Calvin

♥♥Kristin

Oh, Hey July!

I can hardly believe that it's July already! This Summer has really been flying by. Here's some of what I'm looking forward to this month:
- Taking my best friend out to lunch for her birthday
- Going on vacation with my aunts, uncles and cousins for almost a week
- Fresh watermelon (at last)
- Lazy days to just read and drink iced tea
- Going to an amusement park with my cousins and The Boy

What does this month hold for you?
♥♥Kristin

Dear Me,

{A letter to myself one year ago}

My dear, you're much too hard on yourself. I should know. You're not perfect; no one is. Just be you. That's all that matters. So much is going to happen this year, some good, some bad, but such is life. You'll start college and make a few new friends. Yes, you'll even lose a friend. But believe me when I say that it's going to hurt, but you'll get through it.You'll learn more about yourself and you'll learn more about your flaws. Some need to be embraced, and some need to be forgotten. You'll learn more about true friendship, and even true love. You'll prove yourself wrong and you'll prove yourself right. You'll read some fantastic books and you'll write some powerful words. The one thing I want you to remember is to keep things in perspective. It's never as bad as it seems, and the sun always comes up. I know you have a tendency to overreact but believe me when I say it's never helped anyone. Just keep your head up and a smile on your face and everything will be okay, I promise.

With all my love, 

You

Anglophile

I don't know what it is - perhaps my near-obsessive consumption of all things Doctor Who - but lately I've had England on the brain. Britain, the UK, whatever you want to call it. Why does one small country have so many different names, anyway? I've just really, really wanted to visit lately. It seems like the kind of place I'd like. I absolutely love their accents, and the way they talk. I often try, most likely rather poorly, to affect a British accent, and every so often I throw in a "brilliant" or "oi!" They drink tea all the time, and it's easily one of my favorite beverages. Not to mention, the weather sounds absolutely heavenly. It rains there more often than not, and if you've been hanging around this blog for a while you'll know that rainy days are my favorite. Also, it doesn't seem to get as cold in winter, which I wouldn't mind at all. Another factor may be that The Boy is half British. His father's family came over from England, and he still has relatives living there. Unfortunately, he has never been there. And last, but certainly not least, England is just plain down cute. I mean, look at these pictures:

{all photos via pinterest}

♥♥Kristin

I've joined the masses.

 That's right, now I'm on bloglovin'. All of this talk about Google Friend Connect shutting down has scared me into it. You can follow me there! Follow my blog with Bloglovin
 ♥♥ Kristin

Time

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Time is a funny thing, really. Sometimes it meanders, sometimes it trickles, sometimes it passes and sometimes it doesn't. But sometimes, sometimes Time runs. These are the days spent at amusement parks, the nights before the big exams, the moments you spend with someone before you must say goodbye. It's funny how Time tends to do the opposite of what we want. It's really rather stubborn. It doesn't have legs, but my, how fast it can run when you're desperately pleading it to stop.

Spruce Lake

Sorry about the short and somewhat unintentional hiatus. It was only about 3 weeks, but I think it was good to step away from the blog for a bit. Anyway, as promised, here is the post about Spruce Lake along with some photos I took on past visits. (no photos from this year, because I forgot my camera. It's practically a tradition for me to forget something every year, and this year that's what it happened to be).

Spruce Lake is one of my favorite places ever. It's a small campground in the middle of the woods. We visit with my church family on Father's Day weekend every year. I love everything about it. There's the smell of trees and ground and woodsmoke, the sounds of birds singing and quiet footfalls, and a soft breeze blowing across my skin. It's so peaceful and calm there. The woods are my favorite kind of nature. Even better, I get to spend time with my friends from youth group, playing round after round of Scum (arguably the best card game ever) and walking aimlessly among the trees. Honestly, I don't even really have the words to describe it. It's more of an experience really. I'll let some of these old pictures do the talking:

♥♥Kristin

Oh, Hey June!

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It's hard to believe that the calendar has flipped again. It seems like just last week I was typing up my "Hey, May" post but yet, it's June already. I know that this Summer is going to just fly by. Here's some of what this month holds for me:
- I didn't get a chance to post yesterday, but I went to prom with the boy. And it was great.
- Camping weekend with my family and church family (it's an annual thing. I'll be sure to post stories+pictures when we get back.)
- Swimming with my best friend (she has an in-ground pool at her house, and let's say I'm just a little bit jealous)
- Just enjoying the beginning of summer (and hoping it doesn't get too hot or humid)

What does June hold for you?
♥♥Kristin

The Summer Reading List

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This Summer I hope to get a lot of reading done. Frankly I don't have much time over the school year what with school work and my job. I have a reading challenge of sorts on my book tumblr (here) but of the fifty that I hope to read this year, I've read a measly twelve. I hope I can catch up. Here are some big ones on the list:

Re-reads:
The Book Thief: This book is among my favorites. I read it about a year and a half ago - a library copy - and then bought it for myself (Well, okay. What actually happened was that I told my brother to buy it for me for Christmas). I've never read my personal copy. Sad, isn't it?

The Little House books: These were my absolute favorites when I was little. I loved reading about Laura and her adventures. I think it's high time I revisited them.

The Anne of Green Gables series: Again, these were some of my favorites. As I've mentioned before, Anne is one of my favorite literary heroines. I especially want to re-read some of the later books in the series, such as Anne of Windy Poplars and Anne's House of Dreams.

New Reads:
And the Mountains Echoed: This is a new book by Kahled Hosseini, author of The Kite Runner and A Thousand Splendid Suns. I enjoyed his other books and I hope that I enjoy this one as well. I'm certainly looking forward to it.

Reached: The third book in the Matched trilogy. I just never got around to it but I'm determined to this summer.

The Austin Family books: These are written by Madeleine L'Engle, author of my beloved A Wrinkle in Time. I'm not sure why I haven't read them yet.

I'm sure I'll find even more books to read, and I'm sure this list will not be completed, but this is what's on my plate right now. What do you plan to read this summer?
♥♥Kristin

Awkward | Awesome

Awkward:
- Fighting with the girl who's supposed to be one of your best friends
- Going right from cold weather to hot weather (spring, where are you?)
- Not having cash at a little diner where they don't accept credit cards
- Waking up completely sore from a 6 mile hike

Awesome:
- Going on a 6 mile hike with friends
- Going shopping with a (different) best friend
- Cute little diners that have been in your town for your whole life that you just never got a chance to visit
- Getting new books at Goodwill (50 cents each? sounds good to me)

That's a little of my life right now. What's up with you guys lately?
♥♥Kristin

My Guest Post

Just a quick post letting you know that I'm guest posting today at The Book Chewers! You can see my post here. I absolutely love their blog. After all, it is completely dedicated to books! If you haven't seen it already, I highly recommend checking it out.
♥♥Kristin

Sometimes.

Sometimes things don't work out the way you want.
Sometimes life punches you right in the gut.
Sometimes all you want to do is curl up in a ball and shut out the world for a little bit, because it's the one problem you can't solve.
"It's always darkest before the dawn" they say, but in the darkness, you often wonder whether the dawn will ever come. 
But sometimes, life gives you hope.
Sometimes, when it starts to feel like you can't go on anymore, a small spark gives you a reason.
Sometimes a smile from a friend, a sunny morning or a piece of Grandma's chocolate cake can be just what you needed.
Sometimes hope comes when you least expect it.

I wrote the first part of this post a few weeks ago, back when it seemed nothing in my little world was going right. Now, looking back, I know that was a hard time for me. But I also see the little things that gave me hope. My friends. My family. The boy. Sunny days. Comfort food. Books. And I know it's so hard to remember, but the bad times don't last forever.
♥♥Kristin

Snippet {11}

Because lately I've had the strongest urge to write...

It was one of those sleepy days when you don't have much to do and you don't expect much to happen. She lay on her stomach on her favorite yellow blanket, toes woven into the grass and a book balanced delicately on the ground in front of her. She had been reading it, but a bird song had distracted her and she now stared absently into the branches of a nearby tree, daydreaming again. Tendrils of hair brushed her cheek in the breeze. The pleasant warmth of the sun lay on her arms and legs, the early sting of a developing sunburn going unnoticed. She'd feel it that evening. Every now and again, a small smile danced across her lips and she would release a small sigh. It made you wonder just what was on her mind. It was clear that she was lost in a world of her own making. The real world would just have to wait.

♥♥Kristin

TIme Flies When You're Having Fun.

As of Thursday, I finished my first year of college. It's a strange feeling, being finished with a whole year already. Didn't I just graduate from high school a month or two ago? It's funny how the days seem to go so slowly, but the months fly by so fast. Last year at this time, I was a senior, finishing up my last year of high school. Anticipating graduation. Slacking off on my schoolwork because it's what seniors do.

And now here I am. One year older, with a quarter of my college career under my belt. New friends. A boy who somehow became my boyfriend and best friend. Looking forward to a Summer full of backyard picnics, spontaneous day-trips, friendship, laughter and sunsets. And I can't wait.

♥♥Kristin

On Worry

 It's something that I struggle with a lot. Like, a lot a lot. If it can be worried about, I'm worrying. I worry about tests, I worry when my family members are driving long distances, I worry about first days and presentations and big life events. It's a near constant in my life, something I struggle with almost daily. It makes my stomach upset and I can't concentrate on anything.
I'm sure many of you also struggle occasionally with worry. I think it comes when we forget to leave things in God's hands and try to wrangle everything on our own, even though we can't. We weren't meant to. It can be a difficult thing to overcome, but its not impossible. Some verses I remember when I'm feeling stressed and worried:

Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?

Luke 12:26

Do not worry about anything. Instead in everything by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your request to God. And the peace of God which transcends all understanding will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Phillipians 4:6-7

Worry is so difficult to overcome, especially for me, but with God it is possible. As hard as it is, we need to remember to surrender our worries to him.

♥♥Kristin

Oh, Hey May!

I know, I know. It's already the 3rd. Time just flies by so quickly! Anyway, here's a small sampling of what I'm looking forward to this month:

- Warmer weather at last ♥
- Finals (next week... gulp) and after that, freshman year take two is officially over! And I'll never have to be a freshman again.
- A trip to an amusement park with some of the greatest people I know
- The Boy's birthday! Now if only I knew what to get him...
- Spending lots of glorious time doing absolutely nothing

What does May hold for you?
♥♥Kristin

Musings

{mine}

♥♥Kristin

Summer, Please Hurry

 I am more than excited for summer to get here. Fall may be my favorite season, but I've gone a little Summer-crazy for the moment. I only have two weeks of class left, and then I'm free for three and a half whole months. And what will I be doing for my three and a half months of freedom? I have no shortage of plans. Many of them involve my best friends and the boy. We're going to amusement parks, hiking, picnicking, swimming and just general frolicking. There are also at least two camping trips planned with my family. Of course I'm going to spend a lot of time reading, trying to catch up on my 50 book reading goal for this year (the current total? a measly 10 books).

And of course on top of the fun there is going to be quite a bit of working involved: on top of my current job, I plan on finding a second job because the extra cash would definitely be appreciated. I'll probably be working nearly every day this summer, but hopefully I can still make time for all of the wonderful plans I mentioned above. I have a feeling that this just might be the best summer yet.
♥♥Kristin

Love: My Definition

Well, perhaps "definition" isn't quite the right word for what I'm about to say. It's more like my take on what it means to me. But that was a little long for a title.
So many people have so many different ways to define love, and I honestly think that there is no one true definition. There are as many definitions as there are people. Here's what Webster has to say:
Love: n. a profoundly tender, passionate affection for another person. A feeling of warm personal attachment or deep affection as for a parent, child or friend.

And here's what God has to say:

 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. ⁵ It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. ⁶ Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. ⁷ It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.⁸ Love never fails. (1 Corinthians 13:4-8a)

What is it to me? Love is feeling perfectly comfortable with that person. It's laughing so hard you have tears running down your face. It's the fluttering in your stomach when you catch a glimpse of their face when you're not expecting it. It's the quivery feeling you get at night when you can't sleep because they're on your mind and the quiet emptiness you feel right after they leave. It's long conversations about the things that really matter. Love is all of this and so much more, and what makes love so special is the fact that you can't possibly put all of it into words.

♥♥Kristin

An Explanation.

Every once in a while I'll get a strong urge to scribble, to write, to blog, but the catch is that I never know just what it is that I want to say. It's the oddest sensation: Like I'm just brimming with words, but I don't even know what they are. I go over the possible topics in my head: Spring? No. I did that a few weeks ago. Books? No. I talk about them too often already. My life? As if there's anything anyone would want to hear. A snippet? Those haven't been coming too regularly either. So I'm left sitting here, typing a few sentences of draft after draft before I give up again. I guess I'm just sitting here waiting for something to happen. And that's my lousy excuse as to why I just haven't been posting as much as usual. Maybe when school's out I'll do better. Who knows?
♥♥Kristin

Awkward | Awesome

I got this idea from Victoria at Little Words and Lessons Learned. Here's some awkward and awesome from the past week:

Awkward:
The power going out at work on Wednesday
Leaving my window open and waking up frozen
Dropping my phone and having the battery fly across the floor
Wanting to drink hot tea a few days ago even though it was about 80 degrees outside

Awesome:
This youtube video. You will die laughing. I promise.
Making cheesecake brownies for work
The fried apple things I discovered at work (to die for)
Walking around town with my bestfriend
Watching Gilligan's Island and corny youtube videos with friends and the boy

This was actually a lot of fun. I just might make it a semi-regular feature.
♥♥Kristin

Snippet {10}

She rested her head on her arm and watched, mesmerized, as the tea diffused through the bag and into the water. If only life could always be this simple, she though, dropping an ice cube into the mug to cool it (she was too impatient for small sips). She spooned sugar into the mug and carefully stirred the tea into a whirlpool until she was sure the sugar had dissolved. This evening ritual was what brought her comfort, the one constant in her life of change. She wrapped her hands around the mug and brought it to her lips, drawing in the citrusy aroma before taking the first sip. She closed her eyes as the warmth slid down her throat and spread a calm through her body. These small moments, she realized, were what made life worth living.

♥♥Kristin

What Are You Smiling At?

 It's amazing how often I get asked that question. Usually, I'm not even aware that I am smiling, but there I sit with a goofy grin on my face. Usually my reply is "nothing" followed by blushing and looking down at my shoes because I've embarrassed myself again.
But then I wonder what AM I smiling at? And usually the answer is a conversation I had yesterday, the weather forecast for tomorrow, an inside joke that someone's words reminded me of. Something in my little world that makes my heart so happy that I can't help but show it. And as embarrassing as this strange habit is for me, I'm coming to realize that that's just who I am. A girl who can't help but smile because life makes her deliriously happy. And there's nothing wrong with that.
♥♥Kristin

And Yet

 It's amazing really, when you think about it. The way God cares so deeply for us. I'm impulsive. Outspoken. My phone needs an "are you sure you want to send this message?" button. I don't read my Bible often enough. I think too often about things that shouldn't even cross my mind. I relish my anger when I should be letting it go.

And yet.

This fact remains: God loves me more than I can even imagine. He sent His son to die on the cross for these sins and more. For people that don't even acknowledge Him or His gift. And that absolutely blows me away. I don't deserve love anywhere close to that. And yet there He is. I can't begin to describe how grateful I am.

I am the sweat from Your brow, but You love me anyway.
I am the thorn in Your crown, but You love me anyway.
I am the nails in Your wrist, but You love me anyway.
I am Judas's kiss, but You love me anyway.

♥♥Kristin

Oh, Hey April!

I'm so glad that it's finally April. I'm more than ready. Here's what I'm looking forward to this month:
- spring weather
- my last full month of classes (!) It's so hard to believe that my first year of college is already coming to an end. I have to say that I'm not exactly sad for it to be over.
- lots and lots of school work (end of the semester projects and essays and general ickiness)
- walking in the woods with the boy

Honestly, not much worth mentioning is happening this month, sad to say. This month I suppose I will be looking for the little things.
♥♥Kristin

A Year Ago Yesterday

On that day (March 23, 2012) I decided, rather abruptly, that I wanted to make a blog. I'd been reading a few blogs for some time (like Natalie Lloyd's and Katie's). I decided that it seemed like a pretty fun thing to do, so I started my blog, titled it "Confessions of a Self-Proclaimed Nerd" and wrote my first post. I started out with a cutest blog on the block template and posted like mad. This was my first header:

That title was very impromptu and I soon decided that I didn't like it as much as I thought I did. About a month later I changed its name to "The Great Perhaps", having been inspired by John Green's Looking for Alaska. Along with that I changed my url. I chose a new template, and this was my new header:

This one stuck for quite a bit longer, but then in October I changed it once again to it's current title, Serendipity. I feel that this title finally fits perfectly. After all, that's really what this little blog is about.

Over the year that I've been blogging, my style has changed a lot. I appreciate those of you that have stuck with me from the very beginning, figuring out what I want this blog to be. Now I think it is everything that I want it to be. I don't post as much, but I don't make as many frivolous posts either. Everything I post about, no matter how small, means so much to me. This blog, as the title and description state, is made up of all of the little things that make me happy, the things that make my little world go round. I love reading your comments and making connections with you over these things. There may not be very many of you, but I value each and every one of you reading this right now. You're part of why I love blogging so much. I'm looking forward to another year just as enjoyable as the past one.
♥♥Kristin

Some Pinspiration

Because, let's face it, who isn't at least slightly addicted to Pinterest? I've really been getting into it again. Here's some of what I've been loving lately:

Can I just go here now? Because this is seriously gorgeous.

So, so easy to forget, but so important to remember.

 Pinterest knows me so well.

This just makes my heart smile. This was probably my favorite movie as a child. My friend and I would rewind the part with the animated barnyard animals singing and watch it again and again, laughing just as hard each time.

How true is this? Honestly, March daylight savings is the worst.

These cookies though. They look fantastic. I pin entirely too much food.

I just want summer so badly.

Oof. This is almost so true it hurts.

And finally, who doesn't love a little grumpy cat? I want one.

You can see my Pinterest boards here. I think it's safe to say I have a little bit of a problem.

In other news, today is my blogoversary! It's been a whole year since I started this little blog and I think it's come pretty far. A year-summary post is coming, hopefully tomorrow but perhaps on Monday. Until then, auf wiedersehen.
♥♥Kristin

Things Books Have Taught Me

via

As a voracious reader, I have learned quite a few things from books that go beyond the knowledge they contain.
1. Some of the best books start off slowly. The same applies in life: don't give up, and you'll be rewarded with a fantastic plot line, or if you're lucky, a fairy-tale ending.
2. No matter how much you may want to keep reliving the comfort of familiar words, you have to turn the page to find out what happens next.
3.  When one chapter is over it may feel like the end, but there's a new one unfolding and who knows? It may just make everything worthwhile.
4. You're not going to like every book and that's okay, because for every book out there that isn't worth your time, there are a dozen that are.
5. Here's the cliche one I'm sure you all knew was coming (that doesn't make it any less true): You really can't judge a book by it's cover: bent pages, cracked spines and horrendous movie remake covers can house the story that may change your life.

♥♥Kristin

My Favorite Kind of Nature

This right here ^^ is my favorite kind of nature. My "wanderlust" board on pinterest is absolutely covered with trees and woods and sun-dappled forest floors. I love each of my family's many vacations to the mountains, be it spending time at the cabin or camping with my cousins or the annual church camping trip. I love the solitude, the sounds of birds chirping and squirrels chattering in the trees. I love the fresh, green smell and the way the sun filters through the leaves. There's nothing quite like spending time in the woods to erase my worries and make me feel at peace. There's no better way to spend an almost-Spring Sunday afternoon than traipsing through the trees, camera in hand, remembering what it's like to be free. The boy recently mentioned to me that he likes hiking as well, so this Sunday, after church, I believe we'll do just that.
♥♥Kristin

Our Story

 A little bit of my story with him so far

     It's strange, but with many of the people that I am closest to, I can't quite put my finger on the moment when they stopped being an acquaintance and started to become so much more in my little life. I can remember the before, and I'm living in the after, but the middle is just a blur to me. It was the same with him. I can ever so vaguely remember the first day that he worked, and I can remember that I didn't really think he was anyone special. Just another new person who may only last a few months (how wrong I was). Everyone else seemed drawn to him and he formed many quick friendships with my coworkers, but for me I think it took a little longer. Quick friendships aren't usually my forte. I'm much to introverted for that. I can't remember much until a few months later when I remember him making a comment, something about how he liked working with me, and I remember that comment pretty much making my night, but I still didn't really make any connection. That was probably the beginning of our friendship, at least for me. Between that day (perhaps it was last January?) and this past summer, all I can really remember is talking and joking around at work and the occasional facebook conversation.
     I think this past summer is when I really started to consider the fact that he didn't feel like just a friend to me. Our group of friends at work began to do more things together, things like mini-golfing and going for ice cream and going to amusement parks. I began to pick apart the moments we spent together, trying to figure out if it was possible that he could be feeling any of the things that I was. Our friendship was growing, but I still didn't know if it had the potential to become anything more. I didn't really do much with these feelings I had for him, didn't tell anyone for fear it would get back to him, so I stuck to writing about them instead. Then, in August, the girl who I now consider to be one of my closest friends began to work with us. One day, completely nonchalantly, she asked me if I liked him. I was seriously taken aback, because I thought I'd been hiding it so well. It didn't take much prodding for me to admit it, and in the end it was a relief for another human being to know about it. The three of us (him, my best friend and me) had begun to hang out pretty regularly. She began telling me that she thought he liked me too, in fact that she was almost positive of it. I tried to brush this off, thinking she was just saying it to make me feel better. Not wanting to get my hopes up. Then about a month ago that wonderful girl sat the two of us down and said, though perhaps not in so many words, "You two like each other, and I'm sick of watching it."
     Once we both realized the truth, it didn't take long from there. It's been a little over a month now. He makes me smile every day. We're taking things slowly but we couldn't be happier. It makes me feel all mushy just writing this down. And wow, that was crazy long. I guess I just needed to write it all out. If you've made it this far, I commend you.
♥♥Kristin