Nostalgia

It's so weird to me how songs have such a crazy power of nostalgia. I'm gonna my iTunes on shuffle and give you a peek into how random this works.

(After writing this post I wanted to put in a small disclaimer. All ten of these songs remind me of high school. This doesn't mean I'm stuck on high school, it means my iTunes wanted to play songs that I've had on my iPod since high school. So, had it played new songs, it would have been much different.)

Ready for Love - Cascada
I'm pretty sure this would work for every song on that album. I seriously can smell Sonic when this song comes on. It's funny, cause the one time that I listened to this song at Sonic I was in the car...not inside. It's just weird to me. Because rather than reminding me of the boy I was with, or the weather outside, or anything that would make sense....I smell Sonic. Good times.

You Could Be Right - Salient
8th grade. I don't even know what about 8th grade. This music just makes me think of 8th grade. How strange.

No One to Share the Blame - Josh Gracin
This also works with the whole Josh Gracin cd. I got this CD the day before church camp one year. I believe 2003. I listened to it anytime I was in the dorm. It reminds me of fans blowing and sleeping bags.

Ever Lonely - Hanson
The fourth house I lived in. I thought I was Zac Hanson. No lie. I used to get milk cartons and use them as my drums while I listened to hanson. I remember dancing up and down the hallway screaming the lyrics. This was before the internet was a big thing, so, I used to listen to these songs over and over again until I had all the lyrics written down. I was only in fourth grade haha. So it took a while.

Happy Song - 3rd String Jesus
The night we recorded the chorus track for the YouthQuake CD. Not the recording though. After the recording. When I realized how much I liked Lucas. And how much I was ready to move on from silly high school relationships.

Penny and Me - Hanson
One late night, playing Polish Pool with the girls. I threw a pool ball into the wall...oops haha.

Tia Dalma - Hans Zimmer
Pasadena. The Pirates of the Caribbean ride at Disney Land. Haha. Good times. For some reason that immediately brings me to Rebecca Trout sticking a toe in her mouth...or something. It's a very unclear memory haha.

One Short Day - Kristen Chenoweth
Chicago. New York City. And best of all. Tulsa.

I Feel Bad - Rascal Flatts
I had a pretty significant break-up junior year. This song spoke very true of me and how I felt. After one night of tears I was good. I wasn't near as upset as everyone expected me to be.

Dancing Through Life - Wicked
This one's easy. Me and Abigail singing parts of this song...over and over and over again. At school, at work, at church, on facebook. Everywhere haha.


This is why I love music so much. Music is such a powerful thing. It can make you happy, or sad. It can remind you of things you haven't thought about in years. I just love music.

It's also crazy to me that it can change. For example. 2 years ago, Cascada would me make me think of Billy. No question. But now. Sonic. Crazy. But I love it.

-Kristina

Wow

These past few weeks have been such a roller coaster. Things have happened that I thought never would, and I've realized that things I thought were going to happen aren't going to.

For starters. I went to my last French class. I still have two meetings with my professor and a paper to write...but I'm done going to class. That is very very relieving. If you've been following my blog, or talked to me at all this semester, you know that I have struggled with this class more than any class I've ever taken. I'm so glad that it has finally come to an end.

In about 10 days I'll be done with 6 semesters of college. That means I'll only have 3 left. 2/3 of the way done. That makes me feel incredibly accomplished. The rest of my classes are either general ed classes that I never got in, or education methods classes like the ones I had this semester. That means until I graduate, I will be in a real classroom at least once a week. This semester I took math and science method classes. Next semester it's reading and social studies. I'm a little concerned about that because I think reading and social studies are harder things to teach.

Tonight is also the last night that I'll have to work at the clubhouse this semester. The rest of my shifts are during the day. I'm so excited about this because I'll have some time free to sit on my porch and enjoy this beautiful weather that we've been having. Hurray.

I have some homework I should be doing right now. So that's all for now.

-Kristina

Scattered, at best

Last week at small groups my small group talked a little about our prayer lives. We all mentioned that we were struggling a little in being consistent. Someone even said their prayer was like a vending machine, she "went to it when she needed something." This really hit home for me. I struggle a lot with being consistent. And when I do pray, my mind is all over the place. I just can't stay focused for very long. I had made a vow last Sunday to spend quality time praying this week as often as I could. I regret to say that Monday was the only day that I did okay. I stopped several times throughout the day and had a conversation with God.

As many of you know. Monday was a bad day for me. Awful. And I didn't understand why on the day that I'm trying to focus on him, he decides to put me through so much stuff. So, I, being the grudge helder I am, held out on him all week. And, he, being the lesson teacher he is, taught me a lesson. While I refused to reach out to him, he wasn't the most protecting of my feelings and emotions.

But then, last night. I was at my end. All of me was exhausted. I felt like I couldn't go one more day. So, I turned to Him. And, last night, things got better. I have returned stregnth. Even though I'm exhausted. I have more optimism, even though this week has been nothing but bad. I feel better. Turned around. Like I can finish this year.

I want to focus this summer on improving my prayer life. I'll have more time, and absolutely no excuse. If I get it in order this summer, I will be strong enough to keep it up throughout the school year.

Lord, Please help me with my prayer.

-Kristina

The Race to the Finish

I think that it's absolutely crazy that I only h ave 3 weeks of school left. Then there are 2 weeks of finals but I'm not sure if I have any finals those weeks. Which is awesome.

Everyone tells you that college will fly by...who knew that was actually true? I feel like the end is so quickly approaching. In 5 more weeks, I'll only have 3 semesters left. Granted, I plan on getting a masters degree...but that's different. Graduate school is nothing like undergrad. It's just crazy.

I did something this week that I've been very bad about doing for a long time. I invited someone to church. I did it thinking there was no way she'd say yes...and then God surprised me again by having her agree to come. Sunday's still a long ways away so we'll see if it keeps, but even so, I did something that I thought was so hard, and God showed me that it can be very easy.

This weekend is going to be very long. I have to be at church at 6:30 on Easter. That's earlier than I've been anywhere in a long time.

It's official that I'm going to Las Vegas for my 21st birthday. I'm pretty excited because Lucas is coming with my family and I. My parents are gonna have to work hard to keep us out of the wedding chapels. ;)

I need to go now. I'm supposed to be writing my French paper. Speaking of which, I think there's a pretty good chance that I'm going to get a B in this class. There is a chance of a C, but I just feel like I'm going to get a B. We'll see how it goes.

-Kristina