2010: A Review

2010 has been a year of ups and downs. So many great things have happened. However, there have also been many struggles. I'm looking foward to 2011 not to start over and erase 2010, but just because I know 2011 will hold bigger and better things for me. I have no doubt that I will graduate in 2011. With this comes so many opportunities. I can't wait to see what God has in store for me. But for now, a review of 2011.

January: I started my sixth semester of college. That semester was probably one of the hardest and trying times of my life because of my French class. I struggled a lot this month trying to find out how I was supposed to make it through French, as well as maintain a real life outside of class.

February: This is the month that I got to teach my first full lesson to a classroom. It completely solidified my desire to be a teacher. It was very wonderful to completely feel like my life was on the right track.

March: I started guitar in March. After 8 months of lessons I quit because I don't have money for it. But guitar is wonderful. I felt so relaxed while getting to play. It was a really wonderful feeling. Music is definitely important to me.

April: I don't really remember April too well. I don't think anything to exciting happened then. However, this was around the time that Lucas started thinking about going to OSU. That was a really rough patch for me.

May: I finished my French class with a B. I can't even describe what a wonderful feeling that was.

June: This month I wrote a bucket list. It was something I had been wanting to do for a long time and I finally sat down and did it. I also completed a few things on it. Thanks to my awesome boyfriend. Number 28, shoot a bow and arrow:

July: I got to take one of the most awesome family vacations ever. My parents, my sister, Lucas, and I loaded up in the van and drove all the way to Las Vegas, stopping at the Grand Canyon and the Hoover Dam. It was an awesome trip and I thoroughly enjoyed it all. Lucas and I at the Grand Canyon:

August: I started my last normal fall semester. My next fall semester I'll be student teaching so I don't really count that. Lucas also moved to Stillwater. This was extremely difficult for me to handle at first but I think I'm getting slightly better. It's also getting harder and harder to say goodbye. The good news: There should be less than a year left of long distance. I'll be moving to Stillwater one way or another at the end of 2011. I also went on a road trip with one of my friends. We were Hanson groupies for a couple of days. It was a blast.

September: This month I got to start teaching fifth graders. I loved them even more than the fourth graders that I had the previous semester. I can only hope that I end up teaching fifth grade. It was such a rewarding experience and I loved every minute of it. I also met with the dean about one of my professors, not that it did any good =/. But I was happy that I at least tried to take a stand against her.

October: This was a huge month for me. I succeeded in running my first 5k Ever. It was absolutely amazing to do something like that that before I didn't think was possible. Crossing the finish line:

November: Thanksgiving this month was pretty fantastic. It was the first Thanksgiving in awhile that I was able to have my whole family together. It felt so right. It was wonderful.

December: This past month has had many ups and downs all on it's own. But the some of the best things were: I got a 4.0! Lucas came home for 3 weeks! Christmas!

That is all for 2010. Expect a post about my New Year's Resolutions later this week. I've really been thinking about them a lot and I'm excited to see how they turn out.

-Kristina

I did it!!

Here's a few things I did, and a few I'm going to do.

Did: At the beginning of the semester, I made a decision to make a 4.0. I was going to do whatever I needed to achieve it. Today, I can proudly say that I did it. This is my first college semester to make straight A's and it was a really good feeling...of course...now I feel like I shouldn't do worse than a 4.0 ever again. But that's okay. I can do it...maybe.

Did: I completed my 7th semester of college. That's a lot of college! Only 2 to go!

Did: I, after watching the lunar eclipse last night, was able to mark another thing off of my bucket list. "See an eclipse." Woohoo!

Going to do: I'm going to have to go back to the dentist....when you're working so hard to get a 4.0 you neglect other things...like taking care of your teeth. I hadn't been to the dentist in over two years...so all things considered, two little fillings aren't that bad...right? Blah. I hate the dentist.

Going to do: I have to get my wisdom teeth out. Luckily, I only have two teeth on the bottom. But still. I've never had any kind of surgery so I'm not looking forward to scheduling that appointment this summer.

Going to do: I'm going to cook my first every family meal on Christmas Eve. My family does a traditional Christmas Eve Brunch and this year it's at my apartment. I've never cooked for 9 people before. But I can do it! Especially if Lucas helps me. We'll see how it goes. I'll let you know.

I'll keep you updated on all my things I'm going to do. Now it's time to crochet so maybe I can get something else off my bucket list this year.

-Kristina

Ramblings from my brain.

There's a lot that has been weighing on my mind lately so I just wanted to unload a bit.

A couple weeks ago I was made aware of something that I can't seem to stop thinking about. I am not going to go into detail about the people involved or specifics, but a couple weeks ago I was with a group of 7 girls. Of those seven girls, 4 (that I know of), had been molested as a child. This is a HUGE number. And I don't like it at all. I feel so much like God wanted me to find that out. Hearing that, combined with my love of children, has made me feel like I need to do something in some way to help these children. I don't know what, or how I am going to do this. It's just something that has been weighing on my mind. No one should have to go through what those 4 girls went through.

Tomorrow marks the end of the Fall 2010 semester for me. It's so crazy to me that I have made it through 7 out of the 9 semesters I have. I feel like this semester I have overcome a lot. My boyfriend and I have been apart. I have had to deal with a professor who is by far the worst professor ever. I lived completely alone this semester, which was quite a big adjustment for me. It's been good. I will actually feel accomplished tomorrow after I turn in my last project I think. Woohoo.

I actually don't have a lot to say on this post currently. Just had a few things to get out.

-Kristina

It's December!

First, I want to say that I had a fantastic Thanksgiving. I am so blessed to have two amazing families to share the holidays with. And both of them are so helpful in working with each other to ensure that Lucas and I am both able to spend the holidays with our family. It's a beautiful thing. Now, on to December.

I feel like I have a completely renewed energy now that it's December. So many exciting things happen in December. So, I'm gonna tell you all the things I'm excited about.

One thing I am most excited about is the end of this semester. I am very close to being done and it is really relieving. I have worked incredibly hard this semester so I'm so anxious to see my grades and feel somewhat rewarded for all of my hardwork. Not to mention I'll only have two semesters left after this one is over. And one of those is student teaching!

Another thing I am excited about is Christmas Break. Lucas will be home for probably around 3 weeks. This is a wonderful wonderful thing. It's going to be a really good break because this long distance thing can really wear on your relationship. However, I can say that me and Lucas have handles this semester fairly successfully I think. Only a few (hundred) breakdowns on my part. Luckily, he's strong and I can lean on him when I really just want to give up on life.

This is probably a pretty obvious one...but...CHRISTMAS. I don't think I've ever been happier with my gift ideas and I just love Christmastime. The whole Christmas atmosphere is fun. I love Christmas movies, and Christmas lights, and Christmas songs, and Christmas church services, and just Christmas. Everything about it. I bought some cute snowman Christmas decorations that I have throughout my house and it just really brightens my mood. Next on my list of decorations to purchase: a nativity scene. It's definintely not Christmas without Jesus.

My friend Emily is getting married in December. I'm really excited for her because I know she's been waiting for this for a long time. They'll have been engaged for like a year and 8 months I think. That's crazy! But, I'm excited for that.

Last but not least, I'm excited for the date Dec. 17th. This will be the point where my graduation countdown finally rolls over to less than one year. I could not possibly be more excited about this.

So see, like I said, I have tons of things to be excited about in December. This is really gonna help me to be patient and happy with where my life is right now.

-Kristina