No Time to Waste

Well...it seems that people enter and exit my life in the blink of an eye these days. My new philosophy as of today..."No Time to Waste!"

If I hang out with you, it's because I like you. I am not going to be around those who hurt my feelings or make me sad--why? I don't want to feel like less of a person after I've been around someone--who would? If I don't feel good about my time spent somewhere, I will not stay & be uncomfortable--I'll LEAVE.

Watch me kick rocks...eat my dust...I'm going, going, GONE!

Thanks to those who invest in my life, who call me to chat, who love me for me, & who MAKE TIME to be with me. YOU are the people who will remain in my life..

My life is full. Full of friends, family, and LOVE. My cup runneth over!

Sewing a Halloween Treat

My mom is a GREAT seamstress! She is great at making everything look so finished and store bought-looking.

I have dabbled in sewing. I've made pillows, pjs, curtains, but nothing like a quilt. My mom convinced me in October 2009 to try a simple wall hanging we found at a quilt shop off Filmore & Academy (just behind the Denny's). I bought the kit for $8 and collected fabric in oranges & blacks just like the instructions said. I saved the quilt for a "rainy day" and it disappeared in the basement - "Out of sight, out of mind" truly applies to me!!

This summer my Aunt Dee Dee convinced my mom to try quilting - my mom is turning my old room into a twin bed guest room for when her little friends & grandkids spend the night. My Aunt had "just the quilts" for her!

In June, my mom had had enough of me not sewing. She got out my Pumpkin wall hanging quilt & told me to get started. So we did! It has been fun, our dual machines cranking out rows of designs. My mom's quilts are much more intricate & WAAAAAAY better, but mine are cute!

We had almost enough fabric to make 3, so mom bought a few more fat quarters in black and orange. Now it's one for each of us: Me, Shawn, & Mom. Isn't it darling?!?!?! This one posted is Shawn's...each one is a little different - mine has a green stem.

Stitches of Stupidity

Well...I almost made it to 30 without any broken bones or stitches. But, in true Kristan form, I made a dumb mistake and 5 stitches later...

I was cleaning my coffee pot, I failed to notice that the spout had broken off in the sudsy water. The glass pot's jagged edge got me & I noticed first blood in the water & on the sink. I wondered how it got there about the time the side of my right hand started to sting.

Well, it was 7:22am so I thought, "Please, let Mom not have left for work...she'll know what to do!" I called and got Dad, who laughed that I didn't have bandaids or duct tape to bandage myself up. I hung up & called Mom's cell. After explaining what happened, I noticed & shared with her that my pinky finger was turning blue-ish purple. She calmly stated, "Kristan, go to urgent care...you'll need stitches."

After a few calls to teammates & throwing on a shirt - out the door I ran! The doctor & assistants were really sweet and I was back to work by 10:15am. Here's a photo of my incident.

Crafty-ness Rubbing Off

Clare - a great friend, who I always knew would be great at crafts (she's SUPER smart, but lacked confidence in her ability to do crafts! Why, beats me?) has been posting craft projects that I ABSOLUTELY LOVE!!

Since I have a new house, and decorations are scarce - well affordable ones are!! I've taken to stealing her projects & the links to the websites she's found & making some of my own.

I love STEALING a really good idea & making it yours - especially an inexpensive or easy one! Hopefully people consider this flattery - I will readily give you credit for the idea. A college professor once told me: "That a license to teach is a license to steal" (so with a certifiable teaching license & permission, from the college professor) I have taken Clare's blog posts on crafts & created them for my own, bare house.

THANKS!!! I am still crafting, but will post completed projects soon. Maybe Clare will want to craft with me...seems like I never see her :0(.

Party Adventure

So, a former teammate had a surprise party last week & I went. It's amazing how God puts people in your life that you don't see very often but can reconnect with here and there & it's like "Why haven't we talked in so long?" The answer is we get too busy...but I'm glad for the opportunities to reconnect :0).

It was a bit odd walking into a social setting from 3 years ago...so scary I was actually shaking & needed to walk out of the room a few times to inhale! But, I was glad to wish Allison a Happy Birthday & be apart of the big surprise...even COOLER was she had no idea!!

I am so blessed to have such great friends - even friends that I've moved on from. It's nice to be able to be happy in the place I am now, look back and remember people who've stood by me through the difficulties, and now have new friends in my life who I'm still willing to let in.

Forgiveness

Ugh...it's so hard to forgive. I KNOW it's expected of me from my Heavenly Father, but soooo much harder to actually do.

I think it's because you have to be vulnerable to someone who found a weak spot and poked it - over and over. You were hurt & they were the culpret. Now, it's up to you to "hear them out" and allow them a release for their guilt.

Part of me wants to say; "NO. You SHOULD feel guilty! You intentionally hurt me and I want you to feel bad for awhile." But, then that gentle tap happens, an image comes to mind...a Man on a cross, nails, crown of thorns, & whip lashes. Then I think, "What's my pain in comparison? What makes me deserving of heaven & salvation?" Nothing.

So, off I go to dinner tonight to be a teeny-tiny bit like Jesus. To show a former friend that because of God, I have overcome bitterness with the circumstances surrounding our lost friendship & I don't have a hatred for her...I will forgive, because that is what God requires of me, His child. For no other reason than: I was shown more grace than I deserve, from a Father who was without sin, & became sin to save me.

How could I not? And I'm even praying that I can laugh & smile - not to taunt or tease, but to truly reflect the happiness & joy I have inside, because of God's presence in my life.

10 Things About Me

Well, I have 2 friends who blog pretty consistently & I noticed their "10 Things About Me" blog posts and thought I'd join in on the fun (although neither of them invited me personally - I think I was a bit scarred from this).

1. Being a Christian is who I am. I was raised in church & by Christian parents so it's hard for me to remember a time when God wasn't in my life. I have a lot of "traditional" values that others (in this day & age) would think are unusual or weird - but to me it's what God asks of me. I'm not perfect, but I try to live a life that is pleasing to my Heavenly Father.

2. I am not punctual. I wish I were...it's not my gift. Honestly, it has nothing to do with not wanting to be somewhere on time or that I don't wake up early enough - I just don't watch the clock and BAM I'm late again. Please don't take it personally!!

3. I read everything. I recently returned from AZ with 4 books - I brought 3. My grandma gave me one while I was visiting, she thought I'd enjoy it. I LOVE BOOKS! I honestly buy for myself, my classroom, & even my niece & nephew...I will gladly share my addiction with you too, just ask.

4. People dressed in those fuzzy character costumes have FREAKED me out since I was little. Something about their faces being covered - they see you but you can't see them - weirds me out. I'm better now, but I will gladly stand from afar & let others enjoy the characters in those costumes.

5. Using public restrooms is difficult for me. I would rather be uncomfortable & hold it, than use a public restroom & I won't even begin to discuss port-a-potties. Thank goodness I was blessed with a large bladder.

6. I bring my camera on vacation, but I always get side tracked and forget to take photos. But, I have the best sister, who is good at taking photos & she gladly shares with me :0)!!

7. Teaching is the only career I want to have. I love being in the classroom & it took a lost job to make me realize that I went into education to BE WITH KIDS, not to motivate adults. I think, even though more money is in administration or other fields of work, I will be in the classroom teaching kids for most if not all of my career. It's strange how long it took for me to realize this too...I waited so long to decide to major in English & then to become a teacher - now I wouldn't give it up for anything.

8. My brother, sister, and I fought like cats & dogs growing up - but there are no 2 greater people in the WHOLE WIDE WORLD! They know me, love me, laugh at, and joke with me. They inspire me & look out for me the way no one else will, well hopefully until I get married. I love my family & even though it can be tough I don't know who I'd be without them.

9. I don't like wearing shoes. However I do love flip flops & sandals - AND I especially love to pamper myself with a pedicure every 4-5 weeks. In the winter I make wearing boots & shoes fun by matching my patterned socks to my outfit - I own like 3 pairs of all white socks - all the rest are striped, dotted, or a pattern of some sort.

10. I get haircuts from Cost Cutters because I am tired of paying $40 + tip for a service that needs to be done every 6 weeks. I am horrible about appointments & being on time (see #2) so it is a pain to have to make hair cut appointments so frequently, rush from work to get there, & then spend all that money!!

Although, I do love going to the dentist, that is one appointment that I look forward to - why is that?

Not surprising I'm sure, but it's who I am. Thanks for reading!