EIGHT-FREAKING-TEEN

Ironically enough, my 18th birthday surprise party will go down without a doubt as the most undocumented event in history.

Have you ever had one of those days where you just totally and completely overthink one little tiny thing a boy said?

Well that was me on the day of my surprise party this year. I probably would have caught on had I not been caught up in my own self woe. My friend invited me over ("girl, you just need to talk it out....and also not be at home so your family can get ready for your surprise party!") (she left out the last part) and naturally, I didn't want to disappoint!

I came and talked and vented and we laughed at how silly I was being and went and ate salad. And then on the way home, her dad wanted to stop at the beach! Which was weird but at that point everything was weird so it didn't raise my off fleek brows. Lo and behold, SEVENTY of my closest friends came out to surprise me, shower me with hugs and make me feel infinitely special. If that doesn't make a girl's heart happy, I don't know what could!

In closing, I would like to state that my phone did not lose a percentage of battery the entire party. Which might prove how much fun I was having (and also why there are no photos.) And in case you were curious, the boy problems got resolved in the best way possible. Don't you just love it when you freak out over absolutely nothing? Being a girl is so great.

(i actually really mean that.)

Birthdays Past:
14 // 15 // 16 // 17 //

His love is Evergreen

These pictures are some of my favorite, for no particular reason other than the fact that they remind me of God's goodness in my life.

I don't like to complain, it's not in my nature to dwell on negatives or spend any time moping about the past. I move on quickly, for better or for worse. But last month was hard. December was painfully  discouraging, disgusting and equally depressing.

And yet, it was still so good.

On this particular day, this day of happy tree hunting on the 19th of December, I loaded up Jenn and James in the truck and pronounced it to be Christmas Tree day (with a side of Starbucks of course!) And they happily went along with it. They faithfully followed me up and down each aisle as I meticulously inspected every Douglas fur

This past month has been hard, yes. But through it I've been reminded (or even, made aware of) how many amazing people God has placed in my life. The "I know its one in the morning and I know you have a boyfriend but I needed to call you and make sure you're okay" kind of phone calls are ones you'll never forget. The random texts from online friends that are so simple but so meaningful. The friends who let you come over on Christmas eve, Christmas day and still invite you over the day after that, man what a lucky girl I am.

And so, I love these pictures. Because they remind me that I'm very well taken care of and that Christmas has less to do with tree's and traditions and more to do with the people you pick out tree's with and the people whose family traditions you invade.

best of the bloopers 2015

SURVIVED. CONQUERED. GONE FOREVER!

Thats how I feel about 2015. And these photos would probably be better off gone forever as well, but for the sake of humility and such, here they are! Happy Wednesday to you, internet! Last years bloopers are here in case you're curious or looking for a blackmail photo....or procrastinating (I feel you girl, what do you think I'm doing here?)

BRIDES, BROTHERS AND MOTHERS

SEVEN BRIDES FOR SEVEN BROTHERS 

PLUS FIVE MOTHERS.

Amen.

This show was layers upon layers of stress. First there was the fact that I didn't get a great part, because I was too tall! Which is a funny thing, but then again, so is all of life. Then half of my 10 lines were cut and my solo was stripped from my fingertips. Alas, the sadness! My costume never fit right and in-between every scene of every single one of the seven shows was a frantic dash to fix the crinoline and adjust the safety pins.

And finally.

The day I pulled into the parking lot for the final performance, the end so plainly in sight....I backed into a trailer. Which didn't seem too terrible until I pulled forward,

And my bumper didn't come with me.

Of course, at the end of the day (or semester at least) I'm glad I did it. Character building through and through, you know! But I ended up meeting a great vocal coach who I love and my singing has improved 1000x because of it and I had the opportunity to spend intentional time with younger girls and I DIDNT EVEN GET SICK!!!! So God is good.

Praying for wisdom on how to break the news about the car.

Bless your beautiful pie!
and to all a good night.

MY FAVORITE FORM OF EXERCISE...

I was in the bathroom trying to make sense of the 11 pairs of tights I had brought with me (grey, dark grey, heather, black or polka dot? Too many decisions.) when a lady came up and asked if we were part of a school or organization. I told her I had just invited some friends to come skating. 

"Wow. You have A LOT of friends." and then she slammed the door and left me and my tights to ourselves. 

She's right, I do! I'm very blessed through and through to have a group of kids and now, adults ;) to encourage me, annoy me, quiz me on the boy I was with and protect me from bugs, creeps and oncoming traffic. 

Ice Skating on an 80 degree day is magical on many levels. Everyone is in a particularly good mood because they're not dying of sweat on a December day and then there is christmas music which basically prohibits any leftover chance of sadness. Last year was a surprise party for me, but this year it was just for fun, for everyone.

And for the record, I decided on heather grey. I thought you'd like to know.

Ice Skating is actually a terrible way to catch up with people if you happen to be terrible at ice skating. But none of my friends happen to be terrible? How did all these florida people end up being so good at ice related activities?? I guess it comes with the territory of having to survive 80 degree winters (as I have already mentioned once, which proves how challenging they can be.)

My little @jenncmayes never ceases to bring so much sunshine into my life. She was my first passenger and was with me when I wrecked my car (long, stupid story. we were all safe!) and also there for my exciting rendition of the Sugar Plum Dance in the popcorn aisle after Ice Skating (which I'm sure the security guards will enjoy replaying over and over again.)

 You know, I'll be honest, life has been really weird lately. There's been a lot that I can't write about, talk about, or even really like to think about. But  December 15th (thanks to good friends and winter coats and christmas music) felt just right, like life was returning to the normalcy I've been desperately missing...even if just for 3 hours.

Moral of the story: ALL IS GOOD IN THE HOOD.
Especially because I didn't fall flat on my face.

Season of Change (and a trip to Oxford Exchange)

Dear friends,

it is with equal parts sadness and excitement that I announce....I LIKE COFFEE. It's been an incredible journey for me. Through thick and thin, my friends have been an amazing support group. Encouraging me to finish every cup, say no to extra creamer and to try seasonal flavors. Also, thank you to Chickfila for providing free coffee for AN ENTIRE MONTH and not being upset when I went 4 times a day...for three weeks straight. I am so grateful for this process, it's been beautiful and messy and full of coffee stained clothing. But despite all that, it's worth it.

Why?

Because now I can go into cool coffee shops and actually order something.

I actually didn't order coffee, if I'm being honest. I ordered a pot of pumpkin spice tea and drank the whole. darn. thing. In under an hour, which was pretty impressive! However, I did steal a few...okay quite a few) sips of my friends coffee (both iced, hot, and London fog edition) and they were all amazing.

OXFORD EXCHANGE, YOU WIN.

Love, Kryn.

A VERY VARSITY TUESDAY

4 seasons. 

72 games. 

80 million tears shed. 

2 permanently bruised knees and 

one heart full of love for these beautiful girls 

and this sport I am lucky enough to play.

"Heck Yes, Amen."

The thing about life is: IT GOES ON.

It really depends on the day, but that fact is either as annoying as ever or the only thing getting me through the day. I wish the good days could last forever and then some. But the bad days, the break down days and the drama days and the I have nothing to wear days...well I'm not too sad to see them go ;).

And so, life keeps going. And I'm grateful for it. Senior year (and just being seventeen in general) has been kind of a pain so far. But the sun rises and the sun sets and somehow in between I manage to consume chocolate, make friends and stumble through my final year of high school.

As beloved Ma Ingalls put it, "ALL'S WELL ENDS WELL."
And as I put it "HECK YES, AMEN".

(In 200 years, feel free to quote me on that.)

(lots of photos of my face and my friends lovely faces after the jump. Also, me wearing pants twice, which just proves how crazy life has been.)

(heck yes, amen)

1/35- SENIOR YEAR

HERE'S TO THE 

LAST FIRST DAY OF HIGH SCHOOL.

and to less typos, more Jesus and an abundance of false lashes.

LIZZY BENNET REPORTING FROM PEMBERLY

(translation: Kryn reporting from Versailles.)

Okay can we talk about the sad fact that life doesn't have a soundtrack? I for one know that my life would be infinitely more impressive it was accompanied by background music. Maybe the dishes wouldn't seem so boring and taking out the trash would be elevated FOR SURE.

All that to say, Versailles has background music. At the entrance of the gardens we were greeted by booming opera music which WAS AMAZING. Normally I'm more of a Nicki Manaj gal but when you're at a palace, opera is a good second choice. Exploring the gardens with classical music in the background made me feel like the main character in a Jane Austen movie....Minus the hot men. And the fancy dresses. And the servants!

But besides that, I was basically Elizabeth Bennet for 3 hours.

Here's the proof!

Dead ringer for Lizzy or no? Please say yes!

HAPPY THROWBACK. I've been back a whole month and haven't even finished Paris posts or began the London ones. At this rate, I'll be back in Paris before I finish.

Moral of the story? If you want to feel like Lizzy Bennet, tour a fancy palace and listen to opera music. Preferably at the same time! If not, you can live vicariously through this post. It's what I'll be doing 20 years from now.