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.

2016 // of Rust and Stardust.

Wow, what a year. 

I remember sitting in this exact spot last year (hopefully with socks that matched a little better) feeling incredibly apprehensive for the coming year...for no apparent reason. Thankfully I can say that 2016 doesn't seem half as daunting or scary, despite the fact that it will be for a host of reasons.

These types of post always cause for a lot of reflection and generally times of such reflection always point back to one thing: the grace and goodness of God. Last year was hell a thousand times over, but it was just as heavenly sometimes. Which is to say that God doesn't call us to an easy, imperfection free life. But He does promise to protect us, provide for us and bless us beyond measure.

And that is just what He has done.

I'm thankful. I'm exhausted. I'm grateful and excited about what God has in store. I have no wild predictions for this year, but I know that through grace, God will be glorified and all will be well. There will be rust, of course. But I'm confident there will be ample amounts of stardust.

#RUSTANDSTARDUSTGOALS

- A PERSON TO BE MORE LIKE- Jesus! always Jesus! And this goes more along the line of spending even MORE time with him and putting him first in every situation, friendship and instance in my life.

- A GOOD DEED TO DO-  Back in October I realized what wonderful opportunities I have to  to invest in the lives of younger girls and be intentional with my friendship and conversations with them. Basically, cookie baking and coffee dates with a purpose .This one has been on my heart for awhile and I am so looking forward to being used by the Lord in this area!

-SKILL TO WORK ON- working on my me things! (blogging, photography, journaling, cross stitch, soap carving, you name it) Those fell to the wayside last year as well and it was a bummer because those things make me really, really happy.

-GRACE FOR MY SPACE-
My room needs a whole lot of grace right now. Keep it tidy, organized and relaxing...that's the goal.

-A BOOK TO READ-
Aquire a coffee table book or two and read Love Does by Bob Goff

-TO WRITE-
I hardly wrote anything at all last year. I stopped journaling, stopped blogging and writing on my top secret project. I'd like to press play on all that again and let the words flow (and typos resume!) and all that jazz.

-A FEAR TO CONQUER-
Public, Community theater auditions and applying for a job. Do you know that I'm equally terrified of both? No rational reason, just me ;)

- A NEW FOOD TO TRY- Thanksgiving dinner was a success! But you know what I didn't end up cooking? The turkey. So this year I want to (successfully) learn how to GRILL. Steak, Chicken, fish, peaches, I want to learn how to use the grill well and in general, cook meat. Cause men like meat, and I like men, so you know ;)

-LESS/MORE-
Less: Gum/soda
More: Water

-FOR FUN- Chop off my hair, whiten my teeth, get a ring I really like, enamel pins for the win!, lash domination and REALLY COOL SHOES AND GLASSES!

"He sprinkled me in pixie dust and told me to believe..."

L O S T  B O Y //  R U T H  B.

This year will be messy but aren't they all? Thankfully, as a creatively inclined individual, I can appreciate the value of a good mess. So let the chaos commence! And a happy 2016 to you and yours!

2012 goals // 2013 // 2014 // 2015 //

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.