A STATE OF THE UNION....OF SORTS.

Recently I had an Epiphany:
 I'm going to miss high school.

Which is stupid! Because High school is dumb and silly and just 4 years out of a lifetime. And on top of that, high school hasn't been anything like I expected it too, and I'm blaming 99% of that on High School Musical for setting wildly high expectations. There have been no choreographed dance numbers, no pizza dates on the balcony, no unexpected karaoke nights.

(and I'm STILL waiting for Zac Efron but alas.)

These past 4 years have been brutal and wonderful and painful and peaceful. Despite the drama, puberty and, you know, the actual school, I've settled into a rhythm. Its comfortable, familiar...and about to be taken away from me. I've grown to love high school more than I ever thought I could.
And the fact that graduation is approaching isn't really helping my unexpected attachment to these weird years.

So how are things? In the State of Kryn, land of chocolate and typos? Things are bittersweet. Sometimes really sweet, sometimes awful bitter. I'm working toward a balance, a milk chocolate middle of the road. But most days, it's one or the other and that's okay for now.

And so in closing, I would like to thank my own Troy Boltons and my own Wildcats for making these last 4 years memorable and full of dancing (though not pre-choreographed) and love (though it be only platonic....) and for giving me something that I really will miss.

Because wouldn't it be a shame if I didn't have anything to miss?

it was after all, A painfully beautiful Fall.

He's been good to me this year.

The thing about Florida, is that you miss the Fall. We miss seeing the trees catch fire and burn with color, intense reds and golds. And then, as the season draws to a close, the tree's slowly drop their colorful coat till there's nothing left but naked, bare branches.

(just a highly poetic review of how the season works, for those of you knew to this whole thing. You're welcome!)

My whole point in that grand illusion was that last year, I was breaking and decaying. Just like the leaves, I was dying.

And even so, He made it glorious.

Fall is more than just a season for nature, it can be a season for us too. I was and still am in a great and wonderful Fall. I am being stripped (ever had an eating disorder? Ever lost your best friend?) and yet still, somehow, it is dazzling and brilliant and positively radiant.

And the color that shines through me, pristine shades of red and those of gleaming amber?

That my friends, is the glory of Christ.

I had wrong. I had mistaken this all for a desolate Winter. But no, this was a Fall. A season of dying to self, of shedding earthly layers, of laying it all under His tree.

Part of me was dying.

The rest was being born again.

For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: 

a time to be born, and a time to die;

 a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted; 

a time to kill, and a time to heal;

 a time to break down, and a time to build up; 

a time to weep, and a time to laugh; 

a time to mourn, and a time to dance;

Friends, are you going through a Fall? It's beautiful struggle, I promise.

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)

Survival Essentials (senior year edition)

After 4 weeks of nothing but assignments, volleyball games and stress dreams, I finally decided to ignore my homework for a few hours and do my things. The things that make me happy and that don't involve wearing athletic clothing. I took photos of pointless things, I cooked my favorite dinner  and walked my puppy around the neighborhood.

It felt really, REALLY GOOD. Way better than reading 100 pages of Moby-Dick.

10 classes, Volleyball, Theater productions and just the general stress that comes from being a 17 year old girl has been a lot. But God is good and all is well and I ate bread today for the first time in three weeks so heck yes.

(in case you're wondering, this is the 2015 version of this post...a post that I published two months after I wrote it. #casual)

This book by Natalie Holbrook has been my procrastination method of choice. It's an easy afternoon read with just enough photos and doggone good puns. If you're in the mood for it, throw it into your amazon cart next time you order a months supply of crew socks or ramen noodles (or both!)

This Mexican blanket (which Ironically enough, I didn't buy in Mexico) is life. I walked across the street to the drugstore to buy it one day, wondering if it was worth the effort, the money and the awkward way I left in the middle of a birthday party. UPDATE: It's worth it. Tubby and I can both vouch for that.

A new to me makeup brand is ColourPop, with lipsticks only five dollars a tube! Needless to say, I stocked up. It's a good thing too, because sometimes the only way I can accomplish my least favorite subject is with a bold lip....it's girl logic ;)

And finally, the source of my joy and stamina...TEA WITH CAFFEINE! I take a cup of earl grey around 11 every night and it gets me till at least 2 am with no problems. Great for when the boys wanna chat ;)....and when you have 40 assignments due for class the next morning.

(mom, grandma: there are no boys. because boys are not nutella)

Tell me how you are friends! Tell me if your dying under a stack of textbooks or thriving. If you're thriving well, chances are, I hate you just a little. ;)

Europe Soundtrack.

Ironically enough, I heard nearly all these songs while in Europe. Don't be fooled by the romantic idea of accordion music or german polka! 99.9% of Europeans listen to American/English music. Which at first was kind of a let down because, how un exotic! On the other hand, hearing english while abroad is probably one of the most beautiful sounds EVER. It's a toss up.

Enjoy the tunes that got me through my makeup routine in Amsterdam, London, Germany and Paris!

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.