Kristin’s Blog

How can I have gone through the past few days and not be completely in awe of the beauty in this world? It seems to be everywhere...

In the trees that fan out in pink and white gossamer by the pond, reaching toward the ground as if to touch us with their fingers. In the torrential rain that beat into our heads as we froliced from the cafeteria, leaping into puddles, giggling with glee. In the cuddling under the stars, the scents of fire and air lingering, memories of love etched into our minds. In the cool grass that caresses our feet as we commune with the ground and commune with each other. In the privilege of watching the sky shed its blue for a velvet black, a transition so slight one could absolutely miss it. In the music that is so lovely it is almost painful to hear because one never wants it to end.

In the warm embraces that communicate comfort. In the laughter that spills out of shared experiences and memories. In the spontaneous conversations which involve the unlocking of one's soul. In watching another person's face and realizing that you are spending time with a piece of God's artwork, imperfect, but perfectly beautiful. In sharing all these smiles and tears, exams and cancelled classes, room checks, late night Applebees runs, cuddling on the couches, watching YouTube videos, discussing chapels, forming a family, long walks, fitting one more person around those cafeteria tables...

Here are some pictures of dear friends...from the night I got caught in the rain and from the 10th hour breakfast (a word on the 10th hour breakfast: our school is so cool that every Tuesday of finals week we have the faculty and staff serve us breakfast at 10:00 p.m...and we fellowship around Mr. Oliff's chocolate chip pancakes and take a break from studying).

Posted by Kristin at 7:37 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Well, what a weekend to end on.

I think Friday may have been one of the best days of my life. After class, Dave and I ran to the bank and Target to get some stuff, and on the way there he got a call about Ultimate Frisbee. So after we got back, we played a fun game in the warm sun. It was just too nice to be indoors. That evening, USC had a block party for all of us students. We all sat around outside on the glorious pathway and ate hamburgers and hot dogs and watermelon and chatted and enjoyed the weather. Some of the guys did a pick up game of football while others kept on hurling that Frisbee around.

Then I went on a long walk with a good friend of mine and his friend. We walked around campus (twice) and talked about God and life and it was lovely. We even rolled down a hill at one point. Sometimes I think we are so surrounded by this need to be responsible and adult that we assume we must forget all the fun things we did as a child that made us feel alive. What a crime. Sometimes we need to sit down and, as my friend suggested I do, "watch the sky grow dark." Because it is in the little things we find joy.

Which is why the rest of the night was so glorious. Ascend planned a campus-wide camp out. So a bunch of us wandered up behind the tennis courts to sit around a campfire, talk, laugh, sing, eat s'mores, and play games. It was such a wonderful experience. All different types of people came together that night just to relax and have a good time. Some played capture the flag in the dark, while I opted to sit and play the guitar by the fire. But it was all so lovely. Two other girls and I curled up in our sleeping bags and cuddled together under the open canopy of sky, and close to three o'clock we drifted into sleep.

It was just such a blessing. It was almost overwhelming how beautiful it was. As we were talking before we went to sleep, I said to my friends, "I almost don't know what to do other than to just channel it into thanks."

And I am so very thankful.

Posted by Kristin at 11:39 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Namaste. That is how you say "hello" and "goodbye" in Napali, as I learned this Tuesday. Some of us that work as telecounselors decided, thanks to the suggestion of Jon (whose blog you can read and I highly advise you to) to go out to dinner to a local restaurant owned by some really neat people. And, boy, can they cook.

When I was a senior in high school, I went on a brief service trip with a few good friends and a pastor and his family to Trinidad. We ate a lot of Indian food while we were there, complete with curry and bread and chanas (chick peas, pretty much). Going to Desi Village reminded me a lot of Trinidad; even though it wasn't quite the same, the smells and flavors really soaked into my mind.

We had a lot of good conversation around the table lastnight. Many of us work together, but we still were, in a sense, getting to know each other, soul sharing just a little bit more. I really appreciated the time to relax, enjoy a different culture, and converse. Jon, who actually lived in Nepal for a time (I told you already, go read his blog) was speaking the language and we all sat there very impressed. I tried to learn a bit myself, but was a little on the inept side. The wonderful Napali men were laughing at me, I think. But it was a wonderful experience. And, to top it all off, it was earth day. I think it is cool that we, in a sense, celebrated the world while sitting in a restaurant in Penndel with friends on a glorious day that God provided for us.

Lots of neat things like that have been happening as the semester is winding down and I find myself doing a lot more with friends and trying to hug everyone a little extra longer since we know we will be separated from each other soon. Last night, I ended up watching another Inter-mural floor hockey game and talking with my dear R.A. My friend’s team won, which was quite exciting, and now they will engage in the championships.

And today, well, today was a whirlwind of activity. Class, practice for my voice lesson, lunch, work, my roommate’s softball game, chorale, dinner, and one last Opera Workshop get together. I, unfortunately, missed out on the free rap concert by our very own Trip Lee (who is truly fantastic at his art). After that, my friend Kim and I made some hot chocolate and sat on a blanket out on the field hockey field, talking about life and reflecting on what has been on our hearts.

I think I have been learning a lot lately, and not just in class, but in my interactions with others and nature and God. It is astounding when all the tension of classes seems to fall away and I take time to breathe and enjoy life, I feel so much more satisfied and at peace.

That is, until finals week. But even that should be enjoyable, I’m sure.

This is Heather's picture. I am sure it will be used multiple times throughout these blogs.

Posted by Kristin at 12:02 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Well, this coming up week is our last week of classes. I can scarcely believe it. This year has been one of such growth and learning. It took some stretching just as any kind of growth does. But it has been so valuable to me. I am almost not ready to leave.

This weekend was glorious. We had a chorale concert on Friday night, and a lot of people came to hear us! Then afterwards, we went do Dr. Shockeys for the annual "B.Y.O.H.G." (bring your own half gallon) for the "Half-Gallon Challenge." Dr. Shockey and four of our fellow men were able to polish off a half-gallon of ice-cream within the two hours or so that we were there. I am quite envious of their food-devouring abilities, but not envious of the stomach-ache I am sure they had afterwards. It is really neat to be able to go over to the home of our director and spend time together.

Saturday was a beautiful weather day. After lunch, a few of us threw a frisbee around and answered random questions. My friend Christy and I put a blanket down under a tree and discussed life as people scurried by, getting ready for the all-school formal. Unfortunately, I was not asked to go, but, fortunately, I made plans to spend the weekend with two of my dear friends! We made ourselves dinner, had good conversation, watched a movie, and got to share our hearts with each other.

I am still astounded by how lovely the simple things in life are and how dreadfully important relationships are to us not only as human beings, but especially as brothers and sisters in Christ. What would we do without each other?! What wonderful blessings God gives us daily.

Mmm...I really am not quite ready to leave this place yet...

Good thing I still have two glorious weeks.

Posted by Kristin at 10:48 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

I do not have much to say. It is beyond me that school will be over in two and a half weeks. I just finished the show, handed two nine page papers this week, and I just finished cleaning for White-Glove. Things are winding down...

Last night was student appreciation dinner. It is a formal dinner served by the faculty and staff of the school. I had the opportunity to sit with some good friends and laugh as my good friend Lynn (check out her blog, too) sang beautifully in the jazz band. There were candles and linen tablecloths set out...it was lovely. And afterwards, they had an on-campus "Rita's Water-Ice" and tie-dying night. I helped my friend make a purple and green pillow case! It was really neat.

Campus is utterly beautiful right now. I spent an hour in between work and chorale sitting outside the main entrance, soaking up the sunshine, and talking with people as they pass. The birds are singing, the trees are blossoming. A bee landed on me today, and I did not even freak out. I was just happy to see wild-life again.

It is as though everyone is busy, but it is a happy buzz that is going around campus. And I think it is what is getting me through. I do not think I am quite ready to go...

Posted by Kristin at 12:10 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Well, I have to say that being in Oklahoma was one of the best decisions I have ever made in my entire life. I was involved in theater in my high school, and I developed an unadulterated love for it. I never expected it to be rekindled here at PBU. I was involved in Fiddler on the Roof last year, and it was an ok experience, but it did not hold a candle to my high school shows and the community we formed from them.

But I have to say, this past week has been one of the most stressful, but best weeks of my entire life. As a cast, we spent anywhere from six to 12 hours together every day from last Saturday until this Sunday. We had intensely long rehearsals, and there were definitely a few nights where we thought we weren't going to make it to Thursday.

But somewhere along the course of the week, the show came together by the grace of God. And it wasn't just our show, but our cast, too. I still do not know how or when it happened, but we became nearly inseparable. We sat at all our meals together, we got together after the performance on Friday night, 21 out of the 25 of us, to Applebees. And then after a beautiful final performance on Saturday evening, all but three of our cast members were able to come to my house. We ate pizza, played games, laughed harder than we have ever laughed before, and stayed up until well after the sun rose in the sky.

Last night after we took down the set, we all sat together at supper. We pulled tables together and sat together, practically begging to be able to see each other again soon for fear that we would go through a painful withdraw. And it's almost crazy. After spending, no kidding, 60 hours together over the course of the week, we cannot get enough of each other.

The beautiful thing is that it reminds me so much of the way the church ought to be; we are all such different people with different strengths and different talents. We all have different majors, different backgrounds, different interests. And we had this lofty, difficult goal to attain. Sometimes we were frustrated with each other, sometimes we encouraged each other. We often prayed together. And, by God's grace, we were able to produce an amazing show...some even have said it's the best PBU has ever done. We sold out two of the three nights, most definitely, and almost sold out the other...And we love each other so dearly.

Last night, four of my girl friends came over and we sat on the floor of my room drinking tea, eating pistachios, and chatting about life and how much we were going to miss each other. It was three freshman, me, a sophomore, and one graduating senior. And today we talked to the guys; they asked us how our "girl's night" was and hugged us and told us that we need to get together next week because we don't quite know how to survive without each other anymore.

It's a beautiful, beautiful thing. And I don't know what else to say.

Posted by Kristin at 11:24 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Sometimes life comes at us with unexpected circumstances. They threaten to stamp out the our last flickering fire of hope. And while we stand back not knowing what to do, God somehow miraculously provides for us.

I have found this to be true once again this week. Well, the show is going on and we have had 6 hour long dress rehearsals every day so far. I also found some bad news that I do not care to go into much detail about. The moral of the story is that I have been very stressed and unsettled.

But what I would like to go into detail about is the amazing community I feel here. I was able to present the prayer request to chorale, and we prayed together, as we usually do, about it. One of my dear friends took me out for dessert after practice on Monday just to encourage me and allow me to talk. I receive hugs from a variety of good friends, e-mails from a few of my fellow cast members. This is a place filled with encouragement and love, and I see the selflessness of Christ shine through these individuals I have grown so attached to.

And, to top it off, the trees are blooming on campus. They look absolutely breathtaking.

I asked one of my friends how she was doing. She looked away for a second, and then her eyes refocused on mine. "Jesus is good." I have to agree.

Posted by Kristin at 1:37 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Well, Saturday was a crazy day.

My friend, Lillie, slept over in my room Friday night because my roommate was away and her roommate was sick. We got up early-ish Saturday morning, made coffee, and chatted. Then we headed off to the mother-of-all Oklahoma practices. We started at 9:30, and slowly ran the entire show through. We stopped for a brief lunch, and kept going until 3:15. Then we had to put up our set. We hired this awesome husband and wife team to build our set for us; the backdrop is gorgeous, and the design rocks. It is slowly coming together.

So, funny story about the show. I play an old woman, Aunt Eller, who is kind of "in charge" of the whole group. Well, one of the characters, Will, is played by my friend Matt. Will is pretty much an idiot and goes off to Kansas City and learns a lot of cool things! In one song, he is telling all of the gentlemen and me about all of the crazy things he saw in Kansas City. At one point, he is supposed to grab my hand and lead me down the stage because he sings about going to a theater and that "for fifty cents you can see a dandy show!" Well...he forgot to grab my hand the first time. But he burst over extended his arm to me just as he sang the next line: "One of the girls is fat and pink and pretty." The entire group erupted into laughter as I gawked at Matt. Incredible. I got insulted by a fictional character.

Anyway, the show is THIS WEEK and it's coming along just fine. I think we'll finally be able to pull it all together. We just have 5 hour long dress rehersals every day. I do not know when I will be able to get homework done, but I shall find a way.

After practice on Saturday, my friend Dani and I went out for supper. We ate cheeseburgers and got all caught up on each others' lives. It was great...it was a beautiful, beautiful day.

All right, here are some pictures from Saturday! Come see the show!

Posted by Kristin at 12:17 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

You know, it really is true that April is associated with showers. It has been quite rainy on campus lately, but in a good way. The grass is getting greener, the trees are beginning to bud. The maintenance team has mulched. I do not especially like the smell of mulch, but it does remind me of springtime.

I enjoy watching my friends play Ultimate Frisbee. Last week, I decided to give it a try myself. It is, after all, a good way to be active and to build relationships, right? Unfortunately, I have not played since last spring on Chorale Tour, so I was just a bit rusty.

Lots of things are going on on campus these days. Last night, I watched a bit of the Inter mural floor hockey game! Everyone was getting very involved. I wish I had athletic skill! I admire it in them, but I could not do it myself. My music major friends have been having junior and senior recitals, rocking out to Mendelssohn and gospel music...it's been wonderful.

Every day as I head to lunch, there are two tables with tickets being set up, one for the Spring Formal and the other for Oklahoma! tickets. Oklahoma has been taking over my life of late, but that is all right. The show is coming along well! I really encourage you to come...it isn't that far...you could see me shoot off a fake gun and yell!

That's all I really have for today!

Posted by Kristin at 9:50 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)