Kristen Blog

Fun night with the family...and Kennedy was home to visit just in time! Christmas is exhausting!!  Any other mom's out there hearing my words of truth?!!  Presents for four kids, Christmas parties, family engagements, school and work events...we've managed to stretch this thing out through the whole month of December and then some.  And who, in the families, do you think is typically doing most of the work? Please...tell me I'm not alone!! I made the brilliant decision to take Jesse to the vet on the evening of the 23rd, since I have some down time, post resignation.  Now...you may wonder why taking my dog to the vet is noteworthy.  But that would be because you do not own Jesse.   Ole' Jesse...he's a good bad dog. 💕 Jesse does not like new situations (and especially new people), and it just so happens that the vet is not one of our  best friends or family members.  We don't tend to make frequent visits.  So, the last time we went, he barked...

 I, officially, have an office!! Could it get any more Kristen?  The rug, literally, tied ANYTHING and EVERYTHING together. 💕 I've been trying to squash the stress over getting this furniture out of my garage (To my credit...I have been looking the other way since August!)...and also...the urge to get up there and get this little haven set up. It's not perfect...except that it is!!  The furnishings are ALL hand-me downs.  (Like...every last piece, down to the items on the walls.). And I LOVE it.  It is colorful and eclectic and everything ME.  I was pretty anxious about the move.  There is a small hallway to the main door of the office, since we are a bit underground on the bottom floor.  My biggest concern was my favorite piece, the chaise lounge.  How perfect for a counselor, right?  I mean...I'm not going to go all Freud on anyone.  Most of his ideas don't sit well with me.  But...what speaks "comfort" more than a chaise? ...

 I am officially in over my head!  It seems to be the only way I function. The bond between them grows tighter every day...and the big sis "owner" talks, continually, of moving out.  Just one of the traumas and future uncertainties we face over here... I have so many mixed emotions about all the change!  On the one hand, I am really looking forward to focusing on what I truly love to do.  On the other, there are so many closures and endings that burn.  There are things I will miss, and there are things that I won't.  There are things about my new job that will be so much simpler, and there are things that will be so much harder. All the conflicting scenarios and emotions!  Sometimes it feels like it's all just a craps shoot. Today, I woke up for the first time, ever, knowing I would never be in another school with MU again.  On Friday, it was a celebration.  Today, when faced with that reality, I quickly panicked, "What have I done?!! ...

Eden has officially taken over Christmas decor this year.  Thank you, sweet, baby Jesus!! 💕 All I care is that I get my nativity up and have a safe place to put all of these presents I have stocked up in my closet...  So... I've been sitting on this for a little bit. I haven't wanted to get my hopes up, because it has been a long and arduous road, with...Grand-Canyon-type obstacles in the road, at times.  You know me, right?  I just put on my wing-suit and jumped right in. Not, actually, me.  Totally stolen from the internet. Some of you know, about 7 years ago...before the MU job placed itself in my path and I started working again...I signed up with Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary to begin my quest for a Master's Degree in Counseling.   I was staying home at the time.  I can't remember if Evan was born yet when I started.  But I do remember only taking one or two classes here and there, so I did not get overwhelmed.  Ha!  If o...