Two for One

Those kind of specials can make or break you. Hopefully, this week my two for one will help make you- make you smile at least. Hah! So week one on the ol blog was a success, obviously I didn’t get around to it on week two, although I did think of it often (hey, it’s the thought that counts, right?). So now you get two weeks in one post! It’s kind of like getting a second scoop of ice cream. Enjoy. 

I got my new nerd glasses, but not before the old ones broke again. 

I also cut off 6 inches of hair! Wow. #NotSoLongHairAndIKindOfCare 
I got my first pair of Toms, ever.
My thank you cards for the Haiti mission trip FINALLY came in! PTL.

I bet you are all just really curious about the weight thing, huh? Well, I can say I am curious about it too! I have been doing this hard core since about August 15^th, and in that time I can honestly say there has only been 3 days that I’ve kind of gone off the wagon. Other than that I have stayed under the calorie count for the day! 17 out of 20 days is not bad considering my past! Haha. But seriously. I'm hoping to get an official weigh in in the next week.

School is going splendidly, homework and all. I mean who complains when your home work is to interview your grandma and to write a paper on the current political race for the American Presidency? Not this girl. But then again, I am also the girl with the Declaration of Independence hanging in my living room. BOOM. 

God has just been shaking things up in the last month for me. I mean I’ve already told you of a few of the changes, but more has been going on too. I have recently gotten involved in the group through my church that focuses on young career minded people, rather than being so involved within the college group. I believe God is moving me in that direction for a few different reasons, and I’m super excited about it. Insert cheesy emoji con here. 

Want to hear a few funny stories?

-My daddy shot a nail through his thumb this weekend. I was disappointed he didn’t send me a picture. No really, disappointed.
- I mentioned that I broke my glasses (again) right? Well I had to hold the lenses up to my face in class for the first week. Talk about making a first impression.
-I am currently sitting in my grandmothers sewing room watching her iron, I asked her to add a funny story to our little list and all she could come up with was the usual everyday activities of her life. Loosing keys, hiding glasses from herself, passing gas in the grocery store, then she said "Well, I was driving down the road and I just got through cleaning my nose out and I look over and I saw a man picking his nose and he had a BIG ol booger on his hand.I just love life." 

Last night I went to the barn to let the horses out and my Buddy horse was lying down asleep. He let me crawl up on his back and lay there for a few minutes. That’s not really a funny story, I guess that one is more for the “awwwwww” factor.I bet it worked too.

So friends, go on just loving life.

Kris 

                                                                           My nerd spectacles.

                                          Awesome Personalized Thank You cards!

                                                            Shorter hair....

                                                Presents from the shoe fairy. 

Both pictures are indeed #Selfies and I have no make-up on. Judge all you wish. Have a great week! 

Starting Fresh

I have not properly maintained this blog, mainly because I feel like I am typing to myself. Perhaps I am. Maybe I will open up more if I feel no one will ever read this, but my words still have to be monitored just in case I end up in the White House one day.  That’s the goal you know, future First lady of the United States of America. (Add one to the ol' bucket list!)

Ok, with a fresh new start into another year of school (yes, the perpetual student strikes again!) I have decided to give a lot of areas of my life a fresh new start. This is step number one. I am going to commit to writing here at least once a week, if only to give myself something to look back on in the future. One thing you may not know, I’ve always had a secret dream of becoming a published author. (Bucket list?) This can be chapter one. 

New start number two: my health. That’s getting a big ol’ jumpstart too. When I was 21 years old I discovered that I was a type two diabetic. I was not satisfied with having a disease that could control me for the rest of my life so I got off the couch and started walking. Literally. I worked my way up to around 4-5 miles a day. With that there was also maintaining a healthier eating style, and it all resulted in a 68 pound weight loss over the course of about 15 months. I did things right. Then I started doing things wrong. In the same amount of time it took me to lose the weight, I put half of it back on. And then I became comfortable. I maintained my weight for about 6 months, then these past few months I gained 13 pounds back. I stopped smoking. It’s funny, I did something so healthy, and my consequence was something so unhealthy. Well all that stops this week. 

I have looked up what a Basic Metabolic Rate (BMR) is, I have discovered mine, I have researched what a healthy diet plan for me can be… and soon I am going to be on my way to not only losing the weight I gained back, but hopefully surpassing the original number by a few more pounds. When that happens I will post some gruesome before and after photos, but not until then. So keep pushing me and encouraging me to make smart decisions (I know everyone is dying to see overweight me in a sports bra!). However, don’t get carried away- I know my limits and if I want a piece of chocolate cake, don’t say anything or I’m liable to really snap at you. (Just warning you Sara Gallina-Love you!)

I’m five days in and I have worked out 3 of the 5. I’m doing cardio and strength training just in case anyone is wondering. Normally once my mind is made up about something, I’m all in - so I don’t see why this would be any different. 

Moving on.

New start number three: school. Changed my major! Big surprise for a college student, right? According to my grandfather I have changed my major every week, so I guess it’s not surprise at all. Actually, I have only officially changed it once, from history to Political Science (here is where the White House starts looking like a real obtainable goal). I’m also going to get more involved around campus. I may even run for Student Government? Humm…

I guess that’s enough newness for one day. For now I will just let all of this soak in, for you and for me!

Until I decide to change something else, 

Kris 

PS- the 9 day road trip? Total success. We all came back alive, although I was informed I was never allowed into a car for a long period of time with my grandfather again. He says I talk to much. That's what happens when the radio is NEVER turned on, who knew? 

Top Ten

So I know everyone has a bucket list, and I'm sure some of you started it way before the movies "A Walk to Remember" or "The Bucket List"... I however didn't. I started mine in October of 2006. I had the original list until last fall, sometime in the recent move to Conway I lost it. Kinda sad about that. It was hand written and everything. Being the optimist I am though, I just see this as Gods way of creating a new list for me. 


Who knew that road tripping it up with the grandparents would make the list? Not me, but it just did, and in 8 days I will leave on a 9 day adventure to the Wild Wild West with a minivan and two senior citizens! (minivan and 3 people? UNLIMITED amounts of luggage allowed!) Holla! 


Now we know things are gonna get crazy, I mean papaw loves his talk radio, and me and grandma kinda hate it, not to mention I'm on my own for food for the 9 days (does an arkansas food stamp card work in South Dakota resturants?-- No, but seriously.) Hows this for a wild adventure? The only thing that would make this better would be ALL the grandkids going along for the ride, but it seems I am the oldest and yet the one with the least amount of responsibilities. Go figure. I contribute that to my gypsy soul and wondering roots. 


Know how this whole thing got started? I was laying by the pool today (yes, I get paid to do that. Be jealous.) and called grandma up. We started talking and I mentioned how I had an entire week of at the end of June and we should go to the beach. I mean, road tripping it all over the west is not the beach, but I'm still totally into the idea, y'all. I am going to see the Grand Canyon!! Holy peas. 


The coolest part about all this--I am spending 9 days trapped in a car with my grandfather who needs to see the life transformation that Jesus Christ has done in me. I have been praying for my entire family since establishing a real relationship with the Lord last summer, and my biggest prayer is that those that know Him will grow closer- and those that don't will discover who He is. What better chance will I have to share the love of the Lord than this? 


I'm loud, crazy, and super "out of the box"... So keep the g-parents in your prayers! 


-Kris 


Wanna know what else made it to my bucket list?
Me too.

The prodigal blogger returns!

So apparently I have an awesome habit of pretending like I'm going to journal (and/or blog) on a regular basis and the flaking out--2 months and 4 days later I realized that all 3 of you that read this thing might be wondering how things are turning out. 

In the last 2 months so much has happened! I was able to quit my job, and I'm super thankful that season is over. I started nannying for a family the day I got back from my mission trip. Oh yea, I raised enough support for the Haiti mission trip. I went to Haiti. Haiti now lives in my heart, forever. I will have to dedicate an entire post to all the details of the trip, but for now I will just fill you in on a few things. 

Thanks to that week I spent in Haiti, I now have a brand new family. We had a group of 27 that went to do Gods work, and I am so very proud to say that God blessed every individual and group relationship. 17 girls 10 guys and not one fight! We all know that's a God given blessing. I mean seriously, 17 women. 

I often battle with loneliness. That's one area the enemy (AKA-- THE DEVIL) really tries to pull me down. I can say that since we have been back in the US, I think I have had one night to myself. God has just been blessing me with different activities and friends to help me grow through Him. I have an even bigger blessing through my summer job because I am able to spend time diving into the word and learning so much more about who God is and who He is to me. My oh my, counting my blessings today. 

Through this time I've spent learning more about God and who He is and what calling He has on my life, I am humbled to say I know part of my calling is to help young women. I am supposed to help them see the light God has placed inside of them, their worth through Him, and help them to discover the plan God has for each of them. There are a few different areas God is going to sharpen in my life so I can be more direct in doing that (bring on the sifting sand!). Iron sharpens iron my friends. 

I cannot wait to share more with you as I continue on this journey, but for now I must bid you adieu!

 -Kris


here's a little eye candy for you until next time...

 The Family :)

MOH 500: Housing project for Haitians

Try to tell me Haiti is not beautiful... 

Melting Pot of Thoughts-ya hear?

It's funny how you can need encouragement so badly, and then you get it out of the most unexpected places or from the most unexpected people. Thanks Kiddo.

Its also funny how I NEVER can get to sleep before 2am-----Well, actually that part is not funny. Because I was up coughing ALL night, I didn't get to sleep until about 4am, which resulted in my sleeping until 2pm today... yep-slept straight through class. Now, we all know I skip on a regular occasion, but I like to know I'm going to skip ahead of time! Sleeping through an alarm is not how I like to get down with playing hookie. 

I found this "dry-shampoo" that actually really works!! I am pretty sure I my never wash my hair again. 

I think I'm going to reactivate my Facebook account. Probably in like, real soon.

I'm addicted to Survivor thanks to my friend Miranda. 

I get annoyed when I sit in my desk chair and my feet don't touch the ground. 

I still want a dog REALLY bad. 

I miss the way it smells in my grandmas barn. Only horse people will understand that.

I'm pretty sad the Hunger Games are over. I need to see that movie again. Like NOW.

I hugged my Arkansas history professor last night, and got a picture.Not one of those creepy stalker ones either. WORD. 

Keep it real, y'all.

-Kris

Simple Living

                                                  I serve an AMAZING God!!!!! 

I sometimes cannot believe the things He has done and is still doing for me. I am truly blessed beyond belief! Only 580 more dollars to raise for the Haiti trip, then it's ALL paid for!

On another note, I spent most of spring break with my family, and I have to say I am speechless (which we all know is a very big deal) at the healing God has done on my relationships with every single member of the Kirkpatrick clan. He is truly deserving of my praise. Fishing with Daddy and Joshua, movies with my favorite kids, horse races with Mandee, snuggle time with my Grams, slobbery kisses from my puppies, Hunger Games with my Whitney... GREAT week!  

That is all for today, just wanted to share a little positive outlook on life :) 

-Stay BOLD in Him! 

Kris

you feel that it was rainin' all over this man's world....

"Hoverin' by my suitcase, tryin' to find a warm place to spend the night
Heavy rain fallin', seems I hear your voice callin' "It's all right."
A rainy night in Georgia, a rainy night in Georgia...."

Actually its a drizzly afternoon in Arkansas, but I just really like that song. Chris Young does a pretty good version of it, too. While I do have a warm place to spend the night (thanks student loans!) I know of people that do not. I am currently staring at my red suitcase, the one that I take on airplanes, praying that soon I get to use it. As I've previously mentioned, God has called me to do His mission work this summer. While at first I assumed it was on a "road trip" to southern states to do intercity missions, I have been more heavily convicted to help the people of Haiti. Just this week they have been hit again by earthquakes.

The total cost of the trip is 1500 dollars (drastically changing from the 2600 dollar total for both trips) and I've already been blessed with the first $500 dollars for the deposit that was due in February. There is another 500 dollars due next Sunday, in exactly one week (March 18, 2012) and then the final deposit of $500 will be due Sunday April 15th. 

If you have a heart for missions at all and feel now is not the right time for you to actually go, I would be so honored if you would sponsor me and allow me to be the representative for you and the body of Christ. Any amount would be greatly appreciated :) 

I do hear that voice callin' "It's all right", because I know God will provide the funds needed. Please let Him use you as a tool!

If you feel lead to help, or even spread the word- all is appreciated! BUT the most important thing is for yall to be praying. Pray for the people of Haiti, pray that God is able to use me, pray that souls are healed. 

Thanks in advance for all you are going to do :) 

Love, 

Kris 

PS- if you want to help with the funds, send checks to:

2270 Meadowlake Rd Apt 710

Conway AR 72032

*** All checks to be made out to New Life Church

Please feel free to flood your social networks with this website and help raise awareness and support :)