#bestthirtysix...

Two thousand and fifteen.

I wanted to get away to write this; I wanted to take a retreat to really spend time with the Lord and dwell on this past year and the year that lies ahead. But, sitting here at the local Starbucks, I think that the Lord is speaking just the same. This year has been abundant; I mean abundant in every single way, in both the trials and the joys. There has been an abundance of laughter and blessing, but also an abundance of change and mourning; an abundance of life and also death. 

As the year began, the Lord spoke softly to my heart a theme… "Be still." Throughout this year, the words of Psalm 46:10 were an encouragement and a comfort… "Cease striving, be still, and know that I am God…" Stillness, it's not my spiritual gift, but with each moment and lesson this past year, it was the sweet whisper that the Lord was faithful to give… "As you wait for this new position… be still. As you end seven years of junior high ministry… be still. As you pray through your singleness… be still. As you mourn the death of your grandpa… be still. As your best friend moves overseas… be still. As you welcome new babies and take on the title of "Aunt Kristi"… be still. As you seek God… be still. As you wait for God to move… be still." This year, I saw God move mountains and open floodgates in the stillness. This year taught me that stillness on our part allows for movement on His part. 

Social media has been blowing up with the idea of the #bestnineofinstagram. I love this campaign, but when I generated mine, I had a few thoughts. First off, this is generating the photos that "the people" (whoever they may be to you) liked most, NOT what I liked most about my year. Second, NINE SQUARES? You guys, only nine little squares?! That's not the way that I roll… So, here I am (and on Instagram!) with 36 teeny, tiny squares of memories and moments, reminding me that this year has been hard and rich and full. I want to stop and rest in that, just for today. 

This year has been incredible! When I look at the little details, I recognize it's true fullness. When I look back on 2015, I will look back to when I went to the IF: Gathering in Austin, TX, ended my time serving in vocational ministry at my church, started a new job at CBU, transitioned from junior high ministry to high school ministry, bought a new car, mourned the passing of my Grandpa, became an Aunt for many sweet little babies, turned twenty six, drank too many hawaiian lattes, was published at Incourage, had conversations with Annie Downs via Twitter, read some incredible books, watched every season of "Parks & Recreation",  quit my job as a substitute teacher and barista, went on my first date ever, got seriously healthy and became a runner/jogger, saw great movies, ate great food (mostly BBQ and Mexican), took rest very seriously, went to the 1989 Taylor Swift concert, went to a Luke Bryan concert, went to a Brett Eldredge concert, went to a Shane and Shane concert, learned the importance of FaceTime dates with my best friend living in Ecuador, had a house broken in to, went to Disneyland, spent a lot of time driving around my town and praying, had hard conversations with the Lord, learned a lot about myself, bought a rug, started a retirement fund, and nurtured old friendships and made some new ones. And I am sure I am forgetting a lot of other things! Man, 2015 was rich. (But please note, 2015 was NOT the year that I became rich. #targetstealsallmymoney)

I have spent time in prayer over 2016, asking the Lord to reveal a theme to me. I sat with an expectant heart, waiting to glean what He would speak. I am excited to share that with you all in the coming week, but for now, I am leaning into the gleanings of this past year rather than the excitement for the new one, because there is a lot there. 

So here's to 2015, the year that has come and gone. Whether you want to forget it forever or relive those memories for years to come, I pray that you would lean into the things that God has done for you. May the pains and the joys be redeemed by the work of Christ! Raise your glass (of sparkling cider) and celebrate that there is a time for everything, for mourning and for dancing (and lets hope tonight is full of dancing!)!

Cheers to 2015, friends! 

all the things: november...

Holy Moses, IT IS DECEMBER. We are less than one month from a new year and maybe that gives me a little bit of anxiety. November was really fun and busy; I resurrected my inner athlete, blasted (and am still blasting) Adele every single day in my car, and had some good food.

Here are all the things of November:

Athletic Things: I participated in not one but TWO athletic things this month and my team won both. Our Annual Broom Hockey Championship with our high school students was this month, and we KILLED it. I also played in our Young Adults Turkey Bowl, and they KILLED it (they meaning the others on my team because watching football is one thing, but playing is a whole other thing entirely). This month, I am just thankful to be a winner, because I always lose everything.

Incourage Post: This month I was featured over at Incourage and it was so much fun! The response to my writing was so humbling… To hear that your words were needed, that they were an encouragement, that they spoke truth into someone’s life season… It’s maybe one of the best feelings in the world. I love writing, I love being able to use my gifting’s for God in such a way. If you haven’t read it, pop on over HERE.

Adele: I mean, do I need to elaborate? This entire month my car-dancing, car-singing, and car-crying has gone to a completely new level. #allthefeels

When She Gets a Yes: You guys, this article is gold and rubies and all the other precious things. You need to read this, whoever you are. Pop over HERE.

Friendsgiving: This should really be called Pantsgiving, because I gained about 14 pounds after that dinner. We had enough food to feed thirty people AND have leftovers. I am so thankful for friends who have become family (and for friends that cook really great food).

Short and simple, because I am already anticipating December will be a very long list of good things.

                                        How are you doing post-November?

He Is Establishing Good Things...

Holidays are my jam.

I love spending time baking treats, picking out the perfect gifts for friends and family, planning and attending parties, going to church events, traveling, and Black Friday. I am a Type-A, list making, over-packing, what-if, always-be-prepared-like-the-girl-scouts kind of person, and the holidays bring out the best of that side.

But in the midst of all the hustle and bustle, something unaccounted for will always surface. You forgot your passport at home, you forgot your aunt is allergic to almonds, you forgot your best friend’s gift on your kitchen table, or you have been driving the north freeway for two hours and just realized you need to be on the south freeway (true story, people).

We can make mile-long lists and set alarms and make three trips to Target, but sometimes things just don’t go the way that we expect. This is true about life in general. Some of us thought we’d be married already. Some of us expected to be serving God overseas by this time last year. Some of us planned on the adoption finally going through. Some of us never planned on battling infertility or miscarriage or losing a child...

Join me over at Incourage (HERE) to read the rest!

all the things: september...

September is the swan song of the Summer. It was a good month, but I am so ready to be in Fall (even though us Southern Californians only get about ten days of Fall per year). I will choose to wear my scarves because it is now October, don’t tell me how to live my life!

Here are all the things of September:

Fancy Fall Cups: I am in LOVE with these new cups at Starbucks. Forget the red cups, these are shiny and new and I really hope they keep them for the coming years! (Sidenote: I have yet to actually drink a beverage from one; every Starbucks I go to is OUT of the cups. No, I don’t know how that happens.)

Incourage: You guys, I posted on my social medias that this past month I submitted a piece to Incourage and I received an email that I have been chosen to be featured! Cue the screaming and happy dancing! God is so good, and I am thrilled and honored to be featured along with women like Annie Downs, Jen Hatmaker, Shauna Niequist, and Anne Voskamp. It’s super humbling and exciting! My post will be live on November 23, and trust me, it will be linked here and in all my social medias! Eeeek!

Friday Night Lights: Now that my girls are in high school, I am able to basically relive those four years with them. I have made a point to go to football games on Fridays with them, and let me tell you, it is so fun. I miss football, I miss cheering on the boys of Fall, I miss the colder weather and being wrapped up in jackets and blankets and team paraphernalia. Gosh, it’s just so fun. I love being able to share this season with my girls and relive high school a little bit.

Simply Tuesday: This book by Emily Freeman, you need it. Loving it, loving the idea of embracing the smallness!

Take Yourself Out of The Running: This post by Jessa Connolly completely wrecked me this month. Please go read this. It will do wonders for your soul.

Women’s Bible Study: This month we started Women’s Bible Study (WBS) and I am LOVING it. We worship, we study, we discuss. We are going through Acts this year and it is so needed. This past Wednesday especially; we talked about the crippled beggar outside the temple in chapter three, and my heart just about burst from truth and encouragement. I am already so thankful for these women and for the past month of Bible study with them.

                                                 How was your September?