Confusing Kristen...again...

My best friend, Brian, has a goal to confuse me as much as possible simply because "it is so much fun to do" as he states. Except I don't think that was his intention today. There were a series of text messages exchanged between the two of us for an hour or so. Then we both lost some texts so this is the following conversation that took place later in the day...

Brian: how about i call you when you get off work?

Me: Okay?

Brian: ???What?

Me: I am am way confused. Are you calling me? Or is it better for me to call you? When do you want to talk?

Brian: silly girl, we will figure that out when we talk on the phone...

Me: ??? So, then what time is best for you?

Brian: I told you, we will figure it out when we talk tonight.

Me: ???

Brian: Besides I have free nights and weekends and free calls to verizon customers.

Me: ??? *rolls eyes* I figured as much.

Brian: just making sure. what's with the question marks?

Me: What time are we talking?

Brian: oh, I'm not making sense am I?

Me: nope.

Brian: sorry, i am not trying to confuse you...

Me: You sure about that?

Brian: haha...how about i just text you later, yeah?

Me: okay!

Needless to say, I got extremely confused. But I can't stay frustrated at my best friend!

Looks Like a Great Week Ahead!

That's right, folks! A great week is ahead. I am going to have the usual busy week, but there are not a lot of stresses happening (that I know of)! I am also on a bit of a high! My friend from the preivous entry got baptised on Saturday and confirmed a member of the church yesterday! I am way excited still. I got to see some pictures and video footage from the event and I am thrilled. Plus, I had an amazing show on Saturday despite the staging issues. We also found out we are headed to California in two weeks for a performance. That is when K and I will meet up. I told him I owe him some Indian food since I couldn't go to his baptism on Saturday! I think we are meeting up the Friday night I arrive or the Saturday night after our preliminary performance. I just have to remember to not stress out before the trip. That is why I think it will be a great week for me.

My plans this week include:

Monday:
-Homework
-Clean
-Finish lesson plans

Tuesday:
-NCIS
-Teach
-Present lesson plans to school district

Wednesday:
-Homework
-Rehearsal
-Hang out with my best friend, Brian!

Thursday:
-Teach
-Homework

Friday:
-Rehearsal
-Homework

Saturday:
-Rehearsal
-Hang out with Brian

Sunday;
-RELAX
-Deep breath before chaos

Yes, the following week will be pretty chaotic as I will need to get my lesson plans to the assistant dance teacher and get everything ready before California!

I am just a little bit excited!

Back to lesson plans and homework!

Sick Woes turn into Happy News!

Okay, this may prove to be a long journal entry as there is a lengthy back story. But the first story has to do mostly with me. First, I am sick and have been for a few days. The doctor told me that it was a good thing that I came when I did because I have enough congestion and mucus that I was show very early signs of pneumonia. I have had pneumonia four other times and even though I have been vaccinated for it, I was told that I am still at high risk for developing pneumonia again. So, I was given a prescription and sent on my way. So, I have been feeling crappy for a while.

Now, way is this story important? Read the rest of the post and you will see why.

I am going to tell you the story of my friend K (I will not give his full name). Back in 2008 he met a girl, whom we will call M. In early 2009, these two started dating and became really close friends! In fact, K wanted to marry this girl. She introduced him to the church and he gladly went (mostly for her though). After a few months, things between them just didn't work out and K though this was his sign from God that he should not join the church. Due to his heartbreak, he packed away all his church books and continue on with his life. Then, something exciting happened! K flew out to Utah in October of 2009 for business purposes (he is a young author...young being 21). He had a presentation to do in Payson on Saturday and a book signing on Monday. M's older sister Valerie and I decided this was the right time to bring him back to where he was before his heartbreak. He came with us to church and then we went to temple square. The next day he was at Temple Square the whole day. When he left Utah that Tuesday night, he was "practically ready to be baptised within the month," and happy to move forward yet again with investigating the church. Then, in November, his ex-girlfriend, M got engaged and this upset K to the point were he decided pursuing the church since he still felt as though his feelings for M were part of the reason he was interested in the church anyways. After about a month hiatus I decided it was time to start sending his spiritual quotes, messages and scriptures to highlight and ponder. Interestingly enough, he was feeling extremely depressed that week and decided to pull out his scriptures and read some "happy verses" as he likes to call them. Then he say my message to him. This started at the beginning of December. Since then we have been messaging back and forth daily about life and about the Gospel. He told me he is never happy unless his going to church and reading his scriptures, but that he felt he would not be ready to join until late 2010 or early 2011. I was a bit disappointed that it wasn't earlier, but I could tell God was working on K and working on my patience.

Now, back to the story of me being sick. I was walking out of the doctor's office feeling yucky. I looked at my phone to check the date and time and noticed I had a text message from facebook stating that I had a message from K. I went to Walmart to fill my prescription and went home as fast as I could to check the message. This is what it said:

"Subject: hello there!

Guess who's getting baptized on March 6? :)
That Book Of Mormon you gave me is covered with highlights and notes. It's really important to me now, so thanks for sharing it with me when I was in SLC. Reading that has been a big part of my life and in deciding to (finally!) join the church.

--K"

I was so excited and felt so much better on the inside. I went from being sick and feeling crappy to being sick. and feeling better about everything! I had to personally call him and congradulate him. During the phone call he thanked me and said I was "an amazing friend" and wanted to personally invite me to his baptism. Unfortunately, I am unable to attend due to a performance that night. However, we are making plans to get together.

Happy! But sick!

Kristen

Planning Ahead!

I took a look at what I have going on this week and have deicded that it is in my best interest to get ahead in my school work. I am extremely busy this week and will most likely only be home at night to tuck into bed after many exhausting days. I teach a lot and rehearse a whole bunch this week in preparation for Saturdays show. Today and Monday are the only breaks I get from teaching and rehearsing. I will work a whole lot, go to school teach, finish the costumes for my students, take inventory for the emergency box, get video footage going, get thank you letters out to sposors, all while staying healthy so I don't miss Saturdays show (I can't miss I just don't like perofring while sick). Needless, to say, I may die this week. If I do please give me a nice funeral!

Hitting the library...already?

I sit here in the library thing "how can this be? It is the first full week of school and I am already feeling the weight of homework." Maybe, I should not start the weekend homework until Friday? But I want to get it all done. I already have two portfolios due within the next week or two. I was advised by my teacher to start today since they are not the easy throw everything together last minute 10-page portfolio. Oh, no...these are the take two weeks to do assignment 1 and three days to do assignment 2 and then reflect on them in no less than 3 pages and include and index and a table of content type portfolio. I have my work cut out for me this semester!

Starting School=Change?

I love school. I really do. I love the idea of learning (I like to think of myself as an inquisitive girl). However, I have only been to school for less than a week and I am already tired just thinking about everything. I need to find a better outlet for my thoughts and feelings. I think I have found that outlet, but I can't disclose any details yet.

I think I like this whole "new year, new decade" concept! It goes with a plan I have!

I know, I am not making sense. But hopefully this week, everything will finally make sense...hopefully!

Now, off to bed!

2009 in Review and some of 2010 stuff...

I stole this from my Aunt. I liked it so I thought I would use it...

2009 Year in Review!

What did you do in 2009 that you'd never done before? Worked two jobs while going to school.

Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year? I don't remember all of my resolutions for 2009, but some I did keep. I have learned to set yearly, monthly, weekly, and daily goals. Today's goal was completed!

Did anyone close to you give birth? Yes!

Did anyone close to you die? A couple people I knew died in 2009. In October, Heather Chrisenten made the ultimate sacrifice...she laid down her life in place of the people she loved and cared about thus saving over 50 students lives. Sister Wilson went in December. Both are still a little too close to the heart.

What countries did you visit? None.

What would you like to have in 2010 that you lacked in 2009? There are a few things...a dog, some more confidence, have a friend get baptised to name a few...

What date(s) from 2009 will remain etched upon your memory, and why? The exact dates may be a bit off...July when I lost my best friend (I am still fighting to get her back), October 10th, 2009 the night that changed my life because Heather was no longer here, September is when I found out about my friend being deployed...needless to say it has been a tough year. October 11th, 2009 I met Kaleb Nation and found out he was willing to investigate the church again!

What was your biggest achievement of the year? Holding two jobs while going to school (got the good grades to prove it!)

What was your biggest failure? Being so indecisive about my degree.

Did you suffer illness or injury? Yes. Don't ask me which ones...oh wait the one where a heavy metal object fell on my shin and I walked around with a limp for a few days...

What was the best thing you bought? Not sure.

Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed? Many, mostly celebrities or people in the news.

Where did most of your money go? Daily expenses.

What did you get really, really, really excited about? Getting to teach dance at a high school and meeting Kaleb Nation.

What song will always remind you of 2009? I have WAY too many to list.

Compared to this time last year, are you: much happier, richer, nicer? Happier...that is tough since I feel like I lost a lot of people this last year. I will put yes, but only slightly. Richer, I think somewhat since I have two jobs, but most of it goes into savings. Nicer, I would like to think so.

What do you wish you'd done more of? Traveling, but alas, too poor to do so.

What do you wish you'd done less of? Homework, but I don't really have a choice in the matter.

How did you spend Christmas? With my mom, dad sister's and my sister's boyfriend.

Did you fall in love in 2009? I had some crushes.

What was your favorite TV program? A-Team, Doctor Who, NCIS. They still are my favorites.

Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year. No.

What was the best book you read this year? The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins (I am on book two now and book three comes out in August of 2010)!

What was your greatest musical discovery? Guitar

What did you want and get? A lot of things...some peace from Heather's death (I got it about three weeks after the fact when I was driving to work and listening to some hymns on a sunny day and I saw a rainbow...Heather loved rainbows and music and sunny days), good grades, etc.

What were your favorite films of this year? I have too many favorites. I think I have and will always love Pan's Labryinth, I didn't mind Star Trek although it did have some inconsistences, I loved Harry Potter 6 (best one so far), and am starting to have a love of old movies (Jamie's doing) and international movies (also Jamie's doing).

What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you? 22. Woke up too early for my liking (but took a 3 hour nap), went home to Oregon, went shopping and almost got murdered by all the Oregon State fans, had dinner with the family and enjoyed some ice cream cakes after a family of Oregon State fans saw my BYU shirt and glared...

What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying? More traveling, less stress, finding a job earlier, and Kaleb getting baptised (okay so more than one thing).

How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2009? Whatever I had, but usually Ross, T.J. Max, Old Navy or school spirit clothes!

What kept you sane? Family, friends, and lots of praying (yes, God is amazing).

Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most? Hmm...Christopher Eccelston from Doctor Who! Chraming and witty! *sigh* too bad he is too old for me

What political issue stirred you the most? A few. Prop 8 not because of what it would change but how it came about and the reactions after the matter...I mean writing "bigots" on the institute of religion property is childish and stupid.

Who did you miss? A whole freakin lot of people...grandma and grandpa, Heather, loads of people.

Who was the best new person (people) you met? Kaleb Nation cause he is way cool.

Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2009. Don't take life for granted.

What are you most excited for in 2010? The idea of a new year and a new decade. I have a whole lot of dreams to get fulfilled and a lot of ideas!

What are you least excited for in 2010? Year round school. I love learning and love school and have a plan to go for a while, but I would like to not have to go so much.

2009 has proven to be difficult, but "that which does not kill you only makes you stronger!" I am hoping for busy and productive. 2010 is already going well, but is only the first day.

Here is hoping 2010 is better!