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March 5, 2018

What Would Happen If We Slowed Down?

What would happen if we slowed down this week? If we took the time to really see the people around us? If we listened to the stories they were waiting to share with compassion and tenderness? If we took the time required to treat others with love and dignity?

 

What would happen if we slowed down?

 

Last week, I went to church downtown. I’ve been looking for my Indy church home since moving here last summer, and I may very well have found it in this little community that meets off one of my favorite downtown streets. I was running late; truthfully, I don’t think I’ve ever made it to church here on time. Yet. So I slid inside during singing and secured a seat toward the back at one of the round tables.

 

Time came to meet others and say good mornings, and I found myself still in rush mode. I hadn’t fully settled yet, and my interactions with those around me reflected it. I felt the awareness of it settle in my heart – a little Holy Spirit nudging. I need to slow down. So as we entered back into worship, I asked God to slow me down so I could engage with those around me well. And by group discussion time at the end of our gathering, I was feeling much more “with it.”

 

Pastor Aaron spoke on the Lord’s prayer and he gave us some questions to consider. One was this: Am I living in such a way that I’m following Jesus – going where He’d go, doing what He’d do?

 

I had plans downtown later that afternoon with about an hour in between it and church dispersing. I had planned to walk to Starbucks and grab an oatmeal – use a gift card, save some money. So I walked that way, stopping into a shop on my way down just to browse and fill my time. When I got to the Starbucks, I decided I wasn’t hungry enough yet and went to sit outside on the patio around the corner. A man sitting on the bench right outside the Starbucks called out to me after I’d passed by, and I stopped and turned to face him.

 

 

At first glance, I couldn’t quite tell he was homeless. But in my experience, if someone is stopping me on the street downtown, there’s a good chance that they are. Him asking me if I had any money so he could use his bus pass to pop over to the McDonald’s and eat lunch was confirmation.

 

I’m not a perfect person. I get awkward and uncomfortable in these kinds of interactions more times than not. This time was no exception. Do I give him some money? Do I want to give him the cash I have left? Do I turn away? Why’d he stop me after I’d already walked by him? Should I offer to buy him food here? God, what do I do? Tell me what to do.

 

I removed my backpack and moved off to the side so I could prop it up on the wall and fish out my wallet. I only had a few dollars left, and handed him two. He thanked me, and normally this is the part where we both move on and go our separate ways. Transaction complete. Good – or facsimile of good – deed done. Not today.

 

Today, I asked him for his name.

 

He told me with a grin, and I introduced myself in return. He let me know that I could call him JT. The seemingly simple question rolled off my tongue in response – “what’s the T stand for?” – and that’s when we dove straight into deeper waters.

 

JT told me his story.

 

He told me how he was named after his dad, about his home life growing up, and some of the deep pain and loss he’s experienced in his life. He told me about the struggle to find a job and the perseverance he has to keep trying. He told me about how he’s been going all over the city trying to find an apartment, the way he’s been hurt by others he thought he could trust in this journey, and the fight he has to do the work and wade through his pain through counseling.

 

When the tears came as he talked about a particular instance of grief, he apologized to me, and my own tears filled my eyes. I’m so sorry was on repeat in my mind as I listened – and finally echoed them with my voice before we parted ways. I told him that I had been in counseling myself, and it was really helpful for me, too. He seemed surprised and asked me why, so I shared a bit about that with him, too. Our lives are – and have been – so very different, but not so different that there isn’t common ground to be found in our humanity.

 

Eventually, I asked him if he was on this particular street often, and I pointed out the building I had just left half an hour earlier. I told him a church meets there on Sundays. That my experience with these people of God has been one of genuine love, compassion, and welcome – for myself and for others. I invited him to walk right in, any Sunday, and know that he would be welcomed in, too.

 

This man didn’t know me from any other person on Massachusetts Avenue, and yet there he was, trusting me with his life story on a Sunday afternoon, right there on a busy sidewalk. And it struck me as I processed the conversation in my car after we talked: this is what happens when you slow down.

 

When you slow down, you will truly see people. When you slow down, what might have been transaction or interruption turns into genuine interaction. When you slow down, you leave space for the Holy Spirit to fill with opportunity to be light in someone else’s day. When you slow down, you can impart kindness, love, truth and hope into those around you. But only when you slow down enough to see, to listen, to engage.

 

What would happen if we slowed down this week? What would happen?

I haven’t seen JT since that Sunday – so far. My hope for him, though, is that wherever he is and whatever he’s doing, the love of God would meet him there. My prayer is that he would find the deep healing and rest for his soul that comes in knowing, loving and trusting Jesus. And if our paths do cross again on a sidewalk outside of Starbucks, I pray that I’m slowed down enough to see him and engage the way the Spirit leads. 

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February 14, 2018

How to Not Hate Valentine’s Day as a Single Woman

Valentine’s Day can be especially difficult for those of us who are single, especially when “Singles Awareness Day” has become a well-known nickname and social media gives you more glimpses than you may want into the love stories of others. It can remind you of what you don’t yet have, but deeply desire. It can spark insecurity and feelings of less than and not enough. If your heart is tender or grieving, a day like this can be rough.

Personally, I’ve fluctuated on a scale ranging from indifference to enjoyment of Valentine’s Day over the years. Indifference, because largely the marketable Valentine’s Day, complete with romantic dinners and diamond rings, doesn’t apply to me yet, but I’m also not usually bothered by others celebrating it. Enjoyment, because I’ve had some really beautiful experiences on Valentine’s Day, too – and yes, they were all as a single woman.

some of my favorite valentine’s days

The Nursing Home: My church community group at the time had an ongoing relationship with a local nursing home. We would go in once a month – to sing (mostly the kids), share cookies (which is probably why the elderly folk loved us so much), and do some activities with them. I’ll be honest, it wasn’t something I would have picked to do myself. It was even a bit uncomfortable for me; I went anyway, time after time. And one year, on Valentine’s Day, we came in with heart shaped goodies and loved on some of our elders for the night. I was documenting the night, but was also able to help pass out cookies and sit for games and activities, too. I remember thinking that I hoped whoever my person is, he would be serving someone else in love that day, too. It will always be a sweet memory of Valentine’s Day!

The NYC Friend Date: It was the day before I was going to fly out of JFK to go to Ecuador on a missions trip for the first time. My friend, Kerri, was also single at the time and lived about an hour’s train ride outside of New York City. She met me in the city and together, we had the best little Valentine’s Day friend date! She picked a great restaurant that had gluten free friendly items for me – and that was able to seat us almost immediately. We ate and talked and laughed together, then we moved on to Serendipity 3 for frozen hot chocolate as dessert. After, we roamed the streets of the city for a bit, talking life and love and everything in between. It was sweet friendship and exhilarating city, and will always be a favorite Valentine’s memory for me!

My Valentine’s Day Plans

This year, I’m taking time on Valentine’s Day to go on a movie date with my momma. We do this fairly regularly throughout the year; this time, though, it happens to fall on Valentine’s Day itself. I’m looking forward to spending some time together! On Galentine’s Day, I spent the majority of the day with one of my sisters, shopping and running errands and grabbing some Mexican food for a late lunch.

Prior to those plans, though, I had wondered about the kiddos at my local children’s hospital and what they’d be doing for Valentine’s Day. I ended up connecting with the Riley Cheer Guild to get donation guidelines and then made up 52 goody bags for the kids with game activity pads (with tic tac toe, coloring pages, and word searches), pencils, stickers and a valentine card. I was able to share this idea with friends the week before Valentine’s Day so they could join in their own cities if they wanted to. Turns out, a couple of them did end up giving Valentine’s of their own to kids in the hospital! Seeing that kindness move and grow, and knowing that this Valentine’s Day, these kiddos will have something to smile about makes this year’s Valentine’s Day another one to remember fondly.

HOW TO NOT HATE VALENTINES DAY

By now, you’re probably have an idea of what I’m going to say, but I am going to intentionally spell it out for you. I believe this is important. Life is meant to be lived, right now! You have purpose in every breath you breathe. So please don’t wait. Don’t let your life be a waiting room until you’re in a romantic relationship. Don’t let love be something you wait to celebrate until you have a love interest. There’s so much love for you to celebrate, receive, and give right here where you are.

So, how do we do this? How do we push past the lovey-dovey romance, the reminders of what’s not yet in our lives, and the negative vibes we may be feeling for this holiday?

 

Remember God’s love for you.

God loves you. He truly, beautifully, unshakably loves you. Do you believe that? Right now, in this moment, rest in His love. Believe in it. Receive it. You’ve had it all along! And when we focus our hearts on how our Father feels about us – when we truly believe it – we live differently. We walk a little more confidently. We’re satisfied, quieted, overwhelmed by how seen, how known, and how deeply loved we are. Start here. And if you’re struggling to believe what you know of His love, ask Him to show you. Ask Him to let you feel it. That’s a prayer I believe He is all to eager to answer.

 

Recenter your heart to beat in time to your true identity.

If you know and believe you are loved by God, you can come alive in your purpose and walk in your true identity. Who does God tell you that you are? He calls you beloved. He delights in you. He says you are chosen, holy, His own. He says you’re His daughter, now and always. He says you didn’t earn His love, and nothing you or anyone else could ever do can take His love away from you. He created you on purpose for a purpose; you are imbued with it! He knew you before your life began and He positioned you for this time. He knows every hair on your head, every tear you have ever shed; he knows what makes your heart come alive and what breaks it. He created you; you were handcrafted by the Master Artist as a one-of-a-kind work of art, His good idea come to life. You are fearfully and wonderfully made. You have His approval. You are made new, your sin and shame covered by the blood of Jesus and cast away. You are the dwelling place of the Holy Spirit. You are an ambassador for the gospel. You are the hands and feet of Christ on earth, called to be love and give love as you have received His love. Sit with truth and let it settle in to your spirit, and see what changes in you.

 

Celebrate the loved ones you have in your life right now.

Galentine’s Day is growing in popularity for a reason! There’s something beautiful about celebrating the people you have in your life. Gather a friend or five and celebrate the friendship you have together. Grab brunch in traditional Galentine’s Day style, or meet for coffee or go to a fitness class together. Have dinner, see a play, go for a walk. However is going to best reflect you and your people, go do that! Have fun and enjoy the people you have been given to love and be loved by in this season of your life. If gathering in person isn’t possible, why not make a list of the people you’re grateful to have in your life in this season? You can go even further with it and then write letters, send texts, or make a phone call to those people to tell them you love them and are grateful for your relationship!

 

Remember those who may feel forgotten, unseen and unloved.

I think this is especially powerful if you feel any of these things to any degree. Go pour love into those who may feel lonely, left out, or lost. Show someone else that you see them and care about them! If that’s a friend who is a single mom, go meet a need for her. Take her a treat and tell her you see her! Visit the nursing home. Serve in the homeless shelter. Give goodies and/or visit those in the hospital. You are full of love, so go be it! Get outside of yourself and serve someone else. Maybe even decide to make this space you serve on Valentine’s Day a place to serve regularly so you can build relationships. People are waiting for you to show up and share Jesus with them. There are so many simple ways you can do that! Why not start on Valentine’s Day?

 

Live your life!

Let’s circle back to that purpose thing. You have a purpose right now. You have a life, right now. Are you living it? From my experience, when I’m walking in my gifts, showing up, investing in relationships, seeking the Lord, and embracing opportunities that He calls me to… I feel good. I feel alive! I may have desires and dreams I’m still waiting to see realized, but those things don’t own me or overwhelm me. I am on a mission. I’m moving with purpose on purpose. What would happen if you chose to go all in this year? Would your feelings shift?

 

If you still don’t like Valentine’s Day,
that’s okay, too.

None of these things are going to make you suddenly love Valentine’s Day, and your feelings are both very real and your own. But these things are purposeful ways for you to move past the surface level of what can be a hard holiday and dive a little deeper into realizing how loved you are and sharing that love with others. Feel your feelings, Dear One, but please don’t get stuck in them. Process them with the Lord and see if He’d have you do something different this year. You might be surprised by what happens! However you feel, whatever you do, I hope this year you celebrate love. You have it in abundance, and love is always worth it.

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October 10, 2016

Coffee Date | Number 02

I’m taking a seat at the table for the Coffee Dates series with Erin Salmon & Amber Thomas. Let’s get cozy with a cup of our beverage of choice and chat for a bit.

If we were on a coffee date, I’d order a brewed tea. I’m trying to drink less lattes while I’m out and about because they cost twice as much as a hot tea most places. Saving the money is letting me get tea out more often – to do my work in public at coffee shops twice a week or to meet a friend – and that’s well worth skipping a chai latte now and again!

 

If we were on a coffee date, I’d ask you how you are and try to get really quiet so I can listen. I think we all need that sometimes – someone to press pause on the noise around you and the thoughts running through their own head to hear your heart and understand you just a little more by the end.

 

If we were on a coffee date, I’d tell you about how this StartUp Camp podcast interview with Carlos Whittaker and Hilary Rushford’s sabbatical thoughts inspired me to make a 6 week “plan” to make the most of my days. My heart has been yearning for more structure, community, adventure, and wellness; I’ve been sick and it’s messed with my intended lifestyle in ways I haven’t liked. This plan was my way of trying to work toward a well lived life. I’d let you know that I did really well with it for about 3 weeks and loved every minute of it. Then I’d admit that I’m currently struggling with it a bit as I’m in another season of not feeling well. But I’m not giving up; not for a minute. The things that are most worth having, those things you don’t give up on.

 

photo-sep-27-1-00-47-pm

 

If we were on a coffee date, I’d pause for a moment before confessing to you that I’ve been afraid of the weight of my words. I’d tell you about how I’ve been tip-toeing around writing because of it and ask you if you’ve ever felt the same way. I’d tell you that for awhile, I wasn’t sure why I was hesitant, but when I realized it was fear, I made myself share something I’d written. Twice. Because I’ve realized that words have weight, but that’s the whole point. Death and life is in the power of the tongue, and I can choose my words well in Jesus’ name.

 

If we were on a coffee date, I’d ask you about October. What are you most looking forward to? Do you have any special goals? How is this season settling in to your bones?

 

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and so we are, community 6 Comments

October 9, 2016

For We Continue

There comes a point in every waiting season where we face an internal struggle. Where there is faith living and breathing, there is a fight taking place. The fight is to believe, to keep our eyes open and looking to Jesus, to press on in what’s before us while we wait and hope for something marked for the future. And during these seasons of waiting, there are questions we start to ask in our heart – of ourselves and of God.

Do I believe He is who He says He is? Do I trust Him to do what He’s said He will do? Will I call Him good today, while I’m living in this season? Will I call Him good tomorrow and next month and a year from now, should the season continue?

How long will my wait be? Are you still moving and working in this thing? Do you see my struggle as clearly as you see the days I persevere? Did you change your mind? How do I know that you’re going to do this? When will I be on the other side of this?

These are the “how long, O Lord” moments.

These are the moments where you want to trust the Lord, but faith is wearing thin like fabric that’s been hit by the sun in the same place over time. Still there, but beginning to wear.

The beauty in these moments is that our questions draw us to Jesus. When we begin to ask things that only God can answer, it carries us straight back to Him. It ushers us into engaging in another conversation with Him, one that is needed for our faith to grow.

Abraham was no stranger to this. He was promised a child, among other things, as he set out on a holy adventure with God. His “how long, O Lord” moment happens in Genesis 15. He approaches the Lord with his questions and his doubt, engaging in a conversation about the waiting and the trusting: “O Lord God, what will you give me, for I continue childless…” The phrase, “for I continue childless” is also translated in this passage to “for I shall die childless.” At this point in his life, Abraham believed he wouldn’t have what He heard the Lord tell him he would have. He didn’t think the Lord would follow through with the promise.

For I continue.

God, I’m still waiting. I continue. I am still longing. I continue. Lord, what will you give me?

I love that God is big enough to shoulder our questions. His response to Abraham is both firm – reiterating the promise He made to him, correcting his doubt back over to belief – and gentle – engaging in the conversation with kindness. He guides Abraham to look up. He does the same for us.

We don’t look at what is missing. We don’t look at what’s not held in hand. We don’t look at our feet as we shuffle ahead. The Lord is our Shepherd, we shall not want. We look up, to the God who sees us, knows us and cannot be anything less than faithful to His character and His Word.

We look up. We carry on those conversations with Him in our waiting. We ask the questions that lie heavy on our hearts in times of struggle. We confess where we’re lacking in faith, and let Him lead us back to truth and remind us of who He is. We remember what He has done for us in the past, keep our hope in Him for the future, and engage with what He sets before us in the present.

We trust the Lord – with our questions, with our desires, with the promises He’s given us and the things we’re believing Him for. We trust Him enough to turn to Him with all of it – our present and our future. We trust that our continuing doesn’t mean we’ll never see the other side.

We look up and we keep looking up, trusting Him all the while. For we continue, but we do not do so alone. For we continue, but we continue with help and with hope.

 

 

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October 5, 2016

Being Single

Hi, my name is Kristin, and I’m single.

When I say I’m single, I mean I’m single.

Actually, sometimes I like to say that I’m the “singlest of the single.” (As if there were such a thing.)

See, I don’t have a boyfriend and I’m not currently dating.

I’m simply single.
And it may surprise you to know,
I’m okay with it.

I was at an event once where a bunch of single, Christian young women were gathered in a room together. The gathering had every intention of being encouraging, and for many of those girls I’m sure it was. But for me? It was a little confusing. Because there seemed to be a cloud of discouragement in the room, a weariness of sorts, and even a twinge of bitterness peppered in at times. I found that I couldn’t quite relate to the depth of heaviness and sadness I felt coming from the room. Because to me, being single wasn’t a burden to be endured for a season until God saw fit to grace me with a husband. I didn’t feel like I was lacking or less than or so full of longing that I couldn’t deal anymore. I didn’t feel incomplete or impatient, even though I did (and still do, for the record) desire to be married.

Not long after, I processed the experience more fully with the Lord. I felt a nudge to start sharing my heart as a single woman who follows Jesus. It felt like I was being led to begin sharing what it looks like for me to be single, diving into heart issues like motivations, focus, and flat-out faith. I felt like I was meant to share the perspective I’d been given and encourage those walking the world of being single, just as I was.

That realization was a few years ago now, and I’ve had a few opportunities to share and speak on being single since then. There have been plenty a conversation in coffee shops, with both single and married friends. (We tend to laugh a lot in those.) There have been fairly impromptu gatherings of single women where I’ve felt led to share an encouraging word. There has even been a speaking engagement or two mixed in there, all from the perspective of being single, if not outright about it.

And now I’m bringing that conversation to these pages. I’ll be sharing my heart, my opinions and experiences, truth from God’s Word, resources I find helpful, and stories that may make you laugh or simply say a heartfelt, “me, too.” My hope in this on-going series is that it will be an encouragement, whether you’re currently struggling with being single or loving every minute of it.

In this space, your heart is welcome and honored. In this space, your feelings are acknowledged and allowed to be fully sat in for a spell. In this space, truth will be shared and hearts will be on sleeves, because the struggle is real for all of us, at one time or another, but we don’t have to shoulder any of it alone.

This is being single.
Let’s walk in it together.

 

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July 11, 2016

Coffee Date | Number 01

I’m taking a seat at the table for the Coffee Dates series with Erin Salmon & Amber Thomas. Let’s get cozy with a cup of our beverage of choice and chat for a bit.

If we were on a coffee date, I’d probably be drinking hot tea, even though the humidity is high and the weather warm here in Kentucky. If we wanted to sit outside, though, I’d go for an iced tea latte. It would be a toss up over an iced chai latte with soy milk or an iced green tea latte with coconut milk. No matter what, my order is coming up tea. Always.

If we were on a coffee date, I’d tell you that my favorite tea is Bewley’s Gold Blend, a black tea from Ireland. I had it for the first time on my visit to Dublin in 2011, and since then I’ve been enjoying it almost every morning for years. You can find it at international stores, on Amazon, and sometimes in local coffee shops. I drink mine with a splash of unsweetened vanilla almond milk and it’s so rich and smooth!

lattes

If we were on a coffee date, I’d ask you how your heart is after the tragedies of the last week. I’d tell you how my own heart turned, sick and saddened, at each unfolding tragedy, and how I dove in to hashtags and my friends’ posts to listen, to learn, to gain new perspective. I’d tell you it took me over an hour to write and share the simplest Facebook post with my friends, fighting the tensions of finding the words and being brave enough to say them. I’d ask you if you were able to watch the IF:Gathering Unity discussion, Priscilla Shirer’s Periscope, “Talking and praying”, or my friend Retha’s Journey to Balance podcast episode about Latasha Morrison’s call to racial reconciliation within the Church body. I’d tell you that my eyes welled up, my throat got a little tight, and my heart was moved when a simple text message to one of my black friends to say I loved her and was praying for her on Thursday was received with such deep gratitude and kindness. I’d confess that I noticed a deeper level of the whiteness of my world, and started processing with the Lord what to do about it. I would tell you I’ve been studying Romans 12 and it’s so timely; that my pastor was preaching from the book of Judges yesterday, but intentionally turned there and encouraged us to be the Church as pictured in that passage and my heart rejoiced. I’d confess that I logged off of my social media (except for Snapchat, which I put in its own category for some reason) for the weekend and tell you it was so refreshing for my soul.

If we were on a coffee date, I’d tell you how much I love learning about prayer. I’ve been diving in to prayer with the Lord lately, and it’s been so sweet. He’s been showing me how well He can handle my whole being – each and every feeling, thought, confession, and request. He’s been leading me into a greater intentionality with it – praying for friends via the U.S. Postal Service, sending prayer texts, processing life with Him in prayer privately inside of my journal, praying through His Word. As I read books on prayer and continue in the Word, I feel like my soul is expanding and being filled all at the same time. It’s beautiful.

If we were on a coffee date, I’d confess that I’ve had random bouts of body image issues over the last week. After a month of being sick – of not moving much and of eating ice cream (because when you’re sick, what’s better than ice cream?) – I find myself feeling “puffy” off and on and struggling to fit into certain pieces of clothing that used to fit just fine. I’d confess that I know the insecurity is a lie and I’m actually quite lovely. I know I am fearfully and wonderfully made, knit together in the image of God. I know this. But even still, I’ve had to pray against the thoughts that bubble up about shorts that don’t want to button comfortably right now, photos where I think I have “fat-face,” and whether or not it’s okay for me to eat a cookie when I’m trying to bounce back to my healthier lifestyle. I’d also tell you that I ate the cookie – two others, even – and had no regrets. That I looked at the photos again this morning and didn’t see “fat-face” but the light in my eyes and joy in my smile. That I’ve been practicing yoga, going for walks, eating my veggies, taking vitamins, and doing my best to stay healthy. I’d tell you that the best thing I think we can do when we feel insecure is to run to the Father in prayer and confess all our junk and let Him wrap us in truth and in love.

If we were on a coffee date and you asked me to share three things I’m hoping to do this summer, I’d say: dive deep into my local community, develop a consistent yoga practice again, and downsize my belongings. I’ve already done a few rounds of purging, but I’m hoping to tackle my closet, clothing, and desk area again. I feel the need to have less lately. My yoga practice is my primary goal for Do Summer 2016 (the secondary one is writing). So far I’ve completed almost three hours of practice (in just over a week), and it’s felt so wonderful to get back to it! As far as community goes, I’m being more intentional with people – making sure I’m at church gatherings, going to community group, initiating time with friends, and saying yes to being with others when I can. Community is important to me, and I want my life to reflect that.

 

If we were on a coffee date,
what would you say?

 

 

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and so we are, community 8 Comments

May 17, 2016

Down the 99 | My First Visit to California [Part Two]

Next on my visit to California, I rented a car to drive five hours down the 99 to meet my friend, Makenzie! I really enjoy road trips, even when I’m by myself. It’s a good time for me to process and unwind. This time was no different! I loved the beautiful scenery I drove by the entire trip, and with some of my favorite podcasts to listen to, the drive seemed pretty short!

Photo Mar 08, 8 14 48 PM (1)

Bakersfield

Makenzie has been a friend of mine for a few years now! We also first met online, and she became my first ever virtual assistant client. When I made it to Bakersfield, I was able to tag along on one of her high school senior photo shoots and it was at a gorgeous location! I loved being in the mountains and in an orange grove and watching her do her thing! 🙂

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I felt like a lot of my time in Bakersfield revolved around food, but let’s be honest – I didn’t mind that one bit! 😉 I was able to experience my first In-N-Out burger, which I was quite excited about. It was pretty delicious! Plus, the kind employees gave me a fun little hat and some In-N-Out stickers when Makenzie told them it was my first time. 🙂

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I was also able to visit Dewar’s Candy Shop with Makenzie and her husband, William. Dewar’s has been around since 1909! It’s a really cute place with just the right vibe for ice cream and candy. I loved how colorful everything was – especially the pink seats! I ordered a Black and White, one of their classic sundaes that’s a mix of vanilla ice cream and hot fudge with chocolate ice cream and marshmallow. So. Good. Rich, but good! Dewar’s also makes really delicious taffy, which you can even order online! Makenzie sent me some as a gift once and the taffy chews are pretty amazing. 🙂

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Wind Wolves Preserve

I didn’t just eat my way through Bakersfield, though. Makenzie and a friend took me to Wind Wolves Preserve one day for a few hours of hiking and taking in the beauty of the area. It was one of my favorite parts of my entire trip! I hadn’t packed any workout gear, but luckily some jeggings, boots and my Persimmon Prints tank did the trick just fine. 😉

The preserve is absolutely stunning. It was a perfect day to visit – blue sky, warm air, and cool breezes. I loved it!

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We walked one of the trails for quite some time… until we heard loud buzzing. It was coming from in between some trees that covered the next portion of the trail. Bees. A lot of bees. Makenzie wanted to charge ahead, but I wasn’t so sure that was a good idea. (I don’t really “do” bees. As Makenzie’s shirt said that day – “Nope!”) I had already started to turn around when Makenzie was stung – in the face! It was crazy. Luckily, Makenzie’s friend wasn’t as freaked by the incident as I was, and she pulled the stinger out of poor Makenzie’s cheek. We turned around after that – and informed a park ranger that there were a lot of bees hanging out over in that area.

Other than that incident, the day there was so lovely. It felt good to enjoy God’s creation for awhile. I love the mountains, and I don’t get to experience them often living in Kentucky. So the preserve was a nice treat for me! 🙂

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Los Angeles

The last place I visited on my trip was Los Angeles, where I was going to be flying out of my last night in California. Makenzie drove us there, and we were able to have some good chat time in the car together. We went to see the Hollywood sign first, up by Griffith Observatory. Surprise, surprise – it was raining that day! 😉 I’m convinced that I was carrying the rain with me everywhere I went, but that was hardly enough to stop us and we still had a good time. We went from the observatory to downtown, and I saw quite a bit from the car. We stopped to visit the Chinese Theater and stars on the Walk of Fame, then had some lunch at the mall.

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From there, we drove over to see my good friend, Suzy, at her house. I try to visit her anytime she’s in Kentucky – where she’s originally from and where she and her husband, Lukas, run a wedding venue – but it was so special to be able to see her home and spend time with her there! We caught up on life over tea and it was so sweet.

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The VanDyke family even got me a “welcome to L.A.” gift – which their little man, Wilder, was eager to give me! It was one of the amazing leather travel wallets from their new company, Wild and Free Supply. Lukas and Suzy lived in Honduras for a few months and while there, they created this company to provide jobs for the people of Honduras. It’s pretty incredible and I was so glad to hear about it from them in person! And I use my wallet all the time now. It’s so convenient – and really beautiful!

But my favorite part of our time together was when Suzy asked Makenzie and me if we could pray together. We gathered in her bedroom, and with the door closed we spent time intentionally praying over one another and the things we’d been able to talk about since we’d been in her home. I’ll be honest – I ugly cried. There is just something so beautiful and so powerful about prayer with friends. I’m grateful that I have the kind of friends in my life that will take the time to pray with and for me!

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Makenzie and I made one last stop before the airport – and that was to the LA County Museum of Art. We wanted to see The Rain Room, but it said online that it was entirely sold out of tickets! When we arrived, though, we asked anyway… and as luck would have it, two spots had just opened up! So we snatched them up and were able to experience The Rain Room. You walk into a dark room where it’s “raining” from the ceiling. When you walk into the rain area, the water falls around you, but not on you. Pretty neat! I, unfortunately, was wearing mostly black at the time – and dark colors are not recommended – so I got a little bit rained on. 🙂 But I still enjoyed it, and Makenzie got a photo of me doing one of my yoga poses!

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It was a great way to end my trip to California! Food, community, nature, and plenty of tourist-y moments for good measure made for a pretty good trip. 🙂 Next time I visit, I’ll take much of the same in terms of seeing friends and exploring, but I’d love to go to Yosemite and hopefully see some more sun. 😉

Have you been to California? What would be on your must-do list for your next trip?

 

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May 16, 2016

In Rain or Shine| My First Visit to California [Part One]

I had my first opportunity to go to California in March.

A friend from high school was getting married and my older sister and I were invited to go. Then we found out a movie that one of my younger sisters worked on was being premiered at a film festival in the same city on the same weekend. It seemed too perfectly orchestrated to pass up! So off we went… for my first trip to California!

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The wedding took place in Saratoga at Hakone Estate and Gardens, a traditional Japanese garden. It poured the entire time, but thankfully a tent was in place. The rain made beautiful background noise for their ceremony, and hot tea was available to help keep us nice and warm. (You know I was a fan of that! 😉 ) After the ceremony, my sister and I walked around the gardens a bit, despite the rain. It was beautiful! I’d love to go back and visit sometime when it’s sunny. 🙂

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My sister, Jessica, our friend, Sarah, her new husband, Alvin, and myself at the reception.

The movie premiere at the San Jose film festival, Cinequest, was the next day and really fun! We were able to meet some of the actors and crew of the film my sister worked on in Cincinnati, Josephine Doe. The movie is a psychological drama filmed entirely in black and white. It’s really captivating and explores mental health and trauma in a unique way. If you happen to get the chance to see it – I’d recommend it! After the premiere, we went out to a late dinner with the cast and crew to celebrate. 🙂

San Francisco

My sisters could only stay for the weekend due to their work schedules, so we spent most of Sunday exploring San Francisco. We visited Ghirardelli Square and Fisherman’s Wharf, saw the Painted Ladies, and drove through many areas of the city, including Chinatown. It wasn’t the sunniest of days, but the rain did hold off until we were almost done visiting the Golden Gate Bridge! That was my favorite part of our day in San Francisco. I loved being by the water and walking on such an iconic structure. Running or biking across the bridge may have to be added to my bucket list! 🙂 My second favorite thing would probably have been the spontaneous karaoke of a group of guys at the bar we ate dinner at in the city that night. They burst out singing “I Want It That Way” by The Backstreet Boys at one point and it was pretty hilarious. The nachos I ate were pretty good, too! 😉

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I parted ways with my sisters at SFO and met up with my friend, Catie. She lives outside of San Francisco and graciously allowed me to stay with her for a couple of nights! We met online awhile back, but this was the most time we’ve been able to spend together in person. It was so much fun! We laughed together a lot and had some good conversations, too. Catie is also a wonderful baker and gluten free like me – so I was treated to the best scones I’ve had in ages!

Monterrey and Carmel-by-the-Sea

Catie wanted to show me around a little bit, and I mentioned a friend in Palo Alto suggested I visit Monterrey. So the next day, we went on a day trip! It was raining on the drive down, but in Monterrey it was lovely! We had a delicious lunch of mahi mahi tacos at El Torito, a Mexican restaurant overlooking the ocean. The restaurant provided binoculars and our table was right by the large windows. I was able to see an otter munching away as he floated on the waves! I loved it. From there, we did some walking and talking and got some tea… and even stumbled upon Disney Press meeting for Finding Dory in a hotel! We drove to Carmel-by-the-Sea as well, and enjoyed a windy, but relaxing walk on the beach as we took in the sights.

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More on the second half of my trip to California – Bakersfield, Wind Wolves Preserve, and Los Angeles – will be here soon! 🙂

 

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May 9, 2016

Strawberry Fields & Friendship

If I can get myself to Nashville, I do.

It’s not because the city has a unique vibe and so much to offer. I go to Nashville because my friend, Kathleen – my Tennessee bestie, is there. Sure, I can expect to have brunch, do a little exploring of the city, and see new sites with her. But that’s just icing. I am perfectly content with the cake – to sit on her couch and talk heart-speak with her as we drink water out of mason jars. To catch up on a walk with her wee man in the stroller, even if we struggle to find any shade. To settle in and see how we’re doing in ways Snapchat, text messages and phone calls can’t quite touch in the same way.

So on my way home from a Chattanooga retreat, I took the long way home – through Nashville. I sat on Kathleen’s couch with her for hours and walked her neighborhood in the brightest of sun. And I enjoyed every minute of it.

At one point, Kathleen suggested we go pick strawberries – and so we did!

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With her wee man nestled in the backseat, we made our way outside of Nashville to Castalian Springs, Tennessee. Kelley’s Berry Farm is there and was our destination for gathering strawberries on a warm Sunday evening. The farm offers strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, raspberries, and peaches. Strawberry season is normally through May and June; but with the warm weather, they were able to open early. I’m so glad they did!

It was beautiful out there – row after row of strawberries under a bright blue sky. With Wee Man wrapped up against his mama, Kathleen and I walked the rows and plucked the strawberries that were just the right shade of red. We sampled one each and oh, were they as good as they looked! There’s something about being farm-fresh, you know? 🙂

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Of course, both of us having photography backgrounds, we needed to stop and snap a few photos of our little adventure. I took a few of Kathleen and Wee Man, and she took a few of me. It felt nice to do some impromptu portraits again!

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And-So-We-Are-Blog-Kristin-Ungerecht-strawberry-field-nashville-tennessee-kelleys-berry-farm-castilian-springs-009 I’m hoping that next time I visit, it will still be fruit-picking season. There’s something so relaxing about walking those rows and finding little treasures! And hey, if you’re ever in the Nashville area, head out to Kelley’s Berry Farm and see what delicious fruit you can pick yourself. 🙂

 

 

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May 6, 2016

Whatever My Lot (It Is Well)

We sang It Is Well at my grandma’s funeral. It was the day before Mother’s Day; the day after my grandpa’s birthday. It was a heavy day, but one with two hands lifted full of hope.

We sat in hard-backed pews in a small-town church called Maranatha (“Our Lord is Coming”). Dressed in black, we, my grandmother’s legacies, filled the church’s center aisle, pew after pew. The eight children of her own. Most of their children’s children. Some of their children’s children.

I couldn’t sing Amazing Grace. I wanted to, but my voice was lost- choked out by a lump in my throat. God, you are good. Your grace, it is amazing. But my voice is struggling to sing right now.

I let it be, listening to the other voices raising up in the church in solemn tones and wobbling sound. I listened to the preacher talk about my grandma’s life- Bible studies taught, children reared, a husband loved for over fifty years. They read her favorite Bible passages, and words of many mansions in the Father’s house filled the chapel.

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Then it came: her favorite hymn.

When peace like a river attendeth my way; when sorrows like sea billows roll…

It was hard, but by the grace of God, I could sing this song. My voice rose and mingled with those of my family, a small choir of legacy and love, as though we had practiced the way it should sound. Full and rounded out. Heart-felt. In grief and weakness, but somehow strong and assured.

It is well with my soul. It is well. It is well with my soul.

Four months later, I found myself in a hotel conference room full of women redeemed by the Lord. I went in with my heavy and my hurt after a season of walking through difficult things. There He told me to rest and receive.

The last night of our gathering, we gathered to praise and to worship. The set list contained kisses from heaven, songs through which the Lord had already spoken to me throughout the year, played while He caught my tears, and used to settle my spirit and give comfort time and again.

Through it all, through it all – my eyes are on you. Through it all, through it all, it is well…

Where at my grandma’s funeral we sang traditionally, piano keys pressed down in a practiced flow, here we sang a modern worship adaptation. Still, the words and the heart of the song remained.

Despite my hurt, despite my heavy – God, through it all, I am yours. And it is well with my soul.

As I sat on the floor, legs crossed over one another, I let the Lord do a work in me. I worshipped Him, holding out my heavy with open hands. Let me carry you – the words He whispered tenderly to my heart. In surrender, in trust, in relief, I sang:

It is well with my soul. It is well. It is well with my soul…

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Six months later, I sat settled on my bedroom floor, looking out my window. That’s where we tend to meet, He and I. I had Spanish worship music playing and a song caught my attention…

Estoy bien. Gloria a Dios! Tengo paz en my ser – gloria a Dios!

It Is Well – a song written in the deep heartache and grief of a father who lost his family, now a humble battlecry for so many in their own pain. As I let myself translate the words and focus in, I realized the literal translation. It was so beautiful. Same heart. Same praise to our Father. Same surrender.

I am good. Glory to God! I have peace in my soul – glory to God!

And through it all, with eyes and heart fixed on Jesus, My God, My Savior… it is true. Though my circumstances ebb and flow, even when they are far from good, I am good in Jesus’ name. Glory to God can spring from my lips and dance in my heart because He is my hope, my peace, my very song.

I have peace in my soul because it is made new – and being continually renewed day by day – by the Prince of Peace. I can reach out my hand to His light and touch the power of His presence. He fills me with the fruit of His Spirit, with grace and the kindness that leads my heart to humble repentance, with steadfast and unyielding love that conquers and casts away all fear.

Yes, it is well with my soul.
I am good. Glory to God!

 

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I'm Kristin: a tea-drinking, Jesus-loving story-teller living life in Indianapolis. A brave heart bursting out of a shy shell, I believe in chasing after Jesus into bold adventures, even when it seems crazy. I recommend doing so while wearing bright lipstick.

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