New Year

I feel like my life in 2011 has been a lot like this Dr. Seuss book.  2011 was quite the monumental year for me with non-stop changes, hardships, blessings, and excitement. This entry gives you a snapshot of my life this past year...

Love...
Trevor and I continued our long-distance relationship into the new year.  We managed to see one another every other weekend, thanks to Southwest Airlines! We are so thankful for our friend's and family's support of our relationship and helping us see each other as often as we did.

Ocotillo Wells, CA

Mt. Rainier, WA

San Diego, CA

El Dorado Hills, CA

Celebrations...
Spring was filled with engagement parties and wedding planning! Our lives, along with our family's lives were consumed with wedding planning and crafts during our 6 month engagement.

Bridal Shower in El Dorado Hills, CA

Wedding Shower in San Diego, CA

Bachelorette Party in Palm Springs, CA

Health...
Two weeks before our wedding, I went to the dermatologist for a routine check up and had a suspicious mole removed.  The doctor informed me that the skin removed was malignant melanoma and I had to have more layers of tissue removed from the surrounding area to make sure that there isn't any more cancer.  This was a very frightening thing to go through by myself.  Trevor was in Seattle and my parents were in Sacramento.  I had to put on my big girl pants and be brave throughout the coping and stress of knowing I have skin cancer.  Thankfully, my mother-in-law was a tremendous support system to me, and I am so grateful to have had her by my side throughout surgery.  Nine stitches later, I was cancer free and my lifestyle of tanning and playing in the sunshine has changed forever.

An 8mm mole turned into a 2 inch scar...

Wedding...
June 11, 2011 marked the most special, beautiful, and significant day of my life.  I married my prince charming, man of my dreams, my better half, my best friend-- Trevor Stevenson.  We were married at a beautiful estate in San Diego and celebrated with 140 of our closest family and friends. The night couldn't have been more perfect!

 

After the wedding, we went on our honeymoon to Maui! There, we were able to let our brains rest from all of the wedding planning and relax for the big move to come.  It was so much fun experiencing the island with Trevor; from road trips, hikes, zip-lining, and snorkeling, it was a great vacation!

 

Washington...
The day after we returned from our honeymoon, we were on the road to Washington.  Since Trevor's job is located in Washington, we were on our way to begin our new life in a new state together.  Life up here has been an adjustment, but we are slowly starting to settle into a groove. Shortly after moving, we got a puppy and named him Brody.  He's pretty dang cute! I also started a new job in the hospitality industry as a Convention Sales Manager, bringing convention business to Bellevue.  Though we miss family and friends, life in Washington is good.

New Home

Brody!

Zac Brown Band Concert @ The Gorge

4th of July in Tacoma

Seattle Gum Wall

Hiking Wallace Falls

Pumpkin Patch

Our Family

Friends...
Every year it seems that my friendships either get closer or more distant.  This year was very eye-opening to me regarding friends and who appreciate my friendship as much as I appreciate theirs.  Throughout the engagement, the wedding, the move, and the life changes, I have discovered who my true friends are, and have learned to weed out the ones who do not reciprocate the effort.  It is very liberating to have found true gems that will stick by you throughout all of the waves of life and who I can rely on at the drop of a dime.  I am so grateful and blessed to have the friends I do today.

Travels...
Since living up here, we have been able to go home to see our family and friends!  For Thanksgiving we visited my hometown, El Dorado Hills, where both our families enjoyed a wonderful week together.  The following weekend we visited San Diego to see all of our friends and catch some sunshine! Our hearts are truly with our family and friends, and both of these trips was the best way for us to end our BIG year. 

Thanksgiving with our Families

San Diego, Like Old Times!

Miss my girls! (You too, Nicole & Tarah!)

2012...
What's in store for us in 2012? For starters, we have finally found a "home" church up here.  We are very excited to be involved in a church community and get to know more people.  Trevor and I are also very prayerful that we have direction on what's next in our life; where we will live, work, and family choices.  We want to be closer to family and friends before we truly decide to "settle down."  Babies might be on the agenda for 2012, but again, this is something we are praying about and it all depends on God's perfect timing.  God has kept his promises for us so far, so we all we need to do is continue trusting in him and listening to his guidance.  We look forward to another amazing year.  Cheers to 2012!

Revolving Door

I had an awakening moment doing something so simple yesterday…

There is this sandwich place I like to go to in Bellevue that is located inside an office building.  To get inside the building, there is a revolving door and two side doors.  Each side door, though unlocked, has a “Please Use Revolving Door” sign on it.  I’ve never used the revolving door because it’s too slow and the side doors are so much quicker to get in and out of when I’m in my normal “hurried” mode.   

So yesterday, as usual, I used the side door to enter the building, grabbed my sandwich and upon walking towards the side doors to exit, I noticed there were people having conversations near them, thus blocking a straight path to my exit.  I was forced to use the revolving door.  As I entered, I vividly remember thinking, “Ugh, these doors are so annoying, why do they even make these?”  Just as that thought passed and as I was walking in the revolving door, it hit me.  For the 5 seconds I was inside the rotation, I could think perfectly clear; I had a God moment.  I realized how fast paced I am going in everyday life, and how necessary it was to slow down.  To walk through a revolving door, you can’t race, you have to take your time; step by step.  I felt a sense of calm, stillness, and could hear my thoughts. 

As soon as I exited the door, I almost wished to have that moment of stillness back.  It really opened my mind to how quickly life can go 100mph and how easy it is to just keep going, going, and going.  I am so thankful for that moment in the revolving door; having a God moment.  I will now take the revolving door when given the opportunity to.

Happy.

"Being happy doesn't mean everything is perfect.  It means you've decided to look beyond the imperfections." ~Unknown

If I had read this quote a week ago, I would have found any excuse to try to dismiss the validity of it.  But today, as I read this, it makes perfect sense and I couldn't agree more; Life isn't perfect... my life isn't perfect... But I am happy.

Sometimes, when you face changes in life, it's easier to dwell on the past instead of the direction you are heading.  I have been struggling with change of direction ever since we moved to Washington.  I have wanted everything to be perfect in our life right away.  Trust me, there is nothing more jading than wanting perfection in life; it just doesn't happen.

This past week, I have realized that perfection isn't realistic.  We aren't going to have the perfect friends, the perfect church, the perfect weather, the perfect finances, or the perfect jobs within the first few months of moving here... but in due time, everything will fall into place.   Now, the key is finding happiness throughout all of the imperfections- or the changes.  It's time to grasp the changes and realize that they aren't going away... I have to evolve and adapt to these changes. I know that God doesn't give me more than I can handle, so why am I doubting Him?

With this new outlook, I am back; Kristen is back.  This past week I have felt so much more awake and grateful for everything in my life.  I am focusing on the positives rather than the negatives, and I am finding not only my marriage growing, but my friendships and relationships with others building too.  I am finding that we will be okay living life up here in Washington, even if it's not temporary.   God is opening my eyes to the beauty of where Trevor and I are at in our life.  We are alone, relying on one another, and building a new life for ourselves.  God is entrusting us to build a life together; to rely on each other and rely on God.  What a compliment!  

Choosing to be happy has become a no-brainer for me, and I pray that I can continue to be optimistic as the changes come rolling in throughout our life. I am so thankful for those who have stuck by me during the unhappy moments of the past few months, you are all blessings!

November

November... November is my absolute FAVORITE month of the year!  November is the month that kicks off the holiday season, brings back so many memories, and it REALLY feels like Autumn!

Life up in Washington over the past month has definitely been better and eye opening for me.  For starters, I have realized that I need to find a new job.  It's not that my current job is horrible, but I am unfulfilled.  I feel that I am not using the gifts of service and teaching that God has given me that I am stuck in the hospitality industry.  My ideal job would be to teach, however, timing isn't great to go through the 10 months of non-paid time to get my teaching credential.  After talking with several people about my passions, I have been encouraged to seek out non-profit organizations working with children. There are a few jobs I have found with non-profit organizations that I have applied to and I am finding that more and more opportunities are out there.  I am actually EXCITED to find something new that I can be passionate about going to everyday.

I have been really struggling with happiness since moving up here, and I am beginning to shift into the mindset of counting my blessings in Washington which has been making my days a little brighter. Trevor and I have been growing together as well.  He has been incredibly supportive of me and encourages me to do what makes me happy.  I am so thankful for a husband that makes me laugh!

I am prayerful that November will be one of the best months since moving up here!  We have so many exciting things coming up and I am excited to see what November brings with family, friends, and life!

Creating Traditions

Pumpkin Day 2011

Autumn is in the air and it's time for pumpkin carving and baking!  October 2011 marks the new family tradition of "Pumpkin Day!"

Pumpkin Day is a day where we do festive Autumn activities such as pumpkin carving, baked mac 'n cheese, pumpkin zucchini muffins, and pumpkin chocolate chip cookies!

After searching for mine, I found it!

Trevor found his pumpkin right away!

Trevor being Trevor...

 Carving Time... 

 

Ewwww!

Yum!

 

Our Pumpkins!