It's 12:30 so Happy New Year's Eve!  I went and saw that movie The Forgotten today.  It wasn't really what I was expecting, but it was good.  I would recommend it.  After the movie, a bunch of my church friends came over, and we played two of my new games.  I got this game "Marry, Date or Dump," which is hilarious!  You draw a card and say who on the card you'll marry, who you'll date and who you'll dump.  It was fun.  Then, we played Catch Phrase.  That's probably my favorite game!

I'm in a really happy mood.  My Christmas break has been so great just relaxing and catching up with old friends.  Did you notice I've added like 10 names to my subscriptions list just this week?  Yeah, people are jumping on board, and I'm loving it!  To all my friend, old and new, love you and (if I haven't seen you lately) miss you!

Christen

P.S. Wanna see a crazy picture of the tsunami? Go to: TubaKing

This has been an incredible year.  I didn't want to be like everyone else and have a list, but here it goes.

~ I got to watch the Chicago Bulls lose to the wonderful Dallas Mavericks!
~ I threw together a Valentine's party for my single small group girls that was a big hit! And my friend Andrea got engaged that night!
~ I learned the importance of prayer and so many lessons on how to be a leader, how to be led, how to have patience, and how to overcome loneliness by falling in love with Christ.
~ My aunt got married, and I got to be a maid of honor!!
~ I went on a missions trip to Chicago that was not only one of the funnest weeks of my life, but it was also an incredible experience of servanthood and humility.
~ I learned the meaning of love by watching my small group girls.  They taught me who I am and who I could be. (I miss them so much.)
~ I spent a few weeks thinking I was being tortured by collecting props for Coram Deo only to discover it was a humbling and fun time.
~ I graduated my first year of Master's Commission and really knew that I had given my very best.
~ I finished my 1st semester back at school with all A's!
~ I found new friendships and deeper relationships with my family that I've never known before.

This has been an incredible year.  I'm so thankful for the places I've been, the people I have grown to know, and the love of Christ that is ever-present in my heart.

To all my Rockford friends, I miss you so much. Every day I am thankful for the 9 months God gave me there.  I love you.

Christen

 

Well, Christmas has come and gone...sorta.  We don't have our Christmas with my mom's side of the family until tomorrow night, so I'm still celebrating!  Time with my Dad's family was a lot of fun.  We sang some Christmas songs and some old hymns, which was funny.  I really love my family.  Then, Santa delivered my stocking as usual, but when I awoke Christmas morning, it was full of switches (if you don't know, ask me).  I, somewhat disappointed, knew there had to be an explanation.  And there was.  My cousin became a little mischievious at 4 in the morning.  And the contents of my stocking were found later.  :)  Well, Christmas may be over, but the new year has yet to begin!

Christen

Merry Christmas Eve!  I'm at my grandparents so Christmas is HERE!  I may not be around for the next few days, so have a wonderful Christmas!  I love you all.

Christen

Well, new pic you can see.  I'm really going to work on getting an even better one, but this one is definitely better than the 3 I've had.  You can at least see my face.  Today was a funny day.  My little brother had his 3 friends over, and they played war in our house.  2 used my parents' room as a fort and 2 used Scott's room.  It was hilarious.

Merry Christmas Eve Eve!

Christen

A man entered into my life again today in the form of a small silver circle we call DVDs.  I sat in glee with a big goofy grin on my face as I soaked in the wonderfulness that is better known as Napolean Dynamite.

Christen

Tonight, I'm feeling very introspective.  Lots of thoughts, feelings, and emotions.  I try to be somewhat reserved on this site since anybody can read it, but it seems like a place that I can talk freely, and then the reader decides whether to read it.

Life has not become what I planned.  In junior high, I mapped out exactly what I wanted: cosmetology school after high school to pay for college, 4 years straight through college, get married at 19, have kids at 26.  Isn't it funny what has become?  I never considered cosmetology, I took a (wonderful) year off college, I'm not even dating, and who knows when I'll have kids.

My two best friends have an incredible relationship.  Tonight, I just sat in awe at their interaction.  They've been dating since my senior prom and know each other completely.  Is it so bad that I want that, too?  Do I mean tomorrow or even next year?  No, but eventually.

Life is really good; don't get me wrong.  I loved Rockford.  I miss it daily.  College is a blast, and I have the coolest roommates.  My family is so amazing.  And it's so nice being home for break.  I have awesome friends.  I just spent several hours with 3 of my closest.  I'm a blessed person.

Sorry for my ramblings, and thank you to those who read this.  I love you all.

Christen

Haha!  I feel like a teenager again.  Tonight, I took my little brother and two of his friends rolling (i.e. wrapping, TPing or tiolet papering).  It was so much fun!  I don't want to incriminate myself so I won't say who we rolled, but just know...I had a personal connection to the house that was hit, and it felt good!!  We bought like 75 rolls and used about half on the first house.  I took two pictures.  Then we hit another house but got caught.  This boy came running out and chased my brother around the block.  He told Scott to clean it up.  He thought it was the dad and said okay.  I told Scott it was just some punk kid, and we sped off.  :)  Hehe   It was a blast!

Christen

Hey, this has been a great week.  I got to hang out with my roommates, which was great.  They came to visit, and we definitely were lazy!  We hung out with my friend Ikey twice which was (as usual) a blast.  Happy Holidays my friends.

Christen

Home for the Holidays!

Tonight my family had our Christmas.  We always have it before the actual holiday because we go to my grandparents' houses on Christmas.  We ate chicken enchiladas and Christmas cake, opened presents, watched "A Charlie Brown Christmas" and played cards.  It was so much fun!  I have a great family.

Love you all and 15 days til Christmas!

Christen

I'M DONE!  Hallelujah!!  Today I turned in the last final.  What a great day!  I hung out with my roommate and our friend Andy all day.  We did some filming for his final.  Then at 5:30 we had the 1st JRBBP (i.e. Joint Room Bagel Bite Party).  It was hilarious.  The three of us made Bagel Bites and spaghetti and ate at a picnic table.  We ate and talked for 3 1/2 hours.  Then, we got permission to have him come play cards in our room, so Karissa, Angela, Andy and I played poker (no money, just chocolate chips, marshmallows and almonds) for an hour and a half.  It was a great time!

I just finished working on my costume for our church's Christmas party tomorrow night.  My small group got assigned the theme "games." We couldn't pick something normal; no, we are dominos!  haha  It really is going to be funny.  I need some more spray paint so I'll finish tomorrow.

Christen

4 finals down, 1 to go

The last final tomorrow is actually a take-home final that I haven't started.  :)  It's 128 questions long, and I haven't read any of the material.  Yeah, I'm a good student.  hehe

Everything here is great.  My mom came Friday and Saturday, and we shopped all day.  I finished my Christmas shopping.  Yea!  I've had a good couple of weeks.  It still seems a little surreal that semester is over.  Plus, this Friday my immediate family is having our Christmas.  We always have it early so we can celebrate with my grandparents on Christmas.

I'd better work on that test!

Christen