Crysten's Xanga

A little random fun thanks to Belly...

Tue, 13 Jan 2009 21:59:17 GMT

1. Where did you begin 2008?
Daniel's parents' house, partying with Mexicans. Five short days later, I became one of them!

2. What was your status by Valentines Day?
What is that supposed to mean? Married? At BDubs, becoming 164th in the nation at trivia.

3. Were you in school anytime this year?
Cake school! Courses one and two of Wilton's cake decorating class in October and November.

4. Did you have to go to the hospital?
Just for a CT Scan that told me nothing. I'm just a little bitter.

5. Did you have any encounters with the police?
I got pulled over once, but was let off with a warning. The guy was nice.

6. Where did you go on vacation?
Chicago for a Mini-moon and Mexico City for Christmas. Both were amazing!

7. What did you purchase that was over $100?
Daniel's birthday present (Chacos); Aaron and Julie's wedding present from Brent, Susan, Daniel and me; Furniture with wedding money; bridesmaids dress for Julie's and Kelli's weddings.

8. Did you know anybody who got married?
Me and Daniel, Belly and Andy, Stephanie and Mike, Jon and Anna, Aaron and Julie, Anna and Adam, Laura and Justin...Sadly, I feel like I'm missing someone.

9. Did you know anybody who passed away?
A couple people from the church that I work at, but never met. A former co-worker's wife/a current co-worker's mother. My fish Punto!

10. Did you move anywhere?
To Iowa. How sad.

11. What sporting events did you attend?
Twins game in May, and I think that's it. I thought I would have more.

12. What concerts/shows did you go to?
Wicked in Chicago

13. Describe your birthday.
Wonderful! Was taken to lunch by my co-workers and to supper by my amazing husband to a supper club that Al Capone used to go to when things got "hot" in Chicago.

14. What is the ONE thing you thought you would not do, but did, in 2008?
Get offered a second job at our church's District Office and work there.

15. What have been your favourite moments?
The weddings - Aaron and Julie's, where I cried the entire day. Experiencing Mexico City on Christmas eve with a traditional night. Violet's Baptism (and every memory with Violet).

16. Any new additions to your family?
Daniel et al, Sophie (our dog), Victor (our cat), Violet, Julie (officially)...and I think that's it!

17. What was your best month?
Man, if I don't say January (our wedding month), I'd feel terrible. But December was pretty amazing. Each of the months definitely had their strong points.

18. Who has been your best drinking buddy?
I haven't done a lot of drinking with buddies this year, so as sappy as it might sound, probably Daniel. I'll work on that for 2009.

19. Made new friends?
Katy and Matt, Stephanie and Mike, Melissa and Brad. Being in a completely new place, it's kind of mandatory.

20. Favorite Night out?
Everest on our Mini-moon. Mmmm...Everest... Or my birthday.

21. Other than home, where did you spend most of your time?
Probably the church I work at.

22. Have you lost any friends this year?
Definitely distanced from some, though I don't think any of them were on purpose.

23. Change your hairstyle?
Post-wedding chop off. Took off around 8 inches, and it felt good!

24. Have any car accidents?
We went into the ditch on interstate in the middle of the city, but no one was hurt, thank God!

25. How old did you turn this year?
23

26. Do you have a New Years resolution?
Respond to people sooner and make communicating a priority. Become more active.

27. Do anything embarrassing?
Probably, though nothing big comes to mind.

28. Buy anything from eBay?
Daniel's Christmas presents - a laptop backpack, 1987 Twins World Series on DVD and a DVD with highlights of 1987 and 1991 Twins World Series.

29. Get married or divorced?
Married. That doesn't happen every year.

30. Get hit on?
By an old guy at a bar with a friend who was turning 21.

31. Been snowboarding?
No! Snowboarding sucks! Unfortunately, I didn't ski either.

32. Did you get sick this year?
One cold that lasted probably 2 months. Does it count that I came down with the stomach flu less than 10 minutes before 2009? I certainly started the year off with a bang.

33. Are you happy to see 2008 go?
I am ready to continue with a life that I've been so incredibly happy with. 2008 was a good year, though.

34. Been naughty or nice?
Check.

35. What are you looking forward to most in 2009?
Kelli's wedding, moving potentials, potential trips.

36. What did you do in 2008 that you'd never done before?
Got married, was a maid of honor, was a bridesmaid, spent over $3000 in one place, got my own cat, became a God-Mother, took a cake decorating class.

37. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I don't think I really made one. I don't usually.

38. Did anyone close to you give birth?
My sister-in-law! Precious little Violet came into the world in May

39. What countries did you visit?
Canada and Mexico - Got all of North America covered!

40. What would you like to have in 2009 that you lacked in 2008?
A place to live that I'm happy in, more time with my family, more Minnesota.

41. What date(s) from 2008 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
January 5 – Our wedding, April 26 - Belly's wedding, May 24 - Violet's born-day, June 13 - Anna's wedding, July 12 - Aaron's wedding

42. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Becoming more content where I'm at. Learning about myself.

43. What was your biggest failure?
Becoming more of a negative person. Allowing the situation we live in to affect me as much as it does.

44. What was the best thing you bought?
Our furniture, Victor!!, Cake decorating classes/supplies,

45. Whose behavior merited celebration?
Daniel, I was so proud of him and the work he's done here at camp over the last year. Stephanie for VISION 2008. Aaron for getting his PhD.

46. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
A few people...won't mention names.

47. Where did most of your money go?
Weddings, weddings and more weddings.

48. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Violet, Stephanie and Andy's wedding, Aaron and Julie's wedding.

49. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder?
I'd say happier. It was wedding time last year, but the stress took over so much. Now I can just be content in our life!

ii. thinner or fatter?
Fatter. I fell off of the work-out/eat right wagon after I didn't have the pretty white dress to look forward to.

iii. richer or poorer?
Richer - combined incomes!

50. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Kept in touch with people

51. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Complain

52. How will you be spending Christmas?
We were in Mexico City with family

53. How would you describe the year overall, in five words or less?
Learning, busy, joyous, Wonderful.

54. Did you fall in love in 2008?
Every day with Daniel

55. How many one-night stands?
Z.E.R.O.

56. What was your favorite TV program?
Grey's and 24.

57. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
Specifically that I can think of, no.

58. What was the best book you read?
The Historian

59. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Wicked and Across the Universe

60. What did you want and get?
Married, a Cat, a niece, a sister-in-law

61. What did you want and not get?
A new place to live. That sounds snobby, but I can back it up.

62. What was your favorite film of this year?
Across the Universe, probably others.

63. What kept you sane?
Daniel, Belly, Victor.

64. What political issue stirred you the most?
The Franken/Coleman recount. The hatred and attacks of both sides in the presidential election.

65. Who was the best new person you met?
Stephanie

Home...

Mon, 13 Oct 2008 18:30:34 GMT

I know I don't blog here a lot anymore, but I had a random thought that I figured I would get down before it's too late...

I've been very surprised lately at how content I am driving some of the roads down here in Iowa. When I moved here after we were married, I never thought that I would get accustomed to things here, let alone have a somewhat complete feeling about being here. Nevertheless, as I drive the back roads between job #1 and job #2, I have been very...still. "Still" in that I know if we stay here for another year, I would be fine. And I would probably even feel some pangs of sadness in leaving once we do. Now, I doubt that I'd ever say I want to stay here and raise a family, but things are starting to be less mysterious, a bit more known and, little by little, before I knew it at all, almost like home.

Is it home? No. Daniel and I both consider home to be a state north of here; perhaps a state west of that. But it feels so good to be able to have had time to become Daniel and Crysten. That is, not Daniel and Crysten within the context of Crysten's family, or Daniel and Crysten with the context of Daniel's family, but just us. We're far enough away from both families that we aren't pulled either way. And while it's been hard at times leaving that comfort, it's something that I would never take back. It's not taken for granted that we'll do Christmas or Thanksgiving at one side or the other. When we run into troubles, neither one of us has the opportunity to run home to mom and dad, so we're forced to work it out together, as our family. It was harder at the beginning, but it's easier now.

Which is something else...while it was harder at the beginning, sometime, within the last nine months, we've transitioned from consistently being at odds (the typical newly married, joining households, joining lives sort of things) with a few moments of clarity, to consistently being able to tackle things reasonable with just a few moments of being at odds. It feels really good. We're so blissfully typical, and I don't think I could ever really see that far into the marriage when we first started. It's not as much new territory, and I can finally rest in knowing that this is it. Before our wedding, I had a really hard time letting go of the "old" (relying on parents, college-life, being my own person, etc) and grasping onto the "new" (my wonderful husband, life in Iowa, new jobs, new home, etc etc etc). Now, it's typical. Just going out to lunch on our lunch break seems like something that would be so...grown up, and now we do this. I just love it. And I know that if we are at odds for a little bit of time, it's not the end of the world. We took vows, and I sure plan on standing next to them...and I can whole-heartedly say that he does, too.

To not have to question my husband's love for me is an amazing feeling. I had taken that for granted so much, and recently I've started realizing just how much I have in him. He calls me beautiful so many times a day. He would never dream of hitting me, intentionally hurting me or finding love somewhere else. I am so blessed because I know that there are so many women who do not have that assurance. I certainly do not deserve the love that he is and gives to me. However, I realized long ago that God doesn't give us what we deserve...and thank heavens for that. I don't deserve anything but bad. And yet, I have him. I don't think I will ever fully realize what I have, but I am so glad that I have the rest of my life to at least try to figure it out.

It's funny...I started this blog entry as a thought on our house. Our house that is breaking down, non-insulated, mouse infested and very frustrating. Our house that I have decided is really just a practice home. I get to change my curtains daily because I think something else will go better in this room; I get to move things around like crazy finding just the perfect place for this picture frame. And I do it all in this house so that one day, when we finally get out of this mobile home (if only camp stood behind their promises...) and into a real home, I'll know what to do with my furnishings.

It's amazing how the word "home" can muster up so many different feelings and thoughts.

In a lot of ways, I'm home. In Daniel, in growing in our relationship and contentedness, I'm home. And that...well, that feels good.

Monday, June 02, 2008

Mon, 02 Jun 2008 22:49:23 GMT

So remember how I got married like 5 months ago? I do - it was way awesome! Want to see some pictures?

This is probably my favorite one from the professional photographer.

The groomsmen and Daniel! My brothers crack me up in this one.

Here's a great one of almost all of the bridesmaids. I told them that it was going to be a long ceremony! They didn't listen and get comfortable shoes...

So after the wedding, we went to Chicago on our Mini-moon. We stayed in a suite with our own pool.

We went to Wicked, which was AMAZING!

And went to a French Restaurant and indulged in 9 gourmet courses of delectable food.

When we got back from our Mini moon, things finally slowed down a little bit. We were able to work on making this little house into a home.

That was from awhile ago and it's a little different now, but there's our living room.

I started my work at St. Paul's, which is amazing. I get to play with kids, teach them about Jesus and work with some amazing people.

These are just some of the kids I get to play with, during our Narnia Event - you can't really tell, but there are coat racks in the doorway (like the Wardrobe...) and they're in the forest. See the lantern? Yeah. Narnia

Oh! And then in April my belly got married!

The traditional picture... You know, I'm biased, but I never thought that I would see a wedding that was even close to as meaningful and wonderful as mine (I said I am biased!!), but I definitely saw it on April 26th!

Then a little while ago we got this little guy.

And he certainly has made our house a little more complete and a lot more active! Can't you tell??

As if that weren't good enough, on May 24th, 2008, our world became much more beautiful because this little angel was born.

My niece and God-daughter is now just over a week old and I am so unbelievably excited to meet her! Unfotunately it won't be until the end of June...but isn't she beautiful!!

My brother is such a proud Daddy...

Here's their whole family! My parents are there right now...I'm so jealous!

Well, I think that about catches you up on my life! Until the next...

It's been awhile...

Tue, 11 Mar 2008 22:48:47 GMT

...and SO much has happened! Since last I spoke on here, I have: Graduated college, moved everything to Daniel's house (which then became my house when we...), got married, went on a honeymoon, started a career and settled in to a new life. Looking back at it, I have no idea how I survived that two month stretch where it was all happening. I certainly had bumps in the road, but in the end, I have felt incredibly rewarded.

I no longer attend school, which is so strange! It also seems all the more strange when I really didn't get to experience school ending. No, I experienced school-ending-while-finishing-up-wedding-plans. Now, I wouldn't have done it any other way (well...maybe I would have...but...), but it definitely changed the experience to something completely different. That last semester was so rewarding. I took some of the hardest and most interesting classes I had ever taken and I did well in them. I maintained some amazing friendships (or they maintained me...I think I take too much credit for things), and even made some new friendships which was completely unexpected. I worked out consistently for the first time in my life and felt the best about my body that I ever have. I interviewed and was hired for my first ever "Real" job and dealt with the fact that my time was coming: I was going to transition into the real world. I knew I could do it.

And I did. Again, with the bumps in the road (quite a few of them, actually), we made it to the alter! The day was absolutely perfect and the only thing that I would change were my flowers, which made me cry on more than one occasion the week leading up to the wedding!

Story: For my bouquet, the two stipulations that I had were that it was very dramatic and substantial (because my dress was huge...) and that I had Cattlaya orchids. They were to be my wedding flower. Well, two days before the wedding, I get a call from our florist who tells me that my flowers, which are incredibly hard to get during the winter, froze during transit and she could not find anywhere that had them! She did, in the end, find three silk flowers, but they were not in good condition. I ended up having to settle with Casablanca lilies, which I love, but they weren't what I had wanted. So I had made my peace with that and knew that my flowers were not going to ruin my wedding day. And then my wedding day came, and I was so excited to see my flowers! I ran downstairs and opened the box and found a little sphere of flowers. Little sphere doesn't exactly say "Dramatic" or "Substantial" to me. So, of course, running on the emotion of my wedding day, I started crying! My mom says "She's upstairs, do you want me to talk to her?" And I say "If I do, I'll yell...so, yes." Well, after my sister-in-law telling me that she did it on purpose to bond with me (her wedding bouquet wasn't anything she wanted, either) and offering to make out with me to make it better, the florist changed it to make it as good as she could. It still wasn't exactly what I wanted, but oh well. I had it. And it really was pretty - again, just not what I wanted.

So anyway, back to our wedding day. It was amazing! I couldn't believe how much it didn't feel like our wedding day, though. Up until we walked down the aisle (we didn't see each other beforehand), I had to keep reminding myself that I was actually getting married that day, not just all-dressed-up with no place to go. Started when we walked down the aisle, though, the day was pure magic. The ceremony was absolutely beautiful (though it was long and I have a priceless picture of my bridesmaids with their feet in pain!) and really turned out better than we thought it was going to! We were a bit uncertain whether it was going to make people uncomfortable or not, but we got so many compliments about it! And the reception was truly awesome! We danced all night long and there were at least 70 people on the dance floor by the end of the night. I want to relive that night over and over and over again!

Well, I think that's about it for now...I'll do the rest later!

Thursday, December 06, 2007

Thu, 06 Dec 2007 14:06:02 GMT

I will never understand how my roommate can take so long in the shower. And still not be ready until after me...

Oh well. I still love her. And I'll enjoy my last week living with her and not with a boy.

Friday, October 26, 2007

Fri, 26 Oct 2007 03:47:06 GMT

I'm always blown away, especially being this close to the wedding, how I get so caught up in it all that I forget what our relationship is really like. And then he's so wonderful and slows me down and makes me forget about it for a couple of minutes...and while a small part of me is hyperventilating because I'm getting behind, the biggest part of me is so thankful that I have a fiance (and I will have a husband) who knows me well enough to take the reigns at times.

Man, I love him.

My shoe went overboard. Literally...

Mon, 08 Oct 2007 13:31:26 GMT

I was at a wedding on Saturday. This wedding had a reception on a riverboat going down the St. Croix. So I'm standing outside on the front of the boat, talking to my mom and we decided that it was time to take a picture. My foot was under where one ties the boat up - the little mini railing. I lifted my foot up, and my shoe fell off of the top of my foot, so I put my foot down to slide it back into the shoe. Well, my shoe was not there. We looked all over for it, and it simply was not there.

Apparently my shoe went off the boat. No one saw it, no one heard it, but apparently it went overboard! So I got to walk around the rest of the night barefoot, my left shoe is now on a shelf as a trophy, and I have an awesome story.

Good thing they were only 10 dollar Target shoes, right??

Friday, September 28, 2007

Fri, 28 Sep 2007 01:54:29 GMT

100 days until our wedding!!!

The beginning of the end...

Mon, 17 Sep 2007 16:40:34 GMT

Here I am. The beginning of the end. School started a few weeks ago, and I'm finally starting to get the hang of it. Most days. Some days I still freak out about all that has to be done. But most days, I'm getting the hang of this.

It's so strange to think, though - in three months, I'll be done with school. Completely. In three and a half months, I'll be done being single. Completely.

School is intense right now. 19 hours of class, 16 hours of work, full time wedding planning, trying to slam in as much friend time as possible. Intense. Classes are, for the most part, awesome, though. I really enjoy them, and to a certain point, I just keep thinking that if I can just make it through these last few months, I won't have to worry about it ever again! Work is going really well - we have a really good new group of freshmen coming in to work at the Help Desk. I'm working on a big project to pass down my legacy there, and hopefully all of that will go really well.

Wedding planning. What isn't new on that front? Ordered the Bridesmaids dresses. Set up hair appointments. Finalized Guestlist (for the most part). In the process of ordering champagne flutes. Decided on Guestbook. Decided on Programs. Ordered invitations. Decided on Card Box (/mailbox) and asked the woman we had decided on to paint it. Started pre-marital counseling. Made about 5000 lists. It's all coming together!!

I just want to be married. The closer it comes, the more excited I am for the day - the white dress, time with family and friends, the pretty flowers, etc etc etc. But really, I just want to be married. I want to move to Iowa and live in (as Pastor Mons called it...) the "Little Love Bungalow". I want to set up house and take care of my husband. I want a kitty! I just want to be married.

Even so - I can't wait to see my invitations when they get here!!

110 days, Crysten. 110 days.

Onto the next...

Thu, 02 Aug 2007 18:45:06 GMT

A little over a month later, and what do I have to show for it? Programs going awesomely, people who have taken me under their wings and are wonderful, a freaking awesome week in the cities with people I hope to never lose as friends, wedding plans in the making, etc etc etc.

Man, I can't believe that summer is almost over! I can't believe I leave this place in just a few days. These seven weeks have taught me so much about working in a church, and I can only pray that I can work in a church like this when I get around to starting a career! I have one more thing tonight (a Sr. High game and movie night), and then I'm done! One more Sunday...

Then I'm off to camp! I'm helping Daniel's camp out for a week with their traveling day camp, so that should be pretty fun. Then home! Man - I miss home. Unfortunately, it's only a few days there, because then we get to go to Canada!! Holy crap - my brother is getting married in just over two weeks!

Right now I'm just ready to get married. Most of the big things are in place, and Daniel and I are just sick of this distance, sick of not getting to see each other as often as we'd like...just sick of waiting. We seriously discussed eloping next week...we'll see how that goes!

Well, off for one last night -