Day 17

Day #17: A favorite photo of yourself & why

Whew, so today has officially marked the beginning of me packing up my apartment. Bleh. But since my packing in going towards a good cause [moving, getting married...] I suppose I will survive. Blogging tonight is my temporary oasis from working & packing, so brace yourself for a novel. Just kidding!

Actually, today's prompt caused me to happily scroll through lots and lots of pictures that I have. Thank goodness the challenge is to pick a favorite picture and not THE #1 favorite picture of yourself, I'm too indecisive for that!

The picture I chose is a favorite simply because to me it just has joy spilling out of the picture. I look at it and love that this quick snap of a camera lens captured one of my favorite things to do, smile & laugh, with Adam, my favorite person in the world. This picture reminds me how Adam has the ability to remind me to smile when I am upset, to diligently work to make me laugh if I am too stressed about something, and to laugh with me - although, let's be real, he also has no problem laughing at me. But I love him so much for all of that. Is it August 2nd yet?! :)

Day 16

Day #16: Something difficult about your "lot in life" and how you're working to overcome it

Hmmm, where to begin with this challenge? Okay, well my initial reaction to the phrase "lot in life" from the prompt today is that it sounds really negative. Statistically my "lot in life" is pretty average - as I sit here typing with a roof over my head, food to eat, clothes to wear, friends, family...etc. Nothing horribly difficult about any of that to overcome.

What I have reflected on today though is that my current stage of life [20s/young adulthood] comes with a few difficulties. This weekend actually with my friend Paige, the topic of how much excitement/awkward/transition/change/uncertainty/newness is going on in our lives and the lives of our peer group constantly is almost overwhelming! Adapting to life post-high school, and now for me, post-college is just different. Not bad, mostly great + awesome, but different.

So to get at something that is difficult right now for me...currently I am mostly overwhelmed at officially starting to pack up my apartment here in St. Louis this week. I am BEYOND excited that packing means one step closer to moving and marrying my best friend in the world, but packing seems like a monumental task nonetheless. Not to mention mentally/emotionally preparing to leave the community I have worked + shared life in for the past year, looking forward to building new relationships together with Adam in our new community, oh yeah and constantly being consumed with wedding excitement...yup - all of that will somehow get tied into my packing process. AKA I am preparing myself for the emotional experience of all the changes connected into why I am packing in the first place. Yay for having girl-brain right ladies?!

How am I going to overcome this? Well, I have a wedding dress fitting on Tuesday this week, so I figured that will give me a little extra encouragement in my week + I will be counting on running + blogging to help with processing and stress relief. That's at least my initial game plan, we shall see how it turns out!

This sign also describes a viable addition to my plan.

Day 11

Day #11: Bullet your whole day

Well. Should have looked at this at the beginning of the day tonight, instead of when I got home from work tonight. Overall, not a wonderful day or a horrible day one way or the other. Just kind of a blah day. [Disclaimer: Thankful for any day, even the blah ones.] I will do my best to remember my whole day...here we go.

• Woke up. [I am in the process of starting to pack up my apartment and last night packed away the curtains in my bedroom. This morning I remember why I had them in the first place - my blinds do NOT block out sun in any way in the morning.]
• Brushed my teeth.
• Took my vitamins.
• Cleaned up my apartment since I was too tired to take care of the wedding explosion [Also, since thanks to the sunshine I was up a little early this morning]
• Breakfast [my favorite meal of any day]
• Showered
• Got dressed [Read: Tried to pick an outfit for a while - eventually found something acceptable, closet looks like a tornado went through it]
• Sent some emails + Facetimed Adam
• Went into work
• Work. [Sat outside for most of my workday - it was way too nice to be inside + my office as no windows]
• Made wedding dress fitting appointment [YAY!]
• Came home for dinner.
• Back to work to teach a Confirmation class. [Got to talk to Mom for a few minutes on the drive in]
• Confirmation class [cue headache occurring, not because of my class - but this is when that occurred.]
• Horrible headache. Not cool.
• Wrote thank-you notes [Yes, still from my shower at the end of April, ugh.]
• Watched video from brother #3's first harp recital tonight [Hate missing things like that in real life!]
• Caught up with Jamie [bridesmaid, bestie, overdue conversation]
• Finally talked to my brother #1 [It's his birthday today!!!]
• Attempted to FaceTime Adam again. Internet was not cooperating. [Read: Pixelly & limited sound, lame.]
• More thank-you notes.
• Went through the schedule of what I have tomorrow/need to get done [ahhh.]
• Writing this blog post.

Day 10

Day #10: Issue a public apology

Wow. What a day this has been. 9+ hours of solid work accomplished for the wedding [53 days away] +  6 hours of work at my actual non-bride job [intern]. I say this to give brief introduction and context to the following public apology...

I would like to first publicly apologize to my body. Today was not a stellar day for how I treated you. Cinnamon Hazelnut brew to start the day, a breakfast sandwich, grapes galore, a hazelnut frappuccino, and chips with salsa does not equal a balanced nutritious food/drink combination for the day. Tomorrow, we shall do better.

Second, I apologize for the way that bride brain works to my very patient friend [and bridesmaid] Jordan. Today was fantastic and scatterbrained and organized all at once. You did not complain once as we hunted diligently for wedding accessories or counted tables for 4 vs. tables for 8. We persevered on grapes and our frappuccinos as if we were on some crazy wedding planning survival show.

Side bar apology to my also patient friend [and best man] Kevin for the large amount of glitter you were exposed to this evening. Hopefully it has not put your health at too high a risk.

Third, I would like to publicly apology to my formally clean apartment. The amount of wedding related items that have been pulled out of all manner of storage locations today is quite out of control. I promise to return things to order in the [hopefully] near future. Glitter clean-up included, I know, it's everywhere.

Fourth, I would like to continue this public apology by apologizing to my very patient [see a theme?] husband-to-be Adam. I apologize for being more excited than the internet connection between Missouri and Wisconsin could truly handle. Also, for the large amount of details I attempted to download to you this evening beyond what any one man should ever need to absorb before he goes to sleep at night. Tomorrow - more pictures of what I meant, less endless explaining :)

Finally, for anyone or thing or space left that should received an apology this evening...well - sorry! And I mean that in the most sincere way - not like the way that you say "sorry" as a kid sometimes where afterwards your parents make you re-do the sorry once you actually mean it - but instead the genuine way. Or at least in as serious a way as a public apology via a blog post will ever be. ..

This public apology is being officially issued on Monday June 10th 2013 - at 11:17pm - CST.

Day 9

Day #9: A moment in your day

This summer, the church that I work for will be joining thousands of other youth & their churches from across the nation at an event called the National Youth Gathering. You should read more about what that is...here.

We are taking a group of high school students down to San Antonio, TX in a couple of weeks to participate in this event. Our group has been preparing for this event all year with fundraising and meetings all together. The entire large group is split into smaller groups called "Family groups" as a way to better get to know and connect with a specific adult leader going on the trip and a small subset of youth going as well! 

So a moment in my day today involved getting to have dinner and hang out with my family of youth. They even surprised me with a birthday present :) I lost horribly at 2 solid games of Apples-to-Apples, but...there is always next time I suppose. Couldn't ask for a better night, getting to just hangout together was refreshing.

Day 7

Day #7: The thing(s) you are most afraid of

First of all, in the spirit of full disclosure - I am afraid of failing this blog challenge. I mean seriously, these days, between work/getting ready to move/wedding planning  - my brain is going in a million directions at any given moment so I have a fairly significant fear in general of forgetting SOMETHING. My hope is that I will not forget anything truly serious or life-changing, but the possibility is definitely there.

Beside just the fear of failing this challenge or straight up forgetting something - I don't have a lot of fears I suppose. I have been thinking about this question all day, I mean bugs and creatures freaked me out until I worked as a summer camp counselor in college and had to get over that fear really quickly for the sake of my campers....I have the somewhat irrational fear of not being completely under my blanket at night. Lord knows that if I had a toe or part of my leg sticking out that I am just asking for someone to attack me in the in the middle of the night. [If you are reading this and don't know what I'm talking about...you're lying to yourself, we have all done this]

The first serious fear I have reflected on having today, is the fear of having a lack of passion. I struggle with doing things well that I am not 'passionate' about. Honestly, what it means to be really and truly passionate about something is probably a post all to itself. So for today, and more realistically, tonight I will simply say that the word 'passion' is kind of a personal buzz word to me. I find so much energy comes from being passionate and I soak up the energy of others who are passionate about their own things....to me passion and life go together. So lack of passion in anything is something that makes me lose sleep at night.

The second and most serious fear I have come up with today is the fear of what life would look like/be like if I did not trust God whole-heartedly.  I mean, honestly, I know that His plans for my life are far greater than any of my own. I know that any pain I experience, He is powerful and gracious enough to be able to turn into joy. So, as I prepare to move, start my marriage, and seek a new job - I fear not being able to trust the plans that God has for me, even though I know they will be better than anything I can imagine or pray for on my own.

Day 6

Day #6: If you couldn't answer with your job, how would you answer the question 'what you do'?

Hello my dear readers. I have to admit that this week is taking a toll on my energy levels! Tired would definitely describe me at this moment - I took a two hour nap already since getting home from work and will be headed to bed shortly after I finish this post. All of this tiredness is the result of jam packed work days this week thanks to a combination of Vacation Bible School in the morning and events with my middle schoolers all afternoon. So I suppose today's question becomes that much more interesting of a topic to me since my job this week is about all I have energy to do.

I honestly encounter this dilemma of answering the question 'what do you do' often. Technically, I am a Director of Christian Education (DCE) Intern. However, usually people who are asking what I do have no idea what I do if I just tell them my job in the most technical sense. 

If I actually answer with my job title - people usually ask me if that means I am a teacher or a principle/school administrator of some kind. Which since the term "director" and "education" are in my title - I can see where the questions stem from - no worries! However, since I am supposed to be writing about what I say about my job if I can't answer with my job - you should read more about DCEs here and here - and here is our professional organization too: NADCE :) 

So what do I do? The most basic way I answer this question is that I try my best, everyday, to serve God through loving the people He has trusted me with! I work with Middle School students, High school students, and Young Adults (post high school and up). This age span can be generally summed up as working in youth ministry. Day to day that practically means that I prepare/plan/write things like Bible studies, events, retreats - all with the focus of providing opportunities for youth and young adults alike to be still before God, to be together as a communities of Christians, and to be faithful to what God has planned for their lives. 

One of my favorite parts about life are all the different people that there are to meet & the stories that each person has. With my job, I get the unique and blessed opportunity to become a part of the faith story of different people's lives. Most of the time, I just try to listen and be there to experience life with my youth & young adults. [Yup "my" - I like these people :) ]

My job is kinda messy sometimes - crazy hours, broken people, always something going on to take care of - but I really wouldn't have it any other way - since that's how life is at the end of each day - at little messy and in my case, totally blessed by a God who's love is unfailing through it all. My job is getting to see God working in new and different ways, through different people and circumstances all the time. Pretty amazing and humbling all at once.

6th Grade Retreat

Current state of my office - post birthday, decorated by some of my youth :)

More post-birthday office.

High School & Young Adult Ski Trip

High school fun.

More high school fun.

High School Freshman Retreat

These girls are great!

Cleaning up an event from Easter time.

High School Event weekend + DCE students from my college visiting to lead & learn!

Collages from a high school girls small group Bible study

#CONNECT

Once upon a time, I updated my blog consistently. Ha. 

To catch up on life, I added a bunch of pictures to the end of this post that are in chronological order from the last time I blogged through today :)

Over the past couple of weeks, I have sat in many an airport and on many a plane which has provided wonderful time for reflection. Most recently, as in this past week, I was out in California for a NADCE Conference. NADCE (National Associate of Director's of Christian Education) is the professional organization that supports DCEs & church workers who are serving children, youth, adults...etc in a variety of ministry settings. The conference was a great time - if you're a DCE & weren't there, you honestly missed out! 

However, travels in general + the end of one year and the start of another + the theme of this past week's conference (#CONNECT, John 15:15-17), have all lead to the following reflection:

What a joy it is, in my life, to realize the many different people, different ways, and different places God has connected me to this past year - and how much I look forward to the different ways, people, and places He will connect me to this upcoming year. 

If any of you are like me, often times it feels like life/work/family/friends...etc are incredibly too busy and too crazy. Just thinking about my upcoming week, it would be easy to feel way overwhelmed. I even know that lots of my friends lives look crazy since they are currently looking to start new jobs, planning weddings, waiting to find out if they are staying at internships, finishing school, waiting to hear back about jobs or if they made it into grad schools, or living away from family for the first time, and to really list everything out like that just makes it all seem almost ridiculously stressful. But to step back from the lists and the anticipation of the what ifs - is to step into the arms of a Heavenly Father who didn't design any of us to have to go through all of the daily craziness that makes up our lives alone. He made us and chose us to be in relationship with Him and through that relationship with each other. 

The theme verse from the conference I was just at was John 15:15-17:

"I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. This is my command: Love each other."

To realize that we are part of God's plan, and chosen to LOVE people - take a minute and reflect on the different places that you know anyone from. If you write each place on a piece of paper and circle it, then start to write down names of people you know from that place, and write down ways that that place has changed you or things you have learned from that connection...very quickly your paper will become filled and messy, as you remember names and events, and you start to see that there is so much to the story of your life every day. 

I pray that as this new year, 2013, unfolds that you all may be encouraged by knowing that even if everyday our lives will probably be hectic or seem to busy or even that tomorrow may look too uncertain - that means that each of us is connected to so many people & places, that our lives are filled with that much more opportunity to love them. May you seek joy in the connections you already have, and look forward to whatever new connections this year is guaranteed to bring for all of us.

Love,
Kyla

P.S. As of today it is 201 days until Adam & I get married (AWESOME!)

December through today on picture fast-forward:

Early December - one of my best friends and Maid of Honor - Valerie came to town for a fun girls weekend! 

Got in lots of sight-seeing/STL exploring AND picked out bridesmaid dresses for my wedding!

Some of our exploring included a trip to Candy Cane Lane & Frozen Custard from Ted Drewes

Valerie, Jordan, and I checked out the Soulard Farmers Market on Saturday morning of her visit - we even got filmed for a Discovery Channel TV Show while we were there! (the upper right picture is of the set!)

Pictures from enjoying an evening out at a Dueling Piano Bar - very cool!

Maid of Honor, Bride, and Best Man - winning!

Did a mini-brew tour before Valerie left. Toured Schlafly's Bottleworks & Anheuser Busch!

Holidays & Start of a New Year = lots of me traveling.

Enjoyed a very White Christmas with my family in Maryland, including Adam who flew in late Christmas night!

Part of a photo project I made for my parents as a Christmas present this year - worked on this since the beginning of November so it was SO exciting for Christmas to finally be here!

Since we are together sporadically throughout the year, we fit in another registry adventure after Christmas. This time my Mom came with us and helped us conquer Bed, Bath, and Beyond!

Post-Christmas, it was time to celebrate friends Kate & Jon getting married! This is from the night of their Rehearsal & dinner

Kate's wedding day! Getting ready!! (My hair and bridesmaid bouquet are the two pictures on the right)

Kate & Jon's Reception :) Held at Top of the Town - a penthouse that overlooked all of Washington DC. AWESOME view!

I caught the bouquet! YESSSS.

Adam & I with the new Mr. and Mrs. Reimer!! So excited for them :)

After Christmas and Kate's wedding - Adam & I headed to Indiana to ring in the New Year with his family (including Allison and John in from Japan!!) and Kevin & Jordan! Happy 2013!!!

Being together. Couldn't ask for more!

Yup, not one but TWO registries started during this break. For our Target adventure, Andrew, Allison, and John were brave enough to accompany us :)

Back in STL for a couple of days after the New Year - Kevin's sister Stephanie was in town for a visit, so I got to spend time at City Museum playing! (Most random part of our trip was getting to roast marshmallows outside at the museum's campfire they had going!)

More flying adventures - this time to Irvine, California for the NADCE 2013 Conference. Flew over the Grand Canyon on the way out - very awesome!!!

Got to see most of my fellow DCE Interns! Our last night in CA, we throughly were tourists and sat outside for the sake of enjoying eating at a table that literally had a fire in the middle of it. AWESOME.

Taking a successful picture with the fire was slightly challenging - as these pictures prove :)

Fun night & great week all being reunited :)

Seeing Adam, my fiancé and Ryan, one of our best friends - priceless.

John 15:15-17. NADCE 2013 Conference. Worship led by Kip Fox.