#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.

November on Fast Forward.

December 1st is TOMORROW - woah! Do not quite know how the whole month of November seemed to just get away from me. Continuing to be blessed to serve God's people through my internship. Thankful for great family & friendships both new and old. Excited that the day I get to marry Adam is getting closer and closer! Since a lot of life has happened that means picture flashes of what's been going on lately since I last blogged! :) 

First 1/2 Marathon = complete. 

Final time: 2:17:34.

Some of my favorite signs that fans were holding along the race course, I kept repeating the phrases to myself to I would remember them to write down after the race!

Finisher! Such an awesome morning!

Halloween. 

Because everyone loves an excuse to dress up!

Women of Faith Conference 

This was in Kansas City, went with a great group of ladies from church! 

Got to see Adam (and his family)!

Adam's brother was in his first play for his High School so Adam and I both traveled in to his parents house for the weekend. Andrew did an AWESOME job!

Started one of our of wedding registries!

This was a lot of fun, Adam was in charge of the scan gun, his Mom took lots of pictures and gave us some great advice, I was in charge of the clipboard - everyone was happy! 

[Insert me being sick with some kind of flu-ish thing for a week here. Boo.]

Macy's Festival of Lights - St. Louis Version!

Jordan and I ventured to the Festival of Lights to help STL welcome in the Christmas season. Chicago has a parade for this - STL did a concert, fireworks, and then we all walked in a brief parade over to the downtown Macy's which was filled with all kinds of Christmas activities. Jordan and I just made sure to hunt down the free cookies and hot chocolate!

Thanksgiving

I had the opportunity to go home for Thanksgiving this year. We played lots of Chutes and Ladders, ran a Turkey Trot, had a Thanksgiving meal as a family - including my grandparents, and in general I got to spend some quality time just hanging out with my family during their normal day-to-day activities. Precious time!

Decorated for Christmas!

Christmas is one of my most favorite things in the world - so very excited to have Christmas music going constantly, and finally get to put up my Christmas tree - even got a little one for my fish! Adam and I will get to be together on Christmas Day this year which is also super exciting! Currently working on a list of all of the St. Louis Christmas activities I want to do this upcoming month...

Looking ahead...

My dear friend and Maid-of-Honor is coming out to visit next week and work on some wedding stuff with me - can't wait to see her!!

I pray this post finds any reader doing well. If I can be praying for any of you in anyway - I would be more than honored and happy to do so. Also, if anyone is stopping through the St. Louis area, I always love visitors! :)


Love,

Kyla

Twas the night before race day...

It's here! It's here! It's here!!! Very shortly after moving here to the St. Louis area I was SO excited to learn that the Rock N' Roll racing series had a St. Louis stop. I signed up ASAP for the 1/2 Marathon and now, several months later, its hard to believe race day is almost here!! 

Went to the expo today (with some good friends for support) to pick up my bib number, racing shirt, and swag bag - made everything that much more real. 

*Bonus adventure* after the race expo we decided spontaneously to check out the Anheuser-Busch Brewery tour for the afternoon, finished with some yummy carbs at Olive Garden for dinner after. Scroll to the bottom of this post to see pictures from our tour adventure!

Can't wait to share stories with everyone after tomorrow. Thank you to everyone for encouragement and tips along the way!! The official start time for the race tomorrow is 7am CST. I am runner #7293 (woohoo!) Check out the course I'll be running tomorrow here: Course Map (the 1/2 marathon course is the purple line)

Found this fun parody below on a running blog I enjoy: One Run At A Time and decided it was very appropriate to share on such as night as this for me! Happy reading to you all. Happy running to me. Can't wait to Rock N' Roll bright and early tomorrow!

Twas the Night Before Race Day...

from One Run At A Time

Twas the night before race day, one could hear not a peep

It’s race day tomorrow, I needs me some sleep!

Shoes, stockings, and water, all laid out with care

With hopes of the PR I was hoping to snare


The tempos have been run, the hills been repeated,

And memories of bonks have all but receded.


With my camelback stocked and the bib on my shirt

It’s all ready – with danger I’d rather not flirt.

When there in my thoughts there arose such a clatter,

I sprang out of bed to take care of the matter!


Away to my gym bag I flew like a flash,

I grabbed at spare undies, the rest of my stash. 

The device at the bottom I had rudely ignored

Beeped silently, “Charge me!” it all but implored.

I grabbed at the iPod, batteries dead

When a thought so sublime popped into my head 

You’ve worked hard for this, chica, enjoy every minute

Give high 5s and smiles, keep your mind in it!

So, I tucked away tunes for another run

And thought, maybe I should have one run more done. 

The nagging in my head, said “What if, what if?”

But I pushed it away, with not one more sniff

Now’s not the time for pains, doubts, and straining

You logged the hard miles, now trust in your training 

After all, a race is not a culminating event

It’s a celebration of hours well spent

So, head back to sleep, think not one thought more

Tomorrow is nearing, so go catch a snore 

And when you wake up, RACE DAY is HERE!

So, soak it up, choke it up, share that good cheer!

With every step taken, each mile on par

Be thankful for legs that have carried you so far 

And when the final mile peaks, the finish line roars

The medal around your neck is no ones but yours!

With a calm, happy heart, I headed back to bed

When one last idea flashed through my head. 

And so I exclaimed, as I turned off the light,

“HAPPY RACE DAY TO ALL – AND TO ALL A GOOD NIGHT!”

Bonus Brewery tour adventure from today...