Little Miss Kaia

Her little fingers, so tiny.

We have a new little cousin!  Miss Kaia Liv Green was welcomed into the family on August 12th.  This means that not only do we have another little girl, it means that Miss Anna is a big sister!

She's grown up a lot since those pictures were taken...

...just had to put that in there.  Aunt Kera told Anna to "show us her smile", so she did.  And that was the result, complete with graham cracker and everything. :)

So anyway, after I finished school this past Thursday, we went down to see the Green's and meet Kaia.  And of course I had to bring my camera and take some pictures of our new cousin.

She is so precious. :)

Right when my Mom picked her up, she fell right to sleep.  

I also got to hold her for a little bit.  I find it hard to believe that there is something more sweet than holding a newborn baby.

She started waking up after I had already been holding her for a while.  She was trying to open her eyes here, it was so cute!

She's up and awake now!  And she was just looking around. :)

Her little fingers again, but I couldn't help adding the verse in. :)

A Little While and A Nice Break

Well, I'm not even going to say it.  Except that I know it's been a little while.

Anyway, the Alexander household has been quite busy lately.  Just in May alone did we finish raising 250 chickens, received the surprise of eight Great Pyrenees puppies (sooo adorable), celebrated Mom and Ashlyn's birthdays, finished school for the spring, participated in a wedding (I was Maid of Honor actually), studied for the big tests and small ones, had my first student piano recital, played in four recitals of my own, graduated from our "Homeschool" High School (say that five times fast), attended three other graduations, applied for scholarships, and somehow managed to fit eating, sleeping, and breathing into everything.

I also decided to be absolutely crazy, and sign up for twelve hours of summer courses at college.  But hey, nine of those hours are music theory classes, and piano lessons.  So...I'm good.  But I'll let you know in August. ;)

But anyway, we had one week where our whole family didn't have anything planned.  So, we decided to take an impromptu trip to the lake.  Besides the fact the it rained at least everyday (and every night...at like, three in the morning), it was a blast and I loved every second.

I loved being able to see the sunset over the lake every night.  Every night brought a brand new spectacular view.  Every sunset was different - some were more colorful, others were more subdued.  Some had brilliant flaming colors, and other times you could barely tell the difference between the reds, blues, greens, purples, oranges, and yellows.

And for a photographer, it was nice. :)  But even if I wasn't, I am always amazed by God's creation by sunsets.  They just seem to give a small tidbit of the glory that is coming.

We camped in tents for the first night, but then our grandfather blessed us by letting us borrow his camper.  It was so nice to not have to worry to much about making sure rain wouldn't carry us off.  It almost did once in the tents, but thankfully I have brothers and a father who will make sure those stakes are down.  But, things did end up a little wet, and so it was nice to have the camper to sleep in.

We also got to borrow our Dad's Uncle's boat.  Oh my goodness, few feelings can describe that of riding on the very front of the boat.  The wind blowing, the sun gleaming over the lake, the cool spray...bliss.  I loved it, and I can't wait until next time.

Another view of a sunset from our campsite.  Again, completely gorgeous. 

But you know another great part? Was able to be right next to the lake.  From where we were camping, it was a two minute walk to the lakeside.  I ended up spending everything from my afternoons there, late evenings there, and even got to talk on the phone with a dear friend of mine while walking alongside the lake.  Needless to say, the morning we were back home I was somewhat sad.  I know it seems silly, but it was just so peaceful there.  Great place to take a break from technology, school, books, business, and just chill.

...And lots of reading of course.  I finally want to tackle some more books from my, ahem, somewhat long (eight-ish pages long) booklist.  But again, that whole summer classes thing has been a bit time consuming.  :)

So anyway, here are a few pictures from our week at the lake.

So I might be obsessed with the clouds.  And the lake.  And both together. 

Photo credit by Nathan. :)

They are getting so big.  My goodness. 

Writing in the sand.

I love her little curls. 

And of course, we did a little jumping off rocks too. 

Two Years: Part 1

February 8-21, 2011 happened two years ago.  It's is really hard to believe so much time has passed by.  

But you might be wondering what I'm referring to. 

Two years ago a group of four girls and two adults went to India for a short term mission trip.  The group consisted of myself, my friend Elizabeth and her parents (Mr. & Mrs. L), and my friends Kat and (her cousin) Mykaela.  This would be the first really big experience for me going outside the country, flying (for fifteen hours...it got kinda long.), and ultimately it was one the biggest times of spiritual growth.  It was unbelievably hard for me to be separated from my family for just two weeks, especially in a country that is in such a spiritual depression.  But no matter how hard or how broken we all were, our sincerest prayer was that God was use us, and that He would be glorified in everything.  

Kovalum, India

The first place we visited was called Kovalum.  We were all quite exhausted—India being eleven hours ahead of America—and it was ten in the morning.  Needless to say, we were all jumbled up from lack of sleep.  However, I will never forget that first car ride.  We zoomed down those filthy dirt roads at breakneck speed; nearly missing it seemed like every other car, wagon, or cow that was on or near the road.  Arriving at our hotel about thirty to forty-five minutes later, us girls, barely keeping our eyes open, piled into one of the hotel rooms.  Even though we were utterly and absolutely drained, we couldn’t help cracking jokes, talking a mile-a-minute, and giggling and laughing like maniacs.  Then we crashed. :)

Us girls. :)

Nevertheless, Kovalum will forever remain near and dear to my heart.  Sitting only about one hundred feet from the ocean, this exotic town is filled with the sound of sea-gulls, the smell of spices, and a glorious view of rocky cliffs and tall trees. Us girls explored the little shops and tried on all different kinds of scarves, jewelry, and shoes—prickling our noses at the vast fishy smells.  We marveled at the busyness, and yet the tranquil peace, that this small tourist town held.  It was a wonderful, relaxing place to get over our jet-lag and prepare for the rest of the trip.  But before we left, I had an experience I will never forget:

"I remember clearly when I first saw the crippled, homeless man coming to beg from me.  He walked using his worn, dark, callused hands—dragging what stumps of legs he had remaining behind him.  As he crouched in front of me asking for “just one ‘Merican dolla,” I felt like running away.  I couldn’t bear to see him.  It tore at me from the inside.  My stomach tied in knots and I couldn’t get any kind of communication to come out of my mouth.  Again, I felt overwhelmed, but for a different reason entirely than that at the airport: I was terrified of this lowly, mutilated man.  My heart wept for him.  When he reached out his hand towards me, I felt as if he was giving me a taste of the pure hopelessness that shone through his eyes.  I had never known, truly known, what it was to be without faith or comfort.  I had never truly known what it was like to be in utter, total despair.  In the two minutes I stood there, still feeling that soft breeze from the ocean, my heart—and life—forever changed.  But this was just the beginning.  Throughout the whole course of this trip, my heart was repeatedly broken into pieces by Him who I call my Savior.  But, it was also this One who made me whole again."-taken from my journal

It really is hard to describe everything.  I mean, it's been two years and I still can't fully comprehend all that God taught us.  But it is so amazing to look back on my life before the trip, and then on my life afterwards.  To look back and see how God orchestrated absolutely everything in our lives at just the right moments, just the right times.  To look back and see how He still does this--no matter what we're going through.  

These people are such an amazing people.  But without their hearts given to God, they will be forever lost.  But you know, so will everyone.  If we do not realize the incredible sacrifice that Jesus paid for our sin, if we do not repent of this sin, we will be lost.  When I realize that all the sin I've ever committed or will commit is completely paid for, I'm overwhelmed.  Overwhelmed by His grace. 

This theme of grace continued throughout all the trip.  But it wasn't the only thing that we realized as a group--so many other aspects of God and His relationship with us continued to astonish and bless us.  And one of those many blessing, were "the girls" of the charity home we were to visit.

---

Because I tend to be quite wordy and like to explain absolutely and positively everything, and because it's realllly hard to decided between pictures, I've decided to split this into parts.  Hence, the "part 1" part of my title. ;)  Also, all photos were taken by either myself, the girls, or Mr.& Mrs. L. 

Happy Thanksgiving

It seems like every year I'm always astounded by how many things I have to be thankful for.

It's hard to find the words actually.  I spent a long time on Thanksgiving night just staring at my journal--trying to contemplate what I wanted to say.  After a little while I came up with my top ten things I'm thankful for.  Not really in any order, they just came to me as I was writing.

1) I'm thankful for my family.  First of all Mom and Dad, what would I do without you two?  There to guide, direct, and encourage me.  Trey, Nathan, Ryan, and Ashlyn--my awesome brothers and sister.  I'm so blessed by all of my family.  My grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins...I love them all soo much.

2) I'm thankful for my home.  I LOVE living in the country.  I'm blessed to live on land that's been passed down from generation to generation.  It's allowed us to explore and learn, grow and till.  It's been wonderful, and I'm thankful for it.

3) I'm thankful for my friends.  It's so hard to say how much my friends mean to me.  They have blessed me in times of joy, and in times of pain.  We've borne each others burdens together, we've talked, laughed, and edified.  I am again, and again, blessed by the people the Lord has given me in my life.

4) I'm thankful for my country.  It's still the land of the free and the home of the brave.  What a rich history this country has!  From the Pilgrims blood and sweat, and from God's providential guidance, this land was born.  A quote from The Story of Liberty truly sums all our country is: "Liberty is in her new home.  Strong hands will subdue the wilderness, and brave hearts will establish an empire extending from the frozen regions of the North to the sunny climes of the South, from the stormy Atlantic to the peaceful Pacific.  Through hardship, suffering, and sacrifice the great republic of the Western world shall rise to become peer among the nations.  Its starry flag shall emblem of the world's best hope; for to it the oppressed of all the earth shall turn with longing eyes, and beneath it there shall be peace and plenty, and the recognition of the rights of men."

5) I'm thankful for my education.  Even though it's been hard sometimes.  Even though many tears have been shed over a certain math book, or a confusing science formula, I'm thankful I've been given these opportunities to learn.  Everything I learn truly shows how great and awe-inspiring God is.

6) I'm thankful for my music.  I can't even imagine how my life would've been without my music.  Or rather, without the music that God lets me enjoy.  I am so thankful for piano, violin, and all those great hymns that always encourage me when I'm down.  I can't express it in any words, I'm so thankful.

7) I'm thankful for my jobs.  Even though jobs isn't really the word I'm looking for, I truly love doing them!  I love every time I walk into the home I babysit and one of the little 'uns come running towards me, begging to go outside or play with play-dough.  Or whenever the light clicks when a word or grammar lesson is read and understood.  I also love teaching my music students.  Even if some of those violin notes are a little squeaky or that piano note can't quite be found, it is truly a joy to me.  I know it's not for everyone one what I do, but I'm truly blessed.

8) I'm thankful for my sorrows and pain.  This one's hard to be thankful for.  So often I don't want to know that these are for a reason, so often I want to ask "why."  But I know that, as John G. Paton says, everything that happens is "For my good, and HIS glory."  This is more of a prayer for me, trying to remind me to trust the Lord in happiness or sorrow.  There are so many people who have endured immense trials with an amazing grace and assurance in Christ.  Even though I only experience a very small slither of hardship, I want to be like those people of the faith.  I want to grow in my relationship with God, I want to grow more like Him.  And because of this, I'm truly trying to thank Him for anything that's hard.

9) I'm thankful for my faith.  I really and truly couldn't imagine life without this one.  The Lord has given this gift to His people, and I can't believe that I'm His child.  I'm so thankful for this firm foundation, this grace.  To know that I'm forgiven is a peace that is indescribable.

10) I'm thankful for my Lord.  For the one that gave His all.  For the one who is my Rock, my Foundation.  My Comfort and Friend.  He's Everything (literally ;)).  He' given me so much, so many blessings.  Can anyone describe all that He is?  I know that I can't.  I'm so thankful for all He is.

So even when actual Thanksgiving Day is past, and we're enjoying the leftovers from our dinner, we always must remember what Thanksgiving is about.  It's about realizing the great sacrifices made to bring us where we are today.  But above all, it's about realizing that all we have is from the Lord.  It's about giving thanks to the One who gave us everything.

I wanted to end with this quote from William Bradford's book Of Plymouth Plantation:

"It was replied that all great and honorable actions are accompanied with great difficulties, and must be both met and overcome with answerable courage.  It was granted the dangers were great, but not desperate; the difficulties were many, but not invincible.  For, many of the things feared might never befall; other by provident care and the use of good means might in a great measure by prevented; and all of them, through the help of God, by fortitude and patience, might either be be borne or overcome."

That College Stuff...

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I started college this year.  Goodness, I didn't know it was like this. ;)

Actually I have been very blessed by it.  It has pushed me, and grown me, and broken me-but it has been good too.

It has definitely been busy though.  I'm not doing as much as others have done, but honestly, every experience is different, and every experience has different hardships with it.

But one thing that has been interesting is the fact that I have these small snippets of a moment here and there.  A moment of peace, of stress, of hope-and of true learning.

In my English class the other day, we had to go through and analyze Paul's two speeches in Acts: on in 13:16-49, the other in chapter 26.  Call me a complete nerd, but I found it fascinating.  How Paul grabs the attention of his brethren in 13:16, commanding they listen to what the Lord has shown him.  How he uses his skills of logic and knowledge of history to build impact.  Finally thundering, "Therefore, my friends, I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you.  Through Him, everyone who believes is set free from every sin" (Acts 13: 38-39).

But no matter how many "rhetorical strategies" he uses, what makes it important is what he is saying.  Yes, we can identify the strategies, but all of our analyzing ever falls short.  We can never truly grasp all Scripture has to say.  But yet, it was such a blessing to turn when my teacher pulled this out to talk about.

That was English.  Chemistry on the other hand, is a slightly different story.

Don't get me wrong, I don't hate it...but it is slightly more of a love/dislike relationship. :)

There are times when I really do love it!  I, again, find it fascinating to be able to calculate something like "Enthalpy" or use "Calorimetry,"  and that's because I understand that.  However, I don't really like it when a subject like "Quantum Numbers" goes over my head.  I'm still kind of lost on that one. :)

But no matter what, all my classes have grown me in different ways.  They've all been given to me for different purposes, and, with the Lord's help, I'm trying not to get overwhelmed.  Especially when I don't do very well on a test.  But why do we fall?

"So that we might learn to pick ourselves up."

We can thank Alfred Pennyworth for that one.  Or Christopher Nolan, whichever you prefer (from Batman Begins).

Anyway, I'm trying not to eat too much dessert, but maybe every once-in-awhile. ;)

Have a blessed day!
~Kristin

New Beginnings...

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So it's been a little while since I've posted.  Actually it has been approximately sixteen weeks and a day.

It's also been thirteen weeks, and two days since something else happened in my life.  Something really hard, and that still hurts, and that has changed me.

I lost my Papaw.

From my birthday "Tea"party a long time ago. 

I don't know why, I'll never know really.  I still have to adjust to it being real.  But I do know that God is in control. 

You know, I found out that just saying and truly believing are two different things.  It's so easy for me to have "sympathy" when everything is right and dandy in my life.  It's much harder when I'm on the other side.  How truly little I know, there is so much I don't have a grasp on.  Those first few days after I lost my Papaw I felt like I was spinning.  Didn't know which way to go, which way was up or down, right or left.  

It's hard to describe what my feelings were when everything has this fine glaze of hurt over it.  

But the Lord took me in His arms.  He is, and was, in control.  

Again, do you know how hard it is to truly say that?  Not to just flippantly spout "Oh, He's in control--no problems!"  But to deeply acknowledge his complete, omniscient power and control?  Well, let us just say it's a lot harder than I've ever thought before.  

But HE has been helping us.  My family I mean.  All of us who can't quite come home the same because Papaw's not there next door.  But HE will help us.  

HE knows the way to wherever you are

HE knows the way to the depths of you heart 

HE knows the way, 'cause he's already been

Where you're going

Jesus will meet you there.

-Steven Curtis Chapman Jesus Will Meet You There

 And so, our family starts a new life.  A new beginning.  One that's hard, but still filled with the Lord's many, many blessings.  We would appreciate your prayers.  

On the 4th...

We declared our independence from Britain....

And our dependence on God.



Not one of the signers of the Decleration of Independence, or of the Constitution, believed that there was NOT a God.  They all knew and believed in Him, even if they didn't trust their life to Him.  They founded this nation on principles first found in the Bible.  Our Nation has gone through many trials, but we are still standing.  But we must fight for our Nation, we must fight to uphold our values.

"Well there's pride in every American heart

and its time we stand and say.

That I'm proud to be an American,

where at least I know I'm free.

And I wont forget the men who died,

who gave that right to me.

And I gladly stand up,

next to you and defend her still today.

‘Cause there ain't no doubt I love this land,

God bless the USA." -God Bless the USA

Anyway I just wanted to take a moment and say:

 Happy Independence Day

Because I'm proud that I have the privilege to live and breathe in this country.  I am very proud to be an American. 

God Bless,

Kristin

P.S. This is one of my favorite poems below, enjoy. :)

photo credit

She Loves Her Horses | {Portraits}

So a few days ago I got to go take some pictures of a friend of mine and her horses.

Horses that are, obviously, absolutely gorgeous.  She adores them and I now see why. :)

Between her and her sister they have four horses (one isn't pictured), and as we kept taking pictures I just kept falling in love with them.  Chip (the first pictured and the black one) never failed to walk up to the camera, oftentimes looking straight at it.  We had to work around some bright sunlight, but soon after we started the sun started setting.  It added so much to the pictures, giving a "dreamy" feel to them.

Anyway I thought I would share, well, because I couldn't help it.  :)  In my opinion they could be some of the sweetest (and most beautiful horses) I have seen. :)

Have a great day!

-Kristin

My Girly

 So today is my sweet little sisters birthday.   As you can tell, we have quite a few birthdays around this time.  But Ashlyn always starts counting down in the middle of April "only four weeks 'till my birthday,  then I'll be a big girl."  As the day gets closer, she gets more excited, constantly talking about it and thinking about it.  She told me yesterday that she wants me to wear a princess crown like her, so we can match uh' course, and she also really, really, realllllly, would like for me to stop school and play baby-dolls with her.  

That makes two of us my dear.  :)

I asked her if I could take her to my english teacher and have her repeat the question--puppy-dog eyes and "really's"  included of course.  She just kind of stared at me and said, "Why do you have to ask, can't you just stop?"  I wish, but even if I can't stop my class, I will play baby-dolls with you Ashlyn. :)

My little miss is so sweet, she loves doing things for people: helping out in anyway she can.  She is very faithfully dedicated to her dolls...and our brother Ryan, her best pal on planet earth.  She loves our dogs, cats, chickens, and being outside.  She is a girly girl with a side of mud, she can play outside in the mud with a little pink headband and not care about the big splotches of dirt scattered all over her legs, arms, face, toes, pretty much everywhere...

She is such a cuddle-bug.  She gives a zillion hugs a day, and you can always guarantee that she will snuggle close when reading a book or watching a movie.  She loves all of us, somethin' fierce, always saying goodbye whenever we go anywhere (music lessons, walk down the road, or the grocery store...).  

I gave her the nickname "Girly" when she was pretty little.  She used to have really curly hair like Shirley Temple when she was young, so I called her "Curly Girly."  After a few uses of that, we dropped the "Curly" and kept the "Girly."  It is kind of just my nickname for her though.  I call her Girly, she call me "Sisten"  (cross between Kristin and sister, not as much now though), so we're equal.  ;)

I can't believe she is turning seven.  I was looking back on some old pictures yesterday and found this one:

I remember this day like it was yesterday, and she was three here!  Now she is seven, four years have passed in a blink!!  I was soooo happy to get a little sister, after having three brothers (love ya boys), I prayed for another girl!  That first moment holding her, priceless...

Okay, okay, I will stop reminiscing.  :)

So I wanted to tell you, Ashlyn..

Happy Birthday! I love you Girly.  :)  

   

 Have a great day!

In Him,
Kristin

P.S.  All the pictures, besides the one in the middle, are from the wedding I just shot.  Ashlyn got to be a flower girl (she was so excited).  And just because I couldn't resist...

Ryan and Ashlyn, ages four and three respectively.  :)

Picnic with the Kiddos...

A few weeks ago, Ryan and Ashlyn wanted me to come with them on a picnic and have a photo-shoot.  Even though I have many pictures of Ryan and Ashlyn, I had never actually designated an actual "time" for them (for some reason, they think I am some kind of professional photographer, so they are always asking if I will "photograph" them. :-)) 

So we drove to the back and brought a blanket, the teacups, a few books, and just spent a few hours reading, having fun, and taking pictures.

Here are a few photos from that afternoon. :-)

I may be a little biased, but I think that I have some pretty adorable siblings.  Not to mention photogenic. :-)  Aren't they cute?

Have a blessed day!

In Him,
Kristin