Graduation-Phase Two

For Phase One, Click Here.

The celebration of Robert's Graduation continued a week after he finished finals with my mom and dad and his mom coming up a day early.  Somehow we didn't get a picture of all of us (Sad, I know!) but we took a walk from our house to a near by restaurant named Caper's that we've been wanting to try.  It was really really yummy and a lovely evening with the first wave of family that came in.

Before we took the walk, mom took a picture of Robert and I in front of the banner that I made him....he also got his first wave of presents....


Thank you Jocelyn and Brett for an awesome surprise of a new ipod!

Labels: Robert

posted by Kristin @ May 28, 2010 0 Comments

Graduation-Phase One

We started out Graduation with a celebratory dinner--just the two of us.  Robert actually finished his finals on Wednesday, but me having youth group that night, the celebration had to be postponed 24 hours.

For phase one of Graduation we headed across town to Bonefish Grill courtesy of a gift card from Mom and Dad.

Doesn't he look cute?  He looks like he's 50 pounds lighter with the weight on his shoulders removed!

Labels: Robert

posted by Kristin @ May 22, 2010 0 Comments

I did it!

So it might not seem like a big deal to you...but it's a huge deal to me. I feel like I'm being super vulnerable...but here goes!

A few months ago you mighta remembered me mentioning Robert challenging me with something....and I've been pondering the idea ever since...and here it is....

I've gone live.

Here's how it started.

Robert bought me a sewing machine for my 30th birthday.  I've been teaching myself how to sew ever since.

A few weeks after getting the sewing machine,  I got pneumonia and was bored with not being allowed to go out in public...so I started messing around with some fabric scraps...and it turned into this.

Robert kept telling me to open an Etsy shop and the idea scared me to death!

Robert and his encouraging ways, drew me a logo...for real....he's amazing and super supportive.

Then we had a garage sale to raise money for Scotland....and well...it made me put the logo to the flowers and sell them for the first time.  I'd been giving them away for a few months now, but I've gotta raise money for Scotland somehow!

So...here we are.  I finally went live...and I'm still scared to death.  But it's fun.  Exciting.  And I'm finally sharing it with you and going to get over my fear of rejection.

So, thank you friends for sharing life with me.  Thanks for letting me share with you my latest adventure.  There's a link to my Etsy shop on the right hand side of our blog, but here's the direct link:  Kristin's Kreations.  I'm still in the process of adding things to my shop, so be sure to keep on coming back.  I had a few aprons, but have managed to give them away, so I'm working on a few of those to get them in the shop...and if you're in the area, I'll be at the Daily Grind (3960 Mary Eliza Trace, Marietta, GA) this Friday night.  We're having a coffee house for Scotland from 8-10pm and I'll have the goods available...and well you need to come anyway to meet, support our team, and enjoy a great cup of coffee! :)

A special thank you goes out to my hubs.  Thank you for your continuos encouraging words to me.  Thank you for pressing me to go the one step further.  I am truly grateful to you.  I love you sweetheart!

posted by Kristin @ May 19, 2010 2 Comments

In her words...

They always say Mom says it best (or is it knows best?)....

So tonight I share with you Robert's mom's blog--she sums up graduation nicely.

In the meantime we are putting our house back together, yet manage to get sidetracked by things...things I hope to share with you in the next day or two...how's that for building anticipation?  And yes, I know...I owe you the other half of the story on Scotland....

I need to curl up in a coffee shop somewhere...think I might do that soon...

For real, click here to read about Robert.

Good night friends.

posted by Kristin @ May 18, 2010 1 Comments

I'm so incredibly proud of my man...

Labels: family, life

posted by Kristin @ May 13, 2010 0 Comments

By tomorrow I mean....

So if you read yesterdays post I mentioned at the very bottom that I would be talking today about the details of Scotland...well by saying tomorrow I think I meant soon....upon getting home from work today I got caught up in scrapbook paper, ribbon, hole punchers, and paint...we're in full force graduation celebration around here (and I'd love to hear your guesses as to what you think I was making this afternoon!)!  The family begins to come in tomorrow!  So excited for my husband!

Labels: Missions, Scotland

posted by Kristin @ May 11, 2010 0 Comments

I'm undone...my heart sings a new song...

So, I'm going to Scotland in just a few short months and the title of this blog about sums it up for me. "I'm undone, my heart sings a new song." We sang that song during worship yesterday and my heart was so overwhelmed with emotion as finally there was a title to the season that I've been in. To be completely blunt and honest with you, I've struggled with the fact that the Lord has called me to Scotland. If you would see my list, there are countries such as Haiti, India, Kenya, Israel that I feel called to. Not once have I uttered the country Scotland, but there's now a plane ticket with my name on it!

Here's the beginning of the story: A few months back I was asked to pray about being one of the team leaders for Scotland. My heart immediately jumped at the fact that it is known as one of the two youth dominant trips here at RiverStone and well, leading youth on mission trips is my hearts passion (and the Lord has had me on a two year sabbatical when it comes to missions). I still couldn't get over the fact that it was to Scotland. So I sought counsel, confessed my heart is for third world and disaster relief and was told that Scotland possessed a spiritual poverty that I'd most likely never experienced before and to keep praying. With that, I retreated to my prayer cave and came out a team leader for the Scotland mission trip.

A few weeks down the road, the team formed and we had one youth on the team, and my heart struggled even more. Why Lord? Don't you remember my hearts passion? As if I had to remind Him of how He had created me and the passions He had put in my heart.

So...here we are.  2 months and 5 days before we leave and let me just tell you of the work that He has done. I ABSOLUTELY LOVE OUR TEAM. I love the leadership team (there are 4 of us) that He has me a part of. I laugh at least once daily thanks to the emails we exchange. I love just bottom line being a part of a leadership team...it's nice to not be doing this alone! I love the way He's hand picked and hand crafted our team. It started really with a group of people that I didn't even know and I love how all of our personalities just seem to "fit." We're a team of 21...mainly 20 somethings--with a few of us that have crossed the threshold of 30.

All this to say, I'm undone. I'm undone because I've laid down my list of where I think I should be going. I've allowed the Lord to be the purchaser of my plane tickets and the ordainer of my steps. I'm ready to let the words of Smith Wigglesworth be the reality of my life, "Are you ready for the Lord to have His choice, so that His will and purpose will be yours, so that the "Amen" of His character may sweep through your very nature, so that you may know as you have never known before that this is the day of the visitation between you and Him?"

With that, I'm undone....my heart sings a new song...that song is for you, Scotland.

(**Part two, with details of our Scotland trip to come tomorrow!)

Labels: Missions, Scotland

posted by Kristin @ May 10, 2010 2 Comments

I love my life

The mailbox has been a fun place to walk to and open here recently.  I love seeing our address being handwritten on an envelope.  That means there's something personal inside.  I'm a sucker for stationary and LOVE checking the mail everyday...so these past few days have been extra sweet.

It started with a college graduation announcement of a young man that was in high school when I first met him.  Granted, I knew this graduation was coming, but it came in the same weekend that he accepted his first job as a Youth Minister.  I've joked over the past few months as I've been doing phone references for him that nothing has made me feel older than a youth interviewing for what I do, but all joking aside, I couldn't be more proud.  I've watched this young high school boy grow into a mighty warrior for the Kingdom.  He passionately loves Jesus with all that he has and he will influence a generation in the days to come.  I am deeply proud of you, Michael Brian Winter.

Then came the high school graduation announcements from my first 6th grade class.  You heard me.  6th grade.  They were so young and innocent and tried to make me quit youth ministry before I even started, but God bless them, I am who I am today BECAUSE OF THEM.  I got down on my face before the King of Heaven and asked Him to teach me, mold me, use me, shape me into who He needed me to be for them.  I love these kids deeply.  They have a very special place in my heart and I couldn't be more proud as they are about to graduate from one season of their lives into another.  Jesus has called you Beloved--remember that my precious friends.

Now today the graduation announcements started coming in for my kids here and all I could utter was, I love my life.  The Lord has allowed me two years here so far to get to know these youth and be a part of their lives and I am deeply grateful.  God has marked this class.  They are radical lovers of the Almighty and they will bring Heaven to Earth.  I have been challenged to go deeper in my walk with the Lord since meeting them and I am eternally grateful.

Even bigger than all of the above, I have my very own graduate to be proud of.  Robert mastered all of his finals this past week--he even aced his senior paper and presentation.  I am so overwhelmingly proud of him.  I am grateful for this treasure that the Lord has given me and to say that we have been on a wild ride together for the past 4 years would be an understatement.  We've traveled through 4 schools together and there were times we thought this day might never come, but it is here and it is all we thought it would be.  Robert, thank you for not giving up when there were times we really wouldn't blame you if you did.  Thank you for thinking of our family and giving it all that you've got.  I know it hasn't been easy.  I know juggling a wife, work and school is more than most guys your age have to endure and you did it all with a smile on your face.  You are the most incredible man I have ever met and it is an honor to call you my husband!  Now let's celebrate!!!!

Labels: family, life

posted by Kristin @ May 07, 2010 1 Comments

The McLendon Whereabouts...

LITERALLY!

We've been here, there and everywhere over the last month.  I just posted pictures on facebook and thought  I'd be easiest to catch the blog world up on our Whereabouts by sharing that album.  So, grab a cup of coffee (or sweet tea), get in a comfy chair and dive into...our world for a little bit!

Thank you for sharing life with us friends!

Click here for our Spring Adventures!

Labels: life, pictures

posted by Kristin @ May 04, 2010 0 Comments