Plane Rides and donuts

Hey all,

I head back to San Diego early tomorrow morning. The four books I jammed into my purse should hold me over on the flight, but I covet your prayers all the same. :)

But until I get a chance to write again, I want to leave you with a question which was inspired my friend who will remain Steve Praz. :)

A few of my friends and I were walking around Philadelphia (best city ever, might I add even though a good cup of hot chocolate is at times hard to find :) and Praz asked us this amazingly thought-provoking question...

"Guys, why do you think that donuts have holes in the middle of them?"

We were stumped. After a minute of thinking, some answers were tossed around, but no one could confidently say why donuts have holes...

So, what do you think? Are the holes in donuts for decoration, for a better grip, or something else? Don't be shy; I'm really curious of your thoughts, and no cheating... ;)

Kristen.

Photography Page

I've got a new site in progress for some of my photography work.

Just click the "My Photography" link on the right to view the page. :)

~Kristen.

Psalm 121

The other night I was feeling a little low. This time in my life has been really exciting and rewarding, but sometimes I feel overloaded from all that God has called me to. I felt tired, and stretched by the commitments in my life. Then the Lord directed me to Psalm 121:

I lift my eyes to the hills, from where does my help come?
My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.

He will not let your foot be moved, He who keeps you will not slumber,
Behold, He who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.

The Lord is your keeper, the Lord is your shade on your right hand.
The sun shall not harm you by day, nor the moon by night.

The Lord will keep your life from all evil, He will keep your life.
The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forevermore.

God was reminding me that all of my strength to do what's before me comes from Him. And just imagine how encouraged I felt when someone read that very Psalm aloud the next morning at church! I felt so touched that God brought that back to my attention...

He is such a faithful encourager!

~Kristen.

Happy Thanksgiving!

I hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving! There's nearly too much to be thankful for...
At least we think so! :D


(some of the cousins...)
Many blessings to you,
Kristen.

Blessings of the day-to-day...

It has been so awesome to reap the benefits of working from home for the past week and a half. Some of my highlights have been...

-Talking with my Dad and beating him at UNO

-Shopping and watching BBC's North & South with my mom (a must-see for any girl, and for any guy who wants to impress any girl, lol)

-Spending time with friends over coffee, dinner, or just playing (crazy) games at my house.

-Going to an Eagles game with some friends on Sunday. It was pretty cold and rainy, but it was so much fun!

-Hearing the train from my house and seeing all the leaves turn nearly every color. And walking my puppy in the woods.

-Also it's been so great to have a bit more time than usual to read, journal, and reflect on all that has happened since I moved to California. That's been a blessing.

What Oswald Chambers says of glorifying God in everday tasks has inspired me.

"The tendency is to look for the marvelous in our experience," he says. "It is one thing to go through a crisis grandly, but another thing to go through every day glorifying God when there is no witness, no limelight, no one paying the remotest attention to us...If you are rightly devoted to the Lord Jesus, you have reached the sublime height where no one ever thinks of noticing you, all that is noticed is that the power of God comes through you all the time."

May I live this kind of life...

~Kristen.

Tour Recap #4 - The Benefit!

Finally, here are some photos from the big night!
(Photo credit goes to Dad :)

Hope you enjoy!!

~Kristen.

Tour Recap #3

Ok, so we didn't goof off the whole time... ;)

Here are some photos from some of our speaking engagements and meetings...

~Kristen.

Tour Recap #2

The Padden family was most gracious to us by letting us invade their home for the past week and a half. I realized that on the first night when I was thinking, "I've never met these people before, but I'm walking around their house in my pajamas." LoL

Anyhow, the Paddens live near a beautiful lake, and we would often take walks there in our down time. It was gorgeous, especially in the peak of fall. Here are some pictures from our time there...Hope you enjoy! And thank you Padden family for your kindness!

Tour Recap #1

The NJ/PA speaking tour was a great success! It's been since China that I have felt that busy, but it was well worth it! :D

The BMH staff spent the week speaking to lots of people about what we do and how they can get involved. We had breakfast, lunch, and dinner meetings, spoke at Bible Studies, small groups, and churches. And of course we managed to fit some fun memories and laughter in too. :)

I'm going to post some photos from our tour throughout this coming week, but to start off here is a photo of some of my close girlfriends that came to my house party last Tuesday. :)

All for now...
God bless,
Kristen.

Busy Week

Hey all!

Guess what? I got into PA on Thursday night! Since then I've spent some time with my family and caught up with some friends, but starting tomorrow it's back to work for me!

Please pray for the BMH speaking tour that's happening in New Jersey and Pennsylvania this upcoming week. Our goal is to reach new ears about the problem of orphans in China and tell people how they can get involved. Please also pray that the visiting Californians don't freeze to death in our gorgeous Autumn weather here on the east coast, lol. ;)

Thanks and hope to see some of you soon!

~Kristen.