Message from the Past: Letter #1

When I was a Resident Assistant Junior year of college, I often wrote "letters" to the girls on my hall. I've decided to post them because, well, they are good reminders even now!!

September 21, 2003


As the reality of college sets in and we realize we’re here for the long haul, please rest in the Lord.  Cling to His peace and depend on His strength; with Him, we can do all things, even squeeze 38 hours worth of work into 24.   Don’t forget to take time to sit and rest in Him.  Don’t forget to take time for yourself—I’ve heard it said that every person should take a walk alone every day. So, today I tried that and boy did it feel good to be alone with my thoughts and prayers.  College is the definition of over-stimulating; please don’t forget to slow down and enjoy the simple things in life.  Read a book, bake cookies, call your grandma.  And come visit your RA! I’d love to chat with you girls about how college is going so far for you.  Don’t hesitate to knock, although I do ask that late night visits are kept to emergencies only.  Cora has very early morning placements and while we love to see you, bedtime has to come early for both of us.  But please visit any time during the afternoon/evening! I know I’m in and out like a mad woman but please—leave a note and I’ll stop by.  I want to connect with each of you.  It is the desire of my heart to know you each individually and I’m making it a goal to do that to the best of my ability. 

Now, some business. The deadline for finishing your installations of the anti-virus is on Tuesday.  PLEASE GET THIS FINISHED AND TO ME ASAP! Thanks!

If you haven’t met with your hall partners yet, please try to make time for that this week.

Committee leaders, I need to hear from each of you and see how you’re doing! Let me know!

Last but not least, Bible study has been going super well; we had a lot of fun making cookies for our brother hall last week! Please join us this week as we’re starting a section on Ecclesiastes.  

Please know that you are all very special to me and to Cora! We value you and we know that God has placed us on the same hall for special purposes.  I’m excited to see how this year progresses!! Blessings to you all as you start this new week. 

With love and joy, Kristin

Missed Meaning

Tuesday night I had the pleasure of attending a concert at Red Rocks with Erik, Kelly and Mike. I am normally not a huge concert person, but I had actually looked forward to this one for some time: Switchfoot and Goo Goo Dolls. (Our last two concert experiences were not the best. re: Green Day and Blink 182.) However, this concert had many things going for it.

A. It was at Red Rocks. How can a concert NOT be good there?
B. I had studied the music for weeks prior. So I would be able to sing along. :P
C. I love Switchfoot.
D. I was with good friends.
E. Now being a Mom, this was a date night. Totally different level of appreciation for time alone now.

Switchfoot was everything I expected and more. What a great show! Finally, they played "Meant to Live".  It was, as expected, solid and emotionally charged. That song (that album really) instantly transports me back to Junior year of college, hanging out in the dorm, blasting music with my door open so as to be available for the many girls on my hall (I was a R.A.). 

As the chorus came around, the crowd was definitely into it. Arms in the air, hands swaying back and forth, the masses sang along:

We were meant to live for so much more ... have we lost ourselves?

Maybe we're bent and broken ...

We want more than this world's got to offer. 
We want more than this world's got to offer. 
We want more than the wars of our fathers.
And everything inside, screams for second life ....

We were meant to live for so much more ...

At 6,450 feet, in nature's greatest amphitheater, some 9,000 people, without even realizing it, were crying out to God. My heart broke as I watched literally hundreds of people in front of me reach up toward the heavens and proclaim these truths of life ... "We want more than this world's got to offer" ... and yet we all settle for what is offered by this world ... "And everything inside, screams for second life" ... and yet we apathetically live our first life without seeking out more.

It just struck me. So many people, singing these lyrics ... and most of them probably missing out on Christ. Missing out on the "so much more".  And then I look to myself, and know that even while, yes, I know Christ, I still settle for what "this world's got to offer" and forget that there really is so much more.

Secret Place

For you created my inmost being; 

you knit me together in my mother's womb.

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; 

your works are wonderful, 

I know that full well.

My frame was not hidden from you 

when I was made in the secret place. 

When I was woven together in the depths of the earth,

your eyes saw my unformed body. 

All the days ordained for me 

were written in your book 

before one of them came to be. 

Psalm 139:13-16

Joshua Nelson, 7 weeks, 5 days

Joshua Nelson, 4 months

Psalm 139 has been on my mind lately. Can anyone comprehend the TRUTH that these pictures are of the same little person? That my adorable, giggly, drooly little boy is one and the same with the seemingly "blah" sac of tissue in the picture above? I cannot wrap my mind around it! This perfect little human, with his chubby fingers and flailing arms; his bright blue eyes and double chin; his birth-marked knee and soft, soft skin ... this little guy named Joshua started off smaller than a mustard seed in my womb. And God saw his unformed body--his frame was not hidden from Him. Hallelujah! Our Creator God is great and good; what an amazing gift He has given to me.

I Love You More ...

Dear Joshua,

I love you more than ... 

Mommy loves coffee and Diet Coke.

Grandpa loves cigars and Nug the Pug.

Uncle Mike loves protein shakes and video games.

Auntie Jen love chocolate and her kiddos.

Grammie loves musicals and iced tea.

Auntie Molly loves soccer and Cardo.

Uncle Jordan loves sports and chicken fried chicken.

I love you more than ... 

Daddy loves graham crackers and U2.

Uncle Ziggy loves grilling and Insanity. 

Auntie Beth loves naptime and dress up.

Uncle Chris loves computers and orange tshirts.

Grandma loves iced Americanos and Roxy.

Auntie Tara loves Eva and apples. 

Grandad loves sunny mornings and bike rides.

Dear Joshua, we all love you so much ... and thank God for you every single day! There's nothing better in this world than your chubby little cheeks, your drooly little smile, your excited kicking legs, your sparkling big blue eyes.  There's nothing better in this world that your precious little coos, your zealous yells and screams, and your soft sleepy sighs. 

I love you little Joshua, more than you'll ever know or imagine. Mommy loves you!!

Driving through the hills

Today I drove from Dulles International Airport to Moorefield, WV. Preparing for this trip, it never occurred to me that I would be making a very pretty drive. The green rolling hills of western Virginia were gorgeous as I wound my way over rivers and around rocky bends into West Virginia. 

Colorado is beautiful-strikingly so. But I sure do love these moments in the Eastern states, where roads like "Trout Run", "Turkey Run", and "Squirrel Gap Run Road" criss cross with the "Lost River" and "Crooked Creek" through valleys and canyons named after battles that I remember from my history books.  A hotel founded in 1933 boasts "T.V. and A/C" and across the road is a restaurant called "Freeze King".  Different shades of green layer softly in the distance, each level of hills and trees adding to the beauty. Dilapidated trailers with classic red convertibles parked out front sit opposite traditional, turn-of-the-century farm houses with American flags draped on the porch rails. Quaint hillside churches proclaimed to me that "Jesus cares" and "prayer has no roaming charges". The town I was in was founded 1777. That's old.

It's just a different kind of beautiful out here--and I'm glad I get to see it.

On Your Dedication Day ...

Skinned knees

Runny noses

Tears of joy

Yelps and screams

Warm baths

Melty popsicles

Grass-stained jeans

Sunburned cheeks

Messy clothes

Tired yawns

Stamping feet

Grimy hands

Singing lips

Questioning minds

Loving hearts

Angry cries

Stubburn stomps

Wounded spirits

Whispered comfort

Cuddly hugs

Sloppy kisses

Today, we dedicate our son, Joshua. I am dedicated to you as your mommy, mom, mother, mama. 

I will love you, I will cherish you. 

I will teach you about God, I will try my best to show you Jesus. 

I will make mistakes, I will let you fail. 

I will lead the way, I will learn to let go.

To you, my little boy, my precious angel, my gift from God--to you, Joshua Nelson, I dedicate my heart, my energy, my life. I hold you with open hands, and trust the Lord to help me raise you. You will do great things for Him ... you already have. 

To my Joshua, my Little Buddy, with love on your dedication day, 

Your Mommy