Great news!!

So my little brother called me last night. He and his wife are expecting their first baby!! I'm so excited!

It's odd though. He's still the little hellion I remember growing up. It will be fun to watch him raise his own little bunch of hellions. :) Not to mention odd because I thought I would become a parent before he did--never seemed the type growing up. I'm happy that's changed! I love being an aunt and spoiling my nieces and nephews with love and treats! :) (The treats are why I'm the favorite.)

Congrats bro. I love you and Michelle. :) I'm excited to meet the young one.

I've been tagged!

I never thought I would be tagged! Sweet! :) Here goes.

20 years ago......
1:I was 8 and getting ready to be baptized.
2: I was in 2nd grade.
3: The love affair began. I went to Disneyland for the first time.

10 years ago......
1: I was starting my Senior year in High School
2: I had my first boyfriend-yeah, he was a tool.
3: Was in Madrigals getting ready for Christmas.

5 years ago.......
1: I was working at Tasty's, getting fat on donuts. :)
2: I bought the car I'm driving now.
3: Was trying to figure out what I wanted to be when I grew up.

3 years ago......
1: Was engaged.
2: Went to Disneyland for the 50th anniversary-WAY FUN!!
3: Got dumped. Started over by working three jobs.

1 year ago.......
1: Started dating Scott.
2: Played Princess July in 12 Dancing Princesses and met my male doppleganger, Sparky. :)
3: Started working at Joes.

This year so far......
1: I have moved up at work-meh.
2: Turned 28 and can't believe it.
3: Finally decided what I want to be when I grow up-a teacher, BTW.

Yesterday......
1: Worked.
2: Made cookies with my friends.
3: Washed work clothes.

Today.........
1: Came to work.
2: Checked my email.
3: It's only 9:45. I haven't done much yet.

Tomorrow........
1: Change my oil, do safety and emissions, and try to clean my car.
2: Go to the Chiropractor
3: Clean my room!!!

In the Next Year.......
1: Go to Disneyland
2: Start school
3: Be Sara Brown in Guys and Dolls (hopefully!)

I tag Karalee, April, and Candace

Get your house in order...

So lately I have been daydreaming of my childhood and thinking how great I had it and how much I took it for granted. You never realize how great it is being a kid until you're a grown-up wishing for those days long gone by. Especially when it comes time to pay bills.
Now, I have heeded the Prophet's advice-I have no unnecessary or consumer debt, and for a 28-year old single girl, I think I'm doing an ok job of not living beyond my means. Sure I have an occasional slip-up, but who doesn't?
Well now I'm really starting to stress. I've made the decision to start school in January, and needless to say I am mortified. I've always been a good student, so I'm not afraid of that aspect. I'm afraid of the debt I will incur. Especially in a volatile economy like the one we're in now where even people with damned near perfect credit aren't qualifying for AUTO LOANS!! I'm sure there are extenuating circumstances for these instances, but it's still scary.
I'm sure that I'm just having these second thoughts because I'm facing a lot of HUGE life changes in the coming months-starting school, acquiring a new roommate (and therefore putting my trust in them to not stick me with ALL the monthly bills), and I'm FINALLY getting out of a long-term situation that was only intended to be a temporary one. Basically just I'm just working on being more self-sufficient. As exciting as this all can be-whenever I think about it, I give myself a small panic attack. Yes, I have savings, yes I'm trying to have some semblance of a plan, but this fear is crippling. I know these are all things I should be doing, and rites of passage everyone experiences sooner or later, but I'm still scared. I even had the thought of postponing school AGAIN--for no good reason this time!!
I know if you wait for the perfect time you'll be waiting forever, but I'm human. I think like one. I was so grateful to be able to listen to Conference this weekend, because that point was hammered home for me. I especially appreciated President Monson's talk on Sunday morning-granted, I know this wasn't specifically what he was referring to, but I appreciated it nonetheless. Aside from the fact he loves him his musicals-YAY! I loved how he stated (I'm paraphrasing here because the transcripts aren't available yet for me to correctly quote)-that if we wait for the day when we're richer, or smarter, or more prepared we will be waiting forever because that day will never come. He went on to quote Professor Harold Hill from "The Music Man"-one of my favorites btw-"Pile up too many tomorrows and you'll find that you've collected nothing but a bunch of empty yesterdays."
I know I shouldn't wait. Because all I've been doing all this time is waiting. And what do I have to show for it? Nothing. However, this knowledge doesn't make change any less scary. So I guess more than anything I know what I need to do, I'm just scared to take that initial leap. I know Heavenly Father will bless me as long as I'm making worthwile pursuits and doing what I should. But that initial step is a scary one. I just need to have the faith. Ugh. So in a very un-Kristen like move, I'm asking for help. If you can make time to include me in your prayers so that I will have the faith and courage to embark on this huge undertaking, I would appreciate it. Thanks muchly, and peace out. :)

Leave me alone...please

So yeah. I'm kinda having a moral dilemma...but let me preface. I'm LDS, born and raised. Love the Gospel, most people in the Gospel- not so much, but that's the price you pay living in Utah. I don't let the stupidity of a few zealots ruin my faith. Anyway, there's one thing that I can't stand--Visiting Teaching, Home Teaching, and Group activities. Up until a couple months ago I was gloriously flying under the radar-one of the joys of being in a singles ward with high turn over-and let's be honest- I've been pretty lazy the last bit so I'm not there as often as I should.
Well lately there has been a big push by my Visiting and Home Teachers. I know they are trying to magnify their callings, but I don't want to be visited. It's nothing personal, but that's part of the reason I didn't serve a mission. The thought of making small talk with total strangers isn't my cup of tea. Small talk has never been a skill I possess. I'm not bitter at all, I'm just saying it's not my thing. I'm not into being Visit or Home taught, Visit teaching anyone else, and I think PPIs and Ward activities are lame. I prefer to keep my worshiping to Sundays and on a personal level, and ask for help if I need it. Does this make me a bad person? I love these brothers and sisters who are putting forth such an effort to magnify their calling and make me feel included and loved. But I JUST WANT TO BE LEFT ALONE!! Say 'hi' to me at church, send an e-mail every now and again to see how I am, that's fine. But don't show up at my house unannounced or otherwise. I'm never home, and so when I am, it's MY TIME. I don't want to spend an afternoon (or 30 minutes, for that matter) sitting in awkward silence attempting small talk.
I'm not angry, bitter, or anything of the like. These things are just not my cup of tea. I'm a loner, I like to be left alone. I don't need to sit with a group of friends making noise to high hell in the chapel like everyone else, and I don't need a big fuss made over me. If I need something, I'll ask. Otherwise, please leave me alone. My last Visiting and Home teachers were great. They would say hi at church, ask if there was anything they could do, and pass on a photocopied page of the Ensign and call it good. Why can't everyone be like this?
Does this make me a bad person? What's the best way to politely tell them that I have no interest in being visited or visiting others? Because we all know that this will deploy a huge effort to change my outlook it will be well-intended, but completely unwanted. I just want to be left alone. I know I'm loved and if I need anything I can ask, but in the mean time can I just lead my life and be left alone?