Love

Less than 200 days till the Wedding!! So as a surprise, here is a sneak peek at a few of the engagement pics.. Be ready, the save the dates will be sent soon, but here are some of the others...

Life outside of wedding planning has been great. Honestly wedding planning has not been bad at all. With the help of our families and friends it is just fun. Now that football season is slowing down we are starting premarital counseling. We are really excited to start this process and just see all the things God will reveal to us in this time. I can honestly say that with every book we have read, people we have spoken with and everything in-between; God has just shown us over and over again that He made us for each other and this is the man I am supposed to spend the rest of my life with. I just feel so incredibly blessed. James is everything I want and need, from dealing with my crazy, planner, A-type personality, to sweetly helping me learn the words "I am wrong" (HA). I know right, I can say I am wrong and the world didn't end ( I hope my parents find humor in that, because if you know me, I hate to be wrong, but like anyone I am wrong, sometimes. Or as my father says, "Once I thought I was wrong, but I was mistaken".)

I just am learning everyday to love life more and it is just truly beautiful. I hope everyone can find maybe just one thing to love today or learn to love even more.

Until next time...


Love, love, love y'all,
K

how time flies...

Yes, thats right....I'm ENGAGED!!! And I am excited, can you tell? Kenny surprised me on our trip to Boston and asked me to spend the rest of my life with him (after I asked if he was sure,ha!). Of course I said yes and we are in the throws of wedding planning. We have dates, places, people, etc. So be looking for details on our wedding website soon! I promise I will post it here first when it is done!

Also I now have a full time job with University Recreation at the University of Arkansas. I am the assistant director of fitness facilities. So I am in charge of the Donna Axum Fitness Center and our new facility in the Union.

God has answered a LOT of prayers recently and just moved in cRaZy ways for James and I the past few months. We ask that you just keep us in your prayers for this next stage of our life. If you know me, I am A-type and want every question answered and to be married tomorrow. We just want to enjoy this part of our life and even though the wedding is farther away than we like, we know it is for the best and for God to prepare our hearts for this next part of our lives together.

I want to thank everyone who has been so helpful to us already in this journey and pre-thank people who will join in on this crazy journey we have embarked on, especially my MOH Kelley, good luck with me for the next 11 months, hahaha.

But really, thank you for your love and support and we CANNOT wait to be married and share in all of this with y'all!

Love love LOVE y'all,

the future Mrs. Kristin DeAngelo
eeeek =)

For Kel-

So I have been told by some people (ahem, Kelley and Mom), that I need to post. So here we go...

Well, first I must do the picture of the day...

How cute is James?? We went through baby pictures when we were in Cabot last weekend for a wedding, and I could not get over this picture! He is so stinkin' cute!!
Now, to recap from the last post...

First of all, I graduated!!!

James and I about to walk out on the floor.

It was awesome because my mom, dad and mamaw came to Fayetteville to see (Mom is gonna love that I put up a pic of her!! Its because I love the pic mom!!).

I was so glad to have them in town. Plus they brought presents from my AWESOME family and friends, who are way too good to me. Also my cousin Daniel graduated from SMU that same day, so shout out to Dan... 

Isn't he presh?? Love him.

Right now I have been working hourly doing my GA job, just hanging out =). Just kidding, I have actually just applied for the Assistant Director of Fitness Facilities here at the University of Arkansas. So hopefully I will hear back soon about it. I think it is more nerve wracking applying to a place you have worked than somewhere new!! Other than that I have been trying to find ways to spend my free time (no school for the first time since I was 5!! I am lost =), not really ). So Mom asked me to post what I have been doing to keep myself busy. It is not as great as what Ams does but I try.

Sorry they are all sideways, trying to figure out how to fix that. The first is a tie blanket I made for James, then the other two are just hog things. I am working on a UT one right now, but got ambitious and tried to do a longhorn, its a little elementary, but I might show it up here, maybe.
So if anyone else has ideas for me to help take up my free time, I am open to anything! I even started learning/teaching yoga, HA, I know right?

As for the future, James and I are going to Boston  right before the 4th to see his sister and her boyfriend. I hopefully will be moving into a townhouse with my friend/coworker Shannon on July 15th also. Then James finally gets to make a UT wedding, and we will be going to Austin for Lon and Colin's wedding!  AND DUH the biggest news, the youngest Royal grandchild will be 21!!! AHHH, where does the time go??
So, it is only fitting to bring back a little of the past almost 21 years..


How young were we??



Yup...

Typical.

So excited she was apart of Mac

We were so little!!

How beautiful are my cousins!! =), I love them and am so proud of ALL of my cousins. Kel, I hope your bday is as special as you and Erin made my 23rd! (oh jeez I am old!!).

love love love y'all

K

Two by two

Guess what.. I survived! =)

Courtesy of my wonderful cousin Erin who survived the flood of Fayetteville as well, here are some pics near her house (when I saw near, out her front door).

We also got hail last the Tuesday before last.. it was huge! Don't worry Dad my car is okay.

Just wanted everyone to know I am okay!

love love LOVE yall
K

Who was supposed to build it??

So if you haven't heard already Fayetteville is flooding, and no one built the ark (for more info http://www.nwaonline.com/news/2011/apr/25/flooding-closes-portion-arkansas-340/). They have already cancelled school, yes CANCELLED and shut down numerous streets. Right now I am just scared because they are throwing around my fav word... tornado. blah.

So if you don't hear from me soon, I'm on the ark and I am safe. =) or I was washed away in the flood (pretty sure my mom is not going to find that funny).

Darn It!

Well who is not successful at posting often?? ME! Sorry guys, let me see if I can recap y'all on everything that has happened since I last wrote.

I know you were all pretty worried but... I passed comps.. so YEAH. I just have a couple weeks left and I will officially will have my masters degree. SCARY! Take that Dad, he says we have the same education till I actually graduate, I maintain that I took multiple grad school classes so I already beat him, but the degree will signify it.

So after finding that out Ambre and I headed off to Florida and OH were we a sight. Her little car was LOADED down, but we had a great trip (even stopping off at the Univ of Alabama to check it out).

It was so neat to see the UF campus, rec center and stadium.

I also tried to choke the gator in front, but it looks like I am hugging it.. dang it!





But a great time was had by all. I was sad to leave, but got to help move her in and have a great last adventure with one of my best friends.

Then I flew back to Faytown for a whirlwind of a week being the Graduate Assistant of Special Events/ Instructional Programs AND Fitness/Wellness. It was CRAZY! Each has their own challenges but I love learning all the new stuff and interacting with the new staff. So after that I was off to New Orleans for our National Recreational Sports conference NIRSA. It was a BLAST! I lost my voice from talking so much, ate some DELISH food (esp  cafe du monde), went to some interesting sessions and met a lot of new friends. But boy I was glad to come back to Fayetteville, not necessarily getting up at 4am to fly back, but glad to back.

I got off the plane and went straight home to get ready for a wedding where James was an usher. It was a beautiful wedding of one of his best friends from undergrad who pole vaulted. We had a blast. But about 10 I started to fade from my early morning.

Then with church, rest and unpacking Sunday, I have been ready to tackle the rest of school and these two jobs =).

I miss everyone so much and I promise to add pics of the wedding and NOLA soon!!

love love LOVE yall

(esp Amy D and Kelley who keep reminding me to write!)

k

Back in the game...

Back to the real world (not the mtv show). Today has been a whirlwind, and the first time I have been able to sit down at my desk for an extended period of time. It has just been crazy since I was off last week and I am only at work Monday and Tuesday. Wednesday I am off to drive with Ambre to Florida. She is the new fitness coordinator for the University of Florida, so I am making the mini cross-country trip with her. I am so thankful because I left WONDERFUL Texas weather for FrEEzInG weather of Arkansas, but will soon be in warm Florida weather.


Ambre and I

But quick recap, my Spring Break trip was AWESOME! Even the 8, yes EIGHT hour car ride from Austin to Dallas on Sunday. James and I got to relax, he golfed, we shopped and ATE so much.


James' first ever kolache! So we had to do it right at the Czech Stop.

As soon as we got into Austin I had to show James around campus. So we toured Gregory, I took him to Tyler's and showed him where I used to hang out in between classes (especially when Kel was at Texas with me, it was our spot).

Back to the Tower, looking out over the 6 pack, BOGA to the Capitol.

I had fun dragging James all over the place and showing him what was my home for so long. We finished off a perfect day at Cain & Abel's on the lake. Where I got a shirt that said Get Burnt =) and James tried his first Texas Tea.



A little dark

And of course we stopped at Sno Beach..



Then Sunday we were up and at church, where I got to see my cousin and his wife. Then to the UT-K.State baseball game...



Then we started on the 8 hour trek home, with a stop in Waco for dinner with Neugs =). She showed us around Baylor law, and not only is it BEAUTIFUL, the classrooms are super intimidating.

Finally after making it back to Dallas, we just chilled with my 'rents and had a blast, and were spoiled beyond belief. Then we headed up to Tish to see Mamaw, which was so much fun seeing her and catching up. Not to mention we had fresh bread and homemade potato soup. YUM. Then we headed off to Cabot to hang with James' family. Needless to say when we reach Cabot in shorts and it was 40 degrees we were COLD. So we watched movies and hung out around the house. We also got to hang out with his sister, Jayme and her husband.  Jayme and I made a cake and homemade salsa for dinner one night, it was wonderful.



making salsa.



Jayme, Jim and I.

I think James' was the most excited to see Fuji.



Fuji in his preppy sweater.



Then we were back to Faytown to get ready for school, work and my trip to Florida. I just want to thank everyone who helped make our Spring Break so special. It was a relaxing and great last Spring Break. Also hi to all our friends who we didn't get to see because they were in fun places also (ahem Ken =)  ) or didn't have the same Spring Break as us. =(

I cannot wait till we see everybody again and hopefully I will be back to writing regularly, but maybe not when I am relaxing in the beautiful Florida weather, and it BETTER be gorgeous while I am there.

love love LOVE yall
k

verse: John 14:27

Welp, ok?

First off.. I'M DONE!! Thanks for all the sweet notes and texts from everyone! It really helped make the process so much easier. So I will find out in about 3 weeks if I passed, I think I did =). So now just smooth sailing till SPRING BREAK.
But since I am practically brain dead right now because my brain is tired from the test, I am going to share with you the fun around the office today.
First, I scheduled a CPR class on Easter, I know right!! So that got changed super quick.

Then the this jewel was found in comment card box. I have a wall of shame (thank ams) that I keep at the office of people calling me sir, someone not wanting a free massage because they didn't like to be touch by strangers.. and so on.

So here is todays jem...

Okay so EPIC fail but I cannot get the picture to not be on its side. Here is what it says..

The E entertainment station is pornographic and should not be on the TVs. Anyone would agree that pornography is not good for anyone especially men. I saw women with no clothes on it this morning- they were hazed out, but it lights a fire. They changed the station when I asked them to and I am thankful.

I guess we should forward her message to the execs at E! Here is looking at you Seacrest.

love love LOVE yall

k

Philip. 4:4

hours...

At this time tomorrow I will hopefully be done with comps and a passing grade (I won't know for a few weeks). Then all I have is one class and no easy but easier sailing to GRADUATION!! I know I will have a masters degree... who would have thought??

So of course the theme of the day...

Off to study more!

love love LOVE yall!

k

verse: Matthew 19:26

So close

YES, it has been finalized, my last ever SPRING BREAK (which doesn't really even count because I had to take vacation days).
After not being able to think about Spring Break because of comps, James was wonderful and said yes to my crazy ideas, so we are... going to..... Home, Home and Home (aka real home-Dallas, college home-Austin and where James' parents live- Little Rock). It is nothing like past spring breaks (Spain & France, Gulf Shores, Colorado....) but I am really excited and can't wait.

The fam.. YEAH, I get to see y'all soon!

We are leaving faytown Friday night for Dallas, will go to Austin for Saturday and Sunday (and the UT baseball game on Sunday afternoon and Austin Stone!). I am so excited for James to see my undergraduate life, since I see his all the time here at Arkansas. Then we will stop in Waco to have dinner with one of my best friends Neugs, she is in law school there, rocking it.
Then back to Dallas where we will be through Wednesday afternoon, just hanging out relaxing, and doing my favorite Dallas past time... eating (Papa's, Great Outdoors, Whole Foods, Pei Wei, Mi Cocina, Jakes, Burger House, Sprinkles, JD's, Cheddars, seriously the list doesn't end) I should weigh 8 million pounds from all I eat when I am in Dallas. After eating I will be bothering my parents daily, along with another bestie Joe who is big time with the Dallas Stars ( I still miss Mike, Joe).
I wish my other Dallas regulars would be there (aka Kate, Phil and Craig). Hopefully, I maybe will get to run into Kel, Blake, Erin, Daniel and the rest of mi grande familia (it is not a trip to Dal without seeing the family).
Then back to Faytown with hopefully a short detour to see Mamaw in good ole Durant, OK.
Finally back to Faytown to work on Thursday then head out that night to the Rock. Of course stopping in Conway to see some of James' old friends from elementary school and finally to Cabot to see Elaine, Jim and Fuji. Then whatever fun Little Rock holds for us, James is in charge of that (so I don't know what we are doing but I do hope we get to climb at this mountain place I have always wanted to climb) like I am in charge of anything Texas. =)

Say hi to Fuji!

Then on Saturday afternoon back to Fayetteville to get ready for work for both of us and the rest of Spring ball for James.

I hope we get to see you on our Spring Break trips!

Love love LOVE yall
k

verse: James 1:22

Light

And I'm back in the game......
    (if you can name that movie, you have just found the key to my heart)

Someone really cool sent me a card today and it read...

"There is a light at the end of every tunnel, just pray it's not a train."

It definitely made my day and made me smile. Especially with the stress of comps, school and community, work and trying to find a job. Needless to say I get a little overwhelmed. But this card just reminds me that this is just a moment in time and I will never be in this exact position again, so I need to enjoy it while it is here. Also that my situation could be so much worse. I have a roof over my head, food, clothes to wear, people who love me and a Savior who saved me.

So just make sure you take time and be thankful. We all have so much to be thankful for, if you are struggling for something to be thankful for, just look at Japan right now.

My YL leader, Brett, used to tell us at the end of every meeting to tell 5 people you love them. I challenge you to do that today and just realize how lucky you are.

truly
i love love LOVE yall
k

verse: Proverbs 17:9

{Insert Clever Title Here}

Did y'all see the new background?? Thanks Katherine Faith and Amy D. for the help.

Today is going to be SOO random, so hang with me =).

First off we need to recognize the best dog who ever lived, yes Gumdrop =)

Gumdrop

 I mean how can you not love that face? Of all her years on this earth, I would like to say none of them were stressful. Even when she would lay in the middle of our old street, with a car coming toward her, and when they would honk she would just lift her head and look. I always thought if she could talk she would have said, "Excuse me? Why are you interrupting my nap? I only get to nap 23 hours of the day, please leave me be." As she would lay her head back down and not move.

The best part had to be my mom. No matter when this happened or where Mom was, her head would pop up when she would hear that honk and go "Oh no, Gumdrop". Don't worry not one of these car encounters ever ended bad which is a huge blessing. But she really was one of the best dogs anyone could have asked for. Yes, she was a little big for a lap dog, but we all loved her. Even if sometimes she wasn't on top of the dog magnets at Grandad's. Love you Gum.


On to the next random note (which isn't that random because one time Gumdrop found a leftover Easter egg from our annual Easter egg hunt at Gabby & Grandads, well found it like a month later is more like it, and rolled herself all in, like a pig and smelled so terrible). Pretty sure mom cleaned her, thanks mom =).

But anyway why I thought of that is when I was looking for jobs on the UA HR website I found this...

Program Technician
Posted On: Thu, 03 Mar 2011
The Animal Science Department at the University of Arkansas has a 150 sow herd which supports a comprehensive research and teaching program. Facilities include farrowing for 34 sows, a 48 pen conventional nursery with capacity for 6 pigs/pen, and four wean-to-finish rooms with a total of 144 pens and a capacity of 6 pigs/pen. The individual selected for this position will be responsible for assisting in the day-to-day care and supervision of all units including upkeep and maintenance of the units.


So don't worry I can always work for the "hogs" =).

Hope everyone is having a fantastic day.
love love LOVE yall
k

Verse of the day: Philippians 2:5

El segundo dia..

The cousins at Thanksgiving in Austin. Some of the best people in the world, who I love and would do anything for. Miss you guys.

**I am going to try and have a picture for each day, the picture may have NOTHING to do with what I am talking about, but  oh well! =) ***


Okay, it is day two and I am already at a mental road block. I have so many ideas to talk about, but they are all SO random and might jump around a bit, so sorry if that happens. Hopefully, it will all come together in the end.

First, if you see I have added a slide show. It is supposed to have MANY more pictures cycling through it, AHH when I just previewed this page it has the new pictures.. YEAH!!I will just leave this so if you do want to see my flickr page...but for some reason (my smarts may the prime culprit) I cannot figure it out, after much frustration. So if you don't have facebook and can't see those pictures (mom =), I promised her yesterday I wouldn't mention her in this.. oops) I have made a flickr account. Unless I am just totally wrong you can click on the slide show and it will take you to my flickr account and you can see all the pictures I have added.

Back to the point, I think today my main focus is really going to be procrastination. While I have wanted to start a blog, the fact that I have a good amount of school work due in the next two weeks helped pushed me in that direction. Like Amy D. always said "If you want something done, ask someone who is busy". Which I have found to be true. The busiest people I know are usually the best at getting things done (I personally love to cross things off my checklist). But as I moved from the college life to a school/real job I have found my level of procrastination is at new heights. (Which I must preface this in saying for me procrastination is if I wait 3 days to complete an assignment before it is due[which isn't procrastination really, but for me it is], except for that 9th grade English project, I had to make a mobile from some book that I didn't read. It was the night before it was due and I had just come home from a volleyball game so it was late, needless to say when I told my parents they were not happy or pleased. That is the last time that has happened, Sorry again for that M&D).

So this has led me to be the kid that packs a day or two before I leave for a trip, but will try to pack everything, so usually the morning of I am looking for my toothbrush, deodorant, many things that I should have waited to pack. Anyway, I digress...

So other than this blog and now my flickr account I would like to share with you my procrastination websites..
espn.com
deadspin.com
friendsoftheprogram.net
huffingtonpost.com
awkwardfamilyphotos.com
peopleofwalmart.com
cakewrecks.com
catalogliving.net
thepioneerwoman.com
tosh.0/comedycentral/blog
weather.com (yes the weather website, it can just keep you captive by trying to figure out whats the weather in all the places you have lived)
tmz.com
usmagazine.com
womenshealthmag.com

That is just the short list... for a less productive day. Sorry!

love love LOVE yall
K

Verse of the day : Exodus 14:14

I guess it is about time...

First I am going to start this off with I severely dislike grammar, ask Craig B. about 9th grade English. So to cut to the chase, if I have a run-on, bad grammar, etc., my bad. If you don't like it, don't keep reading it =). Ok, love you too, thanks!

I also would like to thank Katherine Faith for helping me be accountable with this, and giving me the idea to start a blog.

One good thing to know about me is that I do not like to talk on the phone. Which makes life very difficult when you move 5 hours away from home and about 9 hours from the place you called home the past 4 years. So, to help keep people up to date on life and to not just totally stink at communication, I am trying my hand at this. If trying to come up with a blog name and url are any prediction, I just started on a long long journey.

Also, today is Ash Wednesday. I am not Catholic but I appreciate and understand Lent, when it is associated with its true purpose that you give up something that is coming in between you and the Lord, and not hey maybe I can go without candy for 40 days(which yes I have done). But as it dawns on me as I type, I am going to try and post on my blog (and make it more visually appealing) during Lent. I am already giving myself grace on the weekends because A. I am not Catholic and B. I am not really using the real application of Lent in the correct way, so there, I don't have to follow the rules.

Right now I am just impressed that I have typed this much with capitalization and correct punctuation. Usually about 2 sentences in, I stop capitalizing things and just use... to end any sentence. That must mean I need to thank the UA grad school and IMRS staff for making me more of a professional, thanks guys.

Maybe a little more to catch you up on my life. I am in my last semester of grad school at the University of Arkansas. I have comps (our big test over every class) on March 17th, so that is dominating my life right now, along with school and community (my last grad school class). I am also a graduate assistant for Intramural/Recreational Sports at the U of A.

I have made some great friends here to add to my great group of college and high school friends. In addition, I have been blessed with a great godly man who I get to call my boyfriend. He truly is my best friend, and I can't believe that God had this worked out in His book soo long ago (James is an Air Force brat, he has lived all over the world and the fact that he ended up in Arkansas is just too perfect to not be planned by the Lord, just how I feel my placement in Arkansas is nothing other than God's hand at work). James also convinced me to teach Sunday School with him at our church, it is challenging, but SO much fun, I promise many stories to come about that later.

Now these past (almost two years) have been the most challenging, difficult, fun, lonely, rewarding, (I could go on) years of my life. But getting out of the bubble of LH and then the bubble of YL at UT, this has been the perfect spot for me. Every time it has been hard leaving each bubble (esp Austin) but I know the Lord has put me on this path for a reason and has challenged me every step. I really do believe He gave me the tools and community in Austin, to bring them here and learn/grow and apply here.

Northwest Arkansas is a beautiful place and there really is nothing like a whole state who support one university. While it has its similarities to Austin, Austin still has its own place in my heart, that I know I will always miss. But God has been so faithful to me here with friends, a job, education, a community, people who have become my family here, a wonderful church, and much much more.

I hope this post finds everyone well. Please leave a post if you have any questions or if you want to email me at work I would love that to.

I have come up with my sign off, so here it goes... (you knew one had to slip in)

love love LOVE you ( I guess it should be y'all, its more appropiate) Here we go again...

love love LOVE y'all
K

(verse for the day John 14:27)