By Kristen, on April 10th, 2012% Last week at this time, I was enjoying the beginnings of my Spring Break. Now, I’m already back to school. The break was productive and wonderful and over too quickly.
Do you remember my ambitious Spring Break goals that I shared earlier this week? Well, guess what? With the exception of cooking a new recipe and washing my bedspread, I accomplished them all!
I had plans to make fondue, but with junior high boys over who were helping in the yard, chicken fingers seemed more appropriate. As for washing our bedspread? I didn’t have time to sit at the laundry mat, so that will just have to wait.
Here’s what I accomplished, with a couple pictures of moments from my week.
- Went to the National Lutheran Grade School Tournament. We took 5th!
- Clipped, sorted and organized my coupons. I love getting organized for finding good bargains.
- Went grocery shopping. Scored some amazing deals at Kroger!
- Read at least two books. You should add Kisses from Katie to your reading list, too. I highly recommend it.
- Celebrated my 30th birthday. Thanks for the sweet birthday wishes, everyone!
- Went to a Pacers game with my husband. They won!
- Cleaned the baseboards with my new vacuum. Thanks again, Mom and Dad. It was a great birthday present!
- Caught up on all the laundry. Nothing too exciting but always necessary.
- Hemmed Andy’s dress pants. Thank you, iron-on hem tape, for making my life so much easier!
- Cleaned out the refrigerator. Cleaned out the freezer while I was at it.
- Sorted through the mail basket. How does it accumulate so quickly?
- Read through my magazines. It was quite the stack!
- Organized the pantry. I discovered some ancient raisins hiding way in the back from 2009. Oops!
- Scrubbed all the showers. That really required some elbow grease, after all the construction in our downstairs bathroom.
- Got back on track with my list notebook. I missed the satisfaction of crossing things off my list!
- Went out to lunch with friends. Several times, actually. It was nice to leisurely visit and enjoy several meals out.
Bake something new. I didn’t get to this one, even though I had planned to do so. - Continued eating at least 5 fruits or vegetables every day. I’m halfway through this challenge for Be Well, Serve Well.
- Baked cinnamon rolls for Easter breakfast. I baked 9 pans of the Pioneer Woman’s amazing cinnamon rolls, of which I gave most of them away.
- Slept in. Again and again.
- Watched a movie or two with Andy. The new movie “We Bought a Zoo” is simply adorable!
- Made a new wreath. I actually made two, I was on such a crafty kick.
- Continued posting on my website regularly. I miss it when I don’t!
- Wrote in my journal. It had been much too long.
- Went to church – Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter SonRise. Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia!
I also accomplished some things that weren’t on my list.
- Gave away a couch and an old TV. They had been sitting in our garage since August. It was past time to go.
- Cleaned all the ceiling cracks and corners of cobwebs. I love my new handheld Oreck vacuum with all the handy attachments!
- Scrubbed my stove top. How do stoves get so dirty?
- Chopped onions for the freezer. It makes my dinner prep so much quicker.
- Made more foaming soap for the bathrooms. It is so simple and really does make soap last longer.
- Organized bins in the attic. I am thankful for our attic storage space since we don’t have much closet space.
While I was busy with my lists, my husband was just as busy with his lists. He cleaned out the entire garage, got our garden ready for planting, and mulched the yard.
All in all, it was a very productive Spring Break. It was a great change of pace for us. It was nice to stay around the house and accomplish so many things that we’ve been meaning to do.
Now, it’s back to the reality of school…and the anticipation of summer break!
By Kristen, on April 5th, 2012% 
Today, I turn 30. It’s hard to believe that I’m entering another decade! A lot has happened – not all of which I expected nor in the order which I expected. I graduated from college, began my teaching career, earned my Masters, began a long-distance relationship, bought a house and got married.
I’ve learned a lot in my 20s so in honor of my birthday, I thought I would share 30 things I learned in my 20s. I have to thank Mandi at Life…Your Way for inspiring me with her 30 things list. Here’s my list of what I learned in this past decade.
1. Living on my own for five years was a wonderful experience.
2. I have a heart for family ministry.
3. Teaching piano lessons requires a lot of patience but is a great side job.
4. I’m glad I earned my Masters of Education. I’m glad I earned my Masters when I did.
5. Waiting to get married was hard at times, but my husband was worth every moment of the waiting.
6. Being patient is still hard.
7. Lutheran ministry requires more of me than I ever dreamed.
8. Writing a website is hard work but I love it!
9. The more I play the piano, the better I (slowly) get.
10. Directing musicals excites me.
11. I am an extrovert who still enjoys my alone time.
12. I don’t respond well to sarcasm.
13. Spontanity makes me nervous, but with time (and the patient prodding of a husband), it becomes easier to be spontaneous.
14. Finding a good deal makes me giddy.
15. Canning isn’t just something my grandmothers did. I can can, too! 
16. You can learn a lot as the youngest teacher on staff.
17. College friendships last.
18. Reading is important to me and I will make time for it.
19. I will not apologize for reading lots of fiction, even as I discover how much I enjoy other genres. Fiction will always be my favorite.
20. I need a good night’s sleep to be at my best.
21. I am a perfectionist, but I have learned that perfectionism does have its time and place.
22. Written letters are a treasure that are meant to be savored.
23. Living without debt is worth every penny pinching sacrifice.
24. Traveling to and living in a different country will change your life-long perspective.
25. Owning a house is a lot of work.
26. I really like living in the country – Amish and all.
27. I am actually crafty.
28. Parents can actually be your parents and your friends at the same time.
29. Good hospitality makes anyone feel welcome.
30. Miles don’t have to separate a family.
Those are a few of the things I’ve learned. What have you learned in your 20s?
By Kristen, on April 3rd, 2012% 
It’s officially Spring Break! Well, actually, it’s been Spring Break for a couple of days already but basketball has consumed the start of my break. This is the first I’ve gotten to sit down and really think about what I want to do.
I have long waited for this break and now it’s here. I’m ready for the change of pace. I have lots that I need to do and lots that I want to do. Here’s what is on my list for Spring Break.
Go to the National Lutheran Grade School Tournament. - Clip, sort and organize my coupons.
- Go grocery shopping.
- Read at least two books.
- Celebrate my 30th birthday. Yes, I enter a new decade this year!
- Go to a Pacers game with my husband.
- Clean the baseboards with my new vacuum.
- Catch up on all the laundry, including a spring wash of our bedspread.
- Hem Andy’s dress pants.
- Clean out the refrigerator.
- Sort through the mail basket. How does it accumulate so quickly?
- Read through my magazines.
- Organize the pantry.
- Scrub all the showers.
- Get back on track with my list notebook.
- Go out to lunch with friends.
- Bake something new. Fondue, perhaps?
- Keep eating at least 5 fruits or vegetables every day. I’m on week 3 of this challenge!
- Bake cinnamon rolls for Easter breakfast.
- Sleep in.
- Watch a movie or two with Andy.
- Make a new wreath.
- Continue posting on my website regularly.
- Journal.
- Go to church – Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter SonRise.
There’s a bit of what I want to do. By making a plan, this allows me to be organized about making the most of my break. I do intend to make the most of it!
By Kristen, on February 16th, 2012% 
25 years ago, my Dad accepted a Call to serve as Pastor to God’s people at Crown of Life.
25 years ago, this February, the Barz family packed up our brown mini-van and moved across the country from Saginaw, Michigan to San Antonio, Texas.
25 years ago, our family only numbered five and we were (obviously) all a lot younger than we are today.
25 years ago, I thought Texas would be full of tumbleweeds and people riding horses while now I know that the hill country is indeed beautiful.
25 years ago, we were just meeting God’s people at Crown of Life. Many people have come and gone over these years but they have left lasting memories in our hearts.
This afternoon, I am flying to San Antonio for the 25th anniversary celebration of my Father’s ministry at Crown of Life. Our whole family (minus my husband and my sister’s husband) will be together for this special occasion.
I am looking forward to this long weekend of hugs, visiting and worship, laughter and yes, there will probably be tears, both of joy and remembrance. It will be good to be with my family – both at my childhood home and our church home.
You see, my life has been molded by our years in ministry at Crown of Life. I say that it is our ministry because a Pastor’s family is an integral part of the Pastor’s ministry. It is indeed the ministry of our family.
I am who I am today – by God’s grace – because of God’s people at Crown of Life.
I am giving thanks for our friends and family at Crown of Life. I am looking forward to celebrating with you…soon!
By Kristen, on January 11th, 2012% 
Last year, I wrote about my goals for 2011. I met some of them and others I didn’t.
This year is a new year so it’s time for new goals. Goals are good and necessary to give purpose to one’s life. As I reflected, many of my goals this year are continuations of things that I’ve recently started and / or want to improve upon.
Here are my goals for this upcoming year.
1. Continue to read.
I love to read, as you know if you regularly visit my site! My goal this year is to read 100 books. I’ve tried to do so the past two years and have only been shy a couple books. This year, I’m going to do it! Of the ten I listed in my reading plan, I’ve already finished Inconceivable and The Book Thief (plus another one) so that only leaves 97 books to read.
2. Journal more.
I have a dozen journals that I have completed in my life so far. It’s the way that I remember things and it’s also the way I try to process things. Lately, I’ve noticed that my journaling has become sporadic. I know I won’t be writing every night in my journals like I did before I was married, but I’d like to journal at least once a week.
3. Continue to put money aside in savings.
Andy and I are working to put money aside in savings. We’re trying to grow our emergency fund while at the same time save for larger home purchases. I’d like to rework our budget to find “extra” money to contribute to our savings.
4. Cook at least one new recipe every month.
I enjoy cooking but have found myself relying upon the same recipes. I want to expand our favorites list and the only way I can do so is by trying new recipes. I want to cook at least one new recipe a month. I hope to cook more than one but one is a good goal.
5. Continue to grow this website.
Over the past year and a half, this website has really started to grow. Thanks to you, I now have around 100 views a day as well as 32 daily email subscribers. (If you’d like to sign up for daily emails so you don’t miss a thing, you can do so here!) I’d like to continue reaching out with this website, providing encouragement so we can all joyfully thrive.
I am looking forward to continuing our Meet a Frugal Lutheran series, as well as the Christmas Savings Challenge. I plan to continue providing coupons and deals that can help you save – so we are doing more than just surviving. I also have some new ideas in the works. As always, if you have any suggestions, I’d love to hear your ideas!
6. Wear my pedometer and walk more.
I’ve had such busy days and weeks that I’ve gotten out of my good habit of walking. I know that when I wear my pedometer I do walk more because I can see how every little step counts. I’m going to start wearing my pedometer and aim (initially) for 10,000 steps a day. I hope to increase that number over the course of the year, too.
7. Continue to check things off my 30 Before I’m 30 List.
I have four months left before my 30th birthday and there is a lot left undone on my list. I don’t know that all of it will happen before I leave my 20s but I am going to do my best. I have all the frames for our family picture wall and I started my household notebook, but I need to get busy if I’m going to make these things happen before my birthday!
Those are some of my goals for this new year. I will try to update you periodically with how I’m doing – although some of the progress will be written in other features on this website. These goals make me look forward to the upcoming year. Before I conclude, it’s only fair and fitting to ask this.
What are some of your goals this year?
By Kristen, on January 2nd, 2012% 
I’m back from my CHRISTmas vacation! It was indeed lovely.
Like I said earlier, this was the first CHRISTmas where we stayed put and did not travel over CHRISTmas. Well, we traveled a bit but stayed close to home.
We spent CHRISTmas Eve with the extended Whirrett family, and CHRISTmas Day with the immediate Whirrett family. It was nice to have everyone together.
We attended CHRISTmas Eve worship at St. Paul’s, and CHRISTmas Day worship at Ascension. Andy’s school children sang beautifully for a lessons and carols type service at St. Paul’s. The sermon on “This Babe – This CHRISTmas” was thought-provoking as well.
We enjoyed exchanging our gifts – for which I have many thank yous to write. I received a beautiful old fashioned style picture to hang in our home, new ornaments for our tree, gift cards, and a Kindle. What a perfect gift for this reader! My husband also surprised me with a trip to Japan this summer so I can spend time with my sister and her family. Obviously, I’m looking forward to it!
We saw Andy’s Schiffli grandparents several times and traveled over to Ohio to see my Lehenbauer grandparents. We saw 6 different sets of Aunts and Uncles from our various sides of the family, too.
We tried to sleep in a bit to counter our late nights. We hosted a basketball party for Andy’s team, and had friends over from in town. We worked in our basement. I shopped the after CHRISTmas sales. We read. We watched some movies. I counted Boxtops.
My only disappointment? We didn’t have snow! I can’t remember a white CHRISTmas and was hoping that since we stayed up North, we’d actually get one. There’s always next year!
All in all, it’s been a wonderful CHRISTmas vacation! Of course, it’s passed too quickly as tomorrow we both head back to school.
Thank you for your understanding as I took some time away from this website. I have lots of ideas and plans to share with you over the next week or so.
I hope that you had a wonderful CHRISTmas celebration as well!
By Kristen, on December 22nd, 2011% 
It’s CHRISTmas vacation! I’ve made it through 83 days of this, my eighth year of teaching. Whew!
I welcomed a new student and wrapped up our lessons with my old students. I directed the CHRISTmas service and organized our piano recital. I made ornaments for my third graders as well as my piano students. I wrote my lesson plans for our return in January and cleaned up my classroom. Now, it’s time for vacation!
I have lots of plan for this vacation. I know the next 12 days will pass by all too quickly.
I have gifts to wrap and shopping to do. I have CHRISTmas cards to send and thank yous to write. I have more cookies to bake, friends to visit, church to attend, and family to see. I have parties to attend and parties to host. There are books to be read and sleep to be caught up on. Of course, there’s a date night with my husband in the plans, too!
So, for that reason, I’m taking a bit of vacation from this website, too. I love sharing with you but I’m not going to post regularly over the next week or so. I’m going to use this break to truly refresh and renew me. I need it.
This is the first time my husband and I have been in our own home on CHRISTmas Day. We’re looking forward to spending the time with his family this year, after the last two years with my family. I want to cherish all of these moments.
I hope that your CHRISTmas time with your own family – wherever you are – is truly one full of joy!
May our hearts be filled with awe as we rejoice in the birth of our newborn Savior!
By Kristen, on December 20th, 2011% One of the highlights of our CHRISTmas season when I was growing up was our Epiphany Open House. Yes, Epiphany is the 12th day of CHRISTmas, so it still counts! On that day, we’d invite the entire church over to our home. (My Dad’s a pastor, in case you didn’t know!) We would bake with Mom for weeks, getting all sorts of delicious treats ready. Of course, the house looked wonderful as well, with all our CHRISTmas decorations out and about.
Andy and I don’t invite the whole church over to our house, but I’d like to invite you over for a virtual visit. Let me show you how our home looks this CHRISTmas!
When you walk into our entrance room, you’ll see that I try to decorate simply and with touches of the season everywhere. Our entertainment center is the only display space in the room so I put two of my favorite nativities out here.
Then, you go up a step and into our more formal room. It’s my favorite place to be during Christmas, because when the tree is lit, this is what you see!
With our big picture window, it’s also a wonderful view for others to enjoy from the the outside!
I love to read on our coach by the light of the CHRISTmas lights! Our ornaments (like I showed last year) are a variety of ornaments that are special to us.
I decided to group my angel decorations together this year. These are some of the angels that my students have given to me over the years. This year, they are arranged together on a table.
Still in this long room is my favorite corner. My favorite corner is our fireplace. I don’t have a mantle so I simply decorated the ledge. Our stockings are hung on the edge of the fireplace and our old school desk is decorated too.
My husband and I are both school teachers so I love this old find! On it, I displayed my favorite CHRISTmas book – Mary’s First CHRISTmas by Walter Wangerin. It’s breathtaking – both the story and the illustrations.
If you look closer at the fireplace, you’ll notice that I have two nativities tucked among the garland. My husband and I collect unique nativities. When I saw this one (on various blogs) from Dayspring, I knew it was the one I wanted to add to our collection this year. It’s made from tin over tall pillars. When it’s not CHRISTmas, I can even remove the tin to use just the pillars. For now, I’m enjoying it. Isn’t it lovely?
I have lots of other decorations hung on doorknobs and displayed on window ledges. There are too many little glimpses to capture in pictures. These are the highlights of our CHRISTmas decorations.
Also, since I’ve shared my favorite decorated spot, what is yours?
Thanks for stopping by! It’s not quite the same as our Epiphany Open House but for now, this will do!
Merry CHRISTmas to you and your family!
I’m linking to the Nester’s Christmas Tour of Homes as well as the Inspired Room’s Virtual Christmas House Tour.
By Kristen, on December 1st, 2011% On Tuesday night, it snowed! It was our first real snow of the year. The trees were lovely, just like this…
I didn’t take this picture. Martyn E. Jones did. I wish I had. I haven’t picked up my camera as much as I would like recently. I wanted a snow day yesterday so I could spend some time getting ready for this season.
Today marks the first day of December. I’m excited and a bit not. Does that make sense to you? It does to me, because this is what I have figured out.
I love CHRISTmas! I love decorating our CHRISTmas tree and singing CHRISTmas hymns. I love the snow outside and staying cozy inside. I love baking buckeyes and wrapping presents. I love all the different ways of celebrating Jesus’ birthday, because that is what it’s all about, of course!
I don’t always love the busy-ness that forces me to rush through precious moments. I don’t like the feeling that my day-to-day demands are keeping me from fully embracing this season.
I want to savor CHRISTmas. I want to joyfully live each day – and this should especially be true during CHRISTmas.
My to-do list seems long. I don’t want it to be filled with obligations, but there are certain things I have to do, so I can do all that I want to do. Even knowing that, some days, I feel like I’m falling behind.
Here’s an honest look into my week. I didn’t make an organized grocery shopping list this week and I didn’t even cut my coupons. I ate leftovers every night for dinner and didn’t cook anything new. I had overdue books at the library. I’m behind on laundry. My husband and I are both keeping long hours at school to try and stay caught up with our lesson plans and grading.
The CHRISTmas decorations are down from the attic but they are all still in boxes. Our tree is up (and a real one at that) but there are no lights hung on it. I started to do some baking and realized I was out of powdered sugar and couldn’t go any further.
I am adding to my list faster than I am crossing things off! Does that sound familiar? I sincerely hope it’s not just me.
In the midst of all these swirling thoughts, I stopped to gaze at the sparkling snow. It’s the first snow fall. It’s the first day of December. It’s the first week of Advent.
Why am I in such a hurry? Why am I so concerned with my to-do lists? Why am I worried?
Advent is about waiting. It’s about waiting for CHRISTmas. I don’t need to have a sparkling house in one day. I can wait to do things day by day. CHRISTmas is coming. Jesus is coming!
This CHRISTmas, I want to celebrate His birthday with all the joy that is in my heart. Will you join me?
Let’s be thankful for the to-do lists and enjoy all the moments of this CHRISTmas season. Let’s give thanks as we wait!
By Kristen, on November 17th, 2011% 
I saw this at another Kristen’s, with whom I’ve recently become acquainted online. This spoke to my heart. So, I’m spontaneously jumping in.
Lately, I’ve been eating too many little Snicker bars. Chocolate is so good!
Lately, I’ve been exhausted by the day to day demands of my busy teacher life.
Lately, I’ve been going to bed early. It’s what I do when I’m too exhausted (both mentally and physically) to do anything else.
Lately, I’ve been drinking hot chocolate every morning. It’s turned cold in Indiana!
Lately, I’ve been counting down the days until vacation. Only 4 more teaching days until Thanksgiving break!
Lately, I’ve started singing Christmas hymns with my students in music, even though it’s not yet Thanksgiving.
Lately, I am getting excited to see my brother, brother-in-laws and sister-in-law.
Lately, I’ve been excited to stock up on great bargains.
Lately, I’ve been eating alone as basketball season for my teacher / coach / AD husband is in full swing.
Lately, I’ve fallen behind on my daily chores – which means I have piles of mail on my kitchen table to deal with as well as countless other things.
Lately, I’ve been smiling, thanks to comments overheard from my students.
Lately, I’ve not been cooking – and now am ready to bake up a storm!
Lately, I’ve been quieter.
Lately, I’ve been reminded to be still and know that God is God.
Thanks, Christy, for letting me join you lovely ladies!
|
Grab My Button 
<a href="http://www.joyfullythriving.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1216.photobucket.com/albums/dd369/kmwhirrett/JoyfullyThrivingBlogButton.jpg" alt="JoyfullyThriving.com" width="125" height="125" /></a>
|
