A few weeks ago, Jake was house-sitting for a family friend. After a long night of wedding brainstorming I found myself stretched out on the family's oversized and overcomfied leather couch. My ice cubed feet were resting on Jake's lap where he had snugly tucked them under a heavy afghan. He had his Bible out and was reading me Song of Songs. My mind was an absolute train wreck with the clutter of prices and venues and shades of yellow, but I was quickly stunned with a surge of comfort and peace. At that moment I doubted there was anybody quite as lucky as me.
For my whole humble 21 years of life, I've been continually familiarized with the concept that as a female, when you get married, YOU (and a various collection of close fellow females) are responsible for the wedding plans. It's just what happens. The bride buys the magazines, makes the phone calls, books the vendors. The groom smiles, nods, and shows up (of course with a few exceptions here and there about details he actually cares about). Even post engagement, we got multiple sets of advice from married friends who told us to let me plan the wedding and Jake take care of the honeymoon stuff. I should have known Yeager would be an exception.
A couple days ago we met with our totally awesome photographer. We did the technical things like give our deposit and sign our contract. Then we started throwing out times, places, and ideas for our engagement pictures. It was not until I had been carelessly giving my ideas and answers for 3 minutes that I looked over and noticed my cute little fiance jotting down notes of everything being said. You see, our 'wedding bag' is located in Jake's room. It's filled with our 'wedding binder' that he organized himself (with the exception of me going with him to Walgreens to buy it) and wedding magazines that we have purchased, looked through, and dog-eared the pages of together. I have literally not made ONE decision without discussing and debating it with him.
That night on the leather couch listening to Song of Songs, I realized how thankful I am to have a partner...through EVERYTHING! From wedding plans to growing in faith, I can walk confidently knowing that somebody has my back. During that particular week there were so many times I suggested going to the courthouse and spending the rest of the money on a trip to Ireland. After a quick chuckle, Jake would assure me that everything was going to work out. I trusted him, and now here we are with all the big things out of the way! To be quite honest, for such a wedding nut, I couldn't have accomplished ONE thing without him (with the exception of picking out the most perfect gown on the planet).
Thank God for wedding planning fiances and strong spiritual leaders. Thank God that I have both of those and so much more in-between.
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Thursday, January 13, 2011
orange blood.
Yesterday I had the joy of subbing at my old high school. Working at the schools in my hometown has been a blast. It's fun to see faces I know, sit in the lounge with teachers I've had, and teach in classrooms that I have been taught. Even though I've been doing this for a while now, there was something a bit more magical about being at the high school campus.
At the end of the day, I was walking from the classroom to the office. The school was pretty quiet. There were a few students still lingering around, but most had sped off the moment the bell rang. As I walked across the campus, I was hit with a wave of nostalgia. For a moment I went back in time. Obviously, I didn't graduate too long ago, but I realized how much has changed since then. That school was my entire life 4 years ago. I looked at the snack bar where I bought my daily sugar cookies at brunch. It was always a good day when they took them out a little early to leave the center nice and doughy. I saw the stage in the quad where my best friends and I would sit in the mornings before school. We would let our feet dangle off the edge and sip our Starbucks (but only if it was a Wednesday). Of course, we all had oversized sunglasses that allowed us to be creeps and stare at all our classmates. I stood for a moment in the long hallway that connects the two wings. Jake and I walked that hallway every day my freshman year. He would meet me after Lab Bio, and we would head to the other wing. Somedays I would wear his hat. We laughed the whole way, and Mr. Tashima was usually waiting outside to greet me to English. He would grin as I gave Jake his hat back and said goodbye before he continued onto Art. I think Mr. Tashima knew I liked Jake before I did. As I was leaving the office, I saw the auditorium. Nothing about high school beats eating Taco Bell in between rehearsing scenes, singing karaoke during over-nighters, doing relaxation exercises in the green room, learning some good ol' Katie Delano choreography, and desperately trying to have a ghostly encounter with the lady in white. As I was leaving campus, I took one last glance and spotted Tom Lucero's classroom windows. Between drama, AP, and Journalism, he pretty much owned our life junior and senior year. Like I always do when I think about those classes (my favorite classes) I felt a bit of jealousy and possessiveness. When I was in high school it seemed like we had such ownership over certain traditions. I just can't seem to picture other students messing with the Elvis phone or passing out in the Editor's station in Journalism. They shouldn't be able to make an I heart Gatspy club or a video as cool as The Golden Gnome in AP English. Tom can't write songs about them or get choked up at their graduations, which we all collectively can be a witness to
Roaming around the high school yesterday made me re-realize how thankful I am for it. Sure, it doesn't have a plethora of AP classes or mega funding for extracurricular activities, but being back on campus and working next door to teachers who taught me was humbling. I realized how much so many of them do care, and how so many of them did their best to give me and all CHS students the best experience they could. Sweeps and all ;)
I left the school and got a burst of inspiration. I realized why I wanted to be a teacher. I pray that someday I can provide memories, experience, and knowledge to kids so that someday THEY can strive to do something good and maybe even write a blog about it :) Anyone game for a walk down memory lane?
At the end of the day, I was walking from the classroom to the office. The school was pretty quiet. There were a few students still lingering around, but most had sped off the moment the bell rang. As I walked across the campus, I was hit with a wave of nostalgia. For a moment I went back in time. Obviously, I didn't graduate too long ago, but I realized how much has changed since then. That school was my entire life 4 years ago. I looked at the snack bar where I bought my daily sugar cookies at brunch. It was always a good day when they took them out a little early to leave the center nice and doughy. I saw the stage in the quad where my best friends and I would sit in the mornings before school. We would let our feet dangle off the edge and sip our Starbucks (but only if it was a Wednesday). Of course, we all had oversized sunglasses that allowed us to be creeps and stare at all our classmates. I stood for a moment in the long hallway that connects the two wings. Jake and I walked that hallway every day my freshman year. He would meet me after Lab Bio, and we would head to the other wing. Somedays I would wear his hat. We laughed the whole way, and Mr. Tashima was usually waiting outside to greet me to English. He would grin as I gave Jake his hat back and said goodbye before he continued onto Art. I think Mr. Tashima knew I liked Jake before I did. As I was leaving the office, I saw the auditorium. Nothing about high school beats eating Taco Bell in between rehearsing scenes, singing karaoke during over-nighters, doing relaxation exercises in the green room, learning some good ol' Katie Delano choreography, and desperately trying to have a ghostly encounter with the lady in white. As I was leaving campus, I took one last glance and spotted Tom Lucero's classroom windows. Between drama, AP, and Journalism, he pretty much owned our life junior and senior year. Like I always do when I think about those classes (my favorite classes) I felt a bit of jealousy and possessiveness. When I was in high school it seemed like we had such ownership over certain traditions. I just can't seem to picture other students messing with the Elvis phone or passing out in the Editor's station in Journalism. They shouldn't be able to make an I heart Gatspy club or a video as cool as The Golden Gnome in AP English. Tom can't write songs about them or get choked up at their graduations, which we all collectively can be a witness to
Roaming around the high school yesterday made me re-realize how thankful I am for it. Sure, it doesn't have a plethora of AP classes or mega funding for extracurricular activities, but being back on campus and working next door to teachers who taught me was humbling. I realized how much so many of them do care, and how so many of them did their best to give me and all CHS students the best experience they could. Sweeps and all ;)
I left the school and got a burst of inspiration. I realized why I wanted to be a teacher. I pray that someday I can provide memories, experience, and knowledge to kids so that someday THEY can strive to do something good and maybe even write a blog about it :) Anyone game for a walk down memory lane?
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Grandmas are funny
Grandpa John: Don't get married, Karissa. It's all downhill from there.
Nana Mary: Don't say that! They will be so happy!!
Grandpa John: All I'm saying is why buy the cow if you can get the milk for free?
Nana Mary: JOHN!!!! Stop it!! Jake hasn't gotten any milk!!!! Has he? Jake hasn't gotten any milk, right Mija?!
Me: No Nana. He's actually lactose intolerant.
Sunday, January 2, 2011
New Year, New Yearnings
Hi. Happy 2011! Every time I see 2011, I gag. I feel like we should have flying cars and Bicentennial Men in every household. Oh well. iPads shall do.
First of all, do you dig the new style? And name? I do. I've wanted to scrap the Karissa Explains It All for a while now. I know, I know- it was witty. I've just used it since literally 2006. I've also been wanting to incorporate this lovely and heart-warming Philippians verse for a while, then suddenly it all came together. Since I blog about my life and my life is filled with pretty things, I figured it would be apprope. Disclaimer: the fact that my picture is under the title does not suggest that I think I am a pretty thing. I simply put it there in hopes somebody important stumbles across my blog and wants to give me a reality show. Now, lets continue onto cliche blog topics.
I typically hate resolutions. Mostly because I forget them before we make it to February. this year I am hoping the this old bloggy will help to keep me accountable. I can't narrow things down for the life of me, so here are some of the top goals for this upcoming crazy and exciting year.
1. be more consistent in bible readings. i have this really great system of an at home, all alone study. Problem: one missed day leads to two leads to five. i need experiment with what times work best for me. most of the time i just remember at the same time i remember to do homework: when i'm half asleep.
2. bulk up for wedding. please don't judge for how manly this sounds. i just don't want to be a scrawny bride.
3. drink more water. i need to accept that h2o won't start tasting like peach tea or coke any time soon.
4. maintain relationships. weekly phone calls or texts to out of town friends. coffee dates. check ins. prayer sessions. i could easily be a better initiator.
5. develop organizational skills. yeeeahhh....maybe Yeager can help me with that one.
6. become a professional ballerina and/or Natalie Portman.
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