New Friends

These are our new additions. Succulents and cacti are just so cute. My sister and I share a love for anything tiny, precious, and fits in the palm of your hand, and I think these are just that! Kev calls it weird.....

love this one. Lowe's had quite the variety too!

IKEA. The classic.

Happy Year and a Half Frank and Franny Kitchenstein

Take a look:

What's wrong here, besides the lumpy frosting and depressed scrolling?

Ready to eat that year and half old cake! 

Butter Pecan and Chocolate

Why yes that is our wedding cake. That we ate in June. Not January, the month of our wed, but June! I had some crazy idea, like I always do, of getting year after pictures with it, but that totally went out the window. It just kept sitting in our freezer until we realized we needed to eat this thing if we ever wanted to. We were about to move to KY, and all things frozen were going in the trash. The cake was surprisingly very good! The chocolate was so moist ya'll, and the frosting was pretty tasty too (no awkward fondant for us). We even saved it and nibbled off of it for a few days.  

So did ya catch anything weird about the initials? Totally fine if you didn't, because I didn't notice on my wedding day either, thankfully, but the initials are backwards (No I'm not bitter)! It should read KFK. I later discovered it on our honeymoon after a friend posted a pic of our cake online. I was not happy at the time being.... Ok Really, I can't even think of names that start with an F, much less a husband and wife both having names that start with an F. Anyways, later on we ended up making fun of it, and sometimes call each other Frank and Franny Kitchenstein. Opening this up a year and a half later recalled some great memories. Realizing that just a short time ago we were wanting the day to get here so fast. It came and went in the blink of an eye. All the fuss, glitz, and glamour is not what marriage is about. Just like this cake, marriage is full of mistakes and mess ups that happen all the time. But I'm learning when we are obedient to God, and patient on what He has for our lives, just like the inside of this cake, we can withstand the toll of time, and bear the burdens of this world together in marriage. I'm thankful to God that he is allowing me to be the wife of Kevin as we learn, and grow together in this new stage of life. "What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate." Mark 10:9

Fuddy Duddy

I'm getting older....

People younger than my sister are getting married. (but I guess that was around my age when I got married too).

People my age are having babies.

We just got our washer and dryer delivered that we bought with Christmas money. (whoop de doo).

I'm getting a big girl job.

I find myself in conversation topics about House decor and the latest recipes.

Bills, insurance, (blah blah blah).

I can see more smile lines on my face.

Moving and starting life in a new city.

Dear friends are moving and starting new lives as well.

I have taken a recent liking to succulents mainly cacti.

When did all of this happen?

Cancun

Our trip to Cancun was a lot of fun. Minus getting burnt twice, (once on the 1st day and then again on the 3rd day) and sleeping wrong on my neck to a point that I couldn't move (still feel the crick). I spent 2 days inside all day slathered in Aloe, as stiff as a cracker, and studying for my boards. Nonetheless, I enjoyed all the family time and Delish food!

This was our....Ahem.... salad

He's so cute!

The guys played around 90 holes total. Insane!

Yes there were alligators. They live in the sand dunes and lakes all over the course.

Sushi at the Japanese restaurant

At the Japanese restaurant

random fire show one night

balcony

It has been a few years since I have been golfing. It was fun to play again!

He did so good!

these nasty iguanas were everywhere. So gross!

You can't tell by the pictures but my Mom, Dad, Jeni, her husband Jeremy, Kelsey, her boyfriend Patrick, and my two grandparents Mimi and Aubrey all went on this trip!!

Cake, Cake, Cake

We took a day trip to Nashville for my Birthday two weekends ago. I always love taking small trips with my husband. We went to the Opry Mills Mall for the first time since it reopened. We also got to eat dinner and play CATAN with Jason and Tama!! Always enjoy time spent with them! Twas a great birthday! 

We had lunch at the Aquarium Restaurant!

We also went home for the weekend! We had dinner at Hard Rock, and then I got my favorite food: Cheesecake from the Cheesecake Corner!!!! Buttercream was the pick of the night.

It was the last night of Memphis in May, so we got to eat outside and watch the fireworks!

I'm an Alumni, Alumna, Alum??

I CAN BLOG NOW........I'm done with undergraduate nursing school! I never thought I would say those words. I can't believe it. I don't know what to do with myself now. I'm incredibly antsy, and haven't stopped cleaning the apartment. We have been so busy that even finding time to blog since I have been "free" has been nearly impossible.

The weekend before finals, our sweet friends Kevin and Chloe got married (yes I sat in the car for 3 hours, waiting for the wedding to start, while Kev was taking groomsmen pictures- I'M SO LAME)! We are so excited for them, and love every time we get to hang out! Cheers to Mr. and Mrs. Kevin Kaspar!

Then graduation came...... FINALLY!! 

My infamous paper chain! The night before graduation! (Click HERE to see how long it was when I began)

Polyester black robes and 90 degree weather make for one HOT day.

Love my husband. So thankful for him!

So excited I couldn't stand it!

I never anticipated nursing school to be so hard. Every semester I just wanted to survive, and make it to the next break. When looking back on everything that happened over the last two years of college, I am in complete awe of God's provision and perfect plan. The one question I got all the time was, "Is it hard being married, and in nursing school?" I know some people thought I was crazy, and some just didn't understand why we seemed to be rushing everything. What I have to come to learn is this: We seem to always want to wait until it's the right time or the perfect circumstances. There will always be school, money, jobs, or family reasons that seem to "be in the way," and make the plans of God fuzzy to our weak eyes and doubting hearts. Our plans pale in comparison to what God has in store for our lives. I learned/ am learning to stop trying to make things perfect and to trust that God knows best. God knew I needed Kevin to get through nursing school (and other things in life). He cooked dinner for us as I hibernated in the back room, he kept me sane, he kept me laughing, and he kept things in prospective. This is how most conversation went. Kev "Kaitlyn it'll be ok." Me "No it won't. I have to get a certain grade. I won't pass the class. I'll have to wait another year to take the class. We have to live in Jackson longer. You can't start seminary for two more years. We're doomed!" Kev "Did you do your best?" Me "Yes." Kev "Did you study all you could?" Me "Yes." Kev "Then there is nothing else you can do. Stop worrying. You probably did just fine. God is in control, and as long as you worked to the best of your ability, then his will be done." ...... God knew I needed someone in my life like Kevin. Sure I had to balance my time a bit differently in comparison to most of my classmates, but I wouldn't change it for anything. There have been so many blessings through my marriage to Kevin, and I'm so incredibly thankful for that. I'm still looking for a job right now unfortunately, but I'm sure God will provide for us as we start a new chapter in our lives in Ketucky. We are officially moving on June 25! Pray for us as we prepare to move, look for jobs, and for me as I take my boards on June 22!!

Be Better.

      Archery class is over, my finger is still a bit numb, and now it's time to start real classes. My paper chain has shrunk, but it doesn't take away from the fact that I have been worrying about my last semester of nursing school since I was let out for Christmas break. It's crazy how much pressure I can create for myself... I must do well on my quiz, I must pass this test with at least a B, I must get a certain grade on this final, I must pass this ATI test (because taking it a second time is just not an option.) It's exhausting, and might I say, ludicrous at times. I don't know why I do this to myself. It's not the end of the world, matter of fact it's not even why I was put in this world. I didn't want to believe it, but It's true when people on campus tell you that you will become dead to everyone when you start nursing school. I'm constantly reminding myself that there is so much more than nursing school, White hall is not the only building on campus, there are more than the same 40 students at union, studying for 6-7 hours a day is not the norm, and not all elderly people have heart troubles, and end up on A8 of Jackson General.

       I cannot believe that this is my last semester of college. Along with finishing up, my goal is to spend valuable time with dear friends at school and church. I'm not the world's best at dividing myself into different things, but I'm praying that God will help me with this. I want to be a better friend (including towards my husband... truth: I can get lost and buried in studying), a better servant, and a better steward of my time. I need to stop worrying, it gets me no where and only wastes my time. If those birds are being fed, I'm sure I'll be just fine. (Matt. 6:26)  So I'm saying goodbye to nail polish (can't wear it to clinicals) and hello to my last semester at Union University! 109 days left I think??

At the beginning of the summer.

Doesn't look so bad now!

Some things change, some don't

      I can't believe that it has been one year of marriage. It seems like only yesterday that Kev and I were planning like crazy for one of the most special days of our lives. I am so thankful that the Lord gave me such a great husband. I have learned so much and I can't even imagine the things that I will learn in the future.  I pray that the Lord will daily shape me and change me into the wife that Kevin needs, and that He will use me to be Kevin's helpmate and encourager. I thank God for this special gift of marriage, and in this new year, I pray that God will continue using our marriage to glorify Him more each day.

      Two weekends ago, Kev and I went to Louisville to check out Southern Seminary and get a feel of the city. So now that we have visited both places, our choices were between North Carolina and Kentucky, and our final answer issssssssssss.......... KENTUCKY! Lord willing, we will move to Louisville in June. We are so excited and we thank everyone for their prayers as we have been trying to decide where to go.
We definitely fell in love with Louisville:
1. The drive was so easy and not very far from our families.
2. We saw a hospital everywhere we went. (As frequent as a Walgreens on every corner.)
3. The city was so quaint and eclectic.
4. Everything was a close distance from each other.
5. The seminary was great.
6. We already know several people there!! (Oh and Alli and Gentry Hill were kind enough to have us over for dinner, and we had such a great time!)

   PS: Even though we are leaving TN and going to KY, we will not betray the Memphis Tigers. Kev already said we can't turn into Wildcat fans, so don't cha ya worry!

Kev's parents went by our apartment while we were still out of town and put this on our door! So cute!

                                                      

One Year!!

We just couldn't wait...

Christmas came a bit early for us this year. We are going home this friday to be with our families, so we decided to do our Christmas this week. Originally we planned for Thursday, but we were sitting around Tuesday night and just couldn't wait any longer. We had a great time, and really enjoyed surprising each other.

Before we got started. Yes Aladdin was on!

Loving all of my socks.

Got my scarf!

Unfortunately I got the wrong size.

Kev got an xbox game.

Well I was trying to show the wrapping before he ripped it open, but I was too late. I seriously enjoy wrapping too much; only to have it taken apart so quickly.

This shirt fits!

I was so excited to get a standing mixer!!!!! I've already made some cookies!

 My favorite thing is to open the stocking. It always has the perfect things.

He had these made for me. The smaller ones are for my nursing IDs. How sweet. I got a belt and some boot socks too.

He had a full stocking too. He got some golf balls, socks, and gum!

This year my family has decided to not exchange presents. We each were told to do something for someone else. My sister proposed this idea last year, and I think it makes a lot of sense. We celebrated our birthdays a bit bigger this year, and for Christmas we are celebrating the birth of Christ and what he has done for us, by doing/giving to others.  We are blessed, and so thankful for what we have. We can't thank God enough for how he has provided for us through our first year of marriage. I can't wait to be with both of our families for Christmas this weekend. It gets crazy going to 4 or 5 different places, but we wouldn't have it any other way.
 Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 1 Thessalonians 5:18

Christmas

Christmas has definitely come quick this time. I think as I get older, it comes faster and faster each year....
I finished all my shopping about a week and a half ago, and all the present are wrapped under our tree, for our first married Christmas together!

Out from our kitchen, there is a ledge that is currently serving as our makeshift mantle. Works just perfectly.

Since I have ample time over this break, my goal is for us to start eating a bit healthier, and to be a bit more savvy with when we are purchasing certain items at the grocery. I searched many hours online for websites and blogs to help me out with this. I came across one that allows you to choose which store you want to look at and it lets you know what items are best to buy at that specific time. I'm trying to make smart menus one week at a time, using leftovers or extra meat from the previous meal. I'm aiming to get into this routine to make it a bit easier when school starts back. I don't know about you guys, but it can seriously be one of the biggest pains sometimes when we are trying to figure out what to eat every night. I like variety, but Kev is totally cool with eating the same ole thing. I get frustrated when he doesn't have an opinion, but that's only because he could honestly eat whatever. For real, I need a solution... I've got to figure something out.

Here is are just a few websites that I'm trying out to help me get started:
I use this to give me ideas when I know the ingredients I want to use. Comes in handy when you are trying to use the extra meat from the night before.
This blogger is awesome. She is a christian women who aims to "equip, encourage, and empower good stewardship." She is the one who lists the grocery stores with information on them. She also posts weekly meal plans and coupons.
This blog is just another weekly planner.

A lot of the crazy blogging women have this down to a freaky science. I just hope I can figure out something that works...