life is funny

so, today i was nannying... and caroline (the mother) told me a story of something that happened 10 minutes after i left yesterday.
they have this dog, who is very old and will likely die soon. it's sad. and they're very sad about it. so, caroline was talking to her sister on the phone after i left yesterday, and was crying about the situation with their dog.
then wyatt (2.5 years old) comes up to her and strokes her on the back, and tries to comfort her by saying, "it's ok mom, kristen's coming back..." (thinking she was crying about me leaving!)

oh, children are amazing. that story definitely made me feel good about myself. oh dear, so cute.

just feel like posting i guess

hey family.
or whatever.
i'm super tired, and really hungry (or something), but i feel like doing a little something on the computer. not even sure what to write about to be honest. just feel like writing.
wow, what should i write about?
who is bored enough to read this? sorry if it's you... i didn't mean that you have no life.
maybe i should just pick a topic to write about... now...
so, my cousins jill and danae were just over. it's been about a year and a half since the three of us were together last. wow. i was in australia for a year, and danae just got back from over half a year across the world in various places, and we left jill here to fend for herself... but alas, today was the first day that we were ALL together again. the terrific trio returns. watch out world. so, the three of us have grown up together. we've always been there for each other. we can tell each other everything... really, no matter what, there's no judgment on anyone's part... we just listen. it's one of those great relationships that just picks up where we left off. no worries if it's been months, weeks, or just days. in this case, it's been a year and a half... well, not technically, because there's facebook and emails and stuff. but who counts technicalities anyway?
wow, all 3 of us have grown in crazy ways this last year. and it's great to see that in each other. and it's great to catch up after being apart for so long.
i don't really feel like going into details. so... i won't!
anyway, i was in a play this last weekend... we rehearsed for about a month+. not much more. it was good to act again. finally. and it's also good to be not acting now... i actually have a couple free evenings during the week. so, now i get to catch up on some much needed resting time. but yeah, it was good to act again, as i was saying. that's what i love to do... and i missed it while i was in australia. and then coming back and feeling sort of purposeless for a while... it was nice to have that purpose again. and now nannying... there's a lot of purpose in that. i'm not one to like to stay in one place... not necessarily geographically... but in my mind/heart. i like to be busy, doing stuff. learning stuff... stretching myself. but it's also nice after being stretched for a long time... to just take it easy and take it all in too.
anyway, now i don't feel like writing anymore, because... i don't feel there's much more to say. other than i feel that this was almost pointless (maybe someone will get something out of this), and it was sort of all over the place (and yet, not). i'm not one for liking to express how i'm feeling, so this is the deepest i'm going. there you go. but i'm usually kind of open if you ask me yourself. anyway, this doesn't really apply to anything i'm writing here. it's just one of those days. i don't even know what i'm saying anymore. i should go to bed. ok, wow, it's early. but i'm going to bed anyway. well, this was a treat. uh... talk to you later?

my australian family

this was my australian family.

of course, only 3 are aussies.

left to right: tim (aussie), dad (jonny- aussie), lisa (germany), auntie julanne (aussie), dorthe (denmark), kiwi (well, scott actually- new zealand), and erin (usa)... mom's missing (jonny's wife inez).

this is, was, and will always be my family. we went through everything together. it was "family group" at capernwray for my second semester. but we really were a family. we called jonny and inez "dad" and "mum"... and i still see them that way. these kids were my sisters and brothers. and julanne was the perfect auntie.

i have a picture of all of us kids on my dresser... we gave it to the "parents" for a parting gift at the end of semester. when i look at it... so many things go through my head and heart. so many memories, so many amazing bible studies together, so many amazing talks, so much good coffee together! we experienced the deepest part of life together. when i see that picture, i'm at home. we are all such different people with insanely different personalities... but i could not have been happier with a different family.

hey, australian family... you will always be my family.

what i do.

i nanny.
and i love it.
kids are great. i was afraid that nannying might scare me away from being a mom one day. but, thank the lord for his good humour... it hasn't scared me yet.
yet, being the key word.
and thank the lord... those are key words too.
and humour.
anyway.
these kids are wonderful, crazy, fun, ADORABLE, sweet, hilarious, high-energy... yeah, all those wonderful things.
it's weird actually coming home from work and being tired. it's a good feeling.
it's awesome being a nanny. you're raising the next generation. and hopefully they'll be able to function in a social environment. it's great to see them grow... already the youngest (evan- 10 months) has gone from scooting along the floor, to crawling properly; from falling when hanging onto ledges alone, to going from one ledge to another with ease (well, most of the time); from gurgling to actually trying to make out proper words (still gurgles all the time though)... yeah. it's wonderful.
it's also great because i've taught wyatt (the older one... 2.5 years) the song "jesus loves me" and the prayer "god is great"... so whenever it's nap time and i ask what song he wants to sing, it's always jesus loves me. and when i tell him to pray at lunch time... he says, "god is great"... seeing them grow already, is such an encouragement.
it's just awesome to be a part of their lives at such a young age, teaching them things, learning from them, seeing them grow, and being a godly example to them. god give me the grace...
anyway, here are some pictures!

wyatt LOVES to play with my camera... and i let him. he likes posing for pictures... yay!


evan gets jealous that wyatt can play with the camera and he can't...

we had an "interesting" time decorating easter eggs... a semi-success?

they love each other... but don't always get along... but what are siblings for?

priceless.

here's the little sumo

i let wyatt play with the camera... he doesn't care what he's taking a picture of though... he just likes to press the button. needless to say, a lot of pictures of the ceiling are deleted (secretly, of course).

so, there's my life. i like it. god's using me in an unexpected way. it's good... because for a while there i was feeling pretty purposeless. god is faithful.