monday morning doldrums

i hate two things: mondays and mornings.

monday + morning = not fun

which means that right now (which just so happens to be monday morning) is not fun.

monday + morning - break = personal hell

which means that the monday morning removing break (my week off is over and done) is more than just not fun. it's horrendous. and hellish. and definitely not in a good way.

i mean, once i begin to interact with more people on campus, i'll be better. but for now, as i try to psyche myself up to get dressed and leave my apartment, i really hate monday mornings...

post black friday events

i love black friday shopping.

i remember fondly the early mornings where my sisters (and sometimes their boyfriends) would drive to mitchell in our pjs to get some good deals.

and we've collected a few fond memories. like standing in line for a computer while kayla later sees someone put a computer down later. or being given lists by people who don't want to or are unable to go shopping who want some sweet deals. standing outside waiting for menards to open (this was one of the highlights as you stand in a huge line waiting for the store to open). the crazy lines to check out so we would retreat to a part of the store where no one was in order to simply chill while other customers go crazy waiting in line.

last year was on my own where i went out later and didn't worry about getting up early but went out leisurely in bemidji

but this current year was also a bit different. walmart started their crazy good deals at midnight. technically 12:01. so my sister kayla and i ventured out in omaha (which is way busier than bemidji) at 11:30 and started to find the deals we wanted.

our goal: movies (for me since i like movies) and toys for libby. we had success. oddly enough, most of what we wanted we found in piles people had discarded. most movies were on the cardboard shelves, but a few were not. and most toys i found were just laying around.

people are either crazy mean or nice during black friday shopping. this particular round was nice. we chatted with people in line. and because kayla and i were shopping together, we could tag-team it where one would stay in line but the other would roam around. this came in handy for those all around us in line. like one lady who accidentally picked up blue-ray instead of regular dvd. so i went off and found them for her. then later kayla by chance discovered a barbie doll that another lady was happy to find.

we were back in the apartment by 2 am with most of our black friday purchases. we slept in and ventured out after 9 to menards, borders and target. we didn't buy too much of anything. which is something to be proud of. in fact, we put a lot back in those three stores.

overall, my haul was primarily movies. which i'm excited about. cause i loves me my movie watchin.

the other highlight was kayla getting me hooked on the merlin tv series. it's a funny, witty bbc retelling of the story of merlin and arthur as young men.

but i watched all the episodes she had on hand. so now i've moved on to legend of the seeker.

thanksgiving

it's amazing how some of our holidays are meant to be spent with family.

well, most of them, really.

i didn't go back to sd for thanksgiving. second year in a row. 

but at least this year i was able to be with my sister. i went to omaha and spent the day with kayla. we were invited over to jess' mom's place for the big meal. delicious roast beef. among other good foods like corn and apple pie. 

i still kinda missed thanksgiving with turkey. since this is the first thanksgiving i went without turkey. and i like turkey. so maybe i'll have to make some turkey when i go back to st paul. so i can eat leftover turkey for the next week or so...

i would also like to point out that i managed to write "turkey" in six sentences in a row

pre-pastor jitters

here is something that i've been thinking about.

pastors have the weirdest conversations. much like the ones i've been having lately.

and i'm not even a pastor yet.

why is it that people hear that i'm a seminary student studying to be a pastor and decide that the time has come for the pastor-in-training to hear their confessions?

sometimes it makes me laugh. like having people assure me that they've read the whole bible. or that they go to church. i find it somewhat amusing when people insist upon assuring me that they do all the right things to be considered a good christian.

other times it makes me scared. like having people confess their dark, deep secrets. cause i have no idea what to do when i hear about the issues from people's lives - marriages/divorces, kid issues, job concerns, etc. and it scares me to think that my future will be riddled with knowing the tough situations people go through and yet not having any idea of how to help beyond giving all concerns back to God...

but i suppose, that's the main job for a pastor to do: figure out how God is working as we figure out how to live, loving God and neighbor...

va beach

this past weekend i went to my cousin's wedding, which happened to be in virginia beach. our hotel was beachfront, which was awesome. saturday was 60s and sunny, which is about 30 degrees what i left behind in minnesota.

pics from our balcony on the fifth floor:

and on the beach itself:

and of course, can't forget the wedding party on the beach

More Pictures!!!!!!!

Here is a sampling of pictures that i (finally) took off my camera. Some are more recent than others...

Krissa's move-in helpers, aka the Vassar's Women Rugby team. 

Note: the men didn't help haul anything...

Minnehaha Falls in Minneapolis

Night of the Birthday Bash...traveled with the best sign and friends ever!

Winter Storm - Nov 13, 2010

Beautiful SD sunset

Three teepees built by the kids of Luther Seminary students

harry potter 7, pt 1

one word: awesome!

more words: i love the weasley family. fred and george in particular. so funny. was such a good movie. love the antics. and the relationships. i love the magic. and the struggle to do good and defeat evil. love the house elves. especially dobby.

of course, there were totally cheesy parts to the movie. which is to be expected in movies. cause that's what happens.

this was an enjoyable experience. saw it at midnight. waited for hours for it to start from the time i arrived at the mall/movie theater.

and of course, i can't wait until the final installment. annoying how i have to wait til june...

big news

why is it that life seems to either be rushing by or moving slower than a snail?

the beginning of this week seemed like it would never end. five days of school and classes this week with a major project to be completed as well as three different papers.

but then next week is thanksgiving break. five days off from school. although i will be spending some of those days working on essays or paperwork.

the first three days crawled by. then today happened. and time sped up.

time really does fly when you have fun.

i found out this morning that the faculty has approved me to continue on my merry way towards ordination. this means that i only have to impress the candidacy committee. wish me luck in early january!

but i also had a bittersweet time with my preaching/worship lab. this was our last time together. our lab is over and done for the rest of the semester. we had a good time but it's sad to let that fun end. of course, we still have class for another month. but it's not the same knowing we won't be spending two hours a week as a small group.

and the other excitement is the new harry potter film. i'm going to see it tonight with friends. we'll be traveling all the way to edina, which means that we will have an extra late night. but i'm super excited...and if i get around to it tomorrow in between classes and flying to virginia beach for a wedding, i'll post my thoughts. warning: i'm gonna love it. no matter what. i'm a harry potter fan and i know i'll love it.

i really should be packing for my trip. still have to decide on what to take with to wear to the wedding. have an idea, but still debating. and the sad thing when flying is that you have to pay to bring more than one option...so i need to solidify my decision and throw it in my bag. well, not throw. cause throwing leads to wrinkles. so fold or roll nicely.

that is all for now.

so much going on and i'm loving it!

dear minnesota

i hate you with your winter storm and your crazy drivers, two of whom were sliding on the road in front of me.

thanks for making me waste precious hours of my life yesterday driving at 30 mph for 2.5 hrs and having to add an extra 60 miles on my way back home to south dakota, which greeted me with sunshine as soon as i passed the state border. i did not enjoy making my typical 5.5 hr, 330 mile trip to 390 mi and 9 hrs. not cool in my book.

and just for the record, having several of inches of heavy snow does not constitute an excuse. that is what plows are for: to push snow off the road so i can drive home.

sincerely
kara

veterans and soldiers

happy day to remember, acknowledge and thank the many veterans who risk their lives to defend what the great nation stands for (aka freedom and liberty and rights)!

i will never be a veteran since i will never be a soldier (me and the armed forces' training don't mix well)

but i do appreciate what many men and women sacrifice(d) in order to fight for our country

i especially appreciate those friends and family who have the distinguished title of veteran - especially those who fought in the conflict zones of iraq, kuwait, afghanistan

here is a sampling (and i apologize to any names i neglect but will add if notified i forgot someone) of those who have donned a uniform:
kendall
trevor
chris
bob
carl
scott
eric
jeff
don
craig
audrey
brett
cody
bryan
brett w
corey
sally