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By kcharles, August 8, 2010 10:06 am

This morning is quiet and alive with promise.  I hear the birds singing their praise.  My sterling blue coffee cup is almost empty, which means that I am somewhat awake.  I’ve spent some time in the book of John and all is well. 

The kids are with Paul’s parents for the weekend so that we can celebrate our anniversary.  Whoohoo!  We’re going into our tenth year of marriage.  So crazy, so good!

 It seems like I just heard him share his heart for God with me.  It was the day we first met for the second time.  All of these years since have been him living out that love… to God, me, our families, and world. 

Last week, he confessed that the secret to our marriage is two cups of coffee a day.  He’s totally right.  (Have you seen this woman without her coffee?  It’s a beastly sight, I tell you!)  It’s coffee for me, pizza for him…  and humility, laughter, learning, seeking, and serving Jesus. 

God has taken us to Korea, Costa Rica, Brazil, him to Haiti and the DR, and me to France.  He’s loved on us with amazing family support.  He’s given us two amazing and beautiful kids (and one who found God before the rest of us.)  He gifted us with a home.  He’s blessed us with students who are changing the world.  He’s allowed great joys and many tears. 

I wouldn’t change any of it.  Paul, I love you today more than I ever have.  Thank you for being amazing you:)

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By kcharles, July 30, 2010 11:17 pm

Last week we zoo-ed it up with a few of our favorite girls.  I tell ya… these 5 are fantastic.

See how proud my little one is?  She thinks the world of them.  Me also.

For this pic, the little man popped in.  See him on the right?  Keeping his distance from all the ladies with the hormones and the schemes:)

We caught a glimpse of fantastic polar bear dives.

And super-cute polar bear fans.

And I just want to say…
I’m crazy thankful for each of the girls and guys in our lives…
Who put up with us and love on our kids.

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By kcharles, July 23, 2010 12:14 pm

We introduced Sweet Pea to shaving cream this week!  See that sly smile? 

It was for painting, but her favorite canvas was definitely herself!

She LOVED this stuff!

It created an afternoon of spontaneous running, swimming, and more painting!

Clearly The Little Man wasn’t as sold on the medium.  He wanted nothing to do with such antics!  But overall a fantastic afternoon for less than a dollar:)

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By kcharles, July 3, 2010 11:51 pm

Hey ya’ll!

The kids and I are hanging out in New England for the week.  It’s been bliss already!
Red Sox Games, Clamcakes, Carousels, Parks, Parades, Beaches, Dell’s, and mainly hanging with the fam.  Time together is sweet:)

While we party, relax, and eat too much seafood (our kids love octopus!), Paul heads to the Dominican on a missions trip.  EEEK!  He has been planning this trip for months.  It’s hard to believe it’s here. 

He and the team will be visiting old friends, supporting the Dominican church in Santiago, providing a VBS for kiddos, and heading into Haiti, among other things. 

I would really cherish your prayer for them.  For safety, growth, flexibility, wisdom, creativity, LOVE LOVE LOVE.  Everything, really. 

Our favorite man is there, which is why we’re here.  (Trying to keep occupied.)

Follow their stories here.   They will be incredible, I just know it.

Much Love,
Kristin:)

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By kcharles, June 19, 2010 12:05 am

This blog I suppose is a good reflection of haphazard me.  Random and all over the place and lost in laundry and buckets of sand.  I left France.  Returned with a post or three.  Ran a race.  Got found by life.  And intend to post more April photos in November or maybe not.

And so it goes….Thank you, friends, for coming along.

For now, I just have to tell you about our yesterday.  The youth group headed to Cedar Point and the kids and I tagged along with Paul.   Practical Me was concerned about over-stimulation and age-appropriate activities, but somehow the Meager Fun Side squashed the Other to smitherines. 

As with any amusement park, there were high thrill rides roaring above us at deafening speeds.  There were moms pushing strollers, eleven year olds dribbling their prized basketballs, and masses of crazed humanity sweating in long lines with slushies.  There were also people who probably should have been wearing clothes.

For Selah and Adden, it was our day together for the sole purpose of play.   They ran and jumped with sunburned grins and arms propelling them from kiddie car to kiddie jeep to kiddie helicopter.  It was all the same circular ride, but from their delight you wouldn’t know it.   

Food fare of the day served up munchkins, hot dogs, fries, pizza, and green Pepsi.  It’s a special day when the watered down daily cup of apple juice gets trumped by green Pepsi.  I have never seen Adden move so many limbs at once after two sips of the good stuff.

There was Snoopy on Ice and Extreme Bikes and Boards.  There was a brave little girl who jumped into her first real roller coaster and climbed out with a trembling lip.  There was even a bird, beak stuffed with fodder for a nest, who came to perch next to us on a bench. 

Maybe I’m emotional (yes).  Maybe I’ve got a thing for birds (oddly so).  Maybe I just really loved our day together (yes, yes, yes).  But in that quiet amidst the crazy moment, we found a bird building a home. 

And it hit me that we were building a home even in this place.  In crazy life together, wherever that may happen.  With this smile and that tear.  With all that we’ve dreamed and nothing like we would have imagined.   From miles away, we were collecting scraps of  beauty amidst relationship. 

Today sure was one fantastic scrap.

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By kcharles, May 9, 2010 11:44 pm

 I finished my first 5K this morning! 

Here’s me before the race.  I’m psyched to be here….

we’ve had little sleep (Adden was sick through the night!)
but we’ve found parking, Paul’s parents are watching the kiddos (too cold for a sick guy!)
Paul is cheering me on 
and there is an electric atmosphere here:

35,000 people on behalf of someone else
running in honor, in memory, and in celebration of wives, moms, friends, sisters, aunts…
and there are strong and beautiful survivors

My run was great! 

Considering all things:  the sleep, cold, haphazard training, the hills!
And the walkers.  I got stuck behind a few hundred walkers, but oh well. 
I suppose I looked like a speedster in comparison.  (and I’m not that!)

The most incredible part was the last half mile. 
There were HUGE CROWDS!  Crowds of people lining the streets cheering us on!
I knew I would cry at the finish line, but I didn’t anticipate tears with a half mile to go.

All I could think of was the great cloud of witnesses I’ll see one day. 

I did it!  The final time was 31:03. 
And I exceeded my goal of fundraising, with $180!  Thank you friends!

Looking forward to many more races to come!

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By kcharles, May 8, 2010 9:47 pm

I’ll run my first 5K tomorrow.  How am I feeling you may ask?  Crazy excited and completely freaked out. 

I’ve done as much training as I have been able, which is to say not much.  One should probably not gallavant to Europe  weeks before the race and train with buttery croissants, chocolates, and 7 course meals. 

Nevertheless, I clocked 30:11 upon my return – my fastest time yet!  Just eleven seconds shy of my goal.  Maybe a new strategy to consider?

Whatever the outcome – I am going to do my best.  I’m running with 35,000 others, the biggest race in all of Pennsylvania.  Yikes!

Here are some of my concerns:

Getting trampled by really long-legged fast people.
Running in a sleepy haze . 
Frostbite – lower 30’s – really, in May?

Disappointing Running Woman (my sister-in-law Ashley- she’s the real runner/my coach!)
Getting lost.  (A valid concern unless I strap a GPS to my body.)  This race better be well marked!
Making it to church on time! 

Parking  (that’s Paul’s concern)
Hurling over the finish line and frightening small children.

Here is why none of them matter:

I am healthy and strong. 
I feel God’s pleasure when I run.  I can worship with each stride.
This run directly supports breast cancer education, screening, research, and treatment.

Two of my closest friends have fought/are fighting this battle with their moms. 
It’s what I can do to love them…
And honor the beautiful women who have made them who they are.

I’m rather emotionally attached.
I can do this thing, whatever the outcome.  See you at the finish!

If you would like to support me, please click here.

Thanks, friends!  Much love!
Kristin

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By kcharles, May 5, 2010 11:35 pm

Friday started off with a trip to Sacre Couer, a Catholic Church set high upon a hill.  The history of this church is fascinating and tragic;  a subject for another post. 

From there, we got Korean for lunch.  It was here that my poor mom learned that her famous mac n’cheese has been forever trumped by my favorite dish of all time:  dulcet beem en bop. 

After stuffing ourselves with rice, red pepper paste, and Kimchee, we subway-ed it back to the hotel for a nap.  Next stop was the Louvre, where we were in rare form!  Do my mom and I look anything like Mona? 

Me? 

This is officially called the Winged Victory of Samothrace but I wouldn’t have remembered that.  If you google “Louvre Lady on Ship,” this is what you’ll find!

One of the most stunning things for me in the Louvre was the sheer volume of art portraying Christ and Biblical themes.  He was the central figure in each gallery, as if the ancient artists were echoing redemption through the ages.  Loved it.

Clearly a lot to contemplate here:)

After spending the evening in a museum all to ourselves we walked out to this view.  Still can’t believe we’re in Paris….  Tomorrow we’re off to the country via a rental car with my brother at the wheel.  Yipes!

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By kcharles, May 4, 2010 11:45 pm

Dude.  Check out these guys.  So good, with the exception of a meringue that I swear was squirted with my brother’s shampoo.  On Day 3 we toured Gerard Murot’s Patisserie.  Here we met a guy crazy about making chocolate and us crazy about eating it. 

From the pastry tour, we headed to the Tower of Montparnesse, the tallest structure in France.  Somehow, my brother swaggered his way up to the 58th floor and got us entrance into the snazziest restaurant I have ever stepped foot in.  DAN IS AMAZING!

Below is a pic of the Museum D’Orsay.  It houses 19th and 20th century artists, particularly the impressionists.  I LOVED THIS MUSEUM!  I’ve always had a strange thing for Monet and Degas – and then Van Gogh – well he was just one odd cat.  Fascinating, beautiful art here.

Here was our surprise of the day.  Dan had arranged for us to take a French Cuisine Cooking Class in Paris!  It was soooo much fun!  We made fish, vegetables, and souffle. 

I was delegated the hardest part of the meal - a peculiar sauce (not a wise decision on the chef’s part.)  Continually fearing that I would break it, she intermittently went nuts and all nervous-like.  (Who knew that you could break a sauce!)

Dan, on the other hand,  got major commendations from all of the women for his culinary skills (though he isn’t watching what he is doing with the knife below.) 

Tomorrow we head to a Korean restaurant and the Louvre.  Can’t wait to see Mona!

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By kcharles, May 1, 2010 11:14 pm

According to my blog, I never left France.  Oops.  I am home.  Just forgot I had a blog!  And I’ve gone back to teaching, writing, consigning for the spring, and being a momma and wife. 

Our trip to France was incredible, but it is good to be home.  What you’ll find in the next few days is a delayed random photo recap of history, architecture, food, art, friends, and the three of us - my mom, brother and me. 

Upon arriving in Paris, we travelled first to the L’Arc de Triumphe – a monument honoring those who fought for France.  250 steps later (on no sleep, mind you!) we got to the top to the most fantastic view.  And there was the Eiffel, completely catching me off guard.  So breathtaking!

My brother was in rare form.  He was thrilled to host us, although perhaps a little anxious about us two girls  in Paris.  We’re not always high maintenance, but maybe upon occasion…  We spent the rest of our day eating crepes along the Seine and trekking to our hotel via the subway, bags in tow.

After a great night of sleep, we were raring to go on Wednesday.  (Look how cute my mom is!)  We woke up to buttery croissants, hard boiled eggs, coffee, and fruit.  We toured a history museum and ate lunch at a vegetarian restaurant (my brother aims to please his sister!)

After fantastic falafel, we headed to Notre Dame.  Prior to our visit, Notre Dame was a big church with a hunchback, compliments of Victor Hugo.  Yet I kept finding myself wiping away tears. 

 Scriptures came alive to me here in flickering candles and flying buttresses;  in ancient carvings and light streaming through mosaics;  in every beggar and thief.  Someday I’ll get a chance to get it on paper.

Following Notre Dame, we walked down to the Seine armed with birdseed.  As it goes, we started out begging a lonely bird to eat our offerings and ended up with every great uncle and 5th cousin, once removed, attacking us.  It was fantastic.

Also fantastic was this boat ride.  Along the Seine, you’ll see the Museum d’Orsay, the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, and every aspect of Notre Dame.  But frankly, they had nothing on time with my mom and brother. 

More to come one of these days!