Tender Mercy Doppelgangers

Silly title, but I think it fits perfectly.

Have you ever had a day when things are not going well? You just need to see a friendly, familiar face? You just need to feel loved?

It amazes me when I have these days, I am then blessed to see a doppelganger of someone near and dear to my heart.

It has thrown me for a loop sometimes, because you know that there is NO way it is the person you initially think it is, for several reasons, be it geography, current age, or perhaps they are no longer with us. As much of a loop as may be involved, I am grateful for those glimpses of reminders of the love, companionship, fun, friendships, memories, and relationships that have enhanced, improved, and blessed my life.

It's amazing what a friendly and familiar,  albeit unknown face can do for us on those not going well, need to see a friendly face days.

Back in the (blogging) saddle again!

I have a list of things on a sticky note on my computer desktop (a virtual one) I want to write about on this here blog. I hope to get through the posts in a decent amount of time. I hope to develop more of a habit of blogging, and my list will help, I hope. :)

I will put them in  as separate entries. They may be shorter, but yay for quick reads!

Here we go!

"New" Adventures in 2015

Hello my dear family and friends!

I hope this finds you well and happy and enjoying this wonderful holiday season. I wanted to give you a quick rundown of some of the NEW things that happened this year in my life!

                                           

I went to Washington, DC in a new season-winter. The only season I have left to visit DC in is fall… It was so wonderful to go there and to celebrate a friend’s wedding. It was great to visit with dear friends and loved ones.

I went to a new state-Texas! I had a wonderful time visiting with friends who were down there for the wedding, as well as a visit with a friend who recently moved down there, and a lovely visit with my great aunt and great uncle.

A new friend came with my other friends on our yearly trip to Bear Lake. My friend, Jennie, joined the Pickleville Playhouse posse and it was a true highlight of my summer!

I have a new niece! Woot! Josephine joined my brother and sister-in-law’s family in September. I feel blessed to live about 5 minutes from them, and to get to see 2 nieces and my nephew pretty regularly. Our family is also looking forward to another little one joining my little sister’s family in May. I do love my niblings! (Niblings…it’s a word meaning collective nieces and nephews, and so fun too!)

I guess my personal biggest new thing this year is my new job. After 5 years as a Hall Advisor in Heritage Halls at Brigham Young University, I felt ready for a change. The opportunity for change came through the opening of the Office Specialist position at Heritage Halls. I am so grateful to still be working for the Residence Life organization at BYU. I am blessed to work with such incredible people, and to continue supervising student employees and helping students in their transition to the university. With the change in jobs came the need for a change in housing. I moved into a house with 2 roommates and it has been a good experience, but definitely a learning experience. It is interesting going from living alone for 5 years to having roommates. It is fun having people to come home to each evening. I am also attending a family ward at church, which has been an interesting change as well. I am enjoying getting to know people and for the new opportunity to work with the children in the Primary organization.

Overall, this change has brought an overall newness to my life, where I am learning about myself again. I am adjusting to a new daily schedule and routine, to having evenings more free, to not having mornings open. I am trying to discover hobbies, interests, passions, and fun. I am working at cultivating new friendships, as well as renewing friendships, and going out and doing things with friends, instead of just ‘liking’ things on social media. It isn’t always easy, but I am grateful for the learning and growing that has happened, especially over the last few months, and I look forward to adventures next year.

May you and your family and friends find joy and peace and understanding this Christmas season. I am grateful each and every day for the birth, life and sacrifice of our Savior Jesus Christ. When the world gets more and more confusing, convoluted, and chaotic, He is there to guide, love, and comfort. May you all find that comfort, love, and guidance in your lives.

I love you! Always, Kristen Kennedy

A new perspective

Last Christmas, I bought my sister and I the same book:

I FINALLY decided to start reading it, and let me tell you, it is an amazing book. I had to stop reading on vacation, because I wanted to be able to take notes and to get my sister to start reading it too, so we could talk about it.

Let me tell you how it has already changed my perspective. On page 11, yes, I was 11 pages in and my mind was blown...

There is a shaded square on that page with the following verse from the Book of Mormon, "But this much I can tell you, that if ye do not watch yourselves, and your thoughts, and your words, and your deeds,...even unto the end of your lives, ye must perish. And now, O man, remember, and perish not." (Mosiah 4:30)

I have read, reviewed, and recited this verse many times in my life, but in the context of this book, it has taken on a new meaning. This book is about how we see ourselves, and adjusting that view to make it as accurate as possible. With that perspective, this verse means that we need to watch how we think of ourselves, how we speak of ourselves, how we treat ourselves...WHAT!?!? I have always thought of it in the way of making sure we are good to those around us, that we are kind, nice, thoughtful, etc. This outward view is a great way to think of this scripture, BUT how much more will we care for ourselves throughout our entire life (as it says in this verse) with this new mindset? In turn, the more we care for ourselves, in a healthy way, the more we will care for others. Our self love can radiate from us, and we can help others find and feel that love for themselves.

I am so excited to continue reading and studying and applying this book!

Connections

I have been thinking a lot lately about how the little things in life that people do help me feel connected to them, and my love just increases for them!

For example, a few weeks ago, my niece was giving me a good-bye hug. She pulled back, and said, "Lala, you have the most beautiful earrings! Let me fix your hair so everyone can see them!" She proceeded to tuck my hair behind my ears in such a loving, careful way, so that the world was able to see my earrings.

Tender. Loved.