Tulips.

My mother always bribes me into taking pictures for her. "You like taking pictures, Kristina, and you're good at it. Won't you take some of the tulips in the front yard? Please?"

I am by no means a photographer, and I don't say that because I'm humble. It's the truth; however, I do love to take pictures. And there's something about capturing a split second of time that is so appealing and sentimental that I really can't resist.

The tulips themselves are so pretty, too. They have a sort of symbolic value, and are double-sided, like a sword. They only bloom at the right time, every spring, and they're so tender and young and fresh and they smell lovely. And, of course, they happen to be my favorite color: purple. If there were enough I would gather them, and make a beautiful bouquet and hang them up to dry to enjoy them; unfortunately, I think tulips are only a thing to be enjoyed for the moment, and then should be let to pass, so that their fragrance and form can be wholly enjoyed, like a surprise, on unexpected occasions. I've seen people buy tulips before, but I think they should mutually agree with me in that it's never so nice to buy them as to pick them fresh or, better yet, find them somewhere random, like in the park or by the roadside while driving past. And then, when they die, I'm always so disappointed. But it's okay, because the next spring, they'll be there waiting for me to capture them again in the camera lens.

Parallel.

Remember that Money Tree in the Backyard?

I hate money. With a burning passion.

My checking account= $31.94

I just over-drafted last week by $44.00 and so the bank kicked in $100 with a $5 charge.

My expenses:

1. Gas. I need it by tomorrow. But I can only put in $20 because I want at least $10 in my account.

2. Shorts for the cruise because somehow I don't own a single pair.

3. Spending money for the cruise (which is in a week and a half!).

4. Dinner money for prom (next week).

5. Shoes to match my dress (next week).

6. AP test money (at $86 apiece) and I'm taking two and the money was due two days ago.

7. AP Environmental project costs money to buy supplies and I REALLY need to start that before spring break because it's going to take three weeks to complete and it's due mid-May...

8. UNC says I need to take the SAT II Math test before summer break, and isn't that like $50?

9. God still says to tithe.

My income:

1. Today I got my state tax return... $7.... I'm really going to have to control myself, I mean that's so much...

2. I get paid next Wednesday and it will be no more than $100.

3. Er... wait, I have no more income.

FOWEIWHTGLS@%)*&%)(*$%_#!$*%&%&(DQOFP*#)(*&)T*HTR

God, why did You ever stop the fur trade? Or any trade at all, for that matter? I would be so willing to trade....

Stream of Consciousness

so that wasn't expected but its good i never thought but hey what do i know i'm glad that you're glad and it's a new day like the sun coming up in so many ways but to change topics so many other ways i see it setting and sunsets are pretty in a melancholy sort of way but they symbolize new beginning too and heres a new beginning for you and for me and for the rest of us and then there's college and friends and i'm watching it all revolve so quickly and its coming to an end and a beginning and for some reason beginning has just been on my mind as well as purity oh my goodness purity is overwhelming me because i don't know what i'm standing or if i'm standing at all maybe i'm not is that ok? i don't know but i'm learning and it's like a new chapter in my life every day that i'm working on figuring out finding out living out and i think that's alright because i'm taking baby steps and evolving from childhood to adulthood and i have to say the transition is scary and this is probably hard to read but i encourage you to try it because it feels so good and tonight was interesting because some things heal and some things don't and that's okay too and i'm learning to accept things as they come and not be so uptight man it's so nice not to have to type periods or be grammatically correct hey i cold even misspell words if i wanted to but anyways God i know that this is hard but i'm glad that you won't leave me and you speak so directly sometimes that i'm wondering if you think i'm stupid because i go right past the things you say all the time God will you open up my spiritual eyes and ears because you tell isaiah to tell the people to keep on looking but never seeing and to keep on hearing but never listening and then isaiah says lord how long? and i'm wondering lord, how long because i've been here since november and it's a rut and there are little ups and downs but there is a deep cave i feel like i'm wandering in ever since because there has been a light awakened in my life and i know i have been blessed and satan is after me like a bloodhound and i can feel it, father, i can feel it and it's terrifying and at the same time invigorating because i'm going to stand my ground for you and do whatever it takes to love you and defeat the enemy God clothe me and my peers with the amazing holy power of your armor, the armor of God. and then father all of a sudden i am swept up in romance that i never would have expected and father it came out of a fiasco that is still somewhat burning and i can smell it and the smell of burnt rubber is never good and God you know i can't stand to hurt peoples feelings but them sometimes and somehow i doand i go through this weird phase where i almost don't care because i'm screaming LET ME LIVE MY LIFE and then i remember that with you i have no rights because who am i a foolish human to have rights idk i'm following you and then we're back at purity and i've come full circle and mutuality is such a blessing God and i thank you every day father for mutuality and for future tenses and for random spanish phrases that i love throwing around como estos. haha yeah there you have it i don't even know what i'm talking about but this feels so wonderful and it's late and my heart is racing a trillion miles an hour but i love you. i love all of you and it's overflowing and i mess it up OMG I MESS IT UP but i'm going to come right back and do it all over again God teach me to love, teach me my lesson and let me grow.