Virginity- Glamour

In March 2011 Glamour Magazine an article was written by a Mormon 27 year old woman who chose to wait her whole life to have sex...but then decided she was missing out and gave in and started "living"....meaning having sex.

Virginity

I have done a lot of things in my life that I have enjoyed, valued, hated, regreted and laughed about. I feel that I have lived life. I try to take advantage of opportunities that have been placed or earned in my life. I have made wrong decisions that I am not proud of.

When it comes to having sex this day in age I often wonder if our society has become too numb to the true sensuality of romance and realtionships. Call me old fashion, or a religious fanatic but I am basic. I want to be able to give myself to one man. I want to allow myself to dream and believe that there is someone out there in the void who still wants a woman who has saved herself. In the article the author said that men are not attracted to woman who are virgins. Is this true?

I am not saying that I am a saint- meaning that I have never participated in things that I shouldn't or things that I know that I enjoy and want to do again! :) However, that is my past- I want to leave my past where it belongs. Do I want sex in my life? Of Course I do! Maybe even more so than most do because I have waited for so long. I am a 27 year old woman who has decided to not participate in traditional sex until I am married. Does that mean that I cannpt allowmyself to date or even marry someone who also has saved himself? No, it doesn't. I believe that the past is the past and we live it, learn from it and move on. However, I am not more attracted to or less attracted to men who have had sex prior to marriage.

Read the article and let me know what you think.

My 1st Valentines Day

This is my first Valentines Day all to myself

I went to bed last night so excited for Valentines Day this year. I have been so blessed in my life to have amazing and extraordinary Valentine Days. From a young age I have been allowed to dream, believe and value romance. Valentines Day has always been such an awareness to me that I know incredible men who are loving, respectful and expressive. For the first time in my life I am experiencing myself.

Last Valentines Day my boyfriend and I didn't even celebrate. We were with his family and so there was no romance, flowers etc.... I remember thinking that for the first time in my life I didn't recieve flowers on Valentines Day. Even on my mission I got flowers...What the .....;) Surprisingly though I was okay. All I cared about was that I was spending time with someone that I loved and he loved me.

This year however, I was speaking with my Father right before a date and he said "Now Kristi Ann, you need to find out if you like this young man and if you do you need to tell him that he MUST make plans to spoil you on Valentines Day because if not, you will end up allowing yourself to spend the evening with someone you do not truly see yourself with and you'll allow yourself to believe that flowers, chocolates and an expensive dinner means that you are of worth. Don't do that to yourself, Honey. Allow yourself to be with who you want to be with and if you can't then don't be with anyone."

I love my Dad! His words really hit me hard. I allowed myself to take some time to think back on past Valentine Days. I realized that he is right. I did want to find out if I liked that guy or not but I felt confident enough that there was no way in hell that he was going to ask me out for Valentines Day. The older they get, the slower they move. lol So, I woke up this morning very excited to experience whatever emotions would be coming my way as I experienced today by myself.

I woke up this morning around 4am to wonderful text messages. Again, I know incredible men and I am so grateful for their friendship, love and care. By the time I got out of bed I was running to the bathroom incredibly sick....I was sick all morning. I was determined however to have a good Valentines day. So, when I was finally able to keep a little food down, I decided to go take a breath of fresh air. I took my car as high as roads would allow me up provo canyon and then I hiked up until I could see the sun setting over the mountians and the lake.

As I was up there with my binoculars, scriptures, journal and camera I realized something flutter inside my heart that gave me validation. Today I was searching within myself for a confidence to be able to hope for truth, honesty, goodness and love within another person but what I realized is that it had been so long since I felt all those things towards myself. I told myself truths like: "I have allowed myself to look for love in the wrong places." I was honest with myself by saying "I cannot allow myself to let someone treat me like I am not worth being honest to." I allowed myself to believe that thanks to recent interaction with someone (not to mention names) I believe that goodness does exist in men today and there are still some men out there who are still attracted to goodness- so I do not have to worry about guys thinking about whether or not I am a good person. Its okay to be good. I also had to tell myself "Kristi, it is okay to love." If you are reading this blog then you know that I naturally love people. Unfortunately sometimes my heart gets hurt too much and sometimes it wants to give up helping that one student, or forgiving over and over that one guy or trying to make peace with those who are hard to get along with. I use to tell my missionaries at the MTC " You MUST wear your heart on your sleeve. Give your heart to everyone you come in contact with." I still believe that Love is pure and worth while.

Today I came down off of that mountian satisfied with myself and believing more so than I have in years that I have what it takes to allow myself to fall in love with not just a talented person, attractive person or fun but a good person who knows himself, who takes the time to learn what he has to offer and who believes in love . Until then, I need to be picky.

To the Men:

To those sweethearts who have been so wonderful to ask me out through out the years....Thank you. To those who I have dated and we decided to take a break....thank you for allowing yourself to care for me. To those attractive men who are always there to flirt with, go have a crazy time with and make memories with...thank you for making life interesting. For those who I have sincerely dated and we have gone our separate ways...thank you for teaching me more about love. Now finally, to those who asked me out for today, I am sorry. I do not mean to be hurtful but I need to be truthful to myself. And last but not least to the few I have not yet met or to those who I have and I am wondering if you feel a similar connection that I do....please don't give up! Please believe that I am coming around. I am realizing that I am ready =)

Happy Valentines Day! xoxo

Educational Counseling Bio

Miss Kristi A. Orchard

Kristi A. Orchard was born and raised in Payson, Utah and is a graduate of Payson Sr. High School where she was involved in academics, clubs, student government and athletics. Kristi earned her BS degree from Brigham Young University Idaho in Sociology/ Criminology. She also participated in Presidential Student Leadership, AWS, NSO, ASA, and was one of the founders of the Native American Club. Kristi will be graduating May 1, 2010 with an MS in Educational Counseling.

Kristi worked as a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) through High School, at the Police Department through College and as a Teacher at the Missionary Training Center (MTC) through Graduate School. Kristi Previously transferred to Karl G. Maeser Prep Academy from Provo High School. She is currently a fulltime counselor as well as a Why Try Instructor and Assistant Girls Basketball Coach at Maeser Prep.

Kristi participates in the following organizations: RAMACAC, USCA, ASCA, ASA, Military Child Education Coalition, UACTE and Collegeboard.

What a pain in the neck!

SO, hopefully this was my last neck surgery. On friday I went in to have yet another neck surgery. Prayers were answered though and the surgery went very well. So well in fact that I didn't take any medicine and by Sunday afternoon I was down for the count and that continued through Monday. I can't believe how much rest I have gotten. It is so good for me :) Things should be back to normal for me tomorrow. Work as usual and hopefully I can get back into the swing of things right away. I need to build up my neck muscles so that I can try surfing- baja is less than a month away! I love spring break!!!!!

Contracts, Opportunities, and New Beginings

I just signed a contract at Karl G. Maeser Prep. Academy as their new Educational Guidance Counselor. I am so excited. I have loved my time there thus far and am excited for the future. Next year I will be the counselor for grades 7-9th. We will be in a new building which will be identical to the Karl G. Maeser building on BYU campus. The School will be located on 1600 in Orem but is technically on the border of Orem and Lindon. My school will be claiming Lindon as their home.
I am also looking to buy a house right now and the process is a little bit slower than I thought that it would be. There is a house I really like in Orem right by where the new school is being built. I need it to come down just a little bit more before I make an offer. Its a tri-level 5 bedroom, two bathroom, sun-room, deck, patio, two car garage, basketball court beautiful yard opportunity. so we will see what happens. Keep your fingers crossed.
As for other opportunities, I have been conducting research with some BYU professors and my co-counselor at Maeser Prep. It has been going very well and I will be presenting the info at the Utah/National ACT Conference in March and also the USCA/UACTE Conference in June. Also, my co-counselor is going to Afganistan and so I am filling in for him on the Utah ACT board as well as the USCA board while he is gone. Also in June at the USCA/UACTE Conference I will be conducting a presentation for Utah Charter School Counselors. This presentation will deal with crisis plans, networking as well as forming a solid representation of Charter School Counselors. I started a blog called Charter Schools in Action. This blog is to help all Utah School Counselors network with one another and help each other with Guidance Curriculum. In June we hope to nominate a Pres, VP and Secretary so that we then can take turns attending the State Charter School Meetings.
I take the Praxis on March 13th and I am scared to death. I really hope that I pass! I am just about done with School now. I graduate May1, 2010. I still have one more class to take and then I am finished with my masters. I went to my grad fair this week and took my mom with me and she cried when they brought out my hood. I can't believe graduation day is within reach. What a great new beginning I have ahead of me.

BIGGEST NEW DEVELOPMENT

As some of you have already heard, I have transfered schools for my internship. I was wroking at Provo High School which I loved, but it was not a paid internship. While attending a Counseling Conference I met the school counselor at Karl G. Maeser and was very impressed. We later got in contact and after being invited to apply for a paid internship, I was offered the position.

Karl G. Maeser is an amazing opportunity. I have loved my time there so far! The students, faculty, parents, board and staff are all incredible people to associate with! The School is currently located in Lindon, Utah. The BIG Christmas present this years for the school was the announcement of the new building that will be completed by next fall. The school currently has grades 9-12 but next year will be enrolling 7-12. I am so excited to be apart of such an amazing program. School is based on a Socratic learning system which is an amazing way for the students to learn and develop.

I know that God is truly putting opprtunities and people in my path to bless my life- Karl Maeser being one of those tender mercies. It's an exciting time for me in the development of my career and my training as a School Counselor.

"Fall" N 2 the CRAZE

I'm sure that most of you are most curious about Dylan. Dylan and I met at a conference for School Counselors. He recently moved here to Utah and currently is working in Utah County. I laugh everytime I think back to his first smooth introductory lines at that conference! If you would like to hear the story I would be more than happy to share it with you but to be honest- he tells it the best!

We've been dating for a couple months now and are enjoying the life of School Counseling and adventure! Since we have met we have traveled to Idaho, Vegas, San Diego, and Jackson Hole. He likes to be on the move and see new things as I do- so that makes it fun. If you are having a hard time finding me at home and you know I am not at work then I am usually with Dylan either on a road trip, at borders, hangin' with fam, or chillin' at his place watchin' a movie. It's been fun livin' the life and sharing similar interests, hobbies and talents.

Thats us in a nut shell :)