Life, lately...

January was a whirlwind! 

Three weeks ago I packed up and headed back to school for my LAST semester!!!

I came a week early to take a week long block class on...the arts.

Best part? Getting to go down to Chicago to visit the Art Institute, do some shopping, and of course take pictures by the "bean" for the 20th time.

The artsy part of the trip was great and all, but the stop I made in Forever 21 was more my scene.

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This past week we had a huge blizzard. (Surprise, surprise) It's sad when you wake up to a 20 degree day and it feels like a heat wave...but hey, after -14 degree weather...craziness like that happens.

Friends make cold, gloomy days a little more cheery.

...And so do packages from home full of food!

I look like a lost child alone in the woods. haha Thank you, Leah, for capturing this!

After being out in this crazy weather all week I just want to curl up in my covers with some chocolate and popcorn and watch movies for the next couple hours!

Happy weekend, everyone!

a loss.

Being away at school often means missing things happening at home.

The past couple days my dad, among 300 other firefighters and 88 fire departments, worked to control a massive fire at a food plant about a mile from our house.

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After about 13 hours, they were finally able to put the fire out. It's crazy how the result of a massive fire is pure ice!

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This picture is perfect. A rainbow to give our community hope after such a loss.

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About 300 people lost their jobs as a result of this fire. Hopefully the city will do what they can to get the plant running again, but until then my prayers go out to those families!

Thirteen for '13

Already five days into 2013 and I haven't even thought about resolutions! Shame on me, yes indeed. I suppose resolutions are a great idea and as much as I want to keep them, I rarely do. This year I'm going to come up with some more practical goals for myself. But don't worry...that doesn't mean I won't add any challenging ones. =)

Here we go...

THIRTEEN for 2013!!!

1. Read at least one book every month.

2. Get into God's Word more.

3. Graduate from college.

4. Find a job after graduation.

5. Move out of the house. (New York? YES PLEASE!)

6. Keep my room clean.

7. Learn how to play my guitar. (I think this was a resolution last year. Oops.)

8. Take a yoga or barre class.

9. Exercise at least three times a week.

10. Make more of an effort to stay in touch with friends.

11. Journal more.

12. Try new recipes!

13. Be content in who I am & where I am in life and learn to embrace it!

Alright folks, let's see how many of these happen! I'll keep you updated if I'm able to cross anything off this list! What are YOUR resolutions for this awesome year ahead?!

all at once.

It's hard to believe that in just four months I'll be done with college and starting life for real. I feel like up until now everything has been a trial run. Summer jobs, semester long classes; nothing has been permanent.

Right now my plan for post-graduation is to find a nanny job until I go to grad school down the road. I have an account with a few different childcare websites and all at once I'm getting emails from all sorts of families from all over the country asking to set up interviews and wanting to get to know me.

Having all these potential job leads is exciting but at the same time overwhelming. It's starting to get real!

I've had a few families close to home email me, a few in NYC, a few in the middle of nowhere...let's just say I'm going to have a lot of praying to do and decisions to make in the next few months.

I know God has a plan and purpose for my life and let me tell you...it's both exciting and terrifying waiting to find out what it is.

One Measly Christmas Picture.

Christmas is over??? It never really felt like it was coming and now it's over...how did that happen? As I'm getting older I feel like the excitement of the season is growing fainter. I LOVE Christmas, so don't worry...I will fix this problem! I think it has to do with being away at school and not being around for all the chaos of Christmas shopping, movies, parades, parties, and food. Studying for finals (not to mention being at school in the middle of nowhere) kind of got in the way of all that this year. I'm so glad this was the last year that college will interfere with Christmas!

Want to know something pathetic? I only took ONE picture on Christmas day. One measly picture.

Oh well, at least I got a picture with these two special people. Brianna is in the middle. She is my cousin, but even more so she's my best friend. We're only 9 months apart and we've been super close our whole lives. Next to her is her boyfriend, Danny, who is also one of my best friends. We've been best friends since 8th grade. I don't think I could have gotten through all those years without him. I am beyond grateful to have two such lovely people in my life.

Next up: New Year's. As of right now I'm planning on spending New Year's Eve with my mom's side of the family at the bowling alley and then to my house for pizza. I'm pretty sure we have done this for the past 5 years AT LEAST. For a girl who wants nothing more than to spend New Year's Eve in Times Square...you can imagine spending what's supposed to be the most magical night of the year in sweaty bowling shoes is starting to get old. Oh well, time with family should be held dear I suppose. I do love them after all...I would just love them more if they all got on a plane to NYC with me to see the ball drop. =)

Some day...

Another semester down!

My blog and I haven't seen much of each other this semester, sadly.

Taking 19 credits kind of made things difficult.

But...I'm home now.

Six semesters down, one to go!

My blog and I are going to have some much needed time together.

A whole month of no class, no tests, no projects!

As great as winter break is, it also means missing friends like crazy.

Some of my best friends graduated this semester.

Saying bye to them was one of the saddest things ever.

Even though I have no idea how I'm going to survive my last semester of college without these girls, I am so excited for them. They have some exciting opportunities in front of them and I can't wait to see what they end up doing with their lives!

Have any of you had to go through a time without your closest friends?

...Because I am very curious to find out how you survived it!

Month of Thanks- part 2

So I'm a little late with part 2 of this Month of Thanks! But better late than never I suppose! Here it goes! =)

11. ICE CREAM. Wow, of all the things to be thankful for...pathetic I know. But hey, I love it and sometimes its just necessary to get through life.

12. EXERCISE. I don't do it nearly as often as I should, but I'm thankful I have the physical ability to work out and stay healthy!

13. GOD'S MERCIES. Every morning they are new. I am forgiven of all my sins and God keeps no record of them. The truth of that just leaves me speechless.

14. THE KINDNESS OF OTHERS. I babysat for a cute little boy from my church and his mom was so sweet. She let me do my laundry at her house for free while I was there, help myself to anything I wanted to eat, use the computer, and basically whatever I needed! I know this is kind of normal for babysitting but I still found her kindness so refreshing. It's the little things...

15. MUSIC. Sometimes turning on some good tunes is the best remedy for anything.

16. WARM WEATHER. We had some warmer days this week compared to how it has been! Such a blessing when you live in Wisconsin!

17. GIRLS' NIGHTS. I love being able to go out, have a good time, and strengthen friendships!

18. MY ROOMMATES. I room with two sweet girls in the dorm. I am grateful I was placed with ladies who are caring, selfless, and have hearts for the Lord.

19. THANKSGIVING BREAK. After classes were over for the day I felt a million weights being lifted off my shoulders. Me and two of my friends were able to take it easy by going out for dinner, renting a movie, and just hanging out and laying low for the night. I am so excited for this break. I made my way home today and tomorrow my parents, my sister and I leave for South Carolina to spend the week with my brother and sister-in-law. So freakin excited to escape the midwest for awhile.

20. MY HOUSE. Sometimes I forget what it's like to live in a house. Having my own room, a TV to watch, a fully stocked fridge...yep, all things I miss while I'm at college in the dorms!

Have a great Thanksgiving, everyone!!! God bless! =)