catching up!

So, one perk of not having a job is getting to spend time with friends and make new ones! This week I took advantage of the opportunity!

I got to spend a whole day with my good friend, Katelyn! She lives all the way in Rhode Island so it was a treat to get to spend some time with her and catch up! =)

I spent the next two days with my friend, Lydia. She lives a little closer but I still don't get to see her as often as I would like! We went to 3 different Goodwills in one afternoon and found some good stuff!

Thursday and Friday night I got to babysit two of the cutest, sweetest little kids ever. It was the first time meeting both the kids and their parents. They were such a sweet family! I babysat them at a resort since their parents were there for business. Babysitting is even better when you get room service, free wi-fi, movies on demand...and a TV in the bathroom mirror! I mean, seriously...who thinks of these things???

Well, another week of summer has quickly flew by! More memories made, and now on to making even more! I can't wait to see what this week has in store. A job maybe? Still crossing my fingers!!!

wouldn't it be nice?

Today I would love two things.


1) To go back to school in the fall and graduate in the spring. This is my friend, Leah, and our friend/recent grad, Jamie! I would love more than anything to be stylin' that cap and gown next May!

2) To get on a plane and leave for New York City next month. I helped teach in a summer school program for a couple weeks last summer and some of the group is planning on going again this year. For those of you who don't know...my heart lives in NYC. I've only been there twice but I'm in love and I know it's where God wants me to be. I have such a burden for the city, especially the kids. Here are a few of my students and fellow teachers!

Well, these are the things I want. But there is ONE problem. I need money to do both. Oh, and anyone alive and breathing knows that we don't get everything we want. =P I'm trusting God because no matter what, things will work out according to His plan. If He wants me back at school, I'll be there...if not, He will have something else planned. If He wants me in NYC next month, I'll get there...if not, He knows it is better for me here at home. Prayers that I will continue to trust in God's plan and to remember that He will provide in whichever way is best are appreciated! Hope you all have a great week! Tomorrow I leave for a few days of much needed fun with some girl friends I haven't seen in a while! I will definitely be sharing some pics later this week. =)

And...I'm back.

Well, I'm still alive. Blogging has been on the back burner the last couple weeks and I'd say it is about time to get back to it! Since I've been MIA, I finished my Junior year of college and have since been here at home job hunting. The job hunt hasn't been very successful. Trying to find a summer job that doesn't involve frying burgers is hard stuff! I've had a few interviews which all seemed to go really well, only to later receive a big fat no in the end. Not gonna lie...I'm getting a little really nervous about paying my school bill before the fall semester starts up. This is definitely an opportunity to trust God big time. If any of you think about it, any prayers or fingers crossed would be much appreciated!


And as the job hunt continues...I'm trying to make the most out of summer. Bonfires, beach trips, shopping, movie nights, and receiving the worst tan line EVER from sitting out at an air show for 5 hours. Yes, fun stuff indeed. And as much as my mom keeps mentioning how she wishes I had a job, I don't think she minds the amount of cleaning I did for her today around the house. It can be hard to find fun things to do with an empty wallet, but I'm getting by.

Here's a little instagram peek of my summer so far!

1. Ate dinner by the lake with friends one night during my summer class.

2. Celebrating National Chocolate Chip Day!!!

3. Driving 4 hours back home!

4&5. Completed my first 5K with my sis-in-law, Julie, and my mom! And what is even more fantastic than that...it was the COLOR RUN!!! I recommend everyone does this at least once!

6. My temptation to steal the dogs from the pet store grows every day.

7. Movie night and ice cream with some of the girls!

8. Cooling off with a snow cone during the air show. =)

MORE ADVENTURES TO BE CONTINUED...

Another year down...well almost!

Sorry I've been missing the last few weeks. Life has been CRAZY! Between taking exams, trying to hang out with friends before they depart for the summer, and trying to figure out classes and a job for the summer, I have had little time to update my dear little blog. Well I'm hoping I will have a little more time to blog now that summer is here. That's right...SUMMER IS HERE!!! There's only one little problem...

See all those cars in the dorm parking lot? No? Exactly. There are exactly four cars parked outside right now. Today was graduation and everyone in their right mind was out of here by 3 p.m. sharp. Unfortunately I have a summer block class so I have to stay here until Friday. As if this place wasn't empty enough 7 hours ago...it has since turned into a ghost town. BUT...I am determined to make this week fun. I have a few friends taking the class with me and tomorrow I get to move out of the dorm and into a friend's house here on campus, so that will make things a little more pleasant. As far as summer plans go I have no idea what I'm doing. I've had a few interviews that came up empty and I have another one next week which seems a little more hopeful! Cross your fingers and say a few prayers that it goes well!

Well in other news, tonight is my last night with my dear room mate, Leah. My other two room mates already left for home and I miss them dearly! All three of them have been amazing and we got really close this year. They have helped me grow as a person so much and my love and desire to live for God has grown beyond belief because of the impact these ladies have made on me.

I wish I could sum up everything I have learned this year at school. It has been the most challenging, rewarding, growing process of my life thus far. I have had to face heart ache and pain, but I have learned so many things through it that the pain has dimmed so much I hardly notice it anymore. God has brought numerous new friends into my life and He continues to draw me closer to Him. Looking back to September when this year first started and comparing it to where I am right now...it blows my mind. I can't believe in just one short year I'm going to be graduating. I hope throughout this next year I continue learning and growing and becoming the kind of person God intended for me to be. Life continues to be one huge chaotic adventure, but I would never quit this adventure for anything. This life I've been given is a beautiful thing and for that I am thankful.

Wish me luck surviving summer school this week. (I'm starting to remember why I always pitied the kids who had to take summer school back in elementary.) Love to all and have a great night! =)

feet ready, heartbeat steady, eyes open.

This song has been stuck in my head all afternoon. It might be the result of listening to the Hunger Games soundtrack a few times, or it might be because I really like the meaning of it...unlike many of the other brainless tunes that get stuck in my head. Walking around earlier today I was thinking about all the people watching my every move; how easy it is to get a reputation, either good or bad. Sometimes it's like they are just waiting to see what I will do next; waiting to take advantage of any opportunity to attack. But today...I don't know, I guess for the first time in a long time I was able to hold my head high and look straight ahead without feeling that way. I'm starting to use my scars to my benefit rather than my downfall. "Every lesson forms a new scar" after all. Always be ready for those unexpected attacks, but don't let the fear keep you from living. "You've got something they don't." Use your scars, your knowledge, your passion, your joy...everything you have...take it and use it.

Everybody's waiting

Everybody's watching

Even when you're sleeping

Keep your eyes open

The tricky thing

Is yesterday we were just children

Playing soldiers

Just pretending

Dreaming dreams with happy endings

In backyards, winning battles with our wooden swords

But now we've stepped into a cruel world

Where everybody stands and keeps score

Keep your eyes open

Everybody's waiting for you to breakdown

Everybody's watching to see the fallout

Even when you're sleeping

Keep your eyes open

So here you are, two steps ahead and staying on guard

Every lesson forms a new scar

They never thought you'd make it this far

But turn around, oh they've surrounded you

It's a showdown and nobody comes to save you now

But you've got something they don't

Yeah you've got something they don't

You've just gotta keep your eyes open

Everybody's waiting for you to breakdown

Everybody's watching to see the fallout

Even when you're sleeping, sleeping

Keep your eyes open

Keep your feet ready

Heartbeat steady

Keep your eyes open

Keep your aim locked

The night goes dark

Keep your eyes open

Everybody's waiting for you to breakdown

Everybody's watching to see the fallout

Even when you're sleeping

Keep your eyes open

Thank you for the insight, Taylor Swift. =P Hope everyone is having a great start to the week! Remember...keep your eyes open and be ready to use that "something" special that only YOU have when things start to get rocky! Peace out!

at least the worms got to come out and play.

Sunday was an awesome day. I was warm, stole my favorite hummingbird necklace from my roomie, hung out with tons of babies at church who were so cute all I wanted to do was squoosh their chubby faces , and then came back onto campus and drank tea all afternoon while doing homework nothing.

                                 

I went to bed with confidence in Monday. Well...this Monday decided to be a moody one. I woke up to find that it was humid, wet, and warm. I don't mind a little rain and I love warmth, so I was content. A cute skirt and sandals seemed like the perfect outfit choice.

(If only my roomies hadn't been sleeping, you maybe could have seen my head...)

I skipped off to Greek class. {Yes, I take Greek. They promise us that it is worth our time as counseling majors to learn it. At least my teacher is my brother's best friend and he lets us sing fun songs during class.} I carefully watched my steps...err, skips...as to not step on any of the worms who came out to play. The morning was easy, one of my teachers gave us candy, and then it was finally time for lunch. It was then that I was reminded how extremely bi-polar Wisconsin is! You would've sworn there was a tornado coming with how fast the wind was coming at me! First time I wore a skirt this spring...not to mention that it was the flowiest one I own...bad choice. {I apologize to anyone I may have flashed. hahaha} It went from 50 to 30 degrees in a matter of two hours!!! Anyways, I went to lunch and took two fortune cookies...I was feeling like some wisdom was in need. Here is what I got...

Umm...okay. Discovering truth is always good...but the number nine? I swear...who do they hire to make up these fortunes? And do they really get paid to do it? Anyways... after it started SNOWING an hour later I decided I would spend the remainder of the day snuggled in a blanket and avoiding stupid Wisconsin weather. We had an intramural basketball game at 9:30...seriously I don't know who scheduled that game...but if I find out I will need to have a word with them. No one should have to play basketball that late. Our team is called "Barbie Ballers." I'm on the kind of team that gets motivated by promises of ice cream if we win. Oh, and we all get to wear pink...which makes me SUPER happy. Unfortunately, we didn't win and therefore no ice cream for this girl. I am ready to crawl back under my blanket and get some serious zzzzzzzzz's. This Monday was gross and moody and unusually non eventful.

At least the worms got to come out and play.

(and don't worry, I won't mention how they were all dead by the time everyone trampled them on their way to class.)

Get some rest everyone! Moody Monday is officially OVER and Tuesday is coming!!! Goodnight!

who I am.

Life has been going non-stop...and I wouldn't have it any other way. Every day seems to bring something new. New lessons, new memories, new knowledge, new discoveries. Lately, I've been discovering a little bit more of who I am. Now before I continue, let me just say...I had to discover something else before I came to this new self discovery. I've discovered what it is God wants for me...what He wants from me. I go around every day and notice all the  different people. There's the guy who just lost everything, the girl who is scared of being alone, the couples that seem to have it all together, the ones who have faith in God to provide, the ones who try to make it through life on their own. Everyone is at a different place in life and everyone handles things differently. This got me thinking...where am I in life? Where has it taken me and where will I go?

I can still remember that girl who craved nothing more than to be noticed...to feel wanted. She said she loved God, but she hardly lived it out. Sure, she was a good girl who always followed the rules, but beyond that her faith was mediocre. She only prayed when she wanted something. She let others and circumstances affect her day by day walk more than her God. When she felt she could love freely and be loved in return, nothing could bring her down. But when love seemed harder to find, she was at a loss. Where would she find her purpose? her acceptance? her rock? She then remembered where she could go. The only place that seemed right was into the arms of her Father. At first, it was just another place to run...

It has taken me until recently to see that God is not just another place to run away to in order to quench my selfish motives. He's not like other people who you can run to, get a few words of advice, but then find that your time is up and you have to run to the next person. He's not like worldly addictions that promise happy endings but always without fail turn up empty. He's not just a temporary relief from the weights of this world. No. God is the ultimate escape, hiding place, refuge. He wants me to run to Him. But not after I've run to everyone and everything else first. He wants me to run to Him because He is my purpose and my rock, not run to Him so I can feel better and then move on to the next thing. How often do I use God for my own benefit?

I do not serve a God who is to be tossed around and used only when convenient for me. Here is my new discovery. God is the most constant being ever to exist. He is constant in every aspect including my life. He controls every breath I take, every step I take, everything that happens to me. I find myself tossing God around, when really He can never be moved. I've doubted God's plan so many times and now I just laugh at how crazy that sounds. God is faithful and even though we are all at different places in life, He is at constant work in all of us. Today I'm discovering who I am...but not only that...I'm discovering who I am in God.

I am God's precious child, and no matter how much I try to pull Him around, He has such a tight grip on me there is no way that little old me will ever in a million years change His course. So today I choose to just go with the flow. As long as I'm doing what God asks of me and making wise choices, there is no way that God will ever let me out of His sight.