... 2 years later ...

It's my second year of college and I have come to the conclusion I need to start blogging again!

My oh my has it been a while since I've posted anything on here! (Typical...) It is already the END of September. WHAT?! Where has the time gone. Life is moving at a fast pace lately. Here's a little tid-bit on where I currently am with life:

• I am a sophomore studying Elementary Education at the University of Minnesota, and am loving it! My classes are not too strenuous this semester (don't worry mom, I'm still learning lots). I have the exact same schedule as my best friend Ashley which is extremely helpful (and makes learning fun). Last spring I had the flu the week we were registering for class, and Ashley came to my rescue and registered me for all of the same ones as her (we have the same major). What a blessing that girl is.

• I live with 3 adorable, caring and fun roommates; Anna, Mickey and Leah in a cute little, 2 bedroom apartment (which, I might add, is within a 5 minute walk of all my classes). We share one bathroom, and it hasn't been a problem! Surprising, right? Four girls & one bathroom would most likely end in battle scars from the war going on in apt. 322. But, lucky for us, we share the space peacefully.

• I got a job at an adorable little restaurant called Tony's Diner 1.5 blocks away from my apartment. They serve breakfast all day and serve 2 for 1 beers "all day, every day". The diner is a local favorite for Gopher game days, and now Viking game days, resulting in me running around like a chicken with her head cut off. Customers order food off a giant menu hanging on the wall, right when walking into the restaurant and pay after ordering and take a number to a table where we bring out their food. I am not a waitress, or a busboy (girl), or a cashier, or a dishwasher. I am all of those. I take orders, deliver the food, make the side salads, bus the tables, sweep and keep the place looking clean, wash the dishes, stock everything, and of course smile. A lot. The job is exhilarating, especially on those game days. My feet ache. I smell like greasy, fried food. I have hairs flying out of my pony in every which way. But I smile. And continue to smile. And smile and smile and smile and the day goes by fast. I have worked every weekend in September - which comes out to 22.5 hours a week. (I don't have class Mondays or Fridays). It's a lot, I'll tell you that much. But I feel like a rich lady with all my tips!

• I have been attending a student led Christian group on campus since the fall of my freshman year, and it has changed my life. The group is called Cru and is on campuses all over the nation. The weekly meeting I go to is called Shift and is held on Wednesday nights at 8pm. It's glorious. Over 100 students come to worship and listen to a beautiful message speakers deliver. I am so blessed to have met my current roommate Mickey, who took me to Shift the second week of college freshman year. It has opened so many doors. Introduced me to so many beautiful people. Brought me closer to the Lord in so many ways. I come home from Shift feeling full of love and fulfilled with singing for the week. Mickey and I went to Bethel University on a Sunday night two weeks ago, and joined at least 400 people in worshiping the Lord with beautiful songs that filled the air. It was fun singing with that many voices. Bethel is known for their musical ability and I definitely noticed that night. It was beautiful. I have surrendered myself to God, pouring myself into his Grace.

• I'm working on budgeting the money I earn and the money I have left in my savings - dang that is tough. I am working on spending my money (after thinking deeply about the purchase I might make...) on experiences rather than things/objects. It's a habit I'll be working on for the rest of my life, that's for sure. But I'm getting better. I think about the price of something as how many hours it takes to earn the money at work now. And it's quite depressing how many hours it takes just to buy a cute sweater from Forever 21. Goodbye shopping habit.

• I am dating a handsome, loving, ambitious, hilarious, six-foot-three, encouraging, dedicated, faithful, romantic, thoughtful guy named Luke. *Attention: if you don't like sappy paragraphs about young girls who are in love... you should probably stop reading... :) Luke and I have been dating since September of 2014 (that's one year for all the talented people who aren't good with math like me) and it has been an incredible journey. We graduated from the same high school, were in the same friend group, share a lot of the same memories in our friend's basement, yet knew hardly anything about each other before we started going on dates last summer. We were having a beautiful, carefree summer, going on dates, until it was the day before he left for college and we were sitting in the bed of his truck stargazing (of course we were stargazing... we are cheesy and we like it). We were laying there in silence, waiting for the other to start talking when finally Luke said something about how if both of us were single next summer, we should pick up where we left off. The next day rolled around and Luke was on his way to St. John's. A few hours into the day, I got a picture of his dorm room with a message saying "I can't not share this moment with you" and so we kept on texting here and there, sharing our new college experiences. The third week of school, we decided I would go up and visit him @ school. We started dating that weekend and he came to my mom's wedding the next week, and here we are - a year later, happy as two clams in love (I really don't think that is a saying but I'll use it).

• Life is good. I am happy. I am blessed to be surrounded by beautiful people who love and care about me. I have been working on living a healthy and organic lifestyle - physically and emotionally. I am thankful to be in the arms of the Lord, giving my life to him has been the best decision of my life.

xoxo

(below are a few recent photos)

•• Last weekend together - Luke's cabin in August •• 

•• 3/4 of the roomies ••

•• State Fair // early September ••

•• Long time since I've been to the state-fair •• 

•• Welcome Week leaders // the beautiful Sofia ••

•• Visited Luke last weekend @ St. John's ••

•• Surrounded by beautiful girls ••

•• Game day with the one and only Ashley ••

 •• Emily, Anne & me ••

•• Mickey and I in front of our apartment ••

 •• The beautiful Anna Cushing (Roomie #2) ••

•• Cousin Mel - New Gopher! (Grad School) ••

•• New donut shop opened up near apartment - uh oh ••

•• Annie Harwell's birthday dinner tonight! ••

(Headed to Annie's Parlor for some late-night birthday celebration malts)

san diego

July sparkled with celebratory trips to the cabin, fireworks, giggles, adventures to the vast city of San Diego, and much more. My mom and I took a wonderful little trip down to that good ol' city in California and had numerous adventures and experiences. 

july 2013

^^love her^^

^^first class!^^

^^the little things^^

 ^^thankful^^

^^sunshine^^

^^constantly changing^^

^^pure beauty^^

^^lovin' life^^

^^good morning^^

^^sailing on the ocean blue^^

^^mommy/daughter^^

To New Beginnings

Well hello there!

It's been quite a while, and unfortunately I forgot about my little blog. But I am back!

Not much has changed since my last post, although a few minor details have. My lovely friend and I ended things after prom. My heart was broken, but mended just a wee bit as we continued to be friends. All in all it sucks to lose such a kind and wonderful guy, but new bigginings await me. I can feel it. Life continues to truck on, even if my heart aches a little here and there. I must admit, I feel a little awkward and I forgot how to talk to boys after it had been so long and comfortable with just one. I enjoy this quote:

"How lucky am I to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard"

Enough about this subject... I have begun my college search, and I feel an immense amount of stress and I am overwhelmed to the max. I think I may have waited just the right amount of time for it to be too late, and now I have to search like crazy. It's unbelievable thinking about my future and a lot of what I decide now, will affect me for a lot of my life. Here's to new beginnings. I essentially get a fresh start. My life gets to take a whole new direction, and I love that I don't get to decide where it goes. (despite the fact I have to choose where I should get an education..) I love change. I strive for change. And my life is about to take turn for the better.

But, until June of next summer, I am still only in high school. And I am going to soak up every last drop of childhood I can. My friends are becoming closer, and this summer has been an endless amount of fun. 

1/4 done

I can't believe it. My junior year of high school is 1/4 done. I'm starting to realize how utterly close I am getting to graduating. I don't want to leave this place. I don't want to have to say goodbye to all the people I love, and say "see you at Thanksgiving" not tomorrow morning like it has been for the past 12 years. It terrifies me to think I will potentially be spending a year in a foreign country, not able to see the familiar faces I love ever so much. Despite my anxiety, I am excited. This is a new path I will endure and will be an extreme change. I'm not ready yet, but I hope in a year and 3/4 I will be.
On a lighter note, this first 1/4 of high school has been incredible. My best friend turned 17, cross country was one of the best seasons yet, school is moving quite quickly. Everything seems to be going at an extreme pace, but it has been lovely.

I love my life right now. Everything is looking up and I am so extremely thankful.
Smile, today is a good day.

Summer has ended

Well, today is the last day of summer.
It is indeed a tragedy, and yet quite exciting all at once. Bittersweet I must admit.
It's seems oh so strange to think that I am going to be a JUNIOR this year. When people mention High School, the words 'it flies by' always seem to come about. And now that I am experiencing it, oh my oh my are those words the truth. As I look through photos from freshman year, I get a wee bit teary eyed. I don't want this part of my life to end. Although I am excited for the next chapter, I don't want to grow up. Each day, I tend to forget how absolutely blessed I am. This is life I live in; magical. I am now realizing how easily it is to dwell on the crummy things in life, the things that just don't go right. I need to suck it up and be thankful for how my life is going. Frankly, my life isn't perfect. I'm not perfect. But right now, everything in life seems to be fitting in place just right. And to that I say, let's enjoy these moments. They seem to be disappearing quite rapidly.

Goodbye summer.

While the sun sets

While the sun sets,
I escape from reality.
In those 3 minutes where the sun is gently sliding towards the horizon
This place we call home becomes magical, enchanting, inexplicable.
The oranges, the reds, the yellows and golds soak up every other color,
Making this planet glow like it's neighboring star.
This beauty overtakes me every waking evening.
Thank you Earth for being such an irresistible home.

Sometimes...

Sometimes in life, things seem disoriented. 

Things seem out of place. 

They seem exhausting.

Not worth while.

Feeling helpless.

 Feeling hopeless.

Those aren't unusual emotions.

But sometimes in life, things are just hidden. 

Hidden beneath the mess, the struggles, the disappointments, the pain. 

A much needed change in perspective transpires.

Seeing what has been accomplished,

Rather than seeing what has yet to be done.

Change.

A new angle.

A different frame of mind.

That's all it takes. 

'Be happy with where you are now, even if you do wish to see change.'

You have got to be joking.

Is it actually the 9th of August? 

Wow. 

Well, any-who... Again I have failed miserably at capturing all of these great memories I have been making in these final weeks of summer. I apologize again for about the one-millionth time.

July ended with a huge burst of new found energy to become healthy and strong. I have been working out everyday (hardcore/twice-a-day/lifting-weights-and-all kind of work outs) and am virtually obsessed with how it makes me feel; so so so so great. (great is just about the most boring word choice possible, and a bit of an understatement....)

A few of the cutest, best-est (I know that's not a word..) funniest gals and I went to the fair. It was Abby's second time going to a fair in her life. Ever. And well, it was pleasant. Some people are so extremely adorable, while others can be so extremely trashy, it's quite ridiculous. But either way, people watching is always fun at a big event like a fair. :)

 

This is my best friend.

 This is my friend.

 They are absolutely incredible friends indeed. 

They make me so happy. 

The Olympics finally started (and now are coming to an end..) which gave us something to do in our free time! For the ceremony, we feasted;

-guacamole & lime chips 

-lemonade iced tea

-delicious bread & butter

-a HUGE fruit salad with absolutely delicious and ripe fruit

 it was SO good. and we ate all of it....

 *USA*

this isn't fake. pure happiness. 

Hopefully I'll be able to keep this up for the rest of summer and onto the school year. :)

Happy day! 

Aaaaand now it's July...

Well, yup. Time literally slipped right out of my fingers and ran away like a little hijacker. Indeed my apology could be forever long and I will not go through the time and effort to bore my fellow readers (if there really are any...) Despite my latest neglect towards this poor and lonely blog, I have had a few adventures that may or may not be eligible for reading, but read on my friends.  I don't think I can hit every detail of the past month, but I will give you some dirt on what the early summer brought...

First off, my friends and I (my best friends might I add...) created a giant bucket list of things needed to be accomplished this summer. Things like rollerblading, tubing down the river, making our own ice cream, camping, skiing on my lake... etc. And so far... we've hardly made a dent. I mean yeah we've checked off a few things here and there but I think the idea was more exhilarating than actually accomplishing all our 'tasks'. But hey, how easy is it to get five extremely busy girls all together to do 50+ things in 90 days? The mission seems nearly impossible. But the summer is far from ending. 

One of the items on the bucket list is to skinny dip in my lake. Check. Done. Completed. It was absolutely supercalifragilisticexpialidocious. The frogs were singing their songs (actually more like screaming their songs, they were so loud.) the moon was shinning at it's fullest, the lake was calm and like glass. Basically, it was a perfect night. The four of us ran down in our towels, hopped on in (well I make that sound a lot easier than it was... I stood at the end of the dock waiting, being the chicken I am of dark, green, smelly water... but finally ventured into the water) felt freer than a bird and climbed back out. It. Was. Electrifying. Exhilarating. Refreshing. All totally worth it. Mind I say this was at 1 a.m. after making a run to the Kwik Trip in town at 12 a.m. to get Cheez-Its, Fruit Loops, Triscuits and cheese, Lunchables and some Butterfingers... (healthy... reaaaaal healthy... I know). All in all, even with the creepy drunk guy that was attempting to hit on us on our way in the gas stations, the night was absolute perfection. 

Today I went fishing for the first time in a long time. I went to my friend's cabin and we both got sicker than dogs and I went home early... blah blah blah. Anyways, I woke up feeling mighty fine but all of my other friends are either sick or gone on a trip. So I brought out the redneck in me and went fishing with a friend. I was gleeful and happy just to be on an adventure after I had been quarantined for 3 days in the basement with nothing but Friends, water, saltines and ibuprofen and of course my great mama who took care of me. We didn't catch a fish, but we did catch a clam. Despite the fact that it seems strange and fake, I am almost 100% that thing actually grabbed our hook. I mean what other way could a clam (a big one by all means) get caught on our hook?! It was pretty cool, probably because that was the only excitement we had experienced all day... Then we saw a huge and I mean huge fish swim right by our feet. So we decided just to pretend that we actually caught that fish but agreed to be nice and let him go.... ha ha. 

I call myself 'fisherwoman'

I have been pretty careless and stupid about taking photos... Which I am now realizing as I look through my ''June '12'' album and am finding nothing exciting and worth mentioning in this post... 

Oh right. For those who don't know, I am a nanny this summer. My job is exceptionally exciting and makes my summer even more of an adventure. :) 

My latest want/need: an iPhone. Oh my good golly do I want one of those bad boys. Or at the least; a smartphone. That way people won't judge me as much when I whip out a small phone to take a photo of my food.. My giant DSLR can sometimes be a hassle when going on adventures that need minimal luggage... Either way I am blessed to have both a phone and an amazing camera, it would just be fantastic to have them combined. ;)

I once again will apologize for how late this sucker is, but then again... I am only sixteen... :)

Happy day, friends. Enjoy every moment :)

Summer is FINALLY here

Well, sophomore year has ended. As excited I am, I am also a wee bit sad. I mean next year I will be a junior. I honestly don't want high school to end. It has flown by and I don't want to grow up. It's weird to think that I will have to start thinking about colleges this year (COLLEGES!). So so so so so so scary.
But until then, it is SUMMMAAA!
On the last day of school about 10 of us girls went to my friend's house for a girls night/end of the year party. So much fun!

 Meet Herky

 summer 12! 

 finally here!!

stargazing! 

cloudy but beautiful

This weekend flew by. Friday night began with an easy day at track, a yummy pasta bar at the golf course, and a cozy slumber 'party' with my gals. Before the 'cozy' part on friday, I must mention a small detail.
My friend Abby lives on top of this giant hill, that overlooks the beautiful country just outside town. It is nearly impossible to ding-dong ditch her house (that's the new thing to do nowadays...) due to the steep, curvy driveway. But, as the four of us were in the basement, the doorbell rang. We sprinted and screamed up the stairs, running outside trying to catch the culprits. We waited outside, searching the darkness for any clues, while the wind wiped our hair and strained our hearing. We figured we should be brave and run down the driveway (keep in mind we are barefoot, and in our pj's) and found our friend's car waiting. On the count of three, we charged at the car screaming and jumped on it in hopes of scaring the boys who got us, but no one was in the car. All of a sudden, four black figures came storming down the hill, shouting, and we screamed. Nice job boys.
Saturday was a pretty uneventful day, consisting of baking cupcakes, sitting in parked cars talking, swinging as if we were still quite young, and watching Paranormal Activity. Despite the fact that scary moveis are not my favorite.... Paranormal Activity was indeed thrilling and not all that scary. My friends and I cooked a simple italian dinner and enjoyed each other's company on a cool Saturday night.

And today I enjoyed a nice win for the Twins at Target Field. In the first few innings, the sun was shining, Twins were in the lead, and my ice cream cone with sprinkles was delicious. The last few innings, the temperature dropped a wee bit, but the Twins still won.
The sun didn't seem to mind being hidden almost the entire weekend, but all in all the days were quite beautiful despite the sun to show off Earth's colors.

Life is good. Smile about it.

:)