Happenings

Well, I have been here in Iowa City for a month exactly today.  It seems so weird to think that this month has already passed by. Iowa is awesome, and I for sure picked the right college! All that worrying was for nothing and I am now settling into my place here on campus. A few things have happened so far, but nothing huge. God has for sure been working through me. I will talk more about that later.

This is Herky and I after On Iowa! Hawkeye football games have been so much fun! The first game vs. Tennessee Tech was cold and rainy but Kels and I stayed the whole time. There was a rain delay and we stood around  for a little bit and then went to stand under hand dryers to try and get some feeling back :) When we got to back to the stands there was hardly anybody there and we got really good seats! (See the picture below) The next football game was not so awesome. It was hot out and many people got burnt. That however was not the problem. The problem was that Iowa lost to ISU. Before you start commenting about Go ISU! I just want to say congratulations you deserved to win, cyclones. Iowa played horribly that day and you for sure outplayed us! Congrats on a good game. Iowa's defense was no where to be found and Steel Jantz took advantage of that. The next game was perfect weather and a good game. I have not screamed louder or longer than I did yesterday. It was so fun. At the beginning we didn't look too hot. We couldn't do anything at offense, but the defense came out strong and I knew we could pull it off. The offense took a little while to get going, but as soon as it did Pitt couldn't stop us. GO HAWKS!!

Yeah I took this :)

Ok, now for the Colts. (Sorry for all of you that could care less about football, glad you are still with me though) Peyton Manning is hurt. He just had a second neck injury. No one knows when he is coming back. He is what makes up the Colts. Without him there is no chance for them. I have been worried something like this would happen for a while. Nothing was ever done to make sure the Colts would be ok without him. They aren't. They hired Kerry Collins from out of retirement just a few days before the season started. He hasn't been able to lead them to a victory yet. The first week loss to the Texans brought up bitter memories from the season opener last year. Last year, however, we had hope, we had Peyton. This year, not so much. This year we have Kerry Collins. It is going to be a long football season folks.

Ok I will now get to things that really matter :) Thanks for sticking through those vents :) So dorm life is so much fun. I love having a hall that likes to hang out together. We always eat supper together and have movie nights. It is so much fun. We do some crazy things like modeling in heals down the hallway (picture below) or dancing across crosswalks. We have had some good times and it is only the first month. The only thing that stinks is the communal bathroom. If you are going to college soon I would highly recommend getting the suite. It may be a little more expensive but it would be worth it. 

Ok now for the really important stuff. I have been "shopping" around for a ministry and a church that fits  me. I went to Parkview E-free church and I liked it. It was very much like my church at home, which isn't a bad thing but something didn't fit. I also tried out 24/7 their college ministry and that was good too, but again something didn't fit. This past week I checked out Cru. I went to Bible study on Tuesday night and I really liked it. I also went to their main thing on Thursday and that was good too. Then I went to the church that Anne recommended and I loved it. The worship was good. They have a band but they don't have all the fancy lights that makes it look like a concert and I really liked that. It was simple and it made me focus more on what worship is about then what the lights were doing. Also the preaching was really good. The preacher was excited and so good. I loved it. I am so thankfully God put Anne in my life to recommend both these ministries to me. She was my small group leader for the challenge before my sophomore year. It is so cool how God works. 

Prayer Requests:

~I would continue to find time to be in God's word as I get busier and busier

~God would continue to open doors to spread His word

~I would find a person on the same page in their faith with me. It would be awesome to have someone here on campus to talk with.

~I would continue to seek God with my future. I am still not sure what I want to major in, but I am trusting God to show me. 

Thank you guys for reading this blog. It really means a lot to me that you take the time to read about my life. This is one of the only places I can tell others about what is going on in this crazy head of mine :)

~Go Hawks!

My New Life

So I am all moved into 1538 Burge. A few tears were shed but all is good now. I still miss everybody, but it has been an awesome few days. God totally blessed me with Kayla as my roommate. She is so nice! I have been meeting a lot of new people and it has been really fun. Don't get me wrong there have been moments of sadness but mostly it has been great! I am going to give you a tour of my dorm room! I am excited! I loooovvvvveeeee it. It may not look like much but it seriously makes my day every time I walk in. Well here we go...

This is the view from the door. If you can't see the beginning of my name the side on the right is mine:)

Our closets. I am the left in this picture.

I don't know why but this corner of the room makes me feel like the most legit college student ever. The fridge, microwave and all the little snacks. I love it :)

This is the sink and microfridge shelf.

My corner. Got to have the hawk football poster!

This is under my loft. This is my favorite part of the room. I love all the smiling faces that surround me.

This our futon. Not very exciting but I figured I would put a pic up anyway :)

My bed. I for sure need an egg crate for the mattress :)

This is right in front of my desk. Whenever I look up from my computer I see my friends and family. 

My dresser. I love the letters sess made for me. Also the jewelry hanging thing (I don't know the proper name for it) was a great find of my mommy's. I don't know what I would have done with out that!

So.. That's it. I hope you like it as much as I do.  I am going to try to update this blog as much as possible. We will see how that goes when classes actually start! I will try my hardest! 

On Iowa! has been a blast. Well, except for today. Today we sat through discussions all.. boring as all get out! However yesterday was awesome! We got to go to the kick off in Historic Kinnick Stadium. We got there and ate some nasty food, but that's ok because the rest of the night made up for that! We got to go on the field. The field where the Hawkeyes play? Yeah that one! AAAHHH!! I was freaking out! Well, inside at least. So we played some icebreakers. Yup, all 4,500 of us. We filled that field almost. Some were pretty awkward. Like dancing with your back to some guy's back that you don't know with your arms linked together. Yeah, I will for sure not forget that :) It was fun though. Then the band came on (sorry I don't know their name). They formed an I and we filled it in. It was so cool looking I will post the video below. Then we sat down in the bleachers where we learned Hawkeye traditions. The band played and we listened to speakers. The speakers were Dan Gable the awesome retired wrestling coach from Iowa and a professor that was really cool, but I forgot his name. Whoops! Then we were the first ever people to see fireworks in Kinnick. It was amazing! I took pictures but they are on my phone which is not working as of right now. I will upload them when I can. 

Prayer Requests:

~I would stay strong in my faith. I know college can be a really hard time on kids' faith and I want to hold on to it. 

~My phone problem would get fixed. It really has been good to not have my phone. I am not as attached to it anymore. I have probably met more people because I didn't have anything to distract me in awkward situations. It really has been a blessing in disguise.

~I would meet really cool christian girls and get plugged into an awesome ministry!

Thank you so much for reading and praying! I love and miss you all!

Here is the video of us doing the I-

NOLA!! (and many other things)

Hello! Has it really been 4 months? Wow! Time has just whizzed by! It is now under a month until I step foot on to Iowa's campus, my home for the next 9 months! As it gets closer and closer  I get more excited and more nervous. Sometimes I can't sleep because I am so excited and other times it  is because I am so nervous! The thought has many times crossed my mind to just stay home and go to Iowa State. I would be so much more comfortable here and it would be so much easier. No worries though! I will be going to Iowa! That is just how my mind thinks when things start to change. Anyway I have a count down started on my phone and it says I have 27 days 19 hours 35 minutes and 41 seconds until I can move in! Can't wait!

Alright enough about college. I am not even there yet and I can't shut up about it. Many things have happened since April 7, 2011 (the last time I posted). So let's see-

#1-  I GRADUATED! Yeah! So I started a graduation post back in June and never got around to finishing it. So I am just going to incorporate it here. I had two parties. One for friends and then one for family. We really didn't want the two to meet so we kept them apart. Just kidding. We did because we didn't want the family to have to make two trips because that would have been lame. 

This picture is of me (obviously) and the barn door I had pictures on. Kelsey made the beautiful letters and Wendi (the stellar brains behind all the decorating) had the barn door. We just hung ribbon and then put pictures up with clothes pins. It was really cute if I can say so myself. I loved my friends party. It was exactly what I wanted it to be. I couldn't have asked for better weather or people. Thank you to everyone that helped. We couldn't have done it with out you!

This is the Martin family. It was great to have all of them there. Ok, I guess this isn't all the Martins but I meant having everyone who came there. I don't think I have seen any of them since and I miss all of you. It is time for another visit! Also, I thought I picked the best one but obviously not because Grandma's head is turned. However, she looks just as cute :)

This is the Lawson family and for once in our  lives we look bigger than the Martin family! Even though it isn't so. One of the coolest things about having the Lawsons there was that Callan was there. I think he was like a week old at the time and I have never seen a baby so young. It was so cool. Anyway, I also loved having everyone else there. Believe me, Callan wasn't the most important, just the newest! As you can see there is another new face in the crowd. That is Erin. Alex's girlfriend. It was great having her there and getting to know her, too.

Actual graduation day finally came. I walked across the stage (without tripping) and I am officially a high school graduate. I really couldn't have cared less about the ceremony. I just wanted my diploma. Actually, I don't even know what to do with that now. It just feels great to be done with high school.

#2- Work- I am working at three different places this summer. I work most at a Kids Club in Slater and I love it. I love the kids and the staff; it has just been an all around great experience. I also work at Hy-Vee still, but not as much as I used to. I also started working at Celebrations. It is an event and party store in Ames. I love it there also. It goes along well with my major, event coordinating. I work as much as I can everywhere that I can. Somedays I work 11 hours, which I know to people like my dad who used to work 12 hours in a foundry is nothing. But, if you ever try to talk to me and I am grumpy or tired that would be why!

#3- NOLA!!- Oh my goodness you guys. My heart has been exploding with details of New Orleans that I have been wanting to tell you. I just can't even explain how great of a trip it was. I went down there praying God would stretch me and show me a side of Him that I had never seen, and boy does God answer prayer! He showed me how He was alive and working. I have never seen such an on fire ministry and it was awesome. Everyone at Urban Impact had a heart for what they were doing. The full time staff, the interns and even the volunteers. It was so cool. At the same time God was stretching me. Usually when you go on missions trip you are working with kids, which we did. Also what usually happens is that you connect with at least one kid if not more. These kids become your buddies for the week and its cool because you are ministering to those kids while you love on them. This, for whatever reason, did not happen for me. I didn't connect with any kid, so I didn't feel like I was loving on any of them that much. Now let me make something clear. There were tons of us and not enough kids for all of us, and I understand that. If you know me well, you know that I love kids. I love their imaginations and that they don't worry about what others think of them. So it was really hard seeing my friends connect with kids and having that impact. God was showing me that I could serve else where. I thought I would go on the trip to serve the people of New Orleans, but God showed me he wanted me to serve the people  of Ames while they were in New Orleans. I am not going to write down what God allowed me to do through that because I feel as if that would be bragging and I don't want to brag about what God had me do.  Also I didn't even do that much. I don't want you to think I was washing people's feet or something! Even writing this feels like bragging so I am sorry if that is what it sounds like. Romans 4:2 just keeps popping in my mind. "For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God."If Abraham who was going to sacrifice his son for God isn't justified through works. Then who am I to boast in the "works" I did in NOLA. I did however connect with a little boy during the movie on Friday. His name was B.J. and he sat on my lap while we watched the movie. This was one of the most refreshing things that happened all week. I just held him. It wasn't like I was comforting him. I just let him sit on my lap. God finally allowed for a connection to be made. I think that was one of the hardest parts about leaving was that I finally made a connection on the last day we were there. God also showed me that He was in control even when things seemed chaotic. I am a person who likes a plan and likes to be organized, hence the major. On this trip I felt as if sometimes there wasn't a plan. Nobody really knew what was going on and that tried my patience. I shared that at Say So (a time where people shared what God had taught them) because I thought that was the biggest lesson I learned. Looking back though, I see it wasn't. God has really laid on my heart to become a part of a ministry like Urban Impact. I don't know what that looks like so at this time I am just praying that God would show me where He wants me. Don't worry I am not going to apply for the internship at Urban Impact because I don't think that is where God would want me. Anyway, thank you to all the leaders and staff at UIM. You all showed me a side of God that I hadn't experienced before. 

After that wordy response I am sure you want some pictures. So I am going to post some of my favorites from everything I have done since my last post. 

Lauren me and Rochelle during Senior Celebration on our last day. I don't know if you can see but there are just mounds of glitter in our hair. I am pretty sure some of it is still there. 

 

I absolutely love this picture of Ashley. She hates it, but there is just something about it that I love.

Raegan and I

The two graduated cousins. It's so weird!!

Shell and I pretending to be models in the streets of Jefferson.

This picture is just so us. Don't you think?

Small group plus some with a musician. He played when the saints go marching in and we froze on the last note. Some nice passerby took this pic.

I just love this picture of Shell. I don't really know why and she probably hates it. I just love it.

Yes. You are seeing correctly that is Sylvester Stallone. He was filming a scene for his new movie right across the street from the church in New Orleans. It was really cool to watch.

Holding the alligator. Ashley was freaked out, but I was ready. I didn't really get a good one of us both holding it but that's ok because this picture is just hilarious. 

Anyway, this summer has been hectic but so much fun. I wouldn't trade it for anything!

Update (I need more creative titles)

Well... I wanted to let you guys no of some things that have been going on but first I would like to give a heart warming welcome to my two cousins, Emily and Becca. They have recently joined Blogger and their blogs are really cool you should check them out. In the Singular and A Blue Eyed View check them out!

There are 30 29 days left until I am done with high school forever. I can not wait! So exciting! I know I will miss this chapter in my life someday but as of right now I can not wait to flip the page. I am now more excited for college than I have been in a long time. I have been thinking about not majoring in elementary education anymore. I don't want to be stuck in a classroom doing the same thing everyday ( words of my mother). Don't get me wrong, teachers are amazing people. I love the passion they have for their students, but I can not see myself doing that. I want to do something different. 

When I told my mom this I thought she would be surprised, but no she wasn't. She told me she had recently been thinking that I shouldn't be a teacher because I am not the most patient person in the world:) I was surprised by her reaction, but not as surprised by my friend Rochelle's. She let out an exasperated YES!! I was shocked! What? You all thought I shouldn't be a teacher and nobody cared to tell me? (just kidding) But seriously, you have to tell me these things!

I am now thinking of majoring in Management and becoming an Event Coordinator. Rochelle was especially excited to hear that portion. I was thinking this because I helped plan prom and pretty much planned Winter Dance. Also Rochelle and I just got done planning the food and decorations for a Spaghetti Lunch our youth group just had. I loved every minute of all of them. I love to plan things.

Since my last blog post not much has changed. I still am struggling to be motivated with school. I think that is normal for any second semester senior especially when there is less than a month left! My prayer life is getting better. I talk to God a lot more now. I am no longer shoving him out so that I can have time to think about other things. I like talking to Him and crying out to Him in frustration. He always points my thoughts in a new direction and when I have finished venting He makes me see things in a whole new light. FAFSA is a joke. They said my parents were going to give me $20,000 a year. Yeah right! That is a load of crap! So pretty much I got nothing but loans from them. I am still filling out and turning in scholarships so please continue to pray for those. God has been showing me to trust Him with the little things and it will be easier to do so with the big things. I trust Him to provide and what do you know? He provides! God is good great amazing is there any word that truly describes God? No, there isn't. He is more than words can describe! I LOVE GOD!

Prayer Requests:

~Money would be provided for college.

~I would trust God with the small things.

~I would be diligent in my devotions so that I am grow closer to God.

Thank you for taking time out of your day to catch up on my life. I love you all. Thank you for praying. If there is anything you need prayer for please let me know!

P.S. Don't forget to check out my cousins' blogs!!!

Crazy Busy

WOW! How long has it been since I posted? Over a month! Sorry! I know you all checked blogger daily to see if I had posted anything and were disappointed. I am deeply sorry :) Anyways I just wanted to update you on some things that were going on in my life. So here we go.

#1) Winter Dance was February 12th. I was in charge and so that took up a lot of time. The theme this year was Under the Deep Blue Sea. I love planning things and the stress of making sure everything is how I want it is awesome. I love the day before running around like a chicken with my head cut off making sure everything is happening how it should. There is no sarcasm here believe me! I really do enjoy it. Anyways, everything came out perfectly except the back wall which looked like somebody (not naming names here) pooped on it :)

#2) School. It is sucking the life out of me. I seriously believe that the second semester of senior year is pointless. Somedays I have three classes. That's it. Three. What is the point of even going to school on those days. It stinks. I know I need to have a good attitude about it and everything but I hate it.

#3) Reading through the Bible in a year = FAIL!! Yeah I am on day like 21 maybe and its March already. I decided that even if I don't get it done in a year at least one day I will get all the Bible read. Maybe by the time I am a senior in college it will be done! Anyways I have always struggled with "taking notes" while I read the Bible. In my individualized reading class I just find quotes and respond to them so that is what I am doing with my devotions. I am finding references that strike me, writing them down and then responding to them. This has helped me a great deal and I can look back and see what verses were encouraging and stuff.

#4) Eighth grade girls. I love them so much. They stress me out with their questions that I can't answer, but they also make me stronger. They drive me crazy sometimes and we have to sit down and talk about things ( I really hate being an "authority"). Then they surprise me with opening up and being vulnerable with me. These girls have challenged me in ways I didn't think were possible. They have stretched me to my last nerve and then drawn me back in with a hug. I love them and I don't think they know how much they have made me grow over the last three years. I cannot believe it has only been three years. I am going to miss them so much next year. I have tears in my eyes already just thinking about it.

Things to pray for:

~My prayer life sucks right now. I don't talk to God hardly enough and when I do it is because I am struggling with something. ( you could also keep me accountable with this one)

~ God would provide money for college. I am in the process of FAFSA (actually my dad is) and filling out scholarship after scholarship. I obviously do not have a trust fund that is going to pay for my education, I really need money and I know God will provide.

~To trust God enough to know it doesn't matter what is coming. I need to let God have control of my whole life. I am a control freak. I will admit to that but I need to loosen my grip on it.

Thank you so much for reading a keeping me in your prayers :) If there is anything I can pray for you leave a comment and I will!

Last Semester.

So it is the last semester of high school for this girl. I don't know whether to be happy or sad about it. On one hand I can not wait until I get to go off to college and be on my own (not that I don't love my family, because I do!). Get to discover new things and start a new adventure. On the other hand I am sad that this is my last semester of being safe and secure at home and at school. A new church will have to be found, a new group of friends will have to be formed. And just so you know I don't like change very much. 

Part of me wants to just live at home and go to ISU. I wouldn't have to change anything, church and home would still be the same. The only thing that would change would be the school. However, I know that God does not want me to live comfortably and to stay the same, I have to leave home, spread my wings, (throw in own cliche phrase). 

So, I am ready to make my announcement about where I will be going to school. My family found out on Sunday with a slip of the tongue. We were talking about what car I got and I said something about driving on I-80 to school and no longer then half a second Kelsey jumped on it and figured out I would be going to Iowa. Two seconds later she was texting her boyfriend and not less than five minutes later it was on Twitter via Isaac. 

Those two are only happy I am going there because Kelsey will have a place to stay when she comes to visit (Don't deny it, its true).  Only one sister is happy I am going to Iowa, Ashley wanted me as far away as possible (Again, don't deny it, its true). My parents, however, are thrilled with my decision. Just a little while ago my dad, who is never sentimental, told me that he didn't like it when his girls were far away (Kelsey was in Wyoming for 9 months last year) and that I should just go somewhere close. My mom, yeah I don't know why she wanted it so bad, but she did. 

So there it is the die-hard cyclone fan turned hawkeye. Should I feel dirty? Should I feel like a traitor? Probably, but I don't. Iowa has everything I have ever wanted in a college (minus the Bible part, but I gave up on that when I decided to be a teacher). They have good football, big campus, awesome atmosphere, and lots of ministries going on. It is close to home but not too close, same state but I will feel like I am in my own little world. 

So there it is. I can finally put this decision behind. It feels so good to be able to do so. I am fully at peace with this decision and thats how I know that God is good with it also. After lots of prayer and searching I finally decided. THANK YOU GOD!!

However, there is one thing (or family) that I regret will not be near me. the Kvernens. As some of you know my other choice was way up north right next to Fargo, North Dakota. I love the Kvernens and when I found an affordable out of state college up by them I was so excited. I thought that was for sure where I was going, I wasn't even considering Iowa back then. God works in weird ways and now I will be going to Iowa. So, I want to apologize to the Kvernens for getting your hopes up and then letting them fall again. I love you guys and I would have loved to have gone to school up there, but it just wasn't the right fit. 

Thanks for reading my longest blog ever. 

GO HAWKS!!