School started yesterday.
Each professor thought it would be a fantastic idea to remind us that graduation will be here sooner than we can imagine. Well great, now I can breathe easy, thanks a ton. But in all honesty, they are right. It is right there.
My schedule worked out this semester so that I have all 6 of my classes on Wednesdays and then 5 of them on Monday and Friday. So those days are going to be nothing short of exhausting but I am truly looking forward to all every challenge that comes my way as I know it will be helpful in some way later in life. Yes, even my financial statement analysis class will play a part somehow.
In this time of change and uncertainty and increased busyness it is sometimes difficult to remember the good things about this new school year. For one, I get to attempt to be organized again. I feel like a fourth grade girl, but I'm going to try to color code things this year. Hopefully this helps me keep my 6 different class projects separate in my mind. Also, everyone is back on campus. I'm still seeing some faces for the first time since May and those encounters are always awesome. Outcry starts again and that just makes me so happy. God works in that hour in ways that I have never witnessed before.
As I was writing this blogpost, a friend who was sitting next to me asked me if we would see King David in heaven. I was completely blown away. This is not the type of question I would have expected from this particular friend. However, it sparked a small conversation about Old Testament figures and how even though they were before Jesus' time on earth, they still followed God and were great people. This turned into a conversation about what heaven would be like, and I can honestly say that I am so excited to worship God with every nationality, ethnicity, race, culture, and class of people who have lived, are living and will live on this earth. God is so good. I can't wait to see what the rest of this year holds.
Peace and blessings
Thursday 29 August 2013
Tuesday 13 August 2013
A peak at the past and the beginning of the end
I can't even believe how absolutely uncreative I'm being with today's blog title. The beginning of the end is every girl's senior year photo album title. But this really is the beginning of the final year of my time at Trinity. Graduation is in sight and that is terrifying on a level I can't even begin to discuss now. Even as the future is fast approaching, I thought I would take today to write about where I've been and how my time at Trinity has been amazing.
Semester 1: Fall, 2010.
My time at Trinity began about this time 3 years ago. I was rooming with my lifelong friend Ben and I couldn't be more thrilled to meet new people and start learning new things. I tried my best to get out there and meet as many people as I could. I spent many late nights goofing off and ditching 8am classes. I started lifting weights with my new friends and we laughed more about the dumbest things than I have ever done in my whole life. I spent so much time in the library not doing homework but just messing around, as this photo below so clearly demonstrates. My first semester of freshman year was probably the height of my spontaneous activities and provided way too many memories that I will keep forever.
Semester 2: Spring, 2011.
This semester brought about a bunches of changes in my life. My friend group shifted ever so slightly and I focused a tad bit more in school. My new additions to my friend group brought about more card games, movie marathons and Nonnas runs. The random late night adventures continued on and I made a ton more amazing memories with a bunch of hilariously fun people. I also grew spiritually. We started attending Trinity's worship night a ton more. Outcry on Thursday nights began to be one of the things each week that I looked forward to most. As the year drew to a close, I was saddened to hear about many of my friends transferring out to other schools but at the same time excited because many of my friends were staying and I couldn't wait to begin the next year living with a bunch of them in the bigger apartment dorms.
Semester 3: Fall, 2011
After a long summer away from my Trinity family, I was more than ready to return to this tiny school surrounded by houses in the middle of Palos Heights Illinois. We moved into a 6 person suite with 5 guys. I started working at the cafeteria at Trinity and along with having my hardest semester of classes yet, I was quite busy. Balancing work, homework, friends, family, and a girlfriend was difficult and some things suffered while others flourished. This semester was a transition from the crazy freshman Jake to the much more calm and mature me. My spiritual life grew and my friend group solidified. I also began preparing for a trip to Haiti in January, which would change my life forever.
Semester 4: Spring, 2012
Haiti. I don't need to say much else. That trip changed my perspective on almost everything. I loved every second of it. The people who live there are truly unbelievable. The people who came with me from Trinity was just as awesome and I know we all grew that week. After Haiti, we spent the rest of the semester scheming of ways to get back. Besides that however, many games of Dutch Blitz were played, my walk with God was strengthened and I just really grew to love college. I began to question my major and I really didn't understand where God was leading me. Right before summer began I heard about a semester to Kenya the following spring, so I filled out an application and turned it in and spent that summer waiting.
Semester 5: Fall, 2012
I had now past the halfway mark of college. Time was flying by. On the first Friday of the school year I received an email that I had been accepted to the semester in Kenya and I should start preparing for the time of my life that following spring. I was ecstatic. As I prepared for this adventure I continued along in my business classes and I was a student manager at the cafeteria. I also managed to have a great time with friends that I now considered very close. I also signed up to go back to Haiti in January. The fall semester was a time of preparation for fun things to come.
Semester 6: Spring, 2013
The spring semester of my junior year was probably the craziest 4 months of my entire life. I started right away in January with a return visit to Haiti and loved it again. There will always be a piece of me in Haiti. 4 days after returning from Haiti I boarded a plane again and headed to Kenya for the rest of the school year. Those four days were full of goodbyes and last minute packing and it was just a crazy emotional experience. After landing in Kenya I spent the next 100 days doing things that I will never ever forget with a handful of the most wonderful people God has put in my life. I'm so thankful for that time in Africa and I will go back there at some point in my life.
Now as I enter into my final year at Trinity I could not be more excited to see what God has in store for me. A huge shout out to the people who have made college what it is so far and I can't wait to continue making memories with all of you wonderful people. God is so good and I couldn't be more thankful for all I have been through these past 3 years. Here's to the future y'all. Let's make this upcoming year absolutely amazing.
Semester 1: Fall, 2010.
My time at Trinity began about this time 3 years ago. I was rooming with my lifelong friend Ben and I couldn't be more thrilled to meet new people and start learning new things. I tried my best to get out there and meet as many people as I could. I spent many late nights goofing off and ditching 8am classes. I started lifting weights with my new friends and we laughed more about the dumbest things than I have ever done in my whole life. I spent so much time in the library not doing homework but just messing around, as this photo below so clearly demonstrates. My first semester of freshman year was probably the height of my spontaneous activities and provided way too many memories that I will keep forever.
Semester 2: Spring, 2011.
This semester brought about a bunches of changes in my life. My friend group shifted ever so slightly and I focused a tad bit more in school. My new additions to my friend group brought about more card games, movie marathons and Nonnas runs. The random late night adventures continued on and I made a ton more amazing memories with a bunch of hilariously fun people. I also grew spiritually. We started attending Trinity's worship night a ton more. Outcry on Thursday nights began to be one of the things each week that I looked forward to most. As the year drew to a close, I was saddened to hear about many of my friends transferring out to other schools but at the same time excited because many of my friends were staying and I couldn't wait to begin the next year living with a bunch of them in the bigger apartment dorms.
Semester 3: Fall, 2011
After a long summer away from my Trinity family, I was more than ready to return to this tiny school surrounded by houses in the middle of Palos Heights Illinois. We moved into a 6 person suite with 5 guys. I started working at the cafeteria at Trinity and along with having my hardest semester of classes yet, I was quite busy. Balancing work, homework, friends, family, and a girlfriend was difficult and some things suffered while others flourished. This semester was a transition from the crazy freshman Jake to the much more calm and mature me. My spiritual life grew and my friend group solidified. I also began preparing for a trip to Haiti in January, which would change my life forever.
Semester 4: Spring, 2012
Haiti. I don't need to say much else. That trip changed my perspective on almost everything. I loved every second of it. The people who live there are truly unbelievable. The people who came with me from Trinity was just as awesome and I know we all grew that week. After Haiti, we spent the rest of the semester scheming of ways to get back. Besides that however, many games of Dutch Blitz were played, my walk with God was strengthened and I just really grew to love college. I began to question my major and I really didn't understand where God was leading me. Right before summer began I heard about a semester to Kenya the following spring, so I filled out an application and turned it in and spent that summer waiting.
Semester 5: Fall, 2012
I had now past the halfway mark of college. Time was flying by. On the first Friday of the school year I received an email that I had been accepted to the semester in Kenya and I should start preparing for the time of my life that following spring. I was ecstatic. As I prepared for this adventure I continued along in my business classes and I was a student manager at the cafeteria. I also managed to have a great time with friends that I now considered very close. I also signed up to go back to Haiti in January. The fall semester was a time of preparation for fun things to come.
Semester 6: Spring, 2013
The spring semester of my junior year was probably the craziest 4 months of my entire life. I started right away in January with a return visit to Haiti and loved it again. There will always be a piece of me in Haiti. 4 days after returning from Haiti I boarded a plane again and headed to Kenya for the rest of the school year. Those four days were full of goodbyes and last minute packing and it was just a crazy emotional experience. After landing in Kenya I spent the next 100 days doing things that I will never ever forget with a handful of the most wonderful people God has put in my life. I'm so thankful for that time in Africa and I will go back there at some point in my life.
Now as I enter into my final year at Trinity I could not be more excited to see what God has in store for me. A huge shout out to the people who have made college what it is so far and I can't wait to continue making memories with all of you wonderful people. God is so good and I couldn't be more thankful for all I have been through these past 3 years. Here's to the future y'all. Let's make this upcoming year absolutely amazing.
Monday 5 August 2013
What is really going on here?
Ahhh it's been a while, but here I am, back at it.
I'm sure I don't need to point this out, but it is now the month of August. Nobody really said this was okay, but there's literally nothing we can do to stop this, the new school year is on our doorstep. But wait, now I need to add a new word to this, it's not only the new school year, it's the LAST school year.
Crap. Cue anxious thoughts. I hate thinking about the future, the unknown is such a terrifying blessing in it's own way though. Since I cannot predict my own future, I find myself leaning much more heavily on God. This won't make every scared thought go away but it gives a sense of peace into a situation where if I didn't have God, I would be tweaking out in all sorts of ways.
So what has been happening since the middle of July?
I am still working on a project for a ministry in Ukraine. It's made me realize how absolutely spacey I can be when I have to sit down and focus but it's been such a great experience understanding this ministry and everything they try to do for the community of Rivne.
I also work full time at the Trinity cafeteria. I love my coworkers and I get free meals so honestly it's been such a blessing to be able to work there. It's one of those blessings you don't realize until you look back.
Recently I've had two minor setbacks in life that are just straight frustrations. Turns out I've had a parasite living inside of me probably since I got back from Africa. So I'm on medication for that now and I hate popping pills, but hopefully this does the trick. I do not want some random bug chomping on my stomach or whatever parasites do. Setback number two is that my laptop crashed and solving this issue involves more than just buying a new computer (which is a burden on its own) but it also means replacing music, files, settings etc. Life tip, get an external hard drive, it just might make your life easier.
I saw Icona Pop and Imagine Dragons last week. I tell you what, if you're looking for some bands to see, those two should hit the top of your list. Stellar stage performance mixed with amazing musical talent combined for a spectacular show that had me moving the whole time.
Camping with the relatives this past weekend was a blast as normal. We are a crazy bunch and I can always count on them for plenty of laughs and card games.
We moved into our house for the 2013-2014 school year on August 1. It has been quite a hectic past few days but everything is falling into place and I cannot wait to see what happens in that house that has so much character to it already. Huge shoutout to Andrew, Calob, Colin and Ryan for the cleaning and work that they have done to make that place awesome. Can't wait for the rest of the goons to start moving in.
Something that I talked with my parents with for a while recently is being content with life where it's at now. Everything that is going on now is happening for a reason and when you look back on today you will see so clearly why God had each moment occur. At our age we do not need to know how to do everything that will come across our paths each day, instead we just need to have an open mind and be able to learn every new skill that we can to fully equip ourselves to further the kingdom of God.
My wonderful friend Jess Wiltjer tweeted a while ago, "Be you and be ok with it." True that.
Music choices for the week:
Imagine Dragons: Hear me, On top of the world, Underdog
Armin Van Buren: This is what it feels like
Lorde: Royals, Tennis Courts
Bastille: Pompeii
DJ Earworm: Summer mashup 2013
Trapdoor Social: Away
I'm sure I don't need to point this out, but it is now the month of August. Nobody really said this was okay, but there's literally nothing we can do to stop this, the new school year is on our doorstep. But wait, now I need to add a new word to this, it's not only the new school year, it's the LAST school year.
Crap. Cue anxious thoughts. I hate thinking about the future, the unknown is such a terrifying blessing in it's own way though. Since I cannot predict my own future, I find myself leaning much more heavily on God. This won't make every scared thought go away but it gives a sense of peace into a situation where if I didn't have God, I would be tweaking out in all sorts of ways.
So what has been happening since the middle of July?
I am still working on a project for a ministry in Ukraine. It's made me realize how absolutely spacey I can be when I have to sit down and focus but it's been such a great experience understanding this ministry and everything they try to do for the community of Rivne.
I also work full time at the Trinity cafeteria. I love my coworkers and I get free meals so honestly it's been such a blessing to be able to work there. It's one of those blessings you don't realize until you look back.
Recently I've had two minor setbacks in life that are just straight frustrations. Turns out I've had a parasite living inside of me probably since I got back from Africa. So I'm on medication for that now and I hate popping pills, but hopefully this does the trick. I do not want some random bug chomping on my stomach or whatever parasites do. Setback number two is that my laptop crashed and solving this issue involves more than just buying a new computer (which is a burden on its own) but it also means replacing music, files, settings etc. Life tip, get an external hard drive, it just might make your life easier.
I saw Icona Pop and Imagine Dragons last week. I tell you what, if you're looking for some bands to see, those two should hit the top of your list. Stellar stage performance mixed with amazing musical talent combined for a spectacular show that had me moving the whole time.
Camping with the relatives this past weekend was a blast as normal. We are a crazy bunch and I can always count on them for plenty of laughs and card games.
We moved into our house for the 2013-2014 school year on August 1. It has been quite a hectic past few days but everything is falling into place and I cannot wait to see what happens in that house that has so much character to it already. Huge shoutout to Andrew, Calob, Colin and Ryan for the cleaning and work that they have done to make that place awesome. Can't wait for the rest of the goons to start moving in.
Something that I talked with my parents with for a while recently is being content with life where it's at now. Everything that is going on now is happening for a reason and when you look back on today you will see so clearly why God had each moment occur. At our age we do not need to know how to do everything that will come across our paths each day, instead we just need to have an open mind and be able to learn every new skill that we can to fully equip ourselves to further the kingdom of God.
My wonderful friend Jess Wiltjer tweeted a while ago, "Be you and be ok with it." True that.
Music choices for the week:
Imagine Dragons: Hear me, On top of the world, Underdog
Armin Van Buren: This is what it feels like
Lorde: Royals, Tennis Courts
Bastille: Pompeii
DJ Earworm: Summer mashup 2013
Trapdoor Social: Away
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