Reflecting back on 2009

As I reflect back on the year 2009, there are many great memories that I hope to never forget. There are also many unhappy memories that I never want to remember. Like all years, 2009 had its ups and downs. But God picked me up when I was down and things have never looked better! As I head into 2010, I just pray that God will continue to transform me. This year I plan on being patient and waiting to see what God has in store for me. It's not all about me, it's about Him. I look forward to many fun memories with my friends! I look forward to growing closer with my family, friends and God. I just have this feeling that 2010 is going to be a GREAT year!

Here are some things I don't want to forget about 2009:

• Celebrating birthdays with all of my HU girls
• Spring Break and our great group of people
• Going to Florida to surprise my mom over Easter break
• Flying Kellyn's Barbie kite down the mall
• Visiting Bradie for her 21st birthday
• Pong and Peel nights in the summer
• Annual Cubs games in the summer
• When most of my HU girls game to visit me for my birthday
• OG nights with some of my favorite girls
• Going to the lake with Steph, Jordan and Ben
• The Stance and Hoe Down
• Davis Hall Follies-Kellyn and Adam were so funny!
• Olympiad! The pink team won and Bradie and I got 1st place in our three-legged swim haha!
• Going to Nashville with Steph, Ben and Alex to visit Jordan! One of the best weekends of my LIFE!
• Midnight showing of New Moon with the roomies and Michelle
• Toby Mac concert at HU
• Spending 4 weeks in Mrs. Schroeder's second grade class
• Hanging out with all my friends on Christmas break!

HAPPY NEW YEARS EVERYONE!!!!

Home for the Holidays

I have been slacking with my blogging, but my break has been wonderful so far!! It has been so relaxing! I came home to my dog who is now HUGE!! She follows me around everywhere and even waits outside the bathroom door until I am out of the shower. She is so sweet, but she is crazy because she is still a puppy.

I was able to substitute teach twice when I was home and that was a lot of fun! I was in first grade and sixth grade PE. Plus I was really excited to earn some extra money! I've been spending some quality time with my family and of course hanging out with all my friends! The boys are still crazy and fun like always! It was really nice to catch up with the girls too!

My Christmas with my family was very relaxing. We stayed home all day and it was so nice! My parents got a garmin, a new camera and a gift card to the Buckle! I used my gift card today while shopping in Fort Wayne with my parents! I got three new cute shirts!

We already had Christmas on my mom's side of the family, but we have yet to have the Cripe Christmas. That is taking place on January 2nd and I can't wait. I am really excited for New Year's Eve as well! There are 12 of us who are going to the Emporium for dinner and my dad is taking us in one of the Turtle Top buses. It was going to be a party limo bus, but that is not available anymore. We are dressing up, so naturally I bought a new cute cocktail dress! Then we are going back to Jordan's to hang out and spend the night. I cannot wait!! I just love being at home and I don't want to go back to school on the 4th. I hope you all are having a wonderful Christmas break [if you're on break]!!

Great Reminder

My dear friend Lisa sent this passage to me and I absolutely love it! It is a great reminder for me to focus on my relationship with God and the rest will fall into place. It's by my desk and I read it everyday. I hope it brings some encouragement to your life.


Everyone longs to give themselves completely to someone,
To have a deep soul relationship with another,
To be loved thoroughly and exclusively.
But God, to a Christian, says,
"No, not until you are satisfied, fulfilled and content
With being loved by Me alone,
With giving yourself totally and unreservedly to Me,
With having an intensely personal and unique relationship
With Me alone.
Discovering that only in Me is your satisfaction to be found,
Will you be capable of the perfect human relationship
That I have planned for you.
You will never be united with another until you are united
With Me alone,
Exclusive of anyone or anything else,
Exclusive of any other desires or longings.

I want you to stop planning,
Stop wishing,
And allow Me to give you the most thrilling plan existing,
One that you cannot imagine.
Please allow Me to bring it to you.
You just keep watching Me, expecting the greatest things.
Keep experiencing the satisfaction that I Am.
Keep listening and learning the things I tell you.
You just wait.
That's all.
Don't be anxious.
Don't worry.
Don't look at the things you think you want;
You just keep looking off and away up to Me,
Or you'll miss what I want to show you.
And then when you are ready,
I'll surprise you with a love far more wonderful than any
You could dream of.
You see, until you are ready and until
The one I have for you is ready
(I am working even at this moment to have you both ready at the same time),
Until you are both satisfied exclusively with Me
And the life I prepared for you,
You won't be able to experience the love that
Exemplified your relationship with Me.
And this is the perfect love.

And dear one, I want you to have this most wonderful love,
I want you to see in the flesh a picture of your
Relationship with Me,
And to enjoy materially and concretely
The everlasting union of beauty, perfection and love
That I offer you with Myself.
Know that I love utterly.
I Am God.
Believe it and be satisfied.

~ St. Anthony of Padua

End of the Semester

I am finally done with classes and it is such a great feeling!! I finished all my reflections and papers for my junior block field experience and I only have two finals left. Here is a picture of Mrs. Schroeder's second grade class and I on my last day with them. I fell in love with these kids. I had no idea that I would like teaching students that were this young, but I loved it! They made me a precious book with letters from each of them. I love it! I learned so much being in their class for 4 weeks and I am so pumped to be a teacher now!

This weekend my apartment mates and I decided to have a cookie decorating party. We had a pretty good turn out and I had a lot of fun. Emily played guitar for a while and some of us played Mario Kart. We still have a lot of cookies left over, so feel free to come over and get some!

Lately I've been praying a lot and God has really been doing a work on my heart. I've been struggling with understand what God's plan for me is, but he is teaching me how to be persistent in seeking Him and to be patient while waiting on Him. It's hard but I am making it through. I recently dove into 1 Peter and I got a lot out of it. I would encourage all of you to read it! Here are some of the verses that I think God specifically wanted me to read. I love it when God speaks to me.

• 1 Peter 1:22 Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for your brothers, love one another deeply.
• 1 Peter 3:3 Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight.
• 1 Peter 3:8 Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble.
• 1 Peter 4: 7-10 The end of all things is near. Therefore be clear minded and self-controlled so that you can pray. Above all, love each other deeply , because love covers over a multitude of sins. Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various form.
  

I have one exam on Tuesday and one on Thursday...I cannot wait to be home!! Good luck to all who are studying for finals!!

Sorry it's been so long

I have been slacking when it comes to blogging. I have been very busy with my junior block field experience and I have another crazy week ahead of me. But I promise that when I need a homework break this week, I will write a very insightful post. I am loving being in the second grade class that I'm in. I love the students and I love being able to teach. My professor came to observe my lesson today and it went very well!! I was so relieved!!

Here's what I've been up to lately:

Toby Mac came to HU!!

Going out for Emily's 21st birthday a week early, since we won't all be 21 on her actual birthday

I finished my reading bulletin board today!