"Most of us, swimming against the tides of trouble the world knows nothing about, need only a bit of praise or encouragement - and we will make the goal." [Robert Collier]

My great encouragers 

Dear Dad- We miss you a lot. A lot a lot. But we always have each other, and thanks to you we will cling to that. Dear Highlighters- Thank you for making my planner look snazzy and organized. Also, you make homework, studying, and note-taking wayyy more entertaining. Dear Sunshine- Thank you for coming out today and lighting up snack time and my hike across the bridge, and allowing me to wear just my pumas and a north face. 


P.S. Sometimes I spill toothpaste on my shirt and forget to change. Sometimes I realize almost too late that important paperwork is due. Sometimes people in the financial aid office look at me like I'm dumb. Sometimes I get 6 hours of sleep and cry 7 times because I'm overtired and overwhelmed. Life is crazy. I have the story of the prodigal son. I have 5 beautiful friends who pray for and encourage me on Tuesday nights. I have a sister, a twin, and a best friend who understands me more than anyone, even though I speak fashion and she speaks athletics. I have D-Man, who makes 11:00 caf runs with me, who is open and honest, and who I know I can trust. I have Katarina, Meghan, Katie, and Bitty, and even if I only see them for a split second in a day, I know that they love me. I have Garrett and Jamie, who light up my day when I glance at the background of my laptop or cell phone. I have my mother, who I can call 4 times in one morning, and will keep picking up, despite her crazy work load. I have love, and it's enough. 

"Nothing in all the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity." [Martin Luther King, Jr.]

Dear Dad- I remember last year around this time I was having an intense battle in my mind about whether to go to Eau Claire or U of M. Finally one night at dinner, I told you to just pick one. You picked Eau Claire. Even though that just played a small role in my decision, thank you for knowing me so well. Dear Friday Night- After three hours of some pretty hardcore cleaning, I was ready for a night off. Hockey, talking and eating pretzels and maple candy, and a late night in the kitchen all made for the perfect mix of crazy and chill. Dear Weekend Brunch- It is going to take me a while to build back up to where I was last semester. Today I had eggs, yogurt, a grapefruit, and a piece of french toast. That's a cup of coffee, an english muffin, and a donut short of my usual.


P.S. I realized yesterday how much I hate ignorance. Sure, the ignorance of others is annoying, irritating, and occasionally inconvenient, but it's my own ignorance that bothers me so much. I understand that I am still young, and I have a lot of growing and learning to do, but I just want to know everything. Nothing upsets me more than being completely ignorant about certain topics or situations. This year alone I have learned significantly more about hockey, the military, politics, and obviously college. I love that I am more knowledgable about these topics, but I want to know even more, and continue to learn about other topics and situations that I know nothing about. Some say that ignorance is bliss, and although on the surface this may seem true, I have a hard time agreeing. Ignorance just means that the truth will soon be discovered, and while being in the dark was more comfortable, it was also a lie. So it is my wholehearted belief that ignorance is something to be avoided and I will continue to make an effort to know and learn as much as I possibly can.

"Love is all we have, the only way that each can help the other." [Euripides]

T-Minus 20 hours until I get to see this chica!

Dear Dad- Thank you for teaching me the truth about life. Hard work and determination can get me far, but without love, it is all empty and meaningless. I love you. Dear Lara- I am so extremely excited for you to come tomorrow! Partially because I will have a ride to Target, but mostly because I just want to see your beautiful face. I can't wait to show you campus and all of the stellar things you have to look forward to when you come here. I think we will have a fresh snowfall, so you can appreciate that beauty as well. Dear Ice Bath- I can't feel my toes. This had better darn well work, that's all I have to say. 


P.S. "Tis better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all." I'm not refuting it. I'm not claiming it. But here is an interesting article about Tennyson's famous words. 

A Day in Milwaukee

Yesterday I had the amazing opportunity to head down to Milwaukee with three of my best friends and explore the city. 

We visited the Milwaukee Art Museum, where we met up with a few of Jamie's friends that she goes to school with at UWM. 

When we were going through the museum, I was able to correctly identify a few pieces of artwork, the artist, and the meaning behind the work from the art class I took this semester.  I was surprised that I actually retained some of what I learned from that class, and it was so cool to be able to apply it to real life. 


At noon we headed outside to see the wings move, and took many pictures while waiting. 

All of us walked over to the Safe House where we were planning to get some food before parting ways, but it turned out to be closed until later that night. Jamie said good bye to her friends and the four of us walked back to our car to eat the food we'd packed. 


Then we spent some time shopping at Trader Joe's, getting my very first fro-yo, and sampling loads of food at Whole Foods. 


We finally headed over to the Safe House, where we had dinner. It was a really cool restaurant, as it is spy-themed, and it was the first time I'd ever heard someone say "the food came to our table too fast!" 

After dinner we got back into the car, listened to some jams, and drove back to Appleton. 

"The ache for home lives in all of us, the safe place where we can go as we are and not be questioned." [Maya Angelou]

I am missing my home in Eau Claire quite a bit today. Governors, the buildings, the bridge, and mostly the people there. 

I love the variety of Wisconsin seasons.

Dear Dad- Sometimes I wish you were here just so I had someone I could discuss my opinions on politics with who was patient, understanding, and helpful. I have so many ideas and no person I can bounce them off of like I did with you. Dear World Market- I love exploring your aisles, finding interesting foods and goods. Plus I have a slight addiction to your maple candies, and at $1 apiece, why not buy 6? Hopefully I don't end up like this. Dear To Do List- I think I may have been a little ambitious when I made you, and now you're a bit overwhelming. Things I was supposed to do today: renew my license, clean my room, find a summer job, go to the post office, do laundry, clean the bathroom, & rent textbooks. Things I actually did today: watch yesterday's Colbert Report, make french toast, and consume an abnormal amount of maple candy. 


Happy 100th Blog Post! A big thank you to all of my regular readers, I wouldn't have made it without you! What has been your favorite post thus far? Mine would have to be thanking my teachers, my best week ever, or what I've learned. 

The Blue Room

The voices, the sound of my uncle playing guitar, the sounds of the ping pong table, float in and tickle my ear, and soothe me as I lie here
This has been my spot since I can remember
The narrow strip at the foot of the twin bed in the blue room
Lying here floods my mind with memories


The year when my cousin Katessa was small enough to sleep in the closet
The year I forgot my blankie and had to use one of my grandfather's handkerchiefs so I could fall asleep
The year when we sat in a circle in the middle of the room, playing bop-it
The year we played truth or dare, and giggled not just as cousins, but as friends, as we placed that embarrassing book in the hallway


Katie, the oldest gets the bed
There are years when life has called her elsewhere, and yet, the bed remains vacant, waiting
And there was last year, when I stayed awake for hours talking to Emily about all of the anxieties of the year ahead
And here I am once again
Katessa will soon be going to bed, this year not in the closet
Katie is here this year, soon to be picked up from the airport, on a plane from California


In the morning, the sun streams through the blinds on the window above my head, 
The one that is framed in unfinished trim
I awake to the sound of my cousin's child screaming gleefully as she runs down the hall 
I  hear those voices which I can never really distinguish; is that my mother, or is that her sister?
Curiosity and hunger will soon drag me out of my sleeping bag, and I will go to the kitchen, hunting for bagels and juice and coffee

“The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.” [Eleanor Roosevelt]

Happy 2012 Everyone!


I can't believe how quickly this new year came. I feel unprepared in a way, like staring fresh is almost an overwhelming prospect. I stare at my room and all I see is chaos and disarray. I think of my dorm and how full it is, and how I can't create order there because I'm here. I think of my relationships and how messy those have become, trying to balance friends from high school with friends from college and at the same time still corresponding with those long-distance friends I've always tried to keep a priority. I see my bible, untouched for almost a week now, and my journal, rarely written in. And those new running shorts lying over there by my shoes? They still have the tags on them. So I will do this. I will make goals. I do need to cut myself some slack, I've had 6 solid days of holiday celebrations, not to mention 4 days of the flu, so I haven't had much time to just pick my life up and put it in order. But I do think it is important to make goals to bring in the new year. 


My 2012 Goals (adapted from here)


Spiritual - Read my bible at least 5x/week
Mental - Read 10 books. I barely read in 2011, and although 10 books seems minimal, it will be quite a step up from the 6 I read in 2011, 4 of which were for school. 
Relational - This was the hardest one to think of a measurable goal. I know that I want more intentional/meaningful conversations in my relationships, and I think there are two important things that need to happen in order to accomplish this. 1. I need to be open and willing to share if I expect others to share. 2. I need to listen. I struggle with this so much, but I need to really focus on the person and conversation at hand and truly listen to that person and tune in to them. 
Physical - Run a 5K and finish it. I am running one in March and I suppose if I don't accomplish my goal I will have to try again!
Professional - Get a job this summer that fulfills the following: 1. Is not lifeguarding at the YMCA 2. Allows me to travel for at least 1 week.
Financial - Stick to my weekly budget and begin saving for a camera.