"For some strange reason, no matter where I go, the place is always called 'here.'"[Ashleigh Brilliant]

I have been a horrible blogger lately, so here are 10 quick things on my mind tonight:


1. Sleep is the best medicine. Especially 9 hours a night and 2 hour naps.
2. I am freakishly excited for my future. But scared to death at the same time. I guess this is where trust in God and talking to trusted advisors really helps.
3. Writing a children's book is legitimately hard. Seriously.
4. I really want to write a blog post on oranges.
5. I realized I am becoming a health nut. This excites me. I am thinking about writing a personal journal/book with illustrations and recipes. It's going to be sort of awesome.
6. Any of these videos will make you laugh until you have to pee. They will also make you want to dance.
7. I will never stop missing my Appleton friends while I'm in Eau Claire and vice versa. I guess this is just a little part of growing up I don't exactly like. I love too hard, if that's possible.
8. I'm a little worried about my roommate coming back tonight. She really should've taken my pepper spray.
9. My life is semi-devoid of organization right now and it is making me absolutely crazy! I need to breathe, count my blessings, breathe, and remember the big picture.
10. I miss littles. I want to see them running around and hear their awesome ideas about the world and get their amazing little hugs. I just need kids in my life again, which really pumps me up for working this summer.

"Friendship is unnecessary, like philosophy, like art... It has no survival value; rather it is one of those things that give value to survival." [C. S. Lewis]

This weekend I was blessed enough to spend 4 nights and 3 wonderful days with Hannah and her friends in Iowa. It was an incredibly fun road trip and an even better weekend. This was my theme song for the drive, so feel free to take a listen while you peruse the photos. 

 

 Wisconsin

 Minnesota 

(or, the southern part of Minnesota that looks like Iowa, according to Alex)

 Small Town Iowa

 Iowa in a nutshell

 Orange City!

HERE!

With Hannah before the Sock Hop! She's pretty much straight out of the pink ladies. I'm just a typical Sandra Dee. 

The group: Bri, Abbi, Alex, Joel, Katrina, Hannah, Katie, Rachel, Becca

Our last night together! I love these four so much. 

On the way home, too nice not to roll down the windows and blast the 

country music on the backroads. 

I jokingly told Joel, Hannah, Alex, and Katie that I was going to write a farewell speech, but I actually ended up doing it (I'm such a nerd) and presenting the horribly cheesy dialogue that night. Joel gave it 103%, I don't know if it deserves that, but it certainly sums up the weekend.

________________________________________________________________________ 

"This weekend was, my friends(and I can confidently call you my friends), a weekend I will always remember. I came to reconnect with Hannah, but I ended up connecting with three other wonderful people. We spent almost every minute together, had crazy adventures, and laughed until we couldn't breathe. 

When I look back on this weekend, your four faces will come distinctly to mind. I think this is because just about the only time I was alone was in the bathroom or when I had run away, like at the sock hop. Within 5 minutes of my arrival in Orange City, I was already sitting on the futon with Alex and Katie, and the rest of the weekend wasn't much different. I honestly wouldn't have it any other way. 

This weekend was also filled with crazy adventures. Whether we were killing ourselves doing Zumba, or making our calves even more sore at the sock hop playing dance tag, every minute was an adventure. Trying to follow Dick around Souix city, braving the sketchy flea market, or trying to comprehend the disturbingly random Smokin' Aces. Joel may not remember some of the these adventures because he was off in the "real world" programming his precious Dwarf Fortress.

This was also a weekend of many firsts. This weekend was my first time in a dutch-obsessed town. This was my first time miscounting to 75, 3 times. Thanks to Hannah, this was also my first time eating Moo Shu, which I am very grateful she forced me to do. This also marked Joel's first time losing Wits and Wagers, as I snuck up and stole first from behind. We all tried 5 Guys for the first time and learned of their overabundance of fries. And no one can forget their first Gordman's experience, or at least we won't forget Joel's first Gordman's experience because he would not let it go. Probably the most memorable first of the weekend was my first time playing Splosion Man. I don't think I will ever lose the title of "Debbie" and I don't think I ever deserve to. 

I will never forget the absolute joy of dropping our college lives and returning to our childish ways, playing duck-duck-goose, zoo, and freeze tag. I will never forget Joel and Hannah BOTH picking Ke$ha in "this" game, and BOTH picking "When was the last time you picked your nose today?" for my truth in truth or dare. I will never stop expressing my hunger in taquitos, even if no one but us understands it. 

I won't forget Katie, our walking dictionary, lover of architecture, and best female splosion man player. I won't forget Alex, who single-handedly killed 4 people at movie scene-it, absolutely rocked the 50's look, and bonded with me over the fact that our legs hurt so badly we could barely sit on a toilet anymore. And although I have spent a good amount of this speech mocking Joel, I really do have a great deal of respect and admiration for him, and I feel so blessed that God put him in Hannah's life. (So if you ever screw it up, I'm coming after you.) And Hanners, my soul sister, I'm so glad I got to spend this weekend with you, our late-night chats in bed, bonding in the bathroom, and a few hours spent over caramel macchiatos and scones. 

I seriously loved every minute of being here. I felt welcome, loved, and at peace. I am sad to leave, but it just makes me that much more excited about coming back next year, and playing what will hopefully be, Ms. Splosion Man 2"

________________________________________________________________________

Thank you to all of those who made this weekend amazing. I love you and miss you all! With that, some Fun.

It's time to ketchup!

Hello world! I have been absent from blogging for almost two weeks, so my apologies for that! I thought this might be a prime time to catch up on life as I sit on the second floor of this cozy little coffee shop in Orange City, Iowa, my coffee on the table and my soul sister Hannah by my side. 

FRECs!

Sisters/twins! 

TWO ISH WEEKS AGO:
...Vague recollections of life. I think I probably worked some, went to class, and just went through life as usual. Enjoyed some nicer weather. 
...Katie officially got her RA position and we are officially FRECS! (Future Roomates of Eau Claire)


LAST WEEKEND:
...Rachel came to visit! We enjoyed a long weekend of each other's company, including thrifting, watching friends, going to Calvary, and going to my favorite restaurant, which is now her EC favorite as well. 
...Meeghan, Katie, Bitty and I ran our first 5k! It was 3.5 miles and it was crazy! It was great fun and although it was difficult at times, we ran the entire thing. Katie finished first and then came back so we could all finish holding hands as we'd planned. 


LAST WEEK: 
...Midterms pretty much consumed me. I had 4 tests in 3 days and I studied pretty hard for all of them. 
...The weather was AMAZING! Campus was constantly flooded with people, playing frisbee, slacklining, soaking up the sun, or just grilling out. I forced myself to put away my studying and just sit in the sun for a half hour on Wednesday, and it was so peaceful. 
...I finished up early so I could head out at 6 AM on Friday to my current location in Orange City, Iowa. 


I am very thankful midterms are over and I am so excited for the rest of the break from school ahead of me!  

"Softly the evening came. The sun from the western horizon, like a magician extended his golden wand o'er the landscape; twinkling vapors arose; and sky and water and forest, seemed all on fire at the touch, and melted and mingled together." [Henry Wadsworth Longfellow]

PrettyPrettyPretty! Such a wonderful 50 degree March day! 

Vegan Ramen! Best discovery EVER!

Dear Dad- I really missed you this weekend when I went home. Sometimes I still find myself thinking it's unfair that you're gone, but I must keep reminding myself of how blessed I am to have had a dad for 18 years. Dear Green Bean Worker- (I really must find out your first name.) Thank you for calling me dear, reminding me that it's "almost Friday" and giving me a discount on my vegan ramen because I'm sick. You are the definition of making the most out of life. Dear People at the Caf- Yes I realize that my face is beet red, I am sweaty, and I look ridiculous in these running tights with this shirt. But I ran four miles today, so I think I deserve a peanut butter english muffin and some chocolate milk. 


P.S. I find it interesting that we use our "labels" as excuses or as covers in life. Being a "college student" is a prime example. "It's okay that I get four hours of sleep a night...I'm a college student!" "I am going to drink until I puke...but it's fine, I'm in college!" (okay, maybe this one is more for freshmen) "I find it socially acceptable to fall asleep anywhere on campus, because I am a college student." (totally guilty of this one) "I can eat dessert for every meal, I'm in college!" (and we get all-access, so why not?) As humorous as this is, it also holds some scary truths. How often do we hide behind the socially acceptable "norms" of our labels and not live up to the standards that we could be reaching?

"So take heart, let His love lead us through the night, hold on to hope, and take courage again" [Hillsong United]

I miss sitting this close to you!

Dear Dad- You taught me that the correct way to eat Reese's Puffs is with chocolate milk. Your cooking skills rock. Dear Slush Storm- Thank you for making campus beautiful and allowing me to take out my minolta and get some winter shots. Also, thanks for canceling speech class, giving me an excuse to drink coffee, and letting me wear my awesome snow clunkers one last time. Dear Meghan- Even though Moses parted us like the red sea (clever, right?) that half hour before choir is still my favorite part of the day. I'm convinced that you are the best person to make salad analogies, eat gummy bunnies, and giggle with. 


P.S. Just as I don't look to be happy in life, but to find true unending joy in God, I look not to be flattered and admired from the outside, but to know that I am beautiful because I am a work of God's wonderful hands.