A Little Bit Lost, A Little Bit Found

Over the weekend airplanes have continued taking my friends away on amazing adventures.

Garrett went to Thailand to work in an orphanage. Jamie is traveling across Europe for 3 weeks. Jenna just left for a summer in Santa Cruz. Lexie and Hannah are both going to India to work with women who are trying to stay out of human trafficking. Here I am in Appleton, Wisconsin, wondering if I missed my calling. All of my friends are doing amazing things this summer, many of them are serving God through their travels. What am I doing still here? I prayed for months asking God what his plan was for me this summer, and all he revealed to me was that I had to stay here and work at the Y. I know that God can do big things without moving me from my hometown, but it is really teaching me to trust God, and to trust that he has a plan for me here. 

In the meantime, I'm making do with most of my friends gone. I am so thankful that God taught me to REVEL in solitude while I was at Cedar Campus. I've just been making the most of my time before I start having to be social. And by "making the most of my time" I mean I've showered once in five days. Score.

I've also had an awesome time hanging out with my mom, eating walnut burgers from harmony, making the most delicious pizza in the world, watching 90's movies, planting flowers, fixing our bikes, and drinking out of mason jars.

so crafty

Colors!

Power tools. I really shouldn't be trusted with these. 

Knobs!

 With all the time I have on my hands I've really been getting crafty. I tried some of the pinterest favorites, including t-shirt-into-a-tank-top (okay, I made 5) and making my very own paint-chip calendar. I am also currently taking my childhood cabinet, sanding it down, painting it, and screwing on some mismatched knobs to take to school in the fall. I'm pretty pumped to see how it will turn out. I also took the time to pick out the camera and running shoes (Lara helped me with these) I will be purchasing soon. I've been saving forever to get these, so I'm pretty excited.

So these are the things that are running through my mind and the things I am running around doing. It's been a pretty great start to the summer.

"Take pride in how far you have come, and have faith in how far you can go."

Sun > Studying

Dear Dad- Today I was thinking about naming one of my sons Christopher, after Christopher Robin in Winnie the Pooh. I will never forget climbing up into your bed night after night and having you read us The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh. Dear Studying- Between the nice weather, the last week with my friends, and this stupid cold, you really aren't happening. I'm just thankful I worked hard the rest of the semester so slacking off now won't be a big deal. Dear Motivation (Fitness motivation, that is)- My run kicked you into high gear last night. I have a renewed perspective on eating habits, successful workouts, and training for the half.


P.S. This year has taught me a lot. I think I'm ten times more introspective than I used to be and it is so exciting to see what I can accomplish when I believe in myself. When I think back on my freshman year, these words by David Viscott exemplify my outlook on life, "You must begin to think of yourself as the person you want to be." Freaking awesome. Over and out.

"If you're a bird, I'm a bird" [The Notebook]

Over the weekend I celebrated my last weekend of freshman year in style.

Because you are my favorite bro ever.

 And we only have 1 week left together before you ditch me for River Falls...

Blog Exclusive.

Friday
...Sam and I went on another run, because we are BEASTS!
...Sam, Skylar, Bitty, and I went to Chedd's and got some delicious food and hung out with our BFF Brad.
...Skylar, Bitty, Deaven and I spent the night in my room, watching Freaky Friday and playing circle of truth of three hours.
...Bitty and I fell asleep talking like sleepovers reminiscent of summers with my best friend.

Saturday
...After a late breakfast, I spent the morning beginning packing up my room. I like to call this a "Step In The Right Direction." I have been denying the end of the year, causing me much anxiety, but I'm starting to accept the change, which is pretty necessary considering I'm leaving for Cedar Campus in 6 days.
...Deaven, Bitty, Skylar, Sam, and I walked to Starbucks to celebrate happy hour... for the third time. As per tradition we went to Wendy's afterwards. We're healthy people, don't worry about it.
...Afterwards I spent some time sunning my shoulders while Bitty and Deaven played baseball.
...Deaven, Sam, and Skylar battled Bitty and I in Battle of the Sexes and unfortunately, Bitty and I lost. But I learned a lot about sports (ha. yeah right).
...I introduced Skylar to the wonderful world of Nicholas Sparks, starting with The Notebook last night.

Sunday
...I learned the difference between 12:00 am and 12:00 pm when I didn't wake up to my alarm and slept in until 12:30.
...We went to the LLC picnic and chowed down on veggie burgers and played some sand volleyball.
...Sam and I kicked another run in the butt, because we are CHAMPIONS!
...I of course called my lovely mother to tell her how amazingly wonderful she is and how much I appreciate her.
...Bitty and I ate dinner, watched the same movie my parents watched on their first date, wrote letters, and made these delicious treats.
...Three intense games of capture the flag made for a stellar end of the weekend. Tomorrow brings hours of studying in the library, so I'm glad I got to wrap up the year so well.

"I know you don't believe it, but I said it and I still mean it, when you heard what I told you, when you get worried I'll be your soldier." [Gavin DeGraw]

I haven't been blogging much lately. I don't know how I feel about this yet. Part of me feels like I'm losing a sense or a piece of my identity. Another part of me just feels like I'm really immersed in the busyness of life, meaning I don't have as much time to blog. Anyway...


Over the weekend, I was on cloud nine.

Bitty's birthday cupcakes!

Bitty and Katie at Lovestock

Meghan, Bitty, Katie

Water Street Brass Band playing my favorite song. 

Bros. Sam and Skylar after the show.

Bitty got Sam's autograph. It was a pretty big deal.

Surprising Bitty at Chedd's. Happy Birthday 2 months early!

One of my favorite photos that I got developed.

Sam went mudsliding and needed to take a picture with Meghan and I. 

I thought the circumstance called for a duck face. 

Friday
...I spent the morning baking cupcakes for Bitty's party later that night.
...Meghan, Bitty, Katie, and I went to Lovestock to watch Sam and Skylar in their band, Water Street Brass Band, and eat cotton candy. It was an incredibly good time.
...The four of us plus Skylar crammed into Meghan's car and went to Starbucks for Frappuccino happy hour .
...After playing cards in the lobby it was time to enact the plan for Bitty's surprise party.
...We blindfolded her and drove her to Chedd's, where we had delicious gormet grilled cheeses and cupcakes.
...We attempted to sneak into the Plaza to swim, but the intense security soon drove us out.
...We spent the remainder of the night in Katie's room, making prank calls and finishing our Chedd's.


Saturday
...Bitty, Katie, and I woke up early to walk to farmer's market, which was seriously lacking in produce due to the earliness of the season. We ended up going to Acoustic for breakfast and coffee afterwards.
...I biked to Walgreens to develop some film (see above).
...Bitty, Katie, Skylar, Sam, Matt, and I all took the bus for a much needed Target and mall run.
...The remainder of the night was spent with Skylar, playing nertz and watching the best romantic comedy ever.
...Also sometimes Sam interrupted us looking like a warrior/swamp creature.


Sunday
...After breakfast, Bitty, Meghan and I watched Willy Wonka on TV. Such a classic.
...Typical work, hall council, and a caf run rounded out my Sunday, finished up with laughs in Meghan's room with Brian, Deaven, Meghan, and Bitty.