On thankfulness.

Sorry for my absence on here. I have been so busy over the last week that I just haven't had the time to even think, it feels! Plus, I think that I have had a little bit of blog-writer's block. And okay, also, I got a twitter (As I posted last time) and I'm going to be honest, it kind of took over my life these past few days. I had no idea what to write about on here in the midst of busy days with school, working both my jobs, and trying to get organized for Thanksgiving. OH! And going out of town to Iowa to watch the Royals defeat Wartburg in the first round of playoffs last weekend! WOO HOO!!

But anyways. I was reading one of my favorite blogs today and was totally inspired to write about something that I am extremely thankful for. And you might think its silly, I think its special and awesome and amazing. This post is going to be

All

About

MOSES!

My dog!

Going back to said favorite blog... I read this quote which I believe to be totally true:
"Dogs are such wonderful animals and are basically magic wands of happiness"

How could this not make you happy?


Our family has had Moses for over two years now. He's an adorable spunky but loving lab and I just can't express how much I love this dog. Moses is such an obey-er. He loves to please his family members by being obedient and does a pretty darn good job of it. He is playful and SO CUTE and he brings me so much joy!! I love him.


Mo's REAL parents belong to two family friends of ours who happen to be neighbors. His brother also happens to be the dog of one of my good friends at Bethel, so its fun to have connections. One thing that I love is that Dust was around to see us get our adorable new puppy two years ago.

The thing I love is that the day after we got Mo, Dust and I started dating! So that holds special memory for obvious reasons. Moses is such a great companion. He makes a great pillow, is always good for some love, and never lets me down.
It is kind of crazy to think that a simple animal could make such a difference to somebody, but dogs really do that! They are so intuitive into human feelings. Its kind of crazy, I think. Remember the post I wrote about the night I broke down over how much I missed Dust? Moses put his paw right up on my leg as I was in tears, and it was like he just knew. I love that about dogs! They just love you, no matter what.

Here's another thing. You can't know my dad without knowing how much he adores this dog. He doesn't go a day without saying "That dog loves me!" or "I really love Mo." That dog does everything with my dad. He follows him while he mows the lawn. They run miles to Bethel together (without a leash, obedience remember?). They snuggle together at night while watching ESPN. Wanna know a secret? I think Moses has been a remedy to my dad since my sister and I are both away at college. Granted, he still has my brother, but they both have kind of adopted Mo as another member of the family and he does a pretty awesome job at keeping them happy with my sister and I not living at home right now. Don't tell my dad I said that :) He might be too tough to admit it.

I'm thankful for MO, in the spirit of Thanksgiving. Of course I'm thankful for a host of other things, but I have read recently about dogs that have passed away, or dogs that have become new members of the family, and I think that its pretty cool to see just how special those little pets can be. They are the best.


Do any of you have dogs or other pets that have made your life happy? If so, feel free to chat with me because I am a sucker for a great dog story!

I LOVE MO!

Just for fun, check out how hilarious and hysterical my dog can be below...

Wednesday... what's on your mind?

Here is what I've been thinking about on this Wednesday:

-Harry Potter 7 part 1.... in 36 hours.

-This song:

-Twitter-ing (@casleimil, just made it and struggling to sum up my thoughts in 140 characters)

-Visiting Dustin Wade Wahl exactly one month from tomorrow!!!

-Greek Civ term paper is due on Monday and I can't quite think of 12 pages worth of material on the Plague of Athens... suggestions?

-Thanksgiving Break starts a week from today... THANK GOODNESS for the extra day off this year.

-Not quite sure what to think of being completely done with classes forever in less than a month.......

-Snow must melt, I can't take this weather this early in the year.

-But I do love the holidays, and as long as I've mentioned one song already, here is my favorite Xmas song on the radio every year:

-I need a nap.

-I secretly snapped the best picture ever taken


Teeeheehee.

Cuteness.

I have spent the last few days "off" from writing here because of my busy weekend and (guess) being sick. Again.

Before I get into what "cuteness" was today, I have to show you a picture from my weekend:


THAT would be the Bethel football field on Saturday afternoon. Completely covered with snow, aside from the lines that mark the downs. It was the craziest game, but one- we won! And two- we are going to the playoffs! This weekend in Iowa. My family is pretty excited, especially my dad. I just can't imagine playing in that kind of weather, ever. But the Royals pulled it off and played a GREAT game.

So tonight I had work at Pres Homes. I can't remember if I have talked about this couple before, but there is a married couple who live in the building I work at that are just SO in love. It's actually super cute, they are in their mid-90's (!!) and have been married for over 60 years. I know that they lived in Philadelphia for several years, and they both have very proper, east coast accents. They are adorable. I wish I had a picture. The husband is so tall and the wife is just a shrimp. And like I said, they are in their mid-90's and so they always stroll into the dining room with their walkers. Well anyways, tonight I walked up to them to ask them how things were going and Dick (husband) looks at Miriam (wife) then looks at me and says,

"My wife absolutely fascinates me."
Now first thing I think is, that is absolutely adorable. But then I think... what could possibly be fascinating about a 93 year old woman?

We chatted a bit more and Dick continues: "I've been married to her over 60 years and she still manages to keep me completely interested. She is unbelievable, fabulous. The poet Emily Dickinson once said, 'When the soul selects, it shuts the door' and that is what's happened with me. The moment I laid eyes on her so many years ago, I knew she was the one. And she still manages to fascinate me!"

I hope that my husband can say that about me when I'm 93, wrinkly, probably a little chubby, and out of it. Because really, is that not true love right there? Being old and not quite the same as you once were at your youngest, and yet, your husband still finds you absolutely fascinating? :)

That was my cute story for the day. I love old people! Just love 'em.

Here is my last story of the day that I think is cute, but you probably won't. I gotta try to get through it without tearing up a bit... Today, I popped a ZIT on my baby brother's forehead.

Beau's first zit. Can you believe it? The real tragedy here is that his voice is unrecognizable these days. I can't hardly believe Beau is going through puberty.

Love you Beau :) I told him I would give him a blog shout out. Once he reads this he's probably going to be sorry he even asked.

Yayyy for Friday and for LIFE!!

This has just been the BEST week.

I met with a man named Bill this morning for coffee to interview him about a television program he hosted in the 1950's. His information is EXTREMELY useful/helpful for my senior sem paper. I am so excited about this paper, guys! I know it might make me sound a bit dorky but I am really pumped about the information and sources that I have and I really hope it reflects on all the hard work I've been doing this semester. I never thought that the connections you establish could lead you to having a conversation with one of the earliest TV show hosts in the state. Crazy!

That kind of set the tone for my whole day. I got a lot done at work because I happen to have another big paper due next Friday that I hadn't started yet. Good research. Then I received probably the best news of my whole day!

I'm student teaching at Mahtomedi High School next semester! Not just Dusty's old school... but a really good district to have experience. I have been praying pretty much all of college that I would be placed where God wants me to be. I have faith that this will be a great experience for me! Even better is that my friend Jana, also the same major as me, is student teaching at Mahtomedi as well, so we will have the option to carpool. In other words, we have the option to save gas!

The last great thing about my school day: My professor pushed back my next big paper from Friday to Monday!!!!! BEST NEWS EVER!! Especially when you are in the midst of trying to finish a good 25 pages :)

I am so thankful for the way things have turned out this week. It has been so encouraging to have things open up for me.

I've been reading around and it sounds like everyone is up to some fun stuff. It helps to know that it is finally acceptable to listen to Christmas music... has anyone turned on 102.9 yet?!

Happy Friday and Happy Weekend, everyone!

Blessed.

Who knew that Wednesday would bring so much JOY to my life!!!!

1. I am officially graduating in the Spring of 2011 with my two majors as planned! My advisor just took a half hour of his time to help me fulfill requirements I was missing for my history major. I am so so so glad and THANKFUL that this worked out.

2. My grandma called me today to tell me some awesome news.... January 14 thru the 22nd I will be cruising the Hawaiian Islands with Grandma Bev, my mom and my brother!!

3. I am so excited that this is coming together. I am hoping by today or tomorrow to book a flight to Florida to visit Dusty again from December 18 thru the 23rd. We had no idea that this would work out but over the last few days, things have just kind of fallen into place to make this a reality. I didn't think I was going to see him until Christmas or later, and even then it would have been a VERY short visit.

4. I managed to crank out fifteen pages of my senior sem paper that is due next Monday... Me, the procrastinator that I am! Only ten more to go and I am DONE!...... With my first draft :) Even still, a good feeling to have that under my belt.

5. My cough is mostly gone, again! Thank the Lord!

I have been feeling so down lately for a variety of reasons, and then things start to fall in to place and it makes me realize that I am really blessed. I have so much to be thankful for that I really don't deserve. Knowing that I am officially graduating is such a huge relief, and I have a lot of great stuff to look forward to coming up in the next couple of months here. Thank you to those who have been praying for me these last few days. You have NO idea how much it means to me! And thanks-BIG THANKS- to God, right? He somehow always manages to pull through. I prayed all weekend that he would keep me focused this week to get stuff done and what do you know... I somehow come up with fifteen pages.

Life is good.

Saturday and Sunday.

Hello Hello everybody.

Well, it's back. The cough. I'm laying in bed hacking away wondering what I did to deserve a round two. I'm frustrated, to say the least, that this annoying little bug (or whatever it is) has crept back into my life almost more quickly than before.

Regardless of my cough, it was a good weekend.
Friday night I got my hair colored. I realized sitting in the chair at the salon that I almost always end up getting my hair done on Friday evenings and for some reason, I find that to be kind of silly. Maybe it's because I'm always sitting in the chair, foiled up, texting all friends to find out what it is that I'm missing out on. But, whatever. I don't want to take a risk of sounding too glitzy here, but hair appointments are kind of "my" time that I really look forward to. I go to a place in Uptown and kind of have developed a routine for whenever I get a hair cut.. or color.. or whatever. I leave an hour and a half early because I know I'll run into traffic. I never HAVEN'T run into traffic going on 94 towards Hennepin. I usually get to my salon way too early and therefore, I shop. I get a coffee. I people watch. In case you didn't know, Uptown is host to a whole different crowd of people. For instance, the other night, as I was waiting to cross the street right by Chino Latino, two kids (both couldn't have been older than 15) motioned to hand me a flyer for palm reading nearby. I obviously turned it down, but was curious as to why two teenagers would be handing that stuff out on a Friday afternoon?? Beats me.

I got finished with my hair appointment and kind of forgot to factor in the change in sunset this time of year. It was 8 p.m. and really, really dark outside and I was parked at least six blocks away. I tried to stay in the open because I have this fear of walking alone at nights to my car. I also tried to call a million different people to sidetrack me, but no one answered. As I neared my parking spot, I noticed the cutest little apartment building and I began (for some reason) to think about Dusty's living situation at the moment. He is currently battling some critters who have taken up residency in his house. They have left some little mouse turds as evidence of their stay. I kid you not, as I walked along thinking about teeny little mice hiding out in Dusty's house... A mouse DARTED right across the sidewalk. At my feet.

I screamed.
As if the thought of getting attacked freaked me out... a harmless little mouse made me even more scared. I sprinted to my car and got the heck out of that situation.

I ended up just watching TV with my friend Kristin afterward while my other roommates entertained some friends in the kitchen at our house. It was so nice just to relax on Friday.

Saturday was a really fun day also. Bethel played Hamline University and-get this- beat them 52-0. Not only that, but the defense only gave up 18 yards to Hamline, THE ENTIRE GAME! I'm so proud of the Royals this year. Especially that defense :) Hm, they must have a really great coach to credit that to! Ha, my dad would kill me if he saw that I wrote that. Luckily, I have gotten several texts from my dad saying he STILL can't figure out how to access my blog, so I think we're in the clear.

I went to a wedding for a friend Saturday night that was just really nice. Beautiful ceremony, dresses, flowers, and music. I think the cutest part of the ceremony was that the groom's best man was his GRANDPA! I love that! It was nice to attend a ceremony later into the evening, and also nice to see Callie as always. We grabbed dinner before the wedding with Tom (Dustin's roommate/best friend) and overall I just had a really nice time.

Today has been long, but great. For one thing, it was my first Sunday off from work and I was so excited to be able to go to church today. I picked up my sister and drove down to Minneapolis (forgetting all about the Vikings game). Our church is right across the street from the stadium where the Vikes play and Sunday home games can get kind of messy, traffic-wise. Wasn't horrible this morning, but I did see a LOT of Moss jerseys, which I find to be kind of funny/ironic. Church was really good today. I always kind of get nervous when I go to the church I grew up in. I love it there, but in college, it was often really hard to find a ride, and so my visits to church have always been somewhat sporadic since I've been in college. Factor in the work thing, and it has just been really difficult. Our church has gone through some pretty major changes over the past two years, great changes, but I feel as though I've really missed out in getting to know new people there and plugging myself into our church community. Let's just say, knowing that I have Sundays off now, and getting to be in church, is a really good feeling. And presents me with a hopeful wish of getting more involved at my church. I decided to be brave and go by myself to the Young Adult ministry after the service and actually enjoyed it. I sat alone and just kind of took it in, and it was enjoyable. I sometimes judge those situations too quickly, but this time I prayed for a humble attitude and just kind of let myself enjoy it.

We then had lunch at home as a family, but also shared with the young adult pastor of my church and another member. Very fun, I liked being able to get to know the pastor better and kind of considered it a "plug" to getting more involved, personally. Moses, as always, entertained our guests to the fullest.. right up until about dessert time when he decided that he was sick and threw up in the backyard. That dog, I tell ya. Sometimes, he can just be so weird and goofy.

This week, I could use some prayer. I have a really big paper due next Monday (minimum of 25 pages) and also, have to start research on another 15 page paper due the same week. On top of two other smaller papers dealing with my ever-so-interesting Greek Civ class (sarcasm) so if you think of it, pray that I will manage my time well this week. Other than that, I have no complaints. Life is good, and God has been great to me this week.

Oh, and as long as I've got your attention, maybe you could pray for my cough to disappear for a second time :-)

Thanks! And good night!

The One Thing.

Here I am, in a river of questions. Can I pour my heart out to a listening ear?
I see this life; Its valley's and mountains, and I think of all the roads that brought me here.

I've questioned my reasons, the life I'm living. I've questioned my ability to judge wrong from right.
I've questioned all the things that I've ever called certain: my race, my religion, my country, my mind.

But the one thing I don't question is you!
You really love me like you say you do
Hold me..

I've questioned significance, meaning and relevance... Does the work I'm doing really matter at all?
Well, I've questioned my friendships, alliance, dependence...
Who will still be here when I fall?

Only one thing doesn't change... only one thing stays the same!
All I know at the end of the day is your love remains.



The One Thing by Paul Colman.

_______________________________

Have you ever climbed a mountain before?
I have. No, seriously, I have.
In 2006, my uncle, Doug, took me and my two cousins, Reid and Eric, to Aspen, Colorado to climb Mount Elbert. This mountain is the highest peak in the Rocky Mountains, and is also the second highest mountain in the United States. The tallest mountain, Mt. Whitney in CA, is taller by only 65 feet.

This mountain is TALL.
And NOT easy to climb.


When my uncle got the three of us cousins together at Easter, 2006, he was pretty straight forward about the plans for this trip. He wanted us to climb the mountain, all four of us, together. Reid was going to Ecuador for school in a few months and this was a kind of "last hoorah" before we lost Reid and Eric and I entered our senior year. I was all for the trip. I didn't really anticipate what a huge task it would be to actually climb a mountain. I was just excited to go on a vacation to Colorado (favorite state, remember?).

We finally left for our trip right at the end of July, '06. The first couple of days were awesome. We stayed in a cute, lodge-y hotel in Snowmass (little village outside of Aspen) and finally the day before our official climb, we went on a little hike to get acclimated and prepared. Okay... I am SO not a hiking person. I learned that on this little hike we took. I have skinny little legs that get tired pretty easily, as it turns out. I felt pathetic behind my cousins and my uncle. They did it with ease, and I was panting by the end of it. I didn't know how I would possibly get through the following day. I was nervous, unsure, and feeling like I couldn't do it. I had that uneasy, queasy feeling in the pit of my stomach. We went to bed early because the TRUE hike of Mount Elbert would take place the following morning at 7, so we needed to be up by 6 to drive there. Am I a morning person? No. Am I a morning person when I'm about to climb upward for about four straight hours? NO!

The three of us at the end of the little hike. I might look happy but I was putting on a mask to hide how I truly felt, I'm sure of it. Or maybe I'm just so happy to have my beautiful long natural colored hair that I still regret dying blonde.

Waking up for the morning climb was difficult and I barely slept the ride there. My uncle gave a little devotion before we started climbing and I barely recall the words. I was nervous and scared.

Climbing upward, at an altitude that you really aren't used to, is hard and difficult. Especially for someone like me who is unathletic. The task was great, but the accomplishment was visible for me and Eric, Reid and Doug with every difficult step forward. The weird thing about that climb, was that the more difficult it became, the higher we hiked, the more this verse kept replaying through my brain: (Phillipians 4:13) I can do ALL things through Christ who strengthens me.

I set it to a tune. I sang it over and over. I took in the beauty that was revealed the higher we went. I would have missed out on ALL this unbelievable scenery and incredible view. I knew God put this challenge ahead of me not to be weary of it, but to OVERCOME it, while also giving me unbelievable gifts along the way.

In the book Captivating by John and Stasi Eldridge, there is a chapter on God's kiss to his beloved. God wants to romance us and show us his "kiss"... He LOVES us! John Eldridge writes about how early one morning on a vacation near the ocean spending quiet time with God, a humpback whale jumped out of the water and made a HUGE splash. He described that as the kiss of God. Something so significant and unreal, something straight out of God's creation, given to show his romantic love for his people.

The closer I got to the mountaintop, the more I felt like I was legitimately going to pass out. Reid and Eric were FAR ahead of Doug and I. I was struggling with every step. It seemed SO incredibly close, yet so far. I had about 40 feet to go when Eric and Reid jogged down from the top to finish the climb with Doug and I. We finished the climb ALL together. It was incredible. Nearing actual exhaustion, I reached the top, let out a huge breath of relief, and looked around.



These pictures are pretty awesome, but don't even do justice to the emotions and feelings that I felt getting to the top of the mountain. IT WAS INCREDIBLE. Everywhere around us, just mountain peaks. For what seemed to go on forever. I literally felt like I was on top of the world. And in a way, I was! I made it to the TOP OF THE MOUNTAIN and I felt like I could just reach up to Heaven and feel God wrap his arms around me out of pride. Ever since that day (and ever since reading Captivating) I consider the beauty of God's creation to be his kiss. A sunset, an eagle soaring, a starry sky, an old tree. That is all God's incredible work, all created for us, his kingdom, to enjoy and love!

The other cool part about the climb? I made it. I struggled along the way. I almost thought that I couldn't make it to the finish. But I kept going. Partly because I had no choice, but mainly because I knew the view at the top would be worth the struggle.

Do you ever wonder what it's going to be like when we get to Heaven? A life that is gone, an earthly life, full of sin, struggles, temptations, and difficulties, and yet for those of us who decided to choose God over ALL these things, we will reach the top and remember our struggles as being a part of the JOURNEY to the ultimate prize.

Sorry for those of you who think I am cheesy. But I am in a mood right now where I just can't shake the wonder of God. Through this experience of accomplishing something big, I grew much closer to my Lord and it is something that I will never forget. The fact that I got to experience it alongside my dear uncle and two of my cousins, who are actually more like brothers, makes it all the more amazing. We did it together.

God is so cool. He made the second tallest mountain in America and for those who choose to embark on the adventure, he gives you a pretty fricken' sweet view at the top, all worth the struggle of the climb. I can't explain how awesome it is to make it.

Here is a little snippet of the emotions we were feeling after climbing four hours to get to that top...


I'm not really sure why I paired this with the song lyrics I included at the top, but I really like the both of them together in one blog post. I LOVE that song by Paul Colman. It makes me smile.

Goodnight everybody.

Annoyed.

Today is November 3rd. The day after election day. Election day is a big deal, and to be honest, I had kind of a mixed emotion type approach toward attitudes that I felt were being projected around campus today.

Two of my good friends didn't vote. My dad didn't vote. MY DAD! He is like the most patriotic person out there. And I'm disappointed. A number of my professors made comments today about their dissatisfaction with the election results. I saw so many Facebook statuses today devoted to how much "America sucks" and how ridiculous the results were. One status in particular that just made me cringe:

"America is that drunk friend who made a lot of bad decisions last night."

Hmm.

Here is what I think of that, and every other negative comment I heard today.

We, as AMERICAN citizens, are beyond lucky to be living in a country where the makeup of our government makes a COMPLETE shift in a span of 24 hours... and yet, we DON'T have to worry about our own personal safety. Do you realize the significance? There is no rioting in the streets, no bombing, no fear of people making rash decisions out of anger toward election results. In case that doesn't make sense... Our House of Congress went from being majority Democratic to Republican in a days time. The Senate is also nearly equal in terms of numbers, and ALL WE HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT IS HOW ITS GOING TO AFFECT DECISIONS. We don't have to worry about people throwing rocks into shop windows, or setting things on fire, or shots ringing out in the streets. Quit complaining about the "drunk" stupidity of America, ya fool. That's what I have to say about that...or in particular, that's what I have to say to the person who made the Facebook status. I don't think YOU, as a reader, are a fool. I like you :)

And in regards to voting. We exercise one of our most precious rights as American citizens by voting. We are so unbelievably lucky that we get to personally choose who we want to represent us as American citizens in our government. And not voting is basically saying: I don't care. It's saying to thousands upon thousands of people who have served our country for over 300 years that their GRAVE sacrifices mean absolutely nothing. It's slapping freedom in the face out of ignorance and laziness. I don't know why you wouldn't just vote. It took me five minutes! And it's a pretty cool process, when you think about it. And plus, if you live in a little neighborhood like me where your closest voting place is the church down the street, you run into people you know! I saw my 5th grade teacher and we had a nice little chat. Moving on... Since my state is currently in a recount for the governor race because the numbers are so close, I get irritated knowing that people so close to me just didn't vote. My dad's reason: He didn't know enough about the candidates. So what! Call someone who does. I will be the first to admit that sometimes, politics go WAY over my head, but I still try to talk with someone who does know a thing or two about the upcoming elections, and I get their opinion. I go to people I know well and trust. It's easy!!

It's especially frustrating that the governor race is between the candidate I voted for, and the opposing candidate, whose plan for the future is to tax student loans 10%. 10%!!!!! That's going to affect me (and my friends that didn't vote) and I don't want to see the race go to a person who is willing to put this law into effect. So what if I don't know everything there is to know about the candidate I did vote for? I know enough to know that my vote and yours makes a difference.

That being said, I really don't think it matters whether you are a Republican, a Democrat, a conservative, a liberal, a hippie, WHATEVER. You should still just vote!

Sometimes, I think people get caught up in taking our country for granted. We are lucky to live here. There is no place in the world like America, like it or not. I'm proud to be an American, and I am happy to give back just a little by participating in election day. I wish people weren't so ignorant to the blessings they have in life just by being American citizens.

I promise NEVER to go on a political rant again. But this is something I feel strongly about and something that I feel shouldn't be left unsaid.

"All tyranny needs to gain a foothold is for people of good conscience to remain silent." -Thomas Jefferson

Watch this!

So... My roommate Jackie has an ever growing obsession with Josh Groban. I can't blame her, since Josh Groban happens to have one of the most amazing male voices I can think of. She showed me this video clip from Youtube and I have to post it for everyone else. PLEASE watch it!



I love this song, and think about it in terms of my relationship with God. Imagine that God's name is inserted at the beginning of every line! Powerful!

In other news, I am so proud of CALLIE today because Bachmann (so far!) has been leading the way to victory tonight! Callie works for the Michele Bachmann campaign and has been SUPER busy the last couple of months getting ready for this day! CONGRATS CAL!!

Also, my former roommate and good friend TORI got engaged on Saturday morning and I am SOOOO happy for her. She came over last night with wedding magazines and her amazing engagement ring of course :) Her fiance, Brett, proposed to her while she was SKYDIVING. Incredible right? I know!!!

It is NOVEMBER! And I can't believe it. I am semi-losing my mind. I have two HUGE papers coming up that I just can't seem to find the time for and it's getting to be a little crazy nuts. Prayers are greatly appreciated.

I still miss Dusty. I miss him A LOT. I get sad thinking about how far away he is sometimes.

Good news, my cold is officially (almost) gone! I have taken Nyquil the last two nights and it's helped A LOT just to get rest.

Again, I am feeling like my posts are getting more and more boring... Hmmm... I need some more exciting things to happen in my life I guess. Nahh... I'm just fine with how things are at the moment! Besides the fact that I am sans-Dusty.

That is all!