Ready to Go Home!!

Today, in Orange City, Iowa, the temperature was 30 degrees outside all day long. That wouldn't be completely terrible...except that it felt like 17 DEGREES...17 degrees people...and that is officially what it felt like (completely accurate as stated by weather.com). My grandpa called, asked if it was cold, and laughed when I reported the stats to him...he laughed! It has been consistently in the 80's and 90's at home the last several weeks. Though I will miss being here, I am oh so ready to go home where I can wear my sandals year round :D

That is all.

LOVELOVELOVE

Father Knows Best

So...two posts in one day...crazy...I know.

This is a post that I put up on my myspace last year. I'm seriously considering getting rid of my myspace, but I didn't want to lose this post. So I thought I'd put it up here and share it with all of you.

Originally written 2-24-08

Original Title: The Father Knows Best

God never ceases to amaze me!!!! He knows exactly what you need in every aspect of your life, exactly when you need it.

This week has been incredible for me, despite being insanely busy with school work. Let me share with you.

1) Due to situations that meant that I didn't have to work on Wednesday, I was able to do some much needed preparation for a test, as well as go to chapel for the second time all semester. The president of my school was the speaker for the day, and he talked about listening for God's call in your life, and choosing to follow His call rather than trying to follow your own plan for life. I felt as though he was speaking directly to me. I am in a place of truly looking for God's call on my life, and this message was an incredible encouragement. We ended the chapel service singing the hymn Here I Am, Lord. Here are the lyrics:

I, the Lord of sea and sky,
I have heard My people cry.
All who dwell in dark and sin,
My hand will save.
I who made the stars of night,
I will make their darkness bright.
Who will bear My light to them?
Whom shall I send?

Here I am Lord, Is it I Lord?
I have heard You calling in the night.
I will go Lord, if You lead me.
I will hold Your people in my heart.

I, the Lord of snow and rain,
I have born my peoples pain.
I have wept for love of them, They turn away.
I will break their hearts of stone,
Give them hearts for love alone.
I will speak My word to them,
Whom shall I send?

Here I am Lord, Is it I Lord?
I have heard You calling in the night.
I will go Lord, if You lead me.
I will hold Your people in my heart.

I, the Lord of wind and flame,
I will tend the poor and lame.
I will set a feast for them,
My hand will save
Finest bread I will provide,
Till their hearts be satisfied.
I will give My life to them,
Whom shall I send?

Here I am Lord, Is it I Lord?
I have heard You calling in the night.

I will go Lord, if You lead me.

I will hold Your people in my heart.

The chorus of this song is my life right now. I'm looking at the future, and leaving it all to God to take me where he wants and needs to use me to further His kindgom.

2) Sometimes, you need a health dose of drama to strengthen a relationship. I got that this week, and I am so thankful for it.

3) Today has been incredibly stressful, because I have two huge projects due tomorrow. Being that it is technically still winter, and I am in the artic tundra that is Northwest Iowa, one of my projects got moved back from tomorrow to Wednesday because one of my group members is a commuter and, due to horrible weather and road conditions forcasted for tomorrow, she may not be able to make it. So, as much as I HATE when the weather is gross, it is a huge blessing for me right now. Because the one project got moved back, I've been able to focus more on my other project and be a bit less stressed.

Basically, I don't know what I would do without God and His omnicient timing. I am so blessed to be a daughter of the King!!

LOVELOVELOVE

I Carry Your Heart With Me

So...I'm feeling a bit sad today. My best friend, Stacey, who was here visiting for the week, left this afternoon. We had a great time just relaxing and hanging out, but I am definitely sad to see her go. I have just another month before I will be heading home for Christmas break and for the whole second semester of this year to student teach. While right now I am so deeply missing those I love at home, I'm starting to realize that it is going to be a difficult transition. I've spent the majority of my time the last four years building relationships with people I have grown to love. So while I'm missing everyone at home right now, I am going to sooo miss all of my friends here while I'm home next semester. I found this poem and thought it was appropriate both for now, while I'm missing home, and for a month from now, when I'm missing my great friends.

Read and know that I carry your heart with me wherever I go. I love you all!!!!

i carry your heart with me

i carry your heart with me(i carry it in
my heart)i am never without it(anywhere
i go you go,my dear; and whatever is done
by only me is your doing,my darling)
i fear
no fate(for you are my fate,my sweet)i want
no world(for beautiful you are my world,my true)
and it's you are whatever a moon has always meant
and whatever a sun will always sing is you

here is the deepest secret nobody knows
(here is the root of the root and the bud of the bud
and the sky of the sky of a tree called life;which grows
higher than the soul can hope or mind can hide)
and this is the wonder that's keeping the stars apart

i carry your heart(i carry it in my heart)

ee cummings

LOVELOVELOVE

Hilarious and Super Adorable!!!

One of my friends found and posted this video on facebook.  I know the election is done now, but I still think it's great.

Sooo...turn up your volume and enjoy

p.s. Listen closely for indivisible :)

Halloween Fun

I didn't dress up this year...and I haven't for the last couple years...but Halloween was a blast!!!

My awesome dad decided to send a Halloween cookie decorating kit for Mary and I to do with Izzo and Truby. We got the package and Iz was soooo excited to see a picture of a kittie cookie. "Are the kittie cookies for me??" (said with wide open eyes and a look of pure excitement) Here are a couple pictures from our decorating experience.

Excited to get started

Mom has applied the frosting, and now Isabel is in charge of the decorating.

During the process of decorating the cookies, Isabel decides we should call my dad to say thank you for the cookies. I call him up on and put the phone to her ear. She says thank you and tells him she's having fun...and then shoves a handful of black sprinkles into her mouth. The next picture is what resulted.


For Halloween night, Isabel was dressed as a kitten, but if you asked her what she was, she would quickly respond, actions and all, "I'm a scary kitty". Truman was an adorable ducky.

Here's the "scary Izzo kitten"

The adorable Truman ducky

Me and the kiddos

Cookies, costumes, and candy...what more could a kid ask for?!?

LOVELOVELOVE