M.A.D.D.

 Yes, I am in the library procrastinating. And yes, I am M.A.D.D.  (More Acne Doesn't Delight). I have two pimples. I haven't gotten pimples in a while (just check out my pics if you don't believe me). I need H.E.L.P. (How to Eliminate Lousy Pimples) I think it's my job (I come home with a greasy face), or new stress (Spanish test and 4 papers due this week). Ether-way these new friends of mine have got to go.

I am too busy for a real update but. . . 

look! I drove through a tree!

First day of work.

before work

after work

Just don't do it.

Alexa and I happily eating blazin hot buffalo wings. . . 

2 minutes after we done eating blazin buffalo wings. 

This picture is from like 2 years, but it still makes me laugh. 

and now I am going to go hang out with Alexa

The greasy spoon. . .

Today was another great day. 

I took pictures, but my camera battery died. :(

I am tired, so you get only a list:

+I slept in until noon!!! 

-AJ died 

+My friend Janet came and visited.

+ Alexander, Janet and I went to a  Nature Preserve, and ate some wild berries (Alexander learned all about which ones are safe to eat) I tried about 4 different berries I have never eaten before. 

+We also walked through a swamp.

- My foot almost got stuck in like 2 feet of mud

- There were spiders crawling on me!

+ The squishy mud felt good between my toes.

+I learned how to make Fried Rice. (the healthy way) ish

- AJ died. 

+ Bob and I went to Janet's show (Cotton Lilly)

+The show was seriously amazing. 

+Bob had fun too. 

+On the way home we danced and sang to one of my favorite songs.

I will go to bed smiling.

R.I.P.

Today is a great day.

So, I feel like reading about my day to day life is not as interesting or as a cool quote or picture or what not. Meh. Cool is so last year. 

My great day:

I woke up and ate peanut butter on a half a bagel. The perfect way to start a great day. I proceeded to get ready and looked a little floppy, but I didn't care. I held my head up and went to Spanish class. I've been studying my spanish really hard so I actually had knew what was going on. (The class is mostly taught in spanish = hard) I then skipped to Philosophy class. On my way I pondered what the meaning of philosophy is. I mean, really it's kinda pointless. . . My philosophy teacher had us split into groups and draw Socrates' cave illusion. I did my reading, so I had a pretty good understanding of what it was/looked like. BUT everybody else in my group did not read. So as they were trying to figure out what Socrates was describing, I just started drawing. And everybody in my group would chime in with specific details. Anyways there was a total of seven groups, and our professor chose ours as the most accurate drawing of what Socrates was saying/describing. We won dark chocolate, my favorite! mmmm!

      I then went and figured out my new job details. O YEAH. Everybody, I got a job! I work in the cafeteria. I am really excited. Free meals! 11 hour a week. I can totally survive on that. I then skipped home and took a really long shower which felt great. And I went to my next class looking like a babe. I then gave a presentation on "hobo signs". It went quite well, the head director of art was there, so that made me a little nervous. 

     I hurried out because I had to meet my spanish tutor at 3:30 p.m. Only to realize that it was at 2:30 p.m. = bad part of my day. But o well. I then skipped to Chapel Undercroft where I proceeded to donate blood. (I actually shouldn't have. . . I think . . . (because of my ex, and tattoo) but the lady let me anyways. (because of my circumstances). So I gave blood and felt good about myself. I skipped back home, and talk to my very very good friend Danielle. And we (Danielle, Ally and Rita) proceded to have "family dinner". We made and ate Pesto, broccoli, green beans, and brownies!!! mmm! I'm actually learning how to cook vegetables. And now, my friend Cloud knocked on my door and told me there are many men outside looking for a dance partner to dance with. Yes, swing dancing is going on literally right outside my bedroom window. So pardon me while I go boogie my heart out and put a happy ending to my great day. 

bana? bananana?

Redhead?

  

??

or

         

http://www.theindieheresy.com/redhair.html

Calvin College

 Calvin College: Is going absolutely great.

Here is a story:

When I first got here, I closed up like clam in the sight of a shark. I don't know why I did, but I did and it really sucked. I had orientation and while it seemed like everybody was making friends, and chatting, I would just be quiet. I was living by the phrase: "If you have nothing to say, don't say anything". Well, I didn't have anything to say so, I would just be quiet. This shy version of Annie continued into the first and second(ish) week of school. I did not like this. I didn't like being shy, I am rarely shy. Especially in such friendly environments. 

And then I read this postsecret. And I was like that's it! I am starting over! and I am going to be happy. So, I really can't say much changed other than my attitude. But I am much happier. (Somethings might have to do with God too, and him teaching me how to find confidence in him, and not myself) 

My thoughts on Calvin College:

At first I was very intimidated by all nice people. I know that sounds weird, but at first I really honestly didn't care too much for the folk around here. People were too nice. I was use to Yellowstone, where people were mildly rude, and didn't hide anything from anybody. I got use to this mildly rudeness. So when I came to Calvin, I guess I just felt like everybody was hiding stuff. But really the people are just polite and nice.

My professors are really really really seriously really good. I can't believe how much a good professor can have on my learning ability. I really look forward to most of my classes, there is one I don't like. But other than that one, I love them all. 

Today I had "conversation group" (for spanish class) with a higher level spanish student, and we could only speak spanish the whole time! (30 minutes) I have been speaking spanish for only 2 weeks. It was so hard, but I can see how I'm really going to benefit from it. I think Calvin is so stinken cool for having these groups. I am actually going to learn Spanish. woo.

I was suppose to go to a hip hop dance at 6 p.m. But my friend that was going to do it with me, is really sick, so I'm kinda bummed. Basically, I would learn a dance with some other folks, and we would preform it for the school at the end of the semester. But there is another time at 9 p.m. tonight, so I really hope she feels better. . . 

Homework is a load. But not too bad. I am definitely doing more homework than I ever have in my entire life. But I don't have a job yet, so I have a lot free time. I'm not too worried or stressed about homework yet. 

I really need to find a job. Like really bad. I'll probably get a job in the cafeteria. It pays $7.40 and hour, which is so gross to me. BUT it's on campus and I would get a free meal whenever I worked. I also applied to Prince Conference Center which is also on Campus, but I'm not sure that there hiring. 

I have been so much neater and cleaner than I ever have been in my life. Yes, my whole entire life. I think it's because I got rid of all the stuff I didn't need. I really am just living on the necessities right now. Which is a little hard, because it means less options (for clothes, hair and jewelry accessories, and crafts). But the simple life is a lot better.  

God is really good. I want you to know that. God is good, really good. 

(cher is too)

P.S. start a twitter account already!

Thankful

Sam came and visited me at Calvin

p.s. if you want to view a picture bigger, you can click on it

:)

Family Dinner

My roommates: Rita, Ally and Danielle

Squash Curry Soup

Squash Curry Soup. . . It was delicious. Two of my roommates are vegetarians, so no meat at the family dinners. I was a little bit scared to eat soup made of squash, but it turned out to very good!  My roommates are very cool, and I am really happy that God put me where I am. It's a little odd sharing a room. . . I kinda want to listen to Cher always, but I know that is not being nice to my roommates. I think my roommate is worried that I'm not happy. And I think I've changed a lot since high school. I'm not all smiles always, and that's okay. I wish I was smiles always. . . but I'm most certainly not going to fake happiness. I feel like a lot people fake happiness. But that's a whole other subject. 

I am content where I am.

Twitter

http://twitter.com/annethel

please get a twitter

it's the most popular thing you could do for yourself

really!?!???

really.

Woman of God

“We need to find God, and he cannot be found in noise and restlessness. God is the friend of silence. See how nature - trees, flowers, grass- grows in silence; see the stars, the moon and the sun, how they move in silence... We need silence to be able to touch souls.”

-Mother Teresa

So I went to Yellowstone. I had a lot of silence. A lot of silence and nature. And with those two things combined it's hard not to think about God. Or even focus on him. Recently, I have found that it is harder than I thought to find silence in my life. There is something so special to me about basking in silence with God. I love the word basking. Kinda like sun bathing, but soaking in God and the silence. I really feel like Mother Teresa hits the bulls eye when she said this. She understands the importance of silence. I am forgetting all the time how important it is. We live in such a generation of go go go! and listen to music whenever you can, or turn your tv on, or call a friend. Never be quiet. That is the pressure I feel from the world. Never be quiet, specially on purpose.

Stop - and know that I am God, exalted among the nations, exalted on the earth. 

Psalms 46:10

Adventure #1 in Grand Rapids

The Zoo

More adventures coming soon. . . 

There is something so beautiful in nature. If one really looks at the different kinds of animals, like really looks at them, one must think: God is so creative. Think of all the animals, and how strange and beautiful they all are. From, Giraffes, to Elephants, to Snakes, to Mosquitos, to Flamingos, to Buffalo, to Butterflies, to Hippos, to Lions, to Bears, to Fish and Whales.  Gosh. . Take a second. Think about the different style of fur, texture, feathers, size. I mean a giraffe, really? really God?  They are awesome. And this doesn't even come close to everything God has made, he made mountains, the sky, the oceans. . . and then I think about me. God made all of this for me. So I can enjoy it, and glorify Him... Thanks God. 

Thanks For Nature

Good looking day

Today I like my outfit. This shirt. I love this shirt. My mom fixed it for me, I spilled gasoline on it. And she fixed it. I love her. 

Samantha Leigh Warner

Sam is my best friend.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yMzibyFjieI

Michigan State Fair

Amanda caught a fish!

Me and a fish

Me on a ferris wheel

Me, me, me.

 (and a real tamed deer)

Llama with strange eyes! and a goofy haircut.

He had a crazy accent too. 

Amanda and I loving our tradition

Amanda and a Two Humped Camel!

Amanda and the worlds biggest oven.

No WAY?

oh, way.

God made this creature so we can smile folks

I learned how to fish!

. . .right by the circus!

This is my spanish booklet. We watch these videos in Spanish class they are so cheezy, and they go along with our text books. The guy on the page (the Mexican one saying something)  is the driver on a bus. He is my favorite. His name is Fransisco. . . I think.  He says really funny things. I laugh in class, even when no one else does. Don't worry, Fransisco, I understand your jokes.

In other news: I am worried I won't find a group of friends. and that I don't want to teach art. 

    In visual culture we had to draw what we thought the stereotypical teacher looked like. My was AWFUL. Everybody in the class was like shading and stuff. I don't know how to do that. And I am very worried about it. very very worried. I'm thinking about becoming an elementary school teacher instead. I don't know yet. Or maybe a math teacher? Seriously everybody was so talented in my class. Stephan already has a fine arts minor, and his drawing was like WOAH! I would put it on my wall it was so good. It looked like a real teacher that would pop out and start talking about history. 

My theory on why I like Cher so much.

If you have seen me recently, you might (or you might not) know that I have a new passion for Cher. It all started in Yellowstone, AJ and Joy listened to Cher. a lot. So naturally I learned her songs, and started to love her also. When I came back home, I was shocked at people's detest for Cher. "How can you NOT love her?" I thought. And then I started listening to her music. . . Now, I love her music, I truly do, but I really started listening to her voice and the melodies. And I realized what I love about her and what people don't like about her(maybe).

What People Don't like about Cher

Her voice is deep, almost manly

Lyrics are wild, and don't go along with everyday life

She has been around forever

Severe case of "I want to look young forever"

What Annie loves about Cher

She is passionate

Doesn't care what people think about her

Her lyrics are wild

She sings about hard times with a ring of "this is the way it is, and that's okay, i'm going to make the most of it!"

Long story short, I think Cher is so wonderful.
I think I actually may look up her. 

Here's a clip:

My favorite photos from Yellowstone + Road Trip

Aj and I in front of Fairy Falls

Space Needle in Seattle, WA

Hiking is great. 

Redwood National Park, CA

Grizzly Bear

Bear Tooth Mountain Range, MT

Ron and AJ at Old Faithful

On the way to Washington

My mom and I at the Grand Tetons

Taina and I's last day in Yellowstone

Showing Shaun (and Loraine) how to use the camera on a ferry

Looking up at a Redwood in awe of how tall it is

Baptism: Tim, Lisa, Andrea and Me (making a face)