48 hours #2

In 48 hours I will be in . . .

with

and

(girls just want to have fun)

Soul Pancake

www.soulpancake.com

I'm really excited to see what comes out of this.

 soulpancake. 

This is a video Rainn Wilson (AKA Dwight from da office) made to promote his new web-site, soul pancake. It's sounds like it's a place where anybody can go and put there ideas to answer some of "life's big questions". I visited the site, and sure enough there is plenty of responses to these questions. I think if this thing really gets up and running it'll be great. It'll forcing people to think about things they ignore. C.S. Lewis talks about how people will do anything to avoid these kind of questions. We all have a longing inside of us. And many of us don't know what to do about. And I think this website will (fashionably) answer some people's longing. 

Also, I think there is a big warning with this also. I always get a little bit scared when God starts to become "cool." There is a huge danger in people being fake and doing it just because their friends are. I grew up in a church where this was very evident. Most of my friends from youth group are completely different people now than they were then. Why? because it wasn't real. Maybe it was for some people. But for me, it wasn't. But yeah back to the point; I'l be curious to see what happens. 

There is a video of Rainn talking about this web-site to Oprah. And Rainn really seems to be against organized religion. We all know that most people today don't like organized religion but he seems to believe that there is truth to all religions. Which I find very interesting, because they seem contradict each other. . .  But I don't know much about other religions. . . So I won't say much. I just hope this doesn't mean more hate towards christians for being small minded. (well, what do I expect? Jesus did promise we would be hated) And lastly I will say this: I am very excited to see this play out, people thinking about God is great. If we all started loving God on a daily basis, oh! how the world would change. . . 

My Best Friends

 

 

I seriously love these people. 

Becoming a teacher. . .

This semester I am taking Education 202. As a requirement for this class I have to spend some time in an actual classroom and 'observe'. So once a week I go to East Kentwood Freshman Campus and 'observe'. Although, I don't really observe. I help out this cool kid named EJ. 

Peoples, I cannot even tell you how excited I am to teach.

 Today I had to wake up at 6:30 am (I went to bed at 2am) to go to my school and I was so excited to do it. Afterwords I am so energized. I know I'm not really making a difference, but seeing EJ learn and really understand Algebra; it's the greatest feeling. I love it. Every time after I  leave the school I get a little emotional because it's like "wow, this is what I really want to do, and I'm doing it!" I'm accomplishing my dreams. It's kind of scary, but wow! I cannot not wait for each day to begin. I have found my purpose in life. It's so strange this feeling that I get after I am done helping EJ, it's like I am suddenly so motivated to do everything. I'm on the right track and I love it. I absolutely love it. 

(future teacher)

This semester is my semester to try new things. and grow.  

I miss. . .

+ Eric Stewart picking me up in 1987 Chevy Impala and sitting three people in the front of his car even though the back seat was empty. 

+ Yellowstone National Park: Understatement of the year. 

+ Sliding in the snow in parking lot of Laurel with Danny. 

+ Joy and AJ blasting "strong enough" when I was crying. 

+ Samantha Lee Warner coming over to my apartment and sitting on my couch, while I sit in the big chair and talk talk talking. (Maybe in her car too)

+ My full sized bed with the down comforter. 

+ Talking with Mat Burton in his car outside of Kensington and being scared cause I would imagine a scarecrow walking out of the bush. 

+ Going to small group. 

+ Jessica Meyer and I's 16 mile hike (in one day).

+ Tom Elmore encouraging me in everything that I did. 

+ Running away to church after school. 

+ Working at Dairy Queen with all the crazy Calendeans. 

+ Playing disc golf with Mat and Alexa. 

+ Eating Little Ceaser's pizza in the Radio Room and JC park. 

+ My snake named Enrique.

+ Courtney Devine teaching me what a true friend is. 

+ Firefighters Park. 

+ Chelsea and I's "road trips" to East Lansing. 

+ Watching Old Faithful go off in the full moon. 

+ Dance Parties. 

+ Being the lead in every school play at WCA.

+ Sleepovers with Ashley. 

+ Driving around with my car windows down, dancing and singing to my Kohl's Summer Hits CD. 

+ Riding the CATA bus. (I can't believe I actually miss this)

+ Sharing secrets with Danielle. 

+ My little crushes on all the older men in high school. (Ryan Clifford, Brian Pecoraro, Aaron Steppe, Mr. Keoleian)

+ Anthony James Murdoch hugging me when I found out Travis broke up with me for another woman.

+ Being new to Epic.

+ Being the girl with Dreadlocks. 

+ My photography class at community college. 

+ After New Community hang out. 

+ Summertime. 

+ Taina. Taina. Taina. 

+ And Alvin, Kyla, Evelyn, Pedro, and all the russians!

+ Breaking into Kensington at night and running around (and eating all the granola bars). 

+ My messy room. (it's strange missing this, but I do)

+ Counting points and going to those crazy fun meetings with Ally Johnson. 

+ Christina and Deanna's crazy boy stories. I miss this a lot. 

+ Watching Gilmore Girl's all day with Amanda in Lake Orion. 

+ Going home for the weekend. 

+ Matt telling me everything will be okay.

+ Laura Lego giving me advice, and really praying for me to be a christian again. 

+ Fern Cascades, where I found God hiding in the white ripples of the water.  

I like this guy a lot.

My Life. . .

Here is an update on the biggest things in my life recently. 

Friends

So being new to Calvin College this year was a little hard at first. I honestly thought I would be really popular right away, and when I wasn't I was a little sad.  Needless to say, now that time has passed on I am popular now. (Just Kidding). I have made some good friends, and heck a lot of acquaintances. I have primarily 3 people that I will call on my weekends/ when I'm bored:

1) Bob Beigun: Bob and I have developed a wonderful friendship recently. It started out with . . . I don't even know. But now every week our ritual is as follows: Eat something together (we take turns on who cooks), watch a TV series (we just finished Firefly), go to the super market buy some ice cream (yes, every week) and then watch some more TV series. It's a great ritual and easily one of my favorite times of the week. 

2) Charlotte Sandy: I met Charlotte in my orientation group (cute, I know) and we've been friends ever sense. She's more a random friend. She's kinda my go to person. If I need something I can count on Charlotte and vice versa. We hang out randomly, and sometimes study together. I like her a lot. 

3) Anna from New York: We are in the process of developing life long friendshipness. She recently moved in to my apartment complex, so we are practically neighbors. We don't do much we hang out but at the end of the day I always smile and think about what we talked about. 

Work

I work at Commons Dining Hall on campus. I use to hate it, but now I love it. Like LOVE it. The people that I work with are great. We all eat dinner together before we work, and it's usually a blast. All the boys make fun of me for various things (going to Avondale High School or that I have red hair, or that 'I am a spy') but I kinda like it. This semester I signed up as a "stocker" for friday morning breakfast. The first day was so hard, and I really considered giving the shift to somebody else. I have to carry really heavy things (primarly milk - 50 pounds per milk crate) from downstairs to upstairs. It is really hard. But I want muscle, so I went in the next week and it was so much easier! I am proud of myself for doing something I honestly thought I might not be able to do. 

Summer Plans

My future roommate's (Danielle) parents bought a house as an investment, and we get to live in it. I'm going to pay rent, but it's going to be a lot cheaper than it would be to live on campus again. But the house is HUGE. and it's just Danielle and I living in it next year. It's 4 bedrooms (almost 5, there making the attic into a bedroom), 2.5 baths, and a finished basement. There's even a breakfast nook. 

But yeah, I plan on living there. And then (hopefully) keep my job at Commons and work 30 - 40 hours a week and take classes at Grand Rapids Community College (Spanish, Math and Biology) at night. I want to travel and camp a lot. O yeah, best part of summer: my parents are thinking about letting me have their car (just for the summer). And then with money from working so much I would buy a car. But even if they don't let me have the car then I plan on taking a loan out and buying one. Cause the house Danielle and I are living in is like a 10 minute drive from Campus. 

Living Situation

I still live in on-campus apartments, but instead of having 3 other roommates I now only have 1 other roommate. Her name is Rita, and I absolutely love her! We get along really well. I love our apartment too. It's artistic and really good for having people over. Also, I have 2 beds in my room (there not stacked).  One is for napping while the other one is for sleeping in. It's great. This also means if you ladies ever want to spend the night I have a bed for you. :) and if 2 ladies want to come I have a mattress under my bed. Yes, I have a lot of places for people to sleep. I really like my living situation. 

And to end this very long blog post I will leave you with one picture from Las Vegas: 

Death Valley Video!!!!

It's totally worth watching. 

twice. 

Death Valley

i had SUCH a good time. 

more?

February Homework Schedule

(click to see it bigger)

*This is mostly for me, so i have access to it when I am not on my computer*

But seriously, I am going to busybusybusy.

Death Valley

More to come. . . 

(oh, be excited)

awesome toilets at airport

48 hours. . .

In 48 hours I will be here: 

with:

and:

((excitement))

2ish years ago. . .

oh dreadlocks.

I support.

Hat

Dear Dani, I hope you read this:

I was so excited when I saw this hat.

I miss you.

Oh heck, let it be known.

I'm a nerd and have a C.S. Lewis blog.

 http://aen6.blogspot.com/

Read if you want, my dad says I'm a good writer. 

I think he might be saying that because he is my dad.

Comments are always appreciated, specially if it's criticism. 

Criticism is the only way one can grow. 

C.S. Lewis

I really enjoyed this article a lot. I love paragraph about how foolish love can be. Being young and foolish I got wrapped up in the vicious cycle of 'strong erotic passion'. I really did think that I had found lifelong happiness in another being. All truly was at stake. If I missed my chanced I really thought  I would've lived life in vain. And when everything fell apart I sunk into the 'fathomless depths of self-pity'.  But like Adriana said on the second day class about when a man says you are worthless, you can either curl up or you can expand. I chose to expand, and stand tall. And I am such a better person for it. 

-a paragraph from my homework (my thoughts on the article of "Have No 'Right To Happiness'")

Christmas Break For Realz.

I seem to always be on the right of things.

Christmas Break Sneak Peek.

My Family

(more pictures coming soon)

2008 and 2009

Wow, 2008. What a year.

Here are the biggest events that happened in 2008:
+ I went to Yellowstone National Park.
+ Found God in the mountains.
+ Got baptized.
+ Got a cross tattoo on my index finger to always remember how good God was that summer.
+ Travis and I broke up.
+ First broken heart.
+ Applied, and got into my dream college (also got the loan too)
+ Attended my dream college, Calvin College.
+ In 2008, I really realized how wonderful I have things, I don't think I've ever been so thankful in a year. (for friends, and blessings)
+ Saw 11 different bears.
+ Did not see a moose.
+ Hiked 100 miles.
+ Made and accomplished some mad rad goals.
+ Lost all confidence in myself and who I really was.
+ Was also the most confident I have ever been, and still learning who I really am.
+ Lost 40 pounds.

My 2009 resolutions
+ Travel. Lots. Here's a list of trips in the making:
!Florence. It is the half way point between me and my friend Dani (a very good friend from Yellowstone) Florence, Kentucky that is.
! Anchorage, Alaska. This is where I plan on living once I graduate. So, I am going to visit and make sure it is as great as the websites say it is.
! Yellowstone, I don't think this one will happen, but I really want it to.
! Camping, everywhere and everyone! It's so cheap. I bought a tent.
! Porcupine mountains. In da U.P. eh.
+ Hike at least 50 miles. This is half of what I did last year, but this year I will not be living in a national park.
+ Spend only $20 a month on eating out. This means fast food, and dining in. But excludes all my travels.
+ Get into super shape. I am already in the best shape of my life, but I would like to get some muscle.
+ Go actual rock climbing.
+ Run a 5K marathon.
+ Really help Danielle with her slave trade awareness, and not be shy about it.
+ Get one 4.0 in one class at Calvin.
+ Boost my GPA to a 3.3
+ Get a car.
+ Read through the whole New Testament.
+ Journal half a page everyday. Everyday.
+ Actually not date anyone until October 28th, 2009. And actually focus on the man most important in my life: God.

New Post

A new post is coming!
soon.
I have been super busy over break, I apoligize.
but it's 2:42AM and I am pooped.

Sorry to all my readers, I don't really believe you exist.

Hey!

Okay, everybody look to the right of the screen.
scroll down.
hey look! over 1000 hits on my page!
you can also see the artists that I listened to the most last week.

cool?

Shhh! I am studying.

Sorry, no posts for a little while. 

(exams)

I have a dream!

This is Anchorage, Alaska. I will live here when I graduate. 

Isn't it cute? (notice the mountains in the distance! i love it!)

= 7 hours of daylight in the winter, 20 hours in the summer. (doesn't really get dark)

"And I can see russia from my house!"

Okay, So i decided this is where I am going to plan on living and teaching once I graduate. Teachers in Alaska start at $40,000, which is the highest in U.S.A. The weather is only a bit colder than michigan. But there is much more to do in the winter (Dog sled races, Skiing, skating etc etc). It's right up against 4 different mountain ranges, and there is 259 miles of trails. 259 MILES. That is so much. And in the summer it never really gets dark, that means I can hike until 2 am. Do you realize how cool that is? Sure sure it's gonna be a little depressing in the winter, but it's totally worth it to be by mountains. And the Ocean/Gulf of Alaska. Oh, and there's great fishing. SALMON. and apparently there's quite a bit of Grizzlies that leave near by (not good for the safety of my future children). But moose are everywhere too. I have never seen a moose! 

I am moving to Alaska! Want to come with me?

Yesterday.

Friends. 

I love this picture.

We're all so formal and old looking.

Me and Holly

My family. 

Megan's gettin' married!

I went to East Lansing yesterday. And I realized something very odd. I have friends everywhere. Well, not everywhere. But I have really good friends from Troy, East Lansing and Grand Rapids. I am thankful for this. But at the same it's odd. What if my friends lived in the same area? what if they all knew each other? could we just have one giant massive party and it be the greatest thing ever? Oh, questions... I am thankful for my friends. 

watch this.

does anybody read this thing?

  

before and after

Facts

+I take a fish oil supplement everyday in hopes that it helps with my memory and hair loss problems.

+ I have memory and hair loss problems.

+ I try to go to bed by 11:00pm every night. 

+ I have loss 35+ pounds since May (hence all the pictures of myself).

+ I miss Travis sometimes. 

+ I will have a ton of debt when I graduate from Calvin College.

+ Going to Yellowstone National Park was the best decision I have ever made.

+ Calvin College is the second best. 

+ I desire to be more popular.

+ Words are my love language. 

+ I feel like I don't have a home.

+ If I could choose any bed in the world to sleep in it would my bed in Yellowstone. 

+ I hate those things on the side of my fingernail where the skin comes off. 

+ I hate it even more when I get lemon juice in it.

+ My worst subject in school is Spanish.

+ I would pay a good 100$ to go on one more adventure with A.J.

+ Samantha Warner has really taught me what a friendship is. 

+ God is really good to me.

+ God is good. 

+ I love secrets. 

Adventure #3 in Grand Rapids

Strong Enough is so last week.

These are my new favorite songs that I can't get enough of:

Love Lockdown - Kanye West

Shattered Glass- Britney Spears

Human- The Killers

Bruises- Chairlift

You Don't Know Me - Ben Folds

fun times.

pretty dresses.

best friends.