What Are You Waiting For?

Apparently nothing worth writing about has happened since March 25. Oops.

So, to catch you up, this was my summer: Work three jobs, a grocery store, the grade school, and Pizza Ranch Corporate office. Take senior photos for friends. Visit the zoo with Emma. Drive all the way to Washington state, visit family, drive all the way back plus yellowstone all in one week. That was it. That was my summer. As fun as some of those things were, I cannot believe how happy I am to be back.

I've started classes and gone to meetings and worked. I've met freshman and gone out for cheesecake, Starbucks, and Carmello's ice cream. I've done homework and played soccer and volleyball. It's nothing out of the ordinary for me, but there's just something about being back that makes me so incredibly happy.

I can't explain it. I might be swamped with homework and planning events, but still, life is good. In everything that is happening, it is easy to see the blessings of God in this world and my life. And trust me, Carmello's ice cream is definitely a blessing.

The theme verse for this year is from Psalm 27:13-14

"I am still confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord." 

So, what are you waiting for?

It Is Well With My Soul

Reminders

I was reminded of two amazing facts about life this afternoon.

1. God is in control. No, really. Everything. That being said, why worry? Why are we stressed out about school, relationships, and money? Stop worrying! God has you where you are for a reason, He is putting you in those stressful situations for a reason. Maybe He's trying to show you something, shape you, bless you, change you, tell you something. Relax, God knows what He's doing in your life!

Whenever I'm stressed out and asking myself "what on earth am I doing here?" I have to remember to step back and remind myself that this is part of God's plan. I may not understand why I am going through something at a certain time, but there is a reason for it.

However, I'm not saying that I won't ever get stressed out again. I'll forget and be a mess for days before it hits me again "God is in control."

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.
 Jeremiah 29:11

Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.
Matthew 6:34

In his hand is the life of every living thing and the breath of all mankind
Job 12:10

“Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created.”
Revelation 4:11

2. God answers prayer. Again, this is something I have always known, but have more fully realized in the past year at Providence. Time and time again I am blown away by this realization. Sometimes its in the little things, like a BTS exam or HIS paper, other times its about relationships, health, or church.

I could name several examples about the many times just this semester that I'll pray about something, forget about it, and then remember a week later only to realize that God answered my prayer. Granted, it hasn't always been the answer I wanted, but knowing that God is in control, it must have been the answer I needed.

Go to God in prayer. What a comfort it is to know that you can ask God everything. Bring to God your questions, concerns, thanksgiving and praises. Our God is so good!

And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith.
Matthew 21:22


Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:6-7 



Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
Thessalonians 5:16-18

It Is Well With My Soul

Living the College Life

 I want to blog to let you all know that I'm alive over here in CA, but of all the amazing things I've done this weekend, I can't come up with a good blog post to save my life. I've written and re-written close to four times now. Fifth time's a charm??

Providence doesn't have class on Mondays, which basically means, three day weekend/do what you put off until now. Here's the gist of what I stayed occupied with this weekend:

• Sand Volleyball. SeaBeggars natural habitat seems to be the sand volleyball courts. It's awesome.
• Flying Dutchmen. Basically a wet, wild, fast game of duck, duck, goose. 
• Played volleyball in the dark. That was, interesting, to say the least.
• Signs. This could be a Ms. VanDyke game. It's hard to explain, but it's similar to silent football. Basically, lets say for example, you wave your hands. You then have the sign and try to pass it by doing someone else's sign. (standing up) They then receive it by standing up, and then continue to pass it until caught by the person in the middle. You'd think it was easy, but then you'd be wrong.
• Went to church, and then had lunch at Ruby's. Back at my dorm I started reading/napping. Read a page, to tired to turn the page so I'd close my eyes for ten minutes, finally turn the page, and continue. 
• Played more volleyball.
• I did laundry today. But that's boring and now my black shirts are covering in lint. At least I have socks now :P
• Cleaned my room . . .even though I should have been doing other things. 
• I started Choir and Piano, the two Monday "classes" that I have. It's been to long since I last got to play a piano. I still haven't actually gotten to play . . .I tried but it was a rather scarring incident. that piano was so out of tune it hurt. 
• I payed for college. Biggest check I've ever written. Won't be the last one. Bummer, huh?
• Played more sand volleyball. It was rather warm out there . . .builds character right?

(we really like sand volleyball here)

Okay. That'll work for now. My creative juices were pretty much all used up this weekend. I'm either going to go to bed like a good little college student . . .or read the next Harry Potter. 

I Graduated and Other Lies Like That

I am exhausted. I graduated, but I am exhausted. Also, I am an absolutely horrible liar. Especially when its late at night and I can't come up with a good defense to save my life.

Mafia is a great game. But playing with your family, everyone knows who's a good liar and who isn't. I'm not a good liar. I'm also really bad at telling the "truth". Basically, I'm really bad at this game. I would begin what I thought was a good defense, and then stop half way through because I realized that I was actually some how condemning myself. I was also innocent, but they killed me anyways because I was to hesitant when telling them I was the nurse. I just sort of blanked out for awhile.  Sorry if I can't remember things right away! For example, on my way to work the other day, and I totally blanked out on where I was going. Sat at the stop sign for a couple minutes racking my brain to tell me where I was going. Three years every day at the same time and I can't remember where I'm going. I worry about myself sometimes . . .

Graduation was Thursday. I'm all smiled, congratulated, and thank you-ed out. But, so thankful for everyone who came to my open house to congratulate me on my high school graduation. I'm not going to lie (we all know I'm no good at that, so trust me on this) I made some absolutely amazing friends, and part of me wishes I could keep going to school. Yeah, told you I was bad at both the truth and the lies. (And people wonder why I'm always so quite!) I'm going to miss Art, Choir, Comm II, and all the students and teachers, but not PE or Health, or Science or stuff like that. It's been one crazy year. Still can't believe its over, and my summer cleaning job starts Wednesday already. So crazy. But back to work so I can go back to school! This time, in CALIFORNIA!

After telling me congratulations, the next thing to follow always seemed to be "You're so tall!" But that doesn't surprise me. I'm always told I'm tall. Tina said I was taller then all the guys who graduated . . .mostly because I wore really big heels. Yes, I wear heels, no I don't need them. But I like to wear them. And no, I didn't trip. Not even close. Have some faith in me, people!

Okay, its 12:25 in the morning and I'm so tired, so we are going to call this good. I would love to put some grad pictures in here, but I haven't uploaded them and I am not going to go find my chord this late at night. well, um, early in the morning I guess. So, be patient, pictures later, and I also have a video I want to share with you in another post. But, save that for tomorrow. Or Sunday . . .or Monday . . or, yeah. I'm not really doing that everyday thing anymore, but, we all knew that wouldn't last long anyways.

Stem fest 2012

Yes, I've been busy. Five jobs is a lot to work in 3 days, so obviously this isn't going to be my first priority.

Yeah, that's right, five jobs. Don's food center, OCCS, Pizza Ranch Corporate, I clean for a lady who broke her hip, and I clean for another lady who has a cat. (Hate cats, shed like crazy) Oh, and during Tulip festival I work for my aunt. This weekend so many people have been asking me, "Oh, you work here too?" Yes, Yes I do. I work everywhere. Only problem with that however, not a whole lot of time to sleep.

As much as I hate taking off work, I did make sure to take off so I could see the Night Show, My Fair Lady. Both Kaytee and Ms. LeMahieu did an AMAZING job. I went two nights in a row!! Actually, everyone did a fantastic job, especially the guy who played Alfred P. Dolittle. He did a great job.

Alright, It's been about a week and a half since I've been to bed before midnight. However, I don't have to get up for school tomorrow morning!!! Hooray! Friday was the last day of school for the seniors, but I still need to go back and work on my art mosaic. I ran out of pieces again, so tomorrow I need to go in and make some more. blah. I was so close!! Can't wait until it's done, it looks really cool!

Rae and Me in our Dutch Costumes

Kaytee in the Ascot Chorus

Ms. LeMahieu as "Eliza Dolittle"

Working hard at Tulip festival

Last

If one word were to be used to sum up this beautiful Sunday it would be "last". Today was my last Bel Canto church performance, as well as my last piano recital. Such good times, and now it's over. I still have one more Bel Canto performance, and still get to take summer lessons, but regardless of that, I'm still really sad.

For the piano recital I played a duet with Tina and a solo. Our duet . . .well, it worked. It was a cool duet, and we played it quite well considering the few times we actually practiced it. For my solo I played a Sonatina by Kuhlau. I love sonatinas, but someone (*Tina*) thinks they are boring. WRONG! The only boring part of a sonatina is the name. Everything else is fun. :)

The Beethoven bust I received for playing in the Soo Mar festival for 3 high school years. 

A few hours after the recital we headed to Ireton for the very last Bel Canto church performance. I love singing with those girls. On top of that, not to brag or anything, but we sound amazing. Okay, maybe bragging a little bit. We finished our last song and it just hit me, this is the last time I get to do this. As much as I hate early mornings (which is very much) I'm going to miss coming to school and singing for an hour. We have one more performance at the Spring concert this Friday, so it's not quite over, but really close!

Bel Canto singing in Lebanon CRC

Thank you Ms. LeMahieu! 

On a side note, two more weeks of school for us seniors. Getting closer to summer, and for the first time I'm not sure I'm ready yet. When I say the school year flew by, it really did. Still feels like just a few weeks ago when I walked into School and thought "How am I going to survive a whole year?!"

Up-close

These three photos where for an assignment in school. We had to take extreme close-ups of texture. 

I love my photography class at Unity. We have gone to Alton, Orange City, and an abandoned farm in Sioux Center to take pictures. We've done texture, still life, and advertisements. It's kind of sad that schools almost over. 

10 more days until I'm done with High school. For good. Unless of course I manage to fail my Health exam . . . .but don't get me started on that. To be honest, as much as I love summer and not going to school, I'm going to miss it. (except for PE, not going to miss that). There are a few classes I'll miss, like Art, and yearbook, and Comm II. But it's the students and teachers that I will miss the most.