A Letter to Semester Students

Dear Summit Semester class of 2018 (and all future classes),
Happy Thanksgiving!!! Today is a wonderful day! Within the walls of Snow Wolf Lodge there is more joy and laughter than ever before in the past three months. Families are united and sharing in a celebration with your new friends and people you will treasure for the rest of your life. There is also a sadness starting to spread. A realization that you are leaving soon. A year later, on Thanksgiving, my heart still aches from remembering this feeling. Thanksgiving means graduation, and graduation means leaving home and returning to the world you knew before. It isn't the same. I promise, even if everything looks the same, you have changed, and your perception of the world you once knew has changed as well.
I know the staff has prepared you well to come home, but no one tells you what it is like a year later, so that is my goal. Everyone will have different experiences, but I'm sure this ache is the same across the board. Thanksgiving next year will be hard. It feels weird. All the emotions come flooding back. The good memories, as well as the hard ones. The realization that maybe you haven't seen, or even talked to, some of the people you thought you would never loose touch with, in a year. You will remember what it feels likes to come home and how hard or weird or abnormally normal it felt. Today it feels like I just came home, not like I've been home a year. Use this feeling, these memories, and remember the things you learned. Take this time to remember what you thought you would never forget. Read through your notebook, your letters from girls (or guys) appreciation, and look through pictures. Semester may not be perfect, but it will forever be a huge part of your life. Coming home isn't just about learning how to live in your community again, but learning how to thrive every day in light of what you learning and how God has changed you. Never forget there are at least 31 people who feel exactly the same way and 12 classes before you who understand and are still feeling those same things years later.
Take time to remember. Take time to smile. Reach out to your classmates. Semester is an amazing experience that will hold with you the rest of your life. Enjoy it!
Congratulations on making it to the end of the year (and this letter)!

One Year Can Change A Lot

One year ago was my first day at Summit Semester.
It feels like yesterday and eons ago, at the same time.
The thought that keeps running through my head is, "One year can change a lot."
My life is so different from last year, even though outwardly almost everything appears the same.
It's not my habits, or my appearance, or my home, or my church, but my heart that has gone through more than words can say in the past year.
I thought when I left Semester that I would never be able to think about it again without this sad longing in my heart to be back there, with those people, in my room, or on the ridge. While this is true, there is also so much more to it than that. Yes, I want to be back, but I also don't want to go back and repeat it. I've grown. I don't need that exact experience all over again. Yes, I miss my friends, who are practically family, but I still talk to them a lot, even though our relationships have changed dramatically from when we were living side-by-side.
There is also an excitement knowing Semester is starting again. Another band of misfits get to rule the world for a while and experience all the joys, pains, laughter, and family that I had a year ago. They get to see the world through new eyes and learn to live in a community that will impact them the rest of their lives. Each of their stories will be added to ours, just as ours were to the years before us, and create the amazing story that is known as Summit Semester.
So long live Semester '17, and here is to an amazing Semester '18!

"Long live the walls we crashed through

All the kingdom lights shined just for me and you

Long live all the mountains we moved
I had the time of my life
Fighting dragons with you."

Katie & Caden's Wedding

As promised, the wedding blog!
WARNING!! LOTS OF PICTURES!!

Bachelorette Party
The wedding festivities started out with the bachelorette party the weekend before the wedding. We all got dressed up and went out to a nice dinner (taking an "adventure" to get there ;) ) at Buca de Beppo's. We ordered SO MUCH FOOD, but it was delicious and so much fun to hang out with everyone. After stuffing ourselves with amazing Italian food, we went into the mall area to walk around and in general, to be silly. Several people went to LUSH and others (myself included) went to Altar'd State. It's a pretty cool store, if you've never been there. I highly suggest it! After our little shopping trip, we all went and got phenomenal gelatto and hung out talking and laughing and taking pictures. When we decided it had gotten late enough and we were ready to head back, we all went to Katie's and swam/stuck our feet in the pool. It was a little on the freezing side, so my feet were all that were getting wet. Several people spent the night and we all rode to church together the next morning. Overall, it was epic! We had so so much fun and enjoyed being able to spend time together and celebrate the next phase of Kate's life with her.

Flash Mob
At the beginning of June, Tatum, Caden's sister, proposed the idea of doing a flash mob for Caden and Katie at the wedding. We all jumped on board and learned the dance from videos. We had several rehearsals while Katie was at work, getting bridal portraits, or out with Caden. It was a lot of fun to be sneaking around and to know that it was going to make them super excited once it all came about. The song was "Come Alive" from The Greatest Showman. It was pretty fantastic! There are so many stories I could tell, like Josiah showing up late and scaring us all, people learning to do flips, looking like high-fiving helicopters, etc. but I will refrain.

Rehearsal
The morning of the rehearsal (7am) several of us went for a hike at the top of the Sandia mountain. It was quite fun, except for the insane amount of car sickness Maggie and I were experiencing in the back of Sterling's car. Thankfully we were able to move around, and as Sterling put it, have a yoga class, in the back of his car. Haha. From there we went to the rehearsal location and got changed from our hike into more wedding acceptable clothing. We were all still way too early though, so after playing "the claw game" with oreos and a car (don't ask), we all went and ate french fries at McDonald's until it was time to go to the rehearsal. The rehearsal went pretty smoothly. Not too many hiccups or tears were to be had, so I think it was rather successful. After Kate and Caden left, we had a quick run through of the flash mob at the location before hurrying to the rehearsal lunch. The lunch was super nice and we all had little jars to take home with Caden and Katie's name and the date of the wedding. They're adorable! After the rehearsal lunch, all the bridal party stayed to clean up and run through the dance with music several times, working out the last of the quirks before the wedding the next day. That afternoon was chaotic to say the least, but we all made it through and ended up having a great day.

THE WEDDING 
The morning of the wedding was pretty calm. Maggie spent the night with me in the RV the night before, which was a lot of fun! We let Kate sleep in and get ready slowly before all the bridesmaids showed up to start getting ready. Everyone showed up and we all spent about four hours getting ready. We also made our own bouquets, which was tons of fun. Katie gave us all our bridesmaids gifts, which were absolutely adorable! Mine is a white tea cup with yellow, purple, and pink flowers and some delicious hot chocolate, which I'm drinking while I type this. :D We left for the church and started taking all the pictures we could before Katie and Caden saw each other. The wedding was perfect. Literally perfect. I am so so glad I was able to stand up in their wedding and be there for that amazing day.

The Reception
After taking some more pictures, Emma (maid of honour) and Caleb (best man) gave speeches, the cake was cut, bouquet was thrown, Kate danced with her dad, Caden danced with is mom, they danced together, had a light saber duel, and the dancing began. Two songs later our dance began. It was spectacular! Honestly the best part was Katie's face the moment she realized what was happening. Everyone danced for hours and then we sent them off to their car (yes, we did indeed decorate it!) with sparklers and everyone singing "Can you feel the love tonight?" from Lion King. Hahaha.

After Party
After the wedding, all the Semester people initially planned on going out somewhere, but I was exhausted and just wanted to go back to Katie's. So we all went to the RV and hung out for the rest of the night there until I had to leave for the airport. Ashley, Jordan, Sterling, Grace, Kent, and I all stayed up and just hung out for a while. Grace and Kent left, then the remaining four of us attempted to sleep for a little while. I'm not real sure how successful anyone was, but it was at the very least one of the most amusing nights of my life. :D

PICTURES!!!! 
(pc: Katie's dad, Caden's dad, Tatum, and various other people who were standing around for us to ask. :D)

At dinner for the bachelorette party

Bailey, Julia, Tatum, me, Maggie, Katie, Emma, Hannah, Kierstyn, and Caitlyn.

Me and my Katie Grace

The Three Musketeers. lol 

Emma and I before the wedding

The sunrise over Sandia mountain the morning of the wedding

Lily and Sophie getting their hair curled

Katie Grace before her wedding

More of me and Emma :D

All the bridesmaids getting ready 

Flower girls and Ring bearer

Lily at the rehearsal

Josh and I practicing not falling while walking

Me, Julia, and Sydney on the way to the wedding

All of us. (Caleb, Josh, Gideon, Chris, Micah, Josiah, Caden.
Emma, me, Sydney, Julia, Tatum, Kierstyn)

Practicing standing still and not passing out.

SEMESTER!!! (Sterling, Joe, Jordan, Kent, Caden, Katie, me, Ashley, Grace, and Justin)

More rehearsal pics

Sophie being adorable

Caden blindfolded while Katie was getting her pictures taken

pc: Grace

Lily found snails and made friends with them. <3

Birthdays, Weddings, and Adventures

July was quite the month. Summer isn't usually all that hectic for me, but this summer has been quite the exception. 

Fireworks

The first notable thing in July is the day America celebrate's its independence. Here in the great midwest it was full of thunderstorms, so we celebrated a day late. As per tradition, my dad and I climbed up onto the roof, with blankets, hoodies, and Dr. Pepper, to watch the fireworks. Other than the mosquitos, it was great! Also, I won the annual Dr. Pepper can races this year. :) 

Work

Nothing too notable in the realm of work, but it is what consumed most of the time I had. Lots of time at the pool with the kiddos and playing outside. Trampoline time and water balloons also reigned supreme in the realm of fun things to do. 

Birthday fun

In the middle of July I turned 21! I still don't feel more than 16, but maybe that isn't an all bad thing. The weekend before my birthday my mentor from Semester came up to visit. Caleb, Rebekah, Katherine, Anna, Maggie, Jillian, and I all went indoor skydiving. It was amazing!!! We went out to lunch/dinner at Chick-fil-a afterwards and had lots of fun goofing off and generally enjoying our time together. On my actual birthday, I went to work and my kids made it an amazing day! They sang me songs and made me a super sweet card and we ate brownies after lunch. It made the day perfect. <3

New Mexico

4 days after turning 21 I flew to New Mexico for my best friend from Semester's wedding. I went two weeks before the wedding so that we could have some time to hang out and just be sisters again for a little while. It was so much fun! Living with her again was one of the best things about this summer. Also, babysitting her two little sisters, Sophie (8)  and Lily (6), made my visit complete. They are such precious children and I love them so much. The second night I was there I got the privilege of seeing several of Katie's friends in "Lion King" and that was quite enjoyable. Sophie and Lily were in it too, along with Katie's other two siblings, Noah and Julia. Another huge highlight from New Mexico (before the wedding, of course) was meeting my personality doppleganger. Her name is Maggie and we are basically the same person. It is rather fantastic. In the matter of about an hour we became super good friends and have talked every day since then, even now that I'm home. :D 

That's about it in the realm of July. The wedding was such a big deal (and in August) so it shall receive a post of it's own. 

Now for some pictures....

My sweet Lily flamingo.

Katie trying to solve her Cryptex
wedding present.

Caden and Katie working together.

Silly Sophie fun

Beautiful Maggie and I. (The photobomber would
be Josiah lol)

Eddie at the pool.

Sandbox time with the sillies.

Road trips and various adventures

June was a crazy month. It started out that way and never really slowed down. 

The first day of June I woke up at 5am at Rebekah's house and we jumped in the car bright eyed and bushy tailed (haha) to leave for a 10 day trip to Colorado. We drove for 14 hours in one day and arrived at our destination safely. We also learned that Nebraska is a rough state to drive through in one day. The next ten days we met up with Semester friends and Rebekah's family, as well as some of my family. We went to the Summit hotel and visited the lodge. That was by far the hardest part, but I'm now glad that I went. It took a while to come to the conclusion that I was glad to go back, but now I'm genuinely glad that I did. Highlights of that trip would be mountains, Summit friends, mountains, road trip time with Rebekah, mountains, and probably mountains. 

The rest of the month has been a whirlwind of working and getting ready for my next adventure. Also happening in June was the first ever VBS at my church. It was a blast, even though completely exhausting. The kids enjoyed it a lot and I think all of the workers did too. :)

I've still been working tons every week, and it is a little more exhausting with all the kids home from school, but I love them all dearly still. 

It is always an exciting world that I end up living in, whether it be at work or with friends. Little things seem like the end of the world until two days later and all is back to its usual chaos. Despite the crazy, I know that's just how life is and I can learn to enjoy the little things that drive me crazy. 

Another year past

Last year I wrote a post the night before my birthday, so I thought, "Why not do that again?" :)
Something I have been doing with my kids a lot is asking them "interview" questions and I thought it would be fun to use some of those for the night before my birthday. Maybe if I'm persistent and keep this up I'll be able to compare them in future years. It'll be fun anyways. So here we go!!!

• How old are you?
  21 (tomorrow)
• What is your favourite thing to do?
  Hiking, reading, or baking
• Where do you work?
  I nanny for two families
• What is your favourite food?
  Avocados or blueberries
• Who do you like to spend time with?
  Anyone my age
• What do you do really well?
  I'm not sure...hopefully my job
• What makes you laugh?
  Inside jokes, my friends
• What is the best part of the day?
  The moment I first wake up in the morning before the realities of life sink in
• What are you afraid of?
  Thunder and tornadoes 
• What do you love to learn about?
  Languages and theology
• Where is your favourite place?
  Colorado!
• What is the last book you read?
  Finished: An Experiment in Criticism (for the third time)
  In process: The Great Divorce
  Both by C.S. Lewis

Be the Change

I've heard it said over and over "Be the change you want to see in the world." But that inspires the question, "What is the change I want to see?"

While at Semester, a dear friend asked me this question, but not in those exact words. She asked me, "What breaks your heart?" It is basically the same question. It at least will get you to the same destination. I didn't know how to answer when she first asked me, and I asked her if I could think about it so I could give an honest answer. I answered her, but haven't actually stopped thinking about the question.

What breaks my heart? What is the change that I can make in the world? What can I do with my life in order to help "make the world a better place"?

God gives each of us passions. Things that we care about to the point it literally hurts. These are the things that break our hearts and inspire us to act. They are the things we live for every day, whether we know it or not. It is the things we want to do and find a deep satisfaction in doing, even if it is hard or doesn't seem worth it to the rest of the world. It's not just sadness, but motivation.

Sounds simple, right? Find what is pressing on your heart and act. Not too hard at all. Except....what happens when there's more than one thing? Or the issues you want to fix aren't connected in any way? Yes, poverty is terrible. Abortion is horrific. Schools are falling apart. Kids are left without homes or families. People don't know the Gospel of Jesus. Christians are being killed for what they believe. The list can go on and on forever. No one can fix all of it, except Jesus coming back. That's the toll sin paid on this world. All of these things hurt in the deepest part of my heart.

No, I'm not supergirl. I can't make abortion, poverty, or slavery go away in my lifetime. I can't fix all of Americas schools or adopt every child who needs a home. But I don't have to. Every person has something that presses a little harder. Something they want to do more than anything. Maybe I'll make a small difference in all of those areas. That would be nice, but those aren't what I believe I'm called to do.

My passion is for people to hear God's truth and to see lives changed by the news of His salvation. I want to reach out to people who don't have a way to see this for themselves. People without written languages who don't have the amazing privilege to read the Bible for themselves. I can pick up one of my many Bibles whenever I want, but there are people who don't even know what a Bible is. I want to give them a language to read for themselves. By the end of the school year, I will have read the New Testament entirely through twice in 6 months. That's a lot! But as I read through it for the second time, I'm realizing how much truth and joy it contains and how desperate people are to have it and don't even know it. This is what breaks my heart. This is the change I want to see. I want to see a change in people's lives and hearts being turned to God. I want to see families and communities being changed for God's glory. Yes, it is a big job. But I'm willing to let God use me in whatever way He needs in order to see that happen.

In short, I don't want to change the world. I want to watch God change the world. "Be the change you want to see in the world." Welp. I can't be God. I don't want to be God. But I am called to be like Him. I am called to be His hands and feet in this world, along with all of the other people He calls His own.

Praise God

From whom all blessings flow.

Praise Him

All creatures here below.

Praise Him

Above ye heavenly hosts

Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost

Amen

Some pictures...

I know! Another blog post in a week! It's incredible! I am actually getting on top of school and able to have my weekends free, which means I can use this blog a little more. :)

It has been a while since I have posted any pictures on here, so here are some from my life recently....

Park with Eddie Bear

My Sunday School kiddos singing for Easter

Lunch and shopping date with my twin <3

Many, many video calls with Bella

The Flash is a raccoon, didn't you know?

Finley and Eddie had a play date

Eddie making cookies

Eddie loves reading outside

Eddie playing outside

Bowling with Bella. She has
consistently won.

Simon bo-bimon playing with blocks. 

What a Week!

Most times, when looking at what happened this week, I would be overwhelmed and exhausted emotionally, as well as physically. It was a crazy week! But God is amazing and I actually enjoyed the week immensely.

Spring Break.
It is a term all students are familiar with, but also babysitters. It means the kids are not at school and my life is a little more chaotic. Typically I dread three times of the year. Spring break, Christmas break, and the first couple weeks of summer break when everyone is still getting used to the new system of things. This week was rather fun though! I enjoyed getting to spend more time with some of my kiddos, and I did not have to get up early any time this week. I missed one family though because I did not get to see those kids at all. :'(

Start of term.
Another phrase all college students know, but are not typically as enthusiastic about as spring break. My college is set up with two terms a semester, so I have eight weeks, finals, spring break, new classes for eight weeks, finals, and then summer break. This week I started my new classes in the second term and accidentally put two really homework heavy classes together, so it was good to get the first weeks worth of work done while I had a little extra time on my hands. I am taking New Testament Survey and Philosophy 201 and highly enjoying both. In New Testament I have to read the entire New Testament over the course of eight weeks, but that actually seems easy now compared to two days. Philosophy also has A TON of reading, but it is good books and very insightful. Both classes will be challenging in their own ways, but I'm looking forward to them both.

Passover.
Every year my best friend's family does a version of the Passover feast from Exodus. I have been a few times and love going! Though this year I was working later than usual and did not get there until right before we ate, which was not planned, but rather nice. ;) After the meal, we do a Jewish dance that is so much fun and I get to hang out with some of my closest friends for a while.

Computer failure.
Yesterday my computer decided to die a very unfortunately timed death, as I still had homework due and nothing to do it on. Granted, the laptop was a rigorously used computer for five years, but it will be missed dearly. The result was having to run to the store and buy a new computer that day so my homework could get done on time. Not great timing, but I'm liking my new computer (Sparky) quite a bit.

To be continued...
The week is still not over and I still have some exciting things to do! Sleepovers, shopping, church breakfasts, Easter service, keeping up with Semester friends, etc. I am so thankful to God that I have the amazing life that I do and can do it with such amazing people!!!

What's New

Since being home, I took a month off work to re-adjust and all that fun stuff. During that month, I was bored out of my mind quite a bit, having gone from a crazy schedule to absolutely nothing planned. It was good in a lot of ways, but now my life is the complete opposite.

Every day is a little different but my weeks consist of work, school, dance, and martial arts.

Working 50 hours a week (and sometimes more) is crazy. I love my little kiddos to pieces though and am so very happy to see them as much as I do. Some of them are old enough for school, and one is starting school next week, so I treasure the amount of time I have now with them before they are not around nearly as much.

School starts this week and this past week has been full of planning out the next semester's homework and study times and such. I am taking Old Testament History and Education Portfolio Development, which is basically just writing a million papers in eight weeks. I am actually quite looking forward to school starting though. It will be nice to have some mental challenges again.

Dance has been good and yet weird. I am not too fond of changing studios, but sometimes I have to do so. Seven months off has definitely caused some challenges in class, but it is coming back quickly and I am getting used to having two new teachers.

Since coming home, I have started martial arts (ninjutzu) with my brother. It is rather enjoyable, though ballet and ninjutzu don't mix very well. It takes a lot of focus and is stretching me in many new ways. I only have 4 more weeks of that before going back to just ballet again.

On top of all that, there is still teaching sunday school, keeping up with friends from school and at home, and having to be an adult. None of it is easy, but all of it is growing me and I am learning innumerable amounts of things.

2017 in a Nutshell

It has been quite an eventful year, but that has come to a close, so here are the highlights:

• Eddie turned 1!!!
• In March I went to WinterJam for the first time and saw Crowder and Tenth Avenue North live for the first time!
• Bella turned 7!!!
• I got to go to "Giselle" with Rebekah (The tales of bitter, dead women are endless)
• Completed finals for my sophomore year of college
• Had my last dance recital, at least for a while. 
• Rebekah and I had a 40th birthday celebrating both of our 20th birthdays 
• Drove to Kentucky and back in two days, with a little detour in Indiana to see Spider-man (It's a horse! It's a jockey! It's a guy on a horse!)
• Said the (at the time) hardest good-byes of my life and went to Summit Semester 
• Celebrated Farvest Hall
• Had Thanksgiving with more than just family, a lot more. 
• Graduated Summit Semester
• Said the current hardest good-byes to my family at Semester
• Returned to Illinois generally in one piece
• Got a new cousin!!!!!!!!!! 
• Nearly froze to death in Chicago with friends
• Had the best New Year's Eve with three dear friends from Summit
• Talked on the phone more than I ever have in my life between being at Semester and talking to Semester people now that we are all home. 

Here's to an amazing 2018!