December 2012

It's almost that time again.  It's time to hang up the new camp calendar and flip it to January.  What a year it has been!  And it all ended with December.  What a cold month to wrap up so many things!

Low:

• I went to Pizza Ranch to meet up with Matt Jones, Julia, and Lincoln.  This was good.  Not even 5 minutes after arrival, the little thing that holds the peppermints and toothpicks got caught on my purse and dumped to the floor.  Rather embarrassing, but nothing out of the ordinary.
• That blizzard that was supposed to dump tons of snow only left my yard with a small dusting.
• Lu criticizes my driving...

High:

• I got to go see Tums in her play Bye Bye Birdie.  It was pretty great!  That was followed by Chinese with some great people!  :)

• I was able to meet my teachers and students for my student teaching placements!  I love them already and I know I will have an amazing 8 weeks in each place!
• I FINALLY got to go to Country Night with Racheal and Kelsey!  It was such a great night shuffling out on the dance floor!  :)

• Graduation.  Granted that I'm not completely done, I'm all but there.  Only student teaching is left!  :)

• I put in a BEAUTIFUL quilt!  This one could possibly be my favorite one so far!

• I got my near Christmas baby.  Isn't she sweet?  :)

• I went to camp to work for a couple of days, as well as spending the weekend with past staff!  :)
• I started a Chicago trip with Alison and Lu, but that blog happens in the New Year!
• My friends know me so well, and they gave me great gifts!  We did a thrift store challenge...well, except for Lu, and we did great!  So many treasures!!
• MY BEST FRIEND IS ENGAGED!!!!  She called me at camp telling Sue and Camie it was an emergency!  I've been bugging Caleb for months about this!!  

Favorite picture of the month!

December flew by and was filled with college, Christmas, quilts, snow, and friends.  What a crazy, crazy month!  It's hard to believe that I start student teaching in a couple of weeks!  Here's to the New Year and all we'll see in 2013!  :)

That Chicken Was SO Good!

WOW.  Just WOW.  I had such and UNBELIEVABLE Thursday through Sunday down in the Valley at camp!  I went to work on Thursday afternoon working hard in the Dining Hall getting it all cleaned up and ready for the weekend.  I also worked with Josiah and Nate for a while both days.  Andrew and Rachel hosted supper that night and it was filled with pizza and Duck Dynasty.

The next morning as I was getting ready for the day, the snow was falling BEAUTIFULLY!  It looked absolutely gorgeous!  I was sent right away to the horse area to help Kyle shovel snow.  That was a lot of work!  I took one side of the the hitching rail and Kyle took the other.  At one point, Katrina and I went up to get the new horse, Cavalier.  After helping with fencing in the snow, it was time for lunch.  Basically, I spent the rest of the afternoon in the kitchen with Debbi and Andi.  We cleaned, and cooked, and chatted.  Chatting in the kitchen has become one of my favorite things to do while I'm at camp.  There is just something about bonding while making food that warms my heart a little bit more.

At long last is was time to be reunited with my near and dear friends!  I lived in 202 for the weekend with the older girls of camp.  Three of those include some of my best friends in the world!  We got Lu talked into stopping to pick up some delicious Scratch cupcakes!  She got a little lost and delayed, but they still tasted great!  :)  Alison had her first ever, and we talked to Debbi about them later and someday when I come back, I will be able to delight her palate!  :)

The next day was busy from waking to sleeping!  The day was so jammed full of activities, friends, snow, and so much!  Right before lunch we had a photo scavenger hunt.  The Green Team was headed up by Strupp Throat and Frisky Miske, and we pulled out a pretty great second place with a couple bathroom photos racking up some points!  :)

After lunch I bundled up and headed to the horses.  I took pity on poor Bear.  Nobody wanted to ride him.  Granted that he can be kind of a butt sometimes, but overall we're buds.  At one point on the ride, he did this awkward whole body shake that I have never had a horse do before.  The ride was so peaceful and serene! I love spring/summer/fall scenery better than winter, but there is still a brilliance about the snow that always seems to take my breath away.

As if I wasn't sore enough after the shoveling of snow and a horseback ride, I decided that I could let myself get talked into a game of Broomball.  Oh, man!  Secretly, I had loads of fun!  I got really into it and shoved Patrick around a little bit.  I only biffed it once, but Patrick was nice enough to help me back up. I even scored a couple of times, but I won't share about my turns at goalie...

I used to think all those walks up to the lake were rough in the summer.  Then I walked up with all my winter gear on.  I don't think I'll be complaining this summer at all!  The Polar Plunge was hilarious as usual!  That face when the shock sets in is absolutely priceless!  The best part was that we loaded up the green dock and it didn't even budge!  One the way back down, I might have attacked Lu a couple of times and taken her out!  I was a blast, and she will never be able to get me down!  :)

Sam and Dani joined the picture at some point that evening.  I have missed those two!  They are so sweet and typical 4 year olds who ask lots and lots of why questions.  They sat at our table for supper when we had chicken strips.  Camie came over and Dani told her that the chicken was SO good.  This was so Debbi would have a little feedback for future planning.  I guess if 4 year olds like it, it's a hit!  :)

Later that night, we had a DANCE PARTY!!  Oh so much fun!  I had to ditch my long underwear and extra pair of socks because it was getting quite warm in the gym!  It was so much fun and so many memories were made!  Back in the Lodge, I roamed.  I had my PJ's and Vince shirt on and I was downstairs with Lu in the Craft Room as she finished a painting, and I was upstairs catching up on my journal by the fire.  Both nights were pretty late this weekend, but I wouldn't have had it any other way!

The next morning was crazy!  I slept in the awkward corner of 202 so I didn't have a real good home for my stuff all weekend.  I don't usually spread out that bad, but this was bad!  I had to dig under my bed for things, and I had stuff all over the middle of the cabin.  Then it came to sorting what could stay in the trunk as I journeyed to Chicago later that day.

Breakfast was wonderful and Camie took the chance to catch up on our busy lives as the sun streamed in the Dining Hall windows.  The morning wrapped up with chapel, lunch, and goodbyes.  I also may have shoved snow in Gwen's face...  :)  At last, it was time to lead the way to start another adventure with Alison and Lu. Look for a Chicago blog in a couple of days.  I already have plenty to say about that!  :)

For I Know the Joys

I believe in the future of agriculture, with a faith born not of words but of deeds - achievements won by the present and past generations of agriculturists; in the promise of better days through better ways, even as the better things we now enjoy have come to us from the struggles of former years.

I believe that to live and work on a good farm, or to be engaged in other agricultural pursuits, is pleasant as well as challenging; for I know the joys and discomforts of agricultural life and hold an inborn fondness for those associations which, even in hours of discouragement, I cannot deny.

I believe in leadership from ourselves and respect from others. I believe in my own ability to work efficiently and think clearly, with such knowledge and skill as I can secure, and in the ability of progressive agriculturists to serve our own and the public interest in producing and marketing the product of our toil.

I believe in less dependence on begging and more power in bargaining; in the life abundant and enough honest wealth to help make it so--for others as well as myself; in less need for charity and more of it when needed; in being happy myself and playing square with those whose happiness depends upon me.

I believe that American agriculture can and will hold true to the best traditions of our national life and that I can exert an influence in my home and community which will stand solid for my part in that inspiring task.

The FFA Creed written by E.M. Tiffany

Ah, the good ol' creed.  These 5 paragraphs once rolled around in my brain during freshman year of high school as I prepared to be the Freshman Creed Speaker.  I had to have all of these paragraphs memorized, and I had to successfully answer 3 questions prepared by the judges.  I practiced and practiced.  Shafranek helped me by asking questions from previous years to give me a feel for what the judges would possibly ask.  One question he asked me dealt with the second paragraph.  He asked me something about the joys and discomforts.  I don't really remember the question, by part of my answer for joy was the birth of new calves.

Practically every year there was always a calf in need of a bottle.  That responsibility fell on Peyton and I.  We loved doing it!  Eventually, we got to the point where we could have our very own calves to feed, break to lead, and show at the fair.  This was a pretty big deal!  Eventually, those calves got older and were having calves of their own.

Cinnamon is one of my 'babies.'  She was part of my first cow/calf project, and she has stayed with me ever since.  She is the biggest pest I have ever owned.  She hates trailers, loves to be the first one at the food, can escape pens from time to time, is spoiled by Dad, and is a beautiful red.

Last fall, she was supposed to be pregnant.  To my great disappointment, she wasn't.  This isn't the first time I've been faced with this.  They need to stay on a sort of schedule so they don't chance getting sold.  The problem wasn't her, so Dad gave her some more time.  

I waited and waited and waited.  I left for camp at the end of May and still didn't know the verdict.

One weekend I called Dad and he said he would be preg-checking that week.  This would give me the answer.  The next weekend I called him again.  I was driving back from La Crosse with Alison and she heard me suddenly get really excited and start screaming because Cinnamon was pregnant!!  :)

Honestly, if camp people didn't hear my talk about my cow at all, they must have been ignoring me.  I talked about her the rest of the summer!  I talked about the names I had picked out, and even explained to Ric how AI works.  People gave their opinions of the names Tito and Spinelli, and were excited when I told them I might have a Christmas baby.

The months slowly slipped by as I visited Cinn in the field and felt her growing belly.  I counted down the weeks until Christmas time.  Finally, last week Dad started the spoiling and began putting Cinnamon in the barn nightly.  Dad said she wasn't due until the 29th, but I remained hopeful that I would see my new baby before I left for camp.

Christmas was yesterday and Dad kept Cinn in the barn all day because he thought she might be close.  We checked in the afternoon.  Still no signs of a baby.  I checked after supper.  Still no signs of a baby.  I checked before I went to bed.  Still no signs of a baby.

This morning I struggled out of bed, ate breakfast, and settled into the chair.  Dad came in and told me I had a new heifer.  

WHAT?!

I told Mom the name and she kept trying to make me change it to Noel, Holly, or Mistletoe.  I'm all, "No, Mom.  I've been talking about that name since June.  I've settled."  I quickly dressed and headed out to meet my little black beauty.

First glimpse.

Cinn was being a protective mother, so I couldn't really see her then.  I went out later this afternoon and I got right down to her to snuggle and kiss her little swirl on her sweet face!  Isn't she the cutest?  :)

This had to be one of the joys and Mr. Tiffany had in his mind when he wrote that second paragraph of the creed in 1930.  It is forever one of my favorite joys of the farm life.

One of the best parts about this baby is that Dad wants to break her to lead to have another chance at a sort of lead cow for the herd.  This means that I get to break her!  This is something that I sorely missed this spring.  It is also something that I thought I was saying goodbye to since I no longer show my animals.

I am so happy with Cinn and Spinelli and love spending time in the pen sitting on the straw that brings memories of summer.  Summer thoughts are nice to hold onto since it is so cold out!  I am pretty sure Cinn doesn't mind being spoiled by spending the winter in the barn!  :)

Quilt Frame Forts

Quilting has in some way always been a part of my life.  It's in my blood, and sometimes draws blood when I accidentally prick myself with a needle or pin.  Grammy has always put a quilt in to get done before Christmas, and one after the tree is taken down.  This tradition has slowed in the past few years, but she is still always working on something.  When Peyton and I were little, we would always be at her feet hiding out under the quilt.  We would take toys and books to occupy our time and look up at the designs stitched by Grammy's caring hands.

I love being able to do something I love and it being something I'm great at.  Seriously, my creations are blue ribbon winners.  I love making beautiful creations that are treasured by my friends and family.

From the start I've been working on nursery blocks.  They are so ADORABLE!  I've slowly given 2 away...

and I have one more hanging in my closet...

And now it is time to do a Sunbonnet Sue quilt.  I have loved these blocks from the start!  In the package, they always give you colors that they used in the block, but I never do things by the book.  Therefore, my blocks ended up being all sorts of beautiful colors.  I went into The Quilting House with an idea of what I wanted.  After the sales ladies finished ohhing and ahhing over my blocks, we headed to the reprint section.  I LOVE reprint fabrics!  They are just so beautiful and so perfect for a Sunbonnet Sue quilt!  

Sometimes, I settle on things rather quickly.  I go in with a picture in my head, find it, and that's it.  The search is over.  I did this with my prom dress junior year.  I only tried on one dress and I just knew it was 'the one.'  I did this with fabric too.  I had this picture in my head, and there it was.  The first one I picked out.  A perfect combination of colors, a beautiful pattern, and a reprint!  What a perfect fit!

And now, I will spend many hours sitting in the basement by myself as I watch movies I've seen a hundred times, listen to George Strait music, and move my fingers in graceful rhythms to attain those dainty stitches that are to be praised by fair judges and get me blue ribbons.

I haven't decided on this one yet though.  I kind of want to keep this beauty for my own daughter to have tea parties with her favorite animals on and to snuggle up with as she dreams sweet dreams with a much loved teddy bear close by.

Ze Hole

My first year at UNI, I lived in a 3-person suite down the hall from 12E, my single room.  Last year, I moved into 12E, dubbed Ze Hole by my friend Racheal.  Truth is, it's kind of like a hole.  It is literally the smallest single room in Lawther.  Seriously, the lounge next door is bigger than my room.

Last year, I was in serious need of my own space!  After living with 2 people in a suite, and then sharing a cabin with many girls and living from a suitcase all summer, I got excited to decorate my little space exactly how I wanted and spread my stuff out EVERYWHERE!  It was lovely!  It served the introvert in me very well.  I mean, I had a Lazy Boy that I could kick the leg rest up and nap while watching FRIENDS, and no one ever saw!  :)  The funniest part was when there were more than 2 people in my room.  We would literally have to stand in an awkward single file line.  I am not even kidding!

Coming in for my last semester I decided to change things up a little bit and de-loft my bed.  This would mean leaving the Lazy Boy behind, but I figured I could handle it for 16 weeks.  It was cramped, hot, and frustrating trying to de-loft my bed with my daddy.  When I settled in, I loved my room!  It felt so grown up and I had everything organized.  My amazing, grown-up looking dorm room was only one of the many reasons I had such a great last semester!

Throughout the last 16 weeks, my room has become the meeting place for camp people hangouts and other such activities.  Yep, the smallest room gets the most attention.  Crazy how that works.

The last 3 weeks were the worst.  I had to reloft my bed before move out, and it worked best to do it before Thanksgiving.  I felt like I regressed and it was back to freshman year or something.  I again had to climb up high to make my bed, climb up to go to bed, and watch my head as I stood up from my desk.  I was also just getting sick of the dorm atmosphere.  I was sick of the radio in the bathroom, and being in the city.

12E, you've been good to me the last year and a half.  Its been fun!  I hope someone else will be able to enjoy the small space like I have!

The sweetest thing about leaving was when Janet left a note in my mailbox.  Janet is the secretary and is such a sweet lady!  :)

Baby Blue

Sadly, I'm sure that many didn't catch that the title of this blog is also a great, classic song by George Strait.  That's not the point though.  I chose that title for a different reason.  It is the color of the tassel that hung from my graduation cap today.

Today, Eryn met me in my room and 2 high school friends walked to another graduation together.  We both kept asking each other how we are old enough to be graduating from college already.

Today, I donned on that shapeless black gown, and placed that awkward hat on my head.  I tugged the tassel to the right until it was officially time to change it to the left.

Today, I got my last name pronounced correctly as I crossed the stage to shake President Allen's hand and reach for my empty diploma case.  This is actually the second time I've gotten the empty case scenario.  It happened in high school too!  Thank you 4+1 for a year of free college!  :)

Today, a plug was made during a GREAT speech by Ian Goldsmith about taking a picture with Grandma Betty and all I could do was sit there wishing I could.

Today, I thought about the people who couldn't make it who always encouraged me and would have loved to see me cross that stage.  Grandpa and Grandma Goudy, and Errol and Donna were missed greatly today.

Today, I got to take pictures with the ones I love after we waded out of the packed McLeod Center.

Today, I packed up, moved out, and cleaned 12E for the last time.  I had plenty of help to do that quick!

Today, I left UNI for the last time...until Tuesday when I have to go take the PRAXIS.  Yeah, what a long goodbye.

Hiding in the Corner

Ah, camp.  I love that place!  I love spending my summers there.  The sad part is there are those weeks that you wish home was a lot closer than 4 hours away so you'd be able to visit for a little bit on the weekends.

This summer, I wasn't as much of an introvert on the weekends as I was last summer.  This got to me around week 7.  I had a week in the bakery to help matters greatly.  Then I was the Horsemanship counselor.  That week was so stinking wonderful!  I loved it all from the afternoon arena lessons to the movie in the barn and the camp out.  I had been wanting to ride all summer, and I got my fix that week!  :)

While I was enjoying myself that week and the week before, there were some things going on at home.  My grammy was in the hospital overnight.  That in itself is HUGE because she NEVER gets sick.  My younger brother was going through some things too.  I wanted nothing more than to go home for a few days, but I knew if I were to make that decision, I wouldn't want to come back to camp.  I wrote some very private letters that week, and my campers saw me crying at one point during staff prayer groups.  I was a little bit of a secret wreck that week.

Towards the end of the week, I needed to talk to Camie about my job for the next week.  Honestly, I had no desire to be a family assistant.  I can't explain it fully.  Don't get me wrong, I LOVE family camp, but I just didn't want to assist one family.  I think some of it had to do with my thoughts being at home.  Camie also gave me a few other things to think about besides my job for the next week.  I was at a crossroads, and I didn't know where to go or what to do.

After that meeting, it was time for Horsemanship chapel.  After chapel is TAG time.  I tried to sit and I did pray for a little while before heading off to the Craft Room where I knew Lu would be.  I just needed to talk to someone who knew what was going on.  She took me back to the corner in the Craft Room which had a desk uncovered thanks to Katie Riley.  There, I cried a little bit.  I told Lu all about my meeting with Camie.  I told her about my discontent at the thought of being a family assistant.  I told her more about what was going on at home.

Her response?

"You need to color!  You just need to sit, pray, color, and be by yourself for as long as you need.  I'll go get you a coloring page and colors!"

Let me guess, you weren't expecting that either.  I just stood there shaking my head as she wandered off to get colors.  In my head I'm thinking, "Coloring is not what I need right now..."

She came back with a box of colors and the little picture of the Armor of God that we had been using all summer for the little kids during chapel.  I sat and sighed and began to color.  Soon, Lu came back with her iPod and played Laura Story's Blessings.

I will typically write out my prayers.  I love writing, and by writing out my prayers, I feel I am better focused.  I decided to apply the same concept to coloring.  I wrote out the words on top of each other as I slowly dressed myself in the Armor of God.  I honestly don't even know how long I sat there, but when I left, I felt dressed and ready to take on whatever the next week would hold, even if I didn't have an exact answer yet.

 Sometimes, all it takes is the right colors, the right song, the right picture, and the right spot.  All these added up to the right way to spend TAG time.

Secret Fashionista

I reread Catcher in the Rye a while back.  Towards the beginning of the book, Holden talks about his room mate being a "secret slob."  His room mate cleans up nice, but his stuff is nasty!  After sharing a bathroom with Peyton for 6 years, it's safe to say the he is a secret slob as well.  Anyway, I've since applied this thought process to other areas.  I, for one, am a secret fashionista.

Typically, this is what I will wear. 

Granted that this picture is taken at camp and there, people have "camp clothes."  My "camp clothes" are also my normal clothes.  Yep, I will regularly wear man shorts, a random shirt, and beat up Nikes.  My sister is the fashionista in our family.  I mean, that is what she went to school for.  I, for one, do not tend to walk around dressed all "cute."  I don't go shopping any more than I can help it, but when I do, I bring in quite a load.  I love beautiful things!

Last semester, I had this goal of wearing a new outfit every day that I taught for my field experience.  That would be around 32 different outfits.  The rules were simple:  I couldn't wear the same complete thing more than once.  I could change it up with a different cami, different pants, different cardigan, etc.  I missed it by ONE day.

This semester I thought, "I'm not messing around!"  The extra challenge?  There would be closer to 40 outfits for me to assemble!  I have added a few new pieces since last spring.  The step I took to ensure I wouldn't repeat an outfit was to take a picture on my computer every day.  My webcam folder looks like a junior high girl's Facebook profile filled with selfies!  My Sunday night ritual was to assemble all of my outfits for the week.  That would be the beaver in me hard at work!  :)

Well, I did it!  I accomplished my goal!  From the first day:

to the last:

I have worn a different complete outfit every single day!  I did happen to have some outfit mishaps along the way.  There was the day I lost a button off my pants and the day that a student told another student she didn't like the color yellow.  I was standing right next to her wearing this:

I'm not 100% sure if I'll start this streak over next semester, but I know I can!  I know that it will at least be a while before I repeat an outfit.  Look at this college girl being economical with her wardrobe!  :)

To Stumble or To Search

I've had Matthew 13:44-46 bracketed in my Bible for a long while.  Today, one of the important points of the sermon centered on these verses.  The pastor focused on the fact that we are stumblers, or we are searchers.  In my life, I feel like I've been both.

⁴⁴ “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.

⁴⁵ “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. ⁴⁶ When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.

I've always known about God and Jesus dying on the cross.  I heard it all.  I was Mary more times than I could count.  I went to Vacation Bible School every summer.  I never heard the Gospel presented to me in the way of me in need of a savior until I went to camp.  That was my stumble upon moment.  I prayed the prayer and went on with life.

In January of my sophomore year, Errol died.  He was a man who was a 3rd grandfather to me.  He was one of the strongest men I have known in my life.  It hurt so bad to watch that man lie in a coma for 10 days before he went to be with the Lord.  This was my first encounter of a death that was so incredibly close to me.  I was broken.  I was a mess.  I was something that I have never been since and I never want to be again.  It was the lowest point in my life.  I went through the motions.  I cried myself to sleep at night.  My appetite was all over the place.  I skipped meals, and then gorged.  I took naps every day after school.  I frowned.  All the time.  I couldn't stop.  I didn't know how.  I don't really remember that I prayed much through this time.  I faked laughter.  I faked a lot of things in the couple of months following Errol's death.

I was searching for something to take away that hurt I was feeling deep in my core.  I felt empty and I didn't know what would fill me up.

And then one night, I found it.  

I went to a youth event and I heard the Gospel message again.  

The light bulb went on.

The door was opened.

The treasure was found.

I sold myself out that night.  I felt a peace cover me and the huge weight that I had been toting for a couple of months was lifted off of my shoulders.  My search was over.  I have my treasure.  Have you found yours?