So long 2014;

I'm sitting here waiting for mom to let me know she's on her way home from work so I can finish dinner. 

It's 31 December 2014. New Year's Eve. 

I can't help but to reflect on this last year. And all its craziness. 

2014 started with spending 4 days in the twin cities at TCX with college students through the upper Midwest at Cru's winter conference. This year I'm finishing 2014 at home, until I go with friends later. And it's hard tonight... Introversion is kicking in. Oh, well... Haven't seen these guys in eons! So I'm making myself go (and by myself I mean my best friend Sara). LOVE YOU! 

I have so much to reflect on... I've gotten life somewhat under control, and by that I mean time management and stress/depression so I can be a "functional adult" in society. Still gotta work on that whole money thing... But it's getting there. 

And I think I got a bit more of this school stuff done, which shouldn't be too surprising as credit wise I'm considered a senior! Still consider myself a freshman though. 

But, when it comes to the people in my life, both old and new, I couldn't be more blessed! The community I have in Cru is unbelievable! I love each and everyone of you! 

My work life, I love my job so much at Family Christian primarily for my coworkers. It really is a family there. Thank you all for being so amazing and making me feel so welcomed from my first day, and everyday I walk in (especially the days I dread coming in; introverts get at its best). 

Now, the more broad category of college itself. I honestly could not have been placed with a better roommate by chance! Megan, I freaking love living with you, even if you are a cheese head. 

I've also met so many new people that I now considers friends from my theater minor classes, never thought that that would've happened! 

Looking back it's been a crazy roller coaster, with the year ending much higher than it started. I only hope next year is much of the same.

Here's to 2014! 

Here's to well wishing and blessings to all for 2015 (and maybe a guy for me??? Just kidding!) 

Lord bless you tonight and be safe! 

So proud!

I just want to take a post and brag about my little sister. She's 14, and sometimes our 6 year difference is hard on both of us. I remember 8th grade, and the things she's going through now, a lot of it I did too. Only difference, I only knew my friends at this point about a year and a half as we had just moved there, but she got to grow up with these kids! And she gets the annoying, "oh! Are you Tori's little sister?" ;) 

But, I'm so glad that we have such an amazing relationship that she is open to asking for help and advice. The other day she face timed me on my break at work just so I could help her on her science homework. It was fantastic! 

The real reason I want to blog about Miss Punky is because of how proud I am of her! She got her first major injury the other day... A sprained wrist! Granted, by her age I've already had a broken arm, but she's got me beat. She found a sport she enjoys more than any other. SWIMMING! This child, I tell you, is a fish! I'm so proud she found something to call her own, because for so long she was always wanting to be a Mini-Me. I know practically nothing about swimming (last year I new nothing at all) but I love being able to watch her swim and enjoy every minute of it. It makes my heart happy seeing her happy. And, her captain from this year, I knew in high school as she was a few years younger and we were in band stuff together, is such a good influence on her I can't help but be thankful for her too. 

Back to her wrist, is it bad that I'm proud of her for that?! I mean, I don't want her going out and intentionally hurting herself, I sorta feel like the big brother of the situation though. I'm glad it's nothing too serious like a concussion or whatever, I mean, it's her non-dominate wrist so she can still write fine. And I face timed her last night just to see how she was feeling about it, so I care, but I still think it's awesome she has her first major injury. :) 

I just love my sister! Punky, I can't wait to be home for Christmas! I miss you so stinking much! MWAH! 

 There she is! She's the tall one with the green cap. She's even taller than me! The butthead... 

And this is the family cheering her on at a meet. :) 

End of the line...

Well, obviously my New Years resolution of blogging more didn't happen... I don't even know where the year went! It's finals week here at school and there's just a lot going through my mind so I thought it's time to blog! 

Finals, oh my goodness the overload of papers this semester! I thought being a science major was hard each semester with like 4-5 finals to study for, but this last semester I took only one science class and the rest generals or classes for my theater minor. THERES SO MANY PAPERS! Never again will I complain about one or two papers for finals... Just give me a test to study for and I'll call it good. 

I'm minoring in theater so yesterday I had my acting final. I had a scene partner and we performed our scene. Two hours we sat through the final so all 10 groups could perform. I had such a fun time in the class! I didn't know what to expect, I just took it because it's required for the minor... I only ver wanted to do behind stage stuff, like managing the stage! But it was fun acting for once, though I was always nervous as all get out before doing scenes or the monologue. But, my classmates were the best! I'm going to miss them come this spring as I'll be on science class overload again. 

Next up, papers for mythology, intercultural communication, and a lloooong journal entry for my acting class... Not excited. If I wanted to write all these senseless (in my opinion) papers I would've been an English major. I don't even like writing reports for my science classes! (I joke and tell people I'm going to hire a ghost writer for when I do research in my future.) But, such as life. Guess we all know what I'll be doing tomorrow before working all night! 

Oh my goodness, WORK! The last couple of weeks I've been trying to figure out why I was so far behind on homework, it was work! First is Thanksgiving extended sales with a million people that just wipe me put, and now, December has extended holiday hours! I'm at work an extra hour or two almost every night which cuts out of homework time. Don't get me wrong, I absolutely LOVE my job... I just need to learn to better prioritize my time and schedule better. Oh being a functional adult... But, money pays for things like a phone and food. And gas, and insurance... Who knew growing up would be so exhausting? 

Oh, right. Our parents. 

Well, good luck on finals yall! Enjoy Christmas Break and enjoy the time at home away from college for a few weeks! 

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! 

Oh my gosh!

So much for keeping up with a new year's resolution, right?! Two posts in 10 months?! What can I say but college is busy, and being a student is even busier. There's always something to do and you can never seem to find free time, because it's quickly filled with work, homework, and for me random cleaning! My dorm has gotten to be such a mess on my half, it's chaotic!

As I was reading my post from January, I can say things are better in aspects. I have a job I ABSOLUTELY love, and I wouldn't want any other job right now. I work at Family Christian, it's a christian "retail" store. We sale bibles, and books, and movies, and kids' toys, and various gift items, the amount of stuff we have is crazy! And it's legally a nonprofit so everything that's purchased goes to orphan and widow ministries, and as employees we're required (after working there a year) to go on a mission's trip to the villages and other countries in which our 'profits' help. It's so incredible hearing some of the stories of my coworkers, once recently just getting back from Haiti!

And, my roommate this year is the greatest ever! We get along so well and have so much in common! I feel like we've been friends forever yet we've only known each other since moving into the dorms! It only took my three years to get a good one... Last week was her birthday, and of course she got lucky enough to have all classes cancelled, so I did as much as I could to keep it somewhat entertaining for her :) and I guess I did a fairly decent job as she said she had a great day.

And than there's the craziness of the college student schedule... classes, work, homework, tutoring, Cru. Oh my goodness does it seem crazy or what?! I suppose it doesn't sound too exhaustive of a list, but each piece entitles a lot of effort and time. Who knew being an adult could be so stressful, right?!

Oh, but I love my crazy life. And it's a lot easier now getting through it when I have help with making my moods normal. Depression I tell yeah.

I'm so incredibly blessed in my life, and especially after this weekend spent at Fallapalooza, I can really start to count my blessings. I'll be making a separate post about that in a bit. For now, it's off to hit the books and get ready for the week! I've only collectively had 8 hours of sleep over the last two days where I normally have 8-9 a night!

Mugs n Muffins

My home church of Cornerstone has a once montly women's event called Mugs n Muffins. Here, the ladies of the church get together with their mugs from home and spend a bit of time just getting to know each other and enjoying muffins (and cheese and chocolate!) while we wait for a lady (or two) come up front and talk.

These talks are always focused around God and what He's doing, has done, taught, or is teaching us in their lives and how we can use it in our own lives.

It's truly a blessing.

Well, April's Mugs n Muffins I was asked to record as Miss Ann wasn't able to be there and really wanted to see it. The topic was Mentoring and being Mentored.

The first video covers most of the event, but unbenounced to me it stops recording after a time so I bit is missed between catching the last bit in the second video. The second video, I believe towards the end, has more of randomness that's unrelated. :)

ENJOY! And God bless you!

New Year, New Me

Well, here's 2014. I know it's almost the end of January, but you would not believe the craziness of this semester already! So this is how the story starts:

I started off the new year at TCX again this year, met some pretty great people, like "Onsie Boy" as he's been dubbed in my circle of friends, and relationships with my friends flourishing. And the best relationship that's had growth is my relationship with the Lord. Looking back onto 2013 I can see the change in myself. After TCX brought in the New Year, I traveled home with Mindy so she could leave from my house back to her home in SD.

Little background story, before Winter Break I had talked with one of our Cru Staff and she talked about a vision trip overseas during spring break in March. I so wanted to go, but I had to find $3,000 on top of renewing my expired passport! Talk about a leap of faith! Fast forwarding a couple of weeks; at TCX I decided I was going to commit to going on the Vision Trip no matter what it took. I already had approval from my parents so now it was a matter of finding the funds. During a main conference one of the nights I felt moved to head up to my hotel room and write out my support letter I would be sending out.

I told Heather (Cru Staff mentioned earlier) that I was going up to my room instead of doing any of the activities they had that night, and she seemed surprised. Out off all the letters I've handed out to family, friends, complete strangers, and those I somewhat knew I've received over $1,000 in support! In a little over two weeks!

On top of worrying about not making the funds for the Vision Trip, I also am out of a job this spring semester. The reason for this is depression. Yeah, depression. For the longest time I didn't even want to think it would ever effect me, I always thought, "Just because it's in the family doesn't mean I have it. I'm different."

(Interjection: If you're feeling depressed you don't always think suicidal, I was never in any way suicidal, there was just many days of feeling hopeless and having zero motivation to do anything! There was many skipped meals, days between showers, and sometimes week before studying! I promise you there is no shame in asking for help from professionals! I can promise you that medications seem scary, but I can also promise you it is SO incredibly nice waking up feeling happy and content everyday compared to not even wanting to see or talk to your best friends!)

Back to reality, last semester I really had a hard time with classes, stressing out over a roommate situation, and feeling like I wasn't doing any good for anybody. I have stress induced depression. It's not going to ever go away, bur right now, with medication I feel absolutely wonderful! I feel motivated to go to class, I feel motivated to check off items on my 'To Do' list! And the best part, when I do check off assignments it's a glorious feeling and it motivates me even more to get stuff done!

Now, I'm not saying it's solved all my problems. I still only have $3.00 in my bank account, a maxed out credit card, and trying to find time to donate plasma so I can have a little bit of extra spending cash for cereal and milk at the least! On top of relying on family (which I very much dislike doing), I've come to truly fully rely on God (F.R.O.G.) and have faith that He will provide. And He does provide, in ways you wouldn't dream of!

I know a few of you may be starting out Spring 2014 semester feeling a little overwhelmed, and for you, I just want to say find some time just to relax. And I don't mean watching TV or playing video games, I mean finding a quiet place, and if you're a believe than just take time to thank God for what you are blessed with every day, and take time to focus on the little things. It's crazy to think how multiple pair of jeans is a blessing compared to other countries where they may only have one or two outfits their entire life! Or electricity and running water! And if you're not the religious type, find some soothing music, plug in, and just think about things in your life that you may take for granted, sometimes there may be a person or two in our life we never realized how important they really are. And I guess that could go for the believers too. :)

For those that are starting out the new semester and year in a decent place, reach out to those who may need a little uplifting. A smile is sometimes the easiest and best way! Say hi to somebody new passing by! And take time to remember that there will be times when things get overwhelming but better things do and will come your way. It may not seem like it's going to be right away, but it will.

Part of my New Year's resolution is to keep updated on my blog! I say that to myself all the time! But I think I truly mean it this year! Maybe I'll even start another "more spiritual blog" for those needing some uplifting or just to know they're not alone in trials.

Have a blessed and Happy New Year and let the good times roll!