2012

Welcome to the new year! Yes. I do realize that it is now the 2nd, but I'm just a little behind.

So for the new year I have a few things that I am going to try to keep up.

1. Floss and mouth wash every day (just thought I would try it!)

2. Write down 3 things everyday about my day.

Only 2 things BUT I hope that I can keep them up. Honestly, it will be pretty hard for me! But we will see!

Here are a few pictures of the best times of 2011!

Senior Year! Homecoming :)

Halloween!

Summer at CPBC!

Spring Break '11

Victoria Falls, Zambia

Instagram

I am totally into this instagram jam. I recently got an iPhone and one of its' (many many) perks is its' instant access to instagram. I have been a Twitter user for a while and instagram is linked up with that too. AND facebook. Triple whammy. Just sayin'.

Being constantly connected to the internet is very addicting and can be very distracting for me. So, hopefully this doesn't get too out of hand. But you know what, I think it'll all be O.K.

I am listening to some JBiebs new Christmas album and it is making me so excited for Christmas! November 1st has been good to me. Hopefully the rest of the month will be too, as well as December.

Here are some recent instagrams :) Enjoy them.

Making some Bread! (new trial)

Working on my painting homework!

Apartment fish. One died already...oops :S

Halloween...I was a spider web. Super sassy.

Ghost and mummy cupcakes for our halloween party! They were delicious.

Have a great week, friends!

Birthday Creation

Birthdays Birthdays Birthdays.

I feel like so many of my friends are celebrating their 21st or 22nd birthdays within a very small time-frame. This leads to me having to be creative for gift-giving. Now, I'm not much of a gift giver, BUT for birthdays I usually like to make something for my most loved ones.

Today I was invited over for my friend Grace's birthday dinner. The invitation was given to me day OF, so I had to be quick with my gift making. Now, usually I would just not bring a gift because there isn't a lot of time, but I cleaned today and I like doing crafts when it's clean.

My roommates and I save up all of our empty wine bottles. When we have the time we decorate them into pretty art for around the house. So for Grace, I did just that. Some fabric and Mod Podge is really all you need...oh, yes. AND creativity. That is a necessity.

With those things, this is what you can create!

Hope you enjoy them :)

Have a wonderful night!

First Day of School!

From top left to bottom right...Me, Hannah, Jenny, Chelsey

Back to school supplies:

-Backpack.check.

-Friends.check.

-Apartment.check.

-Books.check.

-Calkboard.check.

Remember those checklists when you were in grade school? Man, I LOVED those and my mom HATED them. Which I understand now...I mean, buying 2 glue sticks and markers for the hundredth time can get a little annoying. But the items on the "back to school" check list get significantly less as the years go on.

For example, it's my senior year and I'm at Target a few days before classes begin. It's when I walk past the back to school items that I remember that I too are in fact going 'back to school'... and most likely will need some notebooks and new pencils. So I get them. That's my shopping story.

So this is our Senior Year! I can already tell that this year will be awesome. I am excited for my classes (which will most likely fade quickly) but I know more of what my future holds and I'm excited to get there! Here are some fun pics of me and my roommates as we head off to our first day of classes!

Right to Left: Hannah, Jenny, Me, Chelsey

Hello long last friends!

Hey all!

I'm sorry that I have been M.I.A. for a good few months now, but I am finally back and at 'em.

For the past 3 months I have been in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan in a little town called Iron Mountain. This is where I worked at a Bible camp called Covenant Point Bible Camp. I was a counselor for the second summer. Which also means that I have had this blog now for a little over a year. Because I started it with the intent on writing about my summer adventures at camp. Long summer short- Camp was amazing. God showed me SO many new things about the plan he has for my life. (I will fill you in later) I revisited friendships from last summer, and made some new ones. I'm very pleased with my decision to work there this summer.

Me and some of my friends on staff!

My senior High cabin! It was such a fun week!

So now I am back in Chicago in my new apartment with my best friends. It's been pretty busy with decorating, finding/getting a job, and getting ready for school. But I am so excited to start another year. And now only just another year...my LAST year at North Park University. I'm ready though so...bring it on.

Life in the moments

^^Picture taken on campus of NPU^^

Before the massacre of the tall wheatgrass...

This school year is just about finished with.

I am struggling to find the motivation to finish the only 3 things I have left..

BUT soon it will be over and it will be summer...

Can't wait to float around Chicago for a week and then head home to MN for a few weeks....

Then finally go to camp where I can have fun all summer long.....

Then travel back to Chicago and move into my new apartment with my best friends......

Life is always going by pretty quickly, even when I think it's going slowly.

STOP.

Enjoy the moments of life, because it all adds up to the days, weeks, and years.

Just some food for thought. Have a wonderful Tuesday!

Friends

It has been 5 days since driving 24 hours back from Cayo Costa State Park in Florida. Spring Break came at a perfect time. Not that I'm too overwhelmed from school or sick of Chicago, there were other reasons. This semester has been better than last, but is still not as I would like it to be. Spring Break was a perfect escape with my very best friends.

There were 6 of us total. 3 of my best girl friends; Hannah Ahlem, Chelsey Trogstad, and Anna Chybowski. Along also came Jonatan and Thor, the testosterone for the week. The road trip was a blast, although we did run into a few strange people on the highway. We spotted all but about 5 state license plates on the road.

In Florida, the first couple days we crashed at our friends house they rented for the week. Spent some time at the beach and then watched them play "games" and had a fun bonfire. After about 2 days of that fun, we headed to our final destination: Cayo Costa.

After a 30 minute tow boat ride out to the State Park Island, we unloaded our camping supplies and hopped on the tram. That night we set up camp and ate a delicious meal. On the island, we spent our days fishing, laying out, exploring, eating, and having bonfires. Later on in the week, Jonatan and Thor met a couple of guys our age that were SHARK fishing at night. The boys quickly became obsessed with our new friends and wanted to learn all they could about shark fishing. The last 3 nights in Florida we spent laying on the beach in our sleeping bags while the boys reeled in an average of 3 sharks a night!! They caught Lemon sharks, bull sharks, and sandbar sharks. It was pretty sweet. By far the best/most interesting spring break adventure!

This trip made me realize that I am so lucky to have my friends. (not that I didn't know that already!) But seriously, I may not have as many girl friends as I once did as a freshman, but I know that I have fewer but closer best friends now. It doesn't matter the quantity of friends one has, but the quality. I know that I have quality friends at my fingertips. Friends that are going through the same things as me and friends that hold the same life values as I do.

Sometimes, I'm not going to lie, I get frustrated or irritated with them, but we always get through it. I'm sure they feel the same about me at times!

Friendship is very important to me and I am so thankful for the friends I have. I love them and they make things like Spring Break and road trips super great!!

Here's some pictures from our trip!

Alta Rose Olson

Me, Alta, Liz

Tomorrow is the day that my beautiful cousin, Alta, is getting married!!

We three cousins have been super close for our whole lives. We've taken spring break trips, spent weeks at camp together, made stupid videos, made up dances, were obsessed with boys together, spent every Christmas together, and so much more.

We have been there for each other in every good and bad part in our lives. I am SO blessed to have them as my cousins.

Alta is the oldest one of the three of us, and I think I can speak for both me and Liz when I say that we both have looked up to her for most of our lives. First off, she is gorgeous. But not only that, but she is the most sincere person. She genuinely loves and cares for all the people in her life.

She has found that one person that she wants to spend her life with, and I couldn't be more happier. Jesse David Keller. She is so perfectly happy when she is with him and will be for the rest of her life. I'm sure he knows, but Jesse is so lucky to have her.

So, Alta, as these next few days come and your journey begins with Jesse I wish you the best. God is going to bless the two of you in your marriage and I can't wait to see where that leads both of you!

Love you much,

Jenna

Back to the Simple

Today is a Sunday.

There is something about Sundays that make me want to sit around and do nothing. BUT here is the best part. Sundays are days when you can do that and not feel bad about it! But wait...that isn't the case today.

As you can tell, I am taking time out of my day right now to blog. Yes. Not do homework, clean, or planning for a friend's wedding. (All things that need to get done). But here's the thing. It's going to get done. Everything that I need to do, I'll do it. Just in my own time.

Life is too hectic and it's easy to get caught up in the little everyday duties that we have to accomplish. Yes, they are important and we do need to do them. But there are more important things in life.

Back to the SIMPLE.

A recent goal of mine has been to draw closer to God. This is one of the ways I feel the closest to Him. During the day, stopping to remember that He is in control and is over all the little tiny things that I stress about (or don't stress about).

This is my time in the day to stop and remember that God is in control and is taking care of me.

Blogging in Z-time (aka...late)

It has been a while since I have done an update. Much has happened in my life since my last post. So much that it actually overwhelms me to the point when I don't want to take the time to write about it. A way that I believe to be most powerful when sharing experiences I've had, is through pictures. I'm going to post a few of my favorite pictures so that you can see some of what I saw in Zambia.

The view of Victoria Falls

Matilda, the girl that I sponsor through SPARK ventures!

Teza, the girl with the cutest voice and attitude.

After our hike to the bottom of the Falls.

We were almost attacked by baboons!

Little Zebra guys!

My pal, Nknogono playing drums.

Trying to get a picture with one kid is impossible.

These are just a few of my pictures. If you want to see more, you can check them out on my Flickr site: http://www.flickr.com/photos/35457355@N04/

More to come soon...

Lazy Days

Now that the rush of finals has flown by, I can relax.
Having absolutely nothing to do (besides Christmas shopping, of course) feels very odd.
Being able to sit at home all day without an agenda...and not feel bad about it.

As of right now, I sit on the couch, drinking hot apple cider, while watching "You've Got Mail."

Enjoying a lazy weekend is on top of my list at the moment.

Tomorrow I will start getting things done.

Getting ready for Christmas...and Zambia!!

Once again, my trip creeps up on me without realizing it.

I read through my journal from my last trip, and I got excited as I remembered how I felt while I was there.

Only 9 days until I leave.

This week is going to be a fun one! On Tuesday my sister and brother-in-law are going to be coming home. I haven't seen either of them in a long time, and I'm really excited!

My brother and sister-in-law are also coming home for Christmas day. It will be nice to finally all be together again. It seriously happens so rarely.

I can't wait to live in this Christmas break. It's going to be one to remember.

Autopilot

Do you ever feel like you're on autopilot?

Wake up, go to class, come home, eat a meal, go on the computer, go on facebook, check e-mail, listen to music, go to meetings, see friends, check phone, send a text, receive a text, eat another meal, go work out, go to another meeting, go on facebook again...etc...

Recently I feel like this is all I have been doing. Continuously moving and doing things that I don't necessarily want to be doing, but do anyways. Worrying about summer plans, finals, money, friends, and more. Why? Because if you don't worry, it doesn't mean that you care? That is usually what people seem to say. "You're not worried about what you're doing after school?" "Do you think you should really give your money away? When are you going to get a job?"

Not worrying doesn't mean not taking action. Not worrying is giving your worries and thoughts over to God. But also, not sitting back and saying, "okay, God, it's up to you now, I'm going to just sit here and wait for you to give me whatever I am asking." Instead it's taking steps forward and seeing which doors God opens and closes. I'm not sure what this has to do with being on autopilot. Maybe what I'm saying is that once you stop worrying and praying is when you're on autopilot.

Not a good place to be. We all have those days when we may feel this way. What we simply have to do is push through and at the end of the day- start prayin'.

Snow. Pie. Cider.

While driving home for Thanksgiving it started to snow. I absolutely love snow and get so excited when it first starts falling. I had a dream the other night that it was snowing. Except the snowflakes were giant and puffy. But they still had the detail on them like the little snowflakes we always see. It was such a fun dream and I wish it was how snow really was, because now I'm almost disappointed by tiny normal snowflakes.

This year for Thanksgiving I made a pie. And when I say I "made a pie" what I really mean is that my dad told me what ingredients to add and what to do. I just did what he said. However, it was a very yummy cherry pie. We recently re-did our kitchen and dinning room, so I got to bake in a beautiful kitchen! It inspires me to bake and cook more. Which would usually be what I would need to bake, motivation, but I am finding a new liking for the kitchen.

Another one of my Thanksgiving favorites is apple cider. Maybe this could be more of a Fall favorite too, but I'm okay with that. Seeing the chilly wind outside but being cozy warm inside is quite peaceful. Apple cider made over the stovetop is simply the cherry on top.

Sometimes I feel bad for Thanksgiving. Right after the day is finished, the very next day people are onto the "bigger" holiday of Christmas. It's quickly forgotten as people begin the hustle-bustle of preparing for Christmas. No looking back and saying "man, we gotta wait another year for Thanksgiving." But the day after Christmas, I ALWAYS think that. I hate thinking that the grand holiday of Christmas is over and having to wait a whole other year. So this year I'm making it up, "Thanksgiving, I can't wait for next year!"

"Everybody needs someone to adore"

The Weepies.

Man, I love them. If you don't know, The Weepies are a folk band. I could listen to them pretty much all the time. Unless I'm in the mood for pump up music, then it's on to Rap. However, any other time I can always listen to The Weepies.

They mostly sing about love. Most likely because the singers are a married couple, I mean, how cute? I also love the range that they sing in, because I can sing along :) Which is a very vital thing for me and music.

Rainy days: These days usually make me a little sleepy. When I feel tired, I don't try to fight it and dive right into homework. I take a little nap, because then I can focus better on my homework later. Preparing for a nap, the weepies are the way to go. The album that I would say most fits this time is "Say I Am You." My favorite song on this album is "Gotta Have You." mmm..I just love it so much.

Studying: SO perfect for this. I can always study with a little weepies in the background. Any of the albums are good for this, but I'm a fan of the new one: "Be My Thrill." My favorite songs on this album are: Red Red Rose, Hummingbird, and Be My Thrill.

The Weepies are by far one of my favorite bands. If you haven't ever listened to them, you should. If you have and you didn't like them, listen to them again and fall in love. I'm listening to them right now and I love it.

Enjoy :)

"Be My Thrill" lyrics

Be my thrill

My little white pill

My unpaid bill

The one who will

Be my love

My little grey dove

My push and my shove

My heaven above

And we tumble down like Jack and Jill

And I miss all of the joy you kill

But I love you still

Be my thrill

Be my one

My day in the sun

My little pop gun

The best thing I've done

Be my what

My open and shut

My everything but

My little hot slut

And we tumble down like Jack and Jill

And I miss all of the joy you kill

But I love you still

Be my thrill

Every morning is like the one before

And Everybody needs someone to adore

I'm counting on you

Oh oh baby say you will

Oh oh baby be my thrill

Be my youth

My kissing booth

My little sweet tooth

My beauty and truth

Be my thrill

My little white pill

My wait up until

The one who will

And we tumble down like Jack and Jill

And I miss all of the joy you kill

But I love you still

Be my thrill

And we tumble down like Jack and Jill

And I miss all of the joy you kill

But I love you still

Be my thrill

Yeah I love you still

Be my thrill

Finale

The celebration of Halloween seems to be the grand finale of the Fall season. After that, it's free to snow and be white. And I'm okay with that.

"Halloween"

-the freedom to be and act like anything(one) you wish.

-pumpkin carving

-lots of candy

-trick-or-treat

-candy corn

-crazy parties

-haunted houses

-pumpkin seeds

-did I say candy?

...can't wait for the next Holiday.

Collage Corner

If you have scissors, paper, tape, and mod podge you're good to go! You can do just about anything with these tools. Our room in our apartment was lacking some creativity, so we decided to put to use some old National Geographic Magazines. And this is what we came up with...

The back

Finished Product

The Creators!

The pictures don't do it justice. When you can see all the individual pictures, it's really cool. But now our walls are a little more creative so I love it!

What do you think?

Apples

One of my favorite fruits is the apple. I could honestly eat at least two apples day--if I could afford it. However, my roommates boyfriend went to a Michigan apple orchard and brought us back a ton of apples! Now I can enjoy an apple a day.

Now, an apple is great by itself don't get me wrong. But there is something about a combination that makes things extra special. Like hot chocolate and a blanket; both are great on their own, but when they are together they're perfect. My favorite combination with an apple---caramel.

This morning I had to get up and study for a test that I had at 1:30. After my earlier class, I came back to my apartment to study. I grabbed my notebook and my computer and sat by the dining room table. After I sat down, I realized I was hungry and so I went to go grab my favorite snack: apples and caramel. This in itself was a great feeling, but I had also just downloaded the new Weepies album, "Be My Thrill" which was playing. I love The Weepies. That's another blog post in itself. So there I am, sitting there with my apple and caramel listening to The Weepies, while studying for my test. It was a great feeling.

Later, I go to class and the first thing my teacher says is, "so you all know that you have a test this Thursday..." Um...no, I thought it was today. Dang! Well I guess my preparation skills didn't work for school, but it was still a successful study time with some of my favorites.