Can you find me?

There. The photographer documented at camp. 

:)

II Corinthians 12

I will not boast about myself except in my weaknesses. Verse 5

Hm. I don't do that very often. 

My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions. For when I am weak, then I am strong. Verses 9 and 10

Perfect in weakness. Weak, then I'm strong. The Christian life is full of oxymorons. Unfortunately, sometimes morons as well. But the thing is, we're all morons. We've mocked God whether we know it or not. Whether we admit it or not. It's truth. We boast constantly of all of our own accomplishments which is nothing compared to what God has done. How often do we talk about our weaknesses? And brag about them? I certainly don't. But it's only when we come before God, knowing we are nothing, that we realize (granted, only partially) what he has done for us. If God gave us what we deserve, it would be hell. Yeah, I said it. H-E-double toothpicks. That's what we deserve. But it isn't what God offers us. He offers us redemption when we least deserve it. I don't claim to understand it. And I don't claim I ever will. I don't understand alot of what He does. Wow. What did I do to deserve such a saving power in my life? Nothing. Absolutely nothing. 

Yes, a post.

So...I've been thinking for some time that I should blog. But I figure that if The Simple Life has activity once again, that's my cue to login to blogger once again. Not alot happening lately. Its pretty quiet on campus. I know of four other girls in my dorm; and there is generally three other students in the cafeteria when I eat there. But I kind of really like it. :) Towards the end of the school year, I tend to just get sick of people. 

I miss the prairie. The beautiful, never ending prairie. Sad fact is that it does end. And replaced by concrete. Boring, disgustingly gray concrete. And this boring disgustingly gray concrete gets even worse when it is road construction season. 

However, despite the lack of prairie, I have been uber happy today. You see I'm planning this awesome surprise for one of my friends. So that randomly gets me to smile. Alot. Oh, David tends to make me smile too. :)

In other news, my mum is coming here this weekend! I get to see her Friday. So we'll get to hang out. :) Saturday night is Jessie's graduation party. Then my birthday is Sunday. We'll go to my church -- it's just David and me singing. I'll move into Riverwoods on Monday night. I'll have my computer because I'm the media/logistics person. So I might be able to update ya'll. Probably just on the weekends though. Well until then...

Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

Colossians 3:12-14

For mum

I think it cut some of it off. And the voice and video doesn't match up. Oh well. You get the point. HAPPY EARLY MOTHER'S DAY!!

My first flowers

Documented:

May 4, 2009

4:12pm

Presented by David Wehr.

I like horticulture.

Ah summer...

Well, classes all done. Ok, that's a lie. I am doing may-term. But it is only one class for three weeks. I'm kind of excited actually. I did make it through my art history final. It was a crazy couple hours actually taking the tests but we made it through. :) But science. My first and last college science class. :) I am able to stay in my dorm. I wasn't sure if I would ahve to move across campus, but I don't!! So excited. I would hate having to move across campus for three weeks. And then packing all over again. Well today, we had our 3.5 hour lecture. The prof. gave us a break at 30 mins and then every hour. And for the last two hours we went outside! And for our two hour lab we just went outside and identified some plants/animals. So, here's some pictures of last times with friends before they left...

They're crazy, but cute. :)

More crazy. 

Commanding the water.

Band practice

Waiting to film.

Springtime!

The other half of the crazy couple, aka 'mom.'  :)

I will crash soon.

So I have an art history test 5.5 hours. I have had two monsters. Still many slides to get through.

Hopefully I don't fall asleep. Eight hours staying awake and then I can completely crash. Then I will be done with school. For a weekend at least. Then may term... But for now. Art history.

Prayers appreciated. 

So beautiful...

Indescribable

A convenient truth.

Whatever happened to global warming?

[watch monsters vs aliens to understand]

Meet the family..

I am part of a "family" here at Judson. We are all dysfunctional, but we are all equally dysfunctional so everyone is used to it. :) Anyway... it all started with wii bowling one night. My roomie Brittany was friends with Ben W. And she dragged me along (ok, not literally :) to play wii bowling. So, we and our friend Ashley went up when its was open dorm (there are only certain hours on the weekends that girls can be on the guy's floor). So the next weekend we decided to go real bowling and went out to IHOP after that. So our restaurant that we always go to is IHOP. We're all just crazy and fun. :) We now have family dinners (with the exception of David because he doesn't go to school at Judson anymore) and family game nights. The two Bens, David and I make up the worship team at church. So here's everyone...

Me
Well you know me :)
Daughter. Sings at Immanuel Baptist.

:::

Brittany
Mom. Need I say more?

:::

Brook
Daughter. Skips out on a lot of family excursions. For shame.
:::

Leah
Daughter.
:::

Karen
Daughter. Newest member of the family.

:::

Ashley B
Daughter.

:::

JOE!!
Mom's favorite son. Everyone loves Joe. When you address Joe, it has to be JOOOOE!!! And shout it across the cafeteria for all to hear. Just because we all get happy when we see Joe. :)

:::

David
Exiled son. Sings and plays guitar and drums at Immanuel Baptist.

:::

Ben W
Father. He and mom separated but they are back together. In mob (I told you we are dysfunctional). Plays bass guitar at Immanuel Baptist.

:::

Ben S
Adopted son from mexico. Sings and plays guitar and drums at Immanuel Baptist.

:::

Unpictured:

• Uncle Joel
• Ashley A
  Aunt Ashley. Mom's side. Very entertaining at family dinners.
  

..:::.:::..

I think that's everyone. So far. Our family keeps growing...

80 grams of sugar...

...in less than 10 minutes. Not my greatest moment.

Uninteresting post

I am so terrible at blogging. I used to be so good at it. :-P Alas alas, life goes on. Maybe its because I have become more involved in facebook. :) Anyway, I am currently on Spring Break. No, nothing exciting. I am staying at the dorm because of homework. :-/ Not to happy about that, but I hear back home it was a full-out blizzard. And its quite lovely here so I guess I'm ok with it after all. :)

I'm going to the Art Institute in Chicago on Sunday. I have to pick a painting, write a 3-5 paper about it explaining every detail of it without mentioning the artist or work. And the teacher is supposed to be able to sketch what it looks like. eek! I have to memorize a poem (mostly done with that), finish a book for Art history, work on a cover entry for Print magazine, art history slides, design a poster for the up and coming youth group at church. And fill in 100 addresses for Riverwoods. And then the homeowrk begins all over again. :P But it has been lovely being able to sleep in. :) Getting around 9 hours of sleep every night. What a concept! (especially when used to getting around 3-4 hours of sleep every night :)

(Eating at IHOP with the Judson "family")

My roomies left me. Brook for Choir tour in Florida and Brittany for a mission trip in Mississippi. (it'll be nice actually seeing people again when everyone comes back tomorrow. I can't believe break went so fast!!)

I have basically no food here, so I am relying on the vending machine (where the most satisfying thing is a danish pastry with hundreds and hundreds of calories ... :) And canned pineapple, while it is delicious, it isn't too filling. I think I have some m&ms lying around here somewhere...

Happy (late) birthday Grandpa!!

I felt like...

...writing a new post.
Voila! There you go.

Oh I actualy do have some exciting news. I am going to be working at a camp this summer (but it means I won't be there for PBC 2009!!!! uber sad about that). Well I am super excited about working at Riverwoods. It is in the town next to where my aunt lives, so if mom comes down she can visit me. :-) Well I am going to be taking lots of candids, putting together newsletters and the such. I am so excited to be able to serve there. They focus on at-risk youths in the area. I'm sure it will be a time of growth for the whole summer. Another amazing thing about all this is that it will pay for my mac and CS4 (Creative Suite, featuring Photoshop and Illustrator) that I have to get for next year.

Illustration is my hardest class this year, creatively. I have bee getting below what I wanted for grades. I've been trying not to stress out about it too much but its hard when you have to have at least a C in your major classes in order to pass the course. Anyway, we had to design a playbill for Robert Bolt's "A Man for All Seasons." And mine and another girl were the best ones. One of the professors in the middle of the critique pointed to mine and said that he would expect that one to be seen in New York for the advertisement. I was floored!! I'd show you the image, but I only have the illustrator file with me. Sorry. I guess if you are dying to see it, let me know, and I'll try my best to get it on here before summer. :)

I'm in the midde MPR (mid-program review) right now. We have to put alot of our artwork onto a CD, along with a letter of intent. I'm also in Internship Seminar. I'm really glad that we have to take it. We have made a budget, 10 year plan, gone on job shadows and are currently making our resume and cover letter.

Nothing else is really going on right now. I am still singing at Immanuel Baptist on Sundays. So I have practice tomorrow night. I love being able to serve at a church again. It's awesome. But they don't have potlucks. I can live though, their food would never measure up to my mom's lazy cheesebutton hotdish anyway. :)

Well Upper Room is tonight so I better get some homework done.
And I truly am sorry for being such a horrible blogger. :(
And sorry for no pictures. When i'm at school I don't have much time for taking pictures. Its rather sad. :'( But that's where riverwoods will be awesome!! It's going to be my job to take 1000s of pictures every week. =)

I'm an Audrey =)

Your result for Are You a Jackie or a Marilyn? Or Someone Else? Mad Men-era Female Icon Quiz...

You Are an Audrey!

You are an Audrey -- "I am at peace"

Audreys are receptive, good-natured, and supportive. They seek union with others and the world around them.

How to Get Along with Me

• * If you want me to do something, how you ask is important. I especially don't like expectations or pressure


• * I like to listen and to be of service, but don't take advantage of this


• * Listen until I finish speaking, even though I meander a bit


• * Give me time to finish things and make decisions. It's OK to nudge me gently and nonjudgmentally


• * Ask me questions to help me get clear


• * Tell me when you like how I look. I'm not averse to flattery


• * Hug me, show physical affection. It opens me up to my feelings


• * I like a good discussion but not a confrontation


• * Let me know you like what I've done or said


• * Laugh with me and share in my enjoyment of life

What I Like About Being an Audrey

• * being nonjudgmental and accepting


• * caring for and being concerned about others


• * being able to relax and have a good time


• * knowing that most people enjoy my company; I'm easy to be around


• * my ability to see many different sides of an issue and to be a good mediator and facilitator


• * my heightened awareness of sensations, aesthetics, and the here and now


• * being able to go with the flow and feel one with the universe

What's Hard About Being an Audrey

• * being judged and misunderstood for being placid and/or indecisive


• * being critical of myself for lacking initiative and discipline


• * being too sensitive to criticism; taking every raised eyebrow and twitch of the mouth personally


• * being confused about what I really want


• * caring too much about what others will think of me


• * not being listened to or taken seriously

Audreys as Children Often

• * feel ignored and that their wants, opinions, and feelings are unimportant


• * tune out a lot, especially when others argue


• * are "good" children: deny anger or keep it to themselves

Audreys as Parents

• * are supportive, kind, and warm


• * are sometimes overly permissive or nondirective

Take Are You a Jackie or a Marilyn? Or Someone Else? Mad Men-era Female Icon Quiz at HelloQuizzy

Difficulty for blessing.

Understand why? Not a chance!

Suffering shows you for who you really are.

Joy in all circumstances. Maybe not delightful, but joyful.

You know how awhile ago I posted about asking for trials? Well I’ve got them now. (Not the trials I was quite imagining, but when do you ever expect what God throws your way?) This semester is going to be quite the interesting time. I’ve been trying to write more in a journal of sorts. A place where I can really throw out all my pent up feelings. Quite lovely. I’m still not the magnificent journaler, but I’m trying. That’s why I haven’t been posting quite as often. I have three major studio classes. And I’m debating about what to do for the summer. I am contemplating staying here and taking pictures at a camp. This would mean that I could pay for the mac that I am required to get for next semester by myself and not have to worry about it, and then with the “extra money” give some of it to mom and dad to help pay for some of tuition.

I was looking at some old sermon notes from camp and it was talking about frustrations. Sudden riches are not the cure. Everything suddenly being perfect is not the cure either. Frustration is:

• Things you want but don't have
• Things you can't control
• Not getting your own way

It mentioned Philippians 4:4-11.Rejoice in the Lord always: again I will say, Rejoice. 5 Let your forbearance be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. 6 In nothing be anxious; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. 7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall guard your hearts and your thoughts in Christ Jesus. 8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honorable, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. 9 The things which ye both learned and received and heard and saw in me, these things do: and the God of peace shall be with you. 10 But I rejoice in the Lord greatly, that now at length ye have revived your thought for me; wherein ye did indeed take thought, but ye lacked opportunity. 11 Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therein to be content.

It’s hard to obey God and be frustrated. I am often very frustrated with my schoolwork. If I offered my time up to God (and less to facebook) and focused more on my projects and showing glory to God through them, perhaps I will be less frustrated. Sure I might still stay up until three every morning. But the quality of my work just might improve. Romans 8:28, “All things work together for good.” The God of the universe is on MY side. I need to give up my own ideas and thoughts to him. Completely. Hebrews 12:2 says to fix our eyes upon Jesus. He should be our only thought. We are also not to covet. I so often am jealous of the work my fellow students are doing and thinking that it comes effortlessly to them.

Godliness with contentment is great gain.

Interview

Following is my interview with Ms. Math.

1. What was your favorite thing about growing up on a farm? Just living in God's Creation and being able to go outside and truly enjoy it.

2. What is your favorite thing about the city you are in now? Being able to go to Burger King at midnight and getting a double cheeseburger.

3. Where would you like to end up after college? Married or engaged would be lovely (no I'm not going to school for my M.r.s. lol). Working as a photographer as a staff nature photographer.

4. What do you hope to be doing with your degree after graduation? Work as a photographer with a magazine. I would love to work with National Geographic or something like it.

5. What is your favorite thing to photograph? God's Creation. Nature. But recently I've been liking taking pictures of people too.

1. Leave me a comment saying, "Interview me."
2. I will respond by emailing you five questions. (I get to pick the questions).
3. You will update your blog with the answers to the questions.
4. You will include this explanation and an offer to interview others in the same post.
5. When others comment asking to be interviewed, you will ask them five questions. Have fun!

Happy birthday

Happy Birthday daddy!! I love you!

A typical Wednesday

A day in the life of this crazy sleepless goldfish...

8:00 Get up for class
9-10 History of Art
10-11 Chapel
11-11:30 Eat food
11:30-1:00 Wait in Upper Commons for next class
1-2 Speech class
2-3 Catch my breath, get second wind
3-6 Ilustration
6:30-9:30 Drawing 3
9:30-? Praise band practice at the church
Come back and do homework
Around 3 Bed