Wow, the last month has been action-packed. I've been (somewhat) preparing for studying abroad while studying for (and sitting for) the 3rd actuarial exam, Exam MLC. I've gone out to dinner with my best friends, had my last bible study of the year, and last night went to the Actuarial Science and Risk Management/Insurance banquet. And now, it's time to prepare for my 5 final exams and 2 final papers. It is, officially, nearing the end of the semester.
In under 100 days, I will be in Oslo, Norway. This is absolutely crazy! There have definitely already been some trials and things that have not gone as planned, but I'm crossing my fingers that this is all just part of the experience. The program is starting earlier than I was anticipating, no one from Madison will be attending with me, and a few of the classes I wanted to take are not offered in the fall. I'm very anxious about travelling alone, but for now I'm just doing my best not to think about it. My plan is to get through the end of the semester, and then finalize things like my visa, ticket, housing, etc.
EXAM MLC IS BEHIND ME. Again, this is hard to believe. I have been preparing for this exam since the beginning of September, and intensively for the past month and a half. This year was the first time that it included a combination of multiple choice questions and written answer questions. I know that some people struggled with completing the exam within the allotted time, but thankfully I finished. The results aren't released for 8 to 10 weeks, so for now it's time to just wait! It's hard to guess as to whether or not you passed, because the pass mark is so up in the air, but right now, I'm feeling pretty good. I'd say there's around a 75% chance that the beginning of July will bring me good news!
In the little free time I've had, I've walked down to the farmers' market on Capitol Square, had Culver's with my bible study, watched the Badgers play in the Final Four game (although sadly with a heartbreaking loss), gone out to dinner with some of my best friends, and gone on a creative date that included a bonfire at picnic point and a scavenger hunt around campus. It's been a great, though sometimes stressful, few weeks. I'm excited to make the most of the last few weeks I have with my friends here, before moving back to Oshkosh for a few weeks, then starting my internship in Brookfield.
I hope that you are all enjoying the springtime (and I hope it has been warmer wherever you are than it has been here!).
-T
Showing posts with label Wisconsin. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Wisconsin. Show all posts
Saturday, May 3, 2014
Monday, April 7, 2014
To Oslo I will go!
It's been a long time so there's lots to share, and it's late at night, so this won't be the prettiest, but here we go!
I have officially been accepted to study abroad in Oslo, Norway for next fall semester! I'm terrified, excited, nervous, unsure - all of the emotions you can imagine, I'm probably feeling. Last week I also freaked out because I am 99% sure that I am the only person travelling from my school to that specific program - something I was not expecting and still don't know how I feel about. I technically have until April 15th to decide/commit to going for sure, but I'm hoping that I don't chicken out and decide not to go. So yes, preparations are beginning with that.
I have also applied to the Wisconsin School of Business! I was undecided whether I wanted to pursue actuarial science through the business school (and give up some scholarship money) or through the college of letters and science, but after much deliberation and praying, I decided to go with my gut and apply to the business school. I won't find out until mid-summer, but if all goes well, I will be graduating from the University of Wisconsin with a BBA. :)
Another thing I will find out this summer - the result of exam MLC! I am very nervous about the next actuarial test, which is three weeks from today! I am not feeling prepared at all. It is difficult to study and devote time to that exam while also trying to stay up on school work and current classes. In fact, I took a test tonight and have two more this week. It's a lot to handle, and it's really testing me on my ability to rely on God to give me strength and peace.
This past weekend was great - I almost went to the final four game in Texas, but at the last minute decided to stay back in Madison. Although I'm sure Texas would've been fun, I had a really great weekend here. Of course, I studied a lot, but I also went to the Union on Saturday to watch the game with a bunch of friends (although the outcome was very sad, the day and game itself were great!). Then, on Sunday, my bible study was taken on a creative date by a sophomore men's bible study! They led us on a scavenger hunt throughout campus, ending with a bonfire at picnic point. It was a blast, and super nice to be served in such a fun, creative way. For dinner, we even had "build-your-own" baked potatoes cooked in the fire. I also learned how to play spikeball! I'm definitely a fan. It also left me feeling good about Cru - I may try to make it to a weekly meeting again sometime. I'm not a big-group kinda gal, so I haven't been attending the big-group weekly meeting much this year, but maybe I'll try it out again soon!
Although we were served wonderfully by the men, it led me to a stark realization. I still really, really like the same boy that has been on my mind for over a year now. Most people around me have known/seen this, but I always figured that if someone else came along, I would move on just fine. But this past weekend, although the intent was not a romantic date, I was thinking about how I would feel if one of the men started to pursue me, and I realized that I would simply be disappointed that it wasn't the one boy I'm interested in. I don't know what that means - I know that whatever God has planned for my life is way better than anything I could come up with, whether that includes this particular boy, or a different one, or none at all, but I also know that we have to be active in living out God's plan. I'm really starting to feel like I may need to take action to voice these feelings so that they can be dealt with. That's a terrifying thought, but I have the feeling that it may need to happen sooner rather than later. ...especially because of the small detail that we will also be working together this summer.
That's a fairly brief update of my life! I hope all of you are doing well, and are feeling as blessed in your lives as I have been in mine! God is so great; I'm thankful to be reminded of this everyday. :)
-T
I have officially been accepted to study abroad in Oslo, Norway for next fall semester! I'm terrified, excited, nervous, unsure - all of the emotions you can imagine, I'm probably feeling. Last week I also freaked out because I am 99% sure that I am the only person travelling from my school to that specific program - something I was not expecting and still don't know how I feel about. I technically have until April 15th to decide/commit to going for sure, but I'm hoping that I don't chicken out and decide not to go. So yes, preparations are beginning with that.
I have also applied to the Wisconsin School of Business! I was undecided whether I wanted to pursue actuarial science through the business school (and give up some scholarship money) or through the college of letters and science, but after much deliberation and praying, I decided to go with my gut and apply to the business school. I won't find out until mid-summer, but if all goes well, I will be graduating from the University of Wisconsin with a BBA. :)
Another thing I will find out this summer - the result of exam MLC! I am very nervous about the next actuarial test, which is three weeks from today! I am not feeling prepared at all. It is difficult to study and devote time to that exam while also trying to stay up on school work and current classes. In fact, I took a test tonight and have two more this week. It's a lot to handle, and it's really testing me on my ability to rely on God to give me strength and peace.
This past weekend was great - I almost went to the final four game in Texas, but at the last minute decided to stay back in Madison. Although I'm sure Texas would've been fun, I had a really great weekend here. Of course, I studied a lot, but I also went to the Union on Saturday to watch the game with a bunch of friends (although the outcome was very sad, the day and game itself were great!). Then, on Sunday, my bible study was taken on a creative date by a sophomore men's bible study! They led us on a scavenger hunt throughout campus, ending with a bonfire at picnic point. It was a blast, and super nice to be served in such a fun, creative way. For dinner, we even had "build-your-own" baked potatoes cooked in the fire. I also learned how to play spikeball! I'm definitely a fan. It also left me feeling good about Cru - I may try to make it to a weekly meeting again sometime. I'm not a big-group kinda gal, so I haven't been attending the big-group weekly meeting much this year, but maybe I'll try it out again soon!
Although we were served wonderfully by the men, it led me to a stark realization. I still really, really like the same boy that has been on my mind for over a year now. Most people around me have known/seen this, but I always figured that if someone else came along, I would move on just fine. But this past weekend, although the intent was not a romantic date, I was thinking about how I would feel if one of the men started to pursue me, and I realized that I would simply be disappointed that it wasn't the one boy I'm interested in. I don't know what that means - I know that whatever God has planned for my life is way better than anything I could come up with, whether that includes this particular boy, or a different one, or none at all, but I also know that we have to be active in living out God's plan. I'm really starting to feel like I may need to take action to voice these feelings so that they can be dealt with. That's a terrifying thought, but I have the feeling that it may need to happen sooner rather than later. ...especially because of the small detail that we will also be working together this summer.
That's a fairly brief update of my life! I hope all of you are doing well, and are feeling as blessed in your lives as I have been in mine! God is so great; I'm thankful to be reminded of this everyday. :)
-T
Sunday, September 8, 2013
Go Badgers!
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| Two of my friends and I cheering on the Badgers at their home opener |
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| Hanging out at the Union |
Unfortunately, however, I've had a bit of a rough start otherwise. I've had good moments, and made good memories, but I feel like I just have this curtain of doubt and unhappiness that I keep falling back on. I'm struggling with my faith and with my friendships and overall trust - in God, in my friends and in myself. I'm very seriously doubting my ability to lead a Bible Study this year, as I'm already finding myself dreading all things involved with that commitment.
Last night, I was talking to a close friend of mine about all of this - something I find incredibly difficult. It's hard for me to acknowledge my struggles and talk openly about things I'm having a difficult time with. I feel like I am a burden to my friends and that I'm relying on them to fix problems that are not at all their responsibility or obligation to deal with. Of course, they claim that it's not a problem, but I can't help but feel guilty.
I'm doubting my faith, something I've never really dealt with before, and because so many people see me as being so confident in Christ, I'm not sure who to turn to. Tomorrow afternoon I'll meet with my co-leader for bible study, and I'm praying for the courage, strength, and honesty to tell her all of this, but I'm just not sure that I can. If any or all of you could say a prayer for me, I'd appreciate it greatly. I know that God allows us to struggle in our lives and it can help us to grow, but right now I'm just feeling like I'm suffocating.
Classes have started, work has started, I'm pushing away my friends, and I'm doubting my faith. Things are crashing in on me, and I'm struggling for the strength to keep moving forward. I need to cling fast to my life motto - "Life goes on."
I'm thankful for supportive friends and family and all of the blessings I've been given in my life - I pray that you are feeling loved and blessed in your own life, too!
Saturday, August 10, 2013
Home at last!
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| Devil's Tower - Wyoming |
Whew – six action-packed days later, and I'm still alive to tell about them! Monday afternoon, we
went to Devil’s Tower, which was once again, awe-inspiring. A rich Native
American site, it was full of natural beauty and cultural history. We even
spotted a pair of people while they were climbing it – both a terrifying and
inspiring feat. After Devil’s Tower, we started our journey into Montana.
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| Ziplining across the Gallatin River! |
After driving across
much of Montana, we arrived late at night to Belgrade, Montana. Then, it was up
bright and early for our adventure zip lining and whitewater rafting. I would
be lying if I claimed I had no trepidation about the event, and as you can see
in the first picture, climbing the bridge to the first zip line platform took a
lot of determination to just not look down. My father, who is afraid of
heights, had opted out of the zip lining adventure and gone fly fishing
instead. I thought about joining him, but I'm so glad that I did not; within a
second of stepping off the platform and soaring through the air, I fell in
love. Our guides were both phenomenal and the other group we were with – a
group from Chicago – was also a blast to be around. Too soon, we had soared
over the Gallatin River and it was over. We went and picked my dad up from the
fly fishing site and headed back to the company’s headquarters, where we would
eat lunch before embarking on our whitewater rafting trip. The rafting trip,
too, was a blast, exhilarating, and led by a guide who knew exactly what he was
doing. For anyone going out west, my family and I all highly recommend Montana
Whitewater Rafting Company ( Yellowstonezip.com ). In addition to zip lining, fly
fishing and whitewater rafting, they also offer horseback riding – so there’s
surely something everyone would enjoy.
We had a fairly
low-key Tuesday night, although I did go for a 2 mile run. Sadly, I’m now about
95% sure that I have shin splints in my left leg, so I'm going to have to put
the running on hold. This was the most disappointing part of the trip so far,
but I'm trying to just not let myself think about it. I’ll have to find some
other form of exercise to finish out the summer!
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| A hot spring in Yellowstone National Park |
Wednesday was our day
trip through Yellowstone National Park and the Grand Tetons. After making a
little detour into Idaho so I could check off another state, we entered
Yellowstone through the West Yellowstone Entrance. I found the Grand Canyon of
Yellowstone and Lower Falls to be absolutely spectacular – and of course, Old
Faithful was neat, too. Yellowstone is full of geysers and hot springs, all against
a backdrop of mountains, rivers, and prairies. One geyser, Steamboat Geyser,
is the tallest active geyser in the world. It’s highly unpredictable, however,
as intervals between eruptions have varied from 4 days to 50 years. So, seeing
this erupt is an incredibly rare event. No, we didn't see it erupt, but 7 days
before we were there, it did erupt for the first time in 8 years! A different
couple that we talked to had come to Yellowstone 8 years ago, and missed the
eruption by 4 days. I don't think they had heard that they had missed it by
less than a week this time – and we surely weren't going to be the family to
break the news to them!
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| Old Faithful Geyser erupting in Yellowstone National Park. |
Unfortunately, we saw
hardly any wildlife – the lone sighting of anything was on our way out of the
park when we spotted a mule deer alongside the road. After stopping for a
family picture by the Yellowstone National Park entrance sign, we drove through
the John D. Rockefeller Memorial Parkway to get to Grand Tetons National Park.
We managed to be driving along these magnificent mountains right during sunset,
providing a beautiful, scenic end to our day.
Thursday, we have begun
the journey back home, driving through Nebraska (woohoo, another state!) to
Custer State park in South Dakota. There, we finally saw bison! That afternoon, we stopped at Wall Drug, as it is obviously a staple for any trip out west. Finally, we began our final leg of our journey, driving to Rochester, the Niagara Cave, and then finally home. In Rochester, my family met up with two of my close friends from college for lunch. It was a special treat to see them - only 3 weeks until we are in Madison! Niagara Cave was also neat - and a wrong turn took us about a block into Iowa, bringing my state count to 25 of 50!
Today has been fairly low-key, as the majority of the day was spent at a soccer referee recertification class. The adventures will soon begin again, however, as tomorrow I'm headed to West Allis for the Wisconsin State Fair!
-Theresa
Tuesday, July 30, 2013
Another family vacation is on the horizon!
Although I thought that the end of soccer season/nights spent reffing would leave me with more than enough free time, I've once again managed to fill it up quickly! Tomorrow night is dinner and hanging out with a couple friends, Thursday night is dinner with two close friends and their boyfriends, and on Friday afternoon, we leave to go camping as a family - the start of a week-long adventure! Meanwhile, I'm still working about 6 hours Monday-Friday as a wannabe programmer - although both yesterday and today I've worked 30 to 45 minutes extra. I'm extremely happy to report, however, that things do seem to be starting to click! I've been able to program a little bit on my own, and often the problems that I'm unable to solve take my bosses a while to figure out, too! I'm still not thinking this is the career path I want in life, but I have begrudgingly started to admit that there are moments where solving a programming problem can be almost.. fun! Since I will be off next week, I'm down to only 2.5 weeks left to work, which is hard to believe!
I'm also happy to report that I've been back on track with my running. Two weeks ago, I logged 13 miles, last week was 15, and this week I've already run 8.5! To reach my goal of 100 by the time I go back to school, I have about 48 left to go. I'm determined, and barring any injury or other unexpected circumstance, I think I'll be able to reach that goal!
I've also started teaching myself how to play piano again. That project started toward the end of my junior year of high school, and continued with a Class II piano solo at Solo/Ensemble my senior year. Last summer and this past fall I didn't make time to keep practicing, and it wasn't until I discovered the grand piano in the basement of my dorm spring semester that I realized how much I actually missed it. Again, though, by the end of the semester and the beginning of the summer, practicing was not a priority, and much of the progress I had made on my latest "goal song" seemed to be lost. This had a bit of a snowball effect, as I was dreading discovering how much I had fallen behind and therefore just never started. Two weeks ago, however, I started up again and I'm thrilled with how quickly I'm falling back into the swing of it! In case you're curious, my goal song is "God Gave Me You" by Dave Barnes. For someone who has only made her way through John Thompson's First Grade Piano Book (for those of you unfamiliar with this - the EASY, beginning stuff), this song is certainly a challenge. It's one of my favorite songs, though, and there a few certain close friends of mine with whom it holds certain significance, so the idea of being able to play it for them helps give me motivation to get through the frustrating times. Here's a link to a similar piano version as I am learning (although mine is slightly easier). Dave Barnes - God Gave Me You (Piano Cover) And if you aren't familiar with the original song, definitely check it out, as it is absolutely wonderful! Dave Barnes - God Gave Me You (Original).
Later this week, I'll post more about our upcoming family adventure out west. For now, I'm extremely excited to spend time with friends in the next few days here!
God bless!
-Theresa
I'm also happy to report that I've been back on track with my running. Two weeks ago, I logged 13 miles, last week was 15, and this week I've already run 8.5! To reach my goal of 100 by the time I go back to school, I have about 48 left to go. I'm determined, and barring any injury or other unexpected circumstance, I think I'll be able to reach that goal!
I've also started teaching myself how to play piano again. That project started toward the end of my junior year of high school, and continued with a Class II piano solo at Solo/Ensemble my senior year. Last summer and this past fall I didn't make time to keep practicing, and it wasn't until I discovered the grand piano in the basement of my dorm spring semester that I realized how much I actually missed it. Again, though, by the end of the semester and the beginning of the summer, practicing was not a priority, and much of the progress I had made on my latest "goal song" seemed to be lost. This had a bit of a snowball effect, as I was dreading discovering how much I had fallen behind and therefore just never started. Two weeks ago, however, I started up again and I'm thrilled with how quickly I'm falling back into the swing of it! In case you're curious, my goal song is "God Gave Me You" by Dave Barnes. For someone who has only made her way through John Thompson's First Grade Piano Book (for those of you unfamiliar with this - the EASY, beginning stuff), this song is certainly a challenge. It's one of my favorite songs, though, and there a few certain close friends of mine with whom it holds certain significance, so the idea of being able to play it for them helps give me motivation to get through the frustrating times. Here's a link to a similar piano version as I am learning (although mine is slightly easier). Dave Barnes - God Gave Me You (Piano Cover) And if you aren't familiar with the original song, definitely check it out, as it is absolutely wonderful! Dave Barnes - God Gave Me You (Original).
Later this week, I'll post more about our upcoming family adventure out west. For now, I'm extremely excited to spend time with friends in the next few days here!
God bless!
-Theresa
Monday, July 15, 2013
Yet another adventure!
Well, I just got home from yet another weekend away from home (I think this is the 4th one in a row). This time, I was in Minnesota with my college girlfriends. It was a blast! The two Wisconsinites of the group road-tripped to Rochester on Friday night after work. Despite almost being hit by a train, we made it and spent the night there..and even unexpectedly got to see another friend then!
Saturday, we had planned to go tubing, but due to inclement weather, settled on an indoor picnic in Bloomington before heading to the Mall of America. We walked around a bit, went on the log ride, and ate a delicious dinner at Twin City Grill. We headed to the hotel, swam for a bit, then played imaginiff. Of course, our group's staple activity is Truth or Dare (which usually just ends up being Truth or Truth), so we played that as well.
Sunday, we went out to lunch in a cute little cafe (with free soft-serve ice cream!) and then went paddle boating in a small park located in a business zone of Bloomington. The time to leave came all too soon, and us Wisconsinites headed home. Exhausted, I arrived to my house at almost exactly 9:00, and then it was back to work today.
Although the weekend was fabulous, it just made me miss being at school with all of my friends even more. Hopefully, the next month and a half will go quickly!
Saturday, we had planned to go tubing, but due to inclement weather, settled on an indoor picnic in Bloomington before heading to the Mall of America. We walked around a bit, went on the log ride, and ate a delicious dinner at Twin City Grill. We headed to the hotel, swam for a bit, then played imaginiff. Of course, our group's staple activity is Truth or Dare (which usually just ends up being Truth or Truth), so we played that as well.
Sunday, we went out to lunch in a cute little cafe (with free soft-serve ice cream!) and then went paddle boating in a small park located in a business zone of Bloomington. The time to leave came all too soon, and us Wisconsinites headed home. Exhausted, I arrived to my house at almost exactly 9:00, and then it was back to work today.
Although the weekend was fabulous, it just made me miss being at school with all of my friends even more. Hopefully, the next month and a half will go quickly!
Sunday, July 7, 2013
Home at Last!
Whew! After a week full of adventures, I am finally home. Quite a bit happened over the last seven days, so I'll give a fair warning that this is likely to be a long post!
My family and I left at 2:30 in the morning last Saturday on our journey to northwestern New York. My uncle lives on 60 acres of land in the finger lakes region, on a hill that gives a gorgeous view of upstate New York's beauty. He has 4 man-made ponds on his property filled with fish, surrounded by hammocks and forestry. He also owns several golf carts for riding through the trails he has created on his property. Truly, the serenity of his home is indescribable in words.
I, however, am not one to just stay serene for very long. Therefore, on Sunday and Monday, I journeyed up to Canada with my dad to visit an old friend of his from work. We spent the majority of our time at a cottage in the mountains north of Montreal. Again, the beauty is difficult to put into words. Most excitingly, I learned how to waterski!! I was told that I was a natural, although I personally thought it was difficult and required intense balance and concentration. The best phrase I have to describe my experience is terrifyingly awesome, and it was definitely a highlight of my trip. On the way back to New York from Canada, my dad and I drove through old Montreal. Being Canada Day, the place was PACKED with highly patriotic Canadians. Although I didn't have a chance to see as much of the city as I would have liked, the slow-moving traffic allowed me to take in at least some of the scenery from old Montreal!
The second half of the week was spent at my Uncle's, culminating with our family reunion on July 4th. About 35 people showed up for the Flood Family Fun Festival & Fryout Frolic on the Fourth (FFFF&FFF) - and that's only PART of my family. Truthfully, it was slightly overwhelming, but also absolutely wonderful to see family that I haven't seen for years. Our family reunions are slightly carnival-ish, usually with a balloon toss, chocolate pudding eating contest, and tons and tons of prizes! Although the chocolate pudding was absent this year, the fun was not.
Thursday night, the Fourth of July, my sister and I decided to drive into the nearby town in search of fireworks. We didn't know exactly where we were going, which always is the preface for a good adventure - but the adventure we had this time was a bit more than we expected. We found ourselves stuck behind a parked car on the highway, with no way to get around. What made this situation even more frightening was the fact that a small brawl had erupted around our car. There was blood, fighting, swearing - I was extraordinarily thankful we were in our car, although since we were surrounded by angry people, we were definitely not in the safest place. Thankfully, the majority of the people from the opposing "groups" were trying to calm down the aggressive members, and when one of these calmer individuals finally moved the car off to the side of the road, we wasted no time leaving the scene and driving back to the serenity typical to the area. Although a bit shaken up, neither my sister nor I, nor the car, were injured in the slightest. That will surely be a story that will be shared at Flood Family Reunions for years to come.
Finally, I left with my sister, brother-in-law, and niece Friday morning. We took a mini-detour to see Niagara Falls (where we almost ran out of gas - but thankfully, made it to the gas station just in time!), then began the journey back to Wisconsin. We spent the night in Ohio and on Saturday finally crossed back over the Wisconsin border. I spent the afternoon at my sister's house, waiting for my parents and brother to pick me up and take me home (they had stayed an extra day and left Saturday morning instead of Friday morning). A few disney movies later, they arrived, and just after midnight Saturday night, we pulled into our driveway!
It was an exciting week, indeed, and plans for my next adventure are already being made. As a little side note, I decided today to lead a freshman Bible Study with two other girls from my Christian organization (Cru) next year! I'm both excited and nervous, but I have no doubt that I've committed to an experience that will help me grow in my faith while helping other people at my wonderful university do the same.
God Bless America!
-Theresa
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| Pond Number 1 |
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| Pond Number 2 |
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| Pond Number 3 |
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| Old Montreal |
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| A large family means LOTS of food and drink! |
Thursday night, the Fourth of July, my sister and I decided to drive into the nearby town in search of fireworks. We didn't know exactly where we were going, which always is the preface for a good adventure - but the adventure we had this time was a bit more than we expected. We found ourselves stuck behind a parked car on the highway, with no way to get around. What made this situation even more frightening was the fact that a small brawl had erupted around our car. There was blood, fighting, swearing - I was extraordinarily thankful we were in our car, although since we were surrounded by angry people, we were definitely not in the safest place. Thankfully, the majority of the people from the opposing "groups" were trying to calm down the aggressive members, and when one of these calmer individuals finally moved the car off to the side of the road, we wasted no time leaving the scene and driving back to the serenity typical to the area. Although a bit shaken up, neither my sister nor I, nor the car, were injured in the slightest. That will surely be a story that will be shared at Flood Family Reunions for years to come.
Finally, I left with my sister, brother-in-law, and niece Friday morning. We took a mini-detour to see Niagara Falls (where we almost ran out of gas - but thankfully, made it to the gas station just in time!), then began the journey back to Wisconsin. We spent the night in Ohio and on Saturday finally crossed back over the Wisconsin border. I spent the afternoon at my sister's house, waiting for my parents and brother to pick me up and take me home (they had stayed an extra day and left Saturday morning instead of Friday morning). A few disney movies later, they arrived, and just after midnight Saturday night, we pulled into our driveway!
It was an exciting week, indeed, and plans for my next adventure are already being made. As a little side note, I decided today to lead a freshman Bible Study with two other girls from my Christian organization (Cru) next year! I'm both excited and nervous, but I have no doubt that I've committed to an experience that will help me grow in my faith while helping other people at my wonderful university do the same.
God Bless America!
-Theresa
Monday, July 1, 2013
Ahhh, Vacation!
A lot has happened in the past week or two! Currently, I just crossed the US border back into the states after spending a night in Canada with my dad. I'm going to wait until this vacation is over, however, before sharing stories and pictures from it.
Last weekend I drove down to visit my friend Colleen in the Chicago area. I had not seen her since the middle of May, so that was definitely exciting! We went up in the Willis Tower with her family, walked Navy Pier and then took a water taxi to Michigan Avenue. No trip to Chicago would be complete without some sort of odd occurrence, so the zombie march we witnessed within Millennium Park was probably not as shocking as it should have been! The weekend was a blast AND I survived driving alone near Chicago. All in all, I'd say the trip was a success.
Sunday night, instead of driving home, I spent the night at my sister's house. I then travelled to Mt. Olympus Waterpark in Wisconsin Dells with her, my brother-in-law, and niece. It was hot, exhausting, but fun to spend the day with them. Having a toddler at a water park, however, certainly changes the pace of the day. My niece was certainly a trooper, though, swimming right through naptime!
After that eventful weekend, it was back to work. While it is still not my ideal summer situation, I'm starting to fall into a routine and some things are starting to click a bit more. Pay day, at least, made my time worth it!
As for other noteworthy news from the past week, I managed to get in a swim! It was only for a half hour and I only swam 1600 yards, but it was so nice to be back in the water. I've been missing it so much lately.
Finally, my wonderful Bible study leader from this past school year approached me about co-leading a freshman bible study with her and another friend from our interdenominational Christian organization, Cru (Campus Crusade for Christ). The idea both terrifies and excites me, as I know it would be a large commitment, but also help me grow. I haven't yet made up my mind, but will continue to pray my way toward a decision!
Bye for now!
-Theresa
Last weekend I drove down to visit my friend Colleen in the Chicago area. I had not seen her since the middle of May, so that was definitely exciting! We went up in the Willis Tower with her family, walked Navy Pier and then took a water taxi to Michigan Avenue. No trip to Chicago would be complete without some sort of odd occurrence, so the zombie march we witnessed within Millennium Park was probably not as shocking as it should have been! The weekend was a blast AND I survived driving alone near Chicago. All in all, I'd say the trip was a success.
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| The "Bean" - Millenium Park, showing the reflection of the Chicago Skyline. |
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| Colleen and I on the sky deck of the Willis Tower - displaying our Wisconsin pride! |
After that eventful weekend, it was back to work. While it is still not my ideal summer situation, I'm starting to fall into a routine and some things are starting to click a bit more. Pay day, at least, made my time worth it!
As for other noteworthy news from the past week, I managed to get in a swim! It was only for a half hour and I only swam 1600 yards, but it was so nice to be back in the water. I've been missing it so much lately.
Finally, my wonderful Bible study leader from this past school year approached me about co-leading a freshman bible study with her and another friend from our interdenominational Christian organization, Cru (Campus Crusade for Christ). The idea both terrifies and excites me, as I know it would be a large commitment, but also help me grow. I haven't yet made up my mind, but will continue to pray my way toward a decision!
Bye for now!
-Theresa
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