At the End of April

The north and south views of LaSalle St.

Pictures from the day document the end of the last calendar month of my freshman year of college! Crazy, right? The day involved picking up the yearbook, which is a highlighter orange. Fun! It's weird to receive a book I had no involvement in. Talk about major high school flashbacks!

Tonight, after a team meeting for our Studying & Teaching the Bible lesson next week and dinner, I joined my friends on the floor and a few of us went up to the newly opened roof to listen to a little of tonight's Thursday Night Praise. The cold sent us in after fifteen minutes, and 45 pictures. Next up was watching Remember Me with those same friends, while knitting (Ally), going through email (Cassidy), searching for knitting patterns (me) and eating rice krispie treats (made by me, for all).

I am very excited for this weekend. An early shift at work and temperatures in the 70s!!!

- rl

Movie Snacks

Tonight I adventured to Wal-Mary with Cassidy, one of my friends down the hall, She got some Nerds, and when we got back to the floor and were settling in to watch a movie, we decided to mix them with Skittles. It was about perfect! They were the perfect sweet treat for a sad movie like Remember Me. Sorry if it broke your heart, Cass. (:

- rl

Founder's Week: Part Two

Another snippet of Founder's Week, brought to you by my iPhone. These pictures are all from Friday, the busiest, but best, day for me.

A few weeks ago, my mom texted me, asking if I would be willing to sit at a table following the morning session to sell books. This wasn't suspicious to me, as explained in this blog post! I was excited to have a special part in the week, and especially with someone that I've known a long time! It was a little confusing and crazy to know what my actual purpose was, but it all worked out fine.

After Dr. Richard finished speaking, I sold books at a table in the lobby for close to an hour, then packed everything up and met with him and a few others to have lunch. After lunch, I rushed over to the Rend Collective Q&A, which I had missed the most of but still got a lot of laughs out of.

I didn't have much time after that to get ready and head off to PCM. On the way back, we got off a stop early and walked to Moody Church. I sat directly behind the sound booth with a few others from my group, which was especially fun to observe while Rend Collective played (#lovethepassion). I worked on my knitting while David Jeremiah gave his message, which was encouraging, because I sometimes forget that our bodies should be well taken care of. I walked back to school with a few bro/sis, with a stop at Jewel.

It wasn't long after we returned to the dorm, however, that I heard a yell in the hall that the brother floor was going to do the polar plunge. More on that another time, however. (;

- rl

Founder's Week: Part One

Moody Church is so beautiful! I especially enjoy admiring the ceiling!

Tyler and Steve looking at something, while Chris and Emma look graceful for the camera. 

Do you see Waldo??

Three Moody choirs leading us!

Founder's Week is a tradition that has been going on for 96 consecutive years here at Moody Bible Institute! It's always in the first week of February, which is when D.L. Moody's birthday is. It's a lot of preaching and encouraging to the student body, as well as alumni and any one else, really.

This was the first night session I was able to attend, due to work. I work tomorrow night as well, but I'll be there for the conclusion of the conference Friday night! We've had some fun speakers in the morning and afternoon sessions, however. The highlight of those so far would have to be Phil Vischer, the creator of VeggieTales! Tonight Josh McDowell spoke on pornography, which was great. The greatest thing about it would have to be the conversations its starting. I would highly recommend giving the full message a listen. You can find more information on that here. Despite the temperature, I walked with a few people from bro/sis to Moody Church and back, which is about a mile away. It really wasn't too bad, thankfully, and allowed for some great memories to be made!

For now, though, I'm off to bed. It's looking like a roomie date will happen tomorrow with the Art Institute being the destination. Woo!

- rl

Back in the Swing...

Ally working on her sweater! 

Unusual breakfast included a sandwich and Harry Potter! 

The snowy plaza!

Snowball fight in the plaza. 

Another movie ("While You Were Sleeping") with a friend from the floor, accompanied by lots of unhealthy snacks!

So I went a month without blogging, and I'm keeping it that way. Repeat: I will not be going back and blogging for January. It's a lot less authentic when 30 posts are being written in one day, and I just don't have time to do it.

This month was fantastic. It was incredibly hard to say goodbye to my family on the 10th, but by the time I went to bed on the 17th, I was already feeling so much better. That may have something to do with the fact that I went swing dancing for the first time that night, but it was also because there is such a strong community here now. Ally, my roommate, made our room feel like home, and let me be a lazy bum those first 24 hours I was back and not wanting to get out of bed. It only took a few days, though, to develop an interest in life again. That first week wasn't all uphill, however, as it involved saying goodbye to a fantastic friend who is switching to Distance Learning.

Now we're on the verge of Founder's Week, which I'm looking forward to more than I thought I would. I won't be attending all of the sessions because I have to work, but I will be at the required amount and that's the important part. Classes are classes, PCM is good, and our bro/sis is way better this semester now that we all know each other well. I especially love when we go swing dancing!! Who knew this once shy girl would be begging to dance every night? It has definitely been added to the "future husband requirement" list. (;

- rl

Final Day

350/365

Today was my last day in my little single dorm room! I enjoyed my semester here, and will miss the sweet set-up Leslie helped me with before Missions Conference. You better believe I'll be suggesting the same layout to future occupants, which will be easy because, when I come back in the spring, I'll be hauling all my things into the room right across the hall!

Only a few more hours until I head home now! I can't wait!!

- rl

(p.s. this is part of my 14 goals for 2014. You can view all my goals here.)

Packing Things Up

349/365

This is the result of half a day of packing up my room. Switching rooms next semester means I have to have everything cleared out for my RA to check that there was no damage. Today I finished the semester (!!!!!!!!!), cleaned a little, then worked. Now it's definitely time for bed, seeing as I have loads of packing to get done tomorrow!

- rl

(p.s. this is part of my 14 goals for 2014. You can view all my goals here.)

Friday Night in the City

How do I spend my last Friday night in the city before Christmas break? Stay in the dorm, of course! (Not pictured) Marika and I watched Gilmore Girls, then, because I was feeling sleepy at 9pm, I watched some YouTube and knit:

while making mac and cheese:

Followed shortly by popcorn (day nine of mater's presents!) with Leslie while watching Sherlock:

and working on a tad bit of homework/consuming candy:

346/365

Sherlock season three, y'all. It's been too long since I watched this season and I had ALL THE FEELS. Best show ever, for sure.

- rl

(p.s. this is part of my 14 goals for 2014. You can view all my goals here.)

Surprise Sorbet

(photos by Chloe!)

339/365

Today had some pretty memorable moments! I first joined a girl on my floor, Chloe, and her boyfriend to the Anti-Cruelty Society a few blocks down. It was so great! You only have to sign in before you can go hang out with cats and dogs! The best part, though, was that you can choose a dog for them to put a leash on, then go walk the dog into the courtyard! As soon as I saw Shiloh, I knew I had to cuddle her! It's only 12 days until I get to hold my beagle and it was great to hear the little growl that is characteristic of beagles! 

After returning from there, I still had a few hours until my last PCM of the semester, but I was really dreading it. I checked my mailbox multiple times, because I'm expecting a package from my mom. She paid for two-day shipping, but the man who works down at the Campus Post Office (CPO) said it probably won't be here until Monday. So. Annoying. I was on the verge of tears at this point, mainly because I'm just ready to go home. 

After PCM, I was eating dinner in Leslie and Marika's room when Leslie surprised her roommate with an outing. We took a little walk to the more "River North" area, and had some dessert at Eataly. That place is insane. Tons of Italian goods! I tried sorbet for the first time and, surprise, I really liked it! We finished off the evening by watching The Giver, which was not too bad. I definitely need to read that book again, though!

- rl

(p.s. this is part of my 14 goals for 2014. You can view all my goals here.)

100 Days Here

332/365

Today marks 100 days since moving to Chicago! That is crazy. Tonight I made popcorn in Ally and I's new hot air popper that we bought off a girl from two floors down. I'm looking forward to many movie nights with popcorn from this machine. You can see Marika's machine behind the bowl, which is the one Leslie always uses. She has shown me the fine art of making popcorn and I'm looking forward to perfecting it over the years. (;

100 days. I love it here. It's not perfect, but it's pretty great. I'm definitely a lot more familiar with the city and how it all works than I was on that first day. There is still so, so much to explore of this place (i.e. pizza!) but that will come slowly, which is really how it should be. Right now I am especially looking forward to seeing all the Christmas decorations come up around the city.

More than anything, though, I'm looking forward to hauling my stuff all the way down the Orange line here in a few short weeks to the airport on my way HOME. Three weeks, y'all.

- rl

(p.s. this is part of my 14 goals for 2014. You can view all my goals here.)

Thanksgiving 2014

331/365

Eating on Wednesday definitely has its benefits at Thanksgiving! We were able to relax all day on Thursday, which means we slept in and watched lots of movies! Ally made fettuccine Alfredo with turkey and it was good. We bought the ingredients so she can make it again sometime next week. It was so, so nice to just hang out with Ally and Laura all day. 

- rl

(p.s. this is part of my 14 goals for 2014. You can view all my goals here.)

Friendsgiving 2014

Today we had our Friendsgiving Feast! Although, I think it can only be considered a Friendsgiving if you're having a Thanksgiving at a later date, but whatever. Ally and Laura did a lot of work to pull this all off, and it went fabulously!

First, just some perspective on the view we had while preparing the lunch:

Ally started with the mashed potatoes. 

The list of everything that had to be done. 

She needed a little bit of soy sauce, so instead of wasting a ton by buying a full bottle, she used the little bit she had gotten from the Chinese delivery the night before.

 

Laura with the sign she had put on the oven door late last night.

Laura and I made cute little envelopes for the butter for our bread! 

Very full stove top! 

Our main view: my iPad with Christmas (yup...the chef's orders!) music + watching Ally prepare whatever item she was working on at that time. 

Laura posing by the tree in our lounge.

Our spread downstairs part one...

two... 

three...

& four!

 Laura and Ally set up the table really cute, but I forgot to get pictures of it before. Here's after, though, with most of us seated.

Ally is a Children's Ministry major...so we had some activities (: 

The mess to clean up afterwards... 

involved a decent amount of dishes. We finished fairly quickly, though, and were on to House Hunters within an hour!

It hasn't quite set in that I won't be with my family tomorrow, but there's only three weeks to go! I'm not sure I'll ever go home for Thanksgiving (because it's just so close to Christmas break!) but if I don't we're already hoping to do this annually!

- rl