Beach Shots + Words of Thanks

I have walked at least 12 miles in the last eight days from going to the beach. It all started last Monday with a bike ride as a roomie date, and now I'm hooked. It's a good thing rain is in the forecast this week, otherwise I would be there every day this week too. These are pictures from my time there on Saturday afternoon, right after a small but significant amount of homework and before dinner in the SDR (student dining room). My favorite part of going to the beach is not dipping my toes in the still-freezing water, or even sitting on a towel and getting some reading in, but instead the trek through the sand to wherever my feet lead. The only problem is that this beach is limited, unlike previous beaches I've been to at the Gulf of Mexico which have sand as far as you can see. This beach, Oak Street Beach, is limited, but good. I had no idea I loved the beach this much. This definitely changes things as to where I'd love to live one day. Where can you have sheep and also take a walk on the beach?

Totally unrelated, but something kind of big happened two weeks ago: an anonymous donation on my student account to cover 92(ish)% of my last payment for the semester. I got an email the Monday morning after spring break informing me that my account would be updated by the next morning, and that was that. I haven't posted anything about it before now because I didn't know how to put it eloquently, and I still don't, so: thank you. I don't know who it was, and I'm content to not know if the person doesn't want to reveal themselves. It's a really crazy fact to digest, even though it's not a completely new concept to me. After all, our (as in, every Moody Bible Institute Undergraduate Chicago campus student) tuition is covered by donors.

There's not much to say besides that. It's a crazy, mindblowing thing, but it's a fact. While part of me wishes I could keep it a secret and be able to thank the person, that's not possible, so on the blog it goes! In other news, I have three major things due in the next week, which stresses me out a little, but I know they'll all get done somehow. A lesson plan on Malachi, a research paper on how homelessness has an impact on families and children, and a New Testament reading report. There's progress on each, so now I just need to do my best to finish each of them strong. Don't even get me started on the fact that the semester is coming to a close. So many bittersweet feelings on that!

- rl

Textbooks - Spring 2015

The semester is over halfway done, but I just remembered about doing this. Better late than never, right? If anything, it's nice to actually post about these and already know so much about them. These are the books I had to get for this semester. I only own one or two of these, and even those are shared with Ally, my roommate.

There are several of these books, however, which I would love to own some day.I saw something online last semester about how one way to save money in college is to sell back the textbooks you have to buy. I am taking this to heart by only borrowing the books I need for class, or buying them and then selling them at the next semester's book sale. Worst case scenario, I'll come back to Chicago several years after graduation and buy some of these same used books from students at that time.

- rl

Maggie Daley Park

Elizabeth was super stoked to finally get to see the bean!

 Inside of the bean is just as epic every time.

 Just walking over a large roadway on a super cool bridge. #Chicago

This about expresses our joy over these swings! 

 We also did some pirate-ing!

Last weekend, I messaged Elizabeth, a girl I serve with each week, to see if she was at all interested in joining me to this epic park sometime. We went back and forth on times, and finally got together after lunch yesterday.

It was a bit colder outside than either of us expected, but it was worth it. We took the train into the loop and trekked over to the park. First, though, we had to make a stop at the Bean in Millennium Park because Elizabeth had never been! It was crazy as ever, but worth it for her to see it after two months of living in Chicago! On our way to Maggie Daley park, I pointed out and told Elizabeth about the jazz festival at Jay Pritzker Pavilion in August and ice skating at the Ice Ribbon in January. It's hard to believe I've done these things here in Chicago! (I'm feeling pretty blessed). Once we reached the park, we were getting giddy. I don't know whether you would call the park child-friendly or adult-friendly, because there were both there! We were definitely not alone in waiting in line for the epic swings or climbing up inside the lighthouse just to go down the slide.

We really didn't want to leave, but our hands were cold and I had work, so we slowly made our way back to the train. Elizabeth was excited to find out that the station we got on our train at was the same one they filmed While You Were Sleeping at! (Randolph and Wabash, for those that don't know).

- rl

Basically the Worst Blogger Ever

How does one go from blogging daily for an entire year, to not blogging for a month? And I did that twice this year. Aye! Now that I sit here typing, however, it feels good. I PINKY PROMISE I will try harder to blog more often. I know my parents and loved ones will appreciate the effort.

Pictured above is Ally and I's roomie time yesterday. We made orange chicken and jasmine rice. We also did some knitting while watching Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. It's nice to be roommates in similar fandoms!

- rl

To a Most Beloved Sister,

Today is this cutie's birthday! This was her last month, trying to get the hang of crochet. After a craft night with friends we happen to work with, we headed over to one's apartment to watch Austenland. Such a hilarious movie for us Pride & Prejudice fans! My mom had helped Jenna learn to crochet a few days before this, so we had gone over the basics again and she got a lot done! It's so much fun to watch people learn how to knit.

Today, though, Jenna is probably at work. I wish I was with you, Jenna! Our working together last year made us a lot closer, so it's such a treat now when I come back home and we see each other almost daily again. Jenna's the best sister (and manager!) a girl could ask for. J-bird, you inspire me all the time. I miss you daily. I love you dearly. See you in two weeks!

- rl