Today was a good Day.

I would say that today was a good day. It started out by dropping off my brother at the airport because he is traveling back to Denver, CO. Then, I met up with a good friend for a 2 hour lunch date at MayDay Cafe in Minneapolis. It had an indy feel, with an eclectic customer base so it was fun to people watch and catch up. I could sit in coffee shops like that for hours.

(This is a picture of the place. I'm a poser though, I forgot to take my own photo of it, so I stole it from online ;) )







Since I got lunch, and not coffee my craving for some coffee was pretty intense. I headed to my favorite coffee shop near my house and sat for a couple of hours reading my new book Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis. I had some delicious Chai Tea which I decided is my new favorite drink.

After my coffee date with myself, I headed to a local bookstore. They are closing the store, so everything was 70% off...that's right 70% OFF!! IT was CRAZY! I got over 40 Children's hardcover books, 3 cookbooks and 4 books for fun. Grand Total= 30$ Best 30$ I think I EVER spent. I'm pretty jacked about it, and super excited that I started my teaching library. (Plus, I got some really great titles and Caldecott books)

When I got home, I took some pictures around the house, playing around with my camera. Below is my favorite picture I took.

Today was pretty great. I needed some solid "me" time to refocus and just be. And although my "To Do" list hasn't recieved much attention, I think coffee and books we're a way better choice today than cleaning and organizing. Today was a good day. :)

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Lots to do

TO DO:
- Unpack all of my crap from Fargo ( a BIG job...)
- Go through and put piles 1. Want 2. Give 3. Throw (An even BIGGER job)
- Go to Bank and get traveling checks/travel visa
- Buy a Mosquito net
- Pick up all my medications so I don't get scary African diseases
- Make a "To-Pack" packing list
- Actually Pack...
- Do some online shopping for clothing to wear in Africa (In the process)
- Download music for the trip
- Buy a good book. (Any suggestions?)
- Budget and figure out some travel plans...Kilimanjaro? Serengeti? Lake Victoria? Zanzibar? :)

Christmas time was wonderful and well spent with the family at the cabin. But now, it's over, New Years is fast approaching and I'll be on my flight to Tanzania before I know it. I have 16 Days before my flight leaves...holy moly! I have lots to do. I'm starting to get so excited...it's for real, I'm going to Africa!!! Time to start crossing out more than just thoughts! :)

Alissa :)

I picked my friend Alissa up at 8:30 and as we drove around trying to find a coffee shop to get coffee and sit at, it felt like it had only been a few days since I'd seen her. What felt like a day was actually nearly a year because for the past year she has been in AmeriCorp in the wild! She's been in Wyoming and Montana doing forest restoration and being hardcore one with the wilderness; wearing a hardhat, carrying tools, not showering very often. Haha... It fits perfect with the person Alissa is, and all her teammates and superiors told her that she was the best to have on the Corp :) It doesn't surprise me one bit. Alissa is the most free-spirited person I know. Hardworking, passionate, wickedly smart and so down to earth. She's loved her Chai tea, chocolate and meat-free diet since I met her junior year of high school. Hands down, she is one of my favorite people to just sit and talk to. She is someone that is doing something bigger and better than herself, someone I look up to and someone who I'm so proud of.

Tonight was a quality night full of Ms. Alissa, her fantastic mom who came home half way through, coffee and some home-made truffles. When we finally looked at the clock it was 12:30 am. I headed home, but since I decided coffee was a good choice at 8:30 at night, I'm wide awake.

I'm so lucky to have friends like Alissa. Friends that are far away, but I know when we get the few times a year to see each other it will feel like no time has passed at all.

" Good Friends are hard to find, hard to lose, and Impossible to forget."
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True Life: I have too much stuff.

So, I think I'm a hoarder. I wish there was a website that gave me a check-list to figure out if I had a diagnosable disorder. It could go something like this...

Please Check If:
- You have more clothing than you know what to do with
- You buy things just because
- You don't throw things away, even if you haven't worn them forever

Given, it's not as bad as the show Hoarders, and I don't mean to make fun of the actual disorder. According to the show I guess it's legit. Given, I can still walk through my house, staircase and cook in the kitchen but I still feel like it's outta control.

The moral of the story, I have too much stuff. It kinda makes me sick to my stomach. I just want to simplify and not own things I don't need. Who needs 16 pairs of jeans? (yes, I own 16 pairs of jeans) or 20+ MSUM t-shirts(this is how many I counted until I got mad at myself and stopped). I have 4 GIANT black bags of clothes to put away. I made a goal of putting them all away today, I cleared out 1 bag. 1/4=25%=FAIL! Even more of a fail because it was just all my socks, underwear and bras. Yup, that's right, and ENTIRE BAG filled with those 3 things. This is why I think I have a problem.

So, I think tomorrow I'll make my next goal at emptying out another black bag. Maybe I should go through everything and SIMPLIFY....who needs that much stuff.
In the midst of the Christmas season, it is not time to be filled with stuff, instead my goal is to be filled with the Spirit. Less Stuff, More Spirit. Yup, I like it. It will be my mantra going through all my crap tomorrow...

Happy Tuesday :)

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Sunday

I love Sundays. This morning I sat in a pew with great friends, in a warm and cozy church filled with people. Afterwards, I ran a few errands and now I'm home :) On my agenda today...unknown. I think I want to just take some time for me. Read a book I've been waiting to read, spend some time in Barnes and Noble browsing, possibly buying a few gifts and I feel as if coffee will definitely be in order. Currently I am cuddled up on my bed thinking a cat nap sounds pretty appealing.

I can't put my finger on it, but today I'm just happy. For some reason it's like I'm hypersensitive to all the amazing things around me.  I am I'm thankful for the friends I have, not just in general but the individuals who have impacted my life for the better. I'm thankful for warmth when it's so cold outside, for blankets, a car that starts, thankful for the Christmas season, holiday lights, for the music that helps me survive and the way hot chocolate makes me feel when it's so chilly out there. I know I'm obviously in a sentimental mood, but when you take the time to just be thankful it is pretty overwhelming.

I like Sundays like today. Days where I can relax, and just "Be Still" in gratitude for everything I have been blessed with.

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Kelly Moore Bags :)

I found a new favorite song for the day.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AyOb21ZB_

I also found a new favorite bag for the day. I'm adding it to my "Wish List". These bags are great. Small enough where they look like an actual purse but also holds my new SLR. I feel like it might be a "must buy" kind of a thing.

Adorable? I know. PLUS....it's mustard. The color of my long lost stolen purse that I miss every day of my life. Ok, that might be a little dramatic but I really do miss it! This Kelly Moore purse could be a perfect substituion..AND hold my camera. PLUS...when I'm in Africa I could have my camera on me all the time, plus all the normal stuff I need. I think it's a match made in heaven. :) 

The purse is by Kelly Moore. Check out her website: 

www.kellymoorebag.com

I have to call my sister to discuss my new find. Happy Friday!!

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A Wondrous Love

    I handed in my last papers for my college career today. Tomorrow, I have an exit interview and then it is Christmas break for this lady :) Life is good, I'm exhausted because I was up so late doing homework but I just can't seem to fall asleep to take a nap. Instead, I've been relaxing the last 2 hours listening to Grooveshark, finishing a Shutterfly picture book, and spending time in the Word. It's amazing how good it feels to just relax. 
    In my exhaustion and current reflective mood, I can't stop but coming back to the fact of how thankful I am. God is so good. My friend Bekah and I were talking a while back about this weird transition when you move from the place you call home, and she said, "I can't imagine making this transition without knowing the Lord." I couldn't agree more. I am so thankful to know and love the Lord. 
  Today I came across Psalm 138:8:

    The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me; Your love, O'Lord, endures forever- do not abandon the works of your hand. 

This verse ensures me that the Lord will make sure that my purpose on earth will be fulfilled. He will not leave me while I do work in His name. His love is eternal, and endures. The word endure by definition is"to regard with acceptance or tolerance. To remain firm under suffering or misfortune without yeilding." As the current song lyrics that I am listening to says, His love is a wondrous love. :) 

Happy Thursday. It's time to enjoy a relaxing night.  

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Hello Nikon D3000

After 3 months of researching and looking at cameras, I finally made a decision. Last weekend I purchased a Nikon D3000 and I am in love :) I took a few pictures at home, and today I went out downtown Fargo and took some pictures. I think it's going to be a good fit for me. Here's a few pictures from the new camera.

My Pups, Lucy and Molly :)

 Heyoooo...

 Shoes and books. 2 of my favorite things :) 

 

"Life isn't about finding yourself, it's about creating yourself. "

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Exactly what I needed.

As I had some quiet time tonight, I came across this verse (the version I found from another persons blog) and it his completely hit me where I'm at. I feel like it's so relevant, and profound, yet simple. As I look to the next step, I pray that I keep this verse remains at the forefront of my steps. 

Let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will know what God wants you to do, and you will know how good and pleasing and perfect his will really is.

By the way, after my anti- procrastination blog earlier tonight I was inspired, and I kicked my lesson plans in the butt. Although, my piles of clean clothes are still sitting in my room..

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Dear Procrastination, please go away.

It's been a while since I've been on here. I just have no motivation for anything lately! As an example, I got home from Thanksgiving break on Sunday, with 2 large bags of clean clothes. Those clothes still have yet to be put away....really Liz?

Blogging, running, homework, lesson plans...all going on the back burner. It's such a weird transition for me right now, it's like I'm thinking that if I don't get anything done, just maybe I won't have to move forward. Forward is unknown, forward is Africa.  I leave Fargo in 17 days from today. Scary, bittersweet, exciting, sad...so many word to describe how I feel. I think I figured out today that me not thinking about it, and refusing to make way on my to-do list is not helping anyone. Pure laziness could be a portion of it as well, but honestly, I'm just scared. I'm scared that when my my to-do list is checked off, it's really gonna be time to go.

Now is the time I really need to trust. I know the Lord has this under control, but truly putting my trust in Him is a tough thing to do; I am definitely being humbled through this transition. Quiet time and music has been vital for me, and now it's time to get my to-do list checked off!

So what's going to happen when that to-do list is done?! Well, it's on to the next chapter. Instead of being emotional and "deep" about all this life stuff, I just gotta get my crap done because life is moving forward with or without me. Even if I don't do my lesson plans, 5 giant assignments and everything else on my list, I'm still moving to Africa...my grades just may not be as good. So it's time to stop procrastinating because of what it means when I finally finish. Time to get work done. Operation productivity is a go.

Above is a picture of where I'll be running my half marathon this Sunday and where I've been hanging out all day today. It is officially my dream to live out here, it;s so beautiful. My family is so fabulous and it honestly feels like no time has passed since I went to school in San Jose (an hour north), which was about 2 years ago.

I went for a run this morning in my family's neighborhood and with the sun shining, I was so thankful for all the beauty that God has created. It's been a great day. Woke up, drank coffee, went for a run and then ran errands with my aunt. We ate lunch at an adorable little restaurant in Pacific Grove and I ate some of the best clam chowder I've ever had. We picked up our race packet for the Big Sur, took a trip to the dog park along the ocean, picked up my cousins for school and made a trip to MyYo. MyYo is my new favorite thing, self-serve frozen yogurt along with self-serve toppings. Probably the best thing ever.

Tonight the plan is to make some dinner, play Dog-Opoly and watch a movie with my aunt and cousins. Tomorrow will be another day full of good things, and hopefully more MyYo :) Sunday can't come soon enough, waiting to run this half marathon is killing me, I'm so excited to cross that finish line. Happy Weekend!! :D

Drowning...

    Days like today I need to remember my basic functions to keep moving forward. One foot in front of the other, check off one thing at a time. It's like I'm drowning alive and my To-Do list is the thing that is swallowing me. It's that time in the semester for me where EVERYTHING is coming due. For me, it's worse because on top of it all, I run a half marathon and fly out to California exactly one week from today. Super exciting I know, BUT...that means my to-do list has to be accomplished BEFORE then. I'm so ready to just be a teacher already!!

And THEN today, I go and pick up information about studying abroad because I guess I need to "apply" so that I can go. Too bad my ticket is already bought folks, but thanks for letting me know that I need to apply anyway because you didn't inform me that I needed to fill out paper work. BuH. Dumb people. I need to write a 3 page autobiography about myself, get 2 letters of recommendations, oh..and it's going to be an extra $1,000 on my tuition. It's sweet when I know all the information BEFORE I buy my $1,600 ticket to Africa...Thanks. It's not like it changes my mind about going, and NOT really that huge of a deal, but today it was just more crap to to add to my list that seems to be never ending.

In addition to my world toppling in on me, people are just getting on my nerves! When someone calls you, call them back, excuses are overrated and I get so sick of being the one who puts in effort into friendships. Also, when someone talks in class, don't act like a know-it-all and annoy the whole class. You're not the smartest person in the world, and you're not better than the rest of your class. Sometimes I just wish I could make a sign that says GROW UP or STOP TALKING, NO ONE CARES and slide it across the table without being looked at as offensive.

Oh, AND...my "little friend" who is in town once a month is visiting this week and all I want to do is eat everything in front of me. Too much information I know, but I think it adds to the irritation of my life right now.

TRYING to be optimistic I decided to link one of my favorite songs that sometimes helps me get through overwhelming times. I just have to remember that I'm being a little dramatic, I just gotta breathe and take one step at a time. It's time not to complain, it's time to work. So my rant is over, if you got this far...well, I'm sorry for too much information and for being so whiny. I promise after my to-do list is a little more completed I'll be in a much better mood! Just need to remember that I'm not going to drown if I keep swimming, and to just keep breathing!

Keep Breathing by Ingrid Michaelson..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fORAPkfVV_A

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new adventures..

A few days ago I put in my 2 month notice at the apartment I'm living in. What does that mean? For starters, that I'm scared out of my mind. AND...That I'm leaving Fargo. I'm saying goodbye to this town and to what it can offer me. I'm saying goodbye to college life and I'm saying goodbye to friends and family for a while. I'm going to take an extended trip to Africa, Arusha Tanzania specifically and see what else this world can offer. 

It's time for an adventure, time to make stories of my own. Over the years while sitting in my college classes, countless professors have stood before me and told me stories of their youth. "When I was in the Peace Corp in Guatemala....When I lived in Spain...When I was traveling through Indonesia...When I lived in ___(fill in the blank)______..." We all know the stories. The stories you think "Wow, what an amazing experience, I wish I could do that..."  It's the time in my life where I want to make stories of my own. I want to experience life abundantly and explore this world that God has created for us. It's time that I take a leap of faith and trust that I can take a step away from my comfort zone and delve into the unknown. 

It's an exciting time, but also bittersweet. Going along my days knowing that I'm heading out of here in 2 months is crazy, but all the more reason to make the most of it while I'm here. The friends I've made here have become my family. I know that though I will leave Fargo physically, the people who are important to me will remain in my life for years to come. There's comfort in knowing that the people in Fargo, won't hear goodbye, but just see ya later! :) Cheers to good friends and new adventures. 

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"Runners just do it - they run for the finish line even if someone else has reached it first."

Focusing on the little things

This semester I am in a program called Professional Fourth(Final) Year, or PFY. It is put in place to prepare teachers to-be, to transition from the college world into the professional world of teaching. Most of the work is group work because let's face it, when you're a teacher you have to work with people! I have 20 students in my block, most who are absolutely wonderful. Not ALL, unfortunately, are that wonderful.

I know that when working in group projects, there are going to be issues. At the same time, I don't think that the issues should be as big as they have been in my situation. To be fair, I have to look at myself as a part of the issue as well. I am trying my hardest to be kind even though I've never been this frustrated in my life! When working it's hostile and uncomfortable for everyone. BAHHHH!!! I know that when I reflect, I'm not perfect. At the same time, I get along with everyone else in my groups just fine!

Well, looking at the bright side, it's almost over. I'm thankful for other group members along with the rest of my PFYers who are fantastic. I'm just excited for the stress and hostility of this group project to be done. Which after today, it will be. So cheers to that.

pLuS....It's Halloween Weekend! I'm ready to make apple cider, carve pumpkins and watch Hocus Pocus (that's as scary as I go) AND my favorite Pita is on special at Pita Pit. Whoop Whoop!  I guess ya just gotta look at the little things in life =)

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Always Remember

This morning I woke up, and looked at my favorite frame in my room. Most people don't know about it, but it is a frame that has a quote in it that I received when I was a senior in high school. Through high school I was a co-confirmation guide for a group of girls, and my other co-leader gave this to me when I graduated. I am teaching confirmation currently to a group of 9th grade girls, leading the group by myself. I just want to get through to them to help them understand how much I care, and how much God cares. I think next week I'll share with them this quote.

Alway remember, when God made you
He did so with a purpose and plan.
He saw all your days before you lived one of them
a placed over you the covering of
His protective love.
He has allowed nothing to come into your life
that has not first been screened through that love.
His hand has remained upon you to this very day.
He calls you by name.
You are His beloved child..
the apple of His eye...
the delight of His heart.
Today you are in the exact place He wants you to be,
and tomorrow He will be with you
as He always has been-
in goodness, in kindness in faithfulness

-Roy Lessin


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N00B

So I'm new to this whole "blogging" thing, but I think it's something that is going to work for me. I like to write, I'm not that good at it so bare with me. I have a lot of random thoughts, sometimes I ramble, my stories are too long and I'm not very funny...but I still have things to say! I like writing in journals, but I lose my motivation and don't keep up with it. Typing just seems easier. This morning I rolled out of bed and realized I need to start writing on a more regular basis, so here's to my starting a new adventure!

OH! AND...I leave for Africa in 2 months, so I figure a blog is a good way for friends and family to keep track of me when I'm on my worldly adventure :)

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