The Importance of Geographic Knowledge

About a week ago, my good friends, Megan and David celebrated their first anniversary.

This means that just over a year ago, Pallory(if you've kept up on reading this blog, you will know what I mean by this), Jered, and I travelled from the little town of Mendota to Muskegon, Michigan. And this, is where one of those memorable stories begins.


Jered and I met Pallory in Mendota the night before and enjoyed a fun evening with our long lost friends. We then got up and moving early enough to give us about an extra hour to eat and get ready on the way to Muskegon.


It seemed like the longest car ride ever.


We finally broke the barrier and entered Michigan. We "ooed and awed" and the scenery and the cute towns like Holland. After a couple u-turns we pulled into the church parking lot, ready to go apply make up, change clothes, and freshen up our hair. We were surprised by how many people were at the church an hour before the ceremony; we had been thinking we'd pretty much have free reign of the church for awhile.


Some friends from TIU made their way over to our car as we stretched and began pulling out our necessities. The following is a close rendition of the conversation that followed our initial greetings:


"I don't want to alarm anyone... but the ceremony starts in 15 minutes."


"No, it starts at 4:30."


"Yes, yes it does start at 4:30."


"Ohhhh my goooosh. Time change! There's a time change!"


Chaos ensued. Mallory and I ran for the restroom, looking unkempt after hours in the car and a late night/early morning combo. Wearing our scrubby clothes, we dodged all the people who were wearing their finest for the wedding, and burst, arms full, into the restroom. We applied the only the absolutely essential make up and changed clothes at lightening speed.


We made it to our seats with moments to spare, and sat in disbelief at our mistake. We laughed later.

After a lovely wedding and reception, we spent the night at the homes of some gracious hosts. The next morning the four of us packed up our belongings and headed for the beach. With just a short time to dawdle, we soaked up a few rays, and tried not to let the boys pull us into the lake.

Our fun-filled, nearly disastrous weekend had to be rushed because someone had to be home for work that night, but it certainly was memorable. It is stories like this one that make me miss my friends mightily, and quite anxious to see them again.

Words to Live By

Words are our most "inexhaustible" source of magic. They hold both the power to hurt and to do immense good.

The above is my paraphrased version of the thought of a very wise person. I feel this same basic message is shared by many, and is even in God's Word.

I've heard horror stories of what kids have said about and to other kids. Sometimes about people they claim are their friends. Things we think only happen in cheesy, teen movies. You know, the rude, snotty lines that cause the listener to run to and cry in the bathroom, becoming a regular Moaning Myrtle.

But then, I slip up too. Usually, it's completely unintentional. One of those moments where something pops out of your mouth, followed by the sudden urge to clasp your hand over your lips before you say anything else. Sometimes I'm just mad.


Since words hold such immense power, I have a desire to learn to use them in the most uplifting, edifying way possible. In addition to doing good with my words, I want to do well with them. I long to become the most eloquent writer and speaker I can possibly be.

I suppose my first steps should be to keep writing on here, keep reading, and to really think about what I say. Before I say it and not after.

Do You Remember...

Did I ever tell you about the time...

It's occurred to me that I really wish I had started blogging years ago because there are some hilarious stories I wish I could have relayed to people right after they happened. You know, when they were still fresh in my mind.

I think I would have written these in short story form... like something I would have turned in for Fleming's creative writing course. Here are some of the them:

The time Ashley and I returned from Christmas break to find a dead bird, and a birdpoo-covered dorm room.

The time Jered opened up the ceiling to try to catch the creature residing in our dorm room. Ashley and I had been listening to it living above us for months.

The time Jered and I met for the first time.


The time someone laughed so hard, she wet her pants.

The time a bunch of us went out for milkshakes and Jered completely fell out of the car when we got back to school.

The time Katie and I got in a legitimate wrestling fight, were rolling on the laundry room floor, hitting each other, and would have been hit with the iron because it almost fell off the ironing board.

The time Jered had me take him to the hospital because he smashed a finger.

The time Jesse accidentally shared the wrong information from Katie's ipod.

The time, wait- every time Katie took five minutes to get a joke.

The time Ashley and I didn't know what to do with our newly colored hair.

The time we went to Ukraine and experienced daily ridiculousness. Sure, it's a word.

The time Kelly, Mallory, and I found out the restrooms at the beach were locked.

The time we almost missed Megan and David's wedding.

I think I will continue this post another time. There are just too many other stories that I would love to share with you.

Maybe sometime, I'll actually tell the whole story. =)

Just Another Day Older

*Sigh of contentment*

What a wonderful birthday.

Not only did I have the most wonderful surprise ever, and a fantastic time as a result, but I was able to spend my actual birthday with two of my favorite girls. Mom, Kate, and I had a lovely day in Peoria.

After a delicious lunch, (see? I told you one of the things I love about July is birthday food) we saw Larry Crowne. If you are interested in this film, I would recommend it. It's kind of awkward, and we felt they could have done more with the plot, but it is pretty funny. But then, I just love Tom Hanks and Julia Roberts anway.

Naturally, we ended up doing some shopping. Katie and I purchased some fabulous matching jackets. (We have very similar taste sometimes.) I bought $119 worth of jewelry for $15 at a lovely place called Charming Charlie's. (Seriously, check it out if you can.)

Our shopping rule: You must try on something you would never dream of buying. Instant fun.

However, I think the purchase I am most proud of is my book of 4 Jane Austen novels. I would have only paid $2 per novel, and it's a hardcover. I felt like such a grown up, buying classic novels with my birthday money.
Perhaps the highlight of the afternoon was when the three of us crammed in one of those photobooths to take a round of pictures. Nevermind the fact that it was outside, and it was in the 90s.

Well, I had a whole host of deep, birthday wonderings, but I think I'll let those go for now. Let it just be said that I had a blessed birthday.

The Best Gifts Aren't Wrapped

Isn't July fantastic?

I love July. What's not to love? The sun? The holiday? The holiday food? The pool? My birthday? My birthday food? Vacation?

Even though the fact that I'm about to turn 24 years old is kind of weird, (yes, I am having an age-related, Bella-esque, freak out.) my tendency to claim the first five days of July as my very own birthday "weekend" will not be quelled.

Of course, receiving a spectacular and early present this year, helped to propel this tendency. I woke Saturday morning, expecting a girls' day at the country market on the riverfront. Imagine my surprise when I found this outside my bedroom door.

Needless to say, I hurried downstairs, jumped on his makeshift bed, and squealed, "You little sneak!"

And so, my birthday surprise joined the girls at the country market and a little bistro for lunch. We then continued Jered's tradition of shopping for my birthday. His only birthday shopping rule: Don't buy what you need, just what you want. He was such a good sport, and quite patient as I tried on outfit after outfit. He even helped me choose some goodies.


I wish I could tell you all about how sweet he was, but not only would you be disgusted by the sappiness, but he would be unhappy if I tarnished his tough guy image. I will simply tell you, I have an adorably sweet boyfriend and best friend.

My birthday weekend continued as we spent hours, sunning at the pool, talking and laughing, watching some movies together, and even fishing for awhile. Fishing: not my favorite. Jered: my favorite. Good compromise? I thought so.

Well, Jered left late this morning in order to make it back to work by 2 o'clock. So here I sit, a little sad because he's gone for awhile longer, and a lot content because he was here.

My birthday isn't until tomorrow, but already, I have enjoyed the sweetest gift.

However, since tomorrow is my real birthday, and I will be spending it with my wondeful family, starting with a fun girls' day, you can plan on hearing from me again quite soon.