A Weekend Away

It's tradition (as of last semester) for Sherlynn and I to make the long trek (8-9 hours) up to Minnesota once a semester to visit Andrew. Thursday was Veteran's Day, and since Emporia is the founding city of Veteran's Day, we didn't have class. What a perfect opportunity! (Yes, Friday, we still had class, but what's the point of being young if you can't be bold and audacious every now and then?!)

We pulled out of the parking lot a little after 6:00, made a deliciously quick stop at Starbucks, and were on the road by 6:43 AM! Be proud!




We arrived in the Twin Cities around 3:30 and headed straight for the Lodge, the name of the house where Andrew lives with 6 other guys. We cooked supper (enchiladas, salad and dessert) for him and a couple of his privileged buddies! The dessert suffered through a few difficulties, but the guys never noticed!




Friday, Sherlynn and I spent the majority of the day shopping at the Rosedale mall. I navigated my way through the cities with skill and ease. Okay, well, I may have had a few missed turns. Note to self, just because a sign says "exit" doesn't mean it takes you to a gas station. Sometimes it just takes you to a different highway!

At the mall, I was able to meet up with an old Ouaga friend of mine, Lindsey Burg. We "grew up" together! It was WONDERFUL to see her again and catch up on her life.




Saturday was a SNOW DAY in every best sense! The heavenly storehouses dumped about 9 inches of snow on the Cities throughout the course of the day. But Mrs. Putnam (our favorite family hostess) had the fire going, the K-State vs. Mizzou football game was on TV, and Sherlynn and I were dabbling in homework in-between making cornbread to go with the chili Mrs. Putnam had made, and cookies for Andrew. We were all warm and cozy and splendidly happy! The only time I had to go outside was when I went to get the newspaper for Mrs. Putnam.





Amy came over later on in the afternoon and we played 221 Baker Street--a board game where you solve cases, sort of like an advanced game of Clue! It was super fun!




Sunday, we headed home, but not before making 2 different stops at Caribou coffee! Yummh....! Look at how different the streets are when we leave.



We decided we would stop at the first Caribou coffee sign we saw. We pulled off of the interstate with great joy and expectation only to read the next sign that said "Caribou 7 miles"! So we took a little scenic detour that ended up being very educational. We saw the headquarters for Malt-O-Meal! I can't stand the stuff, personally, but it was exciting seeing where it was made nonetheless. We were also able to pick out our Christmas tree, but since we had forgotten our ax and couldn't really strap it to the car, we had to leave it in Minnesota.






It was a great trip! I would go back in a flash!

More Highlights from the trip:
- We discovered a Christmas station upon entering the state of Minnesota and from that point on, it was all we listened to......unless Andrew was driving! You would not believe how many different versions of "Winter Wonderland" are out there!

- Playing "Star Wars" with Andrew....included with stunning audio effects!

"On earth we serve God -- in heaven we praise Him."

I just finished reading the biography of Ann Judson entitled, My Heart in His Hands, by Sharon James. It is a "must-read". It reads very easily, and is much shorter than A Chance to Die!

Ann and her husband Adoniram Judson were among the first American missionaries sent out. They went to Burma. Ann's story is remarkable and inspiring.

Here is how the back of the biography reads:
"In October 1810 a twenty-year-old girl in the quiet New England town of Bradford wrote the following words in her journal: 'If nothing in providence appears to prevent, I must spend my days in a heathen land. I am a creature of god, and he has an undoubted right to do with me, as seems good in his sight... He has my heart in his hands, and when I am called to face danger, to pass through scenes of terror and distress, he can inspire me with fortitude, and enable me to trust in him. Jesus is faithful; his promises are precious. Were it not for these considerations, I should sink down with despair...' Ann Hasseltine had received a proposal of marriage from Adoniram Judson, who was shortly to leave for Asia as one of America's first overseas missionaries. And thus commenced one of the great dramas of church history--a saga of love, courage, suffering and perseverance."

oooo! Doesn't it sound good? If you don't already want to read it, here are a few more quotes:

"But God has taught us by afflictions, what we would not learn by mercies--that our hearts are his exclusive property, and whatever rival intrudes, he will tear it away" --Ann Judson upon the death of her baby boy (86).

"May we make it our great business to grow in grace, and to enjoy closet religion [personal devotions]. Here is the place for us to prepare for usefulness" (131).

"My chief happiness now consisted in contemplating the moral perfections of the glorious God" (27).

The language used in this book is truly beautiful. It reminds me a lot of A Severe Mercy, which is another "must-read."

Christmas is coming up, this would be a great book to wish for!

I love to bake!

Recently, I've been obsessed with baking. I love trying new recipes and eating the failed and successful attempts! I've made whole wheat blueberry pecan pancakes, whole wheat apple cinnamon muffins (1/2 were with nuts), caramel apple dessert, and chicken potpie soup. Here are a few pictures to ignite your appetite:



The second time I made this dessert, it turned out much prettier. Below is the magazine version.




All of the cooking has been done with experimentation along the way! That's what makes it so exciting. "If I don't add _____, what will happen?" "What if I add _______." For the most part, everything has turned out okay.

For all of you rising cooks, here's a little tip: when using thyme leaves, make sure you take them off of the stem before putting them in soup!

I also like setting the table all pretty!



And look how punctual I am!

Costumes Through the Ages

I have spent some time reflecting over the last four Cru costume parties that I've attended. I want you all to notice how I've changed over the years:

Freshman Year


Sophmore Year


Junior Year


I had corn rows and everything!


Senior Year



Looking back, it's comforting to see how I've changed...

"The Way You Make Me Feel"

As the saying goes, "A picture is worth 1000 words," so I'll let the following pics speak for themselves.

Event: Annual Cru Costume Party
Can anyone guess who I am?
The blog title should be a hint.
Don't ask me where the inspiration came from...











This last picture is of the Cru leaders. Unfortunately, something must have been on the camera lens blurring Ana out!

Melissa, Erika, name this movie: "A picture is worth 1000 words, and you have three pictures!"

FAMILY FIELD TRIP

Friday morning, I met my parents, sister, and Elana, at the Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve. Here's a little tidbit of fascinating info:

The tallgrass prairie once covered 140 million acres of North America--stretching from New Mexico to Canada. Within a generation the vast majority was developed and plowed under. Today less than 4% remains, mostly here in the Kansas Flint Hills. The preserve protects a nationally significant remnant of the once vast tallgrass prairie and its cultural resources.

The barn was huge and the house was massively gorgeous! It had two parlors! Two! I've always wanted a house with a parlor. Maybe I can convince Sherlynn to turn our little dining-room "nook" into an authentic 19th century parlor! The perfect place to entertain company, play some Chopin masterpieces, and serve tea and biscuits!

Some of the highlights of the field trip were:
- Dad sticking a "branch" of leaves behind his head pretending to be a Native American.
- Mom claiming every unknown building/object was the place where the chickens were de-feathered and butchered.
- Discovering the "Ice House"---just like where they would keep the prisoners in Little House of the Prairie.

We enjoyed a beautiful picnic on the prairie to finish off the field trip.

Guess What ?!?!??!?!

The message "Guess what?!?!??!" has been flooding my phone throughout the weekend. In each case, it is followed by the words, "I'm engaged!" One text even came with a picture! This past week, ELEVEN of my friends have become engaged! SIX of them have been this weekend! Wowsers! Here's the list of the happy couples:

Kristie and Mark
Kate and Adam
Brittany and Cody
Sven (from France) and --- !
Jason and --- !
Shanelle and Dan
Lindsey Purl and --- !

My summer will be full of wedding hopping--some are already doubling up on weekends. I'm going to have to figure out how to attend two different weddings in one day! On top of these newly engaged couples, there are several who are currently engaged and will be getting married this summer as well.

So many happy people in the world tonight! But now, every time my phone goes off, I start getting a little nervous! Who's next?! I feel like I should buy some Ben&Jerrie's ice-cream and listen to some wedding music to celebrate.