Sunshine Forecast

Sunshine?? It's foggy outside! This morning when I left for school, it was a dark morning with no sunshine to be seen. The fog was low and I could hardly see at all.

[Insert note: Writing that just reminded me to go turn off my car lights. Oops...I hope it starts later!]

Back to the story. It was a muggy, foggy day. It was seven on a Monday morning...such a cliche scene, I know. Suddenly, I heard the song in my car begin to play, "There is sunshine in my soul today..." and I nearly started to laugh at the ridiculousness of the song on such a day. Seriously? Sunshine? Today? RIGHT. This is like having your mom wake you up for school singing "Rise and Shine" when you want nothing more than to stay right in bed.

But the next words struck me: "For JESUS is my light!" And I thought, Yes! There will be sunshine in my soul, because Jesus is going to be the light of my day! As the song says, His light will be "more glorious and bright" than any earthly sky, even the brightest sunshine you ever saw.

So, this has been my theme song today as I go about my business.

Today in my first class we each had to stand up and say what our biggest accomplishment was and say why that gave our teacher/employer a good reason to "hire" us. (Talking about myself in such a way is uncomfortable enough, but it makes matters sixteen times worse when he calls on me to go first.) As much as our earthly "accomplishments" may make us stand out in the world, it would be much better if, more than anything else, the people around me could remember the heavenly sunshine I had in my soul.

There is sunshine in my soul today,

  More glorious and bright

Than glows in any earthly sky,

  For Jesus is my light.

O there’s sunshine, blessed sunshine,

While the peaceful, happy moments roll;

When Jesus shows His smiling face

  There is sunshine in my soul.

There is music in my soul today,

  A carol to my King;

And Jesus, listening, can hear

  The song I cannot sing.

There is springtime in my soul today,

  For when the Lord is near

The dove of peace sings in my heart,

  The flowers of grace appear.

There is gladness in my soul today,

  And hope, and praise, and love,

For blessings which He gives me now,

  For joys laid up above.

As I was coming home today, the fog had yet not lifted and I missed the North Liberty exit, which sent me ten more miles north than I needed to go. Before I could become very frustrated, this song came on again. :) So I just smiled, sat back, and enjoyed the ride!

Whatever the earthly skies do, may your soul's weather forecast always be filled with sunshine!

A Frigid First Week

Back at college is me! And oh, how great it is to have something to do again! I could put it in the words of a former classmate: "Back to the daily grind," but that's wouldn't be very optimistic, nor does it really connote my real feelings about being here in school.

Truly, it is nice to be on a schedule again with things to do, places to be, and people to meet. Yes, it requires effort and work, but that's kinda what makes up life. So we just keep living.

The real question: How has my first week of school been? Great. I didn't realize how much I'd changed since August until I came back to school Tuesday. I wasn't the least bit nervous or scared about anything (except maybe standing up for those awkward class introductions and finding out I didn't have the complete text for a class). I didn't get overwhelmed by the syllabi. I didn't tremble in awe of the place, and I only got lost once. Getting lost was just because of my airheadedness, not because of my unfamiliarity. And you know what? I knew people in my classes, and I wasn't afraid to talk to strangers. What a big girl I have become! As much as I hate to say it, I haven't grown lonely or homesick once (this issue is curbed by going home on the weekends).

Yep, it's great to be a Hawkeye.

This is the Pappajohn Business Building...my favorite place on campus! I like to call it the Pappajohn Palace.

As long as you're not an engineer. All those aloof engineers have my permission to go up north to Ames, where they are fully appreciated and adored. Here at Iowa, Pappajohn's Business Palace sits at the top of the hill. For the week, I can pretend I'm the queen of the hill and look down upon that engineering dungeon in disdain at the bottom. Not that I feel high and mighty. It's just good for my esteem, because when I get home I am looked down upon by those engineering kids. Pssh, business students, they say. Say what you want, I think back. You'll need an accountant someday.

Yes, I'm speaking of my brother. Little does he understand that while he may exceed my talents in Physics and Calculus, I will be far beyond him in other subjects. And if not? Well, that's why I'm minoring in Spanish.

Back to the point. I love my classes and my professors and my schedule and everything. The end.

The living situation has been going well, too. Today I am alone though because she is on a trip in Nebraska and won't be back until 9.

The biggest event of the week aside from school was the weather. It's been soooo cold, and the heat wasn't really functioning the first couple days. Thanks to my extensive expertise with furnaces, I finally got it functioning again on accident and it's been a toasty 70 degrees ever since.

Tuesday night's pajamas

As for last weekend, I worked Saturday and then we had a very nice weekend in Princeville with a rather uneventful ride, which I now consider a good thing. At least 80 percent of the single group went, so it was a good turnout on our part. I stayed with the Steffen girls +Amber at their grandparents' with some other sisters, and Billy stayed with the Steffen boys at their place with some other brothers. We got to see Grandma in church and visit her place afterwards when we went to sing so it was nice to be with her too.

I'm not sure what the rest of my family has been up to, so I apologize. I can, however, think of a hundred other things to write about.

1. I talked in Western Civ today about my blog, using it as an example of a primary source that a future biographer might use to write about me someday when I am long gone and famous.
2. Tuesday's great moment: In the middle of class lecture (with about 30 students), a girl opens the door, looks around, proclaims, "This is really awkward," proceeds to stare at us for a few more seconds, and walks out in dazed confusion. I spent the rest of class trying to keep my laughing discreet.
3. I took a record number of notes today in Western Civ compared to any other class period last semester.
4. I'm thoroughly enjoying the instant coffee drinks and mug I got for Christmas.
5. It was good to be back in church last night.
6. Yesterday was a long day.
7. I'm really excited for the weekend.
8. I wore four layers of socks to bed Tuesday night. It didn't really help anything. Is there some kind of physics explanation for that?
9. I broke down and wore a decorative scarf today. It's official: nobody cares what I look like up here.
10. I was told last night, and reinforced the information by testing it myself, that my car is having an issue with the power steering fluid.
11. I JUST FINISHED THE LAST OF MY 360 COUNT TOOTSIE ROLL BAG. It took me awhile since I was eating a bag of peanut butter M&Ms and some peppermint mocha on the side.
12. If that statement made you want to puke, let me reassure you with two things: It took me four weeks, and I haven't gained a pound.
13. Also, I made a big candy wrapper chain out of the deal. But it broke in two and I don't feel like finishing it right now.
14. I only have one class tomorrow.
15. I do embarrassing things to keep from missing the bus.
16. Do I really have to make a list to 100? I know I could do it, but I'm tired of wasting your time and mine.

Have a good day!

Peek-a-boo?

Hey there, I'm back! It's been over 10 days...some sort of record since September, I think. I simply haven't been inspired to write for awhile. I must have inspiration to write (that's why it took me so long to write the Christmas letter). And winter break after New Year's is as uninspiring as anything, I might add. 

So, I've let things build up a bit so I can have something to write in this update. That's the guilt-free thing about doing a blog: the only people who read it are the ones who actually make an effort to do so, and hence I know I'm not rambling to someone who doesn't care...right?

Ok, I'm gonna break up this post with random pictures. Jesse loves his new easel! 

The boys are back in school, of course. That means basketball practice and games for two of the boys, robotics club for two, along with mock trial, piano lessons, homework, and the such. Dad is at meetings almost every night, especially since we just moved into the new church last week and there are plenty of things to work out with that. Mom is running everyone everywhere, and attending meetings of her own. Billy just started his new after-school job at Hawkeye as he finishes his senior year. Crazy busy.

Random Picture #2: Is something wrong with this scene? Makes me wonder about this family's normality...

And here I sit (no, not at the above-pictured computer, at my computer on the couch). 

I've been trying to keep busy, but it's difficult. I worked up at Olde World several days, went with a few friends to visit my married friend Heather in Illinois last week, attended the new church Wednesday and Sunday, went shopping with my mom a couple times, played games with the family, did a zillion puzzles (or so), baked cookie bars, played the piano, slept in till 11 almost every morning since I often found nothing better to do, worked on a project for my mother, and painted my bathroom.

With Mom's help, Justin made up an Oreo M&M cookie recipe-tasted good! And since he made the recipe I decided we needed to take a picture... 

For those who didn't finish reading the last paragraph, just make sure you caught that I painted my bathroom, because that was the main project that kept me busy and I just finished cleaning up the mess last night. I painted it lime green and salmon...kinda bold and uncoordinated, but I really don't care much. I just wanted something colorful that would wake me up in the morning, and I'm thinking this ought to do the trick. Mom wasn't very thrilled with it at first (the rest of the house is pretty much neutral browns except the crazy-colorful light blue basement). This morning she decided it didn't look that bad and said she might get used to it eventually. Hope so, cause I'm sick of painting.

Yeah, the pink-and-green thing. Kind of didn't mean for it to happen. But at least it's bright!

Mom is currently waiting tables at Olde World, and I am trying to get myself pulled back together after the past two days of making a hundred (at least) sandwiches and salads for all the customers. It was enjoyable, but my brain was a little fried. I'm going back tomorrow.

Billy and I are planning to go to Princeville with the single group tomorrow, and when we get back I'll be going up to school Monday afternoon! Bittersweet. I need something to do, but then again I will never get to sleep in past 7:30 again until...?

Ok, one more random picture- we found this on Jesse's white board one night after having company.  Horse-drawing contest...appears that some of them gave up and just drew sawhorses? 

In all, it's been good to be home with the family for over a month and to spend time doing random things that I otherwise wouldn't have the time to do. I've gotten plenty of time on the piano and been able to spend more time taking care of important business matters.

I've come to a realization, too. Sometimes we think life would be great if we never had to work or go to school, but what would do if life was one long vacation? For me, I would be bored and feel like my life had no purpose.

I was afraid to write such a thing since it makes me feel guilty, but now it's time for me to get something done around here before Mom gets home in ten minutes...oops. 

Have a good weekend!

The Last Christmas

We had one final Christmas at our place Saturday night: Billy had the single brothers here for their first (annual?) Brothers Christmas. The rest of us were kicked out of the house for the first part of the evening, but it seemed that they were enjoying themselves when we returned! The itinerary consisted of Olde World pizza for supper, a gift card exchange, and singing.

L-R: Matt, Austin, Billy, Benji, Josh, Jacob, Zach, Nate, Reed, Andrew, Jared, Bennett, Brett, Caleb. Missing: Jaydon, Nate S. 

In the midst of the snack table that night, Dad helped Jonathan use the drill to drill a hole in his fingernail. :o Home medical procedures... and note the logically-placed full cup of water (soon to be launched across the kitchen by a sore hand). 

Sunday was the last service in the old Oakville church, as we moved all the things over to the new one today and plan to begin there Wednesday night with a singing. Seeing the empty old church was a little strange, but it was good to get everything moved over tonight and the new one now seems a lot more prepared for us to come!

Yesterday there was a make-up band concert at school for Justin and Travis. They sounded great!

All the boys are back to their busy school life, and I still remain seated here at home. I've been working at Olde World a bit and am still trying to keep busy. The break has been refreshing, but two more weeks?! I'm not so sure about this...though I cannot complain.

Hope your week is going well!

January's Return

Ahh...do you feel that? It's the post-holiday calm, the peaceful reverie of new memories to cherish. The holidays are over, and what a special time it has been to share them with our family and friends. A couple of days ago we said farewell to 2012 and welcomed in the new year. Looking back, it has been a wonderful year and the Lord has been so good to us. Through it all, we can surely say that He has been faithful. We do not know what the future holds as we move forward, but we certainly know who holds the future! What a comfort it is to put our faith in Him!

I left off last week before we went to Minnesota, so I suppose I shall begin there. One of our Massner cousins rode up with us and it was fun to have her along. We arrived Wednesday evening, and spent that evening and the next day talking, playing games, playing in the snow, and finding other forms of entertainment with our cousins. On Friday the fish were biting so the men and boys went ice fishing. Billy caught a 4-lb walleye and our uncle caught a smaller one later on. That night we went to pizza ranch and then bowling afterwards with all the cousins. We had a girls sleepover afterward.

Billy caught a 4 lb walleye!

Saturday we went to the gym and played basketball, and then went home and showered before going to the family Christmas. Everyone was there except one of my mom's sister's family from Illinois. It was an enjoyable evening to spend time with our cousins, as we don't get the privilege very often! (Supper was delicious too!)

Adult supper table (Medium-sized adults table to the right)

The uncles: Rob, Dad, Tony, Bruce

This young boy kept everyone entertained for an extended period of time. (Sidenote: Alyssa and Abby did not plan their amazing color coordination.)  

Sunday we went to church, and then some of the cousins came over for appetizers in the evening. We left early Monday morning to come home. And then naptime?! NO!! Immediately we unpacked and Mom started cleaning and beginning preparations for the Massner Christmas at our house on New Year's Day. We went to church and then spent the rest of the evening with friends and family until the new year arrived. 

Tuesday was my Dad's family's Christmas! Everyone was here except the ones from Arizona, I believe. It was great to be with everyone and spend the afternoon with them. 

How do the great-grandkids always seem to steal the show?
This little girl kept the big kids entertained after lunch.

Dad keeps Andi and Grandma "Perplexed"

Yesterday the boys enjoyed their last day off school before heading back today. Life is somewhat returning to normal for everyone around here...except me! I'm not really sure what I will do to keep myself busy for two and a half more weeks, but I'm sure I'll think of something!

We wish you all of God's greatest blessings in 2013!