so much...

Sometimes I really just like college. There are some things that I don't like. There are some things that I feel very "eh" about. But, every so often, I feel this overwhelming need to just yell to all of the world, "COLLEGE IS AWESOME! GO COLLEGE!"

There are just so many different opportunities that happen when you're in college. That you won't get any other time.

Prime example: Going to the Board of Trustees dinner last week. I got the chance to sit with our new president and his wife. He is hilarious; a very dry sense of humor. And she is just the most precious person ever. We chatted for a long time about her dog, Zoe. So cute! When else am I going to have the opportunity to do that!?

We talked about what's working at Butler, but also what we want to see changed. The night was so full of potential. Potential for what the new president is going to do. Potential for all of the changes that can happen. Just straight up potential. Which is probably one of my favorite things in the world.

Tonight is another night of potential. North Central Young Life's CAMP SIGN UP PARTY! Woo!

I can feel it. It's going to be another great week with another wonderful group of girls. And I just love all of the excitement of who can go and who we are trying to get to sign up.

All of these girls. Plus more. I can't wait.

So much potential.

hey bests...

ONLY TEN DAYS.

Until we will all be reunited in the warm weather of AZ for what promises to be one of the cutest weddings ever.

Once a chicken, always a chicken.

Just some gems I have been saving from Thanksgiving break.

a little song never hurt anyone.

This picture makes me happy. When I can walk in the front door of a house on Monday night and see this. Lots of shoes...which means lots of North Central HS friends to hang out with.

And since we had just finished reading the book of Ephesians together, we decided to have a worship night. Oh, was that a good idea!!!!

We sang songs, kids read their favorite Bible verses, and I got to have a post-worship sophomore girl team huddle to talk about our Thanksgiving breaks. And we all know how much I love team huddles! :)



AND this Tuesday was the return of Karaoke night for the NC YL team. The one year anniversary celebration, if you will. We all assemble at the classy establishment of Applebee's, order up a bunch of appetizers, and proceed to take over the restaurant with our awesome singing abilities. It doesn't get any better than that. Except maybe if Ethan was there to serenade us with some Kelly Clarkson. Then the night would have been complete.

And this was all in celebration of our new leader, Jasmine! YAYAYAYAYAY! She's great. And I can't wait to see what God has planned for her at North Central. I would've taken pictures of the new leader placement reveal party, but someone (cough Doug) told me it was too creepy to take a picture of her reaction as she walked through the door.

Yay for Young Life. Yay for community. Yay for fun people who let me stay up way too late before class the next day just to sing some "Sweet Caroline." Classic.

he's back!

Dominick the DONKEY!

One of the fraternities at Butler takes it upon themselves to play one single Christmas song for the last two weeks of class before break. All day. Every day. Nonstop.

Last year, I hated my life because of it.

This year, I'm feeling like it's a way to get everyone in the spirit. And it's kind of fun.

Ask me about it again by the end of next week.

But, for now....enjoy it!

fresh air & exercise

Thanksgiving. It's not my favorite holiday by any means. But, it's still great to be able to come home and spend time with people I love doing wonderful things.

Like hike with my family.

I love that I can hike in CO in November. It was a little chilly, but totally worth it to see this:

What a beautiful view off of Horsetooth Rock!! The sights were great, but my family is also just really funny to hike with.

We gave out awards to each other for different things. We sang songs (mainly me, actually only me!) We took cool pictures. And most importantly, Jared and I taught Maggie how to play leap frog. We didn't know if dogs could play, but we forced Maggie to. I don't think she liked it very much.

Then, because Colorado is so awesome, my family went skiing for two days! What!? I can ski and hike in the same week! YES!

So, yes, my family spent Thanksgiving up at Keystone/Breckenridge. Seriously, can't complain.

Our Thanksgiving consisted of skiing, meeting up with the Verde family, eating at a random restaurant in Breckenridge, and the most delicious crepes! I'll be heading back to the crepe stand every time I'm in Breck from now on. They were delicious! And the guys working there were a riot! Brian and I watched the man making them; he didn't smile/laugh/say anything for 45 minutes! And the guy taking our money was not on any drugs, but should've been. He kept sticking his head out the little window, resting it on the ledge, and saying..."Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!" Probably every three minutes.

Not a traditional Thanksgiving by any means, but wonderful nonetheless.

And it doesn't hurt when it ends like this...

I love you, Colorado.

my favorite thing ever...

is crafting.

And I got to spend some of my time doing that over break!

With my best friends! Which is why she posted all about it on her blog.

I'm not crazy about my craft...but it was still so fun to make!

"i wish you wouldn't stand so close..."

This is a joint blog post. Between best friends. Yay.

Because we are all together. All the gehls. (gurls/girls/gerls/gahls/etc).

Well, not all of us. But enough of us to fill a room with lots of laughter and inappropriate comments/jokes.

We baked.

Peanut butter Nutella cookies. Pretty much heaven in a small little package that you can eat. Nom.

We also played fun games...where we say "This is very fun."

And it IS very fun. HAHAHAHA.

Welp, now we have better things to do than write blog posts together.

Ellen & Abby signing off...(and Amanda & Laney too)....