Life Beyond South Dakota

Quick 2013 Update

Posted in: Labels: Calvin/Hope, DC, Florida, Line Dancing, Minnesota Twins - 0 comments

Life has been rather busy for me lately..... here are a few updates to what I have been up to thus far in 2013.

Kelley and myself at the classic Calvin Hope game. In which my alma mater Calvin kicked butt!

Myself and Emily went line dancing! South Dakota has been prepping me for these outings for years :)

Myself, Emily and Leesha went to Fremont for a relaxing weekend.

Michigan Plates....but that doesn't change my baseball loyalty.

I may be a grown-up but I still love sledding.

Quick weekend trip to Washington DC. Gosh I love how pretty that city is.

Spring Training!!!!!!!

This March, my mom and I have the pleasure of meeting up for a mother/daughter vacation in Fort Myers, FL. We went down to watch the Minnesota Twins play spring training games, and embrace the warm Florida weather. I hadn't seen my mother since Christmas and it was great to see her, and our baseball team.

I loved being near fellow Twins fans, there aren't many in Michigan.

Mom & I

In front of the Stadium.

We visited a Manatee Park. The whole time I was singing the Barbara Manatee song from Veggie Tales....Oh the things I remember from childhood :)

Scott Diamond, Minnesota Twins pitcher, and myself.

Okay....so my update was brief with little substance, but plenty of pictures. I'm still kicking it in Grand Rapids, Michigan and loving the job.

Sending my love from GR!

Life after College

Posted in: Labels: Friends, Graduation, Jobs, Mom - 0 comments

I did it! I graduated this past May 19. I can't say that college was easy, but I can say that I loved it! I may not have loved studying for finals, tests, reading books that I lacked interest in, or staying up until 4AM when I got off work at 12AM to finish my last college paper, but to me Calvin was so rewarding. I enjoyed learning about so many things, my liberal arts education at Calvin allowed me to study advocacy, finance, and international relations as well as my ability to study in Washington DC and in Europe. Even my religion class on Paul's letters has come in handy with Sunday Sermons. These past four years of Calvin I have often been asked what my plan was after Calvin, for just about all 4 years I was like I have no idea, good thing I still have more time at Calvin.

My last few weeks of Senior year I was busy, writing papers, interning, waitressing, and stressing out about the future. My mom spent much time telling me that this was God testing my patience, many of you realize that I have little to none of that. I have been blessed though, God has shown his desire for me to stay in the Grand Rapids area, and I have been greatly blessed with a job at my internship. I am the new Finance and Event Coordinator there. It is going to be a great summer and election cycle and I am excited to what this job has in store for me.

I realized how blessed I am just the other day when someone asked me when I graduation and I responded May 19, and they asked if I was searching for a job and I replied that I had just started a great new job. They looked shocked, and asked me if I had realized how lucky I was. Many college students are struggling to find work, and in baseball terms he told me I was batting 1000%. I smiled. God has truly been good to me.

Not only have I been blessed with a job, I was blessed to have my family come up for graduation weekend. My mom, brother, grandparents and my lovely dearest friends, Carrie and Breanna, came up to celebrate with me. As well as the week I graduated I made it to Detroit to catch the Tigers play my beloved Minnesota Twins. The Twins won 11-7, needless to say I was 1 of 11 fans who left comerica park happy.

Carrie, Breanna and I at Lake Michigan

My mom and I at the lake

Me and Aaron at Calvin

My family!

My grandparents even came up to watch :) Even though I didn't graduate from Dordt :) Love you both!

Mom and Me

My Girls :) It was our 3rd graduation picture together. I thank you deeply for our friendship.

Much love from Michigan and God Bless!

College Years-The Final Days

Posted in: Labels: College, Graduation - 0 comments

Four years ago I was finishing up my years at Sioux Falls Christian High School, anxiously anticipating college. Choosing Calvin was tough, I knew that I belonged here, but I didn't want to leave those I cared about. Looking back, Calvin College is where I was meant to be. The people I met here have changed my life, the classes I have taken here have impacted my worldview and the life lessons I have learned have made me stronger.

As I procrastinate my last week of classes of my career at Calvin, I decided to look back upon how far I have come, and where I have gone during my four years.

My roommate Kelly and I during our first week. Its amazing how far we have come since this photo. We have grown up, and changed, but we still live together. It will be an adjustment not to see her everyday.

Freshman Year easter break. Not only has my hair changed, but in the 8 months at Calvin I learned lots of life knowledge in addition to the my book smarts.

Kelly and I on the last day of freshman year. Gosh we are adorable.

First week of sophomore year. Ready to jump right back into Calvin, not yet aware of the homework ahead.

The powerpuff girls, saving Calvin one skating rink at a time. Gotta love the good times.

Junior year is when I went to DC, this semester changed my life. I loved every moment of it and I would love to return to that city someday. It was my first taste of the real world. Work>school work.

I stayed up in MI for the summer, but managed to make it home for Audi's wedding. Not seeing my family and friends has been the hardest thing about being at Calvin. I miss them so much, but am grateful that they understand the distance.

Palace of Versailles. Just looking like a rockstar in France.

My mom asked me the other day what my hobbies were for a upcoming church slideshow. I quickly responded" Work and being awesome.....it's a full-time job." While mom thought it was slightly inappropriate for the slideshow and changed my hobbies to less cool things. It got me thinking to all the hobbies and things that Calvin has let me do. From rock climbing to welding, and everything in between. During my 4 years at Calvin I have driven from South Dakota to Michigan and back 15 times, visited Chicago four times, went to Boston, Providence and Cape Cod, lived in Washington DC for five months, visited NYC by bus, went to Europe, and have endured thousands of hours of homework. It wasn't all fun and games, but I wouldn't change it for the world. Calvin has blessed me with so many opportunities, and it has given me a chance to spread my wings and learn just a small bit of what life has to offer.

As I look forward to my fast approaching graduation day, I realize that Calvin has become my home, and while I am ready to be finished with homework and finals, I am not ready to lose the stability of Calvin. After the next week when someone asks what I do, I can no longer say that I am a student and that I have time to figure out what I want to do. It's real world time, but I am eternally grateful that Calvin has provided me with the knowledge and ability to stand on my own. While I don't know what God holds in store for me for my next stage in life, I do know that it is "In him who empowers me, I have the strength to do everything."(Philippians 4:13) With God's ability and the great support system that I have been blessed with, I am sure that I will find a job that will let me use my God-given talents to serve him. I am so very thankful for the prays and support I have received while at Calvin these past four years. I couldn't have done it without ya''ll. Thank you to my friends and family. Mom, thank you for letting me choose my own path, your never-ending support, and for encouraging me to follow my dreams.

College graduation in T-13 Days. I never thought this day would come.

European Interim- Week 2 Photos

Posted in: Labels: and Europe, Dachau, Germany, Paris, Ulm - 0 comments

Europe taught me many things, three of them are; The importance of language, biking, and history. In the United States, most Americans only speak one language, there are a seldom few who speak one additional. On the other hand, Europeans speak multiple languages, through our travels we interacted with several locals who spoke more than 4 languages. One man was able to speak an upwards of seven languages, I have never come across an American who is capable of that feat.

Biking is an important aspect of European culture. I never expected to almost be run over by a cyclist on multiple occasions. I grew up checking both ways for cars, not once was I told to fear a bicycle bell. Cars are used in European cities; however, biking seems to be the premier ideal of transportation.

In comparison of the United States to Europe, America is very much a young teenager. European towns existed and thrived long before America was even thought of, and even before Christopher Columbus discovered North America in 1492. America does have some history, but not nearly as much as Europe and we are not as proud of it as they are. Walking through the streets of Grand Rapids, one is not struck by the historical elements of the buildings nor the cement street. Europe embraces its history America just has it.

Day 8- Paris

The Arc de Triomphe

Napoleon ordered the Arc de Triomphe to be built, so that when he conquered enemies he could enter back into Paris under the Arc de Triomphe to celebrate his victory. Napoleon died before the Arc was finished. When Hitler captured Paris, he walked under the arc to celebrate his triumph.

Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris

At the Louvre.

Day 9- The Notre-Dame Reims Cathedral

Luxembourg- US WWII Military Cemetery

Monument at the WWII Military Cemetery

Day 10- Cruise on the Rhine River

Castles rocked the side of the Rhine River

Day 11- Heidelberg

Part of the Heidelberg Castle

View from the Castle

Day 12- Ulm Germany

I climbed to the top of this church via the long spires you see in the picture above

The view 768 steps from the ground. I still hate heights.

Me at the top of the Ulm Cathedral

Day 13- Part of the Swiss Alps- On the way to Neuschwanstein

Neuschwanstain Castle- The Disney Castle is modeled after this!!

Wieskirche Church- Church of the Meadow- Look at those details. Europeans know how to build churches.

Day 14-Dachau Concentration Camp

The Day we spent at Dachau was cold and snowy/rainy it really put into perspective that no matter how cold I was, I had a coat. The Jews who were forced to live here didn't even have that.

The ovens- They had to build these 4 after the camp was already in use, because the 2 that they already had couldn't burn the bodies fast enough.

"May the example of those who were exterminated here between 1933-1945 because they rested Nazism help to unite the living for the defense of peace and freedom and in respect of their fellow man."

"Work sets you free" This is the Gate to Dachau, and since the Germans claimed Concentration camps were work camps, they tried to convince people that work will set oneself free.

Site of Hitler's speeches in Nurnberg. It was at this spot where the one the world's most notorious individuals convinced people that the Aryan race was the best, and that they should put non-aryans in concentration camps and kill the jews.

This part of the trip always left me thinking, and made me grateful for the life I live.

Much Love from GR

Trip of a Lifetime- Week 1

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Yes, I have been home for almost 1 month. I wish I was still in Europe instead of back at Calvin doing my homework. However, just because I was home doesn't mean I was not busy. For the Kent GOP we have been super busy- last night we had our 125th Lincoln Day Dinner- with VA Gov. McDonnell, Political Analyst Frank Luntz, MI Congressmen Amash & Huizenga. We even had a last minute guest of Presidential Candidate Rick Santorum. So all my time recently has been working on that- and the event went fabulously. So now I have a bit of free time to post. I have 2 more weeks of Europe pictures to post- so stayed tuned. The trip was magnificent- definitely a trip to remember.

Europe- Week 1