EXCITEMENT!

I CANNOT WAIT FOR BREAK!!! Only 4 more official classes, then two finals and two pseudo-finals where we either present or turn in work. SWEET DEAL! Bah! Can you tell I'm just really excited to get away from Eau Claire for awhile? Or away from the US for that matter! :)

And another thing that brings me great excitement is that MICAH is coming to visit on Friday, along with DANIELLE! Excitement!

Christmas gift ideas...

Christmas seems to be just around the corner with the first snow for us appearing yesterday. So lately I have been jotting down things that would make good christmas presents. So for all you relatives who may be wondering what I would like for christmas... let me just give you a little shove in the right direction. :) I even included some stocking stuffer ideas, NANA!

Camelbak Water Bottle with straw, 24 oz- 1st choice green. Black or clear is good too!

Black puffy vest- Old Navy, size M                            

Chapstick... just the plain old stuff!                                            

 Plain black hair ties- metal free please!

Short little no-show socks to wear with flats. Black and tan.

Orbit gum- peppermint. Or any other kind of gum!               

Forever stamps                                                

 Target gift card- I have my eye on some warm winter boots there!

Romania Blog up and running!

Click here to get to my blog about ROMANIA!

or just visit heathertoromania.blogspot.com.

Romania!

I sent out my support letters for Romania! So keep an eye on your mailboxes...

Week One- CHECK!

Well, the first week of our 5 Week Challenge has come and gone. And I'd say that overall, my roomie and I did pretty good! I did ab workouts 4 times, cardio 3 times, and stretched 2 times. I flossed and rinsed 6 days (mom... you know how good that is!), and practiced guitar 4 days for a total of an hour and 15 min. All my spiritual goals were met every day as well! Bedtime was a little sketchy what with being on duty and hanging with friends, but we definitely did better than previously! And the dessert rule was broken twice this weekend since we were at a retreat and the only snack during snack time was cookies. Otherwise, the food plans have been right on track!

So the only thing we are changing is that bed time will not be our number one priority. For example, if we have some friends over and are having a great time of fellowship, we might not kick them out right as the clock strikes 11. Another thing is we will not shorten our nighttime quiet times because it's "bed time." This was tempting to do at the beginning, but if we are having a great time with the Lord, what's a few lost minutes of sleep?

If we can do it, YOU CAN TOO! (Believe me, we really don't have very good perseverance!) :)

5 Week Challenge

READY?! Okay, so my roommate and I have decided to challenge ourselves over the next couple of weeks. We feel that change is needed in our lives, that habits need to be formed, and that with lots of strength from God we can do it! We decided to focus on mainly two aspects of our lives- spiritual and physical. There are a couple other things thrown in there as well. The things we decided to change/work on, are really quite normal, and are habits that should already be formed in our lives, but aren't. We aren't proposing anything outlandish such as sticking to the Atkins Diet, running 5 miles every day, or reading the whole Bible in a month. No. But we are proposing change in our lives, and as most of you probably know can be pretty difficult in general. But, we are confident that all things are possible through Christ!

So, here are the areas of our lives that we are going to be more intentional with:

Spiritual

Quiet Time: 30 min/day every day

Prayer

·      Pray together to start day (Mon, Wed, Fri when we get up together)

·      Pray impossible list every day

·      Pray for peers

Memorization: 1 verse/week

Giving: 10% or more, bless others

Physical

Exercise

·      Ab routine 5x/week

·      Cardio 2x/week

·      Stretch 2x/week

Diet

·      Drink water (water bottle or with meal)

·      NO dessert

·      Pasta no more than 3x/week

Dental

·      Floss 5x/week

·      Rinse once/day

Bed time: 11:00pm

Other

Facebook

·      30 min/day or less

Guitar

·      Practice 3x/week

And we have decided to do this until Thanksgiving break, so November 23... FIVE weeks from today! However, we do reserve the right to alter this plan, if need be, after one week's time. 

FARM

This past weekend (Friday and Saturday) I visited a farm... and it was great, to say the least! I did sooooo many new things, like...

• Milked cows
• Petted a NEW BORN (same day) calf
• Shot a gun
• Went on a 4-wheeler ride
• Went deer-shining
• Played croquet in the dark
• Played fruit/veggie baseball
• Got up at 5:30 for chores
• Saw both the sunrise and sunset on the same day

There was great fellowship as 5-10 Navigators from UWEC fed cows, sloshed through manure, wrangled up calfs, hit old tomatoes into outfield, ate delicious home-cooked meals, garage-saled, and just spent time together. Here's some pictures to show you what all I'm talking about. :)

Overall, it was a beautiful weekend! The weather was great, my face even got sunburnt! I wouldn't say I left the experience wanting to live on a farm, but I definitely learned a lot and appreciate milk so much more! :)

Life as an RA

Wow! SOOO much has been happening lately that I don't even know where to begin! I got back to school last Tuesday. Since then I have gone to my first RA camp... which included a mud hike (hopefully pictures to follow), lots of meetings, fun skits, and good camp food. I have also been an actor for the party room in "Behind Closed Doors," a training simulation for the new RAs. AND I have had the opportunity to use a fire extinguisher! (In training of course). I have also played countless games of volleyball with my staff... I know... Heather? Volleyball?!? :) But it's provided for some great bonding. My wing is all decorated and pretty, now I just have some nitty gritties and business type stuff to take care of. And of course MORE meetings!

I have 8 girls on my wing right now... one color guard, 2 internationals from China, and 5 cross country runners. They are all very nice and open! I got a chance to talk a lot today with a couple of the runners, and last night I talked with one of the Chinese girls for quite awhile. She even gave me a pair of very pretty chopsticks! It is her 21st birthday tomorrow, so I got her a cute little notebook and some fun colored pens and made her a card.

The freshmen move in on Sunday and everybody else on Monday and Tuesday, so this weekend will be busy with finishing up everything and getting final preparations done. I'm really digging my room setup this semester so far, and even though it felt like I had so much when I was moving in, I either got rid of stuff, or was just much better at packing it all in and my room seems much more clutter-free than it did last year. Today I took an hour nap under my mongolian blanket... so cozy! So it's been a relaxing afternoon FINALLY, after so many packed days. It's nice to just catch up on regular life a little! So that's  basically my life in a nutshell lately!

Time Well Spent

These last couple days have been a blur! (But a good one at that!) Friday I spent some quality bonding time shopping with my soon-to-be new brother! Then Danielle, Johnny, and I headed to the airport for a tearful yet happy reunion with the rents. And the last three days have been filled with shopping (found a dress for the rehearsal dinner), errands, food, wedding planning, movies, and conversations! It's been great to finally get to see, touch, and talk to mom and dad face to face!

I have started doing an in depth look at Romans, which seeing as I'm only on chapter one, has been really good. I also started reading "Set-Apart Femininity" by Leslie Ludy.... and the same thing is true with that! So I'm sure you will probably hear more about those later!

Alright, well I'm going to get off the computer and go spend some more quality time with the fam!

Last Day Plans

Well, it's weird to say, but I only have 4 more days of summer here at UWEC this year. So how am I going to spend them, you ask? Tonight my good friend Jenny from TeenServe is going to be in Eau Claire! So I think I will be spending some time with her, them tomorrow we are going to breakfast at 8am. I normally work at 9, but I'll just go in late. I'm so excited to see her! Then Wednesday I will probably be watching my summer show- So you think you can dance. Sooooo good! :) Thursday night my friend Becca is visiting Eau Claire and staying over in my room. Then Friday Danielle and I are headed to the cities! Woo! Sometime this week Danielle and I are planning on going tanning once before the wedding. And I am slowly working on organizing/purging my room somewhat so it will be easier to move over to Murray when I get back in August!

Reading goal for the week is to finish Forgotten God by Francis Chan. Should be more than doable since I only have a chapter left. It's been a pretty good read about the Holy Spirit.

Cleaning goal is to vaccuum, do all my dishes before I leave, clean out my fridge, and obviously pack for Friday.

Money goal is to put 90% of my paycheck (get paid Friday) into savings and give accordingly.

Ahhh, and now my week is so much clearer!

Millionaire Wishes

So if I ever become a millionaire, you will find these pieces in my house. By Josef Frank. (See google TODAY) Apparently, the fabric itself runs at about $200/yard. Yikes!

Fun Photoshoot

These pictures were taken by the wonderful Anne Collins. 

Flashback Friday

Today I was looking through some old files on my computer, and I stumbled on this poem. It's a poem by Walt Whitman that we were assigned to put our own childhood memories into my junior year. And ohhhh man how it brings it all back when I read it. I can smell, taste, and see everything so clearly, and I can honestly say "thank you!" to my teacher who assigned this project!

There Was a Child Went Forth By Walt Whitman, adapted by Heather Block

There was a child went forth every day;
And the first object she look'd upon, that object she became;
And that object became part of her for the day, or a certain part of
the day, or for many years, or stretching cycles of years.

The blooming peonies became part of this child,
And grass, and damp fallen leaves, and white spongy mushrooms, and the red breast of the robin,
And the crawling ants, and the barking dogs, and the lightning bugs, and the loud cicadas,
And the cheers and yells of the playground, or the weedy ally by the house,
And the raised manhole that lived there--and the twisted growing vines,
And the knee-length brush--all became part of her.

The magnificent tree house of summer became part of her;
An old knarly tree, and fresh-smelling wood, and the squeaky metal hinge of the trapdoor,
And the snowball bushes cover'd with green buds, and the big white puffs afterwards,
and wrought-iron fences, and the gravel on the side of  the road;
And the cute old couple next door, weeding their garden, until the wife died and only the husband left,
And the boys and girls on their way to public school,
And the short-haired girl with her golden retriever,
And the family riding their bikes--and the family walking their dog,
And all the joys of a small neighborhood, wherever we went.

Her own parents,
He that had fathered her, and she that had held her in her abdomen, and birthed her,
They gave this child more of themselves than that;
They gave her afterward every day--they became part of her.

The mother at home, teaching her children and keeping her house;
The mother with loving words—read a bedtime story, pray and give a kiss,
her dark red lipstick leaving a mark;
The father, fun, expectant, protective, loving, silly, just;
The hug, the three words, the guiding, the constant involvement,
The dank basement, the French doors, the chandelier, the orange chair--the fireplace with the old tan hearth,
Affection that was never-ending—hugs and kisses and always an encouraging word

The prancing of day-time and the doubts of night-time--the curious where and how,
Where I will go when I die, how will I die, what to do?

How to ride a bike, how to tie shoes, how to do everything that grown-ups do everyday?
The streets themselves, and the big green yards, and school across the street,
the playground with the rolling slide and prickly burrs,
the house with the wooden animals- moose and rabbits, and raccoons, and mostly
the bears, the papa bear and the baby bear- all life-like, eyes blank, staring

The water park near by, rushing with life during summer, sleeping soundly during winter

The warm, sticky nights, sleeping in a musty tent, lightning bugs blinking all around
The cold, bright days, filled with snowball fights and forts

And hot chocolate and more snowball fights
The small world, the patio and swing set, the fragrance of wet earth and sweet flowers;
These became part of that child who went forth every day, and who now goes, and will always go forth every day.

Welcoming Family

A fourth of July update has been requested per nana. So here it is!

Sunday morning one of my best friends, Andra, and I went to church. We went to a place I had only visited once before and I really liked it... thinking I'm gonna have to check it out more! So we had to leave a little early in order to go back to the dorms and get my stuff, then we headed out to her aunt and uncle's house which is about a half an hour away. They live on a lake, so the original plan was to be out on the water all day skiing and tubing, but it poured all day! So we just spent all day inside playing games (Farkle and Sequence), eating, chatting with the adults, and playing with the kids. It was super fun to just be able to be with a family that was so welcoming. And the food was delicious!!! Lots of different salads and desserts to enjoy! And of course corn on the cob. We then shot off some fireworks at night because the town they live in did their fireworks show on the 3rd. So all in all it was a great fourth of July!

PLEASE pray!

This morning I received a text from my good friend Jenny from TeenServe. A little bit of background information- TeenServe was the organization I worked for last summer. They go around the midwest and set up camps that youthgroups from all over attend for a week. They are split up into groups and help fix up people's homes duing the day and attend an evening program at night. And Jenny is an awesome woman of God who worked with me last year and is working there now as well.

So I got this text- Please pray. We had a boy at camp who attempted suicide tonight.

Bahhh! So I don't know any details, but I think just that much is enough to get me down on my knees! I can't imagine what he was going through and what lies he was believing to get to that point amidst hundreds of christians loving and serving others.

But it's so important we pray for all of TeenServe. Last week when I went to visit them I learned that they were under a lot of spiritual battles. Several on the team had been having demonic dreams, a couple of the rooms in the school were having spirit activity, and a woman that was helping lead up a team of 50 kids suddenly got a tumor in her uterus (she had emergency surgery and is fine now). Obviously the devil is up to something because he knows that God is up to something bigger!

So TeenServe is finishing up this week of kids tomorrow, then will be heading to Butler, Indiana and setting up for the workcampers all next week. The kids will be there July 11-17. So please keep all of them in your prayers. Thank you!

Beautiful Wedding

As promised...

See them all!

Growing Roots

Yesterday my friend Anne and I went to visit the TeenServe staff for the day. They are setting up in a town 3 hours from Eau Claire, so Anne and I had lots of time for discussion both before and after spending time with all our great bros and sisters. On the way back we were talking about how it can be hard to really immerse yourself and get super involved with people and ministries when you know its only for a short while. (i.e. TeenServe for a summer, or even a church for the next two years.) It's hard to invest your time when you know you'll be moving on soon. So, God gave me an analogy that I quite like. Ready? :)

When you plant yourself somewhere, you allow your roots to grow there. Then, when God calls you somewhere else, he gently pulls you from the ground, and sets you somewhere else. When you plant yourself there, your roots that already developed have a much easier time than if you had none at all. Sure, it will hurt a little, and be hard, but your growth will be quicker and easier this time. It's like a transplant. Although it will seem difficult at the time, it's all for the best for you. On the other hand, if you never invest yourself and really get involved, your roots will never grow and each time God places you somewhere else your growth will be the same- none!
So, I'm not sure if thats all botanically correct, but either way it helped Anne and I grasp it a bit more.

It was great to get to see the staff again! We volunterred our services for the day in exchange for the traditional TeenServe meals and a great time and lots of laugh with the team. Definitely an exchange well worth our time! :) LOVE them all soooo much!

Homeless People

An informational poster I have been working on during my free time at work...

Flashback Friday

Down by the River music and picnic.

and i just had to add this sweet one!

Eye-opening Statistics

Yummy Tortillas

As I have had to cook for myself these last couple weeks, I have found a love for tortillas! They are so versatile! (Not to mention cheap and good for my body!) Here are some of the delightful meals I have had with tortillas:

- The old standby- shredded cheese on a tortilla, pop it in the microwave, and wahlah!
- Tacos made with lettuce from the farmer's market, cheese, and refried beans
- Quesadilla- chicken and cheese made in my friend's quesadilla maker
- My new personal favorite- The old standby with a hot dog rolled up in it. YUM!

So, does anyone have any other tortilla recipes I should try? Another food I've been enjoying (as always) is pasta! It's great how I can buy one box of pasta and one can of alfredo sauce for around 2 bucks, make the whole box, and have leftovers for days!

I've also been eating a lot of sandwiches, raw fruits and veggies, bagels, yogurt, etc. Overall, it's been a good experience so far. I've even grilled out a couple times with friends! (Although that would be impossible now with all the rain!) And yesterday when a couple friends and I decided to go the quesadilla route, I was also introduced to Couscous! It was delicious and might have to be my new pasta! Ha!

Hooray for tortillas!

Helping Hands

Be a helping hand to those in need- donate free rice to hungry people around the world AND grow your brain at the same time!




How Free Rice works:
Go to the site. Choose a subject... they have vocab, math, chemistry, geography, grammar, and more! Answer the questions... each question you get right, a sponsor from the site will donate 10 grains of rice to starving people in other countries.

Family Gatherings

I absolutely adore this picture of the grandparents and sisters!

Clean Cabinets

Andra and I are going to have a dish washing date tonight... and this will be the beautiful result. Since I definitely haven't done dishes in a very long time and they are piling up. I'm looking forward to some great conversaion over nice WARM water (finally!) and bubbles. :)

New Beginnings

Forget the former things;

do not dwell on the past.

See, I am doing a new thing!

Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?

I am making a way in the desert

and streams in the wasteland.

Isaiah 43:18-19

Newest 3D art project and HENNA!

Here's my latest 3D art assignment.... remember the one made with tracing paper and wooden dowels? Same class. So I knitted hemp into long thin strands. I then rolled the strands into balls and gave them little braided tails. The 4 creatures are attacking the momma and baby. The momma is protecting its baby. Cute, huh? :)

And here's some cool henna that my friend did on my foot this weekend.

And a little Jesus fish on my hand! This stuff stays on 10-20 days.