Dear everyone- The Lord has really been working miracles in my life, both little and big. Although I havent found a co-signer yet for my student loan, I am starting the first day of my new job tomorrow morning at seven (rise and shine!)... so Im really praising the Lord about that- and ONTOP of that, I talked to my school and they're willing to give me an extension on the payment I owe them, until I find a cosigner for my loan. So PRAISE THE LORD! :)
Moody Bible Institute has really become a home for me, in the mere number of weeks (or days) I've been here. The community has really been a place where I can be challenged and yet accepted. :) I've been doing nothing but meeting new people for the last week and a half! Last night I went to see the fireworks at Navy Pier, sitting on the edge of a parking-structure's wall to get the best veiw possible... it was amazing. The swells of people everywhere... and the city sounds fill me to the brim with joy!
Yesterday morning I got up early to make the traditional Gneco-style Saturday morning breakfast- Eggs with broccoli, and mushrooms, and onions... and potatos and sausage... and orange juice... MMmmmmm I love our little kitchenette! :) My roommates both told me that it was delicious- thanks mom and dad for our little traditions! :) <3
All in all, life has been good, despite the little bumps along the way. I thank and praise the Lord everyday for bringing me here, and pray that he might help me stay here. :) Thank you for your prayers and I will update ya'll as soon as something worth updating comes along! :)
Sunday, August 29, 2010
Saturday, August 28, 2010
Praise the Lord
Hi everyone! SO- alot has happened in the few days that has passed- one, it's SATURDAY PEOPLE!!! :) No classes, minimal homework, and lots of time. :) Two, yesterday I GOT A JOB!!! Im working as a cleaning lady ON CAMPUS in the Phys Plant... so EXCITED. :)
Also, I have to get a loan because I haven't been able to get a job til now. Just pray that I find a co-signer because I cant get it on my own. :(
Thanks so much for your prayers! Ill talk more later. :)
Also, I have to get a loan because I haven't been able to get a job til now. Just pray that I find a co-signer because I cant get it on my own. :(
Thanks so much for your prayers! Ill talk more later. :)
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Finally it HITS
SO today turned out to be a borderline Epic Fail/ Epic Win day. :PPP I was really happy when I woke up this morning, got some stuff done (all my homework was finished the day before) and was excited that we were blessed with a printer last night off of craigslist. BUT then I got home from class and my computer was dead/broken, and I cant turn it on... and then I find out that Tech can't fix it, and that Im going to have to spend more money on something. :PPP And then it hits me that the deadline for my school bill is just around the corner and my attempts at finding a job, however vigourous or determined they are, have been futile... and THEN I have a job interview (finally) where I have to be escorted around the city by my roommate and two guys from our brother floor (and if you dont know already some of my problems with guys, Ill explain later), and the interview went well but it wasn't for the job I wanted or expected... and then I just got home and was TOTALLY STRESSED OUT.
But LORD LORD you humble me further. I felt awful today to begin with, and after an unplanned, accident-of-a-nap, I felt even worse because I feel like I lose time when I "nap"... and now that I have no computer I feel like I can do NOTHING... so I was just lying on the floor of my dorm, feeling sorry for myself, when I was invited by one of the members of my women's choir to their dorm for some hot chocolate and a good conversation. I didnt feel like going, but I decided to go... and IT WAS SO AWESOME.
Lord, the ways you make me feel so loved and accepted here makes me cry- I'm tearing up as I write this. The testimony of the young woman just down the hall, as we sipped our tea and chocolate, broke my heart and strengthened my passion. I feel so refreshed and at peace, and as we prayed together before I left, I felt so relieved that I joined Women's Choir, because I would have never had met her.
Somethings we take for granted. I hope that this is NOT one of them. I love you, Lord, and I will trust you with everything. Lord help me in the relationships I have here, especially the mixed gender ones. Especially the ones with guys, here, with my brother floor. Lord, I'm really struggling in everything. I don't know how I'm going to get through this, but LORD you have this under control! And I TRUST YOU.
Finally it hits me how much you love me and how much your will on my life is apparant to me. Please please PLEASE NEVER let me go. Thank you, I love you.
But LORD LORD you humble me further. I felt awful today to begin with, and after an unplanned, accident-of-a-nap, I felt even worse because I feel like I lose time when I "nap"... and now that I have no computer I feel like I can do NOTHING... so I was just lying on the floor of my dorm, feeling sorry for myself, when I was invited by one of the members of my women's choir to their dorm for some hot chocolate and a good conversation. I didnt feel like going, but I decided to go... and IT WAS SO AWESOME.
Lord, the ways you make me feel so loved and accepted here makes me cry- I'm tearing up as I write this. The testimony of the young woman just down the hall, as we sipped our tea and chocolate, broke my heart and strengthened my passion. I feel so refreshed and at peace, and as we prayed together before I left, I felt so relieved that I joined Women's Choir, because I would have never had met her.
Somethings we take for granted. I hope that this is NOT one of them. I love you, Lord, and I will trust you with everything. Lord help me in the relationships I have here, especially the mixed gender ones. Especially the ones with guys, here, with my brother floor. Lord, I'm really struggling in everything. I don't know how I'm going to get through this, but LORD you have this under control! And I TRUST YOU.
Finally it hits me how much you love me and how much your will on my life is apparant to me. Please please PLEASE NEVER let me go. Thank you, I love you.
Sunday, August 22, 2010
WCC Retreat! :)
Well, I got ACCEPTED into the Women's Concert Choir of Moody Bible Institute (such a stately title :) ) along with my two other roommates... aaannnnnndddd this past weekend we all went on a retreat BACK to Michigan (after I had finally left there of all things!) and just did some hang out time together.
Oh my GOSH. That retreat was the best retreat I've been on in a long time! The bonding and openness we had as all girls there was so uplifting and refreshing... I actually took the time to rest from the anxiety orientation was putting on me. It was alittle obscure going on a retreat in the middle of the first week of school, but now that I've gone I realize now why they do it that way!
Some of the thing's Im really learning and grasping is that I need to hold onto and cling to God for EVERYTHING in my life. I need to realize that I have limits and boundaries to how much I can handle and need to stop pushing myself to do EVERYTHING and be EVERYWHERE. Im starting to get first-day-of-school nerves, and I just cant wait for classes tomorrow! :) First class is at nine o'clock, and Ill keep going until around 5 in the afternoon it looks like. And although I'm going to have to slightly rearrange my schedule to fit in Choir practices, it looks like this semester is going to be consistently in the morning rather than in the afternoon (besides that one afternoon class :) ). Also, Im going to have to start making breakfast up here in my dorm during the week days because I only have the fifteen meal plan! So new things here and there, some little and some big...
Pray that I GET A JOB! Or else Ill be back in Michigan without a Moody education come September! Not cool :) (or as I also say, EPIC FAIL)
And finally, just pray that I dont get too nervous/worried when it comes to classes and everything. Thank you so much for your support! Love you guys! :)
Oh my GOSH. That retreat was the best retreat I've been on in a long time! The bonding and openness we had as all girls there was so uplifting and refreshing... I actually took the time to rest from the anxiety orientation was putting on me. It was alittle obscure going on a retreat in the middle of the first week of school, but now that I've gone I realize now why they do it that way!
Some of the thing's Im really learning and grasping is that I need to hold onto and cling to God for EVERYTHING in my life. I need to realize that I have limits and boundaries to how much I can handle and need to stop pushing myself to do EVERYTHING and be EVERYWHERE. Im starting to get first-day-of-school nerves, and I just cant wait for classes tomorrow! :) First class is at nine o'clock, and Ill keep going until around 5 in the afternoon it looks like. And although I'm going to have to slightly rearrange my schedule to fit in Choir practices, it looks like this semester is going to be consistently in the morning rather than in the afternoon (besides that one afternoon class :) ). Also, Im going to have to start making breakfast up here in my dorm during the week days because I only have the fifteen meal plan! So new things here and there, some little and some big...
Pray that I GET A JOB! Or else Ill be back in Michigan without a Moody education come September! Not cool :) (or as I also say, EPIC FAIL)
And finally, just pray that I dont get too nervous/worried when it comes to classes and everything. Thank you so much for your support! Love you guys! :)
Friday, August 20, 2010
Today's Briefing (lol)
Took a break from stressing out and watched Bolt today. :) Awesome movie to watch to pass time!
Tomorrow I'm going to a retreat with the Women's Concert Choir all three of us (my two roommates and I) were accepted in. I'm looking forward to just hanging out with my roomies and the girls from the choir.
Today we had a Room meeting, my roommates and I, and we got through alot of the basic expectations we have as roommates. We had a great conversation, and a ton of great stuff came up. :)
Who said we couldnt have fun at school? Loving it.
Talk soon. :)
Tomorrow I'm going to a retreat with the Women's Concert Choir all three of us (my two roommates and I) were accepted in. I'm looking forward to just hanging out with my roomies and the girls from the choir.
Today we had a Room meeting, my roommates and I, and we got through alot of the basic expectations we have as roommates. We had a great conversation, and a ton of great stuff came up. :)
Who said we couldnt have fun at school? Loving it.
Talk soon. :)
Thursday, August 19, 2010
My Address! :)
I just wanted to post and let you all know that I've finally been issued an address at Moody, which is:
C.P.O. 862
820 N LaSalle Blvd
Chicago, IL 60610
Thanks for all the prayers and support! And continue to pray that I get a job so that I can keep going to school here! :) Thanks again...
C.P.O. 862
820 N LaSalle Blvd
Chicago, IL 60610
Thanks for all the prayers and support! And continue to pray that I get a job so that I can keep going to school here! :) Thanks again...
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
All IN! :)
Well I'm here, in home sweet home Chicago, in my three-person, apartment style dorm... with my two roommates, and a whole WORLD of opportunities!!! My orientation week has begun today with moving in early this morning (my family drove in with me, all five of them- 3 year old brother, 7 year old sister, 16 year old sister, and mom and dad) and then a parents orientation at 2.
My parents left to check in to a hotel with the kids afterwards, and I got to spend some quality time with my two roommates (which I have already talked quite extensively to over facebook, etc) and then we all went down to our first meal in the cafeteria with our WONDERFUL R.A. Noelle. :) She's a joy to be around (and she made cookies for us freshmen of Smith 7! :) Awesomeness!)
Right now the rest of my room is downstairs on Smith 6 watching a movie, while I stay behind and just take a breather to go through it all. Its alot to take in. I finally got my internet up and running, and I've been just enjoying a couple of minutes of quiet and by-my-self-ness. :)
I love you all, and prayers are still very welcome. Right now, Im just praying that I stay on track and in focus of everything I have to do tomorrow and the next few days of orientation, it's going to be really hectic.
I'm auditioning for the Women's Choir tomorrow NOON Chicago time, (Central... OR 1:00 Eastern), so pray that that goes well, and that if God wants me to do that, that it will work out!
Like I said, alot of things are going to be happening through all of this. Just pray that I stay focused, and to HIM be the glory! Praise The LORD! :)
My parents left to check in to a hotel with the kids afterwards, and I got to spend some quality time with my two roommates (which I have already talked quite extensively to over facebook, etc) and then we all went down to our first meal in the cafeteria with our WONDERFUL R.A. Noelle. :) She's a joy to be around (and she made cookies for us freshmen of Smith 7! :) Awesomeness!)
Right now the rest of my room is downstairs on Smith 6 watching a movie, while I stay behind and just take a breather to go through it all. Its alot to take in. I finally got my internet up and running, and I've been just enjoying a couple of minutes of quiet and by-my-self-ness. :)
I love you all, and prayers are still very welcome. Right now, Im just praying that I stay on track and in focus of everything I have to do tomorrow and the next few days of orientation, it's going to be really hectic.
I'm auditioning for the Women's Choir tomorrow NOON Chicago time, (Central... OR 1:00 Eastern), so pray that that goes well, and that if God wants me to do that, that it will work out!
Like I said, alot of things are going to be happening through all of this. Just pray that I stay focused, and to HIM be the glory! Praise The LORD! :)
Monday, August 9, 2010
The Going Away Party! :)
On Saturday I had my going away party, where all of my friends and family (those that could come :) ) arrived at my house to celebrate my acceptance to Moody Bible Institute and witness my transition to womanhood and college life!
I feel so loved. From the little words of love and life, to the great big hugs and the rolling on the ground with laughter, I appreciate every single thing that each and every one of you do to impact my life. Thank you all so much! If I dont see you before I go, I just want to tell all of you that I'll miss you, and that I hope to see you sooner than later! :)
Love, Violet :) :)
I feel so loved. From the little words of love and life, to the great big hugs and the rolling on the ground with laughter, I appreciate every single thing that each and every one of you do to impact my life. Thank you all so much! If I dont see you before I go, I just want to tell all of you that I'll miss you, and that I hope to see you sooner than later! :)
Love, Violet :) :)
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
Shining the Light
Have you ever met someone that has such an amazing personality that you just want to take them with you wherever you go? They brighten up the world around you, lively adventures seem to follow them, and they challenge everything that people seem to take advantage of day-to-day.
Well, I met one of those people today, a woman named Ratem, a saleswoman in the mall. At face value, she appears to be just a regular, run-of-the-mill, Im-going-to-try-and-sell-you-something sales woman at the mall kiosk. But she was different.
The first thing you notice is her accent. Her eyes sparkle and her mouth is bright and shining, and the words that come out of her mouth are rich and full. She's selling a product that comes straight out of her home country- Israel. She starts talking about the Dead Sea, and the reason it is called the Dead Sea. Her products are Spa treatments using the minerals and salt and even the mud from the area, and she delights over you, showing you how her products work and exceed their competition. She's not just any saleswoman, she's been to the places she's talking about, she's seen the people who flock to her country to receive treatments for their skin diseases and ailments, she knows how rich with minerals the Dead Sea is.
Bit by bit, as we pry and ask her questions, she tells us alittle bit of her story. She is a schoolteacher in Israel, and is visiting America for "vacation, with working" she says. Her manager is a strawberry-blond, blue-eyed man who's accent puts him from Israel too. She asks us similar questions, too. Her character and culture radiate in her personality, and she is beautiful inside and out. She doesn't know who Christ is, and when we mention him, she asks us "what does that mean, in Christ?". She explains that she does believe in God, and although we don't have time to explain the detailed version of salvation message, we explain how much he means to us.
When we walk away (with 100 dollars of her products in our hands, and smiles on our faces), we agree with eachother that we wish that we could bring her home with us for a day, or a week, or a month... or an hour, and show her what it means to be a Christian, and to know Christ... We turn around and give her one last hug and say one last "God bless you" before turning away again.
How many times do I walk through life with a frown on my face and a slouch in my shoulders! If only I had the radiance and the beauty this woman had- if but only a quarter or a third of it- maybe I would shine the light of Christ better! Is this unbelieving, lost woman doing it better than I am? I should hope not!
I want Jesus to be the person people want to take around with them wherever they go! But how can they, if I do not live it myself? How can they, if they do not see it in me? Jesus! Lord! I want you to be with me wherever I go!
Thank you, Ratem, for being such a testimony to me, and I pray that you will find Jesus as your Savior- that you will understand that he loves you, and all the things he has done for you, because of that love. Thank you for this lesson, Lord. Make me a light, that I may shine for you. :)
Well, I met one of those people today, a woman named Ratem, a saleswoman in the mall. At face value, she appears to be just a regular, run-of-the-mill, Im-going-to-try-and-sell-you-something sales woman at the mall kiosk. But she was different.
The first thing you notice is her accent. Her eyes sparkle and her mouth is bright and shining, and the words that come out of her mouth are rich and full. She's selling a product that comes straight out of her home country- Israel. She starts talking about the Dead Sea, and the reason it is called the Dead Sea. Her products are Spa treatments using the minerals and salt and even the mud from the area, and she delights over you, showing you how her products work and exceed their competition. She's not just any saleswoman, she's been to the places she's talking about, she's seen the people who flock to her country to receive treatments for their skin diseases and ailments, she knows how rich with minerals the Dead Sea is.
Bit by bit, as we pry and ask her questions, she tells us alittle bit of her story. She is a schoolteacher in Israel, and is visiting America for "vacation, with working" she says. Her manager is a strawberry-blond, blue-eyed man who's accent puts him from Israel too. She asks us similar questions, too. Her character and culture radiate in her personality, and she is beautiful inside and out. She doesn't know who Christ is, and when we mention him, she asks us "what does that mean, in Christ?". She explains that she does believe in God, and although we don't have time to explain the detailed version of salvation message, we explain how much he means to us.
When we walk away (with 100 dollars of her products in our hands, and smiles on our faces), we agree with eachother that we wish that we could bring her home with us for a day, or a week, or a month... or an hour, and show her what it means to be a Christian, and to know Christ... We turn around and give her one last hug and say one last "God bless you" before turning away again.
How many times do I walk through life with a frown on my face and a slouch in my shoulders! If only I had the radiance and the beauty this woman had- if but only a quarter or a third of it- maybe I would shine the light of Christ better! Is this unbelieving, lost woman doing it better than I am? I should hope not!
I want Jesus to be the person people want to take around with them wherever they go! But how can they, if I do not live it myself? How can they, if they do not see it in me? Jesus! Lord! I want you to be with me wherever I go!
Thank you, Ratem, for being such a testimony to me, and I pray that you will find Jesus as your Savior- that you will understand that he loves you, and all the things he has done for you, because of that love. Thank you for this lesson, Lord. Make me a light, that I may shine for you. :)
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