look what I found

so...very long ago...like, at the beginning of summer Carli and  Kandace came to visit me. I never posted this because when I got home Matt told me he was engaged and I kind of forgot all about it.

We ate lunch on the quad, 

stopped for frozen yogurt at Cocomero,

saw the sights,

and we even posed in front of the Alma Mater,

and in front of the fountain.

:) so beautiful...did I ever tell you that 

U of I is a pretty cool place?

Anyway, I can't believe I didn't post this long ago. It was a lot of fun. More people should come visit me. *hint, hint*

In Christ

~Michelle

West Bend

After a short but crazy first week of school, I traveled with the yg to West Bend, Iowa.

We anticipated 8 hours of travel, but soon after we left we realized that it would only take about 6 hours. So,  it was determined that we needed to take a round-about way to take up some time. We promptly got lost. At each intersection there was a debate on whether to turn left, right, or go straight. When the driver and his navigator finally gave up on reaching West Bend by way of gravel road they flagged down a car. We soon were on our way to West Bend, an hour and a half early. 

So...how does one waste time in West Bend, Iowa? Oh, no problem. There happens to be an extremely famous grotto there. It was built entirely of rocks from all over the world and depicts the seven stages of the cross. It was interesting. 

Anyway, we eventually wound up at the invite. As usual there was a lot of singing, eating, and fellowshipping.     Some of the girls that I had met at Kendra M's wedding were there and I was able to spend a lot of time with them.  I learned that I am related to a whole lot more people in West Bend than I had ever expected. Sunday night I learned that my host was my second cousin. 
The drive home was not nearly as eventful. Altogether, it was a very nice weekend.

I have made it to yet another church. :)

In Christ
~Michelle

I'm back

Some interesting tid-bits from my first two days of class:

1. I've learned never to go to the bookstore on the first day of class, it is like a herd of cattle
2. High-waisted pants are trying to make a comeback... ew, not a fan.
3. Girls are continuously finding new ways to look immodest. (Girls if you can see through your "leggings" they are NOT appropriate to be worn around campus, I don't want to see your undergarments.)
4. I really think I'm going to like Severe and Hazardous Weather and Russian 101. :)
5. I saw a guy drinking clear liquid out of a canning jar... in class.
6. I think I  have a class with the barefoot guy (a guy who walks around Urbana without any shoes) 
7. It is pretty hot out for no air-conditioning. Thank-goodness for little window units. 
8. Navigating a grocery store is not like riding a bike. I was not able to find my way around Schnuck's.
9. I am out of shape. My legs are sore from all this walking. 
10. I have an extreme case of senioritus. I know. I'm barely into the semester but I want to be DONE.
11. I'm blogging instead of doing homework.
12. :)

Well, that's about it.

In Christ

~Michelle

Last Week

This was my last week of summer. :(

It was spent getting things done. I checked nearly everything off of my list and packed up for college.

Friday I had to drive down to Champaign to turn in a paper and pick up a parking permit. That afternoon my computer quit connecting to the internet. I have an online class this semester, so I was just a bit stressed.  No one in my family could figure it out. We finally took it in to Best Buy Saturday night and it took them five minutes to figure out that I had the internet locked off. yay. :) So, I have internet again.

Saturday, I went to my cousin Jared's wedding. We were best enemies in grade school and then we kind of lost touch. It was strange seeing him get married. Yet another reminder we aren't young any more.

Today, after church I went out to eat with my grandparents, Pearline, Andy, Jake, Matt and Lena, Heather, and my parents. I had to leave early for college, so after waiting a half hour at Red Lobster we decided to go to Avanti's. It was a lot of fun. 

Now I'm back at school in the apartment. It's so weird. It doesn't feel like summer even happened. 
I'm nervously anticipating this school year. It comes with a whole lot more responsibility and stress but, I'm nearing the end. It's a strange feeling to be one of those "old, mature seniors".

Prayers are once again appreciated. :)

In Christ
~Michelle

T&E and wallpaper

I spent last weekend up in Belvidere with Troy and Ellie. We went to a church auction, hung out, and played Settlers of Catan. Troy won. I also learned that you should never play a competitive game with a married couple. They are extremely biased. :)
They are moving, who knows when, to a cute little house in town. I was supposed to be helping them pack but I ended up just sitting on the couch talking with Ellie and Charity. 
Sadly, I did not take any pictures. 

Last week I had to get finger printed for a volunteer position this semester. So, you all should be happy to know that if I ever go missing and they find a dead body that is not identifiable my fingerprints are in the system. :)

Every few days I've been over at Matt and Lena's house pulling down wallpaper. I strongly dislike wallpaper. And, who in their right mind would put up three layers of wallpaper on top of each other, with a border, and put wood trim and chair rails on top? seriously. I don't have much left of my fingernails.  Moral of the story- never put up wallpaper. Oh, and I discovered there is such a thing as patterned dry wall and that  it should not come off. 
But, Thankfully, we are finally done peeling down wallpaper and cleaning up our messes. :) Now Matt gets to paint. 

Such a cute house

Completely de-wallpapered. That's patterned dry wall

Jenny and little girly were there. She was pretty tired. 

In Christ,
Michelle

Wendi's Wedding

It started on Friday...

The wedding party went out for pedicures.  It was an interesting experience. They scrub and massage your feet. Which, first of all, I am ticklish. So, I spent a lot of time trying to muffle my screeches. And, I really am not fond of physical contact. Anyway. it was fun sitting in big comfy chairs chatting with the rest of the bridal party.

 Saturday, we met a Wendi's in the morning for pictures. Things were a little chaotic as we had to do a quick shoe switcheroo and a few belts went missing. All ended well and each bridesmaid ended with a pair of shoes that fit relatively well and their own belt. Wendi and Mary seemed to handle it well. 
We started out at their neighbor's gardens and then went to Junction City for more bridal party pictures. 

the dress :) so beautiful

the whole wedding party

with the gorgeous bride

:)

After pictures I went home and relaxed a while before the rehearsal and the rehearsal dinner. Rehearsal went well but it took three tries to feel comfortable that Wendi would make it in before the song was over. :)
The dinner was amazing. They had an adorable slide show that made everyone laugh and later everyone gave speeches that made everyone cry. It was really sweet to listen to what the families had to say.

Sunday was the wedding and they got married. :) I don't really have much to say on this. 
The reception was beautiful  and full of people. I was exhausted by the end. 

the fellowship hall

Wendi and Daniel with the cake

and they're off

So, they are married. I am so used to having couples as friends that this seems so normal. If there is anything I have learned from the mass marriage of all of my friends it is that I am not losing a friend I am gaining one. And, once they get their heads back out of the clouds they are even more fun to spend time with. :)
So, congratulations Daniel and Wendi! 

I still am having trouble believing that I'm old enough to have friends getting married.
I mean really this wasn't that long ago.

Ok, maybe it was but, weren't we cute :)

In Christ
~Michelle

catching my breath

...and catching you up.

So, the past few weeks have been pretty busy.
I went down to Urbana to get a few things settled and switched over for the new school year. With a recent change of plans Laura will be staying and so there will be four of us again in the apartment. yay :)

I started a babysitting job last week. I watch two little girls for a couple from church, twice a week for 10 hours. I haven't babysat since I was 13 but, so far it has been going smoothly. They are a lot of fun but it is so nice to be able to go home in the evening.

Last Friday night was Wendi's Personal shower. Kendra hosted it at her house though all of bridesmaids pitched in a little with food. We mainly just sat around, ate, watched Wendi open presents, and talked. Ellie was there. :) It was great to see her again. I hadn't seen her since Brooke's wedding.  We did have one set of skits. We portrayed the life of Wendi and Daniel. They were quite hilarious. It was wonderful for a lot of my friends to all be in the same room together. 

 Saturday morning I drove out to Bloomfield with Grandma, Grandpa, and Pearl for Kendra W. and Tad M's wedding. We arrived in Bloomfield quite early and had a nice chat with Russel before they checked in at their motel. I loved all of the conversations with them. They have such a different perspective on everything. 
The wedding was lovely and I got to see a lot of people that I knew, a whole bunch that I've met before, even more that I recognized, and a good deal that I didn't know.  

Tuesday was Ellie and Troy's first anniversary. I can't believe it's already been a year! 

This week I've been babysitting, working on scrapbook pages, and getting ready for this wedding weekend.

Tonight I went out to Mika's for coffee with Joy. We sat there for about an hour before we decided to go star gazing. It was so beautiful. We saw at least 7 meteors (there is a meteor shower on the 12th) and one really big bright falling thing that we really weren't quite sure what it was. 
It was amazing. The more you look at the stars the grander and more glorious the sky looks. :) 

So, things have been crazy but, sprinkled with fun and excitement. I can't believe Wendi's getting married this weekend.

In Christ
~Michelle