All Spiffed Up

Formal 2012.

It's SO fun to see everyone at Trinity get all dressed up for a night of dinner, pictures, and dancing. It really feels like a family-everyone smiles and has a good time.

Of course I had tons of fun, but I was missing my best friend and my date! :)

Nonetheless, here's a few pictures of my night.

my future roommates

 chim, me, mark

ps-chim, our hair blends!

 my wisco friend, ally

 lunch buds of spring 2012

Tib34

Priceless Gifts

Yesterday included a lot of studying for my Anatomy exam, but also a lot of silliness with Sarah as we made a music video for an awards night at Trinity tomorrow night. I was also able to eat supper with Rochelle. Many of you know Roch. We met at Blueprints, Trinity's summer orientation. My name tag revealed I was from Markesan, WI. Roch said, "You're from Markesan?!? No way, I'm from Markesan too!" I had never seen her before so I had no idea what she was talking about. Turns out, Roch spends her summers at the same lake I do. She is a camp counselor at Camp Grow on theeee Green Lake. She is a fellow Decker and has a heart of gold.

I examined her braceleted wrist and spotted a pretty turquoise green one. I asked her where she got it and she said she didn't know. Hours later when I was studying in the library I reached into my jacket pocket for my lip gloss and pulled out this little surprise.

Roch's Bracelet

PS Roch- Once upon a time I gave my cousin Joeli a toy jewelery box thingy. A few days later I decided I wanted it back, and took it back. I hope this is not the case, because I like this too much! :)

Thanks Rochelle Patricia Renee!

Attitudes

Attitude is everything.

I'm in the midst of learning the cardiovascular system and the veins and arteries of the body for my lab quiz tomorrow in A&P.

My attitudes haven't been that great about this, but for goodness sake I get the chance to learn about the heart-that baby makes us live! I get the chance to stoop over hearts that were actually beating and carrying life to someone. Stopping to think of these systems that bring blood to and away from the heart with out us even realizing it is beyond incredible. Those veins and arteries have a teensy diameter but they manage to keep the blood flow exactly where it needs to be and delivers from head to toe-literally!

Make up your minds, accept the inevitable and make it all worthwhile!

I will choose to be enthusiastic about my studies this week, after all, I get a pretty good reward at the end of the week. Formal is on Friday and I am looking forward to getting dressed up with my friends.

xoxo

Take My Hand Little Brother

I wasn't planning on going home again until Easter break. However, David's graduation just happened to fall on the past weekend so I found myself driving back to Wisconsin to see my little brother get his college diploma before me. Does anyone else see something wrong with that picture? I have 2 years and some change to go yet!

The weekend was busy; whenever I return to Trinity I always tell my roommates that I get more sleep at school. This proved true this weekend. Nathanael and I went shopping and out to eat Friday night in Madison. Nothing like getting some Texas Roadhouse at 10pm, right? Saturday was a day long event in Madison. If I had any regrets it would be that I didn't apply to go to school in Madison, that city enchants me. Don't get me wrong, Trinity has been a blessing but Madison will always hold fun and memories. (Bec and Lyss will remember Monica, Monique, thunderstorms, "can i come in your room"..."NO", our hot coach, Bec in the shower, Lyss in the sink, and other crazy laughs from Badger Volleyball Camp)

I also got to see much of my family. My Hoffmann side came over to celebrate Bethy and Jay's birthdays. Sunday also included traditional Kringle and talking at Grandpa and Grandma Smits' after church. Addie was playing with my phone and wanted Beth to take a picture of us.
PS-Grandpa and Grandma Hoffmann, I got your hint to wash my car. :) Thanks! I hope you liked driving my car as much as I do! 

the oldest and youngest Smits girls

Congratulations Davey, you were my first friend and always watched Bambi with me, but you were also my first enemy. I'll never forget fighting in the barn with you while we helped Dad feed calves.You are still my favorite little brother and I'll still let you come on my dates with Nathanael. :) I can't believe you are already graduated but I know you've learned a lot and can offer so much to Dad and Uncle Steve and all of Double S Dairy with your new accumulation of knowledge.

Proud of you, little brother! 



back in the day, it was nice to always have someone to play with





only one year apart in school meant that we share some of the same friends and get to experience high school together.





yours truly, the smits fam

yes, i am the oldest...
i just managed to stay average height while the others tower above me with their gigantism



big dog graduate and myself
wish I would've taken advantage of you living downtown Madison more often!





I'd play tractors and pickup all those stinkin pieces of corn with you again anyday! Even if you throw a few race cars in my face.

xoxo

Cheep Cheeping Outside My Window

I am so thankful for the birds that have been singing me their beautiful little songs outside my window all day today. I'm feeling rejuvenated and ready to tackle this big week!

I had my first day back in classes today, here we go again!

xoxo

Spring Break Recap

I have been MIA from blogging because I was busy on my spring break. I returned home the 9th after my Anatomy exam and spent the week at home-which was so warm that felt like I was in Florida! : ) Here is a little bit of what I did:

On Saturday my Mom and I scrapbooked alllll day long!



babysit these two kiddos this week

on a safari looking for 'mysterious creatures'

Playing with kitties at the dairy farm

Well deserved tanning time with Lindy after working the 5-1 shift, 4am is EARLY!

Shop Night! Me and Alyssa taking a break from being mechanics ( aka eating pizza)
  

future driver?

  

 

Lyssa and I also spent a night at Grandma and Grandpa Smits house and watched a movie together after we cleaned up their house for their return home from vacation. My sisters and I spent a day shopping-Rudith even drove us! WOW! Wednesday I had off of everything so I read 'The Lucky One' by my favorite author, Nicholas Sparks, and it was super good! I was a lucky one this past weekend because my SB and the WIAA boys tournament were coincidentally at the same time, it's fun to talk to my Dad about all the best teams of the state.



Contrary to what my pictures show, I actually did spend some time with Nathanael too. He was busy with school and work but luckily I am going home again this weekend to see David graduate on Saturday so I'll get to see everyone again quite soon!

I got back to school tonight and realized I have 3 exams (Nutrition, Stats, and Micro) and a paper to write this week. Yikes! Time to get on my horse and go to town on some homework!

xoxo



It wasn't a long winter and it feels like spring already!

Sit Back and Wave Through the Daylight

At the beginning of the week I made a list of things I had to do before going home.
As it is mid-semester, this week has been extremely busy and now I only have two tasks left!

I woke up this morning and thought, "only one more sleep till I will be home!"

I wore sweats to class today so that I wouldn't spend so much time standing in front of my closet and could grab a smoothie and muffin from the caf on my way to Stats. Math is bad enough, throw 8am into the mix with an overenthusiastic prof--not my thing! I have been struggling with a lack of alertness/interest in math but I was promoted and determined to actually stay awake and focused during Stats today.

I also got out of Micro lab after 10 minutes. That's a BIG DEAL.

As if that wasn't enough good for the day, my 11:00 was just a meeting with Dr. Colosimo-short and sweet.

The rest of my night will consist of Micro homework, studying nutrition and the respiratory system for my Anatomy exam tomorrow, packing!, and Outcry.

I am currently stuck on one of my Micro homework problems which prompted me to take a break.
So if anyone knows a third way that lysogenic phages could lead to genetic transfer, you would be a real gem to help me out on that one. :)

xoxo

ps- Megan, Allison, and Sarah, you can still see the yellow banner hanging in the corner. :)

All About Cteve-my "Sister/Twin" at Trinity

Many of you know my good friend Sarah.
We met at Trinity because we were in the same orientation group called FYF.
We clicked right away and she came to pick me up for all of our events. We became close friends and after dying our hair from blonde to brown together, staying up late, talking and laughing together and spending an interim abroad together in Peru. We spent so much time together and look so alike that people confused our names, and still do!

Freshman...Brown Hair. Yikes.

a little taste of our craziness

matching each other is one of our favorite activities-we like all the same things

riding bikes with roch at green lake.

visiting at my cottage during the summer months-cant be away from each other for to long! :)

kirsten, myself, sarah on the coast of the atlantic in peru

I am so thankful that God worked in my life to push me to come to Trinity and also for a great woman of the Lord that He provided for me to develop such an incredible friendship with! Sar-you have made my experience at Trinity so enjoyable. & for that I thank you! I am so looking forward to seeing what else is in store for you-God has blessed you with amazing talents and a servant heart.

Happy 20th Birthday Sarabson!

you're the best, but you already know that.

xoxo

Standing In the Clear

This weekend held the promise of a FREE play downtown. I was very much looking forward to this, and it was a good reward to an excruciating week. Unfortunately, the Midwest weather had other plans for us. We knew the outlook was bad but when it started hailing Megan, Allison, Sarah, and I decided just to go out to eat and head back to campus. The four of us enjoyed a steak dinner at Longhorn Steakhouse. Yes to Mom, Dad, and Nathanael, I ordered steak (bacon wrapped!) and cut it all by myself with no mishaps. It was delicious and could have passed as Double S Dairy's most delectable beef. The rest of the night was filled with fellowship and music at Southies.

Saturday's BBC tradition continued where I was semi-productive. Saturday night continued with a movie marathon-John Tucker Must Die for 4.75 at Target? Well worth it. I finished a little bit more of my homework list entitled "Before Spring Break". I am doing well on this list and am looking forward to my trek home on Friday when I'll get to scrapbook and craft with my Mom at the Craft-a-thon. :) Sarah also shared her cake-in-a-mug secrets and made some tasty treats.

Today I enjoyed church at Palos CRC and an afternoon of homework yet again. I decided I had to get rid of some food before Spring Break so I brought a pizza for Megan and Allison to start and later Sarah, Cassie, and I joined for a supper away from the caf. I was struggling with some tough questions on my Micro homework when my Mom asked me if it was time for Sunday Night Skype. She and my dad just returned from vacation in Jamaica. I got to hear about that and hear the noisy background of my brother and sisters goofing around and playing guitar in the living room.

Part of my homework is to visual journal for my Honors Psych-I thought I would try to figure out these emotions.

This is what came out:

I intended to let go and let God. Nothing came to the page, I didn't really know how to deal with this intention. So for now it is just a blurry line and some clear scribbles. Maybe I will be able to create something more sensible in a few days.

The Stand was the closing song in this morning's service. I didn't know how much I would need the meaning of this song.

 So what could I say?
And what could I do?
But offer this heart, Oh God
Completely to you

I'll stand
With arms high and heart abandoned
In awe of the one who gave it all
I'll stand
My soul Lord to you surrendered
All I am is yours

xoxo