Field Botany

50 Wildflowers
+ 200 names
+ 14 mosquito bites
+ 2 pairs of stained pants
+ a greater appreciation of creation
+ irrevocable memories
+ an addiction to Wild Columbines
equals...
Field Botany!

Jenn Wetzel took this

picture of Matt

on her phone!

Pretty Sweet, huh?

This is a picture of our group:

Elisabeth, Jarvis, and me:)

Fun times!

Noah took this pic, i just love it!

Wild Columbines - YUM!

This is Elisabeth and me at Olbrecht Gardens!

MBBC's First Female Security Officer

So here is a picture from graduation weekend. I had the wonderful privelidge of being a MBBC Security Officer for almost five hours. I must say that it was TONS of fun! I'm really not mean (like i look in this picture). But at the moment it was more fun than smiling! I loved being one of the guys (although i have strived for the past several years to get away from that...). It was a blast! Special thanks to Mr. Dave Lingle for that opportunity:)

when i grow up...

Recently in my devotions i have been trying to focus on Jesus' relationships with people. well, just the other night i read something very interesting in Matthew 21. Therein lies the account of Jesus entering the temple and seeing the moneychangers, etc. Growing up, i was always taught that this text shows an example of righteous anger. However, my teachers always made it sound like Jesus had a temper, overthrew the tables, sent money soaring and stormed around in a huff. although the Bible does say that he overturned tables, etc., his attitude about the whole thing is what captures me. what i love about this text is how approachable Jesus was after he drove out the pigeon sellers and money changers.

And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves, and said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves. And the blind and the lame came to him in the temple; and he healed them. (vv 12-14)

As upset as Jesus was about the whole ordeal, he must have still been approachable. Maybe i am abnormal, but if someone is angry they arent usually approachable, so i tend to avoid them. i would rather wait till they are in a better mood. these that came to Christ, however, must not have felt that way...maybe because of the urgency of needing to be healed they figured they would take their chances, and hope he was in a better mood?

i think not. My God is holy. My God is righteous. My God knows how to act in every situation...even when he sees sin. My God knows how to control his anger. My God does everything in love. My God is the model of perfection, He is my Saviour. He is my Father. and as I grow up i want to be just like Him.

Summer School

Reason number 987 why i love MaRaNaThA: because they have THE BEST teachers (at least for most classes!)


Take Mr. Midcalf. (don't be decieved, the picture to the left is a Mr. Midcalf look-a-like.) He doesnt really say much in the halls. usually acts like he's on some sort of mission. put him in the classroom with a book in his hands...totally different story! he is a great teacher because he has such a passion for what he wants to communicate to us. he's relaxed - hence making the students more relaxed. he is hilarious and keep class interesting (plus he looks just like Will Ferrell, so if you get bored, just just picture him with an elf hat!)

Next, take Dr. Corrick. He is pretty much one of the sweetest teachers on this entire campus. He is my teacher for Field Botany, and i love him so much! he knows his stuff - that's for sure! Yesterday we went on this miniature hike at Horicon Marsh. It was so cool! He's the kind of teacher that makes sure you learn your material (we have a harsh quiz every day), but he gives you freedom to enjoy the outdoors while you are working on your flower identification. yesterday we found little cave-like areas, passages made by the rocks, and tons of trails. we took time for photos, videos, and sliding in the mud. The class is only half over, but i already appreciate God's creation a million times more than before!

I could not choose any better classes or teachers for summer school. I love them!

Commencement

Commencement was today, and i got the best view of all. i didnt participate, i had a much better angle from the outside - literally - and i received the privilege of seeing the fruits of it, which is what matters. huge smiles from my fellow classmates could be seen everywhere. families, hugs, and flashes were abundant. friends said goodbye. tears were shed. cars were packed. prayers were whispered, and everyone was gone.
Commencement was today, and i got to watch life happen.

Considering off-campus?

Dorm life. I miss it. Last year at about this time i was awaiting approval from the dean's office in order to me to move off-campus. rumor had it that they were planning on changing the minimal off-campus age to 23. If that happened, i was ready with a speech for them with all the reasons why i should not have to live on-campus. NOW, i am all prepared with a speech for anyone who desires to move off-campus.

HERE YE! HERE YE!
Living off campus is over-rated. You actually do not save much money, and all the time you think you may have to have friends over, etc. is actually a myth. Watching tv is allegedly a major reason for people wanting to move off-campus. while this was not a motivation for me, understand that you probably wont have time to watch much tv because you will be doing one of the following: grocery shopping, cooking, cleaning, homework, ministry, or trying to keep up with your on-campus friends.
So please. take my advice. stay on-campus. milk it for all its worth. go to every meal (you pay for them!) stay up late and talk with your roomies. cherish the laughter in the halls, the burnt popcorn smell, the extra-long dorm devotions, the visitors, and the 5 minute walk to class. Enjoy the bubble. because once you are out in the real world, things are never the same.

Dont get me wrong. i am not by any means discontent with where i am. i love my apartment, my landlords, the responsibility, and the ability to let my friends have an escape from the bubble. BUT, if you are considering the off-campus movement. abstain. procrastinate. avoid. do whatever you have to do, and just feed off of your friends who already live off-campus. they will love to socialize with you!