Friday, December 27, 2013

2013 My year in Pictures! (Part One)

I am going to try something new this year and show my friends and family my year in pictures. I didn't get to share all these at the time that they happened so here they are! Some of my favorite moments of 2013. It was a good year! 

JANUARY
The highlight of January was when I went to Wisconsin with two of my Indiana best friends for my birthday. Not much else happened that month! haha,



We ate breakfast at my favorite restaurant in Kenosha, WI! Perkins! I love their French Toast.

Whitney was appalled at the wondrous taste of her biscuits and gravy!


I took them to Camp Timber-lee and finally showed them where I had worked for the past 3 summers.





We went to Lake Geneva! It was soo windy down by the lake. :) 


We ate dinner at my favorite (but expensive) restaurant in Lake Geneva, Sprechers. It's so pretty inside and the food is always so, so good!





After that we went to Woodman's and got some cheese!

 Never having been to Woodman's, Whitney was shocked at how much cheese was in the grocery store!




After that we went back to the hotel and had my birthday cake!



The next day before we went back home to IN we went to my favorite church in Park Ridge and then went out for pizza with a few of my friends.



We took pictures at the prime photo spot in Chicago- The Bean.
 


 We decided to observe the ice skaters.

 We even observed a marriage proposal!! (The couple in the gray and black jackets) 


Last stop was Magnolia Bakery. Don't remember what we got..but it was delicious. It was such a great birthday!



FEBRUARY

In February I spent a lot of time in Wisconsin, drinking coffee and playing with the kids I baby-sat.



A frosted window at my friend Callie's house.


This was about a month after Callie and Pat got their bearded dragon, Charmander. He's so cute!



Had great memories made with my three little friends!




There's all that coffee I was telling you about.

Oh, and Adair, Kev, and I celebrated our year anniversary of being Dunkin Donut's Weds night regulars!






Laila and I went to the Winter Festival in Lake Geneva
 We actually went to Lake Geneva a lot! (Emma came too!)




I practiced with my tamron 70-300mm lens. It was awesome.

 This was taken the first day I got the lens!
 And this cat is garbage..named garbage because it liked to hang around garbage cans. (Yes, that was a The Office reference)

This is Lake Michigan by Kenosha..the water was so weird..almost creepy!
and finally, one of my favorites!


MARCH

I found these cats, who were clearly plotting against me!

Heather (my old boss and forever friend) gave me this car and it turned out to be a tremendous blessing because of the accident I got in in my Dad's colbalt.



I took Heather;s kids to Valplayso once it started to get warmer.


And I played with the little ones in the snow when the temp dropped again!

I captured this sunset with the new tripod Callie and Pat gave me.


Met Laila in Kenosha. :)

Drove random places with Shannah

Finally got this picture of a cardinal!

This was taken at my friend Darragh's Open mic night benefit. I am still obsessed with this picture!

And we took Vivvian to the frozen tundra of Lake Geneva. Floridians...


 Aunt Julie, my cousin Sam, and her friend joined us on our trip!

 I love sunsets on Geneva Lake.
 It's a good place to grill out, haha!
 At the farm we saw this peafowl on a jeep!
 Samantha loves kitties.
My dad's relationship with his sisters make me want a brother!


APRIL


Shannah and I found this doggie on the sidewalk when we were taking a stroll.




I took the boys to the riverwalk. We discovered science ;)

 I introduced the boys to the Shrobster. They loved him, of course, and gave him candy!
We colored eggs together! It was nice to relive my childhood in the eyes of children!

 Brandon joined Adair and me when we went sunset chasing!
 It didn't last very long but it sure was beautiful!
:) The best friend approves. haha.

I got this awesome shot of the moon!


I met Callie and Pat downtown and we went to the Shedd Aquarium and ate at the corner bakery.









































Some of my favorite nature pics in April.






And some more of my favorite kids! (Caden found a roly poly)

MAY


Wednesday, August 22, 2012

Baby Steps, Goals, and Change


Yesterday I started the day right with prayer, writing down all my thoughts before they had a chance to suffocate me, reading my bible & devotionals, and a healthy breakfast.
I took my vitamins.
I drank a ton of water.
I had healthy snacks and a healthy dinner.
I went to the beach and appreciated the sunset.
I went to the gym and worked my butt off for nearly an hour.
Up until bed time I did really good with my healthy eating.

Today was different.
I didn't have much sleep.
I didn't take my vitamins.
I drank a significantly lower amount of water.
I ate a good breakfast but it was cereal, and wasn't as filling as it should have been.
So I ate candy. And chips.
And I didn't read my devotions or my bibles.
And by the time I was done babysitting I was too tired to go out and enjoy nature or go to the gym.
So I laid in bed, had guacamole for dinner, and topped it off with a jr. bacon cheeseburger because I realized that while being regular I wouldn't be able to just eat a donut. (Plus I'd be ashamed to do so with my fellow regulars)

And now here I am, writing about how different I feel.
How much I liked yesterday more than today.
And this is my point: If you start your day right, it WILL be better.
Mostly, I think it was because I didn't have quiet time or my writing. That is what made such a difference yesterday. I want more days like yesterday. And no more days like today. I am done with this.

For such a long time my weight has been a huge burden on me. I rarely ever talk about it to people. It's very personal. I feel bad about myself, how much I have let myself go in the last six years. It keeps me from doing things that I would love to do.
My self-esteem is so low. It weighs me down in every way, not just in my self-image, but in all I do.
Last May, I remember writing about how much I wanted to lift my hands in worship at church but I felt too self-conscious to do so.



And here it is, little blog family, if you are reading.
I have goals now. Little goals to better myself.
-The healthy amount of weight for me to lose by December 22 is somewhere between 17.5 and 52.5 pounds. I want to achieve that.
-I want to cook more, and eat out way less. (It is SO convienient for me to just pick up dinner through a drive thru. I don't have a family that cooks. It's kind of a fend for yourself type thing and that can get really bad.)
-Cut out most junk food.
-Go to the gym 5 times a week.
-Take my vitamins every day
-Write 3 pages in my journal every day (to prevent emotional eating)
and lastly, this is not a goal related to my health but, I want to save half of everything that I make. I realize this will be hard with the amount of money I am making right now,but I think I can do it.

I am so ready for change. And I don't think I can do that by myself. I need support. I need people to hold me accountable. I need gentleness when I inevitably make mistakes, I need cheerleaders.


Please, if you read this, and you want to help me in some way, even in prayers, please do.
I need support.

In His name,
-Noelle


Tuesday, August 21, 2012

Me. Myself, & I

Linking up with http://thelifeofthewife.blogspot.com/ YAH!

1. What would you attempt to do if you knew you could not fail?
I would write. I love writing. But I think the biggest thing that is holding me back from doing it is the fear that I am not good at it. I hate letting people read the things that I write that are serious. 

2. If you had only six months left to live, what would you do with the time?
I would give. I would love. I would give thanks for every precious moment. 
I would tell people about Jesus. I would travel. I would say things that needed to be said. 
I would go to the people that I have hurt or that have hurt me and I would do my best to reconcile with them. 

3. If a front page news article was written on you, what would the headline be?
Local woman arrested for breaking red panda out of Lincoln Park Zoo ;)


4. What is your biggest pet peeve?
children's screams.& people that drive behind me with their brights on. 


5. What is your favorite chick flick movie?
While You Were Sleeping!
 (Will always be my ultimate favorite movie ever!) 

Friday, August 17, 2012

Friday's Letters (2)

                                             

Here we go again! 

Dear Friday, 
I love you. After three days of watching children and one day of saying good-bye to my baby sister for four months it is nice to just relax. 
Dear Sister, 
I miss your constant affection. Even though it drove me crazy at times...Even though you didn't accept my love for the red pandas...I love you! And Dad and I miss you a lot!
Dear Red Panda, 
I SAW YOU!!!! After 4 years of loving your kind, and 2 years of trying to see you, I SAW YOU!!!!!


Dear Marty (my new laptop), 
I love you. Even though you have a bad battery it's hardly noticeable because you are just plugged in by my  bed, therefore keeping me in bed all day just because I can, FINALLY!

Dear Bed, 
I am so sorry that I have been so negligent. I will make it up to you today. :)

Dear God, 
I'm sorry for the sin that I always get stuck in. Reckless words, temptations, turning to anything and anyone but you in the times I need you the most. I'm sorry. 


Until next time, 
Noelle

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Friday, August 10, 2012

My first Friday's Letters

                                              Photobucket
So I am going to try this Friday's letters thing. Because I'm trying to write more. So I may as well write more on this blog that two people follow. :D (Plus I think it is just a really cute idea.)
  
Dear Friday, 
It doesn't really feel like you're here. It's kind of just like another day. Probably because there isn't the camp fire following chapel and a bunch of sugar crazed children sad to be going home tomorrow morning.And I am not dreading tomorrow morning's big cleaning day. I like this kind of Friday but I will miss camp Fridays! 
Dear Camp, 
I miss you. Sort of. I miss having a set time for meals, always having something to do, and always having someone to run into. You're amazing even when you're stressful, even when you make me crazy. God is moving through you and may it continue to do so for many, many years to come. 
Dear good Camp friends, 
I miss you a lot. You're encouragement and humor made my mundane job bearable. Thank you for making me feel appreciated, loved, and like I was a part of something.  
Dear Home, 
You're great. I love you. Please clean yourself. I don't want to lift a finger. I am exhausted. 
Dear Rain, 
I really missed you in the beginning of the summer, mostly because of the drought stressed turf at camp. But I did not appreciate you showing up in Gurnee yesterday. I did not have a "Six Flags day". 
Dear Six Flags, 
I am very disappointed in you. I understand a lot of people lose things on rides but it was raining yesterday and  Batman was closed several times throughout the day. How hard can it be to go out and retrieve a set of keys? I thought you were making so much progress! 
Dear Indiana, 
The only reason I love you is because of my family. 
And the dunes. 
Dear Wisconsin, 
I suppose I have a love/hate relationship with you. I miss you. Sort of. Ok I really do, 
Dear Ingrid Michelson, 
You are fabulous. 
Dear God, 
Thank you for always providing, always loving me, always having a plan. I love you. And I know you love me. 
(Psalm 46:10)


Noelle :) 






Tuesday, August 7, 2012

deluge

It's clear to see
Although the ground is crumbling under my feet
You're holding me in your gentle hands
You cripple the blow to my aching heart

Though it's hard to see the violets in the weeds
I will pour every hidden thought out to you
And I will be free

I am not rejected; 
I am accepted 

Take my dreams 
Turn them into your glory
I long to bring you honor 
With all of my life
Everything that I am

I will trust you
I know your love is my joy
And your joy will be my strength
Please be my strength