It’s November and many of the people that I know have been doing “30 days of things they are thankful for” posts on Facebook. I’ve decided to put mine here on my blog with detailed explanations because that’s what a blog is for, right?
November 1: I’m thankful for trips to Chicago.
The early morning trek from Spring Arbor to Chicago was full of conversation and excitement as we shared in the joy of going to the ACP/CMA Journalism Convention. To go even further into that, I’m thankful for Carrie Muskat and her lecture about covering Major League Baseball. It reinvigorated my passion for sports journalism and allowed me to realize that I can write about baseball. I’m also grateful for the ability to miss class so I could network and have an opportunity for professional development.
November 2: I’m thankful for a night out on the town.
As part of the weekend, one of the staff members came to Chicago for the day and took us out to dinner. We went to a Louisiana style restaurant to “go somewhere you wouldn’t have typically gone.” The food was delicious, but the company was even better. We conversed about the convention and the things that we had been learning. Plus, it’s fun to roam around the city and find out that they’ll be shooting for an episode of “Chicago Fire” by Millennium Park before taking the cliché pictures by the Bean.
November 3: I’m thankful for #blessings.
As a joke about being from a Christian college we created this hashtag and saying for our entire time in Chicago. Whenever we were all together and a moment warranted it, someone would say blessings and we’d all crack up. It was perfect for laughs, but also to encompass the things that happened in Chicago. For me, it was exchanging business cards with someone in my desired profession, learning how to better “The Pulse,” being able to afford coffee each morning while feeling like a true professional and spending time with friends. There were also the surprise moments that were blessings like meeting Josh Peck.
November 4: I’m thankful for football filled Sundays.
I love the fall. Even though baseball is ending, it’s the postseason and it’s exciting. College football is in full swing, but the best part is that I can spend my entire afternoon on Sunday with the “church of football” as I tune in to watch NFL games from noon until 11 p.m. It gives me the chance to relax and enjoy the game or catch up on all my homework. It’s the time that I get to spend by myself, where I can read as many articles about sports as I want and can catch up on my blogging.
November 5: I’m thankful for half-off appetizers at Applebee’s.
The sporadic-ness of college adventures from years past has gotten harder. My friends and I all find ourselves busy with classes, homework, work and other extracurricular activities. We hardly see each other and we aren’t able to just go out like we used to. We also all live in different places, some of us on campus, others off, and we don’t see each other as often as we did when we lived in the same dorm. We are unable to just walk next door at 10 p.m. and ask if anyone wants to go to Applebee’s for half-off apps. But the nights where we do get to go out are extra special. I’m grateful that we can go out together even if that means we have to plan it days in advance.
November 6: I’m thankful for a workout buddy.
I started working out daily over the summer and have continued that into my routine during the school year. But there are days when it’s harder to go than others. My workout buddy makes those hard days so much better. Having someone there to push me and encourage me, while simultaneously making me laugh and smile is something to treasure. I am beyond blessed to have this lovely girl as my friend. And working out with her has brought us so much closer and allows us to cultivate our relationship before we head off in different directions upon our graduation in May.
November 7: I’m thankful for the relationship I have with my mom.
I love that even though I’m an hour plus away from my mom, I can still call her when I’m having a bad day and interrupt her entire work day. I remember how little we talked when I was a freshman. I was afraid to call her and tell her about the college boy I was crushing on. Now, I barely go a day without calling her and talking to her. There are some days where I’m attached to my phone just because her and I have been texting all day long. We talk about anything and everything, but the best phone calls start with, “Guess who the Tigers signed today…” We don’t even have to say hello and every conversation reminds me just how lucky I am to have a mom who loves me so much and never fails to remind me of that. I look up to and admire her so much. She’s the greatest mom anyone could ask for (and by far the coolest).
November 8: I’m thankful for getting out of class early and naps.
As a very busy college student any day where a class gets out early and I can climb back into my bed is a good one. And as I crawled back into my semi-warm bed and cuddled under the covers, I realized how much I needed the sleep. My body was still recuperating from the weekend in Chicago while also trying to avoid getting sick from spending nights walking through downtown and playing flag football under the lights on the frost covered turf. Yes, it was hard to get out of my bed, but I felt so much better that the rest of my afternoon was productive and allowed me to get prepared for the weekend.
November 9: I’m thankful for chapel and worshipping.
I go to a wonderful Christian college where I can worship with the entire student body and each time we gather together I’m amazed at how strong my peers are in their faith. It’s encouraging to know that some of the people that stand beside me in chapel are struggling in their walks with Jesus Christ while others are on fire for Christ. And when all of us gather together, we’re meeting each other where we’re at and taking whatever we can out of the worship time and message. The best days are when I can sing all of the songs and have God speak to me through the lyrics. It’s even better when the people around me are my closest friends and we can grow together in Christ.
November 10: I’m thank for being a part of the I Am Second group on my campus.
I was asked by a friend to help with a group he was starting on campus for the non-profit organization I Am Second. I’m so thankful that he thought of me when he was planning this group and that I was able to participate. I had no idea of the impact it would have on my life and it has been a way for me to grow in my faith, build new friendships and grow professionally. My responsibilities right now are to keep the Facebook page and the Twitter feed up to date. We haven’t started meeting yet, but with our first meeting quickly approaching (November 19 isn’t that far away) I had to get everything set up so we could be able to use social media effectively and reach as many students as possible. I look forward to our first meeting and what this can bring to our campus.
November 11: I’m thankful for my campus housing.
As a freshman, I lived in the community dorm and that was a great first year experience, but now as a senior I live in an apartment with three other lovely ladies. I’m so blessed to be able to transition into the “real world” with them and that I am able to get a glimpse of what my living situation could be like post-graduation. It’s fun to get up in the morning and bake cookies and start prepping meals for the week ahead. Living in an apartment is fun at times, but not so fun at others. I mean, who really likes cleaning the bathroom? My apartment has provided me with the perfect atmosphere to get ready for my life away from Spring Arbor and for that I am truly thankful.
November 12: I’m thankful for free cups of coffee.
I visit Sacred Grounds, the coffeeshop at SAU, occasionally to turn a bad day into an alright one or a good day into a much better day. My favorite drink is a mocha with coconut syrup. It almost tastes like an Almond Joy or Mounds and makes me feel like I’m in a tropical place instead of in Michigan in the freezing cold. Since I go there often enough, I decided that getting a punch card would be a good idea so after my tenth drink I get a free one. Today I redeemed my free drink and made my Monday even better.
November 13: I’m thankful for my roommate, Elise.
As freshman we were blindly paired to live together. I freaked her out with my excitement over being at college and the overuse of the words, “legit” and “epic,” thanks to my friends from high school overusing them as well. Thankfully, I’ve grown out of that and her and I have had the opportunity to remain roommates over the past 4 years. We’ve had other people live with us over the course of our time at Spring Arbor, but we’ve managed to stick together. She’s my best friend, the person I’d do anything for or with. I know her so well that when she studied for the GRE and was getting stressed out that I sent her a package of goodies and supplies to get her through. Today, we were blessed with the opportunity to get lunch together, something our opposite schedules have prevented this semester. It was so nice to be able to just sit with her and talk while splitting a pizza. I’ve missed the days where her and I could just do nothing for the afternoon, but anytime that I get to spend with her is wonderful and I look forward to seeing where God takes us in the future.
November 14: I’m thankful for constructive criticism.
As the Editor-in-chief of “The Pulse” I know that there are some things that need to be worked out to better myself and the staff so we can have a publication that runs smoothly. For one of my classes, we are doing a group consulting project and I was okay with allowing my group to have “The Pulse” act as the client. Let’s just say, I okayed them to analyze my leadership and what I pour my time into. It’s a scary thought to know that 5 of my peers who are not involved in “The Pulse” in any capacity are going to be critiquing the work that I’m doing. But today, as we met and shared ideas and critiqued the work that I’ve done as a leader, I was so happy to have this group of people helping me. They were kind in their words, while still saying what needed to be said and telling me straight up what they thought. Together we came up with so many new ideas and possible things that we can implement in “The Pulse” meetings that I look forward to taking those steps toward improvement.
November 15: I’m thankful for intramural sports.
As a former student-athlete, intramurals is the only place where I can compete with the other students on campus. It’s also really cool to be able to compete with your closest friends, some on your team and some on the opposing team. Since my freshman year at Spring Arbor, I have won at least one sport per year. That adds up to a lot of champion t-shirts. I know that may not seem like a huge deal, but for me it’s something that I’m very proud of. Tonight was the “IM Superbowl” or the flag football championship game. This year was the first year that the team I am on was able to make it to the championship game. It was super fun and we won! The final score was 50-20 and we were super pumped about being victorious in our senior year. This is my third shirt of the year and now I’m able to say that I’ve won a shirt for every sport that I’ve participated in in my four years at Spring Arbor. Way to go Apartments, K-Houses, Commuters, Alpha & Delta!
November 16: I’m thankful for productive afternoons.
After sleeping in, I knew that I was going to have to be productive. I had many things planned for the weekend and would more than likely not want to do any of my homework. So this afternoon I focused on getting a lot of work done. I had a nice afternoon workout. I got a very large chunk of my homework done. I did a load of laundry. I started packing for my Thanksgiving break trip home. I bought a Mocha Frappe with coconut syrup because I could. I had a Twilight movie marathon with a friend. Overall it was a great day. And I’m lucky that I don’t have classes on Fridays. It allows me to either relax if I need it or work hard if that’s what needs to get done. It’s a great feeling especially as the end of the semester nears.
November 17: I’m thankful for days of no responsibility.
Today was the opposite of yesterday. It was busy, but it was a busy day of fun, relaxing moments. I left early this morning to head to the Big House for a Michigan football game – yes, I know I’m a Michigan State fan, but I just love sports so much that being in a stadium wearing my Spring Arbor University hoodie because that’s all the blue and maize I own is worth it. I did wear a Michigan State t-shirt under all of my layers of clothing. My friend Kate and I were surrounded by Iowa Hawkeye fans and we had an exciting time being right in the middle of that group. Following that game, we left Ann Arbor and came back to Spring Arbor for the NAIA Tournament game that we were hosting for the women’s soccer team. And even though it was cold out and I burnt my tongue on some hot tea, watching the women advance to the NAIA Soccer Sweet 16 was a great way to cap of a day of athletics. Then after the game, Kate and I picked up another one of our friends and went and saw the new Twilight movie. Judge all you want, but I read the books and had to see how the movies compared. The movie blew my mind – I have to go see it again just to comprehend all that happened.
November 18: I’m thankful for not having lots of homework.
Over the course of the semester, I’ve had loads and loads of homework. I’ve felt like I’m constantly doing something work related, whether I’m writing for “The Pulse” or reading for class, the workload never seems to diminish. But today, as I sat in front of the TV in the lobby of my apartment building, I looked at my planner and the light load of homework that was due for the upcoming week. Yes, it helped that the week was only 2 days long with the Thanksgiving holiday being on Thursday. It was really nice to be able to take today and accomplish my work, while still having time to enjoy all the football games. It capped off the weekend on a high note and now I know this week is going to be great.
November 19: I’m thankful for the skills that I have been blessed with.
Today I was a part of a couple meetings. One is the meeting for “The Pulse.” We meet weekly on Mondays at 5 p.m. to discuss all the goings on with the paper – everything from what stories need to be covered and how the progress people are making in their stories. The other was for the I Am Second group that my friend Nic has started. I’m a special part of the group because I run the social media, but also because I have run a few meetings and can help keep them on track if they need it. At times it may feel like I’m a secretary or assistant, but if that is the role that Nic needs me to play then so be it. I’m a team player and I want this group to be successful. Without my organizational skills or skills with social media, he wouldn’t have even asked for my help. In the greater scheme of things, I’m just blessed that he asked me. I’m also so grateful for my skills as a writer and leader because “The Pulse” would not be the same without them.
November 20: I’m thankful for getting the day off work.
Tonight there was a women’s basketball game at 7 p.m. I was fairly confident that I was going to have to hang out around campus to be available to take pictures. I have a class at 8:45 a.m., which I went to, but once getting out of class I texted my boss and asked him if I was going to need to work. He told me that I could go home if I wanted, which I really did. I haven’t been home since the middle of October and haven’t really seen my family since the end of September. I was desperate for some time in my own bed and seeing my mom. Getting the day off started my break off on the right foot and now I get to look forward to spending the rest of the holiday with my family.
November 21: I’m thankful for my car.
Today, on top of getting to sleep in and not have to worry about going to class or working on homework, I was able to go and visit some family for the holiday. I wouldn’t have been able to do those things without my car. It’s my baby. She doesn’t have a name, but I love her deeply. She gets me everywhere I need to go and I was so blessed to be able to get a car relatively early in my car search. It’s a 2003 Saturn L300 in blue – it’s the perfect sporty car for me. I’m so glad that I was able to spend time with some of the people that are closest to me and I haven’t seen in a long time. Plus, I never turn down free meals.
November 22: I’m thankful for my parents.
My parents divorced when I was relatively young and now I have to split the time I have at the holidays to be with them both. But on days like today, I was able to spend time with my mom and dad celebrating the holiday with them. I went to the parade with my dad in the morning, something that my entire family used to do every year but it has now turned into a tradition for my dad, brother and myself. Then in the evening, I was able to have dinner with my mom. Because of my parents divorce, I rarely see them both on the same day. The holidays are hectic and my time is always being pulled between this family event and that family event. Days like today are special and I’m so thankful for that.
November 23: I’m thankful for family traditions.
Today my mom’s family gathered at my grandma’s house for Thanksgiving dinner. We also met because we have this awesome tradition of going Christmas tree hunting. We go to a tree farm and walk around in the mud, freezing cold, snow or whatever weather condition we encounter in search of the perfect tree. It’s really fun and I love it. This year it was freezing cold and my immediate family picked the first tree we saw that we really liked. We didn’t spend much time searching. And then we all ate dinner together and got to spend time joking around and taking pictures for the grandparents. I adore my family and our traditions. They are some that I hope I can partake in after I have my own family.
November 24: I’m thankful for exercise.
When I exercise I do not run. My knees can’t handle it and I have a very hard time running on the treadmill. I do other types of cardio instead. But this morning, I ran a one mile race through downtown Milford with my mom. She asked me if I would do it with her before I came home for the holiday. I said that I would even though I’m not the greatest runner in the world. I was so excited when I ran the entire mile – I didn’t walk once! And at the end I got a certificate, which I just might have to frame because these moments are unlikely to happen again.
November 25: I’m thankful for being able to sleep in.
I don’t sleep enough while I’m away at college. I have so much work to do all the time that I just end up skipping the sleep portion of my routine, or minimizing it. So when I’m at home, I take full advantage of my queen size bed. It’s so comfy and I sink right into once I lay down. There is nothing better than laying in that bed, dreaming, talking, reading. It doesn’t matter, my bed is just awesome. What was even better was that I could sleep in today and enjoy my last night at home before I would head back to school tonight.
November 26: I’m thankful for leftovers.
My mom sent me back to school with lots of leftovers. For that I am thankful because that means that I don’t have to cook a meal for an entire week. It was awesome coming back to my apartment and heating up some leftovers for lunch after class. It was even better to come back to my “home” and heat up different leftovers for dinner before I went to workout. It’s going to be a week of great food that I didn’t even have to cook.
November 27: I’m thankful for having a really cool job.
I have a few jobs on campus, but the one I get paid for is by far the coolest. I get paid to go to athletic events. It’s right up my alley and am so blessed that I found this position. I get to write the recaps and take pictures for some of the athletic teams on campus. Right now I’m taking pictures of the basketball teams during games. I’m a true sports photographer. What an awesome job it is. It fits into what I want to do and where I want to go in life so perfectly that I’m glad I can build my resume with this job.
November 28: I’m thankful for delicious surprises.
The adviser of “The Pulse” is probably one of the coolest women that you could ever met. And I’m not just saying that because for our last production night of the semester she brought us homemade enchiladas, rice, beans, cupcakes and even some pop to help us get through the night (and I got to take the leftovers back to my apartment). I’m saying that she’s super cool because she’s the “mom” of the staff. She lets us make mistakes and then tells us how to correct them. She’s hands-on and attends our weekly meetings, but when we ask her to be hands-off she does that too. She’s a great encouragement to us and a wonderful person to have behind us as we publish the news on campus.
November 29: I’m thankful for starting the weekend early.
I woke up this morning with a email from my professor and my only class today was canceled. That means that my weekend got to start an entire day early! That’s super exciting for me especially since last night was the last production night and we were out early (by 12:15!) and I was able to get some sleep. But it was really nice to be able to go back to bed especially since finals and group project presentations are coming up really quickly. There’s only 2 weeks left in the semester. AHHHH!
November 30: I’m thankful for a perfect edition of “The Pulse.”
“The Pulse” is kind of my baby. I pour a lot of love into it and I want it to be perfect. And this issue is by far the most perfect we’ve ever had. There are no mistakes in content. All the headlines are correct. There is a photo on each spread. I’m practically in love with this edition. And the best thing is that we got to apply some of the things that we learned while in Chicago at the conference. We are well on our way to being a publication that will be entered in contests and (hopefully) winning awards. I’m so proud of my staff and so thankful for all the work that they do.