Christmas

One of the best things about being a student still is that I have so much time off for Christmas! I was home in Colorado for about 2 weeks this year and Ben, Michele, and Chloe were able to come home for several weeks too. We had a great time all together and I think that this was one of our most relaxing Christmas' ever! Aunt Carol, Laura, Landon and Liz all made the trip to Colorado as well. It was great to be all be together!

Wysocki siblings opening gifts at Gma and Gpa's

White Elephant gifts with the Blue Hair families

Ben wrapped gifts all day on Christmas Eve...what a guy!

Introducing Laura and Aunt Carol to Chedd's...yum

Lovely Larson Ladies working in the kitchen

Christmas Morning breakfast

A little DDR on Christmas Eve after our movie...I think that Laura and Sophie look more like sisters than cousins

Michael, Brittany, Mich, Ben, Janelle, & Dave at the Blue Hair party

I love Ben's face in this one

The Blue Hair Group picture, it just wouldn't be Christmas without this party with these families. All we are missing are the Cuthbertson kids

Sophie's favorite b-day present

Decorating the Christmas Tree in one of Mom's Christmas sweaters

A Fall of Firsts

Like I said, "hold on" because we are going back a few months. So back we go to October when I was honored to help officiate the wedding of my friends Will and Carin. The wedding was at Carin's parents home and was one of the most beautiful fall weddings I have ever seen. It was a great experience to be able to pray over them and help them as they took their vows. The best was being able to pronounce them married. 

Another first for me last fall was my trip to the top of the arch in St. Louis. This first was made possible by my dear fake sister Tate who is from St. Louis and who I met there for Thanksgiving. It was great getting to spend Thanksgiving with the Tate's, the Poshak's, and the Van Rossum's. You'll have to just believe me that they were all there though because I only have pictures to document our trip to the arch:) 

back in action

If you check my blog you may have thought that I died or dropped of the face of the earth or something...don't worry, I'm still here. I've just really failed in my blogging these past few months. As one person so lovingly pointed out, "Angie, you have to blog sometime soon or people aren't going to read it anymore". 

The problem now is that a lot of life has happened since October and I'm pretty sure that I won't do it justice as I tell you about it. I couldn't be more grateful for the times that I have had with family and friends, it's really been a super full few months.

So hang on and enjoy the next few blogs as I try and fill in some of the missing gaps on here...

Time Flies

I catch myself thinking "I can't believe it's October" a lot these days. I know it's somewhat cliche but I really can't believe that we are here. Seriously, October?!?! This semester has been incredibly busy and that tends to lead to time flying by. I wouldn't recommend this pace of living though but it is what it is for me right now. I'm finding that I don't like saying that I'm stressed though because that seems to imply that I'm not happy. Well maybe my definitions are off but I'm definitely happy but just trying to not spill anything off of my very fully plate. God has given me many open doors to experience ministry and to stretch myself and for that I'm thankful. It has also felt really good to be here for a 3rd year. A few weeks ago when I walked into someones house to watch the "Office" premiere and was greeted by a group of 20 or so students that I know and that I love doing life with here. And I realized that none of them were students that I had known from CBC, and I thought "Hmm, when did that happen?" That is just one example of how gracious God has been to me this year as I feel like I have found my rhythm here and that I have built a life for myself...there were days that I thought that would never happen. So now in the midst of a crazy schedule I'm just trying to soak it all up before I graduate and have to move again (that's a whole different blog for a different day!)

Here are a few highlights of my life the past few weeks...

In the past week I  have managed to fit in a few really great shows like Sigur Ros, Ray LaMontagne, and Aaron Espe. All of these shows just reminded me how great it is to experience bands and musicians who are all about the music. Don't get me wrong, I love shows with great production too but I have really enjoyed sitting through these musical experiences and taking it all in without the hype and showmanship that sometimes comes with some acts. This is a pic from Sigur Ros...globes, nice...

One of my favorite parts of fall is homecoming and the NP homecoming BlocParty! Our chapel planning team has helped out for the past 2 years by making sno-cones, popcorn, and cotton candy. There are tons of people who come from the neighborhood and there are always lots of great friends that come back for the weekend.

And my days with these two are never boring. It's fun to see how they are growing up and becoming funnier every week! Hanging out with Kyle and Ellie is always a nice break from homework.

Zambia or Bust

My newest adventure to report is a trip to Zambia that I'll be taking Dec 27th - Jan 10th! For the past few years North Park has sent a team there every December and May to partner with Hope Ministries. I have always been intrigued by this trip but never seriously considered going. Then the combination of several things rolling around in my head and the prompting of some people around here pushed me to fill out the application and see what would happen. And after a few weeks I found out that I was chosen to be apart of the team and go on this trip.  

I'm mostly excited, but a little nervous for this adventure. I'm excited to not be a leader and to get to participate. I'm excited to meet new people who are going. I'm excited to get out off of this continent and see how God is working in other contexts. I'm nervous for what God needs to mess up in me. I'm excited to see Tom, Aaron, Rox, and Amanda (NP grads who are living there now) I'm excited because I have no idea what to expect...

For more info on our trip check out the North Park Global Partnerships Website

my first flood day

Front of Von Steuben

I've seen a lot of things on Foster Ave, but this was new 

(This is looking west at Foster and Pulaski for those of you who know the area)

Park, pool, or Lake...you decide

The view from the front doors of Anderson

Anderson Dorm, notice how the river flows under the dorm 

The Front of Anderson Dorm

As some of you may have heard, we had kind of a crazy weather weekend here in Chicago. The short story is that 90 billion gallons of water rained down on our city in about 2 days. Now I don't have any experience with flooding so it never entered my mind as an option, but flood it did right in my neighborhood. My street was not bad but everything around us was. The flooding really affected the North Park campus and they had to evacuate some buildings for the weekend. All in all pretty crazy. So because of all this we all had a "flood day" today...no class! The good news is that the water is receding, the dorms are open again. The bad news is that our neighbors in this Albany Park area were hit pretty hard. 

So Proud

While this week has been eventful on many levels (ie starting the fall semester and starting a new job), more than anything this week have been overwhelmed with pride and appreciation for my family.

There have been some significant things happening in the lives of my grandparents and I'm proud of the way that my family has acted in the midst of stress. I'm proud of my mom, aunt, and dad have worked hard to help my grandparents transition while still honoring them. I'm proud of Ben for helping to move grandma and for being there for my mom. I'm proud of Michele for jumping in to our family and for loving and honoring our grandparents so much, I can't imagine / remember our family without her. I'm proud of my grandma for aging with grace and patience and for making the best of her new home. I'm proud of my grandpa for deciding to have his 2nd open heart surgery for the sake of those that he loves. The fact is that none of these things are easy but I'm thankful that God has been preparing these things ahead of us and that he has given me a family this wonderful. I am also thankful that my grandpa survived his surgery today, praise God!

Another piece of my week was getting to watch Ben this week on the set of a music video that they shot here in Chicago. Now, it is always good to see him and I am always reminded of what a great friend I have in my brother but it is also just really great to watch him "work". I also get a thrill out of watching him play his music. So it was equally thrilling to watch them tape this video. I love how Ben interacts with everyone on the set and how he knows the name of the little old lady that is  assigned to sit next to him in the bus scene. I love how we can have deep conversations about the songs that they have written. And I love that he still has the same sense of humor (you all know what I'm talking about). 

Another source of my pride is that Michele started orientation this week as a graduate student. I'm so proud of how hard she works and how focused she is. I'm also so excited for her to pursue this degree and to have the chance to pursue her career as an artist.

So at the close of this week I am tired and feeling weary but I am also so thankful for my family and just wanted to brag about them for a bit...