30 Days of Photos: Days 24 and 25

Day 24: A picture of something you wish you could change.

This is from an organization called Free The Children. One of their missions is to build schools with the Brick by Brick Campaign. It costs about $8,500 to build a new school. I would love to be involved in this organization in an architectural capacity some day.

Day 25: A picture of your day.

Yeah, it's Monday, so I'm in the Architecture building. It's also one week until my final reviews, so I'm in the architecture building working on my Algae Roof Distribution Center.

30 Days of Photos: Day Twenty Three

Day 23: A picture of your favorite book.

Another easy one. That would be Lord of the Rings. Although it is quite lengthy, and at some places hard to get through, I still enjoy it. I've read it through twice now. Maybe I'll read through it again this summer, or make it a summer habit.

Great book, great author. I'm actually reading the Silmarillion right now (or I will actually be as soon as studio stuff is over!)

30 Days of Photos: Day Twenty One and Twenty Two

Day 21: A picture of something you wish you could forget.

So I didn't have time to do a picture for this, and I don't want to post a picture because I don't want it to be in everyone else's head. But I wish I could forget the watching of Lady Gaga's Born This Way video.

Take it from me, don't watch it if you haven't

Day 22: A picture of something you wish you were better at.

This is easy. I wish I was better at all these programs that I need to know. Which is also what I will be doing this summer.

30 Days of Photos: Day Twenty

Day 20: A picture of somewhere I'd love to travel.

EASY ONE! Not only would I love to travel there, but I am...in 39 days! Madrid, Barcelona and Bilbao, Spain!

¡Vamos!

30 Days of Photos: Day Nineteen

Day 19: A picture of a letter.

Yeah, so this is the letter that changed a lot of things for me. My acceptance letter from University of Illinois. Also why the next two weeks are going to be crazy trying to get this Algae Roof Distribution Center done before Easter.

On a more creative note, and after conversation with Katy, this is another picture of a letter. This is my second tattoo above my right ankle. I got it on Graduation Weekend from Lincoln in 2007. Sara, my sister, go the same one on her arm. It has Celtic knotwork inside, because I love Celtic knotwork!

30 Days of Photos: Day Eighteen

Day 18: A picture of your biggest insecurity.

I hate getting up in front of people and talking. Even more, I hate getting up and defending my design choices to people that know a whole lot more than I do. I also hate not feeling passionate about projects. It's harder to defend them and talk about them when I don't really care about the project guidelines. But that's a different story.

My biggest insecurity is talking in front of people and defending my design choices. I also know I need to get over it.

30 Days of Photos: Day Seventeen

Day 17: A picture of something that has had a huge impact on your life recently.

Alright, so this is a picture of the stage at the Vineyard. I haven't actually written this story down, so some readers might not have heard it.

Back in October, the Vineyard did a sermon series titled "Jesus Heals and So Can We." I was challenged to keep praying for healing. So I prayed on a Sunday Night during small group, then a Monday morning, and then a Monday night at Vineyard Leadership Team Meeting. I was told to be persistent and not give up. I also got the strong sense that I should stop going to my chiropractor, so I went one last time and told him that I wouldn't be coming back unless I absolutely needed it.

And that was six months ago, almost to the day.

Now I know that some days I have some pain, but I also know that it's because I do that to my body, I sit too long, or I don't sit the right way, or I get frustrated with something and it translates to my back. Oh or that stupid fall that I took on campus on the ice!

We've been singing this song a lot lately, and it is always a fresh reminder of what God has done for me and what healing He wants to do in others' lives.

Healer by Hillsong

You hold my every moment
You calm my raging seas
You walk with me through fire
And heal all my disease

I trust in you
I trust in you

I believe
You're my healer
I believe
You are all i need
I believe
You're my portion
I believe
You're more than enough for me
Jesus, you're all i need

Nothing is impossible for you
Nothing is impossible
Nothing is impossible for you
You hold my world in your hands

30 Days of Photos: Day Sixteen

Day 16: A picture of someone who inspires you.

This organization has been on my mind a lot recently. I recently just purchased my first pair of TOMS (they should be here by Monday!) The company (and it's founder, Blake) inspires me because it's a for-profit company that also gives to children in need. With the "One for One" idea, a consumer becomes a benefactor. With every pair of shoes that is sold, another pair is given to a child that doesn't have a pair. It's just one simple thing that people can do. And shoes are actually a very basic need. A leading cause of disease in developing countries is soil-transmitted diseases, which can penetrate the skin through bare feet. Shoes can prevent these diseases, protect feet from cuts and sores that can become infected. Shoes are often required as part of a school uniform, so without shoes, children don't get an education.

For someone like me, who has a background in business and will be working in the for-profit sector when I get done with school, I'm glad that TOMS proves that you can bridge the gap of being in the business world and also doing some good for our global community.

As of September 2010, TOMS has given away almost 1 million shoes to children in need. Check out TOMS to see more information and look at their first Giving Report.

30 Days of Photos: Day Fifteen

Day 15: A picture of something you want to do before you die.

I really want to take ballroom dance lessons. Every time I watch Dancing with the Stars, I feel like signing up to take lessons, especially if it means dancing with Mark Ballas!

30 Days of Photos: Day Fourteen

Day 14: A picture of someone you could never imagine your life without.

Here's my mom. And quite literally, I can't imagine my life without her, since she's the one that brought me into this world (and by golly, she can take me out of this world :P)

Anyway, it's true. I can't imagine my life without her, even if I don't call or visit as often as she would like.

30 Days of Photos: Day Thirteen

Day 13: A picture of your favorite band or artist.

Ok, who didn't see this one coming? If you didn't guess this, then please go back and reread previous 30 days, or other blogs of mine in general.

So yeah, they're my favorite. I'm going on 14 years of being a fan, more than half of my life. Except for a few songs that I will always skip over, I have liked everything that they have done. It's been interesting to grow up with a band and hear their sound change. They are excellent song writers and great musicians.

I can always count on them for an awesome concert. I've seen them 6 times, most being at the House of Blues in Chicago. You can really tell that they love performing for their fans, and MMMBOP is always a crowd favorite.

Aside from their music, I'm just really inspired by them. They have taken something that they are good at and have used it to help others. They have partnered with a handful of great organizations to try to do some good for the world.

And the whole time they're doing this, they remind their fans that it doesn't have to take a lot of money or fame to do some good. It's as simple as donating a $1 for a clean well, or walking a mile barefoot to raise awareness and start conversations about the need for a pair of shoes for children. You just have to do something, anything to help out.

There you have it, good musicians, and good people.

30 Days of Photos: Day Twelve

Day 12: A picture of something you love.

I love stairs! I seriously have an obsession with a good set of stairs. This is the interior of the Rookery Building in Chicago. The interior was remodeled by Frank Lloyd Wright.

There is also a pretty amazing staircase in the ACES Library on campus, which you should check out if you're in Champaign. And there was one is an old antique shop in Arthur that I absolutely loved (I think it was Arthur, right Rachel? where you found that china set and those amazing shoe chairs)

30 Days of Photos: Day Eleven

Day 11: A picture of something you hate.

Soooo, I'm going to take it as a good sign that I had trouble finding something that I hate.

I'm just going to go with this one. I hate Sauron! He is pure evil.

Also, the bell tower on campus totally reminds me of Barad-dur!

30 Days of Photos: Day Ten

Day 10: A picture of the person you do the craziest things with.

Easy! First, I don't really think I do extremely crazy things, I'm mostly laid back. But Katy and I can usually end up finding a way to have a crazy time. We're both so busy with school lately though. But I can safely say that Katy and I are partners in crime (not that it's anything bad). I think I'm less inhibited when we're together. And I can't wait to see the crazy things we do in Spain!

30 Days of Photos: Day Nine

Day 9: A picture of the person who has gotten you through the most.

This one is easy. Definitely the one true constant who has gotten me through the most. Plain and simple. JESUS!

30 Days of Photos: Day Eight

Day 8: A picture that makes you laugh.

I was debating on when to pull this photo out, I could definitely use it for other days as well. But this picture always makes me laugh.

This was a Camryn's birthday party last year. The first time she did this jump, I wasn't able to get a good shot of it, so I asked her to do it again, and this was the result. Amazing picture, right? I also love this picture because it reminds me that she is fearless.