Chicago - day #36

Rain, Rain Go Away!

Fridays are days off for staff. Something I really enjoy doing on Fridays are exploring the city (I love discovering new places, and taking pictures!) But today when I woke up, there was a massive, scary thunderstorm outside... for the first part of the day. As you'll see for the first few pictures, my roommates and I had fun having a rainy day inside. Once the weather cleared, we went and got manicures & pedicures, and got to explore the city a bit! :)

Scary clouds!

We love thunderstorms!

 Mani/Pedis!

Chicago - day #35

Today at UIC (University of Chicago - Illinois, the campus I'm on this summer) we had an outreach. In spite of the heat, it was really fun! We really wanted to provide a way to meet and engage with new students on campus. We had a cookout and free food provided, with games, as a way for students to come and hang out with us. It was awesome, and we met several new students throughout the afternoon! 

Myself, and some lovely ladies during the cookout

:)

Chicago - day #34

Buckingham is so cool lit up at night! Tonight during my night with the Lord, myself, as well as one of my roommates and another friend ventured over to Grant Park to get a look at what Buckingham Fountain looks like when it's lit up. I feel like these pictures don't really do it justice. It was pretty neat!

Chicago - day #31

Staff/Student Kickball 2012

Each year, it is a Chicago Summer Project tradition to have a staff/student kickball game. The staff have also been undefeated, as they have won every single year. This year the competition was heightened however, because the students were more challenging than we thought - they also had lots of team spirit!! But, the staff still won the game in the end. It was lots of fun!

Chicago - days #29-30

Here are a few pictures from the last couple of days...

Skyline from the Lincoln Park Zoo

 Lincoln Park Zoo

 Fun at the Bean

My friend, Amanda came to visit :)

This is the most delicious beverage/dessert in the world. It's called an Eiskaffee. The last time I had one was in Berlin last summer. It consists of chilled coffee, ice cream and whipped cream. YUM!!! We ventured over to an Austrian coffee shop called Julius Meinl... so delicious!

Chicago - day #21

Mug & Muffin.//Bluegrass Music.

This morning, I went to the beach with a friend who's on staff here in Chicago this summer. We left early this morning, so we got to the beach when there was hardly anyone there. It was wonderful!

After I got back to my apartment, my roommates and I had the women of the project over for banana bread and coffee. (As you can see in one of the pictures below, we had a fun time making the bread!) Later in the evening, me and one of my roommates, and a couple others decided to go see a bluegrass band play in the city (the band pictured in one of my earlier posts.) It was a fun day!

Beautiful Oak Street Beach

Making the banana bread  :)

 Student (Annie) & I at Mug & Muffin   :)

At the Bluegrass concert

Chicago - day #20

Today I was able to hang out with a good friend who lives just outside of the city. She came into the city to hang out with me for the day, and we had a really great time together. We walked around the city a lot, and  had a wonderful time catching up.  

Buckingham Fountain

Best view of the city - skyline view, by museum campus

We ended the night by watching a free concert in Millenium park

Chicago - day #18

Night with the Lord

Each Wednesday night the entire project has the night to spend with the Lord. This really can look different, from person to person. It's just a sweet opportunity to take and go somewhere in the city of Chicago, and spend with Jesus, however that may be. For me, I love long walks, taking pictures, listening to music, and exploring the city, admiring His creation. I like to reflect on what the Lord is teaching  me, because sometimes I feel like I can easily forget, and it can get lost in the midst of my busy schedule and busy life.

Tonight myself and a couple other ladies ventured out to Wicker Park (a "hipster" part of Chicago) and found a place to sit for a while. It was a very refreshing evening.

Eating some chocolate custarrd with caramel and Oreos at a place called "Just Indulge" in Wicker Park

This is a cool intersection in Wicker Park because there are three different streets that intersect each other

On the way back to the subway, we saw a sweet bluegrass/folk band performing. They were really talented!

Chicago - day #17

This is the table we had set up on campus today. We were able to interact with several different students - students filled out surveys, which indicate if they are interested in discussing Spiritual things, and getting involved in some sort of a life group or bible study. There's another question that asks if they would be  interested in finding out how they can get to know God in a personal way. Many students filled out the surveys and we are hoping to connect them with the permanent Cru team that is here year-round, in the fall.

Chicago - day #16

Artopolis

So, I live right in the middle of Greektown and Little Italy. I don't know if I mentioned that before. Basically, I am eating really well while I am in Chicago. On Mondays, we have staff meetings, and then the men and women split up and have separate men's & women's times. Today we finished a little bit early, so a bunch of us thought it would be fun to go get dessert. We went to this Greek place called, Artopolis. It is hands-down one of the best places I've ever had dessert from. I got tiramisu (my fav) and it was delish...

YUM.

My lovely table :)

Chicago - days #14-15

Graduation Weekend

Yesterday I hopped on a plane to go home for the weekend to see my youngest sister, Katie graduate from high school. It was strange - because she is the youngest in the family, and I didn't quite see it coming! But she is in fact graduated, and headed to my alma mater - Michigan State in the Fall, and I am so proud!

Home sweet home

 Happy Birthday, Kada!!

My bud :)

Grandmas

Sibs

The fam

Oldest & Youngest :)

Sisters do as sisters should

Twins