Things I've learned while being away at college.

In light of finals week, I thought I'd share a couple of things I've learned about life while being away from home and completing my first semester of college.

1.) God will place you where ever he feels you could best utilize the talents He has given you. Throughout my journey in choosing a college, I depended on the Lord to help me decide where I was supposed to be. I couldn't be more thrilled that he placed me here at Bethel University. I can't imagine spending the next four years of my life anywhere else.

2.) Grades do not define who you are as a person. One bad grade on an assignment or test does not make me any less of a person. I'm thankful for professors who remind me of that everyday.

3.) The friends you meet in college are the friends you will have your entire life. I never believed people when they tried to tell me this is high school, but it's so true. I've met some pretty incredible people while here at Bethel. I'm blessed to have awesome girls on my floor who I get along with so well.

4.) Volunteering each week makes you a better person. Plus it's an awesome study break! I've been volunteering at Young Life, which is a Christian youth mentoring program, since school started and although there have been weeks where I feel like I don't want to go because I have too much homework or I don't feel like it, I do anyways and I never regret it.

5.) Coffee becomes one of your friends. And it's perfectly acceptable to drink it at any time of the day.

6.) It may seem like a really great thing to be an adult and live away from home, but it's hard. You learn to appreciate being at home with your family with home-cooked meals and your own bed.

7.) It's perfectly normal to nap at any time of the day. Even if it's at 10pm at night.

8.) Being an active presence at college is important. Merely being a student and going back to your room is not enough. I've learned to go to as many football games, school dances, events, town-hall meetings, and school-sponsored festivals that I can possibly do. It makes me feel more connected to the Bethel-community.

9.) Making time for yourself is essential. It's easy to get caught up in school work and your social life, but you have to make time for yourself to better your emotional and physical health.

10.) Things like dusting, vacuuming, doing laundry, and washing dishes become a means for procrastination.

11.) Pray about everything

12.) Look at everything as a blessing.

13.) Don't study too much. It's okay to enjoy a night of no studying!

Merry Christmas!
Bailey
Miss Brainerd Lakes 2013

Blessings.

I'm been thinking a lot lately about life and how blessed I am.

Things that I'm grateful for:

Jesus. He is so awesome. I only hope that others can experience His love and mercy, for my life is not my own, but His.

My parents. They have been two of the biggest blessings in my life. Their love is unfailing and I'm so incredibly grateful.

Bethel University. I've grown closer to God than I ever thought possible. I love being surround by such faith-driven people.

Piano. Such a beautiful way that I get to relive stress. God has given me a gift and so thankful.

My family. Their support means the world to me.

My friends. I have such an amazing group of girl friends who always know how to cheer me up.

My boyfriend. He is such a loving and supportive guy who has never ONCE put a dream of mine down.

The title of Miss Brainerd Lakes 2013. It gives me an avenue to make a difference in my community, plus my first two years of college are paid for through Miss America Scholarships. I'm so lucky.

My morning cup of coffee. I'm not sure I would be able to function without it. Many thanks to college for getting me addicted again.

Even moment I've broken down in tears because I felt that life was to much to handle. They are good reminders that God gives his toughest battles to his strongest soldiers. He doesn't give me anything I can't handle.

Fall. It's my favorite season. The leaves remind me that we can all be made new in the image of Christ. That even if we fall, we have the ability to be made new.

The ability to love. Sure, I've had my heart broken and I've broken hearts but I'm grateful that God has given me the ability to feel what it's like to love and be loved in return.

Past relationships. They've showed me what I deserve in life.

The Christmas music that is playing right now as I write this.

The ability to be sitting in a big, comfy chair in a nice, warm building. Some people don't get that privilege.

The finals week that is coming up. It reminds me that I'm lucky enough to be able to get an education at such an amazing school.

YoungLife, the Christian youth program I volunteer at each week with my boyfriend. I think it gives some sanity. Taking 17 credits as a freshman is extremely stressful and trying to balance a social life, piano lessons, and the volunteer work that comes with being Miss Brainerd Lakes can be hard. YoungLife gives me a way to relieve some stress while connecting with middle-schoolers in the Richfield area. I get to share God's love... Incredible!

I hope that, as the holiday season comes in full force, that you take a minute to remind yourself of the things in your life that you are grateful for.

Your sister in Christ,
Bailey

My week at a glance.

This past week was filled with many fun and memorable appearances! On top of Thanksgiving, I managed to pack some appearances in.

Last Tuesday, I spoke to students at my alma mater, Nisswa Elementary School, about Alzheimer's and dementia. I spoke to students in kindergarten through 4th grade. It was so fun to be back and see the teachers that I had when I was in elementary school and reminisce memories of my time at Nisswa Elementary. I'm so grateful God has given an avenue to speak about a cause that's close to my heart while making a difference in my community. I'm even more blessed to be able to speak about Alzheimer's while wearing a crown on my head. I really felt that the students understood what I was talking about, even the kindergarteners, whose random questions like "Does your Dad know how to use a fork?" make me laugh. All-in-all, it was a fantastic day and I feel blessed God gave me the opportunity to speak to those students.

Friday was the City of Lights celebration in downtown Nisswa. This is Nisswa's kickoff to Christmas celebration in which they start a countdown at 5:29pm until 5:30pm and the whole city turns their Christmas lights on at the same time. This is always one of my favorite celebrations in my little hometown. The people truly make this celebration. They are always so energetic, even when it's freezing outside. I'm so blessed to live in such a great community!

Saturday my parents and I headed down to the Mall of America because my sister queens and I performed Christmas carols in the Rotunda. Glitz Gowns, a sponsor of the Miss Minnesota Scholarship Program, was gracious enough to let us borrow gowns to wear for our performance, which was extremely generous of them! The performance was short, but it went fairly smoothly and I was able to meet a lot of people, including the cutest little girls who were so starstruck by our crowns and sashes. We signed many autograph cards and posed for lots of pictures. I was exhausted by the end, but it was fun and really put me in mood for Christmas!

This next weekend I'll be ringing bells for the Salvation Army.
Hope you have a blessed week!
Bailey
Miss Brainerd Lakes 2013