The Haps in Grandy Grand Forks

Here's what's been up for Donica Severson in Grand Forks, North Dakota:

I'm staying as optimistic as I can. I feel 20 credits of straight A's is a little much, but unfortunately this is how my semesters are gonna have to be if I'm to graduate in time. BLEH. 

I've been doing my field experience under a high school Latin teacher here. She switches between two high schools throughout the day, but I've just been visiting her at one of them.  During spring break I will be spending the fullllllllll dayyyyyyy with her! This may make or break my teaching career. However, I've been really enjoying being around her. In fact, I think I'm going to continue observing there even when my observation hours are done. Yesterday she let me go over translations with the class, which was so fun, but also just torturous. I enjoyed being able to correct and help them with their translations, but it also made me remember how horrid high school can be to some people.

Some of the boys got really nervous, and one of them was making the attempt to impress me with his decision to translate not just ONE sentence like I had asked, but six. He began to translate and the other boys started making fun of him for translating more than he should have, and he got highly defensive, flustered, and couldn't even continue with his translations. His mind completely blanked and he couldn't talk. He was so embarrassed! I felt terrible. 

During the end of the day, my teacher asked if I'd like to chaperone for their Latin Day trip to Concordia in Moorhead where they will be participating in a Latin competition and various other activities. She also mentioned how she is retiring in two years and asked me if I 1) wanted to do my student teaching there 2) wanted to teach there. Yes to both. One of the science teachers teaching at this school also double majored in Latin and was being lined up to become the Latin teacher, but she said that he may be willing to stay as a science teacher. That would be so cool! I'm not gonna get my hopes up, but what an  incredible opportunity that would be! And perfect timing! Her other solution to the problem was that I marry this single science teacher and we work out who's gonna teach Latin. Also a good option. 

My brother comes in two days! Oh yes he does. I'm so excited. But also am in need of people to man-sit him while I do observations (similar to babysitting, except doing manly things instead of making playdough). If you would like the opportunity to 1) man-sit    or  2) hang out with my brother and I you may contact me via any means you know of (phone, facebook, blogspot, email, pigeon, airplane message, etc.)

TOODLES

-Donica

Genes: A glimpse into the life of a Crapuchettes/Severson

Last night just as I was about to turn off my light and hop in bed, I heard my computer "ringing" notifying me of a skype call. I answered it, and, not seeing any video on the other side but hearing noises and squealing, I knew it must be my mother. I instructed her to turn on video and before my eyes sat my mother and littlest sister with bright red faces. Not only did they have matching complexion, but both were sporting underarmour and also trying to talk to me at the same time. Apparently they had just returned from jogging and both were excited to tell of their new found inspiration to make this a nightly routine. Sure I was exhausted, but seeing  both my mother and sister together always makes me smile. I mean, I would be glad to see ANY of my sisters together with my mom, but this Amiel/Damaris combination is frighteningly identical. It's my mother Amiel, and Damaris, the little Amiel. 


For example:

They both get excited at the same time.

They take turns smiling into the camera.

They both have the same reaction to my jokes.

They both look at themselves while skyping (okay really, who doesn't?!)

And all the while I was was taking snapshots...

I must say, I absolutely adore my parents, four sisters, and brother. Speaking of brother, it looks like he's coming to visit me for TWO WEEKS! So those of you in the GF area between the 12-27th (March) let me know, I may bore him after awhile (plus I also have observations over spring break sooooooooo....).

Ummmm I know I have more to say, but I'll stop while I'm ahead (am I, though?).  

P.S., to my Alaskan folk, there is no Kaladis here. And I'll let you think about that one...

TOODLES

-Donica

This is a blog post.

Oh LIFE! It's so good. Hard sometimes, but oh so good. It's like chocolate. Sometimes it's hard and gross, and other times it's creamy and delicious. And then you have those times where it's hard, but you enjoy it anyways. You can quote me on that.

On Saturday I had Marisa's car for the day, so I got up early and headed over to Urban Stampede for coffee and devotions before worship practice. I really enjoy getting away from my apartment and campus to read, but since I don't have a car that's not an option, so I treasured this moment. Like an old lady treasures her cats. You can quote me on that. 

Worship practice went well, and then one of Marisa's roommates had asked me to turn pages for her while she played piano at the nursing home (old people residence?) so upon arrival and return of Marisa's car, we headed out. The old folks really enjoyed Laura's piano playing, and I was able to get on the list to play in April. I love playing for the "older generation". They'll enjoy your playing no matter how terrible it is. I remember one time I was playing Christmas songs, and this guy rolled up to me in his wheelchair and kept singing "o little town of Bethlehem" to the tune of whatever song I was playing. You can imagine how difficult that would be when "Carol of the Bells" came around... 

Anywho, that night (last night) we went to Feast of Nations! It was great. The I.O. (international organization) puts on this extravagant event with a 5 course meal (each a different ethnic cuisine), and international entertainment. What we didn't realize was that this was a formal event... So in come Marisa and I parading around in our jeans and winter coats. A girl walked by me in a gown and Marisa and I looked at each other realizing our mistake. All in  all, it was a fun night despite our lack of appropriate wear.

I've come to the understanding that my blog posts are too long. And I have really nothing productive to say, and unfortunately the pictures from Feast of Nations are on Marisa's camera sooooooo..... I'll post those later?

In closing, I'd like to throw a few prayer requests out there:

1. That I'll be given 1 million dollors

2. That God will forgive me for thinking I deserve a million dollors

3. That God will continue to help me through this semester, and that I will follow God's direction as far as summer plans go. 

I'll for sure be here until the end of June, but depending on whether or not my dad has a boat this summer, I may or may not go home for a few weeks to commercial fish. We'll see. I'd love to have that experience with my dad! We'll see. 

Okay. HASTA LA BYEBYE.

-Donica

Whatta wha???

You probably can tell that I've ran out of ideas for blog titling... 

So the other day as I was browsing through my email I discovered a folder I found of my old cannery emails. I have no idea where I found the time to write these extensive emails, but it brought back great memories. I forgot a lot of the things that had happened and am glad I wrote them down!

I was able to sit on babies Saturday! As I sat there in the nursery, my child voice came back. It's like Spanish. Even when I haven't been around Spanish-speaking people and feel like I've forgotten all Spanish, each time I go to Mexico it just kick-starts back up. Bam. Same with child voice. All of the sudden I start simplifying my words, and answering their questions in way too much detail. I love it. Then on Sunday morning Marisa and I helped one of her roommates with Kings Kids (like a Childrens Church). The kids were just as kids should be: rowdy. I love how there's always that one kid who constantly interrupts and shoots  you these "what if" scenarios. It reminds me of my nephew. My favorite of the day (when talking about missionaries and spreading the gospel):

Cute kid: "What if you stood on someones porch because you wanted to tell them about Jesus, and they didn't want to hear you, so they close the door, and you knock, but they don't let you in even though you tell them they need to hear what you have to say...so what you could do is go get a chainsaw, and just saw their door down because really, they HAVE to hear what you have to say. They need to know. So you could just saw their door down and tell them so they can hear you."

Amberkay: "Yeah, you could do that."

Me, shaking my head giving the "absolutely not" motion...: "Yeah, you probably shouldn't do that..."

I was so glad to be there with Marisa, because after sensing the kids were a little too energetic and not paying attention, she jumped right on it and said "Donica, let's do a CEF song!" I looked at Amberkay for permissions to interrupt (I really did feel bad because it all happened so fast), but all of the sudden our CEF mode was switched on. Immediately I held up my fingers and taught them the two fingers rule (when I hold two fingers everyone hold their fingers in the air and becomes silent [boys try to beat girls], one of the best ways I find to quiet them down) and we stood them up to do some Child Evangelism Songs. Sure, some of the kids were a little hesistant to get into it, but they were so much better behaved after! All of the sudden we were applying what we've been trained to do, and it went great! I realized just how effective these skills are that we have been trained on summer after summer. 

After that, I remembered my passion for children. I'm loving being here at college doing college ministry, but I never felt a "calling" to do this (although I will never regret the experience of it!). But I loved Child Evangelism Fellowship. I loved good news clubs, VBS, and Awana. 

I know when I was at college in Alaska and I wasn't sure if I was gonna leave, I knew I wanted to involve myself more with CEF and Summit Ministries. Summit was too far, but CEF you can do anywhere. However, I left and came here to North Dakota. But I see a need. I see a need not only in the children, but also in the junior high-high school crowd. How amazing would it be to get these kids trained in CEF and send them out doing good news clubs in schools?! 

I'm going through the membership process at my church and am excited to get more involved (worship team and possible children's ministry), but I'm feeling like there's something missing. I know I need to be here this summer, and I assumed it was for LIT college ministry, but I still have felt like there's something else. I talked to Marisa about it and told her how desperately I want to get CEF involved here in Grand Forks. I don't know the process. I don't really know where to start. We looked up to see where the local chapter is, and luckily there is one half an hour away, so I figured I could start there and see what options we have. 

Ugh. The unfortunate part is that I need to get a THIRD job so I can make a dent in these two rents, and on top of a 20 credit load, I'm not sure how much time I'm gonna have to look into this! Oh I have so much on my mind in this area, but I feel like I must bore everyone with my endless words. Again, kudos to those who actually read this in one sitting.

TOODLES

-Donica

Discounted Chocolate Eve Day and So Forth and Such As

Last night was our Valentines Soiree, and it was a blast! The guys from church put on a fantastic evening of dinner, entertainment, and dancing. I was finally able to impress everyone with my lack of skills. 


A lot has been on my mind lately. Money. Life. Career. My future. Things I've given up to God and yet have been impressed on my mind lately. I know I need to just let go, but I'm having a difficult time doing so. One of my toughest opponents this semester is definitely this New Testament class. Especially going back and reading it in Greek. All the translation errors that have been made and the interpretations we have taken from it have really hindered from its infallibility in my mind. I have so many questions and have just been praying about it because I am not sure who to go to with these questions. It's definitely been a struggle. It really has hindered my devotions; I have to read so much for my class and am left depressed each time that I have a hard time really opening it up aside from that. I have to keep reminding myself that this stuff is minor and does not contradict the salvation message, but it still irks me. It also has reignited my desire to staff at Summit Ministries this summer. I had such a great time there; I was absolutely enthralled with such a scholastic learning environment that deals with the struggles a critical thinker goes through in college. 


Still don't have anyone to take over my spot in the other apartment. I can't afford to invest much time or stress into this, but going through my finances I realized I only have a couple more months of rent left in my bank account... I also think I'm going to have to put off graduation to the December 2012 instead of May 2012. I'm not stressed, but I have had a few moments of feeling discouraged. I also met with my advisor today, and he was giving me options, and I think I slipped in one too many "How much?", "Oh... yeah I can't afford that.", "And what would that cost?", "If I had the money I would..." comments to where he was finally like "DONICA. I see what you're doing here. And no, I will NOT give you any money." Haha.


I feel bad for you readers. Yes, I go to God first, but then I go to my blog with my problems. This is my problem blog. It's an outlet to organize my thoughts, so I commend those of you who actually finish a blog update in a single sitting. I truly do try to minimize my problems on here,  but since I hate to burden individuals with my thoughts, I type them. Otherwise I explode. I become the hulk. And then my clothes rip because I burst into a huge, green being. So I eliminate the possibility of that through "Being Awesome 101".


Here are some pics of the soiree! Toodles.

Skit

See through spoons!

Kah and Laura!

Dancin

Kyung-Do and Marisa

After OckSun's insistence for Taylor to spin...

P.S., I do like reading people's comments to my posts!

Life is so enjoyable.

I decided I know what I want to take a picture of, but my camera is dead so it will be a post or two until I get it up. But, to tantalize you, I will tell you what it will be of. It goes like this:


When Marisa moved into the Hamline house, we discovered she didn't not have a lot of room to store things. But we made it work. She has a box of stuff at my apartment, and a box of stuff in her garage. Yet the idea of a shelf above her bed sounded just so darn good. Jaimie (one of Marisa's 9 roommates), suggested that they ask Ryan to build a shelf. Now by "shelf", I was thinking a little beam along the wall to place books on, but THEIR idea was a bunk bed.
Ryan willingly came over and put the girls to work. I was stuck there with them and joined in at the very end (it was a 6pm-12:30am process). It was a fun process and, although we ran into a few problems, it turned out well. So that is what I want to take a picture of. Marisa now has this bunk shelf thing and it looks GOOD. 


Yoga is going well. I love taking yoga classes because you can challenge yourself and don't really have to think, but teaching is just a whole other level. It's fun seeing people respond to your words and figuring out communication techniques to get an idea across. I taught bike class a week ago and that was also a blast. I loved it! Let's see... what else... Steve Shepson came to Grand Forks for the UND career fair so he came over and we were able to catch up(two nights ago), and then last night we found out he was able to stay another night so Marisa, Steve, his friend Luke and I all went out to dinner at Texas Roadhouse. Afterwards Steve kindly bought and replaced Marisa's headlight and then we headed to my apartment for some late night studying. Yes. Even Steve came over for late night studying. I had to give him the opportunity to feel like a college kid again.


Super bowl was a blast. Don't ask me who won. I was too caught up eating and being awesome to watch it. Made some pretty dang good buffalo chicken dip (recipe provided by Charley Tegerdine) and I'm pretty sure will be the cause of many heart attacks to come. 


I feel bad not posting pictures. I mean, what if someone accessed my blog who couldn't read? I have to appeal to ALL crowds, so on behalf of my attempt to market myself to everyone, I am going to remind you from an earlier post just what my sister looked like on Christmas morning. I love her. 


Toodles!

Also, you will no longer be my friend unless you watch this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V4Sfg1BHAZQ

And life goes on.

Since day two of being here, Marisa's car has not been working. Through extensive research (aka: asking Taylor), we figured out it was a problem with the ignition cylinder. Finally, after prompting Marisa to start her car (yes, in the end, it was me who fixed her car by a prompt), it started! I'm guessing it was frozen and finally melted due to the extreme heat outside. So we decided to go out to eat, walk around the mall, visit Target, and leave Marisa's phone in the Target parking lot. Luckily some kind person called my phone saying they found Marisa's phone and we got it back. From 7-8pm and 2-3a Marisa and I had signed up to do the 24-hour prayer vigil (1-2  people from Cottonwood signing up for an hour prayer slot to pray at the chapel on campus). It was great! You never realize just how much you need to pray about until about two hours into it. I could've gone for another round but alas, we needed to return home because of this thing we refer to as "college class". 

Lots of goodness has been going on around here. My roommate went to church with me on Sunday and even came to homegroup that night! I'm hoping and praying she'll continue to come. One thing that caught me off guard last night (2-3am...) was that on the prayer request list someone had written down how they feel like there are no personal relationships going on within the church. They feel that we hang out at organized events and game nights, but outside of that no one is watching their back and they're left alone. I realized just how true this is. Sure, we see each other often, but no one is taking that step to keep up with these people we try to start relationships with. No one is talking to you throughout the day, sending a friendly text, or really investing time into your life. I find this is so even in my case, but I haven't noticed much because fortunately God has been the answer to all my sorrow. But it hurt me to see that other people were feeling that way. We do a fantastic job at outreach, evangelism, and good deeds, but the relationships within the church need some work. No church is perfect, but I'm sure glad I'm at Cottonwood Community Church!

News... news... hmmm... Not much news here except: 1. I'm sad because I don't believe I'll get to go back home this summer. 2. I walked out of Greek near tears because I bombed a Greek test (which never happens). 3. Taking 20 credits while paying two rents, trying to keep two jobs and also struggling to get my hours in for field experience really is strenuous. But I'm awesome (hence: "Being Awesome 101"). Woot woot Amen Amen wooty woot woot hallelujah amen! (A new worship song by Donica Severson)

TOODLES

-Donica

Thoughts.

First off, a small tangent of yesterday:

1. We (group of 11) went to Fargo simply to eat at Olive Garden. 

2. I have officially defiled my nice piece of equipment (aka: camera). It's been used as a camera phone would be used. I don't even know why I bring it along anymore... someday I'm going to take a picture with it and say, "Hey, I'm so glad I had this Nikon with me to document such a fine moment". Someday...

Here's onee of two pictures that were taken of this adventure:

OckSun and Marisa. Marisa was excited to see the unicorns (little did she know the unicorn pretense was completely false. It's how we get her to do things...)

I learned some things on the ride back from Fargo yesterday about Korean culture. This came about when Delissa called me and when I answered the phone she was singing  and wouldn't stop... I told her to stop, but no, she called me to sing. OckSun overheard this and started laughing and mentioned how she wish she could  be like that with her brother. She then told me how back home (South Korea) they went to school 8am-10pm and basically only thought of her home as a place to sleep. She had no memories made in that home with her family, or really with her family in general. Of course for someone like me (6 kid family), this is hard to comprehend. I really have no other thoughts on the subject. Just thought I would share that...

On a DIFFERENT note: I'm taking a New Testament/Christian Scripture class by an atheistic, liberal professor. I was excited at the knowledge that I would be able to speak up and disagree numerous times (I LOVE to debate), but as the class has progressed, I've become a little confused. The professor had us all write a "Letter to the Professor" telling him our religious background, as much as we wanted to say about what he believe, and how we think that will affect the way we will interpret the bible. He entered the classroom and asked us to pass these letters to the front of the class. I looked behind and watched the pile grow bigger and bigger as it moved toward the front, and I began to think about how weird it was that here we were, handing up our beliefs on pieces of paper. I desperately wanted to read them all. After a few discussions in class, I discovered there was more to biblical skepticism than I had thought... My professor has a fantastic view about the Christianity conspiracy, and yet many of the things he said convicted me to the core. He wrote a list of different beliefs in Paulian/Christian faith on the chalkboard and discussed them. He then circled them for emphasis and said "So if all this were true, then you had better go and start telling everyone about it. Why on earth you would you not want to immediately go out and share all this knowledge? According to this faith, God could be coming at any moment, you could die at any moment, time is of the essence". OF course I, believing everything in that circle, was instantly convicted. Why would I not want to go out and tell everyone? 

All in all, this class has played with my mind. I've been forced to examine the New Testament not from a confessional, but from a historical-critical point of view. It's different. I'm understanding Paul better, and many things in my faith are being/will be slowly strengthened, but I'm also being challenged in many ways. I have to admit, I absolutely thrive off of challenge. 

That's it for now Grand Forks, thank you and goodnight.

-Donica


P.S., someone is looking at my apartment tomorrow! This is too great! Yay!

It’s late.  I’m tired. I really just don’t want to think about anything; and yet all I can do is think. I feel like I’ve been quite good at accepting not only the good God gives me, but also the bad. This is merely what I I thought… I shed tears tonight for the first time since who-knows-when, but immediately felt humiliated that I was at that point. Here’s the dealio: Marisa Kauffman is now moved in at the Hamline house and we’ve both started our semester here at UND (YAY!).  I helped her move in, and she returned the favor. This girl I had met while searching for an apartment for Marisa texted me while I was headed back to GF saying that she needed a roommate. Well, I had looked at this apartment in prospects for Marisa, but it was filled and apparently the girl backed out so it was vacant. This apartment is on-campus, and about $100/month cheaper than my other place. I wouldn’t need to mooch rides! So I called my mother and told her that Kridhita (my new roommate)has others interested in the apartment so it was basically first come first serve. My mom advised to go ahead and get it and then look for a roommate to fill my place in the old apartment. I hastily agreed and told Kridhita I would move in. Oh yes. Yes I did. I know, hasty, foolish, and screaming for trouble. But God has blessed me greatly when I heed to my parents advice so I was okay with it. I had told my roomies last semester that I was looking for a cheaper place and was planning on paying rent until I found them a roommate (soooooo much drama about “unfair/fairness” that I won’t go into). Needless to say, they were not happy. The hard part for me has been not pointing out the “unfairness” that I’ve been through this whole past semester and why I’m right and so on and so forth. I’ve had very mean thoughts and words I’ve wanted to say but the Lord has had mercy on me and provided me with the grace to let only kind words out. It’s so hard. Especially when I’ve been cheated all semester ;)

I have so much going on! 20 credits, paying two rents, juggling two jobs, trying to work out a way to get accepted to the teaching program so I can come up next year and student teach, and blah blah blah I won’t bore you any longer. LORD PLEASE HELP ME! Crying tonight was such a weak point. I need to be cheerful and trusting in all circumstances! God is probably laughing at every little foolish choice and mistake I make. I can imagine Him cringing at my choice of car (sold to me when broken head gaskets. Bye bye car…and money…), and my hasty housing decision. But I’m also gonna trust that He can make bad decisions work for good. I just need some encouragement… Anywho, that’s a short (but oh so long!) glimpse at hectic, insane life in Grand Forks, North Dakota.

Toodles!