Tanning on a Tuesday

This morning I woke up feeling like a lazy bum after this food and fun-filled 4th of July! So...Sarah, Chelsea, and I decided to get up and go to the gym. On a whim, we decided to try a cycling class. Little did we know that this class was a RIDICULOUS one! I will probably be sore for a week, but I plan on going back Friday...it was a great class and thoroughly kicked my butt!!! (which I need!)

(Trying to avoid looking like this...lol!)

This is the gym that is provided for Mayo employees

(it's pretty sweet and {surprisingly} I have been using it a lot!)

After the gym I went to a local park and laid out at the beach.

It was relaxing, but it felt as HOT as home today!

Meanwhile, tomorrow should be a fun day. I have another day off and it is my roommate Sarah's birthday!

(Happy Early Birthday, Sarah!)

Also, I am SOOOO excited that Webb is coming to visit in a week and one day

(but who's counting?)

Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

-1st Corinthians 13:7

Lazy Sunday Morning...

So, I was a slacker this morning and didn't get up for church (By the way, Jarah and I have found a really awesome church right here in Rochester and have been going. It's a little more non-traditional than what I'm used to, but we love it. There's a band and lots of young people-and everyone there is so welcoming that it just feels "right") :)

Anyways, I have been slacking in the spiritual department lately. It's been on my mind and it's something I need to work on. I woke up this morning read a devotion from a website I used to read every morning (and plan on doing again!)...devotionsforlife.org

This one really hit home for me, because I find myself trying to please others sometimes---no matter what the spiritual cost :/ ...I figured I'd share it!

Pleasing

We do not want to disappoint people, especially those whom we love. We try our best to please those at home, at work, at church and in our neighborhood. We will do all kinds of things to make others think well of us. Many times, we go far out of our way to help someone, even complete strangers.

But how often do we think about pleasing God? Is he on our mind? Are we thinking about him in everything we do? Probably not. Our first thought should be to make God happy – to please him, no matter what the world might think of us. We should realize by now that we cannot satisfy both God and man. You and I have to make a choice. Chances are we usually side with those around us rather than God because we know he will forgive us while people will not.

That is not the point. We should want to delight him so much that we do not care about the consequences of people rejecting us. Think about all of the saints who put him first, ahead of everything including their own lives.

Jesus came to earth not only to offer us salvation. He also came to serve as an example. As we go through this day, let us follow his way in pleasing the father despite the price. In the long run that is all that really matters.

Updates!

Random Pics from the Summer Thus Far:

(not necessarily in chronological order)

At Whistle Binkie's (or Dinkle Winkle or Winkie Distle...I just couldn't get the name right!!!)

The amazing ladies I'm living with this summer.

Bottom row left to right: Chelsea, ME, Sarah Latus

Top row left to right: Morgan, Jarah, Sarah Freiburger

Our first night out in Rochester. Out and about on the town-this is at Kathy's Rooftop Bar...

My Teddy and Webbster, the Build-A-Bear Webb made me before he left Minnesota (so sweet). One's a Brave and one is a Yankee, but I think they'll get along just fine ;)

Tubing in Welch, MN with the roomies. SOOOOOO FUN! Nothing is better than strolling down the river with awesome girls, lots of sunshine, and wonderful drinks! :)

Being silly in Forever 21 at The Mall of America...Had to practice some serious self-restraint there to avoid spending every last dime I have!

The roomies outside of the Mayo Clinic's Foundation House on the day we got to go on tours during orientation...

First Post EVER!!!

So, after hours of trying to set this thing up, I am finally posting my first post! I plan to update y'all on this summer up until now at some point, but for now I'll start with today! :)

Chelsea and I had a lunch date with Sarah, Matt, and Chelsea's parents at Newt's, a local burger joint here. This place is simply amazing. It's famous for it's Juicy Lucy, a cheese stuffed burger which could probably give you a heart attack just by looking at it...Nevertheless, it was wonderful!

After lunch, we decided to show her parents around Rochester. Here's the skyline in case you're curious where I'm living!

Chelsea and I downtown. Apparently, Rochester has the largest geese population in the nation during the winter, so goose statues like this one are EVERYWHERE downtown!

Next, we decided to take Chelsea's parents to a winery we visited recently. They were releasing a new wine, so the place was packed with people and there was a bluesy-jazz band playing. We enjoyed it just as much this time as we did the first! I could get used to this wine-tasting thing! :)

Well, that's all for now! Tomorrow is one of my favorite holidays, the 4th of July! Woooohooo! I'm kinda sad I can't be at home on the lake with all of my fellow Newberrians, but I'm excited about our roomie edition of cooking out and fireworks at Silver Lake...Update ya soon!