Rays Of Grace

How to be Single on Valentine’s Day This one goes out to all of my girlies who will not have a Valentine this year. Valentine’s Day is approaching quickly and for the first time in a long time, I won’t have a Valentine. But guess what? I kind of love it! How to be single this Valentine’s day: I remember when I was in high school (and even parts of last year) thinking that a guy would bring me happiness. But over the past year, I’ve really come to realize that I want to be happy with myself and love …

The other day, an amazing thing happened to me. A memory from exactly one year ago popped up on my phone. It was a picture of me during my freshman year of college, but with a notably puffy face and red eyes. I had been going through a miserable time. The caption read, “I hate it here, I want to come home.” The picture brought back a flood of emotions and reminded me of how overwhelmed I was back then. For so long, I had tried to hide that I wasn’t having the “typical college experience.” And at that moment, …

“God Wink!” is a commonly used phrase in the Theisen household (My mom has funny little phrases she uses, and this is one of the rare occasions that one of them stuck.) A “God Wink” occurs when something happens and in hindsight, you’re left with the feeling that somehow God got involved and made it happen. Over the summer I had my own “God Wink” moments. Ever since I was in eighth grade, I wanted to be a dentist. My Grandpa Joe was a highly accomplished dentist in the Eau Claire area for over forty years and watching him made …

I am surrounded by eleven, 15 year-old, young girls. They are all fast asleep. It is only 6 AM and the camp bugle will not sound for another hour. I am happy to get to work as a counselor at a summer camp on the beautiful, Long Lake in New Auburn, Wisconsin. Last night the campers and I stayed up late talking about how their first year of high school went and how they are all excited to become sophomores in high school. They had me belly laughing at their stories. Their innocence moves and inspires me. And so, this …

One semester down, seven to go. Wow, that was intense. Definitely not what I expected. Many people have been asking, “How did your first semester go?” They usually have enthusiasm in their voices, almost as if they want to relive a part of their college experience through me for a few seconds. I usually reply with a huge smile, “It went well, I love college!!” But honestly, that is just my “easy” answer. My first semester of college was most definitely one of the hardest times of my life…but also the best learning experience I’ve ever experienced….. Click the magazine …

Before I left for college, all the world’s well wishers bombarded me with advice. Everyone it seemed, needed to tell me how to succeed in college: “Get lots of sleep.” “Go to church daily.” “Keep your books with you at all times.” All this advice was great and I am thankful for all the love and support I have been given, but nothing really prepared me for the change that occurred. I watched my family walk away, knowing it was going to be awhile before I saw them again. After the first few weeks it all began to sink in: …

I’m one month into senior year. It’s weird how fast time goes. A lot of days, I still feel like a freshman; yet, in less than eight months, I will be walking across the stage to receive my diploma. Recently, I have been thinking about how I’m really going to miss my school years. Most of my favorite moments are just the fun conversations with people who at times know me better than I know myself. On top of that, here are a few of my favorite memories . . . Click the magazine below to read the rest of …

It feels like the school year just got over, and suddenly stores are having Back to School sales. Fall sports are starting, and we are getting announcements concerning the next school year. And so, as I get ready to begin my final year of high school, I take time to look back. High school is a lot about learning, but most of the learning might be about one’s self. As I entered high school, I worried a lot . . . Click the magazine below to read the rest of “Lessons on Worry” on page 43:

It has taken me to the end of my junior year to realize that not everyone has to be my friend. And not everyone will appreciate me. I try to be kind to everyone, and I would love to be friends with everyone—that’s just my personality. But it is hard to see people respond to kindness in a negative way. I expect kindness to inspire kindness. Click the magazine below to read the rest of “Standing Up” on page 43:

It’s crazy to think I am about to enter the fourth quarter of my junior year of high school. I’m about to go to prom, which I’ve been looking forward to since I was in elementary school. Time is flying by, and in a few months I’ll be a senior. New students will arrive, walk the same halls, use the same lockers, and experience a lot of the same DUMB high school drama I have survived. Although high school can be a drama-filled, stressful, scary time; it can also be an amazing time of learning who you are as a …