Rays Of Grace

I’m halfway through my high school junior year. Crazy! So far, I’ve created countless memories. I’ve gained many friends and lost a few. I’ve had successes along with failures. Most importantly, I’m learning from my mistakes, and (hopefully) growing into a respectable person. As I look back, I see someone who has supported me through my highs and lows. Her name is Natalie. Click the magazine below to read the rest of “Natalie” on page 43:

Sports are popular in our house. My brothers never stop playing or watching or talking about sports. My mom is a great runner. My dad runs almost every day. Running has become my “thing,” too. As a sophomore, I made the cross country second team All-Conference. Everyone was proud of me, but I wanted more. So last summer, I attended running camp, worked with a personal coach, and put in extra miles. My goal was first team All-Conference and state qualification. When this season began, I was in the best shape of my life. Then something didn’t feel right. I …

My older brother, Joe, is grown and has kinda left the house. (You never know when he might show up, raid the fridge, and nap on the couch.) Joe lives and works in another city. Time to stop and appreciate how Joe has helped me grow … Click the magazine below for the rest of Grace Theisen’s column on PAGE 43:

I have a lot of brothers—plenty of brothers—and no sisters. I have a good group of girlfriends, my girl cousins, and my mom. Together these wonderful people make up for my lack of sisters. They form my sisterhood (even though they are not biologically my sisters) … Click the magazine below for the rest of Grace Theisen’s column on PAGE 43:

WRITTEN BY GRACE THEISEN He is someone I look up to, who at times is VERY embarrassing, but who loves me and would do anything for me. I’m talking about my amazing dad. As a boy, my dad lost one of the most important people in his life: his mother. Because of this, he understood from a young age the importance of working together as a family. Every day, he teaches my four brothers and me lessons that we will carry with us for the rest of our lives. In high school, Dad was involved in sports; he was the …

WRITTEN BY GRACE THEISEN Since Mother’s Day is right around the corner, I have been thinking about how much I appreciate my mom. I want to take the time to thank her and do some bragging about her. I come from a large family; I have four brothers and two dogs. Admittedly, we can be a lot to handle. Let me just say that things get a little crazy around our house. There is always a kid who is supposed to be somewhere, or a school project to work on, or a dog running away, and somebody under the mistaken …

WRITTEN BY GRACE THEISEN I love winter. I love winter activities like skiing and snowshoeing. I love going to the cabin, cuddling up under a blanket next to a fire and reading a good book. But even winter can be a hectic time of year. Recently, my life has been hectic. I have had a hard time keeping balanced—my faith, family, friends, school, and boyfriend (“Hi, Logan”)—and still having time for myself. In the cold of winter, wrapped up in a blanket, I took the time to write myself a few life lessons about loving myself: 1. Don’t get caught …

WRITTEN BY GRACE THEISEN The holiday season is my favorite time of year. And I have a special way of enjoying the holidays all year long. All you need to do is make a batch of shrimp bisque. Allow me to explain. My mom is a great cook. Soups are among her specialties. She makes a tasty leek soup. Everyone loves her potato chowder. And thanks to one of her best friends, she has a special recipe for shrimp bisque. Put simply, the bisque is to die for. So, when we go to my grandpa’s house for Christmas Eve, my …

WRITTEN BY GRACE THEISEN “Patience is a virtue.” “Good things come to those who wait.” These are a couple of mottoes that have been repeated quite a bit by my family lately. Several months ago—and it was several months—I told you that my family had just bought a new house that had been built in 1861. (“New” is kind of a funny word to describe a 150-year-old house, but the house was new to my family at least. Pretty much everything else about the house was old: old paint, old floors, old plumbing, old electrical wires, old heating system. There was …

WRITTEN BY GRACE THEISEN It’s spring break travel time! Sadly, the Theisens are stuck at home this year. However, we still recall some memorable past road trips. There is nothing like piling seven family members into one car! Last year, we drove to Alabama—think 22 driving hours with my four brothers. The trip started out pretty well. We played car games like “How long until the next big city?” and “When will the snow cover end?” Most importantly, we didn’t argue much. Oddly, as we drove farther south, the conditions worsened—heavy snowfall and very icy roads. By Springfield, Illinois, we …