Happy Father's Day to the best dad I could ever have asked for. So blessed by this godly man! 

My dad has played so many different roles in my life:

1. Teacher: how to ride a bike, swing a golf club, throw a baseball, play ping pong, check the air pressure in my tires, handle situations properly, be efficient with my time, work hard, mow the lawn, handle money wisely...ETC.

2. Coach: in Upwards basketball in elementary school, and then my basketball coach from 8-12 grade. In all those things, he not only LOVED to win and taught me to be competitive, but also the concept that how I played sports reflected how I lived my life. 

3. Advice giver: with friends, with sports, with school, with my walk with the Lord, and BOYS.

4. Supporter: he was at my Little League soccer games, T ball games, concerts in every grade of school, awards chapels, sports banquets, school and club volleyball games, graduation, to watch me sing in chapel at college, and to watch be cross the finish line at my half marathon. (My mom has also been at all of those events.)

5. Godly Example: he has shown me what a good husband should be, what an amazing father should do, to be a cheerful giver and not to be greedy, to love people and go out of the way to talk to them, to do the right thing even when it's uncomfortable, to take challenges head-on. He has encouraged me to spend good, quality time in the Word and to think truth. 

Jimbo has been my main man my whole life. I hope that when it's time for God to bring the right guy into my life and get married,  he's a lot like my dad. So happy that fathers have a day devoted to honor them. They deserve it!

Just a Quick Update

How is it June 14th already?! My summer is running away from me. I've been so busy between nannying for Easton and Lincoln, working on baby shower stuff with Mom, trying to find CHEAP items to furnish my units in Printy for next year, an online class, hanging out with friends, going to church, and spending time (MUCH NEEDED) in the Word. I say all of this like I don't like it...but I really do like being busy. 

First of all, nannying is going really well. Although the days get a little long and I feel like I'm running out of things to keep the boys occupied, I am so grateful for this job. God totally answered my prayer for a new job and dropped this in my lap. He's so good! Easton is 9 and Lincoln just turned 6 this past Monday. They are so well-behaved and easy to get along with. Easton is very easy-going and a kick-butt older brother. Linc is super outgoing and active, and fun to be around. They love playing outside--Easton on his Rip Stick and Linc on his roller blades or bike. East helps me bake (and is pretty good at it, too) and Linc sings ALLLLLL the time. I've been introduced to Man V. Wild and The Electric Company, both of which we watch......every single day....

This is them, with Lincoln's bunny, Pepsi. 

AHHHH! Amelia's due date is only 38 days away! Oh, how I cannot wait to hold my sweet niece in my arms. Brinnie is doing pretty well still, but her back has really been hurting her these past few weeks. She's so cute and big! 

I'm so excited to meet Millie and for Brett & Brinnie to be parents. They're going to be so great! I love watching Brett mature and become the head of their home. I'm very proud and blessed to call him my big brother.

This summer I have been constantly reminded of my need to spend time in the Word DAILY. I am just so inadequate of living this life apart from my Lord. How do I keep making excuses? WHY, is the better question. 

Thank you, Heavenly Father, for never giving up on me. I'm so full of pride and I'm self-reliant. You are so constant and patient. My mind cannot understand. I tire so easily of people that disappoint me or that I don't see with loving eyes. You see with the most loving eyes in the whole wide world. Please help me to rely on You with every single thing I face...not just the "big" stuff. Please help me and give me strength to be faithful in the little things. Help me to further Your Kingdom. 

Accomplished.

I can finally say that after at least 15 weeks of planning and training, I completed my first half marathon yesterday! Phew! 13.1 miles under my belt, in 1:52:03.  I can't believe it's over. I mean, I can and I can't. The weeks grew long as yesterday came closer, and June 1st loomed over my head like a rain cloud. At the same time though, it seems like I blinked and all the hype and build-up is just...boop! Gone. I'm so happy, but so sad, too. It was a great experience, and yes, I'm planning on running another one at some point :) Hopefully next summer! Will I ever run a full marathon? Uhh...that's a great question...

This is Chelsey! She and I grew up together, and she's been like an older sister. Her parents, Tim and Janet have been friends with my mom and dad for a long time. Brett, Nick, Chelsey, her brother Chase, and I used to spend quite a bit of time together between golf, church and school. Chels ran with her husband Matt, Mr. Miller, and I think Chase. They ran the 10k...Oh, and she just recently had a baby. Isn't that great?! Congrats to them! 

The finish line was inside Notre Dame's football stadium, which was so cool! I've never seen downtown South Bend so lively and filled with people. It's fun to think about how an event can bring thousands of people together. Even the people who lived in the houses on our running route were sitting outside, drinking their coffee (and yes, I was jealous of them), and cheering on the runners. I loved it all!

Someday I hope to run in the Indy Mini with Brett and Nick. It's just kinda bad timing, with finals week and all. Hopefully it will fall on a different weekend next year! We'll see :)

Summer Summer Summer

Yes, folks, that's right. It's officially summertime. It finally has come. I'm so glad that I survived the last couple weeks of class and finals week. God's faithfulness shines through once again. I am so thankful for everything He did for me this past year. It wasn't always easy by any means, but it was significantly better than freshman year. I learned a lot about myself--my strengths, weaknesses, downfalls, tendencies-- and also a lot about my friends. I was so blessed with great opportunities...Let's reflect, shall we?

1. I was able to be a student assistant for the volleyball team. Through that, I developed absolutely wonderful relationships with the team, the coaches, and Mayra. I got to travel and go to places I've never been (even if we didn't go into the city when we went to Nashville...it was still cool. I'm not bitter.).

2. I got to live in a hall with the perfect mix of the different classes. Although we had mostly freshman, that really didn't affect our relationships with them. Little did I know that that would be just one way that God was preparing me for next year.

3. I learned to love running this year. Although sometimes I go overboard and kind of do it too much, I'm glad that I've come to see how good it is, because I absolutely hated it in high school. My first half marathon is in 2 weeks!

4. God gave me the best roommate I could ever ask for. Hannah wasn't only my roommate, she was my standup comedian, an example of discipline, my go-to person for advice, and my accountability partner, she became a best friend (Oh, the sappiness. But I must give credit where it's due).

5. God put me in many situations in which I had to seek His face and wisdom. The situations drew me to Him and made me realize I am a loser without Him!

6. Being a teacher was something I wasn't 100% sure about coming into college. Even though Early Childhood Education has been my declared major all along, there was some uncertainty at the start. However, God has confirmed over and over again that teaching is not only what I want to be doing, but I believe He wants me to be doing as well.

7. I got to be a teacher's aide (yes, there's a difference between aid and aide, which was pounded into our heads this semester...) at Horizon Science Academy in downtown Dayton. For a Christian-school-going, naive, white girl, this was going to be a huge eye-opener. I was scared, and I admit it. But those kids had my heart very quickly, and I still think about them often. I miss them!

8. In spite of many obstacles, God has fulfilled a desire of my heart that has existed since about my junior or senior year of high school. Next year, I'll be overseeing and taking care of about 28 girls in Printy as an RA. I AM PUMPED. I know my life is going to look a lot different, but it's going to be worth it. It's been exciting to see the different rooms fill up these last couple weeks, and to now know the names of some of my girls. Plus, I'll have Hannah, Abi and Megan, so it will be nice to have some girls who aren't freshman to help out and keep me sane :).

9. The Biglers will be welcoming the first grandchild into our family in just over 2 months! I cannot wait to be an aunt and cannot wait to meet Amelia Jane. She has no idea how loved she is already, and how great of parents she has.

10. Lastly, He has seen me through a pretty dark, yet pivotal point in my relationship with Him. It's not exactly something I've advertised, but it's been so long I don't mind talking about it now. Last summer, I went through a few months of struggling with very strong doubt--in God's existence, the inerrancy of Scripture, Christianity in general. I've never been closer to throwing away my faith as I was then. BUT, once again, as I said in this post, God proved His faithfulness. He never let go of me. The Holy Spirit did it's work, convicting me and drawing me near. My doubt brought me closer to Him. Even though it was one of the most horrifying and terrible situations I've encountered, it was SO WORTH IT. I understand a little bit better what it means "to work out your salvation with fear and trembling." HE IS SO GOOD.


Even though I had a good, no, GREAT year, I'm so glad it's summer. I just got back from Florida with my family, which was amazing. I think I have the greatest family in whole wide world. I'm so pumped to hang out with my friends, to start work as a nanny (shoot, I forgot to mention that in my list...oh well!), and to prepare for being an RA.

It's gonna be a good one. God has a lot to teach me, and I can't wait to learn!

It Will End

Holy Toledo, the school year is almost over. How crazy! I have 11 more days until Mom, Dad and Preston come to get me. These last few weeks have been nuts. After today though, when my author unit it all done, I'll be able to breathe a little easier. 

Yesterday was quite a stressful day. When I'm stressed, it's so easy to get overwhelmed and forget how much bigger God is than my work, problems and stress. I'm so glad that I can depend on Him, even when it comes to the "little" things. I should always remember that. Yesterday was also my sweet best friend's birthday! Happy 20th, Lex!

Also, as the end comes closer, I realize that I'm really going to miss the girls on my hall next year! We took our hall pictures the other day, and they just turned out so well....so I'm going to post some : D

 The RA's for next year. 

 The girls from freshman year that stayed together

 Our whole hall

Alanna was our lovely RA this year :) What a great woman of God!

I've also been realizing that when school ends, Han and I won't be living together for 3 whole months! That's so sad to me. We've gotten so much closer this year. I'm going to miss her a lot this summer! We get next year together again though :)

Time Just Flies

Oh, goodness. So much is going on. It's crazy to think that I'll be going home for Easter break on Thursday around 11:15! I simply cannot wait. 

I can't wait to see my mom, who actually had surgery last Monday. Nothing too big, but she had a hysterectomy. So... I guess that actually is kinda big. It was hard being away from her knowing that she was going under. I've been face timing her, though, and she seems to be doing well. I got to talk to Dad yesterday, too. I miss my family in general! I think knowing that Amelia is coming is bringing it out more. I get to see all of them over break :)


I also get to see Lexi! Man, do I miss her. Emmy isn't coming home for break :( I'm super sad about that...I haven't seen her since Christmas break! That is not okay. I also get to see Mr. Preston Jaenichen, which I am also very excited about...even though he was just here visiting me! It was his spring break last week, so he came on Friday and Saturday and spent the weekend at Cedarville. He stayed with my and Hannah's friend, Sean. I'm so thankful that he was willing to let Preston stay. It was a short visit, but it that short time we went to the Cheesecake Factory, Clifton Mill, Chili's, Qdoba, a baseball game, watched MSU play in the NCAA tournament, and had lots of good talks. It was pretty great :) I think I'm going to be able to see Nathaniel, too, plus everyone else at First Baptist, which is always one of my favorite things about being home.


I get to go to school tomorrow and see my kids! Since tomorrow is Wednesday, I get to see the 5 AND 6 graders, since I normally just see the 6th grade. We had a 2 hour delay on Monday, which was so nice for sleeping purposes, but I missed my time with them. I'm getting so attached to them, and could just cry at the fact that after break, I'll only have three more weeks with them. The next time I blog, which will probably be tomorrow, will be devoted to talking about my experiences during field experience. Since I have to get up at 5:45 a.m. for that tomorrow, I'm heading to bed.


I'm so thankful for Easter week. Christ has done so much that I often take too lightly. Chapel was such a good reminder for me today, and helped me remember the weight of what this week is about. To Him be the glory forever and ever!

P E A N U T R E V E A L E D

YES! Little Peanut is a girl!! My sweet little niece. She'll be here in just over 4 months!

Yes, her name will be Amelia Jane! Brinnan had a camper a couple years ago when she was a counselor whose name was Amelia. Her nickname will be Milly! Jane is my middle name, and was my dad's birth mom's name. She died of a brain aneurysm when he was 1. Brinnan's grandma also has that middle name, but spells it Jayne. 

 The proud mommy and daddy : )

How they announced it: They had cupcakes made with pink or blue filling on the inside. Only Brett and Brin knew. On the count of 3, we all dove into our cupcakes to see what Peanut would be!

Brinnan's mom, Tami, wrote this poem. How good is that?!

I'm so excited to meet AJ (I think that's what I'm going to call her, since no one called me that!)! I got to read a book to her yesterday. I think that's the teacher coming out in me. I pray that AJ grows up to love Jesus and understands her need for a Savior. She's going to be one loved little girl! <3