Today's Fun

My brother is home with us here in the Quad Cities from all the way from Tennessee and while he's here with us today's fun is playing soccer with me from our back yard. We were just playing soccer for fun, not as a game. It was really fun for the both of us. I did so well and I did power kicking at the speed of light as I like to call it. Today's fun doesn't stop there while playing soccer with my brother there were some laughter that were exchanged and I think the both of us are pretty competitive even it's not a game by keeping score. This really is a physical activity and I know it is and with my brother he did an amazing job with his kicking tricks and skills and this was so much fun for the both of us. The take a way of today's fun is don't ever give up even the little things and you will succeed no matter where life takes you.

  

Completed RISE & RISE Up

 After six semesters I graduated from my Early Childhood Education major as my concentration. I am officially completed RISE for two years and RISE Up for year 3. RISE Up was taking more steps independently with less support. I learned very well and I did so well spiritually and now independently. I'm so thankful for all the RISE staff and if anybody's lives are changed you can believe there is nothing impossible. This is the right place to be because it changes lives because it changed mine spiritually.

This Week

 During this whole week for midterms it was the most successful than I had known. Being in RISE Up it's not necessary for taking any exams or anything like that. In one of my classes early in the week we were shopping at a store and we did this ourselves and it did took me more time because the store where we were is not local. We were at Jewell Osco I didn't know where everything was and when I was able to get the handle of it and it did went well than I anticipated.  The next day all of us with my classmates we were presenting about our own career clusters. Mine was Medical Assistants and eventually I knew I was ready to give the presentation. This was amazing. Today in class we had our last class for midterms and all of us were making a meal for lunch. Today I heard before dismissing class I am happy to say I passed midterms! I made a veggie tray, this included some fruits, cheese, crackers, and carrots. It was amazing and in class we gave these to some of the RISE staff and is loving it. As God loves me the more I trust Him.

RISE Up (Updated)

 After move-in and getting all situated I have getting to know the new first year RISE students and that has been going great so far. I think we're going to be friends with them. Right now I have a few I think we just need to get to know each other more. I've been learning well in my class. I have one class for each day. Mondays & Wednesdays I have Thriving in the Workplace and on Tuesdays & Thursdays I have Mastering Independent Living. One of these classes my classmates and I we had to set up life goals for ourselves. I had to think more about mine as much as I could. Currently, I'm still trying to adjust to this level in RISE Up to what I was used to before when I was in RISE. I think it's a blessing what God is doing through me and I'm just so thankful. 

RISE Up

 I am now in RISE Up and I'm back on campus in Elgin Illinois. There might be some possibilities where any of these things like this might be challenging for me. This also means I would have myself to realize "this is what I should have done, and or this is something that I can improve." RISE Up is more independence level and there's lots more with much more needed independence as possible. This could be a lot to process but I think I'm eligible. This may not always be easy but I have to make sure I do what I know is right and making sure I do it myself. I do however have references who can encourage me when I'm doing all of this myself and when I have to remind myself that I am willing to be determined in all that I can. 

Graduated from RISE Program

 Yesterday I had graduated from the RISE Program and now I could not be much more proud of myself. This really has been an amazing experience for me and I learned so many things. I am continuing to be more independent daily as much as I can. I am very blessed what the Lord has for me in my life. I am so thankful that the RISE Program meant so much to me. In many different ways I have grown in areas when I have been learning. I am applying this to a new level in the fall when I'll be in RISE Up. With all of this said God is working in our lives when we can't see and I still believe how faithful God really is.

Intro to Christian Faith (Understanding & Application)

 This class I'm taking this semester is amazing to me because this is something that I am mostly passionate about in my faith with the Lord. I have discovered God is at work in this class and I finally knew what it meant throughout this semester. I am fully engaged with my hunger for the Lord. This amazes me because in this class is so real in my life and I'm so thankful how the Lord is working in our lives. I'm learning a lot in this class when I am so focused to learn what comes next even this is a part of life when it's not very easy. I have been taking this class so seriously in Intro to Christian Faith and that is changing my life. God is so faithful no matter from our abilities. As this is greater to believe what the Lord has for all of us. I thank God for the many blessings I have in my life for me to take to the next level in my faith. 

JU News Update

 You might have recalled when I got accepted into the RISE Program at Judson University since the fall of 2021. Well... recently I got accepted into RISE Up. RISE Up is a lot more into independent skills when being the only one to solve any situations when it's not very easy to do by yourself. I find this scary for me how different it is. This is something I have to get used to. I'm going for another year and coming back to campus during the fall. I knew my parents are very proud of me once I got accepted. Normally, I pour my heart to the Lord. Before I was uncomfortable with it. 

Now I realize I can be comfortable pouring my heart to the Lord. I am capable for making my own choices and I'm glad that I have and I can take that into the next level. It's amazing that I am willing what RISE Up is going to do after life after graduation.   

Final Exam (Intro to Christian Bible)

 I had a final exam I had today in this class. This has made me realize that the Lord has really blessed me. I thank God for having me to learn more from the Bible and to understand it. I am proud to say I love going to Church to engage what the Lord has for all of us. During my spring semester schedule I'll be taking Intro to Christian faith: Understanding & Application.  As this is another step in my walk with the Lord as this is really has made an impact in my life. I would really like to thank my parents for helping my brother and I the best as they could learning about the Bible. It's so amazing and I thank the Lord. I have passed this class and I could not be much more proud in my spiritual life.  I got a 90% I found this out on eLearn powered by Judson which has made me realize I have so many abilities and think of them besides my disability for it does not define who I am. I am a new creation. 

Intro to Christian Bible (Update)

 This week I had an exam in one of my classes in Intro to the Christian Bible. I didn't know how well I did until I found out later during this week (today). After class today I found out I got a 90%! This was really amazing to me which I thought this was unexpected with this passing grade. I've been learning very well also with my faith in the Lord while I'm taking this class. I'm getting the concept what this means to follow Christ to believe as much as possible. With the faith I have the Lord is working in my life I always thought understanding the Bible is understanding the Truth of life. I can only imagine what the Lord is doing in my life when I'm taking this class. I praise God, I thank God in everything I do in Jesus Name. 

Culinary Skills (Cooking Class)

 I've been learning a lot in my classes. Today I'll be talking about one of them. Today in class my classmates and I did this all by ourselves. In class we're learning about knife safety and also how to use the knife when cutting food items. Today was slicing and cutting vegetables. This was with celery, carrots, and cucumbers as all of this was really amazing. It was hard cutting carrots as by the fact I never did before. Half of our vegetables our class is using those vegetables into a vegetable soup this Thursday. Along side of this we're making biscuits along with the main dish. I'm getting lots of ways how to learn what it means to be careful in the kitchen when it comes to knife safety. I couldn't be more than proud how amazing I'm doing in class. I think I could see myself slicing and cutting with the knife back at home in the Quad Cities.

Off Campus Internship

My off campus internship is at Light of Christ Church. The way I got at my internship I have a Uber this is all covered and taking care of from the RISE Program. For me I don't have to worry about that. Today I was taking a tour from one of the staff members from the Church office. Then I got started with folding Operation Christmas Child boxes. There was 100 boxes. I had  some experiences with Operation Christmas Child for searching for whatever is needed for them. My family and I has been doing this as far as I could remember for the child's needs. Now I know how to fold the Operation Christmas Child boxes all by myself. My advisor is really impressed for all the work I did today. I love this internship at Light of Christ Church. It's just amazing. I pray the Lord will use me to something that I wouldn't choose for myself. The Lord is always faithful and will lead me to what's ahead as of my off campus internship. I'm very blessed. I am wanted no matter who I am for it is in Christ who is greater in the world. Praise God for what He's doing in my life!!

2nd Year Approaching

 I have completed my first year at Judson as I'm very proud what I do it's amazing as what God is doing as life goes on. What's amazing is I'll be returning as a 2nd year student as I believe the Lord is using a mighty work in my life going forward. 2nd year is pretty big for me and also my cohort friends as to the spring of 2023 graduating. It's unbelievable just the way what God has in store in life. As though I see God on campus as to wherever I go. I'll be returning to campus next weekend to start 2nd year. Becoming a 2nd year is more independent with lots of responsibilities however I think I can do it with all I have within me, also with the help would have. I have to be thankful for the many things what I have been capable of in the RISE Program. I have learned so much during my first year. Although I think becoming a 2nd year would make me realize how to learn to be independent with the fact how I reflect during my first year. As I believe 2nd year would be the main point of independence.   

Exciting News To Share

 Today I found out I am certified and I passed my class for Intro to Special Education 105. I received it from one of the RISE staff. It's unbelievable until I realized it today. I have come so far in my class but I have to admit I am very proud of myself as I should be. I am proudly to announce my certification. When I am very proud of my accomplishments I am very thankful what I'm doing in my classes because I give it all to the Lord in everything I do. I am very blessed because I'm doing this not for myself for it is by God's glory and by God's grace. 

JU Update / Fun day

 Today was the new RISE students orientation and I was capable to introduce myself in addition talking about my experiences in the RISE Program during Brunch and I thought that was fun for me for the initiative for today. I met new students who have the same disability as I do, it was a joy, I think I'll like to be friends with them during the next school year. After Brunch today all of us went to the fitness center and we played games. There was (1) Soccer, (2) Basketball, (3) Hula Hoop, and  (4) Volleyball. I had fun but unfortunately I was going through emotional feelings eventually I made it through, I was focusing on myself medically which I do not want to discriminate / sharing. Later on after we were done with all the games in the fitness center.  We had a fun day outside because it was about in the 80s, I was walking around campus for quite sometime, in addition all of us played with sidewalk chalk because that brings me memories because I used to do that once I was young back at home in the Quad Cities. I had an amazing day and enjoyed it! Today's temperature kinda feels like summer.

#GoRISE

  

Highlight for This Week

 This week I had a mock interview and I thought I was nervous about it although I was capable to be comfortable in the mock interview. This was a practice interview that I did in addition I did well in my mock interview and I followed through what I understand. The interviewer who was interviewing me has a company that sells computers, in addition knowing about computers. Previously in class time in Vocational Development all of us we were working on resumes if someday maybe having a job interview in the future will need to make sure to bring two copies of the resume. In my resume I said I am interested in computers because I know how computers function. When I had my mock interview I was prepared because I dressed up professionally. I answered all the questions during the mock interview additionally I found out the mock interview was a success. I was glad about the mock interview.

This is me, (Ally) showing an impression.

Happy Easter

 We all remember when Jesus sacrificed His life for us because His love is unconditional. I believe in the truth in addition to that I want to extend that same grace to those people who may need to know the Gospel because that is where the truth is found. I would recommend starting in the book of John in the Bible and go from there because I believe the Lord can use you in the best way He can because He wants to have a relationship with you as long as you believe that He is the Lord the Messiah! As we all continue to celebrate Easter please take time with Jesus and start reading His Word, I do want to highlight just a couple John 3:16 and John 17:18-19. Jesus died on the cross for us to take our punishment and nail it to the cross because He had to for everybody's sins, then on the third day He is risen!! I can't say more than this because not everybody would believe in the Gospel, but to those believers I can say what Jesus said: "So whoever believes in me shall not perish but have eternal life, Jesus speaking so that someday you will be in Heaven."

Nature Walking

 This morning I went outside and it was amazing because I saw something like no other. I saw ripples, gushes, and sparkling no words can't express how to describe of water flowing through and it made me realize something about what love is, it's unconditional. I encountered this experience for the first time in my life so I believe in it because that is faith because I saw God even when I can't see. Along the way I saw leaf's scattered all around campus. I had an amazing encounter with the Lord this morning and I love it in addition I will always treasure it. I saw piles of wood circling around the water it was, if this is what I am really seeing I chose joy over anything else because I saw it through faith. No one could ever imagine this situation but it is God calling me and showing me what my faith can do to the real world and showing love to those people around me because I am showing I am a blessing to go in mission. When I was on my way back to my dorm room setting I could not believe it, I saw a couple of flowers blooming, spring arrived! Praise the name of Jesus He is here!   

Getting The Job Going

I really like my internship because I want to continue to show how I have a strong work ethic in everything I do. I have been doing lots of tasks. (1) More computer work, (2) stuffing more mail, (3) Adding labels for any projects I have worked on for stuffing mail to the envelopes, and (4) Label writing on the envelopes for returning addresses. Oftentimes or all the time I show a lot of determination with my impression during my internship on campus at Judson. I had investigated I am a visual learner when I am working and I do know that. My experience in the Advancement office is just like when I am confident because I am able to work for each and every task I have, it's incredible. I am reliable, I am always trustworthy, I use my advocacy skills, I am able  to bring the joy of the Lord to the real world, I use my time management with being punctual, and I never give up even when I have challenging times and I believe the Lord can always help me.

   

Spring Break

 This week I am on spring break because I can be able to be with my family in addition having plenty of rest. I was glad to be back home in the Quad Cities because this week is exciting and fun because my birthday is coming up and I'm really looking forward to it. It's weird for me to think about it because I'll be turning 21 this year. I wanted to have plenty of rest during spring break because I am trying to recover nicely from midterms last week. I'll be coming back on campus on my birthday "March 13th". I have a week off from having classes but however I do enjoy the work I do at the RISE Program. It is very nice to be around my parents when I am on any break prior to classes and or any specific holidays from classes because we always have a good time together when I am home in the Quad Cities.