Ardis

After having a long day yesterday, the last thing I wanted to do today was leave my house to go anywhere... I was tired, and I had stuff to do. But because I had won an award after entering a contest offered by the VFW, my mom was requiring me to go to a VFW post and give a speech that I had written about America for some veterans and some other teachers.... so I somewhat grudgingly went. I got there, gave my little speech thing (as did some other students), then my mom and I sat down at a table for lunch. A teacher walked over and asked if she could sit with us. We said "sure, of course". 

And that is how my mom and I met Ardis. I don't know her last name, but I do know that Ardis is her first name. She was probably in her mid-50's, had shoulder-length blonde hair, and was one of the sweetest people to talk to. We talked to her, and she gradually started to tell us about herself. Her husband died last year, she currently has two sons... and, oh, her dad was a WWII veteran. My mom asked, "Wow, that's interesting... where was he stationed?" Ardis replied, "Well, he was in Germany... he was actually one of the people who first went to start releasing people from concentration camps. He wouldn't talk about it until years later." <-- so that was cool/interesting.

Anyways, she kept telling us about her life and what she does, and she told us that she's a very dedicated Christian, and she teaches 3rd graders in a public school. She said, "I'm not really supposed to do this, but I try to include the Bible whenever I can in my class. I paraphrase the verses from Proverbs and call them 'thoughts for the day', and make the kids learn them. I encourage the kids to bring their Bibles for 'free-reading' time. And they do! Some of the teachers who know what I do joke about how I'll probably end up fired because I just CANNOT keep my mouth shut about Jesus!"

And then she wanted to know about me, and my plans, and where I wanted to go to college. I told her I was interested in a conservative college up in Michigan, because I wanted to study politics... either that or I would go to UNL. She said to me, "Oh, I LOVE conservative colleges. They give great opportunities at colleges like that. But you know what? I think you would do really well at UNL too. UNL has its flaws... but I think that YOU would shine there. I think you would change people... I think that you could show them Jesus. Just something to think about."

^^And that, right there, ladies and gentlemen... is why my heart is no longer completely set on Hillsdale.

I've been thinking all afternoon about what Ardis said. She was just a normal person who sat down with my mom and me. And yet... I learned so much from her, even in the short time we had with her. She was extraordinary, in her own way. And even though I originally didn't want to go to that event this afternoon... I am SO glad I did. Ardis made it worth it. I can honestly say that I was blessed by her today. :)