LE Troisième SEMAINE (and the result of drinking iced coffee)

You'd think after the week of french hell I've had that I'd be pretty sick of the language (referring to the title). I spent 4 hours on Tuesday finishing the online french homework, I found on Wednesday I only needed to do half of what I did, and yesterday morning I wrote a paper a two page paper completely in french about a french poem. But I actually really do enjoy the course and the professor is very nice.

But enough complaining and whining because I procrastinated...now for the good stuff. I LOVE COLLEGE!! I don't know why, I just do. This week felt so much easier than the last couple, of course I'm sure the fact this week was only 4 days helped. Even when the classes annoy me or when there's a lot of homework, I love it (which is a HUGE blessing). Even in mythology when the subject matter kind of scars me for life. That class, my history class, and the honors seminar, I more or less travel with the same group of kids. We've kind of developed a sense of comradeship (is that even a word?)...is a fun group of people and we all get along really well, even when debating about stuff. Ya know?...come to think of it, I don't think I've had a bad day since I got up here.

This is really my first weekend on my our, for the most part, since getting here. So far, and it's only Saturday, it's been AWESOME!! I got up when I wanted, 10:30ish, I explored a little bit and discovered one of the most awesome places on campus. Market Street at MacCracken, it's like an on campus grocery store and really close to where I live. This place has everything, even french cheese. I literally spent ten minutes walking around with my eyes wide and mouth open. It even had food and drink that Walmart didn't. It was just awesome...I might just have to make it a weekly visit. Then, after eating the lunch I got from MacCracken, I went to Tuffy's and got an iced coffee (which is probably why I've been dancing around the hallways, writing in caps and the reason I'm feeling so enthousiastic right now...SO HYPER RIGHT NOW!!!). I think I need to be cut off...

Okay prayer requests: That my cousin would stop being in pain, Poppy would get more work, that I would start being more productive, for my roomie and her airforce physcial thingy today, for my buddy Emily that she would adjust quickly and well to the college life.

Praises: I ENJOY COLLEGE!!! and EVERYTHING ELSE GOOD THAT HAS HAPPENED!!!

....wow maybe I shouldn't drink coffee before/while blogging...hmm

I never was very good at keeping a diary...

Well sorry this has taken so long folks, basically week two kicked my butt. Thank God for three day weekends.

Week two was exhausting. Two papers and about fifty billion pages of reading took a lot out of me. Almost made me never want to read again. It was a bit of a rude awakening, week one was just an introduction and the rest of the year will be more like last week. My work ethic is really sucking right now, I keep procrastinating and it's biting me in the butt (having to stay up late and get up early to get stuff done).

I've already had my faith "challenged". In my history class, the professor basically our class that the Bible can't possibility be an accurate source...I beg to differ. Then in my mythology class we discussed the supposed different accounts of the creation of man/woman in Genesis. First of all, I didn't appreciate discussing the Bible in a mythology class, as if it were mythology. Second of all during the discussion when I said I didn't see it as two different accounts, but as one just providing more description than the other. The professor replied, "You're only seeing it that way because you don't want to see it the other way". I was kind of taken back and thought for a minute and said to myself (not out loud) "yeah pretty much". In my journalism class our professor asked us if there was right and wrong and if people should be punished for using other people's research and not siting them. ONLY FIVE OF TWENTY PEOPLE IN THAT CLASS SAID THERE IS RIGHT AND WRONG AND THERE SHOULD BE PUNISHMENT!! I was absolutely shocked...there is right and there is wrong, just as there's black and white. I really couldn't believe it.

Prayer requests: that I have more energy this week, that I keep my faith strong, that my work ethic would improve, for my family, for my poppy to get more work....and I know this is kinda lame, but for Reds' pitcher Micah Owings, that he would be healed of his head injury/ear injury (after getting hit by a pitch) and that he wouldn't lose faith (Micah is one awesome dude, check out his blog if you get the time)

Praises: that school is going well and going fast, that I'm getting along well with my roomie, and my cousin's boyfriend got a job...and for just about every thing :)

Here's to the first week of school

Well, I couldn't really think of an awesome title to go with the first post so "Here's to the first week" is as good as it's going to get.

The first day of classes went pretty smooth, I only had two so that was nice. I was extremely nervous the first day and the butterflies in my stomach were wrestling with each other, but after that first class, which was a french one, I was fine and my nerves had pretty much settled down. The only slight bump in the road was on the way to my second class I got slightly turned around, but luckily (well not luck but you know what I mean) my roommate showed up just in time to help me out. It injured my pride (because I had to l00k at a map) and I felt like a dork, but I wasn't late and it showed me God was going to bring people in my life to help me out.

The second I only had two classes as well and nothing really eventful happened as far as the classes go. That night I had a meeting with the Navigators, which is a student ministry that my sister got me set up with. At that meeting I saw a bunch of girls who are in my corridor (I think I'm spelling that wrong, oh well) and a guy, Dylan, from my high school...as well as a girl, Megan, I met at orientation. It was really encouraging to see how many other people around me were interested in the campus ministry. I'm going to get involved with that and the Bible study the Navs sponsor at my hall.

Yesterday (aka the third day) was a killer. I had 5 classes, three of them congregated around lunch time...so I didn't eat lunch until 4 but let me tell you that was the tastiest chicken wrap I have ever tasted. I think my body is beginning to rebel against all of this new exercise that it's now getting. My feet and my ankles feel like they are about to fall off and I have never been so hungry in my life. Everyday but Friday during the week I have a 15 minute walk to Benton (which is the opposite side of campus), on this 15 minute walk I get to appreciate the beautiful campus and the nature and pray about my day. After my final classes, which was a ten minuteish walk and climb up 3 floors worth of stairs, I was about to collapse. Ang picked me up and took me back to her apartment for dinner...which was very delicious (chicken with green beans in a very yummily made way).

After the storm of yesterday, I got the calm of today. I only had one class that started at 11:15 (opposed to every other day this week, my first classes start at 9). The class was awesome. It is an architecture class with three professors who make the class a lot of fun teasing each other and , occasionally, a student that comes up with a stupid answer. They're very passionate about their jobs and I think that makes it fun for everyone. It's funny the way God works, the architecture class was the one I was most worried about, but now I think it's going to end up being the most fun.

Well prayer requests: for my french professor and her family her dad just died on Sunday...for me and my tummy aches that they'd go away...and for my body to get used to all this new exercise...for my family as we're about it enter a very tough time...for my poppy to get more work...and for my cousin has she recovers from surgery.

Praises: getting to witness a little bit it my roomie when she lost her room key (and found it again which opened the opportunity)...going into my classes not completely alone (knowing some people going into it)...and having excitement about school instead of dread (that's always a good thing)...and that I found an excellent church (thanks to Ang)...and for a big sister whose willing to help me out

Thanks everybody (or anybody, I don't know if anyone is actually reading this)

o ps here are some pictures of my room finally (of my fantastic bay window and Emerson Hall, where I live)

AND THE ADVENTURE BEGINS!!

Well it's day 2 in Oxford...sorry new computer and being not so tech savy kept me from writing sooner, that and the Miami folks have been keeping us busy doing stupid freshman activities. I swear this place must be social happy...there has been one both nights I've been here, not so fun for a not so social person.

Okay so move in day started kind of rough...I cried A LOT, more than I care to admit but whatever. It's always been hard for me to say good bye but this was especially rough. I cried over the dog, who comforted me with many kisses, the night before I left. The next morning started with me crying over the cats/kittens. Then crying over my petite elan (Emily for those who don't know). Then I was okay once we got going, got moved in (sorta still have a lot to do), picked up my books, and bought a computer. VERY BUSY!! Then I had to leave Mommy and Poppy...needless to say I started crying again, this time so did mom and dad got a little teary eyed apparently (mom said he was a little emotional on the ride home).

I have to say though, I think now that its finally here I'm doing better than I thought I would be. I'm homesick but not miserable (a little choked up from writing the previous paragraph but other than that). I'm just ready for all this stupid freshman crap to be done and to start my classes.

Today was the Convocation (or however that's spelled), which is like a reverse graduation. The best part, to my surprise, was the guest speaker Taylor Mali. He is the author/poet of the book of poetry "What Learning Leaves", which was our summer reading book. To be honest when I saw it was a book of poetry I more or less blew it off, but after hearing him speak I feel bad and really really want to read it now. Something I found to be kind of interesting about the poems he recited today was he censored them...in his book, there were several poems (that I read beforehand, only about half of them) that had some cuss words in them. I was kind of surprised he censored them and can't help but wonder why...hhhmmm, food for thought I guess.


POSITIVE TIME: well to begin, I HAVE THE AWESOMEST ROOM EVER!! It is HUGE and it has, get this, A BAY WINDOW!! I will post pictures eventually (once I learn how to on this new puter). I met my roomie a couple of weeks before school started, so thats good. Her name is Rachel. We get along really well and she's very nice. She's very social and helping me get involved and meet new people. Another positive, Angela being around has helped A LOT. She's been putting up with me and letting me hang out with her, she's already taken me on a Walmart run and helped me set up my computer (saved me a trip to the IT people).

Well praise God for the grace He's showing me. And for the daily hugs He gives when I feel homesick and for a big sister to help me. O and for technology to keep me connected to my parents and sister. Prayer requests: continued grace and adjusting to new surroundings and for just help dealing with new classes and schedule, o and for a job...heehee lots of requests but y'all can handle it. O and another two requests, not for me so much but for my cousin and her boyfriend...pray that Beth's gall bladder surgery goes well and that she'd be pain and fear free and pray that her boyfriend Dan gets a job so they can pay for the rent. Okay I'm done :)

Well definitely more later...I'm tired and still getting adjusted to my new surrounds so asta la pasta, which is me for see ya later.

Waiting to begin my adventure

I officially have 28 days before move in day. I'm excited, nervous, scared, eager, etc. I still have so much to do...its not even funny. I still don't know where I'm living or with whom. I haven't bought most of the "essential dorm room needs". I need to buy a new laptop. I need to get my shots (I have an appointment on June 30th..should be fun) in order to be allowed on campus.

I don't know whether or not I feel ready. It doesn't even feel like I graduated high school yet...which of course I did June 5th. I don't feel like an adult even though I'm 18...maybe getting my drivers' license will help with that one. I don't know...it's just all weird to me.

I guess the perfect way to describe how I feel about this college adventure is to say I'm FINE...Freaked out, Insecure, Neurotic, Emotional (thank you Italian Job). All I can say is thank GOD I'm not going at this alone.

And thank GOD that HE passed on to Paul this bit of knowledge:

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. "

Philippians 4:6,7

This bit will help me survive college...I have no doubt about it