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.