T Time

Ah, Alabama summers. A time when it’s so hot outside that one actually wishes for the icebox-like air conditioning of Main. Lol. Never thought that would happen. At least not in less then a day. Though, actually, it’s not so bad in my bedroom, where the lights are turned off and there are two fans running. And I guess it will be good for me to acclimate to the summer heat. I’m going to be working in it after all. But you don’t want to hear me drone on about the weather now do you? I’m sure you’re much more curious about what chapter I have just closed.

Dorm life.

I’m all moved out of my dorm, I’ve said goodbye to my roommate and our other friends for the summer, and now, I’m almost nearly done re-establishing my presence in the room I share with Diva. (Read, I’ve taken over practically all the wall space) And now, come next fall, I will be a commuter student. Well, I guess technically that starts on Monday, since I’m taking a May term, but I would be commuting those three weeks even if I was moving back to campus in the fall.  Anywho, my days living in a dorm are over. Which is very bittersweet for me. On the one hand I’m happy to be back with my family in a room I’m not allergic to, but on the other hand I’m seriously gonna miss my absolutely amazing roomie Stephanie and our honorary roomie Jessica and being so close to everything.

It’s been amazing, I’ve loved every minute of dorm life. And I’m very sad that it’s over, but I’m looking forward to the summer now. As I mentioned, I’m taking a class over May term, which starts Monday. That class is Knes 120, or Health and Wellness. Basically PE. Then, when that’s over, I leave for the 4H Center to work as a Camp Counselor for Sumer Camp. I’m super stoked about this. For one thing, I absolutely love the 4H Center, for another, I loved Summer Camp the year I went, and then as a bonus  I love kids! Yay! lol. Sadly though, this may mean that I miss our annual campout. Maybe I’ll make Daddy take me up to Oak Mountain whe I have some free time in July. Then, in August, my best friend Rebecca and her darling Clay are getting married and I get to be in their wedding! It’s looking to be an amazing summer.

In between all the business I hope to make room for some visits out to Anna’s, going by Ms. T’s and teaching Doodles to knit, some sewing and lots of time with my guy. And of course, I look forward to seeing these gals again in the fall:

Or maybe over the summer, I suppose we shall have to wait and see.

College Life, friends, Me The Non-Blonde Version

1. I never thought I would go to college.

Okay, so this one may have stemmed from the feeling that I was never going to get out of school, but still. I used to wonder why on earth anyone would willingly choose to do more school once they were out. Answer? Because it’s awesome, that’s why.

2. I never thought I would go to prom.

Seriously. Growing up Prom was an evil, stupid dance thing that was invented by the evil public schools. Way to much evil mixed with awkwardness for me. Besides, I was different. I was the homeschooler. Homeschoolers don’t have prom. Enter Junior year of highschool when all of my (homeschooled) friends were at prom. Yeah, no way was I missing my senior prom after that.

3. I never thought I would read comic books.

I promise, I somehow grew up under the impression that comic books were stupid, brain rotting inventions far worse than the television. Like, for real. I was so wrong. Comic books are freaking amazing! And they don’t rot your brain out, that’s clearly my brain delving inside itself to try and find my secret telepathic abilities. Duh.

4. I never thought I’d drive a car.

Reasons? Well, number one, I had Mama and Daddy to take me wherever I went. Why bother? And two, it seemed so strange to try and learn something that was clearly so natural to my parents. Idk why, but the thought of it becoming that natural for me was just weird.

5. I never thought I would ever watch any kind of sport.

Granted, I grew up in Kentucky where basketball is king. And I despise basketball. This one changed immediately when I discovered the wondrous world of football. (Though, I’m not as into it as I was a couple years ago, I do still enjoy it and claim fanhood.)

6. I never thought I would read Harry Potter.

I know, I know, scandalous, right? But sadly, true. Very, very true. I used to think Harry Potter was stupid. Probably mostly because EVERYONE else in the world was reading/watching and I wasn’t allowed to (until the seventh book came out. Then it was all me not being interested until highschool.) Boy was I wrong.

7. I never thought I would dye my hair.

Heh. I know right? I used to think this was the stupidest idea ever. Why would people not be happy with their hair color. (Of course this was when I was little mind you and always perceived my hair to be a gorgeous golden blonde waterfall cascading down my back. O.o) Anyways, now I’m not even sure of how may times I’ve dyed it. Let’s see…. There was the once with kool-aid. Then there was the initial bleach and pink dye. Then a second box of pink. Then another bleach and pink dye job followed by a second box of pink not to long after. Then I put blond dye on it and then later bleached it again with more blond dye right after. Finally, one last box of blonde dye before I got frustrated with it bleaching on its own at the beach and deciding I was sick of dying my hair and was just going to have really bad roots as it grows out.

8. I never thought I would live on campus.

This sort of ties into the whole never going to college thing because once I finally did  realize why all these crazy people choose to go to more school, I was mortified by the idea of moving out of my house and living somewhere else to go to school. Granted, I am still only like 25 minutes from home, but I am living on campus. And for the most part, loving it. I’ll miss it next year….

9. I never thought I’d learn to ride a horse.

Okay, so not entirely true, as this on is something I always WANTED to do, but I’d pretty much given up on it. Enter Ms. Jennifer. She amazingly offered to trade me riding lessons for work helping her at a barn she worked at. And I learned how to ride a horse. Not very well, but I learned.

10. I never thought I would enjoy a “normal” dance.

Here normal means not ballroom. Lol. The first time I went to a 4-H dance, I hated it. The idea grew on me after a while and now I love them. I still can’t handle most secular un-hindered dancing though and only enjoy these types of dances when I’m with people I know fairly well.

Me The Non-Blonde Version, Ramblings

Do you know what this is?

A big red double decker bus on campus.

Seriously. What could be better that a big red double decker bus on campus? How about a big red double decker bus that is also a mobile thrift store and goes around to college campuses raising money for orphans? Um Yeah. How awesome is that?

Well, let me just tell you. It’s AWESOME.

Cause I mean, come on.

Double Decker Bus.

Mobile Thrift store.

FOR ORPHANS!

AMAZING!

Let me explain a bit further. There’s this organization called Show Hope that I’ve known about for a while. (They come to a lot of Christian concerts) Basically, they help provide financial support to orphans who are waiting on their forever families. Really, really awesome organization if you ask me. And as part of this, there is now a ministry, called the Red Bus Project, that drove around the south-eastern US this spring visiting colleges and giving colleges students a chance to help support orphans. I was blessed to be a part of this event when they came to UM through the BCM. They also went to University of Alabama, Samford University, and Auburn University as well to many other schools. It was an awesome day, and a great chance to get involved on campus. My friend Lacie and I worked the information booth for several hours. And “argued” very loudly with each other in fake British accents at one point when there wasn’t really anyone coming through. Apparently this greatly amused the guys unloading stuff for the concert later that night (which I didn’t attend, but apparently was very good.)

(Lacie’s the one in the yellow shirt)

I have here some more pictures of BCMers working (and hanging out) that I think I’ll share.

That’s my asian big brother, Tony and someone from the Red Bus Project (idk her name) selling t-shirts and other Red Bus merchandise.

The BCM’s fearless leader, Sean.

My BCM sister, Jessica (in the blue) and our “Aunt” Marley (Lacie’s BCM mom) working the check out tent.

The guy behind the camera is my Papa Neal (aka, Jessica and my BCM dad) He was interviewing Sean for a class.

And I just had to include this one of Tony chilling in the top of the bus. It was so awesome in there! Made me want to go back to England just to ride one. Heh, I can see it now.

Guy at British Customs: “Reason for visiting the UK?”

Me: “Um, to ride a Double Decker Bus.”

GaBC: “That’s it?”

Me: “Uh, yeah.” *nods head emphatically*

GaBC: O.o

Teehee.

Here’s one of some of the crew (thanks Sean for taking the picture! (even if seven does not come after three or before fifteen))

Anywho, from the left, Marley, Neal, Jessica, Tony, and of course, Me.

Now before I go, one more of the bus itself I think.

So if you ever hear of the Red Bus coming, whether you’re actually in college or not, you should totally take the time to go out and see it, shop a bit, maybe drop off some clothes. And support orphans. Definitely support orphans. Because at the end of the day, having a double decker bus on campus is amazing and all, but the really awesome bit is knowing that we were helping give a voice to orphans who can’t speak up and ask for help themselves. At the end of the day, it was knowing that we were making a difference that made the whole experience so amazing.

College Life, Faith, friends

I really REALLY want to post something. Like REALLY badly. For several weeks now. So I’m just going to type and we’ll see what happens.

This year, Spring Break was possibly the BEST spring break ever. Maybe because when I was in HS and before it was Mama who choose when we took spring break… Or it could quite possibly be the two days we spent at the beach (one of which the BF got to come down for…. *happy dance*) And then there’s the part where I’ve been away from home for a while and got to spend a week at home with my amazing family. But really, I think the beach trip took the cake. (not that that’s hard to do with me since I’ve realized that I don’t really like cake…)

BTW, in case you’re wondering, Spanish is WAY easier with a professor. I’m hoping this holds true with math too since I’m going to try and take a course next fall. Oh boy.

Hunger Games was fantabulous. (ohmygosh, spellchecker is telling me that’s a real word. O.o) It was so real seeming to and the horrid style of videography that I hated in the Bourne movies cause it was so distraction, well, it was actually pretty awesome in the Hunger Games. I’m sort of wondering if the screen size affects that at all. Anyways, I loved the movie and the only part I noticed missing that I actually went “awww that wasn’t in the movie!” was the part where District 11 send Katniss the bread right after Rue dies. That and the part whre Haymitch has to send her sleeping medicine or whatever so that she can leave Peeta. But I forgot that part until Mama mentioned it, so really only the bread. Rue was adorable by the way. Much better than I could have imagined her really, she has such a sweet face. One thing I really like that they sort of changed was the fact that they included the reactions of people in District 12 (Like Katniss’s mother and sister and Gale.) and then in other places as well (like the revolt in District 11) that happened at the same time but you don’t find out about until book 2 or 3 since it’s written from Katniss’s perspective.

Ooooo! I just found out that GG5 is waiting for me at the library! Super excited (I’ll just have to find a time to go pick it up now…) I’ve been dying to know what happens to Cammie. Especially since Ally Carter posted those shorts in the pov of the othe characters. Very stoked!

I have reestablished that I am horrible at painting. Luckily as a BA and not a BFA student I can avoid taking an actual Painting class. I also discovered today that it takes a lot of guidance for me to draw abstractly. How ironic is that?

Another thing I’ve learned, apparently homeschoolers are the only people who have heard of cleps. O.o Okay, so not entirely true, I have said the word to a few public schoolers who knew what I was talking about. But still.

On a sad note, I should probably mention that my precious kitty is gone. Sammy went MIA a month or so ago and hasn’t turned back up. We can only assume he’s dead. :’( Speaking of which, one should never EVER text one’s sibling who is in college and tell her that her beloved cat is dead. Leave that news breaking in the gentle hands of the parents. Trust me. Also, the best place to find out about said beloved cat’s passing is at the BF’s house. That way you can totally cry and have someone actually comfort you. Because let’s face it, my friends aren’t exactly used to me breaking down into tears like that. (well, there was the time that there was a tornado and I got upset and started sobbing… or the time I was crying and screaming at my computer…)

Also, Zeke doesn’t know his own name. Or that he’s supposed to let my and lil sis hug him to death. Or that he’s supposed to come beg for belly rubs when I’m hanging up laundry or curl up around my head when I lie down or try to chew the corners of my books or… well I guess I’m going to have to face the reality that he isn’t Samson…

I finally finished The Help over Spring Break! It was amazing, Definitely better than the movie, though the movie is totally worth the time as well.

Sarah’s Key, which is a book that Mama and I read in Europe makes a pretty good movie. It was also the first foreign film I’ve seen. Or at least seen and known that it was a foreign film…

That’s about all I can think of so I guess I’ll wrap it up with this: In case you wondered, all skeletons are nude. And gender un-specific… unless you’re Dr. Brennan that is…

Books, College Life, Family, Me The Non-Blonde Version, Movies, Ramblings, Samson

At 94 years, it holds the title of the longest running College homecoming tradition in the Nation. It is College Night, and it’s taking place this weekend.

So last night some friends and I went to our first College Night production.

Oh, wait a minute. Yall don’t all know what College Night is do you? When I said Homecoming I bet you thought football and then thought “wait a minute, that should have been last fall!” Heh. Well, first of all, UM doesn’t have a football team. Something about part of the deal with the school having the land it sits on. I don’t remember the whole story. Second of all, well, let me explain what College Night is.

You see, there are two sides, Purple Side (PV) (their mascot is a purple cow) and Gold Side (GV) (their mascot is a lion). And then there are the neutrals who don’t actually participate in CN and they’re called the Greens. I’m one of the few Greens to actually take the designation seriously. (I’ll explain that in a minute) Anyways, every February these two sides compete in several sports events and stuff like that, followed by a huge theatrical production from each side. All of this goes together to add up to points with one side winning in the end. It’s a super huge deal.

Anyways, I was going to go Purple, cept they’re kind of… scary. And I don’t fit in with the Golds. So I’m a Green (with strong Purple leanings) because I don’t really fit in anywhere (like usual) so I kind of had to make a spot for myself somewhere (also like usual). And I choose to make that spot in the balcony looking down at everybody and observing all the mayhem from above. And waving excitedly at everyone I knew. Then we settled down and watched the shows. Now I’m not going to say anything about them here, cause I don’t want to spoil it for anybody who hasn’t seen it, but let’s just say one was considerably better than the other. (Unless I try to explain them cause the other one had a better storyline when you tell it.) Anyways, I was enthralled. It was amazing. Seriously, I have the best college EVER!

Also, being a Green is seriously fun! (Even though I still might go Purple at some point. If only to say I have a legit side…)

College Life, friends, Fun Stuff, Holidays and Other Celebrations

So I must admit, I am an absolutely hopeless romantic. I’ll be the first to admit it. You see, I believe that God has a Prince Charming for me. And I believe in the magic of first kisses. (Which is why I’m saving mine). But it’s not just that. It makes me extraordinarily happy to see other people in love and so happy. Like my beloved Rebecca (Skittles) and her Clay (Kirby). You see, Rebecca is my big sister. Not really, but you know what I mean. I love her to death and she has been through a lot with that. She’s also put up with a lot, I was kind of annoying when I was younger. And I’m just hoping that’s not true anymore so now one had better dash my hopes… Anyways, in exactly two weeks (well two weeks if you consider the fact that it’s nearly tuesday as I type this) she and Clay will have been courting for four years. (I think, if I did the math correctly. It was the Valentine’s Day of my Freshman year of highschool if you care to double check that.) And in August, I believe it’s 200 days from now by her count, she will actually take his name and they will promise to spend the rest of their lives together. And this makes me immensely happy. So very immensely happy that it was all I could do to contain my excitement over her announcement that she bought her dress today. (I’ll have you know that the day she called they were engaged I spent several long minutes screaming into a pillow afterwards I was so excited.) It makes me so happy that I’m sure how to express it. But seeing her so happy, seeing them together and so happy, well it sort of rubs off on you. So anyways, yeah just thought I’d confess to being a hopeless romantic who believes happily ever after exists. And I can’t wait to watch Rebecca and Clay start on that particular journey together.

friends

*sigh* It’s over. A year ago today I was super excited, in less than 24 hours it would be my graduation year! And now, in seven and a half hours it will be over. It’s been a wonderful year, full of many firsts and lasts. I did the last things I would ever do in highschool this spring and the first I would ever do in college this fall. But the best things that happened this year were the things I couldn’t have expected. This really amazing guy asked to court me (and I said yes). One of my best friends in the whole world got engaged. (as did a few other friends) A dear friend from Kentucky gave birth to her first baby. And then there are the amazing friends I made at school. Special shout outs go to my awesome Roomate and my wonderful BCM sister! Then there’s stuff like discovering I actually know how to draw, spending a week in the mountains with my Best Friend and my Cushion, and working at the barn all spring and summer, being on 4H state counsil and helping run midwinter. So yes, 2011 was just as wonderful of a year as it promised to be, but not necessarily for the reasons I thought it would be. Because yes, prom, graduation, starting college and all that was amazing. THey were all huge milestones in my life, but in the end those aren’t the events that matter. Those aren’t the moments I cherish. It’s the stuff like riding the giant swing at the 4H center or floating down the river for the thousandth time and later dressing up as the mad hatter. It’s being a punk fairy with my best friend and our sisters and Ms. T’s girls. It’s sitting on the quad with a desktop computer up and running or watching Once Upon a Time in the dorms. It’s  playing Laser tag with my senior class, or ultimate frisbee with the BCM. It’s owning Jess at tetris and her owning me at mario cart. It’s sitting next to my boyfriend and just talking. It’s holding LilBit and making her laugh and smile. It’s watching the excitement on Boo’s face as I hand him a long awaited koala blanket or the grin on CB’s face as he mimics my phone’s infamous “alert!” It’s cutting a ton of snowflakes out of paper and the BCM and laughing at the bits all over the floor making it look like it snowed. It’s spending late nights with my Anna watching Merlin and swooning over Arthur. It’s sitting on Doodle’s bed listening to her talk excitedly about AG dolls and doll fashions. It’s surprising little girls with doll clothes or catching a rambunctious Warrior on camera. It’s all those little things, those half ignored moments, that I will cherish from this year. It’s the moments that would mean nothing to someone else that mean all the world to me. And I pray that God sends me many, many more of these moments in 2012.

Holidays and Other Celebrations

Merry Christmas! Yes, I finally discovered a way to post pictures again. Here’s hoping it actually works. But anyways, here’s wishing yall a safe and Merry Christmas. May God bless this time for each and every one of you.

Holidays and Other Celebrations

When I was in highschool Mama gave me a class every four years that was a Bible class. Many of these involved reading books, most of which I enjoyed and highly recommend. One year I read a book by Elizabeth Elliot called Passion and Purity. One of the things I remember reading in this book was how Elizabeth Elliot keep a little notebook book full of scripture, hymns, prayers, etc. She referred to it as her Omah of Truth. (Omah being the measurement of Manna that the Israelites gathered in the wilderness.) I thought this was a cool idea, but I never really intended to mimic it. For one thing, I have never been a journaler. I’ve tried to keep a diary a couple times, and I’ve even tried to journal as part of my quiet time. This blog is as close as I’ve gotten to a regular, personal account of any sort. (unless FB status updates count…) Anyways, I never thought I’d end up with my own little notebook. Then, last February, on Valentine’s Day (or sometime really close to it) I got really depressed. You can guess why I’m sure. I was being impatient. I wanted what God had not yet given me, but seemed to be giving to everyone else around me. It was a really hard time with me, because I wanted to be close to my God, to draw near to Him and to acknowledge Him as all I needed. But at the same time I was angry with Him. It seemed unfair to me that all my friends should be blessed with this thing, with this one thing that I longed for, hoped and dreamed for. I’ve always been a passive aggressive person, so depression over the issue was my response to this anger. My Daddy took me out that day. (I’m pretty sure it was Valentine’s Day, cause that was the day I was the most depressed) We went to Books-A-Million, one of my favorite places in the whole wide world. He just took me to hang out, I’m pretty sure we got coffee too, to try and get my mind off things. Anyways, we ended up in BAM and I spent a long time browsing the shelves and being generally nerdy, like I do every time I go there. I ended up looking at notebooks. There was a lot pent up in me that I wanted to let out, which I guess is why I ended up in that aisle. I wasn’t sure I wanted to talk to anyone about it, partly cause I’d tried and it hadn’t helped, but maybe I could write it down. I bought a little green notebook with a Celtic design on it that night. My frustrations and emotions and confusions and questions never went down in it as I had intended. But rather, the answers. Bible verses, song lyrics, and book quotes fill the first several pages. Anything that stuck out to me, that reminded me of what I already knew, has gotten written down for the past nine months. Many of them are along the same lines, God has called me to lead a certain life, God is my strength, my hope my deliverer, My heart and soul long for God and God alone. There are a few that are simply heartfelt cries of praise, or reminders of my call to purity. But they all revolve around God being all that I need, and that’s a thing that I seem to always forget. And so I have my own little book filled with the words that He uses to remind me.

Faith

Well, today is Thanksgiving. So I just thought I’d share a little of what I’m thankful for this year.

First of all, I’m thankful for the rough spots. The ups and downs, the days of doubt. This past year has been full of them. Some have been worse than others, but they have all served the same purpose, to strengthen my faith. And because of that I’m thankful for them.

Second, I’m thankful that God gave me such an amazing college roommate. Seriously, I was really freaked out that I was going to get a horrible roommate. But Stephanie is absolutely amazing, and I feel really blessed to have her in my life.

Speaking of being blessed by people in my life, I’m thankful for all my college friends. They’re each awesome and I don’t think I could make it through some weeks without them. I’m thankful for all the time I get to spend with them.

I’m thankful for the rest of my friends too, especially my dear sisters, MaryAnna and Skittles. I love you both so much and can’t imagine my life without yall.

I’m thankful for having been homeschooled by such an amazing Mama. Seriously, I don’t think I could be doing well at all in college if it weren’t for her teaching.

I’m thankful for parents who will drop everything to come be with me when I need them. I’m thankful to have their love and support, and to know that no matter what happens a hug from my Daddy still makes the world seem right.

And on that note, I’m very thankful to have such a  loving and supportive church family. Seriously, yall are amazing. And God has shown me over the last couple months just how much of a blessing you guys are to me.

I’m thankful for siblings who are excited when I come home from school and make me feel loved and special and missed. And who have a sense of humor when it comes to what they’re thankful for. (someone around here is thankful for legs…)

I’m thankful for my boyfriend. And I’m thankful my Daddy  didn’t kill him when he asked to court me.

I’m thankful for the time God has given me. And for the revelation that such time is precious. I pray that He helps me use that time to His glory for the rest of my days.

Holidays and Other Celebrations