Well, when I say my "first", I mean one of the first. But this is the first time that I feel like a dumb college girl :).

Warning: This is disgusting.

So, it's almost midnight, and I'm settling down and journaling, etc. All the sudden, Gracey (who lives in the sweet next door) knocks on our door, laughing and telling us that we HAVE to try something. Of course, we were like, what? She wouldn't tell us, but told us that it's a part of the "college experience". So I, of course, being the people-pleaser I am, agree and go into the room. In this room there are about 6 girls and a Mac pointed at me (I'm on video). They tell me that they've ALL done this (which was true) and that it's not a big deal (which was NOT true). I knew that the ramifications of whatever I was about to do would be ones I would not enjoy, but I figured that I might as well just do it so maybe I could bond with these girls. They are all giggling and pleading that I just do it and be brave. So I was like, fine. So then a spoonful of cinnamon was shoved towards me, one which I am supposed to swallow. I reluctantly took the spoon and on the count of three shoved it into my mouth.

So, if someone ever tells you that it's possible to swallow cinnamon, they are lying. About a second after I did this, I coughed some of it out and then a waterbottle was shoved in my face, and they were shouting "BATHROOM!". I went then into a bathroom that was disgustingly covered in cinnamon, and the shower was graciously turned on for me as I chugged water, and then gagged and threw up cinnamon chunks and gunk for a few minutes. After that, I guess I was on a roll, and I started to throw up the 15 or so carrots that I had just eaten about 30 minutes before. It was SO gross. They, of course, felt bad because the effects I had to endure were slightly more dramatic than the others :), but I think that I got back at them properly because now they have carrot chunks in their drain ;).

Of course, I feel really stupid for agreeing to do it, but I think at some point every college kid late on a school night in their dorm needs to experience something like this. It's stupid, but somehow, the girls who got me to do it derived "fun" from this whole experience... and I'm just here to serve, so I guess that I'm okay with it!

Welcome to college... :)

Sorry... I just realized that I haven't posted in a few days, and the last post I left you guys with was a rather discouraging post. A few morsels of encouragement :)...

1. It was a beautiful day today!

2. I have a mini-job now (ish...)! I babysat this morning for this woman in my church who had a doctor's appointment, and watched her two sons, Keylon and Rowan (6 and 2). They were WONDERFUL and so much fun! AND, I got paid!!!! I mean, $15 for 2 hours... but right now, $15 feels like $200! Not even kidding, haha. In any case, this lady found out that she's pregnant (yay!), and so she'll be having doctor's appointments pretty often. She even asked about my schedule so she can plan the appointments around my schedule! I mean, I know that this is small... but seriously, right now, it's SUCH a blessing! :):) I'm so excited.

3. Lifegroup was wonderful! Of course :)

4. No Public Speaking this week, because I got my speech over with last Thursday! Woop woop!

5. I'm going home this weekend!

6. We're painting in Design :)


Okay, I think that's it for now. Have a great, great Wednesday!

Can I just rant for a second about how stupid America's celebrities are?

Thanks. :)

Another thing that I shouldn't be allowed to do is look at magazines. I was in line at Wal-Mart with some friends yesterday and saw the cover of People Magazine (or something). This issue is focused on Robert Pattinson and Kristin Stewart (Edward Cullen and Bella in the movie version of "Twilight"). So I opened it up to the article to see what the haps is. Apparently they are completely in love now, and are "acting like they are married without actually being married". The whole article was gushing about how wonderful these two people are together. They have a house in Vancouver now and...Not kidding, this was in big, bold print... *excuse me while I PUKE* ... "Sleep on and off all day... and Cuddle".

SERIOUSLY? THAT'S what People had to say about them? Well, Congratulations, Rob and Kristin. You guys have it all now. What a productive life you guys must lead.

It's just SO cliche. I mean, is this a joke? Is it just a rouse to please Twilight fans? I mean, I don't care, it just makes Rob and Kristin look really dumb, if I may be so blunt.

Sigh. This is the problem with our culture today. We want maximized benefits and minimized cost. That's what we think will satisfy. Acting married without actually having to deal with the commitment of being married (by the way, good loophole, Rob and Kristin. "Never seen that one before"). That just makes me so angry, and extremely annoyed.

Sorry. I don't mean to be mean... but it's almost even embarrassing. No wonder people hate America!

Okay.. rant over. :)

I know that I should not be allowed to do this :), but I just went through all my Facebook pictures (yeah... it took a while). So weird!

It's just strange. Being in college is like starting a completely different life. Or a new phase. Sounds cheesy, I know. My days up until August 19, 2009 are like the Fellowship of the Ring... and now I'm in the first chapter of The Two Towers. Same characters, but completely different story!

(That reminds me... my OT prof definitely used The Jedi's Return in his lecture about David... :)

I mean, I'm really liking this phase now. It's exciting and different.

Okay... I'll stop now :). I know this is probably too much cheese for some of you to handle. I'm okay with it. :)

So, as I may have mentioned in an earlier post, I have begun to incorporate into my daily life something that has, until now, been pretty foreign... budgeting and self-control :). It's hard... but it's very, very necessary, and now that I've said "no" about a thousand times in my head to buying things, VERY freeing!

A few major victories:
-Went to a Mexican Restaurant (it was Del Pueblo-level) last weekend, and spent $4. That's right. And I even tipped a pretty high percentage. My bill was like $2.35, because I got a half-order of bean and cheese nachos, which were $1.99, and water (which is big for me because in the past I've had this policy where I let myself get Coke at Mexican restaurants because I've convinced myself Mexican food tastes better with Coke). There were, like, 8 of them, too! And they were HUGE! I left full, that's for sure. It was the perfect amount of food! That got me really excited :).
-Drove a few car-less friends to Wal-Mart today, and resisted pretty much everything on the planet. Spent absolutely NOTHING!
-Didn't go out to eat this weekend after church... opted this time for Hardy. Another break-through because usually going out to eat after church is a MUST.
-Went to the store, and only bought what was necessary (Milk and cereal). I, again (like every time I go to H-E-B), had to resist the urge to buy a $14.99 leopard-print Snuggie ;).

And more!

I'm going to try to make it my policy, attitude, and lifestyle to only buy what is necessary, and still give, even more than I used to (without being negligent). I believe it will bring more freedom to my financial situation.

In other news... I played the Bass last night at Refuge (once-a-month college service at my church). It was wonderful... :):):)

Tomorrow, I'm going to Waco for the D-Webb concert with Andrew. Saturday, going to watch Macy play volleyball and go to the symphony with Erin in Dallas! :) It will be wonderful.

Okay, so Fall Break (which was actually only today, haha. But I guess I mean the collective weekend) is coming to an end, as do all things. This weekend has been pretty eventful... I'll try my best to give an accurate description, starting Saturday.

So, the Wahlquists were kind enough to let me come over and watch the UT/OU game with them :). Sarah and I went to Bush's Chicken (a personal first), which is apparently a Central Texas/Wahlquist favorite, to get food for all of us. It was actually really good. It's your basic KFC/Hartz-style greasy, juicy chicken. Gotta love it. Anyways, so, as everyone else I'm sure, while I was glad that UT won (and I knew they would win, too), the game was not as exciting as I thought it would be. Well, not "exciting"... but I think Andrew put it correctly, UT played a little sloppy. I think the UT/OU rivalry is getting out of hand. OU was being SO mean to Colt McCoy! But whatevs. Such is football, I suppose :). I just felt like it was turnover after turnover with a few field goals sprinkled in. But, hey... a win is a win! AND, I had good reason to bust out the Burnt Orange UMHB shirt that I found in the bookstore. Perf!

In any case... about 30 minutes before the game was over, Zach came! It was cool that he got to meet the Wahlquists. Then we embarked on a 2-hour tour of Belton/UMHB (which was actually almost just as educational for me as it was for him! haha), which included Market Days, Dugout ice cream (MCC!), Belton Lake, Bell County Museum, etc. Yeah... Belton's precious. :)

Then we went to Chick-fil-A with the Wahlquists and two other guys from my lifegroup, after which we (minus the Wahlquists) went to the Lecrae concert!  I'm telling you, it was legit. I never thought that it would ever be possible to worship to/be preached the gospel through/really enjoy rap/hip-hop music as much as I did Sat. night! AND, Lecrae did all my faves (which are actually just the only ones I know... which is basically Don't Waste Your Life, After the Music Stops, Go Hard, and Fanatic. He also did Jesus Music and that one that might be called "Found in Christ". Not sure). And he also brought the Truth. It was so tight. Zach is right; he really did preach more than he rapped.

Anyways... then there was church on Sunday, which was really good. Then I came back and took a killer amazing nap, did some laundry and clean-up, and then went to talk with Sarah and Mrs. Sherry (the pastor's wife) about something. It went really well. It's cool to know that I can always come to them with any questions/doubts/whatever I have about anything. I also got to know a little better the history/heart of Antioch.

After that, I talked with my mom on the phone, and then went to bed. Slept in until 10 this morning :), and did my reading, went running (it was SO beautiful today... I'm telling you, perfect running weather!!), ate lunch, went to the store, checked my mail (got letters from Danielle and Mama :), talked with Amanda on the phone for a while, and then am now in the process of trying to perfect my 5 Designs due Wednesday. It's so hard to be motivated about doing this, because for some of them I really don't know what else to do, AND because I know that I can still correct them up until like the last week in November.... it's kind of like Junior year with my US History AP class; Mrs. Hoover let us do test corrections with our notes for 15 minutes, and so in studying I always felt considerably less pressure/motivation. Anyways. I'm doing my best. And if I can, I will go see Mrs. K tomorrow before classes to show her once more my designs and ask her if there's anything else I can do to improve them (which, according to her, there's ALWAYS something). I'm getting that A in this class!

So, that's where I am right now! I'm going to type up my OT notes, and then just chill. Maybe write a few letters. just enjoy Fall Break while it's here!

Learning much about discernment. I felt the pang of a troubled Spirit like never before tonight.


Let me just say this: if it is not Christ, and if it is "above" or "past" the Cross and is instead about me, I do not want anything to do with it.


"For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified."
1 Corinthians 2:2

Things are still going really well! This week has been especially easy school-wise.

Activities/highlights throughout this week have included...

1. Public Speaking Prof didn't come to class today (aka no Public Speaking :)
2. Lifegroup was wonderful (Sarah showed me her wedding pics afterward!)
3. GREAT weather the past two days! Sunny, clear sky. A little humid, but I'll take what I can get, because last weekend it was 50 degrees
4. EMP (Early Morning Prayer; on Wed.)
5. Finished a book (The Jesus I Never Knew by Philip Yancey. I highly recommend it!)
6. Met/talked with Carly this morning (an almost-senior Nursing Major; my new discipleship buddy/mentor)
7. Played the Bass again*****
8. Lunch with Sarah on Tuesday (always good!)
9. Skype with friends
10. Eating lots and lots of pasta (I noticed today that the main thing Hardy has on a consistent basis - in different forms - is pasta, and therefore one of the only dishes I can really trust/count on. So I have it basically up to 2 times a day, haha)

And for the weekend...

1. Some Conference in Round Rock with my church... we'll be carpooling tomorrow. I don't know exactly what it is, but they said it's good, so I'm excited!
2. Lecrae concert Saturday night :):) (Jessie Cooke and Zach Horst are coming!)
3. Touching up my Designs (they are all due Wednesday)
4. More rest

That's what I have planned, at least! Fall Break is Monday... I'm excited! :)

I kind of hesitated posting, because all my posts lately have been pretty much the exact same thing (Life is wonderful! Everything is great!). I feel like it shouldn't be this wonderful right now, which sounds kind of weird... but considering all the worry, dread, and fear I "invested" in the idea of going to college, I figure I should be struggling in some way ;). Just kidding. I mean, it's not like everything is great all the time, but for some reason God has provided one thing after another, and just let me have a great, great time so far in college (not necessarily with "college" as in UMHB, but mostly spiritually, and with church and the new relationships I've found, etc.). It's super encouraging, and makes me stop periodically throughout my day and just reflect on His goodness. I know I keep saying this... but I really AM in Good Hands. I'm just going to have to really enjoy this time - on a "mountaintop", perhaps - while I am here. I don't understand...  but, then again, I can't complain!

*****This will be for another post. But it's crazy cool!!

I seriously never thought that I'd love Mondays this much! I don't ever think that I've posted this before, but Mondays are arguably my favorite this semester :). Wednesdays are my least favorite (but they are still usually great! They are only my least favorite because I have three classes back-to-back. I'm not complaining - I know that is actually not bad at all - I'm just saying, if I had to choose a least favorite day it would be Wednesday :). Tuesdays are pretty wonderful, and are my favorite in concerns with what I actually do on those days (OT, Lifegroup!). Fridays are always awesome, and Thursdays are usually pretty nice.

But I love Monday! It always starts out slow and groggy (Design at 9 for 2 hours), but after that all I have is Business for an hour at 12 (which always flies by), and then I'm done! Like, completely done. There's nothing else I ever have to do on Monday. Homework-wise, I usually have to do a little OT, but when it comes to everything else I have an entire day after 1 to do whatever I want! Usually, I nap, read, write letters, work out occasionally, organize, clean, or do laundry. Today, I decided to make this day very productive. So I did laundry (cleaned my sheets! Mama will be proud :), made my bed, organized my stuff, cleaned the sink area, and the like. I also cleaned out my wallet and am trying to configure a budgeting system for myself (since my old "system" didn't work too well!). I am about to Elliptical it up in a few minutes, too :). And then after that... who knows! Maybe I'll finish a book. Write another letter. Go take a walk. Make a phone call. The possibilities are endless! :)


In other news, mom, Beth, and dad left today :(. But this weekend (Family Weekend! Andrew was there too) was spectacular! Cold... but great :). On Friday I even went to the Opera Gala concert thing with Jamie... and it was SO AWESOME! I got a schedule for all the music concert events so I can go to more of those :). Saturday, the fam arrived, and we went to the football game (of course, we creamed the other team), ate at Luigi's with Andrew, and then just hung out at Burt! It was awesome. Sunday, we went to church and ate at Taqueria with Sarah and a few others! :):) It was SO awesome to finally introduce my family to my new church and new people in my life! I feel so much more confident in it all now, because my family really enjoyed it and are behind me 100%! :) I am so blessed.

So, if you couldn't tell, I've been in a pretty good mood lately :). Not sure exactly what it is... all I know is that life is good, and I am, by the grace of God, adjusting well and loving where He has me! I am in good Hands :).

Fun couple of days!

Tonight, I went to the Christian Studies Major/Minors/"Interested"s Cook-out with Becca (a nursing major... but she was nice enough to come with me for support!). It was actually pretty neat! Saw my OT prof (the Dean, Dr. Crawford), and he acknowledged us and we talked with him for a while. We both agree that he is pretty much AWESOME!

And THEN... there's my Freshman Seminar professor, who is actually the Provost... and he didn't even acknowledge us! It was extremely awkward. We're both kind of afraid of him, so we were hiding from him at one point. But when we sat down, he talked to pretty much everyone else at the table BUT us! He didn't even look our way! Sigh. He is extremely intimidating.

ANYways... I actually talked with Dr. (something...), who is the Philosophy professor. I will most likely have to take Intro to Philosophy next semester, so I talked with him a little bit about the class (of course sharing my skepticism :). I think his mission now is to get me to appreciate Philosophy :). And then I talked to Dr. Howard, who actually works with the Graduate School, teaching the Counseling classes and such. I talked with him about my future, and he was VERY supportive of and encouraging about my desires, and we just had a really neat conversation. It was confirming as well, in a lot of ways. So that was all neat stuff :).

After that, I went to Chick-fil-A with some of Lifegroup (well, it was just Sarah, her two children Lucy and Maggie, Joey, Darren, Megan, and Ray), and I was there for about 2 hours. It was a lot of fun! It was so good to have something like that to do (I don't know if you guys knew this, but I have a LOT of time on my hands :), and of course awesome talking with them and getting to know them better, and just fellowship-ing! It was great :).

TOMORROW'S FRIDAY! I'm going to hang out with Carly again at 10, go to chapel, and then take a (most likely super-easy) Business Test. And then I'm freeeeee.

And my family (minus Blake) is coming Saturday!!! I'm elated :).

Goodnight!

So, I've been listening to this song by Jars of Clay lately, and in addition have been working on an article review I'm writing for Old Testament about the marriage metaphor in Hosea, saturated by His jealous love for an unfaithful people. This song actually came on my homework mix that I put on shuffle while I was writing about that subject. It gave me chills! Of course, like most Jars of Clay songs, it's slightly abstract/metaphorical and doesn't make complete sense. In any case, enjoy.

I built another temple to a stranger
I gave away my heart to the rushing wind
I set my course to run right into danger
Sought the company of fools instead of friends

You know I've been unfaithful,
Lovers in lines
While You're turning over tables with the Rage of a Jealous kind
I chose the gallows to the aisle,
Thought that love would never find
Hanging ropes will never keep You
And Your Love of a Jealous kind

Trying to jump away from rock that keeps on spreading
For solace in the shift of the sinking sand
I'd rather feel the pain all too familiar
Than to be broken by a Lover I don't understand,
'Cause I don't understand

One hundred other lovers, more, one hundred other altars
If I should slow my pace and finally subject me to grace
And love that shames the wise, betrays the heart's deceit and lies
And breaks the back of foolish pride

"Keep on coming, with these lines on the road
And keep me responsible, be it a light or heavy load
To keep me guessing, with these blessings in disguise
And I'll walk with Grace my feet and Faith my eyes"

1. Just had a great, long conversation with Kate Weise
2. A job has been provided for me over Christmas break with Mr. Swan
3. Being able to do things like go over to Sarah's house and be with her kids and help her go grocery shopping (training! ;)
4. Having a relatively light course load this semester, so I have time to do things I enjoy and take it slow
5. The spot on a bench overlooking the "lake" by the gazebo and right outside my dorm where I go to enjoy long phone conversations while laying down and looking at the stars
6. A car to drive myself home, and anywhere else I need to go
7. Two full sets of amazing Grandparents, whom I get to see pretty often
8. Two wonderful parents who love Christ, each other, and their family
9. The bathroom connected to my room that only three people have to share
10. Staying healthy in this flu season
11. Never having gotten in an accident (real or even near-) in my almost 2 years of having a license
12. Having a roommate with whom I get along with quite well
13. Wonderful friends back in Cypress
14. Having "Pen pals" who write to me and who I write to here by way of old-fashioned communication (mail), because Facebook (and even email) communication just isn't the same
15. Pentel R.S.V.P pens
16. Promises in His Word to hold on to
17. The ability to talk directly to God
18. This journey I'm on of learning how to listen to God that is stretching me in many ways
19. Friends here in Belton
20. A church home and families here as well
21. My "sophomore in college" best friends whom I still keep in touch with
22. My design today going through the fire of critique and coming out on the other side with Mrs. K's stamp of approval (well, actually, just a "this is very good", with of course some suggestions to make it even better), for the first time!
23. Got a good grade on my first Old Testament test! :)
24. Having sheets, a comforter, and several soft blankets to keep me warm in my dorm, which is often freezing. Many are colder every day and don't have 1/4 of the coverings I do
25. Mint Chocolate Chip ice cream
26. Getting to enjoy and having the ability to use all 5 of my senses; feeling soft things, smelling baked cookies, watching sunrises, tasting fajitas, hearing children's laughter...
27. This season of harvest and waiting and preparation and prayer
28. Cereal (I ate like 3 bowls of it today. Never ceases to amaze me)
29. New passions
30. Computers to type out lists of blessings ;)

"I've never gone a day without a meal / Because I couldn't afford it
Or stood on the corner and begged for pennies / Holding out a sign
Well, call me blessed / But it sure does feel pathetic
'Cause children around the world are hungry now

So would I give up pillows and cable / Clothing and candy
If a girl could have some more to eat?
Would I give up making all this money / Just to have my milk and honey
If a fellow man could get the chance to hear about the King?

There's plenty on this earth to suit our needs
But there will never ever be enough to satisfy our greed
Weigh this heavy on me now 'till I can hardly breathe
And Love through me"
"Love Through Me", Jenny & Tyler

Have a great Tuesday, friends :)

This was an amazing weekend.

Highlights: Zach's birthday party with best friends (including classic Kick the Can at Moore Elementary... some activities never get old!), Skype-ing with Marie, Shopping with Mom and Bethany (and finally buying something new!), Bethany's wonderful play :) (good job, sister!), El Gallo, Del Puebs, seeing Sarah Madden (late Saturday night at her house for like an hour. The only time we were able to see eachother!), finally going to HNW again (after almost 2 months!), getting to lead worship for CYS with dad and Zach (a pleasant surprise), and seeing all four of my AMAZING grandparents (I got to eat with all of them at JB's before I had to leave!).

And now, for some Public Speaking studying (I have to basically just memorize 15 or so lists of mundane information. Shouldn't be too hard, but it'll just be annyoing and take some time), my weekly Design stress and scramble (this week's principle: Grid), and maybe some reading for Old Testament.

Coming up this week (in case anyone cares. This is more for my benefit ;)...

Monday: The slaughter that is "critique time" in Design, and cramming in all the Public Speaking information for Tuesday after classes, working on article review for OT. May go and work out for a little bit.

Tuesday: Sleeping in 'till 9 or so :), weekly Freshman Seminar paper to write, getting to listen to my amazing OT Prof for an hour and a half, Public Speaking Mid-term (this is actually the only class I have a "mid-term" in), Crunch & Pump, LIFEGROUP!

Wednesday: Early Morning Prayer, NOT sleeping through Design like I ironically did last Wednesday after practically having a whole entire day before class at 9:00 (I did EMP, went to HEB, actually ate breakfast at Hardy, and even read a little. I just "rested my eyes" for 20 minutes or so, heard my alarm, and then, next thing I knew, it was 9:30. Of course, after convincing myself that my teacher will not hate me and that I will not fail Design for missing this one class because we were just starting a new project and there was nothing to turn in, I went back to sleep :), suffering through "philosophical discussion" in Freshman Seminar, finishing article review for OT, Zumba, maybe Focus.

Thursday: Sleeping in, trying to not fall asleep in Public Speaking, studying for Business test on Friday, Crunch & Pump.

Friday: A hopefully non-awkward/frustrating Chapel, Business Test, Fiesta in the Quad as a Family Weekend activity (not with my real family, because they are not coming until Saturday. But I'm going to ask Sarah and her husband if they want to be my "parents" and enjoy some free Mexican food with me :).

Saturday: FAMILY COMES! :) I don't know what's all on the schedule... but it's going to be tight! And it will include my very first Crusader game. Woohoo!

Mkay, that's it for now! I should probably get going on my little to-do list. Love you all! This weekend was fun :).