I have picked up running.
Let me just pause for a moment.
Let that sink in.
Actually, can I say that again??
I have picked up running.
I'm shocked.
Enough said.
Sunday, August 27, 2006
Thursday, August 24, 2006
College
Hello from Belhaven!!! I have been so busy that I have hardly had any time to spend blogging. This week has been packed with activities already, and classes just started today!! Anyway, I thought I would just share some reflections and tell y'all a little about this week, if you're interested.
Wow. I can't believe it's finally here! It's insane. O.k., so probably the most fun I've had so far was doing the huge slip and slide that started at the top of the "bowl" and slid into it. It was huge, steep, and awesome. I got very wet and soapy and sore (it hurts to move my arms and neck...), but I would do it again in a heartbeat. I think it is going to be hard to not overload myself with activities. There is so much to do on top of classes and homework, plus there is always things done "on the fly." As far as classes go, I have a pretty easy schedule. For instance, on Thursdays (like today), I only have one class, and it is done by around 10:30-ish. I only have one eight o'clock class (on Fridays). I am done by 2 (at the latest) everyday, except for Tuesday when I have a night class. I'm looking forward to the semester, and for all the different friends and fun things, etc....
I would like to ask for prayer as I go headfirst into the semester. Belhaven's president challenged us (my freshman class) to rejoice in our trials and problems, which will most definitely come, and to respond to them, not run away. Through them we will gain experience and insight and wisdom. I am not a conflict person. I avoid it if possible. I need prayer that I would stick through and enjoy the ride, complete with all of the problems that come my way. I so desperately want to grow in Christ, and I want to grow in depth of character, but I'm scared and need God's help.
Other than that, I am having tons of fun and am very excited for the rest of the year. I have met a lot of very sweet people here, and I look forward to developing relationships with them. For those of you who do facebook, I will have it by the end of next week. The computer people are working on getting our email accounts set up, so we can't do it now. Also, I would like to post a slideshow of college, but I have to take some pictures first. The campus is so beautiful and so much fun to walk around and enjoy.
Pray also for my stomach, because it doesn't enjoy the food or the climate. That's kind of funny, I know, but also a little annoying.
Part of the reason I've enjoyed this first week so much is because I've gotten to present myself as I am. At home, I have known almost everyone for a long time. As I have grown, my personality has changed, but it's hard to change outwardly among people who have known you since you were about eight. (At least, it is for me.) I don't know if anyone can relate, but here I feel like my true self is actually shown, and I've never really felt that way before (except in my home). And as far as meeting people, everyone is at least friendly to your face. It's not like at public school where you can only talk to a few people because the rest don't care or don't feel like meeting others. At Belhaven, everyone is introducing themselves to everyone else and making friends is really easy. I love the environment and the heat and the campus and everything.
Sorry this post is so random. I was just typing thoughts as they came to mind. Hopefully I will get a slideshow posted soon.
Wow. I can't believe it's finally here! It's insane. O.k., so probably the most fun I've had so far was doing the huge slip and slide that started at the top of the "bowl" and slid into it. It was huge, steep, and awesome. I got very wet and soapy and sore (it hurts to move my arms and neck...), but I would do it again in a heartbeat. I think it is going to be hard to not overload myself with activities. There is so much to do on top of classes and homework, plus there is always things done "on the fly." As far as classes go, I have a pretty easy schedule. For instance, on Thursdays (like today), I only have one class, and it is done by around 10:30-ish. I only have one eight o'clock class (on Fridays). I am done by 2 (at the latest) everyday, except for Tuesday when I have a night class. I'm looking forward to the semester, and for all the different friends and fun things, etc....
I would like to ask for prayer as I go headfirst into the semester. Belhaven's president challenged us (my freshman class) to rejoice in our trials and problems, which will most definitely come, and to respond to them, not run away. Through them we will gain experience and insight and wisdom. I am not a conflict person. I avoid it if possible. I need prayer that I would stick through and enjoy the ride, complete with all of the problems that come my way. I so desperately want to grow in Christ, and I want to grow in depth of character, but I'm scared and need God's help.
Other than that, I am having tons of fun and am very excited for the rest of the year. I have met a lot of very sweet people here, and I look forward to developing relationships with them. For those of you who do facebook, I will have it by the end of next week. The computer people are working on getting our email accounts set up, so we can't do it now. Also, I would like to post a slideshow of college, but I have to take some pictures first. The campus is so beautiful and so much fun to walk around and enjoy.
Pray also for my stomach, because it doesn't enjoy the food or the climate. That's kind of funny, I know, but also a little annoying.
Part of the reason I've enjoyed this first week so much is because I've gotten to present myself as I am. At home, I have known almost everyone for a long time. As I have grown, my personality has changed, but it's hard to change outwardly among people who have known you since you were about eight. (At least, it is for me.) I don't know if anyone can relate, but here I feel like my true self is actually shown, and I've never really felt that way before (except in my home). And as far as meeting people, everyone is at least friendly to your face. It's not like at public school where you can only talk to a few people because the rest don't care or don't feel like meeting others. At Belhaven, everyone is introducing themselves to everyone else and making friends is really easy. I love the environment and the heat and the campus and everything.
Sorry this post is so random. I was just typing thoughts as they came to mind. Hopefully I will get a slideshow posted soon.
Monday, August 21, 2006
Vacation
Hey Everyone!!! Let's hear it for the first post after Aug. 19! Yup, I'm finally here at *gasp* college, but before a post on that I'm going to write a post on our family vacation, leading up to this time.
Note Bene: This is mainly for the benefit of my family. Don't feel obliged to read the whole thing. If you do, don't be alarmed if you are so bored that a game of Monopoly seems fast paced and exciting. We had an excellent time, but I just wanted to share some reflections.
Day 1: Thursday
Leave at 8:30 (goal was 8), stop at Dad's parents at 1-ish, then go to Mom's parents for night. Arrive there 6-ish. (Make really good time.)
Highlights: Last visit before college...good 'cause it's been awhile; real beds and comfortable place to sleep; really good food.
Lowlights: Car...; seeing my poor aunt, saying goodbye.
Day 2: Friday
Leave grandparent's at 9:30 (aimed for 9). Travel stops here and there, until pulling into our hotel at close to 10 p.m.
Highlights: Bug-nicknames (mine was "Lizard-breath"); iPod; HOV lane; Starbucks : ); sleep; really comfortable bed at hotel*; 'You've Got Mail' on TV.
Lowlights: Really cramped legs; more goodbyes; really looooonnnnnngggggg day...
Day 3: Saturday
Leave around 9:30 again (goal 9). Travel travel travel travel...reach destination around 4:30-5-ish.
Highlights: fairly o.k. continental breakfast; lots of sleep in car; McDonald's coffee (ok, too bad Starbuck's was yesterday); lots of rain and thunder to drive through (pretty awesome); nice Applebee's dinner.
Lowlights: Not avery good place to be in (stuff falling apart, a promised room-switch tomorrow); don't feel too good; huge scary bridge to cross multiple times, missing crucial turn;...
Day 4: Sunday
Wake up around 9:50, church at 11, only Dad goes...walk, swim, rain, rain, rain, movie.
Highlights: Move to a slightly better suite (ok, so much better); quick swim in huge outdoor pool in the rain; drive to grocery store and get cool food; great spaghetti dinner; Whoonu game.
Lowlights: Still don't feel very good; a tired, lazy, let's-sit-around-and-talk-about-what-we-can-do day (but of course not really doing anything) (not my personality...).
Day 5: Monday
Wake up after 10, eat breakfast, plan to take a day out on the "town", beach, pool, another island for dinner/shopping.
Highlights: Scaring gulls into a very fast sidestep so they could get away but still keep me in sight (very funny...had to be there); fun gift shops; really warm ocean water and really hot exfoliating sand scrub for feet; beautiful sunny day (hurrah!!); good icecream at a quaint olde shoppe; flavored tootsie rolls (fav. vanilla); excellent dinner at a not-so-ingeneously named restaurant: Gnat's Landing; beautiful starry sky.
Lowlights: Head ache; late late late start to day; lots of driving and stopping and piling in and out of car...
Day 6: Tuesday
Late morning, beach at 12 until around 3, showers, minigolf, Outback, laundry.
Highlights: "The shelf" jokes; hole in one; bigger waves; large dinner; water (fresh); beautiful day.
Lowlights: Currently sporting the "Lobster-red" look, lots of icky sand and gross saltwater. (At the very public showers some girls offered me the use of their shampoo...very, very tempting.)
Day 7: Wednesday
Last full day, after we decided that driving 700 miles in one day was an insanity, especially for our family. (Good move, I say.) Sunrise (I slept through); 9 o'clock nature walk (slept through that one, too); breakfast; beach; fake nails; in-home dinner; packing; drive to driftwood beach.
Highlights: Beautiful day, saw another youthgroup on beach (good memories); called Lea; lots of pictures (beach mode works best); found a funny comic; good family time.
Lowlights: Deeper burn; soles of feet burned...ouch (don't ask).
Day 8: Thursday - Day 10: Saturday and Belhaven!!
"On the road again..."
*I had horrible sleeping time, so the times I got a good night's sleep are really important and monuemental (sp?) to my time...:)
I will post a slideshow as soon as I finish it.
Note Bene: This is mainly for the benefit of my family. Don't feel obliged to read the whole thing. If you do, don't be alarmed if you are so bored that a game of Monopoly seems fast paced and exciting. We had an excellent time, but I just wanted to share some reflections.
Day 1: Thursday
Leave at 8:30 (goal was 8), stop at Dad's parents at 1-ish, then go to Mom's parents for night. Arrive there 6-ish. (Make really good time.)
Highlights: Last visit before college...good 'cause it's been awhile; real beds and comfortable place to sleep; really good food.
Lowlights: Car...; seeing my poor aunt, saying goodbye.
Day 2: Friday
Leave grandparent's at 9:30 (aimed for 9). Travel stops here and there, until pulling into our hotel at close to 10 p.m.
Highlights: Bug-nicknames (mine was "Lizard-breath"); iPod; HOV lane; Starbucks : ); sleep; really comfortable bed at hotel*; 'You've Got Mail' on TV.
Lowlights: Really cramped legs; more goodbyes; really looooonnnnnngggggg day...
Day 3: Saturday
Leave around 9:30 again (goal 9). Travel travel travel travel...reach destination around 4:30-5-ish.
Highlights: fairly o.k. continental breakfast; lots of sleep in car; McDonald's coffee (ok, too bad Starbuck's was yesterday); lots of rain and thunder to drive through (pretty awesome); nice Applebee's dinner.
Lowlights: Not avery good place to be in (stuff falling apart, a promised room-switch tomorrow); don't feel too good; huge scary bridge to cross multiple times, missing crucial turn;...
Day 4: Sunday
Wake up around 9:50, church at 11, only Dad goes...walk, swim, rain, rain, rain, movie.
Highlights: Move to a slightly better suite (ok, so much better); quick swim in huge outdoor pool in the rain; drive to grocery store and get cool food; great spaghetti dinner; Whoonu game.
Lowlights: Still don't feel very good; a tired, lazy, let's-sit-around-and-talk-about-what-we-can-do day (but of course not really doing anything) (not my personality...).
Day 5: Monday
Wake up after 10, eat breakfast, plan to take a day out on the "town", beach, pool, another island for dinner/shopping.
Highlights: Scaring gulls into a very fast sidestep so they could get away but still keep me in sight (very funny...had to be there); fun gift shops; really warm ocean water and really hot exfoliating sand scrub for feet; beautiful sunny day (hurrah!!); good icecream at a quaint olde shoppe; flavored tootsie rolls (fav. vanilla); excellent dinner at a not-so-ingeneously named restaurant: Gnat's Landing; beautiful starry sky.
Lowlights: Head ache; late late late start to day; lots of driving and stopping and piling in and out of car...
Day 6: Tuesday
Late morning, beach at 12 until around 3, showers, minigolf, Outback, laundry.
Highlights: "The shelf" jokes; hole in one; bigger waves; large dinner; water (fresh); beautiful day.
Lowlights: Currently sporting the "Lobster-red" look, lots of icky sand and gross saltwater. (At the very public showers some girls offered me the use of their shampoo...very, very tempting.)
Day 7: Wednesday
Last full day, after we decided that driving 700 miles in one day was an insanity, especially for our family. (Good move, I say.) Sunrise (I slept through); 9 o'clock nature walk (slept through that one, too); breakfast; beach; fake nails; in-home dinner; packing; drive to driftwood beach.
Highlights: Beautiful day, saw another youthgroup on beach (good memories); called Lea; lots of pictures (beach mode works best); found a funny comic; good family time.
Lowlights: Deeper burn; soles of feet burned...ouch (don't ask).
Day 8: Thursday - Day 10: Saturday and Belhaven!!
"On the road again..."
*I had horrible sleeping time, so the times I got a good night's sleep are really important and monuemental (sp?) to my time...:)
I will post a slideshow as soon as I finish it.
Saturday, August 19, 2006
college news
Does anyone out there have any do's or don'ts of college?? Anything I should watch out for??
This will be up until I leave...
This will be up until I leave...
Tuesday, August 01, 2006
Update...
Ok, so this is probably the last post between now and college. My next will be a quick recap of vaca with my fam, and then a short review of the first week at school. We leave August 10 to head down, stopping at grandparents' and an island of the coast Georgia along the way.
Please pray for me as I head off, for two things:
1) That I would have wisdom discerning truth. I think that going to a Christian school would be so easy for me to cop out on discernment. However, I think a lot of people will claim to be "Christian" and have very skewed ideas of theology. They will have a perfect argument, too, with a Biblical backup and everything. My prayer is that I would not be led astray from the truth of the Gospel, and that I would have discernment enough to distinguish God's Word from man's.
2) In light of number one, I would like prayer that I would not become arrogant about my knowledge of the Bible. I have been so blessed to grow up in a church that preaches the Gospel and that takes pains to make sure the Gospel is taught to everyone and through every ministry. However, my knowledge of God is so small compared with what's out there and especially in comparison with God's depth of character. Nonetheless, my knowledge is probably more than what a lot of the freshmen will have. I need to not be arrogant. I want to be continually humbling myself before God. I need to be reminded that I am a speck on a bigger speck that is in a small speck of God's huge and wonderful creation.
Thank you so much, and a special thanks to all of those in my church body. I would not be where I am if you all were not a part of the picture. It is because of my immediate church body that I came to faith, and it is because of that same body that I have grown in the way that I have. Thank you, thank you, thank you. Thank you, God, for all the blessings you have showered down on me.
Please pray for me as I head off, for two things:
1) That I would have wisdom discerning truth. I think that going to a Christian school would be so easy for me to cop out on discernment. However, I think a lot of people will claim to be "Christian" and have very skewed ideas of theology. They will have a perfect argument, too, with a Biblical backup and everything. My prayer is that I would not be led astray from the truth of the Gospel, and that I would have discernment enough to distinguish God's Word from man's.
2) In light of number one, I would like prayer that I would not become arrogant about my knowledge of the Bible. I have been so blessed to grow up in a church that preaches the Gospel and that takes pains to make sure the Gospel is taught to everyone and through every ministry. However, my knowledge of God is so small compared with what's out there and especially in comparison with God's depth of character. Nonetheless, my knowledge is probably more than what a lot of the freshmen will have. I need to not be arrogant. I want to be continually humbling myself before God. I need to be reminded that I am a speck on a bigger speck that is in a small speck of God's huge and wonderful creation.
Thank you so much, and a special thanks to all of those in my church body. I would not be where I am if you all were not a part of the picture. It is because of my immediate church body that I came to faith, and it is because of that same body that I have grown in the way that I have. Thank you, thank you, thank you. Thank you, God, for all the blessings you have showered down on me.
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