No Classes!!

Yay for no classes!! I woke up this morning at 5:30 am to my phone vibrating with a text message. It said, "(Campus Closed) The University will be closed today, January 28, due to weather. Tune to local media for further information." YAY!!!!!!!! I saw it, rolled over, and fell back asleep. It was nice to be able to sleep in. I slept until about 10:30. I really needed it. 

It snowed about 4 inches on top of the 2-4 inches of snow/ice already on the ground. Lots of trees around campus have huge limbs lying all over the ground. We watched one huge branch fall in the front oval last night. Very loud and kinda scared me a whole lot. Its been doing that all night/day. A tree right outside Kayla & Anna's room lost a limb and then twisted and bent completely in half. I about fell a million times last night, it was getting very slick. We were really hoping it would start snowing while we were still exploring, but that didn't happen. Oh well, it eventually snowed.

Thus far today, I've taken pictures from Kayla and Anna's room. The view from their room is absolutely beautiful! I haven't technically been outside yet, but we opened the window and took pictures from there. It felt very cold, so we decided not to go outside yet. None of us wanted to walk to short distance to Ridgway for lunch, so we ate in the room. Anna and I had Ramen Noodles, and Kayla had a PB & J sandwich. And now we are watching Sydney White. Then we might go outside and play in the snow. I've been uploading snow/ice pictures to my MacBook and then putting them on Facebook. I think I'll add a few to "the blog" later.

Ice Day?

Ice Day? Or snow day? Well, it's nice and icy out there. It snowed and there was freezing rain. Very hard to walk, I basically ice-skated all the way back from class this morning. But it's an extremely beautiful sight. I think Kayla, Kate and I are going to take pictures shortly.

This week has been better, now that everything seems to be taken care of. Monday morning, my dad came all the way to Evansville to have breakfast with me. We went to IHOP. Breakfast with my dad can make anything better. I love him for being the best dad ever. He brought me some money to pay for my new key and new student i.d. After he brought me back to school, the day was suddenly brighter. I wasn't worried about my stuff. I wasn't freaking out anymore. There are other things that I need to focus on, especially my schoolwork. As soon as Residence Life opened at 8 am, I was there, ready to have a key made. I made my request and headed to work. I made a few transparencies and studied art. I went to anatomy & then art. I had lunch and worked on my paper for FYS. Then I went to FYS, which was a lecture on Hinduism. Kinda interesting, got the wheels in my brain turning. After FYS, Kayla and I trekked to Safety & Security to get me a new student i.d. That was only $5, plus I got to keep my old picture, which was good cause I really liked that picture. Then I went to pick up my new room key. (I will be receiving the $25 bill for that shortly.) I then preceded to Old National Bank to order a new debit card. The lady at the bank was super nice and extremely helpful. (Plus no charge for a new card! Woooo!) That was the extent of replacing everything I could at the time. I still need to head home sometime this week/weekend to get a new driver's license. 

Last night, we went to Hacienda for College Mentors for Kids. Molly and Anna are in it and they were having a donation thing at Hacienda. We had a large group (Kayla, Anna, Molly, Kate, Rachel, Lacey, Jessica, and I) there and it was extremely fun. We laughed a lot and told silly secrets. :) We came outside afterwards, and the freezing rain had started. I helped scrape Anna's windshield, very icy. We dropped off a few of the friends and then went to PetSmart. Anna had wanted a fish for the longest time, and I needed to replace my beloved Fransisco. So we got to PetSmart, and as soon as I got to the goldfish fish tank, I found the perfect fish. His name is Fredrick, and he's super adorable. He's white with a little bit of red and enormous black eyes. He's already swimming and interacting more than Fransisco did. I feel like he's gunna last longer. Anna got Belle, a regular orange goldfish. She's pretty cute as well, kinda looks like Ted (Kayla's goldfish). That was a fun trip.

Today, I woke up to snow/ice on the ground. I was ecstatic!!!! I checked my phone for a text message saying classes were cancelled. Nothing. I proceeded to open my laptop and check for an email. Nothing. I was highly disappointed. I really wanted to not have to go to class. So I got ready and headed to my 9 am lab. As I got outside, I realized it was still freezing rain. Not fun walking to an early morning lab. But I actually enjoyed the lab today, we got to look at hearts. Pretty interesting. Still freezing rain as I left lab and headed back to my dorm room. I got back to my room, watched Good Morning America, anxiously checking my email every 5 minutes hoping for an email saying no classes. No such luck. I went to Psychology, barely paying attention, which is ok because everything he talks about is in the lecture notes. Check my phone as I'm leaving class and find out campus is shutting down at 3 pm. WOO! This was exciting, except I was done for the day. Oh well, maybe tomorrow's classes will be cancelled. I spent the rest of the afternoon, laying in my bed watching Full House and Gilmore Girls. Eventually falling asleep for about an hour. A nap is always needed. :)

Going to explore the icy wonderland! Pictures later!! :D

Seriously?

This has been a lovely week/weekend. I went home last weekend, and I was sick pretty much the whole weekend. But I got to spend time with my family. It was nice. No school on Monday, I stayed home until 4, then I headed back to school. I went to a choir singing for Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. It was very good. The choir consisted of quite a few black kids. They were super cute, and extremely good at singing.

I worked Tuesday-Friday at my new job. I really enjoy where I work. All the professors in the Foreign Language department are really nice, and are really trying to help me adjust. I've made a few copies, sent a couple of faxes, and hung up some fliers around campus. Not a whole lot for me to do. Every Friday, one of the professors' husband makes bread for the whole office. It was delicious. 

School was pretty good this week. I had an anatomy quiz on Wednesday, a psychology test on Thursday and an art test on Friday. I feel pretty confident about all 3. Classes seemed to go by quickly for some reason, no matter the reason, it was nice for the week to go by fast.

Friday night, I went to Angela's dorm to hang out. We played Mario Kart on her roommate's Nintendo 64. It was a lot of fun, even though I'm not very good. I think I lost every time. We played for a while, then had some pizza. One of her roommates and her boyfriend came over and we watched "The Break-Up." We had a good time. I didn't get back to my dorm until 1am. When I got back to my dorm, I found my fish, Fransisco, floating at the top of his bowl. I was real sad. He only lived 3 weeks. I fed him everyday, and cleaned his bowl once a week like the instructions said. I don't know what happened. Oh well, I'll just go buy another $2 fish.

Saturday, I slept in until 1pm. Mario Kart wore me out, haha. I spent most of the day laying around, watching television. Kayla and I went to eat dinner. Then we went to the mall to hang out with Angela while she was at work. I was trying on shoes and looking at clothes. While I was trying on shoes, my keys fell out of my pocket. I meant to pick them up, but I forgot somewhere along the way while I was trying the shoes on. The next thing I know, we were getting ready to leave and I reached for my keys and they weren't in my pocket. We searched the whole store. They were nowhere to be found. I left my name with the people that work there. You see, I didn't just lose my car keys, but my dorm room key, my student i.d., my driver's license and my two debit cards. Let's just say, I was a little upset and mad at myself. Things like this always happen to me. I can't just lose my car key, I have to lose everything important. I had to call Old National Bank and block my debit card. I have to wait until tomorrow morning to talk to Residence Life here on campus so I can get a new key and a new student i.d. And I'll be going home sometime this week to get a new driver's license. 

This morning, I drove the short distance to Bethel Temple for church. I couldn't decide if I should go since I don't have a driver's license. But in the end, I decided I should since I drive responsibly and Bethel is not too far from my school. I'm glad I did. I was feeling rather pathetic and irritated with myself. I just felt like this always happens to me, never anyone else. Well, at Bethel, they are in a series called Ignite. This week was about Worship. Pastor Brett read from Psalm 147. "Praise the Lord" is at the beginning and the end of Psalm 146, 147, 148, 149 & 150. He summed up the book of Psalm as, worship God because He is worthy and He loves us. God created everything, not just the pretty sunset, but every little thing. Worship starts wherever you are, and then you move towards God. I realized I was overreacting about losing my keys and stuff. I was not worshipping God in my actions. I was being self-absorbed. God had a purpose in everything. Losing my stuff was insignificant in the spectrum of things. I can get a new driver's license. I can buy a new student i.d. I can buy a new key to my dorm. I can get a new debit card. I need to worship God in everything I do.

This morning we sang the Revelation Song. It is one of my favorites. I'll leave with the lyrics.

The Revelation Song

Worthy is the, Lamb who was slain

Holy, Holy is He

Sing a new song, to Him who sits on

Heaven's mercy seat

Holy, Holy, Holy

Is the Lord God Almighty

Who was, and is, and is to come

With all creation I sing

Praise to the King of Kings

You are my everything

And I will adore You

Clothed in rainbows, of living color

Flashes of lightning, rolls of thunder

Blessing and honor, strength and glory and power be

to You the only wise King

Holy, Holy, Holy

Is the Lord God Almighty

Who was, and is, and is to come

With all creation I sing

Praise to the King of Kings

You are my everything

And I will adore you

Filled with wonder, awestruck wonder

At the mention of Your name

Jesus, Your name is power

Breath, and living water

Such a marvelous mystery

Yeah!

Holy, Holy, Holy

Is the Lord God Almighty

Who was, and is, and is to come

With all creation I sing

Praise to the King of Kings

You are my everything

And I will adore You

Friday already?

I can't hardly believe it is already Friday. I can barely believe that I have already started my second semester of college. This year is starting off quick. February will be here before I know it and then school will be done. Oh wow, I'm getting way ahead of myself.

This has been a grand week. I have been going to classes, studying, working out, and working. It's been a pretty busy week. I started working out in the gym on campus on Tuesday. I feel ten million times better after I've been working out. It just takes some of the stress from all my classes. I also got a job this week on Thursday morning. I am working in the Foreign Language Department on campus. I do all the little things the secretary and professors need me to do, such as copying papers and the like. It's pretty easy and I only work 7 hours a week. It's not a whole lot, but it's a job and I'm making some money. I applied at Barnes & Noble, Build-A-Bear, and Old Navy. I haven't heard anything back yet, but I'm hoping I do soon. I would like to have some more money so I can spend spring break with my grandparents in Florida. That would be awesome! Cause while I'm there, I would like to interview to work at Disney World this summer. That would be the best job in the whole entire world!! I have already applied, but I need to interview in Orlando. This isn't really possible at the moment, since I'm in Evansville not Orlando.....

Tonight, I have SCF, Student Christian Fellowship. It's the Christian fellowship on campus. I haven't been in a long time. It seems that I always have something going on during the same time. I have made it a priority tonight. I need to start hanging out with more Christians on campus. I like my friends, but not very many of them are Christians, which means there isn't really anyone to help keep me accountable in my walk. I need this.

After SCF, I am headed home. Monday is MLK day, which means no classes for me. I am going to go home and chill for a while. I just need a break, even though this semester just started. I tend to get a little discouraged about Anatomy. Sometimes I feel like I know it, but others I am completely lost. I'm trying my hardest, and I think I will be able to make it through it. I hope to hang out with my BFFs while I'm home. I really miss Ang & Jack, and Erin & Cacy. Once I'm at school, I rarely get to see them, except on weekends. Evansville is just far enough away from home, that I don't really see them. Thank goodness school is only from Monday to Friday. :) 

Sunday night is going to be a slumber party. My little girls from church want to have a slumber party with me, Jackie and Angela. Gracie, Kaylynn, Beth Ellen, and Eva are all going to be there. I'm really looking forward to it. These little girls are my favorite. They can always make my day. They have influenced my life with God. I see their confidence and faith, which reassures me of mine. I love them like they are my own little sisters.

first monday of school

Today was my first Monday back at school. I actually started on the odd day of last Wednesday. It has been pretty good thus far. All my classes seem to be going well. I have decided to buckle down and study more this semester. I am going to kick butt in all my classes. I have been going to the library and hiding away for hours at a time to study. I think it is helping a whole lot. I really enjoy my art class. It is Introduction to Visual Arts. Right now, we are learning about a lot of history of art and the social aspects surrounding it. It is quite interesting. (At least, I seem to think so.) 

This weekend was pretty exciting. On Friday night, I went out with Angela, Jackie, Jason, Erin and Cacy. We went to Olive Garden, even though the wait was 40-50 minutes. It was well worth the wait. After Olive Garden, we went ice-skating. It was so much fun. I had not been skating in probably a year. Ice-skating hurt my feet & my legs, but I had a blast with my friends. I enjoyed standing in the middle taking pictures of the rest of them. Someone had to capture the fun. :)

Then, on Saturday night, I went out with Ame and friends. They were coming to Evansville, and Ame did not want to the 7th wheel. So I told her I would hang out with them. We went to Logan's and then ice-skating. My legs & feet really hate me for going two days in a row. Not smart on my part. I still had fun. :)

Sunday meant church time. I was really ready for Sunday to finally roll around. I've been missing Bethel Temple. The worship is truly amazing. It sweeps me off my feet and I'm dancing around praising! I love it!! From the first time I attended, I knew I would love it there. This Sunday, Pastor Brett was talking about IGNITE. Getting on fire in this new year. He gave 3 tips for igniting in 2009: 

1. Be bold!

2. Run to the battle

3. Find which way the crowd is going and go the other direction

I am excited about 2009. I want to ignite this year. I want to draw closer to God and spend more time with Him. I am looking to make time in my schedule. He deserves more time than anything else. I tend to place other things, such as homework, tv, friends, etc. before God. I have got to get my priorities in line. I know with His help and guidance I can do it.

I'll leave with these lyrics from one of my favorite worship songs we sing at Bethel. :)

Stronger By Hillsong

There is a love that came for us

Humbled to a sinner's cross

You broke my shame and sinfulness

You rose again victorious

Faithfulness none can deny

Through the storm and through the fire

There is truth that sets me free

Jesus Christ who lives in me

You are stronger

You are stronger

Sin is broken

You have saved me

It is written Christ is risen

Jesus, You are Lord of all

No beginning and no end

You're my hope and my defense

You came to seek and save the lost

You paid it all upon the cross

So let Your name be lifted higher

Be lifted higher, be lifted higher