Life

This past week and a half has been completely, totally, crazy. Let's recap:

Last week was the amazing Caroline's 20th birthday! Yippeee! Hours were spent planning, kindnapping, decorating, and celebrating her wonderfulness. 

Here she is with her blindfold on

Group of girls celebrating at The Plush Horse

It was a fun filled 3 days of prep and celebrating. I can honestly say I think we really succeeded in surprising her and making her feel special for her 20th! She is so special herself and she definitely deserved a day to be spoiled and loved on because she loves on us so much and does so much for me and all of her girls.

After that, there was the constant homework that attacked me. I have several huge projects due this week, so that's been a bit stressful. Trying to figure out how to manage my time wisely has been a struggle for me so far this semester.

I think the biggest struggle this past week has just been keeping my emotions in check. Everything has been so up in the air and crazy- my roommate is "going out" with the guy liked for the past 9 months- people have turned out to be different then I thought they were, feelings have been hurt, things said and done, and it's just been crazy roller coaster ride that I am more then ready to get off of. The bad part about this is I've pushed it all aside and haven't dealt with it like I should have. I really didn't even realize how poorly I was doing until talking with my family. Without even realizing it until days later, I had entered into survival mode..which scares me because it's just the beginning of the year.

Through it all though, I've also had the chance to really open up and talk about stuff with this amazing girl:

This is my RA, Lette. She is seriously one of the kindest, sweetest, most genuine people I have ever met. The love she has for God and her heart for Him is so evident in her life and the love she has for us girls is incredible. She is kind of like wonderwoman on steroids. She always has time for her girls and never makes us feel like we're not wanted even when she has tons of things she needs to be doing. She has been such an encouragement to me basically since we've been here. We had our first real conversation at desk one night and we just talked about God and life and classes and our families and just got to know eachother a little bit, which was so cool. That conversation was quickly followed by another, and another, and it's been so awesome to get to spend time with her. She's always there for us girls and she's been there for me to run to so many times already. She's such a blessing and God is really using her in my life.

She also has set an example not just for me but also for all the girls on our floor. She leads our floor Bible Study, which we've only had twice, but it's already incredible. I think God is going to do great things through this Bible Study. We're working through the book of Colossians, and one of the things Lette had us do was (she handed us printed out copies of Colossians 1) and she had us read through it together as a group, but then individually and underline and write all over the paper our thoughts, things that stuck out to us, and more. And then we shared some of those things. It was awesome. God is so good.

I feel like there's alot more I could update on, but sadly I have homework to do and almost 4 hours of class still to go tonight. I've also been told my blog posts are too long, so I'm gonna work on writing shorter posts. Love to all. Till next time.

This song has been quite meaningful to me this week. Something about it... If you're interested in a great band, listen to this song, then go look up Michael Henry and Justin Robinett. They do alot of really amazing covers- this song was originally done by The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus (They sing face down, which is another one of my favorite songs thanks to my roommate who went through a period where she played it all the time) But this song -points below- is amazing. Take a few minutes and listen. 

I will never let you fall

I'll stand up with you forever

I'll be there for you through it all

Even if saving you sends me to heaven

Use me as you will

pull my strings just for a thrill

And I know, I'll be okay

Though my skies are turning gray

I will never let you fall

I'll stand up with you forever

I will be there for you through it all

Even if saving you sends me to heaven 

Move in, 1st week back at Trinity

Well ya'll, I'm back in the 708. This first week back at Trinity has been totally amazing, overwhelming, and so much more. Things are definitely already proving to be different this year-   different dorm, new people, new classes, and this semester will be a challenge, but in a good way I think. It's been good in the sense that I'm having fun being back with my girls but hard in the sense I've had to adjust to having people here that I struggle with having here, and sometimes adjusting hurts. But I'll talk about that in a few minutes. Before I get there, let me show you around my dorm. 

Our bedroom

My bed is the bottom one

my closet on the left and Ashley is on the right

can you guess which desk is mine?

our bathroom that is already eating things.So far i've lost a pair of earrings and my hairbrush. Which gives
me the excuse to loudly sing "Oh where is my hairbrush" every morning and annoy my roommates

our kitchen

roomies

Our room is huge and I love the fact that we now have 1) a microwave in our kitchen and 2) couches. There is something so awesome about being able to come in exhausted from rollerblading or from classes and just being able to plop down on the couch. It's so homey. 

Things are going pretty okay with the 5 of us. We have a new roommate, Ashley, and she fits right on in with us and it almost feels like she's never not been around. It's been hard at times and I've been worried that things are going to end up like the end of last year, but I've really just been trying to trust God with the whole thing and I've been spending as much time with them as I can and trying to deepen the relationships...Hopefully things will go well this year.

Classes are going well so far. This semester I feel like I'm a little in over my head. I'm taking 18 credits, which is normal, but all of my classes are super, super, super hard and come with a ton of work. I'm taking a technology in education class that is a class that tends to cause panic attacks, late night freak outs, and tears. (I haven't experienced it personally, but I've watched and seen girls who have taken it before me beat themselves up about this class) It's a ton of projects and work and I don't mind that too much, but I am worried about being able to keep up with it. I'm taking a intro to special ed class that already has me pulling my hair out. The prof in unorganized, and didn't even give us a syllabus to see when assignments are due and things like that. I think I'll like the class itself because I'm excited to learn about something that's actually in my major, but I am so not the type of person that does well when she doesn't know what's expected of her and what's due when. My philosophy class is going to be boring, but everyone that goes to Trinity who knows about that prof would agree. OH! And I'm taking sign language, which going into I had absolutely no idea how hard and how much work it would be. Learning a language in a semester is going to be so difficult, especially because I have to basically re learn how to speak. (Did you know that the deaf culture uses their eyes in order to show all kinds of things? neither did i.  Did you know American Sign Language is the third most widely used language in the United States? neither did I. ) But while yes it's going to be crazy, I am so excited! I have always wanted to learn sign, so this is perfect! 

Along with managing classes and roommates, I've also had to start to learn to adjust to having my brother's girlfriend here at Trinity with us this year. And I know it shouldn't be a problem, but I've actually had a really, really hard time with it. I feel like she's in my space, doing what I should be doing, hanging out with my friends, and I know it's kind of stupid, but I'm afraid people are going to like her more then they like me so I get really insecure about the whole thing. And she doesn't exactly help when she comments on my clothes, my looks, how I should be better then I am in some areas of my life that I happen to be struggling with right now. I feel like I'm in a constant competition with her here, and I hate that. I know it's a problem, but I just don't know how to change it.  I dont even know. It's hard for me to see people get annoyed with me, but then be fine with her. It's hard for me to let her in to this part of my life. It's something I've been struggling with and praying through with God, but that doesn't make it easy. 

But it's been fantastic being back with my girls. I didn't realize how much I missed Brittany, Abbey, Kaity, Cassandra, and Lori until we were all back together again. They fill my life with fun, laughter, craziness, love, and so much more. Each one of them is very special to me and I am so grateful God has blessed me with such amazing friends.

Well, that's about all that's going on here...I'll update more someday soon