One more shift at work to get through.
A few more errands to run.
A lot more clothes to pack.
Soon a fresh school year shall commence.
I'm not usually one for New Year's resolutions because, as a student, I feel that the year begins at the end of August.
Therefore, I must now declare my "New Year's" (more like "school year's) resolutions.
This task is quite a simple one for me because it all falls under one word: dedication.
Classes this semester are no longer the simple blow-off gen-ed classes of freshmen year. It's time to get down to business. (*singing* Let's get down to business! To defeat....the Hunsssss)
I have two Biology classes and my first Nursing class to conquer, which in no way will be simple.
I also have a job on campus this summer, although it's not your typical on-campus job. It will require my CNA skills more than anything, which I love to use. It'll be time consuming, yet rewarding. I just need to keep reminding myself of the benefit and that I need to keep at it!
An area of my life that could definitely use some help in the dedication department is my physical health. I have been overweight since as long as I can remember, and did I ever like it? Absolutely not! And despite my efforts, it seems that my problem comes down to the fact that I am for some reason not displaying enough dedication to losing weight and becoming a more healthy human being. Last school year, I did well at working out often and eating healthier. I am proud to say that I lost the freshmen fifteen as opposed to gaining it! However, this summer, I have fallen back into old patterns and habits, which is simply no good. Time to hop on the band wagon and try again!
Another problem area is my faith. Well, not my faith exactly, my faith isn't what is faltering. Rather my devotional life is lacking in a steady rhythm. I mean, am I the only one who forgets to read the Bible everyday? Or is this a common struggle? If so, how in the world do I fix this problem? I know God is forgiving, but He has to get sick of forgiving me over and over for forgetting to read His word! I like reading my Bible, it's just that I forget! Simple as that. Something I've got to work on.
This year, I just want to be more dedicated to being a more well-rounded student. I want to exceed in my classes, but also be involved in social activities on campus. I want to reserve time for myself and my improvement, while also having an open door to friends and peers in need. I want to give time for my health: mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual. Overall, I want to be dedicated to maintaining the balance required in any person's life. I'm told that's what college is all about! Finding your balance, how you run things, and being able to maintain it.
Thanks for the read! :)
Thursday, August 21, 2014
Thursday, July 24, 2014
2 am thoughts
2 am. Upstairs. Assisted living. She's over 100 and still walking. 8 hours of being a lump on her couch. Bathroom trips for both when needed.
A ticking clock. Bible on the desk. A man praying on the wall.
What does one do while sitting up all night watching an elderly woman rest peacefully?
Poetry, based on my surroundings of course.
I am a fickle being; you are the sturdy vine
I am ever unfaithful; you love the runaway bride
I say the sun is mighty, while you are in control
I claim to be a saint, while mold spawns in my soul
Life seems so full, yet I feel empty inside
That's when you reach down, and I have nothing to hide
Before a thought has been birthed in my brain,
You know it completely, you feel all my pain
Because you know what we've been through, you've felt it before
You've seen how life beats us down and makes us so sore
I love you for that, only not every day
For I may be your child, but I tend to run away
So forgive me Father, please pull me back
For I need you here when I'm under attack
For the lion is lurking, and I am the prey
Protect me Father, under your wings I will stay
But don't ever forget me, for I could possibly stray
I am not proud of this, but that's simply the way
Christians sometimes are, which isn't right
So give us your strength as we fight the good fight
I'm not the greatest poet, but hey, when the Spirit moves you, you just have to write.
Thanks for reading, God bless:)
A ticking clock. Bible on the desk. A man praying on the wall.
What does one do while sitting up all night watching an elderly woman rest peacefully?
Poetry, based on my surroundings of course.
I am a fickle being; you are the sturdy vine
I am ever unfaithful; you love the runaway bride
I say the sun is mighty, while you are in control
I claim to be a saint, while mold spawns in my soul
Life seems so full, yet I feel empty inside
That's when you reach down, and I have nothing to hide
Before a thought has been birthed in my brain,
You know it completely, you feel all my pain
Because you know what we've been through, you've felt it before
You've seen how life beats us down and makes us so sore
I love you for that, only not every day
For I may be your child, but I tend to run away
So forgive me Father, please pull me back
For I need you here when I'm under attack
For the lion is lurking, and I am the prey
Protect me Father, under your wings I will stay
But don't ever forget me, for I could possibly stray
I am not proud of this, but that's simply the way
Christians sometimes are, which isn't right
So give us your strength as we fight the good fight
I'm not the greatest poet, but hey, when the Spirit moves you, you just have to write.
Thanks for reading, God bless:)
Wednesday, June 11, 2014
Stained to be pure
I have mixed feelings about my dad's day off. Usually it entails him waking us earlier than usual and setting us on jobs in yardwork and housework.
Yesterday, despite the rain, was no different. I went outside to find Dylan scraping old paint off the porch and later priming and painting it yet again. Caleb was sent to work on the shed.
My task? Staining wood to be put in our kitchen where we knocked out a wall this winter.
I had never stained wood before, but it seemed pretty simple after Dad explained it and showed me what to do.
I jumped right in, honestly feeling like an artist even though I was simply smearing a dark, sticky substance onto a board with a rag.
Double and triple checking the edges and the evenness, I continued until all the boards were successful and beautifully stained.
Dad came into the garage to evaluate my work, said it was okay, and proceeded to show me how to put on the shiny, sealant stuff. (Nice terminology, huh?)
After one coat yesterday, and another today. Dad seemed disappointed. I was scrubbing my hands with baby oil to get the sticky stuff off when he came in and said the wood wasn't dark enough.
'Not dark enough?' I thought. 'You said it was fine yesterday.'
Staring at the not-quite-perfect wood, I started thinking about the similarities between me and this plank.
Just wait, it'll make sense in a minute!
We start off like a simple blank piece of wood. Sure, we are already sinful, but other outside influences haven't found us yet, stained us if you will.
See what I'm saying?
We are vulnerable to outside influences, and as Christians we have to choose to allow only good influences in, like God and His word.
We need to dive into God's word to allow it to stain us, change us. But one coat is not enough, even after double and triple checking. Every time we read the Bible, we can learn something new. Even pastors learn new things when they study the Word. If we allow good things to seep into our souls, we will be ready for the sealant at the end of our lives, which will hopefully mean heaven rather than the hell that we deserve. And it's no quick feat, it requires a lot of time and diligence.
Let good things influence you. Let the Word seep into you every single day, no matter how difficult. God wants to stain us, which will actually make us more pure in His eyes.
I don't know if this metaphor made any sense to you, but it just popped into my head and something told me to share it:)
Thanks for reading!
Yesterday, despite the rain, was no different. I went outside to find Dylan scraping old paint off the porch and later priming and painting it yet again. Caleb was sent to work on the shed.
My task? Staining wood to be put in our kitchen where we knocked out a wall this winter.
I had never stained wood before, but it seemed pretty simple after Dad explained it and showed me what to do.
I jumped right in, honestly feeling like an artist even though I was simply smearing a dark, sticky substance onto a board with a rag.
Double and triple checking the edges and the evenness, I continued until all the boards were successful and beautifully stained.
Dad came into the garage to evaluate my work, said it was okay, and proceeded to show me how to put on the shiny, sealant stuff. (Nice terminology, huh?)
After one coat yesterday, and another today. Dad seemed disappointed. I was scrubbing my hands with baby oil to get the sticky stuff off when he came in and said the wood wasn't dark enough.
'Not dark enough?' I thought. 'You said it was fine yesterday.'
Staring at the not-quite-perfect wood, I started thinking about the similarities between me and this plank.
Just wait, it'll make sense in a minute!
We start off like a simple blank piece of wood. Sure, we are already sinful, but other outside influences haven't found us yet, stained us if you will.
See what I'm saying?
We are vulnerable to outside influences, and as Christians we have to choose to allow only good influences in, like God and His word.
We need to dive into God's word to allow it to stain us, change us. But one coat is not enough, even after double and triple checking. Every time we read the Bible, we can learn something new. Even pastors learn new things when they study the Word. If we allow good things to seep into our souls, we will be ready for the sealant at the end of our lives, which will hopefully mean heaven rather than the hell that we deserve. And it's no quick feat, it requires a lot of time and diligence.
Let good things influence you. Let the Word seep into you every single day, no matter how difficult. God wants to stain us, which will actually make us more pure in His eyes.
I don't know if this metaphor made any sense to you, but it just popped into my head and something told me to share it:)
Thanks for reading!
Tuesday, June 10, 2014
I loved it once more
It's all coming back to me.
The breeze.
The clean, open air.
Boom, got the comfy seat.
Zing!
Watch out for Dad!
Okay, he got it.
Good deal.
Fish on, baby!
Who's turn is it?
Mikayla, take the rod!
Oh! Guess I'm up, huh?
Boy, am I rusty or what?
Okay, keep the rod steady.
Tip down, tip down.
Okay, backing up.
Tip steady.
Come on, Dad, just net it already!
Holy moly, that's a big fish right there!
That's a...steelhead? Brown trout?
Great, I forgot how to identify my fish!
That's embarrassing.
Whew, my arms hurt.
Is it weird that I like the smell of fresh caught fish?
Whatever, I'm a nursing major.
I'm supposed to like weird stuff like that, right?
Whoa, another fish on!
Caleb, ya gotta watch out for Dad.
Almost got thrown over there!
That would've been hilarious.
Okay, Dylan's turn.
Man, this kid talks a lot.
Yes, Dylan, we know reeling makes your arms hurt.
Sheesh, enough commentary, just get the fish in the box.
Mikayla, you're turning!
Yeah, I'm turning cause driving this boat is such a pain!
I lost my landmark.
Oh, the smoke stacks, right.
Okay, back on track I think.
Mikayla, now you're too far left!
Sheesh, I don't know what I'm doing!
Now I remember why I hate driving.
Crap, I have to pee.
No!
I am not peeing in that bucket!
Wish we were hunting.
Then I could just pee behind a tree.
That's pretty easy.
What time is it?
Only eleven.
We've been fishing for over five hours already.
It really is beautiful on the lake today.
And one foot waves, wow, that's like nothing!
Mikayla, take the rod!
Oh! Another fish for me, okay.
Yowza, there's a beast on the other end!
Wow, my arm is burning.
Wonder how mad Dad would be if I just let go of the pole...
Hmm, should I try it?
No, not unless I want to move out early!
Yeah, that would be a very bad idea.
Man, is this fish close yet?
Oh! There it is, it jumped.
Fly, little fishy, fly!
Alright, almost there.
Dad's got the net, okay.
Oh, Caleb's netting?
Great.
Three years later, ha!
Come on, Caleb.
Do your thing.
Net it, man, net it!
Ahh, thank you.
Wow, my hands hurt!
Back to driving?
Guess I'm okay with that.
Just a few more hours.
We can do this.
Ya know, sometimes fishing can get annoying.
But I really do love it.
I feel like I'm twelve again.
I guess fishing is part of my history.
My family's history.
I remember the breeze.
I remember the clean, open air.
I remember how I loved it.
And I love it once more.
The breeze.
The clean, open air.
Boom, got the comfy seat.
Zing!
Watch out for Dad!
Okay, he got it.
Good deal.
Fish on, baby!
Who's turn is it?
Mikayla, take the rod!
Oh! Guess I'm up, huh?
Boy, am I rusty or what?
Okay, keep the rod steady.
Tip down, tip down.
Okay, backing up.
Tip steady.
Come on, Dad, just net it already!
Holy moly, that's a big fish right there!
That's a...steelhead? Brown trout?
Great, I forgot how to identify my fish!
That's embarrassing.
Whew, my arms hurt.
Is it weird that I like the smell of fresh caught fish?
Whatever, I'm a nursing major.
I'm supposed to like weird stuff like that, right?
Whoa, another fish on!
Caleb, ya gotta watch out for Dad.
Almost got thrown over there!
That would've been hilarious.
Okay, Dylan's turn.
Man, this kid talks a lot.
Yes, Dylan, we know reeling makes your arms hurt.
Sheesh, enough commentary, just get the fish in the box.
Mikayla, you're turning!
Yeah, I'm turning cause driving this boat is such a pain!
I lost my landmark.
Oh, the smoke stacks, right.
Okay, back on track I think.
Mikayla, now you're too far left!
Sheesh, I don't know what I'm doing!
Now I remember why I hate driving.
Crap, I have to pee.
No!
I am not peeing in that bucket!
Wish we were hunting.
Then I could just pee behind a tree.
That's pretty easy.
What time is it?
Only eleven.
We've been fishing for over five hours already.
It really is beautiful on the lake today.
And one foot waves, wow, that's like nothing!
Mikayla, take the rod!
Oh! Another fish for me, okay.
Yowza, there's a beast on the other end!
Wow, my arm is burning.
Wonder how mad Dad would be if I just let go of the pole...
Hmm, should I try it?
No, not unless I want to move out early!
Yeah, that would be a very bad idea.
Man, is this fish close yet?
Oh! There it is, it jumped.
Fly, little fishy, fly!
Alright, almost there.
Dad's got the net, okay.
Oh, Caleb's netting?
Great.
Three years later, ha!
Come on, Caleb.
Do your thing.
Net it, man, net it!
Ahh, thank you.
Wow, my hands hurt!
Back to driving?
Guess I'm okay with that.
Just a few more hours.
We can do this.
Ya know, sometimes fishing can get annoying.
But I really do love it.
I feel like I'm twelve again.
I guess fishing is part of my history.
My family's history.
I remember the breeze.
I remember the clean, open air.
I remember how I loved it.
And I love it once more.
Spreading some love
Everyone is capable of spreading some love and joy. It's all about waking up and deciding to do so. Recently I've seen some cool Coca-Cola commercials in which they use their product to cause a few more smiles in our world. Just thought I'd share some with ya! By the way, I'm not sharing these because I'm a Coca-Cola lover, I really don't drink much pop, I just like all the smiles in these videos. Enjoy!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zlA9tXYxD8g This one's one of my favorites. Almost teared up, actually.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t9cmoT_wb0A This one is great because it's so true! Sometimes it's tough to start making friends in college.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lqT_dPApj9U I'm sharing this one simply because I wish it would happen at Trinity:)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A45sjUX7mp0 Ha! I love it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gfM9rIhxieU I love all the confused faces at the beginning.
I'm not a company or corporation, but I can still make people smile, and so can you.
Spread some joy today, it's as simple as that:)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zlA9tXYxD8g This one's one of my favorites. Almost teared up, actually.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t9cmoT_wb0A This one is great because it's so true! Sometimes it's tough to start making friends in college.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lqT_dPApj9U I'm sharing this one simply because I wish it would happen at Trinity:)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A45sjUX7mp0 Ha! I love it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gfM9rIhxieU I love all the confused faces at the beginning.
I'm not a company or corporation, but I can still make people smile, and so can you.
Spread some joy today, it's as simple as that:)
Monday, May 19, 2014
In the dark
It was 3:30 pm.
The bingo-ers were hustling out of the activity room as fast as their little walkers and wheelchairs would take them. (I know what you're thinking, but some of them are actually pretty fast!)
A few of us CNA's were running the elevator system, working as efficiently as possible. (I'm a pro at filling the elevators, just saying.)
In the midst of the hustle, we saw a flicker and watched as the whole building lost power except the light in the elevator.
"Get them out!" someone said.
So we quickly got our residents out of the elevator, four in all.
The other aides rushed to their halls to get people's oxygen plugged into the working outlet. I was left upstairs to sit with the stranded residents.
"So," I started, "how'd we do at bingo today, ladies?"
It's refreshing to have a little chat with my residents once in a while. We talked about bingo, grandkids, family visits, and joked about who was going to be piggy-backed down the stairs first.
We decided we were very grateful that it was still light outside when the power went out, however it did stay off for another four hours. After realizing that the other elevator in the facility was connected to the generator, we got everyone back to their rightful places.
I've never heard the halls so quiet, even on midnights, as when the power was out. Throughout the night we had to do some major rearranging of resident's rooms to get either their beds or chairs plugged into the red plugs (which were the ones connected to the generator). Some of our residents were stuck in their recliners because the feet were lowered with a remote. I bet if a visitor had cruised through our hall, they would have wondered why they were seeing recliners and beds smack in the middle of resident's rooms!
It was quite a wonky day, if I may be honest. But I was surprised at how chill everyone was, for the most part. As we had dinner on paper and coffee in Styrofoam, we went around the room sharing what we were thankful for. That seemed to cheer people up.
Everybody has some type of interesting work story, so I figured I'd share my most recent one:)
In the midst of the craziness, we were told the cause of the power outage: a car accident. I'm not exactly sure what happened with the accident on 65, but my prayers go out to all the families and friends effected by it.
The bingo-ers were hustling out of the activity room as fast as their little walkers and wheelchairs would take them. (I know what you're thinking, but some of them are actually pretty fast!)
A few of us CNA's were running the elevator system, working as efficiently as possible. (I'm a pro at filling the elevators, just saying.)
In the midst of the hustle, we saw a flicker and watched as the whole building lost power except the light in the elevator.
"Get them out!" someone said.
So we quickly got our residents out of the elevator, four in all.
The other aides rushed to their halls to get people's oxygen plugged into the working outlet. I was left upstairs to sit with the stranded residents.
"So," I started, "how'd we do at bingo today, ladies?"
It's refreshing to have a little chat with my residents once in a while. We talked about bingo, grandkids, family visits, and joked about who was going to be piggy-backed down the stairs first.
We decided we were very grateful that it was still light outside when the power went out, however it did stay off for another four hours. After realizing that the other elevator in the facility was connected to the generator, we got everyone back to their rightful places.
I've never heard the halls so quiet, even on midnights, as when the power was out. Throughout the night we had to do some major rearranging of resident's rooms to get either their beds or chairs plugged into the red plugs (which were the ones connected to the generator). Some of our residents were stuck in their recliners because the feet were lowered with a remote. I bet if a visitor had cruised through our hall, they would have wondered why they were seeing recliners and beds smack in the middle of resident's rooms!
It was quite a wonky day, if I may be honest. But I was surprised at how chill everyone was, for the most part. As we had dinner on paper and coffee in Styrofoam, we went around the room sharing what we were thankful for. That seemed to cheer people up.
Everybody has some type of interesting work story, so I figured I'd share my most recent one:)
In the midst of the craziness, we were told the cause of the power outage: a car accident. I'm not exactly sure what happened with the accident on 65, but my prayers go out to all the families and friends effected by it.
Friday, May 16, 2014
1/4 over
Yowza, it's been forever since I've blogged! Sorry friends (mostly Dad) for the wait. I figured with classes and exams being done, I'd spend some time in reflection over what has happened this school year.
Never again will I be a freshman! Woo hoo:)
First and foremost, I have to say that I love my school. I've enjoyed most of my classes, events we have on campus are awesome, and the friendships I've made here are incredible. It's hard to believe that I only get three more short years here...*tear*
Trying to come up with a select few stories to share with you is proving to be rather difficult! I guess I will start with one of my favorite professors who, sadly, retired at the end of last semester. Dr. Breems was the best at incorporating random phrases into his lectures which, surprisingly, contributed to what he was communicating! I believe some examples are in order:
"Let's meet at the square and shut those suckers down!"
"They don't just call someone a son of a bitch."
"Like low-hanging pants...they might change your knowledge of human anatomy!"
"The Taliban has jokes too."
"There're no laws for bulls!"
"I don't have sharp teeth. I don't have the urge to kill. Well, I do have an urge to kill, it's just not the same."
"Or if you really know swords and happen to have yours with you, your fight instinct might be more powerful."
I don't remember the context for most of these, but does it really matter? It's still hilarious. These are all the quotes I have, but I should also note that Breems made us a powerpoint full of just puns. Long story short, Dr. Breems will be missed.
And then there's the super cool events Trinity has all year. Trollstock was so awesome! It's amazing how much talent thrives on this campus. There was music, dancing, comedy, and more. I was especially impressed by Callie Bunker, who read a story about a fart and won a prize. I was falling out of my chair laughing! My friend Nick and I were even scolded by another student for laughing too loud, which honestly occurs on a daily basis.
One aspect of college that I did not anticipate were all the late night laughing fits, which really just consisted of me rolling on the floor laughing until my sides ached and my roommates standing there, laughing at me laughing. Anneliese, Madz, and Erin: you guys should've seen your faces! I'm glad we had so many joyful times and jokes to share. Even though we often laughed until it hurt, I'm thankful for those crazy weird times.
What I at first thought was a pain in the butt actually turned out to be my favorite part of the year, and that is the fact that I lived in South Hall. For starters, there is no air conditioning in this building, and the bathrooms aren't that great, but South quickly became my home. I'm honestly going to miss this building...all the dance parties, genuine joy, and spontaneous trips to, well, wherever! At first us freshmen thought the whole "Social South" thing was a joke, but we soon discovered it was actually true. And now we're all Southies for life:)
OPUS was a super cool event, too. Basically students get to sign up to show off their academic projects and adventures they had throughout the year. It was awesome to listen to other student's presentations and projects. I'm glad there are so many students that are passionate about what they're learning, and they want to share it with others.
I think what I and most of my friends loved the most this year are the odd dinner/mealtime conversations. First of all, a majority of people in our group are nursing majors, which means conversation often turned to the grossest medical stories or experiences we can share with each other. I guess I should apologize to my friends like Nathan, Kyle, Sierra, and others we have possibly grossed out. But then again, this is never going to stop, especially when we're actually in the nursing program. Sorry guys! Three more years;) Although some of our weirdest cafeteria conversations were not caused by the nursing majors!
I'm so thankful for the family that I've developed at Trinity. If I need a laugh or have something serious to discuss, I know I have people to go to. I'm thankful for Alice constantly telling me I should get out and do something and not be such a responsible nerd. I'm thankful for Nick's hilarious sarcasm and jokes, even though it flies over other people's heads at times. I'm thankful for Anneliese's dry humor and the funny faces she makes, especially when annoyed. I'm thankful for Maddy's obnoxiousness. I'm thankful for Kylla's smile and constant joy. I'm thankful for Nathan's well-worded explanations for everything (English majors be like). I'm thankful for Sierra's bubbliness and, yes, even her need to sing almost every moment of the day. I'm thankful for Kyle's laugh and genuine love for fun. I'm thankful for Taylor's love of laughter and just plain silliness. There are many more people I've grown to love at Trinity, but to write about all of them would cause arthritis in my hands, so I shall refrain. Just know that while all my friends are off having their crazy, exciting adventures, they will be missed.
When I was little and our whole family was gathered around the table for dinner, Dad would always ask how our day was. Us kids would take turns reciting the generic answers: "good," "okay," "boring," and "not too much homework."
Now, if I was asked how my year was and I only had a few words to express it, I would say that this year was one of challenges and blessings. I had a lot of obstacles to conquer, but the benefits of my first year at Trinity are truly astounding.
Hard times and good times.
Stress filled days and moments of laughter.
Challenges and blessings.
"She is clothed with strength and dignity, and she laughs without fear of the future." -Proverbs 31:25
Thanks for reading! Our college adventure is 1/4 over. Here's to the next 3/4ths!
Never again will I be a freshman! Woo hoo:)
First and foremost, I have to say that I love my school. I've enjoyed most of my classes, events we have on campus are awesome, and the friendships I've made here are incredible. It's hard to believe that I only get three more short years here...*tear*
Trying to come up with a select few stories to share with you is proving to be rather difficult! I guess I will start with one of my favorite professors who, sadly, retired at the end of last semester. Dr. Breems was the best at incorporating random phrases into his lectures which, surprisingly, contributed to what he was communicating! I believe some examples are in order:
"Let's meet at the square and shut those suckers down!"
"They don't just call someone a son of a bitch."
"Like low-hanging pants...they might change your knowledge of human anatomy!"
"The Taliban has jokes too."
"There're no laws for bulls!"
"I don't have sharp teeth. I don't have the urge to kill. Well, I do have an urge to kill, it's just not the same."
"Or if you really know swords and happen to have yours with you, your fight instinct might be more powerful."
I don't remember the context for most of these, but does it really matter? It's still hilarious. These are all the quotes I have, but I should also note that Breems made us a powerpoint full of just puns. Long story short, Dr. Breems will be missed.
And then there's the super cool events Trinity has all year. Trollstock was so awesome! It's amazing how much talent thrives on this campus. There was music, dancing, comedy, and more. I was especially impressed by Callie Bunker, who read a story about a fart and won a prize. I was falling out of my chair laughing! My friend Nick and I were even scolded by another student for laughing too loud, which honestly occurs on a daily basis.
One aspect of college that I did not anticipate were all the late night laughing fits, which really just consisted of me rolling on the floor laughing until my sides ached and my roommates standing there, laughing at me laughing. Anneliese, Madz, and Erin: you guys should've seen your faces! I'm glad we had so many joyful times and jokes to share. Even though we often laughed until it hurt, I'm thankful for those crazy weird times.
What I at first thought was a pain in the butt actually turned out to be my favorite part of the year, and that is the fact that I lived in South Hall. For starters, there is no air conditioning in this building, and the bathrooms aren't that great, but South quickly became my home. I'm honestly going to miss this building...all the dance parties, genuine joy, and spontaneous trips to, well, wherever! At first us freshmen thought the whole "Social South" thing was a joke, but we soon discovered it was actually true. And now we're all Southies for life:)
OPUS was a super cool event, too. Basically students get to sign up to show off their academic projects and adventures they had throughout the year. It was awesome to listen to other student's presentations and projects. I'm glad there are so many students that are passionate about what they're learning, and they want to share it with others.
I think what I and most of my friends loved the most this year are the odd dinner/mealtime conversations. First of all, a majority of people in our group are nursing majors, which means conversation often turned to the grossest medical stories or experiences we can share with each other. I guess I should apologize to my friends like Nathan, Kyle, Sierra, and others we have possibly grossed out. But then again, this is never going to stop, especially when we're actually in the nursing program. Sorry guys! Three more years;) Although some of our weirdest cafeteria conversations were not caused by the nursing majors!
I'm so thankful for the family that I've developed at Trinity. If I need a laugh or have something serious to discuss, I know I have people to go to. I'm thankful for Alice constantly telling me I should get out and do something and not be such a responsible nerd. I'm thankful for Nick's hilarious sarcasm and jokes, even though it flies over other people's heads at times. I'm thankful for Anneliese's dry humor and the funny faces she makes, especially when annoyed. I'm thankful for Maddy's obnoxiousness. I'm thankful for Kylla's smile and constant joy. I'm thankful for Nathan's well-worded explanations for everything (English majors be like). I'm thankful for Sierra's bubbliness and, yes, even her need to sing almost every moment of the day. I'm thankful for Kyle's laugh and genuine love for fun. I'm thankful for Taylor's love of laughter and just plain silliness. There are many more people I've grown to love at Trinity, but to write about all of them would cause arthritis in my hands, so I shall refrain. Just know that while all my friends are off having their crazy, exciting adventures, they will be missed.
When I was little and our whole family was gathered around the table for dinner, Dad would always ask how our day was. Us kids would take turns reciting the generic answers: "good," "okay," "boring," and "not too much homework."
Now, if I was asked how my year was and I only had a few words to express it, I would say that this year was one of challenges and blessings. I had a lot of obstacles to conquer, but the benefits of my first year at Trinity are truly astounding.
Hard times and good times.
Stress filled days and moments of laughter.
Challenges and blessings.
"She is clothed with strength and dignity, and she laughs without fear of the future." -Proverbs 31:25
Thanks for reading! Our college adventure is 1/4 over. Here's to the next 3/4ths!
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