College: mid-terms to finals

17 weeks (16 spent at school), 67 letters written, hundreds (ok, that's a rough guesstimate) of hours talking on the phone, and 7 classes later: I'm back at home!  My first semester of college as a whole was a huge learning experience in so many ways.  I'm really thankful for the people I've met and the lessons I've been taught yet again (until I learn to get it right!).
Mid-terms to finals went even better than the first half.  Taking 7 classes all at once became less of a shock and the assignments went down a little easier.  Finals weren't exactly "the most relaxing time of the semester" (in the words of several professors); but considering my lack of studying, they did go surprisingly well.

My roommates (^) and other friends made college a very memorable experience with a lot of laughing.  Many thanks to Erica (^) who gave me my first partial attendance class penalty and provided many laughs in and out of our most miserable class.  It's because of her that English 102 became a very humorous class.

Thanks also to Hannah (^) for being a great study buddy and dorm neighbor.  I couldn't have asked for better there.  The many "study" sessions together were a great comfort to my heart and a good intermission from the books.

Not pictured here, I am also thankful for Thanksgiving break (which finally arrived after mid-terms) with my oldest sister and my incredible cousins who looked out for me above and beyond.  All these great people made my semester more than just tolerable.  

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Every mile-stone throughout the semester deserved celebration.  Mid-terms came and went and then November also finally rolled around.  The temperature decreased, and I realized that even the south can be cold on occasion.  This came as a bit of a surprise, but a welcome one.

Even with the cold weather, though, southern weather is very unpredictable.  I barely had a chance to get excited about the rain before the sky was entirely blue again without a sign of rain for another very long time.  The quickly passing rains never impressed me very much.

Although the studying (^) sometimes grew old (ok, more than sometimes), getting packages (^) and mail never wearied me.  Little pieces of family and friends always kept me going and gave me much-needed distractions from the monotonous studying routine.

I can't deny that I got to enjoy some pretty epic sunsets, which are all so unique and colorful.

One of the biggest treats of the semester was a surprise visit from my mom just before Thanksgiving break.  After many weeks apart, it was very refreshing to finally talk in person and see each other.  Phone calls are nice, but they don't capture everything.

We enjoyed several days together, which included Artist Series "Much Ado About Nothing" at BJU, a relaxing pedicure, and even a salad with a fly tossed in.  (Yes, we ate  the whole thing before finding this little friend..)

This was by far the largest caterpillar I have ever seen.  He looks awfully juicy, and I'm glad I missed stepping on him in the parking lot.

As a consolation for my mom's going away after 5 too-short days together, the cousins took me out to a pizza buffet.  So many choices!

I learned pretty quickly that even standing in line couldn't be wasted time.  I still managed to pull out some reading assignments and make a little progress while waiting

It was a weird--really weird---feeling when finals were over and I had absolutely no reading/writing assignments to think about or tests to cram for.  It had been a very long time since my life had been that way.  I can say that it was a rather welcome feeling.  Pizza and gingerbread house making was in order for celebration.

Of course, this holiday season wouldn't be complete without an eggnog latte...or 3 or 4.  I love it when these come out.

As I got on the plane to fly alone for the first time, it still felt unreal that I'd just completed finals and my first semester of college.  Around this time last year I didn't think I could possibly handle college of any kind.  And that would've been true if it weren't for God's gentle faithfulness.  I see His goodness everywhere I turn.

Now I'm home again and ever-so-glad to be here.  This break---this family---is just what I've been needing.

Snowy outing and a mansion

When I was packing for college in South Carolina, I may have been a tiny bit misled about the weather I would be encountering.  I clearly remember telling my mom "no, I won't need ____ because it's never cold there."  Thus my winter coat, several of my warmest scarves, and all my fuzzy socks were left behind.  After living here for almost 4 months now, I do have a new respect for South Carolina's weather (even though it still [almost] never rains...).  The past few weeks have been considerably cold, which helps me stay a little more prepared for getting back to Washington weather patterns.

But cold isn't all.  Last weekend the weather began predicting snow, and I told a classmate "there's no way it will snow, but it's a nice thought.  That's ok, though; I'm content with the rain today."  Less than an hour later the rain turned to snow and remained that way for the rest of the day.  Obviously I am still horribly mistaken about the weather over here.

The snow could not have been more perfectly timed.  Weeks ago my cousins, a friend, and myself planned an outing for this very weekend, never guessing we'd get to enjoy it in perfect winter weather!  We were all rather thrilled that the snow had come to make our outing that much more special.

Laying aside the snow for a moment, I must say that it has been a huge privilege and blessing to live close to a couple of my cousins this semester.  They have been extremely generous to me, and I don't even want to know what these past few months would've been like without their company.  After years and years of living on opposite sides of the country, we have finally been able to get to know each other and have lots of great times together.  

Those special times hit a happy climax when they gifted a friend and myself with a trip to Biltmore in North Carolina last weekend!  It was so great to spend the day together before jumping into finals week.

I just can't imagine building this place, let alone living in it as a house!  (Wouldn't it be fabulous, though?!)

^Hannah has been a great study buddy, coffee-drinking partner, and much-needed friend this fall!  I'm so thankful we've gotten to connect and do a few things together before we part ways again.  I let her educate me on silly Christmas songs from the radio, and she lets me yell "HANNAH, we've finished our first semester as college students!!" at her.  I'm gonna miss her company!  

Check out this enormous Christmas tree IN THE HOUSE!  There were whole presents acting as ornaments up there.

Somehow this poor goat still found some grass under all that snow.

I just couldn't stop taking pictures of all the snow on the tree branches.  It was so lovely.  Snow heaven!

I'm so glad that I got to finish out the semester doing this with a few of my favorite people on the east coast!  They have been so good to me.  God proves His love and faithfulness over and over again through people and places like this.

Campus Christmas

There is nothing quite like waiting with anticipation for December 1st to start out the Christmas celebration.  My favorite way to do the Christmas season is to wait until December begins before breaking out the decorations, lights, and music.  I was pretty happy that BJU waited until December 1st to officially show off the Christmas lights around front campus here. I really love this huge beam from the Nativity that can be seen from several points around the city.  Such a great reminder of everything Jesus has done for us from beginning to end!

These are pictures for my mom and sister who can't be here with me to enjoy the Christmas lights!  I can't wait to enjoy Christmas together!  xoxoxo

Merriest of Chrismases!!  I hope your December is full of this many lights, tooth-rotting treats, amazing music, and so much good company.

Peaceful sunrise

When my cousin asked me a couple weeks ago to get up really early on a school day to go watch the sunrise together before classes, I said yes.  That is against my nature only in the sense that I am not a morning person and some days getting up in time for classes is hard enough.  But, you know, we only get one chance at this life thing.  Enjoy the sunrise every once in a while.

So on an early Friday morning, we headed out of town and up into the hills.  I gotta say that it was really nice to get out of the city and see fields again.

It was light out by the time we got to Bald Rock, but the sun hadn't yet come up over the hills. It was so peaceful (and cold!) to watch the orange horizon grow more intense and see airplanes silently taking off in the distance.  (That will be me before long. ;) )

I couldn't believe how much graffiti was on this rock!

Even the ride back to the city would be hard to beat.  The fog was just beginning to lift, which reminded me so much of home.  It was all worth every minute I would've otherwise spent in bed.