Matt & I decided the 4th of July and New Years are two of the craziest traditions. First we watch colored things shot up in the air. Then we wait for hours in anticipation of a ball dropping. I don't get it. It must just be tradition. Anyway if you really think about it... it's pointless!

Christmast Update

Since I am home for Christmas, it has been a catch up on doctors visits. I went to my knee doctor. He was very surprised that I have been playing volleyball lately. In the beginning of the summer I am going to have surgery to take out my staple that was holding my ACL in place. The next day I went to the allergist to see what I was allergic to. First they poked me 67 times with the things they thought I might be allergic to. Then I had to wait 20 minutes to see which ones I really was allergic to. It turns out I am allergic to most grasses, weeds, trees, mold, and animals. This doesn't really work out since I have a summer job involving most of these. Yesterday I got my first allergy shot. Not to mention I have so many allergies, I have to get two shots. Wow, this is going to get old. Every week for 6-8 months. My arm must of had a reaction because it now has a welt where I got the shot.

Now for the good news...I got my grades today...All A's!!! Yeah!

Xmas

USAGE NOTE Xmas has been used for hundreds of years in religious writing, where the X represents a Greek chi, the first letter of Χριστος, “Christ.” In this use it is parallel to other forms like Xtian, “Christian.” But people unaware of the Greek origin of this X often mistakenly interpret Xmas as an informal shortening pronounced (ĕks'məs). Many therefore frown upon the term Xmas because it seems to them a commercial convenience that omits Christ from Christmas.
(www.answers.com)

After listening to Noels Jeezit, it makes me think about Christmas and how blown out of proportion. I have read a couple of peer writings about Xmas is taking Christ out of Christmas. They must have missed the Greek definition. Plus the issue of Happy Holidays vs. Merry Christmas. I have heard complaining from both sides here at school. Kind of annoying!

BLIZZARD!!!

There is a gigantic blizzard outside!!! Liz, Lydia and I went sledding at Mount Beebe. The best part is that we didn't have any sleds, so we used trays from the dining commons. They worked like a charm!

I am not really sure what to think of this movie. Matt came down to Spring Arbor last night and we went to see RENT. Because it was a musical, I thought he would hate it, but he said he would go see it again. I am not sure that I liked it. The singing was good, but the story was odd. I can't decided if I liked it or not.

Recycled food...yum!

The dinning commons must be in a contest to see how many variations of rice and beef they can serve within 3 days.

Rice

1. Black beans and rice
2. steamed white rice
3. fried rice
4. mexican rice

Beef

1. Beef fajitas
2. beef turnovers
3. just plain beef
4. beef stew

Goodness...get some variety. I can't handle this!

Puerto Rico...Here I Come

I found out today, I got accepted to go on a missions trip with SAU to Puerto Rico. We will be doing maitenance projects during the day and working with kids and youth at night. We stay at a campground on the Caribbean and of course get to do a bit of sight seeing. This is an awesome opportunity that I cannot wait for.

Let me tell you, the tears were flowing yesterday. I went to see my Memaw (Great Grandma). She isn't supposed to make it through the week. She could hear us but not respond. The saddest part was when Pepaw (Great Grandpa) leaned down and gave a kiss to "My Sweet Mommy" (that's what he calls her).

Happy Halloween

Last night Lydia and I went trunk or treating. The Spring Arbor church lines up cars and we go around to the decorated trunks to get candy. Then Karilynn and I trick or treated at all the girls dorms. Fun times!

Yes, there is a mountain lion on campus. It has been seen three times this week. Now, tell me how I am going to LOOK BIG when there is a mountain lion starring me down?!?!

Flap Jack

Matt took Jessica, Abby, and me to Flap Jack for Sunday lunch. We felt like we were in a nursing home or something like that. All of the waitress spoke really loud. I'm guessing because most of their customers can't hear what they are saying.
-The booth in front of us had a young couple and an older than dirt guy. The woman was talking about how she isn't afraid of dying because heaven is what is on the other side. Meanwhile, the guy across from her is about to die because he is so old.
-The booth across from us had an old couple. The woman didn't have the strength to feed herself. The husband was trying to feed her but his hand was shaking so bad, he couldn't get it in her mouth. Cute, but funny.
- The booth behind us was the only other table under the age of 75. The couple had three young kids. However, each kid was a different ethnicity.
Wow, it was an adventure!

What a Cutie! Elijah is 2!

Playing with his new bubble gun

Karilynn and I went to Midneight Madness at SAU last night. It was a sad spinoff of MSU's Midnight Madness. Oh, well we had fun at Denny's after!

Matty came for a visit.

Roommates

Me and my roomie, Lydia. We have roomed together for two years!

Make Over

Lydia, Liz, Karilynn and I decided to practice our makeup for Halloween. Karilynn did my makeup normal, but everyone else was either a princess, cat or something else. We had tons of fun!!!



The final Product

Me and Karilynn

The Gang!

Liz and Lydia

Dance Aerobics

Last night we decided to exercise by dancing. At school dances I was the one that held up the walls by leaning against them, but last night I had fun!

Liz

Lydia

The Gang

Karilynn

Shake it like a polaroid picture, shake it, shake it...

Chicago

This past weekend I went to Chicago with an SAU class. We saw Chinatown, Indiatown, and the Mexican community. The funnest part was free time downtown. Emily, Kazia and I walked around and of course shopped. There were many scary moments, but definetly lots of fun. I'll post pics later.

Quotes from the trip:
"Beep at a gang member and wait to see what happens." ~Kazia
"If I were homeless, I would eat you bird." ~Josh

Karilynn & Me

What would I do without her?!?!?

Birthday Weekend

So my birthday weekend wasn't exactly what I expected...
1. I stepped on a nail in the barnyard. I now have a hole in my foot.
2. Matt decided to slam on the brakes and spill a full Orange Hi-C drink all over my car.
3. My CD player in my car stopped working.
4. I got into the wrong car after church. I couldn't figure out why my car door wouldn't unlock. It helps if you try the right car.

Sometimes I Forget How Weird This Place Is

First of all, my roomate Lydia and I are sitting in the Dining Commons. A older woman walks in with a horse riding uniform. She is wearing a tank top, tight pants, boots, and spurs. The whole deal! Her pants are so tight, you can see everything. With the straightest face, Lydia says, "My friends call that cottage cheese!" We could not stop laughing at the woman and how Lydia said it.

Then Karilynn calls me to tell me a really weird guy called her room. He was asking her strange questions and was being really creepy about it. I told her to tell campus safety. About an hour later, Karilynn got a call from the head of campus security. They had traced the number to a construction worker working across the street from her room. He was fired immediately. How scary is that!

Back to It

Back to the arbor for me. I started classes today. I found out I am going to Chicago in two weeks with my core group. That should be pretty sweet. We are going to eat at different culture's restaurants. Then we are going to a play and the Magnificent Mile. I can't wait.

And then I found out that my Aunt Gayle passed away this morning. Although it was expected, it was a reality check. God has our timing, not us.
Since no man know the future, who can tell him what is to come? Ecclesiastes 8:7