Crazy Week!

This week has been pure insanity!! But we'll start with discussing the bog trip. On Tuesday afternoon, my biology lab class went on a trip to a bog. We waded through mud, jumped INTO mud pits, and saw the coolest of critters and plants. It was really crazy awesome! You'd think that jumping into a mud pit would be gross, but it was actually a really liberating experience. :c)

This is the bog from a distance:

This is the mud pit:

This is two of my friends and me after the experience:

So the rest of the week has just been good! I had my first exam this morning, and it really wasn't that bad...I thought the questions were fairly simple. I'm going to do homework all evening, and I'm planning on going over to Calvin to see John tomorrow. Then tomorrow night I'm going to a concert with some friends, and Sunday is normal church/homework/evensong! It should be a pretty awesome weekend!!!

Until Next Time!

Well, I think it's time I update all of you on the social aspects of Cornerstone University. Mainly because I think that's why I haven't been sleeping too well. At Cornerstone, there is a tradition. This tradition is called a candlelight, and it only occurs when a couple gets engaged. All of the girls meet in one of the dorm lobbies on campus, and all of the boys meet at the bell tower. Then all of the girls light a candle and pray and talk about the guy, and all of the boys sit around and talk about the girl. Here comes the fun part. When the guys finish they yell "CHIVALRY! CHIVALRY!!" over and over again, until the girls come out. The girls make a tunnel with their arms, and the engaged girl runs through to the bell tower. Then her fiance climbs the pole in the bell tower, rings the bell, comes down, kisses his fiance, and then is carried to the lake. Where he is thrown in. Now, I don't distinctly remember hearing any of this, but I DO know that every night there has been a candlelight, I haven't slept well. Woohoo!

Other social aspects of the campus are awesome! For instance, I have an 8:45 class every MWF morning. So, when I walk to class at 8:30, there aren't too many people around. And I would assume that those who ARE around are pretty cranky. Oh no. The majority of the people smile, and quite a few say hello. It's so awesome! :c) Also, tonight there is free laser tagging in the gym. Now, I don't know about laser tagging. I've never GONE laser tagging...but holy cow it sounds fun!!!! :c)

Anyway...classes are good, the homework is leveling out a bit. My first exam is this Friday and I'm REALLY nervous for it, but it'll be good. There's a study session next Wednesday to help us prepare, so it shouldn't be too bad!

Until Next Time!

Classes!

Wow, so, long week! My mind is simply wheeling with information. But we'll start with how my classes are and then I'll fill in the in-between things.

So, Monday, Wednesday, and Friday I have four classes.

From 8:45-9:45 I have Philosophy in Culture, which is really awesome. My professor is funny and really smart. The class will be challenging, but he's encouraged us to meet with him often. We haven't really started much course work, so there's not much to divulge. From 11-12 I have Communications in Culture. This class is really awesome. Our professor has helped create over 400 films, so he's really knowledgeable. Basically the class will consist of reading, tests, and speeches. It shouldn't be too difficult--we gave an introductory speech on Friday, and he said we were "the cream of the crop". From 12:15-1:15 I have Biblical Hermeneutics. To sum up--this class is the best of my day, by far. Hermeneutics is the art and science of interpretation, so we're virtually learning about interpreting the BIble. Then from 1:30-2:30 I have Writing in Culture which basically takes us back to the basics of writing papers. It's not thrilling, but it's English and I love it anyway.

Finally, on Tuesdays and Thursdays I have Biology. Biology is going to be really awesome, because our prof is hilarious and wants to do more fieldwork than lab research kind of stuff.

Anyway, I've spent half the weekend at Calvin--I stayed with John's friend Anna, and we've all been bumming around doing homework and just chilling. It's a nice campus, but I definitely would rather be at Cornerstone. I'm glad I'm there.

Until Next Time!!

CAMP!!! AAHHHH!!!

So, not gonna lie, camp was the most amazing thing ever. I wasn't all too excited for it at first, because I thought "a week without technology, stuck with people I don't know. Yeah right."

Then I got there. The first day we did a lot of trust activities, which were awesome. For instance, our group of 12 stands on two logs. 6 people are on one, 6 on the other. Everyone has to end up on the other log without stepping off the log. It was so hard!!! But it was REALLY awesome, and our group started to bond over it. Started to.

So, the end of the first day, I'm feeling okayish about camp. By the second morning, I was concerned that "these people don't get my sense of humor" [direct quote from my journal]. However, I thought my group was really nice. Then I read Genesis 1 and realized that Everything IS GOD'S! He makes it as HE wishes. "And it is so". Thus, I have no control. Agreed, this was nothing "new" for me, but it made me realize that our Terra Firma group was God's, and I had no control over the experience. I just had to shape up my attitude.

By the morning of the second day, I was on fire. Evensong (our praise team) had rocked our socks off, and I realized that I didn't remember the last time I felt so moved in a body of believers. In fact, I didn't even remember the last time I'd actually felt the Holy Spirit move in a room. And. It. Was. SO. COOL!! The speakers were amazing, and the music was wonderful. I was so happy. :c) By THAT night I was feeling tied into my group. I realized that I was comfortable with myself, and my Sherpa (definition: a member of a people who often serve as porters on mountain-climbing expeditions, and thus our "religious sherpa") and I really had an amazing conversation. I began to feel accepted and loved with WHO I was. Plus I began to learn that my sensitive side ISN'T a bad thing. It's good. In fact, because it's how GOD made me, it's a blessing!!

Day 3 started with my being upset and missing my family. I read my journal entry from the night before and thought "ha! I can't be that close to my group! Whatever!" and I was virtually a wreck. But, again, by that night I wrote "I'm so 'into' my group, too! I really feel like they're the siblings I have never had!".

Day 4 I wrote, "so I keep waking up and thinking 'there's no way I can be that close to my group. I bet they all really hate me'. But I know that when I'm with them later, it'll be like I'ma mental person. I love them all".

Day 5 we went to the dunes. Oh. my. stars. I kept thinking about how Jesus wandered in the wilderness and fasted, and he was just fine. Meanwhile, I wouldn't be able to be stranded in the desert. I would totally have fallen to Satan's temptations of food and water. *sigh* God is SO good!!! The speaker that night talked about service and the washing of feet. I realized that to serve with a pure heart, we have to be WILLING to be served! Then our Sherpa and our Cornerstone Faculty Advisor washed our feet, and we prayed over everyone in our group. It was so moving...I can't even begin to explain how it made me feel! :c) Also, this was the day that I realized I missed my roommate.

So, basically the summary of camp is that I am a broken mess, and the only one who can save me is Jesus. Amen!
Write more later!
Until Next Time!

College :c)

Well, at the moment I am lying in a dark room, because my roommate and I are getting ready to go to bed. It's been a really long day...lots of meeting new people, and lots of "filler" activities. Actually, my Terra Firma group (13 people) played a really awesome game called "Ninja Tag". But that's beside the point.

We left the hotel this morning and got to CU at 9. We went through the rigmarole of getting signed in and what not, and then headed to the dorm. Caitlin got here and we set up the room. It's really a pretty nice set up, I must say. My bed is on top of my bookshelf and dresser, and Caitlin's bed is over mine and on top of her desk. It's all really sturdy, and gives us QUITE a bit of space. Plus, the room is kind of divided up--I have my own little alcove, and she has the wall. It's nice. :c)

The rest of the day was spent running here and running there, and, after a very tearful goodbye to my parents, I found myself alone on a college campus--adrift in a sea of possibility. And for some reason, that didn't freak me out. I actually feel like God has prepared me for this; as if He has "made me ready".

After all, "Everything is beautiful in its own time".

Until Next TIme!

Grand Rapids!

Well, I'm in Grand Rapids. It's official. :cD
I. AM. SO. EXCITED!!!!

The trip was nice; dad let me drive since it was my last time, but traffic was light and it was pretty easy-going. Tonight we're going to celebrate Dad's 60th birthday (SIXTY!) by going out to dinner at Damon's. It will be the parents, John, and myself. Then we'll probably come back to the hotel and chill a little before taking John back to Calvin.

I feel like I should be insanely nervous and freaking out...but I'm really not!! I'm kiiiind of nervous about meeting my suite-mates, but other than that I just can't help but feel I'm in for the ride of my life! This week will be ABSOLUTELY crazy, so I thought I'd post our week's schedule quickly:

Monday 8/31/09 -

9am-1pm - NEW STUDENT CHECK-IN
- Greet your Admissions Counselor
- Receive your laptop
- Get your Phot ID
- Visit any offices, if necessary
- Residential Students move into Residence Hall
1pm-4pm - Settle into your Rooms (Residential Students)
3pm - President's Reception (parents only)
4pm-5:30pm - CU Dinner Extravaganza (all new students & families, faculty, and staff)
6pm-7pm - New Student Dedication Service: Dr., Stowell
7:30-8:30pm - Meet your Terra Firma Group
8:30-9:30pm - Hub Bub (Games, Comedians, Karaoke, Ice Cream, Fun, & More!)
10pm - Hall Meetings for Residential Students/Commuter Students Return Hom

Tuesday 9/1/09

8am - Breakfast
9am-10am - Worship
10:30am-12pm - Tour de Cornerstone
12pm - Lunch
1pm-5pm - The Offices & Testing (Math Placement, Language Placement, etc.)
5pm - Dinner
6pm-9pm - Desserts @ faculty & staff homes

Wednesday 9/2/09

8am - Breakfast
9am-10am - Worship
10am-12pm - Dr. Stowell
12pm-1pm - Lunch
1pm-3pm - Lawn Olympics
3pm-5pm - Nap Time
5pm-6pm - Dinner
6pm-7:30pm The Christian Story
7:30-9pm - Java with Joe

Thursday 9/3/09

8am - Breakfast
9am - Worship
9:30am - Travel to Grace Adventures - Terra Firma Camp Experience Begins!

Friday 9/4/09 - Monday 9/7/09

Terra Firma Camp Experience

Wednesday 9/9/09

Classes Begin!

So, I probably won't have much time to update this week, but maybe I'll have a LITTLE time for something tomorrow. It's going to be an AWESOME experience!!!! I just can't believe I'm already going to college. Wow. :c)

Until Next Time!!!

Hello!

Hello everyone!

Alright, to start out, this week has been a whirlwind so far! And it's only Tuesday! On Sunday I was in a community choir, which was fun, and yesterday and today have been filled with babysitting. The kids' grandma has been coming over with their cousins, so we really haven't had much "us" time, but hey, it's fun no matter what! I'm all packed, so I'm not really stressing about any of that...it's just a lot of anticipation at this point. And I'm avoiding a LOT of goodbyes.

As far as what is going through my head right now (this is for you, grandpa!), there are a LOT of things. For instance, I often find myself going through a checklist in my mind about what I need for school, making sure I have everything. For instance, who remembers to by powdered milk at the store for their cereal?? Certainly not an 18-year-old girl! I also find myself thinking almost constantly about what is going to be happening in Dodgeville next week. Then I remember I won't be here. This means that half the time my stomach is in absolute knots of nerves and excitement, and half the time I'm totally focused on the moment, and not thinking about leaving. I've found the latter to be the best choice. If I sit still for too long or if I don't have something to do, then I pretty much start having an emotional breakdown.

Now. This is not because I don't want to go to Cornerstone, it's because I don't know what to expect. I'm the kind of person who loves to know just what to expect. So, this is all very VERY intense for me. Plus, I've been with my parents for 18 years. No siblings, and for most of the time we either lived too far away for me to be gone a lot or we didn't know anyone. Thus, I'm having a breakdown.

On the upside, however, I finally managed to sleep 10 hours last night. The night before I didn't sleep more than 4 hours, and the nights before that it certainly wasn't much more than 4 hours. I just need my brain to stop for a little while.

However, I am VERY excited for college! My classes seem awesome, and I'm pretty excited about our five day camp. Hopefully I'll make some friends and I won't be too lonely at first.

Until Next Time!