I should be working on homework...

I couldn't complete today without posting my thoughts from one of my classes today.  I'm 28 days from completing my first semester in college (not that I'm counting or anything) and the work load is starting to multiply.  Thankfully, I feel okay about it, and know that if I keep trusting God, and reorganizing my priorities, eventually everything will be completed.  Each one of these 28 days will bring its own struggles and challenges, but I will push on towards the goal. 

Anyways, onto my main point of this post.  Today in my Foundations of Marriage and Family class, we talked about people as the reach the middle age and elderly years.  My professor ended with showing us a clip from Good Morning America that featured Robin Roberts being transformed from her 45-year-old self into an 85 year-old-woman. The whole concept puts everything in a new perspective, but there was one part that stuck out the most to me.  When Robin goes to the grocery store as her 85-year-old self, there's a hidden camera that goes along for the ride.  As she narrates her journey, she points out that some people laugh at her, while some others tried to help her if she had problems reaching an item on the shelf.

As I watched this, the following thought hit me, "What happened to those people who helped Robin once they found out it was Robin Roberts (if they watched the end result)?"  Also, I wonder how many people would have helped her if they would have known?  God decided to run with those thoughts and bring me to another conclusion.  We do that to Jesus.  What if Jesus wants us to reach out and help someone in need?  How many times to we brush these off notions because we think it won't matter?  Personally, I don't even want to know, because I'm sure many times I haven't even thought about opportunities to help staring me in the face.

So there it is, what I wanted to share with the world.  I hope you appreciated me coming up to breathe in the form of posting this on my blog.  Realistically, you probably won't hear from me again until December 17th.  But, that's only 28 days away!

A morning like this can't go without a blog post...

So, it's kinda early for a Saturday, and I've already been up for what seems like forever. Let me explain: My mom is going to Ohio because he uncle is getting remarried out there. Actually, it seems like a lot of people I know are either out in Ohio or Indiana. I really don't understand, what's so great about those states? Just kidding, I know people who love it out there, just like I love it here in PA. Anywho, Mom's plane left at 6:15am, which meant she needed to be at the airport at 5am or so. Now, Mom considered just paying to leave the car at HIA, but I jumped in and volunteered to drive her to the Airport so that I could have a vehicle, but that's another story for another day. Anyways, I slept on the lounge chair in the living room last night, and woke up to my parent's alarm clock going off at 3:30am. I figured while I was awake, I might as well get ready for the day, since I knew we'd be leaving during the 4 o'clock hour. We didn't leave until 4:45am, but that's okay because there was no traffic what so ever until we got closer to Harrisburg.

After Mom check her luggage, and started going through security, I decided to follow the signs for the observation deck, because that just sounded like fun, and what else is a girl to do at 5:30 in the morning? Well, HIA's observation deck isn't exactly much to write home about. Plus, I knew that I'd have to wait at least a half an hour before any planes took off (it's a small airport), and didn't want to wait that long. So I made my way back to the parking garage, only to find that I couldn't remember where I parked the van. I don't usually find myself in this predicament, and thankfully I realized that I came back to the parking garage a different way than when Mom and I left it. I was able to remember some of the surroundings of where we parked, and eventually found it! Mind you, this was my very first parking garage experience, and I think I did pretty well.

I drove out of the parking garage, paid for parking, and made my way towards the highways. I was doing okay until I had to chose whether I needed to take 83 north or south. Somehow I ended up in the lane for 83 north before I could change my mind. So I went with it, and knew that I saw signs saying it would lead to I-81, and I knew that once I got to I-81 I'd regain my sense of direction. Somewhere around there is started to rain. No biggie, it's been raining a bit lately, and I can handle it. Then it started raining harder and harder, until I needed to put the wipers on high in order to see! I checked the clock, which told me it was 6:00am. Good, Mom's plane hadn't left yet. I turned this time into my morning devotion, praying fervently that I wouldn't die right there on whatever highway the van was on. The drivers around me didn't seem to understand my precautions of going slow in dark while pouring down rain, but they just passed me and it was okay. (because what's the use of driving fast when you can't see?)

It was scary, and reminded me of whenever I helped with the driving out to Ohio and went through two major thunderstorms head on while driving on the turnpike. This had the added element of experiencing it in the dark. I made it to the Carlisle Pike, where I walked around a little bit at Wegman's and WalMart. I was going to go to Panera Bread, but they didn't open until 7, and I figured I might as well go back to the college to get a meal included in my meal plan, so I wouldn't have to pay anything.

No, I haven't slept since I got back, and yes, I'm tired. I still need to work at some point today, and should probably do some homework. I'll sleep at some point, I'm just not sure when. I'll figure it out though, no worries.

Lots of thoughts tonight

Ever since this morning, I seem to have a mind saturated with diverse thoughts. I have more questions than answers, and those questions produce more questions. In some ways I suppose it's a matter of sorting out my life. At the same time I realize it's going to take more than one day to sort all this out. For some of it I need to wait on God. Waiting can be extremely difficult at times.

Part of the reasons for feeling this way could be stress from school. By noon tomorrow I will have completed two tests in a row. This isn't exactly the most ideal way to start the week, but hopefully it'll only get better from there. I do know that I feel like homework is a never ending cycle, and as much as I try, I can't seem to get ahead.

Anyways, back to the mind full with thoughts thing. It's made today seem longer. I feel like I just fit three days into one. While there's a lot of unknowns in my thoughts right now, I do know that I can keep holding onto God. I know that He hears me, and will help me through these strange feelings I'm having. In the mean time I'll keep praying and find something to do while I'm waiting. Oh wait, I can do all that homework that's on my to-do list! (I love college, I promise!)

Dealing with Transitions

Yesterday I completed my last day of working for the summer. while i was really impatient all day for time to go faster so i could be done, i was really sad when it was over. since completing my time at the Pizza Buffet, i guess i always thought i'd be in a job situation for the long run.(even though i knew my full time work would come to a close at the end of the summer) but after leaving the second floor hub without my name tag holder, key, or any of my work shirts, tears found their way to my eyes. i guess i've been through so many changes lately, so it's just been hard going through yet another one. also, yesterday was just really fun, despite the fact that we had to clean nine bathrooms. one of my co-workers brought his CDs to listen to while we cleaned, and he had a lot of christian ska (Five Iron Frenzy and the O.C. Supertones) and just some great music from the late 90s/early 2000s. i had a blast listening to all that stuff while cleaning each toilet in the building.

so after leaving work in tears, i decided that i needed to figure out what exactly is wrong with me. and i came to the conclusion that i just don't handle transitions the best, especially when a bunch come in the span of three months or so. and i knew my full time work would come to a close. it just came really fast, that's all.

so, what's next, you ask? well, i have three days of preparation for welcome week. all that means is that i need to get this room cleaned up in three days. also somewhere in there i need to get my computer configured for the college's network, and find out whether i have all the school supplies i need. lastly, i'm going to rest. after thursday, i'm going to be pretty busy for the next two months or so (until fall break). am i scared? yes. But i know that the education i received from Mechanicsburg surely taught me something about college.(after all, isn't that what they attempted to do in Period Zero?) I also know that God never brings us through anything that He and I can't complete together. that alone has brought me through so much in my life.

moved again

so here i am, in fall housing. after two month of working for Campus Events, and living in Bittner with the rest of the summer workers, it has come time to move. and frankly, Bittner will always hold a special place in my heart. i now live in a building on the outskirts of campus, and on top of all that it's facing the wrong way, towards the sewage treatment center. (why did Upper Allen Twp have to pick Grantham for this stuff????)

my stuff isn't quite unpacked, i'm not sure if it will be by the time my three roommates get here for Welcome Week. i didn't sleep that well or that much last night, but i'm hoping to go to bed earlier tonight.

there are a few good things i'm finding out about this building, however. I am on the third floor, so i get great reception when listening to my favorite radio station. and, i've found that i can get WCRH, which comes out of Williamsport, near where my grandparents live in Maryland. i was amazed when i found i could get it crystal clear. i can't even get WDAC clear like that from Lancaster! so i guess i'll be able to listen to Adventures in Odyssey from WCRH if i happen to be around. the only downside is that these two radio stations (WJTL and WCRH) are right next to each other on the dial, so hopefully i'll be able to keep them separate.

another awesome thing about this place is that there's a TV in the lobby with a VCR connected to it. so i actually might do some of my TV watching down there, and bring some cassette tapes to watch at some point.(just because i can)

at least i can rest in the assurance of knowing that if i want to exercise all i need to do is run up and down all the stairs a few times.

Lost, the 90s, and more!

So...admit it...who watched Lost last night? I won't give away too much, because I understand some people are way too busy, and need to catch up. I will, however, say this: I think there's a running theme of sandwiches, and people bring other locked up people sandwiches.

Before Joel and I sat down to watch Lost, we watched some old music videos. I got this DVD several years ago called "The Vault." Well, I think that's what it's called. It's basically every single music video from Gotee Records up until 2004. See, during supper we talked about this one music video from John Reuben called "Dippity Doin'" and we felt that we needed to show Aunt Tracey this music video. So after that music video, we just kept watching. These videos go from the most recent to the oldest. It was interesting scanning all the ones from the 90s, and even the earlier 2000s. I absolutely LOVE 90s music! While some of the music videos are cheesy, it's still fun to watch. The music video for "Two Sets of Jones" is very well done in my opinion.

It's musical season again! Our musical opens tonight. But I'm not going until Sunday. I volunteered to usher so I can get in for free! This will be my third year in a row ushering, so hopefully I'll be pretty good at it.

On another note, I found that I'm really sick and tired of driving every single day in a row! I think I've driven every day since........March 24th? See, I can't even remember! How do people do this every day? I'm used to driving for not long maybe 6 out of 7 days a week. I normally like driving, but I'm ready for a break. I did, however, enjoy the opportunity to sit in student parking lot traffic after school yesterday. That was the first and only time I have done that while being in the driver's seat. Mr. Robinson was still out there in the rain with his umbrella making sure no collisions occurred. It took me longer to get home than if I would've walked.

Well, we're nearing the end of another study hall. Aunt Tracey called Juno, and they're sending us a new modem within three to five business days. So that means between monday and wednesday. I'm not complaining, because I lived without it for three days now, so I can do without it for a while more. Plus, if I really need it, I can go to Messiah College on Sunday afternoon.

You'll never know

So last night I went to work, as usual, but I ended up meeting a new employee there. I work a pizza buffet that's seen better days. We have a relatively new manager in there, and his mother-in-law has started working there just whenever we need the help. Last night I met her for the first time. I came to find out that I met her before, though I'm sure she doesn't remember.

See, two years ago I met her and her husband at a Jars of Clay concert. We sat in line for an hour and a half. For those who've never done that, when you sit in line for an hour and a half, there really isn't much you can do other than get to know the people beside you. Since this concert was at Messiah College, that made it even easier to talk to people, since most likely those people have a connection with Messiah College. Anyways, they were very nice, and I had the chance to meet two of their children. Now that I think about it, I guess they did say they had another daughter. Or my manager could be married to the daughter that I met that night, who knows?

My point is, I was a trifle surprised when I walked into work last night and "met" Anne. I was reminded once again of how nice of a person Anne is. I'm so glad she's coming to work here part time. It's amazing to see how God "randomly" brings people into our lives again and again. I was getting to a point where I thought that kind of thing only happened in books and movies. Well, proved wrong again...