every single school in the area had been closed. We're talkin elementary, high school, private schools. Even the other colleges in the area had canceled classes. BiLo was in a complete frenzy when Vanessa and I went by there. Tons of people are freaking out about how supposedly awful this snow storm is supposed to be. But has Lee called anything off? Of course not. Apparently we only cancel classes for the rapture.

College Algebra= evil

So far this weekend has kind of been an all girls' weekend. And I have to say I've actually really enjoyed it. Typically I'm not a big fan of hanging out w/girls b/c of the excessive amounts of drama, giggling, and discussion of clothing and boys. But the girls I've spent time with and gotten to know better this weekend aren't anything like that, thank the Lord. 

Last night was an adventure. Gracie, Jackie, Kristina, Liz and I went on a mission to get our hall toilet back, which was kidnapped over Christmas break. It basically consisted of driving to a random rather sketchy family graveyard, pretending to visit a grave, leaving our dorm chaplain, dropping the stuff demanded for our toilet and then catching our toilet kidnappers. Then Gracie and I drove to Hixson and saw the Ted Dekker movie Thr3e which was absolutely amazing.

Tonight Gracie, Kelli, and I went out to eat and then came back to Jazzmans and met Colleen. There we made about 15 different words with Jenga blocks and took random pictures, and then went and saw We Are Marshall, also a good movie.

For once the weekend here at Lee was not completely boring. In fact, it was really fun. We've made plans for next weekend. Hopefully, they'll work out. It'll definetely be a lot of new things to try. But now I'm finally gonna be responsible and do some homework. Hope everyone else's weekend is going as well as mine!

Stuff is difficult. That's really the only way I know how to put it right now. Prayer would be appreciated

Is it bad that I'm already sick of most of my classes?

So my first weekend of working at Easter Seals camp is finally over. And I have to say it's one of the best decisions I could have ever made. I learned SO much in just a couple of days. My patience, strength, and compassion were all stretched just a little farther. It was certainly a drain on my physical strength. I did everything from lift campers out of bed, help give them shower and dress them, to taking some on nature walks, to leading a few games, to a 2 hour dance, to scrubbing down a cabin with bleach.  I even learned how to count to 12 in Russian with UNO cards!! All of the counselors hit the floor at 6:30 and didn't get into bed until about 11 at the earliest. It doesn't seem like a whole lot, but it's a long day with little to no rest or sitting down. And yet every single moment was worth it. I've got a little more paperwork to do and then I'm officially on staff for every month's respite and summer if I want. Although the job will probably put me away from home all summer during the weekdays I can't wait for it. It's hard to explain how much this weekend impacted me. Most of it was made up in the little moments that maybe didn't really mean anything to anyone but me. Rather it was a campers smile or a hug or just a statement. It changed me, and God taught me a lot through this opportunity. I can't wait to go back next month!!

is officially one of the coolest things I've ever done!

So I'm sitting here hanging out at Easter Seals camp. It's not even 10 and I'm already done for the day. The campers are all in bed and all the staff are hanging out in the lounge reading, homework, talking, etc. There's only about 10 of us on staff. Most of us are college students or graduate students It's amazing here. Even tonight I've already learned stuff I couldn't learn in a classroom.  The campers are great and totally different from anyone I've worked with before. I'm really really praying stuff works out and I end up on staff on here. Guess I'll find out by Sunday!

So I've gone to all my classes now. And most of them look pretty good except college algebra. the teacher doesn't teach and has the personality of a rock. He just presses the slide show button and mumbles and doesn't make any sense to anyone. Not to mention he assigns homework like his class is the only one we have. English looks like it's gonna be really good again. Intro to teaching wasn't as bad as I was expecting. It even looks somewhat enjoyable. And U. S. History  is looking like my favorite class. Dr. Barnett is pretty amazing. So yea, aside from math, as usual, things look pretty good. But now I get to go do my 4 homework assignments and 2 quizzes for algebra...all of which are due tomorrow!

So in the last couple days a couple of exciting things have happened.

1. This Friday I'm headed to Mt. Juliet to work at Easter Seals which is a special education camp for the weekend. They have Respite Weekends once a month in which about 20 campers with disabilites come and participate in all kinds of activities and such that relate to the month's theme. This month is New Years. I'm working this weekend as a volunteered with an older staff memeber, but if I prove to be any good and I'm comfortable starting next month I'll be on staff with campers of my own. It's something I'll get to do once a month and could turn into a summer job. It's supposed to be an awesome camp that will give me a lot of experience so I'm really looking foward to it. But pray for me! I'm really nervous about the whole thing. I'm really worried I won't be that great at it, but God worked it out for me so I'm beliving something good will come of it.

2. The other exciting thing. We have Dorm Wars in February here on campus. I'm one of the 7 on the team for Davis Hall. It's going to REALLY take me out of my comfort zone but I can't wait!

So yea. God's been opening some really exciting but really scary doors for me the last couple days!

So I'm back at Lee and it is AMAZING! So much better than home. There are a couple people I'm gonna miss, but for the most part things are a lot better than they were 3 or 4 days ago. It's hard to explain. I mean I love everyone back home, and it's nice to see everyone once in a while, but I'm so much more content here. On another note, I have to go buy books. The one downside to college, classes.

2 more days until I get back to Cleveland! I'm more than ready to get back. There's a couple things and people I'll miss, but for the most part I can't wait to get away from here!

Only 3 more days! Thank God!!

Life is a mess. 5 days and life will be a little simpler

left in Murfreesboro, counting today. So technically 5 since this day is almost over. In some ways I'm ready to get back to Lee. But in a lot more, I'm not

Thank God for the amazing friends that I have and the little things they do to make life better without even realizing. Things just got a little better.

ok so let's correct that last thing i said. i'm not comfortable with it, yet. i'm trying really hard to be. and up until today i was. and now, not so much. there are some things that are perfectly fine and i have no complaints about. one rather new thing in particular. but then there is so much that just frustrates me. today was, insane, to say the least. i went thru a rollercoaster ride of emotions and hid them all. i saw 3 different people and dealt with 3 different situations. in some aspects it was a good day. in others, well, i'll get back to you on that one. idk. i've discovered things are usually either way more or way less complex than i make them out to be. this is one of those way more times. 

i'm about ready to get back to Lee. I deal with certain things and people better from a distance. Although there are a couple people I'll definetely miss a whole lot when I go back I need to get away from all the unnecessary drama again too...

my life really doesn't make sense to me anymore. this is another one of these weird stages where nothing really makes sense. only this time i'm comfortable with it.

being sick is not fun! at all!

was tonight.We sat around for a little while talking and eating and such. Then we played a couple games, read the Christmas story, and that was about it. Wasn't the most enertaining thing in the world, but it was still fun. But now I'm tired, and I think I'm trying to get a cold, so I'm gonna go sleep or something.