So, of course, I have totally neglected this thing. But, this year, I'm gonna give it another shot. Maybe enough interesting things will happen so that I'll be able to update once a week or so? Haha. :)
By this point, I've successfully moved into my new apartment at school. I've gotten all of the necessities and am in the process of coming up with some decoration ideas. So far, I think I'm going to completely Harry Potterize my room, which I'm super excited about. I suppose it'll be my way of keeping it alive for just a little bit longer. By the way, didn't you guys just love the movie?
So, I suppose I should just touch on my first year of college. :) The first semester went pretty well, minus the fact that I got into a car accident. I wasn't hurt, well except for what I think was a concussion, and the other people were fine, as well. My car, on the other hand, turned out to be a total loss, so I went for about a month without a car. Luckily, I have some amazing friends who took me places, such as to church and the grocery store, etc. And, I was also lucky enough to get another MINI Cooper, same color, and a bit of an upgrade. Yes, my parents are the best in the world. Aside from that slight catastrophe, I celebrated my 18th birthday, which was amazing. Emily and I went out for $1 sushi at 11 PM the night before and I got to hear Denny Chimes ring in my day, which was also great. Since Emily had to go to the Tennessee game that day, she left me surprises all over our dorm room for me to open as I desired. I found out about them from a great post-it display on our bathroom mirror. Yes, I also have the best best friend in the world. Emily's parents also drove down from Huntsville and took me out for dinner, followed by a trip to Starbucks and some Gigi's cupcakes. It was a great night. And, yes, I have the best parents away from home ever, also. I am one lucky girl. I ended out the semester with a 4.07 GPA, which landed me on the President's List for that semester. I also then got to go home for Christmas break, which was the best thing in the world! I really missed my parents a lot, this being my first time spending more than a few weeks away from home.
Of course, after first semester comes second semester, which did not go so smoothly. Needless to say, I found myself getting a little lost throughout this semester. My grades slipped because I just couldn't focus to save my life. My morale was down, and, to tell you the truth, I think I got a little bit depressed. I kept all of this to myself, which was a huge mistake. Everything felt so much better once I finally got everything off of my chest and told my parents what was going on. Then, once I had started to feel better about this situation and start preparing for finals week and getting to go home again, the tornado hit and shook everything in me. I was torn between staying and volunteering and just leaving to go to a place where I felt safe. Emily and I decided that we would go and stay with her uncle until the power was back on in Huntsville. We packed up our rooms in basically a day or so. While doing so, we were able to get some things aside and donate them and also help her church drop off a whole 18-wheeler full of water bottles to one of the distribution centers. After this, we left, and within a week, I was on a plane home to my parents. I can't explain the feelings you have when you go through something like this. It was something that you never imagine going through in a million years, until there you are going through it. That day had started like any other. I'd gotten up and gone to class and carried on about my business like usual, until everything wasn't like usual. It was so unreal sitting on the bottom floor of my dorm and seeing the tornado on someone's laptop screen heading literally straight toward where we were and then taking a turn right before it hit campus (yes, magically we still had wifi in the dorm, even though the power was out). I felt so lucky to not have been affected, but the truth is that I was. I live in a town that is still showing the obvious signs of a major disaster. I have friends who are still suffering through the aftermath of the tornado. I still tear up every time I drive anywhere near 15th Street and McFarland Blvd (the major intersection hit by the tornado). All I can do now though is volunteer to help my friends and pray, pray, pray, pray. Even though the news doesn't really talk about it anymore, it doesn't mean that we still don't need prayer, so if you take anything away from this, it should be that. Pray for Tuscaloosa, and all of the other areas that were affected by the 4/27/2011 tornado, and all the other tornadoes that followed it.
As for more present day stuff, I'm settling into my new place and my day to day stuff here pretty well. Church has been great so far, especially this past Wednesday. I was able to get some encouragement/insight into the things I've been dealing with lately. The best part was that I was told the passion I felt like I lost last semester, wasn't lost at all, but that the fire inside of me was just sort of blown out. I feel like that fire is starting to come back to life though, which is one of the best feelings in the world. I feel like I'm ready to start this new school year with a fresh start.
And, so, I leave you now with a Bible verse. This is one that keeps me going day in and day out.
"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." Philippians 4:13
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