Man, oh man!

I ended my last post, in FEBRUARY, by saying that I'll attempt to update more often. Fail. So much has happened in the past 6 months you wouldn't believe it. I don't really want to go into the long, boring details, because it would take a million years to type it all out.

I'm a sophomore in college. Holy crap. I can barely wrap my head around it. My schedule this year is pretty insane. I have class from 8-3 on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. No classes Tuesdays, and on Thursdays I have class from 8-7. I also work in the library, and during my 8-3 class blocks, I have a class in which I'm a Teacher's Assistant for, so that's an entirely different experience, that's for sure.

It's week two of the school year, and my friends have already asked where I've been. Because when I'm not at class, work, or eating food, I'm shut in my room or the library doing homework. I have so much homework because I've decided to be a good college student this year, and try really hard. So, in two of my classes, we get notes by PowerPoint, and we get these PowerPoint's online. So instead of just saving them to my computer and studying them when it's test time (which didn't work out so well last semester), I'm retyping them out into an outline form, printing them out, then going back a few days later, rereading them, and highlighting key points. Then from the key points I'll make flash cards. Hopefully this'll help me score better on tests, because I was not okay with my GPA last semester. I didn't make Dean's List, which made me sad. I did make honor roll, but for me, that's not a huge deal. I'm aiming for President's List (for the semester, not an overall GPA), which is a 4.0. That would make me incredibly happy. I don't know if it'll happen, but I'm going to try my VERY hardest, and then I'll be happy :]

On top of classes and work, I have various clubs and organizations that I'm a part of. I'm the Fundraising chair on the Up til Dawn Executive Board, I applied to be the Philanthropy chair on the Panhellenic Board, and I have my sorority events. Needless to say, this school year is going to FLY by. Which makes me happy, and leads me to my next topic: Jake.

Yes, I'm sure all of you care bundles, but I am seeing a new guy, and his name is Jake. Shawn Jacob, actually, but he goes by Jake :] We're "dating" in the literal sense of the word: as in, going OUT on dates, courting, whatever you want to call it. We're simply getting to know each other better. He's 23, and still in college (he changed his major after getting is Associate's Degree in Fine Arts), and has an Associates in Science, and is a Computer Science major. He's probably the sweetest guy I have ever met in my entire life, and he makes me feel good about myself. He actually came to my church one Sunday, and that was awesome :] I loved that he could see that part of my life, and that he understands how important it is to me. He actually told me he wanted to go because he wanted to see the thing that I love so much and is a big part of my life. He may or may not come back, and that's up to him. Maybe Trinity isn't the place for him, and that's okay. The fact that he did what no previous boyfriend has done before (and before he's even my boyfriend) means the world to me :]

Other than all that stuff, life is pretty great :] I had a great summer, and am having a great start to the school year. I was dismayed to find out that I gained ten pounds over the summer. This is unacceptable! Jake also gained some weight over the summer, so the two of us are keeping each other accountable in our new exercise and diet regiment. The diet part really isn't that difficult, because school offers salad with low fat dressing, skim milk, etc etc. It's the exercise part that's going to be difficult. Though tonight I just did some dancer-cise, which was so much fun. I'm pumped to do it again tomorrow, though I'll probably be a little sore from tonight, but that's okay :]

Welllll this is getting long, and I do have more homework/notes to take care of, so I shall update again soon(ish)! God bless :]

Stress...

Oh man, stress. This semester has been crazy insane. There has been a lot of stress because my classes are really challenging, and require a lot more studying and homework than my classes last semester. On top of classes, I've been dealing with family stress, financial stress, and personal drama. But on a positive note, I made the Dean's list last semester, and I've been invited to join Phi Eta Sigma - a freshman national honor's society - for my GPA last semester. And there's a new addition to my family: Malik Elijah Spiller, born February 10, 2010, 7 lbs 7 oz. 20 inches long =]I love him already and I haven't even met him yet! Speaking of which, keep your prayers with my brother-in-law's family - his grandmother is on her death bed, and they drove down to Georgia, with the new baby and little Brian in tow, to be with her.
So, it's been a pretty crazy winter, right? Well, it has been up here, at least. With the last snowfall a week ago, we got about 7 or 8 inches in just like two days, how crazy is that? But the campus is GORGEOUS covered in snow. I thought it was pretty in the summer, but it is like a thousand times prettier in the winter.
I've made some new friends since I've last updated! Lee and Michelle - they are... amazing to say the least :) And Rylee [I think we were friends the last time I updated, idk], and Heather, Mesia, Tyler. They are all amazing, and are quickly becoming best friends [especially Lee and Mesia, Rylee's siblings, and Rylee, too, of course]. But all of my friends - new and old - I love, very much, and I miss the friends back home. Speaking of friends, I'm talking to Mesia on facebook and we are exchanging hilarious stories about our dads, and I'm sitting next to my friend Nina, who was kind enough to sit with me at dinner long after she had finished eating so I wouldn't look like a loser :)
I don't really know what else to say, I'll work on updating more often, haha. God Bless! <3

It's a new year

Happy 2010 everyone! It's a new year, and a new decade, how about that! I hope that everyone's new year and Christmas was fabulous, because mine certainly was :) On Christmas Eve, my family played a murder mystery thing, so that was a lot of fun, and it killed two and a half hours of time awaiting Santa's arrival and Christmas morning! But seriously, it was good, clean fun, and I really enjoyed doing so with my family.

My classes during the three week session were speech and Genomics. Speech was fun, but tough because I don't really like public speaking all that much. I've discovered that I'm not as bad at it, and it's not as scary as I first thought. My friend, Ian, made me try out for the school's production of Rhinoceros, which really made me feel a lot more comfortable getting up in front of people, because I had to do some pretty embarrassing things when reading the script. But it was a great experience for me, though I didn't get cast, and I can't wait to audition for the next play, not necessarily to get cast, but to experience auditioning again, because I loved it!

This semester is going to be a tough one. I'm enrolled in 18 credit hours, and some of the classes are proving to be either difficult, a lot of work, or all of the above. Yay me. I have Genomics, Chemistry, Literary Theory, and Zoology. And then in the 3 week I have Midwest Writers, and Archery and Badmitten. It's going to be an interesting semester for me, I have a feeling.

I have rediscovered my love of letter-writing. I think that it's a shame that no one writes letters anymore, because it's such a more personal way of communicating! Someone actually took the time and effort to write out something, put it in an envelope, and mail it off. Then you have the pleasure of checking your mailbox and actually having something worth getting! And though it is significantly slower than e-mail, or IM, or texting, or a phone call, it's a nice gesture, and I know it makes me smile inside when I get a letter or a card. So, since this discovery, I've taken to writing to a few friends that I know would appreciate the art of letter writing :)

I can't really think of a whole lot to say anymore, so I'm going to cut this blog entry short, and call it a day (week... maybe month... who knows!)! God bless everyone! :)

Wow... lol

Wow... I kind of, sort of forgot about this. Haha.

Summer was fantastic! Babysitting was extremely stressful, but totally worth it =] Softball... I have never loved playing a sport more =] even though we lost [almost?] every game, it doesn't matter, because it was SO much fun!! Camp was a blast, as always, but a little sad considering it was my last year as a student. I got a lot closer to my friend Cam, which was awesome!! The summer went by entirely too quickly for my liking, between working and getting ready for college, oh, and getting my permit! But summer always ends.

Well, I'm in COLLEGE! How crazy is that? I'm actually two days away from being done with my first semester. Pure insanity, in my opinion. I don't know what happened to the past four and a half months! Well, I am LOVING college, like, a LOT. I have made some totally awesome friends =] Kirwin, Jasmine, MaryKate, Jeff, Ian, Tim, Kiana, KV (Kayla), Bailey, Anna, Jesse, Antonio, Jenna, Krystal, Jackie, Earon, Nina, Ethan, Chevy, Brittany, Britters, Kiarra, and 50 FABULOUS girls that have captured my hearts, which would be the members of the Eta Sigma Chapter of Sigma Sigma Sigma - yes, I joined a sorority, and I love every second of it =]

My roommate and I are BEST friends - MaryKate Barkley =] We know practically everything about each other; when it comes to boys, food, drinks, favorite flowers, habits, length of showers, what foods we don't like but are convinced that we do (and every time we are wrong, of course), just about everything. We are extremely similar in our personalities (especially our cleanliness... or lack there of, haha).

I've experienced college finals, and I'm not gonna lie, I'm not a big fan, haha. I got a B in Chemistry, and an A in FYE (an english class - First Year Experience), and an A in Genomics.

OH, speaking of Genomics... it's my new love. I love it SO much, that I'm considering changing my major to research or to medicine, Pediatric Oncology to be more specific =] I'm trying to find a summer research internship for next summer at Washington University or the Donald Danforth Plant. Paid to do something I love? Bring it on =]

I've discovered my ultimate hatred of public speaking. You'd think I would be good at it, considering how much I like to write... and talk. But nope, put me behind a podium, make me stand up in front of people, and I'm a horrible mess. I was hoping to overcome this in 3 weeks... fail. But I've made improvements.

I am no longer in a relationship. Not sure if I mentioned on here that I ever was, but I was dating a boy (emphasis on the boy there), who I was convinced was the most amazing guy ever. Well, he wasn't. He was sleeping with another girl while we were dating. Yeah, ouch. Oh well, that was two months ago, and I heal more and more each day =]

I am loving college way more than I ever expected. I mean, yeah, I thought I would enjoy it. But... at Culver-Stockton, I have never been happier. Never. I feel like I am on top of the world. There are days that aren't so good, sure, but for the most part, there isn't a part of the day that I'm not smiling or laughing. Time is just sailing past, and that makes me sad, because I don't ever want this to end. It's not even like I'm getting caught up in the party scene or anything like that. Sure, I've gone to a party or two, but its mostly just spending time with my friends, getting into snowball fights, drives to Quincy or Dollar General, or County Market, chilling at the DU (a fraternity) house, or spending time with my sorority sisters. I spend a lot of time at my friend Jeff's house because I love his family =] They are my home away from home, really.

This semester has been beyond amazing. There has been SO much change that I wasn't sure if I could handle so much all at once, but I did, because GOD is amazing =] Now that it's the end of the semester, I'm sitting back and taking a deep breath, because the initial rush is over. Now I have to tackle a crazy class load next semester: Gen Chem II, Literary Theory, Zoology I, Genomics, and then lab for Chem and Zoology. Classes 9-3:45 Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday, and then 9:15-11:15 on Thursdays.

I spent Thanksgiving at my grandma's, and that was a ton of fun. I spent most of the few days I was there with her, showing her pictures, and helping her in the kitchen or with sudoku or crossword puzzles. We went shopping because silly me left my tennis shoes at the hotel, so all I had was flip-flops haha

OH, I also got braces, that's new...ish. I got them in August. Things seem to be going well. Well, for my teeth. As for my braces and I... it's a hate-hate relationship.

Umm lets see. I've dyed my hair - its a super dark brown, almost black at times. And I got it cut... again. I have side-sweeping bangs, and it comes to about my chin... not even. I love it... a lot.

Erm, well I can't believe that Christmas is in just over a week - thats wild! I can't wait for this break, starting on Thursday and going until Jan 10th =] I'll be getting my license just after Christmas, and I THINK I'm getting a car this weekend. So that's pretty exciting.

I can't think of anything else, haha, so I'm going to end this crazy long post! Love you all!! =]

Graduation.. wow!

Wow, I'm a high school graduate! That's totally insane! I haven't really grasped the concept yet. I suppose it won't really hit me until I go away to college... I feel like I'm just going back to Hazelwood West in the fall. Graduation went smoothly, and I went out to lunch with my mom, stepdad, dad, stepmom, and my sister. That went WAY better than expected, and I'm glad.
That essay scholarship that I applied for, I didn't get it. Bummer, but I'm actually not as disappointed as I thought I'd be. I've been prepping myself for days in case I didn't get it, and I'm glad! I get to babysit an extra week (which is an extra $100!!), and I can go to my Freshman Orientation. Oh! The AP tests went well, at least, I hope they did... I find out the results in the middle of July.

Through everything, all the end-of-the-year/end-of-high-school/starting-college stuff, I kind of lost focus on God and everything that He means to me. As the stresses started to ebb away, I realized how much He was there for me through it all, and how blessed I am for everything in my life. There's a lot of change right now, and I wasn't sure at first if I was going to be okay through all of it - but I know now that I am prepared to handle anything, because God is on my side. I got my hair cut, and I'm getting braces - which I'm a little nervous about, because I don't really want to go into COLLEGE with braces for the first time, but I'm slowly getting over that, because, well, I have to, haha - and moving out... it's going to be an interesting, and a pretty difficult summer. I'm stepping way out of a comfort zone in moving two and a half hours away... away from my church, my friends, and most importantly, my family. However, I know that I'll be okay. I've developed a sense of independence, and I've learned to appreciate things in my life, and I've learned how to work for what I want. Going away is 110% the right option for me, because I feel like it'll help me grow up a little bit and get a grasp on the real world. I know that college still isn't the "real world" but it's closer than high school, and it'll be closer to the real world when I'm two and a half hours away, versus living at home and going to school. I think I need to experience that.

I have a summer job! I'm babysitting my niece and nephews that came up from Georgia for the next six weeks. $100 a week :) Today was day two, and where it can get a bit tiring, it's still extremely fufilling, and I'm glad to spend some quality time with them.

OH! And I've joined my friends' church's softball team! We had our second game ( but my first game ) on Monday, and we got CREAMED. But, hey, it was fun and that's all that matters!! Haha.

I'm having my graduation party on Sunday, and I can't wait! I'm so excited! Things are really busy here at the house trying to squeeze in as many projects we can before the party, and getting things done for the party.

Church camp on monday! It's going to be a blast! It's my last camp for three years, when I'm 21, and can come back to be a counselor. I didn't get to go to camp last year, and as a result, I'm even MORE pumped!! I get to see my friends Cameron and Anderson whom I haven't seen in over a year!! OMG I cant wait, lol.

Alas, I need to go to bed, it's not really that late, but I have to go to my sister's house at 9 AM tomorrow, sooo yeah. Goodnight and God Bless everyone!!

WOW!

Prom was AMAZING!!!! Pictures:

A night to remember, indeed!! So, I chose to write this scholarship essay, and it is going over fantastically! I've gotten my final edit, and I'm currently working on my final copy - due this Thursday! Oh boy! AP tests on May 7 and May 12! Senior Skip Day on May 4, Senior Activity Day on May 8, last day of school on May 22, then graduation and PG on May 30! 16 days left! Everything is winding down, and I'm excited about this new chapter in my life!!

I'm College-Bound! ... Kind of!

WOW! It's been a while since I've posted on here! Oops!! Lol. SOOO I've decided to go to.... *drum roll*

CULVER-STOCKTON COLLEGE!!!!!!!!!!

woo-hoo!!!

it was a really tough decision, I have to admit! I prayed about it, and I feel like God wants me to go to Culver, instead of Olivet, because I need to go into the real world and witness His word to people. I'll have more of an opportunity to do so at Culver than at Olivet =]