Perks

So, I'm a member of the Honor's Program at my school and it's wonderful. It's a very small group and everyone gets along really well. Aside from the joy of getting to know everyone, there are also several other perks, one of them being the adorable netbook that I recieved today! Every new member of the Honors Program recieves one and I must say I am thoroughly enjoying mine. It is much easier to transport and it just adorable :) I haven't quite picked a name for it yet, but I will have one before too long!
Days like today just solidify for me that I made the right choice in choosing this school. Not just because I get cool toys, but because of the family atmosphere that is EVERYWHERE here on campus. Not many other schools can furnish brand new netbooks for their Honors Programs. Not many schools have professors that know you by name and say hello whenever they see you around campus. Not many schools have professors that are genuinely interested in what you're doing in life right now and how you're coping with things. There is such a welcoming air at my school. I love it a little bit more every day, and I have this sneaking suspicion that it only gets better from here

oh, Praise the One who paid my debt....

First and foremost, I pinky promise I didn't die! I'm still alive and well and VERY VERY busy! Such is the life of a college student, and I love every single minute of it!
Now, onto what I REALLY wanted to write about. I don't remember if I mentioned this yet or not, but my roommate and I have been looking for a church to start attending while at school and we think we may have found one. The man who has been speaking at Blueprint for the last month or so, Jason Garris, is wonderful. He really knows how to reach college students on their level and I always enjoy hearing him speak. Within the last few weeks Christine and I have been visiting Highland Christian Church, where Jason is one of the Pastors and we love it! It is very contemporary and casual and everyone feels welcome, regardless of how they look or how much money they have. It's just a group of people who get together and worship God and it's amazing. There is something new every week, whether it's an extended worship time or a different praise band. I look forward to it every week and find myself the tiniest bit disappointed whenever I have to miss it. It is just a wonderful place to be and worship.
Not only have I found a church, but I am also beginning to get more involved with the campus ministries, Blueprint, in particular. I recently got the assigment of my D-Group, or Discipleship Group, that will meet once a week, do a bible study and just spend time together. I was put into the group with Sarai Gilbert, who is the lovely wife of Marty Gilbert, the faculty advisor. She is very sweet and gentle and I am thrilled to be in her group and get closer to her and the other amazing girls in my group!
I'll try my best to keep everyone updated with everything, what with my insane schedule. Wish me luck!

Shouldn't this get EASIER the second time around?

This weekend I packed up my little car, made sure we had everything we needed, got in the car with my roommate and headed down the mountain to spend the weekend at home with my amazing family and it was just that, AMAZING! We went to the fair, we read all day, we went out to dinner with everyone, we watched Star Wars with my mom and I got to introduce Christine to SunDrop for the first time. Hands down, best weekend I've had in a long time. I surprised all my amazing friends at church and just showed up sunday  morning without warning anyone I was coming. It was wonderful. Just being at home and surrounded by the people that love me no matter what was the best feeling. Then the weekend ended and I cried like a baby when Christine and I had to leave again. Most people might not be surprised by this, but I was. The day that I moved in I didn't cry very much. I had an orientation session to get to and my wonderful parents had to get home, so we said goodbye outside my dorm and I cried a little, but it didn't last very long because I knew that I had to be somewhere and ready for class. Maybe the fact that I didn't cry very much the first day was a large contributing factor and maybe I was just due for a good cry, but Sunday afternoon was one of the hardest things I've done. Maybe it will get easier, I certainly hope so, but I have no doubt that it will always hurt when I have to leave my family. I just have to know that I will see them again and remember that, no matter how far away we are, we have each other in our hearts <3