"Veggie"Tales

Meet Bob the Tomato and Larry the Cucumber, hosts of the best show ever, VeggieTales.

I knew that tomatoes were fruits. They have seeds. I have known that for quite some time.

I didn't know until this week that cucumbers are also fruits. I guess I never actually put two and two together. One of my floor-mates and I had a long drawn out debate about it... Turns out, I was wrong. They actually are fruits. As are peppers, peas, squash, zucchini, pumpkins, and olives.

So yeah, that vegetable medley we have almost every night in the cafeteria? It's actually steamed fruit salad.

College life.

Things I have learned in the past 4 days..

1. If your door is not locked, people will walk through it.
2. If you want people to knock, keep your door locked.
3. Bedtime does not exist anymore. You go to bed when you want to.
4. Eating three meals a day at a set time messes with your metabolism.
5. Eating dinner at 4:30 is way too early.
6. There will always be another set of stairs to go up.
7. College kids truly do get excited about cartoons and coloring.
8. BINGO is an acceptable activity.
9. Movie night doesn't mean Finding Nemo anymore.
10. Plugged In is incredibly handy for searching the movies they intend to show at movie night.
11. Cafeteria workers appreciate a smile and a "thank you."
12. Personal space doesn't really exist.
13. Your keys to your dorm are your most valuable possession and should be kept with you at all times.
14. Because of #13, lanyards are your second most valuable possession. It is acceptable to wear them as a necklace.
15. As long as you have some form of top and bottom on, any clothing goes.
16. You can distinguish the volleyball players from the rest, because of #15.
17. Hulu and Pandora are two of the best boredom beaters out there.
18. Wearing flip flops on this particular campus is not the wisest idea due to excessive hills.
19. It's best not to ask what kind of meat you're eating if you can't figure it out yourself.
20. Your legs will get sore after ascending and descending the 4 flights of stairs in the dorm multiple times a day.
21. If you missed what someone said, it's probably better to not ask.
22. Dad was right... Common sense really isn't common anymore.
23. Time you have to yourself is valuable, use it wisely.
24. Being on the "quiet floor" means that you don't have people above you. Just below and to each side.
25. Just because you're 19 and in college doesn't mean you can't enjoy the most incredible playground ever.

College...

I still feel like I'm at summer camp. Granted, I've only spent two nights in my dorm room. But... When you have probably about 100 mostly freshman students going crazy with their new found freedom, it's hard to grasp that I am actually here for school. And that I'm going to be here for the next 12-13 weeks.. That definitely hasn't sunk in.

Being a transfer student, I don't have to attend the mandatory UNS (student success) class that 95% of the other people who are here do... SCORE!!!! This is going to give me a lot of time this week to hang out in my room, listening to podcasts and reading.

I would go explore the town like I want to so badly, but my car is unfortunately sitting on the side of a city street, dead. Stupid fuel pump. Hopefully I'll have that back to normal by the weekend though, so that I can go see the sights and hit up Walmart on the other side of the river.

I'm honestly psyched for my classes to get under way. In less then a year I will be a licensed PTA.. It's a little intimidating, but I cannot wait to get into the swing of the semester! My books look like a lot of fun (most of them), and I've met a couple other students who are in the program.

For now though, I'm content to enjoy the view from my dorm building and adjust to everything. My room, unfortunately has an incredible view of the gym parking lot =P. The other side of the dorm though, where our rec room is, has a one of a kind view across the water towards Houghton. I think I found my new devotion spot.. It'll be quiet there at 6 AM ;-).

Today

Today, I am thankful for my Daddy who stayed up until 1 AM talking with me. I am thankful for a man who Loves God, Loves his family, and is now tired because he knew I needed to talk.

I am thankful for a Mom who walks out into the living room to find out why neither of us have come to bed yet (this is the same Mom who left a box of Lucky Charms on my bed =D). For a Mom who greets me with a hug this morning...

I love my parents. I am going to miss them both immensely. This growing up thing is bittersweet. Some days it is sweet. Some days it is bitter. Today it is both.

*gulp*

Until this week I never thought it would be possible to be excited and scared all at once.. I am not a person who enjoys new situations. I could live in one place the rest of my life (with the occasional vacation to Colorado, Florida, and maybe Israel) and be content with that. Yet in four short days, I move 6 and a half hours away from home for school...

God is stretching me in ways I didn't necessarily want to be stretched.

I don't want to move. I don't want to leave my family. I don't want to be so far away from my friends... But I am.

Why? Because I really, honestly, truly believe that is where God is leading me. For some reason, He wants me on the northern edge of the U.P. for the next year (give or take). For some reason, He wants me to be (completely) out of my comfort zone. He knows I will have to lean completely on Him, because I won't know where else to lean. I will have to learn to trust Him in an uncomfortable situation. I will have to learn to put Him first above everything else, without my parents right here to help keep me on track.

This blog is about to take a turn as I sort through life on my own... As I learn to continue letting Him write my story, living it so that those around me can see. I am being given an opportunity to start anew.. New friends, new teachers, new chances to shine Him. And that, is the exciting part =)