Red Pens and Sweet Dreams

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News since we last "spoke":

- My anatomy professor from last year asked me to be his teacher's assistant!  That he would ask me is highly encouraging.  I believe he was one of the scientists who developed the worm vaccination given at veterinary clinics.  He is one of the smartest people I've ever met!  Anyway, I graded my first stack of quizzes and it was fun, although a little harder than I expected.  You have to be consistent with your grading on every problem of course, which is harder than it sounds (hopefully I'll do a lot better job next time)

- Two nights ago, I intentionally didn't do homework.  My conscience has slain me ever since.  I did not finish a video and did not read a textbook chapter because it was 11 p.m. and I decided that sleep was more important.  This is part of my new attitude that taking care of yourself must come first.  That night I still got only seven hours of sleep (which is the bare minimum I need to function and be a kind person and important stuff like that).  Still, I feel really badly about not doing all assigned homework.  In life, there are so many things you should do, and there is simply not enough time to do all of them.  If you have thoughts on this topic or disagree, I'd love to hear it in the comments!

cutestpaw.com

Billie, have you moved into Iowa yet?  I really want to hear about your adventurous summer!

Love, 
     E

P.S. Remind me to include room pix next post!

Perspective

Sophomore. Weird to spell, weirder to say.
It's hard to believe I'm a year out from being new to college.
This year started out just like last year... with Band Camp!
Lots of music rehearsals and outdoor marching practices happened. (Check out some great pics here! You should really take a peek! :) )
However, this year was definitely better than last year, and it's all about perspective.
Last year, I knew no one and I actually sat in my dorm room at the end of each day and just stared at the wall. I was so lonely that I called my family every night and usually cried some too.
This year, I haven't had a dull evening, or a sad one either. I spent the first one hanging out with friends and having adventures, and every night since has had something going on!
Last year, I didn't know what I was getting into. The BMB was new to me, not to mention the drumline. I was scared and felt like I was constantly pulled from one place to another because I just didn't know how stuff worked.

Leadin' the section
(Photo cred to Lauren Bolt)

This year, I have a much better handle on things! The BMB is like family, and it was so great to be able to be able to welcome so many new freshmen to drumline. I am the bass drum section leader, which has been a neat position to have. I really enjoy working with everyone and being able to help them learn how things work.
Last year, I came to college worried about how I was going to earn money. I needed a job, but no one would hire me. When I did end up getting a job, it was definitely not a good fit for me.
This year, I came to college knowing that I have 2 jobs, both of which I enjoy. Being the music librarian has been great because I can make my own hours, and I know I'll enjoy being an accompanist too!
Most importantly, last year I felt like I was all alone at first because I didn't know anyone and was in a completely new place.
However, this year, I was excited to come back to all of the friends I hadn't seen in 2 months. I didn't realize how much I was used to seeing everyone so much every day.

Remembering where I was at last year has kept one thing at the forefront of my mind: Many Freshmen are in the same spot that I was; lonely, confused, lost, and trying to get settled in a completely new place. Now that I'm in a place where I can be a leader, it's been neat to be able to be the person I would have liked to meet as a Freshman. I had so many people come up to me as a Freshman and just be nice, and I can only hope that this year's Freshmen feel the same way about me and the other members of the band.
I can't wait to see what this year holds! If this past week has been any indication, this year getting started on the right foot (the left one, of course [band humor])! I know that some great things are in store!

Recently, on the other side of the world...

Well, it was a great summer!  A hard summer, but a great one.  Having the opportunity to lead 18 teenagers to Asia?  What a privilege.

Leading something for the first time in my life was definitely a stretching experience.  It was like lifting weights every day, emotionally, spiritually, mentally, and physically.   But I'm awfully thankful for all the lessons God taught me.  Here's what happened:

After the team went through boot camp training in Florida, we took the 14-ish hour plane flight to Hong Kong, then flew to Myanmar's capital (Yangon).  We stayed in a clean, air-conditioned guest house and then took an eight hour bus ride over the mountains to the roughest, poorest, most violent state in Myanmar, the Rakhine state.  We moved into a less luxurious guest house and received the unwelcome news that the local officials would not allow the team to do their building project.  The end. 

 Our head leader suspects that the local Buddhist monks were a bit suspicious of us.  For one thing, Myanmar has been closed to foreigners until the past year.  In that country, it is illegal for foreigners to spend the night anywhere except a registered guest house.  This is so the government can keep a good eye on them... er, us.

So we packed up and flew to Cambodia instead!

There, the team started a building for Cambodia's Teen Missions Boot Camp, just like camp we'd just come from.  The teens erected massive concrete pillars, poured a floor, and watched the funds they'd raised pay for a bright blue metal roof to be constructed above.  Meanwhile, I helped cook for the team every day, using a metal box of an oven and a one pot cooking fire.  I also got the chance to lead the team's daily Bible studies and girls small group.  During those days, we lived in tents, filtered our water, tried some exotic fruits, and learned to use "squatty potties" like pros!

The highlight of every day for me was to be driven in a tuk tuk  (a typically Asian conveyance consisting of a three-wheeled "buggy" hitched to a motorcycle) to the local market to buy fresh produce, sugar, etc.  I learned some greetings in Khmer (pronounced Kih-MY) and got familiar with Cambodian currency.

Before returning to the U.S., we got one sightseeing day in Hong Kong, and that was glorious!  Seeing the city lights over the harbor by ferry, exploring the night markets, eating at a Hong Kong McDonald's... it was a good time :)

It was hard to say goodbye to the team, but it's been good to be home at last.  College classes start Tuesday and I'll keep you all updated.

Stay wonderful!
E

My beloved team :)

The beautiful Gwa orphans.  

Please pray that someone will be able to build for them.  

20 plus orphans live in a thatched house half the size of a typical one story home.  

They have nothing but the clothes on their back, a toothbrush, and a bed roll.  

They play in the dirt and with a flea-bitten dog.  

They live on nothing but daily food and the love of the home's staff, 

but they are being taught to love Jesus.  

We will never forget them.

And then there was one... [me]

So, in a little bit of an interesting sort of happening, I am the only co-author of this blog that is capable of posting on it until approximately August.
Now do not fear!
My two trusty sidekicks are just fine.
They are just kinda sorta not in the country for a while, or for that matter, not near any internet.
But I am.
It's like "Lone Survivor" or something. [That's a movie, right? I have no clue.]
So while my cohorts are off doing great and wonderful things, I, too, shall do great and wonderful things... Here... while working at HyVee... and hanging out with some people... and doing cool things.
I wonder if they'll notice if I change the blog background... tee hee hee!
I might also introduce a guest author here and there. Don't worry, she's related. ;)
But for now, I'll close with this...
Because no matter if you're in a far off country being a missionary, or up the road working at HyVee [that's me] this is true and applicable.

Via

My Hypothetical Summer

Here's where I am supposed to be and what I plan to do until Aug. 12.

Friday I fly DM > Dallas > Orlando and spend like a month in Merritt Island (yes, for real), Florida.
I will be an assistant leader for Teen Missions International, helping lead their Myanmar teen mission trip.

At the "boot camp" training on muggy Merritt Island, I will get leader training and then be with my team of 13 or so teens as they go through training for two weeks.


(That's me at boot camp last year as a team member wearing the starry bandanna)

Then we fly to JFK airport, then Hong Kong, then Rangoon (Myanmar's capital), and go to a children's home right on the Bay of Bengal.  For three weeks, the team members construct a shower house for the home and hang out with the children while I cook for my team and help lead daily Bible studies for them. Myanmar, more commonly called Burma, is right next to India and China and pretty huge for a country Americans aren't likely to be familiar with.


(Photo from operationworld.org)

Then we all get a day of tourism in Hong Kong and head back for several days of "debriefing" in Florida.  I get a week back at home to prep for college and then it's off to my first year of actual nursing program college life!



Hey, now you're totally filled in!
And please please write to me because it will make my day.  Really.  :)

P.S.  I miss Billie.  She's off adventuring right now as well.

Lucy! I'm Home!

(Warning: This post has no pictures and many bullet points. Consider yourself warned. :) )

Well here I sit.
On my couch
At home.
I've been here just over 2 weeks.
In that time, I have managed to

• find a job at HyVee (I can check you out! Haha!)
• clean lots of things
• hang out with some of my wonderful friends from school
• hang out with a college friend
• actually work at HyVee (the code for bananas is 4011)
• attended a bridal shower

In that time, I have also managed NOT to

• put practically anything back into my room (the logistics are hard when you are sharing the room with your sister, who is a permanent resident)
• gone to bed before 9 p.m. (but then again, that is normal)
• gotten up before 8 a.m. practically ever (except for church)

Being at home in the summer is hard. 

Maybe hard isn't the right word, because it really is just what I need. The ability to spend copious amounts of time with my closest friend/practically another sister is really just what I need. And I have missed it.

But being at home during the summer is different.
First, even though you know it isn't true, you have this nagging thought in the back of your head that ponders if anyone really cares that you are back. Not your family and close friends, of course, but those people that you used to see all the time. That you used to interact with for one reason or three. If you're like me and sometimes journey too far in to your introverted mind, you start over-analyzing things. But then you have to sort of shake yourself and remind yourself that there are people who are so glad you're back that it is not worth it worrying about it because you can just hang out with awesome people!

Also, for nine months you have been trying to get used to not having your family around. And that is hard because you miss them. But then suddenly they are all back and you are back and it is the best thing because you have missed them so much. However, you haven't had to live with them for 9 months and vice versa, and even though you feel like you have plenty of experience (you know, about 19 years....) interacting with them is hard again. And you don't want it to be. And it quickly gets easier (for example, now is better than 2 weeks ago). But you have to get over doing everything by yourself for 9 months and you get to enjoy hanging out with the people you love. You just get back into the swing of things.
For me, the swing of things has included:

• getting re-used to sharing a room with someone who does not have the same cleaning priorities as me (which is just fine.)
• not having a schedule/routine
• not seeing the same people day after day and getting to interact and laugh
• not seeing much of anyone aside from my family from day to day because school is not done yet here and colleges are just beginning to finish up. (I was done SO EARLY. I realized this very quickly.)

However, summer is just barely beginning, so I have high hopes. At least it better get better, or HyVee is going to be the most fun I have in a day. And while I do have quite the knack for memorizing things (just ask 3-year-old Kara who memorized a whole VeggieTales story) I don't want memorizing the codes for fruits and vegetables to be the highlight of my days.

And really, it won't be.

There are already some exciting plans!

• refinishing a chair
• graduation parties
• hanging out with Kelli and one of our cousins in MN with our fabulous aunt and uncle
• going to Washington, D.C. with the family
• one of our very close friends' wedding!
• Reading Pride and Prejudice and The Fault in Our Stars (I've started Pride and Prejudice. It sort of sounds like what my life would have been like if I lived back then...)

So here's to a summer full of interesting things and also making money. And also hanging out with some great people. And also making memories.

Freshman Year: A Recap (Wait, we're recapping already?!)

Now that I'm home for the summer, I've spent some time reflecting on my first year of college. Here's a little recap.

First night in the dorms. I was super lonely because I had to
be there before everyone else because of band camp

Roommate bonding time! Sonic and brick-buying!

First day of classes!

People sent me letters and I loved every one of them! <3

I did marching band!

And it was wonderful!

Pretty soon, a victorious football team meant
the marching band following them to the
national championships in Alabama....
And came back to this weather...
Luckily music students are a resourceful
bunch, so we shoveled out with music stands!

I was honored to be invited to join Kappa Kappa Psi, the
National Honorary Band fraternity! The Kappa people quickly
became like a second family!

We had a women's retreat for Navigators,
which was tons of fun!

Then there was the music fraternity formal....

Which was awesome...

And so much fun!

As the year came to a close, I officially became a member of
Kappa Kappa Psi, and gained so many wonderful, amazing,
caring Brothers!

To sum up this year, it's been one of learning and fun. There have been some downs, but mostly there have been ups. If you would have told me when I first got here that I would be sad to leave, I would have laughed (and then cried because I wanted to go home). But now I can't wait to go back and keep having fun with all of those crazy people I get to call my friends! The Fine Arts building really was full of fun people, fun memories, and fun times, and I also can't wait to move back to South Complex with the wonderful Olivia!
Here's to a fun summer (I'll check you out at HyVee... your groceries that is. :) ) and to a swift conclusion to the school year for my blog-writing pals!