one down

The past week was an emotional roller coaster. A situation on the soccer team caused us to be torn a part. After three days of tears and disappointments everything was finally settled and our team was able to settle down and come together again. As a team we felt Satan was trying to bring us down by tearing us apart. By the end of the week we had gone through so much that we were emotionally drained.

However, I did have a great first week of classes. Most of my classes don't seem like they are going to be too hard. Apparently I got the best Old Testament teacher, which is rather exciting because after talking to him, I am excited to be in his class. My math teacher is pretty soft spoken. Math is going to be my hardest class just because I don't remember much algebra from eighth grade. My World Civ teacher is by far the best professor on campus and everyone loves him. First aid should be easy. It is basically taught on an eighth grade level, so by the end of the semester I will be certified in first aid and can save lives!

I still haven't found a church home, and its becoming disheartening. I miss Bro. Roger and everyone at FBC CLV. I miss home in general, but my mom came to visit this weekend so that helped. However, I miss my little dog and Daniel a lot as well. Daniel sent me a package in the mail the other day that brightened my mood.

As the weekend comes to an end and I finish my last bit of homework, I can't help but get excited for the upcoming week. We have an away game on Tuesday in Mississippi which is exciting, and then next weekend is Labor Day weekend. If everything works out I'll get to go home!

Elizabeth
3:14

weekend in Chicago

On Thursday morning our soccer team headed up to Chicago, Illinois for a fun filled weekend of soccer and visiting the "windy city". The eight hour bus ride to Chicago wasn't too long at all. I slept most of the way, and for the last few hours played spades. I actually woke up to Samantha standing over my seat waiting for me to wake up so she could ask me to come play. I played more spades this weekend than ever before, but I'm not complaining, it was fun and passed the time.

Once we got to Chicago we checked in to our hotel and went for a jog around the hotel to loosen up our muscles and get us ready for the upcoming games. For dinner we got to experience the infamous Chicago deep dish pizza. I didn't think I would be a fan, but I loved it. I know Chicago is called the windy city, and I expected it to be windy, but it was freezing! I didn't have enough clothes. We froze to death at the games, it was crazy!

The next two days both varsity and junior varsity had two games each. Junior varsity, which is me, played at eleven both mornings and won both of our games. Varsity played in the evenings. They lost their first game in overtime and won their second in overtime, both were very close games.

The best part of the trip, however, was the bonding we got to do. I became a lot closer to some of the girls on the team. We got to spend many hours together on the bus when we went to and from the fields that were an hour away from our hotel and then to and from Chicago. We played many games of spades, sang songs, and laughed hysterically. On Sunday we went to Harvest Bible Chapel. It was a different worship experience, but I actually enjoyed it. After that we got to go spend a little over an hour in downtown Chicago. My small group headed to the John Hancock building because it was the only one we knew how to get to. I was able to call Nathaniel and got to spend sometime with him there. It was great seeing a familiar face from home, even though it wasn't actually the CLV.

Seeing him made me realize how much I took for granted the relationship I had with my friends. Even though it made me happy to see him, it was also sad knowing that school is starting this week and we really won't be seeing each other anymore for a while. Not just him, but Krista, Luci, Lauren, Ashley, Taylor, and Johnnie. We are all so far apart from each other now!

Classes start Tuesday. That itself is pretty exciting. It was a bummer coming back to campus and there being so many people here, but since class is starting I guess naturally people have to be here now. I'm nervous and excited for the upcoming week, and can't wait to get through this first semester! I figure once I get through the first semester I'll get the swing of things and do better in the next semesters.

Elizabeth
3:14

its been one week...

Today marks one whole week at Union University. This past week has been a roller coaster full of emotions. The first two or so days here I hated it. I thought I was too shy to meet people, and basically didn't talk to anyone. However, now I love it and have made so many new friends.

The girls on the soccer team were so open and welcome to all of us freshmen. Instead of feeling like an outsider they brought us in and let us become part of their so called "family." Its been a great week of learning about each other and bonding as a unit. From encouraging each other on the soccer field to screaming at the TV while playing Super Mario on Nintendo we've all become closer in the last seven days.

The pain my body has been in, however is not a highlight of my week here. I've never been in so much pain. From my toes all the way to my neck everything is sore or bruised. We've had three-a-days, which start at six in the morning. We start with an hour of fitness at six, then from eight-thirty to eleven we play soccer, from eleven to noon we swim, then we get a nice break, and play again from six-thirty to around nine. Altogether its about seven hours of intense working out. No wonder my body is in so much pain.

Besides the pain, I love this experience. As preseason nears the end, I'm getting excited for our first game. We play Wednesday, and then travel to Chicago next weekend to play. This past week has been full of laughs and tears, but I will cherish my first week at Union and look forward to my next four years here.

stop this train

Today was my last day in the CLV for a while. It was a roller coaster of emotions, but ended up being one of the best days of my summer. It started off with the usual working out. A group of us from church went to Ci Ci's for lunch. The nine of us together conquered over 100 slices of pizza, needless to say I was sick before I even got home. Still though, it was a highlight of my day.

The rest of the day was devoted to packing everything imaginable for school. While packing I listened to my itunes library on my computer. I love putting it on shuffle! You never know what's going to play. While packing a song came on that I hadn't heard in a while, and caused me to end up just laying in the floor taking it in. The song is called "Never Alone" by Jim Brickman, its a great song, I think its about a man and woman and not being alone ever, but as I was listening to it I was thinking about no matter where I go God will be there. Wherever I end up He will be there. It was pretty comforting in this time of being nervous about leaving.

After packing I went to church and hung out with some amazing kids and said goodbye to all my girls from camp. Even when I come home not all of them will be here still. Samantha is moving in a few weeks for Texas, not only was she one of my lovely 8th grade girls at camp, but she has been my neighbor for the past year. I love that girl and am going to miss her dearly when she leaves.

The most important part of my day was hanging out with my friends for the last time. We went out to some random place Luci knew and took pictures. At first I was apprehensive of marching off into the woods with no flashlight in the dark. It took a lot of persuasion to get Nathaniel and I to go on into the woods. In the end I was so glad we did. It was beautiful. Even thought it was dark and I couldn't see the waterfall, just by using other senses I could tell there was beauty around. The moon was full and bright and cast a glow across the bridge. You could hear the waterfall and it just made a beautiful setting for us to hang out.

Lastly, Nathaniel:
You are my oldest friend. We've known each other since preschool, and boy have we gone through it all! I'm going to miss not getting to eat lunch with you everyday. You and I have been through almost everything. From the nursery at church, to people thinking we were twins, to liking each other in middle school but never wanting to admit it! I'm going to miss you when you leave for Chicago, but I know one day you are going to be an AMAZING preacher and that is exciting! I could go own for miles about middle school PASS and high school stories, but you know them all anyway. Every time I hear The Fray I will think of you! Have fun, I love you like a brother, always have and always will!