I went on a six mile run this morning with Anjelica! It was so great- I haven't run that far in quite a while!! She's such a great running buddy (not to mention FRIEND). We even finished our run in about an hour (a tiny bit longer), which was better than I was expecting! My goal is to finish the half marathon in less than 2 hours and 15 minutes, so if I keep the same pace during the race that I kept today, I'll meet that goal!!
Study time. I am determined to do well on finals!!
-clg
Wednesday, December 5, 2012
Monday, December 3, 2012
Meetings, Meetings, Meetings!
Today was a jam-packed one.
After classes, I went straight to my first meeting of the day, which was with my new advisor. I had to rework my schedule to fit in some new classes, because I recently changed my major (from Mass Communications to Early Childhood Education)! As it turns out, I only had to add one class to my existing schedule, so I still have THE most amazing schedule possible (my first class Monday thru Friday is as follows: 10am, 10am, 10am, 11am, 2:30pm!).
After that, I had some free time, so I decided to make the most of it and go for a run! It was an especially lovely one today, for some reason (probably because I was running more slowly than I usually do). It was sprinkling, but not all-out raining, the entire time- love that. After the run, I went to my weekly seven-minute-or-less work study meeting with the campus newspaper. I was on a roll from the great run, so after that, I decided to lift some weights and walk on the treadmill in the gym at the student center. I feel good about my workout today!
From there, I ate dinner with Katie and Margaret in the caf, and then went back to my dorm room to shower off and get dressed up for my third and final meeting of the day- Rush Round-up! You read that right- RUSH! It's beginning so very soon, and I can't wait! The purpose of this meeting was for the Panhellenic to give the "rushees" more details and information, and also for the Panhellenic to get more details and information about each of the rushees! We all filled out forms about ourselves, answering legitimate-yet-awkward questions like "Why are you rushing?", "What good qualities do you have to offer?", "What are your hobbies and interests?", and all that good stuff. My friends and I had some fun debating about what would and wouldn't be acceptable to write. Not gonna lie, everyone is a bit paranoid about making a wrong move when it comes to rush! It's like this huge game that we don't know the rules to!
Each rushee also had their picture taken- sounds simple, right? WRONG. First of all, we were required to wear only "neutral" colors- meaning, colors that do not belong to any of the social clubs. This was semi-high stress- I've never been in a situation when it's been SO crucial to discern between purple and maroon! Girls were going up and down the hallways looking for the perfect outfit, and asking everyone for second opinions on whether they were "neutral" or not. So, the getting dressed part was an experience in itself.
Then- and I certainly didn't see this coming- it looked to me like lots of girls had a whole game plan about the face they were going to make for the camera! Most girls did smile in a semi-normal way, I admit. But there were definitely a couple of girls who tried to pull a Kristen Stewart for the camera (you know-deep, serious, contemplative...) . Hmmm. That wasn't my cup of tea, so I just smiled. Hopefully that's okay?!
So many girls who are rushing give off the impression that they have done this all before and know exactly what is going down. I'll be the first to admit that I have NO idea what to expect!! No idea. I'm just along for the ride, and I'm super excited!!
Now for a bit of cleaning and homework! Life is crazy, but life is good.
-clg
After classes, I went straight to my first meeting of the day, which was with my new advisor. I had to rework my schedule to fit in some new classes, because I recently changed my major (from Mass Communications to Early Childhood Education)! As it turns out, I only had to add one class to my existing schedule, so I still have THE most amazing schedule possible (my first class Monday thru Friday is as follows: 10am, 10am, 10am, 11am, 2:30pm!).
After that, I had some free time, so I decided to make the most of it and go for a run! It was an especially lovely one today, for some reason (probably because I was running more slowly than I usually do). It was sprinkling, but not all-out raining, the entire time- love that. After the run, I went to my weekly seven-minute-or-less work study meeting with the campus newspaper. I was on a roll from the great run, so after that, I decided to lift some weights and walk on the treadmill in the gym at the student center. I feel good about my workout today!
From there, I ate dinner with Katie and Margaret in the caf, and then went back to my dorm room to shower off and get dressed up for my third and final meeting of the day- Rush Round-up! You read that right- RUSH! It's beginning so very soon, and I can't wait! The purpose of this meeting was for the Panhellenic to give the "rushees" more details and information, and also for the Panhellenic to get more details and information about each of the rushees! We all filled out forms about ourselves, answering legitimate-yet-awkward questions like "Why are you rushing?", "What good qualities do you have to offer?", "What are your hobbies and interests?", and all that good stuff. My friends and I had some fun debating about what would and wouldn't be acceptable to write. Not gonna lie, everyone is a bit paranoid about making a wrong move when it comes to rush! It's like this huge game that we don't know the rules to!
Each rushee also had their picture taken- sounds simple, right? WRONG. First of all, we were required to wear only "neutral" colors- meaning, colors that do not belong to any of the social clubs. This was semi-high stress- I've never been in a situation when it's been SO crucial to discern between purple and maroon! Girls were going up and down the hallways looking for the perfect outfit, and asking everyone for second opinions on whether they were "neutral" or not. So, the getting dressed part was an experience in itself.
Then- and I certainly didn't see this coming- it looked to me like lots of girls had a whole game plan about the face they were going to make for the camera! Most girls did smile in a semi-normal way, I admit. But there were definitely a couple of girls who tried to pull a Kristen Stewart for the camera (you know-deep, serious, contemplative...) . Hmmm. That wasn't my cup of tea, so I just smiled. Hopefully that's okay?!
So many girls who are rushing give off the impression that they have done this all before and know exactly what is going down. I'll be the first to admit that I have NO idea what to expect!! No idea. I'm just along for the ride, and I'm super excited!!
Now for a bit of cleaning and homework! Life is crazy, but life is good.
-clg
Sunday, December 2, 2012
A Very Texan Weekend
Well, I have returned from that fabulous land called Texas! We (meaning my family, Tim's family, Mimi, and Mimi's dog Lucy Belle) had the most amazing, action-packed weekend.
We headed out, all packed up and packed in, on Thursday around 5:15. After stopping for dinner at a restaurant that is about five minutes away from campus, we finally hit the road (for real this time). The ride was long and dark, and I basically slept and/or talked to Tim the whole way there. It wasn't too bad, not gonna lie! We finally arrived at our rental house in Austin around 1:00 in the morning- needless to say, were super exhausted! However, nobody hit the sack until checking out the house- it was SO. RIDICULOUSLY. ADORABLE.
Like... Pottery Barn, Crate and Barrel, and Anthropologie all rolled into one glorious masterpiece.
Anyhoo. We went to sleep, and then woke up the next morning around 8:00. I was in an extra happy mood, because guess what?! It was my BIRTHDAY! Next time you ask me how old I am, my answer will be "nineteen." Yes, it's true. I'm a big kid now. The whole gang went to Papa's house for an amazing brunch feast (I'm talking kiesh, muffins, eggs, sausage, bacon, fruit...the real deal, folks)!
After that, we all went to an awesome art museum (Blanton Museum of Art at UT Austin). I LOVED the museum- I also loved the fact that when we got our tickets, each of the three kiddos were given a case with markers and a sketch pad inside! Such a clever way to keep them entertained and out of trouble!
After the museum, we headed over the the Texas Capitol. Papa has a friend who has a high position in Texas government, and he gave us a VIP tour!! It was absolutely amazing- the building is beautiful, and so historical. We also got to climb to the very tip top of the Capitol- beyond where the general public is allowed! It was such an awesome/mind-boggling experience. Papa's friend even made sure to take a picture of our whole group in multiple spots throughout the tour- he knew what kind of people he was dealing with!! We are picture obsessed- there is just no denying it. A little documentation never hurt anyone!
From there, we ate dinner at a Mexican restaurant, and then went back to the house for a night of relaxing and movie watching. Such perfection, and such a happy birthday!!
Now, on to Saturday (yesterday). We were all up by around 9:30 am. Dad, Mr. Joe, and Christian had woken up early and headed to San Antonio for their bike race. After throwing ourselves together and eating some breakfast (I'm pretty sure the kids even managed to squeeze a swim in), we headed out to San Antonio ourselves!
We were planning on seeing them all as they finished; Dad and Mr. Joe rode about 56 miles, and Christian rode about 33. Sadly, Christian had already finished by the time we got there! Not gonna lie, I was heartbroken- this was his very first race, and we weren't even there to see him finish!! He was in good spirits, though. He did an awesome job! We did see Dad and Mr. Joe finish, and I cheered like a crazy person, which stuck out like a sore thumb at this tiny, anti-climactic finish line. But seriously, who doesn't want to be cheered for at the end of a race?!
After the race, we all went to one of the old missions in San Antonio- SO beautiful. I took lots of pictures. I couldn't believe how old, authentic, and beautiful everything was there. From there, we spent the rest of the day at the Riverwalk in San Antonio. To say that it was amazing would be a drastic understatement- I had been before, but my memories had faded. Also, all of the Christmas lights were up, and there were Christmas carolers floating through the city! Total magic. We ate, saw the Alamo (I had seen it before, but it's always awesome to go. It was fun seeing Tim see it for the first time; he's a major history buff, so he was in his element), and took a boat tour at the Riverwalk!
After we got back to the house last night, we ordered pizza for a late dinner and went for a late night swim! The pool in the backyard was heated- not that it needed to be, because it literally felt like summer in Texas this weekend! I couldn't believe it- you know something's up when you are wearing shorts and looking at Christmas lights at the same time! Anyway, it was such a lovely time. After that, Tim and I watched a movie. Well, part of one at least. I left early to go to bed! I was a very sleepy girl after such a full day, not to mention that it was 1:00 in the morning!
Today, we woke up, packed up, and headed home. Might I add that we ate and the MOST amazing gluten-free restaurant that I have ever experienced?! French toast, waffles, pancakes, bread, bagels, fried chicken...they had it all- GLUTEN FREE! Not to mention that the restaurant itself was totally awesome- it was quite hipster if I do say so myself. (Company Cafe in Dallas- just in case you plan on stopping by).
Now, here I am! Back in my dorm room. It's always great to be back and see my sweet friends. I feel very blessed.
-clg
We headed out, all packed up and packed in, on Thursday around 5:15. After stopping for dinner at a restaurant that is about five minutes away from campus, we finally hit the road (for real this time). The ride was long and dark, and I basically slept and/or talked to Tim the whole way there. It wasn't too bad, not gonna lie! We finally arrived at our rental house in Austin around 1:00 in the morning- needless to say, were super exhausted! However, nobody hit the sack until checking out the house- it was SO. RIDICULOUSLY. ADORABLE.
Like... Pottery Barn, Crate and Barrel, and Anthropologie all rolled into one glorious masterpiece.
Anyhoo. We went to sleep, and then woke up the next morning around 8:00. I was in an extra happy mood, because guess what?! It was my BIRTHDAY! Next time you ask me how old I am, my answer will be "nineteen." Yes, it's true. I'm a big kid now. The whole gang went to Papa's house for an amazing brunch feast (I'm talking kiesh, muffins, eggs, sausage, bacon, fruit...the real deal, folks)!
After that, we all went to an awesome art museum (Blanton Museum of Art at UT Austin). I LOVED the museum- I also loved the fact that when we got our tickets, each of the three kiddos were given a case with markers and a sketch pad inside! Such a clever way to keep them entertained and out of trouble!
After the museum, we headed over the the Texas Capitol. Papa has a friend who has a high position in Texas government, and he gave us a VIP tour!! It was absolutely amazing- the building is beautiful, and so historical. We also got to climb to the very tip top of the Capitol- beyond where the general public is allowed! It was such an awesome/mind-boggling experience. Papa's friend even made sure to take a picture of our whole group in multiple spots throughout the tour- he knew what kind of people he was dealing with!! We are picture obsessed- there is just no denying it. A little documentation never hurt anyone!
From there, we ate dinner at a Mexican restaurant, and then went back to the house for a night of relaxing and movie watching. Such perfection, and such a happy birthday!!
Now, on to Saturday (yesterday). We were all up by around 9:30 am. Dad, Mr. Joe, and Christian had woken up early and headed to San Antonio for their bike race. After throwing ourselves together and eating some breakfast (I'm pretty sure the kids even managed to squeeze a swim in), we headed out to San Antonio ourselves!
We were planning on seeing them all as they finished; Dad and Mr. Joe rode about 56 miles, and Christian rode about 33. Sadly, Christian had already finished by the time we got there! Not gonna lie, I was heartbroken- this was his very first race, and we weren't even there to see him finish!! He was in good spirits, though. He did an awesome job! We did see Dad and Mr. Joe finish, and I cheered like a crazy person, which stuck out like a sore thumb at this tiny, anti-climactic finish line. But seriously, who doesn't want to be cheered for at the end of a race?!
After the race, we all went to one of the old missions in San Antonio- SO beautiful. I took lots of pictures. I couldn't believe how old, authentic, and beautiful everything was there. From there, we spent the rest of the day at the Riverwalk in San Antonio. To say that it was amazing would be a drastic understatement- I had been before, but my memories had faded. Also, all of the Christmas lights were up, and there were Christmas carolers floating through the city! Total magic. We ate, saw the Alamo (I had seen it before, but it's always awesome to go. It was fun seeing Tim see it for the first time; he's a major history buff, so he was in his element), and took a boat tour at the Riverwalk!
After we got back to the house last night, we ordered pizza for a late dinner and went for a late night swim! The pool in the backyard was heated- not that it needed to be, because it literally felt like summer in Texas this weekend! I couldn't believe it- you know something's up when you are wearing shorts and looking at Christmas lights at the same time! Anyway, it was such a lovely time. After that, Tim and I watched a movie. Well, part of one at least. I left early to go to bed! I was a very sleepy girl after such a full day, not to mention that it was 1:00 in the morning!
Today, we woke up, packed up, and headed home. Might I add that we ate and the MOST amazing gluten-free restaurant that I have ever experienced?! French toast, waffles, pancakes, bread, bagels, fried chicken...they had it all- GLUTEN FREE! Not to mention that the restaurant itself was totally awesome- it was quite hipster if I do say so myself. (Company Cafe in Dallas- just in case you plan on stopping by).
Now, here I am! Back in my dorm room. It's always great to be back and see my sweet friends. I feel very blessed.
-clg
Thursday, November 29, 2012
My Day of Freedom
This right here....this is a good day! TWO of my THREE classes were cancelled, so I was free for the day by 9:45! After class, I went to the caf and ate some breakfast (another bonus- there was vanilla yogurt waiting for me!), and took my sweet time, because guess what? I had nowhere to be!
I've been in my dorm room since then, cleaning, doing laundry, and listening to music. It may sound like work, but I really have been enjoying myself. I LOVE it when my room is super clean. With a space this tiny, I don't really handle clutter all that well. Although, trust me, clutter does happen. I just finished making my packing list for the trip to Texas! We (my family and Tim's family) are leaving around 5 pm tonight! Everyone is going to swing by and pick me up on their way out, and then off we go to a long weekend of loveliness!
I keep forgetting that tomorrow is my birthday! This is my very last day as an eighteen year old. Strange! After tomorrow, I will never again have a teenage birthday. That really boggles my mind. (Mom, if you're reading this, I apologize. I know you don't like it when I speak of such things.) I will have a fun birthday indeed! Tomorrow morning, the whole crew is going to eat breakfast at my grandfather's house in Austin, which I am super excited about!
Aside from that, and the bike race that Dad, Christian, and Mr. Joe are doing on Saturday, I have absolutely no idea what we are even going to be doing on this trip. I do know that it will be a good time, though! I can't wait! When our two families get together (don't forget that this includes three kiddos under age 8), the possibilities of shenanigans that we could get into are endless!
In about 45 minutes, I'm heading out on another run with Anjelica! We are planning on doing four miles today, at an easier pace. We'll see how that goes! Honestly, it's been a while since I've run over three miles. I feel good today, though! I'm ready to go. I think. Hopefully....yeah.
Well, I suppose I shall get a head start on packing for the trip! WAHOO, it's a good day today. The only thing that could make it any better would be a lack of drowsiness. I may or may not have been up a bit too late last night doing homework and laundry. Okay, and wasting time.
Toodloo!
-clg
Tuesday, November 27, 2012
Fabulous Day!
I'm having a lovely day today. I feel like I'm being productive, and I've been in a good mood all day long! Also, it seems like I have seen more people that I know around campus than I normally do today. So many people to say hi to- it makes me so happy!
Really, my good day started last night, when I went to bed at a decent hour (before 11:30 is considered early in my book). That was wonderful! I even read Vogue and the Bible for a while before falling asleep. I love getting in bed at a time early enough that I still have enough energy and focus to read for a while, as opposed to just crashing. Anyway, I went to bed early(ish), and woke up earlier than I normally do, which was great. I gave myself an entire HOUR to get ready for classes- oh me oh my. I got up at 7:00, got ready (I even curled my hair!) until 8:00, and then went to breakfast with Layne and Anjelica until my 8:30 Bible Survey class. 'Twas a good, good morning.
Classes went well, in my opinion. Tuesdays and Thursdays are my easiest as far as classes go, but my hardest as far as class times go. On Mondays and Wednesdays, I have class at 10:00, and on Tuesdays and Thursdays I have class at 8:30. On that glorious last day, commonly called Friday, I have class at a whopping 11:00- HALLELUJAH, SALVATION AND GLORY.
I ate lunch today with a sweet friend named Hannah (this is a different Hannah than the one that I mentioned yesterday!). She makes me so very happy, and she always has good stories to tell from back home. She's from a tiny town in Texas, so living here feels like moving to a big city to her! That's so beyond fascinating to me, because I feel like I am living in a teeny town compared to where I'm from. I love diversity.
After my last class today, I went on a run with Anjelica. Let's just say that I feel a bit out of shape- I am training for a half marathon in March, but I haven't run in a couple of weeks for one reason or another (the first week, I was sick, and the second, I was getting better from the bike wreck that I had). I'm so glad that 1) I already registered and paid for the race, because I have no choice but to whip myself back into shape, and 2) I have Anjelica to run with- we definitely kept each other going today! We went three miles, which used to be easy for me, but today I felt so very weak. I'm super glad I had a running buddy to keep me motivated!
I'm now in the library- about to do an outrageous amount of homework. Party, party! My goal is to have it all finished before 7:00, which gives me about 2 and a half hours. Want to know why? I'll TELL you why- because tonight is going to be a night of Christmas cheer and pizza! Layne, Anjelica, Rachel, Grace, Emily, and I are heading over to my grandparents' house tonight to decorate their tree for them! My sweet Nana has a bad back, and it would't be the best idea for her to try to do that, so that's where we come in! I can't wait- there are a couple of girls coming that I've been meaning to get to know better, so this will be the perfect opportunity!
Recently, I've been so thankful for the spiritual encouragers that have been placed in my life. That's something that is so appreciated. It's so cool to be a part of a community that genuinely wants to follow Christ in every aspect of their lives, and is actively encouraging others to do the same. By no means is anyone perfect, but growth is happening, and that's what matters.
"The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body." 1 Corinthians 12:12.
In Spiritual Formation today, we talked about prayer, and how it is so simple, but also so intimidating. It's so easy for me to feel like I am not worthy to talk to God, or like I need to pray exactly the right things, but that's just not the case. It's also easy for me to feel bad about praying for myself, as opposed to just mainly praying for others. My professor made an analogy by saying "Praying for everything but yourself is like saying to your mom, 'Hey, let's talk about everything and get to know each other, but avoid the topic of me, or our relationship. It just doesn't work! A parent wants to know their child." God doesn't want us to present the "best version" of ourselves- He just wants us, now. As we are- good, bad, and ugly included! That's something I really want to work on remembering and applying- if you see me around, feel free to remind me.
Really, my good day started last night, when I went to bed at a decent hour (before 11:30 is considered early in my book). That was wonderful! I even read Vogue and the Bible for a while before falling asleep. I love getting in bed at a time early enough that I still have enough energy and focus to read for a while, as opposed to just crashing. Anyway, I went to bed early(ish), and woke up earlier than I normally do, which was great. I gave myself an entire HOUR to get ready for classes- oh me oh my. I got up at 7:00, got ready (I even curled my hair!) until 8:00, and then went to breakfast with Layne and Anjelica until my 8:30 Bible Survey class. 'Twas a good, good morning.
Classes went well, in my opinion. Tuesdays and Thursdays are my easiest as far as classes go, but my hardest as far as class times go. On Mondays and Wednesdays, I have class at 10:00, and on Tuesdays and Thursdays I have class at 8:30. On that glorious last day, commonly called Friday, I have class at a whopping 11:00- HALLELUJAH, SALVATION AND GLORY.
I ate lunch today with a sweet friend named Hannah (this is a different Hannah than the one that I mentioned yesterday!). She makes me so very happy, and she always has good stories to tell from back home. She's from a tiny town in Texas, so living here feels like moving to a big city to her! That's so beyond fascinating to me, because I feel like I am living in a teeny town compared to where I'm from. I love diversity.
After my last class today, I went on a run with Anjelica. Let's just say that I feel a bit out of shape- I am training for a half marathon in March, but I haven't run in a couple of weeks for one reason or another (the first week, I was sick, and the second, I was getting better from the bike wreck that I had). I'm so glad that 1) I already registered and paid for the race, because I have no choice but to whip myself back into shape, and 2) I have Anjelica to run with- we definitely kept each other going today! We went three miles, which used to be easy for me, but today I felt so very weak. I'm super glad I had a running buddy to keep me motivated!
I'm now in the library- about to do an outrageous amount of homework. Party, party! My goal is to have it all finished before 7:00, which gives me about 2 and a half hours. Want to know why? I'll TELL you why- because tonight is going to be a night of Christmas cheer and pizza! Layne, Anjelica, Rachel, Grace, Emily, and I are heading over to my grandparents' house tonight to decorate their tree for them! My sweet Nana has a bad back, and it would't be the best idea for her to try to do that, so that's where we come in! I can't wait- there are a couple of girls coming that I've been meaning to get to know better, so this will be the perfect opportunity!
Recently, I've been so thankful for the spiritual encouragers that have been placed in my life. That's something that is so appreciated. It's so cool to be a part of a community that genuinely wants to follow Christ in every aspect of their lives, and is actively encouraging others to do the same. By no means is anyone perfect, but growth is happening, and that's what matters.
"The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body." 1 Corinthians 12:12.
In Spiritual Formation today, we talked about prayer, and how it is so simple, but also so intimidating. It's so easy for me to feel like I am not worthy to talk to God, or like I need to pray exactly the right things, but that's just not the case. It's also easy for me to feel bad about praying for myself, as opposed to just mainly praying for others. My professor made an analogy by saying "Praying for everything but yourself is like saying to your mom, 'Hey, let's talk about everything and get to know each other, but avoid the topic of me, or our relationship. It just doesn't work! A parent wants to know their child." God doesn't want us to present the "best version" of ourselves- He just wants us, now. As we are- good, bad, and ugly included! That's something I really want to work on remembering and applying- if you see me around, feel free to remind me.
I'm thankful for this day! Now for that mountain of homework...
-clg
Monday, November 26, 2012
Back To The Real World...
...at least for the next three weeks. After that, my post-finals self will be back at home, relaxing and enjoying Christmas break! Being back on campus isn't bad, though! I've missed my friends here. Also, while everyone was gone for Thanksgiving, this place got a major holiday facelift! Walking into the student center was more like walking into Santa's Workshop (give or take a little). I. LOVE. Christmas. Just saying that doesn't even seem sufficient, but I'll stick with that for lack of better words.
This morning, I said bye-bye for a bit to my sweet family, and then headed off. Technically, it was Tim who headed off, and took me along. There have been having some technical issues with my car, so for the past few weeks, I haven't been able to drive it. I'm so thankful that I have people who are willing to drive me to and from campus! Tim not only made the hour-long drive to bring me here this morning, but then he waited for me during two of my classes so that we could have lunch together. He's so sweet!! Just saying.
My classes were alright today- pretty normal, if I do say so myself. I did receive the GLORIOUS news that my Wednesday and Friday Contemporary World classes are cancelled! Wahooo!! I'm overly thrilled about that, especially considering that my family and Tim's family are leaving on Thursday night for a trip to Texas, so I would have missed the Friday class anyway! That's one less absence!
Tonight, I'm going to a bonfire! Those seem to come up a lot these days- literally, almost every weekend! It's the "Freshman Island Bonfire"- and free food is involved. What's not to love?! I think I'm going with Hannah, Layne, and Anjelica- three super sweet friends that I've made since moving here! I LOVE them. A lot. They are so sweet and encouraging, and they make me laugh like a crazy person.
Well, I do suppose I shall unpack all of my belongings. Toodloo!
-clg
This morning, I said bye-bye for a bit to my sweet family, and then headed off. Technically, it was Tim who headed off, and took me along. There have been having some technical issues with my car, so for the past few weeks, I haven't been able to drive it. I'm so thankful that I have people who are willing to drive me to and from campus! Tim not only made the hour-long drive to bring me here this morning, but then he waited for me during two of my classes so that we could have lunch together. He's so sweet!! Just saying.
My classes were alright today- pretty normal, if I do say so myself. I did receive the GLORIOUS news that my Wednesday and Friday Contemporary World classes are cancelled! Wahooo!! I'm overly thrilled about that, especially considering that my family and Tim's family are leaving on Thursday night for a trip to Texas, so I would have missed the Friday class anyway! That's one less absence!
Tonight, I'm going to a bonfire! Those seem to come up a lot these days- literally, almost every weekend! It's the "Freshman Island Bonfire"- and free food is involved. What's not to love?! I think I'm going with Hannah, Layne, and Anjelica- three super sweet friends that I've made since moving here! I LOVE them. A lot. They are so sweet and encouraging, and they make me laugh like a crazy person.
Well, I do suppose I shall unpack all of my belongings. Toodloo!
-clg
Saturday, November 24, 2012
Mishaps
Today was almost the day that Christmas came to life in the Gillum home. And, in certain ways, it did. For example- mom and I spent a good part of this morning painting packages to go under the tree, and we listened to Christmas music (one can never have too much) practically the entire day.
However, the entire day was building up to the one big event that officially means that Christmas season is HERE: the putting up and decorating of the Christmas tree. It's a must-do, right? Every year, the guys put up the tree, and then we all prance and dance around in our PJs (okay, so maybe the prancing and dancing is left to Mom and I) while listening to Christmas classics and covering the tree with ornaments and ribbon.
Here's the thing...Yeah, didn't happen. Something was wrong or messed up or broken about our (fake) tree this year (or maybe it was the base?). Anyway, the guys- after lots of trial and error- eventually came to the conclusion that they were doomed and called it quits. Needless to say, the dancing, prancing, PJs, music, and decorating never quite became a reality.
It looks as though, if we want to put a tree up, we're going to have to buy a new one, which is a bummer. Something tells me that if we do fix our little tree problem, it will be with another fake one. We've tried that whole "real tree" business... and I've gotta admit, I loved the whole experience of going to the farm, drinking hot chocolate, going on a hayride, and eventually picking out just the right tree. But once we eventually got that sucker into our living room... yeah, it fell. Over and over and over- resulting in broken ornaments and hearts.
Or maybe the Gillums are just doomed when it comes to Christmas trees, at least for this year. If that's the case, I'm cool with that. All is well. Christmas is magic, with or without a tree.
Today has been a good one. I didn't get dressed and ready until about 5 pm... so very joyful. The hours leading up to that consisted of Photoshop (I've been editing the senior session that I did with my friend Scott), Timothy whom I'm fond of, and a newly brunette Katie (she has been a bleach blonde for almost as long as I've known her!).
Once I finally got out of my pajamas and into jeans, our family headed out- along with Christian's friend Drew, Mimi, and Tim's family- to Hot Springs. We ate dinner at a lovely place called the Bleu Monkey Grill, and then wandered around downtown for a bit- Tim and I even joined in on some ballroom dancing at the gorgeous Arlington Hotel!
If you think about it, say a prayer for my sweet grandmother (Mimi). She tripped on a curb while we were walking around downtown tonight, and took a pretty hard fall. Luckily, she wasn't seriously injured, but she did bust her lip and lose most of one of her front teeth. I know that she was really shaken by it- I hate to see that kind of thing happen to her sweet self!
So, aside from a few unfortunate events, it's been a fabulous day. I love spending time at home, with no homework and nothing to worry about other than what color to paint the next Christmas package. And, despite our total and complete lack of tree (or any holiday decor for that matter), I'm still finding myself in the Christmas spirit. What can I say? There's no holding it down!
-clg
However, the entire day was building up to the one big event that officially means that Christmas season is HERE: the putting up and decorating of the Christmas tree. It's a must-do, right? Every year, the guys put up the tree, and then we all prance and dance around in our PJs (okay, so maybe the prancing and dancing is left to Mom and I) while listening to Christmas classics and covering the tree with ornaments and ribbon.
Here's the thing...Yeah, didn't happen. Something was wrong or messed up or broken about our (fake) tree this year (or maybe it was the base?). Anyway, the guys- after lots of trial and error- eventually came to the conclusion that they were doomed and called it quits. Needless to say, the dancing, prancing, PJs, music, and decorating never quite became a reality.
It looks as though, if we want to put a tree up, we're going to have to buy a new one, which is a bummer. Something tells me that if we do fix our little tree problem, it will be with another fake one. We've tried that whole "real tree" business... and I've gotta admit, I loved the whole experience of going to the farm, drinking hot chocolate, going on a hayride, and eventually picking out just the right tree. But once we eventually got that sucker into our living room... yeah, it fell. Over and over and over- resulting in broken ornaments and hearts.
Or maybe the Gillums are just doomed when it comes to Christmas trees, at least for this year. If that's the case, I'm cool with that. All is well. Christmas is magic, with or without a tree.
Today has been a good one. I didn't get dressed and ready until about 5 pm... so very joyful. The hours leading up to that consisted of Photoshop (I've been editing the senior session that I did with my friend Scott), Timothy whom I'm fond of, and a newly brunette Katie (she has been a bleach blonde for almost as long as I've known her!).
Once I finally got out of my pajamas and into jeans, our family headed out- along with Christian's friend Drew, Mimi, and Tim's family- to Hot Springs. We ate dinner at a lovely place called the Bleu Monkey Grill, and then wandered around downtown for a bit- Tim and I even joined in on some ballroom dancing at the gorgeous Arlington Hotel!
If you think about it, say a prayer for my sweet grandmother (Mimi). She tripped on a curb while we were walking around downtown tonight, and took a pretty hard fall. Luckily, she wasn't seriously injured, but she did bust her lip and lose most of one of her front teeth. I know that she was really shaken by it- I hate to see that kind of thing happen to her sweet self!
So, aside from a few unfortunate events, it's been a fabulous day. I love spending time at home, with no homework and nothing to worry about other than what color to paint the next Christmas package. And, despite our total and complete lack of tree (or any holiday decor for that matter), I'm still finding myself in the Christmas spirit. What can I say? There's no holding it down!
-clg
Friday, November 23, 2012
Want to know what I love more than anything?
Mornings that are exactly like this one. This morning, I slept in to my heart's content, which is a rare and overly appreciated luxury. After I woke up, I just stayed there, lying in bed. Ahh, perfection. I cracked open this month's Vogue, which I was beyond excited about, mainly because of the Anne Hathaway story. (I can't WAIT to see Les Mis in theaters!)
After I moved to college, Christian took over my bedroom, so I'm kind of like a bedroom-less nomad around here. I slept with my mama last night, because my dad and Christian slept downstairs after a movie night. Anyway, I got to just lie there this morning, reading my Vogue, hanging out with my sweet mama. Eventually Carson, Christian, and Dad made their way into the room, and it was a full swung family PJ party. Good stuff. Good stuff.
Now, I'm downstairs, blogging underneath a cozy quilt, as we mentally prepare to tackle some Thanksgiving leftovers. Oh goodness gracious.
The rest of the day will consist of some picture taking (I'll be shooting my friend Scott's senior pictures, along with some of him and his girlfriend Gloria), another Thanksgiving meal at Tim's house (he has family coming over that I'm going to meet), and hopefully a trip to the movie theater to see the Life of Pi! Oh, and my lovely mother and I are planning to finish the night off by painting Christmas gifts. We started that little tradition last year- wrapping all of our gifts in brown paper, and then personalizing them for the receiver by covering them with Christmas doodles! Such fun, I tell you. I can't wait!
This is a good day. The only thing that could improve it would be hot yoga. I may or may not have dreamed about hot yoga last night. I'm obsessed/suffering from withdrawal since moving to college. I'm hoping to go tomorrow! Fingers crossed.
I'm loving this- being home with family, being relaxed, not having to write out a schedule for every minute of every day. Life is so good.
-clg
After I moved to college, Christian took over my bedroom, so I'm kind of like a bedroom-less nomad around here. I slept with my mama last night, because my dad and Christian slept downstairs after a movie night. Anyway, I got to just lie there this morning, reading my Vogue, hanging out with my sweet mama. Eventually Carson, Christian, and Dad made their way into the room, and it was a full swung family PJ party. Good stuff. Good stuff.
Now, I'm downstairs, blogging underneath a cozy quilt, as we mentally prepare to tackle some Thanksgiving leftovers. Oh goodness gracious.
The rest of the day will consist of some picture taking (I'll be shooting my friend Scott's senior pictures, along with some of him and his girlfriend Gloria), another Thanksgiving meal at Tim's house (he has family coming over that I'm going to meet), and hopefully a trip to the movie theater to see the Life of Pi! Oh, and my lovely mother and I are planning to finish the night off by painting Christmas gifts. We started that little tradition last year- wrapping all of our gifts in brown paper, and then personalizing them for the receiver by covering them with Christmas doodles! Such fun, I tell you. I can't wait!
This is a good day. The only thing that could improve it would be hot yoga. I may or may not have dreamed about hot yoga last night. I'm obsessed/suffering from withdrawal since moving to college. I'm hoping to go tomorrow! Fingers crossed.
I'm loving this- being home with family, being relaxed, not having to write out a schedule for every minute of every day. Life is so good.
-clg
Thursday, November 22, 2012
Happy Thanksgiving!
As a girl who has trouble being a consistent blogger (let's just say that this isn't my first time to start a new blog), I decided that starting one on a day like today might up my chances of making it stick.
Today is Thanksgiving Day, and I couldn't be more thankful. Cliche, right?
But seriously. I'm so overwhelmed with thankfulness for so many wonderful people, things, opportunities and happenings that I have been blessed with.
Keep checking in if you please! I pinky promise I'll be back soon.
For an endless amount of old ramblings, check out lifethesedayscaylie.blogspot.com AND lifethesedayscaylie2.blogspot.com.
-clg
"Praise the Lord! Oh give thanks to the Lord, for He is good, for His steadfast love endures forever!" Psalm 106:1
Today is Thanksgiving Day, and I couldn't be more thankful. Cliche, right?
But seriously. I'm so overwhelmed with thankfulness for so many wonderful people, things, opportunities and happenings that I have been blessed with.
- I am blessed to be a part of a family that genuinely cares for one another, despite our imperfections.
- I'm thankful for this new adventure that I have recently embarked on, commonly referred to as "the college years." Though my first semester has been filled with major ups and downs, I can already see that those experiences are working together to make me a stronger and more complete person.
- I'm thankful for the special friendships that I am maintaining from high school, and the new friendships that are budding at college.
- I am thankful for my health, and the health of those that I love. This is something that I take for granted so often, but a significant sickness or bike wreck (both have happened recently) can quickly snap one back into reality.
- I am thankful for Tim. I've been blessed with a boyfriend who has a kind and gentle heart. He encourages me to grow closer to my Creator every single day.
- I'm thankful to be a student at a university that encourages me to grow deeper in my Christian faith, while also opening my eyes to the other beliefs and world views around me.
- I am thankful for the fact that my grandparents live only five minutes away from my college campus. I have my independence when I want it, but a home-away-from-home never hurt anyone.
- I am thankful for gluten-free dressing with cranberry sauce. Enough said.
- Oh, and gluten-free pumpkin crisp.
- I am beyond thankful for the fact that an Almighty God would use the imperfections and mess-ups- the cracks- in someone like me as a means to reveal Himself. I am completely undeserving; total willingness is the least I can give.
It's been an incredible day- lots of family, laughter, food (never complete without a cooking disaster or two), and plenty of lounging around. And grazing. So. Much. Grazing.
I watched not one, but TWO movies throughout the course of the day (I Am David and Lincoln Lawyer- not bad!), and somehow managed to squeeze a short run in. Around 7 pm, Tim and his family were added into the mix, and the goodness grew even more. And, might I mention, the beautiful lack of homework that I have has been a huge joy contributor. It's been wonderful.
For an endless amount of old ramblings, check out lifethesedayscaylie.blogspot.com AND lifethesedayscaylie2.blogspot.com.
-clg
"Praise the Lord! Oh give thanks to the Lord, for He is good, for His steadfast love endures forever!" Psalm 106:1
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