L-O-V-E

So I know Easter was on Sunday, and now it's Friday, but I really felt that as a strong believer of Christ His death on the cross and then His resurrection.  I should write something about this.

"Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends."  John 15:13

Christ's death on the cross was a symbol of His love for us. L-O-V-E. Something of what I have definitely needed lately.  School is finally coming to an end.  We have one last week of classes and a week of finals followed by a five-day choir tour to Washington.  Though some of this may sound fun and exciting. It's really not.  I have been so stressed, and on top of that, things at home have been pretty tough too.

Spring break was completely different from what I planned.  I hoped to organize my room, take stuff back home, rest, practice for my music classes, complete some homework, finish the research for my music paper, etc.  Well lot's just say pretty much none of this happened.  As we were driving home we got a phone calling saying my grandma (from my dad's side) had fallen and had to be taken to the hospital.  Not good.  We got home Friday night, went out of town for my 3-yr-old cousin's b-day Saturday and then returned Sunday evening.  Things were okay at this point.  But Monday evening my grandpa moved in with us, and we didn't know for how long.  I had spent all Monday finally unpacking and doing laundry I had procrastinated on while at college.  Our house is just barely big enough for us and my room is the only one available for guests and as much as my parents wanted me to be able to sleep in my own room we didn't have anywhere else for my grandpa to stay.  So I switched back and forth between sleeping on the spare mattress in my little brother's room and sleeping on the floor in my older brother's music studio.  This was okay, but it was a pain in the butt to be dragging around my stuff. I couldn't just leave it in my room, my little brother didn't have space in his room, and the music studio had to be used for my brother's music lessons he taught.  I felt like a nomad.... in my own house.  Not very relaxing.  Plus I realized smart me had left my entire music folder in my dorm room.  So much for that.

Overall it wasn't bad. I really enjoyed spending time with my family.  Especially getting to know my little brother more.  He has grown up so much over the past year, he's a little man now.   The real hard part was returning to school.  The group I was carpooling with decided we should just drive up Tuesday morning in time for our 9:30am class, instead of Monday so we could spend the extra day at home.   Monday was probably my favorite day of Spring Break, but why did I agree to this?  6am is too early to be awake.   I was so exhausted by the middle of the day, and I was already not feeling my best since I had gotten sick over break (no voice, stuffy nose, sore throat, cough. eek!)  So I was standing in the risers during choir when I felt so tired I was about to fall asleep standing up while singing, is that even possible???  I finally decided to sit cause I seriously almost fell from the second row of the risers.... probably not too safe.  Then my eye started to itch... really bad.   Yep, I had gotten pink eye.  This pretty much ruined my week.   No one warned my that my little cousin we had visited at the beginning of spring break was sick and had pink eye.   Argh!!!!  

Thus I haven't blogging a lot recently since I could barely stand using my eyes, they'd been itching and stinging so bad all week.  And living in the dorms is not as fun as everyone makes it out to be.  They NEVER shut-up!!!  All the girls have seriously since I got back have been screaming and giggling non-stop, and it's not helping my mood at all. I feel like crap.... (excuse my language.) and am not myself right now.  and I can't tell you how sad I was last night when I was sitting in our living room doing homework when I heard them running and screaming after quiet hours "OMG!!! We're going to pull an all-nighter and watch the Royal Wedding."

So in the end back to Easter.  I just feel like I need a big dose of God's Love.  Some patience, energy, and strength.   but a lot of love.  I hate living with girls.  They're such back-stabbers, noisy, and annoying, and I am definitely looking forward to moving into the apartments with the upper class-men.  instead of 16 girls we will only have 8.   Praise The Lord!

I honestly thank the Lord for His sacrifice for us.  He gave up His only son Jesus, cause He loved us, despite our hatred or anger toward Him, despite our faults and failures.  He Loved Us.  He Died For Us.  I don't know if I will ever be able to come close to the way He loves us.   But Easter is not about His death but the fact that Jesus defeated death by coming back to life.  So we can be assured a free gift of life in heaven with Him if we only accept it.   God is love.

"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.  It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.  Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.  It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres."  

1 Corinthians 13:4-7

Slice of Summer

Me with the band "Slice of Summer" after the concert
Daniel, Grayson, Jared, Dalton
& Me!

So I don't know if you've heard of "Slice of Summer" but if you haven't you need to check them out!   After our open mic night, two of our fellow colleagues and their band put on a concert for all of the students.  Wow! I had heard of them, but I did not know how amazing they were.  Not only did they rock, but they are all excellent performers, there was even one point where their lead singer/guitarist jumped off the drumset, unfortunately I didn't catch it on cam :(  



So Daniel, the drummer of the band is actually one of my friends on-campus.  He's super cool, and he's probably one of the best drummers I've seen.  He rocks.  Plus he was singing vocals at the same time.

So I don't know too much about their band yet, though I think I will very soon ;)   but I'm pretty sure they're gonna be one of the bands playing at Warp Tour this year.   LEGIT!

KNCI's X Factor Finalists - Vote for Dalton!

One of my best friends, and most amazing voices I have heard, has made it to the top four finalists for the KNCI's X Factor.  So we're trying to get as many votes for him.  That's why I'm asking you to

VOTE FOR DALTON MCNEELY!! 

 

Just click below to vote.

http://kncifm.radio.com/2011/04/04/videos-kncis-x-factor-finalists-vote-for-your-favorite/#comment-5624 

One Day Without Shoes

Today was TOMS' One Day Without Shoes.

It's meant to raise awareness about people who go barefoot everyday, and I could definately tell you it did.  It was honestly very strange going without shoes.  The concrete was cold and rough, I kept scrambling around looking for my shoes before remembering I didn't have them with me, and there was a "no shoes no service" policy in the caf so that complicated things. lol 

Well anyhow, TOMS is a company that creates shoes for people that go barefoot everyday, and everytime you buy a pair another pair goes to one of those people. Pretty good cause.  God Bless Them.

What I Love About College

College has been amazing these past few weeks.  I've been dedicating time to taking bike rides, read books, and just relax.  Though I still have tons of homework left this has definately helped.  Above you can see a some of my pics from college.  There's a picture of a butterfly my aunt drew me with I keep on my armoire, my really comfy socks for lounging around in, my little corner of the room (if you're wondering what's on my comp, it's a picture from "the titanic"), my awesome little camera (I love taking pics), a package I got (it was T-shirt I got for participating in the international justice day), and last of all a fake candle (we can't have real ones since they're a fire hazard.)

Just remember, don't let homework and life just bog you down.  If you feel trapped on-campus and can't literally leave, you can just read a book, you'll still be on-campus, but it won't feel like it!  Plus if you don't have a car, bikes are a great option especially with the amazing wether we've been having.