A Semester Down

Well. Here we are, a mere 4 months after my last blog post. This might be my longest hiatus I have taken from my blog. Time this semester has been limited, and unfortunately this area of free-thinking flew way down deep under the radar. Fortunately, I finished finals this afternoon and am already antsy to be busy with my next "task". The problem? I don't have any. Maybe it's a good thing.

So again I say, he we are. I am excited to recap what has been happening over the past few months of my life! Albeit brief and long overdue, I think it will be good for me to rummage through the mass of memories and happenings that are floating freely through my mind.

For now, I leave you with a goal I have made for myself over the break. The number of books I have read in the past year is absolutely pitiful. For something I enjoy doing so much, I surely have not allotted time for myself to do so. My goal is to read at least one book a week during my winter break, and hopefully continue into my spring semester. With all the time I will have, this should be so very doable! And now a shameless admission to you, Molly Cook. I may have scoured your Goodreads for the past bit forming my reading list. Needless to say, I was overwhelmed! So here is your chance, dear readers (&Molly), to give me some input. Give me your best recommendations, as many as you want!

The books I have been itching to read:
A few books out of my C.S. Lewis collection
Love Does
Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy
Pride and Prejudice (reread)
The Hobbit

I love everything from classics to Christian literature. Hit me with your best!

I cannot wait to tell you more about life and the best friends I have in these girls.

Until next time!

Life as of Late

I feel like my poor little blog has been neglected.

Team Big Truckin', my boyfriend and his roommates' intramural basketball team, made it to the third round of playoffs after winning zero games in normal season. Story of an underdog, no? They were the 61st seed team, but managed to zoom pretty far, even beating the #4 seed team. It was sad for them to lose, but they had a great run. You've probably never seen a fan section like the Big Truckin' fan section. At least 6 girls were in attendance, with the last game topping over 12 girls. Let's just say the 12th Man was out in full force that night. WHOOP!

I had my first Wyldlife clubs, events, middle school lunches, team meetings, team dinners, etc. I adore my team. I just can't put into words how wonderful these next two years with my SFAmily are going to be. Also, I went to do my first contact work last Wednesday.  Contact work is where you go and see the kids in their community, aka school lunches. (Incarnate evangelism is the way we do things in Young Life. Jesus didn't make people come to Him, He met them where they were. See John 1:14-- He made His dwelling among us!) I met a few girls, got a few girls phone numbers, and even got to pick one of the girls up for club the next Monday. I am praying the Lord will provide me the courage and the ability to form sweet relationships with these girls. There are some broken kids in this community. I see these kids dealing with things that I would never have dealt with in middle school. Not even in my entire life. Pray for these kids' hearts to be opened and receptive. They have so much potential and so much to live for, they just cannot see it yet!

One of my good friends Calvin got his Aggie Ring one weekend, so I was lucky enough to present his ring to him! We had a fun time and finished out the night eating Laynes (you cannot go wrong with that!) One year until I get mine! Whoop!

All of the roommates (and Jonathan) except for Bryan have their rings. When Bryan gets his next fall they are hoping to have a house ring dunk. I am so excited!

We ran into Matt and Katie on the way to pick of Calvo's ring. Matt just got his that day too. I am pretty sure it made his life! :)

I got to go home for Easter weekend and spend time with my parents. We ate pizza, laid out by the pool (while my dad built a double decker retaining wall... he cannot sit still!), hunted Easter baskets, dyed eggs, and got my mom ready for beginning her first yoga class. Most importantly we celebrated the most important day of history. One of my favorite hymns, The Lamb, says it best: "Worthy is the Lamb whose death makes me His own. The Lamb is reigning on His throne!" Love it.

Seeing my friends on study abroad trips/about to go on trips makes me itch to go! (I'm talking to you, Madi!) A study abroad next summer would certainly be ideal, but with only upper level biology courses left in my track, I am not very sure that's even a possibility. But it's definitely an idea I would love to entertain! Likewise, I am yearning to take a trip to Israel. I am doing a One Year bible reading, along with going through Romans with church, and I just hope that one day I will be able to walk where these stories took place. Bucketlist item for sure!

Secondly, I am considering switching my major from Molecular Biology to just plain ol' Biology. For no reason other than I don't want to have to take the number of labs that MBio makes you take. Pondering.

This Friday is a Jillian Edwards/Johnny Stimson concert in College Station for the Wells Project. It's part of the commitment tour for the 10 Days next Fall. Check out http://10days.cc to see if they are coming to your city! Also, commit to the 10 Days while your at it (top right corner). The whole purpose is to go 10 days one week next fall without drinking anything but water. Whatever money you save by not buying coffee/milk/sodas/etc can be donated to the Wells Project in order to dig wells for people groups who do not have accessible clean water. The location of next year's wells has not been announced, but as soon as it is, I will let you know. Imagine walking 5 miles a day with a 40 pound jerry can full of water because that's the only way you can live. Let's change that!

Emily and Shepherd are coming to visit Aunt Jill in College Station! I am so excited to show her and my family around my city and just hang out with them. Counting down the hours!



Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than we can ask or imagine, according to his power at work within us, to Him be the glory forever and ever! [Ephesians 3:20]

Life is... Happening!

You guys! Life is crazy! And it's happening all around me. And I can hardly keep my head above water. But the thing is, I love it!

I've mentioned recently how I feel like I am finally finding my niche in College Station. This my friends, is the bonafide truth. Here's what I have been up to since last Monday (I can't believe I haven't blogged in a week!)

Most important, Shep turned one week old yesterday! Isn't it weird to think of a human being as a week old? Kind of blows my mind. He is adorable and I get to see him in two weeks! Cannot wait!

Thursday night I had reveal night for The Wells Project. I am placed on the event team which is exactly the team I wanted to be on. We are in charge of the 10 Days programming and concert. Phil Wickham might be coming back next year, but we are looking to maybe change it up. Maybe even a whole festival? So much opportunity and so many ways God can work! I have already met some great people and I cannot wait to get to know them better. Sunday we have a retreat where we find out our specific positions, so I am looking forward to that.

Friday night was the G.L.O.W. 5K in College Station. It was a chilly but fun night! We had a mini yell practice before the race started (such good Aggies!) which was just so fun. "Beat the hell outta poverty!" was the line for one of the yells. Love it. I ran and finished in the time that I wanted which was a great feeling. We ate Layne's for dinner which is a favorite!

Speaking of running, my second half marathon is this Sunday. I am running in the Armadillo Dash here in C-Stat, so thankfully it shouldn't be too hilly. Prayers that it isn't raining/sleeting/sub 40 degree temperatures at this race like my last! I am running for myself and to beat my current half time, so that's the only pressure. We will see if I am able to. Unfortunately I haven't been near as good with training as I was for the OKC race. Hopefully the adrenaline will get me pumped!

Saturday I went to my first Aggie baseball game. I must admit, baseball isn't my thing. I am ashamed to say I know little to nothing about it. Football is where it's at, amIrightttt? However, all the traditions at Aggie baseball games are hilarious so it was fun to go to! Not to mention the weather was absolutely beautiful! Ricky (to the right of Haydo) used to live in Japan so we like to pretend he's Asian and do "peace" signs in every picture.

Last night I got to go to an SFA Wyldlife club to visit. Wyldlife, in case you are new, is Young Life geared towards middle schoolers. It was incredible. I loved every second of it! The team was great, the kids were hilarious, and we could definitely see Lord working in these kids! Friday night is a lock-in at Gattitown from 11pm-6am. About 170 middle schoolers come to the lock-in so it's going to be crazy but so very fun! They do a club around midnight which is apparently a very hard thing to manage. 200 kids form 2 different schools all in the same room playing games and listening to the Message? I'm in! I am going to help out and get to hang out with the kids a little more. Who knows, maybe in a month I will be on the SFA team? I am also visiting a Capernaum club (special needs YL) on Thursday night which I cannot wait to go to. I have a feeling I am going to fall in love with Capernaum, too, which will make preferencing "my world" hard come interview time. It's all in God's hands-- I know I will be placed where I am supposed to be.

In case you don't follow me on Instagram, let's backtrack a little! I got my map in (Monday?) evening. I love it and have a few ideas to spruce it up.

Today there was a health professionals symposium on campus where all of the Texas medical schools came and talked/handed out info. In case you didn't know, I LOVE pamphlets. No really, I do. So I got all these different info packets that I am excited to go through. It makes med school seem so much more real. I feel like my whole life I have been preparing for medical school admissions. And now, in a short year, application will become a reality. Craziness! Prayers for the Potato who will be getting his MCAT scores back soon. His is becoming an even bigger reality! So proud and excited for him!

Lastly, (worst-ly?) I have been studying non-stop since I got back into College Station. My normal routine entails getting out of class, making a quick dinner, and then going somewhere to study until about 12:30 or so. Not to mention early morning study sessions and trying to be productive with the hour breaks I have on Tuesday afternoons  (voila!) and Wednesday. It will all be worth it, hopefully. Organic is really killing me right now which is teaching me a lot of patience and a lot of trust! 13 hours seems more time consuming than the 16 hours I took last semester, and last semester nearly killed me! Enough of my pity party, though.

If you think about it, my roommates for next year and I are still searching for 2 or 3 more girls to fill our house. We have people who are interested, but we really just need it to happen. I am a planner and an organizer and like things to be taken care of quickly. So please pray for patience for me, and for the right girls to come along!

So there's life. All the craziness and joy and fun.

Just a Little Catch Up

A break from the series for a quick snippet of this week:

I found out last night that I am now officially a member of The Wells Project! I find out on Thursday what team I am going to be on and am so very excited about it.

The Forest Ranger is now officially swagged out with her new roof rack for my bike. I have been waiting on 4 little parts to be able to put it on and I finally got them in. Lookin' fly!

It's been raining non-stop in College Station for the past two weeks. As much as I love thunderstorms it's about time for some sunshine and dry bike rides.

Spring Break is less than a month away. Say whaaa?

My sister's official due date is 2 days away. Little guy S has yet to make an appearance but I am waiting on pins and needles for the moment I get a call!

Volunteering this week was great; I got to work in ultrasound and see lots of sonograms and meet some of the sweetest old men. However, it's furthering my desires to specialize in pediatric fill in the blank down the road.

I've gotten to spend a lot of time with Hayden in the past few days. Crazy schedules make it hard to be able to carve out time for each other so I am thankful that we have been able to.

Young Life placement is getting closer and closer! We are visiting clubs for the next 2 weeks so I cannot wait to go see a Capernaum and Wyldlife club.

So anyway, that's life this week!

Happenings.

Syllabus week. There is nothing better, really. Except when your professor starts lecturing that day. I know, I know-- wahh. At least I do not have Friday classes. Sleep in today, check! The weather in College Station has been absolutely glorious. I mean, 70 degrees in January? Ok, yes! Anywho, here is what has been going on in my life lately.

While I was home, Millie liked to snuggle. Made it hard to get out of bed, you know?

Hayden is taking his MCATs in a week, so we had a little study date at Barnes and Noble. I ate some Godiva chocolate cheesecake and read lots of magazines. I feel so classy. He has some dedication and I have, well, a sugar high.

I got a new car that I absolutely love! It's a Subaru Forester that is kindly called the Forest Ranger thanks to Hayden's brother. I am so blessed that my parents gave my sister and me the gift of a new car our sophomore years of college. I can now pretend that I live in Colorado or Minnesota, because everyone and their dogs drives a Subaru in those states. It's also being outfitted with a roof rack that I bought with all my earnings from working over the break. Pictures when that is finally assembled (Avengers?!) Also, my mom got me luggage for my birthday in October (remember how I used to come home for the holidays?) and I think it's her dream for this to be my life. I can't say I disagree. One step closer Momma, one step closer.

I bought a new headlamp which is one of my other new favorite things. This is a celebratory picture I sent to Hayden (because we are dorks). I was greeted by a nice little Moosejaw package when I came back to College Station. Nice timing on my part, yes? Also, behind me is a shot of my room. I hope to do a little house tour soon. Problem is there are still some things that need to be completed!

I made some yarn and twig flowers for our living room on Monday. They took all of 10 seconds and look so neat. I will put up a little tutorial of my own soon.

Otherwise, last night we had an A&M Pine Cove Ranch get-together at Rosa's. I am so excited for this summer to be here. I met some wonderful people and cannot wait to get to know them better. We called the new Ranch director and left a sweet little voice message saying "We're the ranch, WHOOP!" Gotta represent the best college in the world, right? Really though. This summer is going to be such a blessing in so many different ways, and I cannot wait to see how the Lord is going to use me and all the other staffers.

I got to spend a little time with my silly roommates last night for some fro-yo. Delish. It makes it better that Katie (what up, girl!) loves sprinkles just as much as I do. They are the bomb.

Have a most fantastic weekend, my friends!

Back in the Swang of Thangs

Three hour drive to College Station: check.
Jamming out to Josh Ritter for the entire time: check.
Driving through familiar College Station roads: check.
Unloading the ten tons of things I brought back: check.
Organizing, cleaning, and putting away-ing: check.

To do:
Grocery shop,
Buy books,
Take a breather,
Mentally prepare myself for the four months that lie ahead!

Good luck to all of you starting (or who have already started) your Spring semester. I can't say I was happy to leave home, but I can say it's nice to be back in this familiar little town of mine.

Mid-Pre-Adulthood Life Crisis

This week the schedule of all the Spring semester classes came out. This means nothing more than drop all your homework and spend the next 3 hours researching professors and determining what your schedule should be. Not that I did that or anything. So here I am scheduling along when I kind of realize, "Oh hey! Looks like I will only have 31 hours left after this Spring semester. Wait a minute...?"

So. It looks like I will be graduating a year early. Which is CRAY CRAY to the max. I always planned that I would be graduating a semester early because of AP hours. But goodness, the idea of one whole year early has definitely took me for a loop. I won't really have a true senior year in college experience. Which is sad. But I don't think I want to extend out my schooling just to do that. I am only taking 13 hours this semester, then 15 and 16, respectively. That means 3 more semesters of being a not-real adult. SCARY. Of course, this will only happen if the classes are offered when they should be, etc. etc. I will still be applying for medical school with my normal class. Which means I will have a year to live at home (Oh hi, Mom and Dad!), have a job to make some doll-hairs, preferably go on an extended mission, all before hopefully entering med school. I guess that's the reason this freaks me out so much. Because I will have at least a year (I pray no more) of waiting. In case you guys have figured it out.... LIFE IS GETTING REAL. 


So, mid-pre-adulthood life crisis out in the clear. That's my story.

In other news, A&M had a Bazaar, aka craft fair today. OH MY YES, I did just say craft fair. So I was in heaven. And I love my school. And I bought a headband (no surprise). And it made me really want to open my own Etsy shop again, because I think that the stuff I make would be about 14 (ay, ay, ay, ay, ay) times cuter than anything I saw today. Seriously though. Should I? Real talk: even if I don't sell anything I would still wear it myself. So no doll-hairs lost, right? Right. I am thinking headbands (mainly), small home decor type items, ornaments and cute garland type things. I don't know. I also think it would be a cool idea to give a portion of my profits to one of my favorite organizations. Crafting for a cause, eh? Aside from the fact that I love crafting, continuing to pursue my hobbies and actually doing something with them would look really great for medical school application. Always lookin' ahead, nom? So anyway. Etsy store, yay or nay?

I don't know what got me thinking about this, but tonight I remembered one of the most monumental annual days of the year as an elementary student: field day.

I don't know about you, but Bell had a BOMB field day. The most vivid memories I have of field day didn't actually take place then, but the night before. I was SO antsy for the next morning to come. Literally. Could-not-sleep. I would wake up at about 5 that morning and be so excited and already bouncing off the walls. Of course one field day was kind of a bummer, my fourth grade year. I woke up at my normal crack of dawn time to hear the pitter-patter of rain outside. Um HELLO how was I supposed to run the third leg of the 4x4 IF IT WAS RAINING? Devastating, I know.

Anyway. The progression of the day went as this: first were the parades with your class flags before the races began (my mom and I had the honor of making mine for Mr. Williams' 3rd grade class- "Mr. Williams' Honey Bees"). My fifth grade year I got to start the races off because I was class president. Yeah that's right. Big deal. Then we would go through the egg toss, sack race, hay hurdles, fox throw, 50 and 100 yard dash. After a quick lunch break we usually went for the tug-o'-war competition held between each of the classrooms. After more events such as turtle races, basketball shoot, and the trading in of tickets for snow cones and sour punch straws came the final event of them all. The mother of all field day events. The 4x4.

In case you aren't knowledgable of the specifics of the 4x4, let me enlighten you. Four boys/four girls (each separate races) of each grade's classes were chosen to run in the race. Each kid would run once around the flagged course and pass off the baton to the next person. Three people later and you've crossed the finish line. But getting chosen to run the 4x4, representing all things holy that is your classroom? DIVINE. I was chosen to run the 4x4 every year of field day. Not to toot my own horn, but uh.... toot toot! I am 99.3% positive that my class won this final race each year.

One of the best feelings is to see your dad cheering for you and coaching you as you run past him to hand off the final baton pass. And winning, of course.

This post really has no rhyme or reason, other than a little bit of Seuss.

We are all a little weird and life's a little weird, and when we find someone whose weirdness is compatible with ours, we join up with them and fall in mutual weirdness and call it love. -Dr. Seuss

This is one of my favorite things from one of my favorite people. This card's worth big money, let me tell you. I keep it as a book-marker in my bible.

And now, back to studying for my last final. 

If you're looking for some good bloggin' this afternoon, head over to one of my favorite blogs Today's Letters.

Em and Mr. Loerke have been married for six years and write each other love letters everyday. I really love it because writing letters is something the Bum (or Scoob) and I have done for the past two years being long distance! It's so true that seeing a letter addressed to you is something that brings a smile to your face and really makes you feel loved! Anyway, Em is hilarious with every comment she makes and the pictures she takes. She's also really into everything outdoorsy and listens to some rockin' music, which makes us a match made in heaven. Yes, I feel like I am living in a space time continuum! I love waking up and reading their blog each morning because it just starts my day off right.

Another awesome thing they do is a thing called Fist Pump Fridays. Any of their (bazillions) of readers can send them pictures "fist-pumping" or "leg-kicking" celebrating any achievement they have made, and they post these pictures each Friday. Go and check out today's FPF and you might see a familiar face rocking a woobie cape and all! Then go read about what a woobie cape, the biscuit, and the MR340 (hello, bucketlist!) all mean! 

I hope you are all having a great weekend! Be on the lookout for my week in ten and a half update coming soon!

Something interesting I stumbled upon!

Via: Psychology Degree

Sometimes I miss having a car. Scratch that. A lot of times I miss having a car.

I miss it for obvious necessities such as a Target trip. To get dinosaur oatmeal and shampoo and Dove chocolate. Maybe it's a good thing I don't have a car to go to Target every single day...

But also for other things. Like going out and driving when you really just need to clear your head. Sometimes I would just go drive down Broadway just because when you are driving it's just you, your music, and your mind. A car is kind of like your private space. Which you really lack in college. I would really just like to be able to have my own space sometimes... my own sanctuary that isn't shared. Maybe that's selfish. But it's true.

Here's to jamming out to Iron and Wine's new album on Youtube because I refuse to buy it on itunes. I haven't gathered all my feelings about it, but it is different.

To reading blogs and feeling like I have been lost in a space time continuum and the life I am reading is actually mine (as HJP puts it)

To calling my grandpa and wishing him a happy birthday. And then him telling me about the 12 foot snow drifts on the south side of the house. For those of us navigationally challenged- that's looking out the window underneath the davenport.

To texting my mom to let her know I called grandpa, and also that I am getting a tattoo. And quick phone calls within .009 seconds of my text sending.

To late night talks with Hayden about brown paper bags, YL, "remembering when" and pretending to be frozen on Skype... but not being able to hold a straight face for longer than 2 seconds.

To discovering I fall into the "2-percenters" when it comes to human thought patterns. Watch this.

To stealing more than my allotted 2 sugar cookies from the cafeteria and not feeling guilty. Then storing them away like a chipmunk to eat when I am really craving them.

To helping my roommate get ready for her boyfriend's fraternity's date party. Curled hair, fake eyelashes, fancy dresses for her... cardigans and v-necks for me.

To quilts (background of picture) my mom makes me that I curl up under every night making me wish I was home.

To the bros that took up the entire sidewalk, making me slip off the edge, drag my toe underneath my bicycle pedal, AND RIP A WHOLE IN THE TOE OF MY FIVE FINGERS. And then laugh at me. I don't appreciate you.

I sold my first item on eBay last night! I bought this rather expensive pair of sandals this summer with some of my graduation money, but to date, I have probably worn them 7 times. Literally. So, I got to thinking. I really am not much into fancy fashion these days (unless it's by Chaco, Vibram, or Camelbak.... then I am really interested!) so I decided to sell them rather than let them lose me money sitting in my closet. I set the lowest bid at a certain price and also added a "buy it now" price. 4 days had passed and only one person had bid... but last night someone bought them straight for what I was asking! A quick $100 in my pocket!

I am going to use the money I got from these sandals to buy a lens I have wanted and experimented with for a while. It's a Canon fixed 50mm f/1.8 lens- great for portraits because of the low aperture AND relatively inexpensive...I am super excited! I have one other lens besides than the nifty fifty I am hoping to buy soon, too. I will probably sell my kit lens on eBay prior to getting the other lens I want, as long as I have close to the amount of money I need for the lens. But that will mean I have to get a job. Which is in the works, seeing how I picked up an application from the bookstore this afternoon!

The "Nifty Fifty"
One of my favorite pictures I have taken with Aaron's 50mm although it's a tad blurry...

After I told my mom I had sold these shoes she responded:
"So you're only going to be a mountain man the rest of your life? Please promise you'll be a girl too?"

Don't worry, mom. No, I am not going Chris McCandless on you. And I have my cardigans which are plenty-girly enough for me. But really, it is so much better when you are not worrying all the time about keeping up with the Joneses.

Also, anyone skilled in HTML, where do I go to change the orientation of my text in my blog post? I would like it to be centered!

Where you invest your love, you invest your life.

Tonight I began a journey: an 8 week training to become a Young Life leader, hopefully for middle school aged kids in a program called Wyldlife! Hayden is a team leader in College Station for one Jane Long Wyldlife team (he's a big deal...) and kind of convinced me that it would be a great way to invest in relationships with some really awkward middle schoolers. I am really excited to begin this training, because I know I am going to meet some great people and build lasting relationships with kids and leaders alike. I wasn't a big fan of Young Life in high school. I have a great deal of respect for the leaders for Tyler because of how hard they worked to impact the lives of some of my fellow classmates. YL was a big social gathering in Tyler, one where people interrupted (often) the messages that were given. This lack of respect irked me, so the times I went were limited. But I am excited to take on this challenge and see what an amazing mission YL has.

Our message before training started tonight was geared towards what we should get out of Young Life, about creating a lifelong journey rather than one that only lasts in college. Our speaker tonight's main focus was that of God's word. He said that the biggest regret he had as a team leader in 1973(!) was that he never fully took in the importance of the word. One of my favorite things he said was this:

"We have copies of the Bible available to us every way we turn, in our own Bibles, even on an "app" on our iPhones and iPads. We have more access to the Bible than has ever been in the history of the world, yet we probably know it the least. Some people in the world would die for just a copy of the Book of John. A copy to pour their lives into live out."

I know this isn't a revolutionary thought, but it was thought provoking and powerful to me. My challenge to myself is take in the word and not just read it, but meditate on it and absorb it. To become a sponge for the word, and for it to guide me in my life.

So from about December 23 to January 15th, I was without a 'smartphone'. Feast your eyes on this bundle of technological joy!
My iPhone was sitting on my bed where I always put it to charge it, when the big oaf Gus came and jumped on my bed knocking my phone face down on the hardwood floor. I picked it up and was relieved because no cracks in the screen could be felt. Unfortunately, a quick click of the home screen revealed a white screen of death. A shattered LCD chip. A useless phone. Fast forward to the last month and I have been using my 4 year old go phone. I could call, I could text with a bit of trouble, but nothing else. No camera, internet, facebook application (God forbid!). But over the period I got to use this phone, I really enjoyed it. I wasn't constantly checking my phone or looking at facebook. I was truly invested in the then and now, and it was nice. I held out as long as I could from deciding to buy a new iPhone. For a while I thought I wasn't going to buy one because I was really enjoying the simplicity of being "unattached". But last night I caved and got a new phone before I left for Norman. I kind of wish that I was strong enough to keep my trusty old go phone, but in school my phone isn't just a phone, but my information source, iPod, map, and email. I gave in, and I am not proud of it.

Thank goodness for my iPhone though, because I stupidly left my MacBook charger at home, so I will definitely need to be decreasing my computer usage until Friday or so. Back into simplicity, I suppose!

My cat Mildred (Millie) has never been the lap cat I have always wanted her to be. Until this weekend. Anytime I sit down she runs and curls up in my lap. She has found her voice and squeaks and purrs constantly! Every night she has come in my room and curled up right beside me. In the past, if she would even sleep with me, it was down at my feet. Earlier today I came into my room and Milz was sitting on my bed, I laid down, and she came and burrowed under the covers (literally). I had to get up, and left her with just her head poking out from under the covers. I came back a while later and didn't see her. I start lifting up my blanket and find her curled in a ball at the foot of my bed. Mildred likes to camp out in the dark, apparently. Anyway, she's adorable and I felt the need to devote a post to this glorious animal that is laying next to me as I type. Let's hope she stays nice and sweet once Emily's hellions get her on Wednesday. I will post a picture of Millie's cat cave when I load the pictures.

Have you ever thought about the Peace Corp? In elementary school I was in this gifted and talented program called T.A.R.G.E.T. My 5th grade year we studied all about a young man who was serving in Malawi with the Peace Corp. Fifth grade was kind of an interesting time to go in depth (and I mean depth.... who know about the economic industries of Malawi?) about the Peace Corp, but I always thought it was interesting. Recently (as in since I have been in college) I have given it more thought. I read up on it, and found out the term of a Peace Corp volunteer was 23 months. TWENTY THREE MONTHS. That seems like a crazy long time. But imagine the difference these students make? How much they can get done? I think it would be very hard for me to be gone from my family and friends this long, so chances of me ever doing something like that would be slim. But it got me thinking. What would I do if I could do anything in the world? Where would I go, what would my mission be? I think if I was more comfortable with being away for prolonged periods, the Peace Corp would be it.