College days...

So, at the persuasion of the 2 people that actually read my blog (you know who you are...haha), I decided to update it and let you know how college is going. Well, I am busy as usual; that is actually why I haven't gotten on here since I moved in. Oops. Anyway, college is fantastic. Pretty much everything I thought it would be. All the partying, you know. NOT!!!!!! Well, sure there is plenty of that here, but I have not experienced it. Mom got a little taste of culture shock on the day that she dropped me off. She wasn't ready for the sight of people partying in broad daylight along side the road holding signs that said, "Honk and we'll drink." and "Drop your daughters off here." OUCH! That was definitely a rude awakening for both of us. Other than that though, I haven't had too much of a run in with it. Pretty much like high school. It happens.

On a much brighter note, I have gotten involved with a fantastic campus ministry called Encounter. Wow! They are most certainly a ministry that gets it. The first night that I went to large group worship their purpose for the ministry as "helping you grow in Christ, so that in turn, others will see Christ through you." What better mission for a ministry? How simple, and yet so many times the church tries to come up with this crazy intricate idea of how to be the church. Just love God and love people. That is ultimately what they are consumed by. Great! :) We are getting ready to go on a group retreat to Little Galilee next weekend. I am so excited. I have already met so many people that are truly devoted to following hard after Christ, and I can't wait to develop deep relationships with them. Currently, we have started small groups and are studying David Crowder's book Praise Habit. Amazing. :) Basically, we are studying specific psalms and applying them to praise God in every waking moment of our lives instead of just at church, Bible study, etc. Definitely something I need to learn.

Classes are good. Some are better than others. I LOVE my Opera Practicum class. I get the privilege of performing duets from Wicked, my favorite musical ever!:) That has definitely been fun. I am also starting to babysit on Friday nights from 4-9. Not bad, and it will pay for my voice lessons. I am actually looking forward to it so much. I miss kids. Since I babysat for 8 hours a day during the summer, now I am having withdrawal. :)

Umm...that is my college life in a nutshell. Oh yeah, one more very important thing. I am going to my first Cubs/Cards game on Saturday with Justin (ask me about him in person...too much to tell on here...haha). Yay!!!