Just catching up a little...

Haven't updated in quite a while...so I just figured I'd bring up a few interesting things that have happened here lately:

* We stated a series called "At War" with Wesley last week.  It's absolutely incredible and I cannot wait to hear what comes of it in the 3 weeks it'll be lasting for...

* Speaking of Wesley, I had lunch a few days ago with it's lovely Director, Katie.  She found out that I play bass and is going to mention it to the guy who heads the band up.  Apparently before I didn't talk to the right person.  So, if you would, please pray about that.  I really feel led to be involved in a music ministry up here!

* Emily and Anna came up for a weekend and we went to a Superchick show at the giant Baptist church (with it's own street.  woah).  It was fun.  Totally weird to use comp tickets and we felt kind of old being that it seemed to be a middle school girls conference.  It was a great weekend!  :)

* Today I went to the Food and Wine Festival at Epcot with Matt, Travanna, and Erica.  My oh my, the food is amazing!  The wine...I have no clue (but according to Matt and Erica it was not that great)

* I am being a bad student and am skipping class on Monday....because.....Senator Barack Obama and Senator Hillary Clinton will be in Orlando at a rally!!  I'm very excited.  Cathy is coming down and we're going with several people from UCF.  It shall be amazing, I'm sure. 

* I started (and finished) the first book of the Twilight series.  It's incredible.  If you haven't read it, read it-and only when you have time to read all day.  Yeah..it's that good.

And...I think that pretty much sums up my life for now. Amazing?  I think so.  

Love, peace, chicken grease (and yes, Anna, in that order!),

Brit

Clumsiness

Former President, Bill Clinton

Me furiously shaving shaving cream off of my balloon...we left quite a mess.  I wonder what people thought when they walked by us..haha

Shooting q-tips.  Quite possibly the favorite event.  

So I'm not sure about why...but for the past 2 months I have had like no sense of balance and have been more clumsy than I ever have in my entire life.  Examples include:  falling down stairs, tipping chairs over, falling over my feet randomly, etc.  It's oddly hilarious.  If this year goes by and none of my bones are broken it will have been a miracle.

These last few weeks have been fun, but nothing completely out of the ordinary has happened.  I guess the most exciting thing that's happened recently would have to be dorm olympics.  We had a much better turn out than last Thursday night (like at least 20 people) and had some seriously hilarious games, including shaving balloons (they had shaving cream on them), shooting q-tips from straws into cups, and pencil darts.  I think everyone had a good time...and we had lots of promises to come back next Thursday.  Now how dorm olympics will be topped...not quite sure about that.  

This weekend is family weekend up here at UCF, so my parents got in tonight.  We're going to some cookout with the honors college tomorrow and then to the game.  Go Knights!  :)  I should be starting my paper for comp, but am awaiting an email back from my professor as to whether my thesis is on the right track.  If I don't get one by morning....I'll just hope for the best considering the rough draft is due Monday.  Oh fun...

Oh dang!  By far the most exciting thing has been Bill Clinton coming to our school for a rally.  It was just really cool to hear someone speak who used to be President of our country.  Definitely an experience I won't forget.  That's all I've got for now.  Hope everyone has a fantastic weekend!

Brit

Meditation...

As I mentioned in my last post, life is pretty insane for me right now.  So many changes...so many different things to think about/do.  Therefore I thought it was interesting that in our Freshmen Group they challenged us to do at least 15 minutes of meditating each day-simply sitting in the presence of God praying and listening for His voice.  

As I've said many times before, isn't it so funny how God knows exactly what we need in our lives?  Taking those short minutes out of my day seems to actually make more time to get things done.  Doesn't make any sense logically, but God has never been logical.  I wanted to share a scripture that I heard at Wesley last Tuesday that has inspired me.  

"A person's words can be life-giving water, words of true wisdom are as refreshing as a bubbling brooke." -Proverbs 18:4

Andy talked about a quote he had heard, and wanted to change it.  I totally should have brought my journal because I cannot remember who said it originally.  It is:  "The best thing about the church is the people, and the worst thing about the church is the people".  He talked about us at Wesley trying to erase the second half of that.  His entire sermon inspired me to be someone that people like to be around.  To be someone that encourages others, and looks at life in a positive light instead of being downcast all the time.  When I walk into a room and someone seems to genuinely want to get to know me and makes me feel like I'm important, it makes a world of difference.  It's so important to be loved, and so many people in this world have no idea what that feels like.  So my goal for this week besides doing my meditations faithfully is to love on people.  Make them feel like they are important and be Jesus to them.  

As far as what I've actually done this last week....basically had my nose in books with the occasional break for Wesley/Freshman Group/SAK Comedy Club/other fun stuff.  I still have tons of reading to do for Monday but I got a lot accomplished today which was great.  Tomorrow I have a Volunteer UCF event that goes along with my goal for this week.  We're going to work in a crisis nursery and spend time with the children there.  I'm very excited and will be sure to try and take pictures (if possible) and update on how that goes.  Sunday is church and more schoolwork.  I'm coming home next weekend to see everyone.  So excited!  

Love you guys!  :)

Brit

I'm guessing the craziness never ends...

Whew...I sure thought things would calm down a little while ago, but the craziness has not stopped.  I don't even remember what my last blog was about.  Oh yeah!  Getting excited about the amazing weekend.  I guess I should talk about that...

I went home Thursday (driving home by yourself is really boring, fyi) and went immediately to the Conners' to see Jesse, Kristen, and Trinia.  I was so overwhelmed I was in tears...it's crazy how you don't realize how much you miss someone until you see them again.  I spent a couple hours over there, and then came home to do laundry.  Oh what an exciting night.  

Emily and I left for Night of Joy the next day at 1:00.  The ride was awesome, with me hating the Earth and Emily loving walls.  Fabulous.  At Night of Joy, I saw Britt Nicole, Chris Tomlin, Barlow Girl, a song of Becca St. James, and Rush of Fools.  All were amazing!  It was so fun to hang out with Em and Anner.  We have so many stories that came from that short time...let's just say that I'll post a video that pretty much sums up our evening.  

As of now, I'm drowning in school work.  It totally stinks when two of your professors decide to make us finish books in the same week AND write papers on them.  I'm done with history, but still have to read 100 pgs of awfulness and write a paper by Saturday.  Yes, I know it's only Wednesday but...;)

I'll post some pictures from NOJ.  Hope everyone's weeks are going well!  I'm going to go hang out with some kids from Wesley tonight and pig out on pizza.  Yumm...

Love,

Brit

I'm so looking forward to this week...

I don't think I've been this excited for a week in quite a while.  Wesley tonight, "Iron Man" tomorrow night, home Thursday (to see Kristen, Jesse, and Trinia....yayayayayayayyaa), and then back up Friday with Emily to meet Anna at Night of Joy!  Saturday is the USF game; still not sure if I have gotten tickets or not).  Anna's taking Emily home on Saturday to spend some time with her family, and then coming back on Sunday to come to church with me Sunday night.  ;)

Let's see.  I'm trying to think of anything blog worthy in the last few days.  Sunday night, Chelsey, Jaclyn, and I went with my friends to a college aged ministry in downtown Orlando.  I don't even really have words to describe the service.  The music was amazing, the sermon inspiring yet challenging (all about letting Jesus be King over ALL of our lives, not just he areas we don't care about controlling), and then guys that we went with said that the sermon that night was the 'worst' they'd ever heard.  Mind you, when the sermons are amazing all the time, being the 'worst' is just really great...not amazing.  Something like that..haha!

I've got a lot to think about coming up here.  If you guys could just keep me and my decisions in your prayers, I'd sure appreciate it.  God has been/is so amazing in these past few weeks.  I'm going to Wesley tonight, and hopefully something about playing bass will come up.  Wow!  "Majesty (Here I Am)" just came up on my iPod and that was one of the songs I loved the most at Status.  Just wow....

Love you all, and can't wait for this weekend!  Oh, one more thing.  Please keep my mom in your prayers.  I knew that this time would be hard on her, but she's making excuses not to go to church...where all her support is.  She really needs that (even if it does remind her a lot of me being there).  Also just pray for my parents in general, as they are having to get used to being by themselves...Thanks!!

Brit

Oh, what a week it's been!

I've officially been at college for a week today!  Woohoo!  Honestly, it feels like it's been about a thousand years since I'v been here.  Days run together, and feel a lot longer than they did at home.  Possibly because days HAVE been longer since I've had to get up for class and stay up a little later than I should.  Ha!

So tons has happened since I last posted.  I went to all my other classes, and love most of them.  My American History teacher (who I was worried about because I heard that she was ultra hard) is amazing.  She loves history, and inspires us to love it too.  The only beef I have about my classes, is my Computer Fundamentals for Business lecture with 350 people in it.  The size is not what bothers me, it's Dr. Abdallah who speaks 6 languages and has accents from each one.  I had a migraine after class trying to understand what he was saying!  Good thing I know what he's talking about, so as long as I get my assignments I really don't have to listen too carefully.  

I met my suitemates this week, as well!  They are both wonderful wonderful people, and we've already had a lot of fun playing board games.  Jaclyn is a Christian, which is such a blessing!  She went to Wesley with me last night to watch "Batman Begins" and eat Huey Magoos.  By the way, for those of you who are coming to visit me at some point, we are going to Huey Magoos.  It is absolutely amazing!!  I met tons of great people there, and we had a great time.  Plus, something I'm really excited about is that somehow one guy who plays guitar in the band and I got talking, and they need a bass player for the Wesley band!  I explained that I'm not that great, but he really wants me to come check it out.  I've been praying for a way to get involved with Christian music up here, and God has once again shown Himself.  Thus, my parents are bringing my bass up this afternoon.  I cannot even explain how excited I am about this.  God has shown Himself to me more this week than ever in my entire life.  

I could write about my whole escapade with what happened trying to get to Wesley on Tuesday night, but instead I'm going to copy and paste what I sent Suzanna in an email.  Much easier, considering that I've told that story about 10 times this past week.  ;)

Chelsey walked over from her dorm so that we could go with my suitemate Jaqulyn to Wesley (a Methodist ministry here on campus).  It was supposed to be outside, but it was storming, so we were going to go to the church.  Well...long story short, it was pouring rain and lightning a bit and we couldn't find my car in the parking lot!  After going out a second time, I have the epiphany that it must've gotten towed since they started checking for parking and I forgot to move my car into the correct zone after Sunday.  I haven't needed it, so I just didn't think.  On our way back the second time, lightning struck the ground right next to us and it was terrifying.  haha..We're all fine, but ran all the way back to my building.  ;)  We didn't get to go to the ministry, and now I have to pay a lovely fine.  AND, Chelsey left her car and it is now dark and storming so she can't walk back (and wouldn't either with it being so dark), so she's crashing with me and my roommate tonight.  We had a get-together earlier tonight in our neighbors room playing catch phrase with our entire floor :), and I remembered when I invited one of the guys that his roommate never came.  SO, we took his extra mattress for a night and kind of snuck it in (since the RA lives literally right across the hall from me)...b/c we're not sure if that's allowed or not.  So yeah...lonngggg but hilarious night.  :)

So yeah...that was hilarious!  I'll post the picture that's worth a thousand words along with some of my room.  Hope you all had a great week, and Emily, I can't wait to see you on Saturday!!!  John Mayer!!!! :)

Anner, have a blast at the game this weekend!  We'll miss you, but next weekend is going to be amazing, too!  

Love,

Brit

I've moved!

It's official.  I'm a college student.  I couldn't believe that it was coming up, but now that it's here, it feels quite natural.  Haha..

It feels so good to be all moved in a somewhat settled.  Because I left my camera cord at home, I can't post pictures yet, but Matt is getting it and bringing it up on Wednesday so it's all good.  I love my room...it's very eclectic but I love it.  

Classes started today, and let me tell you...it did not start out as a good morning.  I set my alarm for 7:45 AM, and woke up when it went off.  Well, instead of pressing snooze so I could take my time getting up, I turned it off and just closed my eyes for one more minute.  One minute can apparently turn into forty-five minutes pretty quickly I guess.  I woke up and found that it was 8:30 AM and my class starts at 9:00 AM!!  Totally nervous that I was going to be late for my very first college class here at UCF, I threw some clothes on and left without eating breakfast...I was so hungry all class long!  Once I got to my classroom, I went up to the second floor and found the door...but the door had no handle.  So, I walked around the floor about four times just to make sure that I wasn't crazy.  After definitely not finding it, I went into the band office (my class is in the music building..weird) and asked.  Apparently there is a hallway you have to go down and it isn't marked.  I had about 3/4 of my class follow me in there because they had no clue where it was either.  It was pretty hilarious.  Give the freshmen classes that they most definitely can't find.  Good going....haha

I liked the class, though.  My professor is really nice, and I love the kids in there too.  I already have a group for a group project...with the guy and girl that sit next to me.  Haha!  We all hit it off when talking outside the class when we were waiting for Professor Meehan to get a key to open the door.  That door is supposed to be monitored from eight to four b/c of all the computers in there, but alas it wasn't.  The poor guy couldn't get anything working when we got in either....but he's cool and just went along with it.  And that's just one class..haha

Tonight I have honors symposium, and that should be really easy.  Chelsey and I might run over to Target before class tonight.  I'm still shocked at the fact that there is every store in the universe within like ten miles of where I am.  Weird...My floor has a mandatory meeting tonight at 9:00..so that should be interesting.  I'll hear things like don't set stuff on fire, don't hang stuff from the sprinklers, etc.  Oh wait, my dorm doesn't have sprinklers.  Hope there isn't a fire.  Haha!

Hope everyone had/is having a good Monday!  :)

Love,

Brit