The problem with procrastination...

Is that it doesn't last forever. This weekend I spent two entire days doing work that I should have been doing the last five weeks. Because the internet was out at home, this meant that I spent a good amount of time in libraries and coffee shops, looking for any free internet I could find. Despite my miserable amount of homework, the weekend had some high points. Two of these happened at Sally Loo's, an adorable coffee shop in SLO that has become my new favorite. On Friday I got tea and scones with my lovely roommate Keri, and on Saturday I returned with April, John, and Caitlin to get some studying done. Although the studying wasn't fun, the company (and the bagel) was excellent.

Party Time!

Yesterday we had our house party. Although I had major doubts on our ability to pull it together we actually did it. Our theme was decades, so everyone was expected to dress up as a different decade (I chose fifties...so sad I couldn't find a poodle skirt). As early as last Monday the girls started to prepare. What would we wear? What year should we go for? What makeup should we use? So many decisions! On the other hand, the guys were (on the most part) completely unenthusiastic. Or so we thought. As us girls emerged from our rooms dressed in colorful clothes that were all years out of date, we were surprised to see that they guys had gone just as far out. It's hard to pick a favorite, but I think Kevin's Great Gatsby get up was pretty far up there. The night turned out to be a success. Some highlights were watching my housemates go crazy over karaoke, winning "juice pong" with Anna (don't worry, the most we got was a sugar high), and getting to play dress up again. It's one of those things I don't think I will ever grow out of.

Big news

I have big news for you all. Groundbreaking news for some of you. Sherbet is pronounced SHER-BET, not SHER-BERT. There's no r! Am I the only one who finds this absolutely shocking? My housemates were talking about sherbet the other day and I (rather condescendingly, I hate to add) laughed and told them they were pronouncing it wrong. Little did I know that for 20 years I had been saying the wrong thing. Now I am left with a dilemma. Do I say sherbert or sherbet? On the one hand, I will sound ridiculous saying sherbert, but I feel untrue to myself saying sherbet. Are you as shocked as I am, or am I the only one who imagined the r?

Nuns and Huns

Here's another observation story I think you'll enjoy:
Teacher - "Who were the most frightening invaders?"
Student - The nuns?
I had a hard time keeping a straight face, but to be fair nuns and huns do sound very similar. I have a feeling I'm going to miss 7th grade...high schoolers just aren't as funny.

All I really need to know I learned in 7th grade

Today I had a near-embarrassment moment (kind of like a near-death moment but a little less traumatizing). I have stopped observing at the middle school and have moved on to the high school. This morning, my first day in the AP US History class, the teacher told his students to brainstorm events and people that were memorable between 1814 and 1824. Anything come to mind? As a soon-to-be graduate of the Cal Poly History Department, I am a little ashamed to say that my mind was absolutely blank. He went on to call on each student in the class, and every one of them had an answer. It was at this point that I started to get concerned. If he was calling on everyone, would he call on me just for fun? I would have to admit I knew absolutely nothing that happened during those years. It was at this time that a student chimed in "Andrew Jackson" and I was saved. During my observation of 7th grade last week, the students were learning about Jackson and Henry Clay. So when the teacher turned to me this morning, along with 25 pairs of very intelligent eyes, I was able to say in a relieved voice, "Henry Clay." This goes to show that, although kindergarten was important, all I really need to know I learned in 7th grade. I have a feeling I'm going to have to brush up on my US history in order to observe this class!

Surprises

For several weeks now the girls in the house have been playing pranks on the guys. Although you may say that I'm biased, I think that our pranks have walked a fine line between funny and harmless. For example, when we put Andrew's stuffed wolf in a jello mold, we made sure he was sealed tight in his ziplock first. Unfortunately, the guys were not quite as sweet with their pranking. A couple minutes ago Caitlin emerged from the bathroom and announced, in a very distressed voice I should add, that the boys had put fish in our bathroom. I know! Not only are there goldfish in the toilets, but there are fish and seaweed in the bathtubs! It is disgusting, and I absolutely refuse to clean it up (take note John, I know you're reading). My consolation is that tonight is girl's night and we have plenty of time to dream up the perfect rebuttal.

Pasadena

There's nothing like good friends, good conversations, and lots of laughter to make a weekend. On Friday morning Anna, John, Caitlin, and I went down to Pasadena for Anna's birthday celebrations. Her parents went out of their way to make us feel welcome, filled us full of food, and sent us off refreshed and happy. Some of the highlights include playing hide and seek in the park, meeting Anna's family and church friends, exploring Pasadena, getting a picture in front of the Father of the Bride house, meeting up with John's sister, and going to the most perfect breakfast spot imaginable (Bittersweet Chocolate Chip Waffles with Creme Fraiche and Blackberries on top = great morning). Even the 3 hour drive was enjoyable, thanks to Anna's "tell me about a time when..." game. Now that we're back I'm determined to stay positive, look past the Spanish test and annotated bibliography looming in the close future, and focus instead on details like breakfast for dinner, girls' night, and left over valentine candy.

Breathe

I feel like I've been running all day. This morning I rushed to observe at the Middle School, rused home to change, rushed to school to take a midterm. I went from the midterm to Spanish, where it feels futile to even try to keep up. From there I sped to my haircut, then to the high school, and finally home. And then I took time to breathe. Although my schedule says that I should be using this time to work on my senior project, I decided that a quiet time was much more needed. And it was. Because now I can see my day in a different light. I'm able to remember the 45 minutes I spent in the 7th grade classroom learning to fold origami, that my midterm went much better than I had anticipated (thank you Lord!), and that I had a good conversation with my hairdresser. To tie this off, I'd like to share a song with you. I heard it at church on Sunday, and listened to it again during my quiet time. It's been such a blessing this week. Here it is...

He is jealous for me,
Loves like a hurricane, I am a tree,
Bending beneath the weight of his wind and mercy.
When all of a sudden,
I am unaware of these afflictions eclipsed by glory,
And I realize just how beautiful You are,
And how great Your affections are for me.

And oh, how He love us so,
Oh how He loves us,
How he loves us all.

We are His portion and He is our prize,
Drawn to redemption by the grace in His eyes,
If grace is an ocean, we're all sinking.
And Heaven meets earth like an unforeseen kiss,
Any my heart turns violently inside of my chest,
I don't have time to maintain these regrets,
When I think about the way...

Community

For someone who is so often quiet, I really love relationships. It was during junior high sleepovers that I learned to love late night whispers and belly laughs and realized that something special happens in a room full of faded sleeping bags and Disney princess pillows. Even better than the girlish companionship of a sleepover are the intentional relationships I am learning to make in college. It is here that I'm learning that investing in people takes effort but is well worth the work. After all, I've been rewarded with some pretty amazing friends. Moving into the Wesley house I feel as if God has challenged me and blessed me with more opportunities for community than I've ever had. After all, I'm living with sixteen people, eight of whom are boys (I know, shocking!). I love honest conversations at our weekly girl time, studying in silence with John and Anna, chats on the roof during sunset, and the ongoing fellowship that happens when you live with someone...multiplied by 16. These relationships coupled with Stephanie and Laura (oh, and Caitlin) are ways in which God is blessing me right now.

I like...

Chatting in between rows of books at Barnes and Noble,
getting new, rubbery rainboots in the mail,
studying with friends,
sugar cookies at bible study,
sisters who understand me,
bread runs to Albertson's,
cozy new mattresses that greatly increase my napping rate,
sunsets on the roof.
So although this quarter has been challenging, it has been so so good.

He is enough.

In Him, I am enough.
I am smart enough,
pretty enough,
interesting enough,
funny enough,
lovable enough,
kind enough,
righteous enough,
captivating enough.
When I believe that I am not enough, I am believing a lie. And so are you. Because in Christ we are beautiful, captivating, righteous. I am praying that this week I can see myself through Christ, the way God sees me.