No fancy title

Well, I've at least inproved on keeping updates going, before a week has ended! :d

I think right now I'm missing the selection of activities I had back home, or maybe I'm just in the same place to much and need a little more variety, that's probably better. I go to work, I study at the house, I've been to a local coffee shop, I've been to the University a few times.

I guess I also don't have that freedom to just leave, or I feel like I need to go along with Carissa or I'd like to be with Carissa (her schedule is crazy right now!), and I don't really have any friends here other than her--though I have met some really cool people that are almost my friends :D It's not like I can just call them up---well, I really could but...haven't yet.

Owl City--songs: Fireflies, Saltwater room, and Hello Seattle. Some of their lyrics are interesting, but the beats and melodies are nice.

and leftover from the party the "Dancin' in the moonlight" song.....

So, we are going swing dancing tomorrow!!!! :D And before that we are going to a meeting at Newman's--the Catholic church and dorm---simply, to learn about the Catholic faith, why they believe what they believe. I think this week they will be talking about the Trinity.

Last night, Carissa and I went to Intervarsity Bible Study. The apartment was a little sketchy and when we found the room there was no "Hello welcome" we just kinda went in, and they said we were going around introducing ourselves--"Tell your name your major and your favorite disney character (or favorite cereal). After introductions, the leader (andrew) went over how the evening was going to look like, and then we got right into the Scripture--Acts 2:40-47.

Someone read it (Yes, there were people there from the Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter Day Saints), then we all reflected on it, asked questions, answered the questions. Honestly we could have been there all night but we had to leave.

I found it very interesting that the topic of all the different denominations came up---exactly what I'd been thinking about this week after I got to talk with Matt and Nick more about the catholic faith. And this guy at the study was just reiterating that---how divided we are, and really what things we could do if we were all working together as the body of Christ without our seperate denominations---How similiar most of us really are, doing the same things!

Oh, if the body of Christ was truly unified! What great things God could do through us! Not sure if I'll return to that study, not that it was bad, but I'll have to consider it. There is a Beth Moore Bible study that I'll be starting two Wednesday's from now--hopefully that will be good, she usually is. I haven't gone to the church here yet, I went a few weeks when I was here in December but of course the services were a little different due to Christmas.

I will be with my family this weekend in Indiana!!!! :D Look forward to seeing them--Prayers need to go up for my cousin Nicki--who is in the hospital after having pnemonia and having a baby and I'm not sure of all the other details, possibly a blood clot. I guess we are going to see where my grandpa is buried too. He just died this past year, I can't remember what month. ;/

We ate really late again, like 8:30pm.

I think I've figured it out---I don't like just having one class. You know when I started talking in the beginning, I think that's it too. I just don't want to be focused on one thing, but then I kind of do, but I can't seem to focus on one thing without other things "distracting" me.

I guess I'm still getting used to this slow pace maybe. Man, my summer was crazy busy! I like slow but going from one extreme to the other can be interesting I guess. Also I don't like that I know that I need to be doing school but have no motivation to do it, am too tired, or simply don't want to think about it!

I need to peace out and school probably won't be happening tonight but that's ok with me.

Goodnight.....goodnight.

Since Wednesday...

Ladies and Gentlemen~

First, I'm very happy that I have today and tomorrow OFF! I now have plenty of hours today and tomorrow to press in to my schoolwork and get er' done. :) And, I might be able to have lunch with Carissa on campus.

Rachel is getting ready to leave for California today. She's off to see her love and will be back in 10 days.

Things have been pretty busy, as usual, here are a few of the highlights and the nitty gritty:

Thursday the 24th--

I had the day off and was with Carissa most of the day on campus. We started the day by going to the farm for a few hours and picked lots of tomatoes.
Then we went to County Market, changed and freshened up, had our small lunch of PB&J, and some Caribou Coffee. Carissa walked about 20 minutes to her class while I took her car to Twice as Nice Thirft Store. :)
Found some GREAT things at the thrift store: three dresses (2 old navy stripped-blue and maroon--and a cotton blue dress),
drove around the U of I forever trying to find the place to pick Carissa up. So many people were there! :)
found Carissa and headed to Howbowda bagel---we split a salmon one it wasn't half bad.
headed home, had dinner, then headed back to campus for Invervarsity. It was pretty good--it has potential. :)
bread hunting
lightning storm was intense!!!!! oh and did i mention we couldn't see hardly anything in front of us it was raining so hard!
then, we sucessfully made it home around 11pm
The Orchard had flooding from the rain (2 inches in 20 minutes!) so I went over to help mop and take off a few shelves of jams/jellies/preserves. I didn't get to bed till 2am

Friday the 28th-----

I worked 8:30-3:15ish
Went to pick up Julie with Rachel, went to Barnes and Noble, set up a bank account, purchased some insoles for my lovely shoes (ha).
We had the best dinner prepared by the lovely Carissa----homemade sun-dried tomato sourdough bread, salmon, brisket (prepared by me!), there must have been something else---and yes, we didn't eat till 9pm.
Carissa's boy Randy came in that night. Watched Elizabethtown so I didn't get to bed till late--probably 1am?

Saturday the 29th---
Worked from 9-4:20ish
Read very little of my reading assignments
Then I partied!!! :D Wore my lovely blue dress----the party was so much fun! And the best part, I knew everyone at the party! We made homemade pizzas with so many good toppings (avacado, goat cheese, bacon, to name a few). For dessert, we had Creme Brulee coffee and caramel flavored (so good!!! and my first) watched Lauren, Carissa, and Nick flame the sugar for them. Hung out for a while, then Lydia, Nick and I did the dishes----some people had to leave. AFter we were done we couldn't find Randy or Carissa. So we went to find them. In the dark. In the orchard. Blake and I went in the car and sure enough they were in the meadow walking down the lane. Got back to the house and Cameron (oh yes!! Cameron set up his SWEET sound system, fog machine (not so sweet) and DISCO BALL!!!!! It was so great!) had the music up and then we started dancing.....
then we left to see if we could find them and scare them (carissa and randy).....didn't really work since both of the guys shirts were light colored....
Got back to the house and had a lovely evening of dancing!!
Then Matt and I started talking about his pilot license and his flying escapade with Nick to the Ozarks. Which eventually turned into a conversation about his Catholic faith since Carissa and I wanted to go to their meeting on Thursday (it's during the same time as Intervarsity).
I ended up talking to Matt and Nick till about 2am.
Then stayed up another hour with Randy, Carissa, and Cameron.

late night but a WONDERFUL time!

I really can't keep going here, I need to start my homework assignments. But those are the main highlights for the week!!

Ok, so every day didn't happen....

Now you get a VERY quick synopsis of the last several days. Man, I really wanted to keep up EVERY single day. I don't have a lot of time this morning so I'll try to be as brief and specific as I can (haha). Thanks for reading!

So, Cameron is listening to some sort of disco-ish/ raping sounding music super loud and it's vibrating the floor. :-/

Let's see, since my last post:

Things have been going well, however, I've been really, really tired lately. It's a combination of things I think. 1) I'm in a totally different environment that is a whole lot less stressful, slower pace, and it's beautiful here! 2) I keep going to bed alot later than I should, and since it's an hour later in Virginia, those first few days I was here really affected me I think.

I know what to do but sometimes I'm not quite sure what to do. I don't have several things pulling at me which is probably why I'm thinking I don't know what to do or that I should be doing something . It's nice, I suppose. :)

I guess I'll be in charge of making sure some sort of meal is put on the table Wednesday nights. Not sure how that's going to go down, I'm sure i'll figure out something.

Friday the 21st--I worked at the Orchard then I think Carissa and I went to make bread with this guy dushawn. It was pretty fun, I guess.

Saturday the 22nd--I can't quite remember but I think I worked at the Orchard again. That night we went to Blake's house and rode in his sweet blue 2004 Honda Accord. Played a game of pool and listened to Owl City. Then we went to County Market to get a few items for the Orchard. Came back to his house to watch Walle but the parents wanted us to come back due to it being so late. Oh yeah. And this was the night my host told me I smelled greasy and asked how many times I showered, if I wore lotion or perfume. All in love but yeah. Do you really say that to someone? This wasn't the first time.

Sunday the 23rd- Carissa and I went to First Christian Church right down the road. I tell you, I am so thankful for my church! This church was not alive at all. People just stood there and hardly engaged. Worship was fragmented. Communion was rushed. We had to leave early since Carissa is the head donut maker on the weekends. Got back home, talked to Mom for a while, then headed over to the Orchard to help make donunts with Carissa. We got to the University of Illinois mid-afternoon, around 2ish. Experienced Quad day :) Carissa's friend Nick came with us. Ran into another guy I met last time I visited, Luke. He's doing a program where you teach English to foreign students. Carissa and I wanted to go shopping for stuff for her upcoming party--headed to a place called World Harvest. Carissa's boy called her so she left me to remember the ingredients. In the end, we didn't buy any toppings and left with a single bar of chocolate. Then we went to another grocery store, Shnucks, where we were like "It's way to early to buy stuff what are we doing here!" We ended up buying some coffee for the party. We met up with Nick again later that day for some dinner at the Catholic church/dorm house and met up with their friend Matt. Nick helped Carissa find her classes, we took Nick home, and came back home exausted.

Monday the 24th--Carissa started classes and was gone most of the day. I really can't remember what I did, actually, this must of been the day I stayed home. Yeah, I was home most of the day by myself. Got online did the facebook/email thing, did some school work, oh yeah (now I remember), then we picked up Julie from school, went to Culvers to pick up some ice cream for the orchard, had a hamburger, headed back home to meet up with Mrs. Grahams friends. We were headed to the site of Extreme Makeover Home Edition! We got there around five, signed in, waited, waited, got some hard hats, ate some yummy barbeque from a place my family always went to when we lived here, and waited some more. Got to see Ty Pennington, the shows host, (woot woot!-haha) and decided to drift over to the house because know one was telling us where to go or what to do. We ended up being able to tour the whole house! It was really nice.

Tuesday the 25th--Yesterday, Carissa's alarm went off once! But she didn't wake up. Julie had to come in announcing that she had only 20 minutes till that had to leave! I could tell that her day was going to be not as focused. I, along with Grandma and Grandpa Curtis, Rachel, and Mrs. Graham and Grandma Graham following in another car, headed out to Bloomington where we would all watch Aaron (Carissa's brother) and Sarah's baby in 4D! It was a great experience. Got back home mid-afternoon around 2:30, went to the Orchard with Mrs. Graham to start working on the schedule for the Cafe. I guess I'm going to be put in charge of it--which is great! Wrapped up around 6pm, tried to work on school when I got back, through some dinner together, didn't eat till around 8pm or so. Got in the hot tub last night with my dear friend---talked for a while. Got to bed around 11pm.

Up early today. Going to write a few more cards, work on my homework, go to the Orchard and work on the schedule, write a list of things to do for this week.....

Day 4: Beautiful Outdoor Farm Adventure and Canning Extravaganza

"Goodmorning Goodmorning Goodmorning....."

late night last night, well, this morning I guess. Stayed up late working on some school and talking with Bethany on facebook. When I went upstairs Mrs. Graham was working on pressure cooking green beans and asked if I wanted to help. By this time it was about 11:00pm (mind you this is 12:00 am in Virginia!). Carissa was out with a friend of hers making bread and when 12:00 rolled around she still wasn't home. The parents got concernered around 12:30, called her, she didn't answer, so Mr. Graham called the bread place no answer, finally decided to go find her.

I didn't end up getting to bed till 3:00--Carissa and I talked and prayed for a little while--had warm milk with lots of cinnamon (kinda poured 2 or 3 tsp by accident), vanilla, and honey. Delicious.

Set the craziest alarms ever for 6:30 but didn't get up till probably 7:15. Quickly got ready to leave for the farm that Carissa works for about twice a week . Got there around 8:15, met Kenny who let me wear his boots which fit pretty well, and Zac the overseerer/boss, along with the other intern Lauren-- such a cool person!

We headed out to the field, stopping first to fill up a container of drinking water.

We started by picking green and hot peppers.
I talked with a volunteer named Dan who makes his own dark chocolate, and wants to start
a buisness.
Next we picked corn and then tomatoes.

Carissa and I sat and ate some of the sweet corn right in the middle of that field. Ahh, it was so very nice. Got to ride the golf cart which is always fun.

Then we headed over to the U of I on our golf cart (can't remember the building--somewhere where they process/make food)where we dropped off our goods.. Then we froze to death in the freezer area where we had to shuck all the corn we picked. I was sad I hadn't brought my jacket along with me. Went back to the farm where we packed up some tomatoes, green and hot peppers to take home with us. We were home around 2:15, 2:30.

Ate a delicious lunch of sandwhiches made with Carissa's delicious hummus, fresh tomatoes, green peppers, fresh basil and spinach, toasted on soft bread.

BTW, my dear sister Carissa makes some great sourdough bread and GREEK yogurt! :D And it's really pretty simple. I'm hoping that I can make some Brioche and Bagels while I'm here from a cookbook Carissa's friend lended her.

Let's see....took a nap in the afternoon after our lunch, wanted to go to Expresso up the road to do some studying but that didn't really happen---instead we listened to the alarm clock go off probably 4 times, then Rachel talked to Carissa about last evenings events--ended up chatting with her for a little while, before we knew it--when we attempted to leave, Mrs. Graham said dinner was almost ready, so we helped get that ready.

Ah, it was GORGEOUS outside today! This morning it was a cool when we drove in the wind, but so very nice. I will hopefully get some pictures taken tomorrow.

After dinner (that included LOTS of our fresh vegetables and fruit, hummus from lunch, and a green bean casserole thing), we started the fairly long process of cleaning the kitchen--included cleaning all the dishes, clearing and washing off the table, sweeping, (everyone had to help)...

and last but not least, we boiled and cut tons of tomatoes for canning---maybe we will do espresso tomorrow night. I start work tomorrow at the Orchard---I'll probably get off around 2:30 or 3:00?

It's 9:30 and I really need to get off, start reading for my class, and hopefully get to bed a little earlier this evening. ha, not sure that is going to happen.

Day 3: Frolicking about Champaign + flowers

I'm going to have to address this alarm situation with my dear sister. The alarm went off probably 3 times this morning!!!!

Good breakfast around 8 this morning (it included bacon--two days in a row!)

Mrs. Graham and I left around 8:45 and headed to the Kohler showroom to look at stuff for the new bathroom project that will hopefully be started VERY soon (downstairs next to Carissa's room). We are thinking it'll be an Italy or Paris theme. :)

I might move up to Rachel's room after she leaves, not sure yet.

Ran errands most of the day with Mrs. Graham--went to serveral different places, found some GREAT postcards and will have to soon determine who will recieve them. Went out to eat for lunch but can't remember the name of the place, it started with an M. The menu was like Panera, atmosphere not at all.

Extreme Makeover Home Edition is here and we stopped by the place (the ministry) called Salt and Light--not sure if they are doing anything there but that's where the family that was selected ministers. It was pretty busy, lots of volunteers (they never show them on the show so i never knew they had any)

Got home around 2 in the afternoon---made about 6 flower arrangements in the shed, enjoyed a lovely apple cider slush, took me about 4 hours total--3 and 1---it POURED down rain (lots of lightning and thunder too!! SO GREAT!) so I stayed in the shed for a while continuing the project
Ate dinner, continued the project,

got to talk with my family tonight, at least most of them. :-)

It's going to start getting busy VERY soon. Hopefully I'll be able to write every single day, but work and school begin this week.

Need to peace out as I need to get ready for bed and then begin working on my school assignments! :D

Day 2: Indiana Beach

Woke up to a continum of alarms this morning, all of which were not my own. Eventually I rolled out of bed, read some Bible in bed, got ready.

"Come Home, come home, come home, I've waited so long..." One republic
Ate breakfast--eggs, bacon, panera bagels---left with the grandparents around 8:40ish
stopped to pick julie up from the doctor, she had something going on with her eye, but he said she was fine.

we then headed off to Indiana Beach i found out when i arrived that it was an amusement resort. :D

stopped in at a gas-station half way, had a delicious lunch in the car (homemade applesauce, ham sandwich, chips, cherries), got in to the park around 12:30 or 1:00

So, I'm not really a rollar coaster kinda gal, but thought that since this was the second time I'd actually been to a park, I might as well try again.
The first ride was GREAT, though it was a spinning ride which you will see was detrimental down the road.
The second ride, semi-ok, it was swings that went round and round high in the air above a large body of water, i came off the ride feeling a bit dizzy but fairly ok, kind of hot.
The third ride, (i was doing good so far!) was kind of like a boat, where it goes back and forth and up and over. Yeah, I felt really good when the ride first started, but then it picked up speed, and then the stomach dropped. I got off of this ride feeling not so great, so the girls said I should get some dramamine as they were very determined to have me continue riding the rides with them
:)
Went to the little store, ate the chewable tablets, and proceeded to the next ride
Well, ride #4 topped me over--it was called The Paratrooper and from the picture (which I will post soon) it doesn't look scary, actually the ride is fairly moderate. Swing style, round and round--but it moved up and down and side to side intermitintly. I was feeling pretty good till the very end. I told Carissa I wasn't feeling so good, actually I feel like I'm going to get sick.

Well, I got sick, and yes, the ride closed for a short time as a result of it. It was a little humilliating but I felt a WHOLE lot better after it. And the attendent was sweet about the whole thing.
The dramanine then had no effect after that point so the girls begged me to buy more so I could keep riding the rides. We ended up buying more, but I didn't take it.

I enjoyed watching them ride the next several rides. I felt pretty good the rest of the day, I was actually pretty amazed at how I felt about the whole thing. Maybe a third time around will finally break me. I'm not terribly anxious to see though. :D Spent some alone time with Carissa, went on the ski lifts, and the last story involves the ride "Double Shot".

It was the last ride of the day before they closed and the girls wanted to go. I decided to get pretty close to the ride instead of sitting near the benches......well, the attended INSISTED, and continued to INSIST that I ride the crazy thing. I didn't give in for a while, but he honestly wasn't giving in, He said he wouldn't let anyone ride unless I rode the ride. Yes, I rode the ride. And it was NOT terrible at all. My face def. showed it but it wasn't as horrible as I thought and I felt fine after it. :D

Watched Pride and Predjudice on the way home......Ate dinner at a wonderful little place called the Beef House.

Ready for bed now! I'm having to get use to the hour difference which isn't terrible, but it seems I won't be able to go to bed early, maybe, but probably not. So, its 12:15 in Virginia but it's 11:15 here. My first online class stuff is posted tomorrow will start working on that, will help Mrs. Graham with a few things, start working some this weekend (fri-sun).

OH, and Extreme Makeover is HERE, in Philo---hopefully, (I signed up tonight) they will need me as a volunteer next Monday, even if they don't, I'll go out and see what's going on. It should be great--hopefully, I'll be able to take some pictures.

Speaking of pictures, I've taken some, but maybe tomorrow I can use my friends camera to take some more---will post to facebook hopefully this week.

So long, thanks for reading the nitty gritty. : )

Day 1: The trip and chillin'

First, I woke up at 3:00 this morning. Right now, it's 9:42 in Illinois which means its 10:42 in Virginia. Bedtime calls very soon.

Anna and Mom came to the airport with me--happy times.

First flight went great--the guy that sat next to me didn't say a word, hardly looked my way (which was perfectly fine with me but you at least aknowledge the other person don't you?)

Second flight was great until, after picking up much speed and very soon approaching takeoff, we hit a flock of geese on the runway! So, the flight was delayed about 2 hours! Gave us a new plane and we were finally off...

Carissa picked me up in Indy. It was a very quiet, hot, and longish drive home. With a break for subway which really hit the spot. Oh, before the subway at 3:30 I had a bowl of Honey Nut Cherrios---by the second flight, around 7ish I had a Cinnabon (good cinnamon!) so, I was pretty hungry by 12 Illinois time, 1:00 my time.

Got in around 3:00. Chilled. Unpacked. Picked up application.

OH, i must say, it POURED. Sheets and sheets of rain. I wanted to frolic in it but I decided against it. Then it got dark.

It's been a pretty low key day.
Carissa and I made italian pizza. avacado was among the yummyness .

We are going to Indiana beach tomorrow. NEver heard of it. Should be great times with the grandparents. :)

Until tomorrow or the next day.