It's been a nertz kind of day...

A few things...

I'm moving up my grad school applications. I'm not waiting 8 months, I want to go in January. This is quite a decision seeing as I've had myself convinced that I was waiting. Now I have to hit the ground running to get applications in on time. I'm terrified.

Today was my birthday. It was simple, I spent it with two of my best friends, and it was wonderful. My family went to watch the sunrise on the beach. It will always amaze me how watching the sunrise will never get old. It's the best thing worth waking up at 5:30am. Then Justin and Dan got here and we spent the day doing nothing in particular. There was a day long game of nertz (in which they both stomped me), and some random movie watching (part of "Shanghai Knights," "Batman Begins" and then "She's the Man"), and cake, and just spending the last of our little time left. I wouldn't want to turn 22 any other way.

My best friend moves to Tallahassee tomorrow morning. I don't know when I'll see or talk to him again. When I look back over this blog I notice that I haven't posted much on the last few months I've had with him. I think it's interesting that I haven't adequately documented the last bit of a time I so desperately want to remember. And then I smile at the idea that I'm focusing so much on writing it down, as if not writing it down means it didn't happen, that I might forget to just enjoy it while it passes. I will never be able to accurately describe what the last 3 years with Justin and Dan in my life have meant to me. So much of it goes without saying - inside jokes, secret confessions, or even silent understandings. I love them both so much...

(The 3 of us at the BCM banquet sophomore year)

Rain, Rain, go away...

The end of the semester wrapped up nicely even if it went by too fast. The BCM banquet was lovely, as always...

(BCM girls and guys)

I was voted "Most Likely to be in College for 10 Years" and then was recognized as a senior not 5 minutes later. It was a bittersweet banquet, running around signing senoir books and taking pictures...I would've given anything for it to have gone on for hours, but all good things come to an end and so did this.

Exams went smoothly, University Scholars paper was turned in, check outs galore. And then cam the fake graduation photos. Dan and I borrowed some caps and gowns so we could go around and take fake pictures with Justin...

(jumping outside Murphree and with the gator by the stadium)

In 10 years it won't matter that we didn't graduate together, and even if it does it makes for a funny story. (Apparently there is also a plan for Justin to come back in December for fake photo shoot #2...) Afterward was one last lunch together...and that was it, the next time I saw Justin (almost two weeks later) he had graduated.

Sweeney and I finished up her undergraduate experience doing something we always hoped we would take part in...

(yeah...that's a sud filled fountain!)

Don't know who put the soap in the fountain...don't care. It was awesome!

I watched the graduations on the TV in my kitchen. You should've seen me jumping and screaming in my lounge when they called Justin, Leah and Sweeney's names. And then that was that. They all graduated. I moved out of a room and then into a room and while everyone in my grade (my age, my grade...those who graduated) celebrated and close this chapter, I tried to get myself pumped for summer and then one more semester. I didn't think I would feel left out...I was wrong.

It's monsoon-ing in Gainesville. And while I love gloomy days, they aren't anywhere near as much fun without fireplaces, or tea, or time to read good books, or scrabble, or crazy friends who are likely to run around outside with you. So I've spent my three glorious days without theater classes desparately trying to find something productive to do.

I really shouldn't complain as I have yet to be productive this entire summer. I'm taking two classes and I'm RA-ing for summer A. Also mixed into that are my plans to...
1. Study for and take the GRE.
2. Find a job for summer B in Jacksonville.
3. Read all the books on my list for children's lit in the fall.
4. Do typical summer things with people who are leaving in the fall.
So far, not so good.

I'm terribly unmotivated. Summer A is intense and most of my friends have graduated. so between not getting much of a break, and feeling left behind, I don't have a lot of motivation to keep me going.

Justin and I went to lunch today. Kristina's coming to visit tomorrow. We're going to Devil's Millhopper. And summer keeps passing by...

"Five people were nominated...they all deserve it..."

Classes end in 3 days and I haven't posted since January 23rd.

First things first...

1. I went to Mexico. It was a lot of firsts - first overseas mission trip, first time out of the country, first time on an airplane - and it was wonderful. It amazes me how God lets you think one thing, and then after everything is over, switches it up on you. Nine of us went thinking that we were going to show love to the people of Los Mochis, when in actuality they showed us how to show love once we got back. I left my heart there...

(Our team with the youth group of Agape Baptist, Los Mochis.)

2. Sweeney and I went to the Billy Joel/Elton John concert on March 2nd. We pinky swore that we would see Billy Joel one day...and we did :)

3. Sarah moved in with us. She emailed me one day to let me know that her father abandoned her. I'm so glad I have the parents that refuse to let someone go unloved. She's truly our sister now.

4. Grace United Methodist did something crazy today. We called it Faith In Action. Everyone met at 9am in the sanctuary for a 30 minute worship service. Then, the entire church dispersed to different parts of Gainesville to do service projects. Visiting nursing homes, construction, homeless ministry...anything. Dan and I went to help with a block party near the Porter's Community center in downtown Gainesville. We picked up broken glass in a nearby lot and then walked around, inviting people to come get free food, play games, and just hang with us. We also offered free health screenings. Some people think we're crazy for cancelling church...I disagree. I think this is exactly what a church should be.

(Dan and I working the Sno-Cone station)

4. RA banquet was today. It hasn't been the easiest semester. I won't go into all the details, but there have been a few times that I seriously considered not returning next year, and even resigning on the spot. And then there was the banquet. Ryan gave out the awards. I was voted Best Doortags, and "Don't you have a room?" (always in the office). I was also nominated for Lady of the Murph, and Golden RA. But what floored me was hearing that I was nominated for the Scott Francis award. This award goes to the RA that truly goes above and beyond in every aspect of the job - creating a community, staff support, approachability, etc. To nominate someone you have to write a description justifying why they deserve it. Five of us were nominated - Lisa, Johnny, Erika, Leighanne, and me. And even though I didn't get it (Lisa won), it felt good just to be considered, almost like all the bad stuff from the semester is now okay. And finally, Murph North won the Murph Cup (highest resident involvement)! I know I've said it before, but I truly love my staff this year. I honestly don't think I could have been on a better team, or with a group of people who could have meshed (and laughed) as much as we did. I don't think any group will ever compare in my mind.

(Muprh North: L to R, Weedley, Leighanne, Luis, Sarah, Kevin, me, Mike.
Best Staff Ever!)

And there you have it. My semester (well, the tail end and a few highlights) in a nutshell. I wonder if any of you reading this will be in an uproar at the fact that I haven't given you an instant replay over the course of the semester. But I don't care. On January 23rd I told you that I wasn't going to let this semester pass by...and I didn't.

There are two weeks left. In two weeks, many of my friends will have graduated, two of my friends will be married, a lot of things will be different.

"I have a couple of surprises for you..."

Today I was running errands. I was in a huge rush because I had a list of things to do and a set time frame in which to do them because I'm on-call this weekend. So I'm at my next to last stop and I'm leaving Publix and this is what I saw...
And I stopped and watched the sunset in the Publix parking lot. I love how looking into the sky will fix anything and everything that might be going on.

Sarah Giles is back. She transferred from Richmond University in England to FIU in Miami. This transfer has been in the works since July, but I didn't know about it until last week. Ross and I walked into Nadeem's apartment and she was in the desk chair. I nearly fainted when she swiveled around to face us. I wonder if she knew just how much I needed her to be back. The next day she and I drove to Jacksonville to surprise Mom, Dad and Kristina and it was fantastic. The looks of pure joy at the thought of our sister being back were the best. I'm so glad she's back.

And thus a last semester begins. Not necessarily my last semester, but definitely a last semester for so many things I'm a part of. The BCM senior bible study starts next week and I'm terrified that this is the last time that some of us will be in a bible study together. I'm only one month into school and I'm desperately making lunch plans with just about everyone I know. In May everything changes. People move or stay behind, but things will change for everyone. So my New Year's resolution is this...make sure this last semester does not just pass by. Focus on making the most of the time I have with the people who have been such a huge part of my life for the past four years. I'm not saying that I won't honor any new relationships this semester, but there are people who are important to me, who are already in my life and I won't brush them aside. Basically I want to make this a semester, along with the last four years, one I won't easily forget.

"Woohoo!!!"

Since I last wrote (by the way, it has been a while)...
1. Got through exams relatively unscathed. It was actually an okay semester.
2. Celebrations Galore!

Rounding out the semester with the staff. Fireworks with Michael Gray and Carolina. And then home. I didn't go crazy at home, I was having too much fun with the family. Mom, Ross, and I spent quite a bit of time together and then Kristina was Kristina. I can't fathom where the strong desire to sever all ties with the family comes from, but it's definitely there and I did my best to not fight with her at Christmas. Jenny was in town and I got to see her briefly at Murray Hill. Christmas Eve was splendid. I got the Office trivia game (non-DVD version) in the family gift exchange. Rohan is adorable...

(Putting on shoes)

But the favorite of the evening was Avery...

(Kristina and Avery)

Christmas Day was just as wonderful.

(Our lovely tree)

Kristina, Ross and I rebuilt Kristina's old desktop computer (with Felix's help) and gave it to dad. We made him go all over the house before actually finding the computer in my room...

(Best reaction ever)

Saturday was Gabriella's birthday/reunion picnic in San Marco. It was nice to see everyone from Stanton. Kristina and I got sick Saturday evening. Fever, cough, sniffles...that was pretty much the rest of the week for us. Had dinner with Hal and Audrey at Fuji Sushi. New Year's Eve was pretty low key. I canceled plans with Lisa in light of the fact that I felt miserable. Sarah and felix came over and we watched "Horton hears a Who," shot off some fireworks in the front yard and watched the ball drop...

(my Mom is adorable)

And finally the Village Inn night. Loved seeing everyone...love Cecilia for organizing it!
Since then it has been a week of training, class (Ha!) and, oh yeah....
3. The GAME!!!
Watched it at the BCM and then immediately rioted in the streets as called for!

(Right after the game)(Me, Paul and Eric out on University)
(Ran into Katie Nuessly...I miss this girl!)

And to top it all of...Tebow is coming back next year!!!! I picked an excellent 4 years to be at UF...Go Gators!!!