Freshman Blog

“Becca, Ashleigh, and Ashley – we’re gonna collaborate on a blog!” I run in the room yelling.

Off-handedly Rebecca mutters, “Stop, collaborate, and listen...”

THIS is the type of friendship we have - completely unexplainable, but totally in sync.  [“N*SYNC? You may hate me but it ain’t no lie, baby bye bye bye BYE BYE,” Ashleigh had to add.]

Rebecca’s mom teaches an 11^th and 12^th grade girls Sunday school class, and since Becca was home Sunday, they interrogated her.  The umbrella topic of the discussion was, “What advice would you give yourself as a senior?” So that’s what we’re gonna do for YOU.

Disclaimer: This is not a “Come to Judson because it’s awesome, and if you apply right now you get a free jumbo blue slushy because those make everyone happy” blog.  This is a “I wish I’d known this” blog.

Advice #1 from Rebecca: “Don’t eat old yogurt.” Explanation from Ashleigh: “It makes you poop funny.”

Advice #2 from Rebecca: “Don’t get so caught up in belonging somewhere, because at home, I felt like I belonged somewhere. I had my place, my people, respect, popularity kind of thing... but when I came here, I didn’t think I ‘belonged’ here.  But now I understand that as God’s child, I don’t ‘belong’ anywhere in the world.  I belong to Him.”

Advice #3 from Ashleigh: “Apply to EVERY SINGLE scholarship you possibly can.”

Advice #4 from Ashley: “Don’t try to please everybody else because you’ll end up getting hurt and doing something you regret. You’ll never be able to please everybody.”

Advice #5 from Ashleigh to Ashley, who was chugging a bottle of water: “Don’t drink so much water that you make yourself sick!”

Advice #6 from Rebecca: “Don’t get a roommate who has bad gas.” [“Gee, thanks Becca,” is Ashleigh’s reply.]

Advice #7 from Rivers: “Realize that you have the most free time and resources at this point in your life. As busy as you think you are, you can actually do so much more for your community and for the kingdom of God than you will be able to in college.”

Advice #8 from Ashleigh: “Always shave your arm pits before you go to church in a sleeveless dress.” Further explanation from Rivers: “Yeah, you don’t want to freak someone out when you feel the Spirit and lift your hands in worship.  You don’t want to have to hinder the Spirit.”

Advice #9 from Rebecca: “Appreciate each stage in your life and don’t try to rush them.  Like, when you’re single, praise God for that time you have for just you and Him, that you can glorify Him.  When you’re in high school, appreciate the opportunity you have to minister to the people around you.  Everything – jobs, marriage, boys, life – will come in God’s timing.”

Advice #10 from Ashley: “Stop doing what you want to do and listen to God.”

Watch this first: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v9qE-qXI11I

It's amazing how beautiful new things can be.  It blows my mind when people step outside of the box of conventionality, because then - and only then - art is created.  Then and only then, life is breathed into the nostrils of a dead idea, a boring tradition, an empty praise.  Just like this woman, who took a simple ol' guitar and broke every rule in the "How To Play Guitar" book, the saints that make up Chosen Vessel are bringing beauty to dead tradition.

To be perfectly honest, I had no idea what to expect. I knew it would be different... I grew up Baptist, and "interpretive dance" was only allowed at church in the form of "human videos."  So I went into Thursday night's Chosen Vessel performance with an open mind.  This can only be as enjoyable as you allow it to be, I told myself.  Don't set limits on the Holy Spirit.

After I had found a seat in Alumnae Auditorium, I began to review the night's program. "Directed By: The Holy Spirit" was printed on the front.  I chuckled and pointed it out to a friend.  

Honestly, there's no way for me to describe what transpired in that room.  I had never seen anything like it, and in truth, I was quite uncomfortable at times.  Some theology was suggested that I had never dined with.  Some methods of praise were expressed that had never escaped my lips.  Some stirring in my heart had never given me such butterflies.

 No one can deny the beauty of the interpretive dance, mime, and singing performed last Thursday evening.  I did deny for a while though, the ability to understand it.

Still, I do not understand all of the symbolism that made up the show.  A lot was quite vague - a narrator would have come in handy.  But after a very personal, very real encounter with God on Monday night, I must say - I understand what the show was about.

When a cup is faced with more liquid than it can hold, what happens? It overflows.  When a person encounters the fullness of God, what can she do but praise?  What can she do but look crazy in the eyes of the world? What can she do but look foolish in the eyes of religion? What can she do but praise, praise, praise?

[Exhale.] “WHOA!! I can’t see my breath!!”

Despite the fact that calendars claim that it is still winter,everything pleads the case that it is in fact, spring!

Judson girls have traded in their coats, scarves, hats, gloves, and furry boots for t-shirts, flip-flops, shorts, and sunglasses.

Heaters are no longer running; windows are propped open all over campus.

No one has such a problem walking outside anymore.

Birds sing gloriously.

The sun actually brings warmth to our faces.

And midterms have attacked.

[Sigh.]

Yes, the word “attack” is quite appropriate.  The horrid midterms have snuck upon Judson College with the stealth of a sniper, and out of nowhere stolen any ounce of joy we may have had.

The beautiful weather is just salt on the wound. 

So badly do we want to be outside, enjoying the glory of it all, but our good-student-consciences guide us to the library, the J, our rooms, anywhere that’s not fun in order to complete a paper or study some flashcards.

Ya know, sometimes college is a real bummer.

In literature, spring is used to symbolize new life, new love, and happiness.  When I take a moment out of my busy schedule to contemplate where those things are, I have to rebuke myself. They are here.

In the past week, I have gained new friendships, deepened existing friendships, revived broken friendships, and drawn near to my Lord through it all.  I can’t help but smile.

I am blessed.

As the new season gets into full swing (hopefully it’s here to stay), so is this season of joy.

Despite the fact that I am a broken, useless mess, He delights in me.  He has helped me rediscover the joy of my salvation.  My cup overfloweth.  :)

And even though I know it has no bearing on anything, I feel obligated to thank the groundhog for not seeing his shadow. 

Last night was definitely the best night I've had as a Judson girl. 

It was the night of the Big/Little Banquet... which means...

I now have a Big Sis!!

My roommate Whitney and I are now "twins" and have become part of the Duck family!  Our big sister is junior-soph class president Brittany, and our best friend. :)

All year Whitney and I wanted Brittany to be our big... but so did two other girls.  FOUR little sisters are just wayyy too many for one person!  But Brittany sat us down and told us that if we all wanted her, then she'd take us.  "I couldn't imagine seeing Katie (her big) taking someone else through traditions, knowing that I wanted her," Brittany told us.  So, regardless of how overwhelming four little sisters would be, her can-do spirit compelled her to make us all happy.

Eventually though, the other two gravitated toward other junior-sophs - ones that are now their best friends - leaving Whitney and I with our original prospect.  As time drew us nearer and nearer to the banquet, our excitement and friendships flourished.  Whitney, Brittany, and I are basically inseparable, and I wouldn't have it any other way.

Britt is like my actual big sis.  She's my mentor, my partner in crime, my study buddy, my personal trainer, my best friend.  I can't imagine what everyday would be like without her witty comebacks or her Canadian impersonations.  "Hey there, hi there, ho there, ha' ya doin'?"

Whitney and I can't wait to make memories with and welcome little sisters into the duck family next year! 

"Our hearts will cling to these golden memories, of thoughts of sisters and love that binds..."