Houghton College

When the family dropped me off we went through the customary routine of student ID....orientation etc. Plus of course several trips to and from the car:) Before Jord left, he had mentioned that I was the one acting like I was moving into an apartment. But the college shopping was just soooooo fun!

I got a little teary-eyed during the chapel service for new students...mom said she was praying for me...

And then suddenly I was on my own....going, going...slightly off kilter...following the crowd to different orientation things (thus ending up being in the wrong FYI group, I later realized:)
reasons to celebrate:

1: I'm here ...I've made it to college alive!

2: What a blessing to be surrounded by Christian fellowship

3: Made it through the first day of classes...(and HW done by 7!)

It was rainy so me, Jen Trish and Sarah (?)had some sweet girl time with hot cocoa, popcorn and the most amazing movie ever-Pride and Prejudice:)

Had fun setting up my room.

Sunday we got to meet the president....played gold and Egyptian-rat somthingorother while we waited.

Orientation continued through Saturday. Saturday night there was this awesome karaoke party...ring of fire...YMCA...since you been gone...it was fun...all decked out in different outfits and there were records handing from the ceiling...it reminded me of 50s night at camp.

Sunday night we went to Coininia
(an awesome student-led worship service)

And then there was a bonfire...were we all proceeded to sing Christmas songs. :)

Mondays been rather crazy...for once got to all the right rooms on my schedule (only to find they'd all been moved...it was good thought.

I'm getting pretty comfortable with jogging on the roads around here and am loving having salads as much as I want(hah! J and Dad!)..oh, and cappuccinos you know, the ones that are almost all sugar and milk :)

Therefore...life has been lovely here.

yours truly

butterfly girl

And We're Off!

Jordan and I are off to college! So we left Wednesday and stayed that night at the Reeses (yay for pancake breakfasts!) We also got to see Jen's family! All the moms had been roommates in college. (above)

Thursday we did the college shopping for Jordy-managing to get thoroughly lost :)...But you can't miss Happy Harry's Drug store. (!)

Thank you Reeses for the desk!

Wondering the streets...peering desperately at our map.

There it is! DECAD-the college with 200 students!...Across the street is J's apartment.

The spiral stairs are definitely the highlight.

Doing a little more shopping "Where is the Salvation army?" (We asked about 5 different people...all different directions:)

Washing dishes and moving some of his stuff into the kitchen.

Dad putting the desk chair together.

And there were these awesome drawing boards in the apartment.





Situating the bed and drawers.

The view...actually standing around awkwardly before saying goodbye....and then we did a kind of barnacle prayer..and of course I was bawling.

And the next day it was my turn.

yours truly

Butterfly girl

Off to College

My next post will be from Houghton College!

Nannying today: it was bittersweet...on our little walks there are these sweet old ladies that always say hello...and today one of them did and I thought how it was sad because it was the last time I could say hello to her....and the last time I'll get that "baby-smile" :)



So we had a family evening of fun together:

Her true character coming out :)





Oh, Ill miss the lake

skiing!

Mom's going for it

Kayt and I went tubing!

yours truly

butterfly girl

Good Morning! Saturday morning Kayt had gone out for a walk and came back really depressed. It was the last week of camp and everyone was saying their goodbyes.....
A while later she came to me all excited....She had gone out and picked the usually forbidden camp flowers...(since there is no one else to really enjoy them, we have free reign). Here is her beautiful bouquet.

So the Saturday we cooked.

And cooked

And cooked

Shopping turned out to be rather non-existent (15min:) Jord and Dad's flight got delayed till 10pm so we got back around....1am (whew)

It sounded like a total blast: bears, elk, amazing views, cliffs, guissers...etc

Sunday, the sermon was on Vision. Having a vision big enough for God. And we had a picnic afterwards, where they had a surprise announcement about a mission trip in early May to Syria...unfortunately it's going to be during my finals week...but I can always sponsor someone.

And hand-me downs!

And then Kayt got super brave and we sorted through her thousands of clothes (minor victory for me:)

Yours truly

butterfly girl

Chocolate chip pancakes!

Babysat the neighbors for the last time last night :( They were so sweet...talking about what they would bring to college and asking what I was going to. And of course you can't miss the bubble blowing contests: (usually try to avoid these due to the mess...but hey there's no fun like messy fun :)


I'll definitely miss them...probably see them next on Christmas break.

Oh, what a wonderful morning...nice long workout...came back to find Hannah making more pancakes from left-over mix. What a treat! There are days when little sisters are just siblings and then there are days when they're just lovely.

One of my latest projects: making cards to send out the college contact info-my goal is to finish them today and send them out:
Oh, and I can promise more pictures! Kayt and I shop again and then we pick Jord and Dad up today! Yaaay!

Yours truly,

Butterfly girl

Let the chaos begin

Whew!
So I work the full 5 days this week. Sat. we pick up Dad and Jord (can't wait to see pics!) And Sunday there's a church picnic. Then working Mon and Tue (the day before I leave for college.) Yikes! So be prepared for few pictures and updates in the upcoming days....But as much as I a tired right now, I do enjoy the craziness.


Yours truly

Butterfly girl

My week in pictures

Monday: the family comes! With boxes and boxes of amazing peaches! Traaaaadition! (The ones from the grocery store up here have become increasingly dry and tasteless.) They'll be camping at Fish Creek for the week.

Believe it or not, I can actually use a grill. Do I fight using it tooth and nail? Yes. Was I forced to under pain of not having super? Yes. Will I smile for the camera to prove I did it? Yes.

And now for the canning process....peeling, peeling, peeling.

So during the peeling I couldn't resist reaching over and sliming Kayt's arm with the peach gunk on my hands...we decided to have a peach peel fight afterwards.

During which I of course forgot to take any pictures. We swam out to "seagull rock" afterwards.

Hanging out at the campground

Play with me!

Yaay for bubbles

Working on the "I'm off on the college adventure" cards

Loving on Ashes :)

You'll be next

mmmmmm....good

Wednesday Kayt and I got dropped off in Plattsburgh, while Mom took Dad and Jord to the airport. Second round of college shopping. I am continually impressed by Kayt's patients with me. Some favorite finds:

luggage! A year ago I would have been scandalized by the pinkness





A new pair of jeans...finally

Sweet bath tote

classy-for $4.00!

nice long make-your-bed-into-a-couch pillow

Still working on scrap booking-less than a year behind now-just last night I finished the time in Liberia!

For my college comfort box: Nothing like a few good verses, dark chocolate and a chick flick to cheer me when I'm feeling down :)

Yours truly,

butterfly girl