welp...

my hall is really quiet. It's almost eerie actually. I only have one girl left on the hall...and she's not here at the moment. I don't think it's actually hit me yet, that my girls are gone, that they're not coming back. I think it will hit me in a couple of days. Tonight was my last duty night with Sarah...I almost started crying. Because that's what I'll miss the most--quality time with my staff. But, I'm not going to cry until the very end. I still have four days until I leave for Africa...so I'm going to enjoy my time with my staff until then. I think I'll probably have a breakdown and cry when I'm actually completely packed up and leaving my room.

What I'll miss the most...



P.S. I leave for Africa in like 4 DAYS!!! Tomorrow begins the whirlwind of trying to get everything packed and ready. My mom is taking me shopping to get some stuff that I need. I have SO much to do...

this week

This week hasn't been the best week of my life. I've been really stressed out. I'm still stressed out...but thanks to last night...my perspective has changed :) Last night was the Rose Ceremony for Simmons Hall. The Rose Ceremony is where the current RAs pass on their wings to the new RAs for next year. It was really nice. It was also really sad for the current staff. I think it's starting to set in that this is the end. This has been an amazing semester. And last night I was reminded of how I absolutely love every single woman on my staff. They have blessed me beyond imagination. They took me in with open arms and made me feel like I had been a part of their staff this whole year. These girls became my sisters. As cliche and corny as that sounds, it's true. We have a sisterhood. The fact that we're not going to be on staff together next year, the fact that the end is just days away, brings tears to my eyes. I don't want this to end. I don't want my residents to leave. I don't want to leave my staff. This semester has changed my life, for the better. A lot of that has to do with my staff. Those 11 women encouraged me and challenged me every day. They have laughed with me and they have cried with me. They have held me when I had a breakdown. They have prayed with me and for me. I am so grateful that I have been given the opportunity to serve on this staff. I love each one of those girls dearly. I am so so so blessed to have them in my life. And while I know that I will still see them next year, it's not going to be the same. And that makes my heart hurt at the moment. I'm not ready for it to end.

SO thankful for Hannah, Holly, Kelly, Laura, Carissa, Ashley, Kristin, Whitney, Sarah, Jana, and Merea.

A couple pictures from the Rose Ceremony:


I'm so thankful for Jana. I wouldn't have been able to get through this semester without her. She's been so encouraging. And she just gets me. And she loves Glee :)


Kell has been such an amazing friend to me. I just adore her. She's returning to Simmons staff next year...I've already called hall aunt :)


Bekah is on staff in Simmons next year. But, as a current resident of Simmons, and as a friend, she's been such an encouragement to me. I have no doubt that she'll be an amazing RA.


So, the reason my perspective on this week has changed is because last night, at the Rose Ceremony, I realized that our staff doesn't have much longer together. Our residents are starting to pack up and getting ready to move back home. We've passed our wings down to the new staff. Like I said, I'm not ready for this to be over. But, the end is coming and I can't stop it. The only thing I can do is to make the most of the time that we do have left together. Therefore, I will have a positive attitude the rest of the time that I am here, regardless of how stressed I am. I will be positive because I want these last few days with my girls and my staff to be happy ones. I want to look back on these last days and remember how much fun we had together. I'm not ready for this to end...but it's going to, so I'm going to enjoy it :)

2 weeks...

In 2 weeks, I will have finished my sophomore year of college...holy cow. There's a ton to do in these last 2 weeks...projects, papers, nursing interview, last events for my hall, RA stuff, Ad host stuff, Campus Day, finals, and a bunch more...but I plan on enjoying every minute of it :) In a lot of ways, I'm not ready for this year to end, but, I'm also super excited for summer!! I'm looking forward to spending lots of time here...



2 more weeks of school...I can do 2 more weeks.

Also, I leave for Uganda in less than 3 weeks...how crazy is that?!

Best Friends

Today, I'm thankful for my best friend...

I have the BEST best friend :) She writes me notes just because. Like this one...



Thanks Jess!!

That's not the only reason she's my best friend though :) She makes me laugh like no one else does. She gets me. Half of the time, I feel like we share a brain. She is always willing to listen. She is constantly encouraging me. She holds me accountable. She's not easily embarrassed, which comes in handy because we tend to get extremely obnoxious when we're together. We have tons and tons of fun together, but she knows when to be serious too. She's not afraid to work through our frustrations with each other. And I so appreciate that.

I think we get along so well because we're extremely similar, but we're also really different in a lot of areas. She's an extrovert and super out-going. I'm an introvert and it takes me a little while to warm up to people. She's not afraid of confrontation; I avoid confrontation at all costs. She always says what's on her mind, while I constantly question whether or not my input is truly necessary. I truly appreciate both our similarities and our differences.

I am so excited that I get to live with my best friend next year. It's going to be SO much fun and I can't wait. And, hopefully, we'll get to go through CBU's nursing program together. I am so grateful that God has placed Jess in my life and I can't wait to see our friendship grow.

I love my best friend!!

P.S. If you know us at all, you know these pictures completely describe our relationship...









Love you Jess/Knightley/Shawn!!

(Also, photo credit for the 2nd mustache picture goes to Chris Hardy)

Easter Break

"Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen..." -Luke 24 Easter is definitely one of my favorite times of the year :) I get to celebrate the fact that I serve a LIVING God. It's awesome. And...the fact that I have a few days off of school doesn't hurt either ;) Easter break has been amazing and I've gotten some much needed rest. Aside from starting off the break with an infected tonsil (yes, just one), my break has been a ton of fun. I went and saw The Last Song with my mom. She thought it was dumb and I loved it. That's usually what happens whenever we watch a movie together. Yesterday, my family went down to Carlsbad State Beach for a beach day. Jessica, Ryan, and their families were camping down there so we got to go visit. The weather was super nice and I had a lot of fun. I also got fried...but that's what I get for being extremely white and not putting sunscreen on. Today is Easter and has been a great one! My family got up and went to church. Then, after church we went to a nice restaurant and enjoyed lunch there. Then when we got home we took pictures so there is proof that we can all dress up and look nice. And then...we had an Easter egg hunt. Yes, I'm 19 and my brother will be 18 in a month. No, there are no small children that come over and join. It's just me and my brother. As much as we make fun of it, we love it. Now my family is enjoying a quiet afternoon/evening. I love it. There's just something about being home. Don't get me wrong, I love school and I absolutely love living on campus. But, I'm a homebody, and I just love being home :) Here's a few pictures from my break...







Happy Easter!!