Well, this is my first entry, so I guess I should go over what's going on in my life.  The biggest change in recent history is my boyfriend, Luke.  Yeah, I know... I said I didn't want to get involved with anyone until college, but we totally click; we talked about it, and together decided to take a risk.  He's a great guy, and things so far are going really well.  What I admire most about him is his faith, honesty and dedication.  Anyway, he's great and I'm happy.  :) 

 

Showcase is coming up on the 17th, which means long practices and putting up with people that can be a pain.  Hopefully it will be worth it.  I got a solo - I'm doing "The Music of the Night" from the Phantom of the Opera.  If all goes as planned, I'm going to make my dress and have a half-mask like the one in the actual play.  (ahhh!  that reminds me - I need to call my voice teacher about getting the accompaniment CD...)

 

School is crazy.  I am so ready to be out.  Academically, I'm struggling to pull my grades up... my great-grandpa's passing and preceeding illness sent me into an apathetic state I'm going to have to work my butt off to make up for.  Spanish II is going up, Algebra II is going up, Sociology and Econ needed a little boost- I think I'm doing well there, but Chem II is being a real pain.  If it kills my GPA, I'll probably scream.  I really want to make the top 10...

 

Well, I should make that phone call and get ready for bed - I'm singing for church tomorrow (for Mother's Day).  Peace out.

 

 

 

Church this morning went really well.  Jeff ended up having to give the message.  Pastor Roy called him at like 8:00 last night to let him know he was sick.  I thought Jeff did really well.  My song went without any problems and I made a few people cry... aww...  for lunch we treated Mom to KFC's family meal deal thing.  It was pretty good.  I wasn't impressed with the macaroni and cheese... *shudder*  The chocolate cake was calling to me... (everyone going to Peru had to give up pop and chocolate from May 1st till we get back from the trip...) ahhh!

 

I spent the majority of my afternoon with Luke's family.  They are so much fun - I don't know what I was nervous about.  His brother was pretty quiet and stuck to the computer half the time.  His sister is a giggly little thing - I fit in just fine.  :)  His parents were really warm and welcoming.  Their dogs are just precious.  The older gray one is lazy and wouldn't quite begging me to pet him.  With those big eyes looking up at me... I couldn't let him down.  The puppy is hilarious.  She's either running around or sleeping - there's no middle ground.  Her name is Speck, but she doesn't know that yet.  Anyway, we watched a home movie (no - I'm not kidding) and relaxed in the living room.  I totally lost track of time.  *wink*

 

 

 

Yesterday was amazing.  I went to Cedar Point with the National Honor Society people at my school.  I spent most of the day with Kym, Jessica, Katie and Luke ;-) ... the Raptor was my favorite.  It's crazy because at the beginning of the day, I screamed my lungs out on Disaster Transport out of pure terror.  Near the end of the day I was having a blast riding the Magnum and the Millennium Force.  It was great.  The ferris wheel was also one of my favorites.  I've always been a Ferris wheel person - I enjoy simple things.  I got a nice sunburn at Cedar Point... it had better fade before Showcase!

 

School today felt very long.  I'm still not really getting Chem II, and there's a test tomorrow.  I let one of my friends down at lunch, and I'm really not happy with myself.  Stupid Erin - what were you thinking?  I didn't have to do my presentation in English, though, and that made me happy - only now I get to stress over it tomorrow... well, somewhat.  Kym and Luke have really encouraged me.  I think it will be okay. 

 

Practice tonight for Showcase was pure, total, unadulterated pandemonium.  People were having bad days, John almost dropped me, and the way tempers flared, it felt like we were on Springer or something.  My solo went well but it needs work.  I have to remind me to tell myself when to breathe.

 

Well, I'm off to get stuff together and study for a test I'm doomed to fail.  *sigh*

 

 

 

We had a Dress Rehearsal at school today.  It went okay.  I didn't trip down the stairs when I did my solo today!  Well - this is going to be the shortest entry cuz I gotta run!!  Peace out.

 

 

 

These past few days have been great.  It's like it's finally my turn for life to go just right for a while.  It's amazing, and I'm trying not to get too used to it.  Something has to go wrong eventually, right?  Well, I have finals to study for.  2 days of High School left!!!

 

 

 

Was today my last... like as in final, no more, completion, end of High School?  Yeah... yep, it was.  Oh my cow.  I'm still getting used to the idea.  Jeff told me it woouldn't really set in until about August 20th, becuase then I'll be able to make fun of the kids still in High School.  Mua ha ha!!  Tonight I'm going over to John's house.  He's having big gathering and we're going to have a campfire and eat and hang out and stuff.  I'm really looking forward to it!  Well, I guess that's just about it.  (shoutout to Adam G - school's out!  woo!  woo!)

 

 

 

Okay, yeah... it's been quite a while since I've had time to update this.  My Graduation Open House went well - Seth came, that made me happy.  Graduation went well too, some of the guys in my Youth Group shouted "YAM" from the bleachers.  :)  My Aunt, cousins and grandparents came from MI to be there.  Mom went totally camera-crazy.  *eye roll*  Let's see... the Peru trip was amazing - I should have that page up on here before too long.  I've been working this summer as a Camp Counselor out at a Christian Camp in Shipshewana.  I actually got to lead one of my Junior One campers to Christ!!!  It was incredible!!  Well, I've got stuff to do so I'll close for now.  Have fun!  Get dirty!  Love God!

 

 

 

Well, here I am at Ashland University for the national Brethren Youth in Christ (known hereafter as the "BYIC") convention.  It's going really well so far.  I got on AIM, but no one is on.  Maybe the fact that it's 1:23 AM has something to do with it.  Today in our post-high group, the music leader asked about our expectations for the week, what our goals are and what road blocks are getting in our way.  I know I'm really looking forward to the week.  After the mission trip, then camp... I need to be ministered to.  Don't get me wrong, burnout is not an issue.  God has been abundantly faithful in providing everything I need to keep up emotionally.  I'm just ready to relax and listen instead of teaching.  My prayer life definately needs work.  That's a road block - I'll work on it this week.  I know what I have to do; it's just a matter of doing it.  Another road block is a certain distraction I'm dealing with.  It doesn't take a brain surgeon to figure it out, but I'm still not going to flat out say it.  I'm not sure what I'm going to do about it.  I know if I can't get through it, I have to give it up... so I must get through it. 

 

 

 

Well, I overcame the struggle I mentioned in my last entry.  That makes me happy.  :)  I'm also doing a lot better with my prayer life.  So, I accomplished what I needed to at Conference.  Communion Thursday night was great - I got really close to the other girls at my table.  We had like, this instant unity thing going on.  God is awesome.  Things have been pretty dull since I got home.  Jackie and I got to hang out last night - it was nice.  I slept this morning till around 11.  Dad was pretty ticked I was still asleep.  He told me to get up, that it was almost noon (11:08 is NOT "almost noon") and I should help out more around the house.  Shows you how much I'm valued around here.  Anyway, I dealt with it.  I'm hoping I can get in touch with an old friend for coffee or something later this afternoon.  Lata.

 

 

 

Well, I'm definately late for work.  I was supposed to be back at the latest by 9:30.  It's 10 now.  Mom's still not home.  I want a car.  A Driver's Lisence would be nice, too.  Yeah, I'm a loser - but, hey, I regestered to vote last week!!  :)  Anyway, things are going well.  It's great getting to hang out with the 5-girl staff team out at camp this week.  I had yesterday off so I surprised Luke by showing up at his church last night.  :)  It was fun.  Last Saturday he shocked me by coming out to camp - so I had to "get him back".  *wink*  So things with Luke and I are going well.  I'm growing increasingly apprehensive about college.  I called one of my roommates yesterday, but she was at work.  The other, I heard, is out of town or something.  I'm still dissappointed about Kym and I being not only not roommates, but not even in the same dorm.  It makes me wonder why they chose Bethanna before me.  It's enough to give someone a complex.  I mean... no, let's not get into that.  *sigh*  Well, I think I'll call Grandma and ask if mom left yet.  This is rediculous.  Love yas!

 

 

 

Well, camp is over.  I'm sad to see it end, but I'm ready to get on with the next thing - college.  I'm absolutely terrified, but really excited.  I think I've figured out what I want to study.  I'd like to major in Psychology and have a minor in Biblical Literature... at least, I think that's it.  That's what I'll go for for now.  If it changes, well, that's life.  I guess that's it for now.  I gotta eat lunch, then I have a speech to write and an essay to work on.  Looks like I'm getting a head start on college!!  :-P  Peace out.

 

 

Welcome to my first journal entry as a Bethel College Student.  Yea!  :)  College life is pretty much what I expected.  BLOCK 4 ROCKS!!  ... Sorry about the outburst - had to get it out of my system.  My schedule is fun.  I have two classes on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, then four on Thursday and one on Friday.  I didn't make it into Concert Choir.  That makes me sad.  I'll make the best of Women's Chorale this year, I guess, and try again as a Sophomore.  It should be cool.  One of our Christmas pieces is Czechoslavakian.  Oh, my cow.  My block classes, General Psychology and Written Communication III, are on Tuesday and Thursday.  They're great, but the professors didn't waste any time.  I have to have chapter 1 read by Psych tomorrow... it goes from page 12 to page 48.  In WC, we've written an essay already, and let me just say I learned more about stem cell research since then than I was previously interested in knowing.  I've been told I'm one of eight Erin's in my Exploring the Christian Faith class.  I don't know yet if he was joking or not.  I know, including me, there are at least 4...  I had a job interview today.  I think it went well.  I really hope I get this job.  Well, I have Psych to study so I'll close for now!  Peace out.