My Life, a List

• When did February get so far along?! Oh my goodness, you guys, it's the 25th! It's almost March, and then it'll be spring time! My first year of college is almost over! Okay. That's it. I'm done ranting.

• I don't really understand this whole boy/girl thing. What do all these things MEAN? Will someone please elaborate on the difference between talking, and dating, and being in a relationship? Does anyone else think we're splitting hairs? A date is a date is a date. Can we please call it what it is? Thanks. I appreciate it.

• And also? Please stop posting pictures of you and your boyfriend kissing on facebook. No one else wants to see that, I promise.

• I am being massively productive today. I was up at 5:30, and have been non-stop busy ever since. I volunteered for Mr. Huxford at a convention this morning, caught up on my emails, I'm completely up to date on my reading. When I'm done with this, I'm going to start on homework for NEXT WEEK. Look at that. I'm pretty awesome. :D

• Despite all my productivity, when I look at my planner? I feel completely overwhelmed.

• I still miss my parents. I don't know if I'll ever get over not seeing them every day. I went home this past weekend and I'll see them again in a week, but it's just... it's sad to not see them as much as I used to.

• When I see them on Thursday, it will be for my first choir concert. It's in Westside Chapel, and I'm so excited. I like the swirly dress I get to wear, I like the music we're singing, and I like that I.... get to see my parents and my best friend. :D

• Apparently my mind is only able to think in bullet points right now. I think it's pretty strange, actually, that my brain won't do paragraphs. Maybe all this school work is doing a number on me?

-Elizabeth

then there was a snuggie.

Ever become too comfortable? Just goin with the flow and not really making a difference?

...that's not cool.

In fact, it's so not cool that President Collins (ACC) spoke about it in chapel this past Wednesday and what's the best way to show someone being comfortable? By wearing a Snuggie... Duh. :)

Unfortunately I was out of town but some awesome people decided to text me and tell me the wonderful news considering how much they know I. love. Snuggies. Also, Sarah Huxford (one of my d-group leaders) sent me a short video from chapel that I will attempt to post here... *sigh* I love Snuggies.


---Jamie-Grace

Neverland

One thing ACC has taught me is that sometimes you have to be uncomfortable in order for God to really use you, and to grow spiritually. That is not to say that I am uncomfortable here, but more so to say that my being a student at a Christian college has certainly exposed the areas in my life that need to grow. Looking back from my first semester, I am surprised at how much I have grown in maturity and in my relationship with God. Thanks, ACC, if for nothing else, than allowing me to see my relationship with the Lord in a better, brighter light!

I know I said I was gonna try to slow down and not be as busy, but I chose a bad time to do it. My roommate Caleb is having his Senior Worship Concert next week. I'm pretty involved with it, from the music, to the skit, to the reception afterwards. Okay, so I think I'll choose March to slow down my schedule...haha!

I did end up getting to sing in Vocal Studio Wednesday. I sang "Kiss the Girl" from the Little Mermaid. It may be a kid movie, but that Sebastian dude can sing, so I chose that song because it felt like a good, easy song to learn, but also a fun introduction to singing on stage! Lo and behold, my voice teacher asked me to go ahead and sing yet another song this coming Wednesday...guess I didn't do too shabby, huh?

Adios!

(I'm not sure why this blog is called neverland btw, the is very rarely rhyme to my reason. :P )

-Lawrence

"You Are Dust and to Dust You Will Return."

I feel like I only blog when I'm putting off doing something important. Like.... a paper for story of Jesus' followers that's due in a week. The totally awesome library has these recliners and I'm sitting in one of them rocking back and forth.

On Tuesday, my friends and I had supper at Bryan and Robin Amick, who are older, married students living on campus (their primary appeal is their kitchen, I have to admit. ;) ). My family has the tradition of making pancakes on Fat Tuesday before we start our Lenten fast. I've had a hard time adjusting to not having my parents, and the Amicks were nice enough to let me pretend my life was normal. And my friends were nice enough to eat my pancakes.

Yesterday, Ash Wednesday, we had a special chapel to celebrate. I don't remember if I wrote about it, but it was very similar to the Advent chapel. I've never been involved in a very formal church, and I think it's beautiful: in the spirit of a "time and place for everything," there are occasions when loud, joyful praise music should take place, but it's also necessary to temper that with solemn reflection. Ash Wednesday is one of those times.

It's easy, I think, to get caught up in the "friend of God" mentality and to overlook His perfection and holiness and our depravity. We sort of equalize ourselves and take God's love for us for granted. But really, that's a gross misinterpretation of how we should behave. How can you overlook what God did for us when He allowed His son to be killed because of our failures? Lent is the beginning of the season when God corrected our mistake, when Jesus died on the cross for our sins. It's a serious event, and it needs to be treated seriously.

I obviously have very strong feelings about this season of the Christian year, so I think I'm done ranting. Maybe I'll work on my paper some? Maybe not. There's time. :D

Video of the Blog Post: I don't think I've mentioned my deep, abiding love of Rich Mullins to you yet. He's my favorite musician. The depth of his music simply blows me away. Listen to the lyrics carefully and think of what it means to be caught in the "reckless, raging fury we call the love of God." It's that fury that led Him to die for us.

-Elizabeth

Note to Self: Be less busy.

I've always been the type to need something to do, or feel like I'm lazy, and this week...well, let's just say I haven't felt lazy at all! Even though due to some scheduling complications I never got to sing in Studio, I'll get another shot on next Wednesday. In addition to that, I'm having a phone interview-thing with a church in Florida that wants to hire me after I graduate. I'm so excited, and they want me to start interning the next two summers to get me ready. If everything works out, I'll be moving there in May.

Speaking of May, it's shaping up to be a great month! There's the church thing, My birthday, My brother's birthday, Mothers day, seeing some well deserving friends graduate, just to name a few things.

We also had a snow day Friday. I needed that, just to catch up on everything (including sleep.) Mmm...sleep...sounds like a good idea. Well, after I finish this laundry. See ya!

- Lawrence

Nah, I Just Have Tourette.

"Everyone in class agreed with what the psychology professor had said. Few would dare to blatantly argue with a college professor anyway, but in this case, his statement was true and the entire class could see that. Then, out of the corner of his eye he saw a girl shaking her head. It was Jamie-Grace, the 16-year-old college freshman. He called her out and asked if she disagreed with what he said... She didn’t disagree at all and didn’t even realize she was moving her head."

Reading that paragraph it could sound like it was my most embarrassing moment but as this year at ACC has talked about defining moments? Yeah, that was totally one.

That paragraph is actually an excerpt from the SUSIE Magazine, a Christian magazine by Susie Shellenberger for young girls. Unfortunately, I did not express to them it was actually a female professor - my absolute favorite professor here at ACC. And yes, it's not the best to pick "total faves" but Mrs. Sadler (psychology professor) gave me something my terrified-of-college 16-year-old-kid-self didn't know I could have. A voice.

I'm a motivational speaker, so I'm used to speaking up about Tourette and I'm open to any questions. However the idea of living on a campus with new people and seeing them everyday made me a little confused as to how I would tell people, when I would tell them - if I would.

(What was I supposed to do have a motivational talk at the beginning of the semester and talk about my experience with overcoming Tourette? Maybe... I'll have to talk to Mr. Huxford about that one... ;)

So when Mrs. Sadler asked me, the girl shaking her head, if I disagreed with the statement? And I did? I simply said, "Oh! I have Tourette Syndrome" and boom - it was out.

My little statement that always finds it's way into some conversation... My few words I hesitate to say sometimes... My phrase I can say in my sleep (and probably do)... My awkward statement that often causes disbelieve... it was out of the open.

As I said before, I'm very open about it, I just don't always know how to tell people. So the chance to say it righ there in front of the entire class made it perfect. I'd already gotten to know most of the class through orientation so they really didn't care or see me any different. It also helped because we briefly (briefly, btw) discussed Tourette in class and OMG it's awkward when that happens and people don't yet... it's like having a conversation with somebody and realizing, once you walk away, that it's their birthday! (I'm sorry Anthony Nasser, Gerardo Mancilla and John Aymerich).

*sighs* Well, it's about 1:20 AM (actually it's exactly 1:20 A-WAIT! 1:21) and I'm leaving for Nashville at 5ish AM. Eek! I'll be filming Season dos of a Christian TV show called "iShine KNECT" as well as going to a few meetings. Lots of sitting, waiting, listening - as well as singing, acting and following God's plan like whoa!!

So I should go now! To check out the full SUSIE Magazine article, visit www.susiemagazine.com or go to Barnes & Noble... Kroger... and look for the February Issue with Brandon Heath on the cover.

...WHOA! Guess time has wrapped around because I'm staying up so late?? I just got hungry and I am not eating at this time unless it's a slumber party! Omg my 1991 is showing...

With lack of proof reading and sleep,
Jamie-Grace

PS - my mom (our mom...my sis Morgan blogs here too) spoke in chapel Wednesday! You can hear her message ("Mona Harper") and all of the other messages this semester by clicking download here! (Archives actually go back to Spring 2006 - crazy, I know!)

PSS - that first picture is of me and one of my CLM's freshman year, Staci. We were hiding in my other CLM's (Adrian) room to surprise her on her birthday... I should blog about that story next. Total party at ACC.


- Jamie-Grace

"The Block"!!!! no problem! ;)

Hi Guys,
I am currently in the middle of my junior and I in the teaching block. Boy is it tough! I have 18 hours and work! The good thing is I don't have extracurricular activities going on this semester, I don't mind that at all! Even though "the block" is super busy and tough, I really do enjoy it. I have gotten awesome experience that I don't believe I would be able to get somewhere else. I have been in a classroom every semester since I have been here at ACC and I have learned so much about becoming a better teacher. I feel like once I graduate from ACC I will be able to jump right into a classroom and be a great teacher. I haven't actually decided which grade I want to teach yet but I am pretty sure I want the younger grades. I believe with the younger grades I have a direct hand in helping them learn. I will lay the foundation for learning for the rest of their lives. Over-all "the block" has been stressful, it's not a walk in the park by no means, but I have learned a lot and it's been a good ride so far. By the time I graduate I will be the best teacher ever!!! ;) lol

- Alex

I like the morning time.

I've been getting up pretty early lately. I'm not sure why, but I just seems to enjoy the day more when I get a nice, early start. I'll read a little scripture, spend some time with God, eat breakfast, double check homework, shower, and head to class. Maybe I'm turning into a morning person. Geeze, I hope not...those people scare me.

I found out that I will be singing in my first private voice studio class on Wednesday. I'm pretty nervous, but excited at the same time. I think this first time being the ONLY one on stage is supposed to be a little intimidating. But if there is one thing this school is good at, it's pulling you out of your comfort zone, and into a place of vulnerability so that God can use our gifts that much more.

There's a SuperBowl party goin' down Sunday night. I think I'm going to go, just so I can hang out with some people I don't normally get to see. I'm not a big sports fan, but the CLMs have a pretty good habit of making sure there is something for everybody to enjoy at the school events. We'll probably end up playing apples to apples or something in the back of the room or something.

Okay, time to hit that morning routine I was talking about. Until next week...I'm off like a bad prom dress!

(Don't ask, I just heard that joke a few weeks ago...)

- Lawrence

Cold and Rainy Weather=Nap Time

Well it's freezing (well not really freezing just really cold) and rainy outside, and my flag football team has a game today. Even though I'm not a very good player, I still have fun out there. Mostly I just hike the ball then stand there and watch what happens. As much as I enjoy playing, I'm really not looking forward to being outside in this weather.
Right now I'm just curled up on the couch watching a movie, but I'm about to do some reading for my Graphic Novels class. Last week I read Batman: The Dark Knight Returns. At the beginning of the semester I was dreading this class because comic books just weren't my thing. However, I really liked reading the Dark Knight. I also need to do some reading for my Christian Literature class. But Paradise Lost isn't nearly as entertaining as reading about Batman.
Well it's cold and I'm really sleepy. So I have a feeling that I'm going to put off that reading until I take a nap!

- Dana

ACC on the Go: Something New & Something I Loved

I have just realized that while I thought I posted this over a week ago, I had actually just saved it as a draft! Oh, technology!

On Saturday, the 23rd of January, 1 professor, 4 ACCers, and 1 of my good friends piled in Dr. Dycus' minivan and headed to Cleveland, Tennessee for the annual Lee University Literary Symposium. While excited about hearing the various creative and critical works of college students throughout the southeast, Kaycee (second from right in the picture below) and I were busy preparing ourselves for reading our own creative works--yes, we were both accepted to present at the Symposium!

Until that day, I didn't read my poetry aloud--especially not in a public setting. Ever. For me, my poetry was just something I was supposed to express on paper or in a book, right? Wrong! Through this Symposium, I not only got the exposure (and something to add to my resume!) but the experience of doing something totally knew with something I love--writing! From what I can hear, I felt as though my work was received well...I am so glad I had a supportive professor, supportive classmates (who also make great friends) to experience that with me. I believe this experience was encouraging for all of us!

Now for a picture of the crew:

From left to right: Dr. Dycus (Head of English Department--A really awesome professor! If you happen to come to ACC, be sure to take at least one of classes--you will not regret it!), my friend Dominique (She's a Photography Major at another institution, but I brought her with me because I knew it would be worthwhile and she was great company!), Merit (one of my new friends, I just met her this semester--she's a Business Major), Me! (An English Major...whom I believe is not even looking at the camera...), Kaycee (A Humanities Major, I jokingly say I want to be her when I grow up! She really is a great person and so much fun to roadtrip with), Becca (My fellow English Major friend! Fun Fact: We actually met at an ACC visitation day in 2005--5 years ago! It's crazy that it has been that long...she's fun to be around and we've been on ACC "field trips" together in the past!).

So if you're an English major, Humanities major (like Kaycee), or just someone who enjoys to write, at ACC, you will have this to look forward to every spring semester. I regret that I did not become more involved earlier on in my college career, so that's why I am telling you guys about it!

- Morgan