Oh, Holy Night

It seems as though "Holy Night" would be something said only during Christmas time but, oh... oh Holy Night.

Last night on Twitter, roughly 9pm, I saw the status of my friend Ayiesha. She's a Christian recording artist and was doing a live chat. I absolutely love her love chats, she's hilarious, her brother's hilarious, and they always sing and do random stuff - something worth watching!

Ayiesha was recording a new song and closer to midnight they started doing Q+A and just chatting. I was doing some homework so I wasn't really paying that much attention but I saw someone who was posting about free beats. Donald (Ayiesha's brother) started playing the guys beats and talking with him, it's was pretty cool they were, for the first time, doing free promotion on a live chat.

To make a long story short, it was aobut 1am and the chat was still going on. This time mostly talking to the young guy who initially posted about his beats. At this point Donald and Ayiesha were telling him about God and salvation and calling God had on his life - the guy has crazy talent!! Let's call him C. :)

Closer to 2:00 am most people had gone to bed except for Ayiesha, Donald, C, myself and about 10 of Ayiesha's friends. Reasonable, the "small" number 10, as live chats usually last up to two hours - at the most. But wherever two or three are gathered...

Ayiesha started playing worship songs, literally praying on a live chat, we were all saying encouraging things to C and praying and worshipping in our homes. Some of us in Georgia, some in Illinois, Texas... God was moving!

I believe the chat ended at 4am. We were all tired but honestly I didn't realize it.

The last was hour was filled with praise - C accepted God into His life.

Ayiesha was playing praise songs and just slap happy!! Haha. I couldn't even stay in my seat. Literally. I have never seen something like that. Someone accepting Christ in a video chat - it just adds to the fact that it's not Facebook and MySpace and other internet sites getting bad rep, but the way they are being used.

Every Twitter update or live chat doesn't have to be praise & worship songs, but as Christians we should be ready for that because we never know who is watching, who is listening or who should be. And the way we can be ready is by always posting clean stuff, never saying things that don't line up with our morals; just always being ready.

So, at 1pm I finally woke up. Ha. Still happy about God's amazing way of working but pretty frustrated about my throat. It. hurts.

I guess I would be OK with it if I didn't have a really big audition tomorrow? Yet I'm just praying I'll get better atleast for the next 24 hours. I'm chugging Throat Coat tea, about to take some Claritin and am gonna try not to talk.

Well, hello impossible.

- Jamie-Grace

On a rainy, winter night...

On a rainy, winter night...I celebrated God's love being evident as he secured a new job for me! I work in the Institutional Advancement office part time now. Cool, huh? It's not a big important job or anything, but it feels good to be able to assist the school even more directly.

Unfortunately, it also meant that I missed the housewarming party in Gilbert Hall, and had to skip Open Mic night tonight, mainly because it was raining and I was already tired from a long day of classes and working. But it worked out kinda well, because a lot of us who couldn't make it to the party and Open Mic were hanging out in my room, getting to know each other a little better. God works in strange ways, huh?

So with this new job, I can finally relax a little on my budget. (Can you say Dwarf House?) But my free time is a little more limited, but that's just part of being in college. I have finally been to all of my classes (No, I wasn't skipping...private music lessons are kinda complicated to schedule the first few weeks.) And I'm glad to say that I've started the semester out well. Now, I'm going to finish up a little English Homework, and run off to bed! PEACE!

- Lawrence

Dear Diary

Dear Diary,

Today I went to class and it was so awesome! Dr. Blackburn turned into one of the four horsemen of the apocalypse and taught us how to add and subtract large numbers in our head. Then, I watched some upperclassmen wrestle over the last chocolate chip cookie in the cafeteria. Awesome!

I'd love to tell you about the rest of my day, but I am so tired, Diary, I'll have to wait until tomorrow.

Love,

Elizabeth

- Elizabeth

Action Packed Weekend

Hey everybody! I know it's Monday, but since I didn't post last week, I'm posting this for last week, because it still feels like Sunday because we had Monday off and I didn't really get a Sunday because I was at camp all weekend and then had a student lock-in and never got to sleep until 9 a.m. this morning. Run-on sentence much?

Anyway, that was my weekend. We left Friday afternoon to lead worship at a camp in North Georgia, and what was supposed to be a 2 hours trip turned into a 5+ hour journey full of obstacles and pratfalls! But it was totally worth it to see how God turned the disaster of being 7 hours late into part of the message that the pastor of the church we went to Sunday used. Oh but wait, That wasn't the whole weekend.

Sunday night there was a student lock-in at the church I used to go to before I applied to ACC. It was great times, and even though I never got more than thirty seconds of sleep until 9:00 this morning, it was fun to just have fun and fellowship with my old youth group and church family. I can't wait until next year!

With the first week of classes down and all of my private music lessons scheduled, this semesters is turning out to be pretty darn amazing! See ya soon.

- Lawrence

pray for haiti - a beautful cliche.

I have seen it in Facebook status, Twitter updates, email forwards and blog posts. The "cliche" Pray For Haiti is everywhere I go.

In profile pictures, website introductions... everywhere...

and it's more than beautiful.

I found out about the storm when sitting with my mom on her hospital bed. (She is recovering, but please keep her in your prayers...) I felt my phone vibrate and the Twitter update, sent via text, came through. It was from my friend Aegis (currently in Haiti with the Hands and Feet Orphanage), in all-caps stating that they were OK but a 7+ earthquake had just hit, and there was a lot of destruction around them. Seconds later the Twitter update from her husband Mark stating the same. I stood up, in shock, and immediately shared the info with my family in the room.

My sister Morgan and I had talked about going to Haiti on that trip... our tickets weren't purchased and our bags weren't packed, but it gave us the thought, "What if we were there?"

Within minutes of those Twitter updates, I got so many more. Almost everyone simply stating, "pray for Haiti" or "I'm praying for Haiti." Some even saying, "Hanging out with my friends, still praying for Haiti."

Shortly after the news came on and we were informed about the earthquake by anchors. It was crazy... as the night progressed seeing more and more updates from Twitter, Facebook and the news... the storm was serious, lives were at risk and all I could do was pray.

I'm not there, if you're reading this you may not be there so all we can do is pray.

As time has gone on there have been more and more people saying to pray for Haiti. There are also numerous websites with opportunities to donate to Haiti - also amazing. All of the bad slack and reviews social networking websites receive should be reevaluated. It isn't the amount of people on Facebook, it isn't the fact that Twitter exists, it's how we choose to use technology itself.

I have seen it in Facebook status, Twitter updates, email forwards and blog posts. The "cliche" Pray For Haiti is everywhere I go.

In profile pictures, website introductions... everywhere...

this is the most beautiful cliche.

Mark Stuart is one of the founders of the Hands and Feet Project.
https://www.handsandfeetproject.org/home.php


- Jamie-Grace

The Good Reaction

As an English major, I write--a lot. Consequently, as the picture illustrates, I revise and then I am not afraid to react! I took this photograph last summer while "reading my old fiction" that I found in an old file box containing a book I was working on back in middle school. Though it was middle school, not a lot has changed in terms of reading old work and "reacting to it." Year after year, this has always been an issue in my writing until

last semester.

Thankfully, I decided to give something I wrote a chance at a little life. Dr. Dycus, who is the head of the English department and a professor here at ACC mentioned a Literary Symposium that was coming up in January 2010 at another university. They were looking for literary submissions from college students nationwide. I thought it was a good idea, and at the very last minute, I decided to give some of my poetry a shot. Yesterday I checked my email and found that my work had been accepted and I will be reading at the symposium! I am beyond excited. I guess reading and reacting to my work doesn't always have to be negative. Criticism + Positivity can bring great results!

I will definitely blog after the conference next weekend and let you all know how it goes. Hopefully I'll bring back some good "reactions!"

- Morgan

Dear World, Sorry I Suck at Blogging

Oh, hello there, once-a-week commitment. It's nice to see you again. How have you been? I'm doing all right. It's been tough to show my face here again, I admit, but I think we should patch things up and be friends again. Are you cool with that? I hope so.

Anyway, let's focus on the positive, shall we? I've been back at school for a grand total of three days. Class was canceled today because it snowed. I'm not really a huge fan of snow, honestly, and I know I'm going to get hate mail for that last comment, but it. Is. So. Cold! At any rate, I got some well-needed sleep last night out of the bargain, so I'm satisfied.

This semester is shaping up to be awesome. I'm looking forward to my classes (because I'm a nerd). The highlights of my semester? Introduction to philosophy, beginning guitar, and concert choir. I tried to teach myself to play the guitar a couple of years ago, with little luck, so hopefully this time will stick. I like singing, and I absolutely LOVED the ACC choir's Christmas concert (saw it three times, and loved it all three) and I'm looking forward to participating. Introduction to philosophy is a bit more..... hm. Well, for starters, it's on Monday nights from 6:00 to 9:00. I'm not sure how long sitting in a room for three hours is going to be fun, first of all. But I've been looking at the text books, one of which looks almost like a philosophy for dummies book and the other is meant to be a novel, Sophie's World. Also, I think the teacher (Stephen Bain) is the son or other relation of our librarian, and Mr. Bain-the-librarian is a wonderful man, with this excellent dry sense of humor. I think I'll enjoy the subject matter, and I'm looking forward to starting class.

In other noteworthy news, lots of new freshmen moved into my hall. I've been making friends, or trying to at least, and they all seem really nice. I had lunch with three of them today and I'm looking forward to getting to know them better.

In OTHER noteworthy news, I made an idiot of myself in my preaching class on Wednesday. Dr. Strother was calling attendance, and he called someone named Kelly. There's a new freshman girl named Kelly who moved into room 1 in Upper Head, and I said so, TRYING to be helpful. Dr. Strother makes a comment about how we weren't being very friendly, to not have ensured she came to class. Literally seconds after this exchange happens, a boy walks into class. "Who are you?" asks Dr. Strother and my friend Katie says, loud enough for Dr. Strother to hear, "That's Kelly." He asks, "Are you Kelly?" and the boy responds, "Yes, sir, I am." . . .Needless to say, this is NOT the same person who moved in next door in room 1.

Right, well, I've been working on this post for the better part of an hour, with various sundry interruptions. I think I've lost my ability to blog easily. Maybe with more practice? And I WILL have more practice. We're going back to once or twice a week, blog readers, I promise. Call it a New Year's Resolution.

- Elizabeth

Back in Action!

Mastodon!
Pterodactyl!
Triceratops!
Saber-Toothed Tiger!
Tyrannosaurus!

If you haven't caught on, then you must be pretty young, or had no TV in the early to mid '90s, because Power Rangers was probably the best action TV show you could watch as a kid. And that, friends, is what my Christmas break consisted of. Lots of family, fun, good times and ZORDON.

Aye yi yi!(Says Alpha, Zordon's faithful robotic assistant likes to say) It's time for another semester! I did as well as expected last semester, and I plan to improve even from there this semester. I'm also now considering instead of just majoring in Music w/ emphasis on Guitar Pedagogy and Performance, that I'll add a second Major, Music and Worship Leadership! I think this will help me the most with post-graduate work, as well as going to further my education.

Hi-yaaah! That's what I plan to do, this semester, kick it into high gear! When I started at ACC, my GPA wasn't so great, but with the help of my professors, friends, and a little dedication on my part, I've brought it way up, and will be heading towards that 4.0 in no time! Since it's the first day of classes, I need to get organized early, so I'm gonna start on that now. Later!

Oh, and what Power-Rangers riddled blog would be complete without...

IT'S MORPHIN' TIME!


- Lawrence

I had a Snuggie Before Christmas.

December 25th is behind us and 2010 is closer than ever... obviously.

I just ate the biggest meal of my life, my dad has been rocking out on his bass, my sister is rambling about some incredible high heels she wants and my mom is talking about vintage dresses. I'm not really sure why I felt the need to share those random facts, but it's a bit of a sneak into my everyday life.

Christmas is by far my favorite Holiday. Even so it's my utter favorite time of year, holiday or not. 100% because of the birth of my Savior! But also because of the music, the movies and the happiness everywhere. LIKE WHOA!!

No matter what highway you're on someone's gonna let you over, no matter what side of town most people will be uberly polite and no matter what social class every. single. person. currently. has. a. snuggie.

I was a fighter before the revolution began!



My beautiful pink Snuggie, "Pepto," and I have been best friends for a few months now and I have been a strong advocate for Snuggie awareness, approval and acceptance by wearing Pepto everywhere! Not in public... not yet... but by writing a song about him (coming soon to youtube), wearing him in music videos... so so much stuff and I feel it is all drowned out by wrapping paper around animal print blankets. Blankets with sleeves.

The picture above is of Me, Pepto and our friend Paige Armstrong in November. Way before Christmas.

In other news, classes resume at ACC in one week and 3ish days. I'm anxious to see my friends, take new classes (I'm getting into more and more mjor classes this semester!!) and have the ever so often "Hi Mr. Huxford!" and "Hey Mrs. Huxford hey!" shout outs during the week. Yet this week is going to be awesome!

Some friends are staying over now and one them, Tyra, turns 21 in a little over an hour - woo! Tomorrow night is the end of the year dinner for my church's college students, (last year it didn't work out so this my first year like whoa!) I'll be working on some music stuff this week and also catching up with a few friends that live in random parts of Georgia.

That's one of the best moments of this season by far. Getting to spend it with the friends that went to school out of state, go to school in way North or South Georgia... but it's also incredible to just spend with family.

My sister and I teamed up and bought our dad a bass for Christmas. He's played drums practically his whole life and had a bass guitar which he taught himself to play in 2007, but a series of unfortunate events left him instrument-less. We decided to wrap the strap up and give it to him. He opens it, looking as if thinking, "a weird belt... um..." and then he looks up and notices the shiny 4-string Dean right in front of him. Just moments before the same look of awe and gratitude was on our mom's face as she opened the box of bright red cowboy boots. Crazy for a mom to ask for that I know but she's wanted to them for years!


Not trying to make it seem as thought it is all about the presents - it isn't. It's the joy that comes with it. The satisfaction in giving someone something you know means a lot to them. God gave us the ultimate gift, His kid, and we can never duplicate that. I'm not saying a pair of boots or a guitar can compare, but this is a season of giving, and spending this season with family -giving to family- is incredibly important to me.

We spent the last few days at our "home home" with our mom and dad, jamming on our instruments and talking fashion. (Seriously my mom and sister could chat it up for ages.) Followed by dinner at our aunts house which also included discovering we still belong at the kid's table. Sunday came around and the last day staying at home for break arrived. After service was a big dinner and eventually our friends climbed in my sister's car and we headed to hang at ours.

Pretty bittersweet. The long long drive from home. An entire 45 miuntes. *sigh* Good thing I'll see my parents again tomorrow at the church's dinner for college students. Hence... we're preacher's kids.

Christmas Time is Here

So my sister got married last Saturday. I'm probably a little biased, but it was one of the most beautiful weddings I have ever been to. She looked amazing and everyone had a really great time. I was super stressed out leading up to the wedding because there was so much to do. And now it's Christmas Eve, and I still haven't wrapped any gifts (actually I bought them yesterday). Yes, things have been a little crazy around here. My sister and her husband are moving to California the day after Christmas. It's hard to comprehend the fact that she is leaving. I'm dreading saying goodbye. My sister is my best friend in the world and it's going to be weird not having her around. In a way I really just want it to be 2010, and I want to be back at school. It has been a great but stressful break, and I'd like things to return to normal. But tomorrow is Christmas and that is exciting. In fact I am on my way to my grandmothers house for Christmas Eve. So Merry Christmas and have a Happy New Year!

so you mean school's over?

Could I just say... this blog will be a bit of, as my friend Cammie would say, shameless self promotion. It's awkward for me at times to talk about what I've done but I feel so blessed by God to have been put in the situation of being able to do some awesome work for Him. Having said that I'm gonna splurt out a few random things about my job and such. Ok... ok blog time!

About an hour ago I finished my last quiz before finals. If I got an A, I exempt the final in that class and I'm pretty confident in the quiz -hopefully I exempt!

Tonight is a ball at my church for married couples, it's pretty adorable I must say. My sister will be doing some photography of the event so I'll probably tag along, sneak some of their food... haha jk.... ish.

Tomorrow I don't know what I'm doing at all. At 1pm I'll probably watch TBN (tbn.org) as there's this kid's show called "iShine KNECT" that I'm an actress/musician kid on. The show is so much fun! For serious. Can't wait for season 2.

On Sunday going to church, probably lunch with the family thethe ACC Christmas party! It's a 9, going alongside Sunday Nights. I'm so excited about doing the music for it because I. Love. Christmas!!! (Trust me, my Christmas blog will be so soon.)

Monday I have a final, Tuesday I have a final and hopefully I exempted the Wednesday one?

Off to chapel now though, one of the students here is preaching! His name is Kurt and he's really cool but I've never heard him preach. I think it's so cool that preaching students have the opportunity to speak in chapel, so I need to go to make sure I get a good seat for a good word! ...that was kind of cheesy.

Link to check out: http://www.ajc.com/news/dekalb/teens-creativity-starts-at-236298.html
As the last blog here by Morgan pointed out: we're sisters. And the article above? Yeah, that may or may not be us.

It's FRIDAY!

photography credit: Morgan Harper (ME!)


So right now it's COLD outside. It's Friday. I'm sitting in Octane Coffee in Atlanta. I just thought I would let y'all know about it. If you're looking for a spot to:

• grab freshly-brewed awesomely-priced (DELICIOUS) coffee...
• remind yourself that you are not alone--other super-busy college students in need of a little getaway time do exist
  
• work on that paper you're dreading (and no need to worry--there are 20 other college students here facing that same hurdle)...
  
• relax with a group of friends...
  
• listening to cool music that doesn't usually get played on the radio...
  
• catch up on your reading/journaling (is that even a word?)...
• people watch/meet new friends...
  
• enjoy artwork from budding local artists...
• get INSPIRED for the upcoming week...
  

or best of all...:drum roll:...

• plug up the laptops to access FREE WIFI (yea, I bet THAT caught your attention!)...

...Octane is your place! I found out about it a couple of months back from a friend and since then I have been hooked. So if you're that guy or girl that likes to get out and explore the world (well in this case, the Atlanta area) Octane just might a spot to drop a place mark on your map.

Anyways, now I am onto that picture that is dominating the head of this post. I took that shot last week during Thanksgiving break in this striking beautiful faraway land called Nashville, Tennessee. If you haven't noticed yet, Jamie-Grace (who also posts here on the Life at ACC blog) is my younger sister and was my road trip buddy up to Nashville. It was such a blast and I'm so glad I got to pull my camera out! But for all you budding artists out there, you don't even have to step off campus to spark your creativity. Here are a few shots I've taken on campus at ACC over the years:


- The view one night outside of Head Hall...the building behind is the Gym/Alumni (Men's Dorm)-Taken in Westside Chapel one night after rehearsal for chapel the next day.
- A collection of shots from Upper Head Hall (Women's Dorm)


If you haven't figured it out yet, I'm one of those people that just absolutely loves. Art. Da Vinci, Rothko, Pollock, random street graffiti--you name it. The cool thing about being the artsy type at ACC is:

• you're not the only one! you'd be surprised at the number of people who enjoy your same tastes in music, movies, art, etc.
• you don't have to major in art to be artistic! ACC may not have an art major but in and out of the classroom, you'll find yourself being inspired to explore so many new things.
  
• ACC supports you! if you take a step into ACC's coffee house, McKinney's, you might notice artwork posted on around--created by students!
  

I'm an English major, but it doesn't mean that my learning experiences in college are restricted to language, linguistics, and literature. While these things are essential to my future field, they are just the foundation of a whole world that awaits.

(And here comes Morgan's Bright Idea of the Hour)

I guess that's what college is about. Maybe some of us are interested in preaching or teaching or opening up a coffee shop but regardless of what our majors or goals are, God has something big for us and we just have to open our eyes and see it--you don't have to be scared! Have coffee with a Biblical Studies professor. Take an extra history or philosophy class! Join in on a worship band. Chat with the librarian! Go study abroad. College can be a pivotal point in your life--you just have to allow for it to be :)

To sum it all up, get out there! Take that class you're nervous about. Pull out the digital camera or the paint brush. Hang out with random people--come hang out with me at OCTANE COFFEE...





And God will do the rest! :)

Long time no post

So I haven't posted anything in a really long time and I feel a little bad about it. It's has been a crazy semester. School work has been a little overwhelming these past few weeks, but I can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel. I turned in a really important paper in my Biblical Interpretation class yesterday. It was such a relief to be finished with that big assignment.
It hasn't been all work and no play though. I played a lot of Ultimate Frisbee these past few weeks. I've never played before so it took me a while to get the hang of throwing a frisbee. Even though I'm not very good it is still a lot of fun. A few of the guys at ACC are starting up a club team. They are getting shirts and are very excited about it. I won't play on the team, but it will be fun watching the games.
This is the first week back from Thanksgiving break. My break was pretty relaxing. I had every intention of doing homework, but that never happened. My family and I visited our relatives in Nashville, Georgia. Much of the trip was spent going over wedding details for my sister's upcoming wedding. She is getting married December 19 so we have a lot to do until then. It was good to see my family, but I was ready to come back to school.
So now I'm just hanging in there for the next two weeks before finals. I'm very excited about Christmas break and my sister's wedding. I' also excited and a little nervous because next semester is my last semester of college. So there is a lot to look forward to!

see ya, break.

I was honestly dreading coming back to school this week. Unlike most schools we had the amazing advantage of an entire week off for Thanksgiving. This was amazing as I turned 18 Wednesday (WHOA! ha.) and was able to spend time with my family AND go to Nashville for 2 1/2 days. Yet with the break being so long I was a little sad to get back in the swing of school...

not anymore!

Coming back and getting right back to class wasn't as bad as I thought. Even though I'm a sophomore and totally experienced this last year...haha; seeing my friends was incredible though. Something about not seeing the people you see five or six times a day for an entire week...

In other news, it's currently 12:30 and I totally started this post at two hours ago... that was sort of irrelevant.

Gotta go now - off to lunch!

New Moon, Parties & Other Collegiate Topics.

Listening to: Breathe - Superchic[k]

Can I bullet point this blog post? Thanks. :)

New Moon (the seconds Twilight movie... ya ya)

• came out 44 minutes ago and a bunch of people went to see it! I have an 8 and 9am class so I wasn't sure that was the best idea. Yet I'm not exactly asleep now...I will be soon though! I also just didn't connect with Twilight very well. I'm the kid that get's excited when Hallmark Channel has movie marathon's so... haha.
• wasn't my kind of movie plus I have class so I am instead staying with my parentals :) and i left my pajamas - good thing i discovered some Hannah Montana pants (with the tag still on, no lie) and a random t-shirt. Don't know where the pants came from though, haha.
  

Parties - gotta love them. (I'll start ahead and go backward!)

• 
Christmas is an incredible Holiday. Of course because of Jesus! But also because of the happiness... Hallmark movies... Elf (Will Ferrell) and the music! I have the incredible privilege of leading the music for the Christmas-themed Sunday Nights (weekly service/hang out @ ACC) and it will be a PAR-TAY!
• I turn 18 next week (November 25th - omg) and I'm gonna hang with some friends. I'm not very good at the whole party thing though so who knows how it'll turn out?? Hopefully with a complete taco bar (compliments of my mom!) and a great iTunes playlist (Needtobreathe, Lady Antebellum, Jordin Sparks, Carrie Underwood, Miley Cyrus... haha) it won't be too ridiculous?
• And last and maybe least? *wink* is the party at ACC. I wrote a parody ("Party @ ACC") to the tune of Miley Cyrus' "Party in the USA" and made a lil video to it. Some of my fellow classmates and some professors, people at other schools... haha - the kind of liked it. I feel kind of awkward posting it but you know it's all about the awesome time I've had and the awesome times I'm planning to have at Atlanta Christian and I want to share that with you!

Well, that's all! not sure if the video above will show up or just be a conglmaoration of codes and all. Hopefully it will work? I really need some sleep - I do not want to fall asleep in class that would just not be cool.

Video to check out: Here @ ACC people are always hanging in McKinney's and it's so much fun. My friends John & Morgan showed me this video while hanging in there the other day. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LeImRbv1Bqs

Giving Thanks for Pop Culture Obsessions.

This week? Is the week that I lose my mind. I've got three tests, one of which is a final, coming up in the next two days and a response paper I need to write. Not to mention that Thanksgiving thing. I need to pack, get things ready to head home (and to take a LOT of stuff home with me. You'd be surprised how much I brought that I don't need), find some sort of peace and quiet because my mind is about to EXPLODE!! That's hyperbolic, by the way. My head isn't really about to explode (You knew that? Oh. Okay).

On the upside, and there is a very definite upside, I get a week and two weekends off for Thanksgiving. I've not been home for that type of time in a really long time. Not since September, when I first came here. I've been home a couple of weekends, but the majority of my time has been spent here, at ACC where I belong. I think we're going to my grandparent's house, in Kentucky, which is one of my top five favorite places in the world. It's a whole-family Thanksgiving, which is, in itself, something to give thanks for.

On the OTHER upside (and this side is a lot less sweet and "AW!" inspiring) Thursday night, the CLM's are taking a group of students to go see New Moon. Now, say whatever you want to about the literary merit of the Twilight series (I've said plenty myself) or about the increasingly disturbing nature of Bella and Edward's relationship (dude. Stalker much?), but you have to admit: you're all sort of secretly cheering for Jacob. And, hello, Miss "I'm a big kid who has real movie roles that don't involve dogs." I've never been to a midnight showing of anything before (thanks, Mom, for making sure I was in bed before then) so I'm pretty psyched about this extra bit of college freedom.

All right. I think I've exhausted my linking limits for this blog, so I'm going to go.... study... or something.

Video of the Blog Post? Like you're surprised.

"Laundry Be Not Proud"

If you're anything like me (and we can all hope you're... well... not.) you like to do the same things, in the same way, at the same time. I had a habitual life in high school. I drove to school the same way every day, came home the same way. All my classes were in order, and my after-school routine followed the same pattern. The shift to college was pretty stressful, really, because of how out of the ordinary it was for me. But never fear: my obsessive personality has once again triumphed, and I've settled into a pretty firm pattern. For example? Mondays are the days I stay away from my dorm until after supper and also the days I go to devo group with some girls on my hallway. Wednesdays I go to church instead of devo group, and Thursdays have become "Blog while sitting against the washer doing laundry" days. Hello, blog. If you could see my outfit right now, you would laugh at me. Laundry needs to be done and blogging is a good filler activity.

Unfortunately, I don't want to talk about my laundry ("Unfortunately?" say the readers, "Yeah, RIGHT." I see your scoffing, readers, I do, and I'm not going to pretend it doesn't hurt.). Also, I don't want to talk about my classes. Or about my weekend. Or.... Yeah. This blog is going to be short. As in..... now.

And also I'd like to issue a retraction. In a former blog post, I wrote the ignominious phrase, "Me and Jess" referring to, of course, my friend and me going to see Switchfoot. I have since then been informed (as I, of course, knew) it should correctly have been stated, "Jess and me" as you always put yourself last in terms of grammar. Thanks to those who pointed out my personal flaws. It's much appreciated. ;)

Video of the Blog Post: Switchfoot's new album came out on Tuesday and now there's lots of slightly illegal music to listen to on youtube. This song in particular makes me want to scream my angst out at the world. Enjoy.

come into this broken dream - please?

Last night (this morning?) I couldn't sleep. I figured I might as well blog but couldn't pull this off on my cell phone... so I typed it as email, emailed it to myself and below is what came of it. Forgive me if it is unclear... it was getting close to 1am by the end of my paragraphs.

Listening to: Breathe by B.Reith

problem: can't sleep
solution: won't silence

Despite the dorkiness (word?) of how this may sound, I am usually sleep by 10:30 pm and am quite proud of that. However I've been doing a bit o'homework and writing for work and have whacked my sleep schedule off. So it is past midnight, and I am unfortunately wide awake.

On a positive note, I'm listening to a song off of a CD I bought this past Sunday. The CD is "Now is Not Forever" by B.Reith and the song is "Breathe." (I also bought the CD, "Introducing Ayiesha Woods" by..well...just guess.)

I tabbed (figured out the guitar solos by ear) this song earlier tonight and don't want to stop listening to it. It may seem lyrically simple, but is really getting to me... "Come into this broken dream and breathe down on me... breathe down on me."

I'll be 18 in 14 days and while people say that it's cool I'm a sophomore and may congratulate me on my music or something, I am often not convinced. I frequently remind myself of the songs I have yet to complete, the CD I have not released, the flaws I am all too familiar with... I remind myself of what I have not done compared to what other people my age or younger have done or just compared to what I had planned. - this is the perfect time to say come into this broken dream and breathe down on me...breathe down on me.

I find myself comparing myself to the singer-actor kids living their dreams and thinking "I'm nearly 18... when does my dream start?" Not to say (by any means) that I aspire to be famous or become a household name, I could do local media for all I care. I just look at the standards and all I set for my self, look at my age, and recognize their inability to line up.

I think "Breathe" is a request for God to breathe down on a broken dream because of one's unsuccessful attempts. I don't think my unsuccessful attempts are the fact that I have not done certain things by a certain date, but the mere fact that I notice it. My broken dream isn't my music or talent, but my lack of acknowledging the two.

"When I lost it all, that's when my life truly began and I found myself secure in the palm of Your hand - again." --"Breathe" by B.Reith

I don't know what B.Reith was thinking about when he wrote this song and for all I know my interpretation could be one hundred and nine percent irrelevant.

Not sure what I was thinking in reference to the last paragraph there. I guess I just forgot to finish my train of thought? Anyways, that was the way my mind was moving throughout the 12 o'clock hour last night/this morning.

In ACC related news, (buh dum chhh) we're having an open mic night tomorrow as a part of our open house where prospective students can come hang out on campus. I'm hoping to be here and I love meeting my future colleagues! Come say hey, ok? Ok good afternoon friends. :)

Autumn Always Makes Me Nostalgic.

Some of you may be wondering two things, and I hope to answer your questions in this blog post (have you ever noticed how, when you type things, you tend to mistype them the same way? I have a friend, Tim, and I regularly spell his name Time. "Saw" often becomes "was" and vice versa. Blog? I really want to tell people that I write a bog for my college. Crazy, huh?) (That was a long side note, and I'm sorry). Okay. Two things you may be wondering. ONE: Is this entry going to be as interesting as the last entry? No. No, it isn't. Sorry. And TWO: What am I doing for my birthday this weekend? VERY good question.

Tomorrow, my parents and I are going to travel to Johnson City, Tennessee to visit my brother for his and my birthdays (his is the 7th and mine is the 8th. Handy, huh?). It's his twenty-first, and my mother asked him on the phone what would make his birthday awesome and he replied that having us (Dad, Mom, and me) and my grandparents there would make it awesome and we're doing just that. It's a semi-surprise, which makes putting it up on the internet kind of foolish, but I'm pretty sure he doesn't read my blog posts, as he is a fairly busy kind of guy. I miss him, and I'm glad I'm getting to see him. There you have it. Birthday weekend.

Last night, my aunt and uncle took me to supper and then to church with them. My uncle recently was hired to be the administrator of the FISH house (connected with Jesus Place, in downtown Atlanta) and they're going to start going to Ben Hill Christian Church. Last night was their first night going, and they took me to Oz Pizza in East Point and then to church. During supper, Uncle Berry, who graduated from ACC in the '70s, told me all kinds of funny college stories, and I had a nice time.

This will come across as trite and cliched, but I'm going to just say it. Autumn is my favorite season. I love the leaves, the weather, the clothes (fall clothes are my favorite), everything. I feel very scholarly, walking around on my college campus in warm clothes and just.... In the fall, a nerd's heart turns towards school. There. I've said it, and there's nothing else to say. Oh! I lied, yes there is.

I think our fall preview day is coming up pretty soon (a week from today, actually: Thursday, November 12), and if you're a high school student who's interested in the school, then I would definitely recommend coming and looking at the campus. Let's face it: you're not going to be able to make an informed decision based on information in a brochure. You need to come to school, sit in on a class or two, see the dorms, talk to teachers, and talk to students before you can really know whether or not ACC is the right school for you. It's not too late to sign up to come. The admissions office isn't EVEN paying me to say that. But you should still come.

There won't be a video of the blog post, because my internet is messing up, and it won't let me on YouTube. I'll do two next week, okay?

The next time you see me, blog, I will be 19! Practically a woman!

scary scary.

Listening to: Jingle Bells by Ayiesha Woods

I have class in 9 minutes, but I'm already late in talking about scariness (as Halloween was so last month) so I gotta get a move on.

Growing up, Halloween to me was being a cowgirl dressed in pink and having an event at church ("Hallelujah Night" like whoa!) for the church/community kids. I still see it as the same thing. However a new aspect of something very scary was added this year.

It was about 6:15 when I was asleep in my bed (like I am every morning in 6 o'clock hour...) when I heard, in a very spooky and slow voice, "softly and tenderly Jesus is calling. Calling for you and for me..." The voice was of Johnny Cash and if you know anything about me you know that I think he is an incredible person and while he had a life of some things I am not by any means a big fan of, I love his testimony, voice, lyrics, music...

but NOT as my alarm clock.

I woke up sweating and completely terrified and while this may not seem scary at all to some did I mention I am terrified of Disney Channel's Halloweentown commercials?

Must go to class, friends.
peace, love & jamie-grace

link to check out: once again from one of my friends. Her name's Ayiesha Woods and there's a free download of her song "Jingle Bells" on the Gospel Music Channel website. http://www.gospelmusicchannel.com/news/insider/download-week-woods-jingle

PS... despite the way I speak very highly of Mr. Cash, I do not he is no longer on earth... people often remind me when I go on my Johnny Cash rants. I.E. Sarah H, Mandy M, Melissa T... haha...

I have one minute to get to the 400 hall from the game room. Yeah, I can do it.

Of Sales and Switchfoot

There's absolutely no way to say this without bragging. That being said, I want to take you back to last weekend, when my friends and I went to go volunteer at the Revolve Tour. ACC requires you to log fifteen (I think it's fifteen. I'm not sure) volunteer hours per semester, and, while it's not very closely monitored, they still seriously expect you to do it, and if you're a serious student, you will try to fulfill those requirements to the best of your ability. Anyway. Back to the story (and it's a pretty awesome story, mind you).

I went to the Revolve Tour, and spent all night Friday and all day Saturday selling books, t-shirts, and other pointlessly overpriced souvenirs. The story gets better, I promise. All weekend, there was a booth across the hall from us with a woman from the Gospel Music Channel and at the end of the last session, I went over to her, because she had this poster of three girls--black, Hispanic, and white--standing in front of a drawing that made them look like they had angel wings.

We started talking, and she was surprised to find out that my friends and I had chosen to spend our Saturday volunteering and even MORE surprised to find out that we lived in East Point, literally minutes away from Gospel Music Channel's headquarters. She asked if we'd be interested in doing some volunteer work at her office, specifically mentioning a taping they were having Thursday night. "I need volunteers," she said, "to run errands for me and to make sure the studio audience is content and not riotous. Oh, and if we don't have enough audience members, we might ask you to sit in on the taping." We still needed some volunteer hours, and so my friend Jessica and I agreed to go over and help her out.

You're all very smart, and I'm sure you can see where I'm going with this. After Jess and I ran errands and corralled audience members, we were allowed to sit in (for FREE, mind you) on the taping of a Switchfoot concert, to be played on the Gospel Music Channel on November 27. If you happen to watch it, you very well might see me and Jessica (I'm wearing a blue t-shirt and a black cardigan. Fourth row back, on stage right) on national television.

Interesting Things About My First Live Television Taping, A List

1) They only sang twelve songs.... but we heard them all twice. Some of them were played three times.

2) This was apparently to make sure they had enough film to cut and paste all of the different angles into the final production.

3) We spent thirty minutes taping Jon Foreman taking his jacket off for the camera.

4) .... And then putting it back on.

5) Live television? No such thing. It was still really awesome, though.

At one point, I could have reached out and touched Jon Foreman. I felt like the bleeding woman and Jesus, from the Bible. ..... Or not.

Moral of the story? Sometimes when you set out to do good for other people (i.e volunteering at Revolve) you can get rewarded in a majorly unplanned way (free Switchfoot concert). Secondary moral of the story? Switchfoot is awesome.

Video of the blogpost: Is there any doubt that it's Switchfoot? This is a song off their latest album, entitled Hello Hurricane, which I will most definitely be acquiring. The song is Mess of Me, which speaks to my human condition at the moment. Rock on, Switchfoot, rock on.

It's Actually Happening!

The papers, the tests, the 8am classes, the 7pm classes, the text books, the group projects, the long walks from Head Hall (the girls dorm) to Hathcock (academic building) when it's cold and rainy in the morning, the night I cut my hand and had to get stitches the night before finals, long nights in the library--it was all worth it! It was also worth the fun times--being on the soccer team, playing music in chapel, studying abroad and doing mission work in England, ACC TACKLING TOCCOA IN SOCCER!, the awesome professors, the High School Musical routine for the Christmas concert (even though I'm not a fan of musicals at all, it was hilarious!), messy wiffle ball on Tuesdays (even though I just stood on the sideline and took pictures!), being on the Sunday Nights team, running the ACC Mile for the first time, late nights at Dwarf House, early mornings in McKinney's--who knew it will all lead me here? I guess when I first showed up on campus back in Fall of 2006 with my dad's truck loaded with dorm accessories from Target, I had in mind that I would someday graduate. However, it still seemed so far away. I remember thinking, "2010?! Ha! That's ages away, I have plenty of time." But like they always say, time flies when you're having fun. So maybe that's what college is about. Having a blast for four years straight and getting a degree at the same time!
Sounds awesome, doesn't it? Well, while that is true, I feel like my ACC experience has been so much more than that. I have grown and learned SO much from the people here. God has shown me so much from the classroom to the cafeteria to random Target runs on a Wednesday afternoon. I could go on and on with stories from these past years I've spent here and even the intervals I spent away.
So today I turn in my application to graduate and I guess I am going to move on now! But this is a great place to "move on" from. I feel like by graduating I have only stepped on a stepping block to get to God's total purpose for me. I'm glad I had this experience and I am looking forward to the rest of the year!

Rolling with the Punches

Things never slow down these days! I'm just glad that I've had a moment to take a breather.
Let's see...last week was Spirit Week. Every day we dressed up as something different. I was pretty crazy looking on Tacky day, which was Tuesday. But I had the most fun on Thursday, which was Super Hero day! Does anybody remember QuailMan from that old Nick show Doug? Yep, I was QuailMan for a day. This week has been equally exciting though, registering for classes and imagining next semesters schedule is always fun for me. I got hired by Legacy Theatre in Tyrone as a Stage Manager Intern, I'm so excited! If you ever get a chance, go see "Children's Letters to God" It's amazing.

I'll be updating again soon!

This, My Friends, Is Spirit Week.

Listening to: In Christ Alone - Natalie Grant

Yeah, I said it! Homecoming's this weekend (er, yesterday to tomorrow) so this whole week is all about spirit-ness...um...

Monday - pajama day, Tuesday - tacky, Wednesday - western, Thursday - superhero, Friday - charger spirit day.

Today, Friday, was the only day that I dressed up. I know, I know, I'm lame. :( But I had to work Monday and a bit of other things happened the other days such as no class Thursday... however! I decked out today.

To the right is a picture of Chris (soccer player here) and I in our blue and yellow - ACC colors. A lot of students wore ACC apparel and I almost did! I just don't have the shirt yet, lol. (I'm standing really weird in that picture...)

In other news; my sister and I are leading worship at a youth retreat this weekend. I'm really excited because the church is really dear to my heart and their youth group is amazing. I won't be at the homecoming events so that's sad, but I know it's going to be amazing here at Atlanta Christian and fortunately we have our school's newsletter, "The Charger" and I can read about it complete with pictures and such. And there's always Facebook to see pictures, too... :)

Ok friends, I must jet. Much love to those who read this. Especially my friend Elizabeth's parents! They were here yesterday and told me they read the ACC blog um - how cool is that? Very.

Video to watch: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hje9vyn5ki8
[[My friend Ben is in this video with his sisters. He has played with some amazing people, one person he toured as a band member with was Taylor Swift... just to hint around to his awesomeness. This video is amazing and the world should watch! The end.]]

"Home! We're coming home again..."

This is Homecoming Week here at ACC, and if you're a high school student, Homecoming probably means dress up days during the week, lots of hype about the big game on Friday, and maybe even a parade. Well, as far as I know, there isn't a parade, but dress up days (pajama day and western day, anyone?) and big games (Men's soccer vs. Kentucky Christian University this Friday) are a go.

The Student Government Association (SGA) has planned lots of other fun activities, too. On Thursday, there's going to be a worship service in Westside Chapel, and the ACC concert choir is going to show us what they've been doing on Tuesdays and Thursdays locked in that room on the bottom of the 300 hallway.

In normal chapel on Friday, Josh Childress is speaking, and he used to be my children's minister and I'm really psyched about getting to hear him talk as a grown-up. On Friday, there's a block party on Old Main Plaza (RIGHT outside my dorm) and they'll be cooking out (if they can get a fire started *wink*) and rumor has it there'll be popcorn and cotton candy. Cotton candy? I'm SO there. Saving the best for last, of course, after the block party on Friday, there's going to be an Open Mic Night in McKinney's and there'll be good music, and some awesome Christian hip-hop, and usually there are a couple of kids who don't sing. Maybe some comedy routines? Who knows; it's kind of a surprise.

As if that schedule wasn't enough, I personally am having a crazy busy week. Tonight, I'm going to Lenox Mall with some friends, one of whom is taking her laptop to the Mac store, because it has the white screen of death. All signs point to a hard drive death, but we're going to get a professional opinion. Why am I going, you ask? Why not, my friend. Why not.

I've got advisement tomorrow. I've got Dr. Hooks, and I couldn't be more psyched :D I'm not entirely sure about what I'm taking, and I'm a bit worried, but as everyone keeps telling me: I don't have to know it all now. I've got time.

Best of all, my bff Kamie is coming to visit me on Wednesday, and staying until Friday. She's a senior this year, and is checking out colleges. Like I've said, it's been a challenge to make enough time for everything I want to do and everything I need to do, and it's going to be excellent to have a chance to catch up with her. I couldn't be more excited. How many times have I told you I couldn't be more excited? Obviously I need some better hyperboles. I'll think about it and get back with you. Right now, my laundry is dry and I should fold and head to supper. Fun, no? Wait. Not no. Yes. Lots of fun.

The Video of the Blogpost (you thought I forgot, didn't you? DIDN'T YOU?! But I didn't forget, so there): Hope you like Creed. This is a song of their's, and I like it. It was recommended to me by a good friend of mine, and I miss him a lot, and this is my remedy for that missing.

Excuse Me, Week...

Excuse me week, could you not just leave like that? Thanks. ;)

Listening to: Nothing, but Alabaster Box by Cece Winans is ringing in my head... lol

This week went by supa supa fast. So fast I barely remember it... but I do remember this weekend (because it's still here)!

There's an annual workshop here called "Christian Singers Workshop" for...well... hopefully you get it. ;) My sister and I both sing however only she was smart enough to register ahead of time... There are three sessions - Friday morning and night and Saturday day. I was asked to play drums for Friday night and when I got there I couldn't figure out why I hadn't registered. So this morning I did.

I won't go into detail because I'm kind of on my way out the door, but the workshop was really great. It's not only ACC students that come; there are high schoolers from other states and vocal coaches from 10 minutes away. It was neat to meet other kid singers and all, and one session in particular was amazing on "Improvisation" where we pretty much improved the entire time.

Also, the vocal coach that came to speak and lead the workshop is a professor from Belmont University in Nashville. She's worked with Daniel Kirkley, Melinda Doolittle...just to name two. Thing is, she wasn't about name dropping, but sharing her gift with everyone that came to learn more about their own.

I have to go now... I didn't proofread this entry or even check the grammatical errors as I went along but trust me - ACC didn't fail me in English 101 I'm just short on time.

So busy...

Wow, with the Creative Arts Team, classes, studying for midterms, and work, I never got a chance to blog! Fortunately, my absence from the blog has earned me all A's and B's! Well, except for one class, I have a make-up assignment to do. I'm so proud! Fall break is finally here though, and I'm enjoying spending time with my family at home. I haven't been back home since school started!

It's time to get the last half of this semester started on the right foot. I've decided to spend less time playing video games and chatting on facebook, and more time pulling those B's up to A's. I'vealso been very inspired to trim off a few pounds, and have started seeing fruit. Speaking of fruit, I think I'm gonna round up some home-town buddies and go to Planet Smoothie!

Fall Break! Yes! I mean...no?

Considering I really want you (yes, you) to come and check out the amazing life @ ACC, I feel like I shouldn't be excited about the two days where school does not happen this week... however I am so excited. Ha. That's one of the good things about ACC, though: FALL BREAK!

We have Thursday and Friday off and actually some people had their Wednesday classes cancelled. My sister and I are planning to do some intense... sleeping! Haha and a little bit of homework, but probably some awesome guitar playing too.

WHOA!... I'm watching a movie (Ghostrider with Nicolas Cage...never seen it before) and did not know my friend has surround sound. Way to make the sofa shake... ;) But I feel like this is an important part of the film, so I'm gonna talk about school a little bit and head off to focus on the flat screen in front of me.

I skipped breakfast this morning (not OK!) and I so I was practically starving around 11. I honestly, truly LOVE chapel at ACC but skipped today because I really wasn't feeling good at all - food is a necessity, friends. Anywho, some friends of mine told me there were free shirts given away today in chapel of the new um.. I guess like school logo? And. it's. AWESOME! If you come for a tour, ask to see it k? :)

Also this week, met with my d-group as usual on Monday. I love my d-group so much. Considering I'm kinda young I just love being around older Christian people I can look up to. They're pretty neat. Gosh this movie's kinda scary...

Later Monday night I went out with some friends to see Toy Story 1 and 2 in 3-D - have you seen it? Feel free to comment me and let me know. I love those movies... especially Jessie, the Barbies and Rex. Awesome characters...

Tuesday was a pretty regular day, and like I said Wednesday was the start of Fall Break. But like every good thing that starts, it must end so I will be back next week as school picks up again on Monday. This movie will also come to an end, and I don't want to miss a bit of it, so I'll talk to you awesome people later.

Peace,

Jamie-Grace

Why the Entire World Has Gone Crazy

So, blog readers. Today is Tuesday, October 6, 2009. This week? Short, because we get to all go home for fall break on Wednesday after classes. October's full moon? This past Sunday. I don't know what type of lunar legends you subscribe to, but my mother, who teaches pre-k, swears by the fact that her children get more rowdy near a full moon. Doctors hate working the ER on a full moon, because statistics prove more people have accidents those nights. It's not for nothing the words "lunar" and "lunatic" come from the same root word. Now, I'm not implying ANYTHING at ALL. But, if I were, I might be saying that kids here at ACC are going slightly crazy. It might be the moon's fault, it might not, but we've had several very close breaks from reality lately and if you want more information, don't be so nosy. But you should watch this video (0:25-0:53) and make whatever assumptions you want.

This week has been pretty stressful, but I refuse to let that affect my blog. In that light, please allow me to compose a poem (or two) in your honor.

Near Death Experience, A Haiku
Suicidal squirrel,
Running in front of my car,
I wish you would move.

Wait. What's that? I'm meant to be blogging about my life at ACC? Is that the name of this blog? Oh. Well, um. The best I can do for you guys is copy Jamie-Grace with more "fill-in-the-blanks of the Blog Post"

Bible Verse of the Blog Post
Galatians 1:10: "Do you think I am trying to make people accept me? No, God is the One I am trying to please. Am I trying to please people? If I still wanted to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ."
(Courtesy of Georgia, my BFF)

Video of the Blog Post
I'm assuming you guys all have a basic sense of humor. Hopefully, this video will be hilarious, or at least a tad funny.

Yes, I'd Like a Blog Entry, Hold the Metaphysics, Please.

This week, in Elizabeth-world, we're going to stay focused on Things I've Done and not so much on Things I've Thought, which I'm aware, can get somewhat boring.

Things I've Done, A List

1) On Sunday, I went to help a friend paint a house. It was a lot of fun but the downside? I went on Sunday, and I still have paint on my arm. Any ideas how to get it off? I've taken four showers since then. It's starting to look like a permanent feature of my arm.

2) On Friday, I took an Old Testament test. (Because I'm a nerd,) I'm going to gush a bit and you can ignore me if you want. There is nothing better than a teacher who knows what he's talking about, and who can make his subject interesting for his students. OT history is taught by Dr. Hooks, and he is an awesome teacher. He knows everything (slight exaggeration, but only slight) and he makes his (admittedly somewhat dry) subject meaningful to your everyday life.. I look forward to his class every day, and good news for you guys! OT history is a required course for freshmen here at ACC.

3) A friend and I stayed up really late discussing the pros and cons of younger marriage from a Christian perspective. It's really interesting, and you should go check it out. The discussion was really good, but we stayed up WAY later than either of us intended, and I'm still trying to catch up on my sleep.

4) A group of us went to Oz (the local pizza place) for trivia night. This was our second night, and I've got a vendetta. There's this other team, and they call themselves the "Special Ones" (I know, right?) and... they win. Every night, they win, and eventually WE will beat them. Trivia is kind of my thing.

5) I'm still trying to come up with an equilibrium between studying and socializing. I'm a freshman, remember, and I've never LIVED with this many people before. In high school, you're with everyone from 8:00 to 3:00 and then you go home and you have to make an effort to see them again. Sometimes you make that effort, but most of the time you're just at home by yourself... doing homework. At college, it's different. You have to make a concerted effort to be by yourself, doing homework, and sometimes it's like a game of Where's Elizabeth? and all of your friends are determined to find you and distract you. In the cafeteria, people stop and talk. In the dorm, people knock on your door. In McKinney's there are always people passing through on their way to work out. I've had a bit of luck with the library. They have these individual desks and I've claimed one upstairs in the.... Wait. Clever. You almost got me. Tell, and have my last quiet spot taken away from me? I think not. All joking aside though, it's a challenge to get a good balance between socializing (which is FUN) and studying (which is NECESSARY and ALSO fun)

Okay, new list.

Things I Have Not Done, A List

1) My paper for critical reading and writing that's due tomorrow after lunch. I'd better get on that.

OH! But before I go, I'm really jealous of Jamie-Grace who's got this awesome idea for a video of the blog post, and I'm going to blatantly copy her. This is the video of the blog post. You should go watch it. He sings well. And he's pretty cute. And BRITISH! (No, it's not Robert Pattinson)

Did I Mention Fun?

Warning: This post consists of many parenthesis and apostrophes and may be confusing to one expecting perfect grammar. *smiles*

When I tell people, "I'm a motivational speaker; mostly to young people" they're usually pretty thrown off, as I am only 17. However I know that even at 17, I may or may not ("may or may not" once again meaning "totally") have a lil' somethin'somethin' to say (Because of God, of course :) ).

One thing that I love to put emphasis on, specifically when speaking to young girls, is their - our - worth. It's so important for young, and older, girls to know their worth!! We somehow got to this topic and briefly talked about this in my d-group (small discipleship groups on campus) today... it's. so. important and is one of those topics that is really close to my heart.

I say all this to defend my choice of a good movie. (PS - this is partially sarcasm.)

Usually when people say, "What's your favorite movie?" everybody says a random romantic comedy or an intense action/drama film. Me? Princess Diaries 2! And apparently Storey and Mandy think the same. They're both students @ ACC and I'm hanging with them watching this incredibly cheesy yet amazing Disney movie. How can one resist?? (Answer: one can't.)

I guess movie watching is just one of those things that many people like hence the every-other-Wednesday movie night we have here on campus. Last movie night we watched "Nacho Libre" starring Jack Black - AMAZING! Everytime I see this movie I continue to quote it for days after...
I am also elated for this coming Wednesday: "The Brave Little Toaster"! I honestly don't remember much of this movie, except that 'Blankie' was my favorite character, so I cannot wait to grab some blankets, snacks and reminisce with everybody, ha. :)

In other news, I am taking a Developmental Psychology class and part of the course requires each student to go to a class with the Georgia Pre-K program for 1 hour a week for 10 weeks. Though we're in different Pre-K classrooms, my Dev Psych classmate Alicia and I go on Mondays and today was our 3rd week. It's crazy because I have noticed how the kids are starting to really open up to me and ask questions, tell me stories and I am starting to see how they're growing up in just 3 weeks.

I have approximately nine gajillion cousins and I teach the young kids at my church so I'm used to being around the little munchkins, but this is the first time where I know that I am looking for different ways different kids develop, you know? As I mentioned before, I'm a children's ministry major and I think this class will be a great asset to my degree and such.

Well, the climax of the movie is approaching and I can't miss it! ;) Crazy world you read this - thanks though. Come to ACC, ok? You can watch Princess Diaries 2 with us.

Peace,
Jamie-Grace

video you should watch: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FtX8nswnUKU

P.S. All the Princess Diaries fans out there! Love the quote, "Make all the boy moose go 'WAHHH!'"

Friday At Last!

Wow, it's been a really long week. I had three tests and a paper due this week, and of course I waited until the last minute for everything. We had our first D-group (discipleship group) this Monday. Each student is assigned to a D- group led by a teacher or faculty member. Freshmen are in Peer groups that are lead by a Campus Life Minister (CLM), which is kind of like an RA. My D-group leader, Mrs. Taylor, always bakes something for us. This week she made her apple squares which are my favorite.
But the week is over and it's Friday! One of my roommates from last semester is coming to stay with us for the weekend. I'm excited to see her. She wants to go to the Dwarf House tonight, so I'm looking forward to a chicken biscuit. There is a volleyball game tonight at 6pm, so I'll most likely be going to that. The boys have a soccer game at Lagrange today. There is a Fan Van taking any students who want to go to the game. I'd love to go, but I am seriously tired and feel like taking a nap. I'm really excited about tomorrow because I'm going to the GA game. I've never been to a college football game and I can't wait. So I guess I need to go and find some red and black to wear tomorrow!

ACC... WOW!

Hey all-

Sorry for not writing in awhile.....

I must first start off by saying..I'm terribly excited about Wednesday Sept. 30th! We are watching 'The Brave Little Toaster' for movie night! I love that movie and it's going to be awesome up on the projector! :D I cannot wait!

School is so crazy right now! LESSON PLANS LESSON PLANS LESSON PLANS, that's what my life consists of right now! I enjoy teaching and being around children as much as I can but this whole lesson plan writing thing is kicking my butt, so to speak! Wow... crazy fun! ;) Soccer is going well! We have picked up a few players and we are up to 15 from 7 at the beginning of the season! I must say we are doing much better and I thank God everyday for allowing us to do some much recruiting once school started because being without soccer for a whole year would most definitely be really hard on me! Soccer is my way of "de-stressing"! All my worries go away on a soccer field and I am totally relaxed after a game. Well on the other hand.. I'm not relaxed is the best word, more so dead tired would be a better term! lol But I do love it and I hope and pray we get an awesome recruiting class for the '10 season! (so if anyone is interested, please feel free to contact me, lol)

The sorority is doing good! We have a lot of girls in our new recruitment class this year! These girls are so on fire for our sorority and for God. They are definitely going to make our sorority an even better place to be once they cross over! I love all these girls so much and they are just starting out! I can't even explain to you guys how excited and blessed I feel to have these girls in my life, not just the recruits but all my sisters as well. I am an only child and I didn't grow up with sisters I could confide in or argue with! I love each and every one of these girls dearly and I wouldn't trade not one of them for anything!

Also my birthday is tomorrow and it's going to be great minus the homework and the awesome lesson plan writing I have to do! ;)

Well have a super day, night, weekend, week or whatever!! :D

Of VeggieTales, True Love Waits, and Old Testament Survey

As part of an Atlanta Christian College-wide program, I've been reading The Unlikely Disciple, by Kevin Roose. Basically, Roose is a freshman at Brown University (really prestigious, really liberal arts school) who transfers to Liberty University (Baptist college started by Jerry Falwell) basically to see if we as Christians are as weird as everyone thinks we are. This book had the potential to be really derogatory, but Roose actually comes very close to being respectful, fair, and unbiased, which is almost impossible when discussing religion (he gets mad props for that achievement of Herculean proportions).

What I wanted to discuss in this blog post was how hard it was to put myself into his mindset. At the beginning of the book, he's very antagonistic towards evangelical Christians, and the Christian sub-culture is foreign to him (and we do have a sub-culture; don't let anyone tell you otherwise). Things I have taken for granted, like, "Duh, I have an Old Testament Survey class" or "What? Co-ed dorms?" are completely out of his realm of experience. Throughout the course of the book, he finds himself in proximity with these Christian cultural norms like VeggieTales, going to chapel twice a week, having a True Love Waits ring, going to Bible studies, taking communion, being baptized, the I Kissed Dating Good-bye scene and he is as lost as you or I would be if we were plunked down in the middle of the Ukraine.

As a high school student, you have a choice of where you want to attend college. I had this choice, and I chose to attend a Christian college. My friend went to West Georgia University (a completely secular school), and another friend went to Shorter College (which has a Christian background, but is not, strictly speaking, a Christian school. I, obviously chose to come to ACC (a Christian school, with Christian rules).

Not every student at ACC is a practicing Christian, but every student came with the knowledge that they would have to live by Christian rules. As a Christian, I don't find these rules (rules other people find strict) to be suffocating, but liberating, as I am part of a group who has chosen to live by these guidelines. There is strength in numbers, and I have specifically chosen to live with others who believe like I do. I may have done this because I wouldn't be able to handle the pressures of a secular college. But the fact remains: I am growing in my faith because I have made a commitment to living in a Christian community.

Oh, and by the way? The Unlikely Disciple is an amazing book, whether you read it from a Christian perspective or a secular perspective. It's really given me a new insight into how my world looks to someone who isn't a Christian. I think it's necessary to look at our way of life from a non-Christian perspective in order to understand where they're coming from as well as where we come from. Basically, you should read it. You'll like it.

Post = #1. That would be me.

Listening to: I'm Not Who I Was - Brandon Heath

What's up? I'm Jamie-Grace. I'm a sophomore @ Atlanta Christian College; your future school, right? ;) To whomever is reading this, I hope you will find my stories about life @ ACC either relevant to your own life or just exciting to read. Having said that, I hope I, in general, can relate to you guys and to see how that will play out, I'm guessing I should tell you about myself.I may or may not have started college 2 years early. (PS 'may or may not' means 'totally'.) I was homeschool from Kindergarten until graduation and was able to work at my own pace and maintain being 2 years ahead which I started at the age of 3 in Kindergarten. I was used to homeschool groups, sports + church activities and being around people older than me so the transition to college wasn't too hard aside from the typical adjustments most freshmen face at any school. Or for that matter, the typical adjustments that anyone will face in a new environment.

I enrolled in ACC in the Fall of 2008 (class of '08 represent!) as a Counseling major. I am a musician and filmmaker and wanted to focus on those things so after one semester I transferred to a school in Tennessee where I could focus more on music and communications. To make a long (very long) story short, I got involved with a children's ministry while in TN and found that I could be a filmmaker, a musician - but God wanted me to work with young people. That's something I've known all along, but I didn't truly realize that until about June of 2009. So I came back! :)

As of 2009, ACC has entirely new department for Child & Youth Development and my major is in this department: Children's Ministry. It is SO a God thing how everything worked out. I wish I could elaborate and tell you every little aspect, but we have chapel in a little bit and I don't think I have time to. ;)

Another fact about me, that you will probably never guess, is that I have Tourette Syndrome. TS is a neurobiological (aka brain, ha!) condition causing uncontrollable movements and sounds called tics. I have had TS for nearly 10 years so the head jerks, arm twitches and "ah" noises that cause me to stutter are completely normal for my family and friends. When I was younger, before I knew the cause of the tics, I would hold them in while in public and this has become a not so great habit of mine as the tics I mentioned before (and many other ones) "catch-up" with me later.

I say all of this not for pity or sympathy, but to emphasize on the community at ACC. I know that God is everywhere, but I can really feel a strong Christian community here especially when it comes to my "disability." (Note the quotations.) Yes, I receive special assistance for some aspects of academics and that is awesome. Yes, the smaller class sizes for serious help me out with focusing and understanding what the professors say. But the community here...

I remember freshman year (I talk like I'm a senior, ha) one of the student leaders made sure I knew that if my tics were bad and I needed to 'let them out' her room was an open door. Way important to me! I was even hanging with some new students the other day, and they asked me about my Tourette (which I am so cool with). The students told me they were talking about Tourette to some sophomores and they told them I had Tourette and was cool about opening up about it. Having TS sometimes means the butt of most jokes, but in this case it was an opportunity for me to share who I really was because some of my friends took the initiative to share what TS really is.

It's the simple things, that could possibly happen anywhere, that reassure me that ACC is where I belong. Though I love it here, I know that God had me transfer to understand what I was really looking for. If I never left, I may not have been involved with the Christian kid's tour and tv show that I am now. So leaving, as odd as it is to say, was in a sense the right thing. But coming back was even more right. (Does that make sense?)

So in a nutshell, that's me. The dorky thumbs-up kid with the six-string in the picture above, and the 17 year old who is in awe that God for seriousness has His hand on her. That would be me.

Peace,
Jamie-Grace

You Should Know: If someone has MacBook and is in McKinney's (ACC coffee shop) at the same time as you? You will be expected to be in a photobooth picture. Or two. Or fourteen.

Video to Check Out: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=unW4GOJw4ro
do you remember?

Hello, World!

So, for those of you who don't know me (yet), my name is Elizabeth, and I'm a new freshman at Atlanta Christian College, home of the ripping, roaring, mighty, fighting Chargers. What a Charger is, I'm not sure. As part of orientation activities, we did a scavenger hunt around campus, and we were required to take a picture of ourselves acting like "Chargers" in front of the gym. We pretended we were horses. We also won the scavenger hunt.

A little bit about me? I'm a Biblical studies major here at ACC, and I'm thinking about maybe a double major (because I'm a nerd). When I get older, I want to be a missionary, and I'm seriously considering Bible translation (because I'm a nerd). I like to read, write, insert pedantic words into blog posts to show off my large vocabulary, knit, read, talk and hang out with my friends, read, doodle, read, correct spoken grammar (I'm an official grammar Nazi), and read.

I know I'm coming into this thing a little late (as it is a grand total of four weeks into the school year) but I'm going to do my best to make up for lost time. You'll soon learn how much I like to talk, and you're sort of a captive audience. i want a cookie. This previous sentence, in its abject capitalization inaccuracy, was typed by my friend, Cody, who is also a freshman here. I don't want a cookie. I do, however, want to tell you about my freshman experience. Oh, look. A cookie. Yum. :)

I was pretty terrified at the prospects of college. I'm shy, and I don't always interact well with other students. Public school was purgatory, and I could tell you enough horror stories to fill up a Stephen King novel. That being said, college has more than passed my expectations. I'm making friends, getting involved, learning so much about fascinating things....

Time out. I'm going to give you a list of three things, and you need to pick two that go together. Panda, Monkey, Banana. If you picked panda and monkey, then you think more like a Westerner (like the USA or most European countries). If you picked monkey and banana (like me) you think more like a person from the east (Japan or China). If you picked panda and banana..... Well. Westerners see things in categories, like animals and fruit while Easterners see things in terms of relationships, like monkeys eat bananas. THIS is what I'm learning in my sociology class.... and you could, too. So fascinating.

Time in. College is cool, and I know my experiences here are in no way unique. I'm honestly glad God chose to send me here to ACC for school. I've really enjoyed college up to this point, and with this brief recap of the last four weeks, I promise the next time I blog, I'll tell you about something awesome that's happening in real time.

Until then, I remain your faithful blogger,
Elizabeth

Sunday Nights!

Sunday Nights was awesome this week. Maybe it was just me, but everyone seemed slightly more energetic and excited than usual, which is a good thing! For those of you that don’t know, Sunday Nights is a student-based worship service that happens on campus every—well, Sunday Night. This year I’m apart of the team that helps put it together every week. I’m working a lot with the music and helping to organize bands to lead worship. In past years, when I’ve led worship, playing at Sunday Nights was often the highlight of my past week, and a good way to help kickoff the upcoming week. Even when I wasn’t playing, Sunday Nights was always that something I could look forward to at the beginning of the week. For me, another cool thing about Sunday Nights was getting to see it kick off and then take off. Sunday Nights started my first semester here at ACC when I was a freshman back in 2006. It was something new, but it never got old for me! Little did I know that in my senior year, I’d get to witness and be apart of what Sunday Nights has become.
I think that’s what I really like about ACC…you get to see the start of all the great things God is doing around here. And even better, you get to be play a part in all of those great moments. It makes me wonder, as I prepare to graduate in May, what God has in store for the classes after me. Can’t wait to come back and visit and just being flat out amazed over and over again!
Well, I have about 60 pages to read of Out of the Silent Planet by C.S. Lewis before my Inklings class tomorrow! I’ll update again later!


-I created and worked on the PowerPoint...this is a picture of my computer showing what's on the overhead...I wish I had had my Nikon D60 and done a long exposure shot on this.

-Morgan

Has it really been a month?

Man...now that school is back in, it seems like time won't slow down! Back to being busy, having to write down what I have to do each week, and taking every opportunity to nap! Well, this weekend was a nice change of pace though. A bunch of us all went to IHOP Friday night, and went bowling On Saturday, and it was a blast. I didn't bowl myself (saving up money for a new car..almost there...) but I did sit with everyone, and we goofed off into the night.






















After a weekend like that, I'm ready to get this week started right. Just a few more weeks before it's time to prepare for midterms...yikes! Better start studying now...

Business As Usual

So last week was short but busy. I had my first test of the semester and my first paper due the same day. My test was in my Life of Christ class. Luckily the professor, Dr. Blackburn, had a study session the day before the test which really helped prepare me. The paper I had to write was for my Biblical Interpretation class. Part of the paper required us to read 1 Corinthians from three different Bible translations. I used the NIV, NLT, and ESV. It was actually pretty interesting because I've never really read anything except the NIV.
Besides school work there were a lot of other things going on around campus. The boys had a soccer game against Toccoa Falls, which they won. Toccoa is one of our rivals so it was an intense game, and a lot of fun to watch. That same night there was orientation for the Access program, so the campus was really crowded. Thursday night there was a campus prayer walk. Students gathered together and walked around campus to different stations where they worshiped and prayed together. I didn't get to go because I was studying for my test the next day, but some of my friends who went said it was great. Last week I also wrote my first article for the Charger. The Charger is our campus newspaper. It's small, but it highlights some of the things going on around campus. I interviewed one of our professors, Dr. D.J Dycus. He recently received his doctorate so I asked him a lot of questions about that process.
I guess this week will feel a little longer since I only had two days of class last week. At least I don't have any tests or big projects due. The boys have another soccer game today so I'll probably go watch, but other than that I'll just stay busy with school work as usual.

Labor Day Weekend

Yesterday was Labor day and I have a four day weekend on account of that whole no class on Tuesday thing. I've had a pretty good four days off. Friday I stayed late at school so I could go to the volleyball game. The girls lost, but it was still a fun game to watch. After the game I left campus and made a three hour drive to Nashville, GA. You've probably never hear of it, and that's probably because it's an incredibly small town with like three stop lights. Anyway, one of my uncles died so I drove down for the funeral. While it was a sad occasion, it was nice to see all my family again. It was especially nice to see some of my extended family members who I only see maybe once a year.
Sunday night I drove back to school and spent the night. Labor day I went home and played tennis with my dad. He's a really good tennis player and I' just a beginner so he kicked my butt on the court. We played for an hour and a half and my arms kind of hurt today. After tennis I went with my family to have dinner at Outback with my sister's fiance and his family.
So now it's time to get back to school and back to homework. I'm going to work really hard today to catch up on my school work, because the boys' soccer team has a game tonight and I really want to go. The team is really good and I'm excited to watch them play. So first things first, I need to get my homework finished and then I can go have fun.