My Break Isn't a Break But It Is

I'm currently hanging at my friend Cammie's house in Nashville, TN after being awake for barely 4 hours...

I spent the last week working on a Christian television show here and of course doing homework after filming :) Now I'm having some down time, learning to play Cammie's dad's Flying V ukulele and getting ready to study for a test I have next Monday. The Monday after break :)

I must say, I'm really excited about Spring break. Obviously because it's break but also because I'll be working again. And while it doesn't sound like it's a break because I'm working, it's a break because I just might be doing something really exciting that is a break from not doing it. Does that make sense? I'm trying to announce this music news without announcing it... :)

In other music news (ba dum chh), I'm watching GAC (Great American Country) and they're playing Toby Keith's "Cryin for Me." A ridiculously sad song about his friend who died. Not really the perfect soundtrack for this blog... ooh! An eHarmony commercial!

---Jamie-Grace

One Hour, Forty-Five Minutes and Counting.....

Okay. Here's the rundown:

-Last night I had a choir concert. I don't think I have a very good solo voice, but I love to sing and singing in a group is completely my cup of tea. We sang Worthy Is The Lamb and the Amens from Handel's Messiah. It was so much fun, but SO much more challenging than anything I've ever tried to sing before. My parents and my friend Kamie came to hear us and we got to talk afterwards.

-Then I went back to my room and finished my sermon outline for Dr. Strother which was due this morning at 8:00. I turned that in, sat through another boring class* and then went back to my room to....

-Pack for home, which is where I will spend my spring break. I'm taking home massive quantities of stuff, and my father will make fun of me when he sees it. He's convinced I cannot pack light to save my life, which is simply not the case. I just need to move some stuff back home. That's it. Honest. :D

- I had a humanities study session today, at noon. The test is this afternoon, and it's the longest test Dr. Carey assigns. It's art from the Byzantine era all the way through modern times. Do you know how much art's been done in that time? Lots. Lots and lots and lots.

- Today at 2:00, I have an interview with Christopher Kendricks, who is a graduating senior this year. I work for the Gold and Blue, the alumni publication, and Sarah Huxford (Also know as Boss Lady [just kidding. I've never called her that] [I think her father reads the blog and I don't think he'd be happy with me calling her that. :D ]) assigned me senior interviews. Christopher is one of the first to respond and I've..... never met him before. He's a Biblical studies/preaching major, I think, but that's all I know. I've alloted him 30 minutes (45 if he's interesting, but no more) and then....

- Home. I'm going home for spring break today and I cannot wait. I've got a list of homework to conquer as long as my arm and I've got a list of friends to catch up with equally as long, and that includes my parents and my brother, who's coming home, too. I'm itching to leave. I cannot wait to be home. A girl can only take so much school, you know.

I'll see you on the other side!
-Elizabeth

*That's a lie. I don't think preaching is boring. It's one of my favorites and I'm not just saying that because Dr. Strother may or may not be standing over my shoulder reading what I write... In all honesty, I really enjoy getting to see the background of the sermon. Although the downside of this is that it forces me to analyze every sermon I listen to.

Ah, Monday.

With everything going on last week, I totally forgot to keep you guys updated! Had to sing again in Vocal Studio, Caleb's Dress Rehearsal, Caleb's actual Concert, the choir singing on Sunday, and on top of all that, I've finally decided it's time to start recording some of this music I've been writing. This week is just as busy, too, with the choir singing again on Wednesday and Thursday, Midterm Voice Recitals, and other stuff, too. Fortunately, next week is Spring Break. I'm taking the whole week OFF and catching up with some friends I havent seen. And while I'm chillin' at home, we had a group of awesome dedicated students who are going to Mexico to assist with the Casas Por Cristo ministry. Basically they are going to help build houses for homeless people. What a sacrifice, giving up spring break to help the needy! Please pray for them, as they need a little more financial help to get there.

Well, that's all I got for now! PEACE!

-Lawrence

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

The View from Saturday

So it's 10:10 AM exactly, on a Saturday morning, and I am a) awake, a feat in and of itself b) not tired and c) eating dry cereal. More specifically, eating off-brand Lucky Charms.

Today is awesome because I will be at home tonight. A friend of mine (Adam) is working at Woodland Christian Camp this weekend, and he's going to be really close to my house, and he's kind enough to take me as far as Temple. I haven't been home in three weeks, and although my guy friends tease me ("It's called being independent, Elizabeth." "Yeah, independent.") there's nothing wrong with wanting to see my parents. When I was planning to go to Arkansas for school, I knew I'd never get to come home for weekends and I was okay with that. But one of the advantages of going to school closer to home is GETTING to be home every so often, and I'd have to be stupid to not take advantage of that.

Today is not awesome because I have so much stuff to DO! My Monday is chock-full of classes, study sessions, blood-donating sessions, and essays to turn in. I'm hoping to get a lot of it done before I go home so I can relax and hang out with the aforementioned parentals. Hence my 8:30 wake-up call. I'm going to go to some more homework.

- Elizabeth

Geeze it's early...

Yeah, so I'm not really the type to get up before 9 if I can avoid it, but my boss in the cafeteria asked me last night to come in and cook breakfast because the normal lady will be out of town...so here I am, at almost 6 am, no classes until 2, and I'm looking for my first (of many) cup of coffee.

Haha, but it's worth it, because I know that everyone will appreciate it. Besides, I like to cook. I've been in the kitchen since I was 14. It also feels good that my boss can trust me to get the job done, it's a lot of responsibility!

Meanwhile, I've finally found my routine for balancing classes, homework, work, friends, and you know good ol' God. There were a few days last week that I didn't get to spend time reading my bible as long as I normally do, and it scared me a little that it would be that way all semester, but now that the dust has cleared, seems like everything will work out.

In other news, ALL of my roommates are graduating! I'm so happy for them, but that means I have no idea who I'll be living with next semester. That's something I'm gonna work on, finding some other upper-classmen friends to live with. Sounds exciting!

Yikes! I gotta get started on breakfast! See ya!

- Lawrence

Hello, Hurricane!

I just finished up a chat with my friend Georgia, and sat down with a cup of coffee in the lounge. I'm wearing my pajamas already and am looking forward to a calm and peaceful night of relaxing before the week ahead of me sets in. I try to take these blogs in a literal--less metaphysical sense, but sometimes I just feel like sharing what's on my heart.

Everyone who's been... alive.. has experienced those moments of impending doom, where you can just FEEL something looming on the horizon. You know it's coming and there's nothing you can do to stop it. You have two options. One: Fall on your knees and give into the "inevitable" collapse. Two: Stand, facing this massive storm, screaming with everything within you, "Bring it on!" Prepare for it as best you can, then wait, confident and assured, resting in God's hands.

Lately, a couple of curve balls have been thrown at me, things I have no control over, things I don't need to have control over (and if they were really curve balls, things I have no hope of actually hitting). It's easy to fall back into old patterns of thinking and old habits, and more so, it's tempting beyond belief. I'm scared of what the future holds for me, and as I was discussing this with Georgia, she said, "Yeah, of course you're scared. But do you think ultimately something good's going to come out of this?"

"Two Bible verses come to mind," I replied. "First, 'For we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.' This bit in Psalms sort of defines 'good' for me, 'As for me, nearness to God is my good. I have put my trust in the Lord.'"

At the end of this school year, I doubt I will be in love or even have a boyfriend. I don't think I'll have won the lottery (kinda hard when you don't play), or have all my dreams come true. But I do think I'll be near to God. And, as far as I'm concerned, nearness to God is my good. I trust him to know what the end game is.

So, I think as I wait for the impending storm, I'm going to sing, like Jon Foreman, "Hello, hurricane, you're not enough... you can't silence my love. I've got doors and windows boarded up. All your dead end fury's not enough. You can't silence my love."

Video of the Blog Post: Hello Hurricane by Switchfoot.

- Elizabeth

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.