Beginnings

   Moved into College yesterday!  My room is a mess, so no pictures yet, but they'll come soon.  I have such pretty bedding and so much pink!  :D  Last night was my first night here on campus.  I'm alone in the room for now; both my suite mates and roommate will arrive soon.  But certainly wasn't lonely last night.  Girls kept coming in and out and I met several new friends.  This is going to be so fun!
   On my floor and wing alone, there are girls from China, Germany, the UK, Texas, Michigan, Colorado, Georgia, and several other states!  It is so cool to be in such a diverse environment and meet so many different people!
   I woke up early this morning to the sound of pouring rain and thunder.  My alarm wasn't going off for at least 15 minutes, but I just had to get up.  The rain makes me so happy!  Although, I am woefully unprepared.  The only rainproof jacket I have is a large winter coat...
   Today I meet with my advisor to schedule classes, and I'll have some other stuff going, like interview with the President, and some information seminars. 
   Have a blessed day, all!

The Great Adventure

In just a few short days, my life will change drastically.  I am embarking on a great adventure, and only God knows what it will involve.  And I’m terribly excited!  This adventure will take me all the way across the country to the state of Michigan.

Being a lifetime resident of Southern California, Michigan is almost like a foreign country.  At least that’s what everyone here in CA tells me.  I am told it snows all the time, and it’s always cold.  I don’t entirely believe that.  But it is pretty crazy that I’m moving to Michigan, of all places!  I have no family and few friends there, and the only time I’ve ever been there was to visit Calvin.  Michigan was never even on my radar as a place to go, and I like to travel!  So I am rather excited to see how God uses me there.

It really is a great big exciting adventure!  I am anxious to experience a state where you can tell the difference between winter and fall, and a state where you actually have thunderstorms more than once every four summers!  And best of all?  I’m experiencing it all because of Calvin! 

Calvin came into the picture in my junior year of High School when I met a young lady named Stephanie DeWeerd at a Christian College Fair at Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa.  She was the Calvin admissions counselor for Southern California.  From that first time I heard about Calvin, I wanted to go there!  At first, I was just interested because Calvin had the programs I needed (Pre-physical Therapy major and Dance minor), a combination few Christian Colleges have.  But I found I loved everything else about Calvin, and got more and more interested with every conversation and mailer.  When my application was accepted, it was like a dream come true!

So here are some of the things I’m most excited for:

    Snow!!!  Yes, that’s a big one.  I can’t wait to live somewhere with real seasons, especially white winters.  As long as I don’t freeze to death, that is…

    School!  As strange as it sounds to most people, I love school, and I can’t wait to be back in class.  Especially science classes!  I’m so excited about being a science major!

    The Calvin Community!  Even though I spent just a few days on Calvin’s campus last fall, I could feel the strong community there.  It’s hard to describe, but it just felt right, like it could be home.  I am also excited to meet lots of different people from different places and backgrounds!

    Dance!  I am very much looking forward to dancing at Calvin.  I have danced for about nine years, and I love it.  I am excited to have new teachers and learn new techniques, and hopefully I can also choreograph for Dance Guild.  And of course, swing dancing in Rosa Parks Circle…

I can’t wait to see what this year will bring!  And through it all, I know God is always faithful, and I can turn to Him for whatever I need!  Bring it on!

Vanderholt

This is Vanderholt, my new friend.  He was a graduation gift from a dear friend as a companion for my adventures.  You'll be seeing a lot of him in the next few months!

Preparations

College is less than a week and a half away!  I'm getting very excited!  Today I went out and bought an essential:  "The Princess Bride".  I've already purchased much of what I need from here, and will get the rest within the next week.  I'm just spending this time enjoying family and friends and preparing myself mentally for school.

It's so weird knowing I'm leaving and life will go on just fine here without me.  But then I have to remind myself that I'm needed elsewhere.  God is calling me to Michigan and Calvin College for a reason.  I can't wait to see what it is!

Today I got a final email for PASSPORT, my student orientation.  I found out, much to my chagrin, that I may have to take calculus or pre-calculus.  Along with that there will be several kinesiology classes, physics, at least 3 Biology, and couple chemistry classes that have to be completed for my major, among other classes.  It should be interesting...  I know I will certainly learn a lot though!

This is gonna be quite the adventure!  I could use lots of prayer!  Oh, and if I don't talk to you very much when I'm gone, it's not cause I don't like you, I probably just won't have time... :P