Senior Year... here i come

Well, after what I can call the hardest year of my college existence (so far) I can finally say that I am finished. My last final exam was at 8 am this morning and I am currently now back in my room with a cup of coffee and a sleepy body. I am so excited. I will be home in a few days for the summer and will get to work and hang out. What fun!!

Have you ever seen those Folger coffee commercials? The ones where when the coffee pot goes off the person wakes up? I had that morning today. The instant smell of coffee woke me before my alarm, and I dont know how I feel about it. At the time, I was glad that there was coffee, but now I am thinking that I could have used the last few minutes of sleep. ;) My exam this morning was one in a million. We all arrived to the hall way just to end up standing there for 10 minutes after it was supposed to begin. Our professor wasn't there on time. So I called the Registrar and let them know, and we were shuffled into the room to wait. Many students were not happy about this, but they did as they were told. It was a bit frustrating to have to get up and wait, but it was a final, so I was going to do just that. After taking that exam and walking back into my room, I realized that I am an official senior. My exams are finished, my final papers are turned in, all I have to do is pack and I can be on my way home. It is a strange feeling because it really just feels like yesterday when I found out my freshman placement of residence halls.

Today I will spend much of the day packing and taking this down. I am not really looking forward to it, but it is something we have to do. It is raining outside, which is funny in itself. Doom and gloom is what it looks like, but I think I'm the one who caused it to be like this. This past week, when it was hot out, I said the weather just jumped from winter to summer... no spring. Well it has been thrown back into my face the past few days. ;)

This is my last post for the year. I hope that summer is everything you want it to be and more. I will be spending it with my best friends and my nieces!!

Blessings of Peace to you all,
Anna

Finding myself at a loss for words...

It is coming to an end. This year that is. I look back on everything that I've done and accomplished and smile to myself. I've conquered one of the most difficult classes I've had yet, survived 4 months away from home, learned about a new culture in a new culture, and formed 5 new friendships that I wouldn't have ever imagined. I think I found 5 new best friends in those people too.

My semester abroad was something that I will rave about for the rest of my life. I recommened it to anyone who is willing to give a semester abroad a shot. It was very much worth it. I've found new family in Ireland, whether or not they are really my true family.
I have become more independant. Something that I have been striving for, for about 3 years. I know I can do it. :)
I am one year closer to graduation and life away from Bluffton, and that in itself is very scary. I have grown closer with my roommate this year, whom I love and adore and couldnt have made it through this year without.

There are alot of things that I can be very proud of.

As the week hits Wednesday tomorrow, students are becoming very antsy to get finals finished. It is about time for summer and graduation and what joy that brings!! I am studying for my last final... and I'm stoked about this. I can't wait to pack things up into boxes and make the drive home in hopefully warm weather with the windows down. It will finally be summer, or close to it at least.


Enjoy the weather. Grab a blanket and sit outside. Summer will be here soon.

Blessings of Peace,
Anna

Mr. Sun

When waking up this morning all I could think about was the song I use to sing when I was a child, "mr. sun". I looked out my window and felt the heat of the sun shining down as saw the blue skies. It was perfect. I knew that summer was almost here. It is finals week on campus which means there is a lot of studying, no class, and lots of free time. I really like final week. It is a time on campus for exams (which I am not a fan of) but also packing up and moving out. This year, unlike any other year, I am ready to be home. Being away for a whole semester does that to you and I have been ready to sit at home for more than 2 weeks. There is still the issue of finding a summer job, and making money, but just the though of summer makes me smile. I have two nieces waiting at home for some aunt anna time!! :)
The other day a large group of us made our way to Bob Evans for a morning brunch. It seems to be a part of what the senior girls on my floor have called the 12 Days of Grad. It is time throughout the week were we have taken time out of our days to be together for their last week. What fun that Brunch was. We got good food, as well as fellowship. That is what I love. :)

Today I met up with Janna for lunch and an afternoon chat about life. Ireland seems so far away and it makes me sad. I loved that semester. I loved meeting new people, I loved life there. I really need to think about making a pit stop there along the way. It was good just to sit and enjoy our time today. We yelled at ourselves for not studying and laughed at old memories. What a friend I have in that woman. What a blessing.

I am off to study for the night. It shouldn't be too bad. :) Wish me luck. :)

Blessings of Peace.
Anna

Good Morning

It seems to be an early morning for me this cloudy Tuesday. I am currently sitting with a cup of coffee in one hand and my cereal in the other. This morning I am going to be covering for a friend at the front desk and needed to set my alarm clock a a few hours earlier than normal... do not worry, I plan on taking a nap after lunch today! ;)
Today is our last official "Tuesday/Thursday classes." This is because this Thursday we are adapting the schedule to have it fit with Monday/Wednesday/Friday classes. It is a complicated thing, but it all works out in the end. I am very excited to say that I only have a few more classes, sometimes the worries of school can hinder your day, but not to worry... it is almost Summertime. Yesterday I went throughout my regular day, working, class, working, homework, GREEK, and then Castle with my roommate. It was a regular Monday night and we have our favorite show on television. It is kind of our "roommate bonding" time. I am so grateful for my roommate. I can not say enough about her. She has made my semseter transition back to Bluffton so much better than it could have been. Trust me it was hard, and I had many tears to show for it, but my roommate made me get up and do things. She pushed me to go to MCB Bingo, she pulled me to Marbeck for dinner and gave me space when I needed to mope around by myself. I love her.

After work this morning, I will be heading to class, lunch, NAP, class, homework, dinner, and then back to work. I am actually opening and closing in Marbeck tonight.... what a funny realization. I am actually aboout to live here the next week with all of the hours I'll be working. I will not say this all the time and my family will laugh if they read this, but I really enjoyed getting up this morning. It was something about the fresh air that I was breathing in when walking to work, and something about the morning coffee (which is now cold) that I enjoyed the morning aspect. Now maybe some should wait to see what i'm like later tonight, because it could be a different story when I'm falling asleep at the desk, but I could work this shift again. ;)

I hope you all find your "happiness in the morning!!"
Blessings of Peace,
Anna

(some pictures from my traveling over christmas)
I wish I could do this more...

What a weekend

There are so many things that I can talk about within this post.
1. School is close to coming to an end for yet another year.
2. Shining Through had it's last Church outing for the year.
3. The sun was incredible this past weekend.
4. Riley Creek Festivle was AMAZING!!
5. I won more things that I've ever had in my entire life this past weekend!!

SO. As the weekend started the fun just kept coming. Friday night up until around 7 I made sure to knock out some homework and then the fun begins!! At 7 the new improv group on campus was performing for and hour and then the ABP was going to play some new songs. I left for Marbeck at 6.50 and was able to get a good seat! The Improv group was hilarious. I was impressed with all of the fun they had throughout their hour. It was a good time to sit with friends and relax. It seemed to me that this weekend was one where I realized that school was coming to a close. Things were moving along and people just seemed to have that end of the year hype. :) After my night in Marbeck ended with Trevor's mish mosh band, which I loved, I made my way back to the room to finally see my roommate after her art workshop. We gathered our stuff and walked to Ropp for Lets make a Deal, held by the Radio. What fun!! A lot of people turned out for this event and some really great prizes were handed out!! I won a MP3 player!!! I was sooooo excited! That was just one of the prizes that were given out within the next few days!

After a fun night with friends it was Saturday morning that I looked forward too. Shining Through was opening up the Riley Creek Festivle with worship for an hour and then the games began. The weather was warm, the sun was shining, and it was perfect. There were people all over the place with children running around and music playing in the background. I spent some time with Ireland friends and had fun at the flag face painting table. Saturday was just a good day in general. My best friend recieved one ticket for a game she played and won a digital camera. She already has one, but since mine was broken handed it over to me.!! How AMAZING!! After a fun filled night with friends, we made our way over to the Whippy Dip and then to the Drive-in movie on the lawn.
My weekend was eventful, and I loved every minute of it. :)
Shining Through came to an end, but it came in a good way. With friends, food and music.

Blessings of Peace,
Anna

Today..

Today is beautiful. The weather is nice, the sun is shining and classes are going just perfectly.
I wanted to share with you 10 things that are incredible about Bluffton.

1. The personable feeling that everyone gives. Friends are everywhere on campus and it is a good feeling to be able to have those people.

2. Friends from home are welcome. If they are your friends then they are apart of Bluffton as well.

3. When the sun comes out, people are happier. People can be found everywhere walking around on campus.

4. When it comes to school work, professors usually get overloaded towards the end of the semester... Don't think you are the only one.

5. When it comes to people, leave your door open. People are more likely to come and talk. :)

6. The education you get here might not seem worth it in the beginning, but that is not true. You will be blessed with this place and the education.

7. You can find you "nitch" of people on campus, but can also meet some of the greatest people outside of that "nitch" too.

8. Laugh when you can.

9. Bluffton helps people. Whether it can bring a sense of peace for some, or helping the community through a Blood drive.

10. It becomes home and can give you a world experience...

I am at Bluffton because I feel in love with it. I have had bad days, don't worry, but I have also had amazing days. I encourage you to find a place that you can experienced all of this. :) It will be your home.

Blessings of Peace.

Anna

April Showers....

Well, Back from Easter break and I can not even begin to talk about what lies ahead.
We only have literally 3 weeks left (including finals) and I don't even know where my life went. It was a good idea to go home for Easter Break. It is really nice to have time away from Bluffton even though I love it so much.
Within the next few weeks I will be running around finishing everything up, but they will get done. I don't doubt that, a lot of the stress just comes from making sure that they are done correctly.
This past weekend at home I ran around town filling out Summer Job applications and just thinking about summer. My Junior year has gone by so quickly that it is too much to talk about. From Northern Ireland to saying goodbyes, to coming back and facing the trials back here to watching people get married and figuring out the rest of my time at Bluffton. Wow. It is hard for me to even remember what has happened.
I love this place.The first time i stepped foot on this campus I fell in love. I fell in love with this place and all the beauty. I fell in love with my friends that I live with and fell in love with being a college student. This is basically the best thing that I could have ever done. This place has so many memories and life!! How can someone not love it?! Bluffton is filled with beauty and everytime I think about it I smile! :D
I say that will all honesty. I love the people, the education, the lessons learned. Sometimes I think that is what I'm here for... the lessons. There are so many times that I go through my day and learn something new about myself that will help when I graduate. I can't believe that the thought of graduating is in my head.... it is only one year away.

I hope that you all had a Blessed Easter. Enjoy the time that you have left at School... soak it all up. It is sure to go by quickly.

Blessings of Peace
Anna

Room Draw

It is that time again on campus when we need to be looking forward to what might be happening for next year. 2009-2010, my senior year. Wow. I have been writing this blog since the 2nd semester of my Freshman year and now I will be starting off Senior year doing the same thing. What a feeling.
As students are busy running throughout their nightly things of studying and finishing projects you need to begin to throw in the thought os Room Draw. This is a particularly touchy subject for some because they recieved a high number.
The idea behind room draw is to turn in all of the necessities of down payments and your room draw card, and you will then receive a number that will make or break your room draw experience. (I am lucky enough because my roommate next year is a hall chaplin and she gets placed, so we already have our rooms finished)
Anyway this year as you received your number you are broken into class and then a random number. Room draw is 2 different nights of the year where you walk into a room with the layouts of the residence halls and pick from the abudance of rooms. It is exciting and fun to watch because it is really just chaos. Many people can leave with a great feeling and some leave with frustration. Room Draw can be a tough night, but in the end at least next year you may get a better number! ;)

Other than room draw, Bluffton is working its way to the end of the semester. Only 3 more weeks left and then summer is here. One thing that is frustrating is that it was snowing out today. Just last week I was walking around without a coat and today I was covered with my scarf and winter jacket. I can not wait to make my way home for Easter break, because then I am almost finished with the crazy projects that I need to finish.... if only there was a way to fly through the next few days and not feel the pressure...

Until then.
Blessings of peace.

Anna