Fifty-Nine

I’m shocked that there are only 59 days left before I'm at Liberty.

Considering that I started this blog when there were 83, if things keep going at this rate I’m going to be at Liberty in what seems like tomorrow. Time is a funny thing, isn’t it?

I’m just starting out, but before I know it I’m going to be graduating from Liberty University.


I’m twenty-one. The next decade of my life holds some really big things and I have exactly 59 days to prepare myself for the onset of all of that. Obviously not all of it is going to happen in tandem, but I know that the day I step onto that campus, my life is going to go warp speed ahead: college, graduation, marriage, family, ministry, more college, a career, who knows.

I welcome it all; in whatever shape, way, or form the Lord would bring it before me. It’s just crazy to think of what the next season of life holds. I want to be ready for it. I want to fulfill my purpose within this generation that God is raising up, because I’d think you’d agree that we truly are a generation unlike any other; there’s just something different about us. I notice it every Sunday morning and Wednesday evening at Aletheia Church when hundreds of college students come rolling through the doors. I notice it at Liberty University when there aren't any open seats in the Vines Center for Convocation. I notice it when I see my friends, all roughly 21 years of age, leading Bible studies and teaching and worshiping Jesus and sharing their faith and planting churches when they could be out doing countless other things.

I anticipate looking up into the clouds and seeing Christ in my lifetime - I really do. Yet, even if He doesn’t come for us while there's still breath in my lungs, I would still never regret living my life believing all the while that He will. It keeps me on my toes. It keeps me pushing forward. It keeps my heart alive and my perspective in place; knowing that what our generation does is going to set the stage for Christ’s return -
knowing that what I do is going to set the stage for Christ's return.

Well, hey there goosebumps.


"But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;"
-1 Peter 2:9

Sixty

So, day one of unemployment: woke up at noon and then called my advisor and signed up for classes.

Yep. Noon. (Waffles obviously weren't involved this time around.)

My class schedule for Spring 2010 is as follows:

• English 102
• GNED 101
• Sociology 200
• Intro to Worship Studies
• Harmonic Practices and Theory I
• Private Vocals
• Private Guitar

Now that registration is finished, what's next?

eh...

well, that's exciting.

Sixty-One

I was five minutes late to work this morning.

And, well...







Don't worry. We parted ways amiably. :)


-C

Sixty-Two

Financial Check-in is FINALLY complete!
Registration? TOMORROW!

Sixty-Four

Hi! Welcome to Chili's. My name is Chelsea and I'm going to be your server today.

While you guys are looking around the menu a bit, I'd like to take out the time to point out a few of my favorite items.

First off, I'd like to mention our Presidente Margarita to you. It's our signature drink here at Chili's - and the reason it's signature is because it's actually made with Conmerativo Brandy which gives it a much richer and smoother taste than just your average Margarita - not to mention that it's shaken all the way to your table making YOU the center of attention!

As far as appetizers go, I'd regret it if I never got to tell you about the Kickin' Jack Nachos. You can order either a full order or a half order, but keep in mind that once they're on the table, they go quickly! A fried corn tortilla is layered with mashed black beans, our warm queso, mixed cheeses, topped off with jalapenos, and then showered with our very own margarita spice.

Entree specifically, I'd go for the Burger Bites. These little bite-sized wonders are served on mini, toasted, buttered up, buns. These handpacked burgers are given a good dose of our smoky applewood bacon bits, cool ranch dressing, cheese, and sauteed onions and on the side is our less than average jalapeno ranch for dipping. The burgers are also served with a good helping of our homestyle fries and onion blossom strings, so there's no need to worry about going hungry.


And the moment we've all been waiting for: dessert. The paradise pie is one of the most underrated items I feel that we have. The molten cakes get a lot of hype, but this is where it's at. It's a warm blondie brownie packed with chocolate chips, walnuts, coconut and then topped with vanilla icecream, fudge and caramel. You've never experienced Paradise quite like this before.


Let's just say I'm super stoked that there's only 64 days left to go, because that means there's about 40-50 days left to go before I get to leave Chili's and frankly, I don't know how much more I can take of this corporate hoop-la (confession: I really wanted to say crap right there).

The above was written on here because I actually left my computer charger in Lynchburg at the dorm we were staying in for CFAW. My computer is now dead, so my Mom's handed-down Acer will have to do the trick until I can get back down to L'burg. The Acer doesn't have Word on it, and even if it did there is no way I'd be able to print it off. I could have hand written it, but that would have taken forever and disrupted the flow of my creative, adjective packed (hardly), genius of a two minute long menu-tour (because everyone wants to hear their server ramble on for two whole minutes).

I now have to go copy it down by hand, memorize it, and present it to a manager today before I"m allowed to work. It was due Wednesday, but my rebellious streak kicked in and wouldn't allow me to do it. But then Chris, our store manager called, said I had to have it done or I wouldn't be able to work. My rebellious streak has been put in it's place to say the least, but I am still going to loathe every second of this. You probably will too.

Coming soon to a Chili's near you,
-C

Sixty-Seven

CFAW
Day One


Last night, Annie and I arrived around 7:30 or so, checked-in, signed up for ministry team auditions (8:10 and 8:20 respectively) and then went to Olive Garden for dinner.

After dinner we headed out to our dorm (Campus East) and met up with our RA Laura, signed some stuff, chilled out online for a bit, and then went to room 303 for a hall meeting at 11.

We went over the Liberty Way some and Laura put some rumors about Liberty to rest and confirmed others. Guys and girls do not have separate sidewalks and yes, the only appropriate form of physical intimacy is hand holding and three second hugs.

Speaking of the opposite sex, there is a lot of mention of them. Dating and “meeting your potential spouse”  was specifically addressed at our meeting. Dating is strongly, STRONGLY encouraged – pretty much expected.

Annnd the blood pressure rises.

Once the other CFAWs heard that one of the Spiritual Life Directors on our hall had a boyfriend, they squealed in unison (they were all 18) and insisted to hear the story of how they met. So Linds told us the entire story of how she met her boyfriend future spouse, and it was pretty interesting to say the least.

Turns out, she had made a commitment to God to not date anyone for a year.
Well, first week of class there was this guy in her Communications class whom she loathed because apparently he was a know-it-all, over achiever, and apparently cocky as all get out (her words, not mine). After she gave her first speech, he talked to her for the first time, then moved to sit next to her, and then started throwing rocks at her dorm window - you know where this is going...

When he finally mentioned dating her, she on the other hand had to tell him no because of the commitment she had made with God. He, obviously, thought it was a bit silly, but honored her commitment and told her that he would wait an entire year just to date her.

In the meantime, they were only “allowed” to "go for coffee,” ("cause everyone does that") and talk via facebook and IM. She never even gave him her phone number until their “non-relationship” hit the ten month marker. She had to go days, sometimes weeks without talking to him at all so that she could refocus and keep her heart in check. He wasn't allowed to come visit her over the summer, but be rest assured that once the summer was over and the year was up, he made the drive to go visit her dad and ask if he could date her. They have officially been “dating” for three months now. Props to that guy.



And welcome to Liberty.


All this boy talk and I can’t lie and tell you that I haven’t thought about the possibility of meeting him here. It seems like it’s the first thing out of people’s mouths when they hear I’m going to Liberty. “You’re totally going to meet your husband there!”



Wait – so what’s that about an education?



It scares me, if anything else. More so than the thought of him never finding me, I’m more scared that he will find me. And if he does, then I might just pull a Lindsey or walk around with a garland of dead fish around my neck for a year -

    or something to that extent.

Poor guy.

Convocation is in t-minus 100hrs. Ministry team auditions are tonight at 8:10. I’ve had a sore throat since yesterday and it’s only getting worse. I also woke up this morning and noticed that the bracelet Jay and Jenn got me for my birthday wasn’t on my wrist anymore.

It’s apparent that Satan is desperately trying to deter me but God is strong in me today…


....probably because for the first time in a long time, I’m allowing Him to be.



67 days,

C

Sixty-Eight

I feel drowsy today.

I woke up at about 9, which is a total feat considering that on my days off I usually sleep in until about noon. Oh, the life.

I shouldn't be so tired; I got exactly eight hours of sleep last night.
It must be my body in recovery mode. I've had a very eventful last couple of days to say the least.
I'll try to condense it as much as possible.

Service was absolutely amazing. Worship was incredible, the congregation was alive, and the Spirit was at work in a very special way that morning. My day could have ended here and I would have been stoked to say the least, but God had a lot more up His sleeve that day.

While we were hanging out in Harrisonburg, this was going in New Market:

That my friends, is a tea party. And this...

....this is me realizing that the party was for me.

As if that's not enough, this is the moment I met Taylor...

     

...and that's the moment that I realized that Taylor wasn't the best gift on earth...

...these people were.

THANK YOU.

Needless to say, this week has started off amazing.

I'm leaving in an hour to go to Lynchburg for the weekend.

Ministry Team auditions (and the Dave Barnes concert!) are tomorrow night, so please be praying!

I love you all. I'll write again soon and let you know how CFAW is!

Sixty-eight days and all my love,

-C