Well, all of you that read my blog...namely my mom, mimi and church friends, may have been wondering what I have been up to lately. I have been sooooo busy. This business is a good thing because the days are winding down till thanksgiving. I love it here, it is realy challenging and fun, but I am ready to see my house, see my roads, see my church and just be HOME. Home has never felt so special or precious to me. Anyways, I feel that I have been working so hard on school as of late. The past week I had a ten page paper due, a presentation to give and two tests. It was quite a test of diligence and joy. However, I made it through!
God has been teaching me something so important lately : LETTING GO. He has shown me this principle by living in a community and in my history class. Living in a floor with lots of girls, it is really easy for hormones to fly rampant. With in the joys, fears and sadness God has been showing me that I need to put my own raging emotions behind me and be there for my floor. By letting go of my desire to be in bed by 11:30 each night, keeping my door open for people to come in and talk and just being more self-less, God has taught me how to live better in a community. Also, he showed me that I need to give my fears of the future to Him. My history class is proving to be quite the challenge. I am having a hard time figuring out what pleases this professor. Due to the B's I have been recieving, I have frequently been in panic mode coming back from that class. My brain races through thoughts like : " Great, now I am going to lose my scholarship" "Since I won't be able to afford Calvin anymore, where else am I supposed to go?" The Lord has repressed these thoughts, calmly showing me that He is in control of my past, present and future....I just need to give Him my best.
Posted above are some picture of Calvin in the fall, our floor retreat at Aunt Karens and a trip to Steak and Shake! ( oh and some other silly random ones!)

It was soo good to be able to see fall!My mom and I went to Robinette's, a local apple orchard and bakery. Wow, it was so cute! I loved all the candied apples, fall sprinkles and hot cider donuts!

The cider in that gallon came right from somone squirting it into the jug! Can you get more fresh than that?

So, for those of you who know me very well...I have a very low pain tolerance. However, I mustered up the courage like a good college student and got my ears pierced!! Yay!
Lake Michigan just after sunset!

My three moms! Mrs. Uveges, mommy! and Aunt Karen

Joy and I on our way to the dorm retreat!

Camp Roger was so beautiful, don't the trees in this picture look so cool!

Isn't God's creation so beautiful!

SO,my friend Katie Ashley (Kash) had never been to Coldstone before....so this was her face on the way!

Yay! We love icecream!

SO...I know that I haven't updated for quite a while! So sorry, it has been quite a week. This past week I have had two midterms and a paper. Next week I have another midterm on Tuesday. This week has been quite stretching. I am really trying to find the balance between studying and social life. In my searching I have been a little confused and missing home. However, the sophomores and my mom and dad have reassured me I'm just a normal college freshman. Now, you might be thinking....does she like college at all? And, the answer is YES! I love it here! In the past two weeks the Lord has shown me what a blessing he has given me in my floor. The girls on 2nd Timmer aren't the partiers or introverts. Isntead, I have the priviledge to live with girls who are passionate in their faith and studies. We know when work has to be done and how to encourage each other in the Lord. It's awesome to live in a community where we all love the Lord and eachother!
Also, my mom and Mrs. Uveges came in last weekend! I was so excited to see them! I love my mom, she is such a person that I can confide in and trust. I am so thankful that I have someone that I can call my mom and my friend. She is an awesome example to me. While she was here we went to the local apple orchard, shopping and dinner in downtown Holland, MI, saw the sunset over Lake Michigan, got my ears pierced, bought a warmer sweater, and just had an awesome time together!
You also see pictures of some fun college activites like the Dorm retreat and a run to Coldstone. The dorm retreat was just a one nighter with my entire Dorm. It was really fun talking with the girls on my floor and meeting more new people.And the Coldstone run, who doesn't like ice cream??
So, the next couple exciting things are :Kailyn coming into town next weekend, a dorm wide hayride and square dance and FAMILY WEEKEND IN TWO WEEKS! Yay, I am sosooo excited to see my family! I love you all!

We love Calvin!

Bored on a friday night!

The ever classic cardboard canoe race!

Joy and I with our suitemate Katie

Monk Mondays with Lynn!

My first Calvin vs. Hope game didn't end well for us...but GO KNIGHTS!

Panera for Joy's B-day!

Hello All! So, just wanted to give everyone an update of my life here at Calvin! I am beginning to feel much more comfortable here. God is giving me a real peace about everything. Now, that doesn't mean that I have lost all feelings of homesickness. However, I really am beginning to develop a sense of community and trust with the girls on my floor, kids in my classes and my terrific intramural soccer team. So here are some highlights from this week:
~ Monk Mondays: On Monday nights at 10 my floor watches an episode of Monk while curled up in blankets with hot coco. I look forward to it every week
~ Dorm Worship: Every Wednesday at 10 we have about a half hours of worship with my entire dorm. This week we sang otuside, as did many of the other dorms. I fell asleep to the sounds of kids lifting their voices to the Savior...awesome I know
~My communications in the classroom class: We are practicing the art of reading stories! I know that sounds silly, but we are looking at all the aspects of reading to a classroom. I am learning a lot while having fun!
~ Floor Date: My floor went on a date with another floor for homemade ice cream...need I say more?
~ Church this morning: I went to an awesome church this morning! After a kind of weak service last week, I was hoping that this church would be drastically different...and it was! This church is located in an urban area, had solid preaching, and lots of opportunites for ministry...yay!
~Movie with Aunt Karen: My Aunt Karen and I went to a movie on Friday night called Brideshead revisted....it was a deep thinker movie. Very artsy and cute.I love being able to have someone like a mom so close by!
AND...MY MOM AND MRS. UVEGES ARE COMING TO VISIT THIS WEEKEND! CAN'T WAIT!

This is for you mom : a first day of school picture. :)

This is our fish! Due to our floor being Disney Princess themed and that he is always sleeping we named him Prince Phillip ( from Sleeping Beauty)

someone getting decked out...ready for CHAOS!

BHT spirit!

me and my new buddy hannah working on some homework

some friends at dinner

Hi all! Sorry i haven't had the chance to update in awhile. College keeps me pretty busy. Things are going well here in Grand Rapids. I am adjusting to this whole new life that God has placed before me. Classes are going well and keeping me mighty busy. My favorite class is called "Communications in the Classroom" This class,which meets in an auditorium focuses on bringing different aspects of drama and communication into the classroom. We have talked about the power of storytelling, played games about communication and...will eventually be making puppets. When I leave that class I think to myself "Did I really just leave a college class?" It is a fun class where I learn a lot about the classroom. I can't wait to get to teaching and I am only a freshman in college! So, other things that have been going on around campus: Chaos Day (see pictures below) Chaos Day is basically a big kid's field day. It is a day when all the dorms participate in games like tug of war, hula hoop contests and some intense school spirit. I think the most fun part about it is the spirit side. Each dorm is assigned a theme and everyone goes crazy to make it fun. The best part is that all the themes have nothing to do with eachother. For example, my halls's theme was JAWS, yet others were firemen, James Bond, Super Mario and Tony the Tiger. Funny I know. I have really enjoyed getting to know the girls on my floor. They are such sweethearts and I can't wait to get to know them better. Unfortunately, I will have time to do together right now is homework :(
Please pray for me, I am still having a hard time being 5 hours from home. I love my family and it's really weird not to just walk down the stairs and see them. These past two weeks have been so stretching for me. With everything changing I had to rely on my unchanging, constant Lord. Hope you enjoy the pics!

I forgot to explain a few pictures! The girls standing by the car is quite a story. You see, my orientation group went for a BBQ at my leader's house. Well, on the way two cars in our caravan got into a fender bender...yeah, yikes! We had to call the police three times until the police came 2 hours later! Also, for Chaos Day, which is like a big kidis field day, my dorm's theme is Jaws. Yes, this is quite a random theme. The other halls follow accordingly with themes such as:Tigers, Firefighters, The Wizard of Oz, Super Mario and Batman. Chaos Day is next Saturday and I will defintely have pictures to post!

Well, as you can see I have officially moved into Calvin. I didn't realize how bus orientation would keep me, it's been a whirlwind of a couple days! Above you will see pictures of my room, I have kind of made it feel like a home. Move in day was a mix of emotions. I was excited to get started on this new adventure of life, yet so sad to say goodbye to my family who I love dearly. You will also see pictures above of a sign that my roommate Joy and I made. We are going to get our fish tomrrow, so at around 12:30 one night we decided to make a suggestion box for names and posted it on the door. Wow were we in need of sleep. Also, you will see pictures of downtown Grand Rapids at night when we went to see some fireworks. The night picture is of me and my roommate Joy, she is scuh a sweetheart. We are really getting a long well, she has been such an encouragement to me. Not only do we pray together every night, but we are going to set up a night that we do devotions together each week! I am so thankful for her and the friendship that we are developing. Also, you will see a picture of me and my friend Amanda inside a bubble. As part of the orientation program called Quest each orientation group of 21 kids does ministry in the downtown Grand Rapids. My group went to the Children's Museum and helped them prep for their upcoming activites. I am now an expert brochure folder and ribbon cutter :) We also go to play with some of their awesome interactive toys.
I am nervous for classes to start on Monday. I am a little worried about the college workload, but yet again God is teaching me to lean on His everlasting arms. He has been really been teaching me about his soveriengty.
Off to ice cream sundaes...more to come later.

Below are some pictures of the past week. This past week had been interesting for me. God has really been teaching me how HE is always constant through the change. It's funny to see friendships/relationships change so fast. It's not that I went from having best friends to having none at all...it just that I am making new friends while my old ones are doing the same. I feel almost jealous that all my buddies are making new friends, like I don't want to share them. But, that's not the way life goes and that is what God has been showing me. Through the change He will be a strong tower. I was reading in James that "He does not change like the shifting shadows". Sometimes it's hard letting yourself fall into His loving arms,surrendering when you think life would go a lot smoother if you were in control. Haha..like I was ever in control anyways:) Through this learning experience God has also revealed how much my family loves me and supports me. They will always be there too...and I can't wait to come home to them!
So, the journey beings as I am off to Calvin tomorrow! I am so excited!I will try and post pictures of my room and some campus life. Here I go!

My dad and I went on a date to Little Italy, Cleveland for lunch and then on to the art museum after. Aren't we refined! Well, it was asuch a good time with my dad, I love and respect him so much. This little tree of tomatoes was sitting on the sidewalk. I thought it was so cute.

This was where my dad and I had lunch! I had the world's best manicotti!

And for dessert we went to a bakery for cannoli! I have decided that it is the best dessert..ever.

Isn't that a beautiful cake! It was so yummy...I had a piece with one of the big flowers...oh man, woth every single calorie.


Me and my cousin Julie at a last family get together