Home

Ellen and me, after a deep conversation

I didn't realize how much I missed home till last weekend, hanging out with my family. (Oh--that's called homesickness! I thought I didn't get that!) I've seen the fam here and there--at church, a trip to the beach--but hadn't spent a solid weekend with them at our house for much too long. This weekend was much needed. :)

Ellen and I hung out with a couple friends till the wee hours of Saturday morning, watching a movie and later, Ellen and me talking about things only girls can talk about with each other. She's an encouraging friend. When I got home, to my delight, Mom was up doing some cleaning in our spare room downstairs. So, of course, we stayed up and chatted a good half-hour (this was... really late at night). She was surprised I was home :). It's always nice when you are a pleasant surprise for someone, and they are for you, too.

I decided to stay again Sunday night, after a lovely day at church and lunch with Ellen, Jennie and friends. I also hung out with Leah and Reagan and their friends that night. Reagan and his family were staying at Embassy Suites. The Embassy Suites hot tub was so relaxing! Ah--it brought back Yellowstone memoires--soaking in the hot springs there is something I could literally do forever. I have thought about the Boiling River many a time this year, during the most stressful periods of school.

This week was a bit stressful, actually--last week, too. That's why the weekend was so needed. Emotionally, this week was rough. Tuesday a girl at Clemson got hit by the CAT bus (Clemson Area Transit) and I saw her on my way to swing dance class, just as the ambulances were pulling up. I thought she was surely dead. I couldn't stop thinking of her all day; I definitely didn't want to dance just then. It was raining all day, too, and started thunderstorming later. I remember thinking, "Where's the sun? I know it's there--but I need it now." It's good to know the sun's there. It was a beautiful Wednesday (Valentine's Day). That girl is alive, too. She's in serious condition--she was almost paralyzed. But she's ok. She'll live.

Maggie and me (doesn't that sound like a song title?) ps--check out her shirt :)

Last night Maggie (our RUF intern) had a bunch of RUF girls over for a Valentine's party. We smashed a pinata shaped like a heart, filled with candy and feminine products! hahaha. Oh, Maggie's so creative. It was fun. My roommate Amanda had some of her friends over for dinner and strawberries dipped in chocolate--hot, delectable chocolate. It was delightful.

I've been pulling way too many late/all nighters the past few weeks. I don't have class till pretty late (11, 12, and 2!), but, I need to go to bed early and wake up early. I've always wanted to be one of those people who does that--don't know when it'll happen :).

die Schwestern!

I'm going home for Jessica's birthday this weekend! Here's what I love about home: old memories in boxes from childhood and high school, the security of not having to worry about food or money--seriously, this is a big one, staying up late with my sisters (Leah AND Jessica are home now! and Joel, of course) (and Jen and I hang out a lot, too), talking to my mommy--I LOVE my mom!, getting wise advice from Dad, having adults around. I miss that. I feel so, so secure at home. And I feel so de-stressed. My family is a particularly low-stress family, which helps matters. I love seeing my mom's Valentines sprawled across the dining room table. I know she's been going to the PO all week. I love seeing my friends at home--they are some of the best in the world. But I didn't get to see many of them last weekend because they didn't know I was coming :(. Sorry, guys. I like school, too. Everyone loves Clemson. But there's something so special, so warm, so comfortable about home. Ha--I think I want to live with my parents the rest of my life ;).