I Survived Midterms!

I survived the week! That in itself is a miracle. I've completed my first final and I officially finished a college class! My Research and Writing class was only a one credit, 8-week class. It feels good to have it done. Tuesday was a Theology final. On Thursday I had an interview for the campus coffee shop. No word back yet; we'll see how it goes. Friday had two of the most difficult tests: US History (affectionately referred to as "Spinney") and Logic. On Thursday night, the atmosphere around the freshmen was tense. We would pass each other on the way to the library. "Are you ready?" one would ask. "No, not yet. Are you?" "Definitely not." It felt like we were about to go into battle. On Friday, we kept updating each other on our progress: "I've taken half of Spinney and Logic." "Oh, I still have all of Spinney to do." Lunch was a mess of notes as we quizzed each other and remembered last-minute facts. And then, what rejoicing on Friday night! We reveled in dining hall pizza and ice cream. How did I celebrate? My mentor, and senior named Krystal, took me out for coffee. Later, I walked with my roommate into town to have dessert with one of my professors. Yes, celebrated the end of tests by sharing dessert and talking to one of the professors who gave the test. But it was quite enjoyable. :)



Saturday was spent in recovery from midterms (I know, the college life is SO difficult!). I did manage to get a little schoolwork done. Saturday evening was PHC's annual HOEDOWN! Yeehaw! Too bad I left my cowboy boots at home. It was so much fun (I say that about every dance don't I? Well, it's true :]). The callers taught us about 8 line dances, and there were some really fun square dances as well as a little bit of traditional dancing. It was held in a barn with a dirt floor, and there was pie, and people dressed up in flannel and cowboy hats. By my senior year, I'll be a professional dancer. I was so tired by the end. I think we should have a dance every weekend. They are great workouts.

Today there was a very good message in church, as well as communion. In the afternoon, I got to visit with a friend from another dorm. Then, there was the epic football game. Now, usually our campus is a very nice, harmonious place. But today - man, you had to watch what color you wore. Black stood for D5 - one of the guys' dorms. White was D4, the other guys' dorm. Since I live right next to D5, and my brother wing is in D5, I wore black. But D5 lost :(. Sad times.

Besides schoolwork, this past week has had emotional difficulties. The homesickness was dreadful. I really felt completely isolated from everyone and inept at social situations. Now, some of you may read this and think "I knew it! Homeschooling deters kids socially." Well, I know that it's not due to my homeschooling. 85% of my campus is homeschooled, and if we were all inept then we would all sit at separate tables at meals and never come out of our rooms :). I've just never been very good at light friendships. It was really frustrating this past week. But then I realized that I have been relying totally on myself to go out there and be outgoing, and I was beating myself up for every perceived fault or awkward moment. And I knew that I can't make the friendships I want on my own. It is not my gift. So I threw myself on God's grace, admitting that I was incapable, but He is all powerful. And you know, it is so incredible what God does when we let go and let Him do His thing. I have been shocked and amazed at some of the situations He's put me in. A couple friends complimented me on being positive all the time; they said that it was very enjoyable to be around me. And I knew right then, that it wasn't anything I did or said to deserve that. It was all God. So now, God has completely broken me in respect to schoolwork and social life. And it is the best thing that has ever happened to me. I didn't know that learning my insufficiencies would be so liberating! I wonder what I shall have to learn next.

Thank you all for your continued prayer. In just a few more weeks I shall get to go home!!! I am so very excited for that. At the same time, I'm starting to feel comfortable here. God is good. He blesses me wherever I go. Thanks be to God, Hallelujah!

~Carissa

Winter Storms

H-hh-hello everr-rryonee!

Okay, maybe I'm being a little bit dramatic. But it is COLD! Right now it's somewhere around 50 degrees, plus windchill. It's been cloundy and rainy the past couple of days, with the possibility of snow forecasted today. SNOW! Wait, isn't this October? Barely even fall? Meanwhile, back home I am told that it is a lovely 80 degrees, sunny and delightful.

"Oh the weather outside is frightful..." I can't tell you how much I miss my fireplace back home right now. And I miss things like whipped cream on my hot chocolate, baking cookies, and shopping trips. I miss comfy couches and being able to watch movies. This cloudy, dreary weather has bred some homesickness in me.

Yesterday I took a walk to try to dispel my gloomy feeling. Yes, it was raining moderately. No, I did not take an umbrella. I was struck by the beauty in the world. The trees all unique in their various shades of red, gold and orange. The fall leaves littering the green grass; all vibrantly washed clean by the rain. A brook was rushing hurriedly over the stones. I realized, God is good. He called me to this school. He placed this school statigically in Virginia. This was not an oversight; I am supposed to be here at Patick Henry, here in Virgina. He has sprinkled His beauty throughout the earth. So what if there are four tests next week? Is He worried about the papers that seem monstrous? No. He called me here; He will sustain me here. He will create a large spot in my heart for this place and these people, but not at the expense of home. God is not replacing my affections but expanding them. I can love Virginia and I can love California. I can love these people and I can love my youth group, homeschool group, and camp. It is not a choice between them. God is good. God cannot not be good. Praise God.

And now, I can curl up in our brand-new coffee shop, with a cup of hot chocolate and the wind howling outside, and be at peace. The storm rages outside, the next week holds challenges, my future is unknown. But God is big, God is good, and I am content. May His name be praised now and forevermore. Amen.

~Carissa

Homecoming

My, has it been a busy week! Let's see if I can't convince you by the end that this really is "The Greatest School On Earth".

The school week was a little bit stressful (but not bad). On Monday night the big, final paper for my Research and Writing class was due. Since it is 35% of our grade, all the Freshmen were freaking out about it. To add to our anxiety, 20 points of the paper are for proper format, and those 20 points are 20 or nothing. Which means if we miss a period on our footnotes, we automatically lose 20 points. Talk about motivation. On Thursday we had a Western Civilization midterm. We were tested on everything between Creation and the fall of the Roman empire. It was lots to know. Have you ever heard two guys summarizing The Illiad? It goes something like this: "So this king steals Achilles girl and Achilles is like 'Dude, I'm not going to fight, you took my girl'. And later Achilles is all mad so he's dragging Hector's body around but it's not getting scratched up because the gods are like 'Hey, Hector's our buddy because he sacrafices to us.'" It's rather entertaining. But in the end, I survived both the paper and the test, and now I await my grades.

Wednesday was a momentous day in Patrick Henry College life. The brand-new, top-secret, new-and-improved dining commons opened! It is so much bigger than the old dining hall and it looks so nice. There is lots of room for future expansion, more tables, and lots of counter space. Many students say that it makes them feel like they go to a real school! :) And the best thing is, it is literally right across from my dorm. Wednesday evening the school took down all the black curtains and let us come into the grand lobby and the coffee shop! The coffee shop gave away free coffee and cookies, and the president of the school led a prayer of thanksgiving to God. It is absolutely beautiful. There is a stage for live entertainment, cozy tables for studying, and beautiful artwork. The coffee shop should be fully operational by sometime next week. I am so excited. God is really expanding this school.

Wednesday night was officially the kick-off of Homecoming week! There were so many fun things going on all week long. Thursday night was a four-way, in-the-dark capture-the-flag game. Lots of fun, especially when it started raining. I like capture-the-flag because you tend to learn things about people and group dynamics. I was impressed with the leaders we had on our freshmen team. I didn't see anyone who thought that they could take on the other teams by themselves. However, our biggest problem was that we didn't listen to each other well. People would throw out their own ideas, and we ended up with no plan. But even though we lost the game, we all had spirit at the end. We have some problems to work out as a team, but I'm so excited to spend the next four years with these people.

Friday was the big homecoming activities day. We were allowed to wear casual clothes to class as long as the showed school spirit. It was so weird to walk into class in jeans and sneakers! Woah! The business casual attire is so engrained in me now. All day were class color and costume compititions. The Freshmen were the yellow acrobats, which hopefully explains my costume (the homecoming theme was a circus, "The Greatest School On Earth"). Our guys' soccer team played their homecoming game. Now, our guys haven't won a game in two years. Not one. Just last weekend they scored their first goal of the season. And yet, lo and behold, our guys WON THE GAME! The final score was 2-1. It was so exciting! What a great homecoming game. :) That evening there was a tug-o-war compition, and the freshmen came in second only to the Seniors. I was very proud of them. The night was capped by carnival activities, including cotton candy, sumo wrestling, balloon animals and pie-a-proffessor.

Saturday was a little bit more serious. We had the official dedication of the Barbara Hodel Student Life Center.There were about 15oo people on campus for this event. Dr. Dobson was the official speaker and gave an excellent talk about calling to us students. It was incredibly humbling to realize what God is doing at this school. It is an elite school, teaching high-quality academics. It truly is raising up the next generation of cultural leaders. And for some reason, God has called me here. Me. I am awed and humbled, and I can't wait to see what His good plan is.

After the dedication, there was both the Alumni/Student football game (which was tied) and our Ladies' Soccer game (which we won 7-2. Go Lady Sentinals!). In the evening we had the treat of a concert on campus. A group of four of our talented freshmen guys got together and formed the band Salvus in Sanctum (which means "peace in the sanctuary", I think). They ROCKED! Seriouslly, they are very talented. I had been missing concerts, and especially electric guitar music. They had two electric guitars. :) It was way fun to listen to them. Someday they may be famous. And the official homecoming activities ended with a lovely ice cream social.

But we weren't ready to let the fun stop there. My roommate Emma and Gracy from across the hall got together and decided to build a forte in our wing. We tacked up our sheets and dragged out a matress and chairs. We pulled out our pillows and comforters to make the best forte ever! We ate snacks and chocolate and drank tea and watched an Audrey Hepburn movie. Gracy and I ended up sleeping in the hall all night. It was definitely fun, and we hope to make it a tradition to reward us after big tests.

And so, today I went to church and enjoyed some quiet time alone. Tonight is another school dance. It's not technically a homecoming dance. They call it a fusion dance: classic ballroom dances but modern music. I'm excited for it, I'm really enjoying the dances here.

Next week looks to be a little bit less stressful than the last one. There are no papers or tests due. However, I won't be taking it easy. The week after has four major tests/midterms and one bookreport, so hopefully I can work ahead on that. Please be in prayer as I try to be diligent with my time. I thank you for all your prayers from home. Last week I posted that I was feeling lonely and anti-social. This week has been filled with blessings of fun and friendship. God is good. Three simple words that are in the process of transforming my life. Pray that God continues to teach me humility and surrender. Here I am, halfway through my first semester at college. I know it is all God's doing, and none of my own. I am weak, but God is strong. I am insignificant, but He has called me from nothing and made me His own. To Him be all the glory and praise, forevermore, amen!

Blessings all.

~Carissa

God's Grace is Sufficient

Hello everyone!

Let me apologize for not posting last week. No, I don't have any reason or excuse. I just didn't feel like it, and it was wrong of me to say that I was going to be consistent and then not be. I'm sorry.

Well let's see, what have I been up to in the last couple weeks...

A week ago on Thursday started out as any other Thursday. I got up at 6 am, went to Western Civ at 8, then rushed back for wing chapel at 9:40. Wing chapel is always a highlight of my week. The ten girls in my wing all gather in my RA's room and we have a devotional, prayer, and just share and fellowship with one another. Well this week, as we were in the middle of our devotion, we heard some noises and shuffling in the hall. Since a couple of our girls were missing, we thought it might be them or just some other girls doing something crazy. We finished wing chapel, and as we were heading off to class, we found the sweetest thing. By our door, our brother wing had left us a sign that said "To our sister wing, from the wing of awesomeness," a pink shirt that they all had signed, and lots and lots of dark chocolate. Mmmm! It totally made my day.

Last Monday was my roommate Emma's birthday. My RA, my other roommate Mary Sue, and I all got together and decided to throw her a surprise party. Mary Sue and I invited a bunch of the freshmen and my RA got a cake. Unfortunatly, Emma happened to see us while we were decorating, so the surprise didn't turn out like we planned. But it was still a lot of fun. We had balloons and streamers, cake and music, and balloon wars. :)

Thursday was a big logic test, almost like a midterm. It also happened to be the day where they were doing fire alarm testing in the new building. So as we're taking our test, the alarm is going off, lights are flashing, and a very calm voice is telling us: "There is a fire in the building. Please exit in an orderly fashion." :) Definitely a story to tell once we're upperclassmen.

Spiritually, this past week has been so beneficial because it has been so tough. God completely broke me down to a point lower than I have ever been. The school load is getting really heavy now. Whenever I tried to study, I simply couldn't focus. I was so tired, but I couldn't sleep. I felt like I was completely failing at everything I tried to do. God used that point to show me with absolute clarity how insufficient I am. He proved to me that I cannnot do it on my own by letting me try. And it was miserable. I had to surrender to God and admit that I CAN'T do it. I am weak. But in my weakness, He is made strong. He called me here; He put me here; He will give me HIS strength to endure. And not just to endure, but to thrive! I may not be a straight-A student. I might not be the most popular, or a genius, or do something remarkable. But God put me here for a purpose, and He will give me the strength to accomplish all that He wants me to do.

Since surrending, things have gotten so much better. I do have to constantly remind myself that my strength is not my own, but God's. Yet I am amazed at what He has done. He's given me strength enough to meet every deadline, even if I can't work ahead. I've been able to catch up on some homework and actually accomplish things.

Another huge praise is the times for fellowship God has provided. Now, I'm really bad at this whole socialization idea. In fact, I don't make a very good social college student. I spend the majority of my time in my room, only leaving for meals and classes. I'm in bed by 11:00 every night, and usually before then. I've only stayed up past midnight twice while being here. But God has graciously provided opportunities for me to socialize with others. Besides my roommate's party, there was another birthday party on Friday for a freshman who is a friend of mine. On Thursday, a girl a met while at camp out here last year came to check out the school, and so I got to hang out with her. On Tuesdays I meet with my student mentor, and this past Tuesday we just hung out together and then studied together. Hanging out with her is a big encouragement to me. On Wednesdays I attend a bible study led by our school president's wife. And this is my third sunday now to attend Blue Ridge Bible church, and I really enjoy it. God is doing amazing things in my life, and I am grateful.

This coming week will definitely be an interesting one. On Monday my final research paper for research and writing class is due (35% of the grade!). On Tuesday we will move into the brand new dining hall. It is supposed to be much bigger and nicer, but there will be some policy changes and kinks to work out. Wednesday is the first day of Homecoming! There will be lots of activities throughout the whole week. Thursday is a pretty big midterm, probably my hardest. Friday has lots of homecoming activities, including a costume contest (Freshman class are the yellow acrobats - how do you dress up for that?). Saturday is the official opening of our new student life center. Dr. Dobson will be here to dedicate it, and there are supposed to be over 1000 people on campus for the dedication. Prayers for this coming week would me much appreciated.

I miss you all back home, and I am praying for you. I thank God for putting each one of you in my life in some way. Much love. <3

For Christ's glory,

~Carissa

P.S. -

I thought you might want to meet my roommates. Emma is on the left and Mary Sue is on the right. :)