Currently Listening Insomniac By Enrique Iglesias Somebody's Me see related

I just realized

I have not updated this since the beginning of the year.

Wow, that went fast.  I don't even think I could fit everything in here...hmm.

Well, how is everyone?

Currently Listening As I Am By Alicia Keys No One see related

“And so what we have learned applies to our lives today…”
 
It’s time for that annual end of year “look back”…gosh these are fun.
2007 already feels like it’s over because I’ve been looking forward to 2008 for a long time.  Next year I expect to graduate, go to another country for my first missions trip (France!), and of course, college at Liberty in August (yes, it’s for sure J  ).  I feel like it’s been a long time coming for all of that…but I wouldn’t have wished away this year…even if I wanted to at some points!  I think every year for everyone has its wonderful points, and its pitfalls.  I’m so grateful when I look back and see how much I’ve grown in a year…a lot.  It’s great to see how your personal journey is steadily coming along.  It was a challenging year, and a rewarding year.  It was an exhausting, but worthwhile year.  Every time I really needed it, I feel like God sent me a reality check of some sort to see things in a new light…or he’d just send a blessing my way.  I’m thankful for coincidences and things that almost didn’t happen that helped shape my year.  My fall semester without the play would’ve been a lot more lifeless and mediocre.  It was really challenging and I'm glad it's over; but I do see its benefits.  The highlight of the semester would definitely be my trip to LU with Mary.  We had the best time and factor in the "no school" thing and it was ideal.  I always say LU people are the best and we had so much fun with everyone it should've been illegal.  My summer without counseling at camp would’ve been a sad break in a yearly tradition…my summer jobs opened my eyes and taught me things too.  I’m so thankful that through those, I met some crazy awesome people (you know who you are, Laura and Tiff ;)  ).  I met amazing new people and caught up with old friends and strengthened other friendships.  Most importantly, I had a very real relationship with God…real as in I was able to examine my relationship with him and see what I need to work on and how I can strengthen my relationship with him…because if I’ve learned anything this year it’s this: God is most important…but not automatically.  We are lazy, busy people.  We need to take initiative and run after God with a full heart.  God will never ever leave us; His love never fails.  It’s amazing.  He works things out in ways you would never guess.
 
And now…a picture re-cap J
 
January

Ice skating with Colleen!

I forget what else I did in Jaunary :) (besides watch 24)

February

Finally a good Valentine's Day...I made Valentine's for other people and was determined to make it fun instead of being cynical fed up with the holiday...my brother made me the cutest HSM valentine with Ryan and Sharpay

"Hey Senorita, I love you like a fat kid likes donuts."

Also the girls tea at LEFC

March

Colleen's bday

photoshoot w/ Ash in the city

playing baseball and taking funny videos

dancing at LSB

Choir, and the choir festival...good times...no pictures haha

April

my birthday...I don't know where I stashed some of those pictures?  I can't even remember what I did...heh.

May

Barbie and Nathaniel's wedding in Ohio

Also, started working at the shop and Penn Cinema

(ash took this!)

June

dance recital

(we did a song from Wicked "Dancing Through Life", hence the crazy costumes)

going to graduation and realizing that'd be me in a year...now I'm only five months away.

baseball games (Chandler)

Ash took this as well.

Vacation in Virginia...I told Ash to act out "The Raven" hahaha

This was a great bonding year for my sister and I...I've never had so many people tell me that we look so much alike before.

HSM represent

we got some interesting looks for this one haha (Williamsburg)

it's our friend Elvis!

Williamsburg family picture

we visited our awesome friends the Marshall's who were kind enough to let us raid their house for a day :)  We all had a total blast.

July

the 4th with Abram and Micah.

a whole bunch of terrific LU girls visited...Dachelle, Anna, me, Lydia, Sheila, Amy, and Ashley.

\

Camp!  I convinced Ash to come along...we didn't get cabin fever!

Jess, Dana, me, and Ash.

David, Ash, me, Dana, and Jess.

August

goofy kids

the fam

Let's not forget the Josh Groban concert....pretty much absolutely amazing.

and I became friends with Joshs' body guard, Darren! (haha whatever)

All of August seemed like HSM agony with auditions throughout the month.  I will never forget them!

School starts up at F&M, HACC, and LBC...headache.

HSM2 movie party, check out the cupcake action

September

Um school.

HSM fo sho :P

October

Lifehouse and the Mint at the Chameleon Club

girl #1-"If Jason Wade gave you a $5 bill would you save it, or spend it?"
girl #2-"SAVE it! Omg are you kidding me?"

 

Ashs' fall break...yet another sister  shot.

my fab co-workers and I at the park

HSM practices start up

school.

November

HSM

School.

Roadtrip to LU w/ Mary...best weekend ever!!  Got accepted a few days later...and am heading there next year :)

White Hart "date night"....Ash looks scary here :P  (Mary was my date I guess?)  Coolest place...with a ton of books!

ice skating with May and Nate!  watching me was like a watching a baby penguin try to figure out how to walk on ice :P

The last night at like two in the morning...Rachel (Ashs' roomate) was a saint to keep Mary and I with all our stuff.

December

HSM *sniffles*

ah yes, our good friend Jonathan Groff :P

(look how ticked off we are here!) that's on purpose ;)

Christmas

too bad there weren't more pictures...it was an amazing  year! I'm looking forward very much to '08

God Bless, you guys!  Here's to the new year...

<3Chels

Currently Listening High School Musical see related

Theater life

How did I live without this show? 

Here's a play-by-play of my Saturday...

Arrive at EPAC at 12:30 (for the 2:00 show).  Do hair, make-up, and costume stuff.  (Takes about 20 minutes, what can I say, I'm low-maintenence).  Do school instead of goofing off with friends because of final.

When it's ten minutes 'till showtime, head upstairs behind the curtain with all the other Wildcats.  (For those of you who live under a rock, the Wildcat is East High's mascot so we're alllll Wildcats.)  We wait behind the curtain and then we hear..."Kids, are you ready for High School Musical?"  "YEAH!!"  "Adults and teenagers, are YOU ready for High School Musical?" "YES!!"  "I have just one more thing to say....*cue drumsticks* Come on Wildcats!!"  Music starts...we run through a banner and break into Wildcat cheer.  It pretty much rocks.

We break for a short intermission after "Stick to the Status Quo" which is definitely a highlight of the show.  Then we move on and we know we've finally made it when we punch the air one last time at the end of "We're All in This Together."  Then comes curtain call and the dance party when we bring people "on stage" (remember, it's a thrust space so there's no "stage" per say...) then we sign autographs and greet people on the "Basketball court" they painted the floor...how cool is that?  Then we're exhausted...but on Saturdays there are two shows!  So we hang out for three and a half hours (while I study) and do it all again!  At 10, we finally are able to go home after a full day.

But I wouldn't have it any other way.  The cast is amazing...the audience is amazing...the show is inspiring.  Five shows down, ten to go.  I will be devastated when it's over but I'm not thinking about that yet.  it's so fun seeing press for this show...the cast picture is on the cover of "This Weekend" and the bigger papers have done reviews and articles on it...we got a great review which is so exciting to see.

This morning I woke up and I'm pretty sure I'm getting a cold.  I hope this Airborne stuff works!

hope you all are doing great...i'm off to study for finals!  (prayers are appreciated...I'll be a free woman come Thursday!  And that night will kick off five shows!) and a school performance on Wed.  By the way, for you musical geeks who have heard of Spring Awakening..Tony award nominee Jonathan Groff is from our area and got his start on EPAC's stage...he's coming to see the show sometime soon!  I'm beyond excited because the guy is super talented for his age (what, like 19?).  (Disclaimer: I love Jonathan Groff's voice, I do however loathe Spring Awakening...from the little I've heard.  There is just no need for a musical like that. even if it did get a lot of awards and Tony nominations.) 

anyway, that's all from me...<3Chels

Currently Listening Everything in Transit By Jack's Mannequin Dark Blue see related

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!  I hope everyone has a fantastic day and remembers what this day is all about...thanking God for everything He's done and everything He will do!

I love you guys; have a great day :)

<3Chels

p.s. something else to be thankful for: my new *laptop* arriving soon! (better, Sarah? haha)

http://configure.us.dell.com/dellstore/config.aspx?c=us&l=en&s=eep&cs=6099&eep_orig_cs=6099&oc=ANPEHPICK2&link_number=13385036

Currently Listening Apologize see related

Carpe Diem!

That means "seize the day" by the way...I mean, well, I think it does.  We used that term to encourage the girls to do their homework :)

So lately I've been just running out of steam for this semester.  It's been grueling, draining, dramatic, complicated, hard, challenging, rewarding...and insane.  It's tests and exams all the time and  as you all might know, that gets old.  So last Thursday Mary and I traveled down to Virginia by train after having planned only three days before.  The trip took 14 hours with delays and layovers in Philly.  Someone (cough ashley cough) told me there was no need to bring a winter coat...so I was freezing as they station/train were frigid.  We made the most of it though and I have to say Mary is such a wonderful travel companion.  We got in at 2 am, never have I been so happy to get somewhere!  The next morning we went to convo (chapel) and I wasn't feeling that great so I rested in the dorm while Ash and Rachel had classes.  After that, Mary and I took care of some info stuff and then went to see the Rory Tyer band play at the White Hart in downtown Lynchburg.  It was such a cool place and we had fun relaxing and people watching.  After that, Ash, May, and I met up with Nate for coffee at The Drowsy Poet.  He's been a family friend of ours since before we were all born haha  We had a blast talking and laughing and watching music vids on Nate's ipod (80 gigs, don't get me started!) and staying 'till closing.  We got back to the dorm and stayed up late talking with the girls and laughing and just being tired.

Thurs pics: our "scary people in Philly" face and departing from the train station.

Friday pictures:   May and I at White Hart

So true!

one of the cutest couples at LU--Zach and Amy!

The Rory Tyer band

Saturday: We slept in 'till 11 (wow!  That's a first) and went to eat at The Rot again (the cafeteria which they actually improved a lot, it's a pretty happening place lol).  Then May and I went back and hung out and I went with Erin, Dachelle, and Anna to pick up people for Salsa dancing which was really fun.  I hadn't ever tried it before so it was really weird doing something different, but a total blast.  Nate hadn't danced before but he did a lot better than I and was really brave for giving it a shot.  Afterwards we all went to dinner and then went to see the play "The Rainmaker".  We had a lot of fun, again.  The play was not exactly fast paced but it was a really sweet love story that made everyone go "aww".  We hit Coldstone after that 'till closing and then came back to the dorms and crashed after a fantastic day.

May and I post-salsa dancing, we never were able to get pictures of those who went because the mac lab wasn't "nice enough" haha

wow I can't believe that's all the Sat. pictures, when you're having so much fun it's hard to remember haha

Sun. talk about a busy day.  We had campus church in the morning which was excellent...Johnny Moore spoke and he's really good.  The worship was also excellent.  We went to lunch and then May and I went ice skating with Nate.  So I pretty much felt like a klutz on the ice since the other two had more experience than I did, but hey were nice to help keep me up instead of falling down every five minutes haha  What a blast.  They're also insanely good at the "take and skate" which is why we have pictures.

After that we came back to the dorms, and managed to leave in 15 min for Panera where Janine, Rachel, Nate, May, and I enjoyed Jones soda and hanging out before making our way to Barnes and Noble where we proceeded to check out a ton of music and movies 'till Nate, May, and I decided we'd like to catch Heroes that night.  So we scrambled back only to realize it wasn't on that night and all the tv's were taken.  We hung out in the mac lab watching youtube videos and such.  We went back to the dorm but turns out we had left stuff in peoples cars like laptops and such (hey, a girl's gotta have her jones soda), and killed some time by hanging out in the laundry room and I had the privilige of meeting a few of the girls from Nate's sister dorm.  I definitely decided I want to go to LU so it's kind of exciting meeting people and thinking that I could be a student at this time next year. 

So packing at 1 in the morning is hardly a good idea.  Mary and I made a quick project of it though and after talking and trying to stay awake, we stumbled into bed for three hours and woke up at 4.  We were all ready to go, ready for Travis (our good friend haha NOT) to pick us up.  It was 5:15 and he still wasn't there. So May and I are in the lobby laughing because we were so tired and stressed out.  Janine comes down to save us and take us to the train station and her car won't work!  We called Nick to see if he could fix it and he was sleeping.  So Rachel gets up and we switched our luggage to her car, mary remembered her purse in Janine's car with her ticket, thankfully.  We get half-way through campus when I realized I didn't have my ticket in my bag...I started madly clawing through everything looking for that vital piece of paper and I couldn't find it!  We pulled out my luggage, opened it, and threw stuff everywhere...we were a sight, Ash in her green sweatshirt with the hood pulled up, my shoes almost falling off, Rachel and mary staying sweet and relatively calm.  Rachel ran me back to the dorm, I ran inside at a speed Jack Bauer would be proud of and found my ticket right away on the desk, Ran back down taking the steps two at a time, drove like the fast and the furious to meet the girls.  We thankfully found our way to the train station, which was pretty much a God thing.  Then Ash let me know by stupid suitcase BROKE so we had to have the guy duct-tape it shut.  Just as we checked our luggage the train pulled up.  Thank you Lord.  I prayed and asked if there was anyway he could help me find my ticket and get us to the train station, check luggage, and on the train in 25 minutes...he did it.

The rest of the way back was flawless.  I'm a bit tired and it's kind of a weird transition getting back into all this crazy stuff as usual but I'm so excited...I will be done with school I believe by the 8th?  Then HSM starts up the 7th for three weeks.  Fun, fun.

Sunday pics.

2 am tiredness with May and Rachel

Panera...if Nate hadn't taken this I wouldn't have had a single picture with Ash!

Ice skating!  May and I

two of the coolest people ever on either side of me.

we were greeted by this gorgeous sunset outside.

Alrighty, that about does it...how's that for a long post?  <3Chels