9 Favorite College Memories

Seeing class start up for the second year that I am not there at Milligan still tears at my heart a little.  There is a part of me that will always miss my time there and wish to be back.  Minus all the homework and classes of course! I had the best time during my four years and always love looking back on all the fun memories I have.  So that's just what I am going to do today!
1. One night early into freshmen year I was a little homesick or something.  So these three girls, Eliza Becky and Ashlee, all forced me out of the dorm and we went for the craziest night of bowling.  I swear we probably could have gotten kicked out.  I ran down the lanes and we did not take a minute of it seriously. best random night ever.

2.  Halloween 2009. Eliza and I came up with this great idea that we should all go as "modern" Disney Princesses.  I am pretty sure all the other girls weren't as into as we, but it was so much fun! Ashlee's spray painted hair stained my car seats, we went trick or treating way too late, but we had the best time!

3. Christmas Parties.  This one happens to be from 2010.  Every year we had a party together.  One year we did Secret Santa.  One year we did Secret Santa Stockings.  And one year we did White Elephant gifts.  They were always so fun and perfect times to get some awesome group pictures!

4.  Sophomore year Ashlee and I flew out to California to drive Eliza back to Milligan.  As in we did a cross country trip. I made matching sweatshirts and we did it in two days.  It was the craziest thing ever but so much fun.  Definitely a trip I will never forget!

5. Barbs Birthdays.  After our first year of going all out for parties, we decided to keep it low key and mostly went to Barbaritos for birthday dinners! The best food and the best girls.  

6. Mine and Lauren's first 5k!! We worked so hard to be able to run that race and I was so thankful to have such awesome support from these girls!

7. That one time we had someone take pictures of "those girls: for Jessi's birthday.  Like I said we went above and beyond freshmen year for birthdays and this has to be one of my favorites!

8. Creekings.  It's a Milligan tradition.  Once one is engaged, male or female, they get creeked by all their friends.  We surprise them, tie them up, ride around campus in a truck making as much noise as possible in the middle of the night.  And then throw them in the creek.  We got to creek both Lauren and Becky.  Loved every minute of it!

9.  And then we graduated. It went by crazy fast but also super slow.  I loved being able to graduate with these girls and see them walk across the stage.  We finally felt as though WE DID IT!

They say college is the best four years of your life.  And that is so true.  I wouldn't trade a single day for anything and I know I was right where I was meant to be the whole time!

If We Got Coffee...

I have seen this post and many others like it floating around many blogs. And I love it. So I'm writing my own version of it:) If we were to go get coffee…

We would most likely go to Starbucks. Here in L-town it's really that or Dunkin Donuts.

I would ask you how you were doing and to tell me about your life.  I would want to know all the good stuff that is going on.  Like how your job or school is going, if your dating anyone, and what you have been spending your time lately.

You would probs want to know the same about me.  And I would talk all about Grad school and how it is really tough right now but I know it will be worth it in the end.  More than likely I would bring up how exhausted I am and just want to slow down and sleep.  I would also want to tell you about my Internship opportunity and a little about the clients I have.

There would be all kinds of random stories to tell.  Those are my favorite.  I love the little detailed stories that no one else really talks about.  And hopefully there would be lots of laughter because thats my favorite thing ever.

Knowing my luck we would probably see someone I went to high school with but haven't seen in years.  And I would avoid and not talk to them.  But I would tell you all about them and how I knew them.

At some point in time we would start talking about Jesus.  And I would confess to you that I am still not doing so great at spending time in the word even though I really want to be doing that.  And I would ask you how your walk with Him is going.

A couple hours later we would decide it was time to go and get back to real life.  I would make you promise we do this again very soon.  Because getting coffee is one of my favorite things to do!

What Holds Your Memories?

I was thinking the other night about how there are certain things or words that will always cause me to think of someone or some memory.  It's funny to me how something so simple can mean so much to me and nothing at all to someone else.  I love that I have these memories and things and wanted to share some of them so that I will always remember them.

1.  Want a Frosty?

A Wendy's Frosty may be a simple yummy treat to you.  But to mean it is so much more.  It is the long road trips taken all through freshmen and sophomore year with Ashlee and Eliza.  We always made a special stop for some Frosty's.  And even when it was the last thing we would want, we always asked "Want a Frosty?" everytime we saw a Wendy's sign.

2.  This one I probs should not admit to.  Mom will be killing me over this one.  It's no secret to most people who know me that I don't always use the prettiest words.  Well even though Lauren may not remember it, we bonded over the agreement that there is always a time and place for the F word.  Sometimes you just have to say F***!  

3.  Peace and Blessings

Oh freshmen year.  Sitting around Kelly and Lo's room hanging out with all the girls.  No better memories.  We may or may not have memorized this video.  And from that point on whenever we departed from each other we have said "Peace and Blessins, peace and Blessins!"

4. Sunny D

I was OBSESSED with Sunny D in college.  And Ashlee may have jumped on that chain too.  So everytime I see it in the store I want to buy it just because I think about how that was all I wanted to drink in the mornings.

5.  Pretty Pretty Princess

Did you ever play Pretty pretty princess?! I did and maybe I still do... One summer at camp, my favorite summer of all time, I told my campers I was a princess, a daughter of the King. And I may have acted like one a bit. For two maybe three weeks straight I was the pretty pretty princess with a chant and all. Oh how I miss that summer and those weeks with those girls!

I love that we all have memories to cherish. A thank God everyday we do. Pictures and memories are my most favorite thing in the world. While there are many more I could share, these few are some of my absolute favorites!

Vineyard Camp Memories

From the time I was 10 years old until I was 20 I spent every summer at the most fabulous place on Earth.  The Vineyard Camp has a HUGE part of my heart, and after seeing all the fun that is going on this summer I have decided to share some of my favorite memories and pictures!
I only have pictures from when I started to use Facebook.  That means we can go back to my last year as a camper and work our way up.  Get ready to see me from 2006-2011!
2006 was the year that I made one of my first lifetime friends.  Even though Sara and I got off on the wrong foot, we quickly became super close.  She even dated my brother at one point.  I loved my last year as a camper more than any other.  And looked forward to the next year when I would FINALLY be staff!

My first year as staff meant getting the Best LIT award, starting more lifetime friendships, and finding out how some campers can truly change your life.  Oh and No Purple ruled this summer.  As it did every summer...at least we had a sign this year!

The summer of 2008 I spent my whole time in the craft hut.  Loved being there and all the girls who came in! As you can see Sara and I were still the best of friends.  The Hardin 4 were together and when we were no one could stop us!  And while I may never have good things to say about camp outs...sometimes when your with people you love they are not all that too bad!

The following two groupings of pictures are really a combo of 2009 and 2010.  2009 was one of my favorite years.  I was lucky to get to go that year, as I was about to start college and had to apply late when I learned I would be able to make it.  I had the best time staffing the best cabin.  Team Tink ALWAYS!
2010 was a rough year.  At last minute my sister took the job of Girls Cap Director (which ended up being just fine) which has me worried, I worked in the store all summer with the best staff I could have asked for, and I was sick with my shoulder most of the summer.  But no summer at Vineyard is ever regretted!

Now there is a big reason why there are not many pictures of 2011.  I was the Girls Camp Director and was SO busy.  It was a crazy summer, but as always good.  I could not have gotten through that summer without the great girls who were on staff.  Some of us took sometime to get along, but we all made it in the end!

Sometimes friendships are made that last.  Sylvana and I met our first year as staff and for four years after that were inseparable during the summer.  I could not have gotten through my years as staff if it wasn't for this girl.  I love her so much and know one day we will see each other again!

I could have added 1000 more pictures and 1000 more words.  But sometimes pictures are better.  I love the Vineyard and I love the friends I made there.  I still talk to them on a regular basis and would not trade the time I spent with them at camp for anything.
Thank you Dean and thank you everyone who I came in contact with at the Vineyard.  Everyone made such a huge impact not only on my life but on my walk with the Lord.  To say He is present there is a major understatement.  I pray those there this summer find God there the same way I did growing up.  Oh what I would give for one more summer at Camp Vineyard!