June Already?

Wow! I can't believe a whole month of summer has already gone by! Thankfully, I have enjoyed every last bit of it so far.

I have been writing and editing my book, and I really like how it is turning out. It is really fun to work on! I have read quite a bit, and finished Ted Dekker's Kiss and am almost done with Red. He is SUCH AN AMAZING AUTHOR! I really love his books! I have also played the piano as often as I can, and that is really enjoyable. Making cards has been another hobby this past month, and I find it hilarious how differently I think about making a card after design class. I think about all the principles of design that go into making a good design, and apply them to the card! Honestly, I can't look at any painting or picture, or any design at all without analyzing it. I have become a design nerd! BUT, I am ok with that :)

I have looked for a job (probably not as hard as I should have) but it is very hard to find one! I had some hopes of getting a job as an intern at an architecture firm in town, but that fell through. I tried some of my other connections, but very few people have summer positions open in this economy. I have been taking many babysitting jobs, and that has been a nice little income, but that doesn't look so good on a resume. Oh well, I still have a few years left. I think I am going to apply to Lows or Home Depot. I didn't think that would be a fun job for a girl... and was wondering what other people would say about me doing that... but I think it would be a really good idea to work there and learn about everything that deals with a house and construction and all that jazz. So I am kinda excited about it now, and I guess I'll see what happens! I am taking an online Philosophy class this summer, and that starts tomorrow. It should be good to get that out of the way this summer!

I have a friend staying with me this summer from school. She got an internship with the youth group at my church so she is living at my house. She is a good friend, and although it is hard at times to share my family and summer, it is going very well. My cousins just moved out today because Brandon graduated from the school of worship, so I moved back downstairs to my bedroom. I gave it up so that they would have a big room to live in this year, and I am so glad I could bless them this way, but I am also excited that I can have my room again.

So that is about all that's happening right now! I am with my family, and my mountains, and life is good!

Home!

After a long week of finals... and a long road trip... I AM HOME! horay!
It is such a wonderful feeling! NO DESIGN HOMEWORK FOR FOUR WHOLE MONTHS!!! WOO HOO!! Then again... what will I do with myself if I don't have to be in studio every waking moment!? What will I do if I am not creating drawings and making models?? Suddenly I have all this free time!

But it will be filled! First with sleep! And then with anything I want to do before I start working, and begin my online class. It will be nice to write, and draw, and scrapbook, and do all that lovely stuff that I haven't been able to do for FOREVER. Oh, and READ!! I am so excited to read books!

So I thought finals week was going to be easy. But... I was wrong. I stayed up till 2am every night... and got 5 hours of sleep five nights in a row! Then I got six hours, and after school was over I got 12... so it got better :)

Our final design project was an analysis of a building, and we did this in pairs. My good friend Emily and I were partners, which was challenging at times, but we got through it. Our project turned out amazing! It was a competition for who could best represent the building through drawings and models, and we didn't really have much of a chance at winning, but our work turned out very nice. I got pretty sick that week, so no sleep was not at all fun. And I stayed up late studying for my finals. (I am sooooo glad that week is over!!)

I am feeling much better... have unpacked a little... and am just enjoying being home! This is what I created on the way home:

First timers in College:
1) Waking up to an earthquake
2) Pulling an all-nighter (definitely not something enjoyable)
3) Participating in a HUGE water fight... at midnight...
4) Going to IHOP with friends at 2am
5) Spending the night in a HUGE mansion
6) Playing an Organ
7) Learning some chords on a mandolin
8) Flying on an airplane... BY myself
9) Riding in a stretch SUV (homecoming! With no dance... )
10) BOAT CRUISE in Chicago!

* and many many more... just can't think of them right now :D*

So yeah! First year of college is done! It is completely crazy to think how many years I have been alive, and all that I have accomplished so far!

I just want you all to know... Mountains are AMAZING.
Lots of Love!