college memories.

i did some reminiscing tonight, and just wanted to share. there are a great number of memories i have from my taylor days, but there are a few that really stand out in my mind.

• mukappa - fabulous organization (now nationwide, but started on taylor's campus years ago) for missionaries' kids and third culture kids. i was welcomed into the group, got to be on the leadership cabinet, and felt so at home with my international friends!
• summer greek (the entire second year of greek in a span of about 8 weeks, but with a fabulous class and an amazing professor) - complete with "greek spirit week" that featured dress-up days and some fun activities.
• airband. enough. said. really. although i usually worked the shows, i still got to enjoy them!
• the tears and struggles that came with having dr. smith for two senior seminar classes, but finishing both classes with a's!
• study abroads: one month in greece/italy, and a semester in j-lem.
• friends. the best friends ever.
• amazing st. patrick's day party my senior year, that involved a potluck of yummy food and watching not one but BOTH boondock saints movies!
• the souphouse. closest thing to a fraternity we had (besides broho) at taylor. international students and m.k.s who rented a house together, and it was a melting pot hangout for other students. open door policy, parties, and a full kitchen. sometimes i cooked. sometimes i cleaned. sometimes both. sometimes neither - i was just there to enjoy the party or movie. but i always felt welcome and at home. <3

taylor, i miss you. not the nowheresville-indiana part, but the home part. you took care of me, loved me, and pushed & stretched me. thank you.

on my mind.

since i'm spending this holiday weekend (make that an entire week) alone, at the end of a paycheck (read: without money to spend on fun things), i've been doing a lot of thinking. no, really. a lot. i'm going to give a nod to a fellow nebraskan's lovely, munchy trail mix posts, and dole out a smattering of bullet point scrumptiousness:

• grown-up furniture... i especially have been lusting over the idea of a functional patio dining set, so i can host more often. i love hosting parties. and couches. i'd love a big beautiful sectional so we can have people over INSIDE, too.
• homecoming. not the dance. the real-deal sailor kind. because it's coming, and i'm seriously antsy. but still not counting down. please don't make me count the days.
• no idea what to do with my life... even short-term. a dear friend mentioned sweet-catering for birthdays and parties. that idea appeals to me greatly. but dunno if i have the guts to start something as big as that on my own.
• isolation eats at me. i miss being surrounded by friends/family.
• memorial day (and its great sales) should NOT happen at the end of paychecks. it isn't fair.
• i miss baking, but i can't do it. not if i want to fit into my love-of-a-homecoming-dress! it's gorgeous. and a wee bit tighter than i prefer.
• sea world opened the new shamu show (one ocean) this weekend, and i'm seriously driving out there to make use of my fun pass this week. thursday. i might even go on the atlantis ride a few times. 'cause i can.
• i miss green summers and fresh garden veggies. and bonfires. and all things that feel like home.
• my doggie SNORES. like. it's. her. job.
• lastly, because of the bullet points... i'm hoping hugs and i will get to go to a shooting range this summer so i can learn to use a gun or a few. and maybe i can even get a license and my own someday? love.

'til next time!