There and Back Again: A College Tale

I realize that I should have posted these photos many months ago, but, hey, better late than never! Ben and I have lived in our first apartment for eight months now, so there have been some slight changes in our apartment since these pictures were taken. Still, since I know many of you will never get to see our Knoxville home in person, I hope you enjoy seeing these photos and hearing about how our little haven came together.  We are so fortunate and blessed to have such generous family and friends. Most of the items in our apartment were given to us, or we bought them for very cheap! Ben bought the dresser a year or two ago while he was living in Riddleton, and I painted it with homemade chalk paint. It's amazing how a fresh coat of paint can take a dated dresser and turn it into something pretty! My favorite piece of furniture is definitely our hutch. It was a wedding gift from my grandmother, and we had so much fun picking it out! I always joke that the hutch looks l...

Palmerston North, NZ On Monday, I packed up my dorm room into my two pink suitcases. Everything fit just perfectly, even though I’ve accumulated quite a collection of T-shirts, Salvation Army finds, and other souvenirs. I actually left three pairs of shoes behind, which gave me some extra room in my bags: New Zealand wears your shoes out! Since Sunday night, the international students have been slowly leaving Massey University, and I was able to say goodbye to most of my friends before I left. Some are travelling for a few weeks before they head home, others are going home soon. I’m the first American to head home, and I’ve really gotten some tough comments from some of the more adventurous (and quite possibly wealthy) Americans about being so excited to leave. (“Why are you so excited to leave this beautiful country?” “You should travel more before you leave! Live a little!”) These comments usually come from people who don’t have a boyfriend/girlfriend back home, aren’t particularl...

I’ve discovered that for me the most difficult thing about studying abroad is finding balance. Here are some tips for students who are studying abroad or want to study abroad in the future! Balance between being present and communicating with the people you love back home. Keeping in touch with your family, significant other, and friends is vital when you’re away from home, especially when you're gone for months at a time. It provides a link between your life in your new environment and the life you left behind (and will get back to soon!). Every email, text, and Skype call is so wonderful, and it will help you feel connected to everything going with the home folks, even when you’re thousands of miles away. Still, it’s a sacrifice. And I don’t mean just for you. Sure, you may be taking time out of your day that you could be using to study, see the world, or hang out with your new friends in order to communicate with your old friends. But, your loved ones back h...

Happy 20th birthday to me! It's my second birthday being away from home, and it does feel pretty strange not being with family and friends on this special day. Thank you all for the birthday wishes! They mean so much, especially from all the way across the Pacific! Dear 19, Being with you has been fun. It's been a lot of fun, actually. I've learned so much from you about life, love, people, and God. While you were still around, I experienced my freshman year of college, made tons of new friends, and travelled the world, among other things.  No offense, but I'm actually a little excited to leave you behind. We both know it's for the best; we can't be together forever. Not that being with you hasn't been great, because it has! But, the time has come to move on. What I'm trying to say is, it's not you; it's me. I've got to let go and move on to bigger and better things. I mean, come on, 20 is in a completely different decade! You un...

At this point, I am basically done with my freshman year of college, minus a few finals next week. That is just unbelievable to me! Why does everything have to go by so fast? Here are some highlights from April! April 4th Ben and I spent the day in Cookeville. We went to Cracker Barrel for breakfast, and then went to see Burgess Falls. It was beautiful, and since it had rained the night before, the water was really moving. We didn't get as close as we had hoped; you can walk down to bottom if you want. It was super misty and slippery, so we didn't make the trek all the way down to the water. But, it was still a fun day! Ben and I really enjoy hiking, and seeing the falls was well worth the walk. (Although, if you really want a fun hike, you should try out Cummins Falls, which is also in the Cookeville area. It's incredible! You walk through water almost the whole time. There's also a swimming hole, but I must warn you: the water feels like ice!)   My grandpa...

I couldn't agree more, Mr. Denver. But, where exactly is that?   At this time in my life, I am torn between two places.  One place, I've known my whole life.  It's comfortable, quiet, and filled with a peace and love that I can't even describe with words. It's where my family, my oldest, dearest friends, and my church family all live. I was born, raised, and born-again here in this place. This place is beautiful, in a serene, safe kind of way with its rolling green hills, family-owned farms, and the one-horse-town of a county seat.  The other is still quite new to me.  I wouldn't exactly call this place comfortable, either; "electric" or "invigorating" would be much better words. It's loud, filled with challenge and excitement, and is more fun than I ever thought possible. It's where I learn, where I grow both intellectually and spiritually, and where I become whatever God wants me to be,  whether that's a...