Good art. Solid art.

Today was my second day of classes... which ended up being a very long and tiring day spent on campus.

I got up this morning around 9, and showered, got ready and had a minute to check my email and all that before I made my lunch in my cute little lunch box and headed out to campus.

First of all, parking on campus is a bit ridiculous right now because they're in the process of re-opening the parking lots near the railroad tracks. They did some construction (much needed) and re vamped it over the summer and it's still a bit of a mess. Nevertheless, I finally found a parking place in the general parking lot behind the gym building.. which is relatively close to the Dial Building and the Education Building, where I would be spending my day. I gathered my things, checked my schedule for the room number and set off for the Dial building where my history class was. I got there, with 2 minutes to spare (note to self- leave earlier on Tuesday). Dr. Brown handed me a syllabus, although I had a copy that I had printed out already (naturally).

Dr. Brown began class by asking why we had signed up to take this course. In my head I was thinking... "well, Dr. Brown, I signed up for it because I need 2 history classes this semester for my concentration and this was one that wasn't about Asian or Korean history and I figured I would understand it better." Let me be clear: I love history. All kinds. But I'm more of an American History/War lover. And "War Lover" doesn't mean that I love war, it just means that I find the periods of war fascinating. The title of this particular class is History 4270: Modern European Cultural History. I imagined that it would go in depth of the cultural societies of Europe. BUT, as these nerdy-man history majors answered Dr. Brown's "why are you in this class" question, I began to realize I may have made a terrible mistake. These nerd-men were telling him how much they longed to learn about the cultural surroundings of the great works of art, and how they had always seen these paintings but hoped to learn more about them...

Excuse me? Art? Did someone say "works of art?" I thought we were in a European History class? No? ......

To my horror, this class is about European Culture. It's just also about art. And should really be labeled as an art history class... We get to delve into the glorious works of art by amazing painters and talk about how they make us feel and, of course, the cultural surroundings of these works of art AND architecture in their time period.

....For anyone that knows anything about me, you would know that I'm not a fan of art. And I don't really appreciate "good" art. I don't have a problem with it, I just don't understand it. Art was never my forte in school... Although I can draw a dynamite stick figure... And I can craft the hell out of a card or stamping project. But real art? No thanks. I'd rather check out a hot dog stand in NYC than the Metropolitan Museum of Art. (Gasp all you want to. It's just how I feel.) In other words- when it comes to art- I'm completely ignorant.

Yes, I lived in Los Angeles, CA. Yes, Cameron took me to the Getty Museum on a trip out to see him before I moved... Where we stayed all of 20 minutes and spent more time getting a drink and wandering around the gardens than we did at looking at the actual art work. "Good art, solid art" became our mantra that day. And it still follows me.

So as Dr. Brown was explaining the different essays about art work or architecture that we would be required to do this semester, all I could hear in my head was Cameron saying "Good art, solid art".... Terrible. I know. But DAMN it was funny.

I guess it's not a bad thing that my cousin Sarah is moving back to NC from London next Thursday. Where she just spent the past year obtaining her Master's Degree in ART HISTORY. Perhaps little Sarah can educate her ignorant cousin Kara on these "beautiful works of art." No promises though.

My only hope is that perhaps Dr. Brown will be able to teach me, somehow, to actually appreciate the art. And not just look at the piece and say "Good art, solid art."

Dr. Brown- your work is cut out for you. May the force be with him.


Aside from my realization that perhaps I should read the course description in the class catalogue better next time, the rest of my day went pretty smoothly. After History I had to dart over to the education building in 10 minutes (long walk... not really that long, but this heat is killing me) for ELE 4000 which is Classroom Management. After that I went to Starbucks (on campus! yes!) with Lauren before heading to the curriculum lab for a Praxis 2 workshop... 2 hours later we emerged slightly lethargic and had enough time to grab something to eat before heading to ELE 4020, which is Math and Science, part 2. Math and science is once a week, and lasts for 4 hours. Most teachers the first day of class will normally keep you long enough to hand out papers, go over the syllabus, and talk about important dates... then they'll let you go early. However, having Mrs. Berdeau last semester, I knew better.

And, sure enough. I walked into class and saw our boxes full of the materials we would need for experiments and scales lined up on the window sil. Sigh. Thankfully, the 4 hours passed unusually fast due in large part to the awesome table that I have. Lauren, Whitney, Kelsey and I are all in a group together, which is fantastic. And will probably prove to be a bad idea later in the semester :) haha.

Needless to say, I got home around 9pm and started on school work that I needed to get done and printed out a million different chapter reviews, and science/math forms and such for all my classes. And I should TOTALLY be in bed right now. But I got into this book I'm having to read for classroom management and can't put it down. So I decided to blog... because that makes sense? (It doesn't? well, it did to me... )

Going home tomorrow afternoon, just for the night, to pick up some things that I accidentally left there... including my Wii. Which Mom said she would meet me halfway, but I'd rather watch her try and unhook the Wii from the TV in person... more fun that way :) Love you mama. !
So off to bed, get up, pack a little bag, and on the way to ILM.

Then back to Lumberton Saturday to submerge myself in reading about these damn works of art.

Senior Year.. What???

That's right folks. Today at 4:30pm when I walk through those doors of the Education Building at UNC Pembroke, it will officially be the beginning of my SENIOR year of college... Okay, more like 4pm because I'm super OCD about being on time and I will have probably left my apartment at 3:30 even though I could leave at 4 and be there on time... but, WHATEVER. I AM A SENIOR! And, to me, that's really all that matters.

That, and I get to see all of my ELE classmates and friends that I haven't seen in forever.

AND... Wait for it...

UNCP got rid of Taco Bell (goodbye weight gain from last year!) and, put in its place a full-functioning, LEGITIMATE STARBUCKS!!!!!!! Say what?! You mean I won't be practically falling asleep during my 3 night classes any more? And I WON'T have to drink the "coffee" from the booth at the university center? AHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!  What am I going to do with myself?
I'm going to have the wonderful option of getting my grande iced white mocha with SOY and NO WHIP everyday if I want it. AND use my UNCP Card to pay for it. Which means that Mama's paying for it really... since she paid for the bonus bucks on my card... but hey, it's not coming out of my weekly money. So that's a plus. :)

So I've got 18 hours this semester. Three elementary education classes and two history courses for my concentration. It's going to be a tough semester, but I'm actually looking forward to it. (Right now, at least). That opinion may change.... We'll see how much blogging I'm doing in another month. Then we can make that decision.

Fall 2011. Spring 2012- all regular classes.... then this time next fall I'll be getting ready to step into a classroom for my internship. and then BAM... December 2012 will be here before I know it and I'll be walking across that stage to get my diploma. And Aside from my future wedding day and birth(s) of a child(ren) that may be one of the best days of my life.

That's all for now... I'll update once school gets into full swing and I can safely talk about how classes are.... Unless I find something even more ridiculous or something crazy happens.

God forbid Hardee's not butter my biscuit in the morning.

God Loves You...And So Do I

God Loves You, And So Do I.  (GLYASDI)....


Eleven years ago this coming Labor Day Weekend, I was whisked away to a 3-day spiritual retreat for teens. A three day weekend where you get to hear other youth your age talk about their faith journey. Where you draw posters, have small group discussion, and come up with a ridiculously annoying and long table name to make the Youth Director absolutely crazy. Share The Word, Teens Encounter Christ has been a movement in Eastern NC for 25 years. Okay, so TEC is really hard to explain in writing, or in words in a conversation, but I'm going to try my hardest to get the gist of it across to you. (Although you'll never fully understand it unless you go, so... )

So, eleven years ago I was 14. I was practically forced onto my church's van with a bunch of my friends and told I was going to TEC. All I knew about TEC was that my cousins Jane and Amanda had gone and loved it. AND, that God would become more important to me and I would learn more about my faith and God's plan for me.  As I watched my mom wave good-bye I thought to myself "I don't care about God's plan." Flash forward to day 2 of the retreat and I did care about God's plan. The people (youth mainly) on this retreat were amazing. The "talks" that they gave related to me as a freshman in high school. I didn't feel like I was separate from everyone else while I was there. I felt included for the first time. I wasn't an outcast. God loved me. God needed to be a part of my life, and I realized that I needed Him in my life too. And, more importantly, I wanted Him there.

Eleven years later, I'm 25 years old and still involved in this amazing retreat. I don't want this to sound the wrong way... but no matter how hard I've resisted or tried to get TEC out of my life, somehow God slaps it back in my face. Almost like He's saying, "Look dear, this saved your life, the least you could do is serve."
Now, don't get me wrong. TEC is amazing. But there have been a few times that calls from TEC to serve in different positions didn't fit into my life at that point....But God's always found a way to send TEC to me when I've needed it the most. For example... Last Labor Day, I decided to go up to the camp where the retreat is held for the "surprise" on the weekend. (I'm not saying anything else, because I'm not sure who all reads this, and some kid from my church may see it and I can't spoil it if they're coming to a future TEC...). I arrived and realized that there was NO ONE there that I knew...that I could see at that moment anyway. As if on cue, Barbara Oates came around the corner. I've known Barbara since I made my first TEC (#21, eleven years ago!). She's now in charge of the board with her husband Tommy. As Barbara and I got caught up with each other, she mentioned that they were in need of adults for the MLK Jr. weekend in January... I knew where this was going. So I politely told her that I would think about it. I talked to my mom and to Cameron and got their opinions...which were basically the same.... both said that maybe this was a good thing... I was in a new place... going through a different part of my journey in life... maybe it would be a good thing....

Needless to say, I accepted the call. I went to the meetings, but I was never really sure if I was supposed to be there. I wasn't sure if I would ever feel connected. Sure, there were people on team that I knew and had been friends with forever ago. And the youth that I was put with was more than amazing. (Brandon is like a little angel that God sent to me)... But there was just something missing... and I couldn't put my finger on it.

I showed up for the weekend in January ready to serve and with a slightly opened heart. But my eyes were closed. Saturday night, when the guests were participating in a highly emotional part of the weekend, the "hidden team" that I was a part of was also having some time with God through devotions and what we called Holy Conversation with a friend or small group. My friend Paul and I reconnected during this time, and I was truly moved by the Holy Spirit. I got to tell Paul about shortcomings that I had, grief that I was still holding onto about my Dad... Long story short, I had been called to this weekend for a reason: To find myself...again.

One thing that still amazes me after 11 years, is that every time I go on a TEC weekend, no matter what position I am serving in, I always think that it will be the same. (After 11 years, you would think I would know better..) BUT... God somehow finds a way to make me see just how amazing His love truly is. And I have been super blessed to have met the people in this retreat. They are some of my best friends, and I can call them at any time, day or night and they will be there for me. No. Matter. What.

So, in a nutshell. TEC is amazing. And it has changed my life.

One of the "sayings" from TEC is the title of this Blog Entry... God Loves You and So Do I. It's written on the little special gifts you are given, we all say it constantly, and that is what the speakers close their wonderful talks with.

Two weeks ago tomorrow, Martha Bailey, a member of my church and member of Via de Cristo (adult version of TEC...who also uses God loves you and so do I...) and one of my dear friends... passed away suddenly. Martha was a woman of Faith and was able to share her faith in so many ways at our church and through VdC. I'm blessed to have known such a great woman, and to have been a part of the women's retreat we did last January. August 6 was her memorial service at our church and at the end of the service, Pastor John announced that the family would receive the congregation in the fellowship hall during the reception. Jim, Martha's husband then stood up and said, "Martha said to tell you, God loves you, and so do I."

Wow. That's all I could think. Actually, that's a lie. What I was really thinking was, "OMG Jim! How could you say that? Now I'm really going to be crying hysterically."

But later, as I was looking at the "God is Love" talk that I was assigned for this TEC weekend on Labor Day, all I could think of was Martha. And of Jim saying "Martha said to tell you, God loves you, and so do I." So I went for it. I typed up Martha's story. And I realized that TEC has made me see that God does love me. And so do all of those people that I have been blessed to meet over the years. Nothing in the world will ever replace what I have in my heart for this retreat. I have learned so much from these high school and college aged youth... and I'm sure they'll never be able to see how awesome they truly are. But I do hope that whoever reads this might be able to understand how much TEC means to me. And not to mention how much it has benefited my life.

And, just maybe, you've realized why us TECites use those words so often...

God Loves You, And So Do I.