29. August 2008 by Sarah.

Saturday was spent in the Reigner Room in our library, which houses many of Julia Baldwin’s personal books and maps. In this room there is also a huge conference table and big conference table chairs. It wasn’t planned for me to be the STARS rep at this meeting, but the planned rep had prior commitments and so I was asked if I could go. Well of course I would come, I would LOVE to come. Getting the opportunity was awesome. I learned so much from this meeting, although I can’t say  a lot about what was said, I learned so much.

I learned that I will some day be one of the awesome women sitting around that table making plans for the future of Mary Baldwin. It was awesome to be asked to give input on important issues surrounding the college. Most of the alum that were there, I had met before and was thrilled to see again, but there were a few that I had never met before who I can’t wait to see again.

Dori is the president of the alum association, and let me tell how wonderful she is and how great it is that she is a person I have in my life. I have never sat in a meeting that was run so professional and yet, there was still a way about it that didn’t make it seem intimidating, which is what I was expecting.

After I graduate I cannot wait to become a member of the alum association and get the chance to work with young women and can only hope that I am a role model to them someday.

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28. August 2008 by Sarah.

So this morning the alarm went off at 5:15am, I hit the snooze and physically got out of bed at 5:30am. That left me about twenty minutes to wash my face, eat something, get dressed and throw my hair in a pony tail. Not to mention that it was raining outside.

It was 6:30am when the first student arrived, then some more, one from CA even! Basically, what the student leaders do when the car arrives is scream and clap “Welcome” to the freshman. Personally I loved it when it was done to me, but some of them think we are WAY to perky for that hour of the morning and some just eat it up, especially the parents. Moving to college is a very exciting time in a persons’ life, totally different from just moving to an apartment to something like that. You are moving in with a whole new family, these are the people that you will see ALL THE TIME and you come to rely on them for everything.

After we have shocked them with a welcome we swarm their car and start taking everything out and putting it in their room for them. (Silently thinking the whole time, this is the only time you will ever get help unpacking all of this crap). Some of stuff that the girls bring is just crazy. I had to pick and choose what went to school from my room, not that much. The majority of items that were unpacked this time 3 years ago were bought in PA before my drive down here. But some of them must bring the entire room and then some.

It was great memories, which I actually got the chance to talk about when I was interviewed by the local paper today, and had several pictures taken on numerous occasions. It was also nice to see most of the student leaders out there pumped up and excited in our little ponchos since it did drizzle  us literally all day long!

I only wish that I could be there when my little sister moves in to her dorm in a few weeks. I am sure many the picture will be taken!

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27. August 2008 by Sarah.

Today was the dreaded day that I had to buy my books for classes. Why dread the day you ask? Money. Plain and simple, I am thrilled to finally have books that will expand my mind, but the price isn’t always a joy. I didn’t do that bad actually, it could have been worse, much worse.

The total came to $396, 4 bucks away from $400, I was thrilled, somewhat. Then walking back to my room, in the rain by the way, I looked to see what time it was. The watch that is on my wrist right now, as I type, costs more then the sum of books I just bought.  What can I say, the watch was a gift, therefore I don’t feel so bad. I mean it isn’t like I went out and bought the watch, right?

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26. August 2008 by Sarah.

Note to title, not to considered with my father, who is in IT. He does things right unlike the college I got to. The way they run their department is stupid. I HATE having to change my password to get into my e-mail every 90 days. I also hate the fact that if your password is the tinniest bit screwed up, you can’t log onto the network at all. Therefore you have to go off campus and find some free Wi-Fi to go to the password doctor to get a new password. It is so frustrating and I am just so fed up with the thing.

Plus I have been trying to get all of this stuff done before school starts and things just aren’t working out like I would like them too. Sometimes you just want to stay in bed all day and read a good book. Tomorrow I can do that after I go a get a little pampering done at the Mill Street Spa and Salon. Then I will need to get my books and then I think that I will be ready for school to start. I am totally ready for Sterling to get here,  because the room is so empty right now!

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24. August 2008 by Sarah.

Currently I am sitting in one of the local coffee shops in Staunton, getting some time in before the craziness of school starts. This particular coffee shop, The Daily Grind, isn’t my favorite, but it still provides an escape and allows me to get my fix of Chi Tea.

The design of this shop is rather small and there is a lot of sound, but that is what is nice about coffee shops. At home one of my favorite places to hang out is Starbucks, with my Starbucks buddy, normally when we are there, we always see someone that we know. But the odd thing here, sitting in this coffee shop, and running into people that I know, which I never thought would happen. But Staunton is a small town and it is bound to happen.

The one thing that I like about this shop is the counter that you can sit at and watch all of the people walking on the street. People watching is like one of my FAVORITE past times. It is the only way that I survive airports. In Staunton it is particularly interesting because the locals are all very different. You have the occasional business guy walking down the street, lots of older couples, many teenagers, and then the younger crowd, which is where I would fall into I guess. And you can always count on seeing a “Staunton-ite”, they are a breed all their own.

And really, I so only come to this shop when the other one is closed, because the Chi Teas here are nothing to get excited about, but what can I say, it isn’t Starbucks.

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24. August 2008 by Sarah.

Today I finally finished my part of the room. Despite that fact that I sat in a meeting from 9:30am until 4:00pm. (That is another blog). But I thought that I would get some pictures posted so y’all could see what the room looks like. Keep in mind that it is a little empty without Sterling here, but as soon as it is ALL done, I will update that album. To see all of the pictures click here.

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22. August 2008 by Sarah.

My room is almost complete. With the exception of a few minor decor items, posters, etc. I am spending the day in what is called the SLC, Student Leadership Conference. Pretty much they make us feel really, really important so that we don’t complain when we are up at 6am on Wednesday helping students move in the dorms. Glad I like to get up early.

But as I sit here in my room enjoying a few last moments before the conference starts again, I have realized that I have hit my wall. I am so sleepy and would love to just crawl into bed and take a nap! I just have to keep reminding myself to enjoy this time because as soon as school starts, I won’t get to have this relaxing downtime.

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21. August 2008 by Sarah.

Very early Wednesday morning I arrived back in Staunton, staying the night at the house of the amazing Anne. My flights all ran on time until the very last one from DC to Staunton. First it was crew who wasn’t there, then there was the small issue of fixing the plane, sidenote, I HATE flying! After tossing and turning for what seemed like hours, I was finally able to drift off to a somewhat relaxing sleep. But I was up by 8:30am and eating because I had to get all of my crap for my room from one place to another. Let me tell y’all I have a lot of crap!

It takes Tina and I two trips in her SUV to get everything to my room. Not to mention all the heavely lifting. Next time I am hiring men, big strong men to do the work. Oh wait, there isn’t going to be a next time, I am senior, this is my last year of college, holy crap!

Last night I worked pretty late getting everything put into place. Well at least some of it, I still have a lot of work to do today. I did get all of my clothes put away though. One of the perks of going to an all womens college, is that this year, my senior year, I have a walk in closet. Oh yeah people, that is what I am talking about!

So as I sit here still in my pj’s drinking OJ and eating a granola bar, looking at all of the mess that still surronds me, I think it best if I just sign off and get back to work. Pictures will be coming soon, as soon as I can find my camera cable.

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20. August 2008 by Sarah.

Currently I am sitting in a plane 2,900 miles in the air. As I was reading my book I decided that I would rather write out some stuff. The other day I read my sister’s blog. Her latest post is about her faith. I realized that I have never written about my faith and it is such a major part of my life I thought that it was about time.
I am Lutheran, born and raised and will probably not ever change. I may switch different synods, but I am pretty sure that I will always remain a Lutheran. So as I sit here on this plane, heading back east to go to school, it is my faith that will get me through this day and the days the lay ahead of me. When I had to make the choice of which college to go to I did more praying then I ever had in my life. It wasn’t really which college, it was more the fact: do I stay in CA or take one major leap of faith and go to Mary Baldwin. As I am sure most of the readers out there in Internet land know, I choose MBC. I knew that God had a plan for me and that whatever choice was made would be the right one.
My faith has now brought another curve to the path that God has in store for me. My Daddy accepted a job in Alaska about two weeks ago. He has moved into an apartment and has started work. For him getting out of Lancaster was so important and he needed to do this. It is extremely difficult knowing that in a few months, every person in my household will be living somewhere new. The only way that I can get that thought through my head is to know that God isn’t going to throw anything at us that we can’t handle.
Some of my friends aren’t into the religion thing that much. That is fine, I completely and utterly understand. If it wasn’t for my parents taking me to church every Sunday morning, how do I know that I wouldn’t have the faith that I do today? So the people that aren’t sure on religion need to have it shown to them, maybe that is why I am in their life, to show them my religion. Setting the example and willing talk about my faith, that is something that I strongly believe in and practice. If I didn’t have the faith that I have, I am pretty sure that there would be an emptiness inside of me that would need to be filled.
When I was confirmed in 8th grade we had to give a statement of our faith. I remember writing a poem with the help of my 8th grade English teacher. I am sure I still have it, and I am sure some of it remains the same. But my guess is if someone asked me today to give a statement of my faith, it would be much longer, more in depth and more meaningful.

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15. August 2008 by Sarah.

This morning I got up at 7:30am, thinking, great, I will walk Buddy, and go for a nice long bike ride. It is now 10:30am, I am still in PJ’s and haven’t gotten of the couch since. I am watching Lifetime and have had a peice of cake for breakfast. My gosh, I need to go back to school.

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