Erasing Hell

Francis Chan's new book comes out July 5. If you haven't watched the video take a few minutes from your day and watch it.

Happy Tuesday!

Solo Roadtrip

I must start out by apologizing for being so slow with blog updates. Hopefully I will be better by the time I leave for my trip and once I am in Europe I will be posting all the time! So to catch everyone up, I finished classes for the semester (hooray!!) and have been having some time at home unpacking from Auburn and repacking to either go back to Auburn, use for my few weeks at home, or take with me to Europe.

The past few days I have been at my grandparents in West Virginia spending some time with them. First of all, I sympathize with anyone who goes to college far away from home and completely understand why you never go home. My grandparents live 10 hours away so I feel you. But, the good news is that I found the best entertainment on the way and on the way back, books on cds (I will always refer to them as books on tape but whatever). I always thought I would fall asleep if I tried to listen to a book on a long car trip, but if you find the right book, it is great entertainment. I listened to Nicholas Sparks books (The Last Song on the way there and Dear John on the way back). I know you probably think these books are sappy and girly but hey they got me from Alabama to West Virginia and back. So my advice for long car trips, find a good book you have been wanting to read, one that will keep you interested and AWAKE (very important, don’t want to fall asleep at the wheel), and something easy to read, I refer to them as beach books.

On the way back I did pass the most interesting car I have ever seen. Its license plate said "ANT CAR" and when I googled it, I found a picture so you can all be amazed at what I passed on I81. 

As much of a hassle as it is to drive up there, my trip really was great. It is amazing to see how simple it is to entertain old people. Seriously, all my grandfather wanted to do was take a drive. He loved it. I also helped my grandmother make a pie and watched Jeopardy with them. As sad as getting old can be, finding those simple moments of joy and knowing that my visit means the world to them makes my whole trip worth it.

While I have been home I have been reading friends’ blogs and stalking pictures of friends that are already studying abroad. I am so jealous and everyone seems to be having so much fun! It makes me even that more excited for my trip.

7 days until Frontier Ranch! 21 days until Europe!

Beach, beach, and more beach

If you read about me, I say that I love to be spontaneous and am always up for an adventure. Well, after being out of town the last several weekends, Charleston for my first 10k, Augusta for the Masters, then the beach with friends and with my roommate for Easter, I thought I would spend a weekend studying in Auburn for finals. But after the recent tornados in Alabama, my family didn't have power in Huntsville and decided to take a trip to the beach until they got power again. So of course they called me to go along to Gulf Shores and since I love the beach I decided to go.

The weekend was so fun and I'm glad I went. I not only got to experience the Mullet Toss at the FloraBama where I threw a fish across the state line and eat fried shrimp and oysters at Sea n' Suds, we went to The Hangout where our my family and our family friends got an obnoxious about of seafood. The gulf keeps advertising for us to come eat their seafood...so we did.

Emily, me, and Sarah Grace with our dinner

As for the rest of the week, no more spontaneous trips. It's finals week in Auburn so my life is being consumed with long hours of studying and study breaks spending time with friends before we all leave for the summer. 37 days until Europe!