Sisters on Vacation...

So I was going through some family pictures, and I came across this lovely picture...

Aw, Christmas in Florida...
But wait, Jessie just posted THIS picture for this last Christmas...

See any similarities??
Sometimes I think we never really change, we just get taller...
(And finally let Hildi up there with us!)
Funny, don't you think?

Porcelain

...are you wasting away in your skin?
are you missing the love of your kin?
drifting and floating and fading away...

So that's sort of the mood right now...
But it goes up and down, so it's never for long...

So you may know I'm not all that big on pictures, but I felt I had to have illustrations to elaborate this post, so here we go...

"Things I've Found At College"
(what this post SHOULD have been named lol)


I can still clash my colors on a daily basis...

I am too lazy to get any other color out of my box of nail polish, so I'm stuck with this shade of red...

I have far too many papers and books on my floor and it's only the end of week two!



My television is just taking up space...and I cannot survive without my tea...
Closet doors really do work as towel hangers...

I have a calendar with nothing of interest to put on it...

I ate my last piece of chocolate...which had been in my stocking at Christmas.

Apparently you can only get real, healthy soda for a limited time before going back to the delicious unhealthiness that is high fructose corn syrup...


Peanut butter is a must-have food for the lazy, on-the-go college student...


And finally, whether you believe it or not, mirrors do not lie...
I AM the Fairest of them all...
So I guess all the rest doesn't matter, huh?

Hope you're all having a lovely weekend, and that you have a great next week!!

In a world of mixed up times, and messed up people...

...there are some truly caring people that don't even need to know you to help you out.

Many of you may know I went to Haiti this last August. I made several friends there, and I really hope to go back some day, because the experience was just so awesome, and we really got into the Spirit of God, and you just can't come back from that unchanged.
Then, this last Tuesday, there was an earthquake in Haiti, the epicenter of which was right where we were. Thank God that the church is still standing, and the Pastor's house is still there, if the inside is a bit shambles. But there are still friends we don't know about, and death tolls are rising...
And then, on Facebook, I came upon this event for 'Prayers for Haiti' this Friday, worldwide, or wherever you may hail from, and of course I said I would attend, and I wrote a note about how, even if to some it seems so far away, it's very close, and I did mention some friends had not been heard from yet.
And a lady I've never met sends me a letter, which I'm going to insert here...

Hey Emma,

I saw your post on the Prayers for Haiti wall. I am so sorry to hear about the current worries that you and your family are now facing. I will definitely be praying for your friends in Haiti. If it's alright, I'd like to say one right now for you, your family and your friends.

Jesus,
I thank you so much for Emma and her family. I ask, Lord, that you will comfort them in their time of trial right now as they anxiously wait to hear from their friends in Haiti. I ask that your love pour out over the King family right now and that you strengthen them every day that passes. Let them know that you are with them and with all who are down in Haiti right now as the clean up process begins. Please protect Emma’s friends in Haiti and bring them to safety. Jesus, we don’t always understand your ways, and I pray, in accordance to your will, that you will reveal to us the good that you will bring forth from the ashes. Strengthen the faith that might be tested in this trial. Jesus, your Word tells us that through faith we are shielded by God’s power. You tell us that we can greatly rejoice even though we must suffer through times of grief and trials. Our faith is only refined and strengthened through the fire. Thank you, Lord, for you promises of peace, comfort, and eternal life. You satisfy our needs in every situation. Thank you for being a BIG God! We rejoice in your faithfulness and love for your children all over the world.
In Your Holy Name,
Amen.

I will continually pray for your friends and your family. There is a cross that I have that sits on my desk at school with a wonderful multitude of verses on that I would like to share with you. It says:
HOPE
Those who trust in the LORD will find NEW STRENGTH. They will SOAR high on wings like EAGLES. They will RUN and not grow weary. They will WALK and not faint. So BE STRONG and COURAGEOUS, all you who put your HOPE in the LORD. Let us HOLD TIGHTLY without wavering to the HOPE we affirm, for GOD can be trusted to keep HIS PROMISE.

I hope you have a wonderful rest of your night. :-)

Sincerely,
Rebecca

It's people like her that make me think, maybe we'll be alright after all...

One Week Update...

So this is only the second day of classes, but about 8:30 am tomorrow is the last time I saw home, so I'm going from there...

Lots of things have happened and I want to write them all down...
And I did...
So I am going to do a bunch of copy and pasting, okay? =)

From January 7th, morning

I think that's the local time...I can't quite remember if I changed my computer over or not...I know for a fact my alarm-clock is wrong, as that's 1:28 in the morning...clearly I just plugged it in and didn't bother changing it...
Procrastination?
Maybe...
Or maybe I just didn't know what the time was and I kind of like it being off anyway...
Though I should still change it...

So I don't know if I've mentioned this, but anyway, so forever ago, my radiator was busted and the temperature gauge thing was shot...there's another word for it, but it escapes me...anyway, so we got a new temp thing, and I just never got around to installing it...and so it was really cold all the way here—still is, to be specific, just we're now indoors and it's heated and lovely and everything—and my car does not have a working heater.
Ouch.
Which, of course, is because there's no temperature gauge thing to meter the temperature and so it can never warm up, and so we had blankets and jackets and all sorts of fun stuff, first for eight hours, then another five today—we stopped at a hotel overnight, because the roads were kinda scary—and we never quite managed to stay warm, and our feet froze...
And Mom is soooo happy she's taking a flight back home instead of driving.

I'm a little tired, but kind of full of energy anyway, and while Mom is sleeping in the living room of my lovely dorm apartment, I've been setting up my room, and organizing and all such lovely things...
Though it's still a mess...
But as I told my friend Amanda, the room screams Emma, which a room should...if I'm in it, that is.

I think I should probably try to sleep...
And try not to fall off my four-feet-from-the-ground bed...
Oy...

That day I sent out a million notes to friends on Facebook, saying how we survived the long trip...

Made it to Montana in one piece--not just me, the car, too!--and my room is mostly settled into already...wonder-woman, that's me! haha, so how are you?

I LOVE YOU!!!
And it's weird because the next room over is NOT yours...
But I'm not sure whose it is, because they're all still on break...
Love you, give yourself a big hug from me!! :)

Guess who starts school in like...four days??
Wow...
So how's your break been??
I made it out to the lovely western country of Montana...
You should totally have a roadtrip to see me!!
Lol, or not...

so my phone has been out of commission the last almost month now, but I'm getting a prepaid thing set up in the next few days, which will have less minutes but save me money so YAY!!!
btw, I made it to school, and my room is pretty much awesome...
or at least stylish, it's kind of cramped and still messy, but it totally screams Emma, which is what a room should do...that is, if I'm in it

And others...it's amazing how many people forgot I was going to school...or forgot what day it was. My own brother didn't know that!!
But since people have started realizing where I am, I'm getting lots of comments and everyone comments on my updates...

is leavin on a jetplane...don't know when I'll be back again... (actually, I lied, I'm driving, lol)

(The morning we left...I had to go online to check my Cafe on Facebook, like the dork I am, and this song popped into my head before I logged out)

thinks everyone should have a Mom that will lend them an extra pair of socks... :)

(We really were freezing on our trip, and we were so grateful to be able to stop and warm up at a hotel over that first night)

wants everyone to write her a letter or a postcard or something...1511 Poly Dr, Billings, Montana, ummm...don't know the zip code lol, I'll get back to you on that, haha...

(It's 59102, by the way!)

doesn't know if she likes getting up this early...

(I think this was to do admissions stuff and such, but I can't remember...but I still don't like being up early, not until about ten-thirty or so when I realize I've done so much more with my day than if I slept in...)

thinks an hour and a half on laundry a week is a good deal...

(True, I did several loads in such a small time, because the laundry is free, and there are several machines so I do it all at once...yay!!
After this, I sent out congratulations for some dear friends, first Irina, who had a baby girl, only days after I left...why couldn't you have had her early so I could see her?? Then my friend Gaelle and my friend Jeremiah got engaged...to each other. And I was informed that my friend Sara had a baby boy, also...
YAY HAPPY TIMES!!!
And I miss them, being so far away...
oh well)

would give you a hug if you were closer...

(Feeling a bit low here, and decided this was all I could say without getting emotional. How weird is it, that this is the first time I'm far away from family, and I CAN'T GO HOME IF I FREAK OUT?????
But I'm not going to, and I feel great being here, so don't worry about me!)

starts today...but breakfast first!! =]

(So, okay, today, I didn't have breakfast...but the last few days, three meals a day, and I'm sticking to it, and I feel great...but I'm hungry today, so maybe I should get lunch soon...)

loves the theme of the names on our doors...Apples to Apples say I am "FUNKY: Hip, Psychedelic, Groovy"

(How did they get that accurate without having a clue who I am??)

survived day #1...yay!!
subtext: only to kill myself by drinking an egg...blah...lol

(I both did and did not do this thing...that is to say...
A million years ago, I watched this episode of Rachel Ray, and she was talking about college students, and how Ramen is a staple food, and to get more protein, you just crack an egg and voila! Dinner is served...and so I do that every now and then...only usually I drain out all the water first, but I didn't this time, and so...and so...most of the liquid was egg-filled and almost tasty? but not quite, haha)

doesn't want to change into normal clothes...pjs are so comfy, can't I wear them all day??

(I'm told college students can get away with this. However, I'm trying to portray an image of studious, clean and if not stylish, then at least presentable. But I'm sure I'll change back into pjs after my next class =])

loves her psych professor...and art history doesn't seem too bad either =]

(Here I insert a bit of my diary, just so you understand why...)

My psych professor is awesome...
That is to say...
She started talking about cellphones and how we all need them, to stay connected and whatnot, but that she doesn't want you using them in class, and how sometimes, you think you can hold it under the table/desk and text and no one will know...well, from the front of the room, it looks like you're doing something...else...
Oh, she's great.
A sense of humor is much appreciated.

(As to art history, I just discovered it might not be as hard as I imagined it, which is totally YAY!!!)

Things you may be wondering from my very random observations and such...

We DID get the car fixed before Mom went home, and it was a very fair price, and I'm adding it to the tab I owe Mom when I finally get rich.

I have NOT fallen off my bed yet...though it's weird sleeping in a different bed...on a bed, as the last week or so I was sleeping on blankets on the floor...and last night was the first night I slept all the way through.

I have a new phone, prepaid, as I think I mentioned, and if you want the number, you can email me or message me or ask my Mom...but it's limited, and I think I have five, six dollars worth of time left...yikes...

You may also be curious as to how I'm spending my free time...
Let's see...

I am so not satisfied with the ending of Chrono Crusade.
Was it well-written?
Was it believable?
Was it worth watching to get to?
Yes...
But I am so not satisfied...

I've been playing a game of solitaire while I watch...first I ended up with eight cards left...then it went down to six...and I thought, hey, if the pattern keeps up, we'll go four, then two, and then VICTORY!!
But now, it just went back up to about twenty or so...
Blah...
But a good way to pass the time anyway...

Oh, and I've also been crocheting a scarf, taking random pictures, and I found the school library, and I'm not quite pleased with it, but they have several good books on tape/CD so I will say they are okay anyway...

And that's my random update...
Is this a weekly thing?
Or will my updates be as random as this writing?
We'll see...

One Day Left...

'Ee-SHE-ah' means more.
More games...
More friends to see...
More things to pack...
I wish there was more time...

But it's my last full day in the Great State of Minnesota--why is it called that?--and I'm having to say my final goodbyes...
Granted, this one's taking eight hours already, but I think Irina might just be the only reason I'd really come back...
(That, and I'm missing the birth of number three, which could be tonight or this Saturday, if they have to induce, and I'm definitely coming back to see the new girl in town!)
I wish that cleaning my room out was as simple as saying goodbye...or that arranging everything in my car was as easy as getting that same car stuck on ice...how do people move their entire lives from one place to another?? I wish I was eight again and Mom would do it for me...
Which, she maybe kind of is? because she's driving out to Montana with me, and helping me settle in...
THANK YOU MOM!!

'Tee-ha' means quiet.
(Or 'shut up'?)
I can't wait until I'm there and I can finally let my mind be quiet...