Finals Week, Fall 2009!

Helloooo, finals week! Studying, deliriousness, dance parties (bubble wrap included), and squeezing in all the once-a-semester traditions we failed to get around to doing during the semester. It's a good time.

First things first: An amazing "I Hate Exams" dance party in the Tharp Third lounge!

Ohhh yeahhh!! "Party in the USA," "Whatcha Say," "Down," "Year 3000," and, of course, "Cupid Shuffle" all make for a great stress-relieving playlist that is so wonderfully typical of TH3. :) Add in the bubble wrap, and you have the epitome of awesomeness.

Second on the list: Trip numero dos to Jenkins with Christy, Kristi, Courtney, Jesse, Michael, and Justin!

It started with a random invite sometime last semester, and now it's on its way to making itself a tradition. Since hanging out with these three guys doesn't happen as often as I'd like, it's always a fun time when we get together.

Next up: Christmas party at Audrey's with about 20 of my favorite people!

A rousing game of "Boxers or Briefs" (a potentially awkward game if you don't know the people well, which fortunately isn't the case with us), plenty of Christmassy food, and lots of laughing and random conversations... It's nights like this that make me realize how much I really do love my life. I have the greatest friends in the world.*

As soon as I left the party, it was off to Steak 'n Shake with Christy, Kristi, Tuna, Jesse, and Josh for our traditional once-a-semester late night trip!

Sooo much fun--after we finally got Josh to commit to going! It was just like always, complete with Jesse riding in the trunk (and us nearly dying, thanks to Josh's driving skills).

Then there's today, which has included nearly freezing to death...indoors (seriously, I've been wearing a coat, scarf, and gloves all day and I'm still not warm), attempting to remedy this by going to Perkits for ice cream with Emily and Courtney, and listening to a bunch of random music. Oh, and semi-working on a computer project, too.

Two more days, and I'm outta here!

*I also re-realized how huge my friend group is. The ones at the party were mostly just the closest ones. How did that even happen?!

Thanks, God.

I'm thankful for my little brother's random humor, my mom's listening ear, and my dad's corny jokes. I'm thankful for meteor showers and mountain air and laughing under the stars. For incredible friends who are there to keep me smiling, even through the hardest times, and who keep loving me, even after seeing the good and the bad in me. For hiking and Owl City and driving with the windows down. For acoustic guitars and waterfalls and Steak 'n Shake runs after midnight. I'm thankful for the fact that I can write cliché "thankful" blog posts and feel okay about it. :) I'm thankful for autumn leaves and how they blow around and crunch under my feet, for Christmas lights, the color green, and warm, fuzzy blankets. For songs that describe my life to me, rainy days, and giant bear hugs. For violins and good movies and long conversations about nothing in particular. I'm thankful for late-night adventures and old friends and meeting new people.

I'm thankful for the difficult times because I've learned to fully trust.

I'm thankful for Your amazing, amazing love.

I'm thankful for knowing that there's a point to everything that happens in my life, and that You are going to walk through all of it with me.

Thanks, God. :)

These are a few of my favorite things...

They're all links. Click for more awesomeness.

1. Owl City
Um, yes, Adam Young is amazing. I've listened to this guy for about 4 months straight and I'm still not sick of him. It has got to be the most versatile music ever made. If I'm happy, it works. If I'm sad, it works. If I'm tired, it works. If I have tons of energy, it works. Big cities, the mountains, the beach...it just works. I still get really happy every time I hear the opening notes to "Fireflies" or "The Saltwater Room" or "Hot Air Balloon" or...any of his songs, really. So good!

2. Lonely Planet
This site is my new best friend. I discovered it while I was spending the past few days planning a trip to Italy for a class project. Anywhere you want to travel (which, at least in my case, means everywhere), it has all the information you need to know. Restaurants, hotels, transportation, cool things to see, whatever--it has it. And it's not worded in a really boring way. It's actually kind of fun to read.

3. Global Perspectives
...Because it's why I get to go to Europe this coming summer. Austria, Switzerland, and Germany, here I come! I am super excited. Obviously, I can't wait to go to see the cities and stuff, but what made me most excited was when I realized that I'll be in the middle of the Alps. YESSSS!!! (I know, I would get worked up about that sort of thing. I can't help it. Mountains are my favorite.)

4. The Annie Moses Band's Version of "We Three Kings"
Please ignore the fact that this is a video clip from TBN. :) I'm a huge fan of just about any sort of stringed instrument arrangement, and this is definitely no exception. Gorgeous.

5. Making New Friends
This seems to be something that has happened quite a bit in my life here lately. I'm definitely not complaining! I love having more people in my life. It makes things so much more enjoyable! :) I'm just hoping they don't turn into the whole we-hung-out-once-and-now-I'll-pretend-you-don't-exist thing. I hate that.

6. Sporcle
Hello, addiction. What could be more entertaining than 2,319 random knowledge quizzes that occupy your life for hours at a time? Yeah, it's a good time.