10 Greatest Trips of College

So, in beginning to brainstorm for this, I came up with a list of every trip I took during my collegiate years that I could think of. I was going to narrow it down to just road trips, but I decided with my extensive flying that would exclude some top notch traveling. How many did I come up with (even without including the times I went home by myself or individual Humanities Tour sub-trips)? 43. Forty-freaking-three.
Before college, I didn't really give a lick about going to new places. Now? Now I can't stop. In fact, I'm writing this while I wait to board a plane to Orlando, a trip I planned two weeks ago (and got for less than $120 roundtrip - ask me for dets if you're interested).
Now for the list (in no particular order). And I kind of cheated by grouping some together, but it's my blog, so I can do what I want.
1. Louisville - I was so ridiculously homesick my first semester of college, so I thought it'd be a good idea to merge my two worlds. And it helped! Hillary and Anna came home with me, and Shelby tagged along, too! 

2. Mountain Internship Trips - There was that one time I went on my maiden voyage to New York City. Hannah, Bri, Lindsey, Wes, John, and I left after Mountain's weekend services, drove up, attended a service at Hillsong NYC, stopped by Times Square, and then drove back. It was beautiful.
Then there was that time when Hurricane Sandy came, and Mountain was quick to respond with help. Two days later (around 8 PM), Emilee and I got in a van with a bunch of old ladies and rode up to NYC. After crossing over the bridge into a pitch black New York, we delivered a bunch of hurricane relief supplies, and then we turned around to come back. At 3 AM Ben decided it'd be a good idea to stop for some cheesesteaks in Philadelphia, and there I ate my first authentic Philly Cheesesteak. It had nothin' on Niagara Falls' Violas, though. #goGrandma
Also, one week the interns and residents rode in a van from Baltimore to Atlanta for the Catalyst conference. Ethan Magness played a harmonica while driving the van, there was a "no headphones" rule, and when Ethan missed the exit he pulled over, backed up on the highway, and proceeded onto the correct route. Enough said. 

3. Trip to Greenville Airport - In mid-February of my sophomore year, my Grandpa's health all of a sudden took a turn for the worse. My parents didn't know how much longer he'd live. They told me this news at 7 PM. My tickets were immediately booked, and at midnight the beautiful Lindsey Meding drove me almost three hours to the Greenville airport in South Carolina, turned around, and went to class the next day (actually, she probably didn't go to class, but that's not the point). On that trip we had the most beautiful of conversations, and Lindsey selflessly showed that the good kind of friends drop whatever they're doing when their friends are in need.

4. Spontaneous Trip to Mountain - Speaking of Lindsey, there was that one Wednesday she randomly decided she missed Mountain and was going to take quick weekend trip up there. Hannah Appel and I decided to tag along, and we spent 15 hours on the road for probably 40 hours there. It was the best.

5. Baltimore Easters - I also spent two Easters in a row up at Mountain. Those two long weekends were spent loving on and being loved by some Dudecks and McDades, and they were beautiful. It was then that the gift of hospitality was most clearly shown to me. And if you ever get the chance to attend a Mountain staff Easter party, do it. 




6. New Hampshire Surprise - Remember that one time I told my friend Lauren I was going to California for Spring Break and then showed up in her house in New Hampshire? Then we spent the next few days going to Boston and braving the New England tundra just to grab lunch? Then I was persuaded to move there for the summer? That was a great time.

7. Gatlinburg - I mentioned this trip in my last post, but it definitely deserves to be on this one, too. Yay for breaking inconsequential rules!

8. Wilmington - One week I decided I wanted to spend the following weekend seeing some of my extended family and going to Wilmington, North Carolina where ONE TREE HILL WAS FILMED. So, I texted my aunt, talked with my OTH-loving friends, and set off! It was a real quick trip, but it was a dream come true. :)


9. Knoxville Study Weekend #1 - In order to hang out with my friends my senior year I had to do a lot of homework (or pretend to do it). However, that sometimes included weekend trips to Knoxville where we got to eat Mama Chambers' homemade meals and play with Lizzie and Ralphie. The day I met Lizzie and the following weekend with her, Darcie, and Mandy without a doubt makes the list.

10. Humanities Tour - The trip that broadened my horizons, changed my life's desires, and made me feel the most loved and wanted I've ever felt. 

Here's to many more adventures!

10 Funnest Things I Did in College

That I remember/talk about. And yes, at the moment I'm probably forgetting some of them (not because I was intoxicated, but because four years is a long time to remember things). And I know "funnest" is not a "real word".
In no particular order...
1. Rode on top of a car in a car wash. In October.

2. Climbed a giant hamburger on the outside of a restaurant. 

3. Jumped into a freezing lake in front of the Swiss Alps.

4. Participated in a national preaching competition.
5. Asked a random man (named Romeo/Ervin) in Italy to kiss me on the cheek.
6. Sang "Wagon Wheel" led by Italian musicians in a bar in Rome. (no photo available) 7. Acted in a fast food commercial.
8. Hanglided in Switzerland.
9. Ran 13.1 miles for fun.
10. Drove to Gatlinburg, snuck into a hotel pool, and swam for an hour.

Blessings

What a ride.

Four years. Only about a twentieth of our average lifespan, but I kind of think it’s one of the most important “twentieths” we’re gonna have. For most of us, it’s the stage of life when we pick our life-long friends. When we travel to our biggest adventures. When we somehow get the longest and shortest amounts of sleep we’ll ever experience. When we spend the most money that we don’t actually have on food. When we fall in love and when we get our hearts broken. When we decide what we’re for and what we’re against. When we choose what we may want to spend the rest of our lives doing. When we try great things and make grave mistakes. When we begin to solidify the core of our character.

This is supposed to be a blessings service. I don’t really know what that means. Cuz blessing in my mind probably translates a bit differently than it does in yours. And I have a feeling blessings in God’s mind are sometimes wayyyy different than any of us picture. It’s funny what God’s blessings sometimes end up looking like.

When I first came here all I wanted was to learn how to work in a children’s ministry in the Bible belt, find an attractive husband, and be married by the time I was twenty. That’s literally all I remember wanting. Now I’m graduating, discovered I don’t even really like kids, want to move to Europe, and still haven’t even kissed a boy. It’s funny what God’s blessings sometimes end up looking like.

Abraham became a dad when he was almost a hundred years old. That had to be confusing, but because of that blessing the Israelites became God’s chosen people. Baby Moses was put in a basket and sent down the river by his mother. That must have been lonely, but because of that blessing the Israelite people were freed from generations of slavery. Joseph was sold to the Egyptians by his own brothers. That had to feel like betrayal, but because of that blessing an entire nation and his entire family were saved from starvation. David was the baby of the family, was given the cruddy job of taking care of sheep, and played musical instruments while his brothers were warriors. Those things may have been humbling, but because of those blessings, he ended up being king. Ruth became a widow at what was probably a young age. That must have broken her heart and left her hopeless, but because of that blessing we ended up with Jesus. It’s funny what God’s blessings sometimes end up looking like, don’t you think?

We’ve all been given blessings, and there are plenty of blessings up ahead in our future. James says, “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” Some of those blessings have been and will be obvious. Some of them have been and will be masked by confusion, by loneliness, by betrayal, by a broken heart, by humility. But all of them will be ordained by a God whose love for us knows no bounds.

I think for the vast majority of us, Milligan has been one of those blessings. My freshman year I was seriously considering transferring, and there have been 18 thousand reasons that have proved my decision to stay to be a blessing. Dennis making Thai bar. Professors inviting me to have dinner at their homes with their families. Strangers offering to drive me up Sutton hill in the rain. Belting the Gilmore Girls theme song with my friends after quiet hours. Holding my residents when their hearts were hurting. Happy hour Sonic or Dunkin runs when I should have been studying. Dr. Jackson pushing back paper due dates (which he does every single time, yet we’re always surprised and overwhelmed with gratitude). Cringing when Jeff defended the infallible honor of our athletes with every blow of the whistle. Dr. Charlene Thomas grading our humanities exams within 4 minutes of us taking them. These are blessings. Sunrise hikes on Roan Mountain. Theater performances that made me laugh and cry and forced me to evaluate every part of my life and belief system. Watching Brad Wallace chase a dog through here in the middle of chapel. It’s funny what God’s blessings sometimes end up looking like.

Most of us are getting ready to head out into a world of unknown. Where we’ll have to come up with our own food. Where if we skip work it’ll mean more than just a mark on the attendance sheet. Where when our light goes out or our shower leaks or our living space becomes a home for stink bugs we won’t be able to just tell our RA and have Bruce come and fix it the next day for free. Where our responsibilities will be much greater than writing a paper or making sure we go to enough chapels. Where we’ll be able to park anywhere we want. For the first time in many of our lives, we’ll be entering into something that we can’t see the end of. It’s a time of beginnings with no set ends. It’s a big world of unknown.

But there is one thing that is known. Only one thing that is for certain. And that is our Jesus. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. His mercies are new every morning. He is faithful and gracious and just and loving and jealous and oh so sovereign. And the truth of the goodness of who our Jesus is includes the continual presence of his blessings. They may not always seem like blessings, but his plans are perfect. Romans says, “And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love him, to those who are called according to His purpose.” If we commit to the Lord whatever we do, he will establish our plans (Proverbs 16:3). Whenever you are confused or full of joy or lonely or content or humbled, remember - it’s funny what God’s blessings sometimes end up looking like.