Thanksgiving break

It was nice to be home for Thanksgiving and spend some good time with my family. I arrived home on Tuesday night. On Wednesday, I enjoyed the day relaxing and taking time away from my studies. Aaron and I drove up to Wal- Mart to get some supplies for the meal.

On Thursday, I was really busy cooking in the kitchen making potato dishes, and pies.

We enjoyed the company of Uncle Albert, and Uncle Dave with us.

In the evening we enjoyed spending time with our cousins, JD, Jenny, Ellie, Owen, and Jonah.
We have a dog, Ranger and Uncle Dave brought his dog and they got into a fight under the table while we were eating. It was quite the entertainment!

Ellie, Owen, Jonah, and I

After enjoying a meal of pie with our cousins we went over to JD and Jenny's and saw the renovations they have done to their house. It looks really nice!

The hall that leads into in the family room

The family room

I'm thankful for...

Since it is Thanksgiving time I am going to share what I am thankful for. This year has been amazing and I am enjoying my experience at Southern. I have met so many new people. I am thankful for the godly friends I have, who are like-minded. I have an awesome roommate, who is so much fun and has the same values as I have. Recently, I am excited about the doors God has opened in my life. I have 4 Bible study groups I am a part of. This is more than I could of ever hoped for! I am giving a Bible study to a student on campus, and my Bible workers club partner has a Bible study contact too, and I attend the study.At the end of the week I meet with two other girls to memorize scripture. On Friday nights, I go to my Aunt's house to study about Last day events in the Bible. I could not be more happy about what God has opened for me this year.

To update on what has been happening in my college experience. A couple of weeks ago, Christine and I had a pasta dinner with our suitmates. It was fun!

Last Sabbath, a group of students went down to Patten towers to conduct a Thanksgiving church service and give a dinner to the residents there.

Then on Saturday night, we went over to our friends' apartment to eat fruit sauce on toast,
socialize with friends, and sing hymns.

Lindsey, Christine, and Christy

Heather, Debbie, and I

Now, I am home on Thanksgiving break. So far I have just enjoyed relaxing and spending time with my family. The end of this semester is going to be quite intense with some more tests, and ending it off with exams. I am going to spend a couple of days studying during break to help prepare myself for when I return back to college.

Fall at Southern

Fall at Southern has been beautiful. Last Sunday, Christine and I did a fall photoshoot. We had a lot of fun with it.

On Friday, I went to job shadow a physical therapist and that was interesting. Today, was one of our best days at Southern. We went to the North River church, and then we went to a Asian fellowship dinner at the Ooltewah church for missionaries who have served in Asia. The food was amazing! I had two plates. Then, after the meal there were some testimonies. We returned to Southern's campus to see the Mission Expo. There were several booths, where Southern students were encouraging others on mission work. I finished my Sabbath by resting.
This weekend, we could really see the Lord working. I could see one door opening after another for my roommate, Christine. I am excited and happy for her and I'll let you read her testimony at http://www.christinerreynolds.blogspot.com/

Please keep me in your prayers as I am making important decisions for my future.

Going back home for midterm break

It was nice to be able to go back home this past weekend after a very busy first half of my first semester. I was able to get in some good sleep, cook and bake, and spend time great time with family. On Friday, I had quite the day. I drove out to Cottontown to eat lunch with my grandmother. She is such a special lady, and I was happy to spend time with her. Then, I drove over to Gallatin and waited in a line for over thirty minutes to vote in the Presidential election.There was a student from Southern a couple of people ahead of me, who I had never met. It really is a small world!This took a lot of time out of my day, but it was well worth it. I think that in this election it is important to vote for the President, with all of the economic crises going on. I felt really good after I cast my ballot! My first time to be able to vote in the Presidential election!


I had the privilege of hearing Aaron preach in the Gallatin church on Sabbath. I was proud of him. He gave a powerful sermon on the Elijah message. I was so glad I could be there!

On Friday afternoon I made apple pie for supper. Aaron with the food.

I enjoyed my slice of apple pie.

The leaves are starting to change here in Tennessee.

Stephen came to see me on Sabbath afternoon. We had a nice walk through the crisp air and took some pictures.

Now I am back at college with lots of hours of studying to do before this semester is over!

SEYC 2008, Patten towers, and Intent meetings with Peter Gregory

September is already over with! I feel like my first semester of college is flying by!My schedule for classes is very busy, and yet my classes are quite interesting. On the third weekend of September my family Mom, Norman, and Aaron came to see me at SEYC. It was so special to have them there with me at college. I appreciated their support and it was very nice of Norman to come out of his way to see me in college. I also enjoyed seeing Tim and Sunny. SEYC was great with powerful messages from Ivor Myers at the evening meetings, and the seminars were all packed. I attended last year and it was not as packed as this year!

After lunch on Sabbath Mom, Norman, Christine, and I took a walk on Southern's promenade

The McNulty family with Tim and Sunny at the Audioverse. I know that SEYC appreciated Audioverse recording the sermons and seminars.

One of the ministries I signed up for was the Patten Towers. I've heard about the project, and I finally was able to go and see for myself what it was like. I was so blessed by going. The people who live there need encouragement and friends like students from Southern. We knocked on their doors and invited them to Patten church, then after the church service we served them a Patluck meal of haystacks. It was fun to fellowship with them, and let them know that we really care about them.

The students who lead out in song service

This week was probably one of my most stressful weeks. I stayed up very late a couple of nights trying to get homework, and papers done. I love college life, but the classes and homework can be tiresome. By thursday, I was so exhausted that when my alarm went off at 6:30 a.m. I immediately went back to sleep and woke up again at 7:45. My College Comp 101 class was at 8:00 and it takes me 5 minutes to get there! So I franctically, put my clothes on and dashed over to Miller Hall. When I arrived there my professor wasn't there yet, and my classmates were waiting in the hall. Phew, What a relief! On Friday, it was a relaxing and fun catching up on errands I don't have time to do during the week and grocery shopping at the Village Market.

What really made this week great was Peter Gregory's Intent meetings for Week of Prayer. It has been such a positive influence on this campus. In the past the speakers have been average, and the attendence reflected that. This year they had seating for 800, and over a 1000 have been showing up every night. The students don't have to come, but I know there were several searching for more and realizing that the Word of God can be preached and digged into deeper.

His message on Friday night was powerful, and many came forward for the altar call. I went to the North River church today, expecting the sermon to be preached from one of the preachers. Surprisingly, Peter Gregory gave it and it was awesome! I was blessed by it. I wrote down notes, and you can ask me later about more details. I am thankful to have a wonderful church to go to where I have found friends that are like minded, and involved in evangelistic opportunities.

I am also apart of the Bible Workers Club, and they invited Peter Gregory to teach us on how to give a Bible study. He spoke in the student center. Wow, I have never heard a such a presentation. He told that we need to know how the relate to the person we are working with, and their personality in order to help them to make decisions throughout the Bible studies. He used the chapter of John 4, where Jesus talked to the Samaritan woman and how he was able to reach to her relating this to when we give Bible studies. I was learned a lot from Peter Gregory this week.

Thus, a new week is about to begin. I hope everyone is doing well, and please keep me in your prayers as I have a lot ahead of me.

Christine's 18th birthday party

My roommate and I have had so much fun this year. She is a awesome friend of mine. We laugh a lot, talk about many things, and have so much in common in values.I am so thankful to have her a roommate. Last Sunday was her 18th birthday. I planned a birthday party with the help of friends. I have never pulled a surprise birthday party before, so I was a little nervous on how it would turn out. On Friday afternoon, I managed to sneak out of the girl's dorm. I went shopping at Wal-Mart for the birthday party with the help of my friend, Marjorie. We bought streamers, cups, plates, confetti, and things that would make a birthday party fun! On Saturday night, I had Debbie take her on a walk and at the end of the walk they were outside the student center at the birthday party.Christine was so surprised!There were 8 girls, and we had a great time! We ate strawberry rhubarb pie, and drank apple juice.
Here is the table where we had the party.


All of our close friends who came.

Happy Birthday Christine!

My 19th birthday

It's hard to believe that I am now 19! Last Wednesday was my birthday. I woke up bright and early, and Christine sang happy birthday to me while I was half awake and feeling groggy. Then, I took my final for my class and afterwards my Highland friends and I went out and celebrated the completion of our class. We talked for two hours reminiscing Highland stories.
I came back and ate with my close friends at the cafeteria. This was the first day I bought a dessert. Christine and I bought blueberry shortcake. Our friends Laurel, Debbie, and Joel were there.

In the afternoon, Christine and I walked two miles on the Greenway to go shopping in Ooltewah. We went to a clothing store, and we were so thirsty we drank fruit juices in a shop. We had fun even though it was hot!

I received nice phone calls from family and opened cards and presents that came in the mail in the evening.

This past weekend I went back home. Mom made a special birthday lunch. The menu was lasagne and blueberry pie.

Stephen and I

Aaron and Ranger

On Saturday night I opened my birthday presents.

Mom and I

Thank you to everyone who called or remembered me. I'm grateful for another year of life!