What to do?

Guys,

I've been really bad with my blog recently.
Sorry!
I just don't really know what to do with it because I like blogging for the sake of keeping up with friends, sharing stories and writing, but I don't want to have to try be creative.  If I come up with something, then I'll write on it and that will be that.
So basically I haven't thought of anything to write about and this is a really boring post.

But I will share my thoughts on my baby sister because she's been consuming my thoughts/prayers/conversations for the past couple months :D.

Although I think that its strange that I'm at school while my family is taking delight in a new member, I love how connected I can still be to the "going ons" of my household.  I believe that connection comes from sharing such close quarters with my family for most of my life.  And I really appreciate that security of coming home and feeling like I haven't been gone for the past two months, which is how I felt during my recent trip home on fall break.  By the grace of God, I'm so lucky to have such a large family.  Sure the challenges of the family hadn't disappeared, but the fact is that (for the most part) we can get past those conflicts and focus on having a good time when we all get together.  Obviously, my parents play a huge part in my family's connection and who I am today.  What I love the most about their parenting style is that they have so much going on that I have the space to properly develop and come to them if I need to.  They are not the type of parents who pester their child but I trust them so I want to tell them all the major changes going on in my life.

Anyway, so Stella Therese Marian is gorgeous and so so so tiny! I'm always amazed at how dependent babies are of others, but just holding that tiny, innocent, precious life does something to the human heart.  How can purity of soul not affect us jaded ones? I look back on that short time that I got to meet her and I feel so blessed.  And to think that I am the godmother of her, especially when she has her whole life in front of her! Just think of the potential! I would love to grow up as the baby of the family so that I could see the experience of others and distinguish who was successful or doing well so that I could plan my life in search of the same happiness.

I am still astounded at how much love can pour forth from my heart because of such a tiny person.  I can't wait to see what she will be like.  What is her personality? Who will she take after? Will she survive being the youngest, especially after three boys? She's going to have to be a strong person for sure because there is a lot of competition in my family.  What's she going to look like? God, do you think, maybe, if she could, like you know, take after me?  Pretty please?  Because that would be so cool.  AHHH I can't wait to show her the ropes! I can't wait to see how God will use her in this crazy thing called life.  

ZzZzZz = College Life

Last night, we had the president's ball, which was fun.

I'm getting an x-ray tomorrow and could use some prayers.  It's not  that I can't make another few weeks of this because I get around really well.  I just miss soccer - alot.

Here is a list of all of the classes I'm taking this fall:

Bio Lecture and Lab

Honors History of Ideas

Honors Rhetoric

Theatre Appreciation

First Year Symposium

Homework is starting to pick up.  This weekend I'm writing 4 papers, but most of them are short.  I really love my classes though.  I'm turning into a nerd because  I never realized how much I love understanding subjects before.  Coming from a homeschooling background, I never had the opportunity to go to class every day.  I talk so much class.  Its pretty funny.  And I've definitely seen that being able to teach yourself subjects has been so good for me in college.

Honors classes are so much more intense than my other classes.  I'm really glad I'm in the Honors program because I am learning so much.  What I especially love is that the professors take the time to make sure we understand the difficult texts or their critiques of our written work.  It's a very learning conducive environment and the people I'm living with are such a great group of smart, silly, and genuine people.  I was sick this week and the way they took care of me was just like I was a part of their family.     People just pop by our suite and we throw parties! The other night we threw a nail/smoothie/bollywood party in our room.

And that's my update on college life!

 

Sweetness

College life is awesome!

I'm here for preseason and even though I broke my foot and therefore can't play soccer I am having SUCH a blast.

I love college soccer! I love the people, how everyone is so driven, the coaching staff and how much time they invest in really getting to know you.  It's so me and it's really great.  I just have to be patient and hungry at the same time.  I'm biking a bit, doing core workouts, and keeping engaged in the classroom sessions.  I gotta be able to rock 'n roll when my time comes, and trust me it's coming.

So far, the people I've met have been really fun to get to know.  It's nice to be part of a "family" and get to know campus before everyone else arrives this weekend.

The basilica and the adoration chapel are so great to be able to go to whenever I want as well.

And strangely enough, I'm looking forward to classes starting....

I must be going crazy or something.

PACKING!!!!

People,

I am leaving in 6 days!
I can't believe it!

I've started legitimately packing my clothes and essentials today.

Wow, I have alot of STUFF.

See my 2 siblings before me have gone to colleges close by.
My college is 7 hours away.
I can't do what they did, which is swing by home and pick up stuff if they need it.
So I have to prepare myself for the colder months while not bringing every article of clothing I own.
This is alot harder than it sounds.

Does anybody have any college packing tips?

I'm trying not to overdo it.  It's not exactly working.  Oh well!

TTFN!

The Ups and Downs

WELLLL

I have some news.

As I'm sitting here, figuring out how to say this, I look down at my last post about the beach.  One sentence sticks out to me - "I'm enjoying this season of my life."

If you knew about recent events, you would look at my life now and think to yourself, "That statement does not portray how she feels now."

And a couple of days ago I would have agreed.

However, I've had a little time to think, pray, prepare and I know now.

My soccer dreams have not been in vain.  Sure I have a Jones Fracture in my 5th metatarsal base.   But if I want to succeed in life than I have to take any and every experience as a growing experience.

I feel like my world has been turned upside down and I have learned alot about myself.  This is just the beginning of what's to come and I'm not worried.

A part of that comfort and confidence comes from me saying good-bye to control.  I have a very extroverted personality and I'm a bit of a control freak.  I have a choleric temperament that I get from my mother (go figure).  This fracture is not something I can control so I need to stop blaming myself and start working on other stuff.  Dwelling on myself being injured is pretty depressing and I'm not the kind of person who wants to be depressed for even a second.

This summer I spent a good amount of time working on my fitness and it's hard to not see that time as being a waste now.  One thing I've learned is that my time is not God's time.  And I know there is such wisdom in His planning.  Do I like being humbled? No, but I really appreciate it later.

Maybe this is His way of saying slow down.  I want you to enjoy the relationships you are fostering now.  I want you to lean on me at this time because I am carrying you.

Maybe I don't have to know what I'm supposed to learn from this.

It's OK for me to suffer a bit.  It's OK to sacrifice my physicality especially because I've been so blessed.

I've seen friends and family send out their love and support.  They have been my crutch for the past week.  It fills my heart with such bliss to know how strongly they care for me.

Maybe it's enough to know that I've gotten to where I am and who I am today because of love.

XOXO,
Robyn

BEACH

Hey There!

Update on my life:
Well, I went to the beach last week for the Fourth of July.  It was fun/incredible/awesome and totally worth the car ride with no air conditioning.

I know, how did we survive that?
Seriously, it wasn't that bad because we would go in the morning, but it still was a little uncomfortable. Like I said though, totally worth it.

Since I'd never driven myself to a vacation before I decided that I wanted some company.  And what better way to spend a week at the beach than to go with friends. I ended up choosing 2 of my good homeschool friends and it was hard because I really didn't want to hurt feelings.  I know how that feels and it stinks.  But in this scenario, I hope that I handled it well and didn't come across as a brat.  I really was just trying to do what was best and to pick friends who I knew would get along with family.

Beach life is SO my life.  It was wonderful to be by the water, just relaxing and getting pampered by my aunt and her family.  My cousins went out of their way to accommodate us, which was very nice.  We all had loads of fun and I enjoyed seeing everyone get along.  

I also got home just in time to see my Great Grandma stop by our house on her way to my Nana's.  Every time I see my 95 year old Great Grandma I am filled with this incredible assurance.  It's almost like I get this feeling that by the time I am her age my life right now, that I make SUCH a big deal of, will be of little to no consequence.  That test I didn't do so great in? That summer of stressing and organizing before leaving for college? My summer jam? My new clothes? How many push ups or pull ups I did? How many miles I ran?  They won't make a difference in the world when I reach my 90's.  If I reach them!

So stop worrying! I'm enjoying this season in my life.  That in-between awkward age where you are exercising more independence and yet a part of you is still clinging for the comfort and ease of home.  Let go and let live.

"I am not afraid, I was born to do this." - Joan of Arc.  

Please keep my Great Grandma in you prayers.  She has shingles and although she is doing much better, she still has pains.  She has been very calm and strong throughout the storms in her life recently.  It's really been a blessing to watch her live her life and to see all the love she has poured into her family.

Another joy of this summer has been planning and preparing for the birth of my goddaughter and baby sister! I'm SO EXCITED! Do you know how good it is to see a pink blanket after 10 years of seeing blue ones?

TTFN!  

Happy Mother's Day!

Thank you to all the mums out there!

My mommy is my role model and inspiration.  I don't know where I would be without her!

“When a man loves a woman, he has to become worthy of her. The higher her virtue, the more noble her character, the more devoted she is to truth, justice, goodness, the more a man has to aspire to be worthy of her. The history of civilization could actually be written in terms of the level of its women.” 
― Fulton J. Sheen, Life is Worth Living