One Year Ago Today...

Let me preface this by saying that I feel like I look back on things too often. Like my last post saying I want to go back to Ireland. And thinking today that I wish I were a transfer again.

One year ago today, I was running around my house trying to get things together to leave for Covenant. I had gotten a phone call the night before from a man who worked for Covenant. He offered me a scholarship, and asked me to move up on Monday and start class Tuesday. What. the. heck.

I had just been at the memorial service of a wonderful woman who was a close friend of our family. I had just been talking with people at church about wanting to be at Covenant. I walked in the house to both of my parents standing in the kitchen smiling. Mom looked at me and said, "We have some exciting news. You may want to sit down." Uhh, ok? What is it? Are we going to Disney World or something? Daddy's response, "No. She's pregnant." and points at Mom. HAH. Funny. Really, what's up? Then Mom told me.

"Covenant called. They want you to come, and start class Tuesday. They're calling back in fifteen minutes."

I talked with the man from Covenant, and then I called everyone I knew. Grandparents. Emily. Blythe. Katie. Baxter was in Chile, so I had to get a hold of him on Skype. Jon. Mike. Lisa. I had to quit my job at Chick-fil-A (I worked there long enough to make $10. Hah.) and let Melissa know that I wouldn't be able to work with the middle school girls at youth group any more. Then packing. Oh man, what to take. Or what not to take? Insane, either way.

Katie drive from Athens and spent the night. We spent most of it trying to figure out what to take, and I had one of the most restless nights I can remember.

Church Sunday morning was bitter sweet. I cried through the hymns that were sung, and a little during the sermon. We told everyone at church, and it was amazing to have such awesome support from so many people. Everyone shared in the joy that I was experiencing.

Sam's for lunch. Pizza, of course. Then buying the essentials. Shampoo, toothpaste, gum, Diet Coke. All that good stuff. That afternoon, Lauren came over to say bye. Emily and Blythe brought me a college basket. Lisa came over and hung out for a bit. Michael stopped by to say bye. I talked with Baxter and told him how nervous I was. I slept in my room for the last time in what felt like forever.

Monday was just as crazy as the day before. I had to get my high school transcript, my Gainesville transcript, shots, doctor's records, and pack the car. I called Covenant so often that the admissions guy who was helping me answered by saying, "Hey Emily, what's up?" because he recognized my number. Mom and Daddy drove with me up to Covenant. We met with tons of people, unloaded and set up all of my stuff, and then they left. I was a student at Covenant College.

Yesterday, I cried on the way up here. Listening to Sufjan, I remembered driving up the mountain for the first time ever. SCARY. I was welcomed back with hugs from Sarah, and help unpacking my car. I went to get Virginia from the airport, made a Wal Mart run, and stopped by Krispy Kreme. I am one of those girls that squeals when she sees her friends she hasn't seen in a month. I remember seeing people do that last year and thinking, "A year from now, I'll be doing that." Yep, right on.

That phone call changed my life. Right now, I'm sitting in a newly-rearraanged 323 alone. Priscilla's getting married, dang it, so I'm all by myself. (kidding. it's great. but I really am by myself.) I can't wait to see what God does in my life. He has, is and will continue to be working in my life. He never ceases to amaze me.