Lovely Leadership

I am pretty sure I have the best leadership team on campus and I would like to dedicate this post to naming just a few things that make each of them special and why I love them.

First let me start with my amazing RD, Christina. I have known Christina since I came to Liberty as a freshman. She started out as my SLD and then moved up to RA at semester. I was then a prayer leader under her my sophomore year and she really encouraged me to apply for RA. Last year we were separated as I was on East campus and she was in dorm 33 but the Lord allowed us to reunite this year. Christina is one of the most naturally beautiful people I have ever met, which is accentuated by her love for the Lord and humble spirit. Christina is not afraid to ask me the hard questions and to call me out when I have not acted as I should. It is refreshing to have a friend who is willing to be so honest in order for you to grow as a person.

Next there is my delightful partner Danielle. Danielle is one of the most positive people I know. She is easy to get along with and is a great listener. She challenges me everyday by the example she sets in her life. I love our late night chats and hanging out together. It is a rare thing when you can say that you are friends with your roommate, especially one that was chosen for you.

Stephanie impresses me with her obedience to God. Having gone through the RA process and made it and then to turn it down to be a prayer leader, a non-paid and little thank you job, is just something you don't ever hear of. She has stepped up to SLD this semester and couldn't be a better fit. It is funny how God knows what he is doing, to place Stephanie on our hall as a prayer leader and then to have Rachel move to the hotel and Stephanie take her place, there is no way that humans could orchestrate something like that. She is exactly what our prayer leaders need and has done a tremendous job ministering to them and to the girls on our hall. You would never know that she is a relatively new Christian because she has grown so fast and is always pushing her self to learn more about God's word.

Kat is a whirlwind of ideas. She is always coming up with new ideas and activities for us to try. And she is the reason we have five of our amazing prayer leaders, having brought them with her from her hall last year. Having a returning SLD when we have so many new prayer leaders is a great help and allows us to pull from her experience.

Christina Hadley has the biggest servants heart. She will do anything for anyone and many times she does it with out being asked. If she hears us say that something needs to be done, even if we are not implying that she be the one to do it, she will take the initiative to do it. She does such an amazing job reaching out the the girls in her group, meeting with each of them one-on-one outside of prayer groups, and has been Danielle and mine number one supporter.

Kelsey has the great ability to control her attitude. Even if she isn't happy about the decision she chooses to support the decisions made by authority and to encourage others to do so as well. She also is very honest which I admire a lot. She is not afraid to appropriately confront and ask questions in a respectful manner. She is outgoing and crazy and I lover her.

Ok ,so it is getting really late and I am getting tired and I want to give each of my girls the praise they deserve to check back later for the rest.

Love From Liberty,
Peggy

White Glove

So white glove at Liberty comes at the end of every semester. It requires deep cleaning, i.e. moving desks, dressers, beds, dusting base boards, shelves etc. It seems like a daunting task but we dedicate an entire hall meeting to setting expectations and explaining requirements. On top of this we post instructions on the hall as to what needs to be done before you can check out with us and leave for break. With this said I fail to see why it seems to be so impossible to be ready at your appointed time. You are the one who chooses when your check out time will be and it is you who will be charged for the tasks that are not completed. And yet every semester since becoming an RA we have had to check and re-check and write post-its of what needs to be done in order to complete the check out requirements.

But I have come up with a solution! Next semester at the end of the year I am going to buckle down and not charge their Liberty accounts but the hall fund. For every time I have to return to a girls room and re-check it because it was not completed at the time of their appointment I am going to charge them five dollars which will be given to the hall fund. Since most of our girls claim to be the typical broke college student this should motivate them to do a more accurate job in their cleaning.

If you have any other suggestions on how I may motivate my girls please feel free to send them to me.

Love from Liberty,
Peggy

One of those days

Do you even have one of those days where, you thought you had nothing to do and it turns out that you have a lot to do, and you don't know how it is all going to get done and then, because you have so much to do it makes you want to do nothing? Today is like that for me. And as I am sitting here procrastinating when I should be writing my paper that I just found out is already late because it was do at noon and not a midnight, I opened a piece of Dove chocolate, you know one with the little messages inside, and it said "remind yourself that it's okay not to be perfect." Sometimes God just gives you a little break and reminds you not to sweat the small stuff. Hope your day is productive and that you get done all that God wishes for you to accomplish for today.

Love From Liberty,
Peggy

Oh D.C.

So the head of office of student leadership is Dwayne Carson and he loves acrostics and is famous for his quotable moments. Here are an example of a few: "its not about titles its about towels", "if you see a turtle on a fence post it didn't get there by its self". And sometimes he says some really funny things, I am not sure that he always means to but they are still entertaining. Please note that the following quotes are taken completely out of context. "You wouldn't stick your tongue in your brother or sister's mouth would you?" "Some people are like seagulls, showing up making a lot of noise about nothing and crapping all over everything." "We work with a lot of spoiled, rotten, selfish, brats." "People are more important than policies because people have to pee." It is these moments that make RA meetings bearable and also remind me to think before I speak.

Love From Liberty,
Peggy

A new look.

So I thought I would try something new for a while. In spirit with the upcoming holidays I have changed my background. Soon it will be Christmas which will warrant another change. I love Christmas it is my favorite holiday. I am proud to say that I have already started my Christmas shopping and what I haven't bought I know what I am getting.

I am really excited for Thanksgiving this year. I am going to TN with my friend Kelsey to her grandmother's house. I am looking forward to sleep and peace and quiet and time to reflect. No deadlines or group projects or curfew checks just hanging out and helping in whatever way I can. Just over a week to go and then I am home free!

Tell me what you think about the background, I would love to hear!

Love from Liberty,
Peggy

Swimming

Having been a lifeguard for over 6 years now and on swim team since I was in the sixth grade I have a problem. I don't know how to just be in the water without actually swimming. People will say lets go swimming and I automatically think they mean swimming laps. The problem comes when we get to the pool and I realize that they meant just stand around in the water and talk. I don't understand this. I mean if I am going to have to wash my hair we might as well be exercising. If we were going to just talk why didn't we just go get coffee or something? Something that wouldn't require me to change and require a shower afterwards.

On the other hand I have been teaching swimming lessons for so long and getting in the pool with people who want to "go swimming" that I think I had forgotten how much I actually enjoy swimming laps. It is true that it takes a lot of energy and time but somehow I always walk away energized from it and in a happier mood. I used to use swimming as a stress reliever, a time that I could clear my head or truly focus on a problem. Tonight at work we swam 500 meters. Which isn't a lot but when you are out of shape and practice it takes quite a bit if energy. But when I was done I felt good like I had accomplished something. I think I was also a little prideful that I finished 4 lengths ahead of our "head guard" when we started at the same time. So my goal for this week is to go swimming at least once and then at lease one more time next weekend for at least 20 min. each time.

P.S. in case you didn't know swimming is the best form of exercise because it works every muscle in your body simultaneously and it is easier on your joints than running. I also feel that it is very peaceful and empowering knowing that you can survive with out your feet on solid ground and in something so powerful. It gives me a greater respect for the Lord as he walked on the water and was able to control the waves with his words. Knowing that God is in control even of the things we can't grasp in our hands. Just some thoughts.

Love from Liberty,
Peggy

Lessons from the Lord

I have a tendency to get very emotionally involved in things very quickly. I can't help it. I am a crier. I cry at everything. And I don't think people really believe me when I tell them this because I try really hard not to cry in front of others mainly because they think I am ridiculous for crying at something so silly and two because I am not a pretty crier. You know what I mean. Some people cry and they shed a few tears and they get the look of a lost kitten and they are cute when they cry. I am not one of these people. When I truly cry I hyperventilate, I can't breath or talk. I will try but it really doesn't work. I get red a blotchy and worse of all I can't stop. I will cry and cry and cry until really I am over whatever it was that I was crying about in the first place but I will continue to cry because I can't make my self stop. I thin this is the reason that I hate goodbyes so much is that I am so emotionally involved that I start to cry.

Anyway the point of this post is that sometimes when I hear God telling me to invest in someone who I know is not making good decisions I hesitate because I know that very soon after I begin investing into them I will become emotionally involved and when this happens you instantly make your self valuable. This summer I became very invested in the lives of one of my campers. She was dealing with a lot of hurt and past issues that had led to current bad decisions in her live. The Lord really burdened my heart for her and really broke me when I was listening to her story and trying to know how to minister to her. Ever since this I think that I have held back a little in getting involved in the lives of girls that I know are going to become more emotionally invested to the point that will cause me to be vulnerable.

Yesterday and today I have had the honor of listening to two different girls pour out their burdens to me. And as a sat listening to them my heart melted and I felt my self beginning to soften and to want to fix all their woes. It is a scary feeling to mourn with those that mourn, to bear one another's burdens, to have your heart broken with the things that break Gods. But this is what the Lord has been teaching me the last two days. To stop worrying about the things of the world and to instead invest in the things of the Lord.

I have been interrupted several times during this post and so this is not accurately conveying what I am trying to say. I guess my point is that the Lord has been opening my heart again to be emotionally invested in people that I know may not be receptive to in instruction that I have to give but that perhaps more than them being broken I need to be broken with the things that break God's heart. And by sharing in his heart I will continue to see then need for Him and his love and the gospel even in a Bible saturated place such as Liberty or the US. My prayer is that I will soon be able to rejoice with those that rejoice.

Love From Liberty,
Peggy

Campus Serve

This year I have been getting involved in campus serve. It is where Liberty students meet each Sat. morning and go out into the community to show that we care. There are 8 inner city sites where you can play with kids, there are also 2 nursing homes where as you may have read from an earlier post was not the place for me. Campus serve also has a group called respond that goes to the different inner city sites and disciples the adults and does more door to door evangelism. And the last group is called helps. They go around helping with practical needs such as painting, building, picking up trash, etc. The site that I have really invested in is called the Meadows. It is a newer site just started this year and I like it Beckie it is a chance to make a fresh start. Some of the other sites have had the same people going for four years so the kids are already attached to certain people and you can kind of feel left out but the Meadows just started.

A couple of girls on my hall and I have really started to get close to 4 of the little girls at the site. We took them to a football game at Liberty one day and they were so well behaved that then next week we decided to take them with us to our brother / sister dorm event of pumpkin picking. They are such good listeners and don't complain so it is easy to take them places.

Unfortunately, I haven't been in two weeks and I must say that I am beginning to miss them. They just look at everything so differently and everything is so exciting and new to them. It gives me a fresh perspective and a more positive attitude toward what ever we are doing. I think maybe next week we will take them to the Nature Zone downtown. They have all kinds of crazy animals, I think that they will really enjoy it.

The Windy City

So back in the day when I first started on this collegiate journey we went to school from August to November with out any breaks. I think that so many students and teachers were on the brink of going off the deep end by the time Thanksgiving hit that they decided to throw in a fall break. Now as a student body we enjoy a long weekend at the beginning of October at the very point where you are about to kill your roommates, have a panic attack because of how much school work you have, and have an emotional break down due to stressful relationships weather with friends or a significant other. This year as it is my senior year Meghan, Regina and I decided that we should go all out on a major road trip. Conveniently Meghan's music minister and his family just took a position at a church right outside of Chicago. Although a 12 hour drive is significant for a long weekend we decided that it would be worth it.

Regina, Meghan, Meghan's sister Amanda and I all piled into the car on Wes. night with plenty of junk food, a GPS and an IPOD ready for an adventure. We left at 7:00pm and took three hour shifts of driving. In the course of the trip we almost hit a deer (Meghan and Regina), almost went off the side of a cliff (Regina), and got pulled over (Meghan). Luckily we did not get a ticket and at 6:00am the next morning made it safely to our destination.

After getting coffee and sleeping for a couple of hours we took the Metra (yes, I spelled this correctly it was the Metra not the Metro) into the big city. Before I begin my overview of all that we saw you should know that Meghan and I are very economical when it comes to traveling. We love free things and if it is not free than we have a coupon for it. First on the list of things to see was the Sears Tower ($2 off per ticket coupon). It was a very clear day so you could see pretty far and it was Thursday so it wasn't overly crowded, which was nice. After enjoying the view from the top we headed to Millennium Park, where we saw the bean and the fountain and spent some time walking around and ate our picnic lunch of BP & J that we had packed. Then we went to the Art Museum (free on Thursday nights). Finally we headed back to the McMinn's to get some much needed rest.
(Sculpture at Millennium Park)

On Friday we drove into the city and parked at Moody Bible Institute where my friend James goes to school (parking = free) and met up with him. At 10:00am we arrived at the Chicago Cultural Center where we met our private tour guide (free) who showed us around the city giving valuable information about the buildings and the history of the city. This is an awesome service that they provide and I would recommend it to anyone. After the tour we went shopping on Michigan Avenue (window shopping = free) where James ditched us girls. The Navy Pier (free to walk around) was next on the list of attractions and so we walked across town admiring the architecture along the way. We also stopped at the Lake Michigan beach front (free) to take some pictures since it was close by. This week just happened to be Macy's fashion week in Chicago and we were able to get reservations to a fashion show which was really fun. After the fashion show we met back up with James at his apartment to play Nerts, which James won but we was also the score keeper. Last time I played with him he also won and was also the score keeper I think this is more than just a coincidence.
(On the walking tour: the bean and the water tower one of the only buildings that survived the Chicago fire)

Sat. we went on a tour of the church and went and saw the house from Home Alone and then visited Northwestern and shopped in downtown Evensdale. That night the McMinn's took us all out to dinner in the city at a very nice Italian place.
(At the water front near the house)
Sunday was church and then a quick lunch in the city to say goodbye to James and then a long drive home. We left at 2:00pm which was really 3:00pm with the time change and so it should have been a 12 hour trip but the interstate to Indianapolis was shut down. I love GPS but it does not account for road construction. So in Gary, IN we spent about an hour trying to follow the detour provided which lead to a dead end. Every time we would try to take a different road the GPS would tell us to do a U-turn to get on the interstate that was closed. After about the third time it told us this we shut off the annoying electronic voice and got out the atlas that Regina had in her car. Thanks to Regina's map skills we were able to find our way old school. This set us back about two hours though so we finally arrived back in Lynchburg at 5:00am.

Although I felt like I got hit by a bus on Monday, it was completely worth it. As Meghan said, "at least it was a fun bus". Four and a half days with good friends and no school, what more could you ask for? So take a road trip and see how much you can do on a budget. Make some memories and live a little.

Love From Liberty,
Peggy

P.S. Check back for more pictures later.

Girls Night In!

Sometimes you just need a night in with the girls. Food, friends, and fun are all essentials to a good girls night. Luckily I live on a hall with great friends who are always entertaining so all we needed was the food, which our prayer leaders provided. The night was a huge success with a spa room, a game room and later that night a chick flick.

A Picture Date

I love going on photo dates. Recently I went to downtown Lynchburg with one of the girls on my hall Jess and we spend several hours experimenting with F-stops and shutter speeds. It is a good way to get to know people. One if is free of charge and two you can talk while doing it and three if you go with someone then you always have a model to pose for you. Here are some of the best shots of the day.

It is officially autumn and the leaves are starting to reflect the beauty of the season.

I love her expression, like she just got caught in a hiding place.

My attempt at being creative.

I love the contrast here between the historic and the current culture.

Tan Lines

I know that everyone always says that they hate tan lines but I must say that I secretly love them. I like being able to tell how tan I have really gotten and not just saying that I am getting tan. The thing is I tan really fast. On the other hand I also spend a lot of time outside in the summer and so I deserve to tan quickly. The sad part is that my beautiful tan fades just as quickly at it appears and so while I am brown by the second week in June I am also back to pasty white the beginning of September.

This weekend I got to travel to South Carolina with some girls from my hall and we stayed at Kelsey's house. She just so happens to have a pool and the weather was perfect for swimming. So yesterday we spent the afternoon playing water polo (my favorite game) and water volleyball enjoying the almost 90 degree sun and last night I noticed I had some very light tan lines from my bathing suite. This of course made me happy as you could tell that I am not always this chalky white.

One of the nice things about living in the south would be that you are tan longer, although I think that I would miss the snow. Even though it is cold it also is very pretty. I always say that I would love the winter a lot more in snow were warm and dry. On the other hand everyone looks nicer in winter clothes than summer clothes. So life's a trade off.

Love From Liberty,
Peggy

Facing One's Fears

So I have a really big fear of elderly people. I know that this sounds strange but I can't help it. It is not old people per say that bother me but the elderly. And yes there is a difference. I think that part of the reason that I have this fear is that I am not around a lot of elderly people. My grandparents on my dad's side are adorable. All of my great aunts and uncles and my grandparents are in a camping club. They travel all over the country, they play cards and dominos. They have friends they get out and do things they are actually kind of fun to hang out with. I love listening to them telling stories and advice. They can hold real conversations and don't repeat themselves a thousand times because they can't remember that they have already told you.

So today I tried to overcome my fear of the elderly by going to the nursing home through campus serve this morning. I took three other girls with me from my dorm including one of my prayer leaders Kelsey. She and I became buddies and walked around together. Brookly and April stopped in the first room that we came to and talked with a woman named Deborah. Kelsey and I continued to walk and found a table of ladies sitting together. So we introduced our selves and sat down. What we didn't know is that none of these ladies could speak or communicate back to us. We talked for a few minuets but what do you say to people who can't talk back to you? It was the most awkward thing ever. Kelsey and I kept looking at each other trying to figure out how to leave without being rude and after a while we finally excused our selves and walked away. The building is a square so finally we were back where we had started and hadn't talked to anyone else. April and Brookly were still in the first room so we went in there with her. After a little bit another girl brought a woman named Ruth in to join us. She eventually left because she got something in her eye. So Kelsey and I talked with her and she was very sweet. She told us about her life growing up and how she met her husband and how she got to travel to different states because he was in the Navy and about her two children. Right before we left we got to pray with her and she thank us and told us that we had made her day.

I can't say that this visit helped me conquer my fear, and in fact it may have just increased it but I would gladly go back to visit Miss Ruth. I think the main thing that I learned was that we all have different gift and talents and that although mine may not be ministering to these type of people I still need to love them and that by putting my self out there I can still make some great connections with people.

So my challenge try something new. Face a fear. And allow God to use you in your weakness.

Love From Liberty,
Peggy

Sisters make the best friends!

As I continue to write these blogs I am pretty sure that my sister is pretty much the only person who ever reads it and I am also pretty sure that because I have been doing fairly well at keeping this blog up since being at school that she has stopped calling me. Actually that is only partially true. She does still call me but always at the most inconvenient times like when I am at the dining hall or at a concert and then when I try to call her back she refuses to answer my calls.

For many this wouldn't seem like such a big deal but considering that we live over 1,000 miles apart and only see each other twice a year, Christmas break and summer break, not talking to her is like not talking to my best friend, which makes me very sad. I understand that she is now in college also and is busy with work and class and making new friends but I miss her and wish that she would keep me up to date with what is going on in her life. Maybe she should get a blog and then we could just read about each others lives.

My sister is very pretty. She is smart and funny and a very talented graphic designer. I think that if we could ever work together with out killing each other we would be able to open an advertising agency and do well with it. I would be in charge of creative concepts and she could design it and put it all together.

Anyway since Jenna is the only one who really reads this blog I just wanted to tell you that I miss you and I hope classes are going well. Love you!

Love From Liberty,

Peggy

It Seems Like Only Yeasterday.

(Painting at Smith Mt. Lake during RA retreat.)

So I have been at school for almost a month now which is weird considering classes just started on Monday. It is amazing how much stuff has happened in only a short month. I survived training week and lock down, which wasn't as bad as I was anticipating. We have had several brother sister dorm activities, and just yesterday I went to D.C. for the day with my wonderful new roommate Danielle. On top of all of this I have gone to class and meetings and hung out randomly with the girls in my hall and with friends not on my hall. I am also planning a road trip to Chicago in October, with two of the best friends that anyone could ask for.


(Painting the rock and the freshman snack out)

Yesterday was a whirlwind. Danielle and I got up at 6am and drove to D.C. area and picked up some things that I had stored at my Uncle's house for the summer. Then we drove to her house about 20 min. away and spent some time with her family. She got caught up with them while I took a nap and then we all went to lunch, including her older sister and her two kids, who are super cute. After lunch we went to one if my favorite stores, IKEA, where I bought basically a whole apartment for under $80. I love shopping so being in a store where things are actually affordable was really fun. After shopping we went back to Danielle's house and hung out and then her parents took us to Dairy Queen where we had ice cream for supper. At 6pm we left D.C. and arrived back on campus just in time for the Rush Of Fools concert at the Block Party. Once the concert was over we were invited to go to the T-Room, which if you are not from Liberty is pretty much a hole in the wall place famous for there cheesy westerns: a hamburger, cheese, and a fried egg. We finally got back to the dorm at about 11-11:30pm and we still had to try and get somethings unpacked and put away before it was time to do curfew checks. At 1-1:30am the day finally ended and we were able to go to sleep. Thankfully we were able to sleep in a little bit this morning until church at 10:30 and were able to take naps and rest today.

It is amazing that in all of this busyness that God has shown Him self faithful that if I remain in Him, He will give me everything that I need. God is good all the time and all the time God is good. This is something that I am striving to remember and recognize and the semester goes by and things get more and more stressful. Perspective is everything.

Love From Liberty,
Peggy

Summer Fun.

So every summer when I was in middle school through high school I lived for the one week that was spent at East Iowa Bible Camp. It was at this place that I developed lifelong friendships, I learned that being a Christian could be fun, and that there is always so much more room to grow. I had camp counselors who poured into me and challenged me. It is because of some of these people that for the past two summers I have gone back to this camp as a counselor, trying to give back at least a part of what others gave to me.



Through the past two summers the Lord has taught me so much. Last year I learned what it truly meant to worship through a week of silence after I lost my voice for the first time ever. This summer the Lord reminded me of what it means to be heartbroken for the lost and to speak the truth in love even though it might hurt. There have been tears of both joy and sorrow. There has been laughter and giggles and hurt and pain but through these two summers of ministering to others I have gained a greater respect for God and surrendering to His will and His timing.



It is true that I could have made more money doing other things, and that at other camp there is cooler "stuff" but at East Iowa Bible Camp it is more than a week of fun it is a week of growth and that is why I love camp!


Love From Liberty,
Peggy

Truth Or Chew

So tonight after church a group of us went to Sonic. It started with about 20 people or so and as time passed the crowd died down until it was only my leadership team and Scott from our brother dorm. As we were sitting there I thought it might be fun to play a game I learned at camp called truth or chew. For those of you who do not know how to play it is a lot like truth or dare but instead of dare you have to chew something. This could be anything as you will soon find out.

We started with easy chews such as a flower petal and a straw from the trash can but soon it turned into far more challenging objects. Kat was given the task of chewing a metal sign that someone was leaning against. I had to chew a motorcycle tire. Stephanie chewed a strangers baseball cap. But the worst one was given to Scott who chewed the inside lip of the trash can lid. We were scolded twice for being to loud and after the last person had gone we called it a night. I feel like this is a night that many will remember for a long time and a great bonding experience for my team.

Back in the Burg

So I officially back in Lynchburg at school which means I am also back to high speed Internet!!! I left on Sat. and drove 16 hours through the night to get here on Sun. morning. I did have a co-driver so that was a big help. Thank you to all who were praying for me on this trip.

Every year my mother helps me pack. And when I say helps me I really mean I throw everything in a pile and she puts it in boxes and makes it fit into the car. This may not seem like a significant thing but when you have as much stuff as I do it truly is a miracle. Well my mother continues to amaze me because this year not only did she get all of my stuff in the smallest car I have had but she also managed to get all of Jay's (the guy who rode with me) stuff in the car as well.

While we are on the topic of my mother let me just tell you that she for one loves me a lot and I know this and because she loves me dearly she wants the best for me. So every time I come home the number one question she asks me is about my love life of which it is always the same answer that there is nothing to speak of. Well just before I left my mother informed me that she would like a son-in-law this year. To this I replied that I would marry the first man I saw and when I got my divorce I would move back in with her and my dad and they could support me for the rest of my life. She then changed her mind and said that a perspective son-in-law would do. I just laughed and told her I would see what I could do. I don't know why I am sharing this story other than it made me laugh and because I love my mother.

Love From Liberty,
Peggy

I know I am a slacker but it is not my falt.

OK so I know that I am a slacker about posting lately but it really is not my fault. I am currently living at home for the summer and working at a camp about an hour from my house. When at camp I have very limited Internet access meaning really only on Sat. before I come home and Sun. at my house. This may seem like plenty of time but you must understand that we still have dial-up Internet at my house. If you don't remember what dial-up Internet is like it takes 45 minuets to do anything of significance. You can go make yourself a sandwich while waiting for pages to load and there is no possibility of watching videos or uploading pictures. If you do the math I will have spent about an hour on this very short blog by the time I actually get it posted. So I know I am a slacker and I will try to do better but remember it is not my fault and you can look for regular posts starting the beginning of Aug.

Love From Liberty,
Peggy

Indoor Heater Pools

So I work at an indoor heated pool. Actually there are two of them. One is kept between 86 and 88 degrees and the other between 80 and 82 degrees. It never really changes. True one week a year and a half ago something broke and wasn't working right and the one pool get up to 90 degrees for like three days but that is the only time I can remember it being off in the past three years that I have worked there.

Now despite this fact we have at least ten people a day complain that the pool is "colder" than usual. What is funny is that even 82 degrees is warm compared to most pools, especially for competition. Of competitive swimming the pool should be from 78 to 83. I used to inform the patrons that as lifeguards we have no control over the temperature of the pool and that it is very constant and the fact that the pool is uniquely warm compared to other pools but despite many attempts I was never successful in conveying these facts. Now after three years when people complain that it is two cold or that it "is much warmer today than the other day" I simply smile and say that I am either sorry or that I am glad they feel that way.

My question is way do these people who have been members for several years some more than 13 years still ask us about the pool temperature. I mean what do they think causes the change in the temp. It doesn't rain inside or snow, or get really windy or cold at night. This really baffles me. Sometimes I think that they think we just put ice in the water so they will be uncomfortable. For those of you who think this I can assure you we do not. We as staff tend not to spend any more time down at the pool than we have to so going out of our way to change the temp of the pool is a no. And since the temp doesn't change all of this is really just in your imagination.

Love From Liberty,
Peggy

Happy Birthday!

So I pretty much have the greatest friends ever! Last year for my birthday they went out of there way cooked me dinner and we stayed up all night talking and then went and tried to watch the sun rise on top of the Mt. which is a whole different story but anyway it was good.

This year I went to D.C. to dropped some stuff off at my Uncle's house for summer storage and he took me out to dinner and had them sing to me it was very cute and reminded me of something my dad would do for me if he were in Virginia. Then when I got back on Sunday my actual birthday my wonderful roommate and her fiancee took me out for dinner and then we all went and saw a movie and it was very nice.

On Friday my friend Mandy had someone paint the rock for me which is something that I have wanted to have done since my freshman year. They were going to do it last year but then the VT shooting happened right before and they thought it might be a little inappropriate to cover that up with funny things about my birthday being on 4/20.

Then on Monday Robin planned a surprise party for me during our RHLM time which was really funny because I was planning a surprise party for her during that time as well but it all worked out and we got a really good laugh out of it.

Last weekend on Thursday my friends and I went to see West Side Story, not really for my birthday but I like to pretend. Then on Friday we drove down to Virginia Beach and stayed with friends of mine from back home. Meghan planned the whole thing and although the plans ended up changing a lot it was very nice and very relaxing. Friday night we walked down to the beach from the house and walked around. Then we came back and watched a movie. On Saturday Meghan made us pancakes and then packed us all lunches and we went back to the beach and just laid our all day. We did homework and walked around. On the way back we saw an ice cream truck and got ice cream. Then we got all of our stuff packed up and we drove to Williamsburg on the way back. Stopped ate dinner and a cute sub shop and walked around and took lots of pictures. Then we came back to school.

It was so nice just to get away fro the weekend especially since this week was the last day of classes and the start of finals. I am pretty lucky to have the best friends and roommate that anyone could ever ask for. Thank you guys so much for making my day special!

Love From Liberty,

Peggy

Facebook Status

Why do people find it necessary to say how much they love their boyfriend/girlfriend in their facebook status? We all know that you think you have the greatest relationship ever known to mankind but if they don't know that you love them without the constant reminder via the facebook then how great can your relationship be? And if your point is to try to tell the world and not your significant other than wouldn't you rather have a relationship that others can see how great it is and not have to tell them than to announce it all the time? And honestly no one cares that much. I know this seems a little harsh but it is the truth and someone needs to say it. Your relationship should be between you and the other person and God not the rest of the world.

Now I would like to clarify, if you get engaged or married then yes I feel that you are entitled to announce your love to the world using your facebook status, but not everyday. What I am talking about is sending personal messages to someone but everyone else is reading them. That would be what the message feature is for, or your phone, or e-mail, or face-to-face, not your public status.

So please, next time tell me what type of mood you are in, or what you are doing that day, or something more general and keep your love life to your self.

Love From Liberty,
Peggy

Lifeguarding, Dorm life and other crazy college adventures

I know that everyone says that their life could make a box office hit movie but I really thing that mine would. Not because it is super interesting and is action packed, although at times it is, but because I think I am in a place where many people of all ages can relate to. I am a college student taking 18 credit hours, I work part time, and I am a Resident's Assistant. Now I am not saying all this to complain but to show that I don't sit around and do nothing all day and to show that I am constantly dealing with many types of people.

School is easy. You have the usual group projects with members that won't contribute or you have a great group and working on a project is like a fun excuse to get together. There is homework, papers, tests, individual projects and the like. Nothing really that new but still provides for some good climax building.

Then there is lifeguarding. Dealing with screaming swimming lessons, kids swallowing water, throwing up in the pool, trying to drown themselves by letting go of the wall when you aren’t looking. Dealing with angry parents because they think they or their children should not have to obey the rules like everyone else. Yelling at me because they apparently can't read the huge red signs that clearly state the rules, dealing with co-workers who don't know how to do their jobs, or think that they are so superior that regular rules don't apply to them, let the drama begin.

RA, that’s the real jungle. Most things I can't really share about it but making it through is like searching for a treasure in the Amazon with out a map. The dangers are high and risky but the further you go the more clues you find and every once in a while you find a precious jewel and it makes it all worth it because you know that there are more somewhere and if you keep searching maybe one day you will find it and even if you don't at least you can help build a trail for those who come after you. My roommate is going to write a book about it one day, or so she says. I hope she does.

My life is not a movie but sometimes it sure feels like it. In movies something always goes wrong. If it didn't there wouldn't be anything to resolve in the end. Not everything goes wrong in my life but the drama sure is high sometimes and humor plays a key role also, and most of the time in the end everything works out. Maybe one day I will make a movie out of Robin's book that she writes and we will get rich exposing all the crazy stuff that happens in everyday life. Until then I am not waiting for my happily ever after, I choose everyday to be happy after all.

Love From Liberty,
Peggy

"If you've never done these things you should. These things are fun and fun is good."

I think that everyone should have a list of things that they want to accomplish in life. These lists are often talked about in movies such as A Walk to Remember or The Bucket List but how many of us actually have them. This is is in part for my self and in part to give ideas to others based on things I have already experienced. Those with *s by them are the things I have done and highly recommend.

1. *Swim with sharks (not like in the cage but with friendly ones)
2. Go skydiving
3. *Live in another country
4. *Work at a summer camp
5. Participate in a triathlon
6. Adopt
7. *Snorkel with manatees
8. Have a job that you love
9. Go to Italy
10. *Go to a drive in movie
11. *Go sledding in the dark
12. Graduate from college (currently working on it)
13. See the seven wonders of the world
14. *Laugh so hard you cry
15. *Go to NYC and see a Broadway show
16. Work in an orphanage
17. Listen to your Grandparents tell stories from their childhood
18. Spend a day doing things you have never done before
19. *Get really dressed up and then go to McDonald's
20. *Order only drinks at a really fancy restaurant just to be able to say that you ate there
21. *Disney World
22. Have a contest to see who can get the best outfit from goodwill for only $20
23. Skip work and classes just to do nothing (I have skipped classes but never work for this purpose)
24. *Serve food at a soup kitchen
25. Know what it means to truly give everything for Christ

So I am sure that I could think of many more but I think there is enough on this list to keep me busy for awhile and to give others some ideas. So what's on your list?

Love From Liberty,

Peggy

The Road Trip Continues- Spring Break Part II

So you learn a lot about people when you spend 7 hours a day with them in the car. I thin all together we drove for about 22+ during the week. One thing I learned about Meghan while on this trip was that she becomes a very different person when she drives. She is develops what is commonly known as road rage, which I will admit is quite funny at times but in the case of being lost and her yelling at you it can be scary.

Two days after our run-in with the tornado it was time to venture to the sunnier skies of Cocoa Beach, Florida. After a quick stop at the Whistle Stop Cafe, home of the movie Fried Green Tomatoes, we headed for our next destination. At about 8 pm we are in Florida and the directions instruct us to get on to a highway which as it turns out is a toll road. I am a 21st century college student and am not prepared with any cash, luckily Meghan the responsible one is. So we are driving and the more tolls we hit the more Meghan gets frustrated. Finally we are getting close to the place we are staying and we are looking for our exit. Well we exit and of course have to pay another toll but now there are no longer people to take your money you just drop in a quarter and away you go. We well get off to soon but now we are stuck on this road for ten miles before we can turn around. So we go back the other way and we can only get on the highway going west and we need to go east. We pay the toll again and go west. After driving another ten miles in the wrong direction we get off pay a quarter and pay another quarter to get on going east. Then we get off at the right exit and pay another toll. Then the directions tell us to get off at a certain exit so we do and it puts us back on the road we just came from going in the wrong direction. So we get off and have to pay another toll, drive ten miles before we can get back on going east and of course we have to pay the toll again. Well we are out of quarters. So we use the only spare change that we have left and come up with .25. We drive back east and have to get off again and now we don't have any quarters and no change. So we sit at the toll, searching the car and our bags and purses for anything. Meanwhile this car comes up behind us with rap music blaring, and is yelling out the window that we have got to be joking as we slowly are dropping in penny's and what ever we can find. Meghan yells out the window "nope, don't have a quarter!"

Some how we came up with the money and managed not to get raped or shot by the angry car behind us. We figure out the directions, which were wrong by the way, and get to the house we are staying at. All this to say that one what would have happened if we had to get off again and didn't have anymore change? Two, thank you Lord for providing and protecting us. And three, if you really want to get to know someone go on a road trip with them and see if you are still friends afterwards. Meghan and I spent 10 days together and I am happy to say that I think we are even better friends than when we left.

Love From Liberty,

Peggy

P.S. Meghan if you read this I love ya!

Spring Break Part I

I love spring break. I think it was one of the best things ever invented. It is very sad to say that next year will be my last one and then I will enter the world of only a weeks vacation all year. This I believe will be one of the hardest adjustments to entering the work force. So to savor the tradition my friend Meghan and I decided to do an good old fashioned road trip for our 10 day get away. And what is more traditional than heading south to good old sunny Florida? But as we would soon discover our road trip was to be no more ordinary than we were.

Beginning by making a stop in Atlanta our first night we found our selves in the middle of a tornado. You may think that I am exaggerating but I assure you I am not. We were in search of parking at a coffee shop when Meghan's mom called and said there was really bad weather coming our way, we did not take this very seriously as it wasn't even raining outside. But as we continued to circle the block we noticed some lighting and in frustration of no parking spots we decided to head back to the place we were staying. No sooner did we get on the interstate than the wind picked up and it began to pour golf ball sized water drops. In a matter of about two min. the sky turned completely dark and as I looked up it looked like the Wizard of OZ. Things were just floating in the sky as if they were feathers. The clouds were funneling. Dirt and debree were hitting our car. We saw a green interstate sign whiz past us as if it were weightless. Now traveling very slowly almost at a stop we went under an over pass and as we did the electricity went out.

Now being from Iowa I am familiar with tornadoes. Ideally you should stop the car, get out and lay flat in a ditch. Well what do you do if you are on an over pass and there is no place to get out or off? Our answer pray, out loud, over and over.

Almost as suddenly as it came it seem to leave with only normal amounts of rain the traffic again picked up and we continued to the house where we were staying. A few miles down the road we noticed a hole in Meghan's back windshield. Something during the storm shattered the glass and every time we opened or closed a door or went over a bump the hole got bigger and bigger. By the next day when the "Glass Doctor" came to replace it was about a foot tall and about 2 feet long. Luckily we were able to get it fixed the next day and it didn't delay our travel plans.

We have much to be thankful for as in watching news coverage we were only about 2-4 blocks away from where the tornado touched down causing damage at the CNN building, the Georgia Dome, and the Centennial Park.

This is just the first of many stories to come. Stay tuned for more exciting road trip adventures!

Love from Liberty,

Peggy

An End to World Hunger

So I have a plan to end world hunger and it doesn't involve any huge personal sacrifices of individuals or a revelation in the Church. Now please do not misunderstand me I think both need to happen especially the second. But since we are selfish human beings and the church seems to be more concerned with the color of the carpet than the commandments of God I have come up with an alternate plan.

On Monday I was sitting in my creation studies class and we were watching a movie on if the earth is unique and if it is plausible for their to be life on other planets. During the film they started talking about these huge satellites that are constantly tracking transmissions in space for signals that extra terrestrials might be sending out. My first thought was what a waste of money. And as I continued to sit there I began to think about how much money would would save in electricity if we shut off these satellites and the machines that are used to record the data they produce. And on top of this the money we could save on the huge salaries that I am sure the scientists are making to interpret this data only to tell us that they haven't found anything. Not to mention the upkeep and repair of these huge machines.

This is just one example that I can think of that we waste money on unnecessary things. Another example is Washington D.C. I love D.C. I think it is the perfect college student vacation because almost everything is free. I also think that the monuments are beautiful especially at night BUT how much money might we save if we stopped lighting the monuments all night long. What if say we shut them off between 2am and 4am? Two hours a night may not seem like much but two times 365 days a year and we could have quite the chunk of change to aid third world countries.

I am not saying these ideas are perfect or don't need more information or consideration but it is just a thought. I think the thing I find the most incomprehensible is that in a world of technology and high speed we can't find and implement a solution to the hundreds of thousands of people dying daily from malnutrition and starvation. I have heard that if everyone stopped drinking bottled water for a year? and we funneled that money to those who truly need it we could solve world hunger. Just a thought.

With Love from Liberty,
Peggy

The Ideal Make-Out Spot

So last night I went to the dollar movie theater with a friend and as we were getting in the car after the movie my friend looked over and in the car beside us and noticed a couple making out. Now when I say making out I don't mean that they were casually kissing these two were on their way to making a baby. After recovering from shock, appal and laughing hysterically I went to put my seat belt on only to see that in the car on the other side of us was also sucking face. It was better than any comedy I have ever seen. I mean we weren't parked in the back of the theater in the shadows we were out front under a lamp post at the dollar theater.

To those girls I would like to say that you should be a more expensive date. A dollar movie? Really? I mean I know that I watch too many chick flicks but after replaying the situation over in my head several times I am still failing to see the romance in the dollar movie theater parking lot. Granted it gave my friend and I a really good laugh and a memory that I will remember for a long time but ladies please raise your standards.

I wonder if kissing boothes were that intese for only a dollar it would be a more effective fundraiser? Just a thought.

Love from Liberty,
Peggy

The Profile Picture

So as you may have guessed the girl in the profile picture is not me. This summer I had the privilege to work at East Iowa Bible Camp. This is the same camp I spent every summer from sixth grade through high school. Camp is like an addiction for me, the more time I spend there the more I want to go back. Anyway, the head of maintenance Ben and his wife Sarah have five amazing children, four girls and a boy. On my last day this summer I thought it would be fun to combine my love for photography, camp, and these children and do a photo shoot with them. While this sounds like a fairly simple idea may I inform you that the oldest girl is seven and that it was about 104 outside that day. Getting four hot, and cranky girls to sit still, smile, and all look at the camera at the same time proved to be quite the challenge. I managed to get a couple of good shots before we finally resorted to individual pictures of the girls. This seemed to work much better except for Ruby who refused to hold still. As they say if you can't beat them join them, so I did. As Ruby walked around I followed her the result is my profile picture. It is one of my favorite pictures that I have ever taken and so I have choosen to use it for my profile. I think that she is probably cuter than I am anyway so better to show her off.

Below are some of the other pictures that I took that day. Thanks Sarah for helping me set them up and keep things in order, I couldn't have done it with out your help.

Love From Liberty,

Peggy

Ideas from the Roommate

So my roommate is getting married in June. She is also a huge blog fan. She doesn't have one but she reads them constantly. It's funny because she will say "I can't wait to be married and have a blog". I pointed out to her that she doesn't have to be married to start a blog but she feels like she currently has nothing of significance to write about. I don't see how being married will suddenly make life of a huge interest to others. Anyway, in light of her thoughts and ideas about blogs I have decided to create one to show her that there is plenty to say to others with out being married. Now weather or not I will say anything of significance I don't know but I hope that for those who read this it will make you think, or smile, or remember that I am thinking of you. I hope I can prove her wrong!

Love from Liberty,

Peggy