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| Hahaha, for those of you who read the title of this entry and exclaimed, "What?! Karen had a date?!?," I'd like to respond with a "you wish" and, no, I didn't have a date tonight- at least not the kind of date you're thinking of. But keep reading, and I'll explain. I'm updating for two reasons: 1) I had a really cool experience that I want to tell you about and 2) they have electricity here in the big city of Towson.
So, maybe you haven't noticed or your from another geographical location, but around here it has been rainy and yucky all day. And I have felt blah just like the weather. Five o'clock comes around, and I am faced with the daily question: "What should I do for dinner?" I am faced with several options but none of them seem very appealing to me at the time. I could arrange to meet a friend at the Glen, but that would require an eleven minute walk in the rain. Or, to avoid the walk in the rain, I could ask a friend to meet me over at Newell. But, if I'm not willing to undertake the rain walk, who am I to ask someone else to do it? So, I am left with a third and most undesirable option: Eat Alone. Now, I don't know how familiar you are with the way campus dining experiences work, but basically not a whole lot of people eat by themselves. It's kind of like wearing a shirt that says, 'I'm a loser and I have no friends that would be seen publicly dining with me.' But, being the person that I am, I decided to face public humiliation rather than to take a short walk in the rain.
As a desperate last attempt to not look like a complete friendless idiot, I grabbed a book of my shelf that I could read while I ate. The book happened to be Fantasy- a book sponsored by Campus Crusade for Christ that explores the complexity of the female's desire for a sense of belonging and romance and intimacy and all those fun things. (This book is really really really good and it comes highly recommended.) A little background on where I'm coming from: Over the course of the past few weeks, I have really been struggling with the idea of self-worth (even more so than usual). I am a true 'people pleaser'; I am constantly trying to make everyone like me and judging my own self-worth based on what other people think of me. I keep looking to those around me to tell me that I'm special, that I'm beautiful, that I am loved. I've been especially guilty of trying to fill this void with any attentions I may be receiving from the male population.
So, there I am- single, lonely female in Newell Dining Hall all alone, eating made-to-order pasta and reading about not getting physical in the relationship I don't have. (Wow, I am seriously laughing out loud right now about how pathetic I was!) I finish my pasta and look longingly over at the icecream stand, mentally counting the calories. But I figure, what the heck, I already feel like crap- I might as well eat some icecream and get fat in the process. I entirely fill a large bowl with some vanilla soft-serve and begin pouring rainbow suzies (aka rainbow sprinkles) all over my icecream when I hear it:
I'm your date.
No lie. I heard this. Not with my ears but like it was coming up from the depths of my soul. I almost dropped my icecream.
I'm your date.
Again. And I know I sound like a crazy woman when I say this, but I just knew in that moment that Jesus was talking right to my soul. He was my date. I was completely blown out of the water. All of a sudden, it no longer mattered that I was a eating by myself or that I didn't have a significant other or that I was currently preparing to pour 873 calories into my body. I was on a date with Jesus. Talk about feeling special. The creator and savior of the universe was there just loving on me when I was feeling a little less than spectacular. I literally skipped back to my room like Gene Kelley in 'Singing in the Rain.'
What an entirely amazing experience. If you know Jesus, I challenge you to experience Him like I did today (or more accurately, allow yourself to experience Him). If you don't know Jesus, I encourage you to look into it- it will totally rock your world.
I used to love the song "Someday My Prince Will Come." Well, He's already here....pursuing me in the dining hall.  | | |
| So, Prom was this weekend as most of you know. I had a blast. I think I knew more people there than I did at my own prom last year. =) I went with Andy Mellinger and I seriously could not have asked for a more awesome date. I got ready at the Nielsens' and then the group of us (Courtney & Justin, Christina & Ben, Andy & I) took some pictures. There were people everywhere. Then me, Andy, Mary Mellinger, and six other people jumped in the infamous Mellinger van to head over to the Mellinger farm. We took another 5-cameras worth of pictures, and I'm pretty sure that I just made the '06 Mellinger Christmas Card. Prom was tons of fun- seeing everybody all dressed up, drinking soda for the first time in two weeks, 'washing and drying the dishes' with Andy. ;) I had totally forgotten how tall Andy is. After prom, Andy and I stopped at Friendly's for some icecream then headed back over to the Nielsens' house. We played this sweet game called 'True Colors.' Too Funny. Finally went to bed at 5:30, but somehow we all managed to get up in time for church, though I did see more than one head nodding in the middle of P. John's sermon. =) I had such a wonderful time and I just wanted to say thank you to everyone who helped make this weekend so special. I love you all! | | |
| hello all, this is karen's roommate, agnes.  karen's left me for the weekend, but it's all good cuz she's supporting her sister and dance company at their competition this week, w00t! i'm on her computer and updating her xanga, yay. :)
i just wanted to let you all know how much i love karen. God totally put the two of us together as roommate - how amazing is that?! she has been suuuch an incredible blessing to me. to have such an amazing girlfriend as her is absolutely wonderful. we have such great times together, when we're together, we probably laugh nearly every other second. i can be for real and honest to her and i'm glad that she can be the same with me, and hope that she is and will continue to do so. we've embraced each others' differences (i.e., i'm not a big country music fan, hehe), but we've respected each other and it's allowed us to love each other even more. she's such an encouragement, holds me accountable, and we're both blessed to be in the same bible study and discipleship group. it will be completely insane to not be her roommate next year. i'm going to miss her so much - she's only be a short 5 minute walk across campus to richmond. but karen is such an amazing girl. she has done so much for me and has loved me so much it's amazing. i thank God for putting karen in my life in such a dynamic way, for He truly works out things the way He wants them to, and for the good of His people.
i hope this will be a nice surprise for karen, i love to make her happy. I LOVE YOU KAREN!
your awesome ghetto-fabulous roommate  , agnes :)
a really funny picture of karen, agnes and lil' brudder
TD 408!! | | |
| So, I've got these INCREDIBLE girl friends here at Towson that really know how to make a girl feel special for her birthday. Instead of Dship tonight, my girls Totally surprised me with a birthday trip to Bateman's (for those of you who have not been to Towson, Bateman's is a small restaurant/bar kind of on campus). Miss Rachieloo bought me a beautiful pink tiara that says "Birthday Princess" that I got to wear all evening. I had this fabulous chocolate brownie/ice cream thing and I even got a candle in it while the girls sang to me. Much to our excitement, the waitor totally did not think that we were all 18/19 years old.  Thank you ladies for such a wonderful birthday!!!! I love you all soooo much! | | |
| Hey!!!!
So, ummm.....I'm really bad at keeping updated on this whole xanga thing. Sorry. This week has been suprisingly calm and unstressful which was a very nice change of pace. Last night, we had Cru Women's Time which was soo much fun. It was great just to spend time with the girls and learn all about this Great Romance that we are all a part of. It was also cool because I am seriously planning on having a night like this for all my Cliff Girls back at home. It's going to be awesome. After women's time, a bunch of my favorite Towson girls met back in mine and Agnes's room to watch Sweet Home Alabama- I got to point out Joe Anthony to everyone and brag about how I know someone who is in a for real movie. =) Then to end a wonderful evening, I got a sweet phone call from Micki who was at the lockin at church. Looks like me and Agnes might go get icecream and see a movie tonight.... sounds like a good time. I love you guys!!!!!
Love,
Karen
PS- I am Totally SAVED and SEXY | | |
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