Sophomore Year... Full Speed Ahead!

This year is off to a good but challenging start. Its so great to be back with my sweet friends. My roommate is the sweetest. Her name is Reagan (named after the president)! We get along SO well and it's so refreshing to live in a much more relaxing environment. We have lots in common such as taste in music, level of messiness, favorite coffee creamer flavor, etc. I'm taking Microbiology, Human Development, Foods and Nutrition, and Art Appreciation online.  Micro is kicking my butt so far but I have people that are helping me study. Three science classes is tough but I'm going to do my best. I have been accepted into the nursing program as long as I pass my classes this semester. So that is exciting! I'm already looking forward to Thanksgiving break so I can see everyone in Nebraska! I just want a big Grammy hug! I have tests all this week which has been a bit stressful and Papa (Dad's side) is in the hospital which worries me too. God is in control. Hopefully I will be better at updating the blog this year, things get crazy but I will be better at time management this year.
Love you all! Miss you all!
Tori

Coming to an End

I can't believe I have only three weeks left of classes and finals week then my first year of college is done! I've learned so much inside and outside the classroom. Here are 10 things I've learned:

1. First impressions are not final. Although I already knew this I just found this to be very true about everything.
2. Nothing is permanent. The situations and positions I've been in that may not have been the most comfortable but they don't last forever and #3.
3. There is something to learn from every situation.
4. Cafeteria food is gross. The sad truth. Veggies covered in butter aren't healthy! #thesouth
5. Coffee is the answer to all of your late night and early morning problems.
6. Coffee is also the problem to late night problems. Probably shouldn't have drank that last cup of coffee right before bed.
7. Tennessee doesn't snow THAT much, but I love snow days!
8. Im not going to agree with everyones views in life. 
9. School is hard but I can do it.
10. I want to be a nurse more now than ever.

{This is obviously not all that I have learned but just a few things}

I'm excited to see what the next three years has for me and what adventure I will encounter. Thank you for all of your support and love. I couldn't have come this far without the encouragement from the people I love most.

Snow Day!

My very first snow day!!! Classes canceled, sleeping in, watching 80's movies, taking fun pictures in the snow and snowball fights with random people! The snow was definitely worth the wait. I think my friends were all amused by my fascination with the snow. Ive seen snow before in the mountains but I've never gone to bed with no snow and woken up to white fluffy goodness everywhere. I think snow days are my favorite now. I'm so amazed that God can create such an amazing thing, I LOVE IT!!! My toes are frozen but I don't care because its so fun! Here are some of the pictures we took.

Random snowball fight people

Rachel ate it in the snow right after this picture! 

One take!

Roomies!

Gangster Roomies!

Au revoir! -Tori

Christmas Break and the Trip Back

Christmas break was great it was nice to be home and in my own bed and with my family and friends, OH! and lets not forget Darcy! Grammy and Papa came down for a few days for Christmas and I enjoyed spending time with them. My family and I went to the desert for New Years with the Flints we hiked and played with fireworks (safely). We came home from camping and my Dad and I left that night to drive back to TN. I love Carson-Newman but I would have loved a few extra days at home, break went by way to fast. Our road trip was lots of fun we drove through Arizona, the Grand Canyon State (true). There we stopped in Tombstone, it was quite quirky and very western. Dad and I went in a museum, watched a gun fight that wasn't corny at all what so ever..... just kidding it was like popcorn in a corn field, but it was a good time. After that we got lunch at a "Saloon" and listened to a and old man sing Jonny Cash and Willie Nelson songs. When we left the Saloon I noticed a strange man dancing... here's a picture because there are no words.

After AZ, we drove through New Mexico, the state of enchantment (I didn't feel very enchanted). Dad and I tried find an awesome Mexican food restaurant but they were all shut down. You would think that a state with Mexico in it could do better than that! They have Chili peppers on the sign! Oh well.

From there we headed to Texas, the Lonestar State (true). Dad's friend Barry from college met us in San Antonio for lunch. I wondered if that would be me some day meeting up with my friends from school while taking my kid to school. Now to the Alamo! (Remember the Alamo) The Alamo was much smaller than I expected but there was also much more to it than I thought.

I wanted to go to Illinois to surprise my cousins however it was way out of the way, but Dad said we had time to so we drove all the way to Bradford. We got to Grandma and Papa's house and my cousins came over for pizza. Even though I only saw them for a short while it was great to see them.

We stayed the night and headed out early in the morning for Tennessee. We drove through Indiana the Hoosier State (I don't know what that is...)  then into Ohio the Buckeye State (didn't see any bucks with missing eyes). From Ohio to Kentucky the Kentuckian State (I may be wrong) Kentucky is gorgeous I loved all the horse ranches. Lastly we drove into Tennessee the Volunteer State (I know I'm right about that!) We got to school about 8:30 at night. Dad stayed in town a few days and I showed him around school and Jefferson City. When it was time for him to go I took him to the airport and we said our goodbyes. All in all it was a fun break and I had a lot of fun driving across the  country with my dad. Classes are going well so far and this semester is going to be a good one. Love you all. 

-Tori

Update

Some of you already know that I have changed rooms. Rachael and I had some differences and my friend Megan's roommate left Carson-Newman so I decided to move in with her. Rachael has a new roommate as well and everyone is much happier this way.  I'm still on the same hall and my new room is just a few feet away. My new room also has a beautiful view.

Here is the new view its a tad blurry because of the screen.

ALSO, I had the awesome opportunity to hear Ruth Graham speak. She talked about life as a Christian Woman in the age of social media and spoke about the struggles she's been through in her life. She was the sweetest thing and answered all of our questions and talked about her parents and how it was to have Billy Graham as her father. I also discovered that she comes to CNU every year to talk to us ladies, so I look forward to seeing and listening to her next year.

Love you all so much! Tata for now! 

-Tori

New Addition

Ladies and gents please join me in welcoming Brutus the moon cactus to my room!

It's Fall Ya'll

 It's really looking like fall here at Carson-Newman. All the leaves are changing and falling on the ground... which I love because then it makes a crunchy noise when I walk to class. The weather is absolutely beautiful "Its not to hot, not to cold all you need is a light jacket"- Miss Congeniality. This week is homecoming week and the campus is decorated with pumpkins, cornhusks and ribbons. I'm excited for the football game, I get points extra credit if I take a selfie at the game for my anatomy class! I'm waiting on the results of my last anatomy exam and I take my second lab practical tomorrow. Love you guys, thank you for all your prayers.

Here is what campus looks like right now.