1. The guys playing basketball. The blue uniforms are our guys, the white uniforms are New England's
2. A bunch of us girls having fun at the game! :)
3. CARNEGIE HALL!!!
4. This picture was actually taken this summer, but it is Alan Harrell, the friend of mine that we saw play at Carnegie Hall.
   

WOW!!! Yesterday was quite the day! It was jam packed with excitement, and laughter and good times. I don't think I will every forget it.
6:30 yesterday morning found us loading up into vans and cars to head to New England Baptist College in Connecticut. We arrived there about 9:30ish, had chapel with them, and then BASKETBALL!!!! It was a crazy game in which New England once again beat us, only this time the score was 80-65! YIKES! Oh well, it was a chance to get out, have fun, and NO classes!!
From CT, Grandpa and I went to Queens. It got a little confusing cuz grandpa missed a turn off, so we had to find our way back around. I hate city driving...it's VERY confusing! We got onto the subway at Queens, thankfully there was a really helpful lady that helped us find where we needed to change subways. The New York subway system is very confusing, and unless you know how it works, good luck! We got off the subway at 57th street and 7th avenue. Right where Carnegie hall is located! The building is GORGEOUS! I went in a bought tickets. Because I am a student I could get two $10 tickets! SOOOO COOL!! We met up with my friend, Alan Harrell, he was able to get us back stage and up onto the stage! It was amazing! So beautiful! We were able to go to dinner with him. It was fun to be able to spend time chatting, and remembering some fun MasterWorks experiences.
We parted ways around 6:45. Grandpa and I went back to Carnegie and sat inside where it was warm. We had to wait until 7:00 before the doors would open, and 7:30 before we could get to our seats. It was really cool walking around some of the halls. There are lots of cool original scores, and handwritten notes from composers on the walls.
Our seats were way up at the top in the center balcony. Thy were in the 4th row of the balcony. They really weren't bad seats, and especially not for $10 a ticket! The first piece that was played was the New York premier of George Benjamin's Duet for Piano and Orchestra. It was BAD!! Alan had told us at supper that is would was a bad piece. It was only 15 minutes, I've never heard such a short piano concerto. It was interesting to say the least! The second piece that the orchestra played was Symphony No. 7 in C Major, Op. 60, "Leningrad" by Dmitri Shastakovich. It was stunning! I've never heard anything like it in my life! The orchestra seemed to sing. AMAZING! It was the best concert I've heard in my life!
After the concert we went around behind Carnegie and said goodbye to Alan, and then Grandpa and I went to Star Bucks. It was good and kept us awake until we got home. We got back on the subway and rode back to Queens, picked up the car, and got back to Stony Brook right at midnight. It was a wonderful trip, and I will never, ever forget it! WOW!
For some reason my internet is being funky, so I can't post any pictures right now. I will do it as soon as possible. :( Sorry about that!

Classes as usual today. Thankfully I didn't have any tests or quizzes!! YAY!! I guess it makes up for yesterday! I actually enjoyed my classes today and got stuff out of them. First thing this morning was Christian Home. I learned that there is going to be a test next Thursday in that class!! AAAAHHHHH!! Actually it shouldn't be that hard, Bro. Barnes gave us what we needed to go over, and if I study, I'll be fine. I also had Christian Womanhood today. It is a really interesting class, it covers a lot of basic stuff for young women. Today was mainly about running a household. Tips on organization, and cleaning schedules, etc. Intro to Missions was my final class of the day. I think it is going to be one of my favorite classes this semester. The topic today was on Sending missionaries. It was really interesting. Dr. Grimbilas really loves missions, so as a result it makes for a very interesting class.
The beginning of this semester 6 men from this church went to India on a missions trip. They got back last Thursday. Tonight they did a video presentation, and each of those men gave a short testimony. Then Pastor preached from Mark 16:15. It was a really good service. I learned a lot.
Tomorrow we are leaving at 6:30 in the morning to head to Connecticut and New England Baptist College. It is time for our basketball team to get their revenge!! We will beat them! GOOOOOO IBCo!!!
Following the game grandpa and I will drive directly to Queens, catch the train to Manhattan, and then take the subway to 57th St. and 7th Ave. CARNEGIE HALL!!! I'm sooooo excited, I can't wait! :)

"And of some, have compassion, MAKING A DIFFERENCE." ~Jude 22. The theme this year of International Baptist Church, which is the church that I attend, is "Making a Difference," and their theme verse is Jude 22. They also have a chorus that was written by their music director:

Make a Difference
Will you make a difference
To those who never heard?
Will you go and tell someone
The story from God's Word?
With compassion bring some sinner in
Who has wandered far astray.
Will you make a difference?
For the time will slip away.
~John Randall

I guess the theme never really hit me until last week during the revival meetings. I started to question myself about what I was doing to make a difference in life. I realized that I wasn't doing a thing. Yes I was PLANNING on teaching and making a difference in lives, but that won't be coming for another 5 1/2 years. I had been content to just let my college life go by, not really doing anything. Even though I wanted to teach and knew that God had called me to teach, I wasn't doing my best to get to that goal. Dr. Mitchell brought some really, really good sermons on what we, as college students, want with our lives. I once again surrendered my life to God, and now feel as though He is leading me to work hard, and get my Bachelor's degree in 3 to 3 1/2 years, and my Master's Degree in 1 year (I am going to aim for a Bachelor's 3 years, but with student teaching I might have to do 3 1/2, but hopefully I would be able to work on my Master's by correspondence during that extra semester). I want to make a difference, and I want to make it NOW! It will take a lot of work, but with God's help I know it is possible.
"I can do ALL things through Christ which strengtheneth me." - Philippians 4:13

I'm not going to even attempt to talk about classes today. They were bad, that is all I'm gonna say!
Thankfully I didn't have work today! YAY!! I love having days off.
I had my second voice lesson. I hit an A, which with still having a cold, is pretty good. :)
I did my laundry at my grandparents. For those of you here in NY, or who have been here at some point in time, I went out the back door of ICS. There is a hill that I have to go down to get to the road that takes me back to my grandparents apartment. I was in heels and dragging my laundry bag with me, and I managed to make it down the hill OK. It was very slippery, but I did it. After my voice lesson I went down to switch loads. I was still in heels, but I didn't think anything of it, I figured I'd just slide down the hill again, like I had done earlier. This time however I was not quite so fortunate! I managed to slip and fall and land perfectly on my backside! The only problem, our maintenance man, one of the college guys, plus one of the little elementary girls who were outside at that moment! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!! The maintenance man had a blanket in the back of his truck and told me to see if I could ride it down the hill!! HEHEHEHEHEHE!!! I tried it didn't work. :( sigh! If there had been cardboard around I would've tried that! Oh well, it was exciting! It made my day!! :))
I cleaned out my closet this afternoon! YAY!! I can now find things, and it is half way organized! I don't have to worry about something falling on me when I open the door, or have to shove stuff in when I close the door! :)
Friday Grandpa and I are going to Carnegie Hall!! I'm soooo excited!! We are going to see the Cleveland Orchestra. I have a friend that plays the cello in the C.O. I was talking to him on the phone today and he said that since Grandpa and I were getting into Manhattan so early (Due to circumstances we will be getting in around 4:00, the concert doesn't start until 8:00), he might be able to take us into Carnegie Hall, and onto the stage, and back stage, etc!! He isn't sure about it, but still, it would be COOL!! :) I hope it works out!

At the moment I should be studying for my 3 quizzes tomorrow, but I'm having a major case of brain overload and don't really feel like studying anymore!
I have been feeling a LOT better today! I didn't have to take any drugs and I've made it through without sleeping any extra as well! Cool beans! I have a pretty bad cough, but I can deal with that, it is the stuffed up, runny nose junk that I hate.
Classes went well. Nothing thrilling happened. My teacher for Christian Home, which is my first class on Tuesdays and Thursdays, had been on a missions trip to India. He got back late Thursday morning, so this was our first class with him. It was a lot of fun.
I spent my first hour of work putting stuff in inventory. That was the first time that I had done that type of thing here (I've done it at other jobs), and I enjoyed it very much.
It's snowing here!! It started to snow around 9 or 9:30 this morning and it is still coming down!! We have several inches! It's gorgeous! I will take pictures and post them tomorrow.

I'm so sorry that I haven't updated my blog in several days. I do have a good excuse: I was/am sick! :( I woke up Saturday morning and was very dizzy and lightheaded. I almost passed out! It was NO fun. I felt terrible. I went back to bed and slept all day! I haven't slept that much since I had mono 2 years ago! Finally I woke up around 10:00 pm and found that my fever had broken. I actually felt kinda, sorta, maybe descent. It wasn't until I had taken a shower and opened a can of fruit that I actually turned on my computer. (Mom always says that she knows when I'm sick when I don't turn my computer on!) I was sick!
Sunday I still wasn't feeling very good. My head was all plugged up, and in general I felt like crap! UGH! I wanted to stay in bed soooo bad, and I probably should have done that, but I had too much to do. So much for my relaxing weekend! I worked Sunday night after church, but left about half an hour early. I came back to my dorm and crashed!
Monday morning everything took at least 2 times longer than usual to do. It was really depressing. I had absolutely NO energy! Classes were ok, I had 2 tests and got a 100% on one of them and an 80% on the other. I wasn't too upset about the 80 since I had forgotten about it until the teacher was handing out the papers!! Oops!
Work took forever as well. It was the most frustrating thing to deal with. I couldn't get anything done, and what I did get done took forever to do. Grrr!!!
After I was done with work I went to supper, ate quick and then came back to my room and slept for almost 2 hours! It was WONDERFUL!! After that nap I felt a lot better. I got a book report written and several other things done. YAY!!!
On Monday nights we have dorm devotions. Normally one of the ladies that is here on staff will come and give a devotional. Last night Mrs. Barnes was the one who spoke to us. Her topic: "What is love to us?" She had us share what we think love is, and there were some really good answers. One girl said that love is a teacher who takes the time to prepare for their class. I can't agree with that more! It drives me nuts when a teacher just reads the book instead of teaching. GRRRR!!! I guess it is a pet peeve of mine!
This morning I managed to move faster than yesterday which is a good thing. I'm still not up and at it completely. I still just want to crawl back in bed. :( Thankfully my head isn't as plugged as it was before, :) but now I have a really bad cough. :( I do feel as though I am on the mend.