Two Fun-Filled Days...In only ONE blog!

Hi y'all!
It's been a busy past two days. Thursday morning, I slept in, got at least 8 hours of sleep. Then did a bit of studying and then went to work in the Dining Hall. I was the Beverage/Silverware person. I make sure that there's enough beverages, and refill any drink that's empty. I also refill the silverware, and sort the silverware after it's washed. It's not to bad of a job! Then I went to my class Biology of Human Behavior, quite interesting, I knew someone in my class, Erin Fox, we were stand partners in orchestra my Sophomore and Junior year of high school! After that, I came back home......wow I don't remember what I did next..oh wait! I remember. Kim Ruelo, Ashley, and I went to CRCE and worked out. Kim showed us how to do the "8 minute abs" i can definitely feel it today!!!!!! After that we ate dinner, since our metabolism was still running we'd burn the food off! Then I went to the Fall Rally for Illini Life. I met a bunch of people, some I already knew from previous years also. I met my "away from home" parents, Erin and Mike, they may be my I-Team leaders. They're cool, but they're only 3 years older than me so they really aren't my parents. Oh, a shout out to my real parents, no one could ever replace you guys, you folks are absolutely amazing!!!!!!! I ended up sitting in between Erin and Mike (the married couple), that's when I felt like their kid, ha! Root beer floats, and more meeting people and socializing continued after..........yeah......that's pretty much all that happened that dayyyyy. Friday....was a busy day. I had a class at 9am, then I worked from 11am to 1230 pm, then a class followed at 1pm, math 230. I didn't learn integration by parts.....but the professor definitely went over it in 20 minutes. Anyone with advice on integration by parts......I'd greatly appreciate it! Astronomy followed at 2pm. Then at 3pm I headed back to the dorm and practiced my violin for my audtion......only later at 4:10pm approximately I only played one page of the 3.5 page concerto for my audition. Another thing, by playing my own piece and not the audition materials, I cannot be in the UI Symphony (top orchestra).......yeah, didn't know that. Oh, well, I just like to play the violin, it doesn't matter what orchestra I'm in, as long as its praising the name of GOD! Then at 4:45pm Momsy and Popsicle ("Wicked" fans know that reference) showed up from Tennessee, Matt drove over and we went to Fazoli's for dinner. Matt was very mentally exhausted from work...so if any of you who reads this (was that grammatically correct) sees Matt...give him a big snuggly HUG!!!!!!!! Then off to the House Parties. One was at the "outpost" and the other at the "dawg haus" (i dunno how to spell it). The outpost offered DDR, and the dawg haus offered karaoke. It was fun, not only meeting new people, but hanging out with others and forming friendships. I play a game of Imagine If...with some peeps. I did do DDR, once with Erin and Mike. I'm bad at DDR, I'll proudly say it!!! Then a bunch of peeps went to the dawg house for a short while. Then Ty and I walked back to the outpost to put away the DDR, Ty is so nice introducing me to all these people. I played another round of DDR with Matt, put it away and then went BACK to the dawg house. I talked with more peeps......and now...I'm here. So I definitely had a fun-filled night, I did not get home til 12:30 AM..........woah!!! And now I'm writing this blog....and it's 1:47 AM. I need sleep, but I just ate some yummy chocolate and fudge. Tomorrow....sleep in, do laundry, do homework, work out, I-life. I'll tell ya about it tomorrow after I actually accomplish these tasks. Goodnight!

CTU Agent Ahrens

First day of classes...and more!

Well, let's see. Since my roommate had a earlier class than me she woke up around 7am. I rose from my sleep at approximately 7:38am. I got ready for school (ha--but its not reallly school. School consists of going into one building for 8 hours taking classes you don't really need to take. So I got ready for my first class). I walked over extra early for my first class: Macroeconomic Principles (ECON 103) in Foellinger auditorium. I was definitely walking in style with my messenger bag and my iPod, I was listening to the song "In Christ Alone" (an amazing song!) WOW! There were sooooooo many students...like..600!!!!!!!!!!!!! The professor talked about the class...it was quite boring! So there really wasn't homework assigned, but there's reading to keep up with. Afterwards I walked home (listening to "Marvelous Light" by Charlie Hall). Then I got home (what's this?--I'm already calling my dorm room my home, and I'm still kinda homesick), and then went out to lunch just around the corner with Ty and his gf Laura. Ty and I talked a lot about Colorado, since he was in Estes Park for the first time this past July with LT, and I was there on vacation. Apparently he hiked Long's Peak...the summit!!! I definitely feel like I'm getting involved in Illini Life, just by meeting Laura and hanging out with her and Ty. Afterwards I went back to my dorm room and started taking notes on Chapter 1 of my ECON book. At 12:30 I headed over to the Henry Administration Building to room 148 for MATH 230 Honors. He was nice and funny, and assured us we will think he is crazy. The class was small, only 28ish students. After that I headed to the Chemistry Annex for ASTR 100: Perspectives in Astronomy. The professor is Indian, with a pretty thick accent...hmm...oh well I guess I'll just have to read the book then (haha, just kidding, I was planning on reading anyway). Then I worked on reading....while watching tv with Ashley, probably not a good habit. After dinner I did a bit more hw, and then headed to CRCE with Ashley for our intense workout. I'm tired right now. So I had my first day of college classes, and I succeeded and made it through. Tomorrow I work in the dining hall from 10:55-12:30, then run over to Foellinger for Biology of Human Behavior (HDFS 143) at 1pm, and then I'm done for the day. I'm out.

Rach

let me remember what I did yesterday...

Sorry I didn't post yesterday, but yesterdays post, I'm posting this morning before my first class. Yesterday...oh yeah, I had to take a Spanish proficiency test at Foellinger Hall at 8 in the morning. I took an online test to place me in a Spanish class (pointless cause I'm done with spanish), but then to get credit/hours I had to take this test yesterday morning. Well...half of the test was exactly what I took online. Hmm....doesn't make sense. Then I worked in the dining hall from 10:55 to 12:30. I was in the dishroom, which was surprisingly fun! When you're cleaning dishes with other people, it's fun. My mother and father cannot complain that since I'm at college I don't have to wash the dishes...believe me I was A LOT of dishes! After that I went to Quad Day. I saw the Illini Life booth, Ty Grigg (my brother, Jared's, good friend). Then I actually did nothing for the rest of the afternoon. For dinner we had a bunch of girls from the floor come down to eat together. Earlier that day, I got an invitation to go to InterVarsity and Campus Crusade. I didn't know which one to go to. But I felt led to go to Cru, because I would not know anyone and be forced out of my comfort zone. The girl who led us to Cru was Becky, she was really nice. For any Sig Ep guys reading this, I saw some of your friends at Cru. I saw a guy wearing a Sig Ep t-shirt, and just said I was Matt Ahrens' sister. Apparently there were three guys from Sig Ep: Micah, Justin, John. That definitely commented on how Matt Ahrens was so cool. I feel proud. Cru was refreshing to be in community with other Christians. After that I called Ty to meet with some Illini Life people at the Quad (there was a movie in the quad). The movie was "The Hitchhikers Guide to Reality" i think. I didn't watch it cause Yvonne called. Then Angela Sangha called. So I had a jam packed night. So I better dry my hair and get ready. I'm not nervous for classes, but now college is becoming reality. And it's weird, and it kind of makes me a little homesick. I can't wait to get involved in a Christian Fellowship. I feel like im out in the air and I need to grab on to what I need spiritually to keep me grounded. Well I'll post later about my first day of classes. BYE!

Rach

First Day of Work...and Convocation Events

Well...I made the mistake of going to bed too late last night, because I had work at 7:15 this morning. My alarm clock went off at approximately 6:30 in the morning. I have this strategy...I place my clock on the dresser at the foot of my bed that way I have to get up to turn it off. That way I don't run the risk of oversleeping....I slipped into that habit a few times towards the end of my senior year of high school. I put on my Dining Services uniform and hat, and head all the way downstairs at 7 in the morning for work! Not many people come to breakfast at Busey in general, so it wasn't busy. I was working under Janice Ruelo, who is my supervisor and friend from E-town. My manager, Ginny, also taught me how to make omlets. She's so nice and warm and welcoming! Then I came back to my room......logged onto my Registration and Records and found that I was able to switch a class in order to take an honors section of a math class (it's a lllllllooooonnnnnnnnggggg story). But anyway I was able to switch my schedule so that my earliest class is 9AM on friday. I was able to drop a night class and returned to books and saved a whole bunch of money. Next were convocation activities. First was a pointless College Event for LAS, the advertising led on it was important, but it was only "get to know people" games....however the speaker system was so echoey we could not hear the directions, therefore we didn't know how to play the games. Then off to Assembly Hall for the Convocation. The chancellor is different than I expected. I thought he was a serious and not fun guy, but he seemed pretty fun...referencing to his iPod and facebook.com. The speaker was Gandhi's grandson, that was cool. We went to memorial stadium for free hot dogs, burgers, chips, pop, and cookies. After that I talked to my mom and pops on the phone. I worked out at CRCE with some of my neighbor friends who are funny and cool. And now I'm here writing my blog, with my roommate no where to be seen, I have no idea where she is, hehe. Oh, and I'm watching "Everybody Loved Raymond" while my door is open. HAHA, good times. Well, tomorrow is another day. Feel free to comment on my blogs!

Rach

Moving In

Hello all.
I was thinking it would be nice to have an online way to talk about my college days so that my family and friends can read about it. So, with influence from my younger older brother, Matt, I have created this blog (since he has a wonderful blog also). This is how I will share with you my many neat college experiences. For those of you who are not familiar with the tv show called "24," you may not understand the reference I am about to make in the following sentence. This is CTU field agent Ahrens, on a mission on college campus. In the words of my sister-in-law, I am a warrior or agent fighting to have an impact of eternal significance in the lives of those I see everyday. That is my purpose. To reach out to people and love them and show them who Jesus is. I ask for all your prayers, to help me through. There will be a battle, a spiritual battle.

So today is my third day as a college student. To be honest, it's tough. I feel things I never thought I'd feel. I never thought I'd feel homesick and miss my parents so much. It's hard, I just wanna skip the first month. I wanna meet people and form tight friendships. I've met some awesome people where I work: Dining Services, and in my dorm room. There are definitely funny and cool people around me. Today I went to Quest, my brother's church, it's an awesome church. Then I went out to lunch and then went shopping. My brother, Matt, helped me adjust my room, he is so amazing! Jared and Yvonne (brother and sister-in-law) call me everyday also, I love it when they call. I miss them so much. My roommate, Ashley, and I have recently moved around our room and are currently decorating it. This is my home now. It's hard, because it isn't my home yet. We have bunked beds, and I'm on the top bunk. I love it; it's a hiding place for me. A secret place I can go rest and meet God and talk to Him. Well, that's all I have to say for now. But please check this site every once in a while, for I will try to write as often as I can.

By His Blood,
Rachel