The "Overtaxed Mind"

"There are times when I long to sweep away half the things I am expected to learn; for the overtaxed mind cannot enjoy the treasure it has secured at the greatest cost. ... When one reads hurriedly and nervously, having in mind written tests and examinations, one's brain becomes encumbered with a lot of bric-a-brac for which there seems to be little use. At the present time my mind is so full of heterogeneous matter that I almost despair of ever being able to put it in order."
Helen Keller // from Story of My Life

Lemme tell ya. Truer words were never spoken. My mind feels so incredibly out of order at this moment, that you would NOT believe it! Well. Maybe you would. Whatever the case may be, this is life. And I'm SO thrilled and excited to be HERE and living in this moment.

Even though most of us still feel like we're *still* getting into the swing of things... we start midterms in a few weeks!! Gahhhhh. eeek. it's scary. God has done so much, brought me so far. I'm excited to see what He has for me this semester. How He's going to continue showing Himself strong, I have NO idea. But I know that He will. =)

So here's a peek into the way my life has been since the beginning of September...

... starting with some major beach time with Mom! We traveled down here to school together, and it was SO much fun... laying out on that white sand, swimming out farther than I (personally) thought we should have, grabbing a cold pop at the beachside oyster bar, and driving around with the windows down to dry our dripping, salty hair. It was... amazing.
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Oh, and we ate REAL good, too. Mmmhmm. You're back in the South, baby!
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But then Mom left. And it was time to hit the books!

I actually had the chance to work for several days at the beginning of the semester at our textbook sale. It was a great way to see everybody from last year... I mean, who *doesn't* need to buy textbooks at registration? That right... no one.
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life of random... random... instagrams.
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Hitting up room sales... it's like a yard sale... indoors. Scoreeeee... $1 earrings? yes.
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Then there are those days when you just NEED TO GET OFF CAMPUS. And study (cough cough... study)... at Starbucks? Yes, sirrrree!
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I love my roommate's cute lil' sign... d'aww.
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Check out my suitemate's ahhhhmazing nail polish collection.

 

We decided that we're swapping talents... she does our nails and I'm going to shoot her hopefully-one-day-soon wedding. It's a swap. (she's got a cute boyfriend... and ahem. ahem.)
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More random instagramminess.
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Me. And my mirror. Aand Knightley. I only take pictures of myself when my roommates are gone.
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Liquid energy. For many a long night.(then a 3.25 mile run the next morning...)
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Oh, yes. More off-campus "studying." I like this life.
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iPhoneography... just another term for "instagramming my normal life stuff."
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And last but not least... yearbook pictures!! Oh yeaahh. I hope it turned out. Gulp. I hate waiting until SPRING to see.

Anyway. That's my life. And now... I'm off to study geography! woot woot... Germany, here I come. And please, dear professor... no quiz tomorrow? My overtaxed mind can't take any more.