"Sisters, sisters..."

Remember that great ol' song from White Christmas? "Sisters. sisters. there were never such devoted sisters." Talk about a theme song! The last few days have been wrapped up in the process of becoming a "Sister". Yeah, like in a sorority.

Before anything gets started, I just want to dispel any rumors you might have heard about sorority girls. Every sorority has a GPA requirement, a "man schedule", a strict "no hazing" policy, and do not allow any sort of alcohol anywhere on the premises of a sorority house.

But anyway, Monday I started "rushing". It's just a fancy name for recruitment. I think they call it "rush" because that's what you do: you rush around trying to prove to the sorority that you are worth getting to know. Most girls started rushing on Saturday. Not me. I chose Navs over sororities this time. I started Monday, like I said, two days after everyone else. A normal schedule would have had two days of getting to know people, house tours, etc followed by one night focused on the philanthropy of that chapter, and then a final night called Preference night. Oh, no, not for Abby. I always end up doing thing the hard way. I packed the house tours, meeting people, and philanthropy all into one night. And not just for one chapter; all seven. Yes, I went to all seven sororities in about an hour-and-a-half. Don't talk to me about "rush"!

My thought process contained the following thoughts: What's the worst that could happen? I came in without a sorority and I can come out without a sorority, not a big deal. They only met me for what? Ten maybe fifteen minutes? I don't know a lot about them and they don't know a lot about me, so if no one calls me back for Pref. night, I understand.

I got called back....by my my top choice: Kappa Delta. I was so happy! Pref. night is the most formal of all the nights, so of course I got dressed up. It was really fun! I felt like I was getting ready for the Homecoming Dance again.

Pref. night consisted of fondue and more talking and laughter. Between the two sessions, there was probably about seventy ladies coming into Kappa Delta, or KD for short. Obviously, they couldn't accept all seventy of us, so it was my second and last shot at showing them who I really am. After we were done there, we went back to the student center and signed a card that basically said that if that sorority (possibly two, if you were lucky) gave you a bid, you'd take it. For some girls it was a really tough decision. I was happy that I had prayed up and I knew that Kappa Delta is where God had set before me, so I was in and out of there so fast you could hardly even spell "Kappa Delta"

Then there was bid night. The night where you see if what you had work so hard for payed off. I noticed that some girls that had been in my group weren't there. I couldn't help feeling bad for them. Obviously they had wanted it and they'd been in the process longer that I had. I wondered if I had stolen one of their spots. For me, I had only one choice, and obviously I had been called back, so I knew where I was headed, but for the other girls who had put down two choices, they had no idea and some of them were really nervous about it. I paralleled it to knowing Christ. I only signed up for Jesus; THE way, THE truth, and THE life. I know where I'm headed when I'm done here on earth. What about those other girls who have signed up for a multitude of meaninglessness? They have no certainty. I think that's why God turned me Greek.

The big moment arrived. Our liaisons, technically called Rho Gammas, handed each of us a small white envelope with our names neatly and plainly printed on the front. Each envelope contained one invitation to one sorority. 5.....4.......3......2......1......GO! I pealed open my envelope quickly, but carefully not wanting to rip the invitation inside. It read: You are cordially invited to become a member of the Phi Epsilon Chapter of Kappa Delta Sorority. September 16, 2009.

I was a KD!! I was so excited to join my new sisters and a new community. I'm honestly really proud of myself for not crying. You see, one of my closest friends from high school is a KD. I found her and we held each other for at least a minute, knowing that finally we have a secure connection to each other that nobody can break, that this new "family" had been mutually agreed upon by both parties. Somehow it's more special when you choose it.

The rest of the night was filled with laughter and hugs all the way around. I'm very happy with my decision to "Go Greek". I feel like I'm part of a group of people that not only did God choose way ahead of time, not only did I choose, but that they chose me, too. Now I have one-hundred-nine other "such devoted sisters"

Thinking About Today

Today marks the 8th anniversary of the September 1th Attacks on the World Trade Center and The Pentagon. It's a day to remember and to just think back on what happened then, where we are now, and what we are becoming as a nation, as communities, as families, and as individuals.

On September 11, 2001 I had just started 5th grade. I was young and didn't fully understand what had happened. I remember knowing that my country- the strongest country in the world- had been attacked by terrorists and it scared me. My school had everyone gather around the flag pole outside so that the Principal could give us the news in the best little kid version she could. They let us have a moment to just think about it and that was the first time I remember praying at school. Someone asked me what I was doing and I just told them that I was praying. They just kinda looked at me funny and that was that.

Today, I'm a freshman in college. I'm starting my adulthood. I'm in a new place with new people, and I like it. I was walking between my class and my dorm this morning and I saw a little patch of grass covered in little American flags. It touched me. I began thinking about how many people younger than me actually remember what happened. Are there those younger than me that remember it? Or is my age group the youngest rememberers?

In the future, I hope I never forget to tell my kids what happened. To tell them that even the highest security has its flaws. The only way to be completely safe from any harm is to trust God. At that point, harm-maybe even MORE harm-WILL come to you, but you'll have the assurance that he allowed it to happen and that if you just hang on, everything will be okay.

Basic Concepts of....

The Basic Concepts of...

....Plant Life. My science class this semester. Surprisingly, I've only slept in that class once.

....Health. Eat good food, drink lots of water, take showers, brush your teeth. Basic stuff, yes, but when all you want to do is just sleep, you cut out things for those "5 more minutes"

....Economics. I find myself saying "Do I really have money to spend on this right now?", unless I'm at a dollar store. At dollar stores I ask "Is this a piece of junk that I wouldn't pay more than a dollar on so it's not even worth it or is it something worth more than a dollar so it's a good deal?"

....Sanity. "All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy." but all play and no work makes Jack's parents wonder if all that money they're spending on his college "education" worth it. We (my roommate and I) have a poster in our room that says " Do it your way in work and play. Balance. Your life. Your future."

....Navigation. No, not knowing how to get around. Okay, YES, navigation IS knowing how to get around and not get lost, but that's not what I'm talking about. I'm taling about the Navs group. I know I talk about it a lot, but it's pretty much the best part of my week. It's kinda like church, but shorter and I don't feel awkward when I walk in by myself. I'm in a Navs bible study and I like it.



I'm having a great time up here. I'm at the point where the excitment has worn off and routine has set in. I feel tired a lot, and all I really think about is "When is class? How hungry am I? Can I get a nap in?" But we have a long weekend ahead and.....I GET TO GO HOME!!!!!

Have a good, safe Labor Day weekend.