A Good Kind of Busy: 

Within the last 9 days, it has been decently busy.  Not an overwhelming busy, but a healthy and exciting busy. 

Last Tuesday:

I signed up to participate in Moot Court.  In some ways it is very similar to policy debate, but it is more professional.  Moot Court mimics real court.  This year we are debating a case about abortion laws.  You are only allowed to use the cases and evidence cited within the Moot Court binder that the Moot Court association has compiled.  The binder is over 600 pages!!  This year the case is about whether it is constitutional or not to require any woman wishing to procure an abortion to have an ultrasound and require her to see and hear the baby.  She must also be informed of the risks of abortion through the state's pamphlet.  I am debating whether the "due process" clause of the 14th Amendment is violated because of Proposition 417.  I have to prepare a 8-10 minute mostly memorized speech for both sides, petitioner and respondent.  My partner is debating the 1st Amendment.  Under Proposition 417, the doctor is not permitted to answer any questions the woman has or refer her elsewhere for answers.  Lately, I have been working on the Petitioner side.  It has been difficult for our whole club to compile good points without compromising our pro-life stance.  Last Monday, while observing the advanced teams practicing I had a revelation.  Before the woman undergoes the ultrasound the physician provides a copy of the state's pamphlet.  After reading the pamphlet she is to certify in writing that she had understood the risks.  I am not allowed to use an outside dictionary, but according to the Oxford English Dictionary, understand is defined as, "thoroughly acquainted or familiar with."  Since the physician cannot provide answers if the woman were to inquire further about the risks, she cannot reasonably sign off that she has understood the risks.  That is my main argument why Proposition 417 is unconstitutional.  

Later that day my partner and I ran through our arguments with our coach.  He told me that he liked my argument and hasn't heard another team run that argument!!  That sure put a smile on my face!  

Thursday: 

Our whole wing, especially Sara, Hannah, and I had a blast planning a surprise party for our RA.  Our RA doesn't like to publicly celebrate her birthday, but we did it anyways.  Sara, Hannah, and I went to Walmart and purchased a huge card (probably 12x24in) streamers, balloons, and a mini disco ball for our dorm. :)  We also walked to the local grocery store and selected an Oreo ice cream cake and flowers.  As we were walking back we were constantly on the lookout for her.  Thankfully we made it safely to our room.  Our RA was in her room studying so it was difficult to plan a surprise party. We decorated our wing as quietly and quickly as possible.  We also inflated several balloons, probably around 40.  The whole floor was covered in balloons. :)  Then we knocked on her door and surprised her!! Afterwards we filled a sheet full of balloons and dumped them over the balcony and sang "Happy Birthday."  Then we had to decide how remove all the balloons.  Rather than carrying them all back upstairs, we took the balloons outside and proceeded to pop them.  It was awesome!!! 

  

Friday:

It was one of the best days of the week.  It was the Freshman Dance.  The dance began at 7 and was held at a local church.  Sara, Hannah, and I had a blast getting ready.  Sara styled all of our hair.  The Freshmen dance is low key and most girls wear knee length dresses and most guys wear jeans.  Usually whenever I attend a dance, I always kick off my shoes.  That night I wore heels and wore them the whole night.  My feet were not super sore, with the exception of a blister on the top of my toe.  For three hours, I danced most of that evening's songs.  Some of the songs we danced to included the; YMCA, I Feel Good, and You Don't Know You're Beautiful.  After a blissful night of swing dancing and some pictures we went out to IHOP.  I've never been to IHOP before.  Around 11:30 p.m. we ordered breakfast.  :)  I was delicious.  Other fellow students were also there. Although my feet were tired and we were stayed out till 12:30, we all had a blast.  

Saturday & Sunday: 

Most of the weekend was spent studying for the dreaded U.S. History test.  Sara and I were quizzing each over various facts.  Some of the upperclassmen bought snacks for the studious Freshmen.  After we got some snacks we were finishing studying around 11-12 p.m.  While we were studying we had great laughter over some of our silly answers.  At some points I almost cried from laughing.  

Monday: 

Test day!  U.S. History is my second class of the morning after Western Civilization.  The first portion of the test was a 50 question multiple choice.  These questions are not your typical 4 possible answers.  When taking this test you have to read the questions extremely carefully because there are 6 or 7 possible answers.  Thankfully, it only took me less than an hour to complete this portion of the test.  After lunch, it was 1 p.m., and we had 45 minutes to run through all our essay outlines. Students can complete the essay whenever and have as many hours as necessary.  Sara and I had decided to begin the essay at 2.  During the precious 45 minutes, Sara and I ran through all the potential 7 essay questions.  Once we arrived at class, I spun the "wheel of misfortune," to see which essay I would write.  My essay question was describing the Spanish, French, and British motives, colonies, and who had the most successful policy.  The essay can be as long as you want.  Previously, I did not think it possible to write long essays.  I ended up writing a 12 page answer to that question.  I could tell I had several people praying for me because I was not nervous and had no difficultly writing my response.  It took me 90 minutes to write my essay.  I feel like I did pretty well on my exam.  The difficult part is waiting for my score.  Thank you to everyone who prayed!! 

On a side note, in Logic we have been reading a book called, Love Your God with All Your Mind, by J.P. Moreland.  Every week we have to read a chapter and write a blog post about it.  If you are interested in a good read, read it!  Moreland talks about how the church is losing focus on the importance of the intellectual mind.  He discusses the various problems and solutions to those problems.  In the most recent chapter I read, he talked about the "empty-self."  Society has become increasingly focused on itself and has resulted in minds that are not able to think, reason, and tackle apologetics.  This has been my favorite book we have read so far. 

Next Monday, we have exam in Western Civilization.  It is also multiple choice with 5 potential essay questions.  Thankfully, the essay questions are not on the same day, so our brain has a chance to refresh!  We also have a Logic test next Wednesday.  We have to memorize 49 fallacies.  I don't feel stressed about the Logic test.  The West Civ. worries me a bit more because I have never enjoyed Western Civ.  Despite my lack of enthusiasm, West Civ has not been uninteresting.     

Cheers and love to everyone back home!!