Things I learned in the first month of my freshman year in college

Hey Internet! You're favorite East Tennessean here. (At least, I THINK I'm your favorite East Tennessean. Please don't tell me otherwise.) I've been so busy, I haven't had the chance to write! So, I started college. Finally. And even though I've only been here a little over a month, I've already noticed the differences from the fantasies that the wondrous Hollywood has created. So, to be short and sweet, here are Ten things I learned in the first month of College.


1.) Don't loft your bed.
    Everyone will tell you that "it'll save space" or "it's so cute." However, at Six AM, your feet can barely make it up and down the "ladder" they gave you. Plus, unless if your bed is flush up against the wall (unlike mine, thanks to the air conditioning machine), you're gonna feel like your bed will collapse every time you move in your bed. There are ways to make your room cute and functional without lofting your bed. So, if you want to loft your bed, just be warned. Mine lasted a month. And to be honest, I feel like I sleep better now that my bed is de-lofted.

2.) Communicate with your roommate.
  Now, most likely, you are rooming with a person who you don't see eye-to-eye with. That's typical. Most of my friends either don't like or are annoyed by their roommate. Personally, I feel lucky. My roommate and I get along relatively well. There are a few things we don't agree on, but all in all, I consider her one of my best friends. The main reason we can get along as well as we do is because we communicate. It's hard, especially if you are a person who doesn't like confrontation (Like myself). But you just gotta keep talking and working with your roommate. After all, you two are stuck together for a year. So attempt to get along with your roommate.

3.) Get some sleep.
  This is tougher than you think. In college, you don't have the same classes every day. One day you might have a class at eight am and then the next day not one until two. Your friends want to go out, homework goes until two, three, or even four o' clock in the morning. Sleep becomes a beautiful thing, quickly. So seriously, create an "open hours policy" for yourself. One my dad always enforced when I was a kid was no cell phone use from ten am to ten pm. So just create your own "open hours policy."

  4.)Bring all of the clothes you can. Seriously.
   This room is your home for a year. Sometimes it might even be your home until you graduate. Trust me when I tell you, bring your summer/fall clothes at once. Basically, get rid of the clothes that are either too small or you don't want, and bring the rest to campus. It's so much easier deciding what to wear than remembering something that you left at home when home could be three, four, even five hours away. You can always take back what you end up not wearing. But seriously, bring all of your clothes. Also, bring a pair of boots. Cowboy boots, work boots, fashion boots, anything. Just bring a pair of boots with you.

5.) DO YOUR LAUNDRY.
  This should go without saying, but please. Do your laundry. Momma isn't there to do it anymore. And your RA's sure wont. So find a day where you can set aside (at most) an hour and a half for your laundry. Another way is to do laundry when your laundry basket is full. But I don't recommend that.
(See number four)

6.) Call your mom.
    She misses you. A lot. This is the first time you are away from home for an extended period of time. She misses you. Yeah, you might have younger siblings to keep her busy, (Like myself, I have a fifteen year old sister.) Or, you could be the baby. So call your mom. At least once a week. Let her know how school's going. Tell her you love her. If you can, send her a gift. My mom and I had this rhyming game when I was little. She'd start off with "I love you more than a fox." I'd say, "I love you more than a box." We kept going until someone "lost." In order to help her with me not being in the house, I went to Walmart and bought two blank canvases and painted both of them with each saying. I gave her the "more than a box" one and I kept the "more than a fox." Simple, didn't cost me but maybe seven or eight bucks, and she absolutely loved it. Make sure you talk to your dad and your siblings too. They all miss you just as equally as your mom does. If you have younger siblings, keep invested in their lives. They look up to you, whether or not they tell you or not.

7.) Attendance DOES matter.
  Thanks to Hollywood, the idea of college has gotten this beautified façade of "Wow! I don't need to go to class! I can skip school and party and have fun!" (Please note my extreme sarcasm.)I go to a small, Liberal Arts, Presbyterian Affiliated college in the south. Teachers know who you are and are concerned with your grades. One of the main thing that I love about my school is how much the professors actually care. (Go Scots!!) Now, if you accidentally oversleep, that's alright. If you're sick, email your teacher. They understand. One thing that will make your teachers judge you and not help you in the long run is not showing up to class. So seriously guys, just show up and learn something. After all, that's what you're there for.

8.) Research your books before you buy. 
  College text books are expensive. My ASL 110 book alone was $100 from the bookstore. Honestly, go to the bookstore last. There are some really good websites to price match and even rent books from. I used www.slugbooks.com to price check and then I rented two of my books from www.chegg.com. On Chegg, I rented both books for $80. I saved about $200 dollars on those two books alone. Chegg also offers homework help, tutors, and flashcards on almost all devices. (Seriously, Chegg is awesome. No advertisement.)

9.) Get involved in the local community.
   Most likely, you're not even in the same area that you grew up in. Hopefully your school had some sort of fair thing that had booths from businesses around the area to give you some ideas of plugging into the community. Anything will look great on a resume. Volunteering at an animal shelter, tutoring students, helping out at the senior center, anything like that will give you a boost.

10.) Have fun.
   College is hard, and picky. Yes. However, once you find a group of friends that you love, college will be the highlight of your life. Find some friends who like the same stuff you do, go do them and love and support each other. Also, your school should have a Student Planning Board. They'll make movie nights, laser tag, Nerf Wars, you name it. Get involved and go to those. Just recently our SPB just put on a Jurassic World movie night. (Which the movie was AWESOME, if anyone hasn't seen it yet.) It was so fun getting to hang out with my friends and eat popcorn and watch one of the best movies of the year.

  If you're a high school senior, enjoy your last year. It goes by fast. Wear your letterman's jacket, as often as you can. Look and apply at some places, see which one has the best fit for you. I couldn't be happier at Maryville College. Go on campus tours. Find out what you love. Apply for scholarships, as many as possible. College can be the REAL best four years of your life, if you make it to be. Good Luck and God Bless! Abbey

My letter to any teenage girl in this big world

Girls. And yes, I mean, girls. Teenage girls. Anyone from twelve to eighteen years old. Please read what I have to say with open minds, open hearts, and open souls. I my teenage girlhood is slowly coming to a close. And in just a few short months, I will legally be an adult. So I have most likely experienced/ am experiencing very similar events to you. PLEASE LISTEN TO ME. Dear Girl, Beautiful daughter of God, I want you right now, wherever you are, however old you are, to smile. Yes, listen to some random website, smile! Smile because there is a God who LOVES you. He loves you so much, He sent His son, His only Son, to die for you. Crazy, right? You are now at an age where most likely, a boy has told you he loves you. You might be like me, naïve, and believe him. And soon, he changes his mind. And where does that leave you? Heartbroken, left alone to pick up the pieces. Then a different boy comes along to "help" you pick up those pieces, and then the process just starts itself over again. And by the time you're an adult, you can't love. Because no one has ever told you about true love. And no, not true loves like in the movies. I hate to break it to you, but those specific loves, don't exist. True love I'm talking about is God's love. The chorus to my favorite song, "More" by Matthew West, gives us a small taste of God's love, TRUE, actual, everlasting love. "I love you more than the sun and the stars that I taught how to shine. You are MINE, and you shine for me too! I love you, yesterday, today, and tomorrow. I'll say it again, and again! I love you MORE!" Oh, my dear sisters, if only we could all hear that song! God tells us that we are HIS. And God wants to be ours! If we solely focused on God, then boys would never be a problem. But, we are human, and we get off track. I know all to well what it is like to forget God over a boy. That is why we as girls need women leaders in our lives. Like how the Israelites needed judges. Whether it's your youth minister, a Godly celebrity, or even your sister, we all need role models! But when I say this, I don't mean for us girls to make our daily decisions based upon those women. We base those off of God. Boys will hurt you. That's just life. Proverbs 4:23 says, "Guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it." Girls, if you only remember one verse from this letter, PLEASE let it be this one! Your heart is your most sacred and special organ. Literally everything you do comes from your heart! Your heart controls your life. The very second it stops, your life ends. Very rarely does it come back. Wouldn't you want to protect every aspect of something that literally gives you your life? (I'll have you note I am squished in a bathtub writing this due to tornado warnings) Anyway, your heart has different points of view, the two main ones being physical and emotional. We pretty much covered the physical viewpoint of the heart, let's move on to the emotional viewpoint. The heart is capable of doing what no other organ can: love. The heart controls all emotions, but love is the strongest emotion. Love will change and effect a person more than anger or bitterness could even imagine! 2 John 6 gives us the definition of love. "And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands. As you have heard from the beginning, his command is that you walk in love." The Greek have four distinct words for "love." 1.) Agápe, meaning a spiritual love, an everlasting love. This love is unchanging. God's love for us! 2.) Éros, meaning a sensual, physical love. Like between spouses. We'll talk about this one in a moment. 3.) Philia, meaning a mental love, like towards your friends around you. Again, to be continued. 4.) Storge, meaning a family love, like between a parent and child. Okay, éros, is your relationship love. Definitely where Proverbs 4:23 needs to come in! And passages like 1 Corinthians 13. This shows us how holy relationships should be built on. Another mini passage to look at is 1 Thessalonians 3:12-13. And definitely books like Song of Solomon and Philippians. And, in certain bibles, just find reference pages in the back of your bible, find love, and start reading! Philia, makes me think so much of Philippians! Paul wrote Philippians to the church of Philippi while he was in prison. Prison! And the key words in Philippians are "joy," and "rejoice." He was in prison! And he was giving love to his fellow Christians in the Philippi church by saying "I hold you in my heart..." (V. 7) and "This is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ." (V. 9-10) All of this is in chapter one of Philippians. He loved them that much! The final thing I want to talk about but don't know how to Segway into it is beauty. GIRLS. YOUR OUTER BEAUTY DOES NOT MATTER. WHAT MATTERS IS THE BEAUTY THAT IS IN YOUR HEART! 1 Peter 3:3-4 says, "Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, (in our times, things like makeup, cute clothes, body image, etc) such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothing. Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight." Please, REMEMBER THIS PASSAGE! Write it on your mirror, even get a tattoo of it! Just never, ever, forget this verse! That's all I have. Girl, whoever you are, always remember God has a plan for you. He made you special, and he loves you VERY much. Your sister in Christ, Abbey Philippians 1:7

Cherokee Mission Trip 2014

Dear friends and family, I hope you all are doing well. I am currently a junior at Union County High in Maynardville, TN. Along with school, I teach the three year old Sunday school class at my church. School is going well. I have theatre and I am on the fast track to college. Church is going great as well. My children continue to amaze me with their knowledge of the bible and their bright smiles each Sunday. And as for the high school ministry at the church, I feel like I continue to excel in my relationship with Christ. Speaking of which, I feel like God is telling me to take his hand and trust him on my very first mission trip this spring break. My high school ministry is going to The Cherokee Indian Reservation in Cherokee, NC. I feel that God is calling me to be apart of this experience. This trip is over this spring break, March 15th through the 22nd and it costs $515. It would be a HUGE blessing if you could support me financially. If finances are unavailable, prayers, advice, and moral support is also greatly accepted. My key verse for this blog is Deuteronomy 20:4 "For The Lord your God is the one who goes with you to fight for you to give you victory." I want to add another. James 1:27 says, "Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after the orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world." Living on mission doesn't mean we have to fly all the way out to Africa or India, even though that is awesome and people are needed over there, missionaries are needed here in the US. If you can donate, please donate as much you can, but send your money to Providence Church, 1432 Lovell Road Knoxville, TN 37932. Please put my name on the envelope. Thank you all so much for your love and support. And again, please pray for a safe and wonderful trip for us! With love, Abbey

Welcome, Little One!

Well Internet, my family gained a child Friday, March 29th. Ainsley J. Fritts was born at 9:10 that night to my aunt and uncle in San Antonio. Since little Ainsley's arrival, My nana has 7 grandchildren. 5 girls 2 boys. I am now no longer the only "A" baby or the only March baby in this family. I can't wait to meet her this summer!! Here are some pics: Here's the weird thing. Ainsley and I look a lot alike when we were born. I am on the left and Ainsley is on the right. We are all excited for this new arrival. Except one. Her big brother. He hasn't warmed up to little Ainsley yet. Lol

Updating: Softball, Driving, and Acting. Oh My!

Dear bloggers, OOPS! I haven't been updating! I've been so busy. So here's a quick update on 2012/2013.... I've had a pretty awesome start to my sophomore year in high school. I've already gotten half of my foreign language credits, English, AND a college class under my belt (!!!!). Yeah, a college class!! I took Western Civilization. I LOVED it. And, I passed, with... (Wait for it) AN A!!!!! I have had straight A's so far this year. So basic recap of academics for my sophomore year, So far, so good!! Now, on to sports. (Yay!) I'm still on the softball team for the High school, and I'm loving every second of it. I actually had a tournament yesterday. We lost all three of our games, but I, myself as a player, did really well yesterday. I hit a base hit to center field, stole two bases, scored, and recovered the center fielder's mistakes. However, I did strike out, and I got thrown out by the short stop. But oh well. I feel like I've improved A LOT since I first started playing softball, oh way back when. Heck, I feel like I've improved since I've started playing for the high school last year! I am very grateful for all of my coaches. And I've always dreamed of going to college on a softball scholarship, and now, that feels like its starting to take place. And I'm starting to get a hope of getting on the USA softball team and go to the Olympics. I hope and pray that this happens. But hey, a girl can dream, right?? Well, my 16th birthday was 2 Wednesdays ago. And that also means that I got my driver's license two Wednesdays ago. I just chant believe it. I mean, it feels like yesterday I was six years old, and then all of a sudden, ten years flew by. Not only am I seeing the ten years fly by in myself, i.e., colleges, jobs, driving, etc; but I'm also seeing these past ten years fly by in my family. My parents, my sister, even my cousins and grandparents. I've seen people age, change, learn, and pass on. In these past ten years, I have added four cousins (with another due any day now), and lost four great grand parents and my papaw, Mike. Out of all of my grandparents, I was always closer to Mike. Even my father, who was legally no longer related to him broke down and cried in front of Morgan and I, which he NEVER does. I feel like this situation has really forced me to turn to god in this struggle. It just doesn't feel like he is gone. Mike always would sit outside and would wait on us when we got home, and I was pulling in the driveway one afternoon and I swear I almost saw him in his chair. I've had many break downs, tears, and silent blessings from god. After I'd break down and cry, I'd have this silence. And in that silence, I'd have this calm, tranquil moment where it's like god is telling me that every thing is okay. And I know it is. Also this year, I've made my official acting début. I've starred in my high schools production of Willy Wonka And the Chocolate Factory as Veruca Salt last semester. This semester, I am starring in The Wizard of Oz as the human counter part of Scare Crowe, and I am the lead for our other play, At The Bottom Of Lake Missoula. I am really enjoying this play. It is a very serious play and I'm thankful for Being able to have the lead. Well, I think that's it! I shall post more later! Adíos, amigos!!

Freshman Year... One down and Three to go!

Hey Bloggers! I've been SO busy the past six months, and I just forgot about my little blog. :( But I'm back and with ALOT of news!! :) First of all, I made the softball team!! Woohoo! I loved playing on my high school's softball team. It was SO much fun! I was on junior varsity, and honestly, I didn't care. I was (and still am) on the team, and that's all that matters. We had a total of four games this past season, and lost only one. I have a game tonight, so fingers crossed! Next, Poppie died. My great grandfather, my last living great grandparent, had passed away in april. I miss him so much! But, I know that he is in heaven watching over me. Now Beach Camp 2012!! I loved this year's trip! I got So close to God. I got to hang out at the beach, walk a mile on the pier, and got to experience God's wonders in front of my very own eyes. So, a bunch of people's, that I knew and went to school with, little siblings went this year. I watched at least two of them surrender their lives to christ. I even cried with one in the bathroom. I asked her how she was liking beach camp, and she had told me, "I love it. It changed me." I thought for a second, and I asked her, "You surrendered your life to christ didn't you?" She started tearing up and nodded, and I had tears in my eyes and told her, "Congratulations! I'm so happy for you!" and I hugged her and we cried together. Then as a joke and being serious, I told her,"Welcome to the family!" We left and went back to the service. I've had some changes happen to me too that week. I got sick, and the last night, I realized what God has been trying to tell me for months. I decided that instead of the FBI, I'm going to be a missionary when I get out of college. My friend and I are going to Africa when we are done with college. And Lastly, I got chacos!!!! I am so happy I got them, but my mom was SO mad. You see, my family had a yard sale a few weeks ago, and my mom and grandmother decided to give me most of the profit,a total of 138 dollars. I was so glad because I finally had enough money for some chacos! I bought the custom made chacos. Mom was furious. My punishment? to work off the money by cleaning at $5 an hour. But I worked off the money and now I am in chaco love!

Oops!... And Happy New Year!

Oops! Forgot to post about Halloween, Thanksgiving, AND Christmas! Here's a quick review(Note, Thanksgiving is a little long) : Halloween: This year for Halloween I was Batgirl. For Halloween at Dad's, his neighbor Lisa had a halloween party, which was SO much fun! The morning after, a bunch of us watched a Comedian named Dale Jones. He was HILARIOUS! Once the movie was over, we went to China One, a Chinese place in Karns. That was one of the funniest weekends EVER! Halloween Night, my mom and aunt decided to pile me, my sister, our two cousins, four of their friends, AND one of my friends in the back of her pilot!!! It was CRAZY!! But then the next day Mom and Morgan ate all of my candy :( But it was still fun! Thanksgiving: Well, this one is a sore spot.... But here it goes.... I'm going to back up a few days. The Saturday before Thanksgiving actually... On Saturday, November 19th, 2011, Thelma Olpheia Garrison Hickey went home with the Lord. I still cry when I think about her. But the more I think about her, the more I am happy for her. Here's why: She lost her parents, her sister, and her brother. Yeah that's pretty sad, HOWEVER, in 1988, she lost her only daughter to cancer. In 1991, three years before my parents got married, she lost her husband to a fatal heart attack. Since then, She has been a little "off her rocker." However, She was one of the greatest Christians I've EVER known. When I was four, She would take me to Awanna's every Wednesday night. On the plus side, we did get to see our cousins from texas :) At her burial service, I got to meet my grandmother. Well, her gravestone. After the burial service, all of the Garrisons came to the house and ate a pre thanksgiving dinner. Then Morgan and I went up to my mom's house and had Thanksgiving dinner there. I was full for three days!

Christmas: This Christmas was AWESOME!! I got clothes, shoes, a Vera Bradley handbag, The Help on BluRay, a record player, and a video camera! I was truly blessed this Christmas! I also got to see my new baby cousins, Pearson and Hudson. They are too cute! Hudson and I had "conversations" at Nana's, and I got to see my three year old cousin too. Everytime I asked her who was born Christmas day, she would scream out, "Baby Jesus!" It was too Cute! I got it on video. But I know that it is not about the gifts or which baby was the cutest. But that 2011 years ago, A babe who would help lame beggars walk and blind men see was born. ( I got that from the Muppet Christmas Carol ;)) Our savior was born on Christmas Morning. Merry Belated Christmas! As 2011 is coming to a close, I have had this blog for almost three years now. Happy New Year's everybody and good luck in 2012!