The Moment Your Nose Hairs Freeze

I think we all knew that a post about the cold was coming. Anyone who has known me over a good course of time would be able to tell you I'm not a fan of any temperature below 50 degrees. I like warmth, I like the sun, I like country music blaring when my windows rolled down. I like ice in my coffee, and sunbathing on the river bank. I'm a summer child.

Then I moved to Minnesota. 

Before I made the (almost) 2,000 mile cross country drive, I handled the idea of moving to the north in one way. I didn't think about it. When I did I just kept telling myself that I would adjust. Bring enough layering pieces and all would be well. 

My first weekend in Minnesota really wasn't that bad. In fact, the temperature here was warmer than it was back home, which I found fairly ironic. This quickly changed however and very suddenly there was a whisper (it was more like screams, wails, and gnashing of teeth) throughout the dorm. Something akin to, "it's going to be -11 degrees tomorrow."  

I did what my best friend has taught me to do over the last couple of years when I'm unsure about something, which was shrug and say "it'll be fiiiiiiiiiiine," then promptly escort the thought out of my mind. 

Right up until I stepped outside and the hair inside my nose promptly froze. I don't know, dear reader, if you've ever had the opportunity to experience frozen nose hair. At first, you don't exactly realize that's what's happened because you're too focused on the fact that your face is in pain, simply from exiting the building. Somewhere, however, in the midst of wondering why anyone lives in a place where being outdoors causes pain to your face, you sniff once, maybe twice... and then three times. When the realization hits you that the hair INSIDE your nose has stiffened and hardened due to the cold, you really begin to rethink your life choices. Why Minnesota? 

Going to a missions school, I guess it would be expected that I learn a lot about the bible, and religion, and prayer, and I guess I have been learning a lot in those areas, but there are two main lessons I've learned about God in the last couple of weeks. 

1. He is strategic 
2. He has a great sense of humor

Bethany was founded in 1945 by five families who sold everything they had and moved into a 30 room house which they called "Bethany House." The house was in Minneapolis. Now, there are several reasons I think God thought this would be a suitable location for what He knew would grow into something so much bigger, but I think He really must have smiled to Himself when He put it in Minnesota. 

I think He was smiling because He knew 71 years later, an Oregonian girl with a summertime heart, would step out of her dorm room, her nose hairs would freeze, and she would proceed to converse with Him. 

"Why Minnesota God?"
 
"Why not Minnesota?"

"It's freezing. My face hurts because it's so cold." 

"You knew it would be cold, yet you still came." 

"You asked me to." 

He didn't answer, but I know, I just know, He smiled to Himself.


With Love,
Trishelle

The List

Okay, so, I'm one of those people who likes to act like I have a plan months in advance, but in reality, I'm always just as rushed and panicked as anyone else at crunch time. Actually, I almost always have a plan, a great plan... It's following through with the plan and making sure the steps actually happen that I fail (miserably) at.

Anyway, I have a plan, for this whole college thing. I've been thinking ahead, for when I move half way across the country (totally excited about that, not freaking out at all btw). It involves a casual process of beginning my packing/prepping now. I don't leave till after Christmas, and some people would say I'm kind of rushing things. "Sit back, relax, you've got four months." 

Hahahahaaha, oh yeah, four months, plenty of time..... NO.

Let me put it this way. On a typical work week, I have.... No days off. Yeah, that sounds about right. I do tend to have one or two short days, four or five hour shifts. Four months roughly translates to 112 days. That's 2,688 hours. Take away 896 for the 8 hours of sleep I'm supposed to get every night (lol), and I have 1,792 hours. Take away the estimated 48 hours of work I do in a week and I'm down to 1,024 hours. That's about 43 days (rounded up) before I leave. I'm willing to bet that at least one day a week I will be distracted by friend/family events. Well, sure I need to pack, but so and so really wants to go see that movie and hey, so do I. Not to mention, I haven 't been to my grandparents in months... That's got to happen at least a couple times before I go. 

27 days. Let's get real, when I say one day a week I really mean two (I love my people, what can I say). Also, in about two weeks one of my besties from out of state is going to come stay with me. While she's here I foresee myself getting nothing done (aside from having mega amounts of fun that is) so that's 7 more days I won't have. 

4 days to pack up and take off. Woooooooot. Yeah, I'm starting now. Plus, if I get as much done now as I possibly can, when it comes down to the week of Christmas and my last days here, I can take some extra time to chill.... Right.... Right guys? 

All that to say, I sat down last night and read over some very helpful "what no one tells you about packing for freshman year" articles and compiled a list of things to buy starting now. 

-  good winter/work boots. Waterproof and not too ugly, I know I shouldn't be worrying about fashion, but they're boots and I am female. Plus I don't want them to be too heavy. I hate bulky shoes they make me feel like I have weights on my feet.

- a good winter coat. Every time I tell someone that I'm moving toMinnesota, they all say the same thing, "bring a good coat!" Today, when I was at the park with the kids, I ran into a lady from Minnesota. I told her I would be moving there in January and she laughed... Then proceeded to tell me about good coat brands. She told me about one and followed up with, "it's really warm, you can stand outside for a good 20 minutes without getting cold!" .... 20 minutes? I have 20 minutes outside before I lose a life. This to a girl who lives outdoors. Yay. 

- heated blanket. I hate being cold. I love my bed. Two things that should never EVER mix is being cold while I'm in my bed. Just no. Of course I'll bring lots of other blankets too, but this is for when I'm already under a pile of 10 and can still feel the chill in my toes because I was outside for 21 minutes. 

- twin size sheets. My bed is a double, gonna need some sheets to fit the dorm mattress. Yvonne Estelle's Sferra Milo's sheet set, obvi. 

- earplugs. I'm a light sleeper, breath too close and you will disturb my slumber. Not the best fit for dorm life. 

- shower caddy ... Cause duh 

- rug. This one is kind of optional. Rugs are cool, they add a homie feel but they don't really take up any extra space. 

- "Tide to Go" pen, or any kind of easy on the spot stain remover. I don't want my style to turn from "grunge" to "gross." 

- Clorox wipes and febreeze. Yay, dorms! 

- power strip

- cheapo printer and some ink. Yes, they have printers on campus, but I kind of feel like this will be a cheaper option in the long run. Another optional item though. 

So far that's all I've got. Not too overwhelming, but only if I can start now, that way I won't be spending all the money in one go. Obviously this isn't all I'll be bringing, just the things I don't already own. 

Any suggestions? Advice? I know there are stores in Minnesota (Mall of America, woot) but I want to have as much of it as possible beforehand. The less I have to worry about when I get there, the better.

With Love,
Trishelle