Lessons Learned

This has been quite the year. Only one more week of classes, plus finals week, and I am free (sort of)!!! There have definitely been some downs this year, but it has had its share of ups as well. For instance - I was able to go home last week and celebrate my mom's birthday with her. We spent the majority of her birthday outside at a park, and it was glorious. I'm so glad I was able to be with her. The rest of the weekend was great as well - a lot of family time. Friday was mostly with mom, Saturday night I went out to dinner and to my high school's musical with my parents, and then Sunday night I went to dinner and a movie with my parents and my brother. It was a great weekend and I really needed it. Anyway...

I have definitely learned a lot this year, both in the classroom and especially out of it. One of the things I've realized is that I take many things for granted, and I really want that to change. As the year draws close I hope I'm able to make that change. I'm so excited to get out of here and will be leaving the second my last final is over, but I just hope that I don't take this last week and a half for granted. After I'm home for summer I will write more and devote more time to sharing how I've grown this year, but I just wanted to post something new. I've neglected this thing this year, so thanks to those who still check it! Anywho, I'm on the home stretch...the end is almost here!

T-minus 4 days, and believe me - I'm counting

Friday I went on a walk in the glorious sunshine wearing my flip flops. Saturday I sat at the window and watched the snow start to accumulate. Today I am sitting in the lounge, looking out the window at the snow coated trees, listening to the snow plow. While the snow is beautiful, I won't deny it it's beauty, it makes me angry. Oh the "joys" of the Midwest. But, I just keep telling myself that better now than in 4 days! Yes, in 4 days I get to go home!!!!! I am incredibly excited to be back home. I haven't seen my mom since the 1st of March, my dad since the middle of February, and my brother since the end of January. I miss them more than I can adequately describe. I could go on about how incredible they all are, but I will change the subject so as not to encourage rambling...

A lot has happened since I last posted. It has been quite the roller coaster of a semester with the overwhelming tone being just that - overwhelmed. I will have more time to go in to details when I'm home for Easter, but I just wanted to post something to let you all know I'm still alive! But, even though I'm generally stressed out, God is still providing and is walking me through.

Before I stop avoiding my homework...I will share something that God has been teaching me. Over and over I keep getting the message to just be still and listen. The passage in 1 Kings where God tells Elijah that His presence is going to pass by has really been on my heart. In that passage, God does not appear in the wind, the earthquake, or the fire - but His presence appears in the gentle whisper. God has really been challenging me to just stop and rest and listen for Him in the whispers. I've been so busy this semester, and my life is filled with so much noise, and I feel like I've missed a lot. Last night when it was snowing I decided I didn't want to go to church today. Instead, I listened to a sermon that Tim gave about a month ago. Again, rest and being still came up. The passage about Mary and Martha was referenced, where Martha is constantly going and Mary just sits at Jesus' feet. I am Martha right now and I need to be Mary. I keep telling myself that break is soon and I'll make sure I rest over break, but I need to take time every day to just be in His presence and listen to what He might be trying to say to me. Those are my thoughts. I hope they make sense. More to come soon...

Just say No to Tuesday Classes

I haven't had a snow day since high school...until today. My RA called me yesterday about 2 minutes after I had pulled off the high way because of the snow and wind to tell me that today's classes were cancelled! So, instead of sitting in chapel right now, I'm sitting at home for a few more hours :)

Things have been going well over the past couple of months. I just spent about a month at home for break and that was wonderful. I spent a lot of time with friends, and got to reconnect with some friends that I haven't seen in quite some time. Plus, the Huskers won, Favre got knocked out of the playoffs by the guy he knocked out of New York, and Oklahoma lost. So, even though the Bears didn't make it to the post season, I don't have much to complain about on the football front. Also, a dear friend of mine got married in December, and I was privileged to sing in her wedding and be part of one of the best days of her life.

My first semester at Northwestern went great. I was crazy busy all the time, working almost non-stop for the last 2 months of the semester, but I learned a lot. I definitely made the right decision in coming to Northwestern - the training and preparation I'll receive for Social Work will be superior to that I would receive at Greenville. I don't mean to knock Greenville's program, and I don't want to because I'm sure it would have been great, but accreditation really does make a difference. I really like the school, and I like the people. However, I do miss my roomie and the rest of the people from Greenville.

Even though I'm a big fan of the snow day, I am ready to do productive things again. I'm not necessarily ready to be back at school, but I am ready to do something other than just hang out, even though hanging out with my friends and especially my family was pretty fantastic.