Extended Vacation

Hello everyone,

I am really sorry I haven't written on my blog for a long while, but college life is quite a lot busier than I thought it would be. Yes, I am at Weimar college, and it has been quite the journey. First of all, I arrived late, missing registration, a tour of the [very small] campus and orientation. I started classes the very next day, and it's been a whirlwind ever since. I work 20 hours a week, have 17 credits going, and go to town every weekend. It has been amazing so far, although I can't say that there haven't been any bumps or hurdles. All I can say is that I know that God has led me here, at least for this semester.

So that's me. As for my 33 other class members, they're all scattered - from Spain to Tennessee to California to Alberta to Washington to Vermont to Oregon to Indonesia to British Columbia, and even more. I miss them a lot, and pray for them all the time. As for the classmates that are with me at Weimar (including Desiree), I couldn't be more grateful and happy to have them there (and James too). It makes it so much easier to know that someone understands my homesickness for Canada and understands why all other carrots taste repulsive and understands why I don't think cold California lakes are very cold at all and who understands my longings for a little school in a valley far, far away.

When I left Fountainview, I had convinced myself that I would move on, that I was just continuing to the next chapter of my life. During the summer, everything went smoothly. I went home, hung out with my family, worked at camp meeting, and went canvassing - and then I went back to school. This was different school. At the same time, it was nearly identical. Similar rules in so many areas, similar campus, similar types of staff - none of these things were bad, they just seemed out of place at a college.

As the year kept going, I realized that I could choose to hate it, and drag myself reluctantly through every moment, or I could choose to enjoy it for the time I was there, and pray that soon the chosen enjoyment would become real. Thankfully, I chose the second option, and every week, God makes it a little more for me. The weekends are always a huge blessing, like a little glimmer of starlight through stormy clouds. They are a welcome relief from college stresses and mountains of homework, especially the Sabbath. I honestly do not think I will ever appreciate the Sabbath enough. Every time I think that I have reached the epitome of pure gratefulness for the Sabbath, another beautiful one comes again and surprises me with its indispensability.

Anyways, as this Sabbath wraps up, I just wanted to let you all know what has been happening to me, and how much God has been leading me, in distinctively different ways than ever before. I am truly blessed by everything that He's done for me, and I hope that you realize you are too! :)

Sincerely,
Fellow Blogger returning from vacation