Back in Waco

back to school, back to school, to prove to dad i'm not a fool ...

- adam sandler

Yesterday I had my last first day of college ... crazy, eh? I can't believe how quickly the last three years have gone, and I know that this year is going to rocket by as well. Here are some thoughts on the last week or so...

- My best friend is the bomb. Lindsay visited for close to a week ... it was great to have someone who understands me so intimately come and hang with me in the midst of refocusing for school. And she helped me decorate. And she made me laugh a lot. And she made me think a lot. And she gave me this horrible rug burn on my elbow. 

- I love how God puts people in my life exactly when I need them! My friend Matt worked for a ministry much like AIM in Houston this summer, and I have spent quite a bit of time talking to him in the last few days. It is amazing to talk with someone who understands how I feel about ministry, about Baylor and about life! And my brutal experience with transitioning last year has allowed me to offer some perspective for him as well ... it is awesome. And the most amazing part is that he is the new director for the Steppin' Out steering committe (a position I held last year) -- clearly God is rapturing students for his Kingdom and then placing them in positions of leadership. I am excited to see the Lord dream through Matt and move through Steppin' Out!

- I am pumped about my new job! I am the intern for community service, a position which has never existed before. But my boss Marianne has the most amazing dreams for ways to expand service learning at Baylor, and I get to be a part of the realization of those dreams! Get pumped!

- The Bible is awesome ... there were several times today that the Lord brought scripture to my mind, and it spoke right to my heart. Best book ever.

- When I got back to Baylor at the end of last summer, I lost stuff ALL THE TIME ... like my planner, my glasses, etc. Apparently that is a trend ... I have lost my phone twice already, an important receipt and my ipod. Lame. But it is also really sweet ... my money is an aspect of my life that doesn't reflect a commitment to the Lord, but He is calling me into financial faithfulness. He is forcing me to hold my possessions in an open hand in order to remind me that (1) they don't even really belong to me, but to Him (2) that they aren't as important as I think they are and (3) that He gives and takes away. Good lessons.

- My motto for this semester: Choose to be blessed and not stressed by circumstances. I have so much on my plate (all of it is really awesome, though), that I am choosing to surrender my attitude and allow His joy to pervade my life. 

- My classes are sweet!

• Oxford Christians --> we get to study some of the greatest Christian writers ever -- Tolkien, Lewis, Sayers, Chesterton, etc. My professor is amazing... I had him for a class my sophomore year, and I was so blessed by him! 
  
• Creative writing --> I am pretty good at cranking out an academic paper, so I am excited about a new challenge in writing and the chance to explore my creativity in a new way!
• Christian Missions --> pretty self explanatory amazingness ... plus, my professor is supposed to be great. She was the only female professor in the Religion department for a really long time, and my thesis advisor told me that I would be empowered by her. So get excited for that!
• Great Texts in Leadership --> as God calls me into more leadership, the more aware I become of how unworthy I am of any such call. I am really excited to explore a lot of classic books, and to learn more about good leadership! Plus, its always fun to hang out with the dorky great texts crowd.
• Ballet --> all those comments back in the day about how I looked like a ballerina are about to be fulfilled! Plus, John is taking it with me :)

I am excited by the ways that God is going to use me and teach me this semester!