Week One.

Last week was a week of firsts...

I had my first night in my house by myself.

I had my first week of living with friends as roommates.

I had my first week as a junior in college.

I had my first week back at work in two months.

I had my first night back at biblestudy since we broke for the summer.

Ok so they weren't huge firsts...but it was a week of getting back into the groove. And I'll be honest, I wasn't so joyful about it. Almost everyday I had to get up earlier than I expected, to meet a maintenance man or have blood work done (two of my MOST favorite things!). But it wasn't all bad. Really, it wasn't!!

Even though it's only been a week, I can say that I am a huge fan of living off campus with friends rather than on campus with acquaintances. Not that my on campus experience was bad. My roommates were not bad, we just never really developed a friendship. So we never shared meals together or just hung out. But I am thrilled to say that my new roommates are awesome. Our schedules are crazy and don't really match, but the few nights we're home together we did share meals and hang out in the living room watching trashy tv. It's just a totally different experience and I am so thankful for it!

An then theres that lovely thing called school, yes this week was the first week back. My classes, though I like most of them, are going to be incredibly demanding this semester. After Monday's classes I was thinking it wasn't gonna be too bad of a semester. But then Tuesday came and lets just say I was a little overwhelmed when I got my remaining three classes syllabi. And when I say a little, I mean a lot. Considering I chose to take three upper level history classes I should have seen this coming. Anyhoo, I'm gonna take it as a challenge and do the very best I can do. Even though there seems to be an unimaginable amount of reading to do this semester, I think I learn more when I'm more challenged. So we shall see.

Speaking of all that reading, I need to do a bit before I get to bed. But this week, my challenge to myself is to delight in it all. To find the silver lining and be joyful. Even when I'm up too early, or overwhelmed by my workload, I can be joyful because the Lord is faithful, always good and he's always looking out for me. And if that's not enough to be joyful about then I don't know what is.

Goodbye

The time has come to say goodbye to yet another summer. This was a great one, probably one of the best. I got to spend the whole time with my family and got to visit some of my very best friends.

Since I love lists I'm gonna make a list of my favorite memories this summer...

1. I went skydiving.

2. My best friend got married and I got to be in her beautiful wedding.

3. I went to Houston with my mom, sister and brother and got to spend a whole week with some of my bestest friends.

4. In that week I watched more scary/thriller movies than I ever have in my life.

5. Spent a month in Israel with my family.

6. Watched season one and two of the Andy Griffith show. [it's THE BEST!]

7. Spent a weekend in the Golan with my whole family, including Suki on a religious moshav.

8. Had an "interesting" dinner that included chicken hearts stuffed with almonds. And yes, I was brave and tasted it.

9. Visited my family in Charlotte. Unfortunately I didn't get to enjoy it as much as I wanted to since I was on the couch most of the weekend sick.

10. Went to Vans Warped Tour with some of my favorite friends and got a picture WITH Relient K. I've only been a fan since I was 13. That was exciting!

11. Experienced a screamo concert at Warped Tour for the first and last time. Lets just say, now I am certain thats not the kind of music I enjoy listening to. If you're curious just youtube "I set my friends on fire."

12. Spent a week at the Dock house with all of my favorites. It was a reunion and it was the BEST!

13. Painted my new room green.

14. Ran in the rain on River Street.

15. Spent countless hours at the house cleaning/moving/painting/working/unpacking...[and a HUGE thank you to all who helped out! you know who you are!!]

So that was my summer in a list more or less.

It was not so much the places I went or the thing I did but the people I did them with. My family and friends are the best. I have been so blessed to have spent time with them this summer.

Anyhoo now its back to real life. School, work, school, work. But I'm excited. Not so much to get back to the grind, but excited to see what God's got in store for me this semester. I'm going to choose to be joyful and choose to make the most of this semester. It's gonna be good!

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near..I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength.

Philippians 4:4-5,12-13