A Season for Remembering

This season is for remembering. Christmastime is often a time where we reflect before New Year's. I've found myself revisiting favorite tv serial over Netflix, the view of a sunny day shining on recently rained on grass, the comforts of familiar food and cherished friendship.

It's really easy to fall into a rhythm--before you take a chance to question this, I mean routine. Being away from home has caused me to be more day-oriented, which leaves me to fill every empty day with some sort of activity. Any free time basically consists of catching up on sleep or going on a short run. Coming home has basically unwound that, haha.

Going out has become less of for me, which in someways is good. The times I do go out and spend money, etcetera becomes time that is meaningful. It's somewhat freeing not having a job during break and allows me more time to expand my time on

1. reading
2. discovering new music
3. creative expression: painting, writing, photography

all which feels more fulfilling when done in the house you grew up your entire childhood in.

After having dropped my English major for a Youth Ministry major and Psychology minor, I've grown to a greater appreciation for leisure reading (or maybe since I have more time for it now on break). After reading The Great Gatsby in lit class and finding a great love for my Gen Psych class, I've grown in the direction of reading books that incorporate psychological aspects such as: PTSD from war, a search for fulfilling need, and who knows what else is to come? 

(written on Christmas Eve but I forgot to post it)

Rise and Shine, it's Christmas Break!

Today is among one of the first days of Christmas break that I've been home for this year.
I've found myself saying the phrase "I'm thankful..." repeatedly the past few months and that's been something that's been giving me joy lately.

I'm so glad to have returned to home as it has been hard being away and being concerned about the drought and storm warnings I've been hearing about from school.

This semester, God has been very clear in teaching me about His love and grace, especially shown through the body of Christ. Through my studies and homesickness, and  I have been met by encouragement. This semester has been a difficult one as every segment of time has its own up and downs. I am still looking for a home church, but I think once next semester starts, I have a direction to move toward. There's a church that's needs help with their youth group and I hope to be respondent to that opportunity, which is definitely a stretch for me, but could be a great way to get engaged in their church. Hopefully, good will come out of that.

This break for me will be refreshing. It will be full of blank canvases, soon to be filled with color,
a reading list with all its items checked off, drawing in the sight of what's left of autumn I did not see.
This break will not be a looking-into-the past, but looking forward to what a better day it will be.
I know I will return full, because here is my home, though there is also.
Yet here is a place with history, tomorrow's lurking mystery passed down from yesterday's change.
How good it is to write again, something that is not a research paper, that doesn't have a rubric..
There will be more.
I am home. This feels free.

I am not about to put down a cup of coffee (of which I don't drink).
As I retreat to bed and slip under my covers,
I do not worry about whether a cold day would come or a warm one,
Que sera sera, I know whatever "will be, will be"

As long as I'm home for Christmas,
because every year leading up to this I have promised with the song: "I'll be Home for Christmas",
my only wish has become a dream come true.

A Whirlwind of Seasons

Hey everyone,
It's been a long time since I wrote last and a lot has happened since. As there are many changes in the weather, that may cause us to question what season we're in, there has been many ups and downs since I have been here.

A big thing I have learned this semester is to trusting the Lord with your all doesn't come easy and you might come out of it still not understanding why things are the way they are. And I think the simple answer that we have to accept is "that's right/best for now". Life isn't consistent and everything has its perfect time. Certain friendships were only meant to last so long, and you find out with time what does and doesn't work for you.

About two weeks ago, I changed my focus of studies. Prayerfully, I have decided to be a youth ministry major and pursue a psychology minor in addition to my required Bible major. This adjustment has been a fun one through the advisor/advisee chapels we've had. Yesterday classes were cancelled for Prayer Day and our major went out to Moe's Mexican Grill. It was so good, in means of food and company. I ordered a Funkmeister taco which had: black beans, chicken, cheese, pico de gallo, lettuce.

I ate this and it was delicious!

I signed up for my spring classes and they are as follows:

CSL is a "course", where I have to perform a certain number of community service hours, that fills my graduation requirement. This spring will be my 3rd semester of it. This fall semester, I have spent my time tutoring low income children in an after school program for K-5th grade (put together by my university) that meets at a church. I have been going weekly with some of my classmates: playing games, helping them do their homework, having snack time and hearing a Bible lesson. Being a part of this program has been both challenging, but also rewarding. It makes me feel privileged to get the education I am and enjoy the youthfulness of the children--seeing them get excited about things, running around everywhere, and the constant curiosity they have that drives them to explore everything.

The photo below is from a photography walk I did with my roommate a few weeks ago.

This tree is located near our admissions building :) So much autumn!

This fall semester has been a very learning experience and has taught me much about the journey God puts us on toward living out His will through establishment of friendships, responsibility to tasks/assignments we may not love, and the blessing of grace He has for us.

I am now home for Christmas, and will update again soon :)