Keep Calm And Write On

Sunday night, I attended a local church for the third time. It is vastly, greatly, humongously different from my old church back home...but I love it still. Being new, I don't know many people at this church, but that's okay. that will come in time. After the announcements, we sang a few psalms. Not hymns, not contemporary music. Straight psalms, What used to seem odd to me is now beautiful, a coming together of many voices, praising our God with the very words he gave us. There's a simple solemnity about it all, a breath of fresh air, really. I'm suddenly struck with the privilege of it all. Every day, across the world, people lose their lives because of the words we sing in church. The gospel. They lose their lives for daring to believe the truth. This hurts me. It fills me with a sense of determination. Something must be done! What can be done? I don't know. I guess for now, it starts with wholly applying myself to worship, not taking for granted the priv

Today... I had fitness class (RIP precious knee cartilage. RIP) I discovered the wonders of being able to print wirelessly from anywhere on campus. This is a glorious thing, my friends. And right now, I'm eating lunch and attempting to work on an assignment that's due tomorrow, but I'm stuck. I'm supposed to write five elements about my culture and describe them. What are the things that surround me? what has shaped me into who I am. my faith, of course. Family, ditto. But what else? Perspective. I've seen enough of life to know that it can change in an instant, and so we try to be thankful for everything, and not sweat the small things. Work ethic, persistence, stick-to-it-iveness. It goes by many names. Determination. My parents very rarely look on something as a hopeless situation. There's always something we can do. There's always a bright side, something to be thankful for. Creativity. It's always been encouraged in my family. Drawing

College so far has been mostly a blur of meeting new people, attending classes, and studying, ALWAYS studying. And working. Almost, but not quite, to the exclusion of all else. All in all though, I feel that it's going pretty well, so far. As long as I remember to give myself grace. Grace for feeling peopled-out, allowing myself to hole up in my room and do what needs done, instead of forcing myself to interact with people. Encouraging myself...to meet new people when I can. To find this life-balance that is so coveted and so rare. Worrying...about classes, And grades. And clearances and tests. But also doing fun things, like spelling bees and sidewalk chalk art contests. (third place, thank you very much) Trying...to have a good attitude, and to be grateful, and to take full advantage of all the opportunities offered to me. Trying to balance studiousness with "the college experience", and pushing myself every day, socially, mentally, academically. I look ar

Ahh...September. You've brought so many new things to me. You kind of blended right into August, If I can be honest. I can hardly believe it's time to do one of these again. So here goes. Currently.. listening. ..to my very, very eclectic version of a playlist,  featuring The Waiting, The Afters, Brandon Heath, Blondie, The Clash, and The Bangles, All Things New and Matthew West. planning ...the rest of today, and tomorrow. And trying to leave the rest in the hands of my Savior. celebrating ...A good grade that I in no way expected. recovering ...from the first speech of my college career. I feel accomplished. And exhausted. procrastinating... LAUNDRY. 'nuff said. Not sure how one person makes so much...maybe it has something to do with the fact that I walk a minimum of three miles a day and change my clothes about as often as a pageant girl because THE WEATHER THOUGH. trying... trying to be brave. Courageous. If I had known what I was getting into when