If these don't make your day, nothing will

Hey all...

So I wanted to share some pics of my most recent experiences. It seems that all the sudden my life is full of kids! Friday night we went to the Booseum and got to do science experiments and a costume contest with all the kids. These guys absolutely cracked me up...especially the little boy who freaked out when we showed him the "ooblick" aka monster slime. :)

This power ranger really got into it...gotta love the fake muscles...

And many of them loved the volcano project...baking soda and vinegar were never put to better use!

awww!! I want one!! (just not for a little while...) :)

There has to be a witty caption for this somewhere...but I know I won't do it justice if I try...

And the prize goes to... well, he didn't get the real prize, but in my mind there was really no competition... Continuing with the theme, for the next day or two our old friends the Traums, with their 7, 2, and six month old daughters, are here. This makes our house the biggest anti study zone in the world, but it's all good. ....last night I was carving partner with the two year old. Together we created a pumpkin Piccasso would be proud of. So much fun. Hope these made you smile!

It's been a little while since I've done much babysitting, but the last time I did I for some reason had my camera. Since then these post card shots have made my day many times.


Ever have one of those times in your life when you feel like you're really supposed to be getting the point because God keeps bringing the same thing to your attention. Well...it's happening to me through these little kidlets. Something about their innocence...their amazing joy...their facination with life...their honesty. Something about the way they put their trust in you when they run to you for a hug or to be held. Something about the way that they mimick and immitate your every move. Something about the fact that everything they have is little, but they give it all...and sometimes that is worth more than all the paritial, two faced, uninterested, bored "grown ups" in the world.

Little hands, little hearts, little smiles. For all of these and the lessons they have taught me recently...praise the Lord.

TGIF

Hey y'all...

This week has flown (fine by me) and suddenly it's Friday afternoon and I'm staring at the weekend again...the last one in October. Can you believe it?

Thank goodness this week slowed down a bit. After all of the flurry last weekend and the stress of pre-fall break tests, it has been a welcome relief to find the monotony of normal class periods, short homework assignments, and the never ending ebb and flow of college existence. I find more and more that I'm loosing touch with individual moments for the feeling of just being carried along by it all and affected by the whole. Ok I guess...but I like specific moments too. Hmmm....

This weekend is FULL!! And fun too...Tonight I head to the "Booseum" at the children's Museum with a few of my buddies. We will be helping out wherever needed...painting faces, helping sticky-fingered kids make treats and crafts, sporting costumes, probaby playing in the museum some too! :) Then mom wants me to help her get started on a quilting project and I think we'll pop in a movie. Something about green tomatoes...I'll let you know. Tomorrow we clean for the arrival of our old friends the Traums, who will be here Sun and Mon...and I work, Sunday the choirs have their fall concert. Good times.

Looking ahead is always a bit intimidating, but somehow around this year I get way pumped to do so. Vespers, turkey day, finals, snow and coldness, christmas caroling, presents, and a month of break. What am I talking about...the leaves haven't fallen and I'm only a week out of fall break! Oh wells...

Wish I had something more interesting to say...but I don't...so there. Hope y'all have a great weekend...blessings and prayers~

just a few glimpses from my leaf walk the other day...fall is awesome and I'm loving every second of it. Enjoy...have a great week...

Probably

In the past 10 days....

~I have probably learned how to drive a golf cart both in drive and reverse (and I've learned how to plug it in to charge) I have also probably driven it at 2 am under a full moon
~I have probably spent a fair amount of time "working the farm" and toting water buckets, lost cats, food for the swans, and mail from here to all the ends of creation
~I have probably chased two runaway dogs for 45 minutes around the pond in the backyard...in my PJ's...and I have probably attracted most of the really annoying sticky seeds in these woods on my pants in the process
~I have probably chased the dog the size of a horse out of the pond twice...and bathed him later
~I have probably watched "Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants" twice
~I have probably spent the week with a variety of awesome people and enjoyed the awesome house in a ton of ways
~I have probably had a pie war with Ryan Jackson
~I have probably been reunited with a ton of my friends from the college world and undergone the surreal experience with each of realizing that they are not the only ones who have changed a lot in the past two months
~I have probably experienced the worst test of my life...ever...chemistry is not my strength
~I have proabably spent some rockin time with my sis again and gotten some good talk time in
~I have probably completed my "independence fix" to hold me for a little while....good stuff

Some of you know that most of these are true....and most of you know that some of these are true...but ALL of you don't know for a fact that ALL of these are true....so I figure I'm safe. Blessings on your week....

Sometimes college cracks me up....

So I wanted to let you know about all the productive things that are going on in my life, the indescribable knowledge that has been granted to me over the past few weeks...I mean, wow...it's been reallly incredible:

~On Thursday we had a Bio lab on Cricket grooming methods. Basically we got a partner, 5 crickets, a bag of cornstarch, several observation methods, and 2 hours. We were to dust the crickets (and I quote from the lab assignment...) "Shake and bake style" and watch them clean themselves, recording the data in various ways. At one point I took a moment to relieve my cramped neck while my less than cooperative cricket groomed it's left antennae for the fifth time and I was reduced to a fit of laughter after seeing 6 pairs of eager college freshmen crouched around a plastic cage, armed with pencils and stop watches, and observing some very white and disgruntled crickets. It was quite a show.

~Chem is throwing me for a loop, and today in class we spent a good 10 minutes arguing in small groups about whether a percent of ionization of a compound was the entire percent of all the molecules or only the percent of each individual atom. And the funny thing is that I understood it about as well as you just did.

~In vocal jazz we are learning the ins and outs of "shooby do-oping"...yes, there acutally is a style that has to be followed for that crazy 50's music that sounds like all the singers have amnesia and can't remember the words! :)

~Our Seminar class is in the middle of a big group project in which we are planning an activity night for 3-5 year olds at the Children's Museum. This involves everything from reading crazy stories to playing with playdough and koolaid. The theme is colors, and its gonna be a blast. We also get class credit for helping with the "Booseum" near halloween. I love little kids!!

~On Monday we went to see the fireworks at the opening ceremony for Homecoming. No wonder our student activities fee is so much...it was an awesome show! It was hillarious hearing all the kids react to them, such as the girl standing behind us who yelled out "purple!!" every time she saw that color. Got to love the academic excellence here.

~Friday night there was a huge bonfire at a guy's house who goes to Intervarsity. It was classic, and hardly altered at all from any bonfire I've been to since I was in high school. We sang Veggie tales on the hay rack ride, the boys played with the fire (and one got a hole burnt in his shoe), we threatened to play cubby bunnies but never got around to it, we went and laid in a ditch along a country road and looked for shooting stars, we got scared coming back in the dark and I somehow ended up in a hole in the ground. Good times...I guess the lesson there is don't go walking in the dark in the country. :)

~Today I met a random stranger on the pathway on my way to class and he said hi and I asked how his day was. He told me he was tired, but that that was a prerequisite for a day of college....ah....I tend to agree. The other night I got out of the shower and did not discover until I was partially dressed that I still had shampoo in my hair. Perhaps I need to sign up for napping 101 before next sememster fills up...

Sorry for the complete lack of organization...love you all and can't wait to see those of you who decide to come home in the near future! Oh, and for those of you who leave comments (yes, all two of you...) sorry for the word verification, but these spam comments are getting rediculous...so you get to do more work rather than me get excited that someone loves me only to find out that "iheartyou" has a new online dating service. Hope you don't mind

Blessings~

Lost...

I am not yours, not lost in you,

Not lost, although I long to be

Lost as a candle lit at noon,

Lost as a snowflake in the sea.

You love me, and I find you still

A spirit beautiful and bright,

Yet I am I, who long to be

Lost as a light is lost in light.

Oh plunge me deep in love - put out

My senses, leave me deaf and blind,

Swept by the tempest of your love,

A taper in a rushing wind.

Sarah Teasdale

"Creatures are not born with desires unless a satsifaction exists. If life leaves me with a longing that no experience satisfies, then I must realize that I was made for another world" C.S Lewis

Carry on in hope and faith...blessings

perfect...

Today is one of those perfect days. Everything on campus is either blue like the cloudless sky, green like the grass that is not yet dead, or red like all of the brick buildings around campus. Gorgeous! We also have crisp breezes and a ton of sunshine...I'm loving my sweatshirt, and loving fall even more!

I've got choir this afternoon and that's always fun. I've also joined the women's vocal jazz group on campus...we are already making some great sounds (50's cheesy hip hop and "I could wish you" from Guys and Dolls...such tight harmonies, such good music!) ...there are three of these groups this year and we are looking forward to putting on a jazz night and collaborating all three and maybe the jazz band. FUN STUFF...music is awesome because it can be enjoyed and stretched in so many ways. It's kind of amazing really that you can call the racous percussion group we saw during first week and a symphony "music."

The final aspect of perfection in my life recently is that I'm living with Laura Cos this week because her family is in San Fran....It's almost like getting a roommate, only we have a whole house and plenty of food and space to study and/or cause trouble, and no parents to stop us. Yesterday I ended up with a very wet shirt while doing the dishes and we watched a fun movie, tried to help each other come up with vocabulary for our assorted papers and compared notes on psyco teachers....oh, and stayed up way to late. Fun! I've also been getting a daily fix with "diary of a wombat" which she so graciously gave to me. That made me a happy girl. Anyway, tonight we're having a night out and going to Ruby Tuesdays even though we will probably end up paying for it with another late study night. Oh well...might as well live life, right?

And so, somehow, this week jam packed with tests and papers has come to a surpisingly positive light. One test down and not too painful, the papers, although certainly not written are well in hand and finally getting a direction, and despite the looming jam packed weekend I am determined to get things done. The joy of the Lord is powerful indeed...lean hard into him when the going gets tough and use your life as a praise offering!! Wishing you a day that's as close to perfect as we'll get here on earth...peace to you all

a thought for all you developing geniuses....

hi all...synopsis of my weekend:
-studying
-eating
-sleeping a little
-studying
-doing casey's hair for homecoming
-studying
-wishing I remembered to buy that ugly yellow parka to zip casey up in before she left (she was absolutely goreous...as usual...)
-studying
-sleeping less than a little
-church
-studying
-working out
-talking to you....

in the midst of a crazy amount of reading this weekend I came across a quote that made me think...

"One cannot be creative without learning what others know, but then one cannot be creative without becoming dissatisfied with that knowledge and rejecting it (or some part of it) for a better way."

....just a thought as you all journey through this sponge-filling experience we like to call school. This week "learning what they know" means two quizzes and my first two tests (bio and chem) a scientific research paper, an english paper, and probably the other classes won't just be idle...oh boy...prayers are appreciated. Love you all but must to-bed now. Blessings on your week.

Introductions!!

Everyone, meet Emily, Jess, and Holly. Emily, Jess, and Holly, meet everyone. These are my buddies who have started going to Riverside from Millikin. Emily is a freshman Music Ed major and in choir with me. Jess of course went to Riverside way before me, but we have gotten to know eachother way better through intervaristy and getting the church group off the ground. She cracks me up majorly...as you can tell. This morning I was super tired and she started talking baby talk to me. It was classic. Holly is also a music major, she's a sophmore, and in my dad's choir...going to his church freaks her out a wee bit, but she'll get over it. She has a gorgeous voice. So, this weekend I didn't do much it seems but it has flown by. More soccer moming it, TJ had a double header and that was fun. While I carted him the rest of the family did the yard sale (and no, Heather didn't break her arm). Then we cleaned out the garage and cleaned out the house because we have a director from England staying here for the next few days...that should be great fun! Last night we went to Cassies for a girls night and had some fun picking out senior pic clothes, and playing tripoly, and generally making fun of Laura (who in all her brilliance has a few priceless blonde moments...) It was pretty fun. I am bushed and looking forward to an evening of R+R. Hope you find some yourself! Well, time to go, blessings on you all...

it's coming....

so I'm sitting here on this cool Friday afternoon at the coffee shop, trying to study for chemistry but much more successful at watching everyone walk by. It has been rainy and chilly for two days and yesterday I saw the first real reds on a maple tree by our house. It's official...fall is definitely on the way. YES!!!!!!!

Have a great weekend...

Tuesday...

Slept...
slept...
ate grass...
took a nap...
ate grass...
Decided grass was boring, went to look for some better food...
slept...

If only I were a wombat...

soccer moms, jones soda, Jerehmiah, and badminton...

random titles are my favorite part of these things...I mean where else can you come up with a list and stick them all together like they fit? Love that...

Today was bizzare...since mom and dad's lives were both dominated by choirs of various kinds I got to be a soccer mom for the day....toting TJ and casey to choir auditions, soccer games, and a birthday party. Good stuff. Also got to chill with casey and play tetris. she whooped me as normal...nice to know that not everything changes when you go to college.

Tonight we had a social for people from college world at the Johnsons...hoping to get a college group started at Riverside in the near future. It's odd to spend so much of your time in a tight knit youth group and then have to start a new group as a freshman...all new people...same needs. Interesting. Anyway, we had 10 or 12 people there, not bad for the first night...and several of the girls are coming to Riverside tomorrow. We played cards, a great game of badminton, and then watched the universal "youth hang out and laugh" movie...yep, Napoleon again. I think the first time was enough... oh, and the verdict on the green apple jones soda is that it gives me a tummy ache. :(

It's been a struggle trying to connect with people on campus...especially now that classes have started and people are getting tunnel visioned. But I am determined to stay dedicated. One of the girls I've started to get to know plays volleyball and went to Christ Lutheran in Buckley, one of the schools DCS played. Anyway, she lost her brother in a car wreck a year ago tomorrow....I am so thankful that she's able to go home and be with her family this weekend. I can't imagine being on a campus in her shoes. Being around her is a constant reminder to be greatful for every moment...and on the lookout for people who need an encouraging smile or a hand up. ...there are so many hurting people at Millikin...many of whom have no hope.

Jeremiah was an interesting dude...he had this amazing message for the people, but he questioned God a lot about whether or not he was to carry the burden. Among his complaints about the struggles, God keeps sending him prophesy so irresistable that he can't help but write them down right amidst his griping:

"If you repent, I will restore you that you may serve me;
if you utter worthy, not worthless, words, you will be my spokesman.
Let this people turn to you, but you must not turn to them.
I will make you a wall to this people, a fortified wall of bronze;
They will fight against you but will not overcome you,
For I am with you to rescue and save you" Jer. 15:19-20

Love you all and am praying for you---blessings...

Labor Day??

I'm not sure who it is that labors on this weekend, but I can tell you that it wasn't me. I had a great weekend of relaxing and ignoring my homework. I've decided that living at home presents you with tons of reasons NOT to study. Oh well...

Friday, casey got duded up in her regalia to go march at the football game. Dude, she looks hot in overalls and a plume... (the funny thing is that you think I'm kidding!). It was fun to finally see the band...she did great although the team struggled mightily.

That night we headed to Faith where we had a lock in. Got all our wrists tied together and were forced to eat pizza...that of course ended in a food fight that Zach won :( ...pizza somehow loses its appeal when it's smeared all over your face. But it was pretty fun. We also played with balloons, crate paper, and funnoodles...as well as Dance, Dance Revolution, super weird comedy videos, and murder in the house. A couple of the college kids were home and it was great fun to see them. Even went to IHOP and tried to order at like 6 in the morning. I'm sure that waitress thought we were all stoned. Tee Hee!

Saturday, after a good nap, we went out on the boat with the Cos parents (who were without children for the day) and Annie K and her roomates. they are SWEET girls, and we had a great time screaming our heads off. I even got to drive the boat!! That night Casey and I watch Anne of Green Gables...Sunday Anne of Avonlea, two of my favorite movies. Monday we went to the parade for our yearly quotient of tootsie rolls and dum-dums. ...and we also saw the band march there again. One cute, tall, slender flute player was especially attractive.....Monday night we spent at the Webers, eating and talking and playing games. Good times.

So, you can imagine that this morning came as a bit of a shock...I'm not quite ready to be back at it...but I can't complain too much since I still LOVE my classes and am not quite swamped with homework. Thanks Lord. Hope you all are doing well...blessings on your labor, or lack thereof.

new light on an old lesson...

I know this is one of the most well known verses in the bilble...but it hit me like a ton of bricks yesterday...thought some of you might appreciate it... "For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance...will come from another place, but you and your father's family will perish. And who knows but that you have come...for such a time as this?" Esther 4:14 God's plan will not be stopped by our unwilliness to surrender to it. Instead, it is our job to decide whether we will be the ones to carry his great loving plan. ....carry on...

update from scovil hall...

so I'm sitting here in the new business school, taking advantage of the wireless access and digesting the sandwich I just had (first nourishment all day...feels good!!). I started classes this morning, which was really good...I was well ready to get out of "summer camp" mode and into a routine, however rigorous it may turn out to be. I'm excited about the teachers I've had so far...one is older, totally off the wall, and a really fun person (she wears shorts and hawaiian shirts and often dramatically gestures or hops around the room). The other is a petite, younger woman, who seems to be very intelligent, kind, and interesting...and not a bit pathetic either. She may be about 5"1' but she won't let anyone slide. my enter key, I just discovered, doesn't want to work, so bear with the long paragraph. Anyway, I'm a bit overwhelmed after looking at the syllabuses (is that a word??) but excited about the depth of the class, and my classmates. My honors seminar is going to be great. Tomorrow I have both of my science classes, which should be interesting. And I'm in the process of being put into a choir...which I can't wait for. I'm enjoying this so far...good stuff. well, it's time to head out and do some more reading. Hope that your day is great!! later

a praise....

i met a girl.
her name is Lauren
and last night during a really crass movie we started talking...
turns out she's a christian
just recently recomitted her life to christ and started reading the bible
and is looking for a church

needless to say, Riverside will have it's first visitor on Sunday
and I am jazzed beyond all belief
thanks for the prayers
there must be more seekers out there

love to you all...

The little things...

It's the little things in life that make it the best

*babysitting for 6 kids on a great summer night...helping the littlest boy on his art skills via the magnetized drawing board, keeping the baby in the grass and away from the older kid's bikes, and judging the driveway races from the sidelines (and giving a talk on "winning isn't everything" to the middle siblings)

*getting your teeth cleaned (especially when they squirt that little thin stream of water over your teeth right after they are polished. I like that part the best)

*listening to your little brother sleeping over with a friend in a tent on the deck

*watching the sun rise through the hospital window...and knowing it's the last time I'll do it, perhaps for a very long time. :)

*Listening from the hallway to the little old men that were my patients on Monday talking about my "future plans." I especially liked the part where the 85 year old declared that I will never get to do what I planned because I will meet a boy and "that will change everything."

I enjoyed these and other "little somethings" this week and maybe that's what made today seem so BIG!! I went to Millikin for the first time tonight...it was move in day but we went for dinner tonight and met a few people there...then had a motivational speaker of sorts who talked us through time management and internships (I didn't quite understand the last part). That was OK I guess. Mary and Angie came here during dorm floor meetings and we played with my new technology, which has me a little confused. (tonight I locked my phone and couldn't get it undone...not to mention the fact that the password I thought I entered for my voice mail doesn't work. Guess I'd better call them tomorrow...tee hee!) Then we went back to the Student Union for Karaoke and pizza...that was really loud and crowded, but we met a few more people and I got to talk to my small group leader, which was good. she's a bio major and very helpful.

It's weird to have a class that is 6 times the size of my whole high school and has so many different kinds of people. Tonight I got a kick out of just sitting and watching everyone. The athletes are interesting, there are punks, there are clean cut guys, there are girls who have never been taught the difference between underwear and a shirt. poor things. there are outgoing people who made it a point to introduce themselves to everyone. There are shy ones that stand in little groups in the corner (we met several of them...they are easier to approach than the others somehow) and there are people that look pretty normal. Funny how I say normal, when there really isn't such thing. I guess that's what struck me the most tonight. Individuality and uniqueness has never seemed so obvious...and something that I don't notice very often. Perhaps that's a fault of christians, that we surround ourselves with people that are exactly the same as us. just a thought.... It's cool...and exciting...and scary. My only regret is that I'm afraid it will be a little difficult to break in since I don't have a dorm floor to call home on campus...but we'll be doing lots of activities in the next few days to get us aquainted, so hopefully we'll get to spend some time with lots of new people. In the meantime I aim to find some little things on campus to enjoy....and hopefully some new friends who can enjoy them too.

Peace...

t-3 seconds and counting

Greetings all-

Well...it's the last weekend before school starts and so I thought I should write something...not sure what yet, but it will evolve as always I hope.

Gosh, the last week has totally flown by...my schedule became so packed that I'm lucky that in all the time I didn't drive to the wrong city, lock my keys in my car, or fall asleep in the middle of some random building (I did leave by gas cap at the station...but that's not TOTALLY eccentric, is it??). Craziness! I had a great time though, seeing everyone off...getting in on 4 different packing sessions with my friends (family dynamics are always heightened during these times...it can be pretty funny...), and lots of parties to say goodbye for "the last time." We spent more time recording, went to Kim's for a night, went out on the boat for the last time, had a church picnic, and generally made the most of every waking second. Thursday night we had a few of the church families over to our house for some ice cream and a goodbye for Jackie and Andrew. I felt that it was a little unfair that I had to say goodbye to both of them in the same night. They have made this year so fun in so many different ways...it's hard to imagine school without them. However, if we are going to introduce the rest of the world to our craziness (which we spent the last 4 years perfecting) we will have to split up some time I suppose. Love you guys tons.

I've been doing a lot of reading and shopping trying to get all ready for school myself. Last night I went to spend some time with Zach and Tina before Zach left this morning, which was fun. And tonight and tomorrow I work again for the last time (no more 12 hour night shifts!!)

This time next week I will be fully emersed in the "college world" and trying to keep my head above water and perhaps even make a difference there. Prayers are appreciated...peace to you all!

The Good Times....

wow...there have been so many of them lately. Cramming in every last minute with my friends has caused me to resemble a chicken with no head lately...but that's not a problem. We had a great family night with the Costerisans on Friday...the WHOLE family, including Annie, which was odd but so much fun. She's about the only girl in the world who could sweeten that barrel any more. Aaron, you did good. :)

Saturday we practiced for our quartet...which was fun cause only 3 of us could make it. No problem though, Andrew can play the drum, pluck out a bass part, and sing all at the same time! Saturday night I headed to Texas Roadhouse with Matt, Zach, and Tina...we had fun eating way to many rolls with cinnamon honey butter and steaks. Yeah fun! Then we went to vernons were a whole slew of people were waiting for Matt...to wish him well and give him some goofy presents. We had a blast, a good time of prayer for the departing college students, some great food, and a long game of mafia. Once the gang had fizzled slightly the foursome sat back down because Zach and Matt decided that this once they could beat tina and I (the lengendary, telepathic team) in spades. They put up a good fight but they both suffer from ADD I think and we ended up beating them in the latest game of spades I've ever played. In fact, once we prayed once more I just beat 2 am home. Yikes! It was tough to say goodbye to my good buddy Matt and realize that he is just the first of several tough farewells this week. But then again, he's jazzed, and I know that he won't completely change before I see him again.

Sunday morning the quartet worked hard to pull the song together and we had fun singing it on Jackie and Andrew's last sunday before they depart. Good times...we've spent so much of this year singing together, it was a fitting way to end...and an awesome song too! I also got to chat with Jessica from RBC who is going to be a sophmore at Millikin about how we can draw some students to the church. Her attitude got me excited about the possibilities...and about the potential friend I have in her. After evening service we went to DQ with Jacks, the Bosticks, the Costerisans, and their missionary cousins (very cool people) ...that was fun. Then we had a movie night and helped Jackie keep her head on straight during her packing. This morning my mom woke me at noon to remind me that I had an 11 am lunch date with Heather. Sorry sweetie!! We had a good time with what we had left though. Then tonight TJ, my (amazingly!) 11 year old brother, had a birthday party at the bowling alley. Right now he and his best friend are camped in a tent on the deck and probably having more fun that I can imagine. I love that kid...he is so cute. ...and I hope he'll keep his air soft gun away from me! :)

The rest of this week is already almost booked with recording, church stuff, get togethers, sorting out finances, buying books, and more cleaning. ...that last one is probably my favorite.

I watched a toon on homestarruner called "bug in mouth disease" on saturday night. Homestar swallows a bug and runs around, frantically dramatic, yelling "THE GOOD TIMES ARE OVER STRONGBAD!!" for the whole show. When he finally rids himself of the problem he goes back to normal life like nothing ever happens. I realized between Matt's laughter that I may have had some of the same behavior lately...frantically grasping at each "last time" and dreading the day when I have to say goodbye to the awesome highschool years I had. I'm sorry for being so annoying, for anyone who happens to read this. ...I'm going to try harder. God's really been working on me to see the potential he has for me to fill in the FUTURE, not the past. Tough lesson to learn for me, but there are people who need me, people who I need, and work to be done around that corner that I can't see. Faith...I need some. the good news is that despite the hard times that will come, the good times are far from over.

To those of you who have or will be moving on this week...I love you all and will miss you dearly. Let me know about your times, good or otherwise, so that we can make more when you come back. Blessings on you as you embark on new journeys.

"We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers; fondly remembering your work prompted by faith, your labor produced by love, and your perseverance inspired by hope in our lord Jesus Christ, and in the sight of God the Father"
1 Thes. 1:2-3