If you're reading this, you're invited

Hey y'all...here's how it's going down...On Jan. 2 our buddy Chris (if you don't know him leave this blog...) is going to be in town and I'm having a party at my house. Please come!! By the way, for those of you who have siblings that are Jordans age or just know these cool kids and want to come and hang out...bring them all...anyone's invited. We'll make tacos and nachos...I'd appreciate it if guys could bring some soda and girls some snacks or desserts...also if you need directions just let me know! I hope you all can come...Later!

a thunk for your thinker

CS Lewis and I had a ramble last night after a whole day of studying and he hit me in the forhead as he began talking about how satan gets christians concerned about the wrong things. It seems that very often in the church we are put at odds with each other over trivial errors in the faith and its application. Lewis explains:

"I feel a strong desire to tell you-- and I expect you feel a strong desire to tell me-- which of these two errors is the worse. That is the devil getting at us. He always sends errors into the world in pairs--pairs of opposites. And he always encourages us to spend a lot of time thinking which is the worse. You see why of course? He relies on your extra dislike of the one error to draw you gradually into the opposite one. But do not let us be fooled. We have to keep our eyes on the goal and go straight through between both errors. We have no other concern than that with either of them."

Let your heart chew on that one for a minute, and realize the incredible love of God, who continues to pursue us even though our free will causes us to stray every day. ...Who follows us deep into those crevices, where by backing away from the cliff we are entering a deep, dark cave. He patiently watches us travel horizontally, piously avoiding the worst of two evils, and all the time He is calling us from above, and waiting for us to stop and listen.

Praise be to our Father, who gave his life for us and calls us only to put our feet in His hands.
Blessings,

cliff notes....

VESPERS...amazing...totally surreal...one of those "everyone pull together or stand back and watch it collapse" experiences...ugly red dresses...crazy amounts of practice...draining and totally rewarding week...

PAPERS.....several of them....one about roly-polys that is gonna be about 14 pages long....who does that.....go figure....I'm pretty tired of making up homework that I should have done last week...

FRIENDS...vespers=awesome bonding for the choir kids....much fun and many late night practices and runs to steak and shake....finally found the group that I want to chill with for the rest of the year....mostly music majors...tons of fun....no alchohol needed....holy cow, what a concept...self proclaimed "Jesus people" rock my world....thanks lord....

FINALS....breathing down my neck but not quite here....got to enjoy my grandparents as much as possible before then....wishing that DCS had made me take one final in all of my time there....prayers would be nice.....

CHAPTER6......everytime I see those guys I'm amazed...such an awesome testimony...in your face...good stuff....new christmas songs and a fight with the circut breaker...lots of laughs...hot cocoa...

BED....you mean sleep....as in vertical rest...as in more than last night.....hmm...ok...you convinced me.....

Be still...

Still is something I don't do too often. Stop...listen...sit...meditate...breathe...wonder... These are the things my independent and flurried nature often forget to allow. In the midst of a crazy service sunday, God caught me by the collar and whispered a few important words to me. "Be STILL...and KNOW that I am God. Come to me. Learn to trust by sitting in my lap instead of running ahead and wondering when I'll catch up. Stop inviting the frustration of spinning your wheels. Feel the healing of being effective again. Will you just WAIT??" Yet another beautiful hymn that I missed in my growing up years and have come to appreciate recently...dust off that hymnal if you don't know the tune:

Be still, my soul: the Lord is on thy side.
Bear patiently the cross of grief or pain.
Leave to thy God to order and provide;
In every change, He faithful will remain.
Be still, my soul: thy best, thy heavenly Friend
Through thorny ways leads to a joyful end.

Be still, my soul: thy God doth undertake
To guide the future, as He has the past.
Thy hope, thy confidence let nothing shake;
All now mysterious shall be bright at last.
Be still, my soul: the waves and winds still know
His voice Who ruled them while He dwelt below.

Be still, my soul: the hour is hastening on
When we shall be forever with the Lord.
When disappointment, grief and fear are gone,
Sorrow forgot, love’s purest joys restored.
Be still, my soul: when change and tears are past
All safe and blessèd we shall meet at last.

Be still, my soul: begin the song of praise
On earth, be leaving, to Thy Lord on high;
Acknowledge Him in all thy words and ways,
So shall He view thee with a well pleased eye.
Be still, my soul: the Sun of life divine
Through passing clouds shall but more brightly shine.

May we all learn to invite his peace and calm into our lives, which are not really ours at all. Blessings to you~

the ugly, the bad, and the just plain good...

Holy cow, and greetings all!!

It seems like yesterday that I was prattling away on here in my last entry, and yet somehow more than a week has slipped by. Guess I really am busy over here. Allow me to fill you in:

Let's see...I think I left you the night before our departure for the IV conference in Dekalb. We spent last weekend up there and it was really good. Hard...but good. It was a racial conference for white people. ...yeah, that's what I thought too...what in the world is this about?? But it turned out to be one of the most challenging weekends I've been through for a long time. We always recognize that different ethnicities have connotations projected by the color of their skin, but we very rarely stop to wonder what the connotations attached to ours are. Wow...it's sad guys....it's devestating...it makes me want to puke...puke and then go throw my heart and soul into changing things, one person at a time. We had an awesome 3 days of teaching, prayer, worship, and confession....and came home with a challenge to "stay in pain." There's an interesting thought for you...how are we to keep doing God's work if we are not kept in pain, and reminded thereby that there is a problem? Perhaps this is the whole reason for the suffering that we are promised on our straight and narrow journey.

In contrast to the heavy deep and real subjects we covered in the conference, God sent me a huge blessing...I got to visit with Matt H for a good while and we played some frisbee in the rain (frisbee withdrawl finally curbed...for now...) and an endless game of pool with some other kids from the group. It was so nice to see him again and be encouraged and laugh with an old pal. Thanks bud!! God also granted me a great time with the 3 other millikin girls who attended. These girls are awesome and will keep me focused, lifted up in prayer, and laughing too. :)

Sunday afternoon, after a stuff your face mexican feed (guac and salsa made right at the table...yeah budddy) we headed home and drove onto campus 10 minutes before our first vespers rehersal. That was quite possibly the weirdest experience I've had in a while...but so cool too. It's official...my dad is the best there is...

This week is really a blur that I'm having trouble sorting out at this point. Classes are good for the most part, but each day comes with it's new set of challenges. A discussion that I have to "stand up" in the midst of, an embarassing moment (or 5), a ruined chemistry lab (...oh, it's burnt alright...), a bad grade on a huge paper, a forboding feeling of loneliness that I can't shake. And yet in the midst of things, as classes heat up and the semester presses on I am finding more and more aquaintances that just may become good friends in the future. PATIENCE! ...not too good at that one.

This weekend I attended "The Baker's Wife," our theater department's latest production. I also babysat for 6 hours saturday afternoon and worked at the hospital saturday night. Today was church, lunch, shopping, church choir practice, and then vespers rehersal. aka...I have no voice now... :) We are singing some amazing pieces...and I'm just praying that the incredible message carried in each will somehow penetrate the faces sitting all around me. That's one cool thing about choir music...it's allowed to be blatantly sacred. This is one area where christians have done well in keeping up with the world and producing truth in a form that's both amazing and acccepted by the general public. Anyway, long ways to come...but the dream of finally being in this production during the first week in December just about has me giddy....

This week I'm doing a ton of random stuff...presentation of our roly poly project in bio...Vocal Jazz concert (I am jazzed...no pun intended) Tuesday, huge test Friday, vocal Jury on Saturday morning. ...and, praise the lord, life goes on.

I'd appreciate prayers for:
-my health...I'm stretched and I need good vocal chords this week especially!
-some personal jazz that's been challenging me...self control and peace needed
-strength to minister to those around me...and the determination to keep looking around and seeing the need.

May I leave you with a verse that we were challenged with last weekend. How quickly I forget that none of God's commandments or promises are on my terms. ...from Isaiah 58

For day after day they seek me out; they seem eager to know my ways, as if they were a nation that does what is right...they ask me for decisions and seem eager for God to come near them. "Why have we fasted," they say, " and you have not seen it?? Why have we humbled ourselves and you have not noticed??" Yet on the day fo your fasting, you do as you please, and exploit all your workers. Your fasting ends in quarrels and strife...you cannot fast as you do today and expect your voice to be heard on high....is this not the kind of fasting that I have chosen??...that you share your food with the hungry and provide the poor wanderer with shelter-- when you see the naked to clothe him, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?? THEN your light will break forth like the dawn and your healing will quickly appear...THEN you will call and the Lord will answer, you willl cry for help, and he will say: here I am...

I'm praying for you all...have an awesome week...I'm off to hit the hay hard!! :) Blessings and love~~

me

a nutshell for you...

Hey y'all...

Not much time but I thought I'd drop a line for anyone who cares to read this. It's been a very busy week and time is simply flying. Vespers rehersals start on Sunday, Advising is next week, final projects, speeches, and group work are at their climax, and I'm getting tight with the roly polys here (ever spent 3 hours poking them and recording their behavior?? I have...) This morning was Ray Pinkley's funeral...a stunning tribute to a fantastic guy. I had never been to a millitary man's burial...it was very moving. Keep praying for Mrs. Pinkley...she was amazingly joyful but I know that she is hurting too.

This weekend I am going up to NIU for a Intervarsity retreat...not too many people going, but it should be a good chance to get to know the ones who are. I'm ready for the chance to get out of town and get a little rejuvinated.

Well, I'm off to another round of roly poly observation...bleh. I am tired...very tired...but I'm trusting God to give me strength. Prayers appreciated. Hope you all are having a great week. Love ya~

Love lifted me, love lifted me,
When nothing else could help love lifted me...

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.