Day 55: Girls Night In

We had a girls night in tonight and watched Where the Wild Things Are, which is a superb film. Like community, it is wonderful to just have people around me that I can cuddle with, be goofy with and act like a child with. We didn't have to go out or spend any money; we just put in a movie and had a blast. Girls nights are such an important part to any girl's life, and I am thankful for my girl friends!

Day 54: Community

I haven't always had the people around me like I do here at Gordon. I have been so blessed by these people who aren't afraid to call me out or to talk to me through uncertain times. God has put some incredible people in my life who have challenged me to grow and face hard realities, and I am thankful beyond belief for every single one of them.

Day 53: Being embraced when I am dirty

I just got back from a run. I didn't run very far, but I also haven't run in a long time, so I was still fairly gross when I got back. On top of that, it has been raining off and on all morning, so the ground was mud. I walked into the cafeteria to grab lunch to bring back to my room and ran into a friend, who immediately walked up to me and hugged me. I recoiled as most people do when they are sweaty and being hugged, explained my (rather obvious) situation of being covered in mud and sweat. My friend didn't care, but hugged me anyways, at which point I accepted and returned the hug. 

God does this all the time. I am constantly covered in the sin I have been rolling around in, but He doesn't care. He keeps me embraced in His arms regardless. Sometimes I draw back and explain to God that I am dirty and He should probably let me shower before He decides to hug me. God doesn't want to do that though. He takes me as I am, covered in sin and slime, and He embraces me.

Day 52: For Dust you are

I am nothing more than dust. I should not have anything to offer. I am a flawed, broken human being. I know that, I recognize it and I wish that it wasn't so. But that's how it is. I am dust.
I am so thankful that I am God-breathed dust. God-appointed dust. I am nothing, yet He loves me and works in me and through me. I don't know how that works, but He does. There are ashes on my forehead to remind me of my low status and a psalm in my heart to remind me that I am the daughter of the King.
I am dust, but I am loved by the One who gave me life.

Day 38: Balloons (and therapy)

I needed to blow off some steam tonight, so I walked into my friends' room and simply asked if they had anything I could break. This was after I had looked around my own room and hadn't found anything  sufficient (I didn't really want to pay the fine for breaking my mirror). Luckily, Kari had just celebrated her birthday and there were balloons everywhere. I walked around picking up balloons and popping them, scattering the silicone all over the floor. Colored pieces fell like confetti as I went on a rampage. After I popped the last balloon, I fell onto Ari's bed and just talked to her. I don't know what I would do without my friends who support me and make sure that I don't go completely insane. I am so extremely thankful for balloons that are popable and friends who are great therapists.

Day 36: A New Beginning

Today was the first day in our new church building. It was incredible! A year ago Netcast church had about 30 people attending it and today we had 350!! It is really awesome to see what God can do with a little faith and trust (no pixie dust needed). I know that God can do these awesome things and can truly make new things come from nothing. It is a new beginning for me too-- I am going to stop living in the past, in the old building that I have outgrown, much as Netcast has outgrown our old YMCA. My faith is growing and needs the new space.

This is going to be good.

Day 35: Tea

Uggh. I got SICK today. There has been something going around campus lately. I caught something and have been feeling under the weather lately. I lost my appetite (and have only been eating on and off), and so the one thing I've really been relying on is tea. It is such a wonderful thing. There are different flavors, it tastes great, is cheap, easy to make and is healthy too! Plus, the warmth is great when you have a cold. Basically, tea is one of my favorite things that God created... especially when I don't feel great.

Day 34: The Beach

We went to the beach today for my friend Kari's birthday! I love being back near a large body of water-- since we moved to California, I've always lived near one (besides when we lived in Kansas). There is something so calming, soothing about the beach, even if you don't swim when you are there. The waves crashing against the sand, the gentle breeze, the smell of salt. I could live at the beach if  I had the money. I could spend my days on a towel reading a book, toes in the water. When I was deciding on a college, its proximity to water was a factor. I love the beach and am so grateful to be near one again.

Day 33: Guy friends

I love my guy friends. Don't get me wrong-- my girl friends are incredible too! But today I've been blessed with hanging out with a few good guys friends I haven't really talked to in a while. I had scheduled a lunch date with one of them, since he and I haven't talked much since last semester and just kinda ran into other guys, realized I hadn't talked with them in a while and sat down and just hung out. This morning I taught in the 2nd grade classroom and that is all I have today, so it's been nice to have no pressure, no deadlines before tomorrow, no stress. Yeah, I should be doing homework right now (I will start soon), but after a hectic week it is nice to have a little while to relax and hang out by myself or to share that time with some really incredible guys that I have the joy to call my friends.

Day 32: Support

I just had a meeting with the person who is in charge of my scholarship because last semester my grades slipped. I was really dreading the meeting and had already had a pretty bad morning. So when I walked out of the meeting with a grin on my face, I was pretty surprised. Chris sat me down when I walked in and asked what had happened last semester. We talked for a while, I told him that I had made a lot of changes for this semester, and then he told me that he was here to encourage me. That was his job-- if at any point during the semester I was feeling discouraged or like I was falling behind, he wants me to come meet with him. In the meantime, he gave me some advice. For example, he told me to lay off myself and not strive for perfection because no one was expecting it. He also told me to take a break sometimes and learn how to give up things, even if I love doing them. There isn't time for everything. I am thankful for his advice and for the support that was given to me today.