the weekend of Valantines

This weekend is what many people would call a bad, horrible awful no good holiday. I beg to differ and no I'm not dating, looking, or desperately crazy. In fact I had such a nice weekend living in the moment enjoying all the love that the people in my world have to offer. I felt the love of Maria and her family as they took me in and we all feasted together. Then again in the afternoon when they seemed truly interested in my stories and photos from Tchad. I felt the love from my friends as we broke fast on Saturday and Sunday. They didn't have to get together so early to hang out.

I'm not quite sure what happened to me so that I am not bitter, lonely or even depressed. I guess over the last year and a half I have simply learned to let God's love be enough. I'm no longer the girl who feels that life must give her what she wants and sees as best. In fact I guess I'm the girl that is aware of God in her life and has come to understand that I just might not understand His timing but why worry. So I've taken to embracing life and running with it.

I've learned to take joy in the small things. I love hanging out with my students, thinking of crazy things to do, dreaming about what job I'll have next and simply living in the moment.

If you had come to me in my senior year of college (either of the two years) and told me I would have a job that's contract is expiring in 3 months, I would be single, unsure of where I will be in a matter of months and that I would be OKAY with it. I would not have understood who you were talking about. But it IS me. A year ago, before I left for Tchad I wrote that "I would learn a lot about patience" I never realized how true it would be. It has been an up and down battle to say the least! Alas I'm sure it's not over, but look how far I've come! I love Valantines day! I'm loving my job, I love not knowing! Ha!

what time is church?

Good grief. I wanted to go hear the head pastor at Collegedale SDA church preach this morning. I assumed that the service would start at 11:30 or 11:45. Boy was I wrong. I was so confused as to what time anything started, or where it was. Here's the options I had today: 9am, 10:15 am, 11:30 and 11:45!!! The 9 and 10:15 were called Adoration, they are the 'classic' services. The 11:30 service is called Connect, it is what was known as the 3rd when I was a freshman. It is a multigenerational contemporary worship service and it's at Collegedale Academy. Then the 11:45 service is called Renewal and it's what was called SMC, Student Missionary Church when I was at Southern. But now it's at the Collegedale Church Sanctuary, it's run by mainly students. Anyway, it was crazy because I got there at 11:30 and missed the service I wanted, and ended up being late to the service that I went to. It's crazy all the options. In fact I've heard that to many options are bad. I wonder if that could be the case here. . .

return to my beginnings

My first weekend off in a LONG time. Ahhh, going to a vespers where I don't have to be in charge. . . I've decided to journey up to Southern for the weekend. I haven't been to a vespers here since before Africa. I used to love getting dressed up, joining the crowds as we serge forward to get our vespers credit cards, finding a seat and singing together. I love it all. The speaker was amazing last night too. He was part of Muslim and Adventist relations. I agreed with everything he said. It was beautiful. I wish everyone could have heard it. I've meet so many amazing Muslims that I wish everyone would know that they are beautiful people who worship the SAME God we do. Needless to say I was blessed last night.
We also sang hymns. I haven't sang hymns in a long time. The feeling of pulling out the hymnal from the pew, opening it up to whatever number or trying to remember what number it was that they said. Following along on the page as you read the music notes. It's wonderful and I wish we could do it more. It's a dying art form.
Afterward is always nice too because you get a chance to visit with people that you haven't been able to see in a while. I don't seem to have to many friends that are there from when I was, but I had enough to keep me busy with the visiting for awhile. There is nothing better than running into someone and getting to smile big and greet them in Christian love. Especially on the eve of Valentines day.
I'm glad I was able to partake in a vespers at Southern Adventist University. But oddly enough I am also proud to be at Georgia-Cumberland Academy. I like how my students don't talk as loud, sleep through vespers or use their phones. Thanks GCA.