Spending money in REI & Utah!

Well, my senior DCE project was canceled due to a low registration rate so, this weekend is totally open for me to go to Utah w/ some of my friends from CUI. I'm so excited!!! I haven't been camping since the summer & I really needed some nature-God time. I went hiking w/ my family over Easter break, but it's like pulling teeth trying to get them to go camping or do something adventurous. I think my parents are getting too old for some of the things we used to do when I was a kid. It's too bad, but I'm glad that I have the ambition to just go by myself or w/ friends.
Anyways, I'll let you know how it goes & I'll put up some pictures.

Speaking of Utah, I went to REI today to get a new sleeping bag & I had so much fun! I really am not allowed to go to REI by myself w/ my wallet in hand. I would buy the entire store if I had the money. Anyways, the 50-something REI-guy that helped me was super nice & had some crazy stories about Everest (?!) & some other hikes/climbs he's done. I bought a new sleeping bag (it's green!), a water bladder for my backpack & a new daypack. I got home & was so excited to fit my pack, but realized that I got the wrong size. Unfortunately, I just have to go back & exchange it. Man, what a bummer! ;)

School's good. Life is good. I got a babysitting job for a couple professors on campus, which is going to be nice for the rest of the year. I really like babysitting & getting to hang out w/ kids. It's so refreshing.

11 days! I find out where I'm going to be placed on internship in 11 days. If you're in town, you should come! CUC @ 7pm.

Prayer requests: travel & camping this weekend, internship placements, & motivation for the rest of the semester

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Cynicality

Cynical & negative people drive me nuts!

It's one thing to "vent" to a roommate or best friend, but to complain about something to everyone you meet is getting a little ridiculous! I am interested to see what happens after the complaining ends. Is there resolution? Do you try to change what you're complaining about?

It's one thing to complain, it's a completely different thing when you actually do something about what you're unhappy with.

There's my venting/complaining.

Everything's good, btw. School's insanely busy, so if I don't post anything for the next few weeks, don't take it personally.

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He is Risen...Almost

I'm back home for Easter & it feels so good to be with family! Nothing new to report, I guess. I'm here until Monday afternoon-ish & then it's about two & a half weeks until I find out where I'm going to go on internship this summer.

Europe plans are still a "go". We purchased our tickets this week. Kelly gets to fly free business class internationally because she used frequent flier miles. I actually got a non-stop flight for a really decent price. I'm glad we waited until this time because flights are still cheap, but the economy hasn't bumped them up to ridiculous prices yet. After looking at our schedule, I think we're going to have a chance to visit Dublin! I'm really excited. But, before Europe, there's a lot of other stuff going on as well. Busy, busy, busy!

My family & I are going to visit reception sights today for Alyssa's wedding. I think she's pretty set on Stonebridge Manor, which is awesome. We both had our proms there, but I've never seen it during the daytime. She says it looks totally different. I'll post pictures for those of you who aren't able to see it in person.

No other news. I'm so ready to be done with school, tests & homework!

Blessings on your Easter!

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how many of my posts have been about being bored...?

can you guess. . . ? i'm bored.

it's not that i'm bored b/c i have nothing to do. it's just that i don't want to do what i'm supposed to do. so, maybe it's not boredom, it's just lack of motivation to do anything. i'd rather spend my time this evening just sitting, listening to music, & going on facebook.

on a completely different note, i've been listening to this song. it reminds me of how much God truly provides for us & gives us that daily bread we crave, not just physically, but spiritually! i'm so amazed at how vindicating these words are. . .

here are the lyrics.

"Gratitude" by Nichole Nordeman

Send some rain, would You send some rain?
'Cause the earth is dry and needs to drink again
And the sun is high and we are sinking in the shade
Would You send a cloud, thunder long and loud?
Let the sky grow black and send some mercy down
Surely You can see that we are thirsty and afraid
But maybe not, not today
Maybe You'll provide in other ways
And if that's the case . . .

(Chorus)

We'll give thanks to You
With gratitude
For lessons learned in how to thirst for You
How to bless the very sun that warms our face
If You never send us rain

Daily bread, give us daily bread
Bless our bodies, keep our children fed
Fill our cups, then fill them up again tonight
Wrap us up and warm us through
Tucked away beneath our sturdy roofs
Let us slumber safe from danger's view this time
Or maybe not, not today
Maybe You'll provide in other ways
And if that's the case . . .

(Chorus)

We'll give thanks to You
With gratitude
A lesson learned to hunger after You
That a starry sky offers a better view if no roof is overhead And if we never taste that bread

Oh, the differences that often are between
What we want and what we really need

So grant us peace, Jesus, grant us peace
Move our hearts to hear a single beat
Between alibis and enemies tonight
Or maybe not, not today
Peace might be another world away
And if that's the case . . .

(Chorus)

We'll give thanks to You
With gratitude
For lessons learned in how to trust in You
That we are blessed beyond what we could ever dream
In abundance or in need
And if You never grant us peace

But Jesus, would You please . . .

critical thinking

i have a critical thinking test tomorrow that i'm really not prepared for, but the thing is that i really don't care anymore. my apathy is at an all-time high & senioritis is in full swing!

60 days until graduation, by the way. . . also, a month from today is placement. ah! i'm not ready to be a grown-up yet!

anyways, i'm going to sleep now. . . nothing really going on. i thought i had tumors in my sinuses in my face, but it all turned out fine. other than a paper due, tests & a presentation due thursday, this week should be a total breeze! haha. . .

blessings!

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Humility

i'm angry at God for humbling me. . . especially when i think other people are prideful when it's really my pride that hurts.

i also am angry at myself for being prideful & thinking that i'm greater than other people. i apologize to those of you who have been hurt by this dangerous pride that Satan puffs us up with. why do i have to sin? why does sin cause me to be distant from God?

i used to be so close to God. i used to hunger for the Word & strive in my relationship w/ Him. now, i've become apathetic & lazy in my faith. i thought that going to a christian university would grow my faith, but i have found that it's destroying it. . . or, it's Satan who wants me to fail in faith.

growing is painful & realizing your own faults is even more hurtful. i wish i was better. i wish i could change, especially in those relationships that have been sacrificed to my pride & sin. the remorse of my own actions is devastating, but a hard & much-needed lesson.

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homesick

i'm feeling very nostalgic today. being at home makes me realize how much i miss being home. life was so much easier than now. no bills to pay, laundry to do, or living on my own. i wish i could stay here forever. i'm going back to school tomorrow & with it comes with papers due, tests, & projects.

i just feel so overwhelmed & i think that's the root of this homesickness i'm feeling. i'm overwhelmed w/ my final DCE project, this huge paper i have to write for critical thinking (i'm obviously not the best critical thinker around, so you can see my dilemma), & i my internship scares me. what if i'm placed in texas? what if i get placed at a church that hates me or loves me & i'm not loving it? argh! i just need to have faith, but it's difficult to have faith when i'm feeling this way. things were so much easier. . .

i had a dream about nebraska again last night. i really need to go visit everyone for graduation, but i don't think that's a possibility. i just miss my friends. . . :(

alright, well this pity-party needs to stop. my life ahead will be exciting, won't it?

pray for me & my homesickness, scaredy-cat, don't want to grow up-ness. thanks

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