Home and Back

God is good!

I was able to go home this past weekend. Some friends from Paris were going home, so I hitched a ride with them. And my friend Anna came with me, which was great. We're not roomies, and I really enjoyed getting to spend more time with her. Actually, that was one of the best things about the trip, after getting to see Mom and Dad. :D

Anyhow, I did five loads of laundry, enjoyed Mom's good food, went for a nice long ride all over BBTI property (horses), went bus visiting, and just relaxed and enjoyed being with Mom and Dad. Nobody but my parents and the Cobbs knew I was coming, so I surprised everybody pretty good! That was fun. I don't think I've ever felt as loved as I did Friday night when I walked over to the tabernacle (they had just finished watching "The Potter's House"). With two kids clinging to my waist,
two more jumping up and down and talking a mile a minute, and between all them trying to hug everybody that's coming at me - it was fun. It's almost worth leaving BBTI, just to come back!

It was just great to see everybody. All the church family was pretty surprised too. Darla's reaction was the best! She screamed. I loved it!

It really was a nice break. And it's only five weeks now until Thanksgiving break, so my schoolwork is spaced out nicely.

I worked in the kitchen last night. It was alot of fun. I think I'd like to apply to work in there all the time next semester, maybe. It's good training for cooking for alot of people.

Tanya and I baked a cake for Alexis today, at 5:45 AM(today's her 18th b-day). Then, under cloak of darkness, Anna and Tanya and I hung streamers and balloons all over and around Lexie's bed. We had invited several other girls to come in, and at 6:40 we woke her up with the Birthday song and silly string. She loved it. :D And Tanya bought her some of her favorite snack stuff, and I got her a gift certificate for a cremice from Capachi's. It really was fun to see her wake up to all that. She's awesome.

It's neat to think about the friends I have here that are freshman, and picture us graduating together in a few years. I think college graduation will be alot more special than high school. Maybe not, but I'll find out for sure eventually! Sometimes it seems that four years will be like an eternity, but other times I marvel that midterms are next week! (You could pray for that if you think about it:)

Well, I've got some scrapbooking to do, and I get to work in the kitchen again tonight, and I think this post is too long already, so I'll sign out for now. :D

Thank you so much for your prayers!

I hope you have a great evening!

We had our second test in OT Survey today. It wasn't bad. People talk about how hard Bro. Blunkall's test are, but I don't understand that. He tells you pretty much everything that's gonna be on them, and he's very gracious with his grading. OT is my favorite class. :D

Of course, Bro. Blunkall can preach in any class, even Chorale. We're working on the song, "What Love." The first verse is about Mary pouring the perfume on Jesus, and the second verse is about Calvary. Bro. Blunkall pointed out that Mary didn't just sprinkle a few drops of the perfume, she BROKE the box. There was no chance of taking back what she gave.

May our sacrifices to the Lord of Love be given out of a heart of love, with no reserve or regret.

Have a good day!

Sunday

Last Sunday was amazing! I rode the bus before church, went to Sunday School, played my trumpet in the orchestra, sang in the choir, went to the nursing home after church to play there, got back for lunch, practiced with some others to sing in Gospel Light's Benton Chapel, left for Benton, enjoyed the service there, and then came home around 9:30.

At the end of the day, I looked back and wondered what happened. In the middle of a day FULL of "serving" the Lord, I think I somehow missed the whole point.

When you look at Mark 3:14-15, a passage describing when Christ called His disciples, it lists the reasons He did.

"And he ordained twelve, that they should be with him, and that he might send them forth to preach,
And to have power to heal sicknesses, and to cast out devils:"

The first reason is that they should be with Him. It's way to easy to forget that. We can get so caught up in DOing that we neglect to just enjoy Him.

That's one reason I'm so thankful for my prayer partner, and chapel, and devos, and prayer meetings, etc. While it is easy to get busy here, there are also plenty of opportunities to refocus.

God is good!