I have no completed my first week of the fall semester. I have a decent course load that on paper looks on the verge of being heavy, but I think it will work out very nicely- New Testament, History of Christianity, Pastoral Care, Spiritual Formation, and Choir. All classes are going really well so far, however there is a ton of reading. Some reading is “optional” but it is that “optional” where if you don’t read, you don’t know what is going on in class, while other reading is required to the point that you somehow have to figure out information that isn’t even included. All this being said, I love the reading which is definitely a first for me. I have never actually enjoyed any reading for any class, but “relaxing” for me is actually sitting down to read this stuff. Did you know that Christians were considered Atheists at the beginning???
I am still playing with Richmond Brass Consort on the side and have picked up a few gigs here and there. I actually played for the 200th convocation for UPSem this weekend. Something about being thanked by name by Brian Blount (the President) by name at the beginning of the service… kinda builds the ego! I have also joined the UPSem A Capella group (this is where I remind you that I have not done choir of any sort since 4th grade and typically avoid any singing situation…) and am really enjoying that so far. I definitely won’t take that to the point my younger sister has, which is probably why she isn’t phased by the fact that I’m doing it- she knows I will never go beyond my jah bah dah stuff!
Finally, a while back I mentioned the possibility of jobs. Well, I have managed to pick up a few miscellaneous jobs but nothing too big. In addition to my occasional trumpet gigs, I am a fill-in babysitter, substitute alto in the church choir down the street (again… why am I singing so much now??), and a student photographer for UPSem events. It has really worked out because each one pays decently when I do them, but none are really involved and leave lots of room for my studies. It helps that I am not in desperate need of a job thanks to my ridiculous amount of scholarship applications that I did this past spring, but it is really nice to have extra pocket money and some to tuck away for the future and to pay off loans (ugg).
So, for now that is about it. Nothing terribly exciting going on, but then again it all feels so normal now. I am really loving it here and am 100% sure that this is where I am supposed to be and that everything I did to prepare for coming here, no matter how hard or easy, was exactly right. I have incredible friends that I can lean on and they lean on me. The professors are absolutely amazing (I have never hung on every word of a lecture the way I do in New Testament). Every morning that I wake up to go to class, I get that warm fuzzy feeling that you get when something perfect happens. There have been some hard times along the way including a few of the typical disappointments that belong in a 23 year old girl’s life- the tough quiz, occasional loneliness and missing my kitten, the crushed crush, the boredom that comes on a Saturday afternoon with antenna TV showing only football… but as I said on a facebook status earlier today,
“Repeating something in hopes that it actually becomes true may not really work, but nothing can stop a smile from really making you happy :) It also helps when you have a million and one things to smile about all the time!”
I truly do have a million and one things to smile about, and I am sure tomorrow will present another. Thanks to everyone for your continued thoughts, prayers, and support. I am continually overwhelmed with your graciousness and want you all to know that I could never do it without you! This is only the beginning, and I hope that you will all continue to join me until the end…
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