Well the semester has begun! This excites me a lot...mostly because I am ready to get this semester done and have summer again...only for the warm weather. If it would just warm up I would handle going to class a lot better... oh well. That is life.

I have a very good semester as far as classes go. I think it will be the best yet. I am in a women's preaching class (okay, I am NOT excited about that) Philosophy, Intro to Counseling, Issues in Interpretation, and Ministering to Women in Crisis...each of which have proven to be good so far. Not to mention the week I spent in Creation Science. I can't say that I miss sitting in that class for 7 hours.

Some exciting things happen at the end of this semester. It's hard not to just look forward to that and forget about now. My roommate will be getting married, for once I will live in Joplin for awhile and NOT be in school, I will go to Cambodia, spend time with my parents in Florida, and move back home again (maybe even for the last time). I am really excited about each of these things. Not to mention scared...just for Cambodia.

First of all, how do you raise $2700 in this economic crisis. I almost feel bad asking people to support me beyond prayers, but then I remember the girls who are living in Cambodia and have been sold to do horrific work all so someone else can have the money and I quickly remember how it is okay for me to ask people to give during this time so I can go and help show these girls the hope they can only find in Christ. It's all worth it to feel a little awkward. It's worth it to eat asian food for two weeks (incase you don't know me very well, I am super picky..and don't like ehtnic foods AT ALL...this is a big stretch). It's worth it to give up two weeks that I could be working and saving money for school, knowing that my time is going to girls who once thought they were only worth what someone could pay for them to have sex... That's worth it. I am so excited about this trip. I don't take risks, I don't put myself in situations that I don't know exactly how the outcome looks... I just don't. But that's a way I have been changing over the past few months.

This semester is going to be good. This coming summer is going to be good. Tomorrow will be good. I can't forget to look at now while I plan for the future.

So many things are really great in life. This school year has been the best yet.

Maybe I should blog or something.

This Christmas break has been interesting. Completely opposite from last break. Joel gone this year, Lydia and James here this year...Gracie here. But mostly things have just been different with how I have used my time.

What did my time go to last Christmas break? It went to some time in Stillwater with a bunch of people I don't EVER hang out with anymore (not a lot of time with the boyfriend), and it went to hanging out with Whitney and Erika. 

What have I done this break? I went to Stillwater and spent five straight days with Tyler and his family. Five days might not seem like a lot but that is the longest I have ever spent with his family. It was a blast. I loved being there for five days so by the second day I didn't necessarily feel as much like a guest but more like a family member, so the next few days were enjoyable. It was nice not leaving right after I got there. I got to spend some time with his mom's entire side of the family as well, that was fun. It's fun to see where she comes from.

What else have I done? I have worked. I have relaxed. I have hung with my family. I haven't worked a ton, but it's been enough. I have had a good balance of waking up to work at 8 and being able to sleep in some days too. I have also spent more time hanging out with my family than I probably did last year. It's been great having Lydia and James just living down the road from here... I don't miss driving to Oologah just to hang out with my sister. PLUS, the addition of Hadlee to the Summers' family is wonderful. Hadlee is the cutest and funniest dog I have ever met.

Another difference is being away from Tyler for this month was better and easier than last year. I don't know what it is... but it's just easier to be a part right now. Not in a bad way at all =) I think last year was weird cause we started dating RIGHT before break, so we spent our first month apart. Plus we are really only going about 2 full weeks without seeing each other every day. So it's just been better. 

Life is different from a year ago. I have no idea what this year holds, hopefully some exciting things, hopefully great things. But you never know! 

Happy New Year to all!