Charlotte

I know it's been a while since I have blogged. My apologies. People have been encouraging me to and I have been really struggling with what to write about. But I guess I have been inspired by my mom, who has been writing her daily blog about the sabbatical she and my dad are taking. You can read it here: http://pwetselaar.blogspot.com/

But not yet! Read mine first.

I'm taking just a few days off work to be here. And I'm all about cities, I'd love to live in one someday. We explored downtown Charlotte (side story: my friend Mark who is from here got mad at me when I called it downtown. I guess it's Uptown). I love traffic and stoplights, and professional businessmen, and bridal parties, and joggers, and construction workers, and trains, and cafes, and loud music from people's cars. I love the busyness of cities and Charlotte did not disappoint. Oh I'm proud to say I found 18 cents on the ground the whole day. That's not important, but thanks Charlotte.

I was reminded of how my parents talk to anyone. "It's so cute how your kid is holding onto his blanket." "Ma'am, which way is North?" "We're not actually Panthers fans, can you tell us about the stadium?" "We're trying to take a picture so it looks like we're holding the window washers up!" "What kind of dog is that?" All of these were spoken to random strangers.

We enjoyed delicious burgers in Green's Lunch. I think if you're ever in Charlotte you should go there. And as was recommended to me, we relaxed with some coffee at Amelie's, a cute little cafe. Charlotte's "uptown" city streets has, four? five? more? fountains. Everywhere. I've never seen a city so crazy about fountains on every corner. Misty fountains, waterfall fountains, fountains you can stand under, fountains you can put your feet in, fountains that look like buildings. I mean, fountains are nice. There were just a lot.

After confirming with my dad that the Panthers were, in fact, a football team, we joined the crowd of people waiting to get into the stadium. For free! But first we got more free things: free beaded necklaces (blue for the Panthers) a free pink bear (for breast cancer awareness of all things) and a free temporary tattoo I put on Dad's arm later. Go Panthers!

The stadium was....big! I've always hoped to be in a football stadium some day and I finally was in one! Oh wait, have I even explained why we were there? Well we just stumbled up on it; it was something for fan appreciation and we got to watch the team practice. Woo. Hoo. I just found out that Charlotte even had an NFL football team.

Don't get me wrong, I had fun, I just hardly watched them practice. I spent my time looking at the roster and deciding who the cutest guy on the team was. The answer is #88, Greg Olsen. Oh and I was people watching. Little kids are the cutest in football jerseys or little cheerleader uniforms. Ha! But kids' sized jerseys cost about $40 in the gift shops ($70 for adult sizes!!). No thanks. And I kept my eyes glued to the big screen, waiting to be on camera so I could frantically wave. Anyone would have thought I was really a Panthers fan. Alas, it never happened.

We left before the rush of die-hard fans. Who wants to deal with stadium traffic? I took my parents to Sonic for the first time (shakes half off after 8:00!) and we enjoyed them in our cozy little hotel room while watching Say Yes to the Dress on TLC. "Dad you made us watch football all day, let us watch this." I think one time he said something about someone looking like a cotton ball in their dress.

And now I will be headed back to school and work in the morning, maybe after stopping in Asheville with my ride. My parents are heading out of Charlotte as well.

Forgive me for not writing more often. I really do enjoy it and hopefully soon I will write a blog about what a great summer I have been having. I needed that encouragement from my mom today to write about Charlotte, just as she was. And it's a great city, it deserves being written about.

So long Charlotte, it's time to go back to my mountain.

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Blessed by Refugees

I signed up to go to Clarkston to work with refugees without even really wanting to. The opportunity was given to me through my school really last-minute. I took it, simply hoping I would be able to raise the support to go.

Going into the trip I wasn't thinking about refugees. I needed to fulfill a course requirement and write a paper about my time experience. I went to Clarkston knowing God must have been leading me there for a reason, I just didn't know what it was yet. I hardly even knew what refugees were. I knew they came to our country to escape bad situations back home, but I figured that was all around a really great thing; refugees must be so happy to be here in the States!

To be perfectly honest, I went to Clarkston with a pretty negative attitude. Why did I have to go to this tiny town in Georgia to help refugees with a group of people I didn't know at all? How could God use me to work in these people's lives?

But I quickly came to see that God completely changed my thinking. I was not in Clarkston to “help” refugees; I was there to be blessed by them. I was not sent there with a group of strangers to have a great time, I was there to grow spiritually and to be blessed above and beyond what I would have ever hoped.

World Relief gave us the refugee experience by having us walk in their shoes. We weren’t there to help them; we were there to learn what it meant to be them. But what we learned, what we suffered, was merely a shadow of what refugees experience. Each year millions of refugees, human beings with families and cultures and values, are displaced, forced to leave their home and their possessions, everything they know and are familiar with. They are fleeing for their very lives. A concept we in the States cannot even begin to fathom.

And the fact of it is that most refugees are never even granted entrance into another country to start their lives over. The refugees that are in our country now are a tiny fraction of the number of people fleeing their home countries for their lives. Given the numbers, the refugees around the world can hardly even hope to come to either the United States or another country that grants entrance for refugees. Less than 100,000 refugees ever start over in a new country. Less than 100,000 of millions total.

  I remember that those facts hit me really hard. I had been so ignorant of how many refugees there were worldwide. I had no idea the struggles they faced even in getting to our country. I had never before thought about what it meant to leave behind everything. I cannot imagine what these people experience as they hurriedly leave, abandoning all they own, oftentimes getting separated from their families, not knowing if they will ever be reunited again.

I learned of these horrors early in the week. I was no longer oblivious—I was overwhelmed. Who was I to help these people? With a need so great to care for these refugees, what could I do in a few days? What was happening to all the other refugees all around the world? My heart ached for these people.

Instead of going through the week feeling more and more overwhelmed, I felt more and more blessings pour out upon me. I met several refugees in many different contexts throughout the week. And without trying, these people showed me the love of Christ more than I had known it before. I met refugees from around the world; from countries I knew hardly anything about. But rather than complaining and grumbling (which, given their circumstances, I would have not blamed them for such attitudes), I heard them praising and glorifying God. They were happy—their joy was so based in Christ and they wholeheartedly knew that nothing they had been through had separated them from God.

I felt so convicted. I daily think I struggle. I complain to God, not praising Him like I should in any situation. I even complained about having to go on this trip to Clarkston with a group of students I did not know at all. But what do I have to complain about? Why is my joy not found in Christ as it should be?

One refugee had left his whole family and job behind in his home country. Not to mention the fact that he had spent several months in prison before coming to the States. I thought he of anyone had every right to be angry and to hate being in Clarkston trying to start his life over. I asked him how he handled everything. He told me that when he worries he cannot be happy. So he simply gave God his worries, trusted Him, and found his joy in Christ. I was so thankful to have met this servant of God who really knows what it means to trust God during horrible and rough times. Christ is his rock and foundation and no amount of suffering ever diminished his praise to God.

Another time I was walking through Clarkston when a woman stopped me and two others in my group to tell us her whole life story. We never prompted her to do so and honestly we were a bit shocked by her forwardness. But her testimony was amazing, of course she felt compelled to share it with anyone she came across. She told us she should have died years ago from sickle cell anemia. In fact, her whole life seemed to have been one struggle after another. But she was constantly glorifying and praising God; praying to Him in the worst and the best times. Everything she did was in service of Him. I was as blessed as I was convicted.

Time and time again I heard horrible stories, mere glimpses of the tragic reality that their lives have been. I could see their discomfort in the States, desiring more than anything to be back home to what they were familiar with. Their desire is understandable, but how can they go back to their home where they will likely die?

At the end of the week I was so blessed to hear stories of God’s provision to His people even in the worst of times. These refugees are part of the body of Christ, just as we are. I went into the week not knowing that as I should have, but now I do know. I did not go on this trip to help refugees or to solve their problems. I went, as their sister in Christ, to learn more about them and how I can bless and be blessed by those people that are as much of the body of Christ as I am. I learned how to love as Christ loves. I learned from refugees what it means to love those that are different than us and how we all have different and specific needs we can reach out to each other in. We all have different crosses to bear but are still called to praise Christ. I was really convicted of not having done this as I should, instead I let my sin and judgments get in the way of knowing how to love. But these refugees have suffered so much and were so eager to show Christ’s love. There is so much to learn from them. Someone in my group reminded me that I will have all of eternity in heaven to get to know everyone perfectly. I cannot wait until the day that God calls us to our eternal home, whether we even have an earthly home or not, and we will never have to flee.

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Mystery

I was in the mail room, my hands were full with a hot cup of coffee and my wallet and I was trying to find my keys. It was quite the hassle because a bunch of girls had overtaken the whole mailroom selling someone's entire wardrobe and so I had no table space to set anything down. Not to mention my backpack weighed like 40 pounds all day so it was quite the struggle for me to one-handedly get my keys from my wallet and bend down and find my mailbox way on the bottom row that's impossible to see in.

But it was well worth it! Not only had I gotten a 5/5 on my latest Doctrine assignment he'd mailed back to us, but the bright pink package slip was there--my package had finally come! It was my birthday package from Hannah Brammer, mailed all the way from Germany!

I gave the mail room work study my package slip eager to see what was coming and oh....It's a huge yellow box that looks completely fallen apart. I didn't think about it too much. I figured that traveling from a different continent gives a package every right to be pretty beat up. So I somehow juggled my 40 pound backpack, wallet, hot coffee, huge falling apart package and 5/5 Doctrine homework and struggled through the awkward-looking clothing sale taking over the whole mail room and made it to the elevator (and managed to push the button with my hands full--what skill!).

I really enjoyed opening the package with my zebra print scissors. Like any little kid, I wanted to rip open the package and look at all the stuff I'd gotten but I let my patient side of me take over and I read her letter first. It was great, it's always so good to hear about her life even if we are so far apart. And thankfully this letter wasn't 18 pages front and back (yes that's happened before) so a few minutes later I was ready to look at my presents!!

First I pulled out a towel with candy wrapped inside. Cool. Good German candy eggs with a toy in the middle. I like that. The towel thing was weird, but what great cushioning right? There were two more of those. And then there was a little bunny figurine. You know....the one thing in the whole package that was breakable and it was the one thing not wrapped up tightly in a towel. And so naturally it was broken. I wasn't surprised but I also didn't want to hurt Hannah's feelings so I was bummed that something had broken. And then there was just a ton of candy!! German chocolate is the best and Hannah remembered my favorite: choclait chips! Two whole packages of them! I highly recommend them. There was a lot more candy, so much I had never seen or tried before! Oh and then there was just a tiny little koala bear key chain intermixed with the candy. His navy T-shirt said "I ♥ Australia." Cool. Thanks Hannah. I mean, Germans probably think Australia is just as cool as I think it is, so why shouldn't that be in the package.

So naturally I texted Hannah telling her how excited I was her package finally came. And of course I dug into the candy right away. It went great with my coffee! I did want to ask her about the towel thing though....I never knew Germans liked towels so much. Especially blue ones with toy cars on them in a row honking at each other. I mean hey, it was cool. But I had to ask. So I texted her something along the lines of, "What's up with the towel set? It's cool, it's just so random, where'd you get it?"

Hannah: "Haha. What towel set?"
Me: "The towel! Weren't there two?" By now I was in the library. Not near the towel set.
Hannah: "What towel? Did I send one?".... "Maybe it's not my package."

This went on for a while, probably with some really humorous frustration on both sides. I thought there was some language barrier thing going on. Maybe Germans use the word 'towel' only for huge towels and this is more of a washcloth or hand towel. So I tried to clarify its size and how it was still a towel.

But that still didn't work. I finally came back to the room and read what it said on the tag. "What does 'handtuch' mean, Hannah? That's what it says on the tag."
Hannah: "It means towel!"
Me: "Well that's what was in the package!!"

Frustrated, we moved on. She asked me if I liked the earrings she'd sent. "What earrings?" She told me where in the box they were. Well, they weren't. Nowhere to be found. There are things in this package you don't know about, and the things you tell me are here aren't! Did the earrings morph into towels and a bunny figurine and a koala key chain??

So by this point we were probably both equally irritated and equally thinking that the other was a dirty liar. Or just mental. So then I decided it was time to break the news to her. "The little bunny figurine broke on the bottom. Its feet came off." (Isn't always awkward when gifts come broken?)

"What bunny figurine??"

Hmm. Maybe something's wrong. Hannah asked me if I was sure if it was her package. I asked her if she was sure she mailed it. Obviously we both had great proof as to why it was in fact, from her (return address was hers and in her handwriting!) and why she had mailed it (she'd brought it to the post office herself and taped it shut there without any little brothers sneaking something in last minute). Ok so maybe the other person wasn't going completely insane.

I sent her pictures of everything. Sure thing, that was the box she'd sent. Only pretty beat up. But aside from the candy and the letter, she had never seen anything in that box before.

Pretty freaky huh? I kinda got super creepy sketched out feelings thinking about someone going through my package stealing (!!!) my new red earrings and in exchange, giving me some useless towel set, a bunny figurine, and a koala key chain. And I imagine it freaked Hannah out too. She had mailed that thing shut with her own hands and had filled out a customs form, saying exactly what was in the box. Saying what would (should) get delivered. But it didn't.

I'm guessing someone did a really careless job in some office somewhere, checking a whole bunch of boxes at once. Just a normal routine check that they do with international mail. Our little package of candy and earrings was probably the most harmless one out there but apparently was still worth looking into. And then they did a really reckless, careless job of putting things back in boxes and mixed everything up. Some poor kid somewhere is probably missing his car towels and wondering why the heck his aunt in Germany gave him earrings instead. I don't know.

And maybe that's not what happened. Maybe I really did get robbed. I guess we'll never really know. At least I got that candy. It's the bomb. And the letter. That's always the best part. I'll miss those earrings but at least I have a set of towels, a broken bunny, and an I ♥ Australia koala bear key chain to make up for it.

What a mysterious package to start off my 21st. Nah, overall it was pretty great. Definitely won't forget that one for a while.

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Through Christ's Eyes

From my journal.


2-17-14
    Yesterday at my team meeting for Clarkston, we heard Sam R.'s testimony. I've never known him or really even thought twice about him. Honestly, I've been pretty judgmental and always thought he was pretty weird. 
    He talked about how he used to move around a lot....like ten times....and he was homeschooled so he never really had friends and never kept in touch with any he did have.  So he's been really introverted and become really good with computers and wants to design video games. As to his testimony, though, he didn't have much to say. So he said it'd be better if we just asked him questions. Dr. C. spoke up: "How many siblings do you have?" "An older brother and a younger brother. And, well, my little sister just died in a car accident over Christmas Break.
    Oh.
    I felt awful. This poor guy. Last semester, 3 siblings; this semester, 2. That's why he skipped the meeting last week; just to be with his family.
    Everyone kind of looked away from him pretty awkwardly. I stared at him. I wanted to memorize his face. He's had years of people leaving his life, or him leaving theirs, and he's hardly a memory to anyone. And he just lost his sister. I wanted to memorize his face. I don't ever want to forget him. His story. His hurt. Hurt beyond what I can imagine.
    And so, today I wrote a note to him--Box 308. Really simple. On a notecard. I didn't sign my name.
"I just wanted to let you know I'm praying for you and your family."

And I don't want to forget. 


I want to see people how Jesus sees them. Because how do I see others? I'm really judgmental. I base everything about them off my first impression. I categorize them; stereotype them. I compare my flaws to their perfections or worse--blow their slight, quirky differences and imperfections out of proportion and therefore ignore them. I see them merely as minor characters in my main story (they don't even have their own main story). They don't know what hurt is, or what missing people is; not like I do. But how is that acting like Christ? He hung out with the lowest of people. People that had the most hurt and pain. And he didn't diminish those hurts or assume things about those people. And He certainly didn't elevate Himself above others. It was quite the opposite. He humbled Himself. Became a servant.

I am not like Christ. I judge people. I don't want to hang out with people that are completely different than me because that would be weird. And then one of those weird people suddenly tells us about his sister dying (just 2 months ago!) and I feel awful. Who am I as a believer serving Christ if I don't share others' burdens, or if I forget that others have problems? It shouldn't take things this drastic to make us realize how much others are hurting and how badly they need our love.

I think it's time to stop seeing people through my own sinful, proud, judgmental, vain eyes.  And to start seeing others as Christ sees them. Broken and struggling. Falling apart from the weight of the burdens of this world.

And yet. Made perfect in Him.

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A Grieving Campus

I wrote a blog six or seven months ago about David Taaffe. He was my classmate, a star soccer player, a Mac Scholar, an RA. But a very tragic and unexpected fall caused his death that shocked us all. My campus is still grieving. And I'm sad to say that oftentimes, I forget. I forget about David, I forget that he's gone. I hardly knew him. And I hardly have the words to write. I hardly can comprehend the grief I know some are still going through. But I wanted to share this article, written by my Resident Director.

In the Midst of Grief on a College Campus

"His absence is as present as our presence."

And it will be for some time.

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Super Bowl

With the Super Bowl coming up, I just wanted to share this article really fast:

You'll Never See This Side of the Super Bowl on TV



And as a side note, sorry about constantly re-designing my blog. I've discovered I really like change and get bored with the backgrounds really fast. Oh well. Enjoy the article.

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The South Meets the Snow

Today my mom asked me if I was a Yankee Snob. Well, no. Not usually.

Don't get me wrong. I love the South. I love living here. It's warmer, people are more polite, it's beautiful, there's mountains, etc. But seriously, people. We got about one inch of snow and that resulted in one and a half days of cancelled classes. Everywhere I went people were making snow angels and taking pictures of the beautiful snow. I could see the grass poking up everywhere. People sledding. On frozen solid rock-hard ground with just a light dusting of snow. That doesn't sound safe to me. People shoveling, not thinking to put any salt on the ground. Thanks for making ice patches for us everywhere.

I've been a nervous wreck watching these Southerners try to handle the snow. I realize that Ice + Mountain = Dangerous and the North doesn't have mountains so I should factor that in and be a bit more understanding. But they're going about it all wrong.

Oh well. I guess that's part of being in the South. Snow v. South and the snow won. Not so in the North. Enjoy that foot and a half, North. Remember how well you are handling it and how happy you all can be playing in real snow. I myself was there just a few weeks ago making snow angels and running, I mean trudging, through the 18 inches. But as for now, I will watch my friends bundle up while I put on a light jacket. I've actually been enjoying that it's a little warmer out.

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4789

God protected me over 4789 miles (7707 kilometers, Hannah) this semester. I recently added it up. I have been going so many different places and I've spent hours and hours on the road. So many different trips. Some planned for months, some spontaneous. It seemed like I never stopped. I was always going someplace new. 

Trip #1: September 29. Atlanta, GA

Total Trip Miles: 269

Ok, so I know that driving from Lookout Mountain, Georgia to Atlanta is hardly considered a road trip. Not at all actually. But hey, it adds up, and I did it twice within three weeks. So that was like eight hours of car time. So that counts for some miles. And it was so exciting, I was finally going to pick up Hannah from the airport!! For months people kept asking me when she was coming. "September 29!" Finally got to hop in a borrowed car, plug Atlanta's airport into the GPS, blast some music, and go get her! Doesn't she look great after her nine hour flight?? ☺

Trip #2: October 11-13. St. Louis, MO

Total Trip Miles: 905

This one was pretty spontaneous. Hannah was still around. It was Homecoming weekend. But Homecoming just wasn't the same without our two favorite alumni, Kevin and Virginia Witten. So, yep we rented a car and made the 6 hour trip out there. What a weekend. It was so spontaneous and I feel like with everything we did we were there for a lot longer than two days. We got to see downtown St. Louis (ok, the Arch and an old church) and go paddle boating! Tried some fantastic custard and got to hear all the behind-the-scenes wedding details from a few months before. It was such a great trip, and this road trip alone could probably have its own entire blog written about it. Hannah and I sang some pretty great songs on that road trip that, well, maybe I don't want to talk about. :) 

Trip #3: October 16. Atlanta, GA 

Total Trip Miles: 269

Well this one was definitely a bummer as it was when I had to bring Hannah back to the airport so she could go back to Germany. I tried keeping her here but she had important things to do back home. Like school. Go to a conference. Hang out with her family. Whatever. Anyway, so she had hung out with me and my friends the past two and a half weeks and it was so much fun. I brought her to both Chick-fil-A and Waffle House for the first time. We did a ton of stuff. It was pretty exhausting. But so fun. And thankfully a lot of it is caught on camera. Well, here's the last picture taken of the five of us that hung out those two weeks. It was pretty great. The drive back from Atlanta not so great though. I was sad!

Trip #4: October 19-22. Savannah, GA

Total Trip Miles: 746

Fall Break! With Amy, Emily, and Rebekah. We had been planning this for months! As this was my third trip within one week, I was definitely ready to go crash on the beach. It was great. It was so warm. And sunny. And we saw a beach wedding. And we ate lots of Oreos. And stayed up late playing Scattergories (talk about partying). It was by far my favorite Fall Break ever and with three of my favorite people ever. We explored downtown Savannah blasting our favorite Fall Break songs and taking pictures everywhere we went. And, of course, we had to experience the sunrise over the ocean. 

Trip #5. October 28. Rome, GA

Total Trip Miles: 130

 This one was spontaneous. One minute I am sitting at work in the Psych Department having a lovely conversation with someone, the next minute Emily walks in saying, "Hey, do you want to go to Rome with me and surprise Kevin?" "Yeah. When?" "Now." "Sweet." And we went. We took the back way, through the most beautiful Southern countryside I have ever seen. Blasting Cinema, All Night, Forever, A Capella, Wrecking Ball and a ton of other catchy songs that we could sing at the top of our lungs to. We finally got there, crept through the parking lot  And boy, did we surprise Kevin at work. He was dressed as a prince for the Pirate/Princess Day. And he definitely did not expect to see Emily show up. Or me I guess. Well that was cute and all but I was freakin pumped to meet a pirate!! We ate some delicious chicken sandwiches, stared at all the adorable little children all dressed up, and of course, got hit on by our waiter. What a nice way to escape for an afternoon with one of my best friends.

Trip #6. November 1-3. Alabaster, AL

Total Trip Miles: 327

This one was a bit more planned. I had to meet my nephew Reid! he was born September 4 and I hadn't been able to see him yet, so Rebekah and I drove out there and spent a relaxing weekend with my niece and nephew. It was pretty uneventful. I mean, we went to a thrift store too (What, what, what, what?), but not much happened. It was good to be away from the busyness of school and to spend time with two of the cutest babies on the planet. Finley is a blast. Reid's adorable. It was good to see Em and Lance too. It had been since Easter that I had seen them. I'm glad I was finally able to make it out there. And, ya know, Finley looks so happy to see me. With her little chicken nuggets. Not to mention she looks just like me and takes after her Auntie Megan in ever way. That's just how it works.

Trip #7. November 27-December 1. Anderson, SC

Total Trip Miles: 459

I don't think many people would take up an offer to be a third wheel, but well, I do. Greg and Janessa invited me months ago to go with them to Greg's house for Thanksgiving break. I hadn't planned anything yet (it was June!) so I gladly accepted and then forgot. Well, they didn't forget and sometime in October reminded me. So we went. I met Greg's parents and then experienced major culture shock Thanksgiving day with his very Southern and yet very Asian family. That dinner was delicious and yet the whole thing was something like I'd never experienced before, even though I've been in the south two and a half years now. The whole weekend was a lot of fun, though. Anderson is a cute little town with its very own Moonshine Distillery plenty of Antique Stores. But really, though, those antique stores were so crowded, I think that's where everyone goes for a good time in that town (but hey, look at us. We're naturals). Other than that, I got some great Black Friday deals and (a highlight) I got to shoot a gun! A lot happened in those few short days, and there's not many people I would rather third wheel for for an entire break, but I had so much fun with Greg and Janessa. 

Trip #8. December 2-4. Crown Point, IN

Total Trip Miles: 1127

I guess you could call this spontaneous, but it was probably the most necessary of all of these trips. Last day of Thanksgiving Break I found out my mom was brought to the hospital for a major blood clot. I wrote a blog about it already actually. Anyway, so Em and I were freakin out and had to see her. I got back from Anderson on Sunday, stayed at Rebekah's house Sunday night, and then Monday night met Emily and Lance in Nashville at 9 and made it to Jess's at about 3 in the morning. Four hours later we were up and headed to the hospital to surprise Mom and Dad! Basically scared them out of their minds, actually. That day in the hospital was so great, you should read my other lengthy blog about it. But then we had to get back. So we drove all through the night again and I got back to school after a week of being gone and after sleeping in five different houses while living out of the same tiny suitcase. It was a crazy week. And I was in Indiana for about 24 hours. So hectic! So exhausting. And so good to see Mom. She's doing fantastically well now by the way. 

Trip #9. December 19-Present. DeMotte, IN

Total Trip Miles: 557

Well finally the end of the semester came. It was a crazy two weeks since I got back from seeing Mom in the hospital. I spent hours in the library, I didn't have a social life, and I drank probably way too much coffee. The end finally came, I had a really fun drive with Katie, Tim, and Will. We stopped just once, at the sketchiest gas station that had a bathroom with no soap but a condom dispenser. Priorities, right? And now I've been home for a week, just hanging out with my parents, taking them to all their doctor and hospital appointments. I've been hanging out with Levi a lot. You know, he's pretty dang cute. Being home is kind of weird but it's nice not having any homework to do and I have been sleeping a lot. It's been nice. In a few weeks I'll be drivin back to school. Hopefully next semester I will be spending a little bit less time in the car.

Total Miles: 4789

Well.....that's it. I had a couple people guess how many miles I'd traveled this semester and they guessed in the 2000s. Nope. Seemed like I was always going somewhere new. It was pretty great. I have so many great memories with so many awesome people. 

Here, I made a map of all the places that called me away from Lookout Mountain.

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Together in a Hospital

On Sunday my mom was put in the hospital because of a major blood clot in her lungs. It could have killed her if it had been any bigger. Way to scare me so badly, Mom. Made me bite off all my fingernails (and let me tell you, they had been lookin' good).

By Monday at 5:00 PM Emily and I decided we needed to go see her. Nothing else would possibly put our minds at ease. We left about two hours later.

The next 36 hours were a blur. But a wonderful blur.

We didn't get to Jess's house til 3:30...ya know.....in the morning. After four hours of sleep, it was time to go see Mom. We were so close, I was so excited! Poor Mom was sitting in the hospital looking forward to Skyping me a few hours later. I think what I did was better though.

Emily, Lance, and I waited in the waiting room for a few minutes while Jess went in to see Mom and Dad. Of course I was standing there imaging all the worst possible ways to surprise them. Like just bursting through the door at full speed screaming and throwing confetti. It'd probably give her a real heart attack. Or we could have dressed up like nurses and gone in to give her a shot or check her oxygen or something and then BAM! it's us!! So many possibilities of freaking them out.

But I think what we did did the trick anyway. Jess walked in first saying, "You have visitors." There were immediate tears (ok more like mega-crazy-super loud sobs). Mom couldn't stop the flood of tears as she hugged Emily. Dad jumped up and hugged me, both of us crying. It was my turn to hug Mom next. We just couldn't stop crying. The nurses ran in the room, thinking something was horribly wrong, when in reality it was just the opposite.

Those first few minutes were so great, even if we were all crying. (Jess told me later on how funny it all actually was.) Mom was always holding one of our hands, I think it took her a while to believe that we were really there.

Those ten hours were wonderful, hard as it was why we were there. Nurses and doctors kept coming in talking about horrible things like platelets, veins, shots, needles, heartbeats and all those freaky medical things that I hate. Emily had to give me her chair because I looked pale. I took a lot of drinks to the drinking fountain. I'm really not a tower of strength when it comes to medical things like that.

But then it was finally my turn to take the lead on something. By now Mom was out of ICU, and she desperately needed her hair washed. The nurse brought us the weirdest looking pan to put under her head, so she didn't have to sit up at all. Then there was another bucket that could catch all the water as it ran out of the pan. I assigned everyone to their jobs, as I was the main "doctor" in this "procedure." Lance filled the cup with water so I could pour it in Mom's hair. She even asked who was in charge of the temperature of the water. I said, "A boy, I'm sorry." Emily held the bucket to catch all the used water, while Jessica was my main assistant in keeping the pan level under Mom's bed and getting me towels when needed and, of course, opening the shampoo bottle for me.

Mom just laid there smiling and enjoying the head massage that came with me washing it. And of course I tried freaking her out with the most doctor-like language I could come up with (to get back at them all for making fun of me so much!). "First step is to make an incision," and "I'm going to have to prepare my hands for this, this is dangerous." It was a blast. We were all laughing. If only the nurses had seen us (and Mom's wicked awesome Mohawk I gave her after I had the shampoo all lathered in). Pretty sure I even threw in a free commercial for Garnier's shampoo. It's for dry and frizzy hair. They should thank me.

She seemed ten times better after having clean hair. We all just hung out. Talked about our Thanksgivings, Skyped Finley in Alabama, read the cards Mom had gotten, hung out with the random visitors from church that came, feasted on hospital food together. It was great. I remember one time Jessica said, "Mom, want us to put on the TV or play some music while we sit here?" and Mom said with closed eyes, "No, just keep talking, your voices are my music." That made me happy.

I think the highlight for us all was Skyping with Sam. I think we woke him up with our call, but oh well. He's always been a morning person and he sounded like he was in a fantastic mood. He and Dorinda had Mellow in their bed with him. Typical Sam. He made us all laugh so much. It's like we were all together (except Josh who was at work and, though I'm probably the only one that thought of this, my future husband that is unfortunately missing out on cool things like this). Ok, but the four of us originals were there with Mom and Dad. Even if Sam was thousands of miles away. I kept looking over at Mom. Laying there just listening to her four favorite people talking and laughing. I notice things like that. I actually almost started crying at one point. Happy tears. It was so bittersweet; it's so rare that we're all together. But when we are, everything just seems right. We all laugh and joke nonstop. I don't think people understand how cool it is to see their entire family so often. I envy that.

The doctor came (or was he a surgeon....you know how I get....tuning people out when they start talking about medical/body/surgery type of things), anyway, whatever he was, he told us (all of us...Sam was still watching from the iPad) how there was a 50/50 chance that she'll need surgery. He held up his fingers to show us how big the blood clot was. Yikes. I didn't know that kind of stuff happened. Well, I just felt my heart skip kinda funny just at the thought of this blood stuff. I'm ending this paragraph now. I'm not the one to give these details.

We got a picture with Mom (Mom and her girls...heck yes I'm one of those people). I don't care if the picture was taken in a hospital. We all look so happy. But then came the hard part. I hate goodbyes in general. But this one was especially hard. We couldn't stop crying. I mean, she could have died because of this blood clot. This was pretty serious. None of us wanted to leave her. Seriously, let me just fail my exams and I'll just hang out in the hospital with her. We couldn't stop crying. I left a cute little wet spot on Dad's shirt from crying into it. I kept hugging Mom, holding her hand, crying. Making her promise she would be ok. I kissed her forehead. Leaving was so hard. The second I left Room 209 I just wanted to run right back in.

It was such a great day. I kind of hate saying that, ya know, since I was visiting one of my Favorite People Ever in the hospital, but hey....it was just so great. Filled with so much laughter and so much crying, but mostly just so much joy because we got to be all together.

God is so awesome. He's been teaching me so much about the power of prayer. I have had so many people tell me they were praying for my mom. It's been pretty cool. And how He brought us all together just for a couple of hours. It was amazing.

That's right, Wetselaars/Hubers/Millers. We're pretty great. Love you all.

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South Carolina

I've been wanting a new design for my blog for quite some time now. The yellow was starting to get on my nerves, and I like the layout of this a lot better. But I'm actually surprised I last with that design that long. I usually like changing things up. What do you think?

In other news....yikes it's almost December. No Shave November has been good. Yes, I've been doing it. 

I've been in South Carolina these past few days enjoying Thanksgiving with two of my good friends, Greg and Janessa. I got to shoot a gun. I got a bulls-eye. I also experienced major southern culture shock with Greg's extended family. They're all wonderful, but that Thanksgiving was one like I have never experienced. But I've been eating wonderful food and have gotten to sleep a lot. Not to mention I got some incredible Black Friday deals (three new pairs of boots!!). It's been a great break. It's been good to be away from Covenant. And it's my first time in South Carolina!

I really don't have much else to write. Honestly, I was so excited about my new blog design I've been working on while Cute Little Sleeping Janessa lays next to me, that I just wanted to write a new post right away.

Hope everyone had a fantastic Thanksgiving. I'm guessing I'm the only one that was voluntarily a third wheel for the entire break.

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The Little Things

I don't know why it's always the little things that stick out.

Em and I were in the Psych Department. It was probably about 9:30 at night.

You know, why not. Why not blast Stay the Night really loudly. It was just the two of us in there.

Me (dancing in my seat), "Weaves, can it be on our Covenant bucket list to have a dance party in Dr. Wright's office before we graduate?"

She was already out of her seat. Running to his office. Not sure why he always keeps it open even when he's not there. Because there was nothing to stop us at all from running in there at full speed.

We danced in the dark office with the music blasting. Surrounded by his huge green chair, psychology textbooks, every copy of the DSM, old counseling videotapes, filing cabinets filled with psychology articles. Everything psychology. But we just jumped up and down, dancing like crazy, no one around to judge us.

He'll never know. I see his open door now every day and smile. He has no idea. I'm glad about that.



Here you go......go ahead and have your own dance party:  Stay the Night

It's the little things like that that are the most fun.

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Addictions

Walking in the door, I was really uncomfortable; I made Emily go in first. The meeting was just starting. There were anywhere between eighty and a hundred people there, all in one huge circle made of three or four rows. It was my first Narcotics Anonymous meeting.

The leader stressed throughout that everyone belonged in the group. Pssh. Whatever. I didn't. ("I'm not an addict! I'm just here for class!")

And then they shared their stories.

These inspired me in a way that I did not expect. They were all so broken. Daily craving the drugs that had ruined their lives. Somebody explained it perfectly. “One pill is too many, but a thousand is never enough.” Another said, “You can’t think to change your behavior, you have to change your behavior to change your thinking.” That one hit home with me. And I'm not an addict.

Ok so then I started realizing how wrong I had been at first. I did belong in this meeting. 

I was amazed at how everything applied to my life. I have never done drugs and never intend to. But, to be perfectly honest, I'm an addict. I am addicted to my sin. I sin every single day; I try finding things to take the place of God in my heart and in my life. I make idols out of my problems; I put my trust in other sinners. Nearly everything these people said spoke to me more than I thought it ever would. I was amazed by the testimony of these people and their stories of how God brought them closer to Him. One man said, “I hate the disease, but I thank God I’m an addict.” It’s amazing how God draws us closer to Him with terrible situations, addiction or otherwise, that brings Him more glory because of how it enlightens us of our need for Him.

And the way they emphasized service. One man said, “Service is where the real dope is.” He told everyone that the next time they were struggling with craving for a drug that instead they should call someone else to ask how they are doing. Service can really give a new meaning and satisfaction in life. Again, this applied to my life so much. I can think about my problems a lot, but one main way to take my mind off of them is to think about other people’s problems and care for and serve them.

The end of the meeting was the most amazing part. We were asked if there was anyone that wanted to give up drugs and become clean. One woman immediately stood up, went to receive her first keychain in a series of keychains they get for how long they go without drugs, and was embraced by the leader while everyone applauded the most genuinely happy applause I have ever heard. Everyone was truly celebrating how this woman, addicted probably for years, was finally taking the first step in deciding to be clean and give up an addiction that had consumed her for so long. Everyone seemed to know how hard her decision was, but they were all there ready to support her. It was one of the most amazing celebrations I have seen. Several other people were celebrating different amounts of time that they got new keychains for. Everyone kept applauding and shouting, “Keep comin’ back!” The community and support were incredible. I couldn’t help but wonder why we as believers don’t encourage each other more often like that. Each member of the group was really truly there to support everyone else no matter where they were in the process of giving up their addiction. Each person owned up to their addiction without shame, proudly shouting their name followed by, “And I’m an addict!” They all knew they had problems and they all knew they needed help. Each of the stories told was to encourage others in the same situation. They were all so accepting, so loving, and so excited to celebrate with people their desire to give up their addiction.  

Ok. So I was amazed at how much I fit in at this meeting. I did not expect to feel that at all. Everything these people said seemed to apply to my life. We are all sinners, consumed by earthly pleasures distracting us from God. Nothing can take the place of God in our lives, though we try in many ways. This meeting showed me what the community of believers should look like. We are all fallen sinners trying to fill the void in our lives that only God can truly fill. We must all come alongside each other and serve each other, helping to help lift each other up, away from our sins and addictions and closer to God instead.

Going to this meeting made me really uncomfortable at first. But then it showed me that I belonged there just as much as everyone else and the stories shared impacted me and revealed to me how fallen and broken I am and how truly in need I am of a great God.

My name is Megan and I'm an addict.

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Two Weeks

I can't believe it, Hannah. Two weeks from now I'll be getting you from the Atlanta airport. It'll be packed, I'll be a bit freaked out being there alone. But I can't wait to see you again.

I might have to dramatically push some people out of the way. Stinks to be them.

This mountain hasn't been the same without you. Come back!!

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Baseball Field

     Time after time. I find myself drawn to the farthest place on campus. The baseball field. It began in early May. I wanted a place to go away from everyone. I went on runs, thinking I was getting in shape, but I would just stop by the baseball field, sit in the dugout. A lot happened this summer, and a lot changed. But one thing that didn't change, and still hasn't, was how drawn I was to this place. This huge field that some people don't even know is tucked away behind the softball field. I have no connection with it; I've never watched a game there. But for how vast and peaceful it was, I always found myself drawn to it. I probably spent hours there praying. Sometimes jogging laps, but mostly just sitting and praying. For wisdom. For strength. For my friends. For the summer. I guess that's where I went a couple times a week. Just to sit with God.

     That field, and those dusty old dugouts, is wonderful, and by far one of my favorite places on this campus.

----

     My friends and I liked to sprint together this summer. We drove to Shadowlands late one night, me, Hannah, Damarise, Sonya, Micah, Jimmy, and Matt, and found people already there. Playing soccer. Nope. I knew where we should go. "Just drive up to the baseball field. It's a great place to run." After all, I did this every day, why not have people with me for once. I don't think some of them realized how big of a field it was. How much space we had for just a few people. We threw the football a while. I wish I could throw as far as boys. But at least my spiral is better. But that was just a warm up. It was time to sprint. We lined up at the far end, getting ready to run straight across. Lined up, I was suddenly uncomfortable with how many people were going to beat me. I'm proud of my six high school track records, but all those boys were so much faster. Someone gave us the three command start. Off we went. There's something about sprinting....it's like I can suddenly breathe even better. Everything seems right in the world and I don't ever want to stop. The boys destroyed me. I guess I tried to just ignore them.
     I asked one or two of them to run my pace with me. Just one sprint. I wanted someone my speed to really push me. They did. But then they just went right ahead and beat me at the end. We ran back and forth on that baseball field so many times. Not until I was tired did we stop. I probably could have gone longer though. I don't miss high school, but I miss running. I miss being one of the fastest. I miss running on an actual track. But I guess that baseball field was almost just as good.

----

     Late one afternoon, it was cloudy and cool. Work was done for the day. Faith and I couldn't stand our apartment anymore, so we just went. On a walk to wherever we ended up. I guess I knew where I was going to lead us. We got to the baseball field, went to my usual dugout and just talked, staring at the empty field. Some things this summer were really rough, for both of us. But we were there for each other.
     It started to rain. Just a little at first. It was refreshing. Glancing around the dugout, I was thrilled to find a whole crate of baseballs. Twenty at least. I smiled at Faith. "Let's throw them." We walked along the gravel, stopping when we came to the perfect spot. The whole field was open before us. So much grass. We threw. As far as we could. Over and over. Until they were dispersed across the field.
     The rain got a lot heavier. Faith yelled and ran into the dugout. I picked up the baseballs and walked over and joined her. But then I smiled, unzipped my jacket, took my hair out of the ponytail, kicked off my shoes, and went back. It'd be more fun in the rain. More refreshing. I went to the second base and threw them (all mine this time) towards the dugout. Faith, dry in the dugout, cheered me on with each throw. I got soaking wet. It was pouring. I kept throwing them. My shirt stuck to me, my hair was in my face, as wet as if I'd just gotten out of a shower. But I threw them all and kept yelling and jumping up and down as if each throw was the winning pitch in the World Series.
     There's something about the rain. There's nothing quite as cleansing. That was the happiest I'd been in days.

----

     Late one night, I couldn't do any homework. I couldn't focus on anything. I had just gotten back from a memorial service. A memorial service I never ever would have wanted to go to. For one of my classmates. I cried a lot. I just couldn't stand it. He was so great. So strong in his faith. And day after day I find myself doubting God, having a hard time trusting Him in everything that is stressing me out. It made me feel awful.
     I made my roommate stop what she was doing. "I need to go on a walk." She dropped everything and, silently, came with me. We didn't talk for a long time. Maybe not until we got there.
     It was completely dark at the baseball field. It's not often that I go in the complete darkness. First making sure no one else was there, we went to the middle of the field. The grass was a bit damp. But that didn't stop us. We laid down on our backs. The sky was so clear. Hundreds of stars. It was amazing. Just thinking about how great and awesome God is....it gave me shivers. We stayed there for a long time. Rebekah knew I'd been having a rough day. I guess our whole school had been. I asked her what she was thinking about. "Megan," she said, "you have no idea how much God loves you."
     I think I started crying again.

----

     It was late evening. I was sitting on the bench in the dugout. A storm was coming. I could feel it in the wind. Temperature dropping, sky darkening. But I was angry.
     I knew what I was looking for, because I had looked for them before. I felt around in the crate on the shelf. I found them. Two dirty, old baseballs. Not as many as last time, but two was good. Smiling to myself, I kicked off my shoes, held onto my skirt blowing in the wind, and simply said to Amy, "Follow me."
     I tossed her one of the balls when we got to the center of the field. I didn't need to tell her what we were doing. We just threw them both into the outfield. As far as we could.
     There was lightning in the distance. We started to feel tiny drops of rain. It didn't matter.
     I walked over to the pitcher's mound. It was getting darker by the second but I could just make out home plate. I stood in the center of the mound, looked down at the red dirt in between my toes. I guess not many people stand on a pitcher's mound wearing a pretty white blouse, navy cardigan, and peach floral skirt. I guess clothes doesn't affect throwing ability, so I didn't care. I patted down my skirt, brushed my hair out of my eyes. Amy knew what I was doing. She knew I was upset. She gave me her baseball too.
     I threw it as hard as I could right over home plate. And again. And I just kept throwing over and over. Amy tossed it back. I could've kept going all night. It started to rain. The wind picked up. The clouds weren't just a thing in the distance. They were above us now. It was really dark. Hard to see home plate. But nothing stopped me.
     Amy finally walked back over to me. "Can we go?" Nope. It was time for me to vent. I guess I'd had a really long week, and I was so tired. There was a storm around us, we were getting wetter and wetter, our hair was blowing in our eyes, it was dark. But we stayed on the mound. In the middle of it all. I think I cried. But it just blended in with the rain drops on my face. Amy stood patiently. Letting the rain drench her, until I finally stepped off the mound to head back. I guess we couldn't be out there forever.

----

     Sometimes I feel so trapped in at Covenant. But I guess I know where to always go.

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Be Still, My Soul

Be still, my soul: the Lord is on thy side.
Bear patiently the cross of grief or pain.
Leave to thy God to order and provide;
In every change, He faithful will remain.

Be still, my soul: thy best, thy heavenly Friend
Through thorny ways leads to a joyful end.

Be still, my soul: thy God doth undertake
To guide the future, as He has the past.
Thy hope, thy confidence let nothing shake;
All now mysterious shall be bright at last.

Be still, my soul: the waves and winds still know
His voice Who ruled them while He dwelt below.

Be still, my soul: when dearest friends depart,
And all is darkened in the vale of tears,
Then shalt thou better know His love, His heart,
Who comes to soothe thy sorrow and thy fears.
Be still, my soul: thy Jesus can repay
From His own fullness all He takes away.

Be still, my soul: the hour is hastening on
When we shall be forever with the Lord.
When disappointment, grief and fear are gone,
Sorrow forgot, love’s purest joys restored.
Be still, my soul: when change and tears are past
All safe and blessed we shall meet at last.

Be still, my soul: begin the song of praise
On earth, believing, to Thy Lord on high;
Acknowledge Him in all thy words and ways,
So shall He view thee with a well pleased eye.
Be still, my soul: the Sun of life divine
Through passing clouds shall but more brightly shine.

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Reid

I can't believe it. I have another nephew. He is so perfect.

Born today at 8 pounds, 8 ounces. 

Can't wait to meet the newest addition to our family! 

God is so good.

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Sailboat

It was about 8:30 on Navy Pier in Chicago. I was sitting on a bench talking with my dad. We had just spent the day using wrist bands to get tours on a whole bunch of old sailboats. The ships had been busy all day but from our bench we could tell that hardly anyone was touring them anymore. Dad and I were talking. Mom was shopping. We were just waiting for the fireworks over the lake.

Mom came back and sat by me and Dad. Wanting to give them a while alone on their anniversary, I left and walked down the pier. May as well go onto a sailboat by myself. No lines, no kids asking questions. Just me on the boat with the waves beneath me and a beautiful view of Navy Pier in front of me as the sky was getting darker by the minute, and the lights of the city behind me were getting brighter just as quickly. 

The man letting me onto the boat must have thought it odd that a girl my age would just be confidently walking onto the boat by myself. Oh well, I had the wrist band. He had to let me. 

I didn't really care much about the boat. It looked all the others, I didn't want to look around. I just went to the the far side and looked over the edge. Watched the Ferris wheel on the Pier go round and round with the most beautiful lights. It was peaceful. And let's be honest, Chicago is my favorite city in the world, I was soaking up the minutes I had to myself just to look at it.

But my peace was disturbed. I heard a voice next to me. "So, do you have any questions about our boat?" It was a crew member. I mentally rolled my eyes, not wanting to be bothered. I think I even said, "No I don't." But then thought more and decided to be polite. He didn't seem busy and wanted to talk to the one 'customer' that was stopped on their ship. May as well ask him some questions about himself. "How long have you been working on this boat?" (Three years.) "What's your favorite and least favorite part of sailing?" (I get to sail everyday. It's a double-edged sword.) 

I continued asking questions, but I hardly even looked at him, I was still just soaking in the city. I remember that I told him about how I'd wanted to climb up all the rope ladders to get to the very top of the sails. You know, like a pirate. Only I didn't say that. (And what's my problem, I'm scared of heights.) I think it made him laugh. He told me I wouldn't have made it up. Someone would stopped me, even if I had done my best to look like I knew what I was doing.

It was probably about 8:50. Still 40 minutes til the fireworks. "So are we allowed to watch the fireworks from the ship?" Well, oops, how was I supposed to know that the ship closed to the public at 9:00. And he told me that. Crew member man: "I didn't even know there were fireworks, and we're closed soon, but you might be able to stay on depending on who you ask." I felt bad. "It's ok, I have a great view from a bench on the pier! I'll just go back there, I didn't know we weren't supposed to be on the boat anymore." But I'd already asked the question and his wheels were turning in his mind to help me solve my 'problem.' "We might be able to get you to help us clean the boat and we'll let you stay on. I'll go ask." 

I think I just stood there stunned. I hadn't meant to ask to do something I wasn't supposed to do. I just thought it would be cool for my parents and I to watch fireworks from a really pretty ship. And hey, it was their anniversary, I had to do what I could. 

He came back with another crew member. "Hey, Megan," (heart stopped for a second how he knew my name, then realized I had told crew member #1 what it was), "I heard there was an issue and you're wondering if you can help us scrub our deck if we'll let you stay on to watch the fireworks." I probably really rolled my eyes this time. It had not ever been my idea to clean the boat. I was imagining myself on hands and knees with a bucket and a tiny little brush, scrubbing the thing all night long. But I just had to go with it. I heard myself saying, "Yeah, I'll help, I thought it'd be really cool for my parents and I to watch from here since it's such a pretty view. And after all, it is their 33rd anniversary." (Who could say No to someone's anniversary, right??). 

We talked a bit more. I think he asked if I could get my parents to bring beer. Um, nope. Not drinkin' with sailors. Not today. But he agreed. He had me call Dad. "Dad, I might be able to get us to watch the fireworks from here, even though it's closed. The only catch is I have to help them clean the boat." Of course my parents got a kick out of that. They marched on down the pier to join us, cameras out, all smiles, ready to meet the crew. 

Meanwhile, the first crew guy that talked to me handed me a brush (on a long handle like a broom) and told me to go behind the crew members that were spraying it down with water and sprinkling it with salt. He gave me a lesson on why they do that. I've forgotten. Then he laughed and apologized for making me clean the ship. After all, it hadn't been my idea at all. Oh well, I was going to do it and I was going to do it right. 

I scrubbed that salt/water combo right into the boards of the ship. I told the crew member I was near that if I was doing it wrong, he had to tell me without worrying about offending me. He told me I was doing it right. Well, cool. I felt like a part of the crew. The last of the touristy people had gone, my parents were relaxed down at the end of the boat, and I was scrubbing away. It was fun. It's like they accepted me as one of their own, even though I only helped them for fifteen minutes. 

They were all so kind. The fireworks were fireworks, nothing spectacular. But, I don't know, sitting on a sailboat rather than in the middle of a crowd, with the crew nearby enjoying it with us, it was just really cool. I remember sitting there thinking about how this kind of thing never happens. The first crew guy even told me that any other ship's crew would have said no to what I had asked them. And there had been hundreds of people touring those ships all day long, just part of a long line....blurred faces to the crew. But nope, we got to know the crew and sit there with the fireworks lighting up the sky. And it felt even cooler that I had earned it by scrubbing the deck. Another thing I know I'll never do again (I mean, honestly, ships aren't really my thing. I'll never do something like that again simply because I won't go seeking out that kind of opportunity).

It was one of those quiet moments that just doesn't seem real. And it was just really special. I know my parents miss me like crazy when I'm not there (and I left them all summer long). So just enjoying that with them was wonderful. The sailors were all so kind and even in that one hour of me being on that boat, we became friends. Friends that will never see each other again, of course, but in those few moments of getting to know each other, we really took it seriously and had a good time. 

Who would have thought that me going off to have a few minutes away from my parents could lead to such a fun event (and anniversary gift to my parents!) and an opportunity to meet some really cool people that are living a much different life than I am.  What a cool night in the city.

Chicago, I miss you already. 

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David

This has been a rough summer for our Covenant community. After the loss of one of our professor's sons, we have now lost one of our own. David Taaffe died over a week ago now, but the pain is still really fresh as we have lost a part of our body. 

From our President, an email no one wants to ever send:

Dear Covenant Scots,

 

No doubt many of you have heard already via personal contact or social media, but it is with deep sadness that I write to inform you that we have recently learned that rising junior David Taaffe died on Monday as a result of injuries sustained due to a fall while hiking in Switzerland. We have limited information at this point, but wanted to let you know so you can be praying for the Taaffe family in this incredibly difficult time. As children of God and joint heirs with Christ we cling to the promise of the hope of glory, and we take great comfort in knowing that our brother, David, is with his Lord and Savior already. This is a wonderful truth to ponder even as we grieve an extremely painful loss.

 

David was a Maclellan Scholar from Nashville and was majoring in Spanish. He played on the soccer team and was set to return to 2nd Central to serve as the RA there for a second year. For those of you who didn't know him, you likely would have recognized his warm smile, bright eyes, sonorous voice, distinctive afro ("Taaff-ro"), gentle and courteous manner, or intensity on the soccer field. He was a wonderful guy, and we--along with many others--will miss him deeply.

For those of you on campus this summer, or in the area, we will have a time tomorrow, Thursday, July 25 at 11:00 a.m. in Sanderson 215 to pray together for the Taaffe family and to remind one another of God's promises to his people. We will also plan on having a time to remember David and celebrate his home-going once everyone has returned to campus for the fall term.

 

We trust that our God will use even this for His glory.

 

Yours in Christ,

 

JDH

 

J. Derek Halvorson, Ph.D.

President

Covenant College

 

In omnibus Christus primatum tenens

It's hard enough thinking about our Covenant College family having to deal with this, so I can't imagine how his family is. However, we can all look forward to the day when Christ will call us home. In the meantime we can live to serve Christ in all that we do, just as David did. 

Oh love that will not let me go, I rest my weary soul in thee.

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For My Parents

My parents love geocaching. Don't know what it is? Go to www.geocaching.com.
Honestly, it's never been my thing. But what do you know....today in the park Emily spotted one in this lovely tree. So I signed the log book that we had found it!
So here ya go, Mom and Dad. Be proud.

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Finley

I know I just wrote a blog about how big and adorable my nephew is getting.

And, I'm sorry (actually, I don't think I am), but turns out I'm just really proud of being an aunt and what do you know, Finley is also getting huge. And oh my goodness, so beautiful.

Her big round eyes are killing me.

And that goofy expression on her face.

Ok so I just love my niece and nephew and I these won't be the last blogs and pictures I post about them.

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