Saturday, November 21, 2009

Thanksgiving!

It's Thanksgiving break- and I have to say, I'm taking a huge breather as I allow this beautiful break to soak into me!!!

The past week has been pretty stressful, although I seem to be getting into a rhythm for writing papers, which is fantastic! My final Church History paper is finished, and with the help of my friend Brian, I think it went really well! I wrote on Urban II and the beginning of the crusades in Christian history. Quite fascinating, and as embarrassing as it is to admit this, nearly everything I learned was new information to me! Also, I received my two midterm exams back- and I received an A- on both of them!!! Who knew I had it in me! :) I am relieved, since this means my finals won't be quite so intimidating! (ideally speaking) :)

I would like to explain my last week's highlight of class time. Are you ready? Well, truthfully my highlight was watching this little girl who came to class with her daddy (who is a fellow student). Perhaps one of the most beautiful little girls, she would clap and laugh right along with us!!! Definitely a bit more engaging than the Lamentations lecture going on in the background (did I just say background? Oops!). :) Ha, what can I say- I miss my niece!!!

Last Sunday evening a group of us from the seminary spent the night meeting with (Reformed Church of Highland Park) church deacons and discussing the church's various ministries over dinner with our pastor.... I truly enjoy this church community, and I believe I have worked out a way to remain worshipping there and do a field education placement summer 2011. HA! talk about planning ahead! :) Which means next school year I will be doing a non-church site, perhaps working with underprivileged youth with psychological issues....doesn't that sound fascinating?? :) I sure think so.

Anyway, this coming week will be splendid, as I plan to see my fiance and his mother on Monday and spend the rest of the week traveling to and from PA where his mother's family lives....Not the first time I've spent Thanksgiving away from my family- but definitely still a year I will miss being at home! I feel as if I'm writing in all fragments. Do forgive me. :)

Today I was able to meet up with Veronica from Red Cloud and we had a great long talk and walk- and I experienced the dining pleasure of Princeton U. food! Let me tell you, I should not have been able to compare their selection with ours. I will forever be jealous! Oh well, who am I to complain? I've got it made here, in my little dorm room, letting others cook for me.... Well, if I think about it, perhaps my life next year with AJ could be similar, minus the dorm room! (i.e. AJ loves to cook, hurray me!)

Alright, I'm off to do some laundry (and yes, I wanted to include that for the sake of reality)...whenever AJ reads these posts he suggests that perhaps I put in useless personal information that nobody cares about. I beg to differ, because sometimes the mundane can be the most endearing quality in connection with others. (is this true, or am I justifying?) :)

Until the next post of mundane useless personal information, I'm yours!

Emily

Friday, November 13, 2009

It's Friday!

It's Friday- and with that comes so much ambivalence.

1. I'm glad to be done with another week of class, but unhappy about how much work I still have left for the weekend. 2. It is nice to think of fun things to do, and not nice how little time I have to do them. 3. It's the Rat Dance and a Country line dance going on at the same time tonight...which to choose? Neither? 4. Many people here look forward to spending time with new friends, and although I have several friends here who are wonderful, I miss my long-time friends and AJ on weekends like this.

However, this ambivalence hasn't lent itself to a bad mood... I'm actually a happy person today! I will be even happier if I get through my terms sheet for theology and read all the texts for that class by the end of the weekend- plus maybe read a bit of church history??? :) I'm always behind. Story of my life as a student!

This past week has been a whirlwind! What did I even do? Well, on Sunday I went once again to the church that I am coming to love- and it was great! I met some young girls who were wonderful, and I look forward to seeing them again! (I learned about how the elementary schools are split in the neighborhood, and there are several stairs to get to the 1st grade classroom- tiresome!) I am really grateful for this church environment; it allows for time away from seminary for awhile. This whole learning community can be entirely consuming, and I dislike having to always talk about theology. (said like a true seminarian!)

I received two papers back- and they were both B's. I was pleased, since I didn't receive a "rewrite" which would have been 1. annoying and 2. a bit humiliating! Alas, my learning here will be reflected moreso within my practical experience of ministry, and thus I am not striving for the A's (okay, at least not getting upset when I don't get them). :) I can be a B person....I think. :) I shall be reporting on midterm exams soon enough!

Guess what? I AM BACK. meaning, I am back to yoga- and this coming Monday- volleyball! It feels so great to be lifting weights and walking on the treadmill as well! I know that I did the right thing in waiting for a month before getting going again, because even now my ankle is still weak and my corresponding joints are somewhat off kilter. Wish me well in my recovery to a running ability!

The weeks here are truly flying by, as represented in my above paragraph. I am not looking forward to winter- but seriously, only 3 weeks of class left before final exams! What? I know. Short semesters, remember? :) I am trying to coordinate several wedding details in light of this quickly coming event called Christmas! See, Christmas break will be a joyous time of celebrating AND getting ready for the wedding.... Currently, only 6+months until my wedding. :):)

As much as I'm learning through these current courses, I will be ready for new ones to begin again (except for the massive buying of books phenomenon which corresponds).... In fact, I am particularly excited about my course this January- Youth Ministry!!! That's right! My home turf once again.

On a personal note- I have had a swirl of love displayed in all the calls and other correspondence from friends recently. It's really great and encouraging to hear from so many people- and at times can become overwhelming too...this is how I've handled my feelings regarding not enough time for everything: AAAAGGGGGHHHHH! Then I take a few deeps breaths, respond to each email, make necessary phone calls (or more likely, take the call I have received- oops!) and thoroughly enjoy everyone in my life. (at this point I realize I can go entire days without studying if I try to socialize with everyone I'd like to!) Moderation. Moderation.

Well, that's about it for now. I had a speech conference in which I practiced the Psalm I will be reciting for the end of class video-day! Woohoo! (if it's broadcast on any major networks, I shall let you know!) :):)

Okay, that's all for now, Folks. Thanks for your patience as I go crazy and return to normalcy enough to write a blog post. This is a hectic environment without doing much of anything except studying! :)

Peace to all my friends!

Em

Thursday, November 5, 2009

Fall for Good...

Hello Once Again!

I chose this title because it sounded like a good play on words.

After contemplating "fall for good," however, I realize it doesn't exactly apply as a double meaning in my circumstance...just one, and that is....it's November, which means it's Fall. For good. No turning back to summer, no more room to hope for T-shirt weather (although it is definitely more likely here than in SD) :) I know that seasons are a part of life, and I have come to thoroughly enjoy them; however, something about fall gives me a sense of the impending winter weather, which is always is a bit dis-heartening for me. Perhaps because I inherited this amazing "freezing fingers/toes" condition (thanks Dad! :) which means that occasionally (even in the absence of extreme weather) one or more of my fingers and toes will lose circulation (i. e. turn white), only to regain warmth after several minutes of vigorous rubbing.

Now that I've shared a random physical tidbit, on to greater things- such as... MY MIDTERMS ARE FINISHED. And I don't feel half-bad about them. Granted, I know I didn't "ace" them, but that's fine. I've taken a different attitude about my classes here: I don't expect perfection. :) Some of you are saying- yeah right, Emily- do you know how to not get an A? Well, I will let you know, the jury's still out....(my professors haven't graded anything yet! I know, half-way through the semester and I haven't received one grade). But I'm fairly confident about not getting an A on everything. Who knew this time would come... :)

This weekend I was super-pleasantly surprised by a random visit from my adorable fiance AJ!!! See, I was fully intending on a quiet weekend of stuffing my brain full of OT and Church History- and little did I realize I would have the pleasure of seeing my man here....AND have time to study for my exams. (He did help by quizzing me a bit, which probably wasn't his favorite thing in the world). Also, a little shout out to AJ, who was accepted into his Masters Program at Kansas State for Ag Business (he will be doing the online program from here!) :)

So, after some grueling hours of studying, I finally reached a moment of liberation from thinking- this afternoon! Granted, I was working, but that doesn't take an extreme amount of intellectual output....thus it was a much-needed mind break. I now write you in the midst of finalizing my paper on Amos 5 (first paper for OT)...and reading for my Ch. History precept tomorrow. Does the work ever end??? :)

Update on my ankle: it is feeling SO MUCH better this past week. For the first two weeks, it really hurt, and it was awkward moving to every building, etc... but I am nearly limp-free today and really pleased to consider hitting the gym soon?? :) (I know, I will take it easy for awhile; just gotta get these muscles going again!)

And the past few days have been full of wedding details! It's so much fun, and at the same time I am extremely thankful that I did everything necessary before leaving, because my life is much less stressful that way. A random tidbit concerning relationships- I really enjoy my friends here, and especially as we have gotten closer, sharing concerns, relationship issues, etc. I am blessed with a solid bunch of homies! (such the gangsta, I know).

Alright, it's off to reading St. Benedict's Rule for Church History. Evidently he had a fairly important role to play in monastic rule in the early middle ages...hmm... gotta go investigate...

I love you all and am bound to converse with you sooner or later, right? :)

Peace, Em