It's been a long time.  As some would say- "uberlong".  It's hard to believe that it's already the middle/end of September!  Things are going wonderfully here at Wheaton!!  I've said it so many times  to most of you, but it really is a blessed year so far.  The summer was hard in a lot of ways, but I've been absolutely blown away by the grace God has been giving me and His restorative work in my life. 

My classes are wonderful, but I've been recently convicted of the need to put more work into them....hmmm

Chairing rocks and keeps me humble in ways I haven't really been before- probably the sweetest thing so far has been how it's brought me to my knees more than ever and I'm learning more and more that that's an awesome place to be

Super hott roommate that's running the marathon

Fabulous friends who God is continuosly using to grow me and encourage me....and make fun of me

A wonderful boyfriend.... yeah, he's awesome and I'm not really sure what he's doing with messed up me :)

The girls a watch in the afternoons are a bit harder this year, but I'm learning.... I hope...

Gotta go!  Love you guys!

Currently Reading Albert Einstein : A Biography By Albrecht Folsing see related

These are just some great quotes from stuff I've been reading... and some that made me think:

"A man who takes away another man's freedom is a prisoner of hatred, he is locked behind the bars of prejudice and narrow-mindedness.  I am not truly free if I am taking away someont else's freedom, just as surely as I am not free when my freedom is taken from me,  The oppressed and the oppressor alike are robbed of their humanity."- Nelson Mandela

"No one is born hating another person because of the color of his skin, or his background, or his religion.  People must learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love, for love comes more naturally to the human heart that its opposite."- Nelson Mandela

"I would rather let all kinds of punishment desend upon me than learn to rattle something off by heart"- Albert Einstein

A Prayer: (by Dr. Gause)

"Forgive us as we try to build another tower of

     Nationalism and patriotism

     Americanized slogans,

     Irrepressible human spirit (which we confuse with the Holy Spirit)

     Universal fatherhood of God and universal brotherhood of man...

     Military might, cyclops cameras on every corner, in every lobby, and all the restrooms"

Article 9 of the Japanese Constitution (some of you politically aware, brilliant people probably already new this was part of their constitution, but I read it today and it blew me away):

"1.  Aspiring sincerely to an international peace based on justice and order, the Japanese people forever renounce war as a sovereign right of the nation and the threat or use of force as means of settling international disputes.

2.  In order to accomplis the aim of the preceding paragraph, land, sea, and air forces, as well as other war potential, will never be maintained.  The right of belligerency of the state will not be recognized."

Currently Listening Only With Laughter Can You Win By Rosie Thomas see related

Things I will never understand about my family:

1) Why we have a 3 car garage, but don't keep our cars in it.

2) Why my dad has enough tools and farm equipment (mostly from my grandfather) to run a small working farm and refuses to get rid of even one stray bolt (literally)..... therefore the barn and garage are RIDICULOUSLY full of crap

3) Why it's ok to leave papers and books strewn about everywhere (they're both profs), but if a shoe or jacket is left on the foyer rack it "looks messy"

4) Why we have this intense fear of brown recluse spiders when none of us know what one actually looks like

5) Why we're always looking for flashlights, but haven't bought one since the early 90s

ahhhh- family! :)