Reflections

I woke up this morning and realized it was the last sunrise I would see as a teenager. It's a strange feeling, and has prompted a some reflections. I read once that at the end of a century people tend to look back on its history, just as at the end of a life people tend to reminisce. Well, at the end of teenage years, I think back.

I vividly remember my last day of being 12. I realized the importance of what I was leaving behind - anything pre-teen - and wanted to make sure I ended that section of my life correctly, and start off the next one properly. I decided that the last words I would say before I turned 13 were "God is good". I felt that that phrase summed up my life as it was and as I wanted it to be. At the time I shared a room with my sister, and we kept on talking, so I said it over and over to be sure it was the last thing I would say before I fell asleep.

I took a practice LSAT this morning - checking to see what I need to learn to prepare for law school. I don't ever recall even considering law school for more than 15 seconds (it was a joke once that caught my attention) until my junior year of high school. Now I am preparing to take the entrance exams next year.

Even earlier this morning, I translated a passage out of Greek to try to figure out a theological question my dad had that we were trying to see if looking at the Greek could clarify. I was interested in Italian at this point in my life, having no interest in Greek. (That interest was planted in 2009 when I went to Ukraine and my translators urged me to learn the Biblical languages for my personal growth.)

At the time I wanted to go to Ukraine, because one of the pastors from the church over there had come to speak to us and had sparked my interest. However, I would not go for five more years, and my extent of language knowledge there was limited to trying to learn the (Russian) Cyrillic alphabet that I found in a Russian-English Dictionary - far from the last time I was in Ukraine, where I was okay with the simplest conversations, and picked up a good deal of what was being said.

Let alone Ukraine, I had never been in a different country or even in an airplane. As of today, I have been on 23 flights and 9 countries (plus the Vatican City ... does that count?). My city experience was limited to a few days at a time visiting my Grandparents, while now I have lived in London for a semester (and actually managed to fall in love with it, not have anything stolen, etc ...)

I played the piano and really enjoyed it. I also wanted very badly to start playing the cello, but wouldn't begin to learn for more than a year. I had no way of knowing just how influential that would be, how deeply ingrained the desire to be a classical musician would become, and how painful it would be to have to let it go.

I wasn't even thinking of college much at that point - focused on my own business of writing songs and poetry with my best friend, and training my oxen. Now ... yes, I am in college, for better or worse.

Just a few reflections on how my life has changed!

Now, looking back on my teenage years, I marvel at how much has changed, and yet that one phrase that I consciously entered into this section of my life is still true. God is good. He has always been good, and I trust that He always will be. As I go into my twenties, a chapter from the Psalms that I particularly like is 103:

1Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name.

2Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:

3Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases;

4Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies;

5Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's.

6The LORD executeth righteousness and judgment for all that are oppressed.

7He made known his ways unto Moses, his acts unto the children of Israel.

8The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy.

9He will not always chide: neither will he keep his anger for ever.

10He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.

11For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him.

12As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.

13Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear him.

14For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust.

15As for man, his days are as grass: as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth.

16For the wind passeth over it, and it is gone; and the place thereof shall know it no more.

17But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children's children;

18To such as keep his covenant, and to those that remember his commandments to do them.

19The LORD hath prepared his throne in the heavens; and his kingdom ruleth over all.

20Bless the LORD, ye his angels, that excel in strength, that do his commandments, hearkening unto the voice of his word.

21Bless ye the LORD, all ye his hosts; ye ministers of his, that do his pleasure.

22Bless the LORD, all his works in all places of his dominion: bless the LORD, O my soul.

A New Year

Hello, Everyone!

I hope you have had a wonderful holiday season, and Happy New Year! I have been very busy with getting ready to go to London, and I know it's been a long time since I have written anything. That is not, however, because nothing has been going on!

I think I said that I survived my first semester at Houghton College. Well, I did much more than survive; it was wonderful. In so many ways, it was so much more than I could have ever expected. I learned a lot, (both in my education and in living pretty much on my own,) made wonderful friends, and in general had a very satisfactory college experience. I now approach with confidence a semester in London, a study abroad program offered by Houghton College. The experiences I had over the last few months have taught me much about living outside the life I grew up with as a relatively protected, homeschooled farm girl, and I am thankful for having my time at Houghton as a more controlled environment for learning about the world before jumping into it. But now, I am anticipating living in London and by God's grace, I fully intend to have a wonderful time there.

One of the things I have learned over break is the importance of living and not merely existing. I had probably heard it/subconsciously known it before, but as I was reading Erwin McManus's book Chasing Daylight ( http://www.amazon.com/Chasing-Daylight-Seize-Power-Moment/dp/0785281134 ) it was brought to my attention that I must not hold back when God is clearing the path for me. I need to be watching for the opportunities He puts before me, and when He says 'go', I need to throw myself into it instead of asking "are You sure?". I am praying that He will give me courage and wisdom, because I sure need it! But, perhaps just as importantly, I'm praying that He will give me passion and vision, joy and strength, and that everything I do would honor Him - including taking off running when He says 'go'.

Life has been busy with getting ready to leave, a game night with the homeschool group, and still spending time with my family. We are also getting ready for Half Way Day, my family's annual mid-winter celebration. (This is usually held on February 1st. Since I will be out of the country at that time, my family kindly moved the celebration up to this Saturday so I will be able to join in!) We enjoy having something to look forward to in the middle of what can become very long, cold winters up here on Kelly Hill - an astonishing bounty of delicious food, and gifts for each other.

I hope you are all having a fantastic day/week/month/whenever you read this. If I don't blog again until then . . . I'll write from London, England!!!

Winter Break

Hello again, everyone! I know it's been quite awhile, but I haven't been on my blog at all recently and as such have not blogged.

Break has been good - we have been getting lots of snow, lots of cold weather, and lots of fun. I find it difficult to believe that it's only 13 days until I fly off into the sky . . . well yes, I'm planning on coming back, but not for awhile :) It will be my first flight all by myself, which is very exciting. I probably should be scared, but I'm not: after all, the airport is very small and I I could scarcely get lost!

I'm planning to blog from London, but you know how I can be about blogging! It should be interesting to see if I actually do it, but I certainly will try. And if I get a camera from which I can get pictures to put here, then I will attempt to share pictures as well.

Hope you all are enjoying your winter, and happy new year!

A week of Sanity . . . ?

Well, I am in my last week of classes here at Houghton. I can't believe it's almost over! Next week will be finals, which will be interesting, and I will then be done with semester one. Wow. I'm happy that I don't have anything else due until finals. It should be a week that I can get started on my two take home finals and study for my three in class exams. Hopefully it will also be a time that I can get some sanity into my life, clean my room to leave for a year, and finish up all the paperwork that needs to be done in order to be off campus for a semester.

Today has been a good day for me: I slept for 10 hours last night, had a good review session for Biblical Literature after class, had lunch, started my finals work, practiced for the concert tomorrow, had Philharmonia basic conducting finals, dinner, played Squash, and various other miscellaneous things somewhere in there including Bethany braiding my hair!

Now I'm relaxing and blogging here and on my other blog and calming down and looking forward to a full night's rest tonight. We have lovely snow here now and I'm enjoying it still - particularly since I don't have to deal with it all that much! It is very beautiful and the weather in general has been very nice (especially for Western New York) :)

Hope you all are enjoying your days/evenings and for everyone at home, I look forward to seeing you in a few weeks!

Back from Break!

Well, after being gone for a week, here I am again!

Break was relaxing and so much fun. I got to spend time with my family and an evening with my friends, and had a wonderful Thanksgiving dinner (and leftovers until I left . . . ): all those things Thanksgiving break is stereotyped to be if done properly. So, I was very satisfied with it. It is amazing to think that it's only about three weeks until I am done with the semester! It is weird to think that I won't be at Houghton again for eight months! I will certainly miss it, and all of my friends here. But I am very excited about the future, too! It is a happy mix.

Well, a psychology test lurks in the shadows of tomorrow morning and I still need to look over my notes and prepare. I did want to let you know that I am still alive and officially excited about life!

Have a great day. :)

I realize that I have been blogging on a theme recently. Can anyone tell that I'm very excited to go home? :) Well, I am. In 24 hours I'll be home, Lord willing. Today I walked out of my last class and felt unreal relief. It was unbelievable. I love college, and don't know why I would feel this way. It was slightly akin to the feeling when I finished my last problem of my math final and graduated from high school. Ridiculous, considering that this has just been a few months of college now. And I'm not tired of it in the least. On the contrary, it seems like we have just begun!

I am at the Christmas Prism rehearsal right now, listening to the Houghton College Choir run through "This is My Father's World". They are doing a lovely job. (If you are wondering why I am online during a rehearsal, it is because the rehearsal is three hours long. And, given that I'm only playing in three pieces and none of them are even close to an hour, I have plenty of downtime in there.)

I want to share a poem with you that I found some time ago. I have no idea who wrote it and no copyright infringement is intended (if it is copyrighted).

The Tandem Bike

At first, I saw God as my observer, my judge,
Keeping track of the things I did wrong,
So as to know whether I merited heaven or hell when I die.
He was out there sort of like a president,
I recognized his picture when I saw it, but I really didn’t know him.

But later on when I met Christ,
It seemed as though life was rather like a bike ride,
A tandem bike,
And I noticed that Christ was in the back helping me pedal.

I don’t know when it was that he suggested we change places,
But life has not been the same since.
When I had control, I knew the way.
It was rather boring, but predictable,
The shortest distance between two points.
But when he took the lead, he know delightful long cuts –
Up mountains, and through rocky places at breakneck speeds.
It was all I could do to hang on!
Even though it looked like madness, he said “Pedal.”
I worried and asked, “Where are you taking me?”
He laughed and didn’t answer, and I started to learn to trust.
I forgot my boring life and entered into the adventure.
And when I’d forget and say, “I’m scared,” he’d lean back and touch my hand.
He took me to people with gifts that I needed,
Gifts of healing, acceptance, and joy.
They gave me gifts to take on my journey, and we were off again.
He’s say, “Give the gifts away; they’re extra baggage, too much weight.”
So I did, to the people we met,
And I found that in giving I received – but still out burden was light.

I did not trust him, at first, in control of my life. I thought he’d wreck it.
But he knows biking secrets, knows how to take sharp corners,
Knows how to jump to clear rocks,
Even knows how to fly to shorten scary passages.
And I am learning to be quiet and pedal in the strangest places.
And I’m beginning to enjoy the view – and the cool breeze on my face –
With my companion Jesus Christ.
And when I’m sure I just can’t do any more, he must smiles and says, “Pedal.”

-Author unknown


It's a good reminder for me, and I hope it puts new perspective on your day!

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving week - I probably will be offline and not blogging again until sometime next week!

2 days to break!

Today is a mixture of church, reading, homework, thanksgiving hall dinner, and the closing of the Houghton Weslyann Church's three week 24/7 prayer vigil. I'm having a nice, relaxing afternoon with blogging, doing some math to prepare for my test tomorrow, and listening to fiddle music with violin and cello. It has been a good day so far. I woke up this morning to one of the nicest feelings ever - not at all tired, and looking forward to the day! I am feeling more and more alive. :)

I am so excited about going home for break in 2 days! Talking on the phone to my family isn't the same as seeing them, and I almost never talk to my other friends on the phone so it will be great to see them, too! For now - I have 6 classes (including a test) and chapel before I can go home! Oh and yes - I also have a Prism rehearsal, prism being Houghton's Christmas gala. It's quite a big deal around here, but I've been enjoying listening to Christmas music. It's not bad stuff to have stuck in my head!

Hope your day has been restful and enjoyable!

math project and general relief

Yes, the two go together! I had a big math project that was due today, and I turned it in this morning. So now life is much more relaxed, and I'm going to take a nap!

I go home in 4 days for Thanksgiving break! I'm looking forward to seeing my family and friends, eating real food (no offense meant to Pioneer Caterers, who do an awesome job for cooking on a scale like they do) and having no homework! Actually, the homework thing isn't true because I have a term paper to write somewhere in there and two tests the day after I get back. But it should still be plenty of fun!

I got a room draw notice in the mail today. It's weird to think about signing up already for next fall! (Since I won't be here next spring what would usually be spring sign ups rolls into fall.)

Well, I know this is relatively short, but I'm tired . . . just wanted to let you know that I'm doing much better than I have been in quite awhile because of being done with that project. And I'm healthy now, too, so that is a definite positive. =)

Holidays

Today I walked into Philharmonia rehearsal and heard one of the players practicing their parts for the Christmas Prism production coming up the beginning of December. It made me feel like it was already winter, which is a very conflicting feeling for me. I love some things about winter, and at the same time I know that I will end up longing for days with more sunlight! But I do like Christmas music a lot, so I am happy that we are already rehearsing it.

To pull back to a more current holiday, today I worked as a waitress at a banquet here. It was the senior citizen thanksgiving dinner, and I worked with two other girls serving coffee and tea and clearing plates and being generally useful and helpful. It was so much fun. I felt like I was walking into a treasure house to walk into a room full of older people. They have had so many life experiences, and there is so much I could learn from them! Hopefully I'll be able to get to know some of them over the next four years, as they all live in the Houghton area.

This evening was the first annual Houghton Freshman Tradition and the Passing on of the Eagles Legend and the Scarves. Okay, so that long title is mainly a product of my imagination. What it is is the first annual scarf giveaway. Well, that's not quite accurate either. The story is that many years ago there were several Houghton students who were killed in a car crash. To make sure these students aren't forgotten, a tradition is being started that every year the freshman class hears about these students. Then, we all get a Houghton scarf with our class year. My scarf is purple and gold plaid and very long and warm. (So is everybody else's.) I like it a lot.

I also colored a picture of a turkey today, which was fun and relaxing. Sometimes I think that people suffer great losses when they force themselves to 'grow up'. What's wrong with having fun with pretty colors? Isn't that basically the definition of people who paint? So yes, I had a lot of fun and don't regret it at all! It was a good day.