It's 5 o'clock Somewhere

Well....it's 5:30 in the morning and I have officially been wide awake for two hours. I finally gave up and turned the light on just before 5. I find that, instead of tossing and turning for hours and finally falling asleep just minutes before I have to wake up, and becoming frustrated, it's just better to get up and get some things done while I'm awake. It's kind of nice to be up when you know most of the world is asleep....sometimes. I think it gives God time to reckon with my heart. I don't usually do homework or anything like that during times like these. Instead, I usually do something that is going to help me become a better person. I figure, if I'm up at this time, God must have something pretty important to tell me. Usually, He does. I'm sitting at the computer and the screen is all blurry because my allergies have decided to go into full-blown attack mode, we have two animals in the house - I'm sure that's not helping. I managed to catch a pretty crazy cold, too. The timing couldn't be better, what with school starting, auditions, Alpha Psi stuff, and things at the church really starting to get rolling. Despite all of that, my spirits are high at the moment. I know, whose spirit can possibly be high at 5:30 in the morning? Check up on me and see how I'm doing about 4 o'clock tomorrow (or today, actually), when I know I have to sit through a three hour class, and I've already trudged through a long day....my spirit may leave something to be desired then, but I'll try to make the best of it. I just did Satin Hands from Mary Kay on my hands and gave myself a manicure.....and now I'm eating a doughnut leftover from the meeting at church. Believe me, I am a better person because of this doughnut :). Whoever invented custard-filled chocolate glazed doughnuts oughtta win the Nobel Peace Prize. Oh yeah....auditions last week were craaazy! There were so many good people, it was fun to watch everyone. The singing part of it was so nerve racking. I did not do well with that part, but I didn't give up and knew that, since my singing was below mediocre, I had to really step it up for the reading and dancing parts. It must have been enough because I got the part I wanted!! I couldn't believe it, and I still can't believe it. We are doing "Bat Boy: The Musical" and I am the mayor of the town, Mayor Maggie. It is going to be a very fun character to develop. I like to think she's a cross between Hillary Clinton and Granny from the Beverly Hillbillies...should be interesting. I am so blessed to be able to be a part of this show. There were a lot of good people that did not get cast. I still am bewildered when I think about it. We are also doing "Elephant Man". The auditions are in a couple of weeks. It's a really great show, and I would love to be part of it. Unfortunately, with auditions and rehearsals starting before "Bat Boy" even hits the stage, and many good people going after the few roles there are, it's not really looking high in my favor. I am going to audition, though, and give it 100%. Hopefully, I'll be able to squeeze into that show as well, and work very hard to earn a spot. Everything happens just as it should....as long as I know I did my best, I'm satisfied with what comes out of all of this. I'm going to go upstairs and get myself organized to ensure that everything that needs to be done this week will get done. I know it won't ALL get done, but it would be nice to at least make a dent in my to-do list. It's the second week of school and I feel like I'm already a little behind. I just added a Tuesday/Thursday English class on Friday. That means I've already missed the first two classes. Hopefully, I can bear down and catch up.............hopefully. Well, I better get upstairs and do something a little more productive than sitting in front of the computer writing to myself. Good night.....or, good morning....whichever makes you feel better.

Lights, Camera, Action!

So.....i just walked out of my U.S. public policy-making class (we got out early..yesss!) and the prof. only lectured for 45 minutes. i have 10-12 pages of notes, that's front AND back. that's just madness. fortunately, the subject matter intrigues me, but most things intrigue me, even science, a little. kinda makes me wonder what it's going to be like when she lectures the whole 3 hours. i think we are going to have the first half be a quiz on the reading (usually 3-4 chapters a week, along with some journals and articles or reviews on policies and impacts and so forth) then some discussion w/ a small group to gain a better understanding of what we read, and finally, an hour and a half lecture so she can fill in the gaps that the readings left out....what? you mean there's more? now, to any normal person, well, one that likes this stuff like i do anyway, this doesn't sound incredibly impossible. unfortunately, i have, what some might call a deficiency in the memory department of my brain, and what some might call, an overabundance in the energy department. i love to learn. i love to process material, gain perspective from others (even those who might be less informed on the subject matter), and sort out how i can use what i've gained to make a contribution, whether through informing others, making informed decisions, myself, or taking action. however, so many times i have tried to retain all this information....and it just doesn't seem possible for me. i have a particularly hard time with names and dates, processes, even names of theories and who formed them and sometimes even how it all relates to the subject matter at hand. while the professor is lecturing i understand completely. while people are discussing, i can comprehend and follow the discussion. when i am reading, i can understand what the writer's intentions are....if i can stay focused long enough to get to that part. i use all of this information to form what i feel and what i need to do. unfortunately, if you asked me to back up how i feel, i might not be able to be very specific. this is very frustrating. i think i come off as flaky or unaware sometimes, especially when i am in a room full of powerful personalities (not necessarily powerful people, i usually like hanging out with them). i am so self-conscious that i am not going to be able to dig out of my brain the proper material i will need to help explain where i am coming from, that i often keep my mouth shut, or, the powerful personalities are so busy yelling at each other, there's really no room for any real discussion anyway. sometimes i try to engage in conversation with some of the quieter people, only to realize that some of them are really uninformed and choose to stay that way so they don't feel accountable or responsible. hey, sometimes it's tempting, but the better part of me that would like to pursue the higher ground won't allow me to become stagnant. thank goodness. i think what it boils down to is that i like to gain any knowledge in any subject, whether it's stats on the last football game, what the latest fads are for teenagers so i can use it to discuss where God fits in for them and gain new material for ministry, what different plays are considered "good theatre" and why, what programs are available in the community and what can we do to improve them, marlow's pyramid on what a person needs to survive (in dealing with social work and crisis situations), basic communication methods and how to improve them, technology, astronomy, zoology, psychology, Philippians Chapter 4, what's new in washington and who's griping about it and why, the latest national crisis, the most innovative fundraising ideas and how to execute them, different ideas on setting goals and being a good leader, etc. etc. etc. etc. seriously, the list goes on forever.....and that's just the information i've obtained within the last three days. i feel like i'm on information overload, but i love to be knowledgable about many different areas, so i can communicate and relate to a lot of different people. when it comes down to it, though, i realize that sometimes you have to stop and look around you and just see what's going on right now, where you are. i know that means i might not be obtaining information at that time...i hardly ever retain it anyway, right? :) but, i actually am obtaining information, just of a different sort. i'm learning about people, real people that are in my world, and what i can do to make their world a little easier. i guess that is more important than being up-to-date on the latest stats sometimes. maybe it's not so frustrating after all, maybe it's exactly how i am supposed to be to fulfill the purpose God created me for. maybe....instead of being so frustrated because i fear i'll be unable to hold my own in a conversation about different aspects of theatre, politics, or anything else....i'll just relax and realize that, that person who thought they just outsmarted me in a political debate discussing the ramifications of the Bush administration on small business, probably has no idea what the score was in the Lion's game last night....but i know a little about both :) well, i better go. i have an audition tonight....i get to go onstage and completely jump into the life of someone else for a while...and hope that i interpreted it the same way the director feels it should be....why is everything a contest?

Empty Stage

It's funny, the way your mind wanders when there's nobody around to interrupt the thought process. It's almost scary sometimes to think how far your mind can take you before you realize that you have lost yourself, for a moment, in a world that only exists because some stimuli triggered your thought process. You bring yourself slowly back to the reality that is in front of you, and hope no one could guess what you were thinking by the expression on your face. Or sometimes, when there's nothing, and after a while you force yourself to think of something to remind yourself that you are still capable of thought, and that you are not lost in the nothing that is in your head. The most intriguing, though, is the moment where everything clicks. You've been racking your brain about something, anything really, and it all comes together, and suddenly, you have a plan. Huh. It seems those moments of clarity can't last too long, though. It's nice and all, but I think I feel better when I'm processing things. It reminds me that there's always room to grow. In those moments, however, I can also sit back and appreciate how far I've come. Hm. I've learned a lot in the quiet moments.

A lot can happen in a month......

or, sometimes, nothing at all..... wow, it's almost been too long since i wrote last to catch up on everything....so i won't. spent the fourth of july in cass city with family. it rocked.....but it always does. the fourth is one of my favorite holidays, along with christmas. i've been to the church a few times, but don't really know what God is leading me to do there, yet. i'm sure that will begin to come together in the next couple of weeks. started doing a show at the zoo on saturdays...song and dance thing, with a tour of some of the animals....it's sooo disney channel, and it is a blast! still working at the juvenile home, this week is my last week.....i'm kinda having a hard time with that. junior camp at bay shore was last week, and that totally rocked!! super cal was back again, and full of energy.....got to witness one of my kids from elkton decide to make Jesus a big part of her life....i will never forget it....and i can't wait to meet up with her in heaven. my friend Jen got married this weekend, as did my friends Arin and Shupe....best of luck!! it's three thirty in the morning and i can't sleep......i have to be up in three and a half hours.....it's not looking good, but i'll manage. sometimes these restless nights are good for me....gives me some time to pray and hash things out in my head. i don't pray enough. it's a good thing my Spirit prays on my behalf with groans that go beyond words, but i still need to pray more. it's too easy to think of God as a distant relative that we only see at holidays, and maybe talk to once in a while when something reminds us of Him, or He's sent us something great. God is my Father....Jesus is my best friend....and the Holy Spirit sweeps the halls of my heart every day. there's nothing distant about that. 'night.

'Sup?

word up. i haven't written in a while, so i figured i'd log on and throw somethin' up here to keep this blog up to date. i just went to see one of my roommates in a play at svsu. it's called "waiting for godot", maybe you've heard of it. it's theatre of the absurd, so it's kinda hard to do, but they pulled it off well. props to the cast and crew! i'm workin' on the weekdays at the juvie home. i don't think i'll ever get used to wakin' up early every day, but i really like the job so it's worth it. word. i haven't started at the church. did i ever mention that i got a job as a youth director? yeah...it's at westminster presbyterian in bay city. i've only been to a presbyterian church once in my whole life, but i figure God wants me there, He loves us all the same, who am i to argue? i'm headin' to grand rapids this weekend for the annual summer picnic with the delt sigs. seriously.....rock on. alpha psi omega is up and kickin'. we had one brainstorm meeting, and one e-board meeting. the cast freakin' rocks so far! (they call them casts instead of chapters, i think that's pretty creative.) hopefully we can get some of the big planning stuff out of the way before the year starts, and just carry out said plans once the year gets rolling, hopefully with minimal yucky stuff. break a leg.... i really want to step out of my comfort zone this year with theatre and work very hard. we have a couple musicals that i believe will stretch me. i am not musically inclined, but believe i can be if i continue to work at it. i figure i will take what i can get, as long as i know i gave it my all...who am i to argue? just keep swimming.... helped out at holy cross the other day. it was good to see the guys again. a couple have gone home, and a couple more are on their way. i truly wish them the best, and know they have it in them to stay out of trouble. some will, some won't....as long as i know i did my best to love them, and guide them as much as was possible for me....i now realize it is not up to me to save them....i trust God has that taken care of.....God rocks. I just found out that one of my best friends ever, Mike "Carp" Yates, and his wife Katie are expecting a baby!!! way to go mike! yay you. i just want everyone to know that i love my mom very much....that's all. good night.

These are my crazy roommates!! 

Getting pumped up before "The Tempest" (I'm somesomewhere in the middle) 

Me and "Ferdinand" 

"The Tempest" April 2005 

"The Little Prince" 

This hat weighed like 10 pounds! 

Random 1 o'clock Thoughts

I love the fourth of july, but i'm not too fond of the eleventh. that's not meant to be funny, it is what it is. it's funny how different dates have different significance to different people, kinda like different songs or colors or smells. we all live in the same world and it means something different to each of us. we all cope differently, and react differently to the same situation. "it's what makes the world go round." not really, though, the world would go round even if there were no people on it. one time, a friend of mine had told me that it seemed like a cop out to him to give the explanation "cuz God made it that way" to everything. that made me laugh. actually, it kinda made me sad back then, but it makes me laugh now. if it were such a simple thing, wouldn't more people believe it, or even say it, at least? Abe Lincoln once said that "truth is not determined by how many people believe it." rock on, abe. people have always amazed me. i often wonder what they are thinking, what motivates them to do what they do, or say what they say. i think about how they say things compared to what's probably really going on in their minds, and what compels them to change it somewhere in-between. or how about those people that don't talk often? those people intrigue me the most, because they are usually the ones that get the most respect. i know that, yet, i still can't keep my mouth shut. you shouldn't be who you aren't to gain respect, i suppose. if i can't get it being me, i don't deserve it acting like someone else. i often say the wrong thing at the right time, or the right thing at the wrong time, but it all comes out eventually. instead of opening up the front door really wide and letting all the bugs in, i think i need to invest in a screen door for my brain, so only the cool breeze can float in, and i don't even have to worry about the bugs. i've got quite a collection, though. maybe it's time to get rid of that, too. all those stupid things i have said or done that still float through my mind, that probably nobody else cares about or even remembers. yeah...maybe i'll try to sell my bug collection on e-bay...some sucker would invest in it for sure...probably a self-sabotager looking for some new material to berade themselves with, after all..."it's what makes the world go round" right? i honestly hope that through my relationship with Jesus Christ, that circle of negativity has been broken.....i know it has. my friend, Lindsay, moved to California today....i wish her the best.

Ode to a Beautiful Day

So many times we just go and go. We forget to take the time to stop, look around, and smile. I have a keypad at my fingertips that communicates to the world the many stories, ideas, and pictures I have swirling around in my soul. That makes me smile. I often have trouble communicating what is going on in my soul at any given moment. It is as if I have an entire symphony playing in my heart, and all that comes out on paper is a piano, alone, playing a simple melody. Sometimes that can be just as sweet. This is what I see in this very moment: I am swimming, in my clothes, floating rather. I am in a pond somewhere, but nowhere, really. I am allowing myself to take in the whole view of the sky, which is a deep blue, with puffy white clouds. My arms move easily through the cool water, as I float deeper into the watercolor sky. That is enough for today. Good night.

A New Chapter Has Begun

Wow! I haven't written a journal entry since April!! I kind of forgot about my journal - which, I guess, is a positive sign, cuz I have been so busy, and things have been so great, it just never crossed my mind. Let's see....what has happened between now and then...."The Tempest" went well, considering the hardships we faced, and I now have a new appreciation for Shakespeare, I was inducted into the Theatre Honor Society of Alpha Psi Omega and was elected President for 05-06, should be a good year, I auditioned for the Theatre Scholarship along with many others, I'm keeping my fingers crossed on that one, I got a chance to emcee the big award show for the theatre department with a friend of mine and it turned out pretty good, according to the comments we have received since then, I took a chance and wrote a play for my final scene in Directing Class, it turned out pretty well, and the girls did awesome performing it, uh, school ended and I managed to keep my grades in the 3-point range, ROCK ON! Overall, I give the year an A, possibly an A+ at times! Recently, God has chosen to bless me even more. I don't know if I can take much more of this - but I'm sure I'll manage :) I moved in with three other friends of mine, and it's going well! We got a duplex in Freeland and it's super nice! I get my own room, the living room is HUGE with a cathedral ceiling, I finally have a dishwasher, and getting a washer and dryer, we have a back and front yard and a two-car garage, we have two full bathrooms and a HUGE basement that rocks! It's nice to have a computer with high-speed internet at my fingertips as well. I'm sure I'll be writing a bit more because of that, and, yes, we have a cat - but Sammy's pretty cool. I look around at what I have and get tears in my eyes because I am so lucky. I know so many people that work very hard and don't have half the luxuries I have right now. It truly makes you appreciate everything God does for you on a daily basis. I am blessed. I have been getting more hours at Holy Cross, which is very good - moving into a new place is expensive! Sometimes it is stressful and you wonder if you're getting anywhere with these guys, but then one of them completes the program, and gets to go home, and you can tell they are a different person than when they came in, and suddenly, it's worth it. Like my friend Justin said once, "we don't see the grass growing, but we know that it does." I fell into another opportunity this summer, and I'm really looking forward to getting started. I applied for an activity leader position at Essexville-Hampton Community Ed. I put together a couple workshops that I would do with the kids at the Detention Center in that area. It would just be a couple days and then I would be done. Well, it turns out their on-site coordinator can't continue through the summer, so they asked me to finish their seven-week program! That would give me thirty hours a week working with different activity leaders and hanging out with the kids all day! They also reserve two slots a week for me to do whatever workshops I come up with as well! Don't get me wrong - it's not day camp, it's lock-up, but kids are kids, and they need to have fun, too, and know that someone cares about them, even if they did mess up. I can do that job and continue with my work at Holy Cross! I'll be pretty busy, but it's so worth it. I applied at a church for a youth director position. I don't think I'm what they are looking for, but I have left it completely in God's hands. I have an itch to get into ministry again, but I have to be really careful. Once school starts back up my schedule is jam-packed crazy!! I had my first meeting as President of Alpha Psi Omega and it went well! It was just a brainstorming session, and we came up with a TON of ideas! Mostly, we just got excited about the possibilities as an organization next year. I hope we can continue that excitement through the year and accomplish many great things. I think we will... Well, I better go....I hope that catches you up a little on what's been going on with me! Things are great, God is great...but God is great all the time, whether things are great or not :) PEACE

No Sweat!

Last night I played basketball for, what felt like, hours....I actually think it was at least a couple hours. I needed that so bad. Sometimes, when my world gets stale it means I need to get off my butt and do something about it....and I did. When I got into bed last night I couldn't sleep. I stayed awake praying and thinking until 3 o'clock. I realized that all the things I was thinking about I needed to hand up to God....and I did. I didn't want to hang out with anyone yesterday. I wanted to sit by myself and take everything in. I realized that it wasn't helping me to do that, and I needed to go be with my friends, and appreciate the people God has put into my life at the present time....so I did. I know that if you have unforgiveness in your heart, chances are, God's not hearing your prayers. Looks like I have some apologizing to do, and some forgiveness to ask for......so, here I go....

Swimming, Swimming.......

So many times we feel like we are on the right track. So we begin to relax a little, let go of the wheel, get lazy. That is just what satan wants. He would rather us sit on the fence our whole lives, then to turn our back on God entirely. That way, we bring other believers down with us....and we all just sit on the fence....and wait. I'm uncomfortable sometimes. I tend to think that means it's time to move on. I have to keep reminding myself that, maybe, that's how I'm supposed to feel. This world is not my home. Maybe, when I get uncomfortable, it's just because I'm homesick. I love Mercy Me's song "Homesick". It rings so true in my heart every time I hear it. I miss my friends. I hang out with people here at school. I've gotten to know a lot of great people, and many have become good friends. However, I miss my other friends. I have a group that hangs out here in Saginaw, who I haven't even spoken to in months! My friend Janis is engaged...and I haven't been able to hug her yet and tell her congratulations...and here ALL about it! I miss my friends from Grand Rapids. There are so many people there who I love so much. Sometimes I contemplate moving back. Sometimes I contemplate moving somewhere else. I always get so restless. I have a lot of other friends who live all over the place. I wish I had more time for visiting. I think I'm going to try and open up some days to go see them all this summer. I could really use that right now. I have the play again today. It's really going well. God truly listened to all our prayers, and answered them, as only He can do. I love when I step out on that stage. It is one of the best feelings ever! It's like...you escape...for just a moment....and you get to share it with everyone else. I used to read so many books when I was little. I would lock myself in my bedroom and read for hours almost every day. This is kinda like that, but better. I get the same feeling stepping out on that stage that I used to get reading those books. You ever feel like you're not yourself sometimes? The last couple days, I feel like I haven't been myself. I think it's because my world has become stale to a certain degree. It's my own fault - I know that. I have not dove headlong into God's word in a long time. I have not taken the time, every day, to evaluate and grow and become a better person. I always do that, but lately, I haven't. I miss my alone time. I miss sitting quietly letting the wind whisper God's promises in my ear. I miss having real conversations with people about God's word, and digging to find more about His character. Sometimes, being back in school reminds me of high school. The same old gossip and politics that I despised long ago has crept up on me again. The problem is, instead of rising above it, and walking in the Lord's peace, i grow indignant towards it, and become stubborn, and....hateful. That is not who I am. That is not who I am at all....so, then it makes me sad. I know that most of the students here are younger than me....I forget that sometimes. I just want to be the person God created me to be....and I see her in me sometimes....and I like her. I just want to keep growing, and confronting those demons that have awaked a bitterness in me that comes out at the most inopportune times. I love the Lord and all He has to offer. I choose that. I choose that peace and that hope. I choose to be loved, and I choose to love others.

Five hundred twenty-five thousand six hundred minutes...

how do you measure a year in the life? that is from a song from "Rent". i would love to go see that show sometime. from my last journal (yikes!) my health has improved immensely. it took over for just over a week, and then one day, it was gone. i was beginning to think that it was a dark cloud that would be there a long time. (that just proves how "anne of green gables" i can be sometimes, caught up in the "depths of despair".) it makes me laugh to think of it now. however, when i am in the midst of it, it's not very funny. God always sustains me in those "sink or swim" moments. he's like the orange floaties on my arms that keep me afloat. i have to go to work now. things have been going well at work. the guys are really coming together as a group. yeah, they have their moments, but all of us do. there are only going to be six guys there tonight. it's nice when there are only a few, cuz that gives me a chance to give them more of the individual attention they are craving so much. it should be a good shift. tomorrow should be good as well. many of the guys are at home until monday, so tomorrow there will be only half of the group. hopefully, in the spirit of the holiday, i might be able to talk to the guys a little bit about Jesus' ressurection, but only if they ask. God guide me through such a conversation! "the tempest" is going well, i think. shakespeare is hard to memorize and even more difficult to comprehend without some sort of help. however, once you have the language down, and understand the message he is trying to convey, it is wonderful to perform! i am a bit concerned about the lead man, who plays my father, but he does have a lot of lines (more than all the rest of us combined) and i'm sure he'll work hard this weekend to get them memorized. we have our first dress rehearsal on monday, and opening night on friday! i'm curious to see what kind of crowd we get. i am so glad that i get to be a part of it. i think we will pull of a very good show. i am running for president of the theatre honor society alpha psi omega. ha. i never thought i would ever "go greek", but this is really important to me. i have a lot of ideas, and i think i have a pretty good chance of winning the election. i hope so. i also have been working hard the last week to catch up on my classes. i have a final scene in my directing class and my acting class that i want to nail! i have been searching through scripts today (it takes a long time!) and have found some pretty good ones in the mix. now i also have to catch up in my poetry class. unfortunately, that is the class that has fallen from my priorities, and it's the hardest one! i really want to keep my grade point up and stay on the dean's list!! it means a lot to me to be on it, it's just hard to find the time to balance everything right now. i talk to God on a regular basis. unfortunately, i know i do not give Him the time that He deserves. it's to my own loss, because i have not received the blessings that could come forth if only i would give the time and energy to His will. how is it, that that is the one thing that is so easily dropped when time is in short supply. that is the one thing that should be most important. God has not forgotten me in spite of it, and i have not forgotten Him. i love that He has blessed me with a hunger to pursue Him when i have stepped away, even for a short time. God has really provided people to hold me accountable (sometimes it is someone i least expect). i would love to type more, but i do not want to be late for work. i am so grateful for the opportunity to work, to do what i love to do, to be surrounded by loving people, and to be sustained and blessed as i go through each day, whether or not i deserve it. "five hundred twenty-five thousand six hundred minutes.....how do you measure a year in the life."

i just can't shake it

it's been a full week, and i still can't shake whatever's stealing my energy. i sit and have no desire to do anything. i really just want to go home and go to bed. my throat has been swollen and i just can't lick this thing!! i have rehearsal tonight....then off somewhere else with my brother. hopefully everything works out for the best with all of it. i can't wait for classes to be over!! God is still so good to me....He has been here for me through all of this....I am so grateful to my God for someone to cling to...Jesus!

Crooked Staircase

Call was at 12:30 - it's 1 so many things swimming - no sharks, just whales the whales of responsibility and deadlines how many hours does it take to write a paper? how many hours you got? be a flower, be a lady, be a tempest, be an ice cream cone, ahhh, paint my face and call me rosy but don't call me at three in the morning, zzzzzz Satan yells with clangs and cymbols God whispers in my dreams with wistful songs of peace the stage is dark, black, i cannot see a soul the lights blaze and i am smiling, dreams come true the light is coming from my soul, the Spirit shines A crown of beauty instead of ashes as i drop kick my urn into the ocean I say to the devil "check-mate"

I'm late, I'm later, Crap! I missed it.....

I feel that sums things up pretty good. I don't really have time to type.....must go to rehearsal, aughhhh! I realized last night, as I was hopping into bed around 3 a.m. that I had completely forgotten about my online journal...like, I didn't even think about it once since the last time I wrote. That's wierd....usually I will at least think about it (doesn't mean I'll necessarily do anything about it) but I had completely erased it from my thoughts. I have been busy.....very busy......and I keep getting busier.....but I like my life. God has blessed me greatly!! -My brother is staying with me, cuz he got a job over here in Bay City, so that's been fun -School is getting busier - with scenes to perform, papers to write, projects due, and exams! -I have been rehearsing for "The Little Prince", performances start in a week! -I got the lead female role in "The Tempest" (yay!!!!!!) and rehearsals have begun, YIKES! -Work has been uber-stressful, and I'm trying to squeeze in hours anywhere I can! -I am also helping out by being in scenes for other people's directing classes and things -My mentor said that she would love to continue meeting and discussing God's character and His plan for my life (yay!) -I continue to cast all of my anxieties on the Lord on a daily basis, and He has sustained me!!! -I actually have an hour today to go home and get something to eat (my apartment is a mess!) I know this sounds like a lot, and it definitely is a lot. However, I am having a good time, and still have a peace that transcends all understanding, as long as I keep God in front of me. I still manage to smile and find joy. Yes, I am tired sometimes, but it is a good tired, a fulfillment that comes from a sense of accomplishment and purpose. I do want to start putting a little more time and effort into homework and classwork, getting all I can out of what's being offered to me at this time. I better go....the hour is dwindling....To God Be The Glory!!!