Here today, gone tomorrow

Yesterday, being Monday, several of us girls ate our lunch outside in the cold and snow.  (I am sorry I do not have pictures to show for it.)  Because our picnic tables have been put in storage for the winter, we sat in the wooden play fort.  There was roughly three inches of snow on the ground, it was in the mid-30's with a slight breeze, and my fingers were frozen by the time we were done.  More than one person (teachers included) declared us as "crazy" as we took our laden plates out of the school.  I must admit that I was slightly inclined to agree with them.  :)

And then....today.  I am kicking myself for not having taken my camera out yesterday, because today the snow is completely GONE.  Completely.  It warmed up in the afternoon (40-ish) and we got quite a bit of rain during the evening/night.  I had no idea snow could melt away so quickly.  I am told there is supposed to be another storm coming in tonight, so hopefully the ground will be white when I wake up again tomorrow.  If I am going to live in Michigan during the winter months, I might as well enjoy the full effects of a snowy winter.  I may have to eat my words by the time April rolls around.




If you look really carefully you will see sitting in there.  "Hi!"


As I side note, the following is what happens when I give my camera to Lindsey and ask her to take a picture for me...


Self portraits.


                                      
"Enough already!"

Funny friend. :) 

Hello, snow

Yesterday during sleep chapel I did just that: sleep.  It began snowing during the first period, and when I woke up it was coming down in big, feathery flakes.  It was fun watching it floating down as I was lying there.  So pretty.

Just back from Greek class.  AWESOME!!  This class has been fantastic so far.  And thankfully, my brain doesn't feel like it's about to explode.  I'm actually getting it.  And getting it quickly.  (Or at least more quickly than I though I would.)  The teacher is really good too.

Well.....homework.

Relief!

Today in Prophets we were informed that there was a slight discrepancy in our syllabus.  It turns out that only Isaiah and Zephaniah need to be read by Monday.  Suddenly, my weekend feels much more open. 

It is another sunny, blue, blue day.  There is hardly a cloud in the sky.......which will definitely have an effect on the temperatures tonight.  It is forecasted to drop down to 17* with a high 17* tomorrow.  Brrr!  Even now it is only 24* outside.  Dad says it is time to get out the woollen long johns. 

Tonight we are having a kick off dorm party complete with "The Mighty Ducks" (thanks, Josh!!) and brownie sundaes.  Perfect.

Thank you for all who prayed for my roommate.  God pushed her all the way to the day before she was supposed to return to school, and then provided over and above what she needed.  This is the second time He has done this for her.  Praise the Lord, every last one of the girls are back in room #325.  God is good.

Say what?!

Isaiah
Jeremiah 
Hosea 
Joel
AmosJonah
Micah
Nahum
Zephaniah

.....must be read by Monday.  !!!  It's a good thing I started reading during break.  But even still I'm only on chapter 40 of Isaiah.

The book we are using for Greek Study Tools is really good.  I appreciate the author's attitude.  Following is a quote from his introduction:

"There are limitations to our approach, or what I like to call "baby Greek." You will not be learning the full language, and my concern is that you will forget that you know only a little. I’m going to give you the ability to sound authoritative by citing Greek and Hebrew words and grammar, and perhaps be completely wrong. I actually put off writing this book for several years because of this concern, but I finally came to the conclusion that it's not a little Greek that proves dangerous. It's a little bit of pride that proves dangerous.

"If you don't respect this fact, then these tools can become just another way in which you can be wrong."

I like that.  It can apply to so many different areas of our lives.

**Edit**
I need someone good at English grammar to help me with my Greek homework. 

Currently Reading Greek for the Rest of Us: Using Greek Tools Without Mastering Biblical Languages By William D. Mounce see related

On the street where I live

It is a beautiful day!  To look outside you would think I was still in sunny California.  With the exception of the snow, of course.  The temperature is slightly colder than CA too... 




From what I understand, these blue, sunny days are rare indeed for the winter in this part of the country.




Happy Wednesday!

Then again...

Oops! So much for getting to bed by 10:00. I just found out I have reading to do for my Greek Study Tools class tomorrow.

YIKES!! What have I gotten myself into??

Ready for a new semester

Twelve hours of sleep can do wonders. 

The snow flakes have been drifting down lightly all morning.  I just finished registering for the rest of my classes and the rest of the day is pretty much open until orientation at 7:00 this evening. 

When I walked into the dorm last night it was almost as if I had never left, which is not necessarily a good thing.  While I was home on break I thought back over the semester and tried to evaluate what things worked well for me and what habits I need to change.  I realized that it would be very (VERY) easy to slip right back into those habits that I want to change.  Change of this sort will require a very conscious effort of my part.  And always God's grace.

That being said, I am off for now to make sure my desk, binders, and papers are organized and ready for classes tomorrow.  Happy Tuesday!

All good things...

...must come to an end, as the saying goes.  It was wonderful, WONDERFUL being home for a month.  Loved every bit of it.  (I miss our afternoon coffee, Mom.)

My flights were uneventful and I find myself back in my room at school looking out on snow dusted buildings.  The wind is blowing, but thankfully there is no new snow fallen.  Orientation is tomorrow evening, and then we jump into classes bright and early on Wednesday.  Following are the required sophomore classes I will be taking this semester:

Theology
Hermeneutics II (Dispensation)
Anthropology/Hamartiology
Christology
Bible Basis for Missions
Prophets
Life of Christ
Acts
I Corinthians  (whew!!)For my electives I am registered for:

Greek Study Tools
Prayer Practicum
Discipleship
Islam (audit)
Partnership Development (audit)

If I make it through February without dying, I should survive the whole semester.  :)

But for now I don't even want to think about classes.  I have my suitcases to unpack and I have that I've-been-traveling-all-day-and-I'm-tired-and-borderline depressed-and-I'd-rather-be-sleeping-in-my-own-bed-in-California feeling.  Ah, but no pity.  A good night's sleep and I'll be as good as new tomorrow.

**Edit**

It is 5:15pm CA time, and Esther is going to bed.

Why not?

At 4:30 she finally gave in and made the coffee she had been thinking about all afternoon.  Yummy.

Currently Reading
Just Jane: A Novel of Jane Austens Life
By Nancy Moser

"Unable to find her own Mr. Darcy, she created him."  Sad! This quote is taken from the back cover of the above noted book.

My sis-in-law gave me this book for my birthday.  It is a novel based on the life of Jane Austen.  Mel said she had a hard time putting it down once she started reading it. It looks like the perfect book to read on the plane ride back to school.  I can imagine that I'll be able to finish it during the semester, but that is probably wishful thinking.  I was surprised how busy classes and study kept me this last semester.  Crazy!  But good.   We did so much reading that when I was ready for some down time, a book was one of the last things I thought of.  Just hanging with friends or a good doesn't-require-me-to-use-my-brain movie were the best relaxers.

Speaking of relaxing, this break at home has been perfect.  When I first got home it seemed like four weeks was NOT going to be enough time at all, but the days have drifted by quite nicely.  I'm afraid my good intentions of getting ahead on some reading for next semester have been just that: good intentions.  Last night I was ashamed to realize that it had been three days since I last read my Bible.  My first reaction was guilt, and then I realized that I was only hurting myself.  God does not value me based on how much I read my Bible or how "good" I am.  Bible study is for my own benefit.  It is only through reading God's word that I will draw closer to Him and become more like His son through the renewing of my mind.  How will I come to know God better if I do not spend time with Him?  Time.  It takes a conscious effort on my part.  I sincerely hope to have a part-time job when I get back to school with the main purpose of building relationships with unbelievers.  Neglecting my time with the Lord is certainly NOT going to help me in being a light to those around me.

Coffee break

This morning I find myself back at my old workplace.  And I love it!  Driving to work with Mark felt like the most natural thing in the world.  I was so thankful when Randy called me just after I got home and asked if I was still interested in helping with the year end reports.  "Yes!  I am definitely interested."  I really enjoyed the work I did, and it's nice to be able to do the W-2's, etc. one more time.  The extra cash will be nice for school too.  :)