Do you know what's really cool? To be renewed, that's what! And do you know what's also really cool?! To know that you're right where God wants you! But wait! There's more! Guess what else is amazing?! To know that when you finally stop playing it cool and just cry out to God, He hears you, and He answers in a mighty way!! Praise Jesus!

Praise the Lord from the heavens, praise him in the heights above. Praise him, all his angels, praise him, all his heavenly hosts. Praise him, sun and moon, praise him, all you shining stars.
Psalms 148: 1-3

Oh, another official favorite song... I can have lots, right?

There's more that rises in the morning
Than the sun
And more that shines in the night
Than just the moon
It's more than just this fire here
That keeps me warm
In a shelter that is larger
Than this room

And there's a loyalty that's deeper
Than mere sentiments
And a music higher than the songs
That I can sing
The stuff of Earth competes
For the allegiance
I owe only to the Giver
Of all good things

So if I stand let me stand on the promise
That you will pull me through
And if I can't, let me fall on the grace
That first brought me to You
And if I sing let me sing for the joy
That has born in me these songs
And if I weep let it be as a man
Who is longing for his home

There's more that dances on the prairies
Than the wind
More that pulses in the ocean
Than the tide
There's a love that is fiercer
Than the love between friends
More gentle than a mother's
When her baby's at her side

And there's a loyalty that's deeper
Than mere sentiments
And a music higher than the songs
That I can sing
The stuff of Earth competes
For the allegence
I owe only to the Giver
Of all good things

So if I stand let me stand on the promise
That you will pull me through
And if I can't let me fall on the grace
That first brought me to You
And if I sing let me sing for the joy
That has born in me these songs
And if I weep let it be as a man
Who is longing for his home

And if I stand let me stand on the promise
That you will pull me through
And if I can't let me fall on the grace
That first brought me to You
And if I sing let me sing for the joy
That has born in me these songs
And if I weep let it be as a man
Who is longing for his home

And if I weep let it be as a man
Who is longing for his home

Erin's official favorite song...

The pathway is broken
And the signs are unclear
And I don’t know the reason why you brought me here
But just because you love me the way that you do
I’m gonna walk through the valley
If you want me to

Cause I’m not who I was
When I took my first step
And I’m clinging to the promise you’re not through with me yet
So if all of these trials bring me closer to you
Then I will go through the fire
If you want me to

It may not be the way I would have chosen
When you lead me through a world that’s not my home
But you never said it would be easy
You only said I’d never go alone

So when the whole world turns against me
And I’m all by myself
And I can’t hear you answer my cries for help
I’ll remember the suffering your love put you through
And I will go through the valley
If you want me to

I am sleepy. The end.

So classes start in dos dias. Wow, so things weren't busy enough, so we're just gonna throw a little class into the mix. Sounds like fun :-) Training is done. Now that was a good time. I totally underestimated the amount of time that was gonna take up- pretty much every waking moment (and some unpleasant dreams...) were consumed by Housing since my last class ended (which was, btw, a very happy day). Hm, just found a spot on my leg that I must've missed shaving this morning, hate when that happens. Anyways, made it through check-in without a hitch, although I don't really remember that day- no sleep the night before, a 4 am run, a 6 am Bible study, 8 am check-in... 6 pm bed time :-D

I'm so excited about this year's Housing staff- they are all SO awesome! I never would have imagined that I would have found such an amazing group of people who are SO in love with Jesus in training! Thank you, Jesus! They are an incredible encouragement. Lenka, well goodness, she lived in my building last semester, and I never got to know her, but she is so much fun and has such strength in Christ. And Daniel, wow, he is quite possibly the funniest, most amusing person I've met in a long time, and I just love how when he starts to talk about Jesus, he gets so excited- you can see his eyes light up, and he can hardly contain his passion! And Jon, another wow, that kid has GOT to go into the ministry- I could listen to him talk forever- I learn so much in just a few minutes- he's one of those guys that has "wisdom beyond his years"- one of those people that you are just so glad has chosen to be obedient to Christ. Goodness, that's not even all of them- they are such a blessing to me!

My residents are so awesome! I just love all of them! Sure makes my "job" easier. They just seem like a really great group of people, and I'm really looking forward to getting to know them better- like, for real, I'm such a nerd! I'm really excited about it!

Did an 8 mile run the other day. I should always drink coffee before I run, not to mention, some good ole hard-core Jesus time sure makes it easier. I miss my family- can't remember the last time I went home. Headed out this weekend, although I'd really like to be here the first weekend, but they'll just have to understand.

Ok, I'm sleepy for real this time. Goodnight world :-)

sorta mostly moved into Sanford... my room is way too cool ;-) the bathroom... is not :(
last exam tomorrow... probably don't need to take it since one of them gets dropped... but my prof won't say how much the curve on the first two tests will be, so I'm gonna have to pull an all-nighter for a measely five points that I'll probably get through a curve... I'm peeved
my face makes me want to cry... no really, stupid body/humidity/stress that makes my face look like I'm pubescent or something stupid like that... I eat NO junk, and I'm such a skincare freak, inside and out, so why in the world do I, of all people, have this problem?! I'll tell you why, because I run in the stinkin' 500% humidity and sweat 4 pounds of water off every day... if it's not one thing, it's another...
I need to finish my chem homework... but it's hard :(
my very good friend is sad which makes me very sad :( boys are so stinkin' dumb, even the good ones, but it's ok, because I know that Jesus will bring extravagent love if we just follow His perfect Will :-D
ok, I've procrastinated enough... time to torture myself with chem
ooo, Higher Grounds is my new favorite place ;-) I suppose it has to be if you're willing to drive two hours to get to it!
I love my life... thank you, Jesus! :-)