And it has begun.

Today is the first day of classes. It's finally really here. This past week has been a blur of being overloaded with information about every detail an RA could ever possibly need to know, checking in all the girls on my floor, and seeing dear friends. It's been hard at times and marvelous at others. I've already decided I'm a failure as an RA more than once and that I'm not at all fit for the job - and then at other times I've realized it's only the beginning and I have pleanty of time to get it all down. I can honestly say the Lord has been amazingly faithful the last few days. I hit a wall a couple times and didn't think I could do it and he so graciously stepped in and reminded me that of course I can't do it, that's why I have to rely on him. He has also been so wonderful and putting people in my life, a few girl friends and my dear boy, who remind me of that when I am too overwhelmed to remember it myself. It looks like this won't be the easiest year of my life, but I'm excited because I think I'll learn a lot - and not mostly from the classroom either (sadly I have finished most of my classes for my major and am stuck taking a bunch of Gen Ed's this term).
I appreciate any prayers any of you have prayed for me this past week. I've needed them badly at times and I'm sure I'll continue to need them. I am very encouraged at the moment though. My Jesus really does love me.

6 months.

And it just keeps getting better and better.

August in pictures

That's right, she was about to get married. And she wasn't joking around.

You know you've found a keeper when he buys you a kite for your 1 month anniversary (or at least tries to and succeeds on the second try). We flew it on the Oregon coast. It just doesn't get much better than that does it?

My favorite place.

My favorite geographical location: Oneada falls.

My two favorite boys. Getting to know each other.

No photos yet.

I wanted to follow up on my previous promise to include photos of the listed activities I have enjoyed in the last month - it might be a while because wireless is down on campus, so I can't use my computer for a bit.
We're in the thick of RA training right now. It's kind of tiring because it's a lot of meetings and information all day long and then I have to use most of my spare moments to continue setting up my floor and my room - but it's alright. I'm just happy I don't have any meeting tonight.
My floor will start filling up on Thursday when my 8 transfers should arrive for orientation week, then the other 4 girls should be there sometime later that week. Classes start next wednesday.
Mmmm, at least Michael's here right now. Makes it all so much better.

Woops!

So an intire month has passed and I haven't blogged once. I have failed you all miserably. I am truly sorry, and I humbly repent. (Ooo, is it ok to use liturgy out of context? Oh well, few of you probably recognize it as such anyway).
So much has happened in the last month too!
-Jenny got married! I was a bridesmaid. It was an incredible wedding. I can't believe my dear Jenny's all grown up and married now!
-Michael came to visit for over a week and it was one of the best weeks of my life. It was so fun to show him off to all my loved once and so off all my favorite places to him.
-My sister and Viggo and my adorable nephew Daniel came to visit. Michael got to meet them too, and hold his very first baby, my nephew. (We like to refer to Daniel as our "love child" because a. it's funny and b. he was born the day after we started "going steady" so we like to think that his growth is a reflection of the growth of our love. Which means we're almost crawling and we laugh when tickled!)
-My family went on vacation to Lumi Island of the San Juan Islands in Washington. It was really fun and relaxing and great family time, and A LOT of gathering around the baby smiling really big at him time.
-Michael turned 20. For one month we are only 1 year apart instead of 2! We're loving it. (Actually we never think of it, because it makes no difference in us as a couple, but it's still fun to say).
-I returned to Wheaton, was picked up by three of my good friens and hit the floor running with preparation for being an RA this coming year.
-All of the RAs and other student leaders went on a week long camp at Wheaton's camp, which is called "Honey Rock" in Northern Wisconsin. It was a great time to get to know all my fellow Upper Class Halls RAs and also Michael was there and a few other good friends of ours, so it was great to have a mix of meeting new people and spending time with already dear ones. I remembered that camping is wonderful, but discovered that canoeing for long periods of time is not.
-Now I'm back on campus getting things ready. Students start arriving on Thursday! I am on the smallest floor on campus. I only have 13 women, while several of floors have as many as 50, and nine of my women are transfer students, so I'm really looking forward to that.

It should be a good but busy year.
I would really like to include pictures of all of these various things right now, but I don't have time and my interenet's being slow. I'll try and do a complementary picture list to this word list soon though.
I'm sorry for being so remiss in my blogging duties. Forgive me?