School has already started and I'm beginning to feel overwhelmed. I decided not to row this semester. I think that will end up being a good decision, though deeply saddening because I love the people on the team. And classes are looking..crazy busy. But if I work on them steadily I'll be able to handle it. No midterms!! And only a couple big papers.. and two big projects at the end of the semester, so that's looking good. I think that puts me at only 2 finals too.. very nice. Mentoring is going well also.. we have our first dinner together on Sunday and I am quite excited I'm making ravioli.. with spinach and cheese.. a good combo in my opinion, I only hope it will go over as well as I am planning it to. And I think chocolate mousse will be on the menu as well... I need to use up my lactose free whip cream somehow Plus it's phenomenal...

In other notes, I am enjoying spending time with friends, it is very good to be around so many friendly faces and people who love communicating with each other. I love being with others who love God and love people and love growing together, it's refreshing. And I had a thought about a week ago that caught me off guard a bit. This is the first year that I have been up here where I have yet to desire to go home. I am supposed to be here. I am becoming more independent.. and I actually don't want to live at home next summer. True, I have thought that last sentence before, but now when I think it, it is without feeling guilty.

Hmm.. so.. Ooh! I'm reading a fantastic book in my sociology of religion class entitled The Mountain of Silence by Kyriacos Markides. Basically it is a conversation between him and a monk in Cyprus about the world today. When I'm reading it I keep thinking that this conversation took place decades ago, but in reality, it was within the last 10 years. It is highly relevant to today, and I love learning about the monastic lifestyle. If I thought I could live a life of getting up at 3:30 every morning and eating only legumes and other vegetables..and perhaps some grain, I would be drawn to that path.. but I fear I am human and enjoy a variety of food and like the outside world. But I have huge respect for those who devote their life soley to Christ and serving others through that. And I find it amazing how much knowledge they have of God. A differnt kind of knowledge too. I'm so used to here where it's all about head knowledge, and then there, in the monasteries, it's knowledge of the heart of God. They know Him intimately, in a way that I can only dream of knowing Him, because I live in the world, where there is school and work and people who aren't necessarily here with the same purpose in mind as me. I would love to visit a monastary (or nunnery) as a haven..a place for rest and restoration, to be refreshed and learn from those who walk with God on a daily basis and aren't concerned with the affairs of the world.

Anyway..that's my $0.02 and what's been going on with me.

I've been wanting to do a new entry for awhile now but have been at a loss as to what to write about. I'm in the middle of an excellent book by John and Stasi Eldgedge entitled "Captivating" (yes, Rachel, finally started to read it...) and I have been thoroughly enjoying it. I will post more on that when I am finished with it, which I'm hoping will be in the next couple days.. I'm also working a crazy amount. I think it seems like so much because my evenings are pretty much all taken up and I have class in the mornings. The camping trip in August is starting to look really nice...except for the whole weekawaywithjustmyfamily thing. At least my dog will be there too...and I'm bringing my bike. I only have two weeks left of my Spanish class.. kind of crazy. I will probably miss the people that I sit with, but at the same time be very glad for it to be over.

Something that God has been reminding me of lately..and I'm trying to ignore it but it keeps coming back, is that I should be content in the moment. I need to be more present. I keep looking forward to what's going to be happening next and that's helping to keep me from fully experiencing the now. My argument back to that is that I don't much like the now and therefore am perfectly fine with not fully experiencing it.. *sigh* but He has a point..and I should listen, because even though I don't like work and am tired of always being busy, and usually want to be somewhere else, I get a subtle feeling that I am missing out on something. But I don't know what.

...on another note, I think I received the biggest compliment of my life this morning. A dear friend emailed me and said that if she could only see one person from North America she would pick me. I think I should hold on to that one for the rest of my life, even if it isn't true ten years from now, it's true right now, and it will continue to be true for awhile. And that makes me very happy. Makes me wish I had the money to fly to Romania right now...

Ooh! I went to see Hairspray with my mother this morning.. definitely have been singing the last few songs to myself, and at times out loud today. I can't help it! I really just want to break out and dance and hang out with friends laughing and singing along... I think "You Can't Stop the Beat" should become my new theme song for the year. It's...empowering.

OK, well.. sleep is calling me and those 12 hours of work tomorrow would be done much better (and with a healthier attitude) with adequate sleep preceding them.