Manic couple of weeks. Turned in an essay, gave a presentation, and came up with three possible dissertation topics. I'm exhausted. Seriously just weary. That's the only way I can describe it. Just weary. So ready for the term to end so I can just focus on the dissertation and nothing else. Hard to believe the first of the two weeks covered in this post was Reading Week aka Half Term! I'm now more than halfway through my last semester of my masters! Four weeks left. The end of April after Easter break will involve turning in an essay and taking two exams for the start of 'third term' but that's all.
Been super tired, but I'm very glad I have some classmate buddies to do work with this term, namely Francesca and Andrew. Francesca and I have been tag-teaming the research for our Silk Road essays. Since our topics are related, we have to look at a lot of the same sources, which means we can each take half and tell each other if we find anything! So far so good. We had to present on our essay topics last week and we were the only ones who didn't get negative comments from the professor so far. That was a huge load off. At least I know I'm on the right track for this essay.
Work:
I've gotten my full 20 hours in these past few weeks. It's probably contributing to the tiredness, but I'll be glad to get that paycheck! I've been really glad to get more opening and closing shifts rather than ones in the middle of the day.
Hockey:
We've had our games cancelled the past three weeks. The first two were due to so called frozen pitch. This past Saturday the opposition cancelled for a reason unknown to me. Training this past Thursday was fun though because the guys' team needed another keeper, so I got to play with them. Love the faster pace!
Church:
Last week, for the Sunday evening service we watched the movie Courageous as a church. If you haven't seen it, you really should.
Last week was also the breaking of the fast. Like NLAG, CBC also did a 21 day fast. It's funny how things I thought I would get answers about are not what I got answers about, but instead I got answers and reminders I wasn't even looking for or didn't realize I needed.
"My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts," says the LORD. "And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts" (Isaiah 55:8-9).
"The LORD directs our steps, so why try to understand everything along the way?" (Proverbs 20:24). Do I need to understand everything? No, I can still do what is required of me without that. "No, O people, the LORD has told you what is good, and this is what he requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God" (Micah 6:8).
We had a visiting pastor come in from Minnesota on Wednesday. He preached to us Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday nights as well as Sunday morning and evening. The theme was overcoming demonic strongholds in our lives. Something to think about - "Addictions come when you choose the wrong master. When you don't choose God as your master, you get Satan by default." What have you chosen or not chosen? If you've chosen God, are you allowing him full access to the entirety of your life? Is he your master on more than just Sunday morning? Do you give everyday, every action, and every thought to God?
"Dear children, keep away from anything that might take God's place in your hearts" (1 John 5:21).
Randoms:
Thank you for praying for my cousin Stephen. He is back in the States. :)
Ran my fastest half-marathon of my life on Friday! Guess I should run scared of being late for work more often lol... however, I then just wanted to nap for the duration of my shift...
The weekend was beautiful and sunny. Loved it. After a recovery run on Saturday, Paula and I sat in the hot tub at her and Bobby's place and chatted about life. I stayed with them Friday and Saturday nights so that I wouldn't have to tube back and forth for all of the preaching this weekend. It was really refreshing and so nice to relax a bit before heading back into school stuff.
The Friday of Reading Week I got to spend some time with Ingefleur at the National Gallery. We were amused that we both wanted to head to the Impressionist section first. She is an awesome sister in Christ and I enjoy hearing what she has to say. And then this past Sunday her mom visited from Holland and brought me stroopwafels! Guess I should keep her around! ;)
The ladies of CBC met for pizza this past Saturday before the service for pizza at an authentic Italian pizzeria. Oh boy was it different!
Introduced the Messersmiths to Chinese mooncake. I bought some at a bakery in Chinatown for one of the six children's birthdays last weekend. I'm pleased to report that everyone loves red bean!
Sang a quartet with Lisa, Emily, and Cori on Sunday. Kenny is visiting from the Messersmith's home church in Maryland and since he's a piano performance major he has given Cori a break from playing piano. Funny thing is that all four of us since the alto part in choir (Cori would if she weren't the pianist.) Lisa and I ended up with the soprano. It was one of those songs that I feel like if it were a half step higher I would not be able to sing it! Thankfully, we all hit our notes. :)
So incredibly thankful for my church family both here and abroad. People to mourn with you, rejoice with you, learn with you, and teach you.
"God showed how much he loved us by sending his one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him. This is real love - not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins. Dear friends, since God loved us that much, we surely ought to love each other. No one has ever seen God. But if you love each other, God lives in us, and his love is brought to full expression in us... All who confess that Jesus is the Son of God have God living in them, and they live in God. We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in his love" (1 John 4:9-16).
Thinking about a flight home for part of the summer. Prices skyrocket at the end of June, so I'm thinking end of May or early June. Any leads on good deals let me know.
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