This week was a big week for me. I really thought about what my vocation is. I mean, I've thought about that for a long time, but I've also struggled with it as well. For about a year now I've been questioning what I chose as the path for my life. I've been exploring, praying, thinking... and now I know what I want to do. Even if it means adding more work for myself. Before yesterday, I was a dramatic media major. Now, I'm a dramatic media AND theology major. I'm amazed at what I've done, because when I entered college a little more than a year ago I didn't EVER think that I was going to head down this path. But lots of things have made me really think about my vocation. I just got to the point that I had to dive into raging waters, even if I didn't know whether I'd sink or swim.

There is one song in particular that I've found myself listening to over and over again recently. I've found that the words really speak to me. In fact, I'm pretty sure that these words have given me the encouragement to dive into a new direction for my life. As I write this I am listening to this song, and I'll probably never stop loving the message that I've heard in these lyrics. The song is called "Dive." It's sung by Steven Curtis Chapman. Some of you may recognize these words:

The long-awaited rains have fallen hard upon the thirsty ground
Have carved their way to where the wild and rushing river can be found
And like the rains I have been carried here to where the river flows, yeah
My heart is racin' and my knees are weak as I walk to the edge
I know there is no turning back once my feet have left the ledge
And in the rush I hear a voice, it's telling me it's time to
Take the leap of faith
So here I go

I'm diving in
I'm going deep
In over my head I wanna be
Caught in the rush
Lost in the flow
In over my head I wanna go
The river's deep
The river's wide
The river's water is alive
So sink or swim
I'm diving in...

Those are just some of the words to the song. So here I go. I'm diving into a new chapter of my life, and I've never been more excited! I'm so thankful to everyone at TLU who has encouraged me to take this leap of faith. I have learned so much about myself and my calling in the past year, and for that I am grateful to God. I think about what life would be like if I hadn't decided to come to TLU, and I am reminded everyday that I have made one of the best decisions ever.

So whether I sink or swim, I'm just going to dive in!

Have a wonderful week!

My birthday has been another reminder to me of how independent I've become during the past year. I haven't been home much, so I'm adjusting to not really seeing my parents. I know that although I hate not celebrating my birthday with my family, I have to get used to that idea. At least I will have Thanksgiving and Christmas to celebrate at home. That might be just enough celebration with my family!

I got some awesome birthday gifts, though! I got a guitar from my family (who wants to teach me how to play???) and fuzzy socks from my roommate (because our dorm room is FREEZING cold). I can't believe that today is over, but I'm kind of glad, too, because it means that time is going by quickly.

I have so much to do, though! My list gets longer and longer by the minute. I have a ton of tests and assignments due in the next couple of weeks, so I have to get working on that stuff. And I'm going to be off campus for the next couple of weekends (unfortunately I won't be here for homecoming), so I won't have much time to get stuff done. And advising and registration is quickly approaching, so I have to make some pretty big decisions pretty quickly!

More later!

I go through phases like this. Maybe it's because I've written some pretty great papers and assignments over the past couple of weeks. Maybe it's because I'm tired and just want some rest. Maybe it's because I am over halfway through the semester and I am beginning to lack the motivation I need to get things done. Whatever is causing this block, I know that I am going to spend the next few weeks trying to get back on track. Dress rehearsals for our fall show begin tomorrow night, so a week from now I'm going to be finishing that and taking the time to breathe. And get stuff done. Probably more of the latter.

Anyway, I've gotten over one case of writer's block. I've managed to write something for this blog! Just time to work on overcoming the block for all my other assignments...

Oh, and right here I'm going to insert the following: Come see "The Rimers of Eldritch" in Jackson Auditorium this coming weekend! It's going to be really awesome! I love getting people to come see shows. We always need an audience.

I hope to see you all there! Have a fantastic night!

"I can't believe that we're already halfway through the semester. Time is flying by so quickly! It is mid-semester and I have already learned and discovered so much. I've learned more about my friends and myself. I've read thousands of words in textbooks and heard hours of lectures. I've written pages upon pages of my own thoughts and ideas. But most importantly I have learned more about life and how to live."

Every statement that I have written is true. I have learned so much, both inside and outside of the classroom. I also wrote the following in closing out my journal entry:

"College is continuous education--I'm always learning, both in and out of the classroom. I have learned so much already this year, and I know there is much more to come. I am going to work my hardest to continue to set and achieve goals, and I pray that God will guide me and will continue to grant me the courage and perseverance to get through the rest of this semester."

Those are my mid-semester reflections. I'm feeling good about this semester. I have from the beginning. Big things are happening in my life. I am so grateful for all of the fun I have had and lessons I've learned so far this semester, and I know that the best is yet to come.

So I end this blog entry by saying thank you, TLU... thank you to all of my professors, mentors, friends, and everyone who has helped me so far this semester. I've already learned so much, and I know some of the most important lessons are yet to come.

Have an awesome mid-semester break, everyone!

Awesome news: I finally got rain boots! They came in the mail last week. Whoever thought I would be extremely excited to see a package slip in my mailbox? Actually, I'm always excited to see mail in my mailbox. Even if it's a silly note from my mom (which those do get annoying after the first couple), I just love the excitement I get when I pick up mail. Getting my rain boots was great, too, because they came in on Friday, and I got to put them to good use right away! Getting around campus is now a little bit easier with them, although all the water and mud is still pretty annoying.

Hmmm.... I can't think of much else to say. I can't believe that we're hitting the halfway mark of the semester! Time is flying so quickly. Soon we'll be into December and Christmas will be just around the corner! I just have to get through this week first. As long as I can get through the next three weeks, actually, all will be well.

More to come later!

So, tonight I write a note for students, both current and future: use the library. I'm sad that I haven't used it to my advantage so far during my college career. Yes, I have gone there to use the computers, to print things out, and to do research (I did check out several books last semester), and I've had to go there to look at readings on reserve, but up to this day I have yet to use the library to its full potential. It is a great resource to use. It's a great place to research, study, and in my case, write. I'm going to make it a goal to use the library more often!

I'll let you know how my library adventures go!

Having good friends and roommates makes college life so much easier. I hope that everyone has someone with whom they can laugh hard and often. It has made me so much happier, and it has made me cherish the friendships that I have made. I am sure I've written about this before, but tonight was just another example of why I am grateful that God has blessed me with so many wonderful people. The people here at TLU are so awesome, and I've met some of the most awesome friends because I came here. These are the friends I will have for life. I just know it!

It's getting late, I'm tired (I really don't know why), and I should get some sleep because I have yet another busy day tomorrow. Luckily I got all of my reading for this week done! It makes life so much easier. Maybe I just need some sleep right now. Actually, going to bed sounds like a good idea. Perhaps I will!

Remember to live, love, and, of course, LAUGH often!

The semester is definitely picking up. I'm starting to do more extra-curricular things, rehearsals are starting to pick up, and I'm getting more homework and projects. It's all coming together, but sometimes I think that I am going crazy. Why do I put myself through it all? I do this all because I love it, and I think that my life would be boring if I didn't almost drive myself crazy. When I have absolutely nothing to do I am very bored. It's nice sometimes, but most of the time I just want to do something.

I'm very grateful that I have just enough fun to keep me from going totally insane. For example, last Thursday. I got to watch the premiere of "The Office" with my roommate. And I got to laugh hard at some other comedy. And there was the carton of cookies 'n cream ice cream I bought at Lucky's tonight and shared with my roommate. That was pretty great as well! So, although sometimes I feel like I might be going crazy, I am very blessed and grateful that God has given me other things to balance my life out. Hopefully I won't go TOO crazy before this week ends!

I guess we'll have to see!