On the same day that I said goodbye to my sweet dfocus community, I also said goodbye to my younger brother as I moved him into college. Mind you, UT isn't that far from home, but it's still LEAVING our house. WAH.
Last week, I spent a day with my precious Chinese girls and they cooked dinner in their hotel room for Emily Skaar and me--which means that they consider us really close friends *insert warm fuzzies here* The next day I reciprocated and had them over for dinner. We had sweet times playing board games together and laughing, regardless of cultural barriers. I saw tears glistening in Meng's eyes when we said goodbye for the last time. God blessed me so much with them. Only one of them knows Jesus now, but I'm asking him to please please please bring the others into His family as well so we can all hug each other in heaven.
A few days later, it was time to move to my NEW HOUSE (also known as "The Hollow" for now). Well, the house itself isn't quite so new--it certainly has its....quirks (why does my room smell like pee..?)....but it's a place I've never lived before. Girls have this idealistic tendency when it comes to houses to think that we will really enjoy having a place to clean, cook in, and call home. Time for a wake up call ladies, these things require upkeep! The lawn is an overgrown mess and we have no lawnmower (or machetes) with which to cut it. There is no dumpster sitting conveniently outside, waiting for us to put our trash in it. Broken furniture requires tools and lack of furniture requires money and shopping time (table? counter space? a couch? do we really need those?). Planning meals is an art skill that takes time and energy (and budgeting prowess on very little money) to perfect. And even living with a puppy, which has been my joy these last few days, means extra time sweeping, taking it out to poop, and dealing with little brown hairs stuck in everything.
I'm also trying to get used to not living in the constant community I had on The Fritz. Now I have to drive up to campus if I want to visit my friends--I can't just walk down the hallway. And not spending my last year living with Lisa is so sad to me even though I know God wanted it.
On the other hand, having a living room is really nice (even if the couch is overturned because two of the legs are missing). Having immediate access to food (even if it's scanty) is really nice too. Sleeping in a room alone is an adjustment, but for now I have my own space that I can do WHATEVER THE HECK I WANT with. But the BEST part is living with a fantastic year-old chocolate lab named Maddie, even with the copious amounts of hair on everything. She likes taking naps in my room and following me around the house in the morning. There's no question as to whether or not I'll have a dog when I live somewhere in the real world.
Tomorrow classes begin and I'll start doing practicums in preparation for student teaching next semester. I can see how God has planned out each step this year as an adjustment for me in my growing-up process. But I'm not scared of it like I used to be, just a little bit sad and a little bit excited at the same time. I have no question that His will is good and that He's molding me into someone who looks more like Him. He is my joy and fulfillment in every circumstance--including changes like these.
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