Highlight of my day: getting a call from Avery. After a LONG time of not talking, it was so sweet to catch up with him. How I have missed his friendship. I have always valued his honesty and transparency. He points me to things greater than the here and now. And, he forgives me for being really bad about keeping in touch.

I appreciate him. I appreciate my friends, especially old friends. And I hope that new friends will someday be old friends. =)

Alrighty, going to talk to my roommate. G'night, cyberfriends (some old and some new).

I found out last night that starting sometime in January, Southwest has discontinued the non-stop flights between San Jose and Baltimore. SUCKY.

The non-stop flights were perfect too! They left Baltimore at 7:10 pm which meant I could still go to school during the day and catch the last flight out which was also non-stop. This also translated into not having to wait an extra night in Baltimore and getting to spend an extra night at home. Plus, the return non-stop flight left San Jose at 6:30 am which meant an extra night at home and I still got in in the middle of the afternoon which gave me ample time to settle in before class the following day.

Oh well..I guess I'll just have to find the next best thing!

I miss my mom.



I was studying at Starbucks this past weekend. I was enjoying the I-can't-believe-this-is-Baltimore-it-feels-like-California weather outside, drinking my iced tea. There were these two sisters probably around 4 and 6 years old running around in circles on the lawn. Singing and counting. Yes, life used to be that simple and joyful.

I was studying at Barnes and Noble tonight. Frantically trying to finish my biostat problem set, I hear a sudden cacophony of sounds. What was all the noise? None other than a group of 10 I'm-only-a-15-but-I-will-dress-like-i'm-a-25-year-old-skank who came in to buy Frappaccinos and Cheesecake. Yes, even in all drama of being a teenager, life was still simple.

There are places I'll remember all my life though some have changed.
Some forever not for better, Some have gone and some remain...

Spend time with your families, guys.

Home

The idea of "home" is a strange one. I'm most definitely homesick these days. I miss my family, my dog, my boyfriend, my friends..I miss things that are familiar. I've been trying to not read people's blogs/xangas/webpages too much, because it makes me more homesick. I hear about all the things that they are doing, and I long so much to be there with them. My home is definitely in California. 11 more months until I'm done here! I guess I shouldn't be counting just yet. But, I know that 11 months will fly by! Heck, Sam and Avery have been gone for nearly that long.

But I'm going home for Wedding Tour 2004 in 2 weeks!! Yay for California!

I have been so blessed in meeting a wonderful friend in my program. Maria is from LA, and she used to go to BOL and then Newsong. She's a friend of Anne Chiu's and Elaine Yuen's. We've been hanging out, going to church, and studying together. It has been such a blessing to have that friendship! I've really appreciated her wisdom in that she's been away from home before, so is pretty even-keeled about the transition to Baltimore.

I've been feeling pretty blue lately. Classes are extremely busy (even though I've only had one so far). The people in my program are pretty driven; makes me feel like such a slacker.

Ok, no more pouting and hiding out in my room. I will go out and make myself some dinner and hang out with O and Jono.

A first tenuous step

Jason left tonight. I cried a lot. It has been such an amazing week, getting acquainted to a new place. This has been a big, scary transition for me. And, I've been so greatful to have Jason's companionship all these days. And now, he's gone. And I'm here trying to see God in a see of newness. The funny thing is, God is so much more...what's the word...tangible (?) than He was at home. Maybe because He really is all I have. And if this process allows me to see God more clearly, then bring it!

God has really blessed me in providing the friendship of roommates, old friends, and new friends. Baltimore has given me quite a welcome. Ok, Jesus gave me quite a welcome to Baltimore. Mild, non-muggy weather, getting to go to an Orioles game where they won, being seated right away at a crowded dessert stop on a Saturday night. I'm looking forward to visiting O and Eva's church tomorrow. I'm a bit nervous about having to meet new people. It's tough to change churches twice in a year.

So, I was listening to an old Nichole Nordeman CD on the way back from taking Jason to the airport. I wanted so badly to get on that plane with him and go home. To go back to a place where I know people, where I'm familiar with things, to be with my family. These lyrics so accurately capture the thoughts and emotions from today:

Gratitude
by Nichole Nordeman
--------------------
Send some rain. Would you send some rain?
Because the earth is dry and needs to drink again
And the sun is high and we are sinking in the shade

Would you send a cloud, thunder long and loud
Let the sky grow black and send some mercy down
Surely you can see that we are thirsty and afraid.

But maybe not. Not today. Maybe you'll provide in other ways.
And if that's the case...

We'll give thanks to you
with gratitude
for lessons learned in how to thirst for you.
How to bless the very sun that warms our face
If you never send us rain.

Daily bread. Give us daily bread.
Bless our bodies, keep our children fed.
Fill our cups then fill them up again tonight.
Oh wrap us up and warm us through
Tucked away beneath our stormy roofs
Let us slumber safe from dangers view this time.

Or maybe not. Not today. Maybe you'll provide in other ways.
And if that's the case...

We'll give thanks to you
with gratitude
for lessons learned to hunger after you
That a starry sky offers a better view if no roof is overhead
and if we never taste that bread.

Oh, the differences that often are between
Everything we want and what we really need.

So grant us peace. Jesus, grant us peace.
Move our hearts to hear a single beat
Between alibi's and enemies tonight.

But maybe not. Not today. Maybe you'll provide in other ways.
And if that's the case...

We'll give thanks to you
with gratitude
for lessons learned in how to trust in you
that we are blessed beyond what we could ever dream
in abundance or in need
And if you never grant us please...

But Jesus, would you please...