feel the freedom

It's happening...can you feel it?

For those of us going through finals

right now there is a definite sense of relief

coming our way.

For the past 10 weeks

(with a two week Christmas

break and a week of cancelled class for snow)

we have been attending class,

reading til our eyes hurt,

and turning in assignments.

We've shared in discussion and

meals all leading to one end.

Well, maybe two...finals and ultimately ministry.

Some students have finished their finals

and now have some

time to breath, rest and regroup.

Some students have another final

in the morning.

And some are still putting some finishing

touches on papers to be turned in

by the end of day(midnight, this girl).

And then there are those who are

completing finals in time to make sure all

bags are packed and all things

are in order to arrive at the airport in

time to catch a plane to another part of the world:

Mexico, Nepal, Vietnam,Cairo, etc.

It's happening...I'll be in Cairo soon.

Snow Angels

With the talk of more snow coming in the next day or two,

I was thinking about the big snow we just had.

I love snow!

I absolutely love it!

Evidently, so does my Gran.

She was telling my mom about the young boy that would come to the window

of my great-grandmothers apartment building when there had been a good

snow storm. He would write messages to her in the fresh snow.

Since my mom was out one evening after the snow storm, she went to my

Gran's aparment building (the same one great-grandma lived in)

and proceeded to make a snow angel with a message written next to it.

Mom was hoping that Gran was in her apartment. She called her as she was

lying in the snow mid-snow angel. She wasn't answering. She called her cell

phone and it was turned off. Someone had been watching her playing in the

snow and yelled out the window. She shared who she was looking for and

was reminded that it was BINGO night. So she went to the window of the

big game room of the building where a room full of "old gerries" (as Gran

calls people over the age of 70) were playing a little BINGO. She proceeded to

rap on the window and practically give the whole room heart attacks.

After they let her in she was told to never do that again. Go figure.

Well, Gran was thrilled with the work my mom had put into her snow art.

It is pretty great.

I love snow.

I'd like some more please!

For Love of a Cat

So this is Alli.

She is going to be 9 years old in May.

I hadn't planned on getting a cat that day.

Thanks to my good friend Brooke talking me into it

(she's good at that)

and my Gran naming her

(because she will name the pet something else anyway)

I have my closest companion.

She is so bizarre.

The reason she's in the bag is because she likes

to lick plastic bags.

I don't know.

She also likes the fresh water that drips from the tub.

(see below)

Honestly, the reason I'm writing this is because

I'll be away from her for two weeks.

That's a long time.

And when I was away for a week at Christmas,

I returned to a horrible mess.

Thankfully, one of my best friends will be with her the whole time.

And come on, look at that face.

She's the best, my Alli cat.

Finals til Cairo

IT'S FINALS WEEK!

Okay so it's not my favorite week of the term.

There are pros and cons.

The class is over.

A break is just days away.

Plans for travel have been made.

It could be a rough final if you didn't keep up on your reading.

I have some great professors and would have liked to learn more on the topic.

The best part about this finals week for me...

The last day of finals I get on a plane with some awesome

classmates and land in Cairo, Egypt.

We spend two weeks engaging the culture.

We'll do all the sightseeing stuff.

We get to take class with students at Cairo Seminary.

This is a picture of their chapel.

I'm getting excited!

Four days and four finals to go.

Reflection at the beginning of Lent

It is beyond incredible to think about all that has happened in the last year. I am overwhelmed with gratitude as I have started my Lenten reflection.

First, it is hard to imagine what life would be without my family.

The gift of a best friend in my mum.

A brother that lives too far away and I see so rarely but one I can't live without.

A dad that is perfect at loving me.

And my 'glitter' Gran cheering us all on.

Look out Beth Moore, you've just met one of your biggest admirers.

It felt like we were finally together last Easter after more than a year.

We got to spend wonderful time together in Telluride in June

We stayed with Brianna

and Wynton and my aunt and uncle for the Blue Grass Festival

Little Paul added some excitement to my summer with his visit.

My only wish is that I was living closer so that I could be a bigger part

of my God Son's life...and that one on the way too.

Christmas was spent at the beach with the whole family!

I am so glad my brother lives at the beach!

And here I am...a year later...I am finally in seminary. I have been in class for over five months. I have been stretched and challenged to grow in wonderful ways.

I'm surrounded by amazing new friends.

And I am missing terribly friends from everywhere else.

I'm thankful for you...all of you!

The reflections will continue through this season of Lent.

The fasting, praying, and giving season of Lent.

I pray that you will be ernest in what you are fasting from,

in what and whom you are praying for, and in all that you give.

Blessings!