Ah, College!

Okay, I know I haven't updated this in a while, and I am sorry for that, but I'm doing it now! Okay, so I have been at college for a little over a week now. And trust me, it's not this big party that most people make college out to be. I have been up to my neck in studying, staying up late to finish work, and getting up early to get to class on time. So let's start from day one, mom and mark drove down with me and we got everything all settled into my bedroom, met my roommate, and got to browse the campus and the town. It was going well so far, kinda felt like a dream, but no tears had yet been shed, so everyone was good. We ate our meals together and at the end of the day, they went to their hotel, and I went to my dorm to spend my first night with a roommate. My lovely parents left the next day around 3 or so, and walking away from our car knowing that I wouldn't see them for a while sucked. I held it together pretty well, I cried a little bit, but I knew that in a few short days I would be re-united with several of my very favorite people, so I knew that I could hold on. When Fallon, Adam, Grace, and Anna showed up at my dorm my day was made! I was so excited to see them and spend my entire day with them. When they were about to leave for what seemed like the "final time", Fallon burst into tears and I quickly followed. I knew it would be harder this time. I knew that this time, we would have a span of time apart that we had never known before. And it hurt. Really bad. All the girls were crying in the lobby, trying to get it together. And when I hugged them all goodbye and walked them to their car, I didn't want them to leave. I couldn't hardly say goodbye. The walk back to my dorm this time was a long one. I didn't want to look back, and risk making their last image of me crying my eyes out as they drove away. I went to my room to cry in peace, and stayed there for quite some time after they left. I was texting Fallon as they were driving away, and I had put a special note into each of their bags for them to find when they left. The days following their departure were the hardest days I had to face. It is still hard when I think of them and my parents, and all the people that I seemingly "left behind". But everyday God makes it easier, makes me stronger, and helps me to grow in Him. God has brought me the most incredible group of girls, and without them, there's no way I would be able to handle being so far away from the ones that I love most. God knew just what I needed when I came here. He knew that I needed people that I could call my family. He knew I needed someone just like Marcy, who has some of the same loneliness that I do, and constantly amazes me with the pictures that she takes. He knew I would need Lindsay, who almost kills us everytime she drives, but keeps us constantly entertained. He knew that I would need Rachel, who laughs at everything, just like I do, even when it's not that funny. He knew I would need a family here. A group of girls who would help me to grow in my faith and help me lay my burden's at my Makers feet. God provides. He really does. Even when we feel like we've made a mistake in leaving our families 2.5 hours away. Even when we question our choices. Even when we are broken on our bed, crying out to God to bring them back. God knows. God loves. And God provides. He even provides skype ;) What a great God we serve. That He would see to the depths of my heart and pain, and heal all that is broken. I still get lonesome for you guys, every day, but I know that God will get us through and that I have a family here too when I leave.

Separate, Set Apart, Holy

Okay, so I haven't blogged in a long time, but I've had a lot of stuff
on my mind to blog about.
The first of many is this. Holy.
I love that word. For some reason whenever I hear that my God is a
holy God, I smile. I just think that holy is one of the very best
words to describe him. It means set apart, different. And that meaning
pretty much captures God. He is like us, but so much different. We
were made in His image, yet there is no way that we could ever wrap
our minds around His majesty. His love for us is different, separate, holy. His forgiveness for us is different, separate, holy. God is different, set apart, holy.

And the crazy thing about this word,

holy, is that it's the only word used 3 times in a row to describe our
God. Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty. In the bible, when
something is mentioned twice, you are supposed to be paying attention,
but when something is said 3 times it must be really important. And
holy is the one word repeated 3 times to describe our Loving Father.
He is different, set apart from anything or anyone that we've ever
seen before. But when Sunday rolls around how many of us are thinking,
"My God is a HOLY God!" I know for me, I would always sing the songs
without really thinking about what they meant, or read the words on
the screen not thinking that the God I serve is different. Holy. He is
so awesome and indescribable and we just say holy, holy, holy, as if it
means nothing. But when we dig into what the Bible says and what it
means, the only thing we can do is worship our God more, love Him
deeper, and serve Him better. After all he is a Holy God. Holy.
Separate. Set apart. Different. Holy.