Almost The End Of The Semester!

I am almost done with my first semester of grad school!  Phew.

To do still:
- Continue to edit my Research Brief
- Submit my Research Brief (to two places)
- Meet with my group
- Write my second post this week
- Submit the group project
- Comment on two group projects
- "grade" my group members.

SO CLOSE!

This is my "SO CLOSE" happy face:

(PS - I got my hair trimmed today)

It's been such an adventure, learning to balance school with life again. Good though. Real good.

The summer semester starts mid-May. I'm taking two classes this summer, which will be more challenging. I bought six books for one class (four could go on my Nook!), and no new ones were required for the other.

Back to editing. Paper is due on Tuesday. Praying for a good grade!

Money And Moving.

This is my last week in my apartment. I've spend the last 5 days slowly packing things in my apartment, making trips to move things home to my parents' house, helping clean my bedroom there, and still living life.

I've been slightly obsessed with this website: www.moneyunder30.com and the advice they offer to "kids" in my situation - 20-somethings, with jobs, out of school, trying to figure out life financially. And though it isn't Christian-based, they talk a lot about living debt-free, how to calculate if you can afford a home, setting budgets, etc.

Money sees to be a taboo thing in the church. Not many people like to talk about tithing, budgeting, love offerings, debt... but so many young Christians graduate from college, not knowing what to do next.

Thanks be to God, I am in no way strapped financially right now. And I have some good financial goals:
- Pay off my car by the time I am 27
- Complete grad school without taking out student loans
- Begin saving for a downpayment on a house

When they couldn't renew my lease on my apartment, I wasn't sure what to do. But moving back home? Right now, I think that's good. I'm looking forward to spending more time with mom and dad before they leave the state, and helping them with things while I can. I'm excited to save money so that I can accomplish my goals.

And I'm excited to learn how to honor God in this area of my life!

My Girls.

19 girls in my group tonight, and at least two were missing. I love them. They are so diverse. So goofy and talkative and loving as God is so at work in them.

It is so humbling to be before them weekly, pointing them to The Lord, helping shape them into the women God wants them to be. I pray I am an encouragement to them, that they always know I care. I pray they will be followers, and not just fans.

I pray that they are each the ONE who stays in church after graduating from highschool.

Who knew these dramatic, antsy, silly, emotional teenage girls would change my life so much?!

Conference.

I was asked to speak at a Women on Mission Conference in April, about how missions goes on.

I am praying the Lord gives me direction on what to speak, that I will point the women to Him, not to myself, that He will increase and I will decrease. I am praying that He will be exalted higher and higher in my life and in the lives of the attendees.

I'm not nervous. I don't often get nervous before speaking in front of people. But I want to share what He commands.

What if that means spilling my J-Man story to everyone? Missions goes on, even if it doesn't look the way you anticipate.

Will you join me in praying?

His Voice.

Breathe.

Between working full time, grad school, leading my girls at church, maintaining friendships, and seeing family, it seems that life has slipped away.

But I've made it a point to be in God's word more, to be dilligent: I want to read through the Bible this year and though I got off track at times, I think I'm back on.

His word is breath and life.

Psalm 29:4-9
"The voice of the LORD is powerful; the voice of the LORD is majestic. The voice of the LORD breaks the cedars; the LORD breaks in pieces the cedars of Lebanon. He makes Lebanon skip like a calf, Sirion like a young wild ox. The voice of the LORD strikes with flashes of lightening. The voice of the LORD shakes the desert; the Lord shakes the Desert of Kadesh. The voice of the LORD twists the oaks and strips the forest bare. And in his temple, all cry 'HOLY!'"

Stoping long enough to hear His voice, to recognize and understand His words, is challenging at times. But there is nothing more I want to do.

So Good.

My heart is so full and I feel so humbled.

I want to point others to the One who is worthy, the Most High, rather than to myself.

The Lord is so good.

JHU, Semester Two.

Registered for my next set of classes. Summer 2013.

Changing Behavior through Communication
Branding and Advertising

Both are online, and they'll start mid-May. I'm a little nervous about taking two classes, working full time, and serving at church. But the Lord is faithful. I've learned a lot this month about balancing things, time management, and the importance of being in His word.

Here's to the rest of this semester and the start of the next one!