comfort in prayer

I haven't posted all weekend and I am sorry for that. Life has been a little hectic lately, and I've been stressed about things that do not need to be stressed over. But, I was able to slow down for one day, and for this I am grateful.

It was a typical day for me as I was leaving the PAC (Public Affairs Center), running around doing my errands for the Provost office, as I noticed the big American flags right in front of the collonades. And I stopped and thought to myself, "wow...5 years huh?" and I continued walking. No matter what building I walked from, the colonnades and the American flags were still going to be there, as much as I tried to avoid looking at them and carry on with my errands for the day.

I got back into the office and settled into my desk and stared at my computer.

The phones rang every now and then, very unusual for a monday afternoon. Usually it's a bajillion lines ringing, people walking in looking for people in the office, me telling them to wait for just a moment, as the academic affairs line rang and I was still trying to give directions to a student on the main line....

but it was different that day.

So, with nothing to xerox, I stared at my computer once more and decided to write out a prayer. Mind you, it wasn't a prayer that I was thinking deeply about before I wrote it, it was more like me trying to type out all the thoughts running through my head about that day. Everything that I kept trying to push to the back of my mind was pushing its way to the front and I was forced to re-live that day 5 years ago.

Freshman year, study hall w/ Ms. Conway as our study hall room teacher, about 20 or so of us in the room. Some people cried, most people were shocked, a few frantically wanted to call home because of their families in New York, and I was just sitting there, thinking of my cousin in the military who'd probably be sent out...

but we all had something to get us through.

And that was through prayer,

it was through love,

and it was with strength that we were able to move on.

After I finished my own silent prayer at the office, the phones immediately began to ring, people started walking in looking for people, the academic affairs line started to ring as I was still trying to find the fax number for the english department for a caller...

I thanked God for allowing me that brief moment to do something that I'd been wanting to do all day, but didn't seem to have the time for; pray.

Last night they held a candlelight vigil under the Brookens Overhang, and had the showing othe United 93 movie in Brookens Auditorium. A few friends and I stayed for the vigil, sitting in silence by the luminaries offering our prayers...

9/11 is a date we will never forget, but it will never get us down. If anything, it will re-ignite our American spirit and think back to the solidarity of our country during this disaster....

I'm glad I could take the time to remember..

Labor Day Weekend

Labor day weekend was absolutely ama-za-zing!! Albeit, it should have been a time where I could have caught up on a TON of homework...I mostly spent it being with friends and just enjoying the sun. :)

I'm not condoning that college students should dillydally like I did..and finish most of my homework monday night..BUT I'm not all play and no work, I think I deserved this. I DID catch up on sleep and am grateful for that. Since school started I haven't had much time to catch up on sleep. We usually go to bed pretty late and wake up early for class or work (7ish) so sometimes by the middle of the week I'm usually pretty burnt out. But I think I'm ready for this week. I've studied for my Japanese quiz, caught up on some legal studies reading, am halfway done with my What is Good? paper, and got to sing alot (and dance alot..to DDR!) !!! So all in all, I've had a pretty productive weekend.

Weekend Recap:
-Friday/Saturday -A few friends and I went camping in Wyanet,IL: totally fun, burnt hotdogs, burnt s'mores, no mosquito bites, riding the polaris like maaaaad crazies, pitching 3 tents, and delirious funny late night conversations = a FreakinFantastic weekend exTraVagenza!

-I spent saturday night with some friends from Lincoln Land, we DDRed...watched the rest of Benchwarmers (which by the way was HILarious). I was exhausted by midnight though cuz I had just gotten back earlier that afternoon so I hadn't caught up on sleep yet.

-Sunday, an old friend of ours, Kaile, that used to go to our school came to visit and we hung out w/ him all day! We did everything from walking to the field where we all first met, rolling down random hills, eating at La Bamba's where we had some good memories, listening to the old band play( Chad and Friends...unless they changed their name =P!), and having them all experience my driving...:) :) and that is ALWAYS a good time. Of course I popped in a Backstreet Boys CD for their listening pleasure, but I don't think they appreciated it, so I changed it to some Lecrae! (Yes, "ridin' wit mah top down listenin' to dis Jesus music.." haha)

-Monday, was of course...homework day. But we were able to hang out w/ alot of friends that had been gone for the weekend, so that was pretty sweet. Taylor (my "suitie") came back with her DDR game and pads...and of course..we played DDR. :) That is...after I finished most of my studying and a little more than 1/2 my paper. :) :)

Hopefully I accomplish a little more this week.

Goooodnight :)
12:32am