Vacation

This past weekend I took one of the best vacations I've had in a while.  I went to Seabrook, SC to visit my friend Jenna for a few days.  My time with her was just what the doctor ordered.  I spent my time relaxing by the pool and the beach, eating fresh seafood and enjoying some quality facetime with my good friend Jenna.

We spent a day in downtown Charleston walking around and treating ourselves to an amazing lunch at Magnolia's.  I have their cookbook but haven't actually eaten there.  Boy was it tasty! Most of our afternoons were spent on the beach sleeping, reading and listening to music.  I don't know if the week could have gotten any better. 

I was also spoiled because I was able to enjoy the great view out our back window every morning and evening.  I had the perfect spot to drink my coffee and to enjoy the sunsets in the evening.  Thanks Jenna for being such a great host.  It was the perfect vacation!

I don't actually have any pictures from graduation on my camera or my phone-sad I know.  Here are the two pictures I have from baccalaureate.  These sweet friends have been with me the whole journey through seminary and I am so thankful.   

Now life has slowed down quite a bit. I'm on the job hunt but don't really have much else going on at the moment.  I will be doing some traveling this summer to see friends/family in the Carolinas.  Please be praying along with me as I look for a job here in STL.

Celebrating a Season

Well you might have noticed I have been absent for a while.  This past semester, really this past year has been a crazy one.  Not that the rest of my time at Covenant hasn't had its ups and downs and been chaos at times.  This last year of being in my internship about did me in at times.  The funny thing about it though, it wasn't even seeing the clients that was so hard, that I love.  It was the rest of life that was messy, complicated, hard, and just really sweet.

The Lord was gracious this past semester to give me a glimpse in to the world of counseling during the month of January to really decide that this is something that I feel called to do.  For me it has been something that I have had confirmed over and over again as I sat with different clients, talked with my supervisors, and also talked with my peers.  At this point I don't have a job but I'm on the hunt here in STL.

For me this past semester has been one in which the Lord really challenged me to wrestle with Him.  To trust him and to ask questions of who He is, who he was, and who is he calling me to be.  Let me tell you, wrestling with God is not fun.  It was a long drawn out process, but man am I glad that I have done it.

Something else the Lord really showed me this semester is just how big he really is.  He has called me to trust him, even when I don't really understand or see what is going on.  He is present in darkness, he is bigger than Satan, and he can handle my questions.  He is someone who is kind and gentle to those he loves.  He delights in those he created and finds us beautiful.

I have continued to delight in, be blessed by, challenged by, and deeply miss the community the Lord has given me here.  He truly has spread people to the ends of the earth but this year has been a success in part because of those that have come alongside me and supported and prayed for me. These women and men who have spoken truth to my heart this year are irreplaceable.  Thank you for your support and impact on my heart.

Not that this past year wasn't ambiguous enough already, I'm entering in to a time of unknowns as I job hunt.  I will be here in STL for the time being.  I'll give you a graduation post soon.  I'm back. I've got time and a life again!

Beginning of the End

And so my last semester has begun! My short two week break at Christmas seems so far away right now.  January was a wonderfully long month.  It was busy with clients and work but a chance to rest, celebrate, and enjoy life.
I am officially a week in to my last semester and already thinking about what does it mean to leave.  It is February-CRAZY-and I have 3.5 months left here with a sweet community.  What does it look like to leave well?  To be present with them in relationship and to grieve the changes and the losses to come?
There is still a lot to be done between now and May. Continue seeing clients, continue school, my job(s), find a new job in a new city! But, in the middle of all those things I have many relationships to enjoy and celebrate presently.

Jan Term

Jan term is about the best thing ever.  School doesn't start until the 26th for me so I am enjoying as much of this break as I can.  I am watching all the movies and tv that I can before I lose my free time.  I have read the Hunger Games and am looking for another book to start.  For Christmas I gave the kids a date with me so I have been out two weekends in a row to play around town.  Lillian and I went to the zoo last weekend.  Today SFB and I went to a movie and walked around downtown St. Charles.  

Hoping to continue to enjoy my last week or so before life kicks back in to high gear again.  

Christmas Break!

Yesterday in celebration of being done for a few weeks my friend Alisha and I took a trip over to the Art Museum.  The great thing about our museum is that it is free!  It is the perfect place to visit in the winter when it is cold and dreary outside.  While we were there we stopped by the ticket desk to see if there were tickets available for the Monet exhibition-there were!  The SLAM currently has a tryptich of Monet's water lilies plus a few other pieces.  It was a beautiful piece.  Alisha and I sat there for probably an hour and just talked and looked at the artwork.  Then we explored the rest of the museum. It was the perfect afternoon celebration to the ending of our semester.  I think I want to spend more time at the museum, it was really enjoyable.

Oh and Happy Hanukkah! We are celebrating at work.  I get to be a bystander and listen as the residents light the candles each night, pray in Hebrew and sing different songs.  It is such a joy to be allowed a glimpse into different traditions.

Now back to packing and cleaning!



PS- I didn't take it.  I'm not that much of a rule breaker.  This is someone else's picture.  I just wanted to give you an idea even though this picture just doesn't do it justice.

Advent

I love the season of Advent.  It is a season of longing and expectation as we look to the birth of our Savior, Jesus.  It is a time in which we can see God's faithfulness woven through our story and through scripture.  There were promises made, promises fulfilled and still we wait for the final promise to be finally fulfilled.

I feel like my time at Covenant has allowed me to feel and experience Advent and Easter in ways that I never had before.  I can pray, Yes Lord Jesus come quickly and there is a deep yearning and a hope for Christ's return in ways that there never has been before.  I have allowed myself to see and feel the brokenness of this world.  Yet, it isn't all bad.  We have a hope and a longing.  I can look back at these past two years and see the faithfulness and kindness of a Father that loves me, who has gently led me through some dark and challenging times.  He has sustained me just as he has continually sustained his people.

O come, O come, Emmanuel,
And ransom captive Israel,
That mourns in lonely exile here
Until the Son of God appear.

Rejoice! Rejoice!
Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, Thou Wisdom from on high,
Who orderest all things mightily;
To us the path of knowledge show,
And teach us in her ways to go.

Refrain

O come, Thou Rod of Jesse, free
Thine own from Satan’s tyranny;
From depths of hell Thy people save,
And give them victory over the grave.

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O come, Thou Day-spring, come and cheer
Our spirits by Thine advent here;
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night,
And death’s dark shadows put to flight.

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O come, Thou Key of David, come,
And open wide our heavenly home;
Make safe the way that leads on high,
And close the path to misery.

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O come, O come, great Lord of might,
Who to Thy tribes on Sinai’s height
In ancient times once gave the law
In cloud and majesty and awe.

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O come, Thou Root of Jesse’s tree,
An ensign of Thy people be;
Before Thee rulers silent fall;
All peoples on Thy mercy call.

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O come, Desire of nations, bind
In one the hearts of all mankind;
Bid Thou our sad divisions cease,
And be Thyself our King of Peace.

Refrain