Quick Update

• Home was such a sweet blessing this past weekend. Leaving was so sad.
• This week has been semi-insane with homework, classes, projects, babysitting, studying, Awana, etc. But I've been loving all of it. God has totally revived my passion for teaching, and has given me the ability to enjoy the massive amounts of work I have to do (for the most part. I don't always love it, especially on those late nights). 
• Today I received a care package from my home church in the mail...such an encouragement.
• I have such amazing relationships here. I have friends who I can have fun with, but who also point me to Christ, whether we're having fun or having a bad day. 
• I'm learning so much in so many of my classes. We finished the book of Genesis in my OT survey class...man, was I missing so much all these years.
• I'm really looking forward to Fall Thing. It's going to be so great and so fun, I think.
• I'm so thankful to be at TMC. Sometimes it still blows my mind that I am blessed enough to be here. 
• My awana kids are so cute and so fun, and though they can be a little wild (ok, very wild!!), they also really do want to learn, and it's so cool to see that.
• Having my journal again has been great!! I love being able to write my thoughts/responses as I read my Bible, and it's nice to go back and look through what I've been learning the past few days. [Also, Romans is awesome.]

All of these have been such sweet blessings from the Lord. To say I'm content with life is an understatement.

Also, Fall for You by Secondhand Serenade is on replay. The piano...gorgeous.
And...cracked pepper & olive oil Triscuits...simply amazing. Try them.

More Small Blessings :)

-Being able to read through my journal and reflect on what I've previously learned.
-Being able to journal my devotions again. And other stuff too. (Can you tell I really missed it?!)
-Vacuuming at home. Call me crazy but there are some chores I love (don't tell my parents).
-Free laundry. Don't get me wrong, I always love laundry (top on my list of fave chores)...there's something so peaceful and productive about it. Plus it smells fantastic after! But when it's free...oh man. Makes me giddy.
-Meals with my family.
-Watching part of The Parent Trap - the old one, with Hayley Mills - with my brother.
-Quick nap (again, in my own bed).
-Cleaning/organizing my room.
-Being able to bring more back to school.
-Working on my Genesis synthesis paper while watching my brother's baseball game (he plays in the spring and fall). Also, baseball games under the lights are fun. During his last at bat, I decided to try to get a picture of him. I captured the perfect moment - him hitting a triple! So that was super exciting.
-Homemade cornbread and chili. Mmm.
-Brownies + ice cream.
-Doing homework in my room/in the living room...aka not the library or a cramped dorm room (though I don't mind those. It's just a nice change).
-Watching Get Smart with my family and listening to Riley laughing his guts out.
-More family time.

I just love being home. Especially in the fall. It's so wonderful having a short little break from school, as much as I love it.

Tomorrow: worshiping with my home church of 16 years.
I am so blessed.

It's The Simple Things {Home Sweet Home}

-Easy, mostly traffic-free ride home
-Vanilla + caramel frosty at Wendy's
-Making posters for...
-Jordan's football game
-Cheering for/embarrassing him with at least 25 others, all there to support him
-Layering borrowed shirts (that I now get to wash for free)
-Eating nachos, kettle corn, and candy
-Meeting new people
-Seeing friends again
-Seeing friends who feel like family again
-Seeing my family again
-Having little Maxie (our miniature schnauzer that I pretend to dislike) not able to settle down when he sees me
-Catching the end of the Bourne Supremacy with my dad
-Sleeping in my own bed
-Flannel pj bottoms
-Waking up and it feeling like fall
-Having Maxie following me around
-Chocolate chip waffles for breakfast
-Apple juice
-Coming into the kitchen to see Kathy making brownies with Oreos in honor of my brief visit
-Banter with family
-Having my journal again (I've missed it so much in the last 6 weeks)
-Drinking coffee (yes, it's still me...I just needed caffeine) with my dad...French press I do believe
-Almost enjoying my coffee
-Hearing my family's plans for the next week and learning...It's true what they say - Life gets much busier after college
-Being with and enjoying my family
-Seeing again that there is more to life than just my education. I know that, but sometimes I get so short-sighted. This is what I'm preparing for...life after college. Right now what God has for me is a time of intense educational and spiritual equipping so that I may later do what God has for me elsewhere.

The best part? I've only been home for roughly 16 hours and I have about 26 or so left.
Thank you Lord for all of these sweet blessings, along with so much more I haven't mentioned.

I miss my girls.

Sometimes (okay, all the time) I hate the 3,000 miles that separate me from my family. 

(Well one of my families.)

So much happens all the time, in everyone's lives, and I'm missing it all.

All four of us girls are now in college, studying in three different states

[S&H in Maine, A in Connecticut, me in California).

Sometimes the distance just really gets me.

I hate being so far away from them, and from my brother (though he's thankfully closer).

I just get this overriding sense of guilt for choosing a school so far away from them.

But I know God has me exactly where He wants me right now.

I just miss my best friends.

Sarah, Holly, and Abby - you guys are the best sisters I could ever ask for.

I love you all and am so proud of all of you. I'm so thankful and blessed to be your sister.

xo from far away,

Larz