It's Monday.  What is there good to say about Mondays?  After 3 days of bliss, one must return to routine and structure.  School is getting better.  I'm not quite as stressed.  A very wise man once told me, "D's get degrees."  Well, seeing how I'm an overachiever, I adapted it to fit me better.

"B's get degrees"

I wrote it on a sticky note and put it on my mirror.  It's encouraging to be honest with myself and be okay with the possibility of getting a B.  Now, I don't want evil comments about how you would do anything for a B.  This is my post, and I've only had one B in all my days.  So bottomline, I'm trying my best, but I'm not going to beat myself up over a B.

Tonight we had a chapel service at 7.  It was amazing; very possibly it was the best ever.  We had great praise and worship then 2 guys tag-team preached.  Instead of an altar call, they dismissed all of SAGU to go walk and pray around campus.  I didn't think people would take it seriously, but they did.  We left dead silent and for the next hour there were hundreds of people walking all over campus praying, singing and reading the Word.  WOW!

Christen

Wow, what a week.  Classes are going to be tough.  I'm not afraid of failing as much as I'm afraid of only keeping my head above water.  I hate feeling behind or overwhelmed.  It's a LOT of reading and outside projects.  Today I talked to one of my professors because I was afraid I was taking on too much, and I almost started crying.  I teared up, but he told me I was going to be fine.  I hope so.  Overwhelmed and emotional is the way I feel.  Those are two things I am not very often.  I am definitely in the right place, but I wasn't quite prepared for this.

Matthew 11:28 "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest."

Christen

I'm here.  We started classes today.  They are going to be much tougher than I imagined, a whole lot of reading!  I'm very happy though.  I have great friends and incredible opportunities.  I'm considering switching churches.  The youth group at my current church is not really hoppin'.  I'm visiting somewhere else tonight just to see.

Christen

Off to school, off to school, tomorrow I go off to school.

Well, I never claimed to be a poet.  It sounds better if you kinda sing it.  Anyway, I really do leave in the morning for school.  Registration's at 10 then I've got to move my stuff in.  I'm not sure if I'm being naive or if I really think it's not going to take me long to pack.  I haven't started.  Surprise, surprise.

If you're ever in the Dallas area, come see me.  I'm going to miss everybody, but at least I'm not 1000 miles away, just 150.  I love y'all.

Christen

I graduated to a new level of achievement today.  I'm so proud!

Tomorrow I must pack for school.  I leave Saturday morning so I am required to pack tomorrow.  I want to go back to school, but I'm such a procrastinator.  The last thing in the whole world that I want to do is throw my entire life into a car again.

One of my supposed roommates called today to say she's not living with me anymore.  That made me sad.  I'm afraid there's going to be someone in my room that I don't know at all.  I need sanity this year.

Sorry this wasn't a must read today.  I have no words of wisdom or wonderful stories to tell.  Tomorrow holds promise though.

Christen

I have come to realize what a small world Xanga really is.  I need to be careful what I say.

I had the strangest conversation tonight with a guy I graduated from high school with.  We were extreme opposites in high school.  He just wanted to say hi and see how I was doing.  It was really a pleasant conversation.  Just, weird.

Small group is a phenomenon.  God has enabled me to pour the limited knowledge I have into numerous 15 and 16 year olds.  They take what I say as truth and run with it.  I have personally watched one girl change her life completely because of things I have said and done.  This is no pat on my back, just, my mind is racing.  Why does God use me when I'm still growing?  Why would He trust me with these precious lives?  I don't understand.

Christen

Today is a good day.  I got to eat lunch with my friend Ikey.  We've been friends since my sophomore year in high school, so that was super fun.  Then we visited his parents' furniture store.  It's so cool! Tonight, I'm going to dinner with my family to bid farewell to my cousin Josh who's headed off to college in Abilene.

I can't believe I go back to college in one week.  I'm excited though.  Okay, so I had considered going back to Rockford because I love the ministry opportunities and the things I have learned, but my parents said no.  (I don't want to talk about that.) But, my heart is still Master's.  I believe in the program and the person it allows people to become.  This week we had a Back to School Revival, and (tell me THIS isn't God) the Master's Commission director from South Dallas Master's was there.  SDMC is located at the church I go to while I'm at college.  We talked, and he said I can work with them as much as I want.  I don't have class Tuesdays or Thursdays so I'll be going to their classes, teachings and prayer.  I'll kinda serve in a 2nd year capacity but not.  Understand?  Well, I'm SO excited.  I'm getting a college degree and working in the ministry at the same time.  I love it!

Christen

This picture was taken on my mission's trip to Chicago.  At the first church we went to, we got to play with these kids for hours.  They were wonderful!  This little girl had a single mother, and the mother had another tiny baby.  She was so starved for attention, but while we were there, she laughed and smiled so much.  I'm cracking up in this picture.

I got to eat lunch with my Nannie today.  (Nannie= grandmother)  It was great!  She's taking me shopping next week, which is super exciting!

Christen

Sometimes when I read other people's sites I feel bad.  I don't think I talk about God or what he's doing in my life enough.  It's not that He's not moving or that I'm not growing, I just don't think to post that stuff.  God is good.  Currently he's shaking some stuff up inside of me that I didn't think was still there.  He's showing me some desires for my future that I didn't know I had.  I know that's incredibly vague, but someday I'll be specific.  I would appreciate it greatly if you prayed direction into my life.  Thank you.

I'm home from Austin.  We left after lunch today.  It was sad saying goodbye to my friends.  Yes, once again, I cried.  We not only had fun this week, but I got to bounce ideas and thoughts off my friends.  That was awesome.  I miss Rockford more than you know.

I love you.  I hope you know who you are.

Christen

Hey y'all, I'm still chillin' in Austin. We leave in the morning. It's been so great. I miss my friends terribly. I've seen a few SAGU alum and some PKs. I'm feeling a little old, but I still have a lot of life to live. This week has been encouraging that I can still dream and I have lots of time. Just because I think I know what's going to happen in my life, the Lord has plans for me that are so much bigger. I'm so excited to see what I do, where I go, who I marry, the ministry we will have. I don't know if I've ever been so excited to live life.

Last weekend with my brother and sister-in-law was awesome. They inspire me so much: to be better, love better, and chase the lost better. Does that make sense? They are such huge role models in my life.

I should go. I'm supposed to be working the RMC booth. We've only had 2 visitors in 1 hour! Love you all, and keep posting!

Christen

I'm in the very cool town of Austin, Texas right now. I'm helping out RMC with a booth at the Assemblies of God National Fine Arts. We're having a great time. Two of my favorite people from Rockford are here, Matt Tripodi (my small group leader) and Candice Waddell. I've been standing a lot and talking to students. It's been awesome. It's weird cause Southwestern has a booth maybe 30 yards away. hehe Well, thanks for the comments. I love them! Love you all

Christen