i just "love" living in snow-country..... today's class: CANCELLED!

simplify.

2006

i'm back!!!! (in VT that is.....)

wishing you all a very blessed and joyful NEW YEAR of 2006!!! can you believe it's 2006?? i mean.... remember celebrating the switch from 1999 to 2000?? now it's 2006!! can time be stopped??

here's just a quick little update on the last month:

VERMONT: i tried finishing strong for the last few weeks of classes.... it was insane and there were moments where i wondered if the headaches and stress were all worth it. i won't preach to the choir, since i know most of you know what student life is like.... there were several times when it crossed my mind that i wouldn't mind if my computer somehow "fell" into the wastebasket and accidentally got dumped, if it meant that i didn't have to write another paper for the rest of my life...... good news is, that i passed all my classes.... whoohooo.... first semester behind me!

ALABAMA: break started with a quick weekend trip to southern AL for Hannah's wedding.... it was a beautiful, big southern wedding, centered on Christ and on living life together with Christ as the bond... it was a privilege to be a part of the Hannah's and Chris' special day.... THANKS!!

MICHIGAN: a 16 hour car ride back from AL to MI says it all.... hahahaha.... i spent two days in the metropolis of H. and not only got to visit with folks at hope, but met up with the gang for dinner.... kilo, carol, andy, sinchan, amy, elizabeth, and dennis..... you guys are such a blessing to me.... seeing you sitting at the restaurant as i walked in made me realize how blessed i am to have you as friends..... you guys are solid! after that i spent a week up-north at the funny farm..... and it was good to be able to relax and be with my family... i realized just how much i really miss being with my family.....

MEXICO: sigh.... i made it there before New Years!!! and it was soooooooo good to be with rodrigo again.... i was so tired of doing the whole internet, phone, webcam thing with him for four months, that i enjoyed being with him in person and catching up face to face.... there was plenty to talk about..... ;) an extra bonus was being able to see two dear mexican friends while there.... ana & sarah.... again, i was impressed with the colorful beauty of mexico, the warm-hearted people, the laid-back culture, and of course, the sunshine and warmth... i was able to visit some really beautiful areas and fall even more in love with that land... and of course, even more so with el muchacho.... ;) saying goodbye has never been my strong point and this time it was especially hard to leave.... it's hard not knowing what lies ahead..... it's good that we can trust the Lord to move in His time and that we are committed to waiting for His will. here's to another four? five? six? seven? months of webcam, internet, and phone conversations.... sigh....

VERMONT: back in school..... leaving sunny and warm mexico and stepping off the plane into freezing rain is a slap in the face... whew..... classes have started.... and i'm trying to get back into the swing of things.... more to be told as it happens, i guess....

.... and that's where i'm at right now.... :) so, happy 2006 to each of you..... looking forward to catching up with you at some point!