Las razones para amar esta semana

I realize I just posted 2 days ago, but I need to let you all know about the abundant blessings I've already encountered this week.

Saturday night: I got to talk with Emily and Anna, 2 other interns who are working in Knoxville. It was so wonderful to hear their voices and their experiences and encouraging to know that they're just as ready to go home as I am. I forget that I have a phone that makes it possible to call someone up. Ridiculous, I know, but remember, I'm used to seeing these people 24/7 at school and have rarely called them just to talk.

I realized that I could actually leave Miami Friday Aug 6th as a opposed to waiting until Sunday. The reason is because I'm working with an organization that works normal office hours, so I have no choice but to be done with my work for them on Friday, if not earlier. So I'm planning on leaving 5pm on Friday for home. I know 2 days doesn't sound like a lot, especially when I've been timing things by the week, but it gives me another day to rest/ make hall decorations/ hang out with family and friends.

Sunday: The church I'm going to, Cross Bridge, is preaching through the book of James in the context of community (hola!). This week we looked at James 3:13-4:2 which talks about earthly wisdom vs. Godly wisdom. Pastor Philipe put this in the context of community and how our earthly wisdom stands in the way of community. We have envy and selfishness that hinders synergy between each other. He talked about how we need peace in order to create a community and we have to be the humble, serving peacemakers in order for that to happen (CDV majors: yes, he actually used the word "shalom"). It was great reminder for me that my calling is not to obligate a community to come together and to fix their problems, but I'm supposed to promote the work of God's Kingdom and his peace.

After church, I went to Coral Gables (kind of a more upscale down town Chattanooga) and walked around there and found myself in Barnes and Noble for a couple of hours reading "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix".

And SPAIN WON THE WORLD CUP! even though I'm Dutch, I HAD to cheer for Spain. I would have been run out of town if I didn't. Seriously, I passed a Thai restaurant that was all decked out in Spain gear.

Sunday night: I got to talk with some of my dearest friends from Covenant, also known as my past roommates. I was on the phone with them for 45 minutes and I got to yell and laugh with them. I miss sitting around and just laughing with my friends. It just doesn't happen as often here. Dear Covenant friends, I wish I could honestly predict my reaction to seeing you for the first time since May, but I'm either going to tackle you to the ground, or I'm just going to stand there and cry at the sight of your face. be prepared.

Monday: I started working on my final report!!!! ahhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!! Once that baby's done, I'm done! no mas research! holy cow!

I also got to talk with my sister who told me a humorous story. Her and her husband and daughter where driving back from Kansas and they passed through Chattanooga. She pointed out Lookout Mountain to Ruthee (my 2 1/2 year old niece) and said, "That's where Becky goes to college" Ruthee asked "Is she there now?" Beth said, "No, she's in Miami." Ruthee replies, "No, mama, she's in HER-ami."
totally made my day.

On top of ALL that joy within the past 2 days, one of my old roommates told me that she and I have 2 free tickets to DISNEY WORLD! We did the whole, give a day, get a day thing and are going to be there sometime during fall break.

The whole point of me posting this is just to keep me smiling throughout this week. It's my last week in the door house and then I'm moving back in with the Sawyers. I'm looking forward to some bonding time with Yvonne, since it will just be me and her in the house for 2 weeks.

PRAY:
- perseverance, especially when I have down time.
- things to do, I'm quickly running out of ways to keep me busy
- patience as I wait for my end date to come.
- That I can make the most of my little time left here in HER ami.