Gosh, so many things to do and so many things on my mind! I have 6 exams coming up next month, a German presentation on Thursday, lesson plans to prepare, and ...probably a bunch of things I'm forgetting! Alas, this is the life of a college student especially one like me that doesn't know how to say "No, sorry I'm too busy." I think that learning to say "no" is a long way coming for me. However, between all the madness I am loving and enjoying life! I know that everyone has busy times in their lives once in a while. Today I realized that despite the craziness you can really enjoy every minute of it. It's a mind set I think. When I just decide that I am not going to let something stress me out it helps a lot!
My friend Kevin and I took a walk through the countryside today. It was a beautiful sunny day and the melted snow left behind a green grass bursting with life! Even though I had a lot to do I just couldn't stay inside! I never thought I would see such beauty in Gießen! No offense but it is not the most aesthetically pleasing place. Kevin and I just wandered around. We passed an old U.S. Army Depot and went into a little German town. We walked through fields with newly turned soil and sleeping orchards that I am sure yield delicious apples in the fall! We stopped to observe a noisy flock of hens and roosters. Kevin liked them more than me and snapped some pictures. It was so beautiful and the air was so fresh! It was then I realized how important it is to take time to enjoy life, to be still and not let your business overcome you. It was truly a wonderful time and a beautiful memory.
On another note, my family has been on my mind a lot. They are in Guatemala right now and will be there until Monday. This the first time my little brother and two little sisters have been outside the United States of America. I am so excited for them! I am praying they have a wonderful, blessed time and really learn a lot. Even though the time is so short, I think that it is such a good thing to be taken out of your own, familiar context and be placed somewhere completely foreign and new. Guatemala especially presents a stark contrast because it is different than anything they could ever see in Milwaukee. They are there visiting the family of a pastor that is very dear to our hearts. His daughter lived with us for 6 months about 10 years ago and recently their older son passed away in a horrific car accident. My parents felt strongly that they should go down there and be with the family. They felt a connection to them because of our loss of Caleb. I really pray they can be a blessing and I know beyond a doubt they will be blessed by the family as well. Being away from my family for almost 6 months now makes me realize, really realize with all my heart that I love them so much. They are my treasure in this world. I am so immensely blessed.
I will be praying for your family as well.
ReplyDeleteAlso, I just got back from Australia and Fiji as you probably know but being in Fiji, the stillness of it all, the beauty of the ocean, the land, and the people just had me marveling. I couldn't help but thank God with all of what I had inside me. What wonders lie in this world and we are so masked living back in our daily lives in the States. I felt like I was living in a poster of the tropics ya know? I mean I didn't think that I could really ever be surrounded by such wonders. You are so right when you say that its important to take time and REALLY enjoy life. I think we should focus on this everyday...all day.
Miss you!
God Bless