Crazy Weekend

So last week was the last week of school for me at EMCC. I finished me Associates, not with the 4.0 I had hoped and strived for, but I finished. And I graduated on Friday. My whole family was there to cheer me on, and Serene asked when it would be time to yell, "Go Serene!"

On Saturday, I woke up early with a mission. I chopped off my hair! I will post a picture soon, but just imagine me, without about a foot of hair and that's it. I donated it to Locks of Love, so I don't miss it at all. I hope some one else enjoys wearing it as much as I enjoy not carrying it.

I am sure Serene has about 15 more years to wait, but Leah's turn is today! She is graduating from High School (2 of us finally made it through the same school).
I am more excited for her than I was for myself! I am sure gonna miss her when we both move away in August, but we have great plans of fun days spent packing and sorting through childhood memories for this summer. :) I am so proud of my little genius, who, I might add, got into one of the top engineering programs in the country to study computer science. (That is why I really don't need to know much about computers.)
Congrats Leah! You did it! We did it! Even made it through 4 years in this blazing desert! Love ya!

There's a First Time for Everything

And this Friday is a big first in my family. I will be the first to get a college degree. I graduate with an AA in General Education. Then, on Monday, Leah graduates from HS. She will be the first to attend a University. Her and I will both live away from home from the first time. And since we are so close, I will miss her. We shared a room most of our lives. Now, we will live on separate continents. Talk about a tough transition, who will help me when I don't know which button to push on the computer? Who will teach me how to use my first iPOD, and my first laptop?
Then, I will be the first to go to Peru in August, and in October, my nephew will celebrate his first birthday. And then, in November, I will miss my dad's birthday and Thanksgiving with my family for the first time.
Soon, my parents will live alone. Just the two of them, for the first time. Though they swear otherwise, I am sure they will miss us.
While some of these firsts are sad, they share something in common: they are undoubtedly exciting. Anything is exciting, if a little scary, the first time. They share that common element of the unknown. But I am so glad because then, I must make a choice of where to place my faith. My prayer right now is that my family and I all put our faith in Christ as we approach all these firsts, both good and... not so good. That we remember, that although for us it is a first, for God there is no such thing. He is beyond time, and so He has experienced and is already experiencing the firsts of all mankind throughout all history eternally. And He is prepared to face all of our firsts for us.
So, as I plan to pack my first items into my suitcase, and take that first step into the Sky Harbor International terminal (and symbolically a whole new life), I will trust that Jesus is the Lord of Firsts. He is Alpha God, and He is in control. He was here with me before history. And like a good pastor friend of mine said today, God has no beginning. Remember the words of God to Moses: "Before Abraham was, I AM."
And the words of John: "In the beginning was the Word." And that same Word, from the beginning of time has a life of good works set out for me, and for you. If He stepped out of time, and planned my life, and yours, in a way that leads to Him, would He not take care of a life of obedient service to Him after we have responded to His call?
Amen, He would, and HAS. And I am so hopeful in my firsts before me, and even those I don't yet know. But most importantly, the First I await the most is the first time I see Him physically. If I missed every other first to see Him sooner, I would have missed nothing.

Have a great day, its the first time you've seen this today. Embrace it in the Lord of Firsts.

In less than 4 months I will be ...

In PERU!!! It's true. I got my acceptance letter last Friday, and I leave in August!
I graduate in about two weeks, then I have a summer: school free. It should be loads of fun, working at Starbucks and hanging with some cool kids (who happen to be the children of some church staff). But while I enjoy this summer, my mind will be swarming with thoughts of luggage, visas, school supplies and learning Spanish.
In fact, this may come as no surprise to some of you, but I am already starting to make lists. I have started planning what needs to be planned. That list looks like this:
1. Flight/travel
2. Classes
3. Supplies
4. Shots :/
5. Paying for school
6. Missions fundraising
7. Packing
8. Learn Spanish!

Then there is the list of what I would like to/am required to have for school. It looks like this:
1. LAPTOP
2. IPOD
3. Digital Camera
4. Bible Software
5. Bilingual Bible
6. Books
7. "Chuck Tracks"

Then there is the list of toiletries that I will need while I am there.... I haven't decided yet which ones to buy extras of here, and which ones to bring one of and buy more there. That's really a space issue.
1. Tooth brush (ok, that one is coming on the plane)
2. Tooth paste (ditto)
3. Contact solution (checked luggage for sure)
4. Shampoo/Conditioner
5. Shower gel/soap
6. Lotion
7. Curling spray for my hair (that's the first thing in my checked bag after contact solution)
8. Deodorant
9. Razors
10. Make-up (foundation, lip gloss, mascara, eyeliner)
11. Hair accessories (pins, rubber bands)

The final list is clothing, since I already have bedding and linens taken care of... This list will be made as it gets closer, since I really do still need to wear these clothes. For now, I think I will start stocking up on toiletries so it doesn't come as a big expense in August. I will probably pack and repack all summer! I love packing... yes, I'm a weirdo. But God has so designed me for travel. I am certain that is why I don't care about make-up, using public restrooms doesn't bother me, and I love to learn languages and try new foods (most of the time; just don't ask me about what I ate on my birthday in Ethiopia).