These are two things I have constantly been needing to remind myself of lately.

The first is more for my sanity, the second is more for my soul.  Both are directly related to how close I am to finishing my graduate program.  This last semester is flying by, yet while I am sitting in class I feel like the hours are dragging on and I cannot pay attention for one more second.  Then all these assignments, quizzes, lab practicals, etc hit me like a ton of bricks and I need the reminder: Keep calm and just graduate.  I know it is going to do me no good to worry.  I know I need to place my anxiety in the hands of my Father and he will take care of me.  The last month however has been a struggle.  I wake up each morning and promise myself I am going to do better, but I find that I constantly have to remind myself each day that it really is out of my control.  With each passing day, I am inching back (slowly but surely) to the place where I once was – and finding that peace in knowing that if I give everything I have, God will take care of the rest. 

Now on to the second statement… I have been so caught up in the excitement that I am going to be moving home soon that sometimes I forget to live, enjoy, and be grateful for where I am RIGHT NOW. In the past month and a half, I have gone home every other weekend for the sole purpose of seeing my family simply because I miss them.  Sometimes I associate all of the chaos and stress of school with just being in KC and it feels so good to get away.  It has been wonderful going home and I absolutely cannot wait to get back to NEMO when December rolls around.  When I realized a couple of weeks ago I only had two months left in Kansas City, it hit me that I needed to take in what was left.  I began spending more time outside of class with my friends and making sure they knew how much they were appreciated and loved.  We’ve started going out to watch the Cardinal’s play on a Wednesday night, or watching a movie even when we have things to do the next day.  Instead of constantly worrying about what assignment we have due tomorrow, we have been simply enjoying the presence of one another.

To sum it all up: I am torn between where I am and what is ahead of me.  I am going to miss the friends I have made here that have become more like family.  I am going to love being with my family each day, spending time with my parents and sister, watching my niece grow into a beautiful little girl, and start my life as a professional. For the days I don’t appreciate my beautiful life enough, I hope you can forgive me, Lord.  I promise I love exactly where I am right now :)

For all of my friends, when we go our separate ways in December – we must plan frequent reunions!