I like it here. Lightning storms in the mountains are my favorite- when you look west and it flashes down into the beautiful blue shadowed mountains and lights them up. Actually anytime looking west brings me joy. Sometimes I worry I'll accidentally drive too far and not realize it until I'm in the mountains because the beauty is so distracting. Especially in the twilight hours when they are just shadows. But also when the sun is sending rays of light into them, which is almost every day. I love the sunshine. I like the way it's sunny even when it rains. Except for when it takes me by surprise and I don't realize it's raining until I'm wet. That's always a bit unfortunate, yet fun. I like the beauty of the cloudy days too. It's pretty much gorgeous no matter what here. Every time I look up I'm reminded of God's incredible power and majesty and creativity. I could stay here awhile. Denver is a joyful place; a peaceful place despite its busyness. I like it here.
That doesn't really tell you anything about my life though, I suppose. It's been a bit of an adventure. My Mama and I arrived in Denver on Thursday the 15th of August. We visited lots of people and hiked a mountain and just spent time together until Sunday morning when I took her to the airport. Our friend very generously offered us room in her one bedroom apartment and that's where I stayed from the 15th to the 25th. During this time I was trying to find housing. God provided an incredible blessing through two wonderful people- Robin and George- who wanted to bless a seminary student by allowing one to live in their basement for free. I found them and visited their home on Friday, was invited to live with them on Saturday, and moved in on Sunday. Since Sunday I have had a bed to sleep in, a dog to play with, and a wonderful family to join. Praise the Lord!
That was God's perfect timing, because Monday was the first day of class! So it was nice to have a home by then. I had three classes on Monday from 8-3:45 (with a break for chapel from 11-11:50). Mondays will be long days. Then on Tuesday I had two classes from 1-4:50. I'm pretty excited about my classes, but I know that this will not be an easy time. I knew coming into seminary that it would be time consuming and that would be good, but I still managed to be shocked at the amount of work. I was planning on nannying as much as possible during the week and now I am seeing that I need at least two full days each week to get all my reading done, and probably more than that. I feel that this will be an incredible time of growth and challenge in my life and I'm pretty excited about it. Remind me of that in a few months please! I can see how easily I may grow weary. There's a song that we sang during my last week at Church of the Rez in Wheaton, that in that moment stuck with me and I wasn't sure why because I didn't need it at that time. I've since realized, it wasn't for that time. I feel that it was something that I'm supposed to hold onto and that will become a theme for this season. It will be a good season despite its difficulties and I hope that you, my sweet and supportive family and friends, will continue to join with me on my journey as I desire to continue with you on yours. May my song for this time at grad school bless you as much as it blesses me and may you come to claim this prayer as your own:
Jesus draw me ever nearer,
As I labor through the storm.
You have called me to this passage,
And I'll follow though I'm worn.
May this journey bring a blessing.
May I rise on wings of faith;
And at the end of my heart's testing,
With your likeness let me wake.
Jesus guide me through the tempest;
Keep my spirit staid and sure.
When the midnight meets the morning,
Let me love you even more.
May this journey bring a blessing.
May I rise on wings of faith;
And at the end of my heart's testing,
With your likeness let me wake.
Let the treasures of the trial
Form within me as I go,
And at the end of this long passage
Let me leave them at your throne.
May this journey bring a blessing.
May I rise on wings of faith;
And at the end of my heart's testing,
With your likeness let me wake.
