Pictures

This is something I'm going to miss this year:

Walking through the orchard on my way to the library from campus.
I'm going back in spring to dance under the blossoms.
Libraries have always been an escape.
At D.A., I could look out into the trees and forget that 26,000 students
roamed beneath me on a city campus.
At W.V., the walk to the library itself was an escape.
At the next stop on the college map, the campus is a city one smack in the heart of a sprawling city but there is a library. One so big you can get lost in it.
And so in some small way that may compensate for the cityness of it all.
But it can't replace the walk though the old orchard.

Year in Review...

I don't like to consider New Years a holiday although I appreciate the days off. Something about it doesn't make sense to me. I appreciate it as a time to reflect on the year and make plans for the new. The partying, ball dropping and general hoopla just doesn't appeal to me.

So that said, here are 12 things (one for each month but not necessarily corresponding) that stood out for me.

1. Being a Jr. High Leader was a blessing and a challenge. The kids are amazing yet they deal with so much.
   
2. 4-H is a lesson in politics and bureaucracy and how they closely resemble a girl with a curl in the middle of her forehead.
3. God can work all things (including embarrassing things) for good.
   
4. One person can make things harder for everyone else.
   
5. Friendships have seasons and it's hard to watch them change.
6. Sometimes something seemingly small has a huge impact.
7. Fellowship isn't within a peer group. It can be anyone, anywhere, anytime.
8. County Fair, even though it wasn't "fair", was fresh family fun.
9. Noah's Nook: Not just a floating zoo, they learn about God too!
10. Midweek Director + learning curve + fabulous gracious staff = wonderful first 1/2 of the year.
    
11. God given talent and inspiration makes outstanding results.
    
12. Even though you may not know where you're going, stay on the path that God has given you.