I'm an upperclassman!

So right now I'm in the middle of packing up anything and everything that will be of value to me at college, shoving it in the car, and then waking up bright and early tomorrow morning for the trek back to Taylor University. I can't even begin to tell you how excited I am to see everyone again! Reuniting with the wing after being abroad in Ireland will be priceless. The period from when everyone first moves in to the end of October is my absolute favorite time of year. Not only are the fall nights cool and crisp but the smell from the falling leaves make it absolutely wonderful. I think I should also mention that academics are much more relaxed near the beginning so it allows for more "hangout time" with friends. This time of year just reminds me of late night car rides with the top down, blaring music, corn mazes, pumpkin carving, shotgun shooting, melon gourd, leaves, campfires, Jerry's farm, matea, coffee, front porch talks, pranks, handy andy runs, fights in the hallway, and anything else that involves Third West and friends. I have some of my best Taylor memories from this period of time and I'm SO excited to create more this fall!

...but the one downside to this fall is that Blake won't be there. I have thououghly enjoyed spending time with her these last two years and it will for sure be different without her there. Blake you will be missed!

All that to say, goodbye summer 2009, hello Junior year!

halfway there!

So today it just hit me that not only am I halfway finished with school but also halfway through summer. Time flies. Where did it all go? I took a course with St. Louis Community College this summer. I've been working close to 40 hours a week at the Alpine Shop, and I've been enjoying life. (friends and of course the family). I've been attempting to play guitar. It's been years since I last played and I am just now getting back into it. It's awesome. I built a potato gun. I love guns. I've been trying to read. That goal for the summer has yet to be checked off. I love reading but for some reason can't find it in myself just to sit down, read, and finish a book. I'm working on it.

There is so much I want to do this summer! I actually compiled a two page list of certain things I want to accomplish while I'm home!

Needless to say, I don't want this summer to go to waste. I want to spend my time doing something constructive. Living the dream. Searching my soul. Churning up as much adventure as possible. Finding a direction in life. Growing closer to God. Taking a few risks. I just want to continue to stay active.

At Church were doing a series on 'seeking direction'. Seems adequate for where I'm at in life. I ask the 'what am I doing with my life' question more then I care to admit. But the series is focusing on what we believe. It's helping me think about life. It's helping me grow and stretch and think about life differently. Last Sunday, we had a guest speaker, Kevin Bauer, who really struck a chord with me. The title of his sermon was 3.2.1. jump. He started off my showing us a 'youtube' video of someone jumping off the worlds highest bungy jump. It was really quite impressive and terrifying at the same time. He used this clip just to point out the simple fact that people are doing all these adrenaline pumping things because it makes them feel alive! But he has a point. Why do you think so many people skydive, shoot guns, blow up things, climb, ski, and the list could go on and on. It's because it makes them come alive inside. Oliver Wendell Holmes once said,

"Most of us go to our graves with our music still inside us."

Wow. Think about that for a little while. Kevin pointed out that,

"sometimes the greater sin is not really living."

Throughout his entire message, I couldn't stop thinking about how I need to live my life to the max everyday. I need to glorify God, take risks, and live life fully! I don't want to have any regrets later on in life. I don't want to look back on my life when I'm old and wished I had done that one thing. I want to live it up! Or as we say on Third West, "Live the Dream" all the time!