I like Christmas

Finals are coming along! half-way done. I just finished one final and have another today and the last one tomorrow. Whew!
Yesterday was the first time at Church in a while due to classes last sunday, travels to and from Midwest, chikfila, and lexington. It was wonderful to be back.
In honor of advent, we had a Gaudete service, a service of lessons (scripture reading) and carols. Its latin for "rejoice" (thanks Mrs. Walker, Jenny's Latin, and Wikipedia).

One carol in particular grabbed my heart and filled me with Hope. The promises in the first stanza are what i long for so much, the promise of comfort to those who mourn, whose back aches from a load of sorrow. the promise of peace to the world and peace to Jerusalem, a city so divided and disgraced by centuries of war. Thank you God, for covering our sins, for comforting your people, for descending from heaven to be incarnate to us. And thank you God, for not only being the Comforter, but also being the Savior. Please help me pass my final. Have mercy. Amen.

Comfort, Comfort Ye My People by Johann Olearius
1. Comfort, comfort, ye My people,
Speak ye peace, thus saith our God;
Comfort those who sit in darkness,
Mourning 'neath their sorrows' load.
Speak ye to Jerusalem
Of the peace that waits for them;
Tell her that her sins I cover
And her warfare now is over.

2. Yea, her sins our God will pardon,
Blotting out each dark misdeed;
All that well deserved His anger
He no more will see or heed.
She hath suffered many a day,
Now her griefs have passed away;
God will change her pining sadness
Into ever-springing gladness.

3. Hark, the Herald's voice is crying
In the desert far and near,
Bidding all men to repentance
Since the Kingdom now is here.
Oh, that warning cry obey!
Now prepare for God a way;
Let the valleys rise to meet Him
And the hills bow down to greet Him.

4. Make ye straight what long was crooked,
Make the rougher places plain;
Let your hearts be true and humble,
As befits His holy reign.
For the glory of the Lord
Now o'er earth is shed abroad,
And all flesh shall see the token
That His Word is never broken.

I couldn't find a great recording, but this gives you an idea of what the tune is.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2sfDESOjN0I&feature=related

END NOTE:

This is my view out my desk window this morning.

It snowed yesterday for the first real snow in Nashville so far. It is wonderful. I went for a walk last night with the puppy and looked back at my little house and saw two heads peeking out through our lighted window. I just love those girls.



I love my roomates, i love my apartment, and i love how Lacie, Sarah and I have formed little family of our own. I was immensely blessed by both roommates yesterday as they gave me rides to and from the car shop through the snow, and as sarah worked for HOURS to make Lacie and I some of the best Potato fennel soup Ive ever had, topped off with home made apple pie. so wonderful.

Up Late

Today is Wednesday, and its been a long week already. I had block classes all weekend which makes it seems like last week never ended, and I'm still recovering from having classes all day long. Finals are just around the corner, as in they begin on friday.
I realized today that I dont recognize when I am feeling stressed, but people around me do. I found I show it in one of two ways. Apparently I get a little crazy with cleaning and doing dishes and organizing. I feel the drive to organize some part of my life, and the tangible seems the easiest thing to reach for. I also get really creative- like today of all days I started a new project for window treatments in my room, or i made a banner of all the finals i have so I can get the satisfaction of pulling each one down as I take them. (See picture below).

In college, my roomates would tell you that during the most stressful part of the year, I spent hours making intricate paper snowflakes. (again, see below).



Last night I went to small group, which is always so wonderful. I'm so glad God has given me a place in Nashville that I sit by a real live fire, and talk to people who know me and love me, and feel at home. The night before Sarah and Chironna and I went to a Christmas concert at Lipscomb. It was beautiful, and it made me homesick for wheaton's christmas concert. Music truly is magical in how it can lift your spirits and convey so much emotion.

Well, I don't think there's any particular reason for this post, except nobody's on skype and its too late to call people. :-) And this is my blog, and i dont have to have a coherent post if I dont want to. so there you go internet.