Yay for Days like Today

To start, a beautiful sunrise. Though I did not technically get to see the sun, and I am pretty sure that I woke up 30 minutes too early so was not the happiest camper in the beginning darkness, the color change of the sky was worth every second of sleep I was not getting.

the sea turns a little greener
loses its dark blue
the sky goes from red to fire
i think You use every hue
what a triumphant waking
it shows the power of Your hand
how with just a beam of sunlight
You illuminate the land
now Jesus tell me something
as i turn and fix my eyes
is this how You felt
when You Yourself did rise?
i imagine the sun says
"hold on and just you see=.,
those in darkness i am coming,
just you wait for me.
i will wrap you in my presence,
i will warm you through and through.
just imagine my beaming face,
as i come to meet with you."

Next discovery of the day... Bethany Dillon is married. She is married to Shane Barnard and has been for a year. I did not know this!

I was chatting with Stephen today about how fun I think a guy roommate is and how I will honestly miss having his perspective and get to see life through the eyes of someone so completely different than me. We were talking about our time over here and I was saying that I really do believe that I will look back on this year and go, "THANK YOU God for that year of relaxation and for the preparation You made in my heart!" Stephen made a cool comment saying that time like this makes you more aware of what makes you happy and what you want in your life. I couldn't agree more. Here is what I have found so far:
1) I am so excited to start my job. Even if this fall I am not going to be going into YL as I hoped (don't know yet!), I know I am called to work with high school kids and to pursue them for Jesus :) I am so ready to get back there and get after it! A quote I just read on my friend Nora's facebook wall sums up my feeling exactly: Be a warrior! Desire something powerfully! Saddle your horse and get ready for the quest! - Sanai.
2) I want to be in civilization. I feel like I have escaped from the "real world" somehow but all I want is to get back to it. Maybe in a few months of being back I will wish for the opposite, ha!
3) I want to make time with my family an absolute priority and set aside certain weeks every summer for time with all of them. They are what matters most to me in this world and I cannot wait to get back to being in close proximity to them.
4) I want to take a trip to Ohio.
5) I want to be able to go to sporting events on a regular basis. Wake Forest events if I'm lucky, pro baseball if I am doubly-lucky. Maybe throw some hockey in there too.
6) I want to spend much less time watching TV and much more time having conversations with people. (the unfortunate cancelling of Chuck will help reduce my TV viewing time for sure)
7) I want to do battle for my soul every day - I want the good fruit.
8) Reading makes me happy.
9) I will one day watch a space shuttle take off in Florida.

One change I have certainly noticed during this Tourney is that my hatred for Duke has decreased dramatically. I caught myself admiring Coach K the other day - WHAT?!?! I think Tyler Hansbrough has definitely received the brunt of my bitter scorn this year, but even he has received less than normal. Maybe, hopefully, my "hatred" is lessening and I am more concerned in my team doing well than tearing down another team. Can't say my sentiments towards the Patriots have changed at all though... sorry Steph.