I lost my voice over Memorial Day Weekend. How does one do that, you ask? Imagine being in charge of nineteen rowdy, elementary school age children (mostly boys) in a small classroom while trying to teach a lesson on responsibility. Take the object of distraction out of Mia's hands. Try to pick up where you left off. Tell Tony to sit down. Convince Max and all the other giggly kids that making farting noises with your armpit isn't funny. Pick up where you left off. Break up bickering between Jeffrey and kid whose name you no longer remember and just address as "HEY YOU!" Try to get attention of remaining children who have since lost interest and started their own version of who-can-make-the-teacher-angry-first. Repeat and rinse while having kids who need to drink water and/or use the restroom line up by the door with the assistant.
My voice is so hoarse that whenever I open my mouth to talk to someone, I'm genuinely surprised by the guttural noises that I end up making. It keeps cracking. I sound like a prepubescent boy. Soo sexy, eh?
Sorry, that was a little tangent. What I really wanted to say was HI! How are you? YOU LOOK FANTASTIC! I haven't kept up this blog in ages mainly because life's been piling everything on by the double. And most of the time, I've convinced myself that I've run out of words to say, but that's something else for another day. What was I saying? Oh yes. Being busy. Praise God, my summer plans have come out better than I could've ever hoped. So many delicious, toasty plans are in the making, but right now the goal is to get through summer school. Then after that, it's a visit from my FAVORITE GIRL IN THE ENTIRE WORLD. Yes siirrrr, Batsy and Supes reunion/adventure(s) in the Big Apple coming soon. Stay tuned.
In the meantime, I'm so late on the game to say this, but wow, freshmen year of college just started and ended with a blink of an eye. Honestly, it feels like the first day was just yesterday and now it's over.
No doubt, Dad's unexpected heart surgery marked quite a big event on this past year. Even though I was not the one undergoing the physical pain, it drained me both emotionally and mentally. Looking back, I don't think I would've gotten through without so much of the love and support shown to our family. I can still remember sinking down to my knees upon receiving the call and the hysterical sobbing. The immediate shock followed by uncontrollable panic sent me reeling. I called my brother immediately, whereupon he tried unsuccessfully to console a woeful me. The following weeks at school, I was everywhere but present. On the train to and from home, I played out scenarios in my mind. Scenarios where it was just three instead of four. I went to bed each night with a heavy heart. Through it all, a tiny light kept flickering, never snuffed out despite the doubt that suffocated me. Those four little words "I'll pray for you" turned out to to fan the tiny lick of a flame until it burned a million times brighter than it had before. Through many months and prayers, hope was rekindled.
So many folks have been asking about my papa bear. Thanks for your thoughtfulness and prayers. He is doing quite well and resumed work a few months ago. Though he has to take things slowly, he is the same old papa bear that he used to be (with the exception of a new heart, of course.) He is the same one who still runs random trips to the grocery store and always greets me with a smile and a crinkle around the eyes.
I don't have anything specifically sentimental to say about freshman year other than the fact that just three more times of this and I'll (hopefully) be out with cap and gown and a piece of paper that's cost my parents every tooth and penny. Gonna make it count.
Closing thoughts: God is good. I won't say I've had a great year because I think that would be a lie, but despite all that, I have seen Him in undeniable ways. He's opened up doors for me that I didn't even think was possible. I've doubted and been angry at Him but He has never let me down. I've had a few downright ugly moments over the past school year but He continues to be ever-faithful even in my most undeserving times. As long as I live, I will never cease to be amazed by this act we call grace.
Here's to running the race more diligently and determined than ever. If I could tell that naive freshman kid a a wittle sumtin sumtin a couple months back, I'd say: Pump those arms, kiddo, and run. Run, run, run.
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