Sitting in the Grass

Many of you are aware of my dive into summer classes this week. After a lovely three-week break of doing nearly anything I wanted, I am back at it.

Two classes. Seven grad credits. Four weeks. (On top of this already busy schedule.)

Holy moly.

I'm thankful for grandparents who stay for a week to play with Ella while I'm in class. I'm thankful for an incredible husband who sends encouraging texts during class. (Remember? I sit in the back row. It's totally manageable.) I'm thankful for a cozy little Annex in the basement that is all my own. And I'm very thankful for the opportunity to study some really cool stuff.

Only one week of on-campus class. Then it's all online goodness for three more weeks. That equals nap time study sessions and coffee shop visits after the man of the house finishes work. And because I'm doing these two elective classes at one time this summer, I'll be absolutely free of any academic responsibility all next summer. Lovely.

I discovered an interesting thought as I sat in the grass during a class break on campus today. This may or may not make any sense to you, but it feels like it has a whole lot of meaning to me. I realized that, at age 29 and on my second round of degree-seeking status, I am now the person I dreamed of being when I was an undergrad student. I am only a small resemblance of the person I was ten years ago. I desired confidence and an ease of handling daily life. I desired clothes that fit right that maybe even had a hint of style. I desired afternoons sitting lazily in the grass outside campus buildings, eating a decently healthy, non-dining center meal, while listening to quality music and working through meaningful class assignments. I did those things today. I don't mean it in a stuck-up way at all. Not like an "I've made it. Look at me now" thing. It's just that, as I sat possessing so many of the qualities that I could only imagine ten years ago, I realized all of the amazing things God has done in me. I guess it took a moment like that, while sitting in the same place I used to sit between theatre classes, to recognize the journey of this life. I'm completely humbled and totally excited all at the same time.

And with that, I'm saying goodnight to Stacy Kent on Pandora, closing the computer, and heading to bed. The morning workout comes early.

Goodnight, my friends.