much too short...

This past weekend I went home because it was my Dad's 45th birthday (hehe embrace the age dad, it just means you are that much wiser!). I drove home on a Friday night after my classes, went to dinner with my parents, had a great visit with my Pastor's family, and got to see Derek who has been in Roseburg working all summer. It was a great start to the weekend, and filled with a lot of necessary catching up! The next day was just as good because I got to prepare the food for my dad's party with my mom, and my two good friends Misti and Collin...he was mostly there for support :) Later that evening I spent the night with my friend Jacquie from church which is always encouraging because her faith just overflows. I am privelaged to be challenged by her.

Finally, the next morning I went to my home church, the one that I grew up in as a Christian. I started going there and really seeking God when I was in 10th grade, and that church family had a huge part in cultivating my faith. Sometimes it is hard to go back because when you don't see anyone for awhile conversations seem superficial when you are flooded with the "how have you been? oh, good..How about you? good, thanks." Those types of conversations wear me out. I wish people could just be real, but honestly it isn't the best setting when you have a couple minutes and then the next person walks up. There just isn't enough time to be honest with one another, not even considering the distance that is put between people when you have been gone for so long.

This time was different though. Of course there were the two sentence conversations, but I was able to connect with a couple of people while I was there, and that was enough to fill my need. In the end, this weekend was much too short. I wish I had had more time to visit with other good friends, or just more time with the ones that I did see. I love being in Corvallis, but all the activity here keeps me away from the people I love back home. I suppose that is part of growing up and going to school, but more time would be nice.

When I came back from Roseburg, I was able to come home to a house with roommates though! My two volleyball player roommates have been back for a few days before they are off to another tournament, and it is always fun to have other people around the house! It is going to be a good year, I just know it.

the first dinner...

Last night my friend Jen Weiss and I, brought the house on 12th street into the loop of places to have dinner at with our friends!! I have been waiting for this moment for a couple of years now. I love to have people over, and we were finally given the chance to reciprocate the many dinners we have enjoyed at our other friends' houses! For the last two years I have lived in the dorms or co-op, and now I am living in my own place with 4 awesome girls! As of now, I am the only one consistently living there during the summer, but the others have at least dropped by or stayed for a couple of weeks. The summer has been a great time to get all of the kinks of renting out, so we can be ready to go when fall starts. Right now we are without a toilet :S not the best situation, but luckily I have a good friend (Meghan) who is letting me stay at her place. Since I have been living on my own, it has been cool to see how my group of friends takes care of each other. It is really a great thing to experience!

I am lucky to have them, and get to see them on a regular basis like tonight at 2:42. For those of you who do not know, I am part of a college christian group called 2:42 (based off of Acts 2:42). Every Tuesday in the summer we have been meeting at the Ameele's house for an amazing dinner and bible study. The Ameele's are parents of my friend Brock, but they help out on so many aspects of the college group (welcoming us into their home, discipleship, encouragement, service to the group, and the list goes on). I greatly appreciate their commitment to us, as I know so many of us do! (Thank you!)