Technology

Today I gained a new found appreciation for the technology we have today. I’m one to rarely say this, but as I’m sitting talking to someone 12 1/2 hours ahead of me on one computer and can hear three other people talking on two different computers, it makes me appreciate the world I live in today. Yes, I’m sure I’ll be even more excited about this when I’m the one in an unknown place, with an unknown language, with only a few people I know, if any. And I might have not realized this if I was only talking to someone a couple miles away, or even a time zone or two away, but that doesn’t make it any less. From all around the world, we can be connected. From Washington, Idaho, India, Cambodia, North Dakota, France, where ever; today we can stay connected. Not even seeing a face, but hearing a voice can sometimes just make everything so much better. 

Check.

It's almost midnight and I'm mentally running through all the things still needing to be stuffed into the car.

Do I have all my clothes?
Will my bike fit?
Towels! I almost forgot towels.
My chargers.


I got that far through this list before I got up and added more items to the already larger-than-expected pile leaving my bedroom door. Two years ago, I would've really been freaking out. Living in a dorm now, however, has become a usual part of my life....unfortunately. But there's something different this time. It's not just any dorm, it's not the UCA dorm anymore, it's the Walla Walla University dorm; a college dorm.

Where has time gone? Wasn't it just yesterday I was complaining about finally finishing 12 years at LCJA or moving into the dorm at UCA for the last time at the start of my senior year? I feel like yesterday I was walking down the aisle not for me to be graduating, but as a junior marching for then seniors. And now, now I've marched as a graduating senior, now I've worked 12 weeks of summer, and now I'm going to college. And the list keeps rattling through my brain...

Am I sure I got everything?
I need to set my alarm clock. Ugh, 5:55 a.m.?! I'm going to die!
Pillow! I cannot forget my pillow!
Dang it, forgot to put that away.
Can't forget to grab the trash can.
Man...it's 11:50. Time to try to go to bed.

Change?

Yesterday, I woke up early, starting my day off differently for the first time this week. I made my now "usual" breakfast, a breakfast my good friend got me hooked on. As I ate my meal, consisting of whole wheat toast, peanut butter, bananas, peaches, greek yogurt, and some granola all piled on top of each other, I watched one of the last episodes of NCIS that I hadn't already burned through. A peaceful morning, the house alone to myself. Just as I realized this, the cleaning lady walks in, disturbing the peace that moments earlier had encompassed my home. A quick Ab Ripper X round followed till I hurried out the house to get my day moving. 

You know those days where you know you have a lot to do, so you know it's going to be a productive day? That's the kind of day yesterday was. I stopped first at Target. My goal: buy my two friends all the goodies they could ever need for a plane trip to India. This took me a lot longer then I expected. Standing in front of the shelves filled with bins of bottles, bags, and containers all perfectly sized for traveling, I tried to think of what each individually would like the most. Once the bottom of my cart was empty, I just stood there, hoping there was one more thing to grab or something else I could buy for them that would delay continuing on with my day. Buying this combination of travel items, food, and necessaties filled me with a slue of emotions. Excitement: wrapping their gifts and seeing the look on their faces when they open the present (best part!) and knowing their mission as they head abroad. Sadness: knowing today was marking one of the last days I'll be able to see my dear friends for the next seven months. 

Ultimately, it was a day of change, something I've never been too fond of. 

To keep my mind off this fact, I stopped by my favorite local coffee stand and ordered my favorite drink: Blended Sugar Free Vanilla Big Train Chai with Nonfat Milk. This drink has the ability to make any day better with a simple sip. But as I started to drive away, I saw the little sign that had been posted just a week or so before; they were moving. To where? No one knows. When? That's unknown too. I'm going to have to find another coffee place that sells my favorite drink. It'll probably be farther from my house and not quite as good. Another change. 

After making a dessert for my friends' going away party, I started packing. Honestly, who likes packing? My just cleaned room was now a mess again as I started organizing piles of clothes to stay home or to go with me to college. College, something entirely new, unexpected, and yet another change. 

As the day ended and I sat around a campfire, one of my pastors talked to my two friends about connecting to the source while they were abroad in India and how with so much change in their life, connecting to the  source is going to be even more helpful, supportive, and important. Thinking later about all the change in my own life, I realized I needed to reconnect myself with the source, and all this change, will come a whole lot easier.

From one chapter to the next...

The chapter of summer is coming to a close. Camp is officially done, and the busy days, repeated routines, close friends, and energetic campers go with it. It's hard to imagine not hiking to rodeo tonight, or walking to church on Saturday, or cleaning for hours just to start the process all over again.

And now, a group of 100+ people, brought together to form one body, made of different stories and backgrounds, spread across the world to continue doing what we originally came together to do; shine God.

Now starting a new college chapter of my life, I'm going to continue doing just that.