turning over a new leaf?

Two days in a row I'm going to bed before midnight. Happy new semester!

Welcome back to school, Kelsey; you're screwed.

I love St. Peter. I really do. I enjoy learning and going to class and having a regular schedule. I'm just sitting here reveling in the fact that I'm not at home watching a movie with my 16th cup of tea on the day. Not that I didn't love that; I'm just glad to be home.

BUT. As excited I am to start the new semester, I'm also getting very, very nervous about several things. This is going to be a very trying, very busy semester. All of my classes, save Tai Chi, call themselves "time intensive." Meaning after I slack off tonight I will have no choice but to work my behind off every day for about four months. I guess I'm finally in college.

I'm already pretty backwards this term. Of my 4 real "academically-driven" classes, I am tremendously excited for one, looking forward to two, and dreading the last. What's wrong with this is that the one for which I'm excited, I have absolutely no interest in the material. It's a poly-sci class, and I can't stand politics. Thinking about it makes me cringe. However, the 50 minutes I spent in the class today were the most entertaining minutes I've spent in a classroom. Screwy. Also, the class I'm dreading is the one for which I technically should have the most interest...seeing as it's my current major. However, this education class is going to fill me right up to the brim with busy work and useless information from a teacher I can't respect or even understand. It's interesting how much difference the teacher makes in my loving or loathing a class. Which, I guess is a reason why I feel so strongly led to be one. Teachers matter. But really, my worst teacher, as far a I can tell, is teaching me how to become a teacher? This is one of the few instances where I don't quite find the humor in the irony. I'm going to have trouble finding patience this semester.

So first day back summary: Interesting classes will be the academic death of mean and awful classes will result in the termination enjoyment of education...happy as a clam yet royally screwed... eh. I'm optimistic :)

broke

Yesterday, I spent more on my own personal pleasure than I think I have in my entire life. Like..over 8 Christmases worth. But I bought music and sunshine. So that's fun. I just can't spend any money on myself for about 4 years. I even avoided Target last night. This is for real.

Posts from Hodagland: This one's a doozy

New Foods I've Tried

1. Orange

2. Walleye

3. Quesadilla

4. Sweet and spicy wings

5. Yogurt with fruit chunks

6. Sweet and sour pork

7. Italian green beans

8. Fetichini Supremo

9. Eggplant

10. Ravioli

11. Blackberries

12. Frog legs

13. Scallops

14. Perch

Posts from Hodagland: Thursday, the 4th--snooping

Tonight, my grandpa is in bed yet again hours before my brain will allow me to lie down, so I've decided to go exploring.

Whilst Snooping, things that made me "lol"

-A "Nixon Now" pin

- Gold bond shoe inserts

-Chicken candle holders

- The oldest harmonica on the planet

- Instruction manual for "You new Argus C-3, the world's first choice of all 35 mm camera"

- The camera itself-- fricken wild

- Many (3) unused, engraved door-knockers

-Pictures of my dad from when he was a total stud

- Snakeskin purses

-Patterns for some of the most interesting clothing I have ever seen

- One giant magnifying glass

- 60 year old high school diploma

- Wrestling Uniform??

And this was all in the first room...

Posts from Hodagland: Thursday the 4th--good people

I don't give the people here enough credit. I hate coming here. I really do. I dread it more and more each time. But these are good people. My grandpa: who cheats his diabetic diet to help me finish an entire pizza and steal candy from his "secret visitor stash, my uncle: who can turn any and every situation into the funniest thing I've ever heard, my aunt: who every day can find reason to exclaim, "Kels, the Lord is good!" These are good people.

Posts from Hodagland: Wednesday, the 3rd-- 11 pm

I just found a box. In it is literally decades of my grandpa's old sermons and notes. It's like a gold mine. His handwriting is tiny and cramped, but what I can make out is amazing. He was a brilliant, brilliant man. Truly. I've been strengthened tonight, reading words I've heard many times before--yet it's different knowing that the man who complains of the news reporters talking too fast is the same man who wrote them and who fervently believed them to be true.

Tonight my grandpa taught me:

-Pride, not meekness is the thing to be feared

-Praying hands are full hands

-The Christian religion is a religion of Joy!

-I can trust the Heart of Him who has not failed me yet

-We are in danger of restricting our kindness to our thoughts and words--the fruit of the Spirit is active kindness

- Christmas changed Everything

-Fellowship: we all need soul company

- Love of our fellow men flows from love toward God

-Renew your commitment daily!

-This is your war

-You have a friend who loves you--he is your friend, not your master

-Peter did not deny Jesus on his teachings, but he denied his fellowship

-God accepts us.

-He succeeded when we failed

-Let not our hearts be troubled

-God's love is amazing

-A prisoner of love gives himself into bonds

-Xt says: Give me your sins--they are mine

I stole this notecard--

Let not your Heart Be Troubled:

You can Keep Your Poise in a World of Panic-- John 14:27

You can Get Strength when you need it-- Luke 22:43

You can Cry Yourself Out of the Depths of Sin-- Luke 22: 61, 62

You can Find Truth in a Bewildered Age--John 18: 37b, 38a

You can Gaze beyond the Things you See-- Matthew 26: 64b

You can Profit by the Cross you Bear-- Mark 15:21

There's more on that one--but I can keep it by my bed versus on my blog. It's been an eye-opening (for lack of a better word) hour or so with this little box. I've been reminded to thank God for the honor of being his dearly loved child and that I can live in confidence for I know my Keeper and Savior. Tonight I've gotten just a glimpse of who my grandpa was, who he continues to be today, and I've seen a man of God. I've seen a man who touched the lives of many and who touched me in particular tonight. Tonight I am reminded what it looks like when the Lord's love consumes a life.

So tonight I ask, as my grandpa did:

May his misery be my mercy,

his death, my deliverance,

his love, my life.