I mean, I know that I don't "have" to apologize, but I've been failing at my mini-series and in blogging in general. This weekend I'll have a lot, a LOT of time.

A list...

1. I'm homesick. I never really got that homesick last semester (well, after the first month or so when I got settled in), but for some reason I have been for a week. I think it's because so much has been going on (good stuff), but I don't get to share in it with my parents and family. I mean, I talk to them on the phone and stuff, but that's completely different from them being able to witness it, and to be able to SEE them while I talk it all out with them.

2. Seeing my parents on Saturday night :). And the rest of the fam. I can't express how excited I am. We didn't think it was going to work out... but then my mom texted me this morning and said that we'll make it work. That made my day.

3. New tradition these past two weeks of going to Sarah's on Thursday afternoons to watch LOST and 19 Kids and Counting. She doesn't watch LOST, but her and David are kind enough to record them for me. I must say, it's a completely different experience watching that show with someone who doesn't know anything about it than with a group of people who are intensely into it. I kind of like it, because it helps keep it light-hearted (because it makes me realize just how absurd the show really is :). The more I try to explain to her what's happening, the more silly the show seems. But I still totally love it.

4. If you guys didn't know, I'm going on the Spring Break mission trip with my church to Edinburg/McAllen (in South Texas by the border). I'm super excited :). I'm helping lead the Children's Team!

5. Sarah said that I should blog about this so I will. I never really realized how much I used/relied on my "Top Fives" until I got to Belton and started having to get to know people. I was made especially aware of this the first or second month of college whenever Andrew and I had lunch with Sarah and Joey after church (David was home with Lucy), when Andrew came and visited church with  me. We got talking about music, movies, bands, etc., and I kept asking them what their top five whatevers were. I had all my lists memorized and was able to spout them off, because I guess I've thought about this a lot! I LOVE Top Five lists because these are questions people like to ask. AND, it's hard to think of ONE whatever that I like that accurately represents me, so it kind of saves me if you have 5 - people won't judge you based off of your one answer. If that makes sense. ANYWAYS, so they were making fun of me (well, not really "making fun" - just pointing it out and thinking it was funny) because I was so obsessed. So it's been kind of a running joke in Lifegroup all year that I have my Top Five everything. So at the Superbowl party on Sunday at the church building, at halftime we had little contests with little prizes, and one of them was whoever can name the 7 Dwarfs first. Of course, I knew all of them :), and so I started spouting them off. But for SOME reason, I could only think of Five of them at first, and stopped, having to think for another 10 seconds or so of the other two. After the fact, Katie and Grant (from my Lifegroup) told me that whenever that happened, Grant muttered to Katie, "She can only think of her Top Five...". I pretty much thought that that was hilarious :). Anyways, thought I'd share that story.

6. Read a story in British Literature from Piers Plowman, Passus 18 the other night for class. It is SO GOOD. If you have time on your hands, read it. It's all about Jesus and the Passion, and is like an allegorical thing. The language is beautiful. So good.

Oh how strong the power of Jesus' name!
It is stronger than any other name
How sweet the victory that bore my shame
took the burden of my sin away

Hallelujah! What a Savior!
I owe everything to Him
Hallelujah, what a Savior
Hallelujah to my King!

Oh how great the kindness our God has shown
We were strangers, now we're called His own
His grace has welcomed the sinner home
Tender mercies lead us to The Throne

Oh what peace the Spirit of Jesus brings
Through the trials He will carry me
One day, in Heaven, our eyes will meet
Filled with wonder, all the saints will sing

"Hallelujah To My King", by Paul Baloche