Happy Thanksgiving everyone! You know – I feel like most of us in this country really take this holiday for granted, regardless of how much promotion it’s given and regardless of how much knowledge we have of our historical past. What we need to remember is that we came to this country to escape persecution and to worship G-d (aka Jesus Christ) in a way that contradicted the teachings of the king of England. Because of this we left and came to the New World, where we fought the Indians (making both wise and foolish decisions) and eventually came to be the great country that we are now. We are truly blessed…thinking of all the other countries that don’t have the same privileges that we do. Praise G-d for His everlasting love and His hand of protection upon this country still. I fear one day that the hand of His will no longer protect this country us if we continue to turn away from Him and go about our own way…

 

            School has been quite busy. I’ve had so many papers to do, projects to finish, and tests to take. I’m late on a couple papers right now, but I hope that this break gives me a chance to catch up. The end of the semester is nearing and that will be a relief when it finally comes to an end. Don’t get me wrong – I love school! I love the Christian and Jewish communities, my fraternity brothers, the fellowship, the social aspect of it all (probably too much), and I really do love to learn. But I feel that my relationship with G-d, my work, school, and my social life is unbalanced. I always feel stressed when I think about tuition bills. I’ve always had that stress upon me and I’ve learned to live with it and to push it aside. But the truth is – right now I still owe about $3000 before I can register for next semester. I don’t really want to take out a loan with high interest, and the student loan I can take out would require a co-signer (which my parents don’t want to really do) and have interest rates that would be wise to pay off immediately, and all the time. This really adds up…I’ve been praying about it a lot. I also have the feeling like I want to learn at my own pace and not the pace of the university. I want to actually “learn” stuff and not put a time limit on everything. Take Hebrew for example. I love the subject. But I can’t stand the time constraint. I could be learning this language so much better if we went at a slower, more relaxed pace. I dunno – maybe I’m just way off. I just don’t like the way some topics are presented and how limited of a time we’re expected to actually “learn” this stuff! I don’t want to forget this in my short term memory. I want to learn everything and put it away in my long term…but if I’m taught things at the speed of light, how am I going to learn it? Maybe that’s just Hebrew that I’m really talking about. I don’t know.

 

            My friend Al has been talking about taking the next semester off. I’m now thinking and praying about it myself. I would still take Hebrew I think – but if I take this next semester off I can work full time at DRC, get tuition benefits for next fall ($3000 a year), and maybe be a little less stressed? I would still be involved with social events, etc. at the U I’m sure – but I dunno. It’s worth praying about for sure. I know my parents would support the idea. They always tell me to take off school and work first. I never liked that idea and never liked the fact that my parents never seemed very supportive of me going to school with almost no money. But I know that if I quit school I’ll have full support of my parents as well…so I don’t know. I need prayer.

 

            On a more eventful note – last night I had Thanksgiving at my house. My dad’s side of the family came over (aka Grandma Sonia, Grandpa Al, Pam, and her kids) and we had dinner. It was awesome food! My Grandmas is such a blessing. She really surprised me last night with an unexpected gift. What an amazing heart she has…amazing. I miss my uncle Fran. I’m very sad over the divorce that he and Pam went through. That kind of stuff just doesn’t happen in my extended family. Why?? Why after 16 years do they just give up?! It doesn’t make sense. That will never happen to me.

 

            My relationship will be totally grounded in Christ, with bricks of Commitment, and with the 4 walls of Communication, Compassion, Companionship, and Chivalry. My roof will be composed of the Company of family and friends to help protect my relationship with prayers and support. What do you think of my model? Should I write a book ;) ? haha! But seriously…I’m serious! Lol

 

            So back to last night! Al and I ended up playing GTA-VC on my laptop, and watched James Bond movies ‘till about 5:30am. I think Bond movies on TV were done around 2am…so we watched the cartoon network after that J It was great. I never see Al anymore – so it was nice to catch up, talk about school, girls, problems (are the latter two related?), and just life!

 

            Today we’re going to Worthington to visit my cousins there. My mom’s side of the family is all going down there. As a matter of fact, I’m writing this entry from the van of my Aunt Sue’s van. I woke up, drove to the Nystroms, and left with them to Worthington. My family followed, but I went with the Nystroms because I’m coming home with them later on tonight. My family will be staying for another day or too. Friday night I’m planning on going over to Adam and Amy’s to say bye to Adam…since he’s leaving with the Marines soon. I’m also planning on helping Jenni finish making Christmas cards to send to kids in Romania. So I have a good weekend planned. I hope Sat. and Sun. can be a day of relaxing, doing homework, and finish getting caught up! Just keep praying for me!

 

            For those of you that I haven’t talked to in a while, know that you are in my prayers, and know that I haven’t forgotten you. Special hello to Karl and Jake (though I don’t think Jake gets xanga…but it’s the thought that counts)! I miss ya guys and you’ve both been such an encouragement to me both in h.s. and now in college as well. Your prayers and friendship mean so much…even though we don’t always talk!

Well I’m off to keep doing homework and maybe take a nap! I’ll prolly post this when I get to Worthington!

God bless,

Micah

- Micah 6:8