winter snow

this semester has been a rollercoaster. dealing with the death of harley and tucker, as well as experiencing two of my good friends losing their grandfathers, all while taking a class on death and dying was extremely draining. my financial situation caused a great deal of stress on top of all the normal things a senior in college has to do to finish up.
but there have been soooo many good things too.
>the orientation staff this year was amazing, they became another family to me-i met so many beautiful people who became such treasured friends.
>my living situation is such a blessing. i finally have a roommate who i love dearly AND who doesn't care that i'm messy ;) she is such a great friend and encouragement to me. it's been so great being able to walk along side ellie this semester...well maybe just sit beside her. we have an amazingly comofortable couch in our room. it is seriously heaven in a couch. in fact, i wish i was sitting there, watching friends riiiight now.
>i've also made some really great friends on the floor who i wouldnt be as close with otherwise. i've really gotten to know them well and love being close neighbors!
>then of course i've got my great group of girl friends who've been there from the beginning. we're weird and crazy and dysfunctional at times, but we've got each others backs and i hope that never changes. while we're slightly more spread out this year, we've managed to maintain some degree of closeness. they are really beautiful women who encourage me so much, i don't know what i would do without them. i am so thankful that we were able to stay close this semester. i wish i could say the same will happen even after we graduate, but unfortunately as we all move away, this seems unrealistic.
>my classes this semester were so good. my death and dying class really opened my eyes and forced me to experience some really tough stuff. my faith and money class pushed me to be more eternal in my perspective of money. i feel like i am more careful with my funds (but i'm not perfect, ok? i slip up here and there). my understanding of how God views money have expanded enormously and my passion for giving ignited.
>in the midst of a financial meltdown, God showed up BIG time. He really IS the Great Provider. how do i doubt so easily? my family has made so many sacrifices for me to be able to attend Biola. i honestly don't know how i will ever be able to repay them for their support in finances, in prayer, in cosigning, in encouragement, and in love.

i recently returned "home" to maryland (home is such a loose term at the moment) where we promptly received 26 inches of snow. coming from 70 degree weather, this was quite a dramatic change. it seems to be the finale to an amazing semester...as my new favorite song describes, not only this amazing season in which we celebrate the birth of Christ, but also the character and the nature of God, it is so timely as i find myself surrounded in white.

could've come like a mighty storm
with all the strength of a hurricane
you could've come like a forest fire
with the power of heaven in your flame

but you came like a winter snow
quiet and soft and slow
falling from the sky in the night
to the earth below

you could've swept in like a tidal wave
or an ocean to ravish our heart
you could have come through like a roaring flood
to wipe away all the things we've scarred

but you came like a winter snow
you were quiet, you were soft and slow
falling from the sky in the night
to the earth below

oh no, your voice wasn't in a bush burning
no, your voice wasn't in a rushing wind
it was still, it was small, it was hidden

oh, you came like a winter snow
quiet and soft and slow
falling from the sky in the night
to the earth below