So we've almost been back in Goshen for a month now! The winter weather is becoming more bearable, simply because I'm getting used to it. In fact, 27 (today) even feels warm, compared to temperatures a week or two ago of negative 20 (not including wind chill)...

Classes are picking up. I have an 8-10 page paper for Hebrew Scriptures due in two weeks (!), and two shorter papers due this coming week. I would be working on those now, but I felt like procrastinating for another 15 minutes. :) I'm really enjoying my classes, but I keep having to remember to make time to take breaks! 15 credit hours, choir, and working 9 hours in the library take up a lot of time during the week.

I'm also feeling a bit stressed with regards to "future" issues. My friends and I haven't finalized spring break plans (three weeks!), nor have we officially decided how housing is working next year. That's become a bigger issue than I expected, unfortunately, mostly because of my friends' and my SST plans. Also, I'm applying for several things to do this summer, but I won't hear about those for a while. It's kind of hard for me to wait!

But, regardless of all the new stresses and classwork that never ends, I have found some time, mostly on the weekends, to enjoy myself. There have been several music and theater senior recitals recently, which have been excellent. I enjoy going to support my classmates in their productions. Also last weekend, as you'll note in the pictures, a large group of my friends dressed up funky and went to Steak 'n' Shake, for absolutely no reason. It was a lot of fun! I am also pumped for Kickoff tonight, which is the talent show every semester. I'm sure it will be great.

Enjoy the last hours of January! :)

...is pretty gray. But that doesn't mean it's not fun!!! (insert big smiley face)

Seriously, though, it's good to be back for the spring semester. Three weeks was a good amount of break time, I think. By the end I was ready to be back at school to see all of my friends and get started with a new set of classes!

The last week of break was a bit more relaxing - my family went to our cabin in the Poconos (northern PA) for a few days and then I went to Lancaster for New Year's Eve. I had a get-together and said goodbye to my friends on Thursday, because most of them were already leaving! I read and relaxed a lot the next two days before traveling back all day Monday.

I've had all of my classes once now, and I am super excited! I have three upper-level classes that I know will be a lot of work, though. I started working at the library again, which was good, and choir starts again on Monday! I can't wait!

Also this semester, I am starting something new. I was asked last November to apply to be a reference intern at the library, which I was accepted for. That means I will be helping the reference librarian and then taking over later in the evening so that students can get research help from their peers. I am very excited about this opportunity!

Well, I hope you all can appreciate the good things that January brings, wherever you are :)