Back in the USA. What a beautiful evening to be here. For the whole entire day, actually.

Due to the again-impressive storm last night that certainly cooled things down a tad, today was a brilliantly sunny day. Definitely of the variety that makes me stop and think, wow, life is a beautiful gift. It did also help that I got to wear my cute new rose-colored blouse today. Pretty outfits are best appreciated, by me, on beautiful days.

My sisters and I sang in church today, and I loved it. Maddi played guitar, and Bella and I sang. It was also my last Sunday at Immanuel Presbyterian Church for a while, and we had communion. I don't know what that's like at many other churches, but at ours, it's nothing short of beautiful. After all going forward together, we return to our seats and wait until everyone's been served. Then, to close the service, we join hands and sing as a congregation the first and last verses of "Amazing Grace". I was sitting with my family in the balcony today because we were up there to sing, and I had the privilege of looking out over the whole congregation as we sang. The congregation that so welcomed our family, fresh off the plane from England, about 13 years ago; the people that taught my Sunday school classes all through schoolyears, and those with whom my parents arranged play-dates. I have grown so much in the time that I have attended IPC, and I have loved it as it is, but the family that I have accrued there will continue to grow and change even while I'm not there. I am okay with that. It has helped and nurtured me carefully for long enough--now I'm going to college.

I am going to college. And I cannot wait! School supplies are just the most material/commercialist joy of starting school again--joys which range from studying to having roommates to extracurriculars. I leave in only eleven days. So much to get ready before then! But that's a good thing, because without activity (as this summer has laid painfully obvious) I go bonkers. I await the goodness this year holds quite expectantly--but the excited kind, not the nervous kind. I will be saving my nerves for my first paper in over a year, my first exams in over a year.

Heck, I'm even looking forward to papers and exams: it's definitely time for school. :)

xox