Hymns, Cheesecake and Good Convos.

Today was the last day of our Spiritual Formation Class.  This class has rocked my world (shout-out to Becky for teaching me that phrase).  Today we went to our professor's house and had a delicious breakfast together.  We sat around her kitchen table and enjoyed wonderful food and quality company.  I love kitchen tables - and I didn't realize I was missing them until this weekend. Good things happen around them.  We talked about our reading assignment, recited our memory verses, shared how we had been praying for our prayer partners, and were prayed over.  This semester we've been challenged, we've been encouraged, we've been honest, we've gone on retreat, we've shared with each other, and we've grown closer to God.  We've struggled through big topics, wrestled with sin, and been reassured of God's unfailing love every time.  We've sat with God when it was really good and when it was really hard.  And we learned how to turn toward God instead of away from Him when it's hard.  We've had good conversations in class, and probably even more outside of class.  Thanking God for this class and the ways He's showed up.  He's answered a lot of prayers in that regard. 

This afternoon a few of us ended up at the same coffee shop.  Abby and I got there first, and were later joined by Andrew, and eventually Lauren and Christy.  We did some homework (paper writing time!), ate some cheesecake, made some birthday cards, and had some really good conversation.  I love afternoons like this.

Lauren and Abby
After we had been working for a few hours
we took a birthday-card-making and
caramel apple cheesecake-eating
break.  Good life choices.

Abby, Lette, Lauren, and Andrew
Living and Learning is not keeping a low American profile :) Eventually
we got asked to share tables...which I don't understand because
there were NOT very many people there...

Tonight we had chapel (as always on Wednesday nights...)  We shared dinner together and sang hymns.  Hymns are really beautiful.  Listen to your favorite one today.  The words are rich and full of God's truth, and they're not sugar coated.  We sang them acapella, and the beautiful pure sound of voices filled the room.  I was reminded of this gem of a song tonight -- singing this with you on my heart, Becca.

When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
when sorrows like sea billows roll;
whatever my lot, thou hast taught me to say,
It is well, it is well with my soul. 

Thanking God for having a plan even when we can't see it.  And praising Him for who He is.