I've been realizing lately how blessed I am to have made so many new and wonderful friends here at Calvin. Arriving here at the end of August, I knew no one, other than a couple people I had talked with online over the summer, and that doesn't really count as knowing someone. I left behind some of the best friends a girl could ever have. Not just friends, but family. That was one of the things I was saddest about - leaving my "family" behind, and having to start over again. Building up a family takes time. But God has been so gracious to me. I don't want any of my friends at home to think that I don't miss them, or don't love them just as much, I'm just enjoying adding new people to that circle!
When I walk across campus with my suitemate Leah, she always remarks on how many people I know. I laugh, but when I begin to think about it, I really do know a lot of people on this campus. People from my dorm, from my classes, from my orientation group - so many lovely people. There's the guy and girl in Chem class who I sit with every week who are almost as disappointed as me when someone steals my seat. There's my suitemates (Leah and Bekah), who I cuddle with, and laugh hysterically with, and watch movies with. Then there is my AMAZING roommate, who puts up with me even when I'm crazy emotional, and takes care of me, and encourages me always. And I mustn't forget Sarah, who lives down the hall. We bake gluten-free goodies together and commiserate over the lack of wheat in our diets, and do a number of other fun things together. And I could go on and on...the young man who says hi to me EVERY time he sees me, even when I don't see him, and the girls from English class I eat breakfast with on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and my awesome discussion group in history class, and so many, many more! How could I have known that in just less than two months, God would provide such an amazing network of His people to support me, encourage me, make me laugh, and let me cry? And yet, I shouldn't be at all surprised, should I? Because I know that God loves me and wants His child to be happy and He loves to bless me! Praise the Lord!!!
