This weekend plans kept failing with friends and just didn’t work out like planned,  SO - I decided it was time for me to escape!!!  :)  After I met my friend on Saturday afternoon to get some things from her, I had it in my head that I needed to go up north Wisconsin to our cottage! I got up that morning and Colby looks out the window and says, “IT’S RAINING!” and sure enough, it was - BUT WHO CARES?!!!!!  

I decided to drive the 4 hours there and 4 hours back!! After I did what I needed to Saturday, I finally got out of here about 2:00pm and was there about 6:00pm.  I went to the local Elcho grocery store, IGA, and picked me up some generic Oreo’s, and a frozen pizza!  After that excursion, I decided I would go visit our friends across the lake!  After talking with them for a while, she decided to give me a 1/4 of their pumpkin pie to add to my healthy dinner ahead of me!  

I get to the cottage and figure out the lights/water pump/heater, etc.  (we’re still in the making, not completely finished retreat just yet!)  Well I get all settled in and after FINALLY figuring out that YES, I still needed to plug in the fan to the fire to actually keep it lit during this rainy mist, I sat down and watched some “Will & Grace” while I ate my delicious meal for 4!  It began to be a relaxing evening to myself and I was able to start on some homework and catch up with my devotional books.

The next morning I anxiously busted out the new Fuji bike I bought over the summer and took it around the lake for the first time!  It was an excursion figuring out the paths/roads, but it was just a little work out, so I was able to get back in less than 45 minutes amazingly and take a quick shower.  I then said SCREW IT to all the homework and went out for a pontoon boat ride!!!!!  I felt a little guilty, so I brought my book along to read on the boat!  About 3/4 around the lake I finally realized how cold I was when I exhaled the only warm air that was left in my body and could see my own breath!!!  It was still a nice ride around the lake, because I was about the only crazy one to go out there other than the 2 loons and many ducks I saw!

I got back to the cottage and sat down to my favorite movie,”On Golden Pond” and finished even more homework.  It was ridiculously funny when I decided to cook my own lunch, realizing that I had just come up north FOUR HOURS for not even 24 hours!  To say the least, it was the most relaxing time I have had to myself in a long time.  It was a much needed getaway which reminded me that God is right here - that I can experience/feel God’s presence through the beauty of nature and the cold rushing through my body as I shiver in the cool fall breeze across Moccasin Lake…

I guess that old saying is true after all, “There’s no place like home.”

If you are overwhelmed by the hubbub of school already, I suggest you find out what’s most important… It can easily be stressful and overwhelming with all that needs to be done for classes/graduation - but if I have learned ONE THING over the last 5 years at Concordia, I have learned it is most important to ENJOY LIFE before homework.  It sounds incredibly irresponsible, but in order for me to function with a clear mind, I NEED to get off-campus and explore.  I need to have that free time with friends or by myself.  

It seems all I’ve been doing lately is riding my bicycle instead of doing homework! - Tim can fend for that one!!!  … but I have realized that it is most important that your life is in order before you can begin to focus on the little tasks of life such as homework.  So don’t get too stressed out - things will fall in place if your priorities are in line.  

ENJOY IT!!! 

Philippians 3:13-14

Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. 

Contemplating my options once again, I was lost in the confusion of “WHAT DO I REALLY WANT TO DO THE REST OF MY LIFE?” - Well, this summer I came up with the grand idea to switch over to Special Education!  That gave me some peace to know I have a secure plan and feel comfortable with my career choice.  

This summer was THE BEST SUMMER OF MY LIFE as I went to India for my brother’s wedding, hung out with old friends/made some new ones, relaxed up north and got some down time with God.  Yet for some reason I was not quite ready to go back to school after having such an amazing time.  I was a little nervous!  It is now my 5th(?) year at Concordia and I AM STILL NERVOUS????  Usually I was more than ecstatic to be back on campus, but this time I’ve been finally enjoying what life has to offer so I wasn’t so sure I was ready to leave that!  It’s also been hard because my grandma’s boyfriend, YES - “BOYFRIEND” has been in and out of the hospital like crazy this year and not doing well.  I did yard work for him on the side this summer once again and to leave him was incredibly difficult.

BUT, once I got back on campus I realized I have a ton of awesome friends here and it’s EXCITING to live in the cities!!! Plus it was also nice to be back on campus quite some time before classes and the stress began!  

SO starting off the year right, a bunch of us guys went to Taylors Falls, MN!                                          

I realize that life can be so much more exciting if you just get out there, explore, and HAVE FUN!!! Good luck to all in the new school year, and remember to take some time to enjoy life!