done so early

It is so strange to be saying goodbye to friends and to be done with classes by the first day of May. If I ever questioned whether I was really like all the other freshmen, here is the answer: I definitely am. I still have high school in me and was planning on school for another month and a half. I had my last class of my freshman year about two hours ago, and now I have finals and a couple final papers to look forward to. In a week's (and a day's) time, I will be completely detached from school for four months. I was really stressed this week because of all the final strands of my life that had to be tied up by today, and I also had family in town so I took out two nights from my week to spend time with them. Tonight is our final choir concert. Good riddance. But we're still singing at Graduation so really, not good riddance yet. I was supposed to go to a hall retreat tonight too... at my RA's house. It's an hour away from school and an hour and a half home, so coupled with my super busy and exhausting week I had to tell my RA that I won't be able to make it. I felt really terrible and she tends to take that kind of thing personally so I feel badly, but there is not an ounce of me that believes that I could do all that tonight. And believe me, there are a lot of ounces in me.
I've been tempted to worry about my summer working situation, but I need to trust God that he will work it out. It's all uncertain right now... I know that I will be working for Senior and Disability Services as a homecare worker, but I don't have any clients yet and I have no idea how many hours I'll get or what the clients will be like or what I'll be doing for them. It's kind of scary. Really scary, at least to me. I was talking to Jon about it today though, wondering what I would do if I don't get enough hours and still need to work. He and I both thought it would be a good idea to teach voice lessons to young students. I think I'll put an ad in the paper in a week or two, after I know more (hopefully!) about this homecare business.
I'm also tempted to worry about my rooming situation next year. My roommate is transferring (isn't THAT a taste of my own medicine!) and I really don't want her to because I'll miss her immensely, but I know it's what is best for her. So, once again I'm without a roommate and have no idea what the fall will be like. Heck, right now I don't know what anything will be like. Everything in the next 6 months is completely uncertain except for three things: I know what courses I'll be taking next year, and that it's 20 credits. oh boy. I know that no matter what, Jon and my family will still be loving and supportive. I know that God is taking care of me and even though I know practically nothing else, trusting Him is what I need to do. Aside from those 3 things, your guess is as good as mine.
There are a lot of things that I'd like to accomplish this summer in addition to make money so that I don't have as many loans to pay off next year:
- Learn one piano song every two weeks.. I really need to brush up on my piano skills before Keyboard III next fall.
- Go over the lessons and chapters in my music book that I missed last term and that we skimmed over in class. They are all very valuable things to learn.
- Read! Here's what I have so far: Redeeming Relationships, a book one of our faculty has written and just published. I picked up a copy on Wednesday and got it signed. Born Again, How Now Shall We Live, A Lesson Before Dying, and Living By The Book.
- Do pilates at least 3 times a week. I've been walking up the hills here this term and have gotten just enough exercise to counter the evil greasy food at the dining hall. But I have a feeling that I won't be very active this summer unless I make myself do what the nice Australian lady does on the DVD.
- Stay on top of devotionals. It's easy to do at school because "everybody does it" and it's kinda drilled into us. But in the summer it goes waaaaaaaay to the back of my priority list. I need to work on that.
- Volunteer for Love INC 2-3 hrs each week, both to minister and to fulfill a CCS credit for school.

That's all I can think of now... I'm sure I'll add more things, and I'm equally as sure that maybe 10% of the things I hope to do this summer on that list will actually get done. Ok now that's a self-fullfilling prophecy. MariAnne, 100% of those things will get done! YES! I AM DEDICATED!

Things that I have to get through before next Saturday when I'm completely done...
- Sing in the choir concert tonight... ugh.
- Write a paper for my Bible Study Methods class
- Go to a job interview at 1 on Saturday
- Study for my American Thought and Culture exam at 8 am on Monday
- Study for my Music Theory exam at 10:30 am on Monday
- Practice voice in order to be ready for my jury at 3:30 on Tuesday
- Study for my Bible Lit NT exam at 8 am Wednesday
- Help my roommate record an audition tape for BIOLA
- Sing in a friend's piano jury
- Pay my $100 room reservation fee
- Pack up everything I own
- Find a place for my loveseat to live for the summer. It will miss my dorm room, and I will miss it.
- Find more people to interview with so I can actually have a job
- Get used to the idea of living without Kristina
- Perform at Graduation on Saturday
- Sigh ten million times