Thanksgivings

I’m about two months too early for Thanksgiving, but I am thankful for many things this week. This week has been a great week, and I realized today I have SO much to be thankful for. I feel like sharing these with all of you (and with myself).

• I am thankful for the sunshine we have had this week.
• I am thankful for laughter.
• I am thankful for encouragement.
• I am thankful for the cool mornings that remind me of fall in New England.
• I am thankful for music, in its many forms.
• I am thankful for smiling faces in the hallways.
• I am thankful for Wednesday- a very long day where when driving to school I saw the sun rising, and driving from school I saw it setting.
• I am thankful for Morning Prayer.
• I am thankful for my Hebrew professor, who seems to understand we will not master this difficult grammar right away.
• I am thankful for middler and senior students who have already started to become great role models and mentors.
• I am thankful for an eloquent, funny, and brilliant Church History professor.
• I am thankful for that same Church History professor who told all us single folk that there was nothing wrong with us. Somehow it’s more encouraging when grounded in theology than when my mom says it.
• I am thankful for my mom.
• I am thankful for my dad.
• I am thankful for my family’s upcoming visit next weekend!
• I am thankful for Jenna, who so kindly acknowledged sibling awesomeness day yesterday. Every day is sibling awesomeness day in my book, because she’s the best.
• I am thankful for Monday night phone conversations with said sibling.
• I am thankful for Grammy, who has been making random appearances in my dreams this week.
• I am thankful for my mindless job, and the wonderful women I work for.
• I am thankful for UNC Chapel Hill (and Vanderbilt) for making my mindless job a thousand times easier.
• I am thankful for Southern hospitality. And Southern accents.
• I am thankful for my roommates for keeping me sane by making me play Dutch Blitz or watch New Girl.
• I am thankful for my friends who come to sit with me when they see me in the library, refectory, or outside.
• I am thankful for friends who let me sit with them.
• I am thankful for reading, chatting, and laughing with a friend outside on a beautiful day.
• I am thankful for tough conversations that make me think more deeply.
• I am thankful for my subconscious, which through the good dreams and bad dreams this week is making me think more about my worries and fears.
• I am thankful for the Anglican Episcopal House of Studies (AEHS), and the supportive people who make up the House.
• I am thankful for cheese-less pizza being ordered for me at an event. (It was so yummy- tomato sauce and veggies!)
• I am thankful that I have a roof over my head and food in the cabinets.
• I am thankful for Anne, Joe, and Kaye for being so welcoming.
• I am thankful for Joan, June, Eileen and Peach (and the many other people) who have already made me feel at home in the St. Luke’s choir, even after only one rehearsal.
• I am thankful for random conversations with little old ladies.
• I am thankful for chance meetings with celebrity-esque professors.
• I am thankful for the Divinity School Choir.
• I am thankful for Mozart’s Ave Verum Corpus.
• I am thankful for Wendy, whose voice lessons I try and remember every time I sing.
• I am thankful for Bryan, Nicholas, and Clara- my Anglican Spiritual Formation group.
• I am thankful for Randy, Rachel, Joe, Wayne, Derrick, Ryan, Natasha and Matthew- my first year spiritual formation group.
• I am thankful for Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, which was stuck in my head all through my Old Testament study group on Tuesday.
• I am thankful for polity. Both the class and the actual thing.
• I am thankful for letters received from friends.
• I am thankful for discernment.
• I am thankful for beginning to figure out who Christa is in this new place.
• I am thankful for the bus driver who greets me every morning at 7:33.
• I am thankful for Chapel.
• I am thankful for the fifteen minutes where the bells of Duke Chapel serenade the campus.
• I am thankful for having a very supportive preceptor.
• I am thankful for the York Reading Room, and the person who pointed it out to me.
• I am thankful for Athanasius.
• I am thankful my Athanasius paper is DONE.
• I am thankful for Barber’s Agnus Dei that got me through the end of my Athanasius paper this morning.
• I am thankful for new parents who bring their babies to school.
• I am thankful for people in my classes who I don’t agree with. We are meant to learn something from each other.
• I am thankful for cute skirts that I can still wear because it’s warm here.
• I am thankful that I will get to see Michelle this weekend!
• I am thankful that I have not gotten sick yet.
• I am thankful tomorrow is Friday.
• I am thankful for patience and continue to pray for more of it.
• I am thankful for the influence of the my inner-5-year-old who is screaming with excitement at the fact that today I turn 23 ¾ !! :-)
• I am thankful for yarn and needles.  
• I am thankful for the opportunity to be here.
• I am thankful for my Geneva family and my Framingham family who have formed me into who I am today.
• I am thankful for my plans for fall break. (Surprise! I’m going to Geneva October 16-20!)
• I am thankful for Lesley and her hospitality.
• I am thankful for prayer.
• I am thankful for love.
• I am thankful for the love of God.
• I am thankful for endless possibilities.
• I am thankful for all of you who read this blog and want to keep in touch with me.
• I am thankful that there is so much to be thankful for.

Peace, Love, and Smiles, y’all

Christa

On Friends, Confidence, and Worship

Hey y'all! Sorry it's been a while since I last updated. It's been a busy/rough/long week! 

WS Love <3

I was able to have some amazing conversations with my good friends this week, and for that I am very grateful! Annalise, my friend in publishing who's living in NYC, and a Stewardson sister. Then Mama Lauren, the wonderful jewelry maker extraordinaire. Ryan, who has officially completed her MAT and has a job! So proud! And just tonight a lovely chat with Jessie, who is now a wife, homeowner, and Vermont-resident! Absolutely wonderful to talk to these ladies and to catch up on their lives. Missing them (and so many others!) terribly. 

Lacking Confidence

It was a rather rough week for me, so these phone conversations helped me get through all the weird things I've been feeling. I guess I just don't feel confident yet- in anything. I didn't get a job I applied for (which in the end is probably much better, but still...) I don't feel confident academically because my head still spins with information after each Church History lecture, and I have absolutely no confidence to talk in either of my Precepts (they're the small classes that meet to supplement the large lectures). I'm not the kind of person who just talks to hear their own voice, some coming up with something to positively contribute to a conversation is difficult. I also don't feel confident socially- still in that very weird stage of hanging out with the "friends of convenience" (who I love, but would like to branch out). Branching out gets hard because friend groups are being formed, and I just don't quite know where I fit yet. I truly think this is normal, but I'm still feeling awkward. Merp. 

I guess where I do feel confident is in choir. I think my two highlights of the week (at school) were choir rehearsal on Monday, and the (Anglican) Chapel service on Thursday. I think I am enjoying it so much because I know what I'm doing- I know how music works, I know how to make my voice work to fit the music. I also had multiple people this week tell me that I had a pretty voice, and during a time when I feeling so down about everything, to hear that meant a lot. 

Ok, Now I'll be Happy :-)

Definitely the greatest parts of my week happened this weekend! I went to a Worship Night that my friend Michelle hosted. I have never been to a worship night before, so it was really cool! Michelle's boyfriend and roommate both went to Yale with her and they are both in the Law School. So, the group was a mix of Law School students and Div School students. It was awesome, because I was able to meet other people who are not Div people. Wabam. It was also so nice to gather and sing songs (mostly ones I had never heard before... but I knew God of Wonders and Amazing Grace!), and to just hang out. It was exactly what I needed on Friday night. Kat was proud of my for going to a worship night, given that it was new to me and that, well, Episcopalians don't often do worship like that ;-) 

I spent Saturday writing a paper on Athanasius. I got a pretty good outline done, and I'm meeting with the Theological Writing Center tomorrow. Let's hope maybe I can get some confidence in my writing... haha. But Saturday night was also the perfect night! I went over to my friend Rachel's house and we made breakfast for dinner- pancakes and eggs. And cookies. SO awesome. Then we watched a chick flick- Laws of Attraction (good, but not really worth watching if you haven't seen it), and then we just talked about life for a while. Wonderful!

Today was a good day too, although not as productive as I would have liked. I took a nice nap (as many of you probably saw on Facebook... T.J. was getting me back for the picture I posted on my last blog entry. ha). I read some Exodus, some guy's thoughts on Exodus. You know, the usual. 

Church was good this morning, I really like it there. However I'm still running into the whole "I'm an awkward student who doesn't quite know how to interact with these people who have been going here forever." But, St. Luke's really likes to welcome newcomers, so I'll be doing a couple of those things. I realize that my parents and sister are going to be here for the "Newcomers Luncheon" in a couple weeks. So guess what we're doing, Parentals? hehe. I signed us up! 

Anywho, tonight I went to the Women's Pub Group, which was pretty cool. It was nice to meet some new people. I have been going to a sung Compline service on Sunday nights, and go back to that next week. It is very meditative and reflective. 

And Just For Fun

Even though I had a rough week, my roommates have still been awesome. Yesterday while I was writing about Athanasius, they did a puzzle.

Kat Kat Kat Kat Kat Kat T.J. Kat Kat Kat Kat Kat Kat

And last weekend I made altar bread (the bread we used at House Church and that Lesley would just make for fun). The rolls came out really well! I was sad I couldn't make bread this afternoon, but hopefully next weekend I will :-)

Random Thought

I'm leading Morning Prayer on Wednesday for the first time, so think good thoughts for me if you're awake at 8am :-) Leading Morning Prayer at HWS wasn't too big of a deal since there were only 4 of us (sometimes only 2!), but it's kinda popular at the Div School. I would say 30-40ish on any morning. I'm kind of nervous, but I think I can do it! :-)

Leaving You With A song

Time for the song. I'm not going to post the YouTube video today, just the lyrics. This is one of my favorite hymns (possibly my favorite, although it's hard for me to commit to one favorite).  Enjoy!

Come, thou Fount of every blessing, 
tune my heart to sing thy grace; 
streams of mercy, never ceasing, 
call for songs of loudest praise. 
Teach me some melodious sonnet, 
sung by flaming tongues above. 
Praise the mount! I'm fixed upon it, 
mount of thy redeeming love. 

Here I raise mine Ebenezer; 
hither by thy help I'm come; 
and I hope, by thy good pleasure, 
safely to arrive at home. 
Jesus sought me when a stranger, 
wandering from the fold of God; 
he, to rescue me from danger, 
interposed his precious blood. 

O to grace how great a debtor 
daily I'm constrained to be! 
Let thy goodness, like a fetter, 
bind my wandering heart to thee. 
Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it, 
prone to leave the God I love; 
here's my heart, O take and seal it, 
seal it for thy courts above. 

Peace, Love, and Smiles y'all

Christa  

And Just Like *that* It's Mid-September

Time sure flies. Although I feel like I've been here for WAY over a month, I still can't believe it's been a month since I started Bridddge. And the weeks of school have just flown by- going into Week 4 this week! Crazyness. 

Food

Some fun food goings-on have happened lately. It's always fun to read about food, right? :-)

Impromptu Cake Baking

I came home from my first day of work on Monday and the house smelled really good. I walked in an T.J. yelled, "You're home!! Don't go in the kitchen!!!" I said, "It smells like cake..." T.J. and Kat tried to hide that they baked me a cake, but the smell gave it away :-) How sweet of my awesome roommates. Really they just wanted to bake something, but they frosted it and put my name on it with sprinkles! 

See Chris-ta. haha

They also hoped to get a shout out in the blog by making this. So Kat and T.J.- here is the shout out! 

Rice Crispie Treats

I got a great care package in the mail last weekend from the priest at my church in Framingham, Julie. She sent me rice crispie treats, but they weren't just regular ones. They had cinnamon and nutmeg, and other awesomeness it them. And apparently Episcopalians in the South can sometimes be known as "Whiskey-Palians", so there was some whiskey in the rice crispie treats. Needless to say, they tasted amazing. ha. Thank you Julie! 

(Anyone else can get a shout out too by sending me wonderful things in the mail. hehe)

Shabbat Dinner

I made Shabbat dinner last night, and I must say it turned out really well! I made some traditional Rosh Hashanah meals- a noodle kugel with apples and yummy spices, and chicken with a maple/apple glaze. Everything tasted SO good, and the company was amazing. Here are some pictures :-) 

Second attempt at Challah was just as good as the first!!

T.J. and Andrew enjoying the meal

Sarah and Jeannie are happy!

I even got the Kedem grape juice!!! :-)

It made me really happy to be able to cook for my friends and share in the Shabbat traditions. We said the prayers, and Lorinda I think you would be proud of how I led them. I was definitely channeling your skills. :-) I also used the cookbook Lorinda gave me for graduation to find all the recipes. I can't wait to have another one (hopefully next month!). 

Work

I started my job this week, worked Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. I'm working in the main Duke Library (which is HUGE!) in the InterLibrary Loan department. Kat is working there too, so we got to work together yesterday! That was fun. Anywho, it's a great job. My boss is awesome, and the job is the perfect balance of using my brain and completely mindless. I like it so far. There may be another job in my future, but I won't jinx that one. :-) 

That's Life

That's pretty much all that's happening in my life right now besides school. I'm still liking school and all my classes. I would say order of favorites is Church History, Hebrew, Episcopal Polity, and Old Testament. I'm realizing I really like polity (which isn't that surprising, given how much I've loved going to Diocesan Convention since high school... haha). I love my Church History professor, and Hebrew works a different part of the brain and is still fun. OT is ok, but I tend to get bored during lecture. Sadly, no knitting during lectures (but I will be knitting during that precept class!). 

Jukebox Time

Two songs for y'all tonight. First is probably the best rendition of "Call Me Maybe" ever. It's a choir and orchestra, and honestly it makes me want to sing it. 

Next, since it's almost Rosh Hashanah I couldn't pass up the opportunity to share the Maccabeats with y'all. This is one of my favorites, and it has a good message for everyone. 

Shana Tova!
Peace, Love, and Smiles y'all
Christa


P.S. This is for T.J. :-) 

Sleeping Beauty. P.S. This counts as negative points. :-)

Helping my Soul Grow

This summer I read a book where the author said, "Do things that make your soul grow." I love this, and decided to dedicate this blog post to the spiritual formation-y things I have been doing so far at Duke.

Morning Prayer

I have been trying to go to morning prayer as much as possible. I got into the habit last year of going to morning prayer (but honestly, it was hard not to go since I lived with Lesley!), and I have kept going this year. Since Duke is affiliated with the Methodist Church, it is nice to go to an Episcopal service at school, even if it is at 8am every day. This wouldn't be too bad except that my commute is about 35 minutes door to door. It makes for some early mornings, but I do really enjoy it. My favorite service is the Friday service when we chant morning prayer. I love it!

They had a training session this week for people who were interested in leading morning prayer, and after much deliberation I decided to go. I figure if I realize I don't like leading people in prayer I should probably re-think this whole vocation thing. ha. But I volunteered to lead chanting and the regular service, so we'll see what happens! There were a lot of people there, so I may only be able to do it a couple times this semester.

Morning prayer is nice because it's a great way to start off the day, and it also gets me to campus early. If I have learned anything so far, it's that I'm so unproductive at home. I need to be at school, in a place where I know I will focus if I want to get things done. So getting up, getting to school for 8, and being able to read/study from 8:30 to when I have class is going to be a great routine for me to keep. (Plus it will get me to go to bed by 10:30/11. Old Lady status at 23. yes yes)

Spiritual Formation Class

As part of the M.Div program, we have to take a class called Spiritual Formation. I sort of joke each Tuesday asking my friends if during the hour they were "formed" and they usually smile and say "Oh yes, I'm formed now!" But honestly, it is a great class. We've only had a couple of meetings (since contrary to popular belief we are only heading into Week 3!), but I love the group of people I was placed with. The groups are intentionally comprised of people who are different ages and come from various backgrounds. We will be learning about different ways to pray, sharing things about our lives, and writing/sharing a spiritual autobiography. The man who runs my group is a Baptist minister, and he is super nice. I look forward to meeting with my group each week. (It helps that we have no homework, we just have to show up and be ourselves. I'm good at that!)

Anglican Spiritual Formation

Aside from being formed with a group from different backgrounds, as part of the Anglican Studies Program I also am taking Anglican Spiritual Formation. This will be a much smaller group (probably about 4), and we'll meet together more informally and talk about life and such. This hasn't started up yet, but it should during the next couple of weeks, and I'm looking forward to this too!

Women's Retreat

This weekend I went on a Women's Retreat. As part of the Spiritual Formation class I have to go on one overnight retreat this semester and one day-long retreat next semester. I decided to fulfill this requirement early in the semester before everything gets too crazy, and I'm so happy I did. There were about 20 women on the retreat this weekend, and it was great. We studied some scripture, we worshiped together, we talked about our stories, and we talked about where we are going/how we are going to get there. I would describe the time as emotionally draining but spiritually fulfilling.

That phrase basically describes my week. I was very much in a funk during the middle of the week, and I wasn't quite sure what was wrong but I was overly sad for no apparent reason. I talked it out with my amazing mom ,and through crying, laughing, and lots of talking I got out of the funk. Then, having this retreat to spend some quality time with God and some amazing women just filled me right back up. Emotionally draining, spiritually fulfilling.

Knitting

Before this weekend, I hadn't knit in a long time. I basically put it down for the summer, and I hadn't had time to start a new project since being at Duke. I started a new project on Friday at the retreat, and it really is amazing how knitting helps me be calm and centered. I have to remember that I have to keep things in my life that I enjoy doing. I have to take sabbath time and do things that make me happy, that make my soul grow.

Church

I went to church this morning and was reminded of how much I hate going to church alone. It's probably one of my least favorite things to do, even though I love church. I remember when I first started going to St. Peter's, and on Sundays when the choir didn't sing I felt awkward sitting by myself and wasn't yet confident enough to ask people if I could sit with them. I am back to having those same exact feelings at St. Luke's. It makes me really want to go to choir rehearsal on Wednesday just to meet some people and maybe start singing with them. I do love to sing, but I don't want to stretch myself too thin. However, usually singing in choirs just makes me happier and not more stressed, so we'll see :-)

Also, I got a postcard in the mail from St. Luke's inviting me to the newcomers luncheon in October. I feel super cool. hahaha. Definitely going to that! :-)

Next week Lauren Winner is leading Adult Ed and she's talking about Judaism in relation to church history. She is basically my scholarly idol, so of course I want to go. I may bribe some of my friends with complimentary coffee/lunch if they come with me!

Retreat-Like State

The 504 has been in a retreat-like state all weekend, meaning that last night and for most of today we haven't done much work :-P However, we did finish a puzzle. Started it last night and finished it this afternoon.

Note T.J.'s amazing shirt. :-)

Television History. 1000 pieces. 10ish hours. haha

Gorgeous Day

On this absolutely gorgeous day in Durham, we have all the windows open and are basking in the non-humid 75 degrees. If this is fall in the South, I will be happy. I am also being a Jewish mom and making challah for the Shabbat dinner I'm preparing to have on Friday. So excited :-)

Jukeboxing

I'm going to go religious on y'all, but you probably expected that after this blog post. haha. (You can totally ignore all the ocean shots in this, lol. I just love the song!) Hymn, by Brooke Fraser.

Alright, I'm off to braid my challah.

Peace, Love, and Smiles y'all
Christa

I Should Be Studying Hebrew....

But instead I'm going to update you on my life! Yes? Of course yes. 

Survived Week One!

I have officially survived week one of Div School, and am well on my way to surviving week two! Look at me go. I love my classes, and my professors are great. My head was spinning today a bit in Church History because our professor was talking faster than I could type, and it was about confusing philosophy stuff. My brain doesn't quite understand philosophy, but I'm guessing with more practice (and possibly re-listening to his lecture?) I might understand it. Merp. Other than the head spinning, classes are going well. I LOVE Hebrew (surprise surprise). 

Everyone in The 504 is taking a different language- Hebrew for me, Greek for Kat(niss), and Latin for Too-Cool-For-School T.J. (who took Greek and Hebrew during undergrad). Here is a picture of our refrigerator with our first quizzes posted up. (We all got 100+%.  I got a SUPER! on mine. Wabam)

We're a proud group of nerdy seminarians. Yup. 

Weekend Shenanigans

This weekend the wonderful Andrea came to visit me from Virginia! It was great to see her! This is the closest we've lived to each other since Odell's (when we lived 40 paces away), so even though it was a 4-hour drive, she made the trek! We had a good time, and she got to meet a bunch of my friends. Andrea was also a great sport and came to church with me. Lauren Winner preached and also gave me communion. My first experience of being "star-struck" at church. eek! Lauren Winner is the bomb. :-) 

This weekend (before Andrea came) I went on an Episcopal/Anglican retreat. It was pretty cool, and it was run by a woman named Suzanne Guthrie. She talked about mysticism, and it was my first experience with this kind of prayer/thought, so I found it really interesting. Another time when my head was spinning with information. Probably the coolest part of the retreat was right at the beginning when I was early and sitting in the front row (cool kid, right here) wearing a William Smith t-shirt. Suzanne came over and asked "Did you go to William Smith?" And come to find out she has some connections with the Colleges, wanted her son to go to Hobart, and knows Lesley! It was a pretty fun conversation, and I was really happy I wore that t-shirt! In a place where no one has heard of HWS, it's great when someone knows it!

Birthday!

Speaking of Lesley, today is her birthday! Since I know she reads this blog, I thought I would give her a shout-out! Happy birthday College Mom! :-) 

Future Shabbat Awesomeness

Now that I know I can make challah, I am planning on having a full shabbat dinner next Friday. I'm uber excited, already planning the menu. I may make some Rosh Hashanah favorites from the cook book Lorinda gave me (even though I'll be a few days early). I'm also really excited I can kind of read the Hebrew on the prayer card (.... that I stole from the Abbe Center... hehe). Yes, I am looking forward to getting a bunch of Div School students to come over and eat a traditionally Jewish meal. Wabam. 

The only bad thing about having a dinner party is that I may need to buy more forks... we only have 4 each of forks/spoons/knives...  Or it was suggested BYOF... Bring Your Own Fork. (and plate?)

Another trip to Target is in my future! haha

Puzzle Time

We inherited a puzzle from my friend Rachel's roommate. SO excited to do it, although I realize it will be another way to procrastinate. Pictures will come, probably next time I update! I'm just looking at it right now, so I was thinking about it. Stream of consciousness? 

I HAVE A JOB!

I got a job at the Duke Library in the inter-library loan department (yes, there's a whole department devoted to this, with about 10 student workers! Crazy, right??) So excited to have a minimal source of income. It will be very helpful, I'm sure. I start on Monday! Lucky for my dad, this year my tax return will have jobs from three states! I am very grateful he's an accountant. :-)

Jukebox?

I have had SO many songs stuck in my head today (ask Rachel, I sang most of them to her. ha). So I don't think I have one that I will put in this blog post. Oh well. 

Sorry this post is all over the place tonight, but it reflects my current state of mind. ha.

Miss everyone from home and from Geneva! 

Peace, Love, and Smiles y'all

Christa