I welcomed in the 2013
New Year laughing with and enjoying the company of good friends in the hills of
North Carolina. On the trek south I
had a wonderful visit with my aunt and uncle in Indiana and the journey back allowed me to call in on my cousin and
her family in Kentucky.
In January, I resumed
a rather heavy load of undergrad classes
which proved to be thought provoking and entertaining. My field of study was
English where for 4 months I lived and breathed Shakespeare’s A Tempest and the Hunger Games Trilogy,
among other works and topics.
The New Year also
brought with it a new vigor for running.
December 1st, I registered for my second half-marathon taking place on
April 13 thinking by then Michigan would be entering its beautiful spring
weather phase. Snow, sleet and wind on that day proved otherwise. Undeterred, I
ran this race and many more in the months following, picking up a few
enthusiastic running buddies along the way.
It was a delight
beyond words to return to Prague in
May to celebrate the completion of service of Denise and Keith Jones after 15
years as Rector at the International Baptist Theological Seminary. This was my
first visit after leaving Prague in February 2010, and it was a rich and
meaningful time with dear friends.
I completed my
undergrad courses in April and in May began taking classes full-time in the Graduate Teacher Certification (GTC) program
at Grand Valley State University. Throughout the summer I had an intensive schedule
of classes which were interesting and challenging.
My summer was full of fun and small
adventures. I did a lot of running, some biking, and a bit of camping. Alongside
of my school responsibilities, I continued work as Director of Children and
Family Ministries at Grandville United Methodist Church.
This fall I entered my
first elementary classroom to begin Teaching
Assisting and (starting January 2014) Student
Teaching. I have fallen in love with twenty-three 3rd graders
and look forward to my own class in the future.
An unexpected
highlight of 2013 was a weekend in
Florida! A family who has become good friends and I spent an early weekend
of November not only in Florida, but in Disney World. We didn’t just run around
the parks, but we ran through the parks for the Wine & Dine Half-Marathon. I felt like a little kid and loved
it!
My 2013 was not laden with so many changes as 2012, for which I
am thankful. This was a year of settling-in and carrying-on in new routines and
environments. As best I could, I kept my head in the books, my feet on the
ground, and my heart stayed on what was important.
I wish for each of you that 2014 will be full of adventures,
peace and laughter; and that you will experience God’s love in amazing ways.
Have a joyous holiday season!
~ Vanessa
No comments:
Post a Comment