The College Trip

I had the absolute best time this year! I decided at the very beginning that flexibility was going to be key in having a great time. I wasn't going to be a clock watcher or overly worried about things. The plan was to not really have a plan. For those of you that know me in life, know this is a very difficult task for me. Even when I was deciding to date my husband, I made a pro/con list! I'm a planner by nature. I think of all possible scenarios in my head and plan ahead.

I left about 9am and drove about 3 and 1/2 hours to my friend's place. We left immediately and went to where we would be staying. It was a nice little place where there were two bedrooms and two bathrooms. We each had our own private space. We headed back to the campus where we took our own mini walking tour. We walked by the part of campus where we "used" to eat. In it's place were two new dorms and a new cafeteria. Two years ago when I was last there, they were demolishing the dorms that were there and the cafeteria. It is so sad when a huge part of our lives is gone, but the buildings in their place are absolutely exquisite.

Here's a photo of the archway that connects the dorm on the right to the dorm on the left.



Afterwards, we took a quick walk by the building where we met though we didn't go in because we weren't sure if it was open. Then we headed onto the Wesley Foundation. For those of you not in the know, a Wesley Foundation is United Methodist campus ministry sponsored in full or in part (depending on the congregation) by the United Methodist Church on a non-church owned and operated campus. While we attended the Wesley Foundation, it was downstairs of the church. Since my last visit, they have added onto the United Methodist Church and the Wesley Foundation is now in the upstairs.

While I am not huge on change, this was absolutely beautiful. We always entered through the back of the church, but now the Wesley Foundation members can enter from the front of the church easily as it is now upstairs and there is a bridge connecting the foundation to the road. It's very nice. I failed to get a lot of photographs, but here is the backside of the church.


We spent quite a bit of time looking around. In the late 90's, if I wasn't in class, my room or the library, I was here sharing my love for Christ through socializing, singing and worshiping. It was the best part of my collegiate experience. It was in this place where I made close knit friends. Not only did I have great college friends, but there were adults there that guided us to make good choices during our college careers that represented Christ. Each student that wanted was partnered with couples at church. We became family. We were there for each other physically, emotionally and spiritually. I still talk to Kathy & Gene often.

Now I have often wondered if there were remnants of our lives there during our time at the Wesley Foundation. Seeing the addition to the church really made me wonder if our mark was left there. So we walked downstairs to go to what we called the Library to see if our mark was there. In 97/98, our Campus Minister Retired. This is during our time there. We had a frame made for him to honor his time and each person that was a member during that year had their photo placed in the frame. Needless to say, our mark was left. I'm in the top row on the right counting backwards from the person closest to the frame from right to left, I'm the third one there. The friend I went with is on the right side bottom one photo up on the right.



On Saturday, we tailgated at the Wesley Foundation. There were about 10 people there from during the time we attended. After a sort slide show and a lot of talking, we went to the football game. It was hot ... and the team stunk, but we had a good time anyways. (especially watching the band!)






We hung out with old friends after the game and on Sunday we went to the worship service. It was our first experience with the minister (both the Wesley Foundation Minister & the Church Minister) and they were so extremely kind. I felt very welcomed back "home" and know that I'm welcomed back anytime. I definitely remember why I attended in the first place. They have open hearts, open minds and open doors.



I'd post a photo of my friend and me, but I haven't gotten permission. So you'll have to do with the ones above! :)

Growth

It is hard to notice growth when you are around something every day. I'm really talking about physical growth, but the same can be said about spiritual and emotional growth as well. Today, it hit me that things change gradually each day until eventually it is hard to remember what things looked like in the beginning.

Today, I went back home. I feel so at peace there. There is nothing else like it. I feel 12 again when I walk through the doors of the church and it is all I can do not to come forward when the pastor invites the children to come up for the children's sermon. Alas somewhere along the way, I grew. I am around me every day. Obviously, there is not much choice in the matter. When you are around something so much, growth is not something you notice until it hits you between the eyes.

Today while in the Upper Room Sunday School class, a lady called me over (well she accidentally called me my Mom's name several times even though she knows very well that I am Jennifer.) She pointed out the window and pointed to this tree right outside. She told me the story about how my Mom planted that apple tree when we lived there. You see when my Mom planted that tree, that tree was merely a twig. My goodness, it had grown so much since we left. I imagine that those that lived there saw it grow over time and barely noticed it's growth. I also imagine it's the same with children that grow within the church. If you aren't paying attention, one minute a child is born and the next they are off to college.

The thing that always bothered me when we left is that I wondered if people would remember me later. Was I invisible so that people didn't notice that I had even left or had I left my imprint on that small town? I realized today that we did make an impact. We left behind this tree. A tree that is still growing every day.

Easter Sunday

Spend the day of Resurrection at the feet of Jesus Christ and tell God you are here to worship.

We can go home again

This past Sunday I woke up and decided that I needed to be in this special place. Things kept popping up that told me that maybe I shouldn't go, but I ignored those signs and went anyways. First I tried to leave the house and realized I left the directions. Then I got in the car and realized I had no gasoline. I went ahead and got gas and then missed the highway I needed to take. After all these things were out of the way, I headed down the road with only a little bit of reservation and a full tank of gas.

About 2 hours later, I pulled into the driveway and took a deep breath. I changed into more appropriate shoes (IE less comfortable) and stepped out of the car. I grabbed my trusty bible from 1987 and decided it was time to check things out. I walked into the back building and saw not a soul, but rooms that made me smile. I thought about all the children's laughter that had filled the rooms. I wandered around for about 10 minutes before heading to the front building. I carefully opened the front door and entered. Then the second door opened for me and there was a man that I used to see every single Sunday. His smile was a sight for sore eyes and I entered ....



Every single eye was on me. Some people recognized me right away while others took a few glances. I was given a gift that day. A gift of remembrance. A celebration of my return that no one was expecting. I was greeted with smiles, hugs and memories. I enjoyed my Sunday School class which included sitting between two of my best friends from so long ago. I suspected that they might be there given it was Thanksgiving Sunday, but I wasn't for sure. After all, they both have lives of their own. The service itself was a beautiful reminder of the Advent Season. It was a beautiful reminder of how children are our future. I realized it was so long ago when I sat on those same Burgundy steps listening to a similar Children's Sermon.

Then, the pastor put me on the spot and asked I come to the front in the middle of church to talk with the children. I was petrified to be standing in front of all the adults that used to care for me, but I squatted down low and did what I do every day. I talked with the children. Then, I lit the first Advent Candle with a little boy who was there visiting with his Mom. His Mom used to be my best friend at church. Upon lighting the candle, I swiftly made my way back to the pew sitting next to this little boy's Uncle who was also one of my closest friends. After church, I was invited to their home and enjoyed 3 hours of food and fellowship. We talked about the past and the present. We talked about the good parts of our lives and the not so good parts. In the 7 some hours I was there, I felt as if I had never left at all. Twenty years was erased quickly.

You can go home again. :o)