Strong 'Til the End

Staying strong until the very end- that has been my theme lately as I finish up the final days in my first year of college. Having given my last speech, completed my final term paper, and accomplished all of my group projects and presentations for this semester, it has become all too easy to forget that finals are just a couple weeks away! I find my mind quickly straying from studying to the beautiful weather outside or the fun weekend opportunities. BUT I do intend to stay strong and am praying for God to give me focus and the ability to finish my freshman year well for His glory.

We have one remaining Magnify concert which will take place this coming Sunday morning. It will be my turn to share my testimony and I'm looking forward to tying it in with our theme of Heaven. Planning to share one of my favorite verses, 1 John 2:25, "And this is the promise that He has promised us-- eternal life." It is so good to have that knowledge and assurance of God's faithfulness to His Word. Here is a picture of Magnify from our concert at the Union Mission in Charleston:

Left to right: Carolyn, Zach, Loni, Justin, me, Josh, Lauren, Tim, Stacey

Dodgeball intramurals are also wrapping up. It's been so much fun to participate over the last few weeks, although there have been several terrifying moments! I appreciate the time that students as well as staff here take to provide us with many fun activities. The competition has been fierce-- playing Lord of the Rings and Narnia soundtracks throughout the games ensures that!

With the end of the semester comes the beginning of a very exciting and busy summer. After spending a couple weeks at home, it'll be straight back to campus on May 26 to begin training week for Gospel Heralds. And then we'll be on the road! Our official itinerary is posted here: http://www.abc.edu/gospel-heralds.php.

And now I'm off to keep studying for those finals! Christology, Fundamentals of Speech, Math for Elementary Teachers, Health, Foundations of Education, Congregational Hymn Playing II and English Composition II are all on the list. Yikes!

~Hannah Grace

Oh, How Time Flies!

With only a month remaining before summer break, I figured I should probably catch up on blogging about this past month.

Actually, it's pretty much been business as usual. I do my homework, turn it in at class, get more homework, do it, turn it in...sometimes it definitely feels like a never-ending cycle. But the end of this first year at college is in sight! Hard to believe.

This weekend is the school's annual Spring Music Festival. We also have a lot of prospective students coming to visit throughout the week, as well as current students' parents and grandparents, so it will be nice to have many of them at our concerts on Friday and Saturday. I'm particularly excited about a group coming on Saturday- my family! Dad, Mom, Noah, and Andrew will be coming for the Saturday concert and staying till Sunday afternoon. Can't wait to see them!

As the summer draws closer, I'm getting more excited every day about singing and traveling with the Gospel Heralds. We have been memorizing songs, learning new handbell pieces, ordering fun matching outfits, and getting to know each other better. The whole team is a very fun group and I'm excited to spend the summer with them.

I'm also starting to think about next year. Registration for fall semester classes is next week- now that IS hard to believe. Also, I was elected secretary of the student body council for next semester and will be serving as co-chair for one of the Fall Missions Conference committees, so my plate is already looking pretty full. Thankfully, I enjoy staying busy!

I'm also grateful for quiet moments. Yesterday the weather was a bit nicer, so in the evening I headed outside to do my devotions while it was still light. I am blessed to live in such a beautiful, peaceful area. I was especially struck by Isaiah 26 in the beginning of verse 9: "With my soul I have desired You in the night, yes, by my spirit within me I will seek You early." Much of the time I'm so focused on having devotions as part of my to-do list, that I'm not truly "desiring" or "seeking" that time with God. But it is precious, something I never want to forget.

~Hannah Grace