128 miles later...

I greeted the world at 8 AM today so that I could meet my dad at Einstein's at 9. Yay for sleep deprivation... We finished up at around 10:15, so I decided to go get the things I needed from Walmart before heading over to church. Mistake. I waited in line for probably 15 minutes. I won't say anything further in regards to why I had to wait that long, because it could come out sounding rash. Let's just say that my mood went from impatient, to agitated, to even more impatient, to frustrated, to border-line anger. By the time I finally got out of there, it was almost 11, and I had hoped to already by at church by that time so that I could socialize with my dear WEAG family. I still got to see and hug everyone, though, so I can only complain but so much. I loved being back in my home {and by that I of course mean the church}. Sitting in the front row with beloved friends all around, awesome worship, and the comforting feeling of familiarity in everything. Having to leave all of that today was almost as hard as when I left in August. I had to leave early, and there was no time to get lunch with anyone or anything of that sort. The people I care about more than anything else in this world were all there, and I had to leave it all. Good thing emotional farewells are my specialty... As a dear friend stated, "goodbyes don't get any easier." She's right, they don't. When I came back home, everything felt right in the world. Everything was as it used to be just a few months ago. Late nights at my darling Elizabeth's house, late night/early morning Waffle House trips {my little Kathyn, Kim, Jesse, Carlton, Destry, Julie, Eric}; Sweet Frog and Teavana endeavors with my beloved Heather; dinner dates with my lovely {should be older sister} Nikki; film watching and nom nom splendor with my lovely Kelly, Elsbeth, and Heather; little sleep; and church, where my whole family is united in one home. I tried so hard to not let my emotions get the best of me, but my eyes failed me as usual with their leakage. I fought it back on the drive home, and it was completely masked for the car ride back here with my dad. It's not that I'm sad to be back at JMU, it's just not the same, at least not yet. But I want to thank you for your friendship, for loving me at my best and my worst.  I know sometimes I'm an utter train wreck, and sometimes maybe a tad irrational. But I'm blessed in that you all still love me no matter what, and I can't imagine going through this life without any single one of you. I love you all so incredibly much! I shall see you again in 34 days. Hopefully the time will fly! Sweet dreams, my loves.

One of Beth's favorite scripture pieces:
¹ O God, you are my God, 
       earnestly I seek you; 
       my soul thirsts for you, 
       my body longs for you, 
       in a dry and weary land 
       where there is no water.

 ² I have seen you in the sanctuary
       and beheld your power and your glory.

 ³ Because your love is better than life,
       my lips will glorify you.

 ⁴ I will praise you as long as I live,
       and in your name I will lift up my hands.

 ⁵ My soul will be satisfied as with the richest of foods;
       with singing lips my mouth will praise you.

 ⁶ On my bed I remember you;
       I think of you through the watches of the night.

 ⁷ Because you are my help,
       I sing in the shadow of your wings.

 ⁸ My soul clings to you;
       your right hand upholds me.

 ⁹ They who seek my life will be destroyed;
       they will go down to the depths of the earth.

 ¹⁰ They will be given over to the sword
       and become food for jackals.

 ¹¹ But the king will rejoice in God;
       all who swear by God's name will praise him,
       while the mouths of liars will be silenced.

{Psalm 63}