New Directions

Now that I have switched majors,

I have had to switch schools.

Technically it's the same school, but a different campus.

I still have to drive to New Orleans, but in a different area

and to a campus I have never been to before.

One where I know no one. 

No friends on this journey with me.

No one to explore this big campus with...

Or to help me as I am nearly freaking out over not knowing

what on earth I am doing in Chemistry and Physics...

I thought I'd be studying science - not math like I've never seen before.

Math with Scientific Notation to the 1000th degree hard,

and vectors and graphing and compasses, oh my!

And yet, even in this, I find peace and beauty.

This big and strange new campus is right across the street from

City Park in New Orleans.

I purposely park farther from my classes, just so I can face this park.

 Magnificent old Oak Trees, lovely enough to calm this fearful student.

I park here under this tree.

Only in New Orleans, do you find Mardi Gras beads hanging like fruit in a tree!

And even on a wire...

And so in between one hard class and the other,

I make my car a sanctuary.

I eat, I read, I soak in the words and the view and pray for strength to do this...

I gather strength from He who is with me at all times.

Oh Autumn is Among Us!

My most favorite block of months has come.

The seasons that I love.

At first, I was so busy I could hardly enjoy them

or acknowledge their presence.

But look, a wonderful change has come...

My windows are open, and a soft cool breeze blows through.

Those first few cool days of the season - I could swear refreshes and renews my very soul.

A bit of fall - to welcome us all...

Mums, just opening - such an image of the season, to me

Trees are most beautiful in yellows and reds and oranges, I believe...

And on this crisp cool Saturday, I took my littlest guy to breathe in the beauty.

He ran to the flags and back, collecting leaves...

Stopping next to his Mama for a few...

Yes, each one a prize...

Twisting stems together to "experiment" - "will they float or sink?" 

The giggles in the watching!

In the midst of many changes - many unknowns

(why is it I always need to know?)

still have much to be grateful for...

562  Warm coffee

563  Soft sweaters

564  Warm socks

565  My kitchen table

566  Autumn leaves - brown and crunchy on the ground,

Orange, yellow and red on the trees

567  Books cleared from around my table

568  The hope God gives

569  Time to think - praying to stop using that time to worry

570  A beautiful day at the park with Joshua - just to play

571  A stranger/lady who gave him bread to feed to fishies

572  The delightful squeal of "I see a fish!"

573  The imagination of a 6 yr old

574  Ladies night for church

575  Sweet welcoming friends

576  Sharing a meal

577  Devotions read to a room full of hungry souls

578  Roasting marshmallows over a backyard firepit -

making yummy, sticky smores

579  Having the time to reach into my quiet time basket

580  A supportive hubby - through all my tears of the past week.

linking up with:

Changes Are In The Air

I am never one for change. 

I tend to prefer to stick with what I know, what's comfortable.

And though I am afraid of some of the changes on the horizon,

this time, I'm also excited.

Some sweet changes blowing in -

My azaleas are budding.

And soon they will be covered with soft pink flowers -

and I will fill vases -

bringing the beauty inside.

Bradford Pears are in cottony bloom.

They catch my eye everywhere I go.

Me pointing them out has Joshua counting them,

everywhere we go.

I just love trees with red berries. 

Naturally decorative, all on their own.

Soon, all the trees will be covered in leaves.

Love this sight of the moss blowing on such a windy day as yesterday.

And then their are changes that terrify and excite at the same time.

I went for my nursing school orientation this week.

Here we find out all the shots we must get, blood work drawn, physicals done, papers to be filled out.

Security checks done, fees to be paid, things to get in order - and soon.

I have never had to drive into the city before - other than sight seeing/family outings kind of things.

I feel so grown up, having to drive into the city to get to this big old building -

where I will attend nursing school.

More gas to be pumped, traffic to contend with, bridges to cross and miles from home.

Seems scary.

Sort of like this painting, that greets you when you enter the building.

Just a bit intimidating....

 Don't know why the date stops at 1992, because further down, the dates were all up-to-date.

I have been told all of the horror stories of nursing school, and yet I am sure there are many more...

but I must remember that God has clearly called me to this.

He has been with me all this way - through all these classes,

He will not abandon me along the way.

And He is where my confidence must come from.

Trusting Him is the only confidence I have.