Surviving Finals in the Fort

It is exam week for me and I admittedly have done a fair share of complaining about classes, studying, and social media making procrastination too easy. As easy as it can be to rattle of the negatives, it is necessary and good for me to reflect on the things I am thankful for. So here goes:

I am incredibly thankful for…

• Getting to finally see my roommate (who is an angel I swear). She is seriously my hero. She finished all of her projects and survived the toughest semester in her major all with a smile on her face. It is the first time in over a week we have been in the room together before 12:30 am
• The Fort. Its been quite the safe haven and has been filled with great memories from eating cookie dough with neighbors, tears from stress, and sweet times of prayer with women of strong faith. Also, it makes me feel like a kid again.
• Folger's Vanilla Biscotti coffee. Not only does our Fort/Room smell like a coffee shop but its the greatest tasting coffee known to man.  
• The sweet person who folded my clothes after they dried in the laundry room. 
• Great friends and nights filled with swing dancing, photo shoots at castles, fireworks, and laughter. 
• Panera creamy tomato soup and a discovery from Jordan that if you maintain eye contact and act confident, you can ask for more baguettes for free. Her advice "Startle them, act like this is normal"
• The awesome middle school girls in small group who get the gospel and can talk about Universalism and Justin Bieber in the same sentence. 
• The Lenning Family and their exam care basket. 
• The one year reunion of CTM and the joy these ladies have brought to my life. 
• Grace that I do not deserve and unfailing Love from my Christ. 
• Nutella Burnt Marshmallow Milkshakes- they will change your life.
• The encouraging letter I received in the mail today from an awesome man. 
• The old man I met at Walgreens who talked to me about grace that covers our past and the blessing of a new day. He said it best that "Every day is the best day because it is a chance to start fresh and praise God for another breath. We are no longer help captive by our yesterdays"
• Decorating Christmas cookies with my small group and and celebrating the upcoming weddings of our wonderful leaders.