=)

Well its Monday, the day where 7:30am class feels like 4:30am class. I didn't have to take a quiz in my 7:30am class this morning, which was a great surprise. I like surprises. I got my exam back from Friday, definitely didn't do as well as I thought I did. But it isn't horrible. I'm still smiling, grades aren't a life or death matter to me anymore.

I had a fantastic Saturday and Sunday with Rachel this weekend. We checked out the Lord of the Rings exhibit and the Indiana State Museum. There were costumes, jewelry, and interesting information about all the different characters in the movies. I am astonished at how much detail was put into those movies. There were several video kiosks that had short clips on the making of fight scenes, costumes, make-up, etc. that kept us entertained. It was super-duper nerdy cool. After checking out the museum, we went for a nice fall afternoon walk around the canal. This was only my second time around the canal, but it still felt like the first time being there :). Atop one of the canal bridges we took a picture of ourselves and it turned out great!

[Insert aww statement here]

One cool thing about this picture, it only took one shot. No second shots, the first one was perfect--w00t.

After walking around the canal, we ventured over towards the "Wholesale District" and walked around in the mall. Rachel, with her exquisite fashion taste, assisted me in picking out a new pair of Steve Madden casual shoes (very comfy) and a couple of shirts from AE. We walked around some more and visited various shops along the way. Shortly after, we made our way down to P.F. Changs Chinese Bistro to grab a very delicious meal. It's great being able to share my seafood tastes with somebody else who appreciates seafood--just makes Rachel even more special ;). It seems like most people I know think seafood is disgusting--boy, they don't know what they are missing.

After filling ourselves up with fabulous seafood (with some to spare), we made our way out to the downtown streets to walk around some more. We walked around the main circle and just talked, smiled, and laughed about whatever--great time. Once we finished exploring the downtown streets, we drove over to the Broad Ripple area to see if much was going on. I was curious about the area and was hoping to see a diverse crowd, but unfortunately it was pretty dead around there. Since our feet and legs were sore from so much walking, we decided to just head back to Greenwood and relax with Batman Begins. After the movie we called it a night--what a fantastic night it was.

Sunday morning Rachel introduced me to her church Mount Pleasant. The church is exactly the same style that I have grown up with, so there was nothing out there about it. The minister gave one of the best messages I have heard in a long time about fellowship. I was completely astonished by what he had to say and there were several things, from the message, that I know I can apply to my life in regards to friendships/relationships. After church, we headed back to her house where we were greeted by several of her extended family members. Keep in mind that this was only the second time I have visited Rachel in Greenwood (at her house of course), and I have already several of her family members. I thought it was pretty cool, normally I would be pretty nervous and akward in such a situation--but I wasn't, why should I be?...they were so nice and friendly. We all watched the Indianapolis Colts stomp the Houston Texans, increasing the Colts record to 7-0 (go Colts!). I actually got to eat some good wholesome chili and zesty grilled cheese--I beg for food like this at Purdue. Shortly after the game, everyone started heading out to go home.

I left shortly after her family members did. Its hard having to be apart from Rachel for a week at a time, I miss her. But, its better than a month at a time, I suppose :). The drive back to West Lafayette went fast, mainly cause I was going fast, but the fall leaves kept me entertained. I wish the colors would stick around for a long time...

Thanks for the fantastic time this weekend Rachel! You are so amazing and beautiful to me!

Woah...

It's already the 9th week of the 15 week semester! I can't believe how fast time is going!

Something really hit me this week. Several of my close friends are going to be graduating this upcoming spring. Before I know it, I am going to be attending graduation watching them grab their hard-earned pieces of paper in front of Hovde Hall. I just wish I had chosen the major I have now so I could be joining them. I have to wait until August 07...man...thats a long time from now. Oh well, God makes everything happen for a reason. It is comforting to know that I have some friends in the same boat as me...

Things are going great with me currently. Amidst all the craziness, I am smiling.

-Josh

Mega Blog

Here goes...

So this semester is already half-way over with. I can't believe it. Time flies when you are having fun and when you are really busy. I don't even know where to begin with this blog.

I think this semester has been a huge transformation for me. Nothing this semester has gone for me the way I expected it to. To start off, I decided to try taking 19 credit hours of class. I thought it would be easily manageable, but boy was I wrong. I got quickly swamped with more work than I could sanely manage. I realized how stubborn and stupid I was being trying to do so much, so I finally dropped a course which brings me back to the usual 15hrs. I have been able to have a social life with my current work load!

I also came into this semester thinking I would easily get a 4.0. Boy was I wrong--again. I am hoping that I get a 3.0! Classes have gotten much, much more difficult and I feel like I am not on top of my classes at all. I am so used to getting mostly A's and now I am getting low B's and C's. I can't believe myself, honestly. I'm not used to this at all--it hurts. It hurts so much that it has caused me to reflect on some areas in my life related to my academics. I really think its God's way of showing me how arrogant and prideful I have been about my academic acheivements. God is giving me a big wake-up call and I am listening. I am learning to swallow my pride and realizing that I don't know as much as I thought I did. God carries out his will in unexpected ways, I totally did not see this one coming. Through all of this I hope to come out a better person having learned from my mistakes. Sometimes pain is only way to truely realize something about yourself.

Another greatly unexpected thing has happened to me this semester as well. For years I have been praying, waiting patiently, and searching to find that person God has been wanting me to have. She is completely worth the wait I have been enduring for so long. She has everything I have been looking for and she continues to surprise me with more great things everyday. Her name is Rachel. I know our friendship is going to be an exciting and adventurous one--with God leading us wherever we may go. I finally get my chance to be the man God has shaped me to be and treat her like the princess she is with respect and integrity. Rachel, you truely are beautiful and amazing.

I am just finishing Purdue's great fall break--boy did I need it after three ridiculously hard exams in one week. I am already dreading finals :(....would Christmas break get here already! I can't wait till I can sit by the fire and eat cinnamon and sugar glazed roasted pecans with my family!

Only a three day week! w00t! Then I get to see Rachel! I can't wait!

I'm going to sleep!

-Josh

So much going on...

I really need to update, but you will just have to wait till I go on Fall break...when I don't have 3 exams to worry about :)

Hope all is well with ya'll.