I'm officially an Indiana resident.
It was kind of exciting to take a new picture and get a new ID, but I wasn't prepared (despite Annie's warnings) to watch my old KS driver's license get shredded....luckily I had planned ahead of time and both photographed and made copies of it for memory's sake. I mean, goodness, kind of the chance of a lifetime to have had a Kansas license!
This also means that I passed the driver's test, which is always a good thing.
Oh, Hoosiers....:)
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I was talking with Bob (Bob and Kathy Blume are the incredibly wise people I'm living with) and he was telling me about his life late last night, sometime around midnight. He said to me, "You know, Sarah, I was at Taylor and getting poor grades and unable to motivate myself. One day I made a call to a Greenville University and asked if there was an opening on the basketball team. The coach told me that if I could get there by 8am the next day ready to move in he would have a spot for me, so I withdrew, lost all my scholarships at Taylor, packed up my car, and drove most of the night to get there. I ended up having an amazing roommate who accepted Christ at the end of the year, a successful sports career, and I graduated with a 3.6." I asked him what had made the difference, and he replied easily, "well, I found myself of course!"
When he said that I suddenly realized that I'm not there yet. I have this concept of emotional development in my head, that, in terms of cycles, a person reaches an important stage around his/her 21st birthday. Emotional development means to me becoming more self-aware: having a better understanding of God, of myself, of others, and how I relate to God, myself, and others. Self-aware is knowing who I am. This all being said, I'm closer than I ever have been before (isn't that the point of life?), but each person's path is so different, I had just assumed I would be there at 21. After such a tumultuous year, partly due to my own decisions, I'm finally heading in the direction that is me--it's just taking me a little bit longer. And maybe, just maybe, a longer path was the plan all along.  
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I went running in the neighborhood this weekend and decided to run down "Melody Lane" (I mean, who could resist it? The street was actually named that!) and at the end of it were HORSES! It was incredible. Sometimes I think God puts surprises at the end just to see us smile.

Well, it's officially Camp Meeting week in A-Town! And let me tell you, if you're not here, you're most definitely missing out. I mean, who else has the latest 2007 edition of the Gaither Homecoming lighter? Haha, I do! (Although, should I really be bragging about that...?) Honestly though, it's nice to see the community that has been built throughout the years, the friendships, etc. And I have enjoyed a few sessions. Jim Wallis was especially powerful. And it's fun to see the camp ground full of RVs and campers.
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I have officially figured out why you are supposed to use ONE foot for the brake and gas pedals, and not one foot for the brake and one foot for the gas. Let me explain.
I drive the AU Admissions golf cart back to its garage every day right before 5pm (when I get off work) to a garage across University St. from Meyers. It's pretty much the highlight of my day to zoom around in the little golf cart and see how fast I can go. Anyway, so I'm driving it back yesterday and I zoom right into the garage and slam on the brake, except the cart kept going and RAMMED INTO THE SIDE OF THE GARAGE. And then, as if that wasn't good enough, it continued to try and go full force into the wall, as though it were going to go up ONTO it. At this point I'm in full panick mode in total confusion and frantically trying and retrying to put the brake down. That's the point at which I realized that although I had the brake down with my left foot, my right foot was actually still on the gas pedal. Holding it down. The poor little golf cart was about to self-combust or something.
Anyway, I backed it up and saw only a little dent and decided to call it good. I mean, seriously. The roof of the cart can barely stay on, I think a dent is okay. It adds character.
When I was walking out of the garage there was a woman walking by with her dog staring at me as if I were the devil, and I realized that the crash had probably made a loud noise...I just put my sunglasses on, smiled and kept walking as if it were totally normal.
Oh, and did I mention I'm going in to take my driver's test and get my license renewed tomorrow? Oh, goodness...
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I continue to feel overwhelmed with God's goodness and my...well...lack-there-of, to be honest. There are so many decisions I have made and things I have done that I look back on and cringe, and yet I have seen more of God's goodness and grace in the past week as a result of all that. From a crazy housing situation came no rent, a free bed, and the opportunity to live with the most amazing older couple. A couple from my church has actually taken me into their house, even though they had never met me before and didn't know much about me. They refuse to accept rent and the wife had everything all ready when I came in. As she took me around the house and showed me everything, I just wanted to sit down and cry "why are you doing this? Don't you realize that I'm just this college kid that can't seem to get her life together? Why are you so kind to me?" And that's when I realized that God's kindness is, in fact, even more so abundant and overwhelming: he knows what I have done, what I do, and what I will do, and he still has unceasing grace and love. He does more than give me a place to stay. He is still God.
That being said, I will never understand such amazing people such as the Shaners, who spent so much time finding me a place and caring about me despite how crazy their lives are, and the couple I'm living with right now. Lord, give the opportunity to do this someday, that I might pay back as much as possible.
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Ummm...I feel a painting day coming on. Anyone else feel it?

Here are just some random pics from my time so far here:

Here are the roomies going to the "Hoe-Down" (too bad I had to miss it, but me and Amy had more fun):

Me and my best girlfriend Amy. She just came back from Argentina, so we had LOTS to talk about:

Yes ladies and gentlemen, this a HOE down!

My mom and the fish and Zoe (the dog). She's trying to make them "friends", just like she used to do with the rat and the dog (she used to have the rat RIDE the dog. And then she would send me pictures.)

Well, finally back in the states. It's very, very good to be back. Sometimes a little weird, but good. Haven't been up to much, seeing friends has been amazing though. Here are some pictures:

I've spent every single day with Hunter, which has been amazing. He's so beautiful:

And Tiffany:

I've OF COURSE spent lots of time with this lady:

and my favorite sister:

And others:

And one more picture....

Driving up to AU pretty soon...