I was so wonderfully naiive, and carefree, and absolutely enthralled by life and all that it held for me.  I went on walks around Westerville at 3 am, layed in the soccer field to watch stars, spent afternoons in cemetaries and on roofs, had picnics, wrote poetry, walked barefoot around campus, layed in streets, jumped in lakes (in February), had my heart broken and fell in love.  My only job was to learn, and I learned so much.  Most of it was outside of the classroom. 

The other night, Funnel and I were driving down Broad Street, and we were talking about our college days.  “I miss that Jen,”  I told him. 

He said to me, “You still are that Jen.  You just are around different people and different places now”.

I’m not sure if it’s true, but I hope that I am.

We did the shoot at Alum Creek Park, which brough back a lot of memories.  I had many picnics, study sessions and long walks at Alum Creek Park.  And driving through the little campus always makes me miss Otterbein.

Here are a few of my favorites:

I named it Sonia.

I am graduating in six days. I should be done with everything school-related by Wednesday, at the latest. I feel somewhat apathetic about it right now, but I think that will change when it actually happens. Otterbein and the people here have meant more to me than high school ever did. The best times of my life have been in the last four years.

I think this week is going to be really fun. Tonight my roomates and I are fonduing in the Queen of New Zealand’s honor (and as a break from studying). Mmm. Wednesday night, I am going out for Indian food. Thursday, I am going to Cedar Point with 10 awesome people. Friday, I might be going on a hot date. And Saturday, my parents, Jon and Heather are coming up and taking me out for dinner and then Sunday is the big day.

And then I’m moving home. To Massillon.

But hopefully not for long. Once I get a job, I will be back in Columbus, probably living with Grandma Frederick.

But until then.. I am going to do some fun things.. like reupholster old furniture for our apartment and do some paintings.

Speaking of paintings…here are some paintings I did of Jesus for my Contemporary Religious Thought final project:

I’ve been studying a lot this afternoon for my History of Christianity final and what’s really cool is that in this really, really old theology, there is a lot that we can learn from. This is from my Reformation Thought book and I thought it was pretty cool:
God accomodates himself to our limitations. God comes down to our level, using powerful images and ways of speaking which enable him to reveal himself to a wide range of individuals. No one is excluded from learning about God on account of their education abilities. That God can use lowly ways of revealing himself does not reflect any weakness or shortcoming on his part; the necessity of adopting lowly ways reflects a weakness on our part, which God graciously takes into account.

Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. — Proverbs 3:3

Yesterday was a big realization for me. I’m not going to lie — it was dissapointing.  Sometimes I feel really sad about leaving Otterbein, but it’s stuff like yesterday that reminds me that it’s time to move on.

BUT I had a pretty schweet time in Dayton last night.
Driving helps me. And so does good music. And so does my bff.

That is a part of a poem called “Place” by A. F. Mortiz.

This afternoon, I had a meeting with Tammy, one of my professors.
We were supposed to talk about Global Citizenship, but instead we talked about weddings and jobs and graduation.
I told her it felt weird to be graduating and she said:
“This is probably the only time in your life where you will be leaving a place that you feel completely happy and comfortable and safe at. What a conflicting feeling.”
She said that in real life people don’t leave places where they feel at home.
People don’t leave jobs where they are happy
or towns that they love,
generally.
They only leave when things aren’t right.
And this is a place that feels right.
And that’s why it’s hard.
It made sense.

Everyone says the next few months will be a flash.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

So I’m done with winter quarter.

It’s kind of sad. I mean, this next one is going to be my last quarter of school. Ever. These next ten weeks are going to fly. I’m going to miss OCF and Dr. Gorman and the street preachers every spring and taking classes like “Inner Self Discovery.” And the people, man. But I am so so ready for the next chapter of my life. Planning the wedding has gotten me so excited, not just for the actual wedding, but for being married and being able to be with my best friend every day and being each other’s strength. My friend Lauren once was talking to me about how at this age, you start this second life for yourself, because before things were pretty much laid out for you, but now you get all these choices. You pursue the things you like, get to pick which people you want in your life. I don’t think there is any other time in your life when you have so much in front of you. We are so lucky.

Well, Friday we are leaving for South Carolina to visit my Grandpa Bill and Grandma June, my mom’s parents. They live about 25 minutes from the beach. I’m planning on getting a head start on The Divinci Code and Left Behind, which I found out that we’re reading in my religion class next quarter. (Have any of you read either of those?)

I guess that’s all the news from Massillon.