Dear All,

I am still alive! At least clinically. Since last year I have survived a second semester of secular college at Virginia Commonwealth University, made a trip to San Diego (there’s no place like home, there’s no place like home, there’s…ahem), worked over the summer (at least I think we had summer this year), and have just made it through my finals this semester! (God is so awesome!). Oh yeah, I bought a new bike (Trek 7200FX hybrid) and a pair of fabulous Oakley M-Frames and started cycling with Dad, swimming with a swim club, and running as an EMT-B with the Chancellor Volunteer Fire and Rescue Squad.

School in the Spring of this year was different than the Fall of last, in that I was a little more settled in. God managed to sustain me through the whole semester despite getting sick for a week (through an Organic Chemistry Test no less), and just being burned out in general. So the 4.0 lasted another semester. As a result of the burnedoutedness and whatnot Daddy sent Jenny and I to San Diego for six days of vacation (whirlwind tour). We figured we would spend the whole time rushing about trying to do everything, but we actually relaxed most of the time and spent nearly every evening in a friend’s apartment watching DVDs of “Alias” while just being. We still managed to fit in a trips to Seaport Village and Old Town (Casa de Pico), a day at Sea World (just Jenny and I, and so much fun!), a tour of the USS Enterprise (F-14 Tomcat up close and personal), a lovely girly tea with friends (thank you Mrs. Rossitto!), and a day trip to L.A. to see the FIDM (Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising) exhibit of Academy Award nominated film costumes, including a special exhibit of Lord of the Rings costumes. There was a huge puddle of drool in front of the LOTR costumes by the time we left – it was quite embarrassing.

After Spring Break life went on, I finished my finals (I don’t remember them, but I did finish them), and then got to work trying to find a job. I ended up back at Target through a series of interesting events. I went straight to overnight work and never looked back. It was hard work, but I enjoyed bits of it immensely. I really enjoyed the lack of mental stimulation and the fact that I was not required to think very hard about anything. I built up some more muscles (was also swimming every week) and my bank account (sadly depleted now) for another semester at college.

So back to school I went, with a new bike (it is fabulous folks!), new clothes (Ross dress for less rocks!), new shades (www.oakley.com), and a new attitude (cough, cough). Since I had joined the Chancellor Volunteer Fire and Rescue Squad in June, I felt that the next logical step would be to attend an EMT-Basic class and get state certified as an EMT (since that was the point of joining the squad in the first place). No problem, I would just add those (ahem), six extra credits (at the Community College in Richmond) onto my seventeen credit load at VCU. Sure, no sweat…what was I thinking? In any case, the work piled up and the withdrawal date kept looking really tempting, but in the end I decided to stay the course (well, all the courses actually) for the rest of the semester. Makes sense right?

Okay, it doesn’t make sense, except that I really honestly felt that this is was what God wanted me to do. I don’t try to understand God anymore – I am having a hard enough time with Mechanics of Deformables and Electric Circuits. I am bracing myself for the less than perfect GPA coming out of this semester, but then again I was doing the same thing last semester, so I’m not going to put God in a box. I keep thinking that there is no way it is all going to work out, and He keeps doing it despite me (hmmm…maybe that’s the point). My verse for this semester has been Matthew 19:26, “But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, ‘With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.’” So, we shall see. I see my duty as being faithful to trust Him, and to do the best that I can with what I have been given, and God can take it from there.

Other than school…um…I have tried to stay as culturally stimulated as possible, given my limited time and $$$ resources. Jenny and I managed to make it to the Renaissance Faire this year – with spliced costumes (did I mention I have very little time), in the pouring rain, and without our faithful friends (who got into a car accident the day before we were supposed to go, but were okay in the end). It was not unenjoyable, but not as much fun as previous years. We also managed to do our first ever midnight release movie viewing, just last week. We went and saw Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire at 11:59pm in Richmond. It was definitely an experience, especially since I didn’t get to bed until 5:00am (we went to Denny’s after the movie), and had to get up for class at 10:00am. Poor Jenny drove home to Fredericksburg (an hour’s drive) at 5:00am, but she got to sleep in a little more.

I admit to being very excited about my Christmas break this year. I have just taken five finals in four days (all but one of which are cumulative), but I am free until mid January when I take the state EMT test and then start classes at VCU again (only 13.5 credits next semester– Halleluia!). Not that I will have a whole lot of extra time, since I will be running with the squad more often, and I have to study for the MCAT medical school entrance test which occurs at the end of April (pray for me folks!). I felt like I needed to have my head examined for alien cranial probe tampering when I was considering taking an interim class during this Christmas break. Luckily the idea was a fleeting one and the Men in Black never showed up…or did they…

Well, flashy thing or no, I do remember that God is faithful and He is good. This is the best time of the year to celebrate His birth and sacrifice because, at least for students, we appreciate it all the more at the end of finals. I ran out of things to give God the minute I started, but He continues to give me everything I need. I hope this letter finds you in good health and spirits, and that you have an awesome God filled Christmas season!

Live long and prosper,
Bridget