Be still.

I think I need to start establishing more quiet time with the Lord.  Ideally, I'd love to start each day with a good half hour of devotional and prayer time.  I've not had a good devotional time in my life for a long time, and I'm getting to the point where I desperately need it, and it will actually fit in with my lifestyle.  I have SO MUCH going on in my life right now.  I really need to intentionally be still and rest in the Lord.  We talked about prayer in Sunday school this morning, and I felt really convicted to spend more intentional prayer time with God - after all, you need to communicate to actually have a relationship.

My first day of grad school orientation starts tomorrow - including our entrance exams in music history and theory.  THANK GOODNESS we get 2 chances to pass the exams.  I haven't studied like I should have (surprise, surprise...).  I'm doing a little cramming this evening, but I'm not sure it will be enough to pass either or both of the exams.  We'll see! 

Where has the summer gone?!  So, I've got orientation this week, plus move-in tables with work, plus I need to solidify my opera audition aria (and schedule a coaching or two and a lesson), plus I need to get moving with Mary Kay.  Also I think I'm babysitting for a couple hours on Friday. AHH. What a week.

On top of that, I'm starting to look at different apartments online for Jason and me to move into when we get married next summer.  Ideally I'd like to start setting up appointments to do some walk-throughs as soon as possible.  Apartments get rented up really quickly in Bloomington, so the sooner you can sign a lease, the better!

So far the wedding planning has been pretty smooth.  We've got a date, a ceremony site, an officiant, some bridesmaids and groomsmen, and a pretty good idea of a photographer, reception site, and a DJ.  It's pretty stressful trying to plan a wedding out of town.  You have to schedule meetings back to back during weekends.  It's pretty challenging.  I'm excited for when things will just start falling into place.  But I am enjoying it!  Planning your wedding with the love of your life should NOT be a stressful and horrible time.  It should be so fun and exciting!  Aside from the typical stresses, we are managing to find the fun and excitement in it! :-)

Speaking of fun and exciting, have I mentioned before how much I love my job as a Mary Kay consultant?  I really do.  My goal is to become a Sales Director, which means that I'll have to be working really hard on that this semester as well.  I'm definitely going to be praying for a sense of urgency and fearlessness as I approach this next quarter.  Taking a month off while I was in San Francisco makes right now feel like I'm starting all over again as a brand new baby consultant!  My director and my national director believe in me, and that makes me feel so inspired!  I'm so blessed with this career opportunity, and I can't wait to share it with other women.  It really can change lives!

That's all for now.  Time to continue reading about Notre Dame polyphony and 13th Century troubadour songs. :-/