Dordt College: check.

2 classes. 1 super fun roommate. A lot of writing assignments. 4 books. 1 trip to Blue Bunny. 2 days with old camp buddies. 10 (or so) trips to Butler's Coffee shop. 5 trips to WalMart. 1 trip to Pizza Ranch. 6 hours of sleep per night. 2 final exams. 1 car ride to Green Lake to see the fam.

At noon on Friday, I was rejoicing at the fact that I had actually completed 2 Masters of Ed courses at Dordt. With all the hesitancy I felt months ago about starting graduate school, I can hardly believe I am saying this...but I liked grad school! :) I know...shock of all shocks, right? But I must give credit to the fact that grad school was in IOWA - where there are not many distractions around, and also credit to my fun roommie Kim who told funny stories and was incredibly down to earth.

Last week in my class we got to discuss a lot as a class, and at our last meeting, we all had to present our research papers on a current issue affecting our school community. I presented on the need for foreign language in a Christian school, and proposed some practical ways to teach foreign language that will both bless others and show hospitality to those who are "foreign." In college one of my favorite professors was David Smith - and I really liked the ideas he presented in his book The Gift of the Stranger, so I pretty much used that as a big part of my research.

After a 3.5 hour drive, I got to Green Lake just in time to play with my adorable nieces Sasha and Alexis, and to hang with the fam. Only part of the fam is here this week, but thankfully we'll all get to hang soon at our 2010 family reunion.

I wish I had a funny story to post here, because I feel this is a very boring post. I will try to pay more attention to the two funniest chicas I know right now: Sasha and Alexis. All I can say is...having a slumber party with Sasha is an experience, what with trips to the bathroom in the middle of the night, and random sleep talking...Alexis is so chill and loves to waddle around squealing...Taking care of 2 kids is a LOT of work! I don't know how Heidi and Nate do it every day!