Educational Developments

Well, as some of you know, I have been applying to grad schools for the second time this year. I went into the process already a little discouraged after having been accepted to exactly zero schools last year. I reluctantly emptied my bank account of the money earned during my December break, revamped my personal statement, and waited.

Then I waited some more.

I got my first rejection of the year.

Then I waited some more.

I got my first acceptance! There was much rejoicing. And surprise.

The next month, I got another acceptance. Secure in the knowledge that I now had a choice of schools, Marquette University or Michigan State, I started quietly panicking about how I was going to pay for whichever school I chose. Marquette had indicated that, if they were going to offer me an assistantship, they would make the offer before April fifteenth.

On April twelfth, I still had not heard anything from either school about financials - other than MI state confirming that they would not be offering me any departmental aid. That's when I got my third acceptance letter - from Northeastern University. I began a frantic emailing of my professors asking for advice.Dithering happened. How would I ever choose between these schools?

April fourteenth. A Saturday. A day on which I normally do not come in and check my email. But I had been told by MI state that I would have my financial aid packet by the end of the week and I did want to see it, so I came into the program center. I read my email. I read one of them a few times.

Marquette University offered me an assistantship. This assistantship will cover my tuition, give me health insurance, and provide a stipend for the two years it will take to complete my Masters degree. I may have cried a little bit. With joy. Then I called my mother.

Wisconsin, here I come. There are still a lot of details to figure out, but I am amazed at the way God has led and provided through this process. I couldn't at first reconcile my acceptance rate last year with this year's, but as my mother pointed out, God must have wanted me to spend a year at Barakel.

And yes, these pictures are old. Remember, my camera is old and cranky. It didn't want to come out and play.

Laundry

Every Thursday morning I rule over the laundry room with an iron whisk - although I suspect it is some other, less firm, metal, since even whipping starch into water sometimes feels as though I'm asking too much of it.


It's a peaceful place, the laundry room, full of nothing more challenging than keeping track of which cloths and aprons belong on which side of the lake. A handy Sharpie and masking tape help me with that task. I fold rags, starch aprons, and wrestle rugs in and out of machines.

The second Ladies' retreat went well. It finally stopped raining and everyone was able to enjoy wandering through the woods on Saturday and Sunday. I worked in the Trading Post most of the time. As a result, I witnessed closely the single-minded shopping rampage that flooded through the Trading Post. Ladies shop intensely when they are here. It will be interesting to see the difference in a couple of weekends when we will be having Men's retreats.

Today I found more mail from Jesus - another anonymous gift and a check with a pledge for support. This pledge brings me up to 35% of my monthly support. I am so thankful.

The sad part about being here this weekend was that I missed my mother's birthday. It sounds like they managed to have a wonderful time without me, as unbelievable as that is ;) Happy birthday, Mum!

Titles are like subject lines - I'm not good at either.

This weekend was my first officially back in Archery. It was amazing and fun - lots of friendly competition and mother/son bonding. This time was made even more exciting by a special visitor to the range.

It's Claire!

Claire and Amanda came up to be Big Sisters for the weekend. And to visit me. We went on a night-time hayride and had a wonderful story-time, enjoyed by everyone in the wagon, I hope. The stars were unspeakably beautiful. Jane Eyre was epically gothic. It was great to be able to spend time with the two of them. They stayed even longer than I had hoped for - until Monday afternoon. Because of that boon, we got to do some shooting - of pool and archery. Due to a Monday morning downpour, we skipped the Thunder Express this time. Hopefully they'll come back soon.

This past week, I also got a piece of very exciting mail.

Yes, it does say it is from Jesus.

When I opened it, I found my first financial support. God's timing never ceases to amaze me. That morning, as I cleaned Tamarack, I had been worrying that I was heading into my fourth week at Barakel and still had not received any support. Then this was waiting for me - Jesus mail - a physical reminder of God's providence.

Since then, I've received a pledge for 20% of my monthly support and an envelope from someone I've never even met. Praise be to God. I am so grateful for his care and for the people who choose to be used and choose to give.