Well...I'm back from my weekend in Vabeeotchay (VA Beach). I really can't get over how gorgeous it is down there...and that my sister actually LIVES there...as in, not just staying there on vacation or something. Anywho...I had an amazing, amazing time down there. I got to meet all my sister's awesome friends/roomies/cohorts, check out Regent (jaw-dropping gorgeous as well), meet Merlot (most adorable kitty ever!), and of course...spend all sorts of awesome QT with my lizzy-pooh.

I arrived at my aunt/uncle's house Friday evening at about 7:30-ish (after a 9-hour cramped-up car ride..blah), rang the doorbell, and was greeted by 2 dropped jaws (my cousins Drew and Kara) for a few seconds of silence as they took in my presence on their doorstep; then came a moment of realization for both, then finally the shrieks of delight as they attacked me with hugs...yes, the surprise went over well. :) I enjoyed a fun evening spent with the cousins, as well as the following morning when we squeezed in a game of Cranium before I left for Lizzy's (awesome game, yo). It was seriously good to see those kids.

And wow, was it good to see my sister, too. I realized it had been about a month since we had last seen each other, and we both knew it would be quite a while after this until we would see each other again....so needless to say, we drank up every moment. She showed me around town a little, treated me to a smoothie at this amaaazing Tropical Smoothie Cafe, took me to see the university (as beautiful as the Grove, except more trees and a bit of a tropical flavor...yum!)...then of course we went to the beach for a bit and just walked along the shoreline talking. Lizzy cooked dinner that night (delish), then we hung out at her friends' apartment and watched Shawshank Redemption (yes, now I have finally seen it. awesome flick..and yeah, I cried...).

Sunday evening we went over to Melissa's apartment with all of my sister's cohorts for a time of worship to kick off their time at Regent (how crazy awesome is that...to have that kind of environment at Grad school). The worship was incredible...God was definitely present, and His Spirit was moving like a wildfire through the room. I was so moved and inspired during that time...just to surrender it all to Him again...those things that I keep seizing back up to take control of and obsess/worry over. He keeps teaching me just to trust Him completely, and not only that...but to enjoy Him. You know, I am falling more and more in love with Him...Jesus, the Lover of my soul, my eternal Romancer...the only One who can truly satisfy and quench this longing within me for a head-over-heels kind of Love. The kind of Love that will never hurt me, leave me, or fail me. Sigh...almost too good to be true. Almost.

So here I am back in PA...missing Lizzy like crazy already. But I know God is going to bless her incredibly with her experiences down there in Vabeeotchay, and I just look forward to hearing all about them. And hey...I have a pretty awesome week ahead of me here too. RASCAL FLATTS tomorrow night.  Derry Road Trip: The Sequel on Wednesday (yeah dawg), some working here and there....and before I know it, I'll be moving back to school on Saturday. Gee whiz. Can't wait!