Busy but good

I've been back at Belmont Abbey for over a month now.  Round 2 is going well, but is also very different from last year.

First of all, playing soccer has got to be the biggest change from last year.  It's monumental that I can practice and play and feel part of the team and I'm so grateful for that.  But there are also challenges that come with playing, mainly time management and playing time.  I've been working hard though and trying to stay optimistic and I have learned a lot, especially since we are playing three in the back instead of the usual four.  I've also had a rocky time with switching between First team and reserve team, but I think that I'm settling in my role on the reserve team better.  Being on reserve team isn't ideal, but I am having fun and I love coach Jeff because he is just so charismatic and positive.  And I'm really bonding with my team in a different way than last year when I couldn't play.

Being a biology major is also a major difference than last year when I was an education major.  Whew, let me tell you that it is A LOT more work, but also so rewarding and exciting.  I really love my biology classes.  The balance biology classes and honors classes is challenging and interesting since bio is memorizing intensive while the honors is reading, understanding, and writing intensive.

Relationships with friends are also different, but I think even better than last year.  I don't have as much free time as last year though, but it's not so bad.  This year I get to build on a foundation from last year, which is so cool.

I also figured out this year how important it is to take a break from people and my busy schedule to journal and reflect on my life so that's why I don't always update this blog.  I think that journaling is super important for my psychological and spiritual well being.  Writing has become pretty important to me, mainly because I love talking haha.

This is why I love love love Audrey Assad

You know when you play Audrey Assad's new album "Fortunate Fall" and start tearing up that its good.  Not only good as in musically, but good as in there is something about Audrey that touches my soul.  She describes my deepest longings that I haven't even realized yet or put to words.  "Fortunate Fall" showcases a very different sound from Audrey's normal more upbeat tunes.  There is something mysterious, hopeful, and woeful about this album that completely touches another part of me.

"Fortunate Fall" describes the how lucky we are that through original sin Jesus came and redeemed man.  It almost sounds strange to say that the fall was good, but because of original sin God became man.  As the album title, Fortunate Fall expresses the theme of the album, which is redemption and deliverance.  But the album also reminds me of how God is with us through every step of our lives, challenging and directing us towards our ultimate end.

"Good to Me" makes me cry.  This song reminds me of her former songs like "Lament" or "Carry Me" but touches a different aspect of suffering.  It touches that optimistic side of when we are going through hell and all we can do is look up to God and say, "Yes, Lord you are still good to me."  "The foxes in the vineyard will not steal my joy" - I can't even say how pertinent this line is.

"I Shall Not Want" strikes the misunderstandings of this world and our desire to be completed.  To be delivered.

So go listen to Audrey Assad! She excels musically in making sacred music/chant attractive to the ears.  "Fortunate Fall" is definitely an album that could be reflected on and embraced in Adoration.