dusting off the pen

Wow ... do you realize how long it's been since we've done anything here? ... Let's remedy that, shall we?
This semester has not been one of my better ones - in fact, it's down-right awful in parts. Yet, even in the worst moments, something happens to remind me that it's ok. That every valley has an upslope (otherwise it's just a cliff, hehe). And that there is a morning around the corner.
I've been having to deal with all kinds of things on a family-level, as we're working through things and coming closer to reaching the goal. It's tugging at things I thought had healed over, but I'm also finding that the hurts dont last as long.
Academically, I'm being beat over the head ... it's not fun anymore, and my grades are not what they've been in the past. Nothing major (yet), just not what I'm accustomed to.
Relationally, well ... here's the interesting part. There's a lot of stuff going on, and things I'm having to adjust to. I'm learning what it means to love unconditionally, and how to love the person despite their actions/choices/etc -- even when the new events knock the wind from my lungs and send me reeling backwards into the night. I'm realizing that sometimes, you have to take a stand for yourself, because people can really only treat you as badly as you let them. Sometimes things have to end. And God has given me some totally amazing girls to hang with, friends I never expected, never looked for, and I am beyond thankful for their presence here on campus.
Sometimes, life just isn't easy or fun or sunshine ... but it's always life and that is what is most important.
I'm sure I've not really said anything revolutionary or groundbreaking, and maybe not even interesting, but I felt the need to put it here ... :o)