WU: Mattress Surfing? Taco Trucks? PICTURES INCLUDED!

Amidst the hardest week acedemically I've probably ever had, I had more fun this week in school than I have any other week yet. I was so overwhelmed with upwards of twenty hours of homework last week (not incuding spending 14 hours in class) that I decided to be spontaneous in order to relieve some of the stress. For those of you who know me well, you know that being spontaneous is the absolute last thing that I enjoy to be. However, a wise mentor of mine here at school encouraged me to do more spontaneous things, and I decided to take his advice last week. And amidst it all, I both survived and thrived (although I have to admit, I did have to sleep for nine hours last night in order to catch-up and recuperate) while I made late-night food runs, mattress-surfed, and went to taco trucks.

It all started on Wednesday, when after having a long day of homework and church at night the last thing I wanted to do was go to bed. So I called some friends, and next thing you know, we're driving to get hot wings at 9:30 (I know, so late, right?). That was a blast because my four best friends from school and I were able to get off campus and hang out together, stress-free (see picture below). We got back aroud 10:30, and I went to bed.

So I did my spontaneous thing for the week, right? Going to get hot wings after church on Wednesday was enough, was it not? Well, then Thursday came. It started off with mattress-surfing with my hall, which was truly a blast (see video below), followed by an impromptu late-night worship session with some friends, which was wonderful as well. That was all fun, but I surely was worn out. I had done my spontaneous activities for the week, and all I wanted to do was get a good night's sleep on Friday night. Well, then Friday came....

After a 6-hour work shift, one of my managers observed that since we closed early, we still had time to get to the taco truck down the road before they closed. How could I say no to that? Who doesn't want to go to a taco truck with coworkers I just met three weeks ago at 11:00 at night? It was truly another wonderful experience (see picture below) that was followed by cramming into my manager's car and singing veggietale songs (some of my coworkers are fellow brothers and sisters in Christ, which is such a privilege. However, some of them aren't. #Starfish). I got home around midnight, and went to bed to enjoy another long day of homework and work the next day.

By the time Sunday came, I was exhausted, but some how mustered up enough stength to preach at a nursing home in the afternoon, which was truly a wonderful opportunity. All in all, it was by far the most delightful week I've had in school so far. Last semester was all about new experiences, but this semester so far has been about solidifying what the Lord has introduces to me. Louisville is no longer filled with new places, new faces, and new friends, but with places that are comfortable, faces that are familiar, and friends that will last a lifetime, and all I can say is this: Praise the Lord.

Prayer Praises..

• God's grace in allowing me to enjoy this very life though I am fully deserving of his eternal wrath because of my sin.

Prayer Requests..

• Perseverance in all areas. Midterms are this week (I'm already half-way through the semester, isn't it crazy?), and I also just have a lot of random stuff going on that I will need Jesus-strengthening perseverance and endurace to get through amidst the business.

Thank you all for reading! I miss y'all and can't wait to see you again. In the meantime, I am praying for you.

I'd like to end with some quotes that my professors said in class this week. I've been blessed to sit under some of the most phenominal professors on this earth, and I'd love to share with you just a piece of what I'm learning from them:

"The Bible flips the character of a kingdom. It’s not about crowns and castles, but about servanthood and mustard seeds." - Dr. Bryan Vickers

"For God to take your distress and turn it to joy is nothing short of a miracle." - Dr. Adam Howell

Hot Wings with Best Friends. From left to right: Sam (from Tennessee), Cody (from WISCONSIN), Mark (from California/Kansas), Dana (from Florida).

Mattress Surfing Video: https://drive.google.com/open?id=121RvCZoIFVrQjRT6TAN9pwpb92KPs9mE (If you turn the volume up, you can hear "U Can't Touch This" playing in the background. Yes, I picked that song. Love you dad!)

Taco Truck with New Coworkers. From left to right: Bailey, Ashley, Autumn, Jonathan, Adam.