Well, I have an Arabic test in an hour. I don't feel like studying anymore. By now, it's either I know it or I don't - which most likely, I don't. So I'll bomb my first test in college. It'll be a nice wake-up call to get my act together and get it together soon. This morning, when I logged on to read my emails and Facebook messages, this comment from Lydia made my day, and it hasn't even started yet!:

Hey Christina! I hope all is well with friggen Yale! hahaha.
Well anyways, I was cleaning and I came across a letter you wrote to me probably 2 or more years ago, when we wrote letters to everybody. Remember?
So yeah, one line that you wrote really stuck out:
"I wish we can go back to kindergarten and be carefree again, not having to worry about anything besides having a complete set of crayons."
I guess it stuck out since we've both gone so far since kindergarten; we've put so much more on our plates than back then - taking on so many bigger things than crayons. It was just so good to be able to catch a big sigh of relieve and relive the happiness of the good old days, so I just wanted to share it with you :)
I hope all is well with you, seriously. Stress keeps you sane, sometimes. And know, you can probably beat all the competition that is Yale. Hope to see you around again. It's been a freakishly long time.
Good night and God bless <3"

This is what my heart beats for - the simple things in life, to quote Lisa. You couldn't imagine the joy that filled my heart and just this indescribable happiness that just made smile so big, so early in the morning. Sometimes, in the midst of the business of life and the worries that come with life, we forget how good life can really be. It's not fair, it's too hard, it's too short, it's too long, it's too whatever - but it is also good. Thank you Lydia, for making my day, and for sharing and reliving that insight.

This weekend was really fun and unproductive. On Saturday we decided to go get board games at the Dollar Store, which as it turns out, did not have any. So Vivian, Josh, Surui, Alex, and I made a complete detour into the sketchy parts of New Haven right outside the Yale bubble. I must say, I was glad we asked the boys to come along with us. Then, we stopped by Rite Aid, which was closing down, so we bought really cheap wrapping paper. You never know when you'll need wrapping paper. haha :) And then we went back and played Catchphrase and other random card games. Then we watched Slumdog Millionaire. It was such a good movie! And that Jai Ho dance at the end brought back a flood of memories from our Spanish play! oh, the memories <3 But after watching that movie I thought about three things:

1. Sometimes, life gives you answers. A lot of them. So much that they will makes you rich.
2. Poverty is very real, and man's hand in it is also very real.
3. How rare is the kind of Jamal-Latika love. And that is exactly why it's only in the movies.

I am very excited to start at NHR today! Can't wait to meet the student I'm going to tutor! Today is going to be a busy day, a lot of errands to run and a lot of homework to do.

This morning, my verse is "And you became followers of us and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction with joy of the Holy Spirit." 1 Thess. 1:6 It gives me hope in sharing the gospel. And if only I knew how to properly do that.

I was talking to Trong last night on ichat (which is the bomb, btw) and we talked about college life and our worries and such. It was so nice to catch up with an old friend. And, I almost cried when he said he was doing bible study with a group outside of Berkeley. GAP. God Answers Prayers :) Keep on exploring this wonderful peace and love from God, Trong :) You and your lovely girlfriend are in my prayers.

I also got a phone call from Sarah yesterday. It was nice to hear a friendly voice from home. Thank you for that wonderful conversation. I am excited to go to the post office today and pick up my package!!! Oh how I love getting mail!

Saturday night, or should I say Sunday morning, since we didn't end until 3 AM, Vivian and I talked about life. I think it was our third conversation about life. ahhahaha. I'm willing to bet there will be so many more as the days go on. It was nice to talk to someone who could connect with me. My favorite line from our conversation:
"Being in a relationship right now is like taking another Foreign Language at Yale" - and it's true! A relationship is a time commitment, a huge one.

Then, after Vivian and I finished, Nikki texted me and we started talking. Man, I was just talkative Saturday night. And I'm so happy for Nikki and Jared. They make me giddy. Yay for love :) And from this conversation, I learned that if someone really cares, they'll talk to you, or at least make some effort to communicate with you. Being busy just does not cut it as an excuse anymore. Maybe, just maybe, if this keeps up, I'll be able to let myself slowly move on. It's hard to let go of something you deem so good, but it might not be there anymore, so for your own sake, it's best to move on. And life goes on. Hopefully.

I've reached a final decision about my letter. I realize that it's just me acting on a whim, wanting to get my feelings out on paper. And that's all that it is, my feelings on paper. I'm ready to tear it to pieces and take the first step to moving on.

Alright, I must go eat breakfast now and start my busy day. God bless you for reading this, whoever you are.