Back At It

Well I got back to ATS Monday afternoon after almost a week at home. It was good to see family and friends again. It was especially good to worship with my home church family at CUMC Thursday, Friday, and Sunday. All of the services were wonderful and I was so glad to be home and be a part of each of them.

Now it is back to school and classes. I can't believe that there are only about 6 weeks left in the semester. This semester and this year have flown by so fast. I am still loving all of my classes and so far am doing well in all of them too. (Really Greek is the only class I have a grade in right now, but it's an 'A')Chapel as always is still fabulous. We had a great service yesterday praising our Risen Lord!

I have decided to stay at ATS for the summer, I am still looking at taking a class but we will have to see. I am going to be home quite a bit this summer for church/ordination related things. I'll be home June 11-16 to preach and meet with my DCOM, July 9-25 for MAC-D and my Birthday, which will probably be the day I drive back, we'll see, and then I'll be home in August for licensing school (another ordination process). I am going to try and work this summer whether or not I take a class. I can't wait. I am also going to go fishing with my Greek professor some time this summer too, but I must get my pole when I go home in June first. Well that's all for now, I must get back to reading.

God Bless,
Erica <><

It's been a while . . . again

Well the semester is almost half way over already. Things have gone so fast this semester and I've been loving, almost every minute of it. I am technically taking 4 classes this semester but they only equal out to 9 credits, and one credit is Singing Seminarians, so really I only have 3 classes for 8 credits. So far my work load has been very easy. I have to read about 300 pages a week, and usually do more to try to get all my Music reading done before Reading Week. I don't mind all this reading because it is rather interesting. Greek has been great too this semester. I do not feel nearly as overwhelmed as I did last semester. Though we are learning a lot, the pace seems easier to handle. I also like that I have only had to write one paper so far this semester and it was one page long. By this point last semester I had probably written 10 papers at 2-5 pages a piece. My next paper is due in 3 weeks, for Ethics and it's 5 pages, which shouldn't be too bad.

The last few weeks have been kinda stressful, because I have been sick and with stuff going on back home, but all that is getting better so things are returning to normal again. Which makes me very grateful. So I have 2 more weeks until Reading Week. I can't wait to go home and see my puppy dog again. I miss her so much. I miss my family too. I only have readings to due until then, but I have my Ethics paper and my Greek mid-term when I get back. That will be an interesting week. I hope to get my paper done before going home on Wednesday of Holy Week, so all I have to do while I'm home is read and study Greek. I can't believe I'm almost to mid-terms, this semester is going so fast, I hope it continues to go well, but it could maybe slow down a bit. Well that's all for now, I should get back to reading . . . the story of my life this semester.

First Day of Class

Well I made it back to ATS, snow and all. Southerners . . . 2 inches of snow and they cancel school and the seminary is on a one hour delay. Sad. Oh well. I made it through another first day of classes, Ethics at 9:30, Chapel, Sems at 12, Greek 2 at 2:30. So far so good, now I must start reading for Ethics and my Music class, which I haven't had yet, that comes tomorrow at 1. I excited for another semester and the joys and challenges it will bring. It as great to be back in Chapel today, Marylin (our Chaplin) did a great job and the music was wonderful. Well off to reading. I'll try to post a bit more this semester, but we'll have to wait and see.

Learning to better serve Him.
Erica <><

New Semester New Adventure

It's been a very long time since I wrote last (almost 2 months). I am heading back to Asbury tomorrow morning, bright and early at 7am to begin my second semester. I can't believe that I have finished one semester and have now been home for almost 2 months. This time at home as been good. I got new tires for my car and so other small repairs that needed to be done during inspection. Plus I was able to work the whole month of January, missing only 2 days (one, because there was nowhere to work, the other because of a meeting.

Speaking of meetings, I was able to meet with the psychologist when I was home. He said that I am sane, as if there was any doubt. ;) Unfortunately because of the large snow storm that hit WPA Friday into Saturday my meeting with DCOM (District Council on Ministry) was canceled yesterday. The committee has rescheduled for March 6th, but we'll have to see what the weather is like, because I will be coming up from KY for that one.

Well that's all for now. I'll try to update more this semester than last semester, though I will have a lot more reading to complete each week. Until then . . .

Erica <><

My last week(s) of the semester

Well I made it home for Thanksgiving, way back in November, and made it back down to Kentucky, for my last few weeks of classes. I want to know where the last three and a half months have gone. It seems like just yesterday, Michelle and I were coming down to visit ATS for a weekend, and now I'm almost done with my first semester of classes.

Today was officially my last day of classes. It is kind of bittersweet, I love my classes (for the most part) and my professors have been wonderful. These men have taught me so much both in and out of the classroom. The saddest part of today was leaving Dr. Mulholland's class for the last time. I will only get to see him one more time when I turn in my last paper on Monday, for he is retiring after this semester. I think I have learned more from him about how to apply what we learned in class, more than my other classes combined. I am also sad that I will not get to see my Greek teacher, Brad again, until February. He has helped me through so much this semester, and I cannot wait to have him again next semester for Greek 2.

Next week will mark my last week at ATS for a month. I can't believe that finals week is here already and Graduation is tomorrow. Next week I have my final NT paper due Monday, my final IBS interpretation due Tuesday, my KCW final due Thursday, and my Greek final due by Friday (though I hope to have it done before then). This coming weekend is going to be so crazy and busy, trying to write 3 papers and study for Greek. Tuesday I get a break tough, to go play some games at my friend Abbie's house, before our IBS assignment is due. This will be fun, but again bittersweet, because I don't know how often I will see Abbie next semester, because she will not be taking classes.

Again I must ask, where has this semester gone? I can't believe I only have one more week before I'm home for over a month. But not to worry I will have plenty to work on during that month at home. I have questions for DCOM to answer, Greek to study, and possibly some reading to get a head start on, if I can get my books early, plus teaching when I can on top of all that, and of course church stuff. Well I must get working on my papers. I can see the light at the end of the tunnel. (And it is not the train coming down the tracks, like Krissi would say.)

So long all, I may write again after the semester is over, but if not, I'll be back on come February.

Working for Him,
Erica <><

Update and More Pics (Thanks Krissi)

I realized that I haven't updated in several weeks, so here we go. I got to go home a few weekends ago and had a great time. My friend Susie went with me. We left early Friday morning and arrived in PA around 3pm. Our first stop at my house to drop off a few things, then we stopped to see the KHS Marching Band. (They sounded great!) We decided not to go to the game because it was too cold, so we headed to Cabot UMC instead. At CUMC we hung out with the kids of Friday Night Light and Kids Night Out. Susie jumped right in with the kids, while I took the time to talk with Lynn and P. Matt. It was very good to get to sit down with both of them, even if for only a little while. Saturday we went to the Cokesbury in Cranberry and the Pittsburgh Mills (a large indoor shopping mall). We found so great deals at Cokesbury 80% off tent sale, and I got a Pink Terrible Towel at the Mills. Sunday we went to church then came back for the Concert of Prayer that evening. As always the Concert was wonderful, and I got to help by anointing and praying for people. That evening when we got home, Susie gave me some money that people from the church had given her to give me. It was so sweet, I began to get teary eyed. (Thank you if you were one of those people and are now reading this.) We left Monday morning and arrived safe and sound in Wilmore around 4pm. Since coming back things have gotten back to normal, and I am back to my regular routine. It's mid-term time at Seminary, so everyone is very busy. I only have 2 this semester, one was a paper for KCW which I got an 'A' on, and my Greek mid-term is due next Tuesday (it's online). I am glad to say that I am finally in a routine and I am mapping out my weeks so I know what I need to do and when I'll have time to do it. The longer I spend here the more I enjoy it and can't wait for next semester and more classes, with more opportunities to learn. I am trying to work on my schedule for next semester. I am taking 4 classes again and I know of 2 definites right now, which are Greek 2 and Method and Praxis in Theology. I still need to figure out what else will fit into my schedule but I have some time. Fall has been beautiful here in Wilmore, I love how warm it still is (even though some of my southern friends think it's cold). Last night I was walking back to the dorm from a healing service with a 3/4 sleeve shirt, a skirt, high boots and my trench coat and was warm. I wanted to walk around town for an hour, but I thought that a single woman walking around in a black trench at 9pm was not a smart idea, though I did later got to get milk at Cluckers (the local gas station). The Sems (Singing Seminarians) sang in Chapel today. It was a great time, we celebrated all Saints Day. My friend Krissi took some pictures of the Sems for me, so I can show them to you. She also took so pictures of the fall foliage for me. (Thanks Krissi.) So I will leave you with these pictures. Until next time. . . In His Service,Erica <>< P.S. Feel free to call, send me an email or a card. I love to hear from people back home, or family from all over.

The View from Main Campus

Toward our Dorm (center)

Me in Sems and Dr. Goold our Director

Singing Seminarians

Pictures Finally . . . And Other News

Hey everyone. We'll I've made it through another week of seminary. This week was kinda non-eventful, until tonight. Classes are still going great. I amazed at all the things I'm learning and that my professors know, so well. It is fascinating when someone asks a question, whether related or not related to the topic we are discussing and how the professor can explain it with out any notes, or at times (mostly in my IBS - Matthew class) the Bible open. These men are really amazing and I'm sad that my New Testament prof will be retiring so I will not get to have him again, but so glad I did this semester. (P-Matt you were write Mulholland is amazing.)

Anyways, I've been doing very well in my classes. Greek is probably my favorite because of my professor, and that I now understand it and am getting all 'A's on my quizzes. Midterm in a few weeks, we'll see how I do. I am starting to like my Inductive Bible Study class on Matthew too. My professor is a little quirky but fun. A friend and I have nick-named it the "Bauer Power Hour." Again I am getting all 'A's in that class to. New Testament if fascinating. I have learned so much that I never new before. Kingdom, Church, World is okay, but I love my small group. We will be doing a service project together soon, I don't know what or when though. (I don't have that class this week, so it will be nice to have Wednesday off.)

We had a really great week of chapel 2 weeks ago. Each day Dr. Oswalt (a distinguished visiting professor of Old Testament studies) spoke on holiness all week. I got to meet him, officially, today at church and tell him how much I enjoy his messages. This past week in Chapel we had the Theta Phi lectures on Open Theism. I went on Tuesday, but did not go Thursday (to boring, because it was a lecture, so it was like sitting in class for 4 hours straight instead of 3). I also attended the Wednesday chapel, where we had a UM Bishop for Nigeria speak. (He is a Beason student.) He had a very good message also.

I am still going to Nicholasville UMC and enjoying it more each week. I went to the late/traditional service today, and really enjoyed it. The choir sang "Rise Up in the Morning" and I sang along quietly, since CUMC's choir has done that song before. NUMC is really a moving church, each week I go it reminds me of Cabot. They are so involved in their community and are always looking for more ways to become involved in the community. But this weekend I will be enjoying worship at CUMC.

Yes I'm coming home for the weekend. I cannot wait to see everyone again. Also I will be bringing home a friend with me (so the drive won't be so lonely). We should arrive home between 3 and 4 Friday afternoon. We may go to the KHS v. Indiana game @Indiana, and will definitely be in worship for the 10:30 service (6pm too if we can.) Again I'm excited to come home, not only to see everyone, but I also need warmer clothes.

It has been rather cold here in Wilmore. Though I know I have nothing to complain about, for you who are back in PA. We are still about 5-10 degrees warmer than you and maybe even more this week. The leaves are finally changing colors down here and the campus is very beautiful. If I have time tomorrow or if I just need a break I hope to get some pictures of campus so y'all can see them. But for now you will just have to live with pictures of my room and a pictures of the fire we had tonight at the Wilmore campgrounds. (One of the girls from my floor worked there this summer and so invited us out for a fire and s'mores, umm so good.) So here are the pictures:

Sarah's Bed My Bed (notice the Pittsburgh Rug)

My desk and our bookshelves Our sink area



Sarah's Cow (closet) door hanger

Our door (Yes that's my puppy!)
The fire from tonight (fire + s'mores = good night)

Like I said I hope to have more pictures up soon. Maybe even some day a picture of Sarah, my roommate. We'll see. Well until next time (or for most of you next weekend when I'm home) God Bless.

In His Service,

Erica <><