It's been a while since I've updated, and a lot has happened-- had friends visit, I turned 21, and Blake had his med school interview.
But I wanted to be sure to make a post to tell everyone to watch Dateline tonight at 9pm (EST). Some of you might remember me talking about an accident that was at my school during my freshman year of college, which killed 5 people. It had a huge affect on my the campus, and was something I never want to have to experience again. Another freshman girl on my wing, Whitney, was pronounced dead and our whole wing traveled up to Grand Rapids for her funeral. All of us in Whitney's small group had circled around her coffin to pray and mourn before the actual ceremony. We then returned to campus and watched people take all of Whitney's possessions out of her room, while her roommate cried and cried. It was a horrible time.
5 week later I got a phone call from my roommate, "Juli.... Whitney's not dead. She's alive!"
It didn't make sense. There was no way-- I was at her funeral. Tragically, Whitney's body had been mistaken with another student's body, Laura, and all this time she was being treated at the hospital (Laura's family believing their daughter had survived.) While my heart rejoiced for Whitney's family, a felt a sudden drop of sorrow for Laura's.
It's something I still can't understand-- how did they make the mistake and why would God allow this? And while I still don't have the answers, I was encouraged to watch Whitney speak on the Today Show this morning showing confidence in God.
Here is a link to more of her story:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23824767/
Don't forget to watch tonight!!!
I constantly remember the two orphanages I spent time at last spring in Lithuania, and I often wonder about how the kids are doing. How big are they now? What new things have they learned over the past year? Have they found a new home?
I had my friend, Donatas, help me translate an e-mail to the woman who ran one of the orphanages. Her name was Virginija. She was a remarkable woman, and I could tell that the kids viewed her as their own mother. She loved them as if they were her children, no less. I remember one Saturday that I went to help out, but quickly found myself in the position of taking care of the place all by myself. Oh gosh, that was a crazy day! Virginija had said a few things in broken English, pointed at the pots and pans on the stove, and wasn't back until 3 hours later. One of the little girls, speaking nothing but Lithuanian, started showing me how to cook a common dish... and... well, we whipped up something together and fed the whole house! Ha ha. I loved those kids. They were so talented and had so much love.
Back to my story... I wanted Donatas to help me translate so that I could ask for her address to send pictures and some candy for the children. She then responded, and Donatas had to translate it for me back into English (good friend, right?) In her e-mail Virginija told me that she just published her own book of poems, and she had the children illustrate it for her with hand-drawn pictures! She asked for my address so that she can send me a copy, which pretty much makes me want to cry. I won't be able to read the poems (unless I translate some of them), but just to have a book filled with pictures by the kids I grew to love-- what a GIFT!!
I miss those kids.
I got home from my weekend in Atlanta and found a letter from GC&SU on my desk. Blake sat next to me while I opened it, and then I was surprised to find out that I was accepted to their nursing program! I've stopped myself a few times today to just go, "wow, I'm actually in. meaning.. I can actually be a nurse!" It's a strange feeling.
I still have 3 more schools to hear from, and Blake is also waiting on 3 schools. We've both been praying through this whole process because we're obviously wanting to be in the same city, or neighboring schools, for the next 2 and 8 year commitments we're making for our careers. This will all be very interesting as we wait to find out our acceptances and watch it all unfold. I have to turn in my intent to enroll by March 15, even though Blake's interview isn't until March 19. Strange situation. My adviser said that these things happen all the time, that I should just turn in my intent, and then worst case scenario is that I lose the $50 from my deposit if I decide on another school.
So where will I be next year? I don't know. And it's kind of fun not knowing
:)
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