Time takes its toll on us.

Well these past couple of days have been difficult for me. I am really starting to feel the snugness of our little abode. I can't say I've ever lived in such a small space for so long and at first I saw it as a challenge to be met and now it's more...something to cope with. It's a difficult feeling to describe, but those of you who have lived in small spaces with people other than your family (sometimes even your own family!) know what I mean. And I'm not "hatin' on" the Hopkins at all! They are wonderful and I've loved getting to know all of them better. I simply miss the ease and comfort of living with my own parents. I bet many of my freshmen friends are feeling the exact same way. =] Well, maybe not YET...give it a few more weeks. It could be the accident on Sunday night, or the weather changing from hot and muggy to cool and crisp, or my schedule tightening with activities...but I've just felt ominous since Sunday. I don't know if you've heard it, but the song "Time takes its toll on us" by Bebo Norman, has come to mind several times over the past couple of days. Here are the lyrics:

Have I become a soul so numb
All too familiar
Words of gold have all grown cold
Over and over
I need to see you in the sunrise
Time takes its toll on us
And it tries its best just to steal our love
And we bend and we break but we don't give up
Time takes its toll on us
From the start you touched my heart
And turned it in to something more
Beautiful, you're beautiful
So why does it have to be so hard
To see you in the sunrise
Time takes, time takes away
Love remains, love remains

It's a really good song, highly recommended. =]

Although I've felt down, I can also feel God holding my hand through it all. He knows what he's doing and he's definitely trying to teach me something...even if I'm oblivious of what exactly that is right now. It's a continuous cycle of learning here. Although I'm learning completely different things than if I were in school, I'm convinced that they are just as valuable...if not more so.
And in the midst of this funk, there is still an untouchable sense of joy. God has given me the means and the will to be here! I still smile at the simplicity of it all, the citadel, the sunsets cast over the hills of Sighisoara, playing Uno with the elderly (who have their OWN set of rules), walking the boys to school in the cold of the morning, the changing color of the leaves on the trees, breathing deep upon smelling grapes nearby, and playing "futbol" in the street with the boys' friends. God is faithful, and will be to the end.