i'm finally getting letters back from the nursing schools i applied to (waiting is brutal!) and i got into duke! i found out a little while ago, but i haven't shared it much with people unless they ask - i guess that's because it hasn't really sunk in to me yet. when i started applying to schools i had no idea what they were looking for or if i had anything to offer to them. i'm still in a bit of shock i think. when i think about it i'm really excited, but then i get kind of freaked out - like what have i done?... i'm going to fail... what were they thinking letting me in their school... but then i get excited again. if only i could excited about all the scholarships and grants i'll have to apply for to pay for this :)

i watched a fronline program called 'ghosts of rwanda' tonight. i've seen hotel rwanda and read a book about it, but this movie showed a different side than i'd heard. there were interviews with the members of the u.n. , the u.n. peacekeeping group that were sent to rwanda and american officials. it is amazing and disturbing to me that no one did anything to stop the genocide in rwanda.

lent starts on wednesday. i'm preparing an online guide for people at garnett who want to use it. as i was working on it last week i realized that i'm really looking forward to lent. things have just been so crazy. i feel like i have so much going on and i feel like i'm not doing a great job at any of it. i think for me, the coming of lent feels like a time of intentionality and contemplation that is set aside for me. i feel like somehow it will be a rest or a break - a time to catch my breath and refocus. i think it will give me some time to step back from all the things i'm doing and not feel so crazy and step back into them with peace and calm. i know i don't have to wait for lent to be intentional or contemplative, but there is something beautiful about the rhythm of lent coming each year, bringing rest and reflection.