I remember when STEVE went to college...

Summer is officially over...
Why is that sentence so difficult for me to believe this time?
I feel like a few nights ago with Jenn, DJ, and Mary I finally had a summer night like I was looking forward to.

My last summer of "childhood" as it was and I am not going to lie... it was pretty anti climactic. My summer was drowning in night after night of a rehearsal followed by driving to somebody's house and just sitting around. Don't get me wrong...sitting around is loads of fun but why did none of us take the time to sit outside this year? No bonfires...or stargazing...or anything that is supposed to be part of a stereotypical "summer".

Don't get me wrong... parts of my summer were incredible and a HUGE blessing...like NEW YORK CITY.

Everything about NEW YORK was exactly what I could want it to be. I had an incredible time with friends, I got to see some amazing shows, and I got to get away from Illinois for a little bit. I wouldn't trade those 5(ish) days for the WORLD.

I am ridiculously proud of the cast of "The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee."

I am so happy that my group of friends set out to have a bible study this summer and we did! 6 weeks of a bible study is definitely an achievement and where ever we go with the group, I feel great knowing that we took some time out of this summer to just give time to our INCREDIBLE God.

But now, summer is over...and in a few short hours, I will be at Judson University starting a weekend of orientation because come tuesday, I will be a student there. I've seen a bunch of my friends leave for school, esp this year...I feel like my entire generation (give or take a year) is leaving OR is a Senior this year. How weird is that.
I keep thinking back to all my school years here in Illinois. Each year at Westfield was distinct and very different in my mind. My 3 years of high school are the complete opposite. They all blur together in my mind.
What I think is actually funnier is how I can remember most the years of my life in musicals... (NERD ALERT) I not only remember what shows I was in...but don't we all do that? No no, I also remember what musical was my "IT" show...hahaha (NERDDD)

HONK!
Wicked
Tarzan
Hairspray
Legally Blonde
tick, tick...BOOM!
Rent
Les Mis

And the whole world knows how obsessed I am with Next to Normal currently... The point is, all those shows resonate a different time in my life with me. Anytime I hear those different thoughts and memories and comforts come to my mind. Through those times I had different friends, different likes and dislikes, and so many other different outlooks on things.
In a few hours I will be starting another part of life...another major chapter in my book. Another scene in my show, another track on my soundtrack.
Through it I will make more friends, get new opinions, have new prayers, and probably fall for new shows too.

One day, I'm going to look back at the shows I listen to throughout college. And the memories of those friends and those memories and those comforts will come to mind. So, if I know one day these fears of the unknown will one day be comforts...what is there to be afraid of?

God's got it. He always had, and always will.
In the words of Peter Pan...Here we goooooo!