A few photos from my time so far in Nashville... there is a great lack since I have no camera of my own, but I plan on finding time to capture the leaves before they are all gone :)

Mom and Dad came through Nashville right before Bethany and I moved into our apartment together. We all went to Belle Meade plantation together, walked through the yards and had a tour through the main house-- educational and fun! Of course Bethany and I took photos with the random cut out boards set up :D

One of my favorite things about living here so far is.... Les trois filles, Bethany, Jacque and I, are reunited and every thursday morning we have breakfast together :) Lately, we've been skyping with the missionaries in Togo after we eat! So incredible that we are blessed with the ability to skype them from here!

Well, that is all I have time to share for now... I have to get back to my studying!

First Day of School!

Backpack on, new pencils sitting neatly in the small pocket next to my calculator, and a big textbook and binder neatly arranged in my bag, while I drive to a school I have never before laid eyes on in my life (not counting google maps images- thanks google, you helped me not get lost).

Entering the campus, I realized the big responsibility of what I have just done. After graduating, completing all the college courses I thought I'd ever take, I signed up for a class.. not just any class, but one that will take me on a journey to a big test-- err, an enormous exam (hehe yay alliteration!)-- which will determine whether or not I can pursue a career that would utilize my mathematics background. I am excited, nervous, and a bit intimidated by this decision, but ready for the challenge. The career? Actuary. The test? Exam P/1. Yeah. What's that? Well, an actuary is someone who works for companies, often insurance companies, and calculates risk. That's the short of it. Why am I going through all of this just to do something that "sounds boring" (as I've heard it said from those I've told)? Well, I don't think it's boring at all... I actually am looking forward to taking the math I have learned and finding new ways to apply it and expanding upon all the building blocks to contribute to society. I also am very interested in finding new ways to use skills as an actuary in unorthodox contexts (we'll see what I discover).

What if I fail? If I fail, I know that through that God will be teaching me more about myself, humbling me and shaping me through the entire experience. Until the test though, I shall not think of that, but instead work through all of the materials I have at hand to study and attempt to succeed :) So far, I have attended my first class and I am in the midst of reviewing through the 5 sections of the text that I need to have done for next Tuesday...

Life in Nashville

I have been in Nashville for a week this Friday (which excludes the weekend I visited Cecelia). I have had so much to think about and grow through especially in these first days here. First of all, most of my time is spent searching... for jobs, apartments, friends, churches...

The exciting news is when I find things :) Including myself whenever I get lost in the city! Haha! Thanks to Paul I have a GPS that helps that not to happen (or when it does I hear a friendly voice saying "recalculating"). Bethany and I found an apartment quickly and we will be moving in on the 11th of September! Which I am very excited about-- however, I still need to find a job. So I have been diligently working at that and praying that God places me in the right place so I can grow through the experience and be able to contribute well to my job and coworkers. Finding friends hasn't been too difficult when I allow myself to have a break :) Although I still haven't seen all my friends who live in Nashville, I know I will get to see them soon enough and I will make a few new ones as well-- Which is an exciting and fun part of meeting new people :) A very important part of adjusting to life here will be finding a church family to connect with. So many decisions and "growing experiences" surround me here, but I am happy with all of them because they force me to learn and grow.