So What's New?

Hey guys,
 
I guess it's been yet another couple of weeks since my last post...my apologies for that...I guess I just...haven't had much time over these past weeks to do much posting...not exactly sure what i've been doing with my time...but...mah well...on with the post.
 
The summer seems to be just flying by...very little time to reflect...very little time to prepare.  Prepare for what you may ask? Well...come this fall term I will be entering into my last year here at the University of WATERLOO.  Along with this great joy...there comes many worries and feelings of uncertainty.
 
I've lived in the quaint little city of Waterloo for the past 17 years of my life!  Other than a very brief leave of absence (where I was working in Ottawa for 3 months) I have lived within a 5 kilometre radius for the entire time...as I enter my graduating year at UW...not only will I be graduating from this university...but the future requires that I will be "graduating" from my home town as well...
 
Drawing so close to the end of this chapter in my life, many trials and tests of patience have presented themselves.  It seems at times that my feelings towards this event sit at complete opposite ends of a dichotomy: On one hand I'm extremely excited about moving on in life...starting something new...striving forward...BUT...at the same time...I'm scared out of my mind and want to stay a kid for the rest of my life...there really is no happy middle grounds when it comes to this issue for me.
 
Just the other day, my mom and I were having somewhat of a one-sided conversation (she was doing most of the talking)...she was mostly giving me "caring comments" (this is a term that i've started to use in replacement of "nagging")...and this was becoming quite frustrating to me...sooo...me being the WONDERFUL son that I am muttered under my breath: "Maybe I should just move out..." As you could guess, this did not go over so well.
 
Eventually, we were able to smooth things out, but not before I had a long battle with my good friend "Pride".  I have asked many a times for patience and humility from God...and now I see that it is not going to be an easy path that lies ahead.  Instead of just "magically" changing me, I see now that God places these challenges that I may grow slowly and steadily in His abounding grace. 
 
This is what I mean by tests of patience.  It is almost as if in this final year here in Waterloo...I am supposed to come to another level of appreciation for the blessings in my life.  It has become more and more evident that I have just become somewhat complacent with my surroundings...and these brief stints, be it with parents, with friends...whatever...they are just reminders that I still have much to learn and a lot of room to grow before I might be ready to move on in my life.
 
So in closing...I'd like to ask you all for your prayers.  Everybody knows that eventually, we reach a point in time when we must end one chapter of our lives and continue on with the rest of our journey.  For me...that time is quickly approaching and although I'm not so sure I've got the "idea" ready for my next chapter yet, it is in these times that I am so thankful for all of your support and continual prayers.
 
God Bless "Y'all" (heheh...pickin' up some southern slang eh Dor?),
 
Alex