Grandpa Harvey.

so while i was home last weekend for easter, which was beyond wonderful, my mother and i started going through a shoe box of letters that my grandma had saved over the years from my grandpa. we were organizing them by date in order to read them from beginning to end. for a while, i have been thinking about these letters, hoping they would prove useful for a senior seminar project. after we started reading through some of them, i got out my scanner and began making copies so that we could have them forever. they are that precious. i never knew my grandpa, but i would never have expected a farm boy in the 20's, growing up in a rural community, to express himself so. his handwriting is perfect and his grammar, a little lacking. they are a treasure. here is one excerpt from a letter dated January 6, 1924.

"Dot I'll never forget the day you and Luke (Dunn) walked past the bank in the direction of the Dunn residence (where my grandmother boarded while teaching in Nekoma). Little did I think at that time that there was a chance of me being lucky enough to win part of your love. Darling from that time on the image of you has never once left the brightest and most distinct part of my memory. For almost a year I worshiped you in silence and then one Sunday I ask you to go for a ride and then waited in suspense till you said yes. Dot I never told you all this before did I?"

i love the stories history reveals. being a history major, everyone always asks you your favorite war/event/etc. but i just like these stories i learn about the "good ole days" when life was simpler and all the stories that you hear. i am so looking forward to working my way further through these letters and to discover all the things i never had a chance to learn for myself during their lives. 

Beautiful People.

Some of the most beautiful words 

in the entire world 

have already been used 

thousands of times. 

but that doesn't make 

them any less beautiful. 

so too with people.

in His time.

I'm going home today! I am so happy. The last time I was home for more than an overnight, was the beginning of October for fall break. This time is much needed; I need to get away from here and just rest. Life is busy and school can be hard. really, really, hard. But there is so much to look forward to also, like going home and in a couple of weeks, some friends are coming to Minnesota! There are so many great things ahead. 

A verse that is hanging from a garland above my bed reads, 

He has made everything

beautiful

in His time...

Ecclesiastes 3:11a

Such a good reminder every morning. Remember that. I'm trying to.

Farther Along.

This song is so good. You must have a listen. Lately I have been so overwhelmed by the tasks ahead of me: research projects, especially for one of my classes that completely intimidates me, graduation applications I need to take care of, and concerns about my possible internship next fall and everything that needs to be completed within the next year. It seems crazy to worry about things that will happen and that I will have to work through in a year, but I am. A while ago I became super fed up with Christian music and thought that God has created all his people with special gifts, so I could experience God through other music. I still believe that, but there is something about the optimism in Christian music. I am still very particular that the lyrics have some depth amongst other things that still bother me. Anyways, there have been a few songs that have been helping me make it through the tough times in life. This song was introduced to me by my friend, Michaela, while we were in Europe this January. We were actually in a bus when she told me that I have to listen to this song. She, like me, is very particular about music taste and we actually are quite similar. I hope this song brings some comfort to you in this busy life; I love that this song asks that we only trust in God and that farther along, we will understand why.

                                    

Fascination.

I am in two Cold War-ish classes right now and I am learning so much. It's almost to the point where we are in over-load. Anyways, I was assigned to read a book by anne applebaum, titled Iron Curtain: The Crushing of Eastern Europe 1944-1956. It is SO good. If you need a good read, you should check that out. She also has others written on the Gulag prison system. It is crazy how everyone knows quite a bit about the Holocaust when the Gulag is hardly acknowledged by many. There is so much to learn.

Today marked the first meeting of the History Club I am starting. There were a total of ten people, so less than I was hoping for, but we figured out some ideas that needed to be discussed. Sometimes, I get really excited about school - with the social aspects and I simply love to learn. However, it is fairly easy to get bogged down. Right now I am feeling quite overwhelmed with it all. I keep telling myself, one day at a time...

What have you been learning about that has fascinated you?

Also, any suggestions for me for spring break?

Sometime Soon.

Hello all,

Well, i am finally back at school and attempting to get into the swing of things. i spent Christmas in montana and january in europe! both were great. europe was fabulous and too much to fill you in on everything. my favorite place was oxford. i think i could study forever there.

i have a few things i am working on this semester. first off, school keeps me busy, but i am also attempting to start a history club, here at bethel. i have been talking to a couple of profs as we have been working to get this started up and running. i am actually quite excited about it. i'm working on a few more things in my life, i'll let you know more sometime soon.

when i got back to school this semester, i finally started 'mere christianity'. back in 8th grade, i attempted to read it, but after struggling through a few chapters, i gave it up. ever since then i have been scared to read anything written by c.s. lewis. reading through it now, i wonder why i couldn't get through it. so far, it has been really good. i know that it is a staple in any christian household, but i am really enjoying it. while in oxford, i also bought miracles, which i may read this summer.

i have decided to go back to camp. while i questioned if i should, i realized that i needed and wanted to go back. i was much relieved when i finally decided. it will be so good.

i am compiling a list of books that i need to read. if you have any suggestions, feel free to pass them along. i would very much appreciate them. :)

have a wonderful weekend,

Gretchen

Snow.

so, it's snowing and it is the end of the semester, which means i'm done and don't really care about school anymore. this is a big problem because all i really want to do is watch christmas movies, drink hot chocolate, and snuggle down under a quilt. instead, i need to do some research first and then actually write my research paper today. ugh. anyways, the snow is beautiful and after tuesday, i will be almost done, with the bulk at least! happy snow day!