School started up this past Tuesday, and classes have been going pretty well. I have a really light schedule this semester, with only 12 credits and no job (as of right now)! I really don't know what to do with all my time sometimes! In the middle of February, we'll be starting up our practicums so that will occupy 12 more hours each week, so that will be nice. I really liked my practicum placement last semester, so I'm praying that this semester's will be just as good! I should find out in the next week or so where I'll be and what grade I'll be in. I'm pretty bummed about the no job situation though. The babysitting position fell through and the family ended up picking another person. So, I'm not really sure what to do. Luckily, I still have another Panera paycheck coming next week. So, we'll see!

So, my family got some bad news this week. My stepdad grew up next door to his best friend and his friend's family for most of his life, so he's really close to the whole family. Well, his best friend's sister, Jane, has been battling cancer for some time. It started out as lung cancer I think, and she did treatments and whatnot and it seemed to be going well. But then, the cancer just started spreading and it ended up in her brain, in which at that point there wasn't much they could do. Well, a couple days ago she took a turn for the worst and slipped into somewhat of a coma. She kept getting worse, so my mom and stepdad went to her house (she stayed at home instead of going to a hospital because there wasn't anything the doctors could do) to be with her and her family. My mom ended up being by her side throughout the whole night. Her family would come in to be with her for a while, but I guess as the night went on and she got worse, her family couldn't handle seeing her like that, and my mom ended up being the one holding her hand and comforting her. Anyway, she ended up passing away at like 2 or so in the morning. It's so sad, but it's good at the same time because she isn't suffering anymore. I don't know if she was a believer or if her family are believers, but I just pray that the family would just grow closer to God in some way through this. My stepdad told me that this whole situation really made my mom (and I'm sure him as well) think about life and everything. I think it scared them because Jane was about their age and they are very susceptible to getting cancer because they've been heavy smokers for many years. I'm just praying so much that this motivates my mom and stepdad to make some changes in their lives. My mom became a believer when she met my dad 20-something years ago, but ever since they got divorced in 1998, she hasn't been walking with the Lord at all. And my stepdad and his family aren't believers either, although they sometimes like to make it look like they are. I would just love for this to open up some conversations with my family about spiritual things. It's a very real thing as my family has seen with this situation, and life isn't to be taken for granted. God put us all here for a specific purpose and if that purpose isn't fulfilled in our lifetime, you have to live with the consequences for eternity. It's so easy to think "Oh, well, I'll think about death and spiritual things when I'm old" but God never promises any of us tomorrow. So, we have to make changes now and live for the Lord now because each day is a blessing from God.

Anyway, sorry for my preaching! But if you guys could just keep Jane's family as well as mine in your prayers, that would be greatly appreciated. :)