I'm pasting an email I sent to my teacher last night because I can't take writing this in detail one more time.....

I was excited about spring break once I finished my last midterm this afternoon, but a phone call stopped that.

First, some background: I work part time as an athletic tutor here at LU. This afternoon while studying for my astronomy midterm, I got several "Important" labeled emails from the secretary in the Athletics Department. She said that tutoring was canceled for tonight (7:30-10:30) but we were having an emergency meeting about an incident that occurred earlier. I had my astronomy test at the same time, so all I could do was email back the secretary and my supervisor and let her know that I couldn't make it but I'd call someone once I was done.

After the astronomy test, I texted one of the other tutors to ask her what was up. I didn't get a response till she called back an hour or so later (6ish?). Apparently...(I'm losing it again, sorry) one of the tutors, Mo who is from Portugal, was at his apartment last night or early this morning and was shot. The hardest part? He didn't make it. He's gone. I have been knocked off my feet over this news and couldn't imagine a better next angel:) It's hard seeing someone for 4 days a week, a few hours each day, and now knowing that he's....gone...till heaven.

I know he's in a much, much better place right now, and frankly part of my feelings have a touch of jealousy in them:) But at the same time, I've seen him every week since August, and now to keep reminding myself that he won't be returning is tough. Although, the good part of this timing is that I have a week to mourn his death but praise God for his life. He was a strong Christian and a wealth of encouragement to everyone he met.

Please keep me, the other tutors, the athletes, his girlfriend, and all the other lives he touched. They are holding a memorial service in honor of Mo (short for Moises, pronounced "Moses") Friday from 3-4. I'm debating if I want to go - I don't grieve well at all.

At least I got a bit of sleep...thank God for random old friends that I can call at 1am to talk.

just a quick update. i'm getting along okay in my classes, but i still have a ton of things to do this weekend.

*tomorrow - LCA (practicum), test, lesson plan due, astronomy lab, KDP meeting, possibly work
*friday - astronomy summary on something, movie (for school:(), date with prayer group
*saturday - Love4Life conference at TRBC, a lil shopping for...
*sunday - sunday school with kids, church, group meeting?, work

yeah this weekend's going to be painfully long. oh well, on to thursdays work:)

Why do I get tormented by death whenever I'm in a public place and unable to cry?

Out of pure randomness, I decided to check out my home church's website. When I pulled it up, I saw a splash of something on it that frightened me. When it says "Celebration Service," I can already feel my eyes pooling. Too bad I'm sitting here at work amid football and basketball players who came for peace and quiet:-/

I assumed it's mistaken, that Mom or someone from home would have let me know about this. I open up my Juno account, which is the email address the church uses to send info to me. I read this:

Buddy Wood, serving on the Elder Council of Immanuel, went home to be with the Lord January 23.

A service to Celebrate the Life of Buddy Wood will be held Saturday, January 26, 7:30 p.m. in the Immanuel Worship Center.

I can't write more....my eyes are getting blurry and I need to do my homework. And my job....

So the snow day was great, I'm going to try not to complain. Even though it was more rainy by the time I had to walk outside. And walking to stores even from the car got my pant legs soaked. I was thinking of playing in the snow, but all I really have is jeans and thin sweatpants to wear. My boots are still back in my room, waiting for me to want them bad enough

Today worked out pretty well though. Threw a snowball back at a few guys down on the ground. (Yay for being 3 floors up!) Watched a few episodes of Supernatural with Cortney Finally showered so we could go eat lunch - me, Cortney, Courtney, Tess, Brittany, and Sean. Went to Barnes and Nobles as well as Target and Bed, Bath, and Beyond. Cuddling and watching Harry Potter (#4) was nice. Laughing together is always fun:) Hopefully we'll be able to find a game other than Phase 10, War, and Rummy that we both want to play:) Monopoly is something competitive we both love, but he's afraid I'll be OVER competitive:)

Alright, on to bed. Amazingly enough, Friday isn't today; its tomorrow I have Astronomy and one of my Education classes. And after that...I see Tim!! His track team is coming down to compete at the track at Liberty

I hid the engagement story so people have to ask me much more fun that way But let me know if you can't see it.

60ish hours left until I'm back in Lynchburg. My friend Lindsay has been amazing and offered me a place to stay until the RAs allow us back on campus. I'm loving this because not only will I be able to get all my stuff sorted out and the room rearranged before my roomate gets back, I can hopefully get a few Christian service hours in before classes start.

I was going to write more. About babysitting for the next two days. About 2 of my best buds being in Africa starting this week and not seeing them for another month. About how much I miss Sean even though he only left about 13 hours ago to return to Lynchburg. About how stinking excited I am about planning a wedding!

But now it's nighty night time. Or maybe time for a little reading...