Feeling Oriented....

Here I am, sitting in my four hundred square foot apartment in Austin, TX, facing a fear, writing and actually having others read what I write. More importantly, I am in Austin, TX in a four hundred square foot apartment. What! It actually happened, I am a student at the Seminary of the Southwest. After a four year discernment process I am here! My dream to serve God's people as a priest might actually happen.

I realize that it is important for me to express my feelings during this journey and I am humbled that people have taken the time to read what I have to say. As I stated above, my writing skills are not the best so please bare with me.

I am feeling oriented because I have completed day two of my orientation at Seminary of the Southwest. I have wonderful classmates that I am honored to be in the company of, professors that will challenge me and even love me along the way and on top of all of that, I get to go to Church three times a day! I am not be sarcastic, I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE, this part of seminary.

The first few days of orientation have been filled with financial aid information, insurance, buying books and lots of fellowship. I even chanted today all by myself. It was pretty horrible, but something that I need to learn to do. You never know, I could one day serve a Church that loves to chant and I better know what the heck I am doing!!! I did convince the Music Professor to let me sing Come Though Fount of Every Blessing. I did a little better with the hymn! I am not sure I will be asked to be a part of the choir, but I will always due my best to make a joyful noise.

We have tomorrow afternoon off and then we are back to being oriented on Sunday afternoon. I am looking forward to spending time with Owen and resting. I heard there is a possible outing to see the bats of Austin tomorrow at the Bat Fest. You know Austin, we like to keep it weird!!!

Thanks for coming along on the ride. Until we meet again....

Blessings,

Mary Balfour