I sit in my new great apartment, with a new great job, and a great group of DC friends around me--Thao, Ercu, Bob and David, Levi, Ben, Patty. There have been times in the past that I thought life was just too hard, or too hurtful. I couldn't picture a brighter future. But He makes things new... and tomorrow may be a better day.

But this penniless wandering student is now getting locked down to DC. Sad. Less opportunities for spontaneous backpacking trips. However, my office is thinking of sending me off to do research in Baghdad or on an aircraft carrier. Sweet!!!

I'm fully settled in DC. I rented a 3 bedroom apt, filled it up with furniture, and now feel like a responsible adult for the first time in my life. I also feel like I'm chained to my office and chained to this city. Gone are the days of the penniless wandering student. Bittersweet.

I was shooting assault rifles in Quantico last week. That was kinda cool.

When I was in middle school, I struggled to choose one among many careers: FBI agent, med doctor, missionary, etc. Little did I know that my life would be a sample of a little of each.