On the first day of orientation...

It was only a week ago that Ty, Cheryl, and myself made the trip from Winston Salem, NC to Nashotah, Wisconsin and I'm still trying to catch up with all the emotions I've been experiencing. Today was our first day of orientation spent doing things that are common here at the House. Each weekday morning at 8am the beloved bell (aka Michael) rings to beckon students to chapel for morning prayer. Afterwards we make our way to the refectory for breakfast. Students at Nashotah eat together for breakfast and lunch on Mondays-Fridays, making my Coco Puffs last for so much longer. This week is an orientation week where we learn how things work around here and get a glimpse into what is expected from us in classes. It's a lot to take in all at once and I admit to not sleeping all that soundly the past few days, but God is near...and that carries one a very long way...even at 50.
I have a small apartment on campus that fits my needs quite nicely. Abby (my Golden Retriever) and Donner (my Burmese cat) and have adjusted to their new digs very well. Abby sometimes has to do a bit of squeezing in between furniture but has found several places that she can stretch out and nap. Donner still claims my queen size bed for himself as soon as I head out each morning. Little has changed for him.
A few nights ago some of the students gathered around an outdoor fire and roasted marshmallows and made smores. Instead of sharing ghost stories it became more like an evening of snow stories with all the former students telling how much snow would soon fall and all the new students from the south wondering how they'd ever survive. Even though I'm a Midwesterner by birth it's been a while since I lived this far north so pray for my survival.
The spirit of the school and the community is right out of an episode of Mayberry. Within hours of our arrival someone was knocking on our door with homemade banana bread and that seems to happen to anyone who arrives as a new student. Yesterday a lady knocked on my door with a plate full of fresh homemade brownies and when I answered the door I realized she had the wrong apartment and was looking for someone else. It killed me to let those brownies pass, but I did so, knowing full well it was the right thing to do.